Around the NBA IV

[Scoots1994]

I have them finishing 3rd as well

The Raps, Celtics, and Sixers are the clear top 3 in the East, but the West is absolutely brutal.

Even the worst teams in the West are going to challenge teams next year.

[Money_]

Wants to go to LA

Pop sends him to another country

Blessing in disguise for him, if he gives up the LA dream. The East is wide open.
Sure the 6'ers and Celtics are at the top right now, but Kawhi is a piece to build around and could make most teams instant ECF contenders. or at least in the mix for it...

At some point, a team will come along and beat the Warriors. I do not want that team to be the Lakers!!
Have to hear all the "now things are back to their natural order" talk from my LA friends.
The fact that Lebron is on that team would just make it worse. (hate them both).

The flip side though is if the Lakers get good and give the Warriors a run for the money in a couple of years, and the Dubs win...
Well, that would make for some sweet satisfying victory vibes!

[Scoots1994]

Wants to go to LA

Pop sends him to another country

Blessing in disguise for him, if he gives up the LA dream. The East is wide open.
Sure the 6'ers and Celtics are at the top right now, but Kawhi is a piece to build around and could make most teams instant ECF contenders. or at least in the mix for it...

At some point, a team will come along and beat the Warriors. I do not want that team to be the Lakers!!
Have to hear all the "now things are back to their natural order" talk from my LA friends.
The fact that Lebron is on that team would just make it worse. (hate them both).

The flip side though is if the Lakers get good and give the Warriors a run for the money in a couple of years, and the Dubs win...
Well, that would make for some sweet satisfying victory vibes!

The Lakers plan is the beat up the Warriors which annoyingly put the Warriors in a position of relying on the refs calling the game by the rules to be able to play their game which sucks.

[Scoots1994]

Hadn't seen it before but I like the line "How did LeBron sign with the Lakers with his horribly broken hand?"

[Coxy]

Holmes traded for cash! WIsh we got in on that somehow, really like his game.

[watch1958]

Holmes traded for cash! WIsh we got in on that somehow, really like his game.

I've always wanted him; I was furious when the drafted Looney instead. Maybe Phoenix will be willing to deal. Given that Holmes' deal is up next spring, they ahve to be thining of this as a one year tryout, recognizing that if he plays well he'll earn a big payday. And to me, he seems like the classic guy you want to have, but don't want to overpay for. So if the Warriors offer something useful (like maybe more cash?) they might be able to pry him loose.

Maybe offer Damian Jones, who would be under the Suns' control for longer. After all, Holmes isn't going to make them a contender this year, and they won't be one next year either, so they won't be able to pay him if he has earned it.

[Coxy]

Holmes traded for cash! WIsh we got in on that somehow, really like his game.

I've always wanted him; I was furious when the drafted Looney instead. Maybe Phoenix will be willing to deal. Given that Holmes' deal is up next spring, they ahve to be thining of this as a one year tryout, recognizing that if he plays well he'll earn a big payday. And to me, he seems like the classic guy you want to have, but don't want to overpay for. So if the Warriors offer something useful (like maybe more cash?) they might be able to pry him loose.

Maybe offer Damian Jones, who would be under the Suns' control for longer. After all, Holmes isn't going to make them a contender this year, and they won't be one next year either, so they won't be able to pay him if he has earned it.

He'd be a perfect backup big for us. I'd trade Damian "Marshmallow" Jones for him in a heart beat. He may suit Phoenix though, as he'll get minutes there, probably more than he would with us, so he'd showcase for a contract.

Maybe a mid season addition if the Suns are falling apart once again. He might get tired of Devin Booker launching 40 FGA's every night and losing by 30 in the process.

[donkeylips]

Beasley to the lakers

[Scoots1994]

Holmes is okay, but I don't understand the rabid love for him. Jones and Looney have better potential for the Warriors than Holmes and are considerably younger. Don't give up on young talent too soon!

[Scoots1994]

http://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/24246576/projected-nba-win-totals-playoff-standings-all-30-teams-2018-19

ESPN Kevin Pelton's predictions for next season's records:

Eastern:
1 Toronto Raptors 55.1
2 Boston Celtics 53.2
3 Philadelphia 76ers 47.8
4 Indiana Pacers 45.7
5 Milwaukee Bucks 45.2
6 Miami Heat 44.8
7 Washington Wizards 43.6
8 Detroit Pistons 39.4
9 Charlotte Hornets 38.3
10 Brooklyn Nets 36.8
11 Orlando Magic 33.6
12 Cleveland Cavaliers 31.0
13 New York Knicks 30.8
14 Chicago Bulls 28.0
15 Atlanta Hawks 25.9

Western:
1 Golden State Warriors 58.6
2 Utah Jazz 53.4
3 Houston Rockets 53.0
4 Denver Nuggets 50.5
5 Minnesota Timberwolves 49.6
6 Oklahoma City Thunder 47.2
7 New Orleans Pelicans 44.1
8 Portland Trail Blazers 42.0
9 L.A. Lakers 41.2
10 San Antonio Spurs 38.5
11 LA Clippers 35.5
12 Memphis Grizzlies 33.1
13 Dallas Mavericks 32.1
14 Phoenix Suns 27.2
15 Sacramento Kings 25.4

The Lakers matched team in the East is the Hornets, and the Spurs match up with the Nets. Wow the east looks weak.

[donkeylips]

Spurs won 47 game so without Leonard last year. They added derozan, belinelli and walker. I can see them matching 47 or winning more. LeBron is too good to just win 40 games. Lakers won 35 last year without him. He adds more than just 5 wins. He has really high hopes for the nets.

