The Around The NBA Thread

[Jcool0]

Booker looked like an elite superstar tonight. He’s honestly been on another level since last year. Folks comparing Zach to him are trippin’. Though it could be a source of inspiration for Zach.

Booker:

2018-2019: 26.6 ppg, 4.1 rebounds, 6.8 assists.

2019-2020: 26.6 ppg, 4.2 rebounds, 6.5 assists.

2020-2021: 25.6 ppg, 4.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists.


Seems like the same player. Just winning now.

[aguifs]

It feels so good seeing LeDouche losing

You'll never be like Mike!!!

[TheGOATRises007]

Booker looked like an elite superstar tonight. He’s honestly been on another level since last year. Folks comparing Zach to him are trippin’. Though it could be a source of inspiration for Zach.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lavinza01.html

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bookede01.html

Lavine was clearly better in the regular season.

Higher WS, higher VORP, higher BPM, higher TS, etc.

If you swap the two, The Bulls likely get worse and the Suns stay the same or even slightly improve.

Prior to tonight's explosion, Booker was having an extremely average series.

[TyrusRose2425]

Booker looked like an elite superstar tonight. He’s honestly been on another level since last year. Folks comparing Zach to him are trippin’. Though it could be a source of inspiration for Zach.

Booker:

2018-2019: 26.6 ppg, 4.1 rebounds, 6.8 assists.

2019-2020: 26.6 ppg, 4.2 rebounds, 6.5 assists.

2020-2021: 25.6 ppg, 4.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists.


Seems like the same player. Just winning now.

Pretty much. Give Lavine better teammates and out of round 1 and the attention will be on him

[Jeffster81]

Booker looked like an elite superstar tonight. He’s honestly been on another level since last year. Folks comparing Zach to him are trippin’. Though it could be a source of inspiration for Zach.

Every year there is one or two players who play beyond their talent level. Apparently Booker is going to be one of those players this year. I'm not saying Booker is a bad player, I'm saying let's NOT OVERRATE players like Booker.

[erlim]

It's insane the two conference champs last year got knocked out in the first round this year. Not good for the NBA to lose Lebron and the Laker's fan views. I thought they would have repeated.

[Dominator83]

If the Finals are Milwaukee vs. Utah, will Adam Silver choke someone?

Silver is like a skeleton he can’t choke anyone lol. For finals it’s most likely Nets but in the west it’s open, any of those teams can make it.

Yea I would have said maybe the Sixers, but with Embiid injured so much for that. Winner of this Brooklyn/Milwaukee series will win the East.

[Andi Obst]

Will be an interesting offseason for the Blazers. They can’t really bring that same squad back, right?

I’d definitely see what I can get for CJ. His play in the series was disappointing on both ends, but especially the defensive fit with Lillard is just so bad. Their PoA defense just doesn’t even give them a chance, they can’t stop anybody.

[sco]

Folks definitely undervalue "playoff Crowder" he's made big contributions to every team he's been on.

[Chi town]

CP3 makes the Suns dangerous. Without him the Suns aren’t much.

I could see Lowry doing much of the same for the Bulls. I think Lowry has more in the tank too. His ceiling obviously isn’t as high as CP3 though.

Glad Lebron is watching rest of playoffs.

I think you are giving CP3 a little too much credit. Booker is one of the elite scorers in the league. Ayton in this series was by far the best big on the floor. Crowder and Bridges your prototypical 3 and D players. Paul played well this game especially in the 4th but Booker went supernova before that which is what got them that huge lead.

CP3 took over the game multiple times when Lakers made their runs. He controlled the pace. Without him I think the Suns would have coughed up that lead.

[Chi town]

Will be an interesting offseason for the Blazers. They can’t really bring that same squad back, right?

I’d definitely see what I can get for CJ. His play in the series was disappointing on both ends, but especially the defensive fit with Lillard is just so bad. Their PoA defense just doesn’t even give them a chance, they can’t stop anybody.

CJ would be a good fit in MIA or PHI.

[Am2626]

It's a damn shame Lillard will likely be one of those All time greats without a ring...

Sent from my CPH1979 using Tapatalk

Sadly, that’s what he gets for being so loyal to a franchise that just can’t build a real team around him.

Portland are kind of what Reinsdorf wishes the Bulls could be, perpetually in the play offs and in contention with a Superstar who seems like he will never leave them.

Reinsdorf should have just bought a small market team if he wanted to run the team like that. When you own a big market franchise there are more expectations.

[Am2626]

Wouldn't it be just another version of him and CJ in Portland?

I think LaVine is a better and more talented player than CJ. LaVine’s athleticism and potential is far superior to CJ in my opinion. Also the road in the East is easier than in the West. The East has gotten better but there are still a lot more better teams out west and getting to the Finals in the West would be much harder to do than in the East.

