Around The NBA

[JonFromVA]

Yep. Part of the reason Lopez looked great in drop coverage is that Jrue was a high level screen navigator. Dame is... not.

I don’t see much of a difference between the Cavs defense and the Bucks tbh. Both heavily rely on drop defense and rim protecting bigs. Both have mediocre backcourt defense. Jrue should not be getting any credit for Lopez’s rim protection lol that’s makes zero sense.

The Cavs really don't play drop coverage. Both Lopez and Jrue looked great in Milwaukee because they were playing next to Giannis and Middleton. A healthy Giannis is just an insane asset defensively.

The Bucks seem to be conserving Giannis a lot so he can try to take over offensively later in the game. Their defense more than holds its own without him and/or Middleton.

The numbers point strongly towards Lopez, but without the same defense and support system I suspect that could easily change. Having Giannis focus more on defense with Dame picking up the slack on offense is one approach, but again, they have a new coach and new habits are going to kick in (for better or for worse).

[jbk1234]

Bullock got bought out.

[ijspeelman]

Bullock got bought out.

Would have preferred him to Thompson. We can still swap, I know, but I feel like Thompson contract is to give him a “reward” for his play here.

[JonFromVA]

Bullock got bought out.

Would have preferred him to Thompson. We can still swap, I know, but I feel like Thompson contract is to give him a “reward” for his play here.

TT's most recent play for us didn't deserve a reward, but presumably they like the idea of having someone from the championship team around, hope he will be a positive influence rather than dragging the team in to his reality tv crap, in theory might do something to help our rebounding off if not on the floor, and is apparently close with DG and a Klutch buddy.

I like the idea of Bullock and it's surprising to see the Mavs drop someone who can shoot and defend; but the on/off numbers indicate something wasn't working right for him and/or the lineups he was part of last season.

[jbk1234]

Bullock got bought out.

Would have preferred him to Thompson. We can still swap, I know, but I feel like Thompson contract is to give him a “reward” for his play here.

TT's most recent play for us didn't deserve a reward, but presumably they like the idea of having someone from the championship team around, hope he will be a positive influence rather than dragging the team in to his reality tv crap, in theory might do something to help our rebounding off if not on the floor, and is apparently close with DG and a Klutch buddy.

I like the idea of Bullock and it's surprising to see the Mavs drop someone who can shoot and defend; but the on/off numbers indicate something wasn't working right for him and/or the lineups he was part of last season.

TT was *good* when we could afford to play 4 on 5 offensively because we had LBJ, Love, Irving, and JR. TT could set a screen, break to the basket, and either grab a board or a lob. A big part of the reason he was a good offensive rebounder is because he wasn't asked to do much of anything else.

But when we didn't have three of the most efficient offensive players in the NBA, TT pretty much sucked.

Edit: Also, Bullock was traded to the Spurs and bought out.

[ijspeelman]

Jrue Holiday to the Celtics scares me. They now lack back big men depth and are definitely injury prone, but fully healthy they have to be the best roster in the NBA.

I also think we match-up worse with them unless Mobley develops a reliable scoring game.

[JonFromVA]

Would have preferred him to Thompson. We can still swap, I know, but I feel like Thompson contract is to give him a “reward” for his play here.

TT's most recent play for us didn't deserve a reward, but presumably they like the idea of having someone from the championship team around, hope he will be a positive influence rather than dragging the team in to his reality tv crap, in theory might do something to help our rebounding off if not on the floor, and is apparently close with DG and a Klutch buddy.

I like the idea of Bullock and it's surprising to see the Mavs drop someone who can shoot and defend; but the on/off numbers indicate something wasn't working right for him and/or the lineups he was part of last season.

TT was *good* when we could afford to play 4 on 5 offensively because we had LBJ, Love, Irving, and JR. TT could set a screen, break to the basket, and either grab a board or a lob. A big part of the reason he was a good offensive rebounder is because he wasn't asked to do much of anything else.

But when we didn't have three of the most efficient offensive players in the NBA, TT pretty much sucked.

Edit: Also, Bullock was traded to the Spurs and bought out.

