2022-23 NBA Thread

[MuggsyB]

For a guy with lots of crazy takes, this may be the goofiest ever.

I obviously wasn't serious.  Take it easy Jockey. 

[Uncle Rico]

The loser of Philly-Boston going to have A LONG AZZ summer

[MuggsyB]

The loser of Philly-Boston going to have A LONG AZZ summer

No doubt. 

[MuggsyB]

Not exactly a stellar performance by either team. 

[MuggsyB]

Uh.....Mr.Jokic is sending a message this evening. 

[MU82]

The game was decided in the 2-3 minute stretch after the Sixers took an 83-81 lead. Harden and Maxey wasted several consecutive possessions dribbling deep into the shot clock and then firing up bricks; barely even looked at Embiid. And when they'd miss, the Celtics would get a run-out and Tatum would hit a 3.

That's brutal basketball, and as much as I like Rivers, it's ultimately a reflection of the coaching.

[MuggsyB]

The game was decided in the 2-3 minute stretch after the Sixers took an 83-81 lead. Harden and Maxey wasted several consecutive possessions dribbling deep into the shot clock and then firing up bricks; barely even looked at Embiid. And when they'd miss, the Celtics would get a run-out and Tatum would hit a 3.


That's brutal basketball, and as much as I like Rivers, it's ultimately a reflection of the coaching.

Agreed and well said. 

Meanwhile Denver only up 81-51 at halftime. 

[PGsHeroes32]

Agreed and well said. 

Meanwhile Denver only up 81-51 at halftime.

No Ayton or Paul. They never had a chance.

[MuggsyB]

No Ayton or Paul. They never had a chance.

They weren't beating them regardless. 

[Spotcheck Billy]

This probable loss could cost Doc his job? 

Doc to the Bucks.

[Uncle Rico]

Doc to the Bucks.

Barf

[MUBurrow]

No Ayton or Paul. They never had a chance.

When the Durant trade was announced, I thought they'd be an immediate top 3 championship favorite for at least a couple years.  But there's just as good a chance their future is bleak as hell.  Between injury history, Paul and increasingly Durant's age, Ayton's development flatlining, Booker due a raise after next year, and having traded everything not bolted down to get Durant, they have to be one of the higher variance teams in the league but even that will only last another year or two.

[MuggsyB]

When the Durant trade was announced, I thought they'd be an immediate top 3 championship favorite for at least a couple years.  But there's just as good a chance their future is bleak as hell.  Between injury history, Paul and increasingly Durant's age, Ayton's development flatlining, Booker due a raise after next year, and having traded everything not bolted down to get Durant, they have to be one of the higher variance teams in the league but even that will only last another year or two.

I get that Paul and Ayton didn't play yesterday but this is the 2nd year in a row that team got run out of their own gym in an elimination game.  Secondly, when Ayton was playing he was getting obliterated by Jokic and sat a lot because of it.  As for CP3?  He's on his last legs.  Many were saying they were playing better without him and Cameron Payne went crazy from three yesterday and they still lost by 30. 

The bottom line is with Booker and Durant on that roster Jokic was by far the best player on the floor.  He is a good reminder that offense isn't just scoring.  He almost always makes the right basketball play and is like a grandmaster in the way he sees the floor.  I also think his first step is quick and his eye hand coordination and hands are unbelievable.  Last night and this entire series further rereiterated how idiotic Kendrick Perkins' comments were about him. 

[Jockey]

When the Durant trade was announced, I thought they'd be an immediate top 3 championship favorite for at least a couple years.  But there's just as good a chance their future is bleak as hell.  Between injury history, Paul and increasingly Durant's age, Ayton's development flatlining, Booker due a raise after next year, and having traded everything not bolted down to get Durant, they have to be one of the higher variance teams in the league but even that will only last another year or two.

I tried to tell you guys. Durant has never led a team to a title and he never will.

I think the only possible way he wins a 2nd one is to rejoin Curry on GS, join LeBron in LA, or even possibly joining Jimmy in Miami.

He's not an Alpha. He's a Big time scorer who demands the ball for a good portion of the shot clock. That can only work with certain players - not Kyrie or Harden or Westbrook or Booker. He is definitely not a LeBron or Curry or Magic or Bird or Duncan who can elevate an entire team.

