NBA 2018-2019

West is so ridiculous this year. Lakers are without LeBron for a few games and they go from playing for homecourt advantage to barely holding to a playoffs spot.

Houston have looked great lately or rather Harden has looked great lately. They could still easily get a top 4 seed and if they can sort out their depth issues they might be a threat to Golden State again. I think they will be in the market for 2-3 players possibly. I also like what I’ve seen from Danuel House recently, might turn into a steal if they can sign him to a contract (his two-way contract eligibility will end soon).

If Warriors slump continues this could be a great season of basketball. So many competitive teams.
 
Houston still on a tear. I actually think they will end up top seed in the West now.

A toss between Milwaukee and Toronto for top seed in the East. I think it will be Milwaukee in the end, Toronto will probably start to experiment with the line up as they have 11-12 players who can play and will want to find optimal lineups for the playoffs. Milwaukee just consistently play well with the same team.
 
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Sarni said:
Houston still on a tear. I actually think they will end up top seed in the East now.
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They'll have to move heaven, earth and the city itself for that to happen ;)

You're right though. I laughed out loud when Curry put the "13" on his shirt after the travel call on his double step back :lol:
 
Think the raptors will make it to the finals this year, managing the roster and minutes very well
 
RobinLFC said:
They'll have to move heaven, earth and the city itself for that to happen ;)

You're right though. I laughed out loud when Curry put the "13" on his shirt after the travel call on his double step back :lol:
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It actually isn’t that unrealistic. They have 16 losses and Warriors already have 14. They’ve been consistently amazing for the last three weeks.

Nuggets have 12 defeats but I don’t see them gettin much above 50-win mark. If Houston can end up 55-27, which would require them to go 32-11 from here onward they will probably get that top seed. That’s 61-win pace which is more or less what was expected from them before the season started. It’s not easy but IMO quite realistic.
 
Unless LeBron like never comes back or some major injury from a star of one of the teams I think the current 8 in the West playoff picture (Nuggests, Warriors, Thunder, Clippers, Rockets, Spurs, Blazers, Lakers) will be the 8 come playoff time.
 
Tatum said he'd trade himself for Anthony Davis :lol:
If the Celtics can get Tatum in the deal for Davis they should do it without second thought. Nothing the Lakers can put together will contain a player with his upside.
 
RooneyLegend said:
Tatum said he'd trade himself for Anthony Davis :lol:
If the Celtics can get Tatum in the deal for Davis they should do it without second thought. Nothing the Lakers can put together will contain a player with his upside.
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I hope Danny Ainge doesn't agree. But yeah, Tatum is great and all, but if you can get AD for him, you absolutely should do it

I hope Magic can see it the same way with Ingram/Lonzo, as much as i like them
 
Arbitrium said:
Think the raptors will make it to the finals this year, managing the roster and minutes very well
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It all depends on which Kyle Lowry we’ll see in the playoffs.

The raptors have struggled when he’s injured or playing poorly. If he replicates his regular season form in the PFs (and stays healthy) then yes I’d fancy them in a series against any of the big boys of the east.
 
giorno said:
I hope Danny Ainge doesn't agree. But yeah, Tatum is great and all, but if you can get AD for him, you absolutely should do it

I hope Magic can see it the same way with Ingram/Lonzo, as much as i like them
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If there is any inclination that the Pelicans would take a package deal of Ball, Ingram, Hart + others then they should jump at the chance.

LBJ can move more into the PG role as he ages, which is something I imagine he'll be able to play at an elite level for a number of years yet.

LBJ + AD + Kuzma would be an awesome core.
 
giorno said:
I hope Danny Ainge doesn't agree. But yeah, Tatum is great and all, but if you can get AD for him, you absolutely should do it

I hope Magic can see it the same way with Ingram/Lonzo, as much as i like them
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Meant to say if the Pelicans can get Tatum in a Celtics trade...The Pelicans would really be foolish to take a Lakers trade if the Celtics really are interested. They have more interesting assets.
 
RooneyLegend said:
Meant to say if the Pelicans can get Tatum in a Celtics trade...The Pelicans would really be foolish to take a Lakers trade if the Celtics really are interested. They have more interesting assets.
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Realistically it comes down to Tatum. They're not putting Kyrie on the block, even if they could. Outside Tatum, we can offer the better assets. The Celtics picks don't look all that valuable now
 
I'd take Brown and/or Hayward over Lonzo/Ingram in any package for Davis.
 
cesc's_mullet said:
If there is any inclination that the Pelicans would take a package deal of Ball, Ingram, Hart + others then they should jump at the chance.

LBJ can move more into the PG role as he ages, which is something I imagine he'll be able to play at an elite level for a number of years yet.

LBJ + AD + Kuzma would be an awesome core.
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With room for another max in the summer. But won't happen. Pelicans won't trade to LA I think, unless AD specifically says he wants Lakers.
 
