NBA Thread

[KingKat]

[jaysblue]

This might be the worst season in a very long time

 

The NBA Playoffs have been pretty boring. Other than the Washington/Boston series, every other series has been dull.

[Krylian]

I like the idea of GS running the table through the playoffs. It's something I don't remember ever seeing before... And it really shines a light on how much better they are and how much better everyone else needs to get. Some teams are really going to consider shaking things up considerably this offseason and that excited me... Especially if the raptors are among those teams.

[John_Havok]

I like the idea of GS running the table through the playoffs. It's something I don't remember ever seeing before... And it really shines a light on how much better they are and how much better everyone else needs to get. Some teams are really going to consider shaking things up considerably this offseason and that excited me... Especially if the raptors are among those teams.

 

It also shines a light on how silly the NBA's contracts are regarding bird rights and the salary cap - though that really depends on how you view a small number of teams being able to build dynasty rosters and basically run an entire decade of NBA greatness.

[dineke]

This might be the worst season in a very long time

 

I like watching the greatest team of all time dominating. It's better than watching some 8th seed or a 2nd wildcard team with .500 records fluke their way to titles. GS is like Usain Bolt, you know who's going to win but you still watch because you're witnessing sporting excellence.

[Abomination]

It also shines a light on how silly the NBA's contracts are regarding bird rights and the salary cap - though that really depends on how you view a small number of teams being able to build dynasty rosters and basically run an entire decade of NBA greatness.

 

I think the bigger issue is just the small number of players playing the vast majority of a game. That one elite player like a MJ, Lebron, Curry, Shaq, etc has such a massive impact. At least in games like hockey, those stars play 30-40% of the game (except goalies).

[John_Havok]

I think the bigger issue is just the small number of players playing the vast majority of a game. That one elite player like a MJ, Lebron, Curry, Shaq, etc has such a massive impact. At least in games like hockey, those stars play 30-40% of the game (except goalies).

 

I think though, we can clearly see that 1 player doesn't make a champion caliber team. Now you need 3 All Stars minimum to win, and 1 of them better be a future HOF talent

[jays_fever]

I like watching the greatest team of all time dominating. It's better than watching some 8th seed or a 2nd wildcard team with .500 records fluke their way to titles. GS is like Usain Bolt, you know who's going to win but you still watch because you're witnessing sporting excellence.

 

Thats fair but I think you'll find your in the minroity.

 

2nd tier teams like Houston and Boston getting blown out isnt that fun for me, but thats just me

[trikson]

Yes, I think that only one player can't make the whole team like 100% champion

[connorp]

It also shines a light on how silly the NBA's contracts are regarding bird rights and the salary cap - though that really depends on how you view a small number of teams being able to build dynasty rosters and basically run an entire decade of NBA greatness.

 

Both teams were built though the draft. Essentially GS signed one FA but any team would've offered him max contract but they gave him a reason to pick them.

 

Cleveland essentially just got their own player back in FA. You can even debate whether Cavs would be better off not trading for Love.

 

So it's not like someone went out old school NYY style and bought a dynasty or that it's a big market city that can expose the loopholes and absorb a huge payroll others can't

[BTS]

Interesting that you guys hate this. I'm not a basketball fan, and the dominance of GS and their rivalry with Cleveland has me watching basketball for the first time in years. Dynasties are interesting if you have no rooting interest in another team!

[John_Havok]

Both teams were built though the draft. Essentially GS signed one FA but any team would've offered him max contract but they gave him a reason to pick them.

 

Cleveland essentially just got their own player back in FA. You can even debate whether Cavs would be better off not trading for Love.

 

So it's not like someone went out old school NYY style and bought a dynasty or that it's a big market city that can expose the loopholes and absorb a huge payroll others can't

 

Yes, and the point of the system was to ensure that teams had the best chance to sign their own stars instead of watching them all go to LA, New York... wherever the biggest basketball destinations were.

 

But the unintended result has been teams able to go way over the salary cap without penalty and essentially limit 2 or 3 teams in the league to even have the slightest chance at the title. I doubt that was their goal.

 

Understand I'm not arguing against the system, I can just understand why some probably hate it with a passion.

[burlingtonbandit]

Durant was so good this series. GS doesn't come close to winning without him. Lebron showed why he's the GOAT.

[Caper]

I heard a good idea that involved one player per team be allowed to have a salary that doesn't count against the cap. So Lebron can make 70 million a year, but say only 25 would count against the cap.

[Bobthe4th]

I heard a good idea that involved one player per team be allowed to have a salary that doesn't count against the cap. So Lebron can make 70 million a year, but say only 25 would count against the cap.

 

That actually sounds like it could work if the next CBA could include it. You'd still have the risk that players would group together to form a Miami / GSW superteam, but in theory every team could have a superstar.

 

It wouldn't even need to be unlimited, for someone like LeBron winning is probably more important than doubling his salary. But if say Dallas could offer $10m more a year to a Chris Paul than another team who already has a star, and still have the cap space to build a team around him, then that could encourage competition.

