NBA Thread

[gilesfan]

Outside of the Wiz and Spurs, I'm rooting for Miami.

[thethe]

I enjoy watching Miami win. So playoffs should be fun.

Yup, its much easier to like when you have a dog in the fight.

[NinersSBChamps]

Generally the NBA playoffs can be exciting. Granted it's predetermined who is going to win..

[Heyward]

Outside of the Wiz and Spurs, I'm rooting for LeBron.

FYP.

[Heyward]

I enjoy watching Miami win. So playoffs should be fun.

It's already scripted what's gonna happen if you enjoy that.

[thethe]

Something James Harden said after the 2012 Finals:

“This team is like a family,” Harden said. “Like, we’re really brothers. We hang out most of the time every single day. You won’t find any other team like this. I love it here … This is something special here. A dynasty is being built here. So we’re winning, we’re having fun and we’re brothers. The other stuff, you can’t buy it.”

Then in a recent interview with ESPN:

Harden was asked if he thought he’d be in Oklahoma City forever.

“Yeah, I did,” he said. “I thought we were going to be together forever. Russell Westbrook. James Harden. Kevin Durant.”

Then asked if money wasn’t a factor, would he still be with the Thunder?

“Definitely,” he said. “Definitely. No question.”

[yeezus]

Something James Harden said after the 2012 Finals:

“This team is like a family,” Harden said. “Like, we’re really brothers. We hang out most of the time every single day. You won’t find any other team like this. I love it here … This is something special here. A dynasty is being built here. So we’re winning, we’re having fun and we’re brothers. The other stuff, you can’t buy it.”

Then in a recent interview with ESPN:

Harden was asked if he thought he’d be in Oklahoma City forever.

“Yeah, I did,” he said. “I thought we were going to be together forever. Russell Westbrook. James Harden. Kevin Durant.”

Then asked if money wasn’t a factor, would he still be with the Thunder?

“Definitely,” he said. “Definitely. No question.”

I'm sure that's true for both sides.
IMO they have a title right now if he doesn't leave. Or win this year for sure.

[thethe]

Yeah, but only the NY/LA teams are going into the repeater tax. OKC is a really small market. They just couldn't be profitable and keep him. You have to fill the other 8-10 roster spots. No way they weren't signing Ibaka long term.

[thethe]

And now we know the last piece in the Harden trade. The Thunder will get the 21st pick in a really deep draft. Could not have worked out better. Now the players Presti picked/traded for have to work out. Next years team is going to be a lot different.

[gilesfan]

And now we know the last piece in the Harden trade. The Thunder will get the 21st pick in a really deep draft. Could not have worked out better. Now the players Presti picked/traded for have to work out. Next years team is going to be a lot different.

So Harden for:

Adams
1 year of Martin
21st pick in draft?
Lamb



Yeah, the trade still is lopsided in Houston's favor.

[thethe]

So Harden for:

Adams
1 year of Martin
21st pick in draft?
Lamb



Yeah, the trade still is lopsided in Houston's favor.

Right now it is. Absolutely.

But, just looking at the players involved in the deal is a short sighted way of looking at it. The Thunder had to choose between Ibaka/Harden. Ibaka is a better fit for the team. It allowed the Thunder to be a deeper team and sustain excellence for many years in the future.

[gilesfan]

If the Thunder are good long term, it's bc of Kevin Durant. not a bunch of bench players.

[thethe]

If the Thunder are good long term, it's bc of Kevin Durant. not a bunch of bench players.

Yup, Ibaka and potentially two starting players plus another first round draft pick in a deep draft have nothing to do with that.

[gilesfan]

Yup, Ibaka and potentially two starting players plus another first round draft pick in a deep draft have nothing to do with that.

How often are players drafted in the 20s or higher more than bench players?

[thethe]

How often are players drafted in the 20s or higher more than bench players?

Probably not often but Presti has already drafted two of those guys and this draft is deeper than either of the drafts (supposedly) than the ones where Ibaka/Jackson were drafted.

[gilesfan]

How many selections has he made at 20 or higher?

[thethe]

How many selections has he made at 20 or higher?

Are we including second rounders or just guys at the bottom third of the first round?

[gilesfan]

Are we including second rounders or just guys at the bottom third of the first round?

all selection past #20

[thethe]

all selection past #20

Thats kind of silly considering less than 1% of second rounders make any impact. Why wouldn't we just do picks 21-30? That would make this much more useful. Presti drafted a stud in Ibaka and a starter in Jackson.

I don't even expect this pick to be a starter. I just want a good rotational player. Adams and Lamb are the future starters.

[gilesfan]

Do Jackson, Lamb, or Adams start now?