2020-21 NBA Season Discussion

[Doctor MJ]

Eh, cousins is worse.

I'm someone who has been very negative on Cousins for a long time, but I haven't heard of him to anything to betray his teammates the way each of Kyrie, Durant, and Harden have done. Feel free to expound though, maybe there's something I'm not thinking of.

Watch on YouTube

Ah I see. So you're talking about guys who are potential OJ Simpson-level criminals. Point taken.

You're right, but within the context of professionalism, while I consider Cousins terrible, he never weaponized his elitism the way Kyrie/KD/Harden trio has each done. While it's true that the NBA will go to hell if everyone acts like Cousins, I think we all know that because his attitude has kept him from being a HOF-level guy. These other guys have used their ability to succeed in the NBA to burn their teams to the ground the moment their ego wasn't being sufficiently placated. Maybe Cousins was in the process of doing that in Sac, but Vivek was the actual pyro there.

[freethedevil]

I'm someone who has been very negative on Cousins for a long time, but I haven't heard of him to anything to betray his teammates the way each of Kyrie, Durant, and Harden have done. Feel free to expound though, maybe there's something I'm not thinking of.

Watch on YouTube

Ah I see. So you're talking about guys who are potential OJ Simpson-level criminals. Point taken.

You're right, but within the context of professionalism, while I consider Cousins terrible, he never weaponized his elitism the way Kyrie/KD/Harden trio has each done. While it's true that the NBA will go to hell if everyone acts like Cousins, I think we all know that because his attitude has kept him from being a HOF-level guy. These other guys have used their ability to succeed in the NBA to burn their teams to the ground the moment their ego wasn't being sufficiently placated. Maybe Cousins was in the process of doing that in Sac, but Vivek was the actual pyro there.

Fair distinciton

[StepBackCrack]

What will be the most points scored in a game by the Nets this season? Do they break 160? 170?

According to bkref the recent Warriors teams never broke 150, I think people need to chew on that because it's pretty unlikely that the Nets are in general scoring more than those Warrior teams, both because they probably won't be as good offensively, and because iso-ball slows things down.

Not saying they couldn't get hot for a game and just go for it, because that can happen for teams with a lot less talent than the Nets, but if you're expecting the Nets to be the best offensive team in history, you're almost certainly in for a let down, and if you're thinking they're going to play extremely fast, well, I doubt they'll even be trying to play particularly fast.

To be clear: While I would not favor the Nets to win the title, this is not me saying they can't win it. I think the Nets acquisition of Harden was pretty wise given where they were, and it was the easiest way to turn them into a likely contender, but basketball is not a sport where you can just keep adding scorers without diminishing returns.

If the Nets do become an all-time offense, it's going to mean some kind of synergizing that no one should see as a given at this time.

You expect the Nets offense to be a letdown and in the same post write a bottom line just in case your prediction turns out to be wrong. Very clever. Just pick a side and stick with it.

Nets offense imo will be great because they have 2 superstars that have high BB IQ and can do literally everything offensively. 2 of the greatest offensive players ever. Add Kyrie who can create shots and finish at an elite level and a great sniper like Joe Harris, then you get so many options with them as a coach on offense. With just proper staggering of their big 3, Nets offense will be an all-time offensive team. Maybe not quite GSW-level all-time great but all-time great offense nonetheless.

I'm confident in saying that they will be an all-time great offense (if all their key players stay healthy obviously).

[Doctor MJ]

What will be the most points scored in a game by the Nets this season? Do they break 160? 170?

According to bkref the recent Warriors teams never broke 150, I think people need to chew on that because it's pretty unlikely that the Nets are in general scoring more than those Warrior teams, both because they probably won't be as good offensively, and because iso-ball slows things down.

Not saying they couldn't get hot for a game and just go for it, because that can happen for teams with a lot less talent than the Nets, but if you're expecting the Nets to be the best offensive team in history, you're almost certainly in for a let down, and if you're thinking they're going to play extremely fast, well, I doubt they'll even be trying to play particularly fast.

To be clear: While I would not favor the Nets to win the title, this is not me saying they can't win it. I think the Nets acquisition of Harden was pretty wise given where they were, and it was the easiest way to turn them into a likely contender, but basketball is not a sport where you can just keep adding scorers without diminishing returns.

