2018 NBA Playoffs

[Federberg]

I agree Brad Stevens is doing a fantastic job, but Ben Simmonds only scoring 1? For real?? wow...

I don't disagree that he's awesome, but I can't see anyone shutting Donovan Mitchell like that. Just saying

 

[brokenshoelace]

I agree Brad Stevens is doing a fantastic job, but Ben Simmonds only scoring 1? For real?? wow...

I don't disagree that he's awesome, but I can't see anyone shutting Donovan Mitchell like that. Just saying

Mitchell is a better scorer who can beat you off the dribble, he's a better shooter, and he's an incredibly polished finisher around the rim, especially for a rookie. So yeah, he won't be shut down this way. Simmons is the better player right now though, and definitely has a higher ceiling. His weaknesses will improve, and he already dominates games in ways a rookie shouldn't be able to. Last night was awful though.

 

[Federberg]

Mitchell is a better scorer who can beat you off the dribble, he's a better shooter, and he's an incredibly polished finisher around the rim, especially for a rookie. So yeah, he won't be shut down this way. Simmons is the better player right now though, and definitely has a higher ceiling. His weaknesses will improve, and he already dominates games in ways a rookie shouldn't be able to. Last night was awful though.

he's not really a rookie though

 

[DarthFed]

Simmons has crazy upside but he has no jumper yet. But how many rookies have we seen enter the league without one and then develop a reliable one over the years? I'd say the vast majority. Stevens is a great coach, it's a well-disciplined and high energy team. I am surprised they're doing this though, struggling against a bad Bucks team that is not disciplined and is known for low-effort was not a good sign especially considering Giannis had a pretty bad series and it still went 7. Philly is a young and brash team, especially Embiid, so I shouldn't be too surprised they are flat right now. Boston probably wins that series now, possibly even a sweep after Philly choked last night. I do think Boston is in a deceptively tough spot and their window isn't nearly as wide open as many think and the reason for that is Philly's future especially if the Cyborg joins them after this season which I think is a very strong possibility.

Mitchell is the much better scorer for now but I wouldn't expect it to remain that way for long. If we include Simmons in this rookie class then this one may end up being the best one since 2003. And Simmons' upside is that of a mini-Bron while Mitchell may be more like Wade though the former is already a better shooter than D-Wade ever was though I wouldn't say he's quite as explosive of an athlete. It's easy to forget but if we compared D-Wade and Bron's first 3-4 years in the league they were pretty darn close but it was always clear LeBron would end up the greater player. Probably the same with Simmons-Mitchell.

 

[brokenshoelace]

he's not really a rookie though

Definition of a rookie is someone playing in his first year in the NBA. Since he didn't play last season, yes, he's a rookie.This playing technicalities thing was really one of the most irksome part of this NBA season re: rookie of the year. OK so he hung around his teammates and attended practice while he was hurt last year. I'm sure that helped him. I don't think that's why he's having the monster season he's having, or that he wouldn't have been much worse last year.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Simmons has crazy upside but he has no jumper yet. But how many rookies have we seen enter the league without one and then develop a reliable one over the years? I'd say the vast majority. Stevens is a great coach, it's a well-disciplined and high energy team. I am surprised they're doing this though, struggling against a bad Bucks team that is not disciplined and is known for low-effort was not a good sign especially considering Giannis had a pretty bad series and it still went 7. Philly is a young and brash team, especially Embiid, so I shouldn't be too surprised they are flat right now. Boston probably wins that series now, possibly even a sweep after Philly choked last night. I do think Boston is in a deceptively tough spot and their window isn't nearly as wide open as many think and the reason for that is Philly's future especially if the Cyborg joins them after this season which I think is a very strong possibility.

Mitchell is the much better scorer for now but I wouldn't expect it to remain that way for long. If we include Simmons in this rookie class then this one may end up being the best one since 2003. And Simmons' upside is that of a mini-Bron while Mitchell may be more like Wade though the former is already a better shooter than D-Wade ever was though I wouldn't say he's quite as explosive of an athlete. It's easy to forget but if we compared D-Wade and Bron's first 3-4 years in the league they were pretty darn close but it was always clear LeBron would end up the greater player. Probably the same with Simmons-Mitchell.

I do think Mitchell will always be a better natural scorer than Simmons, even if the latter ends up averaging more in some seasons (kinda like how we don't think of Lebron as a scorer yet he scores a shit-ton of points). Simmons will develop a jumper, but my worry about him for now is he still doesn't know which hand is his best, and tends to really finish with the wrong hand A LOT (and fail to finish), while Mitchell is legitimately a top 5 under the rim finisher in the league even now (Kyrie and Curry are the only ones I would flat out put ahead of him in that department).

