2022-23 NBA Thread

[MU82]

Pummeling the best team in the West on their home court should be a wake up call for the Bucks.  Because frankly Boston is better right now and I don't think it's close.  Middleton will have to come back to all-star level at minimum.

The Bucks should just cancel the rest of their season.

Why even bother to try to contend with the best team in the history of basketball? This Celtics group has been running roughshod over playoff fields for years now. All those rings that Tatum and Brown have ... it's blinding the light that reflects off of them.

[Hards Alumni]

I think they're going to have to give up Grayson to get something back.

That'd be a mistake.  I don't like the guy, but he is incredibly efficient.

[MUfan12]

I think they're going to have to give up Grayson to get something back.

And the more he plays the less I want to do that. He's been pretty good, and is one of the few guys they have that gets to the rim.

[MuggsyB]

The Bucks should just cancel the rest of their season.

Why even bother to try to contend with the best team in the history of basketball? This Celtics group has been running roughshod over playoff fields for years now. All those rings that Tatum and Brown have ... it's blinding the light that reflects off of them.

They're what?  25 and 26?  They're doing just fine.   It's also worth noting they're playing without Robert Williams.  What I see is a team with the #2 guy in the league playing with the best 2G in the league for starters.  These guys play both ends of the floor and basically can guard all five positions.  The only 2G I might want ahead of Jaylen Brown right now is SGA.   Again, the Bucks are the one team that has a shot but Middleton has to come back to his all-star level. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Uhhh....Jaylen Brown is absolutely destroying Booker.   They may have two of the top 7 players in the league.

Jaylen Brown is not a top 7 player in the NBA.

[cheebs09]

Jaylen Brown is not a top 7 player in the NBA.

I believe he means Sam Hauser.

[cheebs09]

I think the Bucks get more trade flexibility as the year goes on. I think Nwora and Hill can be traded before the deadline but not before a certain date.

[4everwarriors]

Peddle der asses, hey?

[MuggsyB]

Jaylen Brown is not a top 7 player in the NBA.

Top 10?  Remember defense and durability s part of the game and he can guard any position.  Which 2G's would you take ahead of him?

[MU82]

They're what?  25 and 26?  They're doing just fine.   It's also worth noting they're playing without Robert Williams.  What I see is a team with the #2 guy in the league playing with the best 2G in the league for starters.  These guys play both ends of the floor and basically can guard all five positions.  The only 2G I might want ahead of Jaylen Brown right now is SGA.   Again, the Bucks are the one team that has a shot but Middleton has to come back to his all-star level.

The Celtics are a very good team. Tatum is first-team All-NBA, Brown is a fine player, and they have several good to very good role players. They certainly could win the title, just as they could have last season and the season before.

Beyond that ... I'll hold off on saying the rest of the NBA is doomed until I see the Celtics actually win something, and then win something again.

[JWags85]

Top 10?  Remember defense and durability s part of the game and he can guard any position.  Which 2G's would you take ahead of him?

Giannis, Jokic, Tatum, Curry, Luka, Ja, Embiid, Durant, Booker are above him without a shred of debate.  I'd comfortably rate Butler, AD, a healthy Kawhi, and Lebron above him as well.

I'd take Booker, Anthony Edwards, and Donovan Mitchell over Brown at the 2 quite happily.

[MuggsyB]

Giannis, Jokic, Tatum, Curry, Luka, Ja, Embiid, Durant, Booker are above him without a shred of debate.  I'd comfortably rate Butler, AD, a healthy Kawhi, and Lebron above him as well.

I'd take Booker, Anthony Edwards, and Donovan Mitchell over Brown at the 2 quite happily.

I respectfully disagree JWags.  He's a 6'7 guard/forward, with great strength, that can essentially guard all 5 positions.  Jimmy and Kawhi aren't healthy..  I wouldn't take Edwards or Mitchell ahead of him.  At worst he's just behind Booker at the 2G  I think you're underselling his defensive impact and intangibles.   I've watched him, he doesn't take plays off.  He's a gamer and is in the Kawhi mold as far as his overall versatility. 

