Around the league 2016-2017

[76ciology]

Bulls seems like they are going to be a fun squad this season.

They start big with Gibson-Lopez. Then they have a small ball line-up of Rondo-Wade-MCW-Butler-Gibson. And they can shoot. Well atleast after their first game against the Celts.

[iMoreland]

Hope AD goes off for 50 again and the Pelicans beat the Warriors

[phiphan]

Davis is unreal

[iMoreland]

I like this Frazier guy on the Pelicans. Buddy Hield looks awful

[76ciology]

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if Magic is in the mix for the worst record in the league. Their shotblockers showing up with nothing to block while they have poor ability to breakdown and shoot on offense.

[Negrodamus]

Westbrook is going to put up Oscar Robertson numbers this year. They are also going to miss the playoffs. #SaturdayMorningHotTakes

[CoreyGallagher]

I like this Frazier guy on the Pelicans. Buddy Hield looks awful

May be being sarcastic, but Frazier was a Sixer at one time.

[spaceballer]

According to a new article from Howard Beck, the Sixers nearly ended up with Kenny Atkinson, who is known around the league for his player development. It says the Sixers called Jeremy Lin for advice on hiring a head coach back in 2013.

The Philadelphia 76ers considered Atkinson for their head coach vacancy in 2013—and called Lin for a recommendation.

"I talked to Philadelphia for, like, 45 minutes," Lin said. "And I told the 76ers all these reasons why they needed to hire Kenny."

The Sixers chose Brett Brown. The Hawks also changed coaches that summer, hiring Mike Budenholzer—but GM Danny Ferry made sure to retain Atkinson.

"One of the greatest gifts that was ever given to me," Budenholzer told B/R. "Kenny is so freakin' good."

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2672061-linsanity-a-memory-nets-offering-second-act-for-jeremy-lin-and-kenny-atkinson

[iMoreland]

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if Magic is in the mix for the worst record in the league. Their shotblockers showing up with nothing to block while they have poor ability to breakdown and shoot on offense.

Agree, after all these years of high draft picks they still don't have a franchise player. I put them in a class lower than the Kings/Pelicans. They're a bad team but they don't have a Boogie/AD to build around or trade. Only other team in a worse situation than them is the Nets.

Us, Lakers have potential franchise players to build around for the next decade (Simmons/Embiid, Ingram/Russell). Magic don't have anyone like that.

I think they'll still get like 35 wins this year just enough to miss out on all the top tier talent in the draft again. They should hire Hinkie.

[Ericb5]

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if Magic is in the mix for the worst record in the league. Their shotblockers showing up with nothing to block while they have poor ability to breakdown and shoot on offense.

Agree, after all these years of high draft picks they still don't have a franchise player. I put them in a class lower than the Kings/Pelicans. They're a bad team but they don't have a Boogie/AD to build around or trade. Only other team in a worse situation than them is the Nets.

Us, Lakers have potential franchise players to build around for the next decade (Simmons/Embiid, Ingram/Russell). Magic don't have anyone like that.

I think they'll still get like 35 wins this year just enough to miss out on all the top tier talent in the draft again. They should hire Hinkie.

I think that the Lakers are in a better spot than the Magic, but I wouldn't describe either Russell or Ingram as potential franchise players. They could both turn into all stars, but people like Horford, or Aldridge are all stars, and not franchise players. You aren't going to go very far if your best player isn't a superstar.

For the Magic, it looks like Gordon is developing well, and we still don't know what Hezonja is, but those are their highest ceiling players.


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[76ciology]

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if Magic is in the mix for the worst record in the league. Their shotblockers showing up with nothing to block while they have poor ability to breakdown and shoot on offense.

Agree, after all these years of high draft picks they still don't have a franchise player. I put them in a class lower than the Kings/Pelicans. They're a bad team but they don't have a Boogie/AD to build around or trade. Only other team in a worse situation than them is the Nets.

Us, Lakers have potential franchise players to build around for the next decade (Simmons/Embiid, Ingram/Russell). Magic don't have anyone like that.

I think they'll still get like 35 wins this year just enough to miss out on all the top tier talent in the draft again. They should hire Hinkie.

I think that the Lakers are in a better spot than the Magic, but I wouldn't describe either Russell or Ingram as potential franchise players. They could both turn into all stars, but people like Horford, or Aldridge are all stars, and not franchise players. You aren't going to go very far if your best player isn't a superstar.

For the Magic, it looks like Gordon is developing well, and we still don't know what Hezonja is, but those are their highest ceiling players.


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I do think problem with magic is they are wrong to invest heavily on shotblockers when the league is leaning towards being super heavy perimeter offense. Rim protection for a big is still a much valued skill but sacrificing other parts of the game for it may not be an optimal route for a team.

Maybe use the Biyombo money for much needed help on offense while letting Ibaka carry their shot blocking duties and sign a cheap rim protector like Dedmon?


I mean, Cavs may not have any shotblocking bigs, but they had more blocks and played better D when they faced against each other.

And it's much worse when they don't have the offense to keep up with average scoring teams.

[CoreyGallagher]

Oladipo has looked awful on the Thunder.

[Kolkmania]

I always look with full envy towards teams with great coaches. Healthy mix between motion offense and called plays, nifty out of bound plays, etc.

Brad Stevens is the king of out of bound plays, but look at this game-tying out of bound play by Terry Stotts, just a beauty. Crabbe spacing the floor, McCollum and Lillard screened by Mason Plumlee. Defense goes under the screen, one of them buries the three. Go over the screen and Lillard curls towards the basket. Switch the screen and Myles Leonards rolls or shoots over the defender.

Watch on YouTube

4:12 mark

[76ciology]

Oladipo has looked awful on the Thunder.

OKC's 9 points worse on 100 possessions when he's on court.

[76ciology]

After acquiring Biyombo and Ibaka, Magic are currently the worst team in rim protection (+7 diff%)

[HartfordWhalers]

RE the last 2 posts, I would keep in mind that small samples generally tend not to be meaningful.

[ratrac]

Looking around the league, it's great to have Simmons for 4 years, Embiid for 2 years and Okafor for 3 years on rookie contracts. This is an advantage point that should be used properly. Just looking financial wise, it makes a lot more sense to retain Okafor and deal Noel, those 2 extra cheap years are value by itself that should put Okafor above Noel.

[CoreyGallagher]

Read on Twitter

Expecting Simmons with Embiid to look similar to this.

[iMoreland]

Through 4 games...

Blazers w/ Evan Turner off court: +27 in 97 minutes
Blazers w/ Evan Turner on court: -47 in 95 minutes

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[76ciology]

Wolves play better D without Towns based at on/off DRtg?

For instance this season
On: 104DRtg
Off: 84.6DRtg
*3 games; small sample size

Last season:
On: 108DRtg
Off: 105 DRtg
*also negative DRPM