 

[DarthFed]

Definition of a rookie is someone playing in his first year in the NBA. Since he didn't play last season, yes, he's a rookie.This playing technicalities thing was really one of the most irksome part of this NBA season re: rookie of the year. OK so he hung around his teammates and attended practice while he was hurt last year. I'm sure that helped him. I don't think that's why he's having the monster season he's having, or that he wouldn't have been much worse last year.

Yes that is the NBA definition of a rookie...I just think he was drafted in 2016 and missed his rookie season. This is his first year playing, would he have been at this same level last year? Very debatable. Keep in mind that Simmons broke his leg just a month before the season started last year so that is nearly 4 months after he was drafted and during training camp. Nutrition, coaching, and just an extra year for his body to grow. All of that definitely helps. So if he didn't break his leg he'd have likely done worse last year than he did this year and he'd have likely done way better this year if it had been his 2nd year playing.

Besides, ROY is a practically worthless award anyways, guys like Simmons and Mitchell have much higher aspirations. It's a big deal if you're MCW or Brogdon, guys who realistically are not even all-star caliber players.

 

[kskate2]

The Brow finally putting a show for GSW.

 

[DarthFed]

The Brow finally putting a show for GSW.

They probably lose in 5 but that's a really strong team. That team has quite a bit more than Davis. Uncle Jrue and Mirotic can ball and Raging Rajon Rondo putting up a vintage stat line. Love him or hate him he just makes teams quite a bit better. Warriors to respond big in game 4, hope its close but I could see them making a statement.

 

[DarthFed]

And speaking of statements it is quite the rebound for Houston, currently up 30 at half in Utah. Mitchell only 1-10 in the first half.

 

[DarthFed]

Bucks interviewing Becky Hammon for head coaching job. I hope that's a joke. They need a coach who can fire those clowns up and change the culture.

 

[kskate2]

They probably lose in 5 but that's a really strong team. That team has quite a bit more than Davis. Uncle Jrue and Mirotic can ball and Raging Rajon Rondo putting up a vintage stat line. Love him or hate him he just makes teams quite a bit better. Warriors to respond big in game 4, hope its close but I could see them making a statement.

Even w/ GS adjustments I see this tied going back to Cali.

 

[DarthFed]

Even w/ GS adjustments I see this tied going back to Cali.

We shall see Miss KS. I don't think the birds are going to make this into a war, they needed one of the first 2. Either they lose a close game 4 at the end or they get destroyed from the start like Utah yesterday.

 

[kskate2]

I wasn't thinking a war, but figured they'd win these two games at home and then lose games 5 & 6

 

[the AntiPusher]

Even w/ GS adjustments I see this tied going back to Cali.

Nope..this will not be tied.. Klay has got to return . I would’ve preferred stephen coming off the bench...Holiday will get a full force of Klay, EagleDollar and Livingston...”No Sir re Bob..This aint gonna be tied “

 

[the AntiPusher]

Bucks interviewing Becky Hammon for head coaching job. I hope that's a joke. They need a coach who can fire those clowns up and change the culture.

I think Jeff Van Grundy or Mark Jackson would be a great fit in Milwaukee..Those guys aint gonna listen to “Becky with da good hair”

 

[kskate2]

I think Jeff Van Grundy or Mark Jackson would be a great fit in Milwaukee..Those guys aint gonna listen to “Becky with da good hair”

JVG not a good choice. They don't listen to him either. Marky Mark, Avery Johnson, Doug Collins would all be better choices.

 

[DarthFed]

JVG not a good choice. They don't listen to him either. Marky Mark, Avery Johnson, Doug Collins would all be better choices.

Screw Doug Collins, he's 100 and has had minimal success, but I could get on board with the other two. Van Gundy is a diva and he's been gone for awhile now, I don't see it working out, at least not long-term.

 

[kskate2]

Screw Doug Collins, he's 100 and has had minimal success, but I could get on board with the other two. Van Gundy is a diva and he's been gone for awhile now, I don't see it working out, at least not long-term.

Dang Darth. Really tell us how you feel.

 

[DarthFed]

Dang Darth. Really tell us how you feel.

Haha sorry. I'm already prepared for them to make either a profoundly stupid choice or going with some recyclable safe play.