Did you seriously say that Zach LaVine was more athletic than CJ McCollum “in your opinion”? Lol!

Really meant that he is a better player and more valuable to a franchise. Yes it’s fact that LaVine is a far superior athlete to McCollum.

[Dresden]

It's insane the two conference champs last year got knocked out in the first round this year. Not good for the NBA to lose Lebron and the Laker's fan views. I thought they would have repeated.

On the contrary, I think it's great for the nba. It's time they get used to the post-lebron era. I think fans are excited to watch the young players in the playoffs too. It's also good in that it strikes a small blow against the Lebron method of building a team by luring high priced FA's to form a super team. Although of course we now have the Nets employing that model and doing well.

[DuckIII]

CP3 makes the Suns dangerous. Without him the Suns aren’t much.

I could see Lowry doing much of the same for the Bulls. I think Lowry has more in the tank too. His ceiling obviously isn’t as high as CP3 though.

Glad Lebron is watching rest of playoffs.

I think you are giving CP3 a little too much credit. Booker is one of the elite scorers in the league. Ayton in this series was by far the best big on the floor. Crowder and Bridges your prototypical 3 and D players. Paul played well this game especially in the 4th but Booker went supernova before that which is what got them that huge lead.

CP3 took over the game multiple times when Lakers made their runs. He controlled the pace. Without him I think the Suns would have coughed up that lead.

Without Paul the Suns don’t even sniff the playoffs in the first place. Chris Paul is the most underrated superstar I’ve ever seen. His ability to elevate whole franchises is absurd and he’s been like that since day 1.

[Chicago-Bull-E]

How much fun would it be if the Suns just won it all? That poor franchise had the worst playoff luck with Nash. CP3 would finally get a ring, and the cast of Booker/Bridges/Ayton is a pretty fun one to root for.

That being said, it would be pretty heartbreaking for them to lose in the finals to the Nets...Coached by Steve Nash. Nash finally gets his ring, and keeps the Suns from getting theirs.

Long way to go still...

[Andi Obst]

Without Paul the Suns don’t even sniff the playoffs in the first place.

I don’t think that’s true, actually. They came pretty close last year. Last year’s Suns team with some minor fixes here and there would’ve finished between 6-10 IMO. I’d definitely take them over the Grizzlies and Warriors.

That is not to say that CP3‘s impact isn’t huge, though. It obviously is. It’s remarkable how his presence turned this team into a 50-win team (in a shortened season) that just calmly finished the Lakers in 6.

[RSP83]

Booker looked like an elite superstar tonight. He’s honestly been on another level since last year. Folks comparing Zach to him are trippin’. Though it could be a source of inspiration for Zach.

Booker:

2018-2019: 26.6 ppg, 4.1 rebounds, 6.8 assists.

2019-2020: 26.6 ppg, 4.2 rebounds, 6.5 assists.

2020-2021: 25.6 ppg, 4.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists.


Seems like the same player. Just winning now.

The Suns rise and sets with CP3 this season. Nothing against Booker, a very good player, but he's running with a first ballot HoF-er, legit Top 3-5 best Point Guard of all-time this season. Suddenly make it this far despite same level of production from Booker in prior years.

[RSP83]

CP3 makes the Suns dangerous. Without him the Suns aren’t much.

I could see Lowry doing much of the same for the Bulls. I think Lowry has more in the tank too. His ceiling obviously isn’t as high as CP3 though.

Glad Lebron is watching rest of playoffs.

I think you are giving CP3 a little too much credit. Booker is one of the elite scorers in the league. Ayton in this series was by far the best big on the floor. Crowder and Bridges your prototypical 3 and D players. Paul played well this game especially in the 4th but Booker went supernova before that which is what got them that huge lead.

CP3 took over the game multiple times when Lakers made their runs. He controlled the pace. Without him I think the Suns would have coughed up that lead.

Without CP, Lebron would toy with the Suns.

[RSP83]

I remember how strong the Kobe is better than MJ opinions used to be on the general board at one point. Once Kobe got hurt and old that talk quickly stopped and almost no one believes that now. If LeBron's twilight years end with lots of first-round exits/no more championships, I wonder if people will still consider him to be the 2nd greatest. I feel like Kareem in particular has gotten underrated when talking about GOATS.

It's always this 4 for me: Wilt, Kareem, MJ, Lebron.

MJ is 1, Kareem and Lebron tied at 2, then Wilt. Wilt is really only 4th on my list because he didn't win more. But I think Wilt is probably the most gifted of the 4, which is crazy because Lebron is a rare specimen as well. Kareem is physically gifted as well, but his IQ and consistency is like legendary level professional. MJ had combo of unrivaled killer instinct, crazy work ethic, and this hyperdrive to not only win, but to conquer.