2018 -- NBA Games Thread

Post #461 » by **ATL Boy** » Wed Mar 7, 2018 3:57 am

Great win by the Mavs over the Nuggets tonight. An ideal result on both fronts as it sees us tied for third place in the tank standings and cools off the Nuggets, putting them in 9th place and strengthening that little buffer between the Wolves and missing out on the playoffs. We really need their pick to convey this year.

Post #462 » by **HMFFL** » Thu Mar 8, 2018 4:25 pm

The warned Chicago Bulls beat Memphis last night.
Chicago controlled most of the game. Memphis showed some life towards the end but Chicago won easily.

Post #463 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Mar 8, 2018 4:30 pm

^If Memphis plays their cards right, they might be looking at a one year rebuild.

Like the Spurs back in 1997.

Add a great young talent to a good, veteran team...that's the ideal scenario.

macd-gm · Post #464 » by **macd-gm** » Thu Mar 8, 2018 9:55 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:^If Memphis plays their cards right, they might be looking at a one year rebuild.

Like the Spurs back in 1997.

Add a great young talent to a good, veteran team...that's the ideal scenario.

Stupid grizz have been tanking worse than anyone. But I disagree that they are a good veteran team. Even with the top pick, some rookie isn't going to rescue that team in time to make a difference and save Conley and Gasol's careers.

MaceCase · Post #465 » by **MaceCase** » Thu Mar 8, 2018 10:08 pm

Spurs averaged 60 wins prior to both Robinson and Elliot going down.

The Grizz averaged 42 wins prior to the current season where Marc has missed only 2 games. It's going to take one amazing rook to push that core past their mediocre and declining plateau.

kg01 · Post #466 » by **kg01** » Fri Mar 9, 2018 3:40 am

Dang, did y'all see Jaylen Brown's fall. Dude is lucky to be alive and I'm not exaggerating that much.

Oh and MaceC is right. MEM is too far gone at this point. Missed their window to trade Gasol.

Post #467 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Mar 9, 2018 12:10 pm

kg01 wrote:Dang, did y'all see Jaylen Brown's fall. Dude is lucky to be alive and I'm not exaggerating that much.

Oh and MaceC is right. MEM is too far gone at this point. Missed their window to trade Gasol.

Maybe, but adding D Ayton alongside Marc Gasol and Mike Conley feels like a playoff core next year.

macd-gm · Post #468 » by **macd-gm** » Fri Mar 9, 2018 2:12 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:
kg01 wrote:Dang, did y'all see Jaylen Brown's fall. Dude is lucky to be alive and I'm not exaggerating that much.

Oh and MaceC is right. MEM is too far gone at this point. Missed their window to trade Gasol.

Maybe, but adding D Ayton alongside Marc Gasol and Mike Conley feels like a playoff core next year.

Yuck. If Memphis picks ayton that'd be a huge mistake when they could desperately use a player like Doncic.

macd-gm · Post #469 » by **macd-gm** » Fri Mar 9, 2018 2:15 pm

kg01 wrote:Dang, did y'all see Jaylen Brown's fall. Dude is lucky to be alive and I'm not exaggerating that much.

Oh and MaceC is right. MEM is too far gone at this point. Missed their window to trade Gasol.

Crap. I've never seen a fall like that. Looked like he got onto his should in the nick of time to save him from literally breaking his neck. Hope he's ok.

Post #470 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Mar 9, 2018 2:19 pm

macd-gm wrote:
Jamaaliver wrote:Maybe, but adding D Ayton alongside Marc Gasol and Mike Conley feels like a playoff core next year.

Yuck. If Memphis picks ayton that'd be a huge mistake when they could desperately use a player like Doncic.

This I don't get. But Ayton as franchise anchor long-term makes sense for anyone.

Ayton as PF next to an All Star caliber Center would be intriguing.

macd-gm · Post #471 » by **macd-gm** » Fri Mar 9, 2018 2:25 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:
macd-gm wrote:
Jamaaliver wrote:Maybe, but adding D Ayton alongside Marc Gasol and Mike Conley feels like a playoff core next year.

Yuck. If Memphis picks ayton that'd be a huge mistake when they could desperately use a player like Doncic.

This I don't get. But Ayton as franchise anchor long-term makes sense for anyone.

Ayton as PF next to an All Star caliber Center would be intriguing.

Isn't that just Zebo / Gasol all over again? Except Gasol is already past his prime and Ayton will be a 20 year old rookie.

kg01 · Post #472 » by **kg01** » Fri Mar 9, 2018 2:27 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:
macd-gm wrote:
Jamaaliver wrote:Maybe, but adding D Ayton alongside Marc Gasol and Mike Conley feels like a playoff core next year.

Yuck. If Memphis picks ayton that'd be a huge mistake when they could desperately use a player like Doncic.

This I don't get. But Ayton as franchise anchor long-term makes sense for anyone.

Ayton as PF next to an All Star caliber Center would be intriguing.

MEM has a long-standing tradition of being completely incapable of developing anyone not named Marc Gasol or Mike Conley though so it's not automatic IMHO.

