Around The NBA: 2019-20 RESTART

[jc23]

lakers will be given whistles and allowed to call their own fouls in game 2
-league officials

[Jcool0]

How do you know that's Jimmy's camp leaking things? How would Jimmy's camp know about KD if he wasn't in the discussion with them?

Like others have said multiple teams tried to get him. Another team not mentioned was the rockets but they didn't have the assets.

"Got no takers"

When did he have the chance to recruit? Last I checked he was 1 of 1 with wade.

Read on Twitter

August 1st, 2018. So the 2018 off-season. Do you think Jimmy was recruiting him to play at Minny?

No when he wanted out of Minnesota the rumors were he wanted to go to the Clippers or Knicks.

[Dresden]

That was beautiful watching HOU dismantle Lebron and the Lakers tonight. I know Lebron tends to come back strong after losing games 1, but HOU looked like they matched up pretty well with LAL. Lakers weren't able to make them pay for playing small, and eventually HOU starting hitting some 3's. And say what you want about Harden, but he's a very crafty player who can make you pay in a lot of different ways- with the deep ball, drawing fouls, and passing the ball. He's the kind of player who can get you points when you need them, which is important in the playoffs. And he's fresh this postseason.

Lakers might go on to win the next 4, but tonight HOU looked pretty confident.

[Southpaw]

Just took a look at the Bucks roster situation and man they are in trouble. I didn't realize they were that old. While Giannis is only 25, their core are composed of 30 and over dudes. Even Middleton is already 30. It could be hard for them to improve their roster and I'm not sure who among their young guys can take the next step. They really dropped the ball when they let Brogdon go.

[jc23]

Bucks will have to go all in after cp3.

[Repeat 3-peat]

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[PrimzyBulls81]

Who was he barking at? teammate, coach or ref? he looked pissed.. but hell man,thats his competitevness

[jc23]

I still member when Jimmy D'ed up Melo as a rook, he has always had that edge about him.

[dumbell78]

Read on Twitter

I need to know who he's talking to, love him.

[Jcool0]

Just took a look at the Bucks roster situation and man they are in trouble. I didn't realize they were that old. While Giannis is only 25, their core are composed of 30 and over dudes. Even Middleton is already 30. It could be hard for them to improve their roster and I'm not sure who among their young guys can take the next step. They really dropped the ball when they let Brogdon go.

Middleton is averaging 23 points, 5 rebounds and 6.7 assists, he is not a problem. They need Giannis to average more then 22 points.

[Southpaw]

Just took a look at the Bucks roster situation and man they are in trouble. I didn't realize they were that old. While Giannis is only 25, their core are composed of 30 and over dudes. Even Middleton is already 30. It could be hard for them to improve their roster and I'm not sure who among their young guys can take the next step. They really dropped the ball when they let Brogdon go.

Middleton is averaging 23 points, 5 rebounds and 6.7 assists, he is not a problem. They need Giannis to average more then 22 points.

I never said Middleton was a problem. They just need more than him. And yeah, Giannis has to play better. Much better.

[MalagaBulls]

Been seeing a few tweets about AD jumping ship if they don't get to the finals. Thoughts?

Enviado desde mi SM-A520F mediante Tapatalk

[Repeat 3-peat]

Been seeing a few tweets about AD jumping ship if they don't get to the finals. Thoughts?

Enviado desde mi SM-A520F mediante Tapatalk

I wouldn't count on it this off season, next year? we'll see.

[sonny]

Butler is a litmus test. He likes good players, good coaches, and good organizations. He was never going to be a fit in Chicago. Maybe (I hope) with the new regime, but not with the GarPax, Fred, Boylen horror show.

The only player in the NBA who gets teams into the Finals by himself is LeBron. Well, of course he needs help too but pretty much any half-decent supporting squad will work for him. Everybody else needs a stacked team.

So your argument effectively is that LeBron is better than Jimmy Butler. Well, I can't argue with that.

When has Kawhi taken a team to the finals by himself?

I dont think Jimmy is the type other stars want to play with.

https://okcthunderwire.usatoday.com/2019/07/08/report-kawhi-leonard-asked-jimmy-butler-to-pair-up-before-paul-george/

Basically, the whole week of free agency is when he zeroed in on Paul George. Ya know, he didn’t start there. He made a run at Jimmy Butler first, and that was going on even during the playoffs. And he also explored Kevin Durant. ‘Kevin, would you come to the Clippers with me?’ … We’ve known the Clippers have wanted Kawhi for a very long time. But Kawhi wanted to be joined by an elite-level player. And I’m not trying to suggest that Paul was his third choice. They’re obviously friends and he loves Paul George, but Paul George wasn’t gettable. He has three more years on his contract, two before a player option. So you wouldn’t have targeted Paul George first because even Kawhi Leonard wouldn’t have thought he was available.

