Around The NBA : 21-22 Edition

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[NecessaryEvil]

Another L for the GBs darling Trae Young. Vote for Zach yall! Trae (or harden) should not be in front of him!

Totally agree. Bulls fans need to unite and vote for Lavine (along with DDR). There is no way Harden or Young should be ahead of Lavine this year. Previous years, I would have no problem but when you have a best SG on the best team in the East???

It should be a no brainer. Bulls fans need to up their game. Heck, Brooklyn has Aldridge higher than Vuc - which is also pathetic.

I only vote for Zach on my ballot. Literally, just him lol

[bearadonisdna]

Was told the team builder exercise from the GB would be released but there’s been a delay.

Until the mean time I’ll provide the bulls bracket and how i diagnosed the teams. Looking back I think I’m a little uncertain about my coaching pick. This was made almost a month ago , I think Donovan has gotten hotter . Not the worst coaching crop to chose from . Minutes were not necessary but I used them to help my team building and just left them for context .


Group 6 ( Bulls, 76ers, Raptors)-

1st team starters:

5. Embiid -35 | Vuc -13
4. Siakam -30 | OG -13
3. Derozan -22 | Harris-26

1. Ben Simmons-24 | FVV-24
2. Zach Lavine -35 | Derozan-13

2nd team:

5. Vuc
4. OG
3. Tobias Harris

1. FVV
2. Maxey


Bench:

11. Lonzo ( pg)
12. Gary Trent Jr ( wing)
13, Scottie Barnes (big)

coach: Nurse

[bearadonisdna]

Really I feel vindicated by my own knowledge that I chose nurse and he is ranked 4th on the GB ranking.
Here I will give the bulls board credit because even though I have complained on the past this is a knowledgeable group and I feel my basketball decisions are smarter once shared with the group.

In this case I feel doc rivers might the most sure fire choice. This is not something I would come with on my own but if I perceived the bulls board vote I think doc would win and I think I would have to agree.

[boozapalooza]

I know we’ve moved on from Lauri but he’s been on a brutal stretch, and is averaging career worst numbers in almost every meaningful statistic. We are incredibly fortunate to have not resigned him and to get DJJ and a 1st for him.

I didn’t think Lauri would end up being the worst of the 7th pick bunch of him, Wendell, and Coby, but here we are. What a disappointment.

[kodo]

I'm not totally surprised Lauri's shooting is terrible as a SF. If teams were interested in stopping Lauri (most teams didn't care) they just stuck a wing on him and he was done for the night. He can't drive by them, he can't post them up, they can safely have a hand in his face. And now Lauri is playing there by default.

It's interesting that in the end, Bobby Portis became a much better shooter than Lauri Markkanen.

I think overall the reality is if you're putting all your franchise eggs in just 1 basket, the draft, drafting consistently #7 is too low and you can't only draft 1 person per year. You have to do the Sixers thing and draft top 2, the Presti thing and draft multiple times every 1st round, or both.

[MrSparkle]

I know we’ve moved on from Lauri but he’s been on a brutal stretch, and is averaging career worst numbers in almost every meaningful statistic. We are incredibly fortunate to have not resigned him and to get DJJ and a 1st for him.

I didn’t think Lauri would end up being the worst of the 7th pick bunch of him, Wendell, and Coby, but here we are. What a disappointment.

Yeah. I thought the trade was a home-run. I sincerely would've considered a straight DJJ/Lauri swap, seeing as a $10m expiring has a bit of trade flexibility.. but even then, I'll take a highlight reel dunk every other game over an ill-advised 3P shot. I really disliked Lauri's shot selection. But the FRP was a cherry on top.

~$17m is just a huge salary for him. I think he's a $12m guy tops, and that's assuming he's the perfect fit. But really, I just think he's destined to be a journeyman. I'd feel a lot more comfortable working on 1-2y deals with him, as opposed to 4y guaranteed. He's too positionally dependent; needs someone to set him up, needs some space to work his high-post/mid-range, needs to get favorable mis-matches (slow bigs) to drive from the 3P line, needs defensive help in the paint or against guard penetration, can't rebound nor box out well.

I really just think he should hit the Euroleague and become a star for Maccabi or Madrid. His game would be well-suited.

[drosestruts]

Sticking Lauri at small forward is almost like just giving up on his development and accepting him as a one dimensional player who only provides shooting, even though in reality, he's not even that great of a shooter.

For me, Lauri's ultimate potential will always be linked in his willingness and ability to play center.

