The 2019-2020 Around the NBA thread

[GatorAZ]

The Celtics defense has been tenacious. They have a nice rotation of four smalls and a big. If the Suns wanted to keep their forwards or even add another defensive 3 & D player they could do the same thing.

Of course Ayton should be a huge upgrade over Theis. The Suns could then add defensive role players behind Ayton to solidify the center position.

The Lakers-Celtics match-up should be fun. I guess a lot depends if the Lakers starters can play better and if their bench steps up. My concern is the Celtics bench hasn't given them much. Theis and Robert Williams should have their hands full.

The Celtics are so well coached it’s not fair. They’ve reached the Conference Finals three out of the last four years and had a different best player each time; Isaiah, Kyrie and Tatum.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Celtics are so well coached it’s not fair. They’ve reached the Conference Finals three out of the last four years and had a different best player each time; Isaiah, Kyrie and Tatum.

It should give hope to teams aspiring to make the playoffs or win it all some day.

If the Raptors hadn't been ready to take the next step they would never have won a championship even with Kawhi. They were well coached and had a great general manger not to mention some good players.

Now we just need to get someone like Anthony Davis to come to the Suns.

 

[GatorAZ]

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[1Sun]

@Phrazbit

Another playoff team the Suns might look towards patterning themselves after is the Nuggets. Denver has Jokic and Murray. Phoenix has Ayton and Booker. Still I like the way the Celtics play defense.

Denver also has two starting quality power forwards in Millsap and Porter.

 

[1Sun]

The Celtics are so well coached it’s not fair. They’ve reached the Conference Finals three out of the last four years and had a different best player each time; Isaiah, Kyrie and Tatum.

Brad Stevens also runs a gimmicky system that is virtually impossible to replicate. It's what also made him so successful at Butler.

Boston is an anomaly, not a workable model.

 

[Mainstreet]

Denver also has two starting quality power forwards in Millsap and Porter.

I'm pointing out there are other ways to do it.

Miilsap is already 35 and this is the first season Michael Porter Jr. has played.

 

[1Sun]

I'm pointing out there are other ways to do it.

Miilsap is already 35 and this is the first season Michael Porter Jr. has played.

Understood, but I'm pointing out that Denver's model requires at least one NBA starting quality power forward, which we don't have...

 

[Adrian]

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[Hoop Head]

Understood, but I'm pointing out that Denver's model requires at least one NBA starting quality power forward, which we don't have...

MJP is no more of a PF than Oubre. He averages just a hair more rebounds per game and that's being played as a stretch 4. You didn't explain why anyone needs this mythical PF that you've been griping about for the last year and a half. The only team left standing with a somewhat traditional PF are the Lakers and they play their starting PF as their backup and endgame Center. The Suns would be fine with Mikal, Oubre, and Cam as their main forward rotation with Saric for extra depth and to play a little backup Center. It's more important they build off of what works, which is the Oubre/Bridges duo at forward and Cam and Mikal in the bubble, because that proved to be successful for Monty's system, which you seem to disregard. If they don't add some throwback PF in the draft or free agency they still have a good squad at the ready to challenge for the postseason.

The most important pieces are getting Ayton insurance and a competent backup for Rubio. If Ayton wasn't suspended this year, the Suns would have made the postseason. They were a tiebreaker from it as it was, which is more than fair to say the Suns would have won at least 1 more game so tiebreakers didn't matter if Ayton wasn't suspended. So they need to bring in a backup C that can step up in case of injury or another fluke instance. Of course backup PG speaks for itself, things stall offensively when Rubio or Booker aren't out there to get things going.

 

[Finito]

I really like Boston's odds at taking it all this year. Getting Hayward back will be important, for depth, but they have the talent to take it. I know the Lakers are bigger than them, and everyone left for that matter, but size isn't everything and the Lakers don't have a skilled Center to keep on the floor to keep Davis at PF and Lebron at SF for extended minutes so their size is only something that has to be countered for short stretches and good outside shooting could negate it altogether.

lol there just fighting to lose to whoever comes out of the west don’t fool yourself

 

[Cheesebeef]

Giannis just unfollowed the bucks and all of his teammates on instagram.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/giannis-antetokounmpos-instagram-unfollow-spree-224012984.html

Does that mean he’s definitely not coming back or demanding a trade? No. But it’s taking action for the public to see that doesn’t scream I’m a buck for life, nor is it good optics.

if he won’t sign an extension and they can’t trade for Chris Paul, I think the Bucks are morons if they don’t get the best offer they can for him while they can.

