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NBA
Aug 8, 2020 12:15:26 GMT
B.E. likes this
Post by Kapitan on Aug 8, 2020 12:15:26 GMT
Because Brooklyn beat Sacramento last night, the Nets officially are in the playoffs. I care, because this means the Wolves officially get their 2020 1st-round pick. Obviously the lottery hasn't happened yet and the season hasn't ended yet, so we don't know exactly what the picks will be, but based purely on standings, we ought to finish with the 2nd or 3rd pick overall, and then the 16th or so.
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NBA
Aug 8, 2020 12:34:07 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Aug 8, 2020 12:34:07 GMT
Because Brooklyn beat Sacramento last night, the Nets officially are in the playoffs. I care, because this means the Wolves officially get their 2020 1st-round pick. Obviously the lottery hasn't happened yet and the season hasn't ended yet, so we don't know exactly what the picks will be, but based purely on standings, we ought to finish with the 2nd or 3rd pick overall, and then the 16th or so. That's BIG isn't it?
The 76ers beat Orlando last night. They are now 3-1 since the restart. Alec Burks stepped up last night; he's been playing well as has Al Horford. Tobias Harris has asserted himself and appears to want to be "the man" on the offensive end. Shake Milton has shaken off that bad first game and is playing better. But Embiid is going to have to be a monster every game. I'm just not sure you can depend on the other guys each night; inconsistency has been so much a part of the Sixers.
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NBA
Aug 8, 2020 12:43:02 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Aug 8, 2020 12:43:02 GMT
It's big if the team can do a good job identifying, selecting, and developing the talent (none of which are historical strong suits for the franchise's previous management teams)! But yes, certainly at the very least those are really good assets, in case they don't want to get still-younger and prefer to swap them for established young vets.
And that's the impression I've gotten: they prefer to fill in guys who are roughly on KAT's and Russell's timelines, so who are approaching their mid-20s. Young vets, not brand new guys who will just be rounding into shape as KAT and Russell are approaching 30. (I'm not sure how important that is, actually, considering the short tenures of many players, the high roster turnover the league experiences, and the need to replenish talent regardless.)
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NBA
Aug 8, 2020 16:30:39 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Aug 8, 2020 16:30:39 GMT
A lot of games today, and good ones, at that!
I'm excited to see Portland play LAC in half an hour. Usually I wouldn't care much at all to see Portland, but Minnesota Gary Trent Jr has been surprisingly effective shooting the ball since the restart. (He hasn't done much else, which is interesting considering he grew up as what I always call a "power guard," a strong wing who would bully less physical players attacking the rim or from the post. But to be fair, Apple Valley High School's competition probably allowed that style more than the competition National Basketball Association...)
Then it's Utah v Denver, which means a chance to see the on-fire Michael Porter Jr!
Then it's LAL v Indiana. I'm actually mostly interested in seeing Indiana here, which TJ Warren having had himself a hell of a stretch! However, Lebron James hasn't been at his best, and so I am curious to see what's going on.
And then Milwaukee v Dallas. That's just going to be great. Milwaukee is obviously a very good team led by the MVP, Giannis. And Dallas has one of the few most exciting players in the league in Luka Doncic.
I will not be a productive man today...
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NBA
Aug 8, 2020 17:03:08 GMT
Post by B.E. on Aug 8, 2020 17:03:08 GMT
I'm excited to see Portland play LAC in half an hour. Usually I wouldn't care much at all to see Portland, but Minnesota Gary Trent Jr has been surprisingly effective shooting the ball since the restart. (He hasn't done much else, which is interesting considering he grew up as what I always call a "power guard," a strong wing who would bully less physical players attacking the rim or from the post. But to be fair, Apple Valley High School's competition probably allowed that style more than the competition National Basketball Association...) I just read Kawhi isn't going to play. I'm sure the Spurs and their fans appreciate that. That said, I acknowledge that a LAL-POR first round series would probably be more entertaining for the vast majority of basketball fans. And then Milwaukee v Dallas. That's just going to be great. Milwaukee is obviously a very good team led by the MVP, Giannis. And Dallas has one of the few most exciting players in the league in Luka Doncic.
