2020-21 NBA Season Discussion

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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#661 » by MyUniBroDavis » Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:29 am

StepBackCrack wrote:
Doctor MJ wrote:
parsnips33 wrote: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. :lol: 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).



So I agree breaking 150 is hard, but it’s worth mentioning the warriors would have done it a few times if they didn’t rest their guys in the fourth, at least 3-4 times it’s pretty likely they were on pace, it’s just if you score that much ur prolly resting ur guys

I think in terms of the nets and being an all time offense, it’s more about how hard they’ll be to stop in the playoffs, since they’re taking that 5 out iso formula and basically turning it up to an 11 and making in unstoppable, since there will always be an available mismatch on the court and because it’s more than just one guy tactics to get the ball away like what the lakers did vs Houston won’t be as effective.

Obv there’s a lot that has to happen but the nets with good coaching are def talented enough to be an ATG offense, because even their role players are the type of guys you want to fit around iso scorers.

It also depends on what you mean by ATG offense. The mavs offense last year was the highest RS offense ever but the actual offense of the mavs, I’m pretty sure most would wouldn’t have them that high. Conversely the lakers were top 5 range in the RS outside of the bubble but basically became the top offense by far during the postseason. Similar situation on defense with the bucks being one of the best relative defensive teams ever but genuinely being a bad defensive team vs the heat (as in, below league average in performance) because budenholzer isn’t tactically adept (I’d argue this hurts the perception of Giannis more than it should too).

I think what’s more important than an offenses raw efficiency is their adaptability and consistency. In theory the nets offense should be stupidly hard to stop, and we have to wait and see how they are in terms of scheme and tactics. I’ve heard their scheme is actually quite good, but d antoni lowkey isn’t that good at offensive adjustments, he’s more so better at designing an offense and sets. Like he’s prolly one of the best in the league at forcing switches but gets big brained by some adjustments

Nash I’m assuming is more of a player relations and communication coach, but who knows.

I think there’s definitely potential for the nets offense to be as hard to stop as the warriors offenses were, they weren’t exactly infallible and certain defenses (switchy ones) could sometimes annoy them, a lot because Kerr even though he’s great gets too in love with his vision of the game at times I feel

There’s potential for locker room stuff and things like that but at the end of the day Kyrie/Durant/Harden are probably top 7 (harden and Durant top 3 with playoff bron) in terms of that mismatch isolation type offense and they have the tools to run it really well. While it’s true that there’s only one ball, having those three guys gives you multiple options depending on how the D reacts

It’s worth noting the offense with KD and Kyrie on the court has already been warriors lite with Steph on the court, although it’s really early on and it’s not “actually” that level even if their off rtg is that high because the warriors played with their food

But they’ll prolly be great offensively, maybe better than the lakers but AD looks from a skillset perspective better than he was in the playoffs this year so idk

One advantage the nets have though is that they won’t have to hide anyone they would want on the floor. The lakers realistically can’t play marc and prolly harrell against them which is gonna hurt their offense a bit. The lakers did essentially go into a “your turn my turn” offense in the playoffs between AD and Bron and even if AD does his KD impression again it’s gonna be interesting for sure. The problem with the nets comes down to their defense, which is prolly closer to bottom 10 than league average now
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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#662 » by MisterHibachi » Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:42 am

Zion just doesn't take any outside shots anymore, it's really strange.
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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#663 » by MyUniBroDavis » Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:43 am

MisterHibachi wrote:Zion just doesn't take any outside shots anymore, it's really strange.


What u mean anymore lol

As a Zion fan it’s kind of annoying seeing him not being used how he was last year, but I get it’s part of him developing

He has looked better recently, struggled to finish over AD but those were makeable shots, I’m thinking that second half of the season zions gonna be wild
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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#664 » by MyUniBroDavis » Sat Jan 16, 2021 7:24 am

AD really looking good this year lol, even though offensively it was a rough night

He’s gotten better at passing, short roll and reading doubles. Defensively we’ve seen him go from first gear to second gear since Memphis, and to like third gear since the Spurs game (although still not playoff gear). He started out horrible defensively because he wasn’t really trying, and even if it’s not a perfect way to look at it going from 2 blocks in the first 5 games to 17 in the 5 after that is at least a bit significant

It’s not all AD, the lakers as a unit are great on defense and AD plays more of a active mobile big role than an anchor role that the defense is built around, we see him not helping at times because of this where other defenders would help (not necessarily right or wrong) but the defense since he started trying a bit more (and esp since he called out the team) has been great, the sample is small obviously but

ADs on court def rtg 96.9 over the last 7 games, 91.3 in the last 4 (I think counting this one), vs 109.3 last 7 with with him off the floor and 104.7 in the last 4

Now I think beyond just it being a small sample there are caveats to that, since a lot of it was at least in 3/4 games the rockets going 0iq apparently and the lakers putting Caruso on reddick instead of I think matthews? And Matthews on Ingram

In all honesty I doubt ADs on off numbers on defense become super elite this year or anything even though they’re trending that way, because I think his clearly not as integral to the defense as other past (or even current) anchors are, but I don’t really think that matters in terms of level of play stuff

On a side note, for two man combos with over 150 minutes, the lakers have 7/10 of the highest net rtgs, including the top 5. Bring it to 200 and it’s 5/10, with the top 3 spots. Ad+bron at +21.9 so far.

