PG: RJ Tells Chanel: “Hold My Beer” while Randle Hangs Up His Spurs

[Chanel Bomber]

nah. miami wins more probably with melo instead of bosh. it would be too much offensive fire power for teams to deal with.

Possibly.

The awkward fit was really Bron-Wade.

I think it was game 7 of the 2013 Finals, Spo waited until the final minutes of the game to insert Wade back in the game because of spacing issues.

No matter how great these guys were individually (and on defense), they weren't an ideal fit.

I think the best big 3 (at this stage of their respective careers) might've been Bron-Melo-Bosh.

But Bosh's defensive impact on those Heat teams was absolutely huge. Replace him with Joel Anthony and it's a different ball game.

[Deeeez Knicks]

I get what people are saying when RJ can't create shots well....But watch him play and he gets so many good looks within the flow of the offense. During the rough stretch, he was missing so many bunnies and open looks. That's not good, but that he was able to get so many good looks was a great sign. Now that they are going down its making a huge difference. He does get blocked a lot, but gets a ton of buckets at the rim when its all said and done which is a very good skill. He just knows where to be and how to move on the floor. He's just not flashy in the way he does it either. Not gonna be crossing people over or creating a ton of space off fadeaway step backs...but he gets a step and has the defender on his hip, and he is able to get a good look.

As much as this SOUNDS very bad at first glance, shot-making abilities 1 on 1 are overrated and can even be a double-edged sword. Randle is better at it than RJ and may always be better but so what. Melo was good at it. Was he better at it than LeBron? Yeah for much of his career he was actually, but it didn't make Melo better than Bron at any point (I don't think RJ is as good a flow or basketball player as LeBron, disclaimer). Paul Pierce could create shots but also was more of a get his in the flow type of guy. A very good shot creator but not elite.

I'm just saying, it's something that gets a bit too much attention.

A guy can fall in love with that and then the rest of his team suffers.

Yea, you def need shot makers and it is a good skill to have, but it can get overrated. I mean thats why nobody wanted Haliburton and Ball cause they were non-shot makers like Frank. Even Giannis was never really considered a shot maker, or Middleton until he broke out.

RJ is not on those levels....he may never get to Piece/Butler status. But even if he is never a big iso-stepback-shot maker can still be a good all around player that can be valuable on winning teams.

[K_ick_God]

I guess I'd amend "much better" on Melo v. Bosh. Not much IMO but I'd say Bosh clearly better.

Then again I'm still waiting for Tony Parker and Manu to get the credit they deserved too. My "model" (there is no model) puts a ton of weight on winning. But that's def somewhat unfair because they played with Tim Duncan and such.

Pierce was on bad teams and so was Bosh as you rightfully say.

[3toheadmelo]

It could be that RJ is not that efficient, not that gravitational (?) and doesn't have a lot of escape velocity ... the last two things being somewhat overlapping ... and he'll still be good. There are exceptions and special players and guys who break the mold some. I feel like RJ understands the game and is fearless. Obviously he'll also need to do certain things and they'll have to show up in the stats, it's not simply wishing on a star, but I do think the comparisons between Randle and RJ will break down eventually.

RJ has a much higher IQ for the game.

Since melo has not joined the RJ backing, I want to point out that he also said Hunter and Reddish are better. I think it's fair to point out previous statements for impeachment purposes.

[K_ick_God]

It could be that RJ is not that efficient, not that gravitational (?) and doesn't have a lot of escape velocity ... the last two things being somewhat overlapping ... and he'll still be good. There are exceptions and special players and guys who break the mold some. I feel like RJ understands the game and is fearless. Obviously he'll also need to do certain things and they'll have to show up in the stats, it's not simply wishing on a star, but I do think the comparisons between Randle and RJ will break down eventually.

RJ has a much higher IQ for the game.

Since melo has not joined the RJ backing, I want to point out that he also said Hunter and Reddish are better. I think it's fair to point out previous statements for impeachment purposes.

[god shammgod]

nah. miami wins more probably with melo instead of bosh. it would be too much offensive fire power for teams to deal with.

Perhaps a few more points, but that defense though esp without any dec role players in the beginning years

they would have had to find a post defender but you can find those. and melo would have helped them spread the court more.
in his first 3 years in miami, bosh shot 24, 28, & 28 percent from 3. in those same years melo shot 42, 33, & 37 from 3....as a 1st option. he would have been olympic melo as they used to say.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

nah. miami wins more probably with melo instead of bosh. it would be too much offensive fire power for teams to deal with.

Bosh extending his range and becoming a 3 point shooter and signing Battier to play the 4 is how the Heat became dominant. I don't know if Melo makes them better, because there were so few centers that shot the three then, they could have ended up like the Thunder who had 3 monster offensive weapons, but there's only 1 ball and your C would be paint bound messing up the spacing.

[K_ick_God]

Bosh and Pierce quickly and effectively downsized their games and they both played both sides and made the right passes, plays. I wish for Melo he had that chance, because like you I do still have a soft spot for him.

But I think Bosh and Pierce had excellent feels for the game and a clutchness and rhythm that produced benefits for their team. "Or something." I think Melo seemed to play the same way pretty much no matter what.

I would say RJ shares some of the PP qualities but not the overall talent. I do see some Melo in Randle. In some good ways but in some bad. Lots of standing around.

[Clyde_Style]

Wakey Wakey

Game tonight

Time to Make a Game Thread

I gotchu

Best song ever

[god shammgod]

nah. miami wins more probably with melo instead of bosh. it would be too much offensive fire power for teams to deal with.