If the Nets do become an all-time offense, it's going to mean some kind of synergizing that no one should see as a given at this time.

You expect the Nets offense to be a letdown and in the same post write a bottom line just in case your prediction turns out to be wrong. Very clever. Just pick a side and stick with it.

The world has nuance. It's time for you to grow up child.

[StepBackCrack]

According to bkref the recent Warriors teams never broke 150, I think people need to chew on that because it's pretty unlikely that the Nets are in general scoring more than those Warrior teams, both because they probably won't be as good offensively, and because iso-ball slows things down.

Not saying they couldn't get hot for a game and just go for it, because that can happen for teams with a lot less talent than the Nets, but if you're expecting the Nets to be the best offensive team in history, you're almost certainly in for a let down, and if you're thinking they're going to play extremely fast, well, I doubt they'll even be trying to play particularly fast.

To be clear: While I would not favor the Nets to win the title, this is not me saying they can't win it. I think the Nets acquisition of Harden was pretty wise given where they were, and it was the easiest way to turn them into a likely contender, but basketball is not a sport where you can just keep adding scorers without diminishing returns.

If the Nets do become an all-time offense, it's going to mean some kind of synergizing that no one should see as a given at this time.

You expect the Nets offense to be a letdown and in the same post write a bottom line just in case your prediction turns out to be wrong. Very clever. Just pick a side and stick with it.

The world has nuance. It's time for you to grow up child.

Ouch, I hit a nerve I guess. Didn't expect you to be this upset. Just noticed an easy way for you to get out of your initial predication and I called it out. That's all. There is good enough reason to believe that's their offense will be super great so I thought your last line is just not true at all. It's not something "no one shouldn't be able to see" coming type of thing. Plenty of people expect their offense to be great and for a good reason. Defense will be their main issue and also for a good reason.

[Doctor MJ]

You expect the Nets offense to be a letdown and in the same post write a bottom line just in case your prediction turns out to be wrong. Very clever. Just pick a side and stick with it.

The world has nuance. It's time for you to grow up child.

Ouch, I hit a nerve I guess. Didn't expect you to be this upset. Just noticed an easy way for you to get out of your initial predication and I called it out. That's all. There is good enough reason to believe that's their offense will be super great so I thought your last line is just not true at all. It's not something "no one shouldn't be able to see" coming type of thing. Plenty of people expect their offense to be great and for a good reason. Defense will be their main issue and also for a good reason.

Stop assuming everything everyone says to you is about them. Consider that you really might be so immature that people don't want to waste their time with you. Goodbye.

[StepBackCrack]

The world has nuance. It's time for you to grow up child.

Ouch, I hit a nerve I guess. Didn't expect you to be this upset. Just noticed an easy way for you to get out of your initial predication and I called it out. That's all. There is good enough reason to believe that's their offense will be super great so I thought your last line is just not true at all. It's not something "no one shouldn't be able to see" coming type of thing. Plenty of people expect their offense to be great and for a good reason. Defense will be their main issue and also for a good reason.

Stop assuming everything everyone says to you is about them. Consider that you really might be so immature that people don't want to waste their time with you. Goodbye.

You are the one throwing a fit for no good reason here. Just noticed some sort of contradiction or something I disagreed with and you didn't like it apparently. It's ok if you refuse to replay. I have no issue with that at all. I don't replay to all of those who replay to me. Nothing personal against them. In most cases, I just don't have enough time or busy with something else.

Have a good day.

[HeartBreakKid]

Didn't DeMarcus Cousins not get along well with Isaiah Thomas? I remember there being issues between the two, so I wouldn't say he has never had no problems with his teammates.

[bondom34]

Read on Twitter

Prayers up KAT. His family's been hit so hard in all this, just incredibly sad.

[HeartBreakKid]

He'll be fine, he's a young strong lad. It would be really unfortunate if it did critically damage him, talk about a stroke of awful luck.

[parsnips33]

Read on Twitter

Prayers up KAT. His family's been hit so hard in all this, just incredibly sad.

That last line is just brutal. What an awful year it's been

[bondom34]

Read on Twitter

Prayers up KAT. His family's been hit so hard in all this, just incredibly sad.

That last line is just brutal. What an awful year it's been

Holy crap I hadn't even read the last line .

Just saw the tweet up and knew what it was so skimmed but man....