Celtics will never trade Tatum. BTW they cannot trade for AD until July.

In the meantime Butler is pissed off again and there are rumors that he wants out of Philly.
 
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Big win for Milwaukee last night. They opened up the lead in the third quarter and at the beginning of fourth, Harden’s heroics got Houston close but Bucks closed the game out better (Giannis had a huge rebound at 110-106).

There was 2019 MVP on the floor but I can’t figure out whether it was Giannis (who finished with 27 points, 21 rebounds and 5 assists) or Harden (42, 11 and 6).
 
Sarni said:
Big win for Milwaukee last night. They opened up the lead in the third quarter and at the beginning of fourth, Harden’s heroics got Houston close but Bucks closed the game out better (Giannis had a huge rebound at 110-106).

There was 2019 MVP on the floor but I can’t figure out whether it was Giannis (who finished with 27 points, 21 rebounds and 5 assists) or Harden (42, 11 and 6).
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Depends where the Rockets finish. They will both deserve it, individually.

 
Second year syndrome will hurt Harden this season, I think. He won it last year so people without a clear preference will be inclined to give the edge to Giannis this time. On the other hand, it benefits Harden that people look more to the offensive side/stats rather than the defensive (also because there's a DPOTY but no OPOTY) ones.
 
Scarecrow said:
Depends where the Rockets finish. They will both deserve it, individually.

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I think they will comfortably be top 3 in the West anyway. It looks like they left the crisis behind them and I expect them to maybe trade for one more player before the deadline (wing and a big are needed) and then get one or two more in the buyout market, though the buyout market won’t be big this year when 14 teams are still in contention for playoffs in the West and you will probably make the playoffs with 38 wins in the East.

Milwaukee will IMO end with the best or second best record in the East. I cannot see any of the teams currently behind them catching up with them, and it’s 50/50 between them and Toronto for the top seed. I think (and hope) Bucks make the Finals this year.
 
RobinLFC said:
Second year syndrome will hurt Harden this season, I think. He won it last year so people without a clear preference will be inclined to give the edge to Giannis this time. On the other hand, it benefits Harden that people look more to the offensive side/stats rather than the defensive (also because there's a DPOTY but no OPOTY) ones.
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Yep, it’s crazy but Giannis is actually also a top 20 defensive player in the league, easily. He’s one of the best defenders, scorers, rebounders and possibly the best athlete in the league, and is actually a fairly good passer too. Unbelievable talent.
 
Sarni said:
Celtics will never trade Tatum. BTW they cannot trade for AD until July.

In the meantime Butler is pissed off again and there are rumors that he wants out of Philly.
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At this point why would you want Butler on your team, regardless of talent? 3 coaches now he has clashed with, and is absolute toxic to a locker room.
 
JoaquinJoaquin said:
At this point why would you want Butler on your team, regardless of talent? 3 coaches now he has clashed with, and is absolute toxic to a locker room.
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Given his contract situation I wouldn’t trade shit for him. I’m not sure if I would even go for him in free agency if I was Nets, Knicks or Clippers (three teams rumored to be on his preferred destinations list). He clearly thinks he should number one option on a contender and he’s not good enough to be that.

I am not sure how much fuel there is to the rumor that he wants to leave Sixers but he’s definitely been pissed off recently for some reason.

Maybe if I were Rockets I would trade Gordon and some complimentary pieces for him to have a run in the playoffs and then let him go in the Summer. The only scenario he makes sense in now is a team that think they might compete now if they get him.

Actually Portland or Indiana wouldn’t be bad destinations either. I can’t see how he would stay happy at either though.
 
Sarni said:
Given his contract situation I wouldn’t trade shit for him. I’m not sure if I would even go for him in free agency if I was Nets, Knicks or Clippers (three teams rumored to be on his preferred destinations list). He clearly thinks he should number one option on a contender and he’s not good enough to be that.

I am not sure how much fuel there is to the rumor that he wants to leave Sixers but he’s definitely been pissed off recently for some reason.

Maybe if I were Rockets I would trade Gordon and some complimentary pieces for him to have a run in the playoffs and then let him go in the Summer. The only scenario he makes sense in now is a team that think they might compete now if they get him.

Actually Portland or Indiana wouldn’t be bad destinations either. I can’t see how he would stay happy at either though.
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Well as a Knicks fan, I certainly wouldn't take him. Would rather give the young talent chance to grow without his disruption and bad influence in the locker room.

I think the 76ers will keep him until the Summer and try have a crack at it in the Playoffs with the big 3. But yeah the Rockets should look at the situation if they could manage it without gutting more of their already thin roster.
 
JoaquinJoaquin said:
Well as a Knicks fan, I certainly wouldn't take him. Would rather give the young talent chance to grow without his disruption and bad influence in the locker room.

