Absurdly early 2018 NBA Draft Thread

[kg01]

Oh that Jamal emoji face is the face he makes when the Celtics get ripped up in a few days...he’s gonna be very upset and will need our full support. Which is about the time I’m gonna go back to the old country...

I gotta be honest, I'm just surprised the Celtics are still in this. They lost their two best players months ago, have been the less talented team in each matchup thus far -- and just seem to keep on chugging along in large part because of our cast off. HOW?!?

And they'll likely be even better next season.

I'll be more disappointed if HOU doesn't at least take GSW to 6 games.

Eh, UTA (allegedly) lost their best player from last season. Let's not forget Hayward was on the playoff struggle-bus up until like the last 2 games in UTA. Perhaps BOS is better (or as good) with Brown/Tatum who don't seem to be as phased as Gordo was when he was in the playoffs.

[Spud2nique]

Oh that Jamal emoji face is the face he makes when the Celtics get ripped up in a few days...he’s gonna be very upset and will need our full support. Which is about the time I’m gonna go back to the old country...

I gotta be honest, I'm just surprised the Celtics are still in this. They lost their two best players months ago, have been the less talented team in each matchup thus far -- and just seem to keep on chugging along in large part because of our cast off. HOW?!?

And they'll likely be even better next season.

I'll be more disappointed if HOU doesn't at least take GSW to 6 games.

Skkkkiiiirrrrrttttttt...(dragging Jamal back by the collar)...hold up son, it’s not gravy that the Celtics are here. They were expected to be here with Kyrie and Hayward anyways so in the whole scheme of things, getting knocked out in the conference finals was plan A from the get go. They are expected to be here.

Having said that, now they’re just expected to exit. Obviously it won’t be in a sweep or even 5 games but the Cavs will beat the Celtics in 6 games.

Alice will feel good about herself then crawl back into the rat hole he comes from.

[Jamaaliver]

Eh, UTA (allegedly) lost their best player from last season. Let's not forget Hayward was on the playoff struggle-bus up until like the last 2 games in UTA. Perhaps BOS is better (or as good) with Brown/Tatum who don't seem to be as phased as Gordo was when he was in the playoffs.

I'm not sure I follow.

Losing a player in the offseason is very different than losing players mid season when rosters are largely set. (Didn't KI go down after the trade deadline?)

Otherwise you could lament BOS losing Jae Crowder, Avery Bradley, Isaiah Thomas and Kelly Olynyk. But no one considers them a loss because they brought in other options in the offseason.

BOS lost players during the season and still went on to a better record than last year. I still don't know how exactly...

[kg01]

Eh, UTA (allegedly) lost their best player from last season. Let's not forget Hayward was on the playoff struggle-bus up until like the last 2 games in UTA. Perhaps BOS is better (or as good) with Brown/Tatum who don't seem to be as phased as Gordo was when he was in the playoffs.

I'm not sure I follow.

Losing a player in the offseason is very different than losing players mid season when rosters are largely set. (Didn't KI go down after the trade deadline?)

Otherwise you could lament BOS losing Jae Crowder, Avery Bradley, Isaiah Thomas and Kelly Olynyk. But no one considers them a loss because they brought in other options in the offseason.

BOS lost players during the season and still went on to a better record than last year. I still don't know how exactly...

It's called Selltic hate. Don't try to make sense of it.

[Jamaaliver]

It's called Selltic hate. Don't try to make sense of it.

It's an understandable and widespread sentiment.

Interesting thing, I've followed the NBA for 28+ years.

Most of that time, Boston has been bad to mediocre. It's only in the last decade that they have toggled between competitive and elite.

I kind of don't think of them in the same level as other more consistently top franchises. That's likely why I can praise them so much.

I legit see them as a bad franchise that's made smart decisions over the last 10 seasons.

Before that...they were legit terrible. For a looooooooong time.

Spoiler:

When I think about Celtics...

Watch on YouTube

[Spud2nique]

It's called Selltic hate. Don't try to make sense of it.

It's an understandable and widespread sentiment.

Interesting thing, I've followed the NBA for 28+ years.

Most of that time, Boston has been bad to mediocre. It's only in the last decade that they have toggled between competitive and elite.

I kind of don't think of them in the same level as other more consistently top franchises. That's likely why I can praise them so much.

I legit see them as a bad franchise that's made smart decisions over the last 10 seasons.

Before that...they were legit terrible. For a looooooooong time.

Spoiler:

When I think about Celtics...

Watch on YouTube

Wait you’ve followed the nba for 28 years but only been a Hawks fan since 2004? Hmmm...Bradley, are you fibbing again? We’re you a Celtics fan before that?

[Jamaaliver]

Wait you’ve followed the nba for 28 years but only been a Hawks fan since 2004? Hmmm...Bradley, are you fibbing again? We’re you a Celtics fan before that?

2004?

I've BEEN A DIE HARD HAWK FAN SINCE 95-96 SEASON!

It's why my 2nd and 3rd favorite Hawks are D Mutombo and Steve Smith.


(I joined this site in 2005 when I was stationed on the other side of the world and trying to keep up with the rebuild around the Joshes.)


And FTR, I was a Isaiah Thomas/Joe Dumars fan before coming over to support the Hawks.