Bosh extending his range and becoming a 3 point shooter and signing Battier to play the 4 is how the Heat became dominant. I don't know if Melo makes them better, because there were so few centers that shot the three then, they could have ended up like the Thunder who had 3 monster offensive weapons, but there's only 1 ball and your C would be paint bound messing up the spacing.

but he really didn't shoot it even decent, 33 percent, until the last year they went to the finals and lost.

[3toheadmelo]

nah. miami wins more probably with melo instead of bosh. it would be too much offensive fire power for teams to deal with.

Bosh extending his range and becoming a 3 point shooter and signing Battier to play the 4 is how the Heat became dominant. I don't know if Melo makes them better, because there were so few centers that shot the three then, they could have ended up like the Thunder who had 3 monster offensive weapons, but there's only 1 ball and your C would be paint bound messing up the spacing.

just wanted to point out I still hate battier for calling Melo overrated, even though Melo torched him for 50

Watch on YouTube

;t=181s

[knickstape4ever]

Game tonight

Time to Make a Game Thread

I gotchu

Best song ever

Latvia is at the forefront of today's rap game

[JohnStarksTheDunk]

Bosh didn't really do sh*t before Miami - 2 playoff appearances his first 7 seasons. Melo got his team to the playoffs his first 10 years in the league, 7 of those in a more competitive WC. It's harder to be the top guy than it is to be the 3rd guy.

Bosh a better defender for sure though.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

nah. miami wins more probably with melo instead of bosh. it would be too much offensive fire power for teams to deal with.

Bosh extending his range and becoming a 3 point shooter and signing Battier to play the 4 is how the Heat became dominant. I don't know if Melo makes them better, because there were so few centers that shot the three then, they could have ended up like the Thunder who had 3 monster offensive weapons, but there's only 1 ball and your C would be paint bound messing up the spacing.

but he really didn't shoot it even decent, 33 percent, until the last year they went to the finals and lost.

He shot 42% from three in the playoffs after 2010-11 though, in the playoffs he knocked them down and helped space the floor. He dragged opposing centers away from the hoop so Wade and LeBron could get to the rim, you'd need to find a C that can do what Bosh did for Melo/Bron/Wade to work.

[Deeeez Knicks]

Melo was a great player, but doesn’t fit as well as Bosh. Bosh was a great defender and was able to step back his role. Would prime Melo really accept and flourish being the 3rd option?

I mean they still would have won a ton of games and some chips, but for team and chemistry Bosh was the better #3 option then Melo could have been

So
Melo > Bosh as a #1
Bosh > Melo as a #3

[Capn'O]

Bosh didn't really do sh*t before Miami - 2 playoff appearances his first 7 seasons. Melo got his team to the playoffs his first 10 years in the league, 7 of those in a more competitive WC. It's harder to be the top guy than it is to be the 3rd guy.

Bosh a better defender for sure though.

He was an excellent high end role player. Not so great as a first option.

[malik959]

What I really appreciated about Julius Randle vs. San Antonio is that despite only scoring 2 points he realized his shot was off and therefore only took 7 shot attempts and instead focused on ball movement and rebounding.

There is something about Julius Randle that is taken for granted. At the age of only 27 he's the only veteran where (even when struggling from the field) opposing coaching staffs have to game plan for and opposing players look to double team. In other words he's the only veteran talent who takes the pressure off of younger players such as Immanuel Quickley, R.J. Barrett and Mitchell Robinson and takes that New York pressure and puts it all on himself. We looked horrible without him and went 0-2 without him.

I personally can never boo the guy. Not after last season I can't. For better or worse he's the heart and soul of our team and he'll always have All-Star potential in his back pocket.

Here lies the problem. We all know he has talent and few question his ability, its his heart andmental stability that gets in his way. Julius is a 3rd star on a decent team. A Kevin Love. He was a sixth man before even coming here. He can not handle the pressure of being a #1 and here it is he's the first option man in a city that expects greatness. We've been here before when another player named Randolph Morris was here. Morris is someone i wish Randle had a little in him because he played with heart, only he too tried to do too much on a poorly constructed team (Marbury, Crawford, Curry). If we make any trades this year a keep Randle we have got to find a number 1 option, have RJ as the second, and Randle as the third and we will be fine. If not that than trade him.

[K_ick_God]

I think some of the reason guys like Bosh aren't as productive as top guys, also like PP, is that they knew how to play. So because they wanted to win their games, they didn't try to score at all costs lol.

That's not how you win. So they shared the ball and still lost. Both guys lots of skill. Maybe not as much raw horsepower as Melo.

The elephant in the room is that Bron plays this way. Also great 1 on 1 scorer but he plays to win the game with smarts.

People used to say Melo was a "better scorer" than Bron. Not really or what's the definition. Same is true of Bosh and PP too to a lesser extent because Bron just head and shoulders.

Randle is a better scorer and 1 than RJ. And then what? Not working.

[Capn'O]

^If we had been able to get Paul AND some good role players we would have challenged the Heatles in the east. But we didn't have the pieces. That's the formula though. The Billups+ model. Unfortunately, Billups himself broke down.

On a more base level Melo/Amare was not a great pairing and then Amare broke down. And we've been trying to get as many power forwards as possible since to recreate that magic

[K_ick_God]

Give me the taller / versatile guy who defended and didn't want or need tons of shots. CB.

But yeah Melo wins a title in Miami.