NBA Thread

[connorp]

Gotta be a good sign when even the bald midget Canada-hater is reluctantly admitting that Toronto has a shot at Giannis now. Far cry from his posts months ago.

 

 

 

This is my thinking too and we never agree on anything so your conspiracy theory is much more widespread than you thought.

 

Put an ice cube in your shorts. I just meant what probably every sport talk show is saying today, what’s going through GA’s mind with the Bucks. Last year Raps came out of East but with a guy playing out of his mind that’s not there anymore. This year has to really sting. A mediocre Miami team took them to school in the 2nd round.

 

MIL would still prob be favorite to retain him but if not, the whole league would be making a pitch. I think some factors could help Toronto but I’d think other locations would have a better shot...we’ll see.

 

Also, I don’t hate Canada. Hate would suggest some sort of feelings like a rivalry. My attitude towards Canada is more of the mocking nature and this is the prevalent stance by people in the states. Even in pop culture usually if you’re watching a show and there’s a character from Canada, there’s almost always jokes at their expense

[connorp]

I don’t care between whomever wins the Celts/Raps series as long as they beat Miami. Jimmy Butler is the worst. Don’t feel like seeing all the stories about JB come Finals

[glory]

Siakam+ for Giannis is a no brainer. Even if Giannis leaves after a year like Kawhi did, it would at least give the Raptors another legit shot at a championship, something they don't have as currently constructed and likely will not have if they keep this existing group together (Pascal/Fred/OG). The latter is a very good regular season team but likely a 2nd round exit most years. The 2018-19 season should clearly illustrate that when a top 3-5 player becomes available and you have the assets to get him, then you do it even if it's a rental. Pascal is a better all around player than DeRozan, but impact-wise, I don't think he's much different as a #1 option. As a 2nd/3rd option on a championship contender, he'd be great (as he proved in 2018-19). So the Raptors need to either acquire a player better than him while holding on to him at the same time, or move him for a piece that would put the team in a better position to contend for a title.

 

However, I don't think the Bucks trade him to the East, if they trade him at all. More likely they trade him West, although PG and AD were traded within the conference, so who knows. Bucks wouldn't have a ton of leverage if they moved him since teams know he only has a year left. If I were the Bucks, I'd just keep him for a year and try everything to win a title next season. If it fails, it fails, but at least in that scenario they would have exhausted all their chances with him.

[Krylian]

Siakam+ for Giannis is a no brainer. Even if Giannis leaves after a year like Kawhi did, it would at least give the Raptors another legit shot at a championship, something they don't have as currently constructed and likely will not have if they keep this existing group together (Pascal/Fred/OG). The latter is a very good regular season team but likely a 2nd round exit most years. The 2018-19 season should clearly illustrate that when a top 3-5 player becomes available and you have the assets to get him, then you do it even if it's a rental. Pascal is a better all around player than DeRozan, but impact-wise, I don't think he's much different as a #1 option. As a 2nd/3rd option on a championship contender, he'd be great (as he proved in 2018-19). So the Raptors need to either acquire a player better than him while holding on to him at the same time, or move him for a piece that would put the team in a better position to contend for a title.

 

However, I don't think the Bucks trade him to the East, if they trade him at all. More likely they trade him West, although PG and AD were traded within the conference, so who knows. Bucks wouldn't have a ton of leverage if they moved him since teams know he only has a year left. If I were the Bucks, I'd just keep him for a year and try everything to win a title next season. If it fails, it fails, but at least in that scenario they would have exhausted all their chances with him.

 

Depends on what the + is. The deal for Paul George (that would've guaranteed Kawhi re-signing here) was Siakam +....but that + was f***ing retarded.

[Dr. Dinger]

I don’t think intra-conference trading is a consideration whatsoever.

[Krylian]

Siakam is such garbage right now

[Laika]

Pascal is f***ing awful.

[Krylian]

If they had mixed in a successful free throw or two, this game would be over. 58% from the line isn't good enough.

[Boxcar]

Idk why I'm watching this but I think this game would be over if they didn't let Siakam touch the ball since like the 10 minute mark of the 4th

[Boxcar]

Marcus Dumb

[Abomination]

Smart has been flopping all series long (and has been fined for it already). I don't know why he gets any calls at all right now.

 

Really good win. Both teams played incredible.

[Boxcar]

Smart has been flopping all series long (and has been fined for it already). I don't know why he gets any calls at all right now.

 

Really good win. Both teams played incredible.

 

I really want to know what he was saying. He seemed salty and kinda like he wanted to shoot Powell or whoever

[connorp]

Smart has been flopping all series long (and has been fined for it already). I don't know why he gets any calls at all right now.

 

Really good win. Both teams played incredible.

 

I didn’t watch the game but in checking box score looks like a lot of the stars/both teams were inefficient. Tatum must’ve finished well as his line finished better than when I first saw it.

[Laika]

I didn’t watch the game but in checking box score looks like a lot of the stars/both teams were inefficient. Tatum must’ve finished well as his line finished better than when I first saw it.

 

Just a very well coached game. Lots of defensive scheme switching. Tough for any player to score consistently.

[glory]

Siakam can't do anything when guarded by the Celtics guards (Brown and Smart in particular). This is a real bad matchup for him. Regardless, he's the key to game 7. He hasn't had a good game all series, and he was awful in game 6. He needs to step up big time in game 7 for the Raptors to have a chance.