Whole thing just puts it in perspective.

[eminence]

I've found my secret, I watch Jazz games as a Warrior fan, and Warrior games as a Jazz fan.

[MyUniBroDavis]

Ugh, was holding out hope that Kyrie at least communicated with Nets leadership behind the scenes and that they were cool with him leaving for a little and were in support of him...but clearly not:

Sean Marks admitted the Brooklyn Nets are "disappointed" by the absence of Kyrie Irving for personal reasons.

“I’m not going to shy away from it: Without a doubt the organization is disappointed with not having any one of our players, in this particular case, Kyrie, not amongst us — not in the trenches with us and so forth,” said Marks.

“I don’t want to speculate and say why he’s out and so forth. I’ve had conversations with him, and I’ll continue to have conversations. And we look forward to him being back in the gym where he will address this.”

Marks said he has been in touch with Irving as recently as Wednesday to discuss Brooklyn's trade for James Harden, but also said “you … hope there is an adequate, more than adequate excuse as to like why he needs personal time.”

“And he will address that, without a doubt,” Marks said.

The Nets have insisted that it will be Irving to explain his absence.

“I have talked to Kyrie, so I know he’s excited about getting back on the court with his teammates as soon as possible,” said Marks.

Can't even try to defend him anymore.

Kevin durant created burners to tell kids to kill themselves, and apparently didn't think steve "you're more talented than micheal jordan" kerr bent backwards enough for him, 'warning' harden about steve kerr.

Harden threw every one of his teamamtes under the bus, and blatantly broke covid protocols during a pandemic to force a trade

Kyrie is Kyrie. Calls the media pawns, has been a lockeroom cancer for an extremely well run celtics org, and went on podcasts saying his new head coach wasn't ready to coach.


Has there ever been a more unlikable big three in nba history?

Lol wait did KD actually do that I know he got caught saying dumb crap in his burner tho

Kyrie is pretty funny ngl in a “lol this is real” kind of way

[kayess]

Ugh, the Nets now have the unholy trinity of least likable human beings in the NBA.

But I'll say this: With Durant & Harden, they don't even need to be able to rely on Kyrie.

Previously I saw the team as one that might be able to hit high highs, but was unlikely to be able to maintain it through a regular and post-season.

Now things just got a hell of a lot easier, and it's not hard at all to see them contending for titles this year and going forward.

We'll see how they all mesh, and I still consider the Lakers to be the favorites if they're healthy, but it won't be a shock at all if the Nets get to the finals, and then we'll just see who's actually suited up for the opposition.

Eh, cousins is worse.

Cousins has done a lot of great stuff for the community though IIRC? So he's a basketball headcase, not an IRL one

edit: Holy **** I just listened to that video. NVM

[bondom34]

Won't lie, seeing SGA do this well so far this season has been very encouraging.

[GSP]

The Clips defense is legit bad. 26th in the league before this game and they cant stop Sacramento anywhere. Shooting 3s, penetration, at the rim.

I think ppl are gonna keep thinking theyre gonna turn the switch right up until they get bounced in the 1st round. Kawhi maybe leaves and its seen as one of the biggest failures in Nba history

[eminence]

ATL has looked really poor tonight. Giving up a ton of easy shots and rotations just kinda weird.

[Peregrine01]

A bit astounding that the idea of diminishing returns and fit are still so poorly understood and underappreciated. Just adding a whole bunch of talent together does not = insane results, especially on offense when there's only one ball.

Here's a prime example:

2016 Warriors rORTG: +8.2
2017 Warriors rORTG: +6.8

[GSP]

A bit astounding that the idea of diminishing returns and fit are still so poorly understood and underappreciated. Just adding a whole bunch of talent together does not = insane results, especially on offense when there's only one ball.

Here's a prime example:

2016 Warriors rORTG: +8.2
2017 Warriors rORTG: +6.8

Now post the playoffs numbers. The 17 Warriors did post insane and better results

The net rating (including defense) in the games Kd played were ridiculous that season. From Elgees impact evaluation on Kd they went from a 10.4 Srs in the games he missed in 17 to a 14.4 Srs when be played

The Heat were a -3.5 defense in 2010 and in 2011 were -3.8. their 2011 defense was clearly much better and we saw them steamroll a strong Eastern conference gauntlet on their way to the finals too