I might just not be paying close enough attention, but I think KP's season has gone a bit under the radar. Outside of a few weeks in January, he's been healthy and productive. His shooting numbers are down a little, but considering the injury he's recovering from and the amount of time he missed and the attention he attracts, not bad at all. And, his rebounding has significantly improved over his days in NY. Not to mention, he's been great since the restart.
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NBA
Aug 8, 2020 18:17:21 GMT
via mobile
Post by Kapitan on Aug 8, 2020 18:17:21 GMT
Ben Simmons will leave the bubble and have knee surgery. One would imagine his season is over. Philly loses a lot of talent...but do they have better fits now?
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NBA
Aug 8, 2020 18:34:45 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Aug 8, 2020 18:34:45 GMT
Ben Simmons will leave the bubble and have knee surgery. One would imagine his season is over. Philly loses a lot of talent...but do they have better fits now? The news just keeps getting worse... I'm guessing Horford, Burks, and Thybulle will get the brunt of Simmons' minutes, and Shake will probably solidify as a starter, too. It will be interesting (I'm looking for a silver lining here) to see what team evolves without Simmons. Brett Brown will be going nuts with substitutions!
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NBA
Aug 8, 2020 18:43:33 GMT
Post by B.E. on Aug 8, 2020 18:43:33 GMT
I'm probably jumping the gun here, and I know the Sixers and their fans had greater aspirations, but I was looking at the conference standings earlier today and the only lower seeds that I thought had a shot to make some serious noise (i.e. win a series or two) are the Mavericks and Sixers. The rest of the first round matchups probably won't be too exciting. (I'll probably be proven dead wrong.)
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NBA
Aug 8, 2020 18:45:39 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Aug 8, 2020 18:45:39 GMT
Even without Kawhi, the Clippers are so talented. In fact, they are without him, Montrezl Harrell (18.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg), or defensive superstar Pat Beverly. Yet they can trot out a starting five of Lou Williams (18.3 ppg), Landry Shamet (9.3), Paul George (21.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.8 apg), Marcus Morris (16.9 ppg), and Ivica Zubac (8.2 ppg, 7.4 apg). Off the bench? How about Reggie Jackson (12.3 ppg, 4.1 apg) and JaMychal Green (6.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg). Are you kidding me?
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NBA
Aug 8, 2020 18:51:05 GMT
Post by B.E. on Aug 8, 2020 18:51:05 GMT
Even without Kawhi, the Clippers are so talented. In fact, they are without him, Montrezl Harrell (18.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg), or defensive superstar Pat Beverly. Yet they can trot out a starting five of Lou Williams (18.3 ppg), Landry Shamet (9.3), Paul George (21.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.8 apg), Marcus Morris (16.9 ppg), and Ivica Zubac (8.2 ppg, 7.4 apg). Off the bench? How about Reggie Jackson (12.3 ppg, 4.1 apg) and JaMychal Green (6.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg). Are you kidding me? Getting Marcus Morris in a late season trade was a nice addition. He sleepwalked opening night (of the restart), but he's starter-caliber. All this talent, and chemistry, and coaching, and relative health, is why they are going to the finals. I expect the Bucks to be there too, but Middleton will have to come through for them.
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NBA
Aug 8, 2020 18:55:02 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Aug 8, 2020 18:55:02 GMT
Gary Trent Jr has managed to make my critique of him become an understatement. I could guard him the way he's approaching this game, and I mean that literally. His off-the-ball offense has consisted entirely of standing still on the weak side of the court with his hands up, calling for the ball. Most possessions he doesn't move more than two feet.
Look, he's really hot, and I get it. But Damian Lillard is a superstar and a great shooter, and yet when he doesn't have the ball, he's cutting, crossing, running off screens, etc. Trent's emergence as a scorer is awesome and as a Minnesotan I'm thrilled for him. But he has so much more talent; he shouldn't limit himself to being a one-trick pony.
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NBA
Aug 8, 2020 19:05:22 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Aug 8, 2020 19:05:22 GMT
I don't care for Trent and Paul George jawing at one another, either. If you're George, give me a break: you're a star and he's Gary Trent! You should ignore him entirely. And if you're Trent: he's a star and you're a nobody. Shut up and impress him with your game.
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NBA
Aug 9, 2020 12:14:48 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Aug 9, 2020 12:14:48 GMT
Luka Doncic, my goodness! 36 pts, 14 reb, 19 asts.
