2021-22 NBA Season Discussion

[falcolombardi]

Are the Heat basically the 2019 Raptors? Should they be considered title favorites right now?

too early to tell

[parsnips33]

All I know is I really want another Bucks-Heat rematch in the playoffs

[BIGJ1ER]

Are the Heat basically the 2019 Raptors? Should they be considered title favorites right now?

too early to tell

I also don't think they have a player of 19 Kawhi's calibre, even though Jimmy Butler might just end up having a top 10 season.

Lowry has also declined, and I don't think the Raptors had anyone as mediocre as PJ tucker in the lineup imo.

I definitely see the comparison though, a potentially historic defence, solid 1-7 and great spacing. Enjoying the way Jimmy and kyle are pushing the tempo at the moment, and Herro has been really good off the bench, although I saw only 6% of his shot attempts are at the rim at the moment, which has me slighly worried that his offence may fall off a little, but who knows!

[parsnips33]

Can Draymond take back DPOY this year? He's looked great so far, and Warriors have the best defensive rating in the league as of now

Charlotte has a pretty good offense and there was a stretch last night where they couldn't do a thing offensively with Draymond, Iguodala, and Glove Jr out there.

[falcolombardi]

with all these injuries lebron may end up mot breaking kareem record.

hopefully he does tho, gonna be such a interesting storyline down the road

[Texas Chuck]

Can Draymond take back DPOY this year? He's looked great so far, and Warriors have the best defensive rating in the league as of now

A healthy motivated Draymond is probably always a candidate. And obviously if the team continues to be one of the best defensive teams in the league, it supports his case. Simmons' absence helps the field a bit. Gobert and Giannis always in the mix. Bam should be but Butler and Tucker and Lowry and Spo are going to cost him votes a la Tim Duncan.

But man watching Draymond defend for me is like watching Jokic cook on offense. When I watch a W's game I often spend stretches when the other team has possession ignoring the ball and just focusing on Draymond.

[Doctor MJ]

Can Draymond take back DPOY this year? He's looked great so far, and Warriors have the best defensive rating in the league as of now

Charlotte has a pretty good offense and there was a stretch last night where they couldn't do a thing offensively with Draymond, Iguodala, and Glove Jr out there.

I think he's a serious candidate definitely.

[parsnips33]

Can Draymond take back DPOY this year? He's looked great so far, and Warriors have the best defensive rating in the league as of now

A healthy motivated Draymond is probably always a candidate. And obviously if the team continues to be one of the best defensive teams in the league, it supports his case. Simmons' absence helps the field a bit. Gobert and Giannis always in the mix. Bam should be but Butler and Tucker and Lowry and Spo are going to cost him votes a la Tim Duncan.

But man watching Draymond defend for me is like watching Jokic cook on offense. When I watch a W's game I often spend stretches when the other team has possession ignoring the ball and just focusing on Draymond.

Between him on defense and Steph on offense, every Warriors game is poetry in motion for me. Gonna be a very sad day when that duo is broken up for whatever reason.

[Texas Chuck]

Between him on defense and Steph on offense, every Warriors game is poetry in motion for me. Gonna be a very sad day when that duo is broken up for whatever reason.

I hear ya man. What I wouldn't give for one more Barea/Dirk side pick and roll.....

[falcolombardi]

Read on Twitter

?t=DsK1-MGwi6SB2Z71_TDCAQ&s=19

interesting, seems like slow offensive starts are not rare

[GSP]

Miami finally regressing.........17 Srs......lol glad we were the ones to do it

[Dr Positivity]

Despite ice cold shooting start Cade just looks like someone who knows how to play like a Pierce/Roy type of guy

[GSP]

Sga is the real deal has outplayed Ad and Russ twice now in 2 19pt over comebacks. Was about to beat the Clips to but they doubled him every time in the 4th quarter and his teammates crapped the bed

He is already better than Kat ever was whos one of the most overrated soft players ever

[parsnips33]

Luka is only 16/63 on 3 pointers so far this season. It's still early, but too early to be concerned?

And his free throw attempts are way down too

I haven't watched much Dallas this year - what do people think is up?

[Max123]

Luka is only 16/63 on 3 pointers so far this season. It's still early, but too early to be concerned?

And his free throw attempts are way down too

I haven't watched much Dallas this year - what do people think is up?

Still small sample concerning Luka’s threes. I’ve heard the offense is a mess from a process standpoint although I haven’t been able to catch games personally.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[Texas Chuck]

Luka is only 16/63 on 3 pointers so far this season. It's still early, but too early to be concerned?

And his free throw attempts are way down too

I haven't watched much Dallas this year - what do people think is up?