I think it's simpler than that ... TT just stopped outplaying/outworking everyone else, a death sentence for an energy big who was once a mobile defender too.

[JonFromVA]

Jrue Holiday to the Celtics scares me. They now lack back big men depth and are definitely injury prone, but fully healthy they have to be the best roster in the NBA.

I also think we match-up worse with them unless Mobley develops a reliable scoring game.

If they can win something banking on Porzingis and 37 year old Horford or without them, more power to them.

[jbk1234]

TT's most recent play for us didn't deserve a reward, but presumably they like the idea of having someone from the championship team around, hope he will be a positive influence rather than dragging the team in to his reality tv crap, in theory might do something to help our rebounding off if not on the floor, and is apparently close with DG and a Klutch buddy.

I like the idea of Bullock and it's surprising to see the Mavs drop someone who can shoot and defend; but the on/off numbers indicate something wasn't working right for him and/or the lineups he was part of last season.

TT was *good* when we could afford to play 4 on 5 offensively because we had LBJ, Love, Irving, and JR. TT could set a screen, break to the basket, and either grab a board or a lob. A big part of the reason he was a good offensive rebounder is because he wasn't asked to do much of anything else.

But when we didn't have three of the most efficient offensive players in the NBA, TT pretty much sucked.

Edit: Also, Bullock was traded to the Spurs and bought out.

I think it's simpler than that ... TT just stopped outplaying/outworking everyone else, a death sentence for an energy big who was once a mobile defender too.

I think it's simpler than that, in that, TT was overrated in his time here. My standard reply to those who would cite his hustle as an attribute was that if TT didn't play hard, he wouldn't even be in the NBA. He's an undersized center who can't get his shot off around the rim, had no shot outside of three feet, and is too short to play effective post defense against bigs who have a back-to-the basket game. One of the things that made him so *effective* on switches is that you weren't really giving up much by switching a wing onto the big he was supposed to be guarding.

[JonFromVA]

TT was *good* when we could afford to play 4 on 5 offensively because we had LBJ, Love, Irving, and JR. TT could set a screen, break to the basket, and either grab a board or a lob. A big part of the reason he was a good offensive rebounder is because he wasn't asked to do much of anything else.

But when we didn't have three of the most efficient offensive players in the NBA, TT pretty much sucked.

Edit: Also, Bullock was traded to the Spurs and bought out.

I think it's simpler than that ... TT just stopped outplaying/outworking everyone else, a death sentence for an energy big who was once a mobile defender too.

I think it's simpler than that, in that, TT was overrated in his time here. My standard reply to those who would cite his hustle as an attribute was that if TT didn't play hard, he wouldn't even be in the NBA. He's an undersized center who can't get his shot off around the rim, had no shot outside of three feet, and is too short to play effective post defense against bigs who have a back-to-the basket game. One of the things that made him so *effective* on switches is that you weren't really giving up much by switching a wing onto the big he was supposed to be guarding.

So, moral of the story would be neither of us is expecting TT to contribute much of anything on the floor.

[jbk1234]

I think it's simpler than that ... TT just stopped outplaying/outworking everyone else, a death sentence for an energy big who was once a mobile defender too.

I think it's simpler than that, in that, TT was overrated in his time here. My standard reply to those who would cite his hustle as an attribute was that if TT didn't play hard, he wouldn't even be in the NBA. He's an undersized center who can't get his shot off around the rim, had no shot outside of three feet, and is too short to play effective post defense against bigs who have a back-to-the basket game. One of the things that made him so *effective* on switches is that you weren't really giving up much by switching a wing onto the big he was supposed to be guarding.

So, moral of the story would be neither of us is expecting TT to contribute much of anything on the floor.

I'm not entirely sure he makes it out of training camp.

[toooskies]

https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2023/10/20/23925056/new-york-knicks-waive-nathan-knight-sign-two-former-cavs

Diakite and Brandon Goodwin to the Knicks. On top of Windler, they're really doubling down on the ex-Cavs.

[jbk1234]

https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2023/10/20/23925056/new-york-knicks-waive-nathan-knight-sign-two-former-cavs

Diakite and Brandon Goodwin to the Knicks. On top of Windler, they're really doubling down on the ex-Cavs.

I'll be surprised if any of those guys make the final roster for the Knicks.

[jbk1234]

As far as (way too early) warning signs, the Hawks lost to the Hornets and the Rockets got run out of the gym by the Magic.

Also, the Heat only beat the Pistons by a point.

[JonFromVA]

I wonder if Boston should just keep Porzingis and Horford in bubble wrap until the playoffs.

[jbk1234]

Man, I'm watching the Pelicans without Ingram, and I'll grant that they're missing Murphy as well, but they look like a lottery team. Griffin did a good job here managing egos and putting the final pieces in place, but I would not trust him in a rebuild setting.

He's blown a lot of picks and extended too many vets past their sell by date. The bill is coming due on that.

[JujitsuFlip]

Man, I'm watching the Pelicans without Ingram, and I'll grant that they're missing Murphy as well, but they look like a lottery team. Griffin did a good job here managing egos and putting the final pieces in place, but I would not trust him in a rebuild setting.

He's blown a lot of picks and extended too many vets past their sell by date. The bill is coming due on that.

And despite all that they still have oodles of draft capital.

[jbk1234]

Man, I'm watching the Pelicans without Ingram, and I'll grant that they're missing Murphy as well, but they look like a lottery team. Griffin did a good job here managing egos and putting the final pieces in place, but I would not trust him in a rebuild setting.

He's blown a lot of picks and extended too many vets past their sell by date. The bill is coming due on that.

And despite all that they still have oodles of draft capital.

Yeah, but those Bucks picks took a hit with the Dame trade and the Giannis extension. They have one more Lakers pick and that's it (they can elect to take either the 24 or 25 1st). I've been listening to my fellow Cavs fans covet guys like Daniels and Jones, but they looked flat out bad against the Warriors tonight. JV is about done (and expiring). CJ looks like a 6th man. Even Nance was decidedly meh.

[JujitsuFlip]

Man, I'm watching the Pelicans without Ingram, and I'll grant that they're missing Murphy as well, but they look like a lottery team. Griffin did a good job here managing egos and putting the final pieces in place, but I would not trust him in a rebuild setting.

He's blown a lot of picks and extended too many vets past their sell by date. The bill is coming due on that.

And despite all that they still have oodles of draft capital.

Yeah, but those Bucks picks took a hit with the Dame trade and the Giannis extension. They have one more Lakers pick and that's it (they can elect to take either the 24 or 25 1st). I've been listening to my fellow Cavs fans covet guys like Daniels and Jones, but they looked flat out bad against the Warriors tonight. JV is about done (and expiring). CJ looks like a 6th man. Even Nance was decidedly meh.

Yeah, I'm good on trading with them.

After the whole D-Mitch circumvention of the Stepien rule, a rule freaking named after our franchise; i automatically hold franchises in higher regard that control their own draft future.

[jbk1234]

And despite all that they still have oodles of draft capital.

Yeah, but those Bucks picks took a hit with the Dame trade and the Giannis extension. They have one more Lakers pick and that's it (they can elect to take either the 24 or 25 1st). I've been listening to my fellow Cavs fans covet guys like Daniels and Jones, but they looked flat out bad against the Warriors tonight. JV is about done (and expiring). CJ looks like a 6th man. Even Nance was decidedly meh.

Yeah, I'm good on trading with them.

After the whole D-Mitch circumvention of the Stepien rule, a rule freaking named after our franchise; i automatically hold franchises in higher regard that control their own draft future.

I'm a little surprised the NBA didn't fix the swap right thing after the Billy King fiasco. What happened with the Stepien rule is that no one would buy the Cavs and Gund Brothers essentially demanded the league give the Cavs their firsts back as a condition of the offer. I'm not sure that would ever happen again given how inflated the team values are now.

Assuming we refuse to trade Garland or Mobley,
I'm skeptical the Jazz will be better than us in 26 or 28. The swap rights may not matter.

Unless they put Murphy on the table for Allen, I'd want to wait until the summer to trade with the Pels. If Ingram refuses to extend, that's when you make the call.