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NBA
Aug 9, 2020 14:21:31 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Aug 9, 2020 14:21:31 GMT
SJS, in case you're ready to pull the plug on the Embiid-Simmons duo (and choose Embiid), here's a column from Cleveland suggesting the Cavs may have interest in, and assets to get, Ben Simmons. Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says:
"Something’s not right in Philly. In recent years, the Sixers have made an abundance of go-for-it maneuvers. So much talent, so much potential, and yet they are just sixth in the East. What gives?
"One executive who spoke with cleveland.com believes the Sixers will need to choose between Simmons and Joel Embiid -- if Philly has an earlier-than-expected playoff exit."
"The Cavs, of course, would have interest in Simmons. He possesses the talent and versatility to immediately alter the team’s future. The Sixers would want a haul for the 2016 No. 1 pick who is locked up through 2023-24 and will probably be named to the All-Defense First Team. But the Cavs believe they have enough to assemble an enticing package, especially with recent first-rounders littering the roster, a top six pick coming in October and a future first from the Milwaukee Bucks."
What do you think? Simmons's poison pill contract trade limitations expire when he hits the first year of his extension (next season). You'd need to get to the ballpark of his $29 million at that point. Darius Garland (as noted in that article) seems like a great fit, a real PG who can shoot the ball. If you want proven value, Larry Nance at $12m for a few more years makes sense as a 4 who could play alongside Embiid. Dante Exum at about $9m would be an expiring contract, but he's still a young talent and could show something (in theory). Of course the various picks would be included.
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NBA
Aug 9, 2020 15:54:58 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Aug 9, 2020 15:54:58 GMT
SJS, in case you're ready to pull the plug on the Embiid-Simmons duo (and choose Embiid), here's a column from Cleveland suggesting the Cavs may have interest in, and assets to get, Ben Simmons. Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says:
"Something’s not right in Philly. In recent years, the Sixers have made an abundance of go-for-it maneuvers. So much talent, so much potential, and yet they are just sixth in the East. What gives?
"One executive who spoke with cleveland.com believes the Sixers will need to choose between Simmons and Joel Embiid -- if Philly has an earlier-than-expected playoff exit."
"The Cavs, of course, would have interest in Simmons. He possesses the talent and versatility to immediately alter the team’s future. The Sixers would want a haul for the 2016 No. 1 pick who is locked up through 2023-24 and will probably be named to the All-Defense First Team. But the Cavs believe they have enough to assemble an enticing package, especially with recent first-rounders littering the roster, a top six pick coming in October and a future first from the Milwaukee Bucks."
What do you think? Simmons's poison pill contract trade limitations expire when he hits the first year of his extension (next season). You'd need to get to the ballpark of his $29 million at that point. Darius Garland (as noted in that article) seems like a great fit, a real PG who can shoot the ball. If you want proven value, Larry Nance at $12m for a few more years makes sense as a 4 who could play alongside Embiid. Dante Exum at about $9m would be an expiring contract, but he's still a young talent and could show something (in theory). Of course the various picks would be included.
Following "the process" and more specifically, supporting it, hasn't been easy. That being said, I did support Sam Hinkie's plan. However, speaking for today - 2020 and even next season - I have very mixed feelings.
On one end, I'm thinking that enough is enough. You can't keep shuffling the deck and rotating players on and off the roster every season. I know it's the current trend in the NBA to turn over a significant part of the roster each year, but I think the Sixers have to sometime (now!) just go with what they have. Take Embiid and Simmons, and to a slightly lesser extent Tobias Harris, and make a run the next two or three years. I think they have some quality bench players in Burks, Thybulle, Richardson (when he's not starting), and Horford (for another year or two). That nucleus should have enough talent to seriously contend for a title.
On the other hand, I agree with the author of the article, Chris Fedor. I watch these games and think the same thing - something just isn't right. I don't think you're going to win a championship just by trading/signing non-stars. Of course they are important, but superstars win championships. So that leaves the future of the Embiid-Simmons era in question. Do I think the 76ers will win a championship with those two? No, I don't. So, then why hold on to them? Who would you keep and who would you trade? Hell if I know! They are both injury prone. They are both inconsistent. They are both flawed players. They are also both superstars, and they would bring a lot in return.
I think I would give this team the 2020-2021 season yet and then seriously consider my options.
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