I think the 76ers will keep him until the Summer and try have a crack at it in the Playoffs with the big 3. But yeah the Rockets should look at the situation if they could manage it without gutting more of their already thin roster.
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I've seen Wizards mentioned as an option, a trade for Otto Porter. It actually makes sense, they've been playing better with Wall out and if they could get rid of Porter contract it could help them. On the other hand I can't see Philly being happy taking Porter and giving up on their cap space next Summer, he's not a player I would bank my future on (although he'd be a great fit next to Simmons and Embiid).

Butler and Simmons could work together but it's a challenge, I think Butler is basically pissed off with his reduced role on offense and wants to dominate the ball which is not going to happen in Philly, and probably not at vast majority of NBA teams who are trying to win.
 
JoaquinJoaquin said:
At this point why would you want Butler on your team, regardless of talent? 3 coaches now he has clashed with, and is absolute toxic to a locker room.
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You may put up with it if he was a definite top 5/10 player, but he's not and he's also 29.

He could also be a bad influence to two of the best young talents in the league. It sounds like a potential recipe for disaster.

What Simmons and Embiid really need are some shooters and 3/D guys.
 
Bucks showed the league how to play D against Harden, forcing him right, and making him take tough shots all game. He still put up 42-11-9 :lol: he's absurd t the moment. Still, the bucks won, in Houston

Honestly, if the bucks keep shooting well from 3 kn the playoffs, i think they might even give the warriors a run for their money. Giannis is perhaps the one player in the league who can actually defend on Durant
 
giorno said:
Bucks showed the league how to play D against Harden, forcing him right, and making him take tough shots all game. He still put up 42-11-9 :lol: he's absurd t the moment. Still, the bucks won, in Houston

Honestly, if the bucks keep shooting well from 3 kn the playoffs, i think they might even give the warriors a run for their money. Giannis is perhaps the one player in the league who can actually defend on Durant
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I would love Houston v Milwaukee finals.
 
cesc's_mullet said:
You may put up with it if he was a definite top 5/10 player, but he's not and he's also 29.

He could also be a bad influence to two of the best young talents in the league. It sounds like a potential recipe for disaster.

What Simmons and Embiid really need are some shooters and 3/D guys.
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If I'm Sixers I'm offering $25million a year to Middleton, Harris and all the "third star on a great team" kind of players that are hitting free agency in the Summer. And Kemba (that one would be absolutely perfect). Definitely not Butler.

I'm not sure if I'd cash in on him now though. Nobody is going to offer anything significant in terms of future assets and they won't want to take long contracts. Maybe if Nets thought they are going for the playoffs experience proper and offered something like Russell and one of their picks? Probably better to run this current group in the playoffs and see how it ends though. That's what he had been acquired for, unless it becomes completely unbearable and he's destroying their atmosphere I wouldn't move him yet.
 
cesc's_mullet said:
You may put up with it if he was a definite top 5/10 player, but he's not and he's also 29.

He could also be a bad influence to two of the best young talents in the league. It sounds like a potential recipe for disaster.

What Simmons and Embiid really need are some shooters and 3/D guys.
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Yeah, he's in the 10 to 30 tier of players.
 
Sarni said:
If I'm Sixers I'm offering $25million a year to Middleton, Harris and all the "third star on a great team" kind of players that are hitting free agency in the Summer. And Kemba (that one would be absolutely perfect). Definitely not Butler.

I'm not sure if I'd cash in on him now though. Nobody is going to offer anything significant in terms of future assets and they won't want to take long contracts. Maybe if Nets thought they are going for the playoffs experience proper and offered something like Russell and one of their picks? Probably better to run this current group in the playoffs and see how it ends though. That's what he had been acquired for, unless it becomes completely unbearable and he's destroying their atmosphere I wouldn't move him yet.
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I agree, I think they should try to target any and all three of those players come the end of the season.

But for now they may as well stick with it. Like you've pointed out, they won't get anything near his value if they trade him now.
 
Butler would have to be the worst teammate out of all the 'superstars' in the league. I know he's a great player but wow, I'd be hesitant signing him just because of his attitude and issues.
 
Sarni said:
If I'm Sixers I'm offering $25million a year to Middleton, Harris and all the "third star on a great team" kind of players that are hitting free agency in the Summer. And Kemba (that one would be absolutely perfect). Definitely not Butler.
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I'm hoping the Knicks do something similar if we strike out with KD. Use the cap wisely and build a good team around KP & Knox etc.
 
JoaquinJoaquin said:
I'm hoping the Knicks do something similar if we strike out with KD. Use the cap wisely and build a good team around KP & Knox etc.
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Indeed. There are a lot of interesting players available in the Summer who aren't exactly superstars.

Milwaukee have 4 of their 5 starters expiring.
 
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