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NBA
Aug 9, 2020 16:02:39 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Aug 9, 2020 16:02:39 GMT
I personally think that if the NBA truly requires the spacing of four shooters on the court, and a ball-handler who can shoot to make high pick-and-rolls more dangerous, you just can't really make Simmons and Embiid fit well together on the court for what you pay them.
I love Simmons, but if he's a PG, you have a non-shooter dominating the ball. If he's a PF you're counting on for garbage buckets, dunker's spot sneaky buckets, etc., then presumably you're both taking the ball out of his hands (limiting his creativity, which might be his best skill) and putting Embiid on the perimeter to space the floor (thus not getting the best out of him either).
Big picture I think it's easier to put him at PG and make sure your other three guys are REALLY shooters who understand spacing and who work off the ball masterfully. That's the only way I think you can approach maximizing both guys. Anything short of that I think is a mistake.
Now, would trading one of them get you equal value in return, or just more flexibility by breaking up that big cap number into multiple, manageable, presumably potential-filled pieces? That's the Process, isn't it!?
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NBA
Aug 9, 2020 16:23:42 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Aug 9, 2020 16:23:42 GMT
Big picture I think it's easier to put him at PG and make sure your other three guys are REALLY shooters who understand spacing and who work off the ball masterfully. That's the only way I think you can approach maximizing both guys. Anything short of that I think is a mistake.
I think that was the 76ers' original plan. They surrounded Simmons with Embiid, Butler/Harris, and Fultz/Redick/Richardson - all to a large extent potential shooters/scorers - and just let Simmons do his thing, whatever that was. I don't think they are ready to totally abandon that plan, even with Simmons playing forward. But you need all of those guys on the court to make it happen, and they haven't been able to pull that off. Right now everybody is saying, "Embiid has to carry the team the rest of the way..." Well, seriously, do you think even HE will make it through the playoffs?
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NBA
Aug 9, 2020 16:32:36 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Aug 9, 2020 16:32:36 GMT
Of course a big problem with that plan was that Butler never was and still isn't a shooter, Fultz couldn't shoot while he was there, etc.
And you're definitely right that the injury problem isn't just Simmons: Embiid has been oft-injured, as well ... not to mention he doesn't always seem to try very hard or stay in shape!
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NBA
Aug 9, 2020 16:37:13 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Aug 9, 2020 16:37:13 GMT
Of course a big problem with that plan was that Butler never was and still isn't a shooter, Fultz couldn't shoot while he was there, etc.
You're right, Butler and Fultz weren't shooters, but I do think the Sixers were looking for those two guys to score the basketball so Simmons didn't have that pressure/responsibility, and could just do his thing. Butler did have it going for a short time scoring-wise, especially during the playoffs, but Fultz never did materialize.
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NBA
Aug 9, 2020 18:27:37 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Aug 9, 2020 18:27:37 GMT
However, if they're non-shooting scorers, they don't help at all with the spacing that Simmons (as a ball-dominant creator) would want to create. Instead if you had those three on the court together, it's just three guys all wanting the ball, all wanting to go toward the hoop or post up. It just isn't a good fit. Simmons' problem isn't that he can't score, it's that he doesn't shoot. That's why I would emphasize not just scoring, but (preferably 3-point) shooting.
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NBA
Aug 11, 2020 14:45:48 GMT
Post by B.E. on Aug 11, 2020 14:45:48 GMT
If you hadn't noticed, the playoffs have already started for numerous teams. Today is going to be crazy!
HOU/SA - PHX/PHI - BOS/MEM - POR/DAL
Not only are SA, PHX, MEM, and POR only separated by 1 game with 2 to play, but there's the added wrinkle of DAL and UTA fighting over the 6th seed. (SA plays UTA in final game.)
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NBA
Aug 11, 2020 15:29:06 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Aug 11, 2020 15:29:06 GMT
Who are some players others have really enjoyed watching so far in the restart?
I have to say, Michael Porter Jr is tantalizing! He has a LONG way to go in terms of activity, defense, etc., but he is so smooth, so offensively gifted. He could be an absolute star. Beautiful shooting stroke and great size at about 6-10. In fact, I love watching Denver in general (as Jokic is one of my favorite players in the league).
