Around the NBA 2018-2019 (Non-Celtics Talk)

The_Ghost_of_JB · Post #161 » by **The_Ghost_of_JB** » Tue May 1, 2018 4:33 pm

I am torn who I want to win the cavs/raps series. One on hand I am sick of seeing Lebron in the finals. On the other hand fans raps fans will be even more insufferable (if that is possible) if the raps move on.

I have the cavs in six. Maybe even 5.

Roddy · Post #162 » by **Roddy** » Tue May 1, 2018 4:46 pm

I have more sympathy for Raptors fans since the cocky Philly fans are coming out of the shadows after just one good season...At least Raptors fans are funny.

Raptors in 6.

Then we will kick some Dinosaurs asses :wink:

Curmudgeon · Post #163 » by **Curmudgeon** » Tue May 1, 2018 4:46 pm

LeBron will have to play insanely well for the Cavs to win. Toronto's backcourt and its bench are so much better.

CeltsfanSinceBirth · Post #164 » by **CeltsfanSinceBirth** » Tue May 1, 2018 4:57 pm

Curmudgeon wrote:LeBron will have to play insanely well for the Cavs to win. Toronto's backcourt and its bench are so much better.

I think DeRozan and Lowry are both scared of Lebron. Every interview I've watched, whenever Lebron is mentioned, these 2 guys just pay too much respect to the guy, and their body language starts to get timid.

They have to come out with a "F*ck Lebron, he's a bitch!" mentality, similar to how Pierce and KG used to. They can't be afraid of him, not as the 2 leaders of the team.

Toronto definitely has the better team, but if Demar and Lowry display any fear or doubt, Lebron is going to just bend them over and have his way with them again.

jmr07019 · Post #165 » by **jmr07019** » Tue May 1, 2018 5:27 pm

Next time Bucks come to town Drew Bledsoe should be sitting courtside. Eric's head would explode.

Valid · Post #166 » by **Valid** » Tue May 1, 2018 5:33 pm

One thing is for sure: the Raptors HAVE to win Game 1 tonight. It's an absolute must. If they lose Game 1, it's over. To be perfectly honest, I don't even think they can afford to split with the Cavs in Toronto. They need to be up 2-0 heading back to Cleveland.

CeltsfanSinceBirth · Post #167 » by **CeltsfanSinceBirth** » Tue May 1, 2018 9:49 pm

PG13 leaving OKC according to Russillo..........wow, what a shocker. Good thing OKC still has Melo. Presti is a genius.

Valid · Post #168 » by **Valid** » Tue May 1, 2018 11:40 pm

So, in Sam Presti's reign as Thunder GM, he managed to draft Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka, and somehow, some way, he managed to mess that up.

He traded Harden for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, two first-rounders and a second-rounder. You know what is the only piece left from that deal? One of the two first-rounders that turned out to be Steven Adams.

He let Martin walk that following offseason and didn't even attempt to replace him, and then during the summer of 2015, they traded away Jeremy Lamb as a salary dump to clear room to re-sign...wait for it...Enes Kanter and Kyle freaking Singler. Lamb has since turned into a really fine player in Charlotte.

He then traded Ibaka for Victor Oladipo, who was clearly a piss-poor fit with Westbrook. As a result of Presti's incompetence, he lost Durant to Golden State.

Then, in a panic move to try and convince Westbrook to sign long term, he trades Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis for Paul George, a guy who obviously had no intention of re-signing with OKC past this season.

To make matters worse, he then goes out and trades for Carmelo Anthony. Yeah! Let's put the most ball-dominant small forward in the league alongside of the most ball-dominant guard in the league AND another ball-dominant perimeter player in George. What could possibly go wrong?!

Now, Presti is left with a likely disgruntled Westbrook and a $29 million albatross in Carmelo for next year. The best supporting players are Adams and Jerami Grant.

But we'll keep hearing about what a "genius" Sam Presti is.

I'll give Presti this: he can draft well. However, he has no CLUE how to actually improve a team, and he has to be one of the worst trading GMs in this league.

