Around the League - 2019-2020

[Sixerscan]

Great win for the Thunder. They're really locked in.

They have 25 losses and have Memphis, Wizards, Suns coming up then finish with Heat and Clippers. Heat (25 losses) and Pacers (26 losses) play each other twice so there will be at least 20 teams with 27 losses. Pacers also play the Rockets (25 losses). Still up in the air and things could quickly change if the Thunder blow one of those easy games (Suns are playing well) but there's reason to be optimistic about that pick conveying.

Tomorrow the Heat also play the Bucks (coming off a loss) and the Rockets play the Lakers (coming off a loss) so maybe we get some help there. I'd love for it to be wrapped up by the time that Thunder/Heat game happens so there's no risk of shenanigans.

Heat lose and the Pacers lose to the Suns(!), so the Heat are at 26 and the Pacers are at 27 losses. So that means one of them are guaranteed at least 28 losses, which means 2 things.

1. If the Sixers lose a game (27 losses), the Thunder can go 3-2 or better and the pick will convey
2. If the Sixers were to win all of their remaining games they would be in the 4/5.

[Kobblehead]

Michael Porter Jr. is a doofus, but he's also a flatout star in the making.

[76ciology]

People were talking about who or which team benefitted from the lockdown-quarantine break.

I think it’s players recovering from health concerns like Ben Simmons or Nurkic. Better example?

The Nuggets with Bolbol and MPJ. If both sustain their growth and recovery, they will go from playoff team to a contender.

[Kobblehead]

There's always like 4-5 other young players that get talked about more than De'Aaron Fox. He might be better than all of them (including Doncic).

[Kobblehead]

The Nuggets with Bolbol and MPJ. If both sustain their growth and recovery, they will go from playoff team to a contender.

There's still a weird dynamic coming back into play when Jamal Murray gets back and tries to re-insert all his touches into the offense. The Nuggets have too many moving parts this year to be real contenders, IMO. I think they need to establish a pecking order first before they have the cohesiveness to truly make a run.

[76ciology]

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[76ciology]

There's always like 4-5 other young players that get talked about more than De'Aaron Fox. He might be better than all of them (including Doncic).

Fox better than Doncic? Better than Trae Young? Who’s the other two?

But I think he’s better than Morant though.

Zion is still a question mark for me. I have trust issues with his durability

[Kobblehead]

Of all the young stars that have entered the league since 2017, Fox is on a shortlist of guys scoring over 20 a game while playing strong defense.

Fox and Tatum and that's pretty much it.

Mitchell and Williamson are wasting their defensive potential.

Doncic isn't really trying. Neither is Morant.

Young is a sieve.

And given that Fox is scoring over 20 a game while playing strong defense and running his offense (Tatum isn't), it seems like he's doing the most of any of these guys. He's pulling off the Chris Paul workload right now at a high level.

[76ciology]

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Still not there but upwards

[76ciology]

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And Ben struggling to score like every game is game 7 of the finals

[Negrodamus]

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Wish we got this guy. Put the clamps on Derozan. We'll be seeing more of him in the years to come.

[kriss73]

I think if OKC can beat Memphis today, there's good odds for us to retain their 2020 first round pick.

[kriss73]

I think if OKC can beat Memphis today, there's good odds for us to retain their 2020 first round pick.

Nevermind

[phillynative]

Hate the celtics but I enjoyed watching them dismantle the Raptors fake star and gimicky defense. I guess celtics had no inside presence(Embiid, AD, Giannis)for them to tripple team ,sit in the paint and hack all game.

[Kobblehead]

I think if OKC can beat Memphis today, there's good odds for us to retain their 2020 first round pick.

Nevermind

I've been operating under the assumption that it was a foregone conclusion that we were going to get to keep that pick. Is it in jeopardy of not being ours?

[kriss73]

I think if OKC can beat Memphis today, there's good odds for us to retain their 2020 first round pick.

Nevermind

I've been operating under the assumption that it was a foregone conclusion that we were going to get to keep that pick. Is it in jeopardy of not being ours?

Well, OKC pick is protected 1-20.
Currently we and Indy are sitting at 20, only half game behind the Thunder (at 21).

So yes, it's in jeopardy.

The good news is that Miami, Utah are half only game ahead to OKC and the Rockets are only 1 game ahead them.

Everything is on the table.

If we and Indy will go with the same record of the Thunder in the last 4 games, than the pick will be guaranteed

[LloydFree]

Nevermind

I've been operating under the assumption that it was a foregone conclusion that we were going to get to keep that pick. Is it in jeopardy of not being ours?

Well, OKC pick is protected 1-20.
Currently we and Indy are sitting at 20, only half game behind the Thunder (at 21).

So yes, it's in jeopardy.

The good news is that Miami, Utah are half only game ahead to OKC and the Rockets are only 1 game ahead them.

Everything is on the table.

If we and Indy will go with the same record of the Thunder in the last 4 games, than the pick will be guaranteed

I think OKC will consciously take a breather in a few games, in an attempt to both keep the pick and stay out of the Lakers bracket. The good news is I think the Jazz will be doing the same thing to avoid the Rockets in the 1st round. There's still a chance.

[Sixerscan]

Yeah a lot can still happen, especially with Indy and Miami playing each other twice and OKC/Miami playing.

[Negrodamus]

Love seeing PJ Dozier getting some time for Denver. He sucked for us, but he has the tools to be a nice role player in the NBA: handles, defense, length. Seems like a good guy too.

[Negrodamus]

Donovan Mitchell is cold blooded today.