Scholarship table
I know we have had discussions here about what makes a great coach - specifically whether Phil Jackson was a great coach or not. I think the NBA is one sport where it is very hard to judge a coach's greatness. If you don't have an all-time great, you aren't gonna win a title. Everyone knew before the season started that GS and Cleveland would be playing for the title.So, do you think it makes a difference in Lebron's place in history that he never had the "opportunity" to play for a "great coach, but still has multiple rings?I still have him rated #3 behind MJ and Kareem, but a couple more championships could move him to #1. While Love and Irving are nice players, neither comes anywhere close to what Scottie was.
This isn't going to help the league's goal of reducing teams resting during the regular season
Hammond "expected" to take over as GM of the Magic. Not that it matters one bit, nor should it, but I have to say I don't like this at all. When he hasn't had Kohl demanding we go all in for the 8 seed and winding up with 2 months of JJ Redick or Kidd having more pull than him with his buddy owners and winding up with MCW and Vaughn the moves Hammond has made have been pretty dang good. If I'm the Bucks and the Magic are talking to Hammond I'm doing everything I can to keep him, and if that means letting Kidd go then so be it (and in my opinion that would be a cherry on top).
The most important thing will be maintaining continuity in draft philosophy. Hammond has been fine, but its drafting that has really gotten this team where it is. Taking chances on the risk-reward of Giannis and Maker with those mid-first rounders, rather than just aiming for low ceiling guys that can contribute as a 7th or 8th man, is what has gotten the Bucks where they are. The Middleton deal was very good as well, but outside of that, getting out of Plumlee's contract (which is a breakeven, since that deal was Hammond's handiwork anyway) ranks as probably his best move. Not to say Hammond has been bad at all - getting anything for MCW was probably a good trade - but I don't see Hammond moving on as overly damaging in and of itself.
Justin Zanik is expected to be promoted from GM-in-waiting to GM.Was never sold on Hammon, didn't he draft Joe Alexander and Jimmer Fredette? And don't get me started on the Vasquez trade.
I believe I heard the Vasquez trade was a Kidd call? Although I may be misremembering that. Jimmer we drafted for the Kings.
although in hindsight, Hammond could have selected Klay Thompson or Kawhi Leonard instead (not to mention JFB)
This is being pitched as Hammond was lured away, but the reality is that Zanik was brought in as the GM-in-waiting, and that position carries significantly less value with Kidd's increased involvement. I was not a fan of Hammond's moves early on, but he and Kidd seem to have reached alignment on the type of team that they want to build. Hopefully Zanik is equally aligned (or it was all Kidd's idea, and Hammond was basically Bills' GM Doug Whaley).
"Zanik is the GM in waiting while Hammond works through his contract." *Hammond moves on a year early*"No worries, Zanik will have all decision making power including firing Kidd if he sees fit."*One day passes*"We have decided to open up a broad search to fill our open GM position."Classic Bucks.
Durant is just killing them.
The Warriors only need 2 of their 4 to have really great games to win going away. Last night Klay and Dray were pretty much nonexistent on O, but their mutual ability to go off for 40 if left alone is threat enough to open things up and force LBJ to spend all of his energy trying to keep up with Durant. it also helps that Thompson and Draymond both very good defenders, particularly against Cle's iso offense.
By "keep up with Durant" do you mean try to match his scoring? Because by and large Durant guarded LeBron, but LeBron did not guard Durant.
Judging from Lue's postgame presser and most of the reactions to the game last night though, it seems the consensus is that trying Love on KD was an unmitigated failure and LeBron is going to be spending a lot more time on KD moving forward.