Around the NBA: 2020-21 Season

[DASMACKDOWN]

Well I have been going hard on Bulls fans for how much we be trippin on losses.

Well should go easy on yall figuring how much of a meltdown Toronto fans are having with a 1-4 record. All seemingly have an axe to grind when it comes to Siakim. I saw it at the end of the bubble - where he was admittedly horrible that series but he has gotten off to a slow start. They look like they want to trade him already lol.

[RSP83]

Well I have been going hard on Bulls fans for how much we be trippin on losses.

Well should go easy on yall figuring how much of a meltdown Toronto fans are having with a 1-4 record. All seemingly have an axe to grind when it comes to Siakim. I saw it at the end of the bubble - where he was admittedly horrible that series but he has gotten off to a slow start. They look like they want to trade him already lol.

I'd gladly send Otto for him, if Raptors wants to wash their hands off Siakam's contract

[dice]

Thibs has the Knicks playing basketball.

defense, anyway. we'll see how long that lasts. didn't work out in minny

[ZOMG]

Man, Gordon Hayward is such a bad fit at Charlotte. Sure he's putting up more or less his usual numbers, but if you watch the games, he's like a fish out of water on that team. I guess the Hornets envisioned him playing some kind of a point forward role, but it's just not working. He holds the ball a ton, pounds it, and only ends up stopping the offense.

The Hornets are young and athletic and they need to play fast. Hayward, though, only plays at his usual jogging pace. He's like a poor man's Luka.

Whenever LaMelo Ball is subbed in, it's like the whole team suddenly wakes up and starts moving and cutting. But Hayward seems to have zero chemistry with LaMelo. Whenever they play together, it looks like Gordon goes out of his way to spend entire possessions dribbling around, as if to remind everyone that he's not going off ball on this team after essentially being sidelined in Boston. It's just a mess.

Calling it now: this marriage won't last. The quick emergence of Ball - flawed as he is at this point - as the soul of that offense means that either Hayward starts wanting out within two seasons or Charlotte starts quietly shopping him. He was brought in to be a building block, but now he looks more like a luxury.

[coldfish]

Thibs has the Knicks playing basketball.

defense, anyway. we'll see how long that lasts. didn't work out in minny

They had their best season since 2004 under Thibs and but the owner stepped in and played GM to bust it up. He denied the extension to Butler and forced Thibs to trade Lavine instead of Wiggins which pretty much killed the team.

Its not like they were better before or after Thibs. Coaching is important but players are more important.

[ZOMG]

Zion is literally the most left-handed dude I've ever seen.

[Ice Man]

and forced Thibs to trade Lavine instead of Wiggins which pretty much killed the team.

I still shudder to think that we could have received Wiggins instead of LaVine in that trade, in fact it was GarPax's preference. Yikes.

[sco]

Thibs has the Knicks playing basketball.

Coaching isn't the difference between winning a title and being bad but coaching does matter.

.....

Just as a general note, I am happy with how the Bulls are playing and think that they are noticeably better. However, across the NBA there are very few bad teams. By the end of the season, there is going to be a huge cluster of teams around 0.500 and the Bulls will be behind that. I would not be surprised if the team ends up with the 5th or 6th worst record.

He's got Randle playing defense. Barrett looks legit. And Payton is a decent PG these days. Robinson has settled down a little foul-wise. And of course, guys are playing 49 minutes a game. I still love Thibs.

[MisterRoy]

and forced Thibs to trade Lavine instead of Wiggins which pretty much killed the team.

I still shudder to think that we could have received Wiggins instead of LaVine in that trade, in fact it was GarPax's preference. Yikes.

They used 2K to sim how the trades would work out.


Sent from somewhere you've never been.

[TheStig]

Thibs has the Knicks playing basketball.

defense, anyway. we'll see how long that lasts. didn't work out in minny

They had their best season since 2004 under Thibs and but the owner stepped in and played GM to bust it up. He denied the extension to Butler and forced Thibs to trade Lavine instead of Wiggins which pretty much killed the team.

Its not like they were better before or after Thibs. Coaching is important but players are more important.

Exactly, they were like the 4 seed before Butler's injury. And that was their only playoff birth in the last 15 years. I know the playoffs aren't that impressive but getting that team into the West playoffs after all that losing was a small miracle.

I think Lavine would have been a much better #3 option for them. He's got his flaws but he works and wouldn't have tuned out Jimmy. And they probably keep the #7 with adding Wiggins bigger name and clean health record.

[Ice Man]

I think Lavine would have been a much better #3 option for them. He's got his flaws but he works and wouldn't have tuned out Jimmy. And they probably keep the #7 with adding Wiggins bigger name and clean health record.

If Glen Taylor doesn't overrule that trade, goes all-out on resigning Butler, and retains Rubio, the Wolves could starting -

Rubio
LaVine
Butler
Lauri
KAT

Plus Dunn off the bench, plus whoever they would have drafted in 2018, 2019, and 2020, plus whatever free agents they would have signed. Not a title contender, but a playoff team, and one premier FA (if one could ever be lured to Minnie) from actually being a title contender.

[Dresden]

Thibs has the Knicks playing basketball.

Coaching isn't the difference between winning a title and being bad but coaching does matter.

.....

Just as a general note, I am happy with how the Bulls are playing and think that they are noticeably better. However, across the NBA there are very few bad teams. By the end of the season, there is going to be a huge cluster of teams around 0.500 and the Bulls will be behind that. I would not be surprised if the team ends up with the 5th or 6th worst record.