Right now he's a 7'1" small-forward that isn't able to take advantage of any physical natural advantage he has over his defenders.

His speed against other centers is a greater advantage than his height/size over wings.

But in order to be relied on as a center he'll need to get over his allergy to rebounds.

Also the Cavs just straight up don't have development minutes to spare at the center spot where Allen, Mobley, and Love are all better and more deserving.

Lauri needs to be traded. Cleveland was and has been a terrible landing spot for him.

[MrSparkle]

Sticking Lauri at small forward is almost like just giving up on his development and accepting him as a one dimensional player who only provides shooting, even though in reality, he's not even that great of a shooter.

For me, Lauri's ultimate potential will always be linked in his willingness and ability to play center.

Right now he's a 7'1" small-forward that isn't able to take advantage of any physical natural advantage he has over his defenders.

His speed against other centers is a greater advantage than his height/size over wings.

But in order to be relied on as a center he'll need to get over his allergy to rebounds.

Also the Cavs just straight up don't have development minutes to spare at the center spot where Allen, Mobley, and Love are all better and more deserving.

Lauri needs to be traded. Cleveland was and has been a terrible landing spot for him.

Oh come on. What's a good situation for him? I'm just surprised he's starting on a team over .500. I can't imagine 1 other team he'd be starting and over 500.

[kodo]

I think the original deal with Lauri going to San Antonio and us keeping Thad would have been better for Lauri, as right now they're playing with Dougie as a PF (or maybe 6' 5" Keldon, take your pick).

Although w/ the way Lauri has been shooting maybe he would have been benched like Thad.

[bad knees]

SF is Lauri's best position. He does none of the things that you want a big to do - defend bigs, take smalls to the post in offense, rebound. He reminds me of Brad Sellers - a SF who happens to be really tall. He just has to make his shots. If he doesn't, he has no place in the league.

[bearadonisdna]

Lauri was another guy who got benched prematurely.
As a starter last year 17.3 ppg and 61% TS.
Somehow Donovan gave up on these home core on a single swoop . We are better for it right now though .

[drosestruts]

SF is Lauri's best position. He does none of the things that you want a big to do - defend bigs, take smalls to the post in offense, rebound. He reminds me of Brad Sellers - a SF who happens to be really tall. He just has to make his shots. If he doesn't, he has no place in the league.

as a 5 he'd be able to stretch the floor bringing the opposing center out of the paint, and if that defender comes all the way out Lauri has the speed to go by them, that is something he can do right now.

Teams he'd fit well on:

Milwaukee
Miami
Toronto
Charlotte
Detroit
Memphis
Dallas
Lakers
New Orleans

All the above teams he'd have a path to starting or contributing significant minutes in the front court. Cleveland's a tough spot for him because there's 3 bigs legitimately better on the same team. Cavs aren't doing anything to help Lauri, they use him as a 3 out of a lack of options, not because he'd be best there.

[ImSlower]

I'm convinced Lauri can be happier with his family, and be more successful on court if he were in the EuroLeague.

[bad knees]

SF is Lauri's best position. He does none of the things that you want a big to do - defend bigs, take smalls to the post in offense, rebound. He reminds me of Brad Sellers - a SF who happens to be really tall. He just has to make his shots. If he doesn't, he has no place in the league.

as a 5 he'd be able to stretch the floor bringing the opposing center out of the paint, and if that defender comes all the way out Lauri has the speed to go by them, that is something he can do right now.

Teams he'd fit well on:

Milwaukee
Miami
Toronto
Charlotte
Detroit
Memphis
Dallas
Lakers
New Orleans

All the above teams he'd have a path to starting or contributing significant minutes in the front court. Cleveland's a tough spot for him because there's 3 bigs legitimately better on the same team. Cavs aren't doing anything to help Lauri, they use him as a 3 out of a lack of options, not because he'd be best there.

Lauri can't guard 5's. And he won't be able to draw any opposing team's 5 out of the paint because no opposing team would guard him with a 5. They'd put an average wing defender on him and shut him down. Lauri's best defense is played on the perimeter, and his best use on offense is as a volume 3 pt shooter. He does other stuff but not well enough to justify trying to feature him. Brad Sellers.

[madvillian]

I know we’ve moved on from Lauri but he’s been on a brutal stretch, and is averaging career worst numbers in almost every meaningful statistic. We are incredibly fortunate to have not resigned him and to get DJJ and a 1st for him.

