KoB2011

I think we will see a very different lineup in November than we see now. X Stewart Kopp Race TJD

I will honestly be pleasantly surprised if we win, and I'm pretty bullish on what I think this team can be.

I still think this is about three weeks too early for a fantasy draft.

Is it possible that maybe the problem with Romeo isn't that coaches put him in the corner, but he puts himself in the corner? I really want to see him be successful but he doesn't really have anything to hang his hat on at all. He is a bad shooter than could maybe get to average, he doesn't have good handles for a guard, he has maybe slightly above average athleticism but nothing to special, he isn't particularly big for a guy who can't play point at all, and perhaps worst is that I don't think he has any idea how to be anything other than a number 1 option.

For one thing, the only bad defender I see getting consistent minutes for them is Melo and they can hide him. They’re going to have an elite paint defense. They were injured all year last year and in the playoffs. If AD is healthy that’s a top 3 defender that can guard inside and outside. I see them being a team that’ll be around top 10 statistically on defense but when they need a stop and have guys like Russ and Lebron 100% locked in they’re going to be damn hard to score on.

I’m not saying they’re going to be as good as last year, but they’re still going to have an elite interior defense at a minimum with guys on the perimeter who are capable of locking someone up even if they don’t do it for 48 minutes.

It probably wouldn't be the worst idea in the world to cancel the trip due to the Delta variant...

Wait.... why are the Lakers bad on defense? They had one of the best defense in the NBA last year. I'd be more worried about shooting than defense if I was the Lakers.

I wish the Pacers had gone Moody but I can’t say I am shocked they opted for a guy ready to contribute day 1. I expect a Cam Johnson type impact…

I think that’s a no brainier for the Pacers.

It's a great move for both teams, IMO. Memphis got some great draft capital to go with a couple solid vets. They can also play JJJ at the 5 more now while sliding Anderson and Brooks to the 3 and 4 which are probably better fits for them.

To your point, and many others, about education; does that even hold up now? We have seen what we can do for business and education with telecommuting. It isn't perfect, especially for schools,but it isn't like it's going to get worse. Athletes could do a west coast trip for a week and not even miss class.

https://www.npr.org/2021/07/21/1018887697/unc-group-licensing-college-sports-players

Yeah if CP3 opts out they'll be something in the neighborhood of $30M+ under the cap.

Oh I know you and I are in agreement here. I really don't think LA has anything to offer Phoenix in a sign and trade to where they'd rather have that than test what they could get with that cap space.

It won't work for him to go to LA. He would have to opt out of $44M and the max LA could pay him, if they clear every player of the roster sans Lebron and AD, is about $20M. If they work out a sign and trade with Phoenix it could go up, but why would Phoenix do that. Chris Paul to LA isn't a 0% chance, but neither is the Pacers acquiring Lillard.

Anything is possible but that seems incredibly unlikely.

3 years, $30-40M per year. He has back to back top 5 MVP finishes and still clearly has gas left in the tank. I'd be shocked if Phoenix doesn't bring him back, why wouldn't they? They can do so without sacrificing any of their young guys long term and he can be pivotal for their development.

I think he will opt out but resign a multi-year deal.

Of course no one is going to sit back, but I'm not sure MLK isn't in the best position in the league moving forward right now. They have a guy that you can make a very strong case is on a top 5-10 player all time trajectory locked in long term at age 26. As you said, he is only getting better. They're starting from the best position of anyone with just that fact right there. GSW - tons of assets and options, but until we see what we do with all of them it's hard to compare LAL - how much does LBJ have left? LAC - tons of questions Den - They have their homegrown Big Three. It will be interesting to see how they come back. PHX - I'll address below BKN - Major question marks. All three of their Big Three have health problems and they don't have much roster flexibility. They'll probably win a title at some point, but it will be the outlier of them all staying healthy instead of the norm IMO Philly - They have an asset that can rival Giannis, if he can stay healthy. Can they build around Embiid as well as MLK has built around Giannis? TBD. ATL - I think they have a big window and are probably a bit outside of it on the early end currently. If I am betting on a team to win multiple titles in the next five years, I think Milwaukee is the safest bet. I think Phoenix likely runs it back. CP3 will opt out but sign a multi-year deal with them IMO. I think their path is to let CP3 continue to lead that group for a few years as Booker, Bridges, and Ayton grow into a Big Three and CP3 fades away.

Bender could have been so good. He could have been on the cusp of his prime when the Malace at the Palace happened. Think what those Pacers teams could have been if things were different with his health and a few of those guys heads.

Blind squirrels find nuts on occasion.

I'm going to disagree that some team is going to force him to hit jumpers. Who is going to do that? Giannis saw what teams were doing to him in these playoffs and adapted. He and Bud deserve a ton of credit for that. They stopped playing point-Giannis and just let him be a dominant post player that can sometimes start his drive from 25' out. I think Milwaukee has something special that is more about their execution than it is what other teams can do to stop them. Looking long term at the Jrue contract, he's only 31 so I don't see him falling off of a cliff. He isn't a guy that is going to dominant on offense every game but he is a major net positive. He made life horrible for Booker and CP3 and filled the stat sheet. He averaged 16/9/6 (really inefficient scoring) and played amazing defense - I would take that over what anyone on the Pacers could offer as a third option. I guess the more I think about this Bucks team, I'm starting to think we are just seeing the beginning of something special with them. The narrative was that the window was closing and they got a lot of breaks, but maybe that's been the wrong narrative?

To play devil's advocate, the Bucks did prove they can win a title with this formula and while maybe they benefited form injuries, I'm not sure the Bucks playing the way they did the last four games of the Finals or the last 5 of the BKN series isn't the best team in the league. And it is a repeatable formula, it's honestly going back to basics more than anything. I could see the Bucks being a one time champ but I can also see them winning several in the next 5-8 years. I mean.... Giannis is only 26. To do what he just did when he is still a little early on his prime window is absurd.

Giannis just had one of the best individual Finals ever. Completely unbelievable how amazing he was, and he is only 26. The sky is the limit for where he can take his legacy. And I think part of that will be answered by what happens with the Bucks in the coming years. Can they stack multiple titles or is this a case of a young stud carrying them to one and not something that is repeatable? No one had scored 20 in a Finals quarter since 93, Giannis did it twice. He had three 40 point games. He had the first 40/10/5 block game in the Finals since Shaq in 01. And perhaps most impressive for him, in the biggest game of his life he put on a free throws performance that is only rivaled by Kentucky in the 2012 Sweet 16. If you're a basketball fan and didn't pay attention to this Finals, you truly missed out.