[connorp]

Someone decided to rat this dude out for a booty call. Seems like it’d be against the brother code

 

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/sources-league-investigating-danuel-house-jr-for-allegedly-allowing-female-testing-official-into-hotel-room-132505291.html

[Dr. Dinger]

Someone decided to rat this dude out for a booty call. Seems like it’d be against the brother code

 

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/sources-league-investigating-danuel-house-jr-for-allegedly-allowing-female-testing-official-into-hotel-room-132505291.html

 

What a f***ing doofus.

[Boxcar]

Siakam can't do anything when guarded by the Celtics guards (Brown and Smart in particular). This is a real bad matchup for him. Regardless, he's the key to game 7. He hasn't had a good game all series, and he was awful in game 6. He needs to step up big time in game 7 for the Raptors to have a chance.

 

Seeing how they've won three games already with him being terrible, I don't see how this can be true

[Abomination]

Siakam can't do anything when guarded by the Celtics guards (Brown and Smart in particular). This is a real bad matchup for him. Regardless, he's the key to game 7. He hasn't had a good game all series, and he was awful in game 6. He needs to step up big time in game 7 for the Raptors to have a chance.

 

It feels like he's just trying to force things. He doesn't have the ball handling skills yet to be driving the bucket with guys like Smart around. They'll strip him every time (especially in the playoffs when the whistle disappears). They need to get him in catch and shoot situations. No more drives. No more 3s for him this series.

[Dr. Dinger]

Pascal is now Marc Gasol. Can’t finish at the rim, hesitant to shoot, defensive specialist.

[Krylian]

Pascal is now Marc Gasol. Can’t finish at the rim, hesitant to shoot, defensive specialist.

 

We don't need 2 of them.

 

Siakam + for Giannis. Make it happen.

[Laika]

Siakam can't do anything when guarded by the Celtics guards (Brown and Smart in particular). This is a real bad matchup for him. Regardless, he's the key to game 7. He hasn't had a good game all series, and he was awful in game 6. He needs to step up big time in game 7 for the Raptors to have a chance.

 

It would seem like bad strategy at this point to put the ball in Siakam's hands and just expect him to break out and win the series.

I think they should rely on him as little as possible - just enough that he continues to draw sufficient attention to free up the other players. Game on the line though, he's one of the last rotation players I want trying to score unless he's benefiting from a mismatch.

[Dr. Dinger]

It would seem like bad strategy at this point to put the ball in Siakam's hands and just expect him to break out and win the series.

I think they should rely on him as little as possible - just enough that he continues to draw sufficient attention to free up the other players. Game on the line though, he's one of the last rotation players I want trying to score unless he's benefiting from a mismatch.

 

We basically can only trust Kyle and Norm right now to take and make shots. Fred is facing a really bad personnel matchup and doesn't have his usually swagger, and OG is solid for corner 3s but that's about it. Ibaka is shooting hot right now but defensively is getting roasted by Boston's superior athleticism, although I do wonder if he might take of Pascal's minutes in game 7.

[Orgfiller]

We basically can only trust Kyle and Norm right now to take and make shots. Fred is facing a really bad personnel matchup and doesn't have his usually swagger, and OG is solid for corner 3s but that's about it. Ibaka is shooting hot right now but defensively is getting roasted by Boston's superior athleticism, although I do wonder if he might take of Pascal's minutes in game 7.

 

OG made a key pass to Powell aside from his big 3 after a sweet spin move. I'm not saying hand him the ball and wait for him to make something happen, but he's absolutely a factor on offense with his cuts to the basket and his ice cold demeanour when we need him to hit big shots. He's a lot more than just a corner 3 specialist. He's made big strides offensively.

[Laika]

OG made a key pass to Powell aside from his big 3 after a sweet spin move. I'm not saying hand him the ball and wait for him to make something happen, but he's absolutely a factor on offense with his cuts to the basket and his ice cold demeanour when we need him to hit big shots. He's a lot more than just a corner 3 specialist. He's made big strides offensively.

 

On his limited attempts he also seems to be getting to the rim and battling there better than Siakam.

 

The rim protection by Boston just seems insanely good.

[connorp]

I think GM 7 is a coin flip. If Tatum ever takes the next step and becomes a bit more efficient consistently (true #1), they’ll dominate the East if they keep it together.

[dineke]

Houston's going to flame out in the playoffs again. Not going to happen but imagine if we could trade for harden? He'd be perfect on this team.

[Abomination]

Houston's going to flame out in the playoffs again. Not going to happen but imagine if we could trade for harden? He'd be perfect on this team.

 

The Raptors strength is having guys who can play great defense and don't constantly have to have the ball in their hands. Harden is pretty much the opposite of that.

[dineke]

The Raptors strength is having guys who can play great defense and don't constantly have to have the ball in their hands. Harden is pretty much the opposite of that.

 

Harden has improved his defense over the last couple of years.

[Dr. Dinger]

Houston's going to flame out in the playoffs again. Not going to happen but imagine if we could trade for harden? He'd be perfect on this team.

 

I would honestly hate to root for a Harden-centric team. He’s just so annoying to watch. It’s just endless ISO possessions of step back 3s and free throws on ******** baited fouls. It’s not entertaining basketball IMO and he will never win a championship on a team where he is the best player.