Around the NBA 2018 (Non-Celtics Talk)

[Edug27]

Cleveland should not be the favorites for the East... They got little time to gel and they filled their roster with wildly inconsistent players.

I could see them in the finals but equally possible they get knocked out of the 2nd round. I give them literally zero chance to beat the Warriors or the Rockets, save for catastrophic injuries for both teams. Anyone saying otherwise is just talking Skip Bayless level BS...

Lebron retire? Na? Cool then they’re still the favorites.

[K For Three]

Cavs fans already turning on George Hill.

It's the curse of Kyrie.

[albas89]

Cleveland should not be the favorites for the East... They got little time to gel and they filled their roster with wildly inconsistent players.

I could see them in the finals but equally possible they get knocked out of the 2nd round. I give them literally zero chance to beat the Warriors or the Rockets, save for catastrophic injuries for both teams. Anyone saying otherwise is just talking Skip Bayless level BS...

Lebron retire? Na? Cool then they’re still the favorites.

Wait until they put together a few more losses like today's and the only thing in LeBron's mind will be where he ends up this summer. He has already given up on his teammates once this year, what makes you think that he won't do it twice, as if he owes something to Rodney Hood and Jordan Clarkson...

[GoGreen]

That roster is not that good. Hood and Hill? They're not taking you very far. I'll never count out playoff lebron, but he can't do it alone. This might actually be the yr a non bron team gets out of the East.

[K For Three]

Cleveland should not be the favorites for the East... They got little time to gel and they filled their roster with wildly inconsistent players.

I could see them in the finals but equally possible they get knocked out of the 2nd round. I give them literally zero chance to beat the Warriors or the Rockets, save for catastrophic injuries for both teams. Anyone saying otherwise is just talking Skip Bayless level BS...

If we are being fair, Toronto should be the favorites. They are the best team if Lowry and Demar don't **** their pants.

The Raptors even choked in the all star game, I don't trust them. Totonto is a great team but they are kind of a bunch of losers.

Cavs are crap, but Lebron will go nuclear enough to keep Cleveland formidable until he quits vs Boston again in the playoffs 2.0.

[Edug27]

Cleveland should not be the favorites for the East... They got little time to gel and they filled their roster with wildly inconsistent players.

I could see them in the finals but equally possible they get knocked out of the 2nd round. I give them literally zero chance to beat the Warriors or the Rockets, save for catastrophic injuries for both teams. Anyone saying otherwise is just talking Skip Bayless level BS...

Lebron retire? Na? Cool then they’re still the favorites.

Wait until they put together a few more losses like today's and the only thing in LeBron's mind will be where he ends up this summer. He has already given up on his teammates once this year, what makes you think that he won't do it twice, as if he owes something to Rodney Hood and Jordan Clarkson...

Lebron is the only player in the East that can beat a team single handedly. Stopping Lebron in his prime from going to the Finals is a myth that has yet to be proven...

[Tyakack]

That roster is not that good. Hood and Hill? They're not taking you very far. I'll never count out playoff lebron, but he can't do it alone. This might actually be the yr a non bron team gets out of the East.

I would agree if there was another elite eastern conference team. LeBron doesn't lose to merely good teams. If your team isn't legit you aren't beating him 4 times in a series, period.

[albas89]

Lebron retire? Na? Cool then they’re still the favorites.

Wait until they put together a few more losses like today's and the only thing in LeBron's mind will be where he ends up this summer. He has already given up on his teammates once this year, what makes you think that he won't do it twice, as if he owes something to Rodney Hood and Jordan Clarkson...

Lebron is the only player in the East that can beat a team single handedly. Stopping Lebron in his prime from going to the Finals is a myth that has yet to be proven...

Fair enough on the first part, that's why I said I would not be surprised at all to see them in the finals again this year. I just think they shouldn't be considered favorites. If Toronto doesn't choke, they should be clear favorites...Washington should give them fits too... A healthy Boston team (sans Hayward) should be able to go to a game 7, even though I still think we'd be underdogs, mainly due to inexperience.

On the other hand I disagree with the myth part, if you ask me LeBron was already in his prime in 2009 & 2010, still that didn't stop him from quitting on his teammates and taking his talents to South Beach. And this is by far the worst supporting cast he had since 2010...

[jcappy]

Would San Antonio be up there with GS and Houston IF Leonard would grace the floor?? I would say YES but only if he has the fight of the other guys on this team. As it is, he's depriving the NBA of a third super team for the playoffs. Can't figure the guy.

[albas89]

That roster is not that good. Hood and Hill? They're not taking you very far. I'll never count out playoff lebron, but he can't do it alone. This might actually be the yr a non bron team gets out of the East.

I would agree if there was another elite eastern conference team. LeBron doesn't lose to merely good teams. If your team isn't legit you aren't beating him 4 times in a series, period.

I agree that LeBron won't lose to a merely good team, ever... But especially this year, a very good team with good coaching should be able to neutralize his supporting cast. There is no Kyrie this year to save his ass when he's not able to go supernova...

[Wes-J]

The Cavs are trotting out Thompson, Osman, Hill, and Smith as starters. Think about that.

We're fine.

[K For Three]

Korver looks old all of a sudden. Kevin Love should help the Cavs when he returns.

I actually am one who WANTS to play the Cavs in the playoffs. Cause the 3 games against them this year were just flat out bizarre and it's hard to tell.

