2021-22 NBA Thread: The Bucks are Reigning Champs

[The Sultan]

So Alphas win every game? Must only be one alpha in the league.
I said he needs to be the alpha. Part of that has to be on the coach, getting him the touches.

He's not good enough.

[MuggsyB]

According to some guy on NBA radio Middleton may very well be out the entire next series.  Who guards Tatum and Brown?  They could put Giannis on Tatum at the end of games but they don't want to bring him away from the rim or get him into foul trouble.  Nwora may have to play in this series?

[lawdog77]

He's not good enough.

Thanks Jerry West. Go have another drink.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Trae Young is a lot like Kryrie.  Very good player, but not good enough to build a championship team around.

The Hawks are caught in the playoff trap, much like the Bucks were for many years.  Good enough to make the playoffs, no chance to win a title.

And, no, De'Andre Hunter is not a franchise player.  He had a very good playoff series, but he can't do that consistently.

[The Sultan]

Thanks Jerry West. Go have another drink.

Says the only dude who thinks De'Andre Hunter could be the Hawks alpha. 😂😂😂

[MuggsyB]

Imo here are the 10 franchise players in the NBA right now in no particular order:

Giannis
Jokic
Embiid
Tatum
Doncic
Lebron
Durant
Booker
Morant
Curry

*Garland and Edwards could get there.

[Jockey]

Imo here are the 10 franchise players in the NBA right now in no particular order:

Giannis
Jokic
Embiid
Tatum
Doncic
Lebron
Durant
Booker
Morant
Curry

*Garland and Edwards could get there.

I don't know that I would put Booker and Morant on the list. Great players, but it's hard for a guard to be that guy. Curry is the exception.

[BM1090]

I think the Bucks win the next three. They figured out Chicago's defense in the 2nd half. It took a Middleton injury and Lavine, NV and Derozan all being efficient at high volume to win that game.

Bulls can steal one more with the same formula. Keep shooting a high volume of threes at a high percentage and Derozan hitting tough shots.

Bump.

[MuggsyB]

Really dumb foul by Jokic.  Denver was in good position to steal this game. 

[JWags85]

I don't know that I would put Booker and Morant on the list. Great players, but it's hard for a guard to be that guy. Curry is the exception.

Booker maybe, but Morant just averaged 27/6/7 as a 22 year old on the 2 seed in the better conference and arguably still has a fair bit more ceiling ahead of him.

[Jockey]

Booker maybe, but Morant just averaged 27/6/7 as a 22 year old on the 2 seed in the better conference and arguably still has a fair bit more ceiling ahead of him.

He said 'franchise players'. Paul, Irving, and Holiday are better PGs right now.

But I agree Ja has a lot of ceiling left and the talent to reach it. He has a chance to be a franchise guy, as does Booker.

[forgetful]

Curry's last play highlights why I think he is one of the best of all time, unique, and the clear best player on the GSW teams, even when KD was there.

He was guarded by 3 players most of the possession, still scores a huge closeout basket.

When KD was there, he'd get wide open looks decently often, because the whole defense was focused on Curry. There are pictures/videos of 4 defenders focusing on Curry.

He's really one of a kind.

[wadesworld]

Curry's last play highlights why I think he is one of the best of all time, unique, and the clear best player on the GSW teams, even when KD was there.

He was guarded by 3 players most of the possession, still scores a huge closeout basket.

When KD was there, he'd get wide open looks decently often, because the whole defense was focused on Curry. There are pictures/videos of 4 defenders focusing on Curry.

He's really one of a kind.

Stop it. Anyone who didn't have KD at the top of their scouting report should've been fired. He's the greatest scorer to ever play the game. Nobody was giving him "wide open looks." He was the back to back Finals MVP. Curry's offensive numbers were the slightest touch better than KD's in the regular seasons when they played together. When it came to crunch time (Playoffs), KD's offensive numbers were significantly better than Steph's. And on the defensive end of the floor KD was miles better than Steph.

[Jockey]

Curry's last play highlights why I think he is one of the best of all time, unique, and the clear best player on the GSW teams, even when KD was there.

He was guarded by 3 players most of the possession, still scores a huge closeout basket.

When KD was there, he'd get wide open looks decently often, because the whole defense was focused on Curry. There are pictures/videos of 4 defenders focusing on Curry.

