2022-23 NBA Thread

[MuggsyB]

You hope that there isn't enough ball to go around.  Just like there wasn't in Brooklyn.

Kyrie and Harden are much different players than Booker and Paul. 

[MU82]

I really don't think sharing the ball will be that much of a problem in Phoenix.

If everybody gets and stays healthy, I'd think the Suns would be favorites (or darn close to it) in the West -- as long as their new Big 4 can handle the significant PT they'll have to get due to the roster not being as deep. I still think the Bucks and Celtics are better, but I guess we'll find out about all of that.

I know that if I'm Denver, I sure hope the Suns ascend higher than the 4/5 line because I wouldn't want to have to play them in the second round.

[JWags85]

Kyrie and Harden are much different players than Booker and Paul.

Yea, CP3 is ring chasing at this point.  I think he's at the point where he'd score 0 points and dish 20 assists a game if it got him a title.  And Booker is a shooter/scorer, not a dribble wizard.  And Ayton doesn't demand the ball to be effective.

The Nets had 2 ultra ball dominant scoring guards and Durant.  The Suns are set up much differently.

[wadesworld]

  yes muggs, however, his big stink with phoenix was "starting"  i don't get that because coming off bench, 2nd line, play well and you still get yourself 30 minutes

i just don't see him starting on bucks, but if ya throw him a bone and start him, then pull him after 2-3 minutes, what's the difference except EGO??  i don't see jae as having that EGO thing nor getting in the way of being on a team with a chance to WIN.  plus he'd be back with wesley and milwaukee.  the dude is making $10 mil

You don't think the guy who is sitting out because he wasn't given a 3 year deal and he wasn't given a starting spot has an ego?  Or as a guy who will get in the way of winning?  He was on a team that went to the Finals 2 years ago and had the best record in the NBA last year.  If they didn't have a chance of winning, who did?

I think he'd be just fine coming off the bench for some contender that has gone out of their way to go get him.  But to pretend he doesn't have an ego given that he's just been sitting on his hands all year is...interesting.  Almost all of these guys have an ego.  It appears Jae's is bigger than most.

[cheebs09]

I think Phoenix's biggest worry will be depth rather than how the starters fit together.

[wadesworld]

The Suns have KD for 3 years after this.  This is a great move for them.  Even if this season were to go poorly (which I don't think it will), you have your 2 superstars locked in for the long haul and you can build the roster as you want around them.  Maybe that's moving on from CP3, maybe it's trading Ayton, we'll see.  But they're in a great position.  Jae wasn't even playing and Cam and Bridges are very nice players, but they're role players and were never going to be a top 3 player on a real title contender.

The Suns now are way more difficult to defend than they were when they made the Finals.  That year CP3 was better (but with KD now he'll be asked to do less and should be a lot more efficient), but you could stick Jrue and PJ on Booker and CP3 and dare Ayton, Johnson, Jae, Payne, and Bridges to try to win games.  CP3 got totally worn down by the end of the series.  We saw what KD can do with a PJ Tucker (Jae Crowder?) type hounding him for a full 7 games...he just averages 35/11/5.

[Pakuni]

I think Phoenix's biggest worry will be depth rather than how the starters fit together.

Yep.
They've got a fantastic Big 3, but also a Big 3 that's been known to get injured.

[MUfan12]

Suns will be absolute murder on drop coverages with the midrange games that KD and CP possess.

But beyond their top 4 it gets ugly. Can they find enough quality depth on the buyout market?

[MuggsyB]

Suns will be absolute murder on drop coverages with the midrange games that KD and CP possess.

But beyond their top 4 it gets ugly. Can they find enough quality depth on the buyout market?

If healthy their top 4 is probably enough.  You do realize that Booker is lethal with perimeter space as well?  Durant and Booker are pure scorers but with tremendous spot and pure shooting as well.  If CP3 is healthy that team will be literally impossible to guard.  You cannot stop Durant or Booker in one on one coverage.   

[JWags85]

Jae to the Bucks for a bunch of second rounders.  Maybe pause the slander, aina

[wadesworld]

Jae to the Bucks for a bunch of second rounders.  Maybe pause the slander, aina

Yeah.  Bucks Twitter flipped flopped on Jae twice in 24 hours.

[MuggsyB]

Jae to the Bucks for a bunch of second rounders.  Maybe pause the slander, aina

Excellent pick-up.  I'm just not sure it's enough.  Unless Middleton is back to his all-star level. 

[MuggsyB]

The West is crazy so that is to the Bucks and Celtics advantage. 

[StillAWarrior]

So, the Nets got four firsts, five seconds, Bridges, and Johnson for Durant. That's not a bad haul for a team that is "in process".

[Its DJOver]

So, the Nets got four firsts, five seconds, Bridges, and Johnson for Durant. That's not a bad haul for a team that is "in process".

Not all the 2nd's are going to the Nets. Pacers got two of them.

[wadesworld]

Nets will have to get Hill and Serge to make the money work out for the Bucks.

[Skatastrophy]

So, the Nets got four firsts, five seconds, Bridges, and Johnson for Durant. That's not a bad haul for a team that is "in process".

Now they can build around Simmons like they really wanted to

[wadesworld]

How will the Bucks ever survive without the Nworas/Mamus/Girorgios Kalatzakis/Sam Merrills of the NBA?

[Dish]

Keep an eye on Zach Lavine moving today.

[Jockey]

Don't get me wrong...I'm glad to see it. Most of my family is still there, and I'm sure they're thrilled. I'm hoping for a Cavs/Suns finals. That would be great. And if it's not the Cavs, I definitely hope the Suns win it all.

As much respect as I have for Durant, I'm just not convinced that he's the guy. That was a lot to give up if he doesn't deliver.

Durant just thinks he is "the guy".

In reality, he needs "a guy" to win. Then, he gets jealous and moves on.

[MuggsyB]

Durant just thinks he is "the guy".

In reality, he needs "a guy" to win. Then, he gets jealous and moves on.

I have to admit I'm rooting for a Suns/Dubs 1st round series. 

[Jockey]

I think at this point in his career, Jae is just a frontcourt Wes Mathew's.

[Its DJOver]

Shams saying just Nwora and Serge to Indy, Woj saying Hill.  Did it take all 3 to make the $ work.

[cheebs09]

Shams saying just Nwora and Serge to Indy, Woj saying Hill.  Did it take all 3 to make the $ work.

Yup.

Also, if all Jae is is a front court Wes, that helps a ton. Although I think he's got a little more in the tank than Wes.

[MUfan12]

Gonna be a line for the ice tub after dealing with Jae, Wes, and Jrue on the perimeter.