Around the NBA (2.0), 2018-19 (Non-Celtics Talk)

[Edug27]

Just not that concerned about Cousins and Golden State. The Achilles will keep him off the court until at least January and almost no likelihood that he’ll reach his former level of play. The one year contract doesn’t come with bird rights, so in the unlikely event he does return to star level, there is no way the Warriors will be able to retain him next season.


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I'm not too bothered either by it, but Cousins at 50% will still be better than Javale mcGee and Zaza

Dubs don’t need Cousins to be 100% or even his regular self. The Hampton 5 lineup is the lineup they’ll use a majority of the time. Cousins just gives them the ability to switch it up with a force down low to bang bodies. But Boston shouldn’t be worries about GS right now. We need to focus on winning the East and dominating there first.

[KGboss]

I was annoyed yesterday only because it sets a precedent for ring chasing moving forward.

On the flip side no one even knows if boogie is going to be able to run again or making it 5 games before something else pops. A lot of big guys as a lot of others have said dont recover from these kinds of injuries.

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[Curmudgeon]

Meh. I remember when Chamberlain joined the Lakers, everyone said they couldn't be beaten. They were. They lost three straight finals after Chamberlain arrived, finally won a title in 1972, then lost in the finals in 73, after Chamberlain and Baylor were gone (but Gail Goodrich and Connie Hawkins had arrived).

As for Cousins, he has yet to play in a single playoff game in his entire career.

[celticfan42487]

Meh. I remember when Chamberlain joined the Lakers, everyone said they couldn't be beaten. They were. They lost three straight finals after Chamberlain arrived, finally won a title in 1972, then lost in the finals in 73, after Chamberlain and Baylor were gone (but Gail Goodrich and Connie Hawkins had arrived).

As for Cousins, he has yet to play in a single playoff game in his entire career.

But to be fair, the Warriors were already said to be unbeatable before adding Cousins.

It would just go from unbeatable to even more unbeatable. Or he never plays a second of Warriors basketball and they're still unbeatable.

[Joshyjess]

I predict that Cousins will be Golden States Achilles heel

[Curmudgeon]

Meh. I remember when Chamberlain joined the Lakers, everyone said they couldn't be beaten. They were. They lost three straight finals after Chamberlain arrived, finally won a title in 1972, then lost in the finals in 73, after Chamberlain and Baylor were gone (but Gail Goodrich and Connie Hawkins had arrived).

As for Cousins, he has yet to play in a single playoff game in his entire career.

But to be fair, the Warriors were already said to be unbeatable before adding Cousins.

It would just go from unbeatable to even more unbeatable. Or he never plays a second of Warriors basketball and they're still unbeatable.

I don't think Cousins moves the needle one way or the other. In fact, when Cousins goes into Carmello mode he can just as easily lose a game singlehandedly as win one. It will be a challenge for Kerr and that locker room to keep Boogie in line.

[celticfan42487]

Meh. I remember when Chamberlain joined the Lakers, everyone said they couldn't be beaten. They were. They lost three straight finals after Chamberlain arrived, finally won a title in 1972, then lost in the finals in 73, after Chamberlain and Baylor were gone (but Gail Goodrich and Connie Hawkins had arrived).

As for Cousins, he has yet to play in a single playoff game in his entire career.

But to be fair, the Warriors were already said to be unbeatable before adding Cousins.

It would just go from unbeatable to even more unbeatable. Or he never plays a second of Warriors basketball and they're still unbeatable.

I don't think Cousins moves the needle one way or the other. In fact, when Cousins goes into Carmello mode he can just as easily lose a game singlehandedly as win one. It will be a challenge for Kerr and that locker room to keep Boogie in line.

Well, I think that's underselling him by an extreme margin. But yeah the Warriors are winning the title without any effort again this year with Boogie.

As for an actual in fact, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 2018-19 Warriors will be the sixth team in NBA history -- and first since the 1975-76 Celtics -- to have five All-Stars from the previous season.

So yeah, he's significant. A 50% Cousins next season is likely still a top 5 Center in the league who is a very good 3 point shooter, rebounder, and passer. So he'll do just fine playing off the ball as a roleplayer for the Warriors.

[Valid]

But to be fair, the Warriors were already said to be unbeatable before adding Cousins.

It would just go from unbeatable to even more unbeatable. Or he never plays a second of Warriors basketball and they're still unbeatable.

I don't think Cousins moves the needle one way or the other. In fact, when Cousins goes into Carmello mode he can just as easily lose a game singlehandedly as win one. It will be a challenge for Kerr and that locker room to keep Boogie in line.

Well, I think that's underselling him by an extreme margin. But yeah the Warriors are winning the title without any effort again this year with Boogie.

As for an actual in fact, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 2018-19 Warriors will be the sixth team in NBA history -- and first since the 1975-76 Celtics -- to have five All-Stars from the previous season.

So yeah, he's significant. A 50% Cousins next season is likely still a top 5 Center in the league who is a very good 3 point shooter, rebounder, and passer. So he'll do just fine playing off the ball as a roleplayer for the Warriors.

Even though he has never done that in his career and is widely viewed as a selfish player?

[Valid]

So apparently, Butler is "fed up" in Minnesota:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2784327-report-jimmy-butler-fed-up-with-nonchalant-timberwolves-karl-anthony-towns?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national

It's crazy. Just a year ago, people were looking at the Timberwolves as the next up-and-coming team out West. Now they look ready to fall apart.

[KGboss]

So apparently, Butler is "fed up" in Minnesota:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2784327-report-jimmy-butler-fed-up-with-nonchalant-timberwolves-karl-anthony-towns?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national

It's crazy. Just a year ago, people were looking at the Timberwolves as the next up-and-coming team out West. Now they look ready to fall apart.

