2024-25 NBA Thread

[Billy Hoyle]

The series was further illustration of how good Curry is.  I'm also a little dumbfounded that the coach of "the greatest defender I've ever ever seen", didn't have his guy defend Randle.  Or Edwards.  Randle absolutely torched the Dubs.  It's also worth noting that Draymond begging his bench to challenge his foul on Gobert in the 4Q was an embarrassment.   

The Wolves are legitimate contenders, but have to take care of the ball.  Especially if they get OkC.

It is also a further illustration that Green is a role player who has benefitted solely from being on a team with Steph and Klay and his HOF plaque should note that.

[The Sultan]

It is also a further illustration that Green is a role player who has benefitted solely from being on a team with Steph and Klay and his HOF plaque should note that.

Like Dennis Rodman.

[MU82]

Can you recall another player at his height that played like Brunson?  No one comes to me off the top of my head. 

Earl Monroe would be my main comp. Though only 6-3, he was stronger than most other guards; he'd back them down before making space and hitting fade-away jumpers - that part of Brunson's game is a dead ringer for Monroe's.

Monroe was a great ballhandler, incredible around the basket, and a good passer. 3-point shooting didn't exist back then, but he had incredible range, and he was deadly in the mid-range. "Earl the Pearl" was a legend at a very early age because his game was very flashy, especially for the time - kind of like Iverson's. But as he matured, especially after joining a championship-caliber Knicks team, he settled into being a real good combo guard.

I also think Billups is a good comp.

It is also a further illustration that Green is a role player who has benefitted solely from being on a team with Steph and Klay and his HOF plaque should note that.

Like Dennis Rodman.

Rodman was the greatest rebounder of the post-Russell era, and his defense was every bit as good as Green's, if not better. Phil Jackson also used to say Rodman was the Bulls' smartest offensive player - he just couldn't shoot.

Green's been a fine defensive player but equally valuable to the great GS teams as a competent quarterback for the offense, taking that pressure off Curry. He wasn't a rebounding savant like Rodman, though.

Of course both Rodman and Green needed all the great offensive players on their respective teams to win titles. They were two of the great role players of the last half-century. Interesting conversation.

[The Sultan]

Earl Monroe would be my main comp. Though only 6-3, he was stronger than most other guards; he'd back them down before making space and hitting fade-away jumpers - that part of Brunson's game is a dead ringer for Monroe's.

Excellent comp. I didn't see much of Monroe but enough to know.

Rodman was the greatest rebounder of the post-Russell era, and his defense was every bit as good as Green's, if not better. Phil Jackson also used to say Rodman was the Bulls' smartest offensive player - he just couldn't shoot.

Green's been a fine defensive player but equally valuable to the great GS teams as a competent quarterback for the offense, taking that pressure off Curry. He wasn't a rebounding savant like Rodman, though.

Of course both Rodman and Green needed all the great offensive players on their respective teams to win titles. They were two of the great role players of the last half-century. Interesting conversation.

I wasn't trying to compare their games, just that if they had been on any other teams, I doubt they make the Hall of Fame. Rodman wasn't getting there prior to his run with the Bulls, and Draymond wouldn't had he been drafted by the Jazz or someplace similar.

[MU82]

I wasn't trying to compare their games, just that if they had been on any other teams, I doubt they make the Hall of Fame. Rodman wasn't getting there prior to his run with the Bulls, and Draymond wouldn't had he been drafted by the Jazz or someplace similar.

That makes sense.

[Billy Hoyle]

Excellent comp. I didn't see much of Monroe but enough to know.


I wasn't trying to compare their games, just that if they had been on any other teams, I doubt they make the Hall of Fame. Rodman wasn't getting there prior to his run with the Bulls, and Draymond wouldn't had he been drafted by the Jazz or someplace similar.