Can’t see it for other years for some reason but at the very least 2016, Curry and Dray were at +19.9 on obv a way bigger sample 2018 Curry and Durant were +12.5 but I can’t get 2017, I think it was +24.9. Harden and Paul in 2018 at +13.1 (they were on like 70 win pace with both healthy although obv that wouldn’t last)

It doesn’t act matter but just kinda funny seeing the numbers around it

AD said he’s learning playmaking tips from gasol. It’s def shown a bit although he’s not making post assists although that’s not their system and it shouldn’t be.

On a side note even though a lot of why the lakers have the best defense in the league atm is from the competition they’ve faced, once they get principles in place their defense gonna be scary.
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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#665 » by xb3at band1tx » Sat Jan 16, 2021 8:59 am

this play gave me shades of the 2014 spurs

love the improvements the lakers made on the half-court offense so far, the passing alone has gotten better

https://youtu.be/zziBybeSAtw?t=549
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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#666 » by Peregrine01 » Sat Jan 16, 2021 4:42 pm

GSP wrote:
Peregrine01 wrote: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



Yes they did. It's a difficult compare though because:

1) Warriors missed Curry for a good stretch of the 16 playoffs compared to having him fully for 17
2) Warriors played worse defenses in 17 (no KD Thunder, Spurs with no Kawhi, 17 Cavs vs 16 Cavs)

Agree that the 17 Warriors peaked at just the right time. Whereas the 16 Warriors peaked earlier on in the season and was dragging themselves toward the end to try to win 73 games. Honestly, I'm not sure it should be such a given that the 17 team was better than the 16 version at their peaks.
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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#667 » by MyUniBroDavis » Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:25 pm

Peregrine01 wrote:
GSP wrote:
Peregrine01 wrote: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



Yes they did. It's a difficult compare though because:

1) Warriors missed Curry for a good stretch of the 16 playoffs compared to having him fully for 17
2) Warriors played worse defenses in 17 (no KD Thunder, Spurs with no Kawhi, 17 Cavs vs 16 Cavs)

Agree that the 17 Warriors peaked at just the right time. Whereas the 16 Warriors peaked earlier on in the season and was dragging themselves toward the end to try to win 73 games. Honestly, I'm not sure it should be such a given that the 17 team was better than the 16 version at their peaks.


Well that’s a new sig
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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#668 » by Peregrine01 » Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:31 pm

MyUniBroDavis wrote:
Peregrine01 wrote:
GSP wrote:
Now post the playoffs numbers. The 17 Warriors did post insane and better results



Yes they did. It's a difficult compare though because:

1) Warriors missed Curry for a good stretch of the 16 playoffs compared to having him fully for 17
2) Warriors played worse defenses in 17 (no KD Thunder, Spurs with no Kawhi, 17 Cavs vs 16 Cavs)

Agree that the 17 Warriors peaked at just the right time. Whereas the 16 Warriors peaked earlier on in the season and was dragging themselves toward the end to try to win 73 games. Honestly, I'm not sure it should be such a given that the 17 team was better than the 16 version at their peaks.


Well that’s a new sig


I'm really not sure about that. The 16 Warriors ended their season with a whole bunch of key guys banged up whereas the 17 Warriors clicked right at the end (never reaching that level of harmony thereafter).

But in the beginning of the 16 season the Warriors looked like complete juggernauts with no peer, blowing out other contenders regularly by 20 or more, and not even looking like they were trying. You can make the argument that the 17 Warriors were more robust and I would agree but I have yet to see another team light other teams on fire like the 16 version.
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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#669 » by MyUniBroDavis » Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:48 pm

Peregrine01 wrote:
MyUniBroDavis wrote:
Peregrine01 wrote:
Yes they did. It's a difficult compare though because:

1) Warriors missed Curry for a good stretch of the 16 playoffs compared to having him fully for 17
2) Warriors played worse defenses in 17 (no KD Thunder, Spurs with no Kawhi, 17 Cavs vs 16 Cavs)

Agree that the 17 Warriors peaked at just the right time. Whereas the 16 Warriors peaked earlier on in the season and was dragging themselves toward the end to try to win 73 games. Honestly, I'm not sure it should be such a given that the 17 team was better than the 16 version at their peaks.


Well that’s a new sig


I'm really not sure about that. The 16 Warriors ended their season with a whole bunch of key guys banged up whereas the 17 Warriors clicked right at the end (never reaching that level of harmony thereafter).

