NBA Thread

[yeezus]

the Knick's and Phil's plan is to whip out Phil's nuts and hope a decent player sucks them while whispering "new york...new york..." into their ears.

[chop2chip]

if he's a "superstar" or anywhere close to a top player, he should be able to make the playoffs every year in the East.

Why couldn't Noel get his team closer? Isn't he a stud?

Perhaps you need more than one player in the NBA to win.

[yeezus]

I meant the 13-14 season, where the East was porous and Melo, the top-flight player he is, led his team to 37 wins.

[yeezus]

Why couldn't Noel get his team closer? Isn't he a stud?

Perhaps you need more than one player in the NBA to win.

Er, when did I call Noel a stud?
He's a really good defensive player.
Are you comparing Noel to Melo?

[chop2chip]

the Knick's and Phil's plan is to whip out Phil's nuts and hope a decent player sucks them while whispering "new york...new york..." into their ears.

Phil's problem is that he doesn't want to put in the time and travel that successful GM's do. Every Knick fan should want him gone.

[chop2chip]

Er, when did I call Noel a stud?
He's a really good defensive player.
Are you comparing Noel to Melo?

Am I mistaken or did you not call him one of the best defensive players in basketball?

[yeezus]

I don't think Hinkie's plan was bad by any means and it could still work out. They still have a lot of assets to deal.

The problem is they selected high variance players. Embiid may or may not come back. Time will tell on that one, but the uncertainty of that coupled with Saric potentially being a couple years away really pushes their time table back. It was probably the best strategy to take, but you have to nail your draft picks to make it work.

I'm sure yeezus will disagree with LOL's and LMAO's, but I don't see anything other than a good Noel season that suggests differently.

it's a risky plan. when embiid fell to them, the guy who was likely to be #1 without the injury, they had to take him IMO. they still have a lot of picks this year and next, and should be top 5 again next year (plus the Lakers and Heat picks). The plan is far from complete, they have a lot of assets left to acquire.

i won't be shocked if they trade noel. there are slight, slight rumors right now. the rumors were slight with MCW, too..until they weren't.

[chop2chip]

it's a risky plan. when embiid fell to them, the guy who was likely to be #1 without the injury, they had to take him IMO. they still have a lot of picks this year and next, and should be top 5 again next year (plus the Lakers and Heat picks). The plan is far from complete, they have a lot of assets left to acquire.

i won't be shocked if they trade noel. there are slight, slight rumors right now. the rumors were slight with MCW, too..until they weren't.

It would make sense if they dealt Noel. Hinkie seems like he will do anything to make the 2024 Sixers better.

[yeezus]

Am I mistaken or did you not call him one of the best defensive players in basketball?

He had statistically a top-20ish season last year I believe, but that doesn't mean he's even close to being a stud or a superstar (the way Melo is billed).

Again, are you comparing Noel to Melo? Melo is a better overall player. My issue is with calling Melo a top-tier player when he clearly he is not. I do not believe he will every win anything, or really come close at this point.

[chop2chip]

He had statistically a top-20ish season last year I believe, but that doesn't mean he's even close to being a stud or a superstar (the way Melo is billed).

Again, are you comparing Noel to Melo? Melo is a better overall player. My issue is with calling Melo a top-tier player when he clearly he is not. I do not believe he will every win anything, or really come close at this point.

Melo is also 31 now. We can't use his present day talent to judge who he was when he was in his 20's. I don't think he can win on his own and nor should he be expected to, for that matter. Put it this way, if Melo replaced Jimmy Butler on the Bulls I still think they could win 50 games.

As for Noel, if he's an elite defensive center than he's a stud. I have zero qualms calling Gobert a stud as a Jazz fan, so Noel is at least close to that territory even though he's a notch or two below him IMO.

[thethe]

Prediction: Brule and GF will LOL at the Thunders pick this year.

[NinersSBChamps]

Difference between Caramelo (hands down best candy bar) and real NBA stars is that people aren't lining up at a chance to play with him. He's a ball dominant, no defense, and doesn't create for his teammates player. He's a great scorer, but you don't sign on to play with his team unless you get paid and don't care about ever being able to win.

[thethe]

Melo is also 31 now. We can't use his present day talent to judge who he was when he was in his 20's. I don't think he can win on his own and nor should he be expected to, for that matter. Put it this way, if Melo replaced Jimmy Butler on the Bulls I still think they could win 50 games.

As for Noel, if he's an elite defensive center than he's a stud. I have zero qualms calling Gobert a stud as a Jazz fan, so Noel is at least close to that territory even though he's a notch or two below him IMO.

Noel and Gobert are different. Noel moves better on the perimeter when forced into a PnR while Gobert is the best rim protector in the league. Both skills have tremendous value to overall defense.

[BRule]

Prediction: Brule and GF will LOL at the Thunders pick this year.

If the rumors of them making another promise are true, then I will surely "LOL"

[thethe]

If the rumors of them making another promise are true, then I will surely "LOL"

Well, I hope we get Payne. Seems like the perfect fit.

[BRule]

Well, I hope we get Payne. Seems like the perfect fit.

I forget who they were linked to but it wasn't Payne with the rumored "promise" Also, it sounds like Payne is going to go higher than 14.

[chop2chip]

Are the Thunder going to take another D Leaguer to save money?

[thethe]

I forget who they were linked to but it wasn't Payne with the rumored "promise" Also, it sounds like Payne is going to go higher than 14.

That was the initial promise from what I remember. The Thunder have done this many times and made the pick of that player. It worked well with Jackson until it didn't and the Thunder reportedly still love what Huestis can bring to the table and should be on the roster next season.

I still see a bunch of mocks with Payne at 14 but I wouldn't be shocked if he was off the board. I could even see the Knicks trading down and picking him up.

[thethe]

Are the Thunder going to take another D Leaguer to save money?

Who was the player they could have taken that would have made an impact on the roster? I suppose Clarkson or Dinwiddle would have helped but with the way it was looking nobody at that pick was going to break the everyday roster. Its better to get developmental time and as long as they don't screw him this season then whats the harm?

You woudn't be saying this if they drafted a stash player overseas.

[BRule]

Who was the player they could have taken that would have made an impact on the roster? I suppose Clarkson or Dinwiddle would have helped but with the way it was looking nobody at that pick was going to break the everyday roster. Its better to get developmental time and as long as they don't screw him this season then whats the harm?

You woudn't be saying this if they drafted a stash player overseas.

Uhhhhhh Clarkson is/was perfect for OKC