The 2019-2020 Around the NBA thread

[Dr. Jones]

Agree. What’s the point with that?

Works in soccer...... Would have to be at a prestigious level though.

 

[Ronin]

This just happened

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[SunnyBaller]

This just happened

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Ya I saw that, Toppin is a beast future sun's PF !

 

[GatorAZ]

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Imagine if they had another thin skinned superstar joining him next year. Oh wait... What a spectacle that will be.

 

[Ronin]

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[Finito]

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Imagine if they had another thin skinned superstar joining him next year. Oh wait... What a spectacle that will be.

cant wait!- Bart Scott

 

[95pro]

Sixers Pacers down to the wire. TJ Warren throws it right to the sixers for the jam and probably the win.

 

[Ronin]

Malika Andrews
@malika_andrews
·
4m

Kyrie Irving (shoulder impingement) still isn’t doing any contact work on the court, Kenny Atkinson says. Irving has started to do some on-court exercises.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Utah down 77-37 to Toronto at halftime. Had to do a double take when I first saw that.

 

[SirStefan32]

Dallas beats the Lakers.

 

[Mainstreet]

Dallas beats the Lakers.

I can't remember a player having so much impact on the game at such a young age as Luka.

 

[BC867]

I can't remember a player having so much impact on the game at such a young age as Luka.

There is no question that he is unique and deserves accolades.

Our question has been who would have fit in best with Booker and the Suns.

Especially with us having the #1pick for the only time in history. And the
consensus #1 pick being a Center.

I am not comparing Ayton to Lou Alcindor, but I think it would have set a
totally different mindset for the Suns image all those years ago.

It made sense to try for that again a half century later. I hope that it
changes the image of the Suns as primarily a Guard/Wing team.

 

[swagron]

I can't remember a player having so much impact on the game at such a young age as Luka.

Suns selected the wrong player, regardless of how anyone tries to spin it.

 

[Mainstreet]

There is no question that he is unique and deserves accolades.

Our question has been who would have fit in best with Booker and the Suns.

Especially with us having the #1pick for the only time in history. And the
consensus #1 pick being a Center.

I am not comparing Ayton to Lou Alcindor, but I think it would have set a
totally different mindset for the Suns image all those years ago.

It made sense to try for that again a half century later. I hope that it
changes the image of the Suns as primarily a Guard/Wing team.

The best young player in the game today... Doncic. Always talent over position.

 

[Mainstreet]

Suns selected the wrong player, regardless of how anyone tries to spin it.

There is not much doubt it, but I'm hoping Ayton can be as good as we hoped when the Suns drafted him.

 

[JCSunsfan]

The best young player in the game today... Doncic. Always talent over position.

It wasn't just about position. Most considered that Ayton's size and skill made them a very close choice at the time. Anyone who says they knew this would happen is lying. Some had preferences one way or another but Doncic has blown up way beyond all expectations while Ayton is sitting for 25 games.

 

[Mainstreet]

It wasn't just about position. Most considered that Ayton's size and skill made them a very close choice at the time. Anyone who says they knew this would happen is lying. Some had preferences one way or another but Doncic has blown up way beyond all expectations while Ayton is sitting for 25 games.

I'm talking about the present looking back. Hindsight is always 20/20.

No one though Luka would be this good heading into the draft. I was wanting the Suns to draft Ayton.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm talking about the present looking back. Hindsight is always 20/20.

No one though Luka would be this good heading into the draft. I was wanting the Suns to draft Ayton.

There was so much Doncic noise around that time that it was difficult to separate fanboy worship from actual analysis. So, dismissing the fanboys, I'd agree that no one (or practically no one) expected this much this quickly. I certainly didn't and by the time the draft came around I had already accepted that Luka would be the better player. But foolishly, I would still have drafted Deandre just to put to bed the ghosts of centers past. Now, like almost everyone here, I'd gladly live with the ghosts and draft Luka.

 

[SirStefan32]

Yeah, I was really high on Luka, watched him a lot the previous year (before the draft), but I had no idea he would be this good. I honestly thought what he did last year would have been something he would eventually become, after 4-5 years in the league. No reasonable person could know that he could get into the paint and get a step-back three as easily as he's been doing it. He just should not be able to do the crap he does against NBA competition.

 

[Mainstreet]

There was so much Doncic noise around that time that it was difficult to separate fanboy worship from actual analysis. So, dismissing the fanboys, I'd agree that no one (or practically no one) expected this much this quickly. I certainly didn't and by the time the draft came around I had already accepted that Luka would be the better player. But foolishly, I would still have drafted Deandre just to put to bed the ghosts of centers past. Now, like almost everyone here, I'd gladly live with the ghosts and draft Luka.

I'd say Luka is a generational talent. Getting a do-over I'd never pass on that.

The best the Suns can hope for is Ayton becomes a star in his own right.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yeah, I was really high on Luka, watched him a lot the previous year (before the draft), but I had no idea he would be this good. I honestly thought what he did last year would have been something he would eventually become, after 4-5 years in the league. No reasonable person could know that he could get into the paint and get a step-back three as easily as he's been doing it. He just should not be able to do the crap he does against NBA competition.

Elite at 20, I think so. He literally carries that Dallas team. Who could have predicted so much so soon.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'd say Luka is a generational talent. Getting a do-over I'd never pass on that.

The best the Suns can hope for is Ayton becomes a star in his own right.

Unquestionably. I think Ayton can become an incredible player but even if he approaches his up-side he'd still have trouble impacting the game the way Luka already does (due to the positional advantages in today's game). I suspect Deandre would have to tap heavily into his potential AND Luka's body would have to wear down prematurely for this conversation to die down.

 

[Mainstreet]

Unquestionably. I think Ayton can become an incredible player but even if he approaches his up-side he'd still have trouble impacting the game the way Luka already does (due to the positional advantages in today's game). I suspect Deandre would have to tap heavily into his potential AND Luka's body would have to wear down prematurely for this conversation to die down.

As much of Luka's game is mental the sky is the limit if his body does not portray him.

I no longer compare Luka to Ayton or at least I try not. I'm thinking Luka can become an all-time great.

 

[BC867]

Always talent over position.

You mean like three lead Point Guards competing with each other?

Or no lead Point Guard on the roster?

Or two Power Forwards drafted and fighting for the starting position?

Look where that got us! The need for balance cannot be overlooked.

Especially when you also take poor defense into account.

I'd rather see the Suns become a playoff contender for the first time
in a decade than draft a potential All Star who puts up numbers.

Doncic would have neutralized Booker to some degree. That is not a
100% gain.

Ayton will not. If he plays his position well, that is a 100% roster gain.

 

[Mainstreet]

You mean like three lead Point Guards competing with each other?

Or no lead Point Guard on the roster?

Or two Power Forwards drafted and fighting for the starting position?

Look where that got us! The need for balance cannot be overlooked.

Especially when you also take poor defense into account.

I'd rather see the Suns become a playoff contender for the first time
in a decade than draft a potential All Star who puts up numbers.

Doncic would have neutralized Booker to some degree. That is not a
100% gain.

Ayton will not. If he plays his position well, that is a 100% roster gain.

Always draft the best talent and the rest will work itself out. Unfortunately the Suns came up on the short end with Bender, Chriss and Jackson.

Booker and Doncic would have phenomenal together. Add a player like Clint Capela and the Suns would have been rocking.