[43211234]

Does getting rid of max contracts not accomplish the same thing?

 

I know there are things like Bird rights but Derozan, Mike Conley and Al Horford getting the same in FA as Durant is pretty dumb.

 

In an efficient market basketball would have the highest contact variance but they're the league with max contracts. Let someone pay Durant $50M if they want to.

 

It would cost average players dearly so it would probably never pass the player's union but I think something definitely needs to be done about the NBA's payroll structure.

[Bobthe4th]

Does getting rid of max contracts not accomplish the same thing?'

 

No because crucially one "super" contract per team means more chance of the stars being distributed between the teams. If you've already got one star, you can't offer another a competitive contract versus a team without one.

[dineke]

No because crucially one "super" contract per team means more chance of the stars being distributed between the teams. If you've already got one star, you can't offer another a competitive contract versus a team without one.

 

Same result if they got rid of max contracts.

[Bobthe4th]

Same result if they got rid of max contracts.

 

No it isn't because paying over the odds would make it harder to fill out the rest of the roster while staying below the salary cap to allow new signings.

 

This "super" contract has a non cap element which makes it different.

[Caper]

Does getting rid of max contracts not accomplish the same thing?

 

I know there are things like Bird rights but Derozan, Mike Conley and Al Horford getting the same in FA as Durant is pretty dumb.

 

In an efficient market basketball would have the highest contact variance but they're the league with max contracts. Let someone pay Durant $50M if they want to.

 

It would cost average players dearly so it would probably never pass the player's union but I think something definitely needs to be done about the NBA's payroll structure.

 

 

 

So you're talking getting rid of max contracts but keeping the cap?

[Caper]

I know the NBA has a huge following and it seems to be on better financial ground then ever, but still, I think it's a problem that might eventually hurt the league. It's June 13th and I can pretty much guarantee will will see this exact same finals play out again next year. There is just no team the can beat GS. Cleveland will punt the regular season, because they don't care about home court. Lebron will take more time off. Every single team in the East should tank outside of the Celtics and Cavs and compete for the basement because that is where the stars are that you need to compete can be found.... top 10 picks. It's just a sad state of affairs, when tanking is really the smartest way forward for so many teams.

[jays4life19]

Thoughts on the Raps pick? Seems like a bit of a reach

[dineke]

I know the NBA has a huge following and it seems to be on better financial ground then ever, but still, I think it's a problem that might eventually hurt the league. It's June 13th and I can pretty much guarantee will will see this exact same finals play out again next year. There is just no team the can beat GS. Cleveland will punt the regular season, because they don't care about home court. Lebron will take more time off. Every single team in the East should tank outside of the Celtics and Cavs and compete for the basement because that is where the stars are that you need to compete can be found.... top 10 picks. It's just a sad state of affairs, when tanking is really the smartest way forward for so many teams.

 

It's been this way for pretty much the entire history of the nba.

[connorp]

I know the NBA has a huge following and it seems to be on better financial ground then ever, but still, I think it's a problem that might eventually hurt the league. It's June 13th and I can pretty much guarantee will will see this exact same finals play out again next year. There is just no team the can beat GS. Cleveland will punt the regular season, because they don't care about home court. Lebron will take more time off. Every single team in the East should tank outside of the Celtics and Cavs and compete for the basement because that is where the stars are that you need to compete can be found.... top 10 picks. It's just a sad state of affairs, when tanking is really the smartest way forward for so many teams.

 

If Celts could swing a trade for Porzingis and signed a sexy FA that would make the season more interesting with East up for grabs at least. Not sure what Knicks are asking but Celts should know from last year #3 pick doesn't come with guarantees and KP is a budding superstar

[Bobthe4th]

Thoughts on the Raps pick? Seems like a bit of a reach

 

As a defensive specialist he's got a chance to contribute straight away - which is all you can really ask for with a mid 20's pick.

[Caper]

Pretty hard to get excited to get excited about the Raptors next season. It also says a lot about the league when the proper move is to completely tank rather then compete with a possibility to win the Eastern conference.

[Terminator]

Thoughts on the Raps pick? Seems like a bit of a reach

 

I thought it was a really good pick. When you are picking that low in the draft, you're either looking at low upside guys or high risk high reward guys. I always prefer the latter. If OG wasn't coming off an injury he'd be a much higher pick. So gamble that he can stay healthy and if he does you have a lottery talent. If he doesn't stay healthy, oh well pick 23 rarely gives you much anyway.

[Abomination]

Thoughts on the Raps pick? Seems like a bit of a reach

 

For whatever it's worth, ESPN is calling it the steal of the draft.

[Spanky99]

For whatever it's worth, ESPN is calling it the steal of the draft.

 

That's what I keep hearing, too.

[jays_fever]

Looks like a long mobile wing player who can guard multiple positions and switch on everything.

 

He'll probably be buried behind old man Carroll for at least a year though