2021-22 NBA Season Discussion

[parsnips33]

What evidence is there that Grizzlies without Morant are a weak team? Hasn't everything we've seen shown the opposite?

if warriors beat dallas then we will have to wonder if dallas was really better than memphis

maybe suns choked amd would normally beat dallas 9/10 times or maybe dallas was actually the stronger team going into the playoffs as their comparable records in 2022 support, is hard to be sure

How important is the specific matchup though? I think there's a rock paper scissors element in basketball where:

team A > team B > team C, but team C matches up well against team A so they might lose to B but beat A

[Doctor MJ]

The last time the core of Curry, Draymond and Thompson made the finals was 2016, winning was 2015.

Bizarre to me the way people not only look to ignore the Durant years, but forget that the original core is what got them to the finals in 2019.

I'm with you that it's been a while, and certainly there are good reasons to see them as less of a favorite than they were in the 2010s, but you speak as if you've seen this core fail repeatedly when the reality is you've never seen them fail to make the finals with them all as starters, and you have seen them get there as starters 5 times.

So yeah, less of a question of what they'll need to do to get there, and more of a question of whether they can find their old form. Interesting, but not as interesting as a new team that's never been there before.

[LukaTheGOAT]

Speaking of OKC and the draft, what are thoughts on them right now?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander w/ Giddey off the court (IA per 75):

•) 29.6 points
•) 6.8 assists
•) 8.9 FTAs
•) 57.6 TS% (+6.0% w/o Giddey)
•) 32.7 3P% (+6.5% w/o Giddey)
•) OKC -1.9 rORtg w/ SGA & no Giddey, OKC -6.4 rORtg w/ both on-court

Shai Gilgeous Alexander led the league in @The_BBall_Index 'Rim Shot creation' metric this season.

This stat evaluates a player's ability to get to the rim (per possession).

1. SGA (3.88)
2. Morant (3.85)
3. Brogdon (2.92)
4. Giannis (2.73)
5. Fox/Tatum (2.10)

Does Alexander need to be more of a primary ball-handler and if so does that mean you trade Giddey? Or how about Vice-versa?

Taking the ball out of his hands too much seems less than ideal.

[falcolombardi]

Speaking of OKC and the draft, what are thoughts on them right now?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander w/ Giddey off the court (IA per 75):

•) 29.6 points
•) 6.8 assists
•) 8.9 FTAs
•) 57.6 TS% (+6.0% w/o Giddey)
•) 32.7 3P% (+6.5% w/o Giddey)
•) OKC -1.9 rORtg w/ SGA & no Giddey, OKC -6.4 rORtg w/ both on-court

Shai Gilgeous Alexander led the league in @The_BBall_Index 'Rim Shot creation' metric this season.

This stat evaluates a player's ability to get to the rim (per possession).

1. SGA (3.88)
2. Morant (3.85)
3. Brogdon (2.92)
4. Giannis (2.73)
5. Fox/Tatum (2.10)

Does Alexander need to be more of a primary ball-handler and if so does that mean you trade Giddey? Or how about Vice-versa?

Taking the ball out of his hands too much seems less than ideal.

trading a rookie with promise after his rookie season because he has weak impact is prolly not the best idea

it will depend more on how it looks next season, if giddey improves his jumpshot it is possible those metrics will look a lot better

having two ballhandlers is not a bad thingh either

[Outside]

The last time the core of Curry, Draymond and Thompson made the finals was 2016, winning was 2015.

Bizarre to me the way people not only look to ignore the Durant years, but forget that the original core is what got them to the finals in 2019.

I'm with you that it's been a while, and certainly there are good reasons to see them as less of a favorite than they were in the 2010s, but you speak as if you've seen this core fail repeatedly when the reality is you've never seen them fail to make the finals with them all as starters, and you have seen them get there as starters 5 times.

So yeah, less of a question of what they'll need to do to get there, and more of a question of whether they can find their old form. Interesting, but not as interesting as a new team that's never been there before.

The Luka Mavs haven't won a series until this season, yet the Warriors who are 20-2 in playoff series under Kerr are apparently the bigger question mark.

