Grantland's NBA preview

[BrianFromWA]

On ESPN right now. (7pm EST)

 

[BrianFromWA]

Simmons, Jalen and Jeff Van Gundy are talking about Russ Westbrook right now. THey think he plays hard, will be over .500 when Durant comes back, and will be an MVP candidate b/c of that.

Worst-case scenario--Scarface Tony Montana
"Furious Styles" LOL
They like to see what he'll be in 2 months

 

[BrianFromWA]

Now on to Derrick Rose:

Jalen thinks he'll be at least 85% of what he was. He says "he's back" and that CHI is "the best team he's ever played with" with Gasol, Taj, Mirotic, Noah, McBuckets

JVG is concerned with the "Rose is Back" talk. He thinks he'll have up-and-down moments and will have to relearn some of his old habits and find out how to get a starting 2 and 3

SImmons is concerned with Rose just like RGIII, with the fearlessness, but now he's had 2 surgeries and can't be sure if he'll be able to come back. If he's not as athletic as LBJ et. Al. He's never going to be the guy who sits back, shoots open 3s, etc.

Jalen thinks he'll be back to All-Star level. JVG says, aside from the CLE game, he hasn't played well since his first knee surgery, and is concerned about his ability to play big minutes early--especially since he's used to playing 36 mpg.

They think that Wins and Losses will be how CHI is measured, not Rose's stats

 

[BrianFromWA]

Dwayne Wade-
Are they at the point with Wade that Ewing was in the late 90's? Coaching the aging star in decline? B/c they see themselves as they once were, not how they are now. Duncan is great at the "aging gracefully" passing on to Parker and Ginobili.
Wade, even though he's going against a team's #2 or 3 defender, was still lower than "normal" stats, but he's had problems staying healthy. Jalen thinks that unless he's really healthy, MIA is going to really struggle.
JVG predicts "rejuvenation" and that he'll "muster everything he has to have one special year"
Simmons thinks that Wade right now is #4 SG ever behind MJ, K*be and Jerry West.

 

[PDXFonz]

Thanks for the heads up. I'll be amazed if the Blazers are mentioned.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Chris Paul--Does never making Coif Finals in 10 years matter?

Rose: They're all in with Ballmer, CP3 and Blake (and paying for the role players)
JVG: Clips are going to Finals.
Simmons: CLE-LAC in Finals.
JVG: CP3 is so great. Ewing is a champion to him b/c his teams weren't great enough to overcome Pippen/Jordan. Cp3 is same way. He tries his best, and teams just haven't been good enough to help him.
In the No-Ring Saloon: Gervin, Malone, Cp3, Stockton, etc.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I'll hold off more until/if they show Blazers stuff.

 

[PDXFonz]

They offer no explanation but claim rondo will be a knick before the deadline.

 

[Strenuus]

Chris Paul--Does never making Coif Finals in 10 years matter?

Rose: They're all in with Ballmer, CP3 and Blake (and paying for the role players)
JVG: Clips are going to Finals.
Simmons: CLE-LAC in Finals.
JVG: CP3 is so great. Ewing is a champion to him b/c his teams weren't great enough to overcome Pippen/Jordan. Cp3 is same way. He tries his best, and teams just haven't been good enough to help him.
In the No-Ring Saloon: Gervin, Malone, Cp3, Stockton, etc.

Geez man. What is this, the 3rd year in a row they've said they'd be in the final... and IIRC, the Blazers have gone further than them. lol. Or at least, matched them.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Full disclosure--Simmons is a Clippers STH.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Zach Lowe sounds way different than I pictured him in my head.

 

[PDXFonz]

Taking bets on if Blazers will be mentioned.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I think they will be, even if it's just something like "OKC-POR will be interesting in the Northwest Division"

 

[PDXFonz]

I think they will be, even if it's just something like "OKC-POR will be interesting in the Northwest Division"

That counts. But I don't even think they get that.

Winner gets repped!

 

[BrianFromWA]

Done.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I dislike Jalen Rose so much.. He is like that guy who tries to be cool and hangout with the popular kids and then goes back to his regular friends and brags that he is "tight with such and such".

 

[BrianFromWA]

Interesting that Lowe brought up that most successful offensive teams in the last couple of decades have basically punted offensive rebounding to get back on D. CLE (they say) with Love may be even more efficient b/c he sucks up rebounds and can outlet to LBJ, who can just act like a "normal" PF again.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Simmons thinks Cleveland is going to challenge the Celtics' 40-1 home record.

 

[BrianFromWA]

That loss was the first game I ever listened to (on AFRTS in Germany) and the genesis of my Blazer fandom.

 

[PDXFonz]

Simmons thinks Cleveland is going to challenge the Celtics' 40-1 home record.

I think they are getting ahead of themselves. Not this year, but within the next 3 years there is a string chance that this is the best NBA team in the NBA/ABA history.

 

[Strenuus]

Simmons thinks Cleveland is going to challenge the Celtics' 40-1 home record.

So did Grantland just become a Lebron and CP3 lovefest? Good lord. Shut the fuck up already, Grantland.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

within the next 3 years there is a strong chance that this is the best NBA team in the NBA/ABA history.

I wouldn't be shocked.

 

[BrianFromWA]

LOL, Dwight's defense against POR got 4 clips of Blazers.

 

[PDXFonz]

Jalen Rose just said that "Dwight Howard is for the kids".

YOU CANT WRITE THIS SHIT. HAHA

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Anthony Davis is apparently "the destroyer of worlds".

 

[Strenuus]

Jalen Rose just said that "Dwight Howard is for the kids".

YOU CANT WRITE THIS SHIT. HAHA

hahahahahahaha.

Wait for it...


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

 

[PDXFonz]

LOL, Dwight's defense against POR got 4 clips of Blazers.

Showing them in a video doesn't count to me.

But Lowe did say "watch some of those late Portland possessions in the first round" which gets you this rep!

 

[BrianFromWA]

elfrid Payton as ROY, he reminds Simmons of Russell Wilson.

Rose/Lowe: Jabari Parker

 

[BrianFromWA]

Showing them in a video doesn't count to me.

But Lowe did say "watch some of those late Portland possessions in the first round" which gets you this rep!

Repped for the begrudging rep!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Ok, I have to admit, I enjoyed the SVG exploding head animation.