[wadesworld]

I tried to tell you guys. Durant has never led a team to a title and he never will.

I think the only possible way he wins a 2nd one is to rejoin Curry on GS, join LeBron in LA, or even possibly joining Jimmy in Miami.

He's not an Alpha. He's a Big time scorer who demands the ball for a good portion of the shot clock. That can only work with certain players - not Kyrie or Harden or Westbrook or Booker. He is definitely not a LeBron or Curry or Magic or Bird or Duncan who can elevate an entire team.

You are just outing yourself as someone who has not watched Durant ever.

He also already has a 2nd title.  And 2 Finals MVPs...

[Jockey]

You are just outing yourself as someone who has not watched Durant ever.

He also already has a 2nd title.  And 2 Finals MVPs...

My mistake. Curry won him 2 rings.

[MuggsyB]

It's not surprising that Durant was so great in GS offensively with more open space but I think his defense was phenomenal as well.  WTF happened to him defensively?

[Uncle Rico]

It's not surprising that Durant was so great in GS offensively with more open space but I think his defense was phenomenal as well.  WTF happened to him defensively?

Father Time is undefeated

[The Sultan]

You are just outing yourself as someone who has not watched Durant ever.

He also already has a 2nd title.  And 2 Finals MVPs...

And he was the best players on those teams.

Per usual Jockey keeps dying on the strangest hills.

[cheebs09]

It's not surprising that Durant was so great in GS offensively with more open space but I think his defense was phenomenal as well.  WTF happened to him defensively?

The Achilles injury probably doesn't help the cause either.

[Jockey]

And he was the best players on those teams.

Per usual Jockey keeps dying on the strangest hills.

Durant's NBA career:
Golden State: 3 years = 2 titles.
Non Golden State: 12 years = Zero titles.

Thank you, Steph Curry! Who, incidentally, has as many titles without Durant as with him.

Anyone who rates Durant over Curry on the all-time greatest list is clueless about NBA basketball. Durant is top 15(?) all time. Curry is Top 5.

Maybe when Durant gets to half as many triple-doubles in his career as Draymond Green or becomes half the defender that Draymond is, I'll reconsider.

[The Sultan]

Durant's NBA career:
Golden State: 3 years = 2 titles.
Non Golden State: 12 years = Zero titles.

Thank you, Steph Curry! Who, incidentally, has as many titles without Durant as with him.

Anyone who rates Durant over Curry on the all-time greatest list is clueless about NBA basketball. Durant is top 15(?) all time. Curry is Top 5.

I never said he was better overall.

This idea that "he hasn't lead a team to a championship" is silly. He won the Finals MVP award in both championship seasons with GSW. It's just a dumb statement you continue to make - but hey what do I expect from the guy who claimed that Jimmy was one of the most overrated players in the league. 

[BM1090]

And he was the best players on those teams.

Per usual Jockey keeps dying on the strangest hills.

I don't know if he was the best player on those teams but he was definitely the best player in both Finals series.

Durant would likely have a title if Harden and/or Kyrie stayed healthy in 2021. He was the alpha on a young OKC team that beat the peak Spurs in the WCF but ran into an older Heat team.

He may not ever be the clear best player on a title team but that's more circumstance than anything else.

[MuggsyB]

Durant's NBA career:
Golden State: 3 years = 2 titles.
Non Golden State: 12 years = Zero titles.

Thank you, Steph Curry! Who, incidentally, has as many titles without Durant as with him.


Anyone who rates Durant over Curry on the all-time greatest list is clueless about NBA basketball. Durant is top 15(?) all time. Curry is Top 5.

Maybe when Durant gets to half as many triple-doubles in his career as Draymond Green or becomes half the defender that Draymond is, I'll reconsider.

I don't recall people "rating" Durant over Curry nor should they.  The Green comments are just silly.  Durant was the best overall player in the playoffs on two title teams in Oakland.  Period.  And he was great defensively Jockey in addition to being ridiculous offensively.  You can't just dismiss that like it never happened. 

[Hards Alumni]

My mistake. Curry won him 2 rings.

So the two time Finals MVP had nothing to do with winning the finals.

As least your takes are consistently braindead.