2019-20 NBA Season Discussion

[TheGOATRises007]

Lakers really went at him and tried to get him in foul trouble. They probably got the better of the whistle but it was a clear plan...

His defensive issues are too big to ignore specially how horrible it was VS Utah

Harden deserves credit for becoming a positive defender. I think he has to be top 3

Harden was terrible in the first round and was very lucky to even get a chance to play good v the Lakers

https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2020-nba-western-conference-first-round-thunder-vs-rockets.html

29.7 pts, 6.3 rebs, 8 ast on 61.7% TS with decent defense is now terrible?

[Doctor MJ]

I dont think Jokic should be top 3 with how mediocre hes been most of this series

Bron, Ad, Harden is how Id have it. Then Jokic and Kawhi or Giannis

I think it has to be pointed out:

1. The Nuggets look like a serious team and the Rockets don't, because of what Harden made his team do in the off-season.

2. We knew up front that the Lakers were designed to tolerate weakness against guards while smashing opposing front courts. Harden vs the Lakers and Jokic vs the Lakers are not remotely apples-to-apples comparisons.

If you don't care about (1), that's your call.

If you had Harden ahead of Jokic after the last round, then nevermind (2).

[Joey Wheeler]

What do you guys see as possibilities for rosters that can compete with the Lakers (assuming Lebron/AD health) in the next few years?

I see it as extremely unlikely any team can pull it off, but the way I'd go about it would be to pair Embiid with a high level perimeter creator and shooters. I think a roster to challenge Lebron/AD will have to contain Embiid, don't see any other big who can approximate AD's all-around impact, especially on defense. Teams without an elite defensive big will just get killed in the paint...

[Dupp]

His defensive issues are too big to ignore specially how horrible it was VS Utah

Harden deserves credit for becoming a positive defender. I think he has to be top 3

Harden was terrible in the first round and was very lucky to even get a chance to play good v the Lakers

https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2020-nba-western-conference-first-round-thunder-vs-rockets.html

29.7 pts, 6.3 rebs, 8 ast on 61.7% TS with decent defense is now terrible?

Ok he was obviously much better than I remember. His play in game 7 and some other crucial points of games stuck in my mind.

[Doctor MJ]

What do you guys see as possibilities for rosters that can compete with the Lakers (assuming Lebron/AD health) in the next few years?

I see it as extremely unlikely any team can pull it off, but the way I'd go about it would be to pair Embiid with a high level perimeter creator and shooters. I think a roster to challenge Lebron/AD will have to contain Embiid, don't see any other big who can approximate AD's all-around impact, especially on defense. Teams without an elite defensive big will just get killed in the paint...

Lakers absolutely feel set up to potentially win multiple titles, though I'm hesitant to talk like that when they still have a series to go before their first title. I'll feel better after they actually pull that off, but even then you only get to see so many matchups in a given year, and you never know when age might catch up with them.

[TheGOATRises007]

What do you guys see as possibilities for rosters that can compete with the Lakers (assuming Lebron/AD health) in the next few years?

I see it as extremely unlikely any team can pull it off, but the way I'd go about it would be to pair Embiid with a high level perimeter creator and shooters. I think a roster to challenge Lebron/AD will have to contain Embiid, don't see any other big who can approximate AD's all-around impact, especially on defense. Teams without an elite defensive big will just get killed in the paint...

If the Warriors with Steph and Klay could somehow land Giannis.

I mean you never know though. Maybe Lebron declines a lot next season with the age and mileage. Not like Lebron and AD are the same age.

Things can change quickly in the NBA.

[Dupp]

What do you guys see as possibilities for rosters that can compete with the Lakers (assuming Lebron/AD health) in the next few years?

I see it as extremely unlikely any team can pull it off, but the way I'd go about it would be to pair Embiid with a high level perimeter creator and shooters. I think a roster to challenge Lebron/AD will have to contain Embiid, don't see any other big who can approximate AD's all-around impact, especially on defense. Teams without an elite defensive big will just get killed in the paint...

Lakers absolutely feel set up to potentially win multiple titles, though I'm hesitant to talk like that when they still have a series to go before their first title. I'll feel better after they actually pull that off, but even then you only get to see so many matchups in a given year, and you never know when age might catch up with them.

