2018-19 NBA Thread

[BottenFieldofDreams]

[MAGA]

Let’s say Boogie returned to 70% productivity by playoff time.

Would LAL pipedream have stood a chance? LBJ, George, Kawhi?

Probably not honestly.

[33anda3rd]

You guys Brandon Ingram is going to be awesome, he's not some so-so kid. He took a big step forward last year and still isn't old enough to crack a cold one.

Lonzo Ball was a bad shooter, who got better as the season progressed before his injury. He played good defense, and averaged 7+ boards and 7.5 assists and 1.8 steals and only 2.8 turnovers (awesome for a rookie PG) per 36 minutes.

Kuzma was an excellent scorer for a rookie. 16 and 6 per game as a rookie is very good.

I'm extremely miffed that they renounced Randle who was arguably the best player on that team. Not sure what they think they gain with Rondo other than veteran leadership that LeBron already provides. I really like Randle, he's a good add for NOP.

Just curious............ you're "miffed" because you're a Lakers fan?

They have some good players. I don't think anyone is arguing that. In a couple of years some of those players might even be very good, but Lebron will be regressing by then.

Lonzo Ball shot 36% from the field before the ASB, and 37% after. I'm not sure he showed much improvement.


There are lots of better teams that Lebron could have joined. Not many worse teams, in my opinion. If he's happy there though, that's all that matters. Just seems like an odd fit.

I'm neutral and love the game. I'm miffed because Randle was a beacon for that team last year. He brought energy, toughness, and filled in the stat sheet. I have no emotional investment in the Lakers.

[33anda3rd]

[expletive] off and die NBA.

At what point does it lose meaning for these guys?

No one else sees any meaning in it.

Erm, at what point do the number of guys going to teams where they can win, whether it's LeBron 3X or KD or Boogie or Drexler or CP3 or whoever, hit the inflection point where you no longer expect them to play for competition instead of victory?

[Socnorb11]

Gotcha', 33.

I'm torn, because I've never cared for the Lakers, but I can't help but root for Lebron.

[MAGA]

I may have to start watching NCAAB or euro ball.

This isn’t even fun. No one takes the regular season seriously and the playoffs are predictable. If I want to see feats of athleticism there’s sports that aren’t tethered to so much BS.

[MrCrowesGarden]

What 50 wins gets you in the NBA...

Eastern Conference: Home court advantage for the first round, maybe even two rounds

Western Conference: A playoff spot, maybe

[BottenFieldofDreams]

[expletive] off and die NBA.

At what point does it lose meaning for these guys?

No one else sees any meaning in it.

Erm, at what point do the number of guys going to teams where they can win, whether it's LeBron 3X or KD or Boogie or Drexler or CP3 or whoever, hit the inflection point where you no longer expect them to play for competition instead of victory?

What is "win"? Don't you need an opponent to do it?

I can kick my son's ass at basketball. Is that a win?

[33anda3rd]

The pendulum has swung too far the other way. Players aren’t chattel, but the league shouldn’t be this uncompetitive. Also, I admire guys turning down a lot more money, but I find it really strange at the same time. Perhaps the market for Boogie wasn’t looking great.

The market is awful because of the glut of money that went into free agency two summers ago, and a cap that didn't escalate the following two years at a rapid pace. There's a TON of dead money. Deng, Mozgov, etc. Boogie is 7 feet and coming off an injury that not a lot of 7 footers come back from, and demand was almost certainly low. Did he take less than he's worth? Sure. But he's banking on hitting free agency next year at a time when he's shown that he's back and the league has a bunch of teams that have waived and stretched their Deng and Mozgov deals and there's a lot more money to be had.

Also: if Boogie wants to take ten or twenty million dollars less than he could earn to win a ring on a one-year deal I don't really think there's anything to "fix." I'm sure a lot of the people grousing about this deal are the same people who praised Adam Wainwright for giving the Cardinals fans a little home town discount to play for the BFIB yadda yadda yadda.

Nerlens Noel turned down Seventy Million Dollars last year to sign a one-year $4 million deal with the Mavs thinking he'd show everybody and get paid this year. He just signed a 2 year deal for league minimum.

[MAGA]

Achilles tears are often the end of careers. I hope Boogie didn’t screw himself like Noel did, like you said.