2018-2019 NBA Season

[DarthFed]

I know I shouldn't listen but...

..Max Kellerman saying Lebron by himself is as good as Steph and KD...oh lordy

That guy has gone crazy, I don't know if he is trying to become another Skip or Stephen A Smith or what but clearly that's a very false statement.

 

[Federberg]

Squeaky bum time for the Lakers now surely? Will they make the play offs? And what would be the point if they get there in 8th and are tuned by the Dubs?

 

[DarthFed]

Squeaky bum time for the Lakers now surely? Will they make the play offs? And what would be the point if they get there in 8th and are tuned by the Dubs?

I don't think they're going to make it. LeBron got hurt at the worst time as it was a very easy stretch of games. They went 6-12 without him and if he's there it could've been flipped. But if they get in it will be as the 8th seed and I'd still only take GS and maybe Houston in a series over them, at least out West.

 

[Federberg]

looks like Lebron is learning that you can't coast your way into the play offs in the Western Conference. Does that put his run to finals into context?

 

[DarthFed]

looks like Lebron is learning that you can't coast your way into the play offs in the Western Conference. Does that put his run to finals into context?

He missed 18 games. If you told anyone that at the start of the season most would agree the chances the Lakers would make the playoffs would be next to zero.

I don't think there is any context, he made 8 straight finals and some of it with total bums. The Cavs are the third worst team in basketball without him. When he left in 2010 they were the worst team in the league without him. There is no one else in the league that has close to that impact.

 

[DarthFed]

Got to say it, LeBron got what he deserved this year. Regardless of the injury the main issue is him singlehandedly destroying team chemistry by trying to get his whole team traded for Anthony Davis. And what a dumb calculation it was, given that there was next to no chance they were going to deal him before the offseason.

Now the Lakers are in a real mess. You have a bunch of decent young talent that hates your best player and that isn't going away this offseason. If you trade Ball, Kuzma, Ingram and Hart you will be getting pennies on the dollar most likely. And if you don't trade them you still have an aging LeBron and no team chemistry. Third option is to trade LeBron. It may sound nuts but most of the league would still trade a lot for the guy. I expect that won't happen but it isn't totally nuts given the situation.

 

[Federberg]

the off season is going to be mental

 

[Federberg]

Thunder vs GSW in the first round? Oooof... someone's going to get hurt..

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Enough regular season already...Time for some meaningful games, no?

 

[DarthFed]

Thunder vs GSW in the first round? Oooof... someone's going to get hurt..

Could still be the Spurs they face but the Thunder have been really atrocious lately. That said if they figure it out and end up #7 they have a legit shot vs the Nuggets.

 

[DarthFed]

Enough regular season already...Time for some meaningful games, no?

I still think they should make it a 66 game season. There would be practically no back to backs and definitely no 3 games in 4 night stretches. Damn near every game would be important. But they will never take away games. Money talks.

Bucks have been banged up but locked up #1tonight. Not to be overly confident against Toronto or Philly but I feel like if the Bucks make the ECF they will win it. The 2nd round against Boston is their biggest hurdle in the East, Brogdon probably will just be coming back or may be out and mentally it will be very unchartered territory assuming they win the 1st round. The ECF would also be unchartered but if they get there i feel like the step up in competition from Boston to Toronto or Philly would be small compared to the 1st round step up to Boston. Just my hunch.

Out West its only Houston that Golden State needs to worry about at all. The West is kind of weird this year. A lot of teams with good but not great records and teams like LAC, SAS, and Portland (always Portland) aren't going to scare anyone. I also don't see Denver as a huge powerhouse just yet either but maybe I'm wrong there. The East is arguably more top heavy now than the West, it just still figures to be another Golden Stare coronation, the last one assuming KD takes his talents elsewhere.

 

[Federberg]

If Greek freak doesn't get MVP over Harden this year it'll be a travesty in my opinion

 

[DarthFed]

If Greek freak doesn't get MVP over Harden this year it'll be a travesty in my opinion

Yeah he definitely deserves it over Harden but it wouldn't surprise me at all if they give it to the Beard since those are more historic numbers. If you take both stars off their teams I think the Rockets are still better than the Bucks when everyone else is healthy but it is close. The real case for Harden this year is that he kept Houston in it when CP3 and a bunch of others were hurt and that's hugely impressive. Bucks had good health until 3 weeks ago and that Brogdon injury could prove key. He is their most reliable shooter and probably most consistent overall player aside from Giannis.