A bit of talk about the Lakers being in a good position to win again and multiple times after this season. At the same time if Lakers lose In the finals a lot of talk will be about did Lakers miss Lebrons last chance etc.


Like you said, it’s best to wait. Does appear to be theirs to lose though.

[Dupp]

What do you guys see as possibilities for rosters that can compete with the Lakers (assuming Lebron/AD health) in the next few years?

I see it as extremely unlikely any team can pull it off, but the way I'd go about it would be to pair Embiid with a high level perimeter creator and shooters. I think a roster to challenge Lebron/AD will have to contain Embiid, don't see any other big who can approximate AD's all-around impact, especially on defense. Teams without an elite defensive big will just get killed in the paint...

If the Warriors with Steph and Klay could somehow land Giannis.

I mean you never know though. Maybe Lebron declines a lot next season with the age and mileage. Not like Lebron and AD are the same age.

Things can change quickly in the NBA.

If warriors get Giannis just gross.

[Heej]

What do you guys see as possibilities for rosters that can compete with the Lakers (assuming Lebron/AD health) in the next few years?

I see it as extremely unlikely any team can pull it off, but the way I'd go about it would be to pair Embiid with a high level perimeter creator and shooters. I think a roster to challenge Lebron/AD will have to contain Embiid, don't see any other big who can approximate AD's all-around impact, especially on defense. Teams without an elite defensive big will just get killed in the paint...

Honestly I think Nuggets and Mavs got it. If KP gets better at killing switches it's kind of a wrap cuz that teams gonna have the best coach in the West (Carlisle > Pop imo at this point) and a lot of young developing role players for the next few years.

Nuggets are gonna need to hit on MPJ Murray and Jokic taking a leap which is very doable. They still have Will Barton waiting in the wings to be a reliable scorer at the 3. Realistically they're gonna have to get MPJ to eventually approximate what Grant gave them this year.

Lakers are gonna have the pick of the litter on veteran ring chasers. The right Danny Green replacement or PG acquisition could be enough to push em into dynastic status.

[MisterHibachi]

What do you guys see as possibilities for rosters that can compete with the Lakers (assuming Lebron/AD health) in the next few years?

I see it as extremely unlikely any team can pull it off, but the way I'd go about it would be to pair Embiid with a high level perimeter creator and shooters. I think a roster to challenge Lebron/AD will have to contain Embiid, don't see any other big who can approximate AD's all-around impact, especially on defense. Teams without an elite defensive big will just get killed in the paint...

Honestly I think Nuggets and Mavs got it. If KP gets better at killing switches it's kind of a wrap cuz that teams gonna have the best coach in the West (Carlisle > Pop imo at this point) and a lot of young developing role players for the next few years.

Nuggets are gonna need to hit on MPJ Murray and Jokic taking a leap which is very doable. They still have Will Barton waiting in the wings to be a reliable scorer at the 3. Realistically they're gonna have to get MPJ to eventually approximate what Grant gave them this year.

Lakers are gonna have the pick of the litter on veteran ring chasers. The right Danny Green replacement or PG acquisition could be enough to push em into dynastic status.

I really need a Dallas Denver series next year.

[MisterHibachi]

Read on Twitter

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This Murray playoff run was an ATG one. Denver could very likely be a 2014 Warriors type of team right now, and Jokic is gonna remain a disgusting mismatch for any team that doesn't have a AD/Dwight type of defensive front court.

[Heej]

Read on Twitter

?s=19

This Murray playoff run was an ATG one. Denver could very likely be a 2014 Warriors type of team right now, and Jokic is gonna remain a disgusting mismatch for any team that doesn't have a AD/Dwight type of defensive front court.

Def getting those infant dynasty vibes from Denver for a fact.

[MyUniBroDavis]

What do you guys see as possibilities for rosters that can compete with the Lakers (assuming Lebron/AD health) in the next few years?

I see it as extremely unlikely any team can pull it off, but the way I'd go about it would be to pair Embiid with a high level perimeter creator and shooters. I think a roster to challenge Lebron/AD will have to contain Embiid, don't see any other big who can approximate AD's all-around impact, especially on defense. Teams without an elite defensive big will just get killed in the paint...

