2021-22 NBA Season Discussion

[Clyde Frazier]

If payton is reasonably healthy he could be a big factor. I think I'd be surprised if he is tho. Can't wait for game 1!

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[70sFan]

Which are the best finals series you've ever watched? I just made a list for GB thread in chronological order:

1. 1970 - I have seen only one full game (game 7), but I have huge amount of footage from games 3-6 as well. Knicks were fantastic in that series and Lakers played to a standstill despite injuries. Some epic performances from West, Wilt, Reed and Frazier. A lot of legendary moments, thrilling clutch plays and just all-around high quality game.
2. 1974 - another series I haven't watched full, but I have seen a lot of footage from most games. You have GOAT-level performance from Kareem against amazing Celtics defense. Heroic game 6 with legendary OT, last Oscar Robertson game. This one probably wasn't as good as 1970 finals from objective perspective, but it was still very fun.
3. 1976 - probably not as good as other series from talent perspective, but such a dramatic series from start to finish. One of the few non-7 games series on that list, but it's well deserved.
4. 1980 - very high quality of basketball in that series. Remarkable performance by Kareem, nice duel with prime Dr J. Also, last two games were absolutely legendary. Another 6 games series on that list.
5. 1984 - quintessential Lakers vs Celtics matchup from the 1980s. I go with that over 1985 or 1987, because the series was closer but any of these 3 could be there.
6. 1988 - arguably the best finals series of the 1980s. Pistons were incredible in that series and only Magic heroics made it close. Of course, Worthy also delievered in the final game.
7. 1993 - not nearly as exciting as other series to me, but can't deny that the level of this series was extremely high. Jordan with GOAT-level performance, but also Suns doing a nice job against scary Bulls defense. Just good all-around basketball played here.
8. 1998 - very ugly series, but extremely important from historical perspective with a lot of legendary moments. It's interesting to watch two best teams pushing illegal defense rules to its limits like never before or since.
9. 2005 - another ugly, defensive minded series but to me it was incredible to watch. It was Duncan vs Wallaces, but also Manu breakthrough.
10. 2010 - close between this and 2008, but 2010 was a bit closer. Another defensive minded, slow series but I actually love this kind of basketball. Very good series from tactical perspective.
11. 2013 - one of my favorite series of all-time, probably would have been my favorite with different outcome. So many classic moments and plays, thrilling to the end.
12. 2016 - can't miss that one, the only comeback from 1-3 in finals history.

Would you change anything? I tried to make it a good combination of quality of basketball, competitiveness, enjoyment of watching and narratives.

[parsnips33]

I just think it's cool that Steph/Draymond/Klay were all drafted together and so were Tatum/Brown/Smart. I'm not a rabid superteam hater or anything, but it is cool to see guys come up together, struggle together, and eventually succeed together

[jalengreen]

https://sports.yahoo.com/with-warriors-already-in-luxury-tax-will-jordan-pooles-breakout-season-net-him-max-extension-235910728.html

article about poole

Warriors president of basketball operations and general manager Bob Myers cut off the question before it could be finished, flatly saying “no” when asked by Yahoo Sports if financial concerns would keep the franchise from keeping one of its youngest, most productive players.

“No, no,” Myers told Yahoo Sports. “I mean, thankfully [I] work for an ownership group in Joe [Lacob] that has committed all kinds of resources to winning. And I know that because every time I asked him about roster and strategy, it’s always winning.”

all the talk about the warriors is usually centered on the system, players, coaching, etc - rightfully so. but the ownership is truly a blessing. there are many owners who would not be willing to pay the record-high $170M tax bill.

[Texas Chuck]

I just think it's cool that Steph/Draymond/Klay were all drafted together and so were Tatum/Brown/Smart. I'm not a rabid superteam hater or anything, but it is cool to see guys come up together, struggle together, and eventually succeed together

Yep. I don't care how teams come together or how many stars they can assemble either. But it's cool to watch a homegrown crew rise up and do it together. Boston is a bit different as their young guys have known nothing but winning as they were added to an already competitive veteran team, but its neat they are all still standing and the bought and paid for guys are all gone save the returning Horford, but even that's a pretty neat story.

[Texas Chuck]

but the ownership is truly a blessing. .

This is a player focused board so I try and rarely mention it here, unlike my main home on the Trade board where its relevant to basically everything, but the thing that gets overlooked the most when evaluating team success is the governor of the team. It's not impossible to win with a bad one, but nearly so. And the teams that consistently win, always have a governor who spends money, and who trusts their basketball people's vision.

The Kings and Wolves and Knicks futility is tied directly to their governors. The Spurs and Heat have great leadership, but also great governors. Jerry Buss >>>> Buss offspring etc....

[Colbinii]

but the ownership is truly a blessing. .