[Scoots1994]

Spurs won 47 game so without Leonard last year. They added derozan, belinelli and walker. I can see them matching 47 or winning more. LeBron is too good to just win 40 games. Lakers won 35 last year without him. He adds more than just 5 wins. He has really high hopes for the nets.

Record doesn't reflect the quality of the team when the entire conference/league has become more tough. Last year as many as 9 teams were openly tanking this year there may be no tanking teams, so each team's record is relative to the strength of the bottom of the league.

LeBron makes a big difference, but he's joining a team that is a big of a mess of a roster and a coach who wants to run a very different offense to what LeBron is used to. Also he projected between 6 and 7 game improvement for the Lakers ... take the 15 LeBron adds then take away some of those for the bizarre roster that was built around him. All those 1 year contracts can make players selfish, and LeBron has never made young teammates better ... we'll see, but there are certainly reasons to question whether the Lakers are as good as some Lakers fans hope they will be.

The Spurs added DeRozan, Belinelli, Walker, and Poetl, but they lost Green and Parker and maybe Manu.

[Mylie10]

I think the Lakers will be close to winning 50 games. Their roster is a mess I guess, but they will win more than 41 games

[Scoots1994]

I think the Lakers will be close to winning 50 games. Their roster is a mess I guess, but they will win more than 41 games

Since Pelton's numbers say they'll win more than 41 games you're not exactly going out on a limb

I thought Pelton was a bit pessimistic with them and others and optimistic elsewhere for sure. But I think people projecting the Lakers to 50 wins are taking a huge leap and not really realizing how brutally tough the West, and really the NBA as a whole is going to be.

[Scoots1994]

Bogdan Bogdanovic about Harry Giles:
"He can shoot, he can drive, he can pass, he can play defense, he can move without the ball well, he can dunk, he can do everything really," Bogdan Bogdanovic said, per Blake Ellington of Sactown Royalty. "He's so versatile and impressive. ... He's like a better version of Draymond Green, I'd say, because I think he's stronger, he's more athletic than Draymond."

The Kings have drafted a bunch of players that I wanted to be Warriors ... but they are still the Kings so ...

[Mylie10]

Bogdan Bogdanovic about Harry Giles:
"He can shoot, he can drive, he can pass, he can play defense, he can move without the ball well, he can dunk, he can do everything really," Bogdan Bogdanovic said, per Blake Ellington of Sactown Royalty. "He's so versatile and impressive. ... He's like a better version of Draymond Green, I'd say, because I think he's stronger, he's more athletic than Draymond."

The Kings have drafted a bunch of players that I wanted to be Warriors ... but they are still the Kings so ...

I really like Giles, and I like Bagley more than most, but I seriously doubt Giles has the kind of defensive impact of Draymond and the ability to guard five positions.

[Impuniti]

http://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/24246576/projected-nba-win-totals-playoff-standings-all-30-teams-2018-19

ESPN Kevin Pelton's predictions for next season's records:

Eastern:
1 Toronto Raptors 55.1
2 Boston Celtics 53.2
3 Philadelphia 76ers 47.8
4 Indiana Pacers 45.7
5 Milwaukee Bucks 45.2
6 Miami Heat 44.8
7 Washington Wizards 43.6
8 Detroit Pistons 39.4
9 Charlotte Hornets 38.3
10 Brooklyn Nets 36.8
11 Orlando Magic 33.6
12 Cleveland Cavaliers 31.0
13 New York Knicks 30.8
14 Chicago Bulls 28.0
15 Atlanta Hawks 25.9

Western:
1 Golden State Warriors 58.6
2 Utah Jazz 53.4
3 Houston Rockets 53.0
4 Denver Nuggets 50.5
5 Minnesota Timberwolves 49.6
6 Oklahoma City Thunder 47.2
7 New Orleans Pelicans 44.1
8 Portland Trail Blazers 42.0
9 L.A. Lakers 41.2
10 San Antonio Spurs 38.5
11 LA Clippers 35.5
12 Memphis Grizzlies 33.1
13 Dallas Mavericks 32.1
14 Phoenix Suns 27.2
15 Sacramento Kings 25.4

The Lakers matched team in the East is the Hornets, and the Spurs match up with the Nets. Wow the east looks weak.

SAS not winning as many games as last season when they got Dorozan and lost running from hotels Kawhi is likely to be one of the most idiotic things we will see for this upcoming season.

For the regular season, I expect Jazz, OKC, Lakers and Spurs all to get better from last year. I don't think Rockets will have as many wins, but I wouldn't be surprised if they get 60-62 wins this upcoming season. I expect Spurs to get more than 50 wins this year, 55 overall. Also no way Lebron doesn't make the playoffs. But I would get good money for them to finish 8th and get swept twice by the Warriors in 2 years. They own your soul Lebron. Accept it.

[Mylie10]

RJ Hunter waived.

I remember some dummies pushing for him in the draft. Never could understand how a guy who makes one shot in college could fool so many people. He wasn't a great shooter, he couldn't defend, or do anything else for that matter.

[Chris Porter's Hair]

Manu finally retires. That guy was a royal pain in the ass for a long time, and I felt I had no choice but to respect him anyway. I tip my cap to that pain in the ass; hope he has a pleasant retirement.

[floppymoose]

Manu was the Kobe of the Spurs. He was always the guy who destroyed GS in the 4th quarter.