2021-22 NBA Season Discussion

[Doctor MJ]

Ja making the Grizzlies a worse team and them being noticeably better without him has to be one of the most insane developments the Nba has seen in years

Patrick Ewing

True, but that was a far-past prime Ewing who was demonstrating it was time for the Knicks to move on.

This is supposed to be Ja’s breakout season, and my eye test quite agrees - he’s spectacular to watch. His movement isn’t simply explosive, it’s also poetic.

So it’s then pretty weird when it seems like the team plays better when they play as a team rather than as Ja’s sidekicks.

Doesn’t mean the Grizz shouldn’t build around Ja. It’s reasonable to think that Ja is their ticket to true contending status because he can do things others can’t…but Ja may have some important blind spots still to get his eyes opened to.


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[Colbinii]

Ja making the Grizzlies a worse team and them being noticeably better without him has to be one of the most insane developments the Nba has seen in years

Patrick Ewing

True, but that was a far-past prime Ewing who was demonstrating it was time for the Knicks to move on.

This is supposed to be Ja’s breakout season, and my eye test quite agrees - he’s spectacular to watch. His movement isn’t simply explosive, it’s also poetic.

So it’s then pretty weird when it seems like the team plays better when they play as a team rather than as Ja’s sidekicks.

Doesn’t mean the Grizz shouldn’t build around Ja. It’s reasonable to think that Ja is their ticket to true contending status because he can do things others can’t…but Ja may have some important blind spots still to get his eyes opened to.


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Patrick Ewing was a tongue in cheek comment as I was leaving my Halloween--Christmas--man I'm drunk--party.

I think Ja Morant is an interesting player. For a moment, compare him to Derrick White. Better shooter? White. Better Passer? Close. Better defender? Clearly White. Better scorer and penetrator? Morant.

I thought about this after reading your response and realized "Morant is going to great, but he isn't there yet." Its like how Fox was after his 2nd season or like how we all projected Doncic to become a surefire MVP candidate this year or how many felt Giannis would become after 2018, or 2019, or 2020...

We are quick to propel the next thing without allowing them a chance to actually grow and go through their own struggles--and as I'm writing this im already getting ahead of myself because Morant isn't struggling, the team is simply playing better without him, and its a great thing for Memphis and their 3 fans.

I think the Grizzles have done a tremendous job of developing their players--Morant at the forefront of this. Bane, Jackson Jr and Brooks have already reached a level where their ceiling is higher than I expected even a year ago.

[HeartBreakKid]

The Grizzlies had one of the easiest schedules during Ja's absence. Seems like a rather clear explanation to me.

[Fadeaway_J]

The Grizzlies had one of the easiest schedules during Ja's absence. Seems like a rather clear explanation to me.

So you don't think they should trade him based on the extremely representative sample of 12 games?

[LukaTheGOAT]

Patrick Ewing

True, but that was a far-past prime Ewing who was demonstrating it was time for the Knicks to move on.

This is supposed to be Ja’s breakout season, and my eye test quite agrees - he’s spectacular to watch. His movement isn’t simply explosive, it’s also poetic.

So it’s then pretty weird when it seems like the team plays better when they play as a team rather than as Ja’s sidekicks.

Doesn’t mean the Grizz shouldn’t build around Ja. It’s reasonable to think that Ja is their ticket to true contending status because he can do things others can’t…but Ja may have some important blind spots still to get his eyes opened to.


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Patrick Ewing was a tongue in cheek comment as I was leaving my Halloween--Christmas--man I'm drunk--party.

I think Ja Morant is an interesting player. For a moment, compare him to Derrick White. Better shooter? White. Better Passer? Close. Better defender? Clearly White. Better scorer and penetrator? Morant.

I thought about this after reading your response and realized "Morant is going to great, but he isn't there yet." Its like how Fox was after his 2nd season or like how we all projected Doncic to become a surefire MVP candidate this year or how many felt Giannis would become after 2018, or 2019, or 2020...

We are quick to propel the next thing without allowing them a chance to actually grow and go through their own struggles--and as I'm writing this im already getting ahead of myself because Morant isn't struggling, the team is simply playing better without him, and its a great thing for Memphis and their 3 fans.

I think the Grizzles have done a tremendous job of developing their players--Morant at the forefront of this. Bane, Jackson Jr and Brooks have already reached a level where their ceiling is higher than I expected even a year ago.

To be fair, not including the last game, teams are shooting 43% from 3 (51% from the corner) when he’s on the floor. Ja's defense is bad, and is might be the clearest reason why he hasn't seem to have exhibited what we would have exhibited typical all-nba level impact from a player. However, I really doubt he is responsible for such hot shooting happening against the Grizzlies.

Like if you look at his normal D-RAPM, is it is -2.93, but if you look at the luck-adjusted D-RAPM it is only -0.21. He goes from being literally the 4th worst defender in the entire database to being around where many PGs with the luck adjustment.

[mikejames23]

Y'all watching this Suns-Warriors duel right now? Looking fantastic.

[TheGOATRises007]

The Warriors' defense is truly suffocating.

And they're missing so many players.

Title favorites assuming Klay comes back even 75% for me.

[TheGOATRises007]

The Warriors/Suns are a class above everyone in the league right now.

What a fantastic game.

I'm amazed at how good the Warriors are.

[mikejames23]

Otto Porter Jr. putting this away! Congrats to him. Big game.

You have to respect the Warriors system. Curry doesn't have a clear cut 2nd scoring option, but GSW looks elite regardless. PHX on the other hand is going strong too. A PHX-GSW series would be great to watch.