This is a player focused board so I try and rarely mention it here, unlike my main home on the Trade board where its relevant to basically everything, but the thing that gets overlooked the most when evaluating team success is the governor of the team. It's not impossible to win with a bad one, but nearly so. And the teams that consistently win, always have a governor who spends money, and who trusts their basketball people's vision.

The Kings and Wolves and Knicks futility is tied directly to their governors. The Spurs and Heat have great leadership, but also great governors. Jerry Buss >>>> Buss offspring etc....

Time to remove the Wolves, buddy.

[falcolombardi]

Which are the best finals series you've ever watched? I just made a list for GB thread in chronological order:

1. 1970 - I have seen only one full game (game 7), but I have huge amount of footage from games 3-6 as well. Knicks were fantastic in that series and Lakers played to a standstill despite injuries. Some epic performances from West, Wilt, Reed and Frazier. A lot of legendary moments, thrilling clutch plays and just all-around high quality game.
2. 1974 - another series I haven't watched full, but I have seen a lot of footage from most games. You have GOAT-level performance from Kareem against amazing Celtics defense. Heroic game 6 with legendary OT, last Oscar Robertson game. This one probably wasn't as good as 1970 finals from objective perspective, but it was still very fun.
3. 1976 - probably not as good as other series from talent perspective, but such a dramatic series from start to finish. One of the few non-7 games series on that list, but it's well deserved.
4. 1980 - very high quality of basketball in that series. Remarkable performance by Kareem, nice duel with prime Dr J. Also, last two games were absolutely legendary. Another 6 games series on that list.
5. 1984 - quintessential Lakers vs Celtics matchup from the 1980s. I go with that over 1985 or 1987, because the series was closer but any of these 3 could be there.
6. 1988 - arguably the best finals series of the 1980s. Pistons were incredible in that series and only Magic heroics made it close. Of course, Worthy also delievered in the final game.
7. 1993 - not nearly as exciting as other series to me, but can't deny that the level of this series was extremely high. Jordan with GOAT-level performance, but also Suns doing a nice job against scary Bulls defense. Just good all-around basketball played here.
8. 1998 - very ugly series, but extremely important from historical perspective with a lot of legendary moments. It's interesting to watch two best teams pushing illegal defense rules to its limits like never before or since.
9. 2005 - another ugly, defensive minded series but to me it was incredible to watch. It was Duncan vs Wallaces, but also Manu breakthrough.
10. 2010 - close between this and 2008, but 2010 was a bit closer. Another defensive minded, slow series but I actually love this kind of basketball. Very good series from tactical perspective.
11. 2013 - one of my favorite series of all-time, probably would have been my favorite with different outcome. So many classic moments and plays, thrilling to the end.
12. 2016 - can't miss that one, the only comeback from 1-3 in finals history.

Would you change anything? I tried to make it a good combination of quality of basketball, competitiveness, enjoyment of watching and narratives.

i think 2019 is really underated, watched it a bit ago and the level and "flow" of the basketball played was fantastic

[penbeast0]

Which are the best finals series you've ever watched? I just made a list for GB thread in chronological order:

...

Some personal favorites:

69, the last gasp of the aging Celtics, up against a team with, at worst, one of the two greatest guards, one of the two greatest forwards, and one of the two greatest centers of all time up to then combined with the BVBK refusal to put Wilt back in at the end.

76 ABA, Dr. J confirms his status of the only man since Mikan to carry an entire league on his shoulder by owning ATG defensive forward Bobby Jones and the top ranked Denver Nuggets in an incredible final, which I couldn't even watch on television thanks to the idiots that ran TV networks. So maybe it doesn't count but I listened to Ken Beatrice's sports show every night on the radio which had regular updates so I was experiencing it live if not watching it.

78 "It ain't over till the fat lady sings." A .500 team that had been good but not great for a long time won 3 straight series on the road (plus a home and home opening round). AS a Washington basketball fan, it's our only shining moment in the sun. For other franchises, maybe not such a big deal. 79 was a rematch so the Bullets did turn out to be legit even though Seattle won the rematch.

After that my team went into its current 40 year slump and while my analytics got sharper, the sheer excitement was lost a bit.

