Around the League: 2020 Offseason

[Kobblehead]

I wouldn't put Giannis in that tier either, would probably have to fix his shot. Recently it's been Lebron, Durant pre-injury, Kawhi sometimes.

Why is Durant in that tier? Average athlete who has never been more than passable defensively, even at his apex.

Luka is way better than KD. And on another planet than Kawhi. Kawhi wasn't even a star until his mid to late 20s.

[Kobblehead]

This.

Luka's supporting cast in Dallas is better than anything Lebron James had between 2003-2007, yet Lebron James took down the mighty champion Pistons by himself in the playoffs. While the GOAT, Luka, hasn't won a playoff series, and won't win one this year either.

LOL at Mighty champion Pistons. That Piston team was trash and washed beyond belief. Their 3rd and 4th leading scorers were 33 year old Rasheed Wallace and 32 year old Chris Webber. Congrats on LeBron for outdueling the Rip "Captain Ordinary" Hamilton and Chauncey "15 ppg" Billups. Such a tough task that he was faced with. Can't believe he pulled it off.

Luka just turned 22 and is on a garbage roster with no talent other than Jalen Brunson. Who would expect him to win right now?

[Kobblehead]

but he's undoubtably benefiting from playing the era that is perfect for his game.

If Doncic played in the 90s, he's be a dominant physical power wing. If Michael Jordan played today, he'd work on his jumper and be able to shoot. Greatness adapts and dominates no matter what.

[LloydFree]

I wouldn't put Giannis in that tier either, would probably have to fix his shot. Recently it's been Lebron, Durant pre-injury, Kawhi sometimes.

Why is Durant in that tier? Average athlete who has never been more than passable defensively, even at his apex.

Luka is way better than KD. And on another planet than Kawhi. Kawhi wasn't even a star until his mid to late 20s.

Man, stop it...

You just go too far, when trying to make a point.

[Kobblehead]

Why do people think KD is in a GOAT tier? That's crazy. He hasn't even ONCE in his career consistently scored buckets off the dribble and been a dominant iso scorer. He's an elite shooter that can attack closeouts better than most, that just happens to have freak height and freak length. Average at best athleticism. Average at best shotcreation ability. Average at best passer. Weak defensively outside of recovery and help blocks.

Luka Doncic is on another planet than KD. So is Harden. KD is overrated as hell. Just an elite shooting, elitely efficient assisted scorer with freaky measurements.

[stormi]

Durant doesn't have to combine 8 rip through moves and step back every single possession like Luka does simply because of his freakish measurements. That isn't a con, it's an unstoppable combination of ability that you just cannot train for. It's also why Luka shoots absolutely horrid splits, because he simply has to rely on his difficult shot making ability due to his limited athleticism.

There's nobody to ever play the game to have Durant's absurd height and length while having a full guards skill package, while being one of the greatest shooters the league has ever seen. Greatest scorer ever imo.

Luka is a decaf Harden atm (not a slight), and it's not even a given he'll reach his peak levels that we've seen dragging skulls and bones to the WCF year after year.

[Kobblehead]

Durant absolutely cannot cook. He doesn't have a guard skill package at all. He's a heavily assisted player.

[Sixerscan]

Why do people think KD is in a GOAT tier? That's crazy. He hasn't even ONCE in his career consistently scored buckets off the dribble and been a dominant iso scorer. He's an elite shooter that can attack closeouts better than most, that just happens to have freak height and freak length. Average at best athleticism. Average at best shotcreation ability. Average at best passer. Weak defensively outside of recovery and help blocks.

Luka Doncic is on another planet than KD. So is Harden. KD is overrated as hell. Just an elite shooting, elitely efficient assisted scorer with freaky measurements.

You’re just way too focused on whether a player fits in this box you have decided is what a player should be rather than how good they are.

I swear we are like a post away from you saying you’d rather have Colin Sexton over prime Shaq.

[Kobblehead]

%of FGS inside the arc that were assisted:
Joel Embiid: 46.5%
Kevin Durant: 49.1%

Yes that's correct. A 290 pound C creates more unassisted buckets than the lanky F with "guard skills".