[Spud2nique]

Wait you’ve followed the nba for 28 years but only been a Hawks fan since 2004? Hmmm...Bradley, are you fibbing again? We’re you a Celtics fan before that?

2004?

I've BEEN A DIE HARD HAWK FAN SINCE 95-96 SEASON!

It's why my 2nd and 3rd favorite Hawks are D Mutombo and Steve Smith.


(I joined this site in 2005 when I was stationed on the other side of the world and trying to keep up with the rebuild around the Joshes.)

Well you stated before that it was 2004 or 2005 when you started following the Hawks. This is the first I’ve heard that you’ve been fanning yourself since 95.

[Jamaaliver]

Well you stated before that it was 2004 or 2005 when you started following the Hawks. This is the first I’ve heard that you’ve been fanning yourself since 95.

I don't believe I've ever said that.

This is one of the biggest Regular Season wins in my 19 years of Hawks fandom. To go into CLE and win this game without our best player is phenomenal. Coming back from a 8 point deficit to a 29 point win on the road is huuuuge....

2014

[atlantabbq99]

Shot blocking has become such a useless skill now that championships are won with the 3 ball.

[Jamaaliver]

Well you stated before that it was 2004 or 2005 when you started following the Hawks. This is the first I’ve heard that you’ve been fanning yourself since 95.

I don't believe I've ever said that.

Like seriously...

IN all honesty, Budenholzer is the best Hawks coach in my 22 years of fandom.

I just think his system emphasizes perimeter play at the expense of interior scoring/rebounding.

Not an indictment of his overall skill and abilities.

Jan 2018

Spoiler:

I miss him more than certain dead relatives...

My favorite Hawk...right up there with Mutombo and Steve Smith.

May 2018

[Jamaaliver]

5 best landing spots for Mo Bamba in 2018 NBA Draft


Atlanta Hawks

Current Center: Dewayne Dedmon


Among all the NBA teams that have a huge need at center, the Atlanta Hawks might be in one of the worst situations at this moment. The building blocks are in place for the Hawks to have a bright future in the Eastern Conference, if they get this pick right.

The two players the Hawks have foundation around right now are former Baylor Bears forward Taurean Prince and former Wake Forest Demon Deacons forward John Collins. Last year, Collins was the first round pick for the Hawks, and he panned out nicely last season in the NBA.

And whether the Hawks decide to keep Schroder should not impact them drafting a premier big man with their lottery pick here.

If either is available, you have to figure Atlanta selects either Ayton or Bamba. These are the two obvious options to put alongside Collins and Prince in the starting lineup. That could at least get the Hawks back on track to becoming a playoff contender in the East again.

Longhorns - Fan Sided

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

Oh my....

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[kg01]

Oh my....

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Why "Oh my"? Would you take Hedo Turk at #1?

[macd-gm]

Oh my....

Read on Twitter

Why "Oh my"? Would you take Hedo Turk at #1?

I don't know. I've had big concerns over whether Luka will work in the nba beyond a decent role guy. But all these guys have question marks. I wanted no part of Bagley early on but at least he seems to have the athleticsm for the nba

[Jamaaliver]

Why "Oh my"? Would you take Hedo Turk at #1?

I'm not gonna fall for that bait...but I didn't realize there was still such a wide array of assessments on the kid by high ranking NBA execs.

I thought he was a consensus top-2 selection.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I don't know. I've had big concerns over whether Luka will work in the NBA beyond a decent role guy. But all these guys have question marks.

Doncic as a prospect reminds me a bit of the situation with Kukoc and Diaw in Hawks uniforms. Here, under bad coaches in outdated systems...they were garbage.

But in better situations, under better coaches, they were key cogs on championship winning teams.

A lot comes down to how teams are going to use the kid.

NOTE: Ironically, I trusted Budenholzer to put this kid in the right system. Completely in the dark how Tibbetts, Silas or Pierce would utilize him.

[kg01]

Why "Oh my"? Would you take Hedo Turk at #1?

I'm not gonna fall for that bait...but I didn't realize there was still such a wide array of assessments on the kid by high ranking NBA execs.

I thought he was a consensus top-2 selection.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I don't know. I've had big concerns over whether Luka will work in the NBA beyond a decent role guy. But all these guys have question marks.

Doncic as a prospect reminds me a bit of the situation with Kukoc and Diaw in Hawks uniforms. Here, under bad coaches in outdated systems...they were garbage.

But in better situations, under better coaches, they were key cogs on championship winning teams.

A lot comes down to how teams are going to use the kid.

NOTE: Ironically, I trusted Budenholzer to put this kid in the right system. Completely in the dark how Tibbetts, Silas or Pierce would utilize him.

It doesn't surprise me. We're into the silly season where everybody's getting over-analyzed. If you look at him play long enough, I can see how scouts come away with questions about the degree to which he'll translate.

[tbhawksfan1]

I'll be surprised if Ayton / Doncic / Bagley don't go top 3. Poeter and JJJ next 2 and Trae / Carter / Bamba for 6-8.

We'll know which tier we draft in in 5 days.....

[tbhawksfan1]

Can't wait for the draft to see who comes in. Even more interested to see how TSchlenk handles all that cap and flewibility to optimize said draft