[falcolombardi]

[youtube][/youtube]

Which are the best finals series you've ever watched? I just made a list for GB thread in chronological order:

1. 1970 - I have seen only one full game (game 7), but I have huge amount of footage from games 3-6 as well. Knicks were fantastic in that series and Lakers played to a standstill despite injuries. Some epic performances from West, Wilt, Reed and Frazier. A lot of legendary moments, thrilling clutch plays and just all-around high quality game.
2. 1974 - another series I haven't watched full, but I have seen a lot of footage from most games. You have GOAT-level performance from Kareem against amazing Celtics defense. Heroic game 6 with legendary OT, last Oscar Robertson game. This one probably wasn't as good as 1970 finals from objective perspective, but it was still very fun.
3. 1976 - probably not as good as other series from talent perspective, but such a dramatic series from start to finish. One of the few non-7 games series on that list, but it's well deserved.
4. 1980 - very high quality of basketball in that series. Remarkable performance by Kareem, nice duel with prime Dr J. Also, last two games were absolutely legendary. Another 6 games series on that list.
5. 1984 - quintessential Lakers vs Celtics matchup from the 1980s. I go with that over 1985 or 1987, because the series was closer but any of these 3 could be there.
6. 1988 - arguably the best finals series of the 1980s. Pistons were incredible in that series and only Magic heroics made it close. Of course, Worthy also delievered in the final game.
7. 1993 - not nearly as exciting as other series to me, but can't deny that the level of this series was extremely high. Jordan with GOAT-level performance, but also Suns doing a nice job against scary Bulls defense. Just good all-around basketball played here.
8. 1998 - very ugly series, but extremely important from historical perspective with a lot of legendary moments. It's interesting to watch two best teams pushing illegal defense rules to its limits like never before or since.
9. 2005 - another ugly, defensive minded series but to me it was incredible to watch. It was Duncan vs Wallaces, but also Manu breakthrough.
10. 2010 - close between this and 2008, but 2010 was a bit closer. Another defensive minded, slow series but I actually love this kind of basketball. Very good series from tactical perspective.
11. 2013 - one of my favorite series of all-time, probably would have been my favorite with different outcome. So many classic moments and plays, thrilling to the end.
12. 2016 - can't miss that one, the only comeback from 1-3 in finals history.

Would you change anything? I tried to make it a good combination of quality of basketball, competitiveness, enjoyment of watching and narratives.

Some personal favorites:

69, the last gasp of the aging Celtics, up against a team with, at worst, one of the two greatest guards, one of the two greatest forwards, and one of the two greatest centers of all time up to then combined with the BVBK refusal to put Wilt back in at the end.

76 ABA, Dr. J confirms his status of the only man since Mikan to carry an entire league on his shoulder by owning ATG defensive forward Bobby Jones and the top ranked Denver Nuggets in an incredible final, which I couldn't even watch on television thanks to the idiots that ran TV networks. So maybe it doesn't count but I listened to the radio sports show which had regular updates so I was experiencing it live if not watching it.

78 "It ain't over till the fat lady sings." A .500 team that had been good but not great for a long time won 3 straight series on the road (plus a home and home opening round). AS a Washington basketball fan, it's our only shining moment in the sun. For other franchises, maybe not such a big deal. 79 was a rematch so the Bullets did turn out to be legit even though Seattle won the rematch.

70's wizards are one of the ultimate "grinding" teams i think

be very good for a long time, not stacked with mega stafs but have a collection of good players and 1-2 all star level guys, build through depth and defense/hustle as you are not the most talented team and manage to get your ring

[jalengreen]

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not a fan of this. sure embiid was a top 5 player this season but plenty of centers who werent the best center were left off the first team throughout NBA history. i dont see a problem with that

[falcolombardi]

lets see what the celtics can bring in san francisco

wonder gow their defense will perform

[ronnymac2]

I've got GSW winning (unsure about games - but I'll say either 5 or 7, not 6). Boston had to play two game 7s, which wears on you (and has considering Boston's injuries). GSW had time in these playoffs to rest. Granted, they've had their share of injuries to key players as well.

I doubt Curry has a superlative, all-time level series. He's a legit all-time great player, but he's not a dominant player against a competent team in a seven-game series. GSW's defense headed by Draymond will imo be the key in this series.

[falcolombardi]

smart trading 3's with the splash brothers cannot be a sustainable strategy

[RCM88x]

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not a fan of this. sure embiid was a top 5 player this season but plenty of centers who werent the best center were left off the first team throughout NBA history. i dont see a problem with that

Especially if contracts are dependent on it (what an insanely dumb idea) it just makes more sense for it to be a position less thing. Sucks for historical comparison though.

[falcolombardi]

like to see draymond being agresslve to score for once, should help with keeping celtics defense in their toes even if he is not the best scorer

if celtics get to just ignore draymond in offense and play 5 on 4 defense warriors offense will become messy

[eminence]

Lots of players pushing a bit too much early, not surprising for the stage.

[falcolombardi]

did iguodala just get accidentally draymon'd?

first dick shot of the playoffs?

[falcolombardi]

i dont know if celtics should be scared curry just scored 21 points in a quarter

or warriors worried they are only up 4 points after curry hit 6 3's in a quarter

[parsnips33]

What in the world kind of defense are they playing on Steph lol

If he only saw defenses like this in the finals he'd already have 3 MVPs