[MuggsyB]

The Celtics are a very good team. Tatum is first-team All-NBA, Brown is a fine player, and they have several good to very good role players. They certainly could win the title, just as they could have last season and the season before.

Beyond that ... I'll hold off on saying the rest of the NBA is doomed until I see the Celtics actually win something, and then win something again.

Other than the Bucks the rest of the NBA, barring a major injury, is doomed. 

[BM1090]

Other than the Bucks the rest of the NBA, barring a major injury, is doomed.

The Bucks took them to 7 last year without KM. They almost lost to Miami in 7. They got beat by a damn good but not great GS team.

Brogdon makes them better but I'm not 100% sold. We'll see.

[Its DJOver]

C's are a contender, but acting like they're in a league of their own is foolish.  They have question marks to answer the same way other contenders do.  It's also worth noting that even contenders are only 1 key injury away from being seriously hampered.

[MuggsyB]

C's are a contender, but acting like they're in a league of their own is foolish.  They have question marks to answer the same way other contenders do.  It's also worth noting that even contenders are only 1 key injury away from being seriously hampered.

The have a key injury and Gallanari is out.  Yet they're still better this year.  G.WIllians is better, they added Brogdon, Griffin and Kornet are both serviceable.  They shoot 39% as a team from distance and can get quality looks consistently with all 5 guys moving and screening.  The only team with a chance is Milwaukee imo. 

[MU82]

Other than the Bucks the rest of the NBA, barring a major injury, is doomed.

The beautiful thing, Muggs, is that we actually will get to find out.

But right now, they are a 0-year dynasty.

[Its DJOver]

The have a key injury and Gallanari is out.  Yet they're still better this year.  G.WIllians is better, they added Brogdon, Griffin and Kornet are both serviceable.  They shoot 39% as a team from distance and can get quality looks consistently with all 5 guys moving and screening.  The only team with a chance is Milwaukee imo.

Citing someone averaging 5 ppg is not going to help your cause.

We get it, you're a Celtics fan.  You being a Celtics fan does not mean that they get a bye to the ECF though.  Lots a ball to be played.

[MU82]

Yep. If one goes back to last year at this time, the Suns were being talked about as the NBA's next great dynasty. They were coming off an NBA Finals appearance, they were cruising through the 2021-22 season (and would finish with 64 wins, by far the league high), they had two superstars, a couple potential stars, and several good role players. And their owner wasn't yet known to be a d-bag.

How has that worked out for them?

I hope Muggs doesn't mind if we actually watch to see how the playoffs turn out before crowning the Celtics' arses.

[cheebs09]

Citing someone averaging 5 ppg is not going to help your cause.

We get it, you're a Celtics fan.  You being a Celtics fan does not mean that they get a bye to the ECF though.  Lots a ball to be played.

I think he's less a Celtics fan and more an excessive worrier.

[Its DJOver]

I think he's less a Celtics fan and more an excessive worrier.

Fair, I don't know for sure that he's a C's fan.  He just sure seems to overlook a lot of details that paint the C's in favorable light, as well as contradicting himself.

[MuggsyB]

Fair, I don't know for sure that he's a C's fan.  He just sure seems to overlook a lot of details that paint the C's in favorable light, as well as contradicting himself.

I'm not a C's fan at all. 

[StillAWarrior]

The Cavs own the Celtics this year. 

[The Sultan]

I think he's less a Celtics fan and more an excessive worrier.

He's excessive about everything.

[JWags85]

I think he's less a Celtics fan and more an excessive worrier.

Someone will score 35 next week and be deemed a top 8 player by Muggsy.

A 1 time All Star who isn't really an above average shooter, who is nowhere near as good as his teammate who is a legit top 8 player, and who is being presented as a fearsome Rodman level defender despite never being in the discussion for All Defensive team is suddenly the best 2G in the league 

When you go to "intangibles" as one of your main arguments for a player's greatness, you've lost.