Luka looks out of shape. It's not just that he's not shooting a good percentage, roughly half those misses are airballs. The FT's being down I think is just the league emphasis. He's still attacking the paint as much as any player in the league and he's still getting plenty of contact, but the refs are saying play on(and for the vast majority of those I would say correctly so).

Doesn't help that until KP went down, Kidd played two bigs pretty much exclusively. And Kidd is playing a very deep rotation, going 12 or more deep every night. So harder to build the kind of continuity and consistency for better offense.

But mainly I have the issue being Luka's not in great shape and is forcing a lot of stuff anyway. The most recent game was really unusual in that down the stretch the ball went to Brunson on every possession but one. And because Brunson delivered I hope that means he gets mixed in more. And Brunson was very smart after the game to thank Luka for trusting him and to make it clear that everything still begins and ends with Luka.

[GSP]

So......... if this is who Harden is with the rule and reffing changes how are we evaluating his career? Feels like we're in a new era and Hardens game always had foulbaiting as the pillar of his offense. It made him a one man offense and not only the foul calls but also with how much space defenders gave him to avoid his gimmick foul baiting. It gave him way more space for the step backs and easier separation to get to the rim. If this is who Harden is now his "prime" looks like a Mikan sort of prime not as dominant but could make a strong case its the only era ever hed dominate the way he did since the past era was an unprecedented time in bias for offensive players

And its not a conditioning issue. Hes actually trying on defense and him and the coaches and org have said hes in shape. He said "its scary hours with a healthy Harden now" a week before preseason. He was fat and out of shape when he got to Brooklyn last year but was still dominating too

[Dr Positivity]

So......... if this is who Harden is with the rule and reffing changes how are we evaluating his career? Feels like we're in a new era and Hardens game always had foulbaiting as the pillar of his offense. It made him a one man offense and not only the foul calls but also with how much space defenders gave him to avoid his gimmick foul baiting. It gave him way more space for the step backs and easier separation to get to the rim. If this is who Harden is now his "prime" looks like a Mikan sort of prime not as dominant but could make a strong case its the only era ever hed dominate the way he did since the past era was an unprecedented time in bias for offensive players

And its not a conditioning issue. Hes actually trying on defense and him and the coaches and org have said hes in shape. He said "its scary hours with a healthy Harden now" a week before preseason. He was fat and out of shape when he got to Brooklyn last year but was still dominating too

Harden only averaged 7 FTA with Nets last year and still was playing at an MVP contending level with Brooklyn. It's hard for me to imagine that the best foul drawer ever can't figure it out enough to get back up to that rate.

[Doctor MJ]

So......... if this is who Harden is with the rule and reffing changes how are we evaluating his career? Feels like we're in a new era and Hardens game always had foulbaiting as the pillar of his offense. It made him a one man offense and not only the foul calls but also with how much space defenders gave him to avoid his gimmick foul baiting. It gave him way more space for the step backs and easier separation to get to the rim. If this is who Harden is now his "prime" looks like a Mikan sort of prime not as dominant but could make a strong case its the only era ever hed dominate the way he did since the past era was an unprecedented time in bias for offensive players

And its not a conditioning issue. Hes actually trying on defense and him and the coaches and org have said hes in shape. He said "its scary hours with a healthy Harden now" a week before preseason. He was fat and out of shape when he got to Brooklyn last year but was still dominating too

If Harden never gets better again, I think Harden's status as a legend is going to be massively hurt, and deservedly so I think.

I still find it hard to believe that he won't figure things out again with some time, but I have to say I'm surprised he's still focused so much on flopping when he knows refs are specifically looking to crack down on HIS flopping. It feels like he's being petulant out there as if that makes the refs look bad, but that's the opposite of how it looks.

[Fadeaway_J]

So......... if this is who Harden is with the rule and reffing changes how are we evaluating his career? Feels like we're in a new era and Hardens game always had foulbaiting as the pillar of his offense. It made him a one man offense and not only the foul calls but also with how much space defenders gave him to avoid his gimmick foul baiting. It gave him way more space for the step backs and easier separation to get to the rim. If this is who Harden is now his "prime" looks like a Mikan sort of prime not as dominant but could make a strong case its the only era ever hed dominate the way he did since the past era was an unprecedented time in bias for offensive players

And its not a conditioning issue. Hes actually trying on defense and him and the coaches and org have said hes in shape. He said "its scary hours with a healthy Harden now" a week before preseason. He was fat and out of shape when he got to Brooklyn last year but was still dominating too

If Harden never gets better again, I think Harden's status as a legend is going to be massively hurt, and deservedly so I think.

I still find it hard to believe that he won't figure things out again with some time, but I have to say I'm surprised he's still focused so much on flopping when he knows refs are specifically looking to crack down on HIS flopping. It feels like he's being petulant out there as if that makes the refs look bad, but that's the opposite of how it looks.

After so many years it's going to take time to kick certain habits...