First game-Gordon Hayward's lower leg breaks in half live on the court and it was a horror show. But somehow we still got a game to play! We get blown out but then barely lose the stupid thing in the end score wise. I give Lebron credit though here since he was pretty good to GH after that injury.

Second game-We beat up the old sorry Cavs. And IT was on the sideline waving like Miss America to the crowd during timeouts.

Third game-The new look Cavs first game together and who knew what to expect? Well they got us good and we were in the slump of the century for a bit there. Horrible horrible game. I am convinced this game was cursed now too.


Cavs have slowed down since the all star break, honeymoon is over.

To be fair to Cleveland, Lebron is still the best player in the world and losing to Washington and San Antonio isn't embarrassing either. But this Cavs team this year post Kyrie just don't seem to want to "click". It's a constant change of bodies trying to build something around the King. The PG situation post Kyrie for them has been a constant train wreck.

I been loving the show in Cleveland though all season!!!!

[K For Three]

Would San Antonio be up there with GS and Houston IF Leonard would grace the floor?? I would say YES but only if he has the fight of the other guys on this team. As it is, he's depriving the NBA of a third super team for the playoffs. Can't figure the guy.

IF Leonard can play it is very odd indeed. I have heard a few compare his discontent to the Spurs to Kyrie/Cavs. Apparently Kyrie wanted to be traded longer then people thought and kept it a secret, but he didn't sit things out last year. But Kyrie did threaten rumor is to sit out this recent season or have surgery if he wasn't traded from Cleveland. Kyrie also got very fortunate for the opportunity he had to get to Boston with the IT injury and also being traded to a top team with Brad Stevens.

Hard to say at times. Maybe when you harbor deep hate for something or someone in an organization maybe we as fans will never fully understand what goes through the minds of these men going through it.

I thought most of these players liked/respected Popovich though......I got no idea whats going on........ But most thought the same with Kyrie with "having that opportunity to always be in the finals with his big brother Lebron James." It's not always as great as we all think it is maybe.

It sucks though since if KL could/would play yeah this Spurs team suddenly contends and we get a more interesting west.

[GoCeltics123]

Wizards continue to make no sense as a team. Get blown out at home vs. Charlotte, then respond with a 19 point lead at half vs. the Sixers.

[K For Three]

Also depends on how great you think the Sixers are too. And no, Lebron is not going to Philly. And no, the Sixers won't be winning the east for the next 5 years straight.

Wizards are definitely odd though......

[Ed Pinkney]

LeBron complaining about officiating again, says he doesn't get any calls. Good lord he is a clown.

[GoCeltics123]

Also depends on how great you think the Sixers are too. And no, Lebron is not going to Philly. And no, the Sixers won't be winning the east for the next 5 years straight.

Wizards are definitely odd though......

I'm honestly very concerned with the idea of LeBron going to Philly. While I think there are massive fit issues with him and Simmons since Simmons can't play off-ball, that move could catapult them to multiple EC titles (or none if we get AD or Kawhi ).

I still think Houston or LA. But Philly is a dark horse IMO for sure.

[Edug27]

Also depends on how great you think the Sixers are too. And no, Lebron is not going to Philly. And no, the Sixers won't be winning the east for the next 5 years straight.

Wizards are definitely odd though......

I'm honestly very concerned with the idea of LeBron going to Philly. While I think there are massive fit issues with him and Simmons since Simmons can't play off-ball, that move could catapult them to multiple EC titles (or none if we get AD or Kawhi ).

I still think Houston or LA. But Philly is a dark horse IMO for sure.

Bron isn’t moving his family to Philly.

[K For Three]

Also depends on how great you think the Sixers are too. And no, Lebron is not going to Philly. And no, the Sixers won't be winning the east for the next 5 years straight.

Wizards are definitely odd though......

I'm honestly very concerned with the idea of LeBron going to Philly. While I think there are massive fit issues with him and Simmons since Simmons can't play off-ball, that move could catapult them to multiple EC titles (or none if we get AD or Kawhi ).

I still think Houston or LA. But Philly is a dark horse IMO for sure.

I think he'd go to L.A. or Houston right now. I just feel if Lebron leaves Cleveland for the final time, he is getting out of the east this time probably. Unless he thinks it's just too damn easy to win the east but that also depends on how much longevity you think the Warriors have.

I also often felt Lebron needs to go somewhere where he has "a mentor" friend type waiting for him and a comfort level. Still favors the Lakers since I think he and Magic could become best buddies and he is pretty comfortable in L.A. And his kids and school would work out well too there. When he went to Miami he trusted his prime in the hands of Riley, had a coach he could still push around and Wade was his bestie. If he went to the Lakers he would have to trust a lot to Magic Johnson for his final years.

On the flip side though I could see him being pretty happy with the veteran Rockets roster.......he being homies with them.

And some have brought up the Spurs but then also brought up the lack of control he would have under Popovich.

I dunno. I don't think anyone knows right now for sure. It's Lebron so it will always be full of rumors.

I just am not feeling the Philly stuff......I don't see Lebron as a Philly dude.

Only a few teams can really afford to do the Lebron thing.

And of course there is still a shot he stays in Cleveland.

[GreenBloodedC]

I may be in the minority but the Cavs should have gambled on IT.

Their floor is definitely lower, but if gets into shape and somehow replicates what he did last year, they would have a much higher ceiling.