[Texas Chuck]

I'll be honest. This WCF I am watching almost exclusively as a fan. I don't care what it tells us about how good Dallas is or isn't. I think Dallas has done enough to show they belong in the final four. Sure maybe they are the weakest of the four and sure maybe the Bucks or Grizzlies or heck even the Suns are "better". But this sport is great because you have to go do it. They don't award it to you on paper. And they've earned their spot.

And while some will say but Utah unraveled and Phoenix unraveled. Sure but Dallas played a part in that, particularly with the Suns. Utah struggled headed into the playoffs and they were already having some issues. But nobody was saying that about Phoenix. Sometimes its okay to credit the team who does rather than finding reasons why the other team doesn't.

But I'm just stoked about this series. I expect Dallas to hang right with a team with a championship pedigree core. I think Luka is going to be the best player in the series. And let me stress, I do not mean lead every team in scoring, rebounds, assists like he did the last one. I mean: Be. The. Best. Player.

May not be enough. This may be the end of the line. But I plan on savoring this. Because I think its the start of the rise of Luka and thus the rise of the little Mavs. Maybe this is the Bad Boys Pistons beating down Mike and Scottie one last time. But maybe it isn't. I made the mistake against Phoenix and probably put too much stock in the last 11 meetings being losses. These guys have me convinced now. They belong here.

[parsnips33]

I'll be honest. This WCF I am watching almost exclusively as a fan. I don't care what it tells us about how good Dallas is or isn't. I think Dallas has done enough to show they belong in the final four. Sure maybe they are the weakest of the four and sure maybe the Bucks or Grizzlies or heck even the Suns are "better". But this sport is great because you have to go do it. They don't award it to you on paper. And they've earned their spot.

And while some will say but Utah unraveled and Phoenix unraveled. Sure but Dallas played a part in that, particularly with the Suns. Utah struggled headed into the playoffs and they were already having some issues. But nobody was saying that about Phoenix. Sometimes its okay to credit the team who does rather than finding reasons why the other team doesn't.

But I'm just stoked about this series. I expect Dallas to hang right with a team with a championship pedigree core. I think Luka is going to be the best player in the series. And let me stress, I do not mean lead every team in scoring, rebounds, assists like he did the last one. I mean: Be. The. Best. Player.

May not be enough. This may be the end of the line. But I plan on savoring this. Because I think its the start of the rise of Luka and thus the rise of the little Mavs. Maybe this is the Bad Boys Pistons beating down Mike and Scottie one last time. But maybe it isn't. I made the mistake against Phoenix and probably put too much stock in the last 11 meetings being losses. These guys have me convinced now. They belong here.

I have been anticipating/fearing this matchup for a bit now, had a feeling Mavs would beat Phoenix (even as you tried to convince me otherwise )

As a fan, I'm extremely excited. Future of the league vs the humbled dynasty. I can only hope it'll end with Steph giving Luka the Tim Duncan to Lebron in 07 "this will be your league soon, just not yet"

[Texas Chuck]

As a fan, I'm extremely excited. Future of the league vs the humbled dynasty. I can only hope it'll end with Steph giving Luka the Tim Duncan to Lebron in 07 "this will be your league soon, just not yet"

That ending sucks.

Not sure how humbled the dynasty is yet. As Doc points out, with the big 3 healthy they only know deep runs. And my guess is they believe that's the only explanation of the last 2 years. And they might be right. Speaking of things Chuck got wrong, the Warriors having this season is not something I saw coming. I kinda get turned off by some of the organization arrogance, but if I am fair to them, they have every reason to believe they are something special. And its okay to not be the Spurs and lowkey about it. If you are the best, who am I to tell them not to get busy telling everyone you are.

I just want it to be Luka's turn to tell the world he's the best is all.

[jalengreen]

Speaking of OKC and the draft, what are thoughts on them right now?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander w/ Giddey off the court (IA per 75):

•) 29.6 points
•) 6.8 assists
•) 8.9 FTAs
•) 57.6 TS% (+6.0% w/o Giddey)
•) 32.7 3P% (+6.5% w/o Giddey)
•) OKC -1.9 rORtg w/ SGA & no Giddey, OKC -6.4 rORtg w/ both on-court

Shai Gilgeous Alexander led the league in @The_BBall_Index 'Rim Shot creation' metric this season.