Rodman's rebounding numbers really took off in 1991-92 with Detroit (after averaging 12.5 in 1990-91). Over the next few years until he joined the Bulls he averaged 18.7, 18.3, 17.3 and 16.8 rebounds per game, numbers not reached since the 70s, so maybe he would have. However, having been a Pistons fan at that time, I think it is also quite likely he wouldn't have lived much longer if he wasn't with the Bulls with how out of control he'd gotten off the court.

[MuggsyB]

Like Dennis Rodman.

Rodman guarded the opposing teams best player. 

[MuggsyB]

It is also a further illustration that Green is a role player who has benefitted solely from being on a team with Steph and Klay and his HOF plaque should note that.

I think Green is an excellent defender but in general I agree with you.  There's a 0.0% chance he'd be a hof player without Curry & Klay. 

[cheebs09]

Rodman guarded the opposing teams best player. 

I don't this is accurate.

[WhiteTrash]

I don't this is accurate.

I agree. He didn't guard the star guards and while I saw Rodman be highly effective against some guards, he primarily guarded bigs and was excellent against much bigger guys. With the Bulls it was doubtful he would be more effective than Jordan and Pippen on the guards.

[The Sultan]

Yeah I'm not doubting his HOF creds, but Rodman played with Scottie and MJ who were excellent defenders in their own right.

[MuggsyB]

I don't this is accurate.

Maybe my childhood memory is wrong.  Still, no one answered my question.  Why didn't Green guard Julius Randle?

[wadesworld]

Maybe my childhood memory is wrong.  Still, no one answered my question.  Why didn't Green guard Julius Randle?

Because Steve Kerr is woke.

[MuggsyB]

Because Steve Kerr is woke.

That's irrelevant.  If you have the GOAT defender why didn't he guard Randle who was carving that team up?

[MuggsyB]

No idea why Adelman didn't challenge that foul on Jokic. 

[JWags85]

That's irrelevant.  If you have the GOAT defender why didn't he guard Randle who was carving that team up?

1) nobody is saying Draymond is the GOAT defender.  Thats ridiculous hyperbole.

2) Draymond is also 35, has played over 1000 NBA games after playing 150 high level games in college.  He has a ton of mileage on him.  Expecting him to play as and holding him to the standard of 2016-2017 Draymond is ridiculous and disingenuous.

[MuggsyB]

1) nobody is saying Draymond is the GOAT defender.  Thats ridiculous hyperbole.

2) Draymond is also 35, has played over 1000 NBA games after playing 150 high level games in college.  He has a ton of mileage on him.  Expecting him to play as and holding him to the standard of 2016-2017 Draymond is ridiculous and disingenuous.

JWags, Kerr literally said he was the greatest defender of all-time in a press conference.

Excuse me:  My bad.  "The best defender I've ever seen."

[The Sultan]

JWags, Kerr literally said he was the greatest defender of all-time in a press conference.

Excuse me:  My bad.  "The best defender I've ever seen."

Gosh, a coach overly praising his player? Wow!!

[MuggsyB]

Gosh, a coach overly praising his player? Wow!!

He said it.  And was asked again about it and reaffirmed his opinion.  Don't attack me for his absurdity. 

[MuggsyB]

Also, defevsive rebounding and rim protection are components of defense. 

[MuggsyB]

Strawther is making a huge impact tonight. 

[Uncle Rico]

He said it.  And was asked again about it and reaffirmed his opinion.  Don't attack me for his absurdity. 

I like to call him "Comrade Kerr" since he's worried about gun violence and not the Chinese

[Billy Hoyle]

Strawther is making a huge impact tonight. 

What a couple of past few games. Teams having their season saved by Luke Kornet and Julian Strawther. Playoffs, man....

[MuggsyB]

I like to call him "Comrade Kerr" since he's worried about gun violence and not the Chinese

Ya...I get it.  He's angry at Republicans for gun violence. 

[Uncle Rico]

Ya...I get it.  He's angry at Republicans for gun violence. 

And quiet on China and Chicago.