 

[1Sun]

MJP is no more of a PF than Oubre. He averages just a hair more rebounds per game and that's being played as a stretch 4. You didn't explain why anyone needs this mythical PF that you've been griping about for the last year and a half. The only team left standing with a somewhat traditional PF are the Lakers and they play their starting PF as their backup and endgame Center. The Suns would be fine with Mikal, Oubre, and Cam as their main forward rotation with Saric for extra depth and to play a little backup Center. It's more important they build off of what works, which is the Oubre/Bridges duo at forward and Cam and Mikal in the bubble, because that proved to be successful for Monty's system, which you seem to disregard. If they don't add some throwback PF in the draft or free agency they still have a good squad at the ready to challenge for the postseason.

The most important pieces are getting Ayton insurance and a competent backup for Rubio. If Ayton wasn't suspended this year, the Suns would have made the postseason. They were a tiebreaker from it as it was, which is more than fair to say the Suns would have won at least 1 more game so tiebreakers didn't matter if Ayton wasn't suspended. So they need to bring in a backup C that can step up in case of injury or another fluke instance. Of course backup PG speaks for itself, things stall offensively when Rubio or Booker aren't out there to get things going.

Just FYI, Porter is 2 inches taller and 10-15 pounds heavier than Oubre.

And this odd bubble year is not something that should be used as a gauge of long term success in the NBA.

I am not saying they need a "throwback" PF...just someone who weighs more than 210 pounds and is capable of playing the 4, so that the team doesn't get bullied by opponents, as it often did this year.

The only other option is to go lightning fast, outrun opponents and kill them with speed (a la Boston). The problem there is that Oubre, Ayton, Carter and Payne are the only players on the roster with even above average speed/quickness, while several players (Cam, Bridges, Booker, Rubio, Saric, Kaminsky, Jerome, Baynes) are below average in that area.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Rockets-Lakers game today is the most boring playoff game I have watched and I have enjoyed the playoffs.

I wish they could both lose.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Rockets are going down to the Lakers tonight. I'm not sure where they go from here.

They don't have many assets to trade.

James Harden may be their most valuable asset but he is on a huge contract.

 

[Mainstreet]

Lakers beat the Rockets 119-96 to win the series 4-1.

 

[Cheesebeef]

And now reports are Giannis also met with ownership today. Not sure if it was before or after he unfollowed the whole team on Instagram.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/source...ks-ownership-to-discuss-future-001916681.html

 

[Hoop Head]

lol there just fighting to lose to whoever comes out of the west don’t fool yourself

A lot of people said the same thing about the Raptors last year. They play the games for a reason. I don't think the Celtics can beat the Clippers but I do think they could give the Lakers one hell of a fight.

 

[Finito]

A lot of people said the same thing about the Raptors last year. They play the games for a reason. I don't think the Celtics can beat the Clippers but I do think they could give the Lakers one hell of a fight.

yeah who knew,it just took the entire Golden State team getting hurt.

Lebron and Anthony Davis ain’t losing to a team led by Jason Tatum

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

yeah who knew,it just took the entire Golden State team getting hurt.

Lebron and Anthony Davis ain’t losing to a team led by Jason Tatum

An injury, even not a severe one, to either of them and the celts have a chance. It’s why they actually play the games.

 

[Finito]

An injury, even not a severe one, to either of them and the celts have a chance. It’s why they actually play the games.

yes cause that’s how I look at the NBA.

 

[Hoop Head]

yeah who knew,it just took the entire Golden State team getting hurt.

Lebron and Anthony Davis ain’t losing to a team led by Jason Tatum

KD was the only guy on the Warriors who missed multiple games and he was hurt before that series. A team of Steph, Klay, Draymond, and Cousins were still the favorites. Klay missed 1 game before getting hurt at the end of game 6, after playing 32 minutes. He sat out game 3 with a collarbone injury. He actually played well the rest of the series, hurt or not.

It's easy to make these claims in hindsight but at the time, no one wrote the Warriors off even when they fell down 3-1 because they had 4 All-Stars still. It was a competitive series until the final whistle.

 

[Adrian]

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[Adrian]

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[Cheesebeef]

Houston is a disaster now. What the hell is that team going to do? Over the cap, couldn’t get over a “You must be this tall” line to get on a rollercoaster and no Coach.

 

[Adrian]

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