He's really one of a kind.

Agree 100%

[BM1090]

I'm about as big of a Steph fan as there is. He was probably the most important Warriors player from 2017-2019, but KD was their best player. Two sides of the ball.

[Jockey]

Curry led his team to an NBA title without Durant.

Yes Durant is the best offensive player in the world, but he only won when he played with Steph.

[Jockey]

Stop it. Anyone who didn't have KD at the top of their scouting report should've been fired. He's the greatest scorer to ever play the game.

Um..., No.

[BM1090]

Curry led his team to an NBA title without Durant.

Yes Durant is the best offensive player in the world, but he only won when he played with Steph.

If KD is the best offensive player in the world and better than Steph on the defensive end, how was Steph better?

You can argue most important, but better?

[wadesworld]

Curry led his team to an NBA title without Durant.

Yes Durant is the best offensive player in the world, but he only won when he played with Steph.

Wade led his team to a title without LeBron. That doesn't mean Wade was a better player than LeBron on the "Heatles" teams/until 2016.

[Mutaman]

He's the greatest scorer to ever play the game.

Did you know that once upon a time there was this fellow who averaged 50 points a game for a full season? And the next year he averaged 44? And he once scored 100 points in one game?
Durant is a great scorer but come on.

[Jockey]

Wade led his team to a title without LeBron. That doesn't mean Wade was a better player than LeBron on the "Heatles" teams/until 2016.

Durant led his team to a title without Steph. Oh wait. He has never done that.

KD's career numbers are slightly better than Steph. I think leadership & intangibles are on Steph's side by a decent margin.

[Jockey]

Did you know that once upon a time there was this fellow who averaged 50 points a game for a full season? And the next year he averaged 44? And he once scored 100 points in one game?
Durant is a great scorer but come on.

That was a pretty silly statement he made. They had to change the rules of the game to 'stop' Wilt. Kareem was a better offensive player despite the rules of the time where he got beat up every game and there was no 3 point line to spread the defense. Oscar was a better offensive player by a decent margin. Lebron in his prime was better. Shaq in his prime was better despite never making a FT in his career. And of course, MJ was clearly better.

I saw one fun stat for offensive value which was 2*assists + PPG as a way to measure how good a player was on offense. Obviously there are flaws using a metric like that (it relies too much on other guys adding value to your total among other things), but Durant isn't even top 25.

I'm not demeaning Durant in any way - just pushing back on the notion that he is the greatest offensive player ever. One MVP award is about right.

[The Sultan]

Nm

[wadesworld]

Durant led his team to a title without Steph. Oh wait. He has never done that.

KD's career numbers are slightly better than Steph. I think leadership & intangibles are on Steph's side by a decent margin.

But LBJ hadn't ever done that before he went to Miami and won titles with Wade, who had already won a title without LBJ. Wade was not the better player than LBJ despite that. It's a horrible argument.

So KD's offensive numbers are slightly better than Steph. And his defense is miles better than Steph's. I'd say that makes him a better player than Steph.

That was a pretty silly statement he made. They had to change the rules of the game to 'stop' Wilt. Kareem was a better offensive player despite the rules of the time where he got beat up every game and there was no 3 point line to spread the defense. Oscar was a better offensive player by a decent margin. Lebron in his prime was better. Shaq in his prime was better despite never making a FT in his career. And of course, MJ was clearly better.

I saw one fun stat for offensive value which was 2*assists + PPG as a way to measure how good a player was on offense. Obviously there are flaws using a metric like that (it relies too much on other guys adding value to your total among other things), but Durant isn't even top 25.

I'm not demeaning Durant in any way - just pushing back on the notion that he is the greatest offensive player ever. One MVP award is about right.

There's a difference between best scorer and best offensive player. It's laughable to call Shaq or LBJ better scorers than KD. Wilt sure you can argue it. He was a physically dominant player.

[Hards Alumni]

Great thread.  The old guys were great for their time and would get absolutely abused in today's game.  They were bigger and more athletic than anyone in their period.  Comparing guys like Wilt, Kareem, and the Big O to today's players is stupid. 

If we're talking best scorers of all time, the answer is Lebron James.  He has consistently scored 25 a game every single year since he was a rookie in 2003.

You may not like the guy, but he is undeniably the best scorer of all time.  He has an absolutely complete basketball skill set.