He's got Randle playing defense. Barrett looks legit. And Payton is a decent PG these days. Robinson has settled down a little foul-wise. And of course, guys are playing 49 minutes a game. I still love Thibs.

A lot of their success will hinge on how RJ Barrett is shooting. He is wildly inconsistent. Last night he was 4/5 on 3's and 8/15 overall. But he's likely to shoot 2-15 the next game. If he can ever figure out how to be more consistent, he'll be an all-star.

[Dresden]

I think they'll be a regular season strong performer but in the playoffs they lack 2 way players and high level scorers. I can see them getting the 6th seed and getting swept or losing 4-1.

I think they have the talent to even force a game 6 or 7 in the 1st round. Reddish and Hunter appear to be their 2 way players, but the team's level of scoring as a whole can offset those who aren't.

Also Capela has looked great so far, he's exactly what ATL needed on the defensive end. I think ATL is a top 4 seed, there I said it!

They were beat by CLE last night in a defensive struggle. CLE is showing no signs of going away. Will they be a playoff team this year?

[TheStig]

I think they have the talent to even force a game 6 or 7 in the 1st round. Reddish and Hunter appear to be their 2 way players, but the team's level of scoring as a whole can offset those who aren't.

Also Capela has looked great so far, he's exactly what ATL needed on the defensive end. I think ATL is a top 4 seed, there I said it!

They were beat by CLE last night in a defensive struggle. CLE is showing no signs of going away. Will they be a playoff team this year?

I think you're gonna have a few of these teams in the play in. I also think Washington and Toronto will figure it out and be in the mix.

But when I look at those 6 teams I listed, I think they're more proven, talented and will be more successful.

[TheStig]

I think Lavine would have been a much better #3 option for them. He's got his flaws but he works and wouldn't have tuned out Jimmy. And they probably keep the #7 with adding Wiggins bigger name and clean health record.

If Glen Taylor doesn't overrule that trade, goes all-out on resigning Butler, and retains Rubio, the Wolves could starting -

Rubio
LaVine
Butler
Lauri
KAT

Plus Dunn off the bench, plus whoever they would have drafted in 2018, 2019, and 2020, plus whatever free agents they would have signed. Not a title contender, but a playoff team, and one premier FA (if one could ever be lured to Minnie) from actually being a title contender.

Do you really see Thibs taking a soft pf? I have to think he'd fall in love with BAM personally. But I think if they kept Lavine and used the #7 on someone or traded it, they'd have been much better than giving Wiggins that boatload of cash.

[Jimako10]

I think they have the talent to even force a game 6 or 7 in the 1st round. Reddish and Hunter appear to be their 2 way players, but the team's level of scoring as a whole can offset those who aren't.

Also Capela has looked great so far, he's exactly what ATL needed on the defensive end. I think ATL is a top 4 seed, there I said it!

They were beat by CLE last night in a defensive struggle. CLE is showing no signs of going away. Will they be a playoff team this year?

CLE definitely looks improved, but I still think they are a year or 2 away. Sexton and Garland look improved, and we still have to see Okoro some more, but last night's win I think was more of a schedule loss for ATL (they were in BKN the night before playing a high intensity game) and CLE was also trying to stop a 2 game losing streak. ATL was ahead most of the game and I think it's going to be a good learning experience for a young team.

[Grodoboldo]

I think Lavine would have been a much better #3 option for them. He's got his flaws but he works and wouldn't have tuned out Jimmy. And they probably keep the #7 with adding Wiggins bigger name and clean health record.

If Glen Taylor doesn't overrule that trade, goes all-out on resigning Butler, and retains Rubio, the Wolves could starting -

Rubio
LaVine
Butler
Lauri
KAT

Plus Dunn off the bench, plus whoever they would have drafted in 2018, 2019, and 2020, plus whatever free agents they would have signed. Not a title contender, but a playoff team, and one premier FA (if one could ever be lured to Minnie) from actually being a title contender.

Do you really see Thibs taking a soft pf? I have to think he'd fall in love with BAM personally. But I think if they kept Lavine and used the #7 on someone or traded it, they'd have been much better than giving Wiggins that boatload of cash.

Man, Bam and KAT would be quite a front court!

[R3AL1TY]

I think they'll be a regular season strong performer but in the playoffs they lack 2 way players and high level scorers. I can see them getting the 6th seed and getting swept or losing 4-1.

I think they have the talent to even force a game 6 or 7 in the 1st round. Reddish and Hunter appear to be their 2 way players, but the team's level of scoring as a whole can offset those who aren't.

Most of their guys are 1 way players. Trae is not an elite player. How are they going to force the Bucks/Heat/Celtics/Nets to 6 or 7?

Trae doesn't have to be elite for them to be tough to beat IMO. Once he remains a 3 point threat, scores at least 18 points, and he has 4-5 teammates each game that may be double figures, that should be challenging enough. And if he has those incredible games with 30+ points and 10+ assists in-between, that makes them even tougher. We'll just have to wait and see how this plays out as far as playoff seeding and who they play in the first round.

[madvillian]

Zion is literally the most left-handed dude I've ever seen.

You ever see Toni play? He would constantly try and finish on the right side of the basket with his left. I guess he got away with it in Europe his entire career by the time he got to the US it was way too late to try and develop his weaker hand.

[PrimzyBulls81]

wtf was that Detroit?
Griffin was awful last quarter on D and O, he missed two 3pts in the row, fu... up vs Tatum on D last play and then he still gets last shot for win from 3pt range!?!? They should get the ball to Grant, Mykhailuk or even Rose.