Durant has no ability to cook whatsoever. Attacking closeouts in the EXTENT of his shotcreating ability.

[Kobblehead]

Why do people think KD is in a GOAT tier? That's crazy. He hasn't even ONCE in his career consistently scored buckets off the dribble and been a dominant iso scorer. He's an elite shooter that can attack closeouts better than most, that just happens to have freak height and freak length. Average at best athleticism. Average at best shotcreation ability. Average at best passer. Weak defensively outside of recovery and help blocks.

Luka Doncic is on another planet than KD. So is Harden. KD is overrated as hell. Just an elite shooting, elitely efficient assisted scorer with freaky measurements.

You’re just way too focused on whether a player fits in this box you have decided is what a player should be rather than how good they are.

I swear we are like a post away from you saying you’d rather have Colin Sexton over prime Shaq.

I'll take Brandon Ingram over Kevin Durant as a #1 option. Far better scorer. Far more talented.

[Stanford]

[Kobblehead]

You need to separate an awesome, covetable player from a GOAT tier player.

Kevin Durant has freaky measurements and is an elite shooter that plays the game ultra efficiently when you run a ton of offense for him. That's an awesome, covetable player.

GOAT-tier players gotta be able to go on the ball and dominate their opponents and score unassisted buckets off the dribble. I ain't putting no assisted-bucket scorers in my GOAT tier and I don't think anyone else should, either. Those are ancillary players, not the greatest players of all time.

[stormi]

%of FGS inside the arc that were assisted:
Ben Simmons: 37.9%
Steph Curry: 41.9%

Yes that's correct. A 6'10 "point guard" with NO half court skills is an undeniably superior creator than a 2X league MVP. Steph has no ability to cook whatsoever, shooting around screens is the EXTENT of his creating abilities.

- Kobble, probably

[Kobblehead]

%of FGS inside the arc that were assisted:
Ben Simmons: 37.9%
Steph Curry: 41.9%

Yes that's correct. A 6'10 "point guard" with NO half court skills INDEED is an undeniably superior creator than a 2X league MVP. Steph has no ability to cook whatsoever, shooting around screens is the EXTENT of his creating abilities.

- Kobble, probably

No, those were career numbers for Embiid/Durant. You just pulled out current year numbers of a guy who has taken a leap and an ancient guard with 2 washed ankles.

And it's facts that Steph Curry's abilities to cook have diminished with his ankles and old age creeping. You take his career into account (33.2% assisted) and it paints a more accurate picture of what he was.

This isn't rocket science. Guys that can cook score unassisted buckets. Guys that can't really ball like that score more buckets on converted assists.

Durant cannot cook and he can't really ball like that. He's the greatest ancillary piece in NBA history, but an ancillary piece none-the-less.

[stormi]

%of FGS inside the arc that were assisted:
Ben Simmons: 37.9%
Steph Curry: 41.9%

Yes that's correct. A 6'10 "point guard" with NO half court skills INDEED is an undeniably superior creator than a 2X league MVP. Steph has no ability to cook whatsoever, shooting around screens is the EXTENT of his creating abilities.

- Kobble, probably

No, those were career numbers for Embiid/Durant.

And it's facts that Steph Curry's abilities to cook have diminished with his ankles and old age creeping. You take his career into account (33.2% assisted) and it paints a more accurate picture of what he was.

This isn't rocket science. Guys that can cook score unassisted buckets. Guys that can't really ball like that score more buckets on converted assists.

You have to realize that Durant is not a primary ballhandler. He isn't trying to manipulate defenses all game long to create looks for himself - but he doesn't have to, when the easiest and most effective play 99% for the time for an offense with him on it is to dump it to him on the block and to let him shoot an essentially unguardable look.

But to it's just dishonest and contextless stat spewing to say KD cannot operate out of the triple threat or take over playoff games while bringing the ball up the court. We've seen him do it many times on the biggest stages...