But in the beginning of the 16 season the Warriors looked like complete juggernauts with no peer, blowing out other contenders regularly by 20 or more, and not even looking like they were trying. You can make the argument that the 17 Warriors were more robust and I would agree but I have yet to see another team light other teams on fire like the 16 version.



19/62 of the games Durant played they won by 20 or more, (23/82 overall) vs 15/82 for the 2016 warriors, so that part just isn’t true lmao.

Im not gonna get into how the 2017 warriors are infinitely more set up for playoff success, and how one team is blatantly the best team ever while the other didn’t win the title, but no the warriors did not get worse by adding Kevin freaking Durant lol
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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#670 » by therealbig3 » Sat Jan 16, 2021 9:24 pm

There’s a very very obvious difference between the 16 Warriors and the 17 Warriors in terms of playoff resilience. Even when healthy, the 16 Warriors would have run into problems that the 17 Warriors just didn’t. The 16 Warriors are essentially the same team as the 15 Warriors, who were healthy and still had issues. The 17 Warriors were a clear level above and are the GOAT team by a clear margin for my money.
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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#671 » by MisterHibachi » Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:06 pm

Read on Twitter
?s=19

Did the trade just save LeVert's life?
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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#672 » by therealbig3 » Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:55 pm

MisterHibachi wrote:
Read on Twitter
?s=19

Did the trade just save LeVert's life?


Freaky. Hoping it's benign.
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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#673 » by Basileus777 » Sun Jan 17, 2021 1:00 am

Harden/KD two man game is already something. Trying to switch it is certainly not the way to go...
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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#674 » by StepBackCrack » Sun Jan 17, 2021 1:28 am

Harden and KD are both extremely high IQ basketball and are the best scorers I've ever seen since MJ and they already look like they have played together since forever and that's without even practicing yet. This will be the deadliest duo in the league if they stay healthy. However, Nets will need to get a much better C because DJ is totally washed and hurting this team big time. McGee makes perfect sense for them.
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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#675 » by HeartBreakKid » Sun Jan 17, 2021 1:33 am

Durant and Harden played quite well with each other in OKC, I'm not surprised they're jelling quickly.
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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#676 » by Prez » Sun Jan 17, 2021 1:35 am

Don't they have two 5.7 mil exceptions to work with between the tax MLE and DPE? They'll get the absolute best buyout guys available to shore up the defense come playoff time, probably another midseason move or two as well to fix the Deandre issue. I'd be surprised if they didn't run through the East frankly.
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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#677 » by GSP » Sun Jan 17, 2021 1:41 am

StepBackCrack wrote:Harden and KD are both extremely high IQ basketball and are the best scorers I've ever seen since MJ and they already look like they have played together since forever and that's without even practicing yet. This will be the deadliest duo in the league if they stay healthy. However, Nets will need to get a much better C because DJ is totally washed and hurting this team big time. McGee makes perfect sense for them.


Offensively def the best duo in the league but Bron/Ad are still clearly #1 overall. The 2 duos are in their own tier tho

Honestly Kd/Harden/Joe might be the best offensive trio in Nba. He's such a good player he's like a white Klay

They really don't need Kyrie. They should ship him and Deandre for defense/depth but it'll never happen
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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#678 » by bondom34 » Sun Jan 17, 2021 1:45 am

Think buyouts might be an issue this year. Anyone still in the running for the 10 seed probably keeps their guys.
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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#679 » by MyUniBroDavis » Sun Jan 17, 2021 1:56 am

GSP wrote:
StepBackCrack wrote:Harden and KD are both extremely high IQ basketball and are the best scorers I've ever seen since MJ and they already look like they have played together since forever and that's without even practicing yet. This will be the deadliest duo in the league if they stay healthy. However, Nets will need to get a much better C because DJ is totally washed and hurting this team big time. McGee makes perfect sense for them.


Offensively def the best duo in the league but Bron/Ad are still clearly #1 overall. The 2 duos are in their own tier tho

Honestly Kd/Harden/Joe might be the best offensive trio in Nba. He's such a good player he's like a white Klay

They really don't need Kyrie. They should ship him and Deandre for defense/depth but it'll never happen


Not me accidentally posting twice
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Re: 2020-21 NBA Season Discussion 

Post#680 » by MartinToVaught » Sun Jan 17, 2021 1:57 am

Prez wrote:Don't they have two 5.7 mil exceptions to work with between the tax MLE and DPE? They'll get the absolute best buyout guys available to shore up the defense come playoff time, probably another midseason move or two as well to fix the Deandre issue. I'd be surprised if they didn't run through the East frankly.

I say this every year, but buyouts are overrated. Those players are getting bought out for a reason.

I don't see any quick fixes for the Nets' defense. They're going to have to hope that playing Doug Moe-style basketball works out for them in the playoffs. I have serious doubts about that, but we'll see.
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