Around the League - 2019-2020

[cool93]

Yup, making a max offer to Jimmy would be a terrible idea, lmao

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[Bum Adebayo]

Yeah, Jimmy butler stats bla bla bla, but he somehow finds a way to win!
Many think it is all about amassing as much talent as possible, but there is much more to it. Jimmy has less talent than top 20 players in NBA, yet he is better than many.

[Kobblehead]

Miami would have been dead on arrival in the playoffs had they not made the Iguodala/Crowder additions. Once again, proving how fantastic Riley and that front office is.

[Kobblehead]

I'll never take LeBron James serious in a GOAT discussion. He can't score off the dribble in the halfcourt. He has never won anything of note without Dwyane Wade or Kyrie Irving. He's a great all-around player. He's not a true #1 option.

Similarly, I'll never take Giannis serious in a "best player in the league" discussion. He's even less of a threat in the halfcourt. He'll never win anything without a star ball handler to take control in the big playoff moments.

[VDT]

Giannis needs to play the 5. If they can get someone to run pnrs with him and play a similar style to Miami, with a lot of ball movement and 3 point shooting they could go far, even with Middleton as their iso option.

Miami is not a good match up because it is a largely perimeter oriented team. I think they expected the Sixers to be their main competition which is why they got both Lopez brother.

If there is a takeaway from these playoffs us the importance of wing defenders.

[VDT]

Miami would have been dead on arrival in the playoffs had they not made the Iguodala/Crowder additions. Once again, proving how fantastic Riley and that front office is.

Not to take anything away from Riley but they got also lucky. Bucks are good matchup for them, Dragic, who is killing the Bucks, was about to be gifted to Dallas, Giannis being terrible even when defended by Crowder etc.

[Kobblehead]

I think it's too late for the Bucks to find someone who Giannis can defer to.

They tried with Bledsoe and Brogdon. Bledsoe not quite good enough and they ran out of time with Brogdon. They're trying hard with Middleton but he's just not that natural off the dribble against good defenders.

I think they're just stuck with Giannis assuming way too much ball handling opportunities and no real way to scale him back. So they'll continue to be a terrible playoff team.

Wouldn't be surprised if the humble/loyal Giannis had no choice but to follow other guys that abandoned their drafting team. This Bucks team is going nowhere.

[the_process]

I think it's too late for the Bucks to find someone who Giannis can defer to.

They tried with Bledsoe and Brogdon. Bledsoe not quite good enough and they ran out of time with Brogdon. They're trying hard with Middleton but he's just not that natural off the dribble against good defenders.

I think they're just stuck with Giannis assuming way too much ball handling opportunities and no real way to scale him back. So they'll continue to be a terrible playoff team.

Wouldn't be surprised if the humble/loyal Giannis had no choice but to follow other guys that abandoned their drafting team. This Bucks team is going nowhere.

Still feel pretty sure Giannis signs his supermax. Does he then request a trade after one year? That’s looking more and more likely.

[76ciology]

Kobble, you got 2 things that are so money right now.
1.) bucks being a fraud
2.) we need a closer

[Kobblehead]

Kobble, you got 2 things that are so money right now.
1.) bucks being a fraud
2.) we need a closer

When you simplify the game and just ask "who can they give the ball to in the halfcourt of a playoff game to beat people off the dribble and score" you'd be surprised at how accurate a prediction you can make.

I wrote off the Sixers, Bucks and Lakers last August just because the answer to that question was Eric Bledsoe, nobody and nobody for those three teams.

Didn't allow myself to get clouded by the all-around greatness of Antetokounmpo, Embiid, and James/Davis. Because ultimately, those players are mere ancillary stars. They're not true superstars by my definition.

[stormi]

Besides Lebron no other star of our era has been slandered as much as James Harden. Sort of rooting for him.

[stormi]

I'll never take LeBron James serious in a GOAT discussion. He can't score off the dribble in the halfcourt. He has never won anything of note without Dwyane Wade or Kyrie Irving.

Who's your GOAT? Don't say Jordan, he could barely escape round 1 before Pippen joined him.

[76ciology]

I'll never take LeBron James serious in a GOAT discussion. He can't score off the dribble in the halfcourt. He has never won anything of note without Dwyane Wade or Kyrie Irving.

Who's your GOAT? Don't say Jordan, he could barely escape round 1 before Pippen joined him.

Zach Lavine

[Kobblehead]

1. Jordan
2. Bryant
3. Wade

LeBron is grouped in with all the PFs and Cs who also couldn't score off the dribble in the halfcourt. And he definitely ain't getting past Duncan without another ring.

[stormi]

Meme list tbh

[Magic beans]

I think it's too late for the Bucks to find someone who Giannis can defer to.

They tried with Bledsoe and Brogdon. Bledsoe not quite good enough and they ran out of time with Brogdon. They're trying hard with Middleton but he's just not that natural off the dribble against good defenders.

I think they're just stuck with Giannis assuming way too much ball handling opportunities and no real way to scale him back. So they'll continue to be a terrible playoff team.

Wouldn't be surprised if the humble/loyal Giannis had no choice but to follow other guys that abandoned their drafting team. This Bucks team is going nowhere.

Still feel pretty sure Giannis signs his supermax. Does he then request a trade after one year? That’s looking more and more likely.

Matter of time before he leaves. I see him signing a much shorter term contract. And then on to LA / MIA....

[Kobblehead]

Sorry, but I just wrote off any list that has LeBron at #1 or #2 as a mere result of nearly 20 years of marketing from Nike. LeBron is an ancillary star that can't win jack without someone he can defer to in the halfcourt in big moments. Him being in the GOAT discussion is market manipulation and nothing more.

[stormi]

Can't consider Jordan my goat for various reasons.

#1) Ducked all the stars of his era. Got folded by Bird / Magic / Pistons. Couldn't win until they either all got old or were out of the league.

#2) No noteworthy individual playoff runs or heroics, 1-9 in round 1 prior to Pippen with multiple sweeps. Couldn't win playoff rounds until he was 30 on a powerhouse roster in a talent eroded league.

He's probably #2 for me based on legacy and allure. Lebron is the goat.

[stormi]

Lebron is the greatest elimination game player the sport has ever seen. He's already hit more go ahead shots in the final 5 seconds than Kobe or Jordan.

He probably couldn't get into the conversation if he had won any other year and not 2016. That was the epitomy of legendary against the greatest team of it's time (Pre KD). Not hitting meme buzzer beaters over John Stockton and winning finals over Charles Barkley.

[Kobblehead]

That's why a version of Jordan without any athleticism (Kawhi) is the best player in the league that LeBron still plays in.

Stop it, Jordan was the best defender in the sport, the best halfcourt scorer in the sport, and the best athlete in the sport all at the same time. Nobody is touching that.