[falcolombardi]

great defense and a single star (or ideally two)taking care of the offense may forever be the best winning fórmula in nba

probably because by investing in defensive/spacing/some passing role players + 1 offense star instead of multiple offensive forces/scorers you get the most return of investment

defense doesnt overlap, and a single/two prominent scorers/playmakers can be used to full potential without as much overlap issues

by comparision star studded teams have serious diminishng returns issues

raptors,lakers, bucks and probably this year bucks/suns/warriors may make 4 titles in a Row with this formula

is part of why i think people focus too much only in "ceiling raising" offensively stacked teams when discussing portability, the portability of floor raising more defensively slanted rosters may be even more valuable all thinghs considered

[MartinToVaught]

The Warriors/Suns are a class above everyone in the league right now.

The Suns are not on the same level as the Warriors, let's be real now. They're closer to the rest of the league.

[GSP]

When was the last time a contender was as fraudulent as the Jazz? Their offense is just too system based and easy to defend in a series. Besides Rudy that defense is swiss cheese everywhere specially the perimeter. They have 0 shot at beating Gs or Phoenix. You just know theyre gonna get upset again in the playoffs prolly the first round this year.

Id pick Dallas w/ in shape Luka, Denver w/ Murray and maybe even Minnesota over them. We already know Clips can beat them without Kawhi. As bad as Lakers have been if Bron keeps playing like this and Ad gets healthy by playoffs with a figured out rotation would anyone be confident in Utah against La 1st round?

[feyki]

When was the last time a contender was as fraudulent as the Jazz? Their offense is just too system based and easy to defend in a series. Besides Rudy that defense is swiss cheese everywhere specially the perimeter. They have 0 shot at beating Gs or Phoenix. You just know theyre gonna get upset again in the playoffs prolly the first round this year.

Id pick Dallas w/ in shape Luka, Denver w/ Murray and maybe even Minnesota over them. We already know Clips can beat them without Kawhi. As bad as Lakers have been if Bron keeps playing like this and Ad gets healthy by playoffs with a figured out rotation would anyone be confident in Utah against La 1st round?

Jazz eliminated by Clippers, without Conley. Conley is arguably their second best player. And close second best, on the offence.

Cavs are very exciting. To me they are probably the team who has changed my future expectation more than any other this year. From "Cavs always suck if LeBron's not there" to "Holy crap, that core could end up winning a title in the years to come!".

Surprised by how well Mobley has paired with Allen. Would not have predicted that.

Disclaimer: I dont do enough scouting to have a strong grasp on prospects

Mobley was an intriguing prospect and I ended up being higher on him than anyone else after listening to a podcast [NBA Draft, can't remember name] and one of the guests described Mobley as someone who could play 3-5 and should be viewed as the defensive version of Kevin Durant. It struck me as an interesting bit and has been holding true thus far.

This ties into his fit with Allen which has working better than you [and many] expected.

How about Sengun? I had him in my top 5 and couldn't understand why he fell so far. He dominanted a professional men's league in Europe. He averaged 19/9/2.5 on something like 70 TS% with
1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks at the age of 18. Think about that.

I know a lot of people complained that the Turkish leagues were "way down" in terms of usual competitiveness due to money shortages from being hit by COVID.

Not just covid, also politics in the 2010's ruined all the sports in the Turki. Football,basketball another categories, but just women volleyball. We're arguably the worst europe country both in football and basketball(competers only, sure).

But still Sengün's game is good against giant european basketball clubs likes Efes or Fenerbahçe. He played with 15/5/3 with +20 rTS against the euroleague champ Efes last year. It's mvp level in the europe bball specially when you take into account the minutes.

[eminence]

Who are folks thinking for Allstar bids as of now?

[falcolombardi]

i come a bit late to the ja discussion but i think you guys overreacted to a small sample

i was reading ben Taylor write up on magic johnson mas there was a prime season where lakers played better without him playing, which obviously doesnt mean magic was holding them back

small sample like that can lead to wacky stuff unless is a pattern,if Memphis inproving without ja becomes a common occcurence then it may be signofocative

right now i would see it as noise

[yoyoboy]

That quote by Westbrook is so telling of his mentality. It’s just beyond comprehension for me that he’s so far away from “getting it.”

[Colbinii]

Who are folks thinking for Allstar bids as of now?

Who I think will be or who I think should be?

West:
Curry
CP3
LeBron
Draymond
Jokic

Gobert
Morant
Mitchell
Booker
Towns
Booker
Porzingis

East:
Trae
Butler
Durant
Giannis
Embiid

LaVine
DeRozan
Allen
LaMelo
Harden
Sabonis
Tatum

[yoyoboy]

Who are folks thinking for Allstar bids as of now?

West:

Curry
Paul
Draymond
Gobert
Jokic

Mitchell
Morant
Lillard
LeBron
Towns
George
Murray

East:

Harden
DeRozan
Durant
Giannis
Embiid

Young
Butler
Garland
Allen
Ball
Tatum
Holiday

I feel a little guilty leaving LaVine, Booker, and FVV off. Less so about leaving off Doncic, Davis, and the Indy frontcourt.

[eminence]

I’m having a tough time picking my last few, but I think there are 10 I’d really like from each conference as of now. Would like to get a Memphis guy in, but not sold on any as of now. Would probably have picked George, but he’s out for the next ~month.

West:
Curry/CP3
Mitchell/Booker
Bridges
LeBron/Draymond
Jokic/Gobert/Towns

East:
Garland/Young
Jrue/Harden
DeRozan/Butler
KD/Tatum
Giannis/Embiid

[RCM88x]

Garland possibly missing 10 days is gonna hurt his All-Star campaign a bit I think. Hopefully Cavs keep winning so no one notices lol.

Still think Allen deserves it more but frontcourt is much tougher I feel.