Around the NBA - Haha, just kidding, always knew the Nuggets would take it

[Guano]

There's no one size fits all. Just like trying to mimic the Warriors doesn't work if you don't have Steph Curry, you couldn't sub out AD/Bron for say RJ/Mitch on that team and expect to run the league. You build teams with what you have and if you don't have it yet you don't win.

the "it" in that equation is a top 5 talent paired with another exceptional talent.



I think it's safe to say you could have replaced Curry with another top 5 player - Bron, I dunno some great (Dame), and still run the L with Klay, Dray, and KD


I get were sham is coming from - elite top talent is the way to win. Only a few exceptions to that rule in the past 2 decades that I can recall - Detroit and Dallas. Would be cool to see The Heat pull it off this year, too.

[Capn'O]

There's no one size fits all. Just like trying to mimic the Warriors doesn't work if you don't have Steph Curry, you couldn't sub out AD/Bron for say RJ/Mitch on that team and expect to run the league. You build teams with what you have and if you don't have it yet you don't win.

the "it" in that equation is a top 5 talent paired with another exceptional talent.



I think it's safe to say you could have replaced Curry with another top 5 player - Bron, I dunno some great (Dame), and still run the L with Klay, Dray, and KD


I get were sham is coming from - elite top talent is the way to win. Only a few exceptions to that rule in the past 2 decades that I can recall - Detroit and Dallas. Would be cool to see The Heat pull it off this year, too.

Sure, but if it were 'Bron you wouldn't play Warrior Ball. You would play 'Bron Ball. That's more the point. The Warriors' bomb style worked because of Curry and Klay, not because that style works generally. You couldn't have, for example, subbed in prime Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf with the same results. It worked with Curry because he's the best shooter that the league has ever seen (and can do other things) and you could argue that Klay is Top 10.

[3toheadmelo]

[Capn'O]

What is definitely true is that with the rules and line where it is, you need a heavy reliance on the 3-ball. Even the Lakers are shooting 30+ threes during the playoffs. That's... a lot of threes compared to earlier eras. Most if not all of your role players have to be able to knock it down.

[HEZI]

The Lakers have a mismatch every single night at PF, that is the difference between them and everyone else in the playoffs. AD's versatility is what matters here more than just the size, it's the fact he can do pretty much anything you ask of him on either side of the ball. If you go small, they win that because their smallball lineup is still big as hell just because of how mobile AD is on defense and your smallball C can't even dream of guarding him, if you stay big and they can still play 4 out because he can space the floor and he will eat your PF up.


They have a generational PF, nobody else will be able to follow in their footsteps without someone as good as AD.

No argument from me about AD. LeBron has also been collapsing from those parts of the game I saw and let’s not forget the job that Dwight Howard is doing. And Caruso is tall for a “PG.”

AD’s prowess doesn’t negate Gaines’s point that bigs become more important in the playoffs.

i guess he missed the last round where the lakers couldn't play their bigs against houston

He also must not watch any Eastern Conference games. Its small ball vs small ball over there

[Guano]

There's no one size fits all. Just like trying to mimic the Warriors doesn't work if you don't have Steph Curry, you couldn't sub out AD/Bron for say RJ/Mitch on that team and expect to run the league. You build teams with what you have and if you don't have it yet you don't win.

the "it" in that equation is a top 5 talent paired with another exceptional talent.



I think it's safe to say you could have replaced Curry with another top 5 player - Bron, I dunno some great (Dame), and still run the L with Klay, Dray, and KD


I get were sham is coming from - elite top talent is the way to win. Only a few exceptions to that rule in the past 2 decades that I can recall - Detroit and Dallas. Would be cool to see The Heat pull it off this year, too.

Sure, but if it were 'Bron you wouldn't play Warrior Ball. You would play 'Bron Ball. That's more the point. The Warriors' bomb style worked because of Curry and Klay, not because that style works generally. You couldn't have, for example, subbed in prime Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf with the same results.

I get what you're saying they definitely would play different but the results would be the same - multiply championships. Ker would just adept the style of play to fit the surplus of top talent.

[3toheadmelo]

Read on Twitter

[god shammgod]

size is still good, but only if that size is fast enough to cover multiple positions. most big guys aren't. and it's not just centers who you shouldn't spend much money on, it's anyone besides your top 3 players. even the lakers would have been better off spending the danny green/kcp money on a better 3rd player. but there was nobody to get after kawhi dragged them along.

[HarthorneWingo]

The Lakers have a mismatch every single night at PF, that is the difference between them and everyone else in the playoffs. AD's versatility is what matters here more than just the size, it's the fact he can do pretty much anything you ask of him on either side of the ball. If you go small, they win that because their smallball lineup is still big as hell just because of how mobile AD is on defense and your smallball C can't even dream of guarding him, if you stay big and they can still play 4 out because he can space the floor and he will eat your PF up.


They have a generational PF, nobody else will be able to follow in their footsteps without someone as good as AD.

No argument from me about AD. LeBron has also been collapsing from those parts of the game I saw and let’s not forget the job that Dwight Howard is doing. And Caruso is tall for a “PG.”

AD’s prowess doesn’t negate Gaines’s point that bigs become more important in the playoffs.

i guess he missed the last round where the lakers couldn't play their bigs against houston

I didn’t watch it closely enough to comment though I do believe you still need good igs play in the paint during the playoffs.

More importantly, you should start a Twitter war with Gaines. There’s nothing else going on and we could all follow it. C’mon, do it.

[Capn'O]

Read on Twitter

That song is fire

[Worst_to_First]

They really made Duncan Robinson do that interview while doing his workouts at the same time LOL.

[Chanel Bomber]

Games really starting 15 minutes late with no crowd

[Worst_to_First]

Let's see if the Celtics can keep this up.

[3toheadmelo]

Let's see if the Celtics can keep this up.

They’re easily the more talented team but the Heat have more heart

[3toheadmelo]

Kanter missing layups

[Chanel Bomber]

more interesting to me: what are your five LEAST favorite players?

for me:
1. Lebron (always hated him, his complaining....)
2. THJ (his shimmy after one good quarter while shooting 39/30 splits for a team 20 games under .500... incredible)
3. Randle (his last season, I just have no words)
4. Harden (just don't like watching him dribble for 20 seconds)
5. KD (like his playing, but his weak ass FA moves... come on)

1. KD (worst human being on this planet)
2. El fraud Payton (obvious to anyone who watched the 2019-20 Knicks)
3. Bron (for his Kobe speech alone)
4. KP (overrated, also F him)
5. Tie - Eric Bledsoe and Mason Plumlee (big dummies)

Forgot about Iguodala. Dude stole a Finals MVP from Steph. Plus some other line-stepper ish.

1. KD
2. Elfrid Payton
3. LeBron
4. Iguodala
5. KP

[3toheadmelo]

Herro might be the next Booker

[Chanel Bomber]

Herro is a damn baller.

Booker light.

[Clyde_Style]

Duncan Robinson has the punchable face of the kid who shoots the spitball across the cafeteria that lands in your apple crisp

[Chanel Bomber]

Low-key Jalen Rose has been the common denominator of all of ESPN's failed efforts to put together a good pregame crew.