So I guess the rest of the league needs to evaluate who is the problem here...Butler or KAT and Wiggins.

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[Valid]

So apparently, Butler is "fed up" in Minnesota:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2784327-report-jimmy-butler-fed-up-with-nonchalant-timberwolves-karl-anthony-towns?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national

It's crazy. Just a year ago, people were looking at the Timberwolves as the next up-and-coming team out West. Now they look ready to fall apart.

So I guess the rest of the league needs to evaluate who is the problem here...Butler or KAT and Wiggins.

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I would venture to say that all three are at fault somewhat.

Remember that Butler caused some issues in Chicago, so it's entirely possible that he might just not be an easy guy to get along with. As for Towns and Wiggins? Neither player has any commitment to playing defense, so I'm sure that must be frustrating for a defensive guy like Butler.

Butler's value is also trash at this point relative to what it had been in the past. Chronic knee issues, turns 29 in September, up for a new contract next summer, etc. If the Timberwolves try to move him, they shouldn't expect to get much for him.

[mbsnmisc]

So apparently, Butler is "fed up" in Minnesota:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2784327-report-jimmy-butler-fed-up-with-nonchalant-timberwolves-karl-anthony-towns?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national

It's crazy. Just a year ago, people were looking at the Timberwolves as the next up-and-coming team out West. Now they look ready to fall apart.

I don't know how accurate this article is, but despite KAT's prolific talent, I don't think he plays winning basketball. I have brought up this play from last year a couple of times, and to me it shows a weakness in Town's psyche. The play was in the BOS at MN game. KAT threw down a monster dunk on Baynes. They go to a timeout. My feed stays in arena for commercials/halftime. Towns was almost crying on the bench. I don't mean angry bitching trying to work a call NBA complaining. It was more, I didn't get my way, I always get my way, pouting.

I will be the first to admit that I am drawing conclusions about a young mans character from 3 minutes of video. From all accounts he is a fine citizen of the NBA and the Minneapolis community. It was just odd. More Glenn Davis'y than I expected. It may mean nothing, it may mean he will have a nice career, but never leads a team to a championship. Time will tell.

[colaroaster]

lunch with league executives today should be interesting

[K For Three]

[Joshyjess]

Whew, the Wizards signed Howard. I was afraid that he was going to some how end up on the C's bench. That is one headache I am glad that we avoided!

[Valid]

Whew, the Wizards signed Howard. I was afraid that he was going to some how end up on the C's bench. That is one headache I am glad that we avoided!

So the Wizards get rid of Gortat because he was a problem in the locker room, but then they go and sign Dwight?

lol. Good luck with that, Wiz.

[SMTBSI]

Whew, the Wizards signed Howard. I was afraid that he was going to some how end up on the C's bench. That is one headache I am glad that we avoided!

So the Wizards get rid of Gortat because he was a problem in the locker room, but then they go and sign Dwight?

lol. Good luck with that, Wiz.

To be fair, the Wiz were one of those teams in the "we have to try something" position. Capped out, no truly exciting youth, no juicy trade chips, and several quite large steps away from contention. Yet way too good to completely blow it up, with their best players still plenty young and locked up long term.

It's a weird situation. In danger of the most aggressive form of treadmill. It's actually reasonable for them to be very risk tolerant.

[Valid]

Whew, the Wizards signed Howard. I was afraid that he was going to some how end up on the C's bench. That is one headache I am glad that we avoided!

So the Wizards get rid of Gortat because he was a problem in the locker room, but then they go and sign Dwight?

lol. Good luck with that, Wiz.

To be fair, the Wiz were one of those teams in the "we have to try something" position. Capped out, no truly exciting youth, no juicy trade chips, and several quite large steps away from contention. Yet way too good to completely blow it up, with their best players still plenty young and locked up long term.

It's a weird situation. In danger of the most aggressive form of treadmill. It's actually reasonable for them to be very risk tolerant.

Are they really that good though? Every year people keep waiting for them to take the "next step" and they never do. To me, they are the American version of the Toronto Raptors. If I were them, I would give it one more season. If they don't do anything next year, they need to blow it up.

[SMTBSI]

So the Wizards get rid of Gortat because he was a problem in the locker room, but then they go and sign Dwight?

lol. Good luck with that, Wiz.

To be fair, the Wiz were one of those teams in the "we have to try something" position. Capped out, no truly exciting youth, no juicy trade chips, and several quite large steps away from contention. Yet way too good to completely blow it up, with their best players still plenty young and locked up long term.

It's a weird situation. In danger of the most aggressive form of treadmill. It's actually reasonable for them to be very risk tolerant.

Are they really that good though? Every year people keep waiting for them to take the "next step" and they never do. To me, they are the American version of the Toronto Raptors. If I were them, I would give it one more season. If they don't do anything next year, they need to blow it up.

No, they're not that good. Like I said, "several quite large steps away from contention". I just think they're still way too good to blow it up.

Honestly, I've hated on them as much over the past few years as anyone. Have consistently said that I don't see it with them every time someone pegs them as flirting with contention.

But, Wall's 27, Beal's 25, they're both locked up long term (arguably for values that make them near untradable), and are good enough to keep their floor relatively high. It would probably cost assets to blow that team up, not yield them. Or at least wouldn't yield very much.

So, you can't win, you can't blow it up, and you're too good to be bad. Time to get a little reckless, imo.

[truth18]

So, you can't win, you can't blow it up, and you're too good to be bad.

I have heard this muttered in hushed tones from the dark corners of Grunfeldia.



Enjoy, Dwight.