I didn’t think Lauri would end up being the worst of the 7th pick bunch of him, Wendell, and Coby, but here we are. What a disappointment.

Wow, shooting 30.6% from deep. He's now down to 36% from deep for his career. He's a shooter that isn't that good at shooting. Thank god he's someone else's problem now.

[pipfan]

I think Lauri will be fine as their 3rd big moving forward, playing 24-28 minutes a night behind Mobley/Allen

[Bulls2021]

Who's the poster that kept bumping the Lauri thread to gloat?

[drosestruts]

SF is Lauri's best position. He does none of the things that you want a big to do - defend bigs, take smalls to the post in offense, rebound. He reminds me of Brad Sellers - a SF who happens to be really tall. He just has to make his shots. If he doesn't, he has no place in the league.

as a 5 he'd be able to stretch the floor bringing the opposing center out of the paint, and if that defender comes all the way out Lauri has the speed to go by them, that is something he can do right now.

Teams he'd fit well on:

Milwaukee
Miami
Toronto
Charlotte
Detroit
Memphis
Dallas
Lakers
New Orleans

All the above teams he'd have a path to starting or contributing significant minutes in the front court. Cleveland's a tough spot for him because there's 3 bigs legitimately better on the same team. Cavs aren't doing anything to help Lauri, they use him as a 3 out of a lack of options, not because he'd be best there.

Lauri can't guard 5's. And he won't be able to draw any opposing team's 5 out of the paint because no opposing team would guard him with a 5. They'd put an average wing defender on him and shut him down. Lauri's best defense is played on the perimeter, and his best use on offense is as a volume 3 pt shooter. He does other stuff but not well enough to justify trying to feature him. Brad Sellers.

We know this to not be true.

I'll try address your comments one at a time.

Lauri can't guard 5's
Fair - can Lauri guard anyone? The question probably shouldn't be who can Lauri guard but who can he best guard.

He won't draw out opposing 5's they'll just stick a wing on him
To me this is a pick your poison situation. You have your center match up with Lauri - if he doesn't come out to defend Lauri - Lauri is open for 3. If he comes out Lauri has the speed to get by him. If they stick a wing on him the center has to guard someone else and that someones speed is probably just an even greater advantage. So in essence Lauri at the 5 would still be creating an advantage.

Lauri's best offense use is a volume 3-point shooter
Lauri's 2 most efficient seasons have been the two seasons he shot the least amount of 3's. I feel like Lauri oddly peaked his rookie year - which is pretty rare. His rookie year his offense had more of a mix of where he attempted his shots from, and I think this made defenses think more when guarding him. He's become increasingly one dimension, and I think it's actually a negative for him.

He does other stuff but not well enough to feature him
Agreed. Not sure where I suggested he be a number one option or something. I just think he can have a more positive impact as a 5, and by mixing up his shot selection more as to not be so one-dimensional, especially when not particularly good at that dimension.

[sco]

SF is Lauri's best position. He does none of the things that you want a big to do - defend bigs, take smalls to the post in offense, rebound. He reminds me of Brad Sellers - a SF who happens to be really tall. He just has to make his shots. If he doesn't, he has no place in the league.

as a 5 he'd be able to stretch the floor bringing the opposing center out of the paint, and if that defender comes all the way out Lauri has the speed to go by them, that is something he can do right now.

Teams he'd fit well on:

Milwaukee
Miami
Toronto
Charlotte
Detroit
Memphis
Dallas
Lakers
New Orleans

All the above teams he'd have a path to starting or contributing significant minutes in the front court. Cleveland's a tough spot for him because there's 3 bigs legitimately better on the same team. Cavs aren't doing anything to help Lauri, they use him as a 3 out of a lack of options, not because he'd be best there.

Lauri can't guard 5's. And he won't be able to draw any opposing team's 5 out of the paint because no opposing team would guard him with a 5. They'd put an average wing defender on him and shut him down. Lauri's best defense is played on the perimeter, and his best use on offense is as a volume 3 pt shooter. He does other stuff but not well enough to justify trying to feature him. Brad Sellers.

This is spot on. He doesn't have the length or footwork to be a C. His "advantage" was always the notion that he was a 7footer who could shoot 3's. The rest of his offensive game came off him being a 3 threat. If he's not a 3 threat, he really has no skill that makes him even an average NBA player. His ball skills and rebounding are otherwise pedestrian. That all said, some dudes are really having trouble shooting this year.