Around the NBA (Part Three)

[Calinks]

One thing I love about the NBA season is that on paper, a good 30 percent or so of anyone's predictions get blown up. Always some big suprrise somewhere and things change quickly as the season progresses. The Clippers don't look nearly as threatening as many pundits had predicted early. The Timberwolves have also looked like they have fallen off a cliff but I do think we will turn some of that around. Chicago has been really good surprisingly. The Spurs seem ahead of schedule to me right now but I know many felt they were already on the verge of contention nefore the season started.

[Klomp]

Yep they are doing well and it's great but its not like they have just taken this massive leap out of nowhere. What's really funny is my brother was complaining when I brought them up, saying that Finch failed to develop them. I'm like "what?" they are doing so well in part becaue our staff did a great job helping them develop.

This is a very good point!

[Neeva]

Poor slowmo being stuck on the hapless Jazz, maybe they will buy him out?

[Klomp]

Poor slowmo being stuck on the hapless Jazz, maybe they will buy him out?

Honestly, that could be a sneaky midseason upgrade here

[Neeva]

I wouldn’t hate it at all, Slowmo can play defense in playoffs at least. Wolves need to make moves this season’s deadline though, standing pat is not an option.

[minimus]

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Something I never thought about: Draymond's ability to mix up different coverages during one game, against same opponent:

- switch (including proactive pre-switch)
- drop
- double
- hard/soft hedges

I think that here lies MIN problem in defense: our defense has been too predictable. I mean picking elite pnr scorers will always be able to pick apart Gobert+PoA drop defense. They can adjust on the fly, because they KNOW what to expect. Yes, it is the same mental mistake Finch did in last game against LAL/Reaves. out best defense was combination of:

- Gobert+PoA drop defense
- High wall with Towns
- Kyle Anderson versatility as defender
- NAW screen navigation

Towns is not a better defender as Randle, Kyle is not a better defender than Clark, same with NAW, but together they made Finch's job much easier. I mean Towns and Anderson kind of showed the best version of their defense in MIN, I wonder how NAW will look in ATL.

MIN have Gobert, McDaniels, Clark. As potential game changers Beringer and Zikarsky. Maybe UTA will buyout Slo-Mo?

P.S. I wish MIN had a completely different type of big to develop, such as Draymond Green, our version of CMB.

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[Klomp]

I was opn to the consideration, but I'm now officially out on Ja Morant. I'm not even sure I would accept a straight up trade offer of Ja Morant for Leonard Miller.

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[winforlose]

I was opn to the consideration, but I'm now officially out on Ja Morant. I'm not even sure I would accept a straight up trade offer of Ja Morant for Leonard Miller.

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If he wasn’t covered in dirt, he wouldn’t be dirt cheap.

[Neeva]

Morant is obviously done with Memphis staff and management and they’ve made questionable moves for years so I kind of get it but Morant’s behavior continues to be worrisome.

[minimus]

Which team would trade for Ja?

[Neeva]

Probably the Rockets since Sheppard sucks and Pelicans since they will be desperate and maybe the Kings since their gm likes making wtf moves.

[minimus]

Its always kind of mystery to me why some players look much worse in old teams, and much better in new teams:

Ryan Rollins
LaRavia
Nick Smith Jr
Davion Mitchell

Part of answer is internal player development and maturity. Part of answer is concrete role.

I have recently watched NOP game and Alvarado, Murphy looked so bad. I also expected much more from Cam Johnson in DEN.

But it is also gives me hope that Connelly can make another Conley+NAW trade.

[shrink]

Which team would trade for Ja?

Kings are desperate.

I don’t think he gets traded though. Yes, they extended JJJ and didn’t have talks with Ja, but it’s hard for a tiny team like MEM to lose a potential star that puts butts in the seats. He has the Grizzlies logo tattooed on his back.

[Domejandro]

Said this on another forum, but Memphis should contact New Orleans and see if a swap of Ja Morant for DeJounte Murray and all of their future picks could be on the table. New Orleans traded this year's pick and have started off 0-6, so they are in a rough spot.

[Calinks]

Its always kind of mystery to me why some players look much worse in old teams, and much better in new teams:

Ryan Rollins
LaRavia
Nick Smith Jr
Davion Mitchell

Part of answer is internal player development and maturity. Part of answer is concrete role.

I have recently watched NOP game and Alvarado, Murphy looked so bad. I also expected much more from Cam Johnson in DEN.

But it is also gives me hope that Connelly can make another Conley+NAW trade.

I always say the NBA is about fit. One guy can be trash on one team, and system, but a total stud on another team and system. I think one of the biggest differentiator between star and role players, is that star plays can be highly effective on any system or team. Role guys need the right fit. Kind of like, a person who is in average physical shape can just buy stuff off the rack and it can look amazing on them, where some dude who is really overweight would often look a lot better if their clothes were tailored to fit their body.

[Calinks]

Ideally, what kind of PG would you all think would be ideal for our team? I don't know if Morant's volume scoring would be right for us (though we defintely could use great scoring at the 1), who do you think would be a perfect fit?

[minimus]

Ideally, what kind of PG would you all think would be ideal for our team? I don't know if Morant's volume scoring would be right for us (though we defintely could use great scoring at the 1), who do you think would be a perfect fit?

Said it many times. Healthy Lonzo Ball. Basically 3&D with elite passing skills. And vice versa: last thing this team needs is a comboguard with subpar defense, decision making and 20+ PPG on low efficiency

[ILC]

Ideally, what kind of PG would you all think would be ideal for our team? I don't know if Morant's volume scoring would be right for us (though we defintely could use great scoring at the 1), who do you think would be a perfect fit?

Someone capable playing off the ball (whoever comes in will not handle it more than Randle or Ant), getting in the paint and throwing a simple lob to Rudy. Someone feisty also would not hurt.

I'm a broken record by now, but ideally Ivey, would settle for Sexton too.

[Klomp]

Said this on another forum, but Memphis should contact New Orleans and see if a swap of Ja Morant for DeJounte Murray and all of their future picks could be on the table. New Orleans traded this year's pick and have started off 0-6, so they are in a rough spot.

I really think this will be the eventual destination.

[winforlose]

Said this on another forum, but Memphis should contact New Orleans and see if a swap of Ja Morant for DeJounte Murray and all of their future picks could be on the table. New Orleans traded this year's pick and have started off 0-6, so they are in a rough spot.

The Pels keep trying this and things keep getting worse for them. They need to sell not buy. According to Fanspo Pels obligations end after this year. If they can get anything for Zion, DJM, Herb, ect…, now is the time. Ja would not solve the problem for the Pels and DJM missing half the year and coming back from an Achilles won’t help Memphis this year. JJJ cannot carry that team and Bane is gone.

Young teams won’t want Ja because he will make it harder to retain their own talent and is a potential locker room issue. Houston is a defensive identity team and Ja is not a positive defender. They are investing in trying to turn Thompson into the PGOF. The Kings would be making another lateral move when they probably need to blow it up. Losing Hali was the worst mistake they could possibly have made, and everything since then has been treading water waiting for the rebuild. The market for Ja is fairly thin right now. Anyone who would take him will want him cheap. The problem is keeping him in Memphis is going to turn into Jimmy Butler 2.0 and they will end up giving him away.