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NBA
Aug 12, 2020 13:16:20 GMT
Post by B.E. on Aug 12, 2020 13:16:20 GMT
Who are some players others have really enjoyed watching so far in the restart? Well, there's one young Spur who hasn't been mentioned yet: Keldon Johnson. He spent most of his rookie season in the G league. Where he played well, but struggled from 3. He had only made 9 NBA appearances prior to the bubble, none of which I saw. So, this is the first I'm seeing of Keldon and he's knocked me out! Check out his stats since the restart: 13pts-6reb-1ast-1stl on 63/71/81% shooting! All off the bench. He was also tasked with guarding Westbrook yesterday and did a fine job.
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NBA
Aug 12, 2020 13:25:14 GMT
B.E. likes this
Post by Kapitan on Aug 12, 2020 13:25:14 GMT
Yes, great pick. He was someone who some people said could be a steal of a pick, others said he was kind of a tweener forward who would struggle to score. Well, so much for the latter theory. (Plus, the whole league is tweeners now!) I was actually as excited for Luka Samanic, who hasn't really gotten to play at the NBA level yet. But like Johnson, his D-League (I can't bring myself to say G-League...I just CAN'T!) performances were good with 15.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, and 1.8 apg. Plus almost 31 3pt%, which bodes well for a young player coming to a new country.
But the real point is, yes, Johnson! I love that the Spurs suddenly went from looking crusty with DeRozan, Aldridge, Gay, Mills, Bellineli, etc., to having yet another new young core in Murray, Walker, White, Johnson, Samanic, and even Poeltl.
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NBA
Aug 12, 2020 13:26:56 GMT
Post by B.E. on Aug 12, 2020 13:26:56 GMT
By the way, I caught the entire 4th quarter of the POR/DAL game last night and it was thoroughly enjoyable right up to 4.5 seconds left when the refs decided the outcome by waving off Finney-Smith's 3 (which would have put DAL up 2) in favor of rewarding Lillard for flopping off the ball. Pretty much ruined the game (and hurt my Spurs!). Neither team could stop the other. Every possession ended in a made shot or a foul call. Although, perhaps "thoroughly enjoyable" was a slight exaggeration. I'm not a fan of the cheap 3pt foul calls that players like Lillard were awarded last night. I thought DAL earned their foul shots in the 4th making legitimate basketball moves, mainly, driving to the hoop.
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NBA
Aug 12, 2020 13:40:14 GMT
Post by B.E. on Aug 12, 2020 13:40:14 GMT
I love that the Spurs suddenly went from looking crusty with DeRozan, Aldridge, Gay, Mills, Bellineli, etc., to having yet another new young core in Murray, Walker, White, Johnson, Samanic, and even Poeltl.
Rotationally, I know what you mean. The veterans were playing the bulk of the minutes, but the only vet that I grew tired of (and I think the Spurs should permanently move on from) is Aldridge. DeRozan has been playing outstanding basketball. I haven't checked the stats or watched enough of this season, but I suspect he's playing better due to Aldridge's absence and the emergence of White/Murray/Walker. And, Rudy Gay has been a very reliable scorer off the bench. I think he's exactly what the Spurs need as they move forward with their young starting lineup. As for Mills and Belinelli, I'll always be a fan of both of them. You can play those guys less minutes and they'll still be effective. I was thinking about the Sixers and their need of true 3pt specialists who move masterfully w/o the ball. Obviously, they had the guy in Redick, but they also had Belinelli, and they let both of them go. Belinelli played well yesterday in a big game.
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NBA
Aug 12, 2020 14:03:50 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Aug 12, 2020 14:03:50 GMT
Yes, I don't necessarily mean they should throw out everyone over 28 or anything. I meant more it's fabulous how they can (yet again) infuse the roster with the next generation. I love the young talent they've assembled.
Totally agree that Aldridge isn't a great fit, especially with the non-3-pt shooting DeRozen. There's only so much space for two midrange jumpshooters, especially since Aldridge prefers playing PF to C. But I don't think they'd find many takers for him, either.
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NBA
Aug 12, 2020 17:58:52 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Aug 12, 2020 17:58:52 GMT
The restart stats. Fun stuff.
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NBA
Aug 12, 2020 22:38:59 GMT
Post by B.E. on Aug 12, 2020 22:38:59 GMT
Thanks. That'll come in handy. I had looked on ESPN and basketball-reference for the restart stats, but couldn't find them or filter them.
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NBA
Aug 13, 2020 2:42:02 GMT
via mobile
Post by Kapitan on Aug 13, 2020 2:42:02 GMT
Same here, a friend shared with me. Some very interesting things in there!
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