Guys, Zaza injured Durant in a very similar way. Don't think either was intentional, more like he is a big uncoordinated lump.
NBA 2018-2019
- Thread starter altodevil
- Start date
Very comfortable win for Portland in Houston, sending Rockets to 1-5. I think there is realistic chance that Houston will not finish 2nd in the conference this year, they need to make some moves to improve the defense as its horrendous. Not resigning Ariza was understandable considering what he got from Phoenix (although I don’t get why Phoenix paid that if they aren’t going to be competitive anyway) but not giving Luc a new deal and letting him go to Clippers was a blunder. Harden coming back will help but still won’t make them good enough, they must push for Butler and then convince him to take a 2nd/3rd man on a contener role.
Cheap organisation costing themselves a potential title just to save a few $$$. smh.
Yeah, on one hand you invest those millions in Chris Paul who will probably be a negative player at the end of his contract, on the other hand you refuse to extend key players who were a glue for the team. They will probably now panic and make either 2-3 trades to get some talent or just put all eggs into one basket and get Butler for a huge package.
I like the teams who finished below them better this year. Utah, New Orleans and Portland have looked proper solid, Denver have looked very good as well. I think in 2-3 years, once Durant leaves Golden State, we will have some truly exciting league. I think if you removed Durant from Golden State then their match ups against those three would be quite close - and I bet they'd make some significant moves to get even better if they knew they had a shot at the title. In the East you'd also have three teams who could push Durant-less Warriors IMO.
Philadelphia have been a huge disappointment though. They are missing Belinelli and Ilyasova off the bench, Simmons lack of shot is hurting them and I saw the most fitting description of Fultz recently - he looks like a teenager playing pick up game with grown ups, zero consistency and just bursts.
Career high for D-Rose! Absolutely delighted for the guy, what a competitor.
Fultz would be better off in a situation like Trae Young is in where he has the freedom to do what ever he wants since the team is rebuilding. Where he can learn from his mistakes. But, it is really going to be hard for him to find his game again on a team like Phily who came into the season expecting to compete for an Eastern Conference title.
50 for DRose, and the Twolves needed every single one of those points. One of the few in the league pretty much everyone roots for. Only just turned 30, which is crazy. Was for me, probably the most exciting player in the league at his “peak,” which should have been now. Still a solid player, but nothing like what he should have been, unfortunately. Good to see glimpses of his brilliance, though.
I struggle to understand the treatment of certain good/great role players by some NBA teams (Moute and Ariza for Houston, Belinelli and Ilyasova). What did they expect would happen ?
Exactly. Especsilly during regular season bench is probably as important as the first unit, you need to have someone reliable to come on and step up for 20 minutes a night.
I don't understand the Rockets getting Anthony. Will always love him for his Knicks tenure, but how could Morey have thought, "yeah this is the missing piece we need"?
Morey has always had a philosophy of getting as much talent as possible and then figuring it out later.
I agree. Jerebko and McKinnie have been a revelation for the Dubs this year. Between them they are averaging over 13 points per game and both are shooting over 50% from the field and 48% from three.
lebron is the best passer of this generation. watching the first half of last nights game and hes already had like 7 gorgeous passes
Yeah it worked out with Chris Paul and his team up with Harden but it doesn’t seem to work with Anthony and I’m not sure it’s going to work with Butler if they get him.
Always said that McGee is a good player. He has been very good so far with Lakers, and was the best center at Warriors, but Kerr didn't fancy him.
Saying that, Damian Jones has been really exciting and is already the best center for Warriors.
Saying that, Damian Jones has been really exciting and is already the best center for Warriors.
Boston broke their all time franchise record for made threes while Bucks were under par and scored only 9 of 29 attempts and the game was still very close. Properly optimistic about Bucks, now even more so than before this first loss.
Blazers climb up to 6-2. Lucky that AD couldn’t play but a win is a win. CJ has been awful this season though, I think it’s time to look out there and trade him as the team is great without him and he’s our most valuable asset bar Lillard who is untradeable. Stauskas has been excellent, I like it how Olshey is able to find this cast offs from other teams who are able to perform very well in Portland. It was Napier last year, seems like it’s going to be Stauskas and Curry this year. Zach Collins has also made a strong strong up. Even Jake Layman looks like he’s going to be a solid rotational piece (he’s been starting so far).
Blazers climb up to 6-2. Lucky that AD couldn’t play but a win is a win. CJ has been awful this season though, I think it’s time to look out there and trade him as the team is great without him and he’s our most valuable asset bar Lillard who is untradeable. Stauskas has been excellent, I like it how Olshey is able to find this cast offs from other teams who are able to perform very well in Portland. It was Napier last year, seems like it’s going to be Stauskas and Curry this year. Zach Collins has also made a strong strong up. Even Jake Layman looks like he’s going to be a solid rotational piece (he’s been starting so far).
