2017-18 NBA Season Thread

[UAEebs86]

[Longhorned]

Unfortunately I was watching.

[Frybry02]

Unfortunately I was watching.

Me too. I jumped off the couch and ran to the other room. It gave me the heebie-jeebies

[MrBug708]

So close for GS

[TucsonClip]

Warriors last place in the West, slotted for the #2 pick. The rich get richer.

[Spaceman Spiff]

The only way the Warriors don't win again is massive internal dissension or injuries. They're just too loaded.

Hayward's injury was horrific. That was a season ender if I've seen one. Ugh.

LeBron is still LeBron, and with Hayward down, Cleveland is all but guaranteed a Finals spot with LeBron alone.

Those were my big takeaways from night 1.

[Alieberman]

The only way the Warriors don't win again is massive internal dissension or injuries. They're just too loaded.

Hayward's injury was horrific. That was a season ender if I've seen one. Ugh.

LeBron is still LeBron, and with Hayward down, Cleveland is all but guaranteed a Finals spot with LeBron alone.

Those were my big takeaways from night 1.

Other than that, the League is wide open.

[Spaceman Spiff]

The only way the Warriors don't win again is massive internal dissension or injuries. They're just too loaded.

Hayward's injury was horrific. That was a season ender if I've seen one. Ugh.

LeBron is still LeBron, and with Hayward down, Cleveland is all but guaranteed a Finals spot with LeBron alone.

Those were my big takeaways from night 1.

Other than that, the League is wide open.

That's what sucks. The Warriors have so much talent that if they have it semi-together, it's over. If Boston can't challenge the Cavs, LeBron can basically win the East on his own.

I love the NBA, but everyone's plahing for second.

[Jefe]

FAs being mentioned to replace Hayward: Chase Budinger and Derrick Williams

[84Cat]

[TucsonClip]

Im gonna be home a bit later, but ill just drop there in here now. I like the deal and what it sets up moving forward.

My phone is about to melt right now.

[TucsonClip]

I wrote a freaking thesis at some other places but ill keep it somewhat shorter here.

Love Blake, hes one of the best passing bigs in NBA history. He was the face of the franchise. I will miss him. However, hes declining athletically, he just hasnt looked right lately, even before the MCL this season. His game keeps expanding, his jumper improving, but its time to move on.

The moment he signed that $173 million deal, with a guarantee on year five, I knew there was no way West, Winger (the GM), and Redden would allow Ballmer to pay a declining Blake Griffin $36 and $39 mil at age 31 and 32. It wasnt going to happen. I like Blake, hes a funny guy, hes interesting, ive spoken with him a few times, hes a good dude. But he doesnt fit at all with the vision the new front office and West have. He doesnt fit my vision for what we should be either, at least for that much money.

Look at the roster this season, look at the depth, look at the places (G-League) the front office has found talent to fill a role (CJ Williams, Jamil Wilson, Ty Wallace), look what they did in the draft. Rivers is done, this is a new regime. And for the record, I was as vocal as anyone about how bad of an idea I thought it was to name Doc VP of Bball Ops. He never should have had that much power, and you saw the resulting, lackluster, pieces built around the Clippers core.

Harris is a good piece to have on a good deal. He can score from multiple levels, he has good size, and hes much more capable of being that combo forward than Blake or Gallo. Hes a nice piece to the puzzle. Im not Bradleys biggest fan, but he certainly can D you up 1v1. Hes a spot up shooter who takes too many shots off the bounce, and settles for long 2s. Hes not a great fit, but another piece on an expiring contract, and I wouldnt be surprised to see him moved by next week. Boban was salary ballast, but he does give them some size, rim protection, and can hit the glass, which they will need after DJ is dealt. The Pistons #1 was crucial, and still has a good shot of being a lottery pick.

The point im slowing getting to is... The Clippers FINALLY have the flexibility to reshape the direction of the franchise. To be honest, I got burnt out with that core. It was tiring, frustrating, and the upside capped two season ago. West does have a plan. The front office does have a plan. But the key to any plan in the NBA is providing yourself the flexibility to make the moves you need to on the fly. The Clippers were never going to have that with Blake locked in, offering DJ a contract that absolutely hamstrings any flexibility moving forward, and there was no why they were paying Lou more than the MLE on an extension.