[LloydFree]

Why do people think KD is in a GOAT tier? That's crazy. He hasn't even ONCE in his career consistently scored buckets off the dribble and been a dominant iso scorer. He's an elite shooter that can attack closeouts better than most, that just happens to have freak height and freak length. Average at best athleticism. Average at best shotcreation ability. Average at best passer. Weak defensively outside of recovery and help blocks.

Luka Doncic is on another planet than KD. So is Harden. KD is overrated as hell. Just an elite shooting, elitely efficient assisted scorer with freaky measurements.

You’re just way too focused on whether a player fits in this box you have decided is what a player should be rather than how good they are.

I swear we are like a post away from you saying you’d rather have Colin Sexton over prime Shaq.

I'll take Brandon Ingram over Kevin Durant as a #1 option. Far better scorer. Far more talented.

I respect you too much to do it, but take this down, before someone makes this their Sig.

[Sixerscan]

You need to separate an awesome, covetable player from a GOAT tier player.

Kevin Durant has freaky measurements and is an elite shooter that plays the game ultra efficiently when you run a ton of offense for him. That's an awesome, covetable player.

GOAT-tier players gotta be able to go on the ball and dominate their opponents and score unassisted buckets off the dribble. I ain't putting no assisted-bucket scorers in my GOAT tier and I don't think anyone else should, either. Those are ancillar players, not the greatest players of all time.

I agree he’s a level below MJ and Lebron. Not because of any of this, it mostly because of everything else, he’s as good a scorer as we’ve ever had. It should go without saying that the reason he doesn’t break guys down off the dribble as much as some guys is because he doesn’t have to do that to get a good shot, due to his unique combination of length and shooting ability. You can convince yourself otherwise if you want but for me this is sort like arguing with someone who can’t even agree 2+2=4.

Again I think you’re just too bogged down with this player archetype stuff. It forces you to twist yourself into these mental logic pretzels trying to justify it and next thing you know you’re taking Brandon Ingram over Kevin Durant.

[Negrodamus]

Man Poku went off today for the Thunder. I know what they had with Russ, Harden, and Durant, but I really think this team is going to destroy the NBA in the coming years. They just draft too good and already have a legit foundation.

[Kobblehead]

You’re just way too focused on whether a player fits in this box you have decided is what a player should be rather than how good they are.

I swear we are like a post away from you saying you’d rather have Colin Sexton over prime Shaq.

I'll take Brandon Ingram over Kevin Durant as a #1 option. Far better scorer. Far more talented.

I respect you too much to do it, but take this down, before someone makes this their Sig.

BI is trash defensively, but his offensive game is crazy. Maybe he's not quite a "get it" guy either but mayyybe that comes with age. Pure talent, though, Ingram is CRAZY offensively.

[Kobblehead]

%of FGS inside the arc that were assisted:
Ben Simmons: 37.9%
Steph Curry: 41.9%

Yes that's correct. A 6'10 "point guard" with NO half court skills INDEED is an undeniably superior creator than a 2X league MVP. Steph has no ability to cook whatsoever, shooting around screens is the EXTENT of his creating abilities.

- Kobble, probably

No, those were career numbers for Embiid/Durant.

And it's facts that Steph Curry's abilities to cook have diminished with his ankles and old age creeping. You take his career into account (33.2% assisted) and it paints a more accurate picture of what he was.

This isn't rocket science. Guys that can cook score unassisted buckets. Guys that can't really ball like that score more buckets on converted assists.

You have to realize that Durant is not a primary ballhandler. He isn't trying to manipulate defenses all game long to create looks for himself - but he doesn't have to, when the easiest and most effective play 99% for the time for an offense with him on it is to dump it to him on the block and to let him shoot an essentially unguardable look.

But to it's just dishonest and contextless stat spewing to say KD cannot operate out of the triple threat or take over playoff games while bringing the ball up the court. We've seen him do it many times on the biggest stages...

Why isn't he a primary ball handler, though? All other elite GOAT-tier guys go on the ball and cook. Maybe he's not as skilled a creater as people make him out to be.

I disagree that we've seen it countless times from him in playoffs. Other than 2013, Durant has taken a backseat and been an assisted scorer his entire career. I think you're overrating his ability on the ball. He ain't built like that. Never was. The numbers don't lie.