Z I O N

Z I O N

Z I O N

H E G O T N E X T

[MisterHibachi]

Read on Twitter

?s=19

Do you guys think this is pointing to Simmons (and Horford) being moved this off season? Wonder if they could get Harden for Simmons... Also, kind of disappointing to see Embiid reluctant to be in the low post.

[Doctor MJ]

Do you guys think this is pointing to Simmons (and Horford) being moved this off season? Wonder if they could get Harden for Simmons... Also, kind of disappointing to see Embiid reluctant to be in the low post.

Embiid + D'Antoni is not the combination I'd be hoping for. I don't think the answer for Embiid is to move him more to the perimeter, which as you say, seems to be what we'd expect.

Who knows, maybe Embiid will turn into some cool point center thing kicking out to 3-point shooters, which maybe could be cool...but where are you getting the shooters? For Simmons? Who looks to a) acquire Simmons and b) decides they don't need shooters?

[MisterHibachi]

Do you guys think this is pointing to Simmons (and Horford) being moved this off season? Wonder if they could get Harden for Simmons... Also, kind of disappointing to see Embiid reluctant to be in the low post.

Embiid + D'Antoni is not the combination I'd be hoping for. I don't think the answer for Embiid is to move him more to the perimeter, which as you say, seems to be what we'd expect.

Who knows, maybe Embiid will turn into some cool point center thing kicking out to 3-point shooters, which maybe could be cool...but where are you getting the shooters? For Simmons? Who looks to a) acquire Simmons and b) decides they don't need shooters?

Maybe the Wizards blow everything up and put Beal on the market? Although Wall and Simmons aren't the most synergetic combo, and Wall's contract is pretty hard to move. I doubt the Warriors look to trade Klay, even for a young talent like Simmons who could be a souped up Draymond next to Steph for the next 5 years. But you never know. I don't see any other young star shooters worth trading Simmons for (who I think has an argument for best defender in the league), unless I'm missing someone.

[Doctor MJ]

Do you guys think this is pointing to Simmons (and Horford) being moved this off season? Wonder if they could get Harden for Simmons... Also, kind of disappointing to see Embiid reluctant to be in the low post.

Embiid + D'Antoni is not the combination I'd be hoping for. I don't think the answer for Embiid is to move him more to the perimeter, which as you say, seems to be what we'd expect.

Who knows, maybe Embiid will turn into some cool point center thing kicking out to 3-point shooters, which maybe could be cool...but where are you getting the shooters? For Simmons? Who looks to a) acquire Simmons and b) decides they don't need shooters?

Maybe the Wizards blow everything up and put Beal on the market? Although Wall and Simmons aren't the most synergetic combo, and Wall's contract is pretty hard to move. I doubt the Warriors look to trade Klay, even for a young talent like Simmons who could be a souped up Draymond next to Steph for the next 5 years. But you never know. I don't see any other young star shooters worth trading Simmons for (who I think has an argument for best defender in the league), unless I'm missing someone.

Yeah to me Embiid much easier to imagine on another team. Plenty of teams in this league may decide the way to fight the Lakers is with size, and a team going for size may well decide to sacrifice shooting, allowing the 76ers to actually build around Simmons.

To me trading Simmons is essentially banking on a deal with franchise that has no idea what it's doing. If you could pull that off great, but remember that it's not worth doing just to get rid of him.

[eminence]

Face up Embiid seems like a disaster to me. And I'd love to see Simmons on a team more built around him, wonder where he could go? Horford seems difficult to unload... GS?

[MisterHibachi]

Embiid + D'Antoni is not the combination I'd be hoping for. I don't think the answer for Embiid is to move him more to the perimeter, which as you say, seems to be what we'd expect.

Who knows, maybe Embiid will turn into some cool point center thing kicking out to 3-point shooters, which maybe could be cool...but where are you getting the shooters? For Simmons? Who looks to a) acquire Simmons and b) decides they don't need shooters?

Maybe the Wizards blow everything up and put Beal on the market? Although Wall and Simmons aren't the most synergetic combo, and Wall's contract is pretty hard to move. I doubt the Warriors look to trade Klay, even for a young talent like Simmons who could be a souped up Draymond next to Steph for the next 5 years. But you never know. I don't see any other young star shooters worth trading Simmons for (who I think has an argument for best defender in the league), unless I'm missing someone.