[sco]

This season has been the fountain of youth for guys over 30 and those high-usage guys to play at such a high level come playoff time. I think we could have seen much different results if the season was played under normal circumstances.

IMO guys like Dragic, CP3, Melo, Westbrook, Butler, Lillard all having better playoffs than I thought they would. It certainly isn't the biggest point, but it has had an impact.

[kodo]

Just took a look at the Bucks roster situation and man they are in trouble. I didn't realize they were that old. While Giannis is only 25, their core are composed of 30 and over dudes. Even Middleton is already 30. It could be hard for them to improve their roster and I'm not sure who among their young guys can take the next step. They really dropped the ball when they let Brogdon go.

Middleton is averaging 23 points, 5 rebounds and 6.7 assists, he is not a problem. They need Giannis to average more then 22 points.

Goran Dragic basically matching Giannis on offense has been brutal for Milwaukee. 1 ppg between them.

I think the biggest issue is that Bledsoe is part of the core, 3rd highest paid player, the guy they kept instead of Brogdon who put up 21/10 in the playoffs.

[MrSparkle]

I still think Lauri needs to become a C to hit whatever ceiling we thought he had. Take the defensive hit, but at least you get 20 ppg and space from your 240 lb. 7-footer. He is such a weak rebounder and rim-protector, but I think you could live with it if the rest of the pieces were right.

I'm not saying I believe he'll ever be a great star or anything, but that is the one road I see. Frankly I thought that's what we're getting when I watched his debut run with Finland. A hybrid center. So this talk in past years of him being a combo-forward has been perplexing, as he's probably the least athletic PF in the league (considering atleast 15 teams play SFs at PF) besides Love, whose Cavs won 19 games. And we've seen Niko and Portis fail in the exact same positional role.

But I guess the real point of the story, is that I don't really think Lauri can be a part of a winning playoff recipe. Zero dudes like him in the playoffs. Theis, Brook Lopez and Olynyk draw faint comparisons, except they're all much tougher in the paint and glass.

[Dresden]

Been seeing a few tweets about AD jumping ship if they don't get to the finals. Thoughts?

Enviado desde mi SM-A520F mediante Tapatalk

I wouldn't count on it this off season, next year? we'll see.

He doesn't look like a great fit next to Lebron anyway. They would be better off getting a defender/rim running center for cheap, and spend that money on a few knock down shooters. Davis' offense seems wasted the way Lebron dominates the ball so much.

[PaKii94]

I still think Lauri needs to become a C to hit whatever ceiling we thought he had. Take the defensive hit, but at least you get 20 ppg and space from your 240 lb. 7-footer. He is such a weak rebounder and rim-protector, but I think you could live with it if the rest of the pieces were right.

I'm not saying I believe he'll ever be a great star or anything, but that is the one road I see. Frankly I thought that's what we're getting when I watched his debut run with Finland. A hybrid center. So this talk in past years of him being a combo-forward has been perplexing, as he's probably the least athletic PF in the league (considering atleast 15 teams play SFs at PF) besides Love, whose Cavs won 19 games. And we've seen Niko and Portis fail in the exact same positional role.

But I guess the real point of the story, is that I don't really think Lauri can be a part of a winning playoff recipe. Zero dudes like him in the playoffs. Theis, Brook Lopez and Olynyk draw faint comparisons, except they're all much tougher in the paint and glass.

What you saw is Lauri trying to bulk up to play C. It made him slower but still not enough mass to be a C. He's fine strength wise as a combo forward

[sco]

I still think Lauri needs to become a C to hit whatever ceiling we thought he had. Take the defensive hit, but at least you get 20 ppg and space from your 240 lb. 7-footer. He is such a weak rebounder and rim-protector, but I think you could live with it if the rest of the pieces were right.

I'm not saying I believe he'll ever be a great star or anything, but that is the one road I see. Frankly I thought that's what we're getting when I watched his debut run with Finland. A hybrid center. So this talk in past years of him being a combo-forward has been perplexing, as he's probably the least athletic PF in the league (considering atleast 15 teams play SFs at PF) besides Love, whose Cavs won 19 games. And we've seen Niko and Portis fail in the exact same positional role.

But I guess the real point of the story, is that I don't really think Lauri can be a part of a winning playoff recipe. Zero dudes like him in the playoffs. Theis, Brook Lopez and Olynyk draw faint comparisons, except they're all much tougher in the paint and glass.

Ugh, no thanks. If the FO comes to a similar opinion, I hope they trade him right away. Honestly, Felicio is a better C. The C position in the NBA is about rim protection and rebounding first. Lauri, if he is to maximize his talents needs to become a Durant-lite, skinny, nimble, shooter with good handles. We saw some of that as a rookie, which was appealing. His game is about finesse, not power. When some wrong-headed Bulls or Finn person had him bulk up his arms and legs he appeared to lose his footspeed and shooting touch.