I know the LeBron talk is going to heat up. Im sure West can talk him into a meeting. I think they have their eye on him, but I have no idea how it happens, who else is on the roster, ect. Ive heard small rumbles about them eyeing Kawhi. That would be my plan. A quick two year re-tool, with plenty of assets, the cap space to go after Kawhi, and whatever other assets this front office can/will pull in by next week.

Id do what it took to try and get Ayton, sign Kawhi, and re-tool on the fly with some solid pieces around those two. Im sure West, Winger, and Redden all have plenty of options. I keep leaving out Frank, because I dont think hell be around next season, and neither will Doc.

Long story short, I actually liked the Blake deal. I think they received good value on a bad contract and declining player (physically). They set themselves up for the future in a way the Clippers havent been set up in forever. That might backfire completely, but its well worth the risk considering the owner, the FO, and a potential new arena coming down the pipeline.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I respect the Clippers move. With Blake, they were set for 5 to 7 years of purgatory, never bad but never good enough to win anything meaningful. By the time they had pieces around him (if that ever happened) he would have been far enough in decline he couldn't be the man any more.

They got back some pieces and a future that won't be mired in mediocrity. For Detroit, this maximizes the now with Cleveland looking vulnerable. This is also a trade that give Stanley Johnson a big opportunity.

[NYCat]

lol Isaiah

[84Cat]

lol Isaiah

[NYCat]

The Cavs just made it easier for the Lakers to sign LeBron

[Spaceman Spiff]

This day for the Cavs probably has the title for craziest day for any NBA team ever.

[azcat49]

Went to the game last night hosted by my company in a suite. Got to go on the floor for a picture and Stanley Johnson was shooting and we traded bear downs and the wildcat hand sign. BTW, he can't shoot and isn't very good right now.

For you suns guys. We had their reps in and he told me they expect to turn over half the roster. He said right now they would have 3 picks in the first 16 (dependent on Miami and Milwaukee picks).

I mentioned I liked Marquise Christ and he said dont get attached as they plan to package him with those picks to move up higher on their second pick to get the Kentucky guard (guy with the hypenated last name). They like the foreign guy more then Christ. They also like the kid from LL and they think they will resign him for 2 years.

I asked why they have 3 PG'S on their roster and they say for what they envision it's what they need. Thought I would share. Oh and while not 100% he indicated the Alex Len experiment might be over

[UAEebs86]

Warriors really miss Iggy.

CP3 got hurt though, so this series isn't over.

[pc in NM]

Outbreak of basketbawful tonite....

[UAEebs86]

Peace out Celtics

[JMarkJohns]

48 minutes in 100th game of the year and literally was carrying folks on his back at times lead the Cavs to their 4th straight Title series, and LeBron’s 8th.

Man is something unseen before.

Goat or not, what he is is just as unlikely to ever be again as Wilt.

[84Cat]

Iggy ruled out again for game 7 tonight, CP3 is questionable

[84Cat]

CP3 out too

[84Cat]

[UAEebs86]

The refs went to video and overturned a judgement call (a charge) on Durant near the end of regulation. I don't
think I've ever seen a judgement call overturned by replay in any sport before.

[Alieberman]

The refs completely choked this great game away

Horrible.

[Frybry02]

The refs completely choked this great game away

Horrible.

Wtf was JR Smith doing? That was even worse then some of the calls

[UAEebs86]

[Jefe]

Somewhere Jamelle Horne is having a laugh

[SCCats]

That "foul" against Bell guarding LeBron with 4.6 seconds left in the 3rd period is

[JMarkJohns]

That "foul" against Bell guarding LeBron with 4.6 seconds left in the 3rd period is

Yeah. Refs haven’t been strong at all this series. James basically armlocked and then threw Bell off and down and yet I guess the strength of the rushing air as he fell offended and impeded James from securing a not yet thrown inbound pass.

It did give us that great “Iguodala as coach” moment on the sideline, with Bell promptly making a great play, knocking the ball out of bounds off a Cav, with the camera panning to a smiling, celebratory Iggy cheering on the play!

Considering final score, I’ll take that trade off. That coaching moment was a hot topic on Twitter last night.

[84Cat]

[UAEebs86]