Post #473 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Mar 9, 2018 2:35 pm

macd-gm wrote:
Jamaaliver wrote:Ayton as PF next to an All Star caliber Center would be intriguing.

Isn't that just Zebo / Gasol all over again? Except Gasol is already past his prime and Ayton will be a 20 year old rookie.

NO. No it's not.

Zach Randolph and D Ayton comparisons?

Very few similarities.

(If MEM went out and signed Julius Randle to play next to Marc...THAT would be Zebo/Gasol all over again.)

macd-gm · Post #474 » by **macd-gm** » Fri Mar 9, 2018 2:38 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:
macd-gm wrote:
Jamaaliver wrote:Ayton as PF next to an All Star caliber Center would be intriguing.

Isn't that just Zebo / Gasol all over again? Except Gasol is already past his prime and Ayton will be a 20 year old rookie.

NO. No it's not.

Zach Randolph and D Ayton comparisons?

Very few similarities.

(If MEM went out and signed Julius Randle to play next to Marc...THAT would be Zebo/Gasol all over again.)

So what is Ayton going to bring that will lift them to be a better team than the memphis team from 5 years ago?

Post #475 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Mar 9, 2018 2:47 pm

macd-gm wrote:So what is Ayton going to bring that will lift them to be a better team than the memphis team from 5 years ago?

MAC...I love you, dude.

I respect you.

And I massively, vehemently, but respectfully disagree.

Ayton is flawed defensively. But he's got the chance to be the elite scoring big man in this league for years.

Ayton + Marc Gasol seems like a better version of A Davis + Boogie or a younger version of LaMarcus + Pau Gasol.

Maybe even approaching the Spurs twin towers combo of the late 20th century.

macd-gm · Post #476 » by **macd-gm** » Fri Mar 9, 2018 3:00 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:
macd-gm wrote:So what is Ayton going to bring that will lift them to be a better team than the memphis team from 5 years ago?

MAC...I love you, dude.

I respect you.

And I massively, vehemently, but respectfully disagree.

Ayton is flawed defensively. But he's got the chance to be the elite scoring big man in this league for years.

Ayton + Marc Gasol seems like a better version of A Davis + Boogie or a younger version of LaMarcus + Pau Gasol.

Maybe even approaching the Spurs twin towers combo of the late 20th century.

Seriously though, that doesn't make any sense because Ayton and Gasol are 12 years apart in age. They won't be a younger version of Lamarcus and Pau. they will be exactly the same except without Kawhi and without Pop.

AD and Boogie are 2 extremely mobile and powerful big men who can shoot and both are just entering their prime. It's almost the exact opposite

Spud2nique · Post #477 » by **Spud2nique** » Fri Mar 9, 2018 3:10 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:^If Memphis plays their cards right, they might be looking at a one year rebuild.

Like the Spurs back in 1997.

Add a great young talent to a good, veteran team...that's the ideal scenario.

Post #478 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Mar 9, 2018 3:12 pm

macd-gm wrote:Seriously though, that doesn't make any sense because Ayton and Gasol are 12 years apart in age. They won't be a younger version of Lamarcus and Pau. they will be exactly the same except without Kawhi and without Pop.

AD and Boogie are 2 extremely mobile and powerful big men who can shoot and both are just entering their prime. It's almost the exact opposite

Again, I disagree.

I believe Gasol, Ayton and Conley gets them back in the mix next season.

(Especially if they find some way to bring back Tyreke Evans.)

Added:

I think you guys have been influenced by how badly that franchise has looked this year.

They still have the core of a competitive playoff team that's made the post season for 7 straight seasons.

Adding a generational talent to that core seems like a slam dunk for a return to the post season.

Spud2nique · Post #479 » by **Spud2nique** » Fri Mar 9, 2018 3:31 pm

Wait? What are you guys arguing here? That if Mem selects Ayton they will be like the Spurs twin towers again? Or that Memphis will return to the playoffs next year?

The former...no way. Timelines don’t match, they might be together one year max before Gasol would get traded.

But if you are talking about the Grizz returning to the playoffs next year, why not? Out of all the bs tankers, the Grizz should be able to bounce back right away and make a run at the playoffs if they keep Gasol and Conley.

Post #480 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Mar 9, 2018 3:35 pm

Spud2nique wrote:Wait? What are you guys arguing here? That if Mem selects Ayton they will be like the Spurs twin towers again? Or that Memphis will return to the playoffs next year?

In all honesty...I'm not even sure.

I mentioned that if this MEM core adds a top young talent in June, their rebuild could be over immediately.

The others seemed less certain.

If MEM trades Marc Gasol, I assume they'd bring back more assets that could help them compete.

But if Memphis gets a top 5 seed next year behind the Gasol/Ayton front court, I could see the team and player agreeing to let him ride into the sunset in the city he loves so much. Serving as the David Robinson-type mentor to D Ayton.

I honestly think Ayton will be that impactful. Especially on a veteran-laden team.