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BTW why did Suns sign Ariza? They're clearly not trying/going to win this season. I bet they buy him out in February and he signs with Golden State to piss off Rockets (and he makes perfect sense off the bench for them).
Do GSW have any cap left?
You can sign minimum contract players even without any cap space left and he would be signed for minimum if bought out.
He is on a 15m dollar contract, and I think that he can get much more than a minimum contract on other teams. Unless he is truly desperate to get a ring, he won't play for Dubs.
It doesn’t matter how much he can get, if he is waived whatever he is offered will be deducted from what Phoenix owe him which is $15million for the season. If he’s offered $8million by some team, he will get $7million from Phoenix. If he’s offered minimum ($1.8million or so) Phoenix will pay him $13million. It makes no sense for anyone to offer him more money than minimum.
Unless he agrees to a buyout below his contract value I think. But even then I don’t think Ariza would be so greedy to go to a non-contender for an extra $1million or so he could get for half season.
I understand, thanks for the clarification. So yeah, if Phoenix waives him, then he likely will go to Dubs.
Steph - Klay - KD - Green - Cousins with a bench consisting of Livermore - Iguodala - Ariza - Jones isn't that a bad team, all things considering.
No it’s quite decent.
I think the buyout will happen but I think he will go back to the Rockets rather than the Dubs.
Yes buyout has to happen, I think they signed him because they thought with Jackson and Booker one year older and addition of Ayton and Bridges they could be like Sixers last year and compete but it is not going to happen.
I think Rockets are the least likely destination for him though. That ship has sailed.
I wouldn't put it past Daryl Morey to have had this in mind all along. It's a great way to circumvent cap issues. Ariza still gets his money and also has a few months to recuperate (with the Suns) and get his body in the best shape for a playoff run.
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Can someone explain to me why will Suns waive him in the first place, considering that they are paying his salary anyway? Is it just to weaken themselves so to get a higher pick on the lottery?
Pretty much, yes. Once they realise they suck, theyllt do their best to suck as much as possible and get a high draft pick.
Weaken themselves, open up a roster spot, get him his wish and be seen as more flexible towards players. Also, they could agree to a buyout where they don’t pay him full amount and he still signs at minimum somewhere else (e.g. they pay him $10million, he gets $2million from Houston, voila).
That's a tough one for me. His physical supremacy really helps the sell over CP3 - but I still don't quite buy it.
I watched the first half of Sacramento v. Atlanta last night. Both of those teams are no bueno. Cauley-Stein just runs around doing whatever he wants. and then you look at Atlanta's roster and wonder what they hoped this season to look like .
Paul is the closest IMO but I think Lebrom takes it still.
For me Rubio is the master. these days.
I think they just hoped they don’t win more than 20 games and get that top 3 pick. And that Trae Young gets to have 50 shots a game and do whatever he likes.
Cayley-Stein is playing for a new contract. Sacramento are actually a fun group, decent potential in that team and they will be fun to watch for a good while. Fox, Hield, Bagley is basically highlights basketball. Bjelica has fit in pretty nicely and I think Giles will be very good too if he is healthy.
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Aye. Beat Utah twice in SLC (tonight without Mitchell).
You're speaking with yourself nowadays?
After we spent a year marveling at Mitchell and Tatum, what if Fox turns out better than both? 
Also, this new draft class looks as good as advertised. Most draft classes, we'd be laughing at the Suns, Kings and Hawks for passing on Doncic, but i don't think any of them is unhappy with their choice. Neither of course are the Mavs. It's impressive
Also, this new draft class looks as good as advertised. Most draft classes, we'd be laughing at the Suns, Kings and Hawks for passing on Doncic, but i don't think any of them is unhappy with their choice. Neither of course are the Mavs. It's impressive
Nobody has ever been unhappy about their draft choice in November. Give it time.After we spent a year marveling at Mitchell and Tatum, what if Fox turns out better than both?
Also, this new draft class looks as good as advertised. Most draft classes, we'd be laughing at the Suns, Kings and Hawks for passing on Doncic, but i don't think any of them is unhappy with their choice. Neither of course are the Mavs. It's impressive
You sure? @Sarni might disagree
Though what i meant was i don't think they'll be disappointed with the choice in the long run.
You sure? @Sarni might disagree
Though what i meant was i don't think they'll be disappointed with the choice in the long run.
Why me? I might have some previous in this but generally I think you need to give players a little bit more time, unless it’s an obvious mistake. Although for example if we look at Young-Doncic exchange there’s no doubt in my mind that Dallas got a better player but if the pick they attached will turn into 6-10 range this year which looks very possible right now then it could turn the whole deal upside down. If you can get someone like Langford or Doumbouya or even use the 6-10 pick to move up and take Reddish, Barrett or Zion (although I guess Hawks pick will be top 3 so they will get the chance to take one of them anyway) then it changes the picture of that transaction.
The issue with Trae is that his best case defensively is still a liability.