I almost hope they give it to Harden, it'd keep Giannis more motivated. That guy has developed into a real killer on court. And the MVP doesn't mean anything, it is all about the playoffs. Giannis wasn't terrible the last two series vs Boston and Toronto, he was the best player in each series, but he was still definitely a disappointment. Chances are they will need him to be huge if they are to reach the finals and anything short of that and this is a mediocre season in my book. Bottom line; Giannis has to prove it in the playoffs before we crown him elite. There is a reason no one calls Harden the best player in the game.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Yeah he definitely deserves it over Harden but it wouldn't surprise me at all if they give it to the Beard since those are more historic numbers. If you take both stars off their teams I think the Rockets are still better than the Bucks when everyone else is healthy but it is close. The real case for Harden this year is that he kept Houston in it when CP3 and a bunch of others were hurt and that's hugely impressive. Bucks had good health until 3 weeks ago and that Brogdon injury could prove key. He is their most reliable shooter and probably most consistent overall player aside from Giannis.

I almost hope they give it to Harden, it'd keep Giannis more motivated. That guy has developed into a real killer on court. And the MVP doesn't mean anything, it is all about the playoffs. Giannis wasn't terrible the last two series vs Boston and Toronto, he was the best player in each series, but he was still definitely a disappointment. Chances are they will need him to be huge if they are to reach the finals and anything short of that and this is a mediocre season in my book. Bottom line; Giannis has to prove it in the playoffs before we crown him elite. There is a reason no one calls Harden the best player in the game.

Giannis would be a well deserved winner. But it is just stunningly amazing that a guy averages a triple double three years in a row and we are like "meh", as if it is an everyday occurrence. And it not like his team at the bottom of the league.

Either way, almost Playoff time. Bucks are the team to beat in the East. Raps-Bucks can be a great series.
I think GSW will find a way to make it to the finals.

 

[Federberg]

Giannis would be a well deserved winner. But it is just stunningly amazing that a guy averages a triple double three years in a row and we are like "meh", as if it is an everyday occurrence. And it not like his team at the bottom of the league.

Either way, almost Playoff time. Bucks are the team to beat in the East. Raps-Bucks can be a great series.
I think GSW will find a way to make it to the finals.

I hear you re: Westbrook, but am I the only one who thinks there's some stat padding going on? I don't think Wilt was doing that when he was getting all those triple doubles. It feels diminished to me. And bottom line... getting W's for your team should be what makes you an MVP candidate

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I hear you re: Westbrook, but am I the only one who thinks there's some stat padding going on? I don't think Wilt was doing that when he was getting all those triple doubles. It feels diminished to me. And bottom line... getting W's for your team should be what makes you an MVP candidate

I don't know man. I mean if we are talking just points, sure that's padding your stats. But we are talking about every part of the game here. You are crashing the boards every game...you are sharing the ball every game...and you are scoring every game. How else are you going to help your team WIN?

 

[Federberg]

I don't know man. I mean if we are talking just points, sure that's padding your stats. But we are talking about every part of the game here. You are crashing the boards every game...you are sharing the ball every game...and you are scoring every game. How else are you going to help your team WIN?

I think he's an amazing player, don't get me wrong. I love his intensity. But sometimes, when he's getting close to getting triple doubles it seems like his team mates accommodate his stat acquisition. Nothing wrong with it, but all I'm saying is that some of these modern numbers, it's not the same as when guys like Wilt did it. Those guys didn't care about stats, all they care about was getting the win. These guys pay as much attention to their personal brands as winning. Too much money in the game

 

[DarthFed]

Name of the game is efficiency and he ain't remotely an efficient scorer. That is his major shortcoming. The guy isn't even the #1 MVP candidate on his team. Alright I'm trying not to hate on Russssie too much . @kskate2 what do you think about this?

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Name of the game is efficiency and he ain't remotely an efficient scorer. That is his major shortcoming. The guy isn't even the #1 MVP candidate on his team. Alright I'm trying not to hate on Russssie too much . @kskate2 what do you think about this?

Brother, a guy that averages a triple double HAS no shortcoming. No one you deem "efficient" has come even close to what this guy has achieved three years in a row. Maybe we got spoiled man. Maybe he makes it look too easy. It is not though. Otherwise Magic,Jordan,Kobe, Kareem, Wilt, LeBron....SOMEBODY would have done what he has done...three times !

 

[DarthFed]

Brother, a guy that averages a triple double HAS no shortcoming. No one you deem "efficient" has come even close to what this guy has achieved three years in a row. Maybe we got spoiled man. Maybe he makes it look too easy. It is not though. Otherwise Magic,Jordan,Kobe, Kareem, Wilt, LeBron....SOMEBODY would have done what he has done...three times !

We will agree to disagree there. Scoring efficiency is an enormous piece of the NBA puzzle. That is why we would easily put guys like LeBron, Durant, Curry and Harden over Westbrook. Don't get me wrong, Russ is a great player because of everything he does. It goes without saying he doesn't have to score well to have a positive impact on the game. But even with a legit MVP candidate on his team in Paul George the team hasn't exactly been world beaters this year or last year for that matter.

I have a feeling you're seeing games like 25,12,14 on 23 shots and rating that over someone doing something like 30, 5, 5 on 18 shots. If I don't know anything else I'm taking the latter in a heartbeat. But I pound the table hard on scoring efficiency, it's huge in the current NBA. And it only gets tougher in the playoffs