This stat evaluates a player's ability to get to the rim (per possession).

1. SGA (3.88)
2. Morant (3.85)
3. Brogdon (2.92)
4. Giannis (2.73)
5. Fox/Tatum (2.10)

Does Alexander need to be more of a primary ball-handler and if so does that mean you trade Giddey? Or how about Vice-versa?

Taking the ball out of his hands too much seems less than ideal.

SGA's numbers are very impressive but i think he projects better as a secondary playmaker who is paired with a PG like giddey. giddey certainly had issues (super inefficient scoring.. awful shooting) but he was a rookie and is certainly promising IMO. he will definitely have to improve his efficiency but you have to give him time right now

as for the draft, i think either chet or jabari would be great picks for the thunder and they should probably just take whoever the magic don't out of those two (with chet over jabari if the magic dont pick either but that would be surprising)

[Peregrine01]

Warriors playing with a level of force that we haven't really seen since game 2 of the Nuggets series and it's really rattled the Mavs. I don't think they can keep this up but this is the kind of stuff that had us thinking of them as the favorites earlier on.

[falcolombardi]

dallas weathered the warriors storm in second quarter

time to see if they have a "counter attack" in them for the next half

[GSP]

This Mavs team reminds me so much of the 19 Rockets.......

Luka a better version of Harden
Brunson a worse version of Cp3
Dinwiddie has Gordons role
Dfs the versatile switch defender anchor like Tucker that plays small big
Powell the lob threat pick and roll big like Capela

biggest difference is Houston didnt have a Kleber type of player

3&d players everywhere and constant switching............finna attempt 70 3s a game

[Peregrine01]

When the Warriors move like this, it's something to behold.

[Thelonewarrior]

As a fan, I'm extremely excited. Future of the league vs the humbled dynasty. I can only hope it'll end with Steph giving Luka the Tim Duncan to Lebron in 07 "this will be your league soon, just not yet"

That ending sucks.

Not sure how humbled the dynasty is yet. As Doc points out, with the big 3 healthy they only know deep runs. And my guess is they believe that's the only explanation of the last 2 years. And they might be right. Speaking of things Chuck got wrong, the Warriors having this season is not something I saw coming. I kinda get turned off by some of the organization arrogance, but if I am fair to them, they have every reason to believe they are something special. And its okay to not be the Spurs and lowkey about it. If you are the best, who am I to tell them not to get busy telling everyone you are.

I just want it to be Luka's turn to tell the world he's the best is all.

I love this mindset, if your good do what good players do tell the world. Both work being humble and being flamboyant about it. I just don't understand the hate for both.

[Peregrine01]

Mavs are gonna need something else on offense other than 5-out isolations.

[GSP]

Wiggins dominated Luka on both ends

Helioball will never lead to a title. If Bron and Mj couldnt win win that style Luka sure as **** isnt specially consider he doesnt make an impact on defense either

[Texas Chuck]

Mavs are gonna need something else on offense other than 5-out isolations.

Maybe. But this is what they do. But full credit to GSW, after being pretty poor defensively in the 1st quarter(Dallas just missed a bunch of shots from guys they wanted taking them), they definitely tightened up the screws and showed why they were an elite defensive team and totally frustrated Luka who couldn't get anything going. That was championship level defense for 3 quarters.

[Texas Chuck]

But Dallas' plan is being executed perfectly. Get the other team feeling overconfident by losing by 25 but making it seem like 75.

Right where we want them....

Spoiler:

Green font obviously

[parsnips33]

Pretty good game 1

Loved the defensive gameplan. Hard hedges by Steph and Poole instead of conceding the switch. We'll see how Dallas counters, I'm sure Luka/Kidd have some tricks up their sleeves

Also Wiggins is just a beast. How could anybody ever doubt this guy (don't look at any of my old comments about him )

[eminence]

If Dallas has something other than 5 out isos in their bag it'll be the first time we've seen it.

Feels like they went after the wrong targets today - Looney is a rock. Poole, Poole is the one they want.