That franchise is screwed. Only a matter of time before they trade Westbrook.

Edug27 · Post #169 » by **Edug27** » Tue May 1, 2018 11:44 pm

Curmudgeon wrote:LeBron will have to play insanely well for the Cavs to win.

He’s been doing that for 15 years man.

CeltsfanSinceBirth · Post #170 » by **CeltsfanSinceBirth** » Tue May 1, 2018 11:45 pm

Did Ramona Shelbourne really just compare Larry Bird to Ben Simmons? She basically said Boston fans "conveniently forgot" that Bird had been drafted by the Celtics, but then didn't play until the next year. Is she really implying that these scenarios are comparable? Wow.

Valid · Post #171 » by **Valid** » Tue May 1, 2018 11:46 pm

Edug27 wrote:
Curmudgeon wrote:LeBron will have to play insanely well for the Cavs to win.

He’s been doing that for 15 years man.

Let's not get carried away here. He has made the finals seven years in a row, but his teammates during that stretch consisted of the likes of Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Kyrie Irving and a Kevin Love that wasn't completely broken. This year, things are a bit different.

Now, that being said, the Cavs are still my tentative pick to reach the finals because of LeBron, but let's not act like he's been carrying THESE types of teams for 15 years.

Valid · Post #172 » by **Valid** » Tue May 1, 2018 11:47 pm

CeltsfanSinceBirth wrote:Did Ramona Shelbourne really just compare Larry Bird to Ben Simmons? She basically said Boston fans "conveniently forgot" that Bird had been drafted by the Celtics, but then didn't play until the next year. Is she really implying that these scenarios are comparable? Wow.

She's a Lakers reporter. We shouldn't be surprised by this.

She did give the Celtics props, though.

London2Boston · Post #173 » by **London2Boston** » Wed May 2, 2018 12:01 am

Kyrie with the 2nd most shoe sales after Lebron. Higher than KD,Steph and Jordan. It’s a little awesome and weird having such a league wide popular super star playing in Boston.

Homerclease · Post #174 » by **Homerclease** » Wed May 2, 2018 12:18 am

Screw it, go Cavs. If anyone is gonna knock off Lebron I want it to be us.

BigTrade92 · Post #175 » by **BigTrade92** » Wed May 2, 2018 12:24 am

I really don’t know who I want here...

- cRaptors tears and potential homecourt for the ECF...but, you gotta face Lebron.

Or

- Cavs tears, no Lebron and a more manageable opponent....but, no home court.

I guess I’m rooting for the cRaps. Would be fun to see two fan bases at war...and plus, f**k Lebron

zoyathedestroya · Post #176 » by **zoyathedestroya** » Wed May 2, 2018 12:27 am

LeBron's like, "I'm out of this dumpster fire I'm 98% responsible for creating." Probably texting Paul George while he's sitting on the bench.

Homerclease · Post #177 » by **Homerclease** » Wed May 2, 2018 12:28 am

zoyathedestroya wrote:LeBron's like, "I'm out of this dumpster fire I'm 98% responsible for creating." Probably texting Paul George while he's sitting on the bench.

I think Lebron and George are both LA bound which means the sixers likely push all in on Kawhi

King Of The 4th · Post #178 » by **King Of The 4th** » Wed May 2, 2018 12:28 am

Cavs defense still hot garbage.

Valid · Post #179 » by **Valid** » Wed May 2, 2018 12:32 am

King Of The 4th wrote:Cavs defense still hot garbage.

And their offense isn't much better.

reload141 · Post #180 » by **reload141** » Wed May 2, 2018 12:33 am

Homerclease wrote:
zoyathedestroya wrote:LeBron's like, "I'm out of this dumpster fire I'm 98% responsible for creating." Probably texting Paul George while he's sitting on the bench.

I think Lebron and George are both LA bound which means the sixers likely push all in on Kawhi

Not sure if they go all in on Kawhi, reckon they might wait another year and sign a FA, hand out some big 1 year contracts, get Embiid & Simmons & Fultz more experience then see where they are at.