Yeah to me Embiid much easier to imagine on another team. Plenty of teams in this league may decide the way to fight the Lakers is with size, and a team going for size may well decide to sacrifice shooting, allowing the 76ers to actually build around Simmons.

To me trading Simmons is essentially banking on a deal with franchise that has no idea what it's doing. If you could pull that off great, but remember that it's not worth doing just to get rid of him.

Re your first paragraph, I had very similar thoughts and posted about it in the LeBron thread earlier today:

I feel like the Western Conference is gonna load up on big men now knowing they'll have to deal with AD and Jokic in the playoffs every year. Lakers dominating the Houston series as they did and Jokic dominating the Clippers as he did I think is really going to influence team building philosophies for the next decade. When you have talented big men who can't be played off the floor and present a constant mismatch, you really have a trump card that can change the whole league. Could likely lead to Gobert getting a big max contract, and perhaps KAT and Embiid being some top dogs down the road too. I bet a western conference team trades for Embiid per this philosophy.

[Joey Wheeler]

What do you guys see as possibilities for rosters that can compete with the Lakers (assuming Lebron/AD health) in the next few years?

I see it as extremely unlikely any team can pull it off, but the way I'd go about it would be to pair Embiid with a high level perimeter creator and shooters. I think a roster to challenge Lebron/AD will have to contain Embiid, don't see any other big who can approximate AD's all-around impact, especially on defense. Teams without an elite defensive big will just get killed in the paint...

Lakers absolutely feel set up to potentially win multiple titles, though I'm hesitant to talk like that when they still have a series to go before their first title. I'll feel better after they actually pull that off, but even then you only get to see so many matchups in a given year, and you never know when age might catch up with them.

By age you mean Lebron's age. In normal circumstances that'd be a concern but honestly he shows zero signs of slowing down or stop being a superstar any time soon... AD is 26, his prime is still ahead of him if anything.

What do you guys see as possibilities for rosters that can compete with the Lakers (assuming Lebron/AD health) in the next few years?

I see it as extremely unlikely any team can pull it off, but the way I'd go about it would be to pair Embiid with a high level perimeter creator and shooters. I think a roster to challenge Lebron/AD will have to contain Embiid, don't see any other big who can approximate AD's all-around impact, especially on defense. Teams without an elite defensive big will just get killed in the paint...

If the Warriors with Steph and Klay could somehow land Giannis.

I mean you never know though. Maybe Lebron declines a lot next season with the age and mileage. Not like Lebron and AD are the same age.

Things can change quickly in the NBA.

I don't think this'd be sufficient to top the Lakers with Lebron and AD. We have ample evidence that Curry can't really impact the game on the same level or close to Lebron and AD in the playoffs and Giannis as a 2nd option on offense is a big question mark. Not to mention there's no guarantee Curry even returns at his best.

What do you guys see as possibilities for rosters that can compete with the Lakers (assuming Lebron/AD health) in the next few years?

I see it as extremely unlikely any team can pull it off, but the way I'd go about it would be to pair Embiid with a high level perimeter creator and shooters. I think a roster to challenge Lebron/AD will have to contain Embiid, don't see any other big who can approximate AD's all-around impact, especially on defense. Teams without an elite defensive big will just get killed in the paint...

Honestly I think Nuggets and Mavs got it. If KP gets better at killing switches it's kind of a wrap cuz that teams gonna have the best coach in the West (Carlisle > Pop imo at this point) and a lot of young developing role players for the next few years.

Nuggets are gonna need to hit on MPJ Murray and Jokic taking a leap which is very doable. They still have Will Barton waiting in the wings to be a reliable scorer at the 3. Realistically they're gonna have to get MPJ to eventually approximate what Grant gave them this year.

Lakers are gonna have the pick of the litter on veteran ring chasers. The right Danny Green replacement or PG acquisition could be enough to push em into dynastic status.

I like the Mavericks, if Porzingis pans out as a great rim protector, who can actually stay on the court and not injured all the time, and the Mavericks keep building they might build a team around Luka that can compete with the Lakers.

I don't believe in the Nuggets. Nice, fun team, but I don't think you can win in the NBA with a center who can't protect the rim at a high level. I think you need to play Jokic at the 4 and pair him up with a strong rim protector for the Nuggets to have a real avenue for contention.