2020-21 NBA Season Discussion

[Dr Positivity]

I have 0 idea whos winning Mvp at this point

Denvers defense is ass without Jerami and Plumlee. I dont think Denver having a top 4 seed is a lock now. Mavs as well with Luka showing up fat.

Harden has too much off court issues. Giannis has playoff issues no way hes 3peating. Kawhi/Kd will be load managed. Ad just isnt a Rs Mvp level player. Hes a playoff performer. Warriors are a play in team at best. No one from Phoenix/Utah/Boston/Miami/Indiana is gonna have an Mvp campaign. Too early for Trae. Dame might be a dark horse but he did some insane stuff last season im not sure he'll top and i dont see Portland being top 4 seed altho theyve exceeded expectations in the Rs often

Might be Bron at this point if Lakers get 1 seed again kind of like a lifetime achievement even if his stats arent gaudy as most Mvps are and he takes more rest.

My pick right now is Jokic. Denver will be fine and in mid 50s W wise. I think Doncic will start killing it in a few weeks but the Mavs seed will be low. Harden's chance is interesting actually since he could put together a redemption season for the Rockets quickly, or he could get traded to Toronto in the next week or something.

Denver isnt going mid 50s with the 72 game schedule. Murray/Mpj are injury risks too and theyre not gonna manage an average defense without Jeremi/Plumlee/Craig like past seasons either. Theyre most likely bottom 10 defense this season

Mid 50s pace I mean

[eminence]

Utah has kinda sucked after that Portland opener, Don/Bojan have been poor being the main issue, and if the guys who should be your top two scorers can't score it it's just not going to work out very often.

[RCM88x]

Trae Young has zero blocks or steals thru 4 games, pretty crazy.

[cpower]

Oubre played like the worst offensive player in the league, and Wiggins can't seem to get his TS above 50% despite good shooting from 3s. I think we will finish bottom three in this league and I question Myer's decision to form this roster knowing we are dead lacking shooting from Klay's absence.

[Peregrine01]

Thoughts on Lamelo? He gets hated on quite a bit but seems to be coming in to his own. Like how he pushes the pace and plays with freedom no matter how many minutes he gets.

[limbo]

Thoughts on Lamelo? He gets hated on quite a bit but seems to be coming in to his own. Like how he pushes the pace and plays with freedom no matter how many minutes he gets.

He's creative and not afraid to be aggressive which like i said, automatically makes him better than Lonzo was out of the gate...

Other than that, he's a work in progress, being that he's only 19... It doesn't matter much how he looks now, but how he will look in 3 years...

Until then he obviously needs to put on some weight because he looks like a twig. Also, his shooting stroke will probably change. He's hitting some shot right now, but i don't think that sling-shot looking jumper is something that can translate into future success because of how hard it is to create your own shot against elite defenses with that sort of form. Defense is bad rn but will get better as he bulks up a bit more and gets accustomed to the league. He has size to do something on defense if he can commit.

Obviously his passing is his biggest strength and something that he can always rely on when other parts of his game are failing.

He's too raw right now for me to predict his future, but i wouldn't write him off just yet. Like i said, at 19, most players aren't even in the league...

[Clyde Frazier]

I've only been watching highlights but lamelo seems to be acclimating since it's only been a few games. At times he looks a bit outmatched physically (similar to lonzo) but he's talented, he can find ways around that. I laughed when he threw a lob to biyombo last night and looked confused when he didn't go for it. To biyombo's credit he still scored.

As for his shot I'm more concerned with whatever's going on with his legs than anything. The way he fades is just odd and not even consistent. It's like he was never taught to square up or something. The hayward contract isn't great but they've put together a nice collection of young talent that I think he'll benefit from.

[Peregrine01]

I've only been watching highlights but lamelo seems to be acclimating since it's only been a few games. At times he looks a bit outmatched physically (similar to lonzo) but he's talented, he can find ways around that. I laughed when he threw a lob to biyombo last night and looked confused when he didn't go for it. To biyombo's credit he still scored.

As for his shot I'm more concerned with whatever's going on with his legs than anything. The way he fades is just odd and not even consistent. It's like he was never taught to square up or something. The hayward contract isn't great but they've put together a nice collection of young talent that I think he'll benefit from.

What I like about Lamelo is that he plays his game, for good or worse. He's going to take some bad shots or have bad turnovers but it never seems to faze him. The dude has supreme confidence and a short memory. He plays with pace and gets his teammates easier looks than anyone else on the team...Hornets really ought to be starting him since the two guards ahead of him don't play make at all.

As for shooting, I actually find it remarkable how he and Lonzo have been able to change their shots so fast. Both of them used to have a low left hip release but now they're way more centered and single motion. The way they shoot should translate well into 3 pt shooting.

[kayess]

Trae Young has zero blocks or steals thru 4 games, pretty crazy.

Does he have any hope of being an average defender? Does he have the tools at least?

0 steals or blocks is just mind numbing (not that it's the end all be all of defense)

[ShotCreator]

Joel Embiid’s quietly seems like he’s turned a corner on his game.

Specifically condition and effort. He is super quietly MVP so far.

[Dr Positivity]

Ingram and Zion is a nice scoring combo

[Doctor MJ]

And just like that, Curry makes fools of everybody, again.

[MyUniBroDavis]

And just like that, Curry makes fools of everybody, again.

The reporter asking if he looks forward to doubles teams made me die lol

[eminence]

I love watching Draymond Green play basketball.

[Clyde Frazier]

Love Lillard but he got what he deserved tonight after his comments the other day. Sorry Curry doubters.

[Peregrine01]

I may be wrong about the Warriors not being able to go back to their old ways...maybe all they needed all along was for Steph and Dray to be on the floor at the same time. And maybe just them two directing the traffic is enough to catalyze the frenetic ball and man movement that the Warriors have become known for.

Still, I think it's notable how the Warriors got out to their early lead by having Steph play on ball a lot more with Draymond setting high screens. I think the Steph/Dray high pick and roll has been the singular most potent offensive play of this generation despite its rather modest use.

[Doctor MJ]

I may be wrong about the Warriors not being able to go back to their old ways...maybe all they needed all along was for Steph and Dray to be on the floor at the same time. And maybe just them two directing the traffic is enough to catalyze the frenetic ball and man movement that the Warriors have become known for.

Still, I think it's notable how the Warriors got out to their early lead by having Steph play on ball a lot more with Draymond setting high screens. I think the Steph/Dray high pick and roll has been the singular most potent offensive play of this generation despite its rather modest use.

Your detailed analysis makes sense and you're willing to admit you might be wrong is admirable so I'm not looking to be harsh toward you. But I'll say I've really never understood the degree of skepticism I've seen toward Curry and the Warriors in 2020.

It would have been one thing if people just said "Maybe they'll come back, but injuries are a hell of a thing", but to me there was a large amount of people saying both 1) Curry is too old, when he's not that old, and 2) Curry was never that good after having watched him do more winning in 5 years than they'd ever watched anyone do. It's honestly been making me feel crazy.

[Joey Wheeler]

And just like that, Curry makes fools of everybody, again.

Why? Was anyone casting doubts over Curry's ability to score a lot of points in the regular season?

[Doctor MJ]

And just like that, Curry makes fools of everybody, again.

Why? Was anyone casting doubts over Curry's ability to score a lot of points in the regular season?

Yes.

[Clyde Frazier]

And just like that, Curry makes fools of everybody, again.

Why? Was anyone casting doubts over Curry's ability to score a lot of points in the regular season?

While doing it efficiently and winning? Yes, very much so.