OFFICIAL AROUND THE NBA THREAD - July 2021

[julius]

The Suns are in the finals because of 1 person, and that's Chris Paul.

Let's not act like their team is super deep, or their coaching staff has suddenly gotten a lot better. Chris Paul, as much as he's a schmo, is magical. He's Schmagical.

Take him off the team, and they're probably a 7th or 6th seed.

 

[illmatic99]

The Suns are in the finals because of 1 person, and that's Chris Paul.

Let's not act like their team is super deep, or their coaching staff has suddenly gotten a lot better. Chris Paul, as much as he's a schmo, is magical. He's Schmagical.

Take him off the team, and they're probably a 7th or 6th seed.

if anthony davis is healthy, do they get past round 1? yes those are the breaks of the game, i realize.

too bad we couldn't take advantage of our opponents having injuries.

 

[TBpup]

did i say anything about our shit team?

you said they had "tremendous drafts." They absolutely did NOT. In fact, their GM got fired over it.

I'll take those Drafts their GM got fired over any day over ours as of late. The contributions Ayton, Bridges, Booker, etc have made are 'tremendous'.

I didn't say you said anything about our "shit team" did I. Just was using ours for comparison.

Can I get you a coffee? Seem a bit grumpy this morning.

 

[illmatic99]

I'll take those Drafts their GM got fired over any day over ours as of late. The contributions Ayton, Bridges, Booker, etc have made are 'tremendous'.

I didn't say you said anything about our "shit team" did I. Just was using ours for comparison.

Can I get you a coffee? Seem a bit grumpy this morning.

3 hits with like 11 shots on goal in the lottery is terrible. And if they drafted Luka like they should have, they would not have traded for Paul. Meaning they prolly would not be where they are now. Things broke perfectly for them.

I just wish we can get luck like that sometime.

 

[PCmor7]

You can guarantee that no matter what success someone or a team has, someone will throw the 'they got lucky' card at them. There is a degree of luck in almost everything. They are in the Finals. Our team, with a player that is better than anyