2024-25 Season Discussion and Speculation

[bwgood77]

From Reddit
………….rather than relying solely on the Big 3, I feel far less dependant on needing all 3 of our Big 3 having good to solid games to be in games unlike last season.

Do we really have a ‘big three’? Its purely a marketing term. IMO… and a bad one at that

Beal might be the fifth best player on this team…

He is ‘big’ in contract only and truly not going to be relied upon to win games. The dude is a solid role player and the proverbial stat stuffer on/from a bad team.

Here is an exercise… remove one starter for half the season or more…. Who you picking?




And thank the BBallgods they dropped the Shank

Don't really care what other people want to call it. For the sake of grouping the 3 most important guys to our success together (imo), I just call them the Big 3. You are right though, I do feel less dependent on all 3 guys having good games to be in games like last season, however in my view, the ceiling of this team is still determined by how well these three play and play together. Beal's ceiling is still the 3rd highest on this team so I disagree with you that he's the 5th best player. I mean, if it's all working, who is better and have more experience to perform than Beal? That's not to say Beal is several tiers better than say Grayson or Jones like Book/KD are, but I do put him solidly above everyone else.

I think because he makes so much people discount his talents, and particularly talk about it after a bad game. But the guy has led the league in scoring, been a key part of some good Washington playoff teams, etc. People say good guy on bad team, but I don't know that they were worse than the Suns before we got Paul in addition to Book.

He has always put up similar #s to Book, won a scoring title, and last year had elite splits on over 18ppg. The problem is that he plays the same position as Book, and all 3 of them are primarily scorers who handle some as well.

But yeah, he's obviously better than Nurkic, Allen, O'Neale, etc. I love Jones but Beal is obviously a much better all around player.

I do agree if you take 1 player out of the starting lineup it would be him, though not because he is worse than other starters, but because we need more balance and maybe a go to guy off the bench.

But again, I don't know why so many are concerned about who starts, when we stagger, etc. It's not like hockey where a whole new lineup subs in. Maybe it's almost all bench guys for like the last and first minute of the 1st/2nd and 3rd/4th quarters, but even then, usually one of the main guys is in there.

[bullsaficianado]

Watch on YouTube

Just glad they got coach Bud I remember before the Vogel hiring I thought they should have hired him instead of Frank. He was always the man for this job.

[bwgood77]

David Aldridge, The Athletic:

11. New coach who’ll have the greatest impact: Charles Lee (Charlotte), Jordi Fernández (Brooklyn), J.B. Bickerstaff (Detroit), Kenny Atkinson (Cleveland), Mike Budenholzer (Phoenix) or JJ Redick (Lakers)?
I’m Team Bud. You win Coach of the Year in two different shops, you know what you’re doing. And it’s safe to say that, while Budenholzer had a two-time NBA MVP in Giannis in Milwaukee, he’s never had this much talent to work with. My expectation is that he’ll be able to get more out of Kevin Durant at power forward than Frank Vogel could, that he’ll find ways to better unlock Bradley Beal and that he’ll squeeze slightly more defense out of the Suns (they were 13th in the league last season in defensive rating) to make them a final four team in the West.

[Saberestar]

Read on Twitter

[bwgood77]

Good summary, Saber. Beal going 8-12 was really encouraging. I was also relieved to see Grayson Allen moving normally. I was a little worried about them based on preseason.

I really like Coach Bud. There were several possessions where we were able to get the Clippers out of position and move the ball around the perimeter for an open 3 - something you see a lot with good teams, but almost never from us last season. You can tell we're still learning the habit of running the baseline to the corners, but it was great to see the work-being-progressed.

I also liked that he made time for Dunn and Oso early in the 1st half before turning to his vets in the second half. Dunn got a couple quick lessons from Harden. The rooks played the right way.

As for the roster, I got the same impression as many others - it would be nice to have more athleticism, size and energy around the rim. I think the Lakers are good and will probably beat us tomorrow, but for now, it's nice to be 1-0! The book has just opened the season and for now we have much to cheer for.

I was wondering last night how our team would look right now and in the future with Bridges and Cam instead of KD, and of course whatever we got for Jae and all the first round picks (we'd have another young guy in his 2nd year and a pick this year) and 2 more we traded away, and the 29 swap we wouldn't have.

There would only be two real go to scorers and more role players. We could still have Allen and Nurk for now. Obviously we wouldn't be a contender but I'm not completely sure we can compete for a championship anyway and getting young guys for the future locked into rookie contracts will be tough. I guess we will have a late first in 26, 28 and 30....then 32 for now.

Being the oldest team with no picks will be tough. Hopefully we can figure out how to contend for a championship. I really want a big in the middle to defend.

I was looking at a thread on the GB about Brooklyn's return for Bridges, and it's amazing they got 4 firsts from him from NY, and NY traded only Randle and Donte for Towns. Seems crazy.

[Saberestar]

Read on Twitter

[NapoleonII]

Who's going to be MORE wrong?

Charles predicting we finish ahead of the Mavs

or Nate Silver predicting a Trump electoral victory?

[Mulhollanddrive]

There was a changing in the league 2 years ago.

Phoenix, GSW, Lakers, Clippers got overtaken by younger teams and now look to be in denial about it. We look incredibly slow footed and small sized at the same time.

Maybe Ishbia will be swayed by saving 150m in luxury tax. It'll probably take Durant being open to trade to get things started.

[Puff]

Our great off season PG acquisition had 4 assists and 2 turnovers.

Every other starter had at least 4 assists with last year's PG Beal, leading the way with 9. Who is the hell is the point guard?

I did not watch the game due to Dish issues, but it appears that we did share the ball. However, we too often went back to the same one on one, sometimes one on two and three isolations all too often.

It is just a matter of time until Dunn makes it into the starting lineup and one of Beal or Jones goes to the 2nd unit.

Why hasn't Bol Bol got any minutes? We need to get bigger.

Where is Frank Vogel when you need him.

Why did we trade Ayton - he had 15 rebounds tonight while Camara joined him in the starting lineup.

Ish has done major damage to the franchise in record time.

[Frank Lee]

Our bread and butter is ISO
Not exactly a healthy diet for the year.
too many cooks in that kitchen
Dont see it changing. Even with pgs

[Bogyo]

Our bread and butter is ISO
Not exactly a healthy diet for the year.
too many cooks in that kitchen
Dont see it changing. Even with pgs

Yep. The 2 superstars refuse or can preach it but can't seem to do it. We might be better on the margins... PG situation, bench, coach - although the way I see Bud won't have too different results with this crew, he can also yell until his face turns blue, they won't change. We'll start shooting less threes, more middys, win 50ish games (depending on injuries) get 4th-6th seed, and exit second round. I just hope we'll see some better basketball meanwhile, and the next chapter will be something more thought out and reasonable.

[Puff]

PJ Tucker is just what we need.

Another midget to go get rebounds and defend the paint.

Who's minutes would he take???

He surely will not replace any of the big three. That leaves KD or Nurk. That's right he can play center.

When is James Jones ever going to wake TFU. We have needed a power forward or Center that can rebound and play defense prior to trading Ayton and we still do not have anyone to fill that void. Maybe the rookies will fill the bill but that is when KD will be retired and Nurk is out of the league.

This is not a 6'5" and under basketball league.

This team gets harder by the day to believe in.

[bwgood77]

Didn't we trade PJ Tucker like 8 years ago because he was too old for our team?

I know he's been good since...that is, up until about 2 years ago. He's 39 years old. I like him, but he's pretty much done.

Are we going to talk about Love next? And Torrey Craig? Then Aaron Holiday?

[Puff]

We will see what kind of coach Bud really is and what kind of teammate, Street clothes, Beal is.

Dunn needs to be a starter against most teams and Beal needs to be with the bench mob.

This kid has a great attitude and potentially the skill set we really have needed since the departure of Mikal. He might be even better on the defensive side of the ball once he gains experience.

Just do it - Bud

[Qwigglez]

Didn't we trade PJ Tucker like 8 years ago because he was too old for our team?

I know he's been good since...that is, up until about 2 years ago. He's 39 years old. I like him, but he's pretty much done.

Are we going to talk about Love next? And Torrey Craig? Then Aaron Holiday?

This is ALWAYS an option BDub so don't kid yourself. It's in James Jones back pocket.

[Qwigglez]

We will see what kind of coach Bud really is and what kind of teammate, Street clothes, Beal is.

Dunn needs to be a starter against most teams and Beal needs to be with the bench mob.

This kid has a great attitude and potentially the skill set we really have needed since the departure of Mikal. He might be even better on the defensive side of the ball once he gains experience.

Just do it - Bud

Love the energy and the confidence Dunn has so far. It's what I always expected of young guys getting a chance to play with some of the best players in the world in KD, Booker, and Beal. A chance to show those guys what they are capable of, and trying to bring their best selves every game.
While I like the idea of Beal on the bench, I don't see it happening because of the ego, whether Beal admits that or not. Ideally, to not hurt any feelings, Beal starts and takes a breather after about 5 minutes of play and tags with the bench unit the rest of the game.

[lilfishi22]

Didn't we trade PJ Tucker like 8 years ago because he was too old for our team?

I know he's been good since...that is, up until about 2 years ago. He's 39 years old. I like him, but he's pretty much done.

Are we going to talk about Love next? And Torrey Craig? Then Aaron Holiday?

I still think PJ has some value but at this point in his career, I'd rather just run Dunn in those minutes and use that roster spot/trade asset on another player.

[dremill24]

Didn't we trade PJ Tucker like 8 years ago because he was too old for our team?

I know he's been good since...that is, up until about 2 years ago. He's 39 years old. I like him, but he's pretty much done.

Are we going to talk about Love next? And Torrey Craig? Then Aaron Holiday?

I still think PJ has some value but at this point in his career, I'd rather just run Dunn in those minutes and use that roster spot/trade asset on another player.

I think Tucker would be getting some Plumlee/Oso minutes (if any) as opposed to Dunn tbh

[ChuckS]

Our bread and butter is ISO
Not exactly a healthy diet for the year.
too many cooks in that kitchen
Dont see it changing. Even with pgs

Yep. The 2 superstars refuse or can preach it but can't seem to do it. We might be better on the margins... PG situation, bench, coach - although the way I see Bud won't have too different results with this crew, he can also yell until his face turns blue, they won't change. We'll start shooting less threes, more middys, win 50ish games (depending on injuries) get 4th-6th seed, and exit second round. I just hope we'll see some better basketball meanwhile, and the next chapter will be something more thought out and reasonable.

Before I get to the general concerns herein about our superstars, I want to point out something more confusing that I read in the Lakers loss thread. Durant was mocked for another ISO, strongly contested, shot. But the guy was our leading scorer with 30 points (2d high by 5 points for the game), and shot 64.7/66.7/86% for the night. I'll admit, up front that I personally believe the ability to so successfully ISO is what has separated superstars from the multitudes, and is a function of a competent motion offense, not a failing. And I don't know any fan's individual ball skills and accept the inalienable right to criticize. It just seemed ludicrous to me to criticize an acknowledged all time great shooter having a night like that.

My disagreements with this post, pale in comparison, other than believing mid range excellence and ISO's are excellent to have for team balance, excellence, and winning. To me it does not mean the players are anarchists who will defy Bud's desire to shoot more threes and harm the offense. I think that is supported by facts of their significant careers and thus far small sample size for this year. KD is averaging 28.7points at 52.7/50%: Booker 19.7 points at 42.9/43.5 (which will be better): and Beal 19.5 at 53.8/58.3% (probably ultimately higher scoring and lesser efficiency). They are also respectively averaging 5.3, 7.7, and 6.0 three attempts. Allen has been out two games, but only two others (Jones and Dunn) have taken 4 threes per. I do not think Coach is worried about the big three because they have been played the most minutes: 41,35,and 37.

So I understand your fears. I just do not share them. I do not believe you get better ridding excellence for potentially more mediocrity. I do think we need more size though, if Dunn, O'Neale, or Bol, don't solve the wing problem.

[sasquatchBob]

Our bread and butter is ISO
Not exactly a healthy diet for the year.
too many cooks in that kitchen
Dont see it changing. Even with pgs

Dunno, I've liked the flow of our offense so far. Ball seems to be moving. Definitely better than last year. That being said I still see various issues we had last year. Need to trade some of the guards for a wing and/or defensive big. Beal really has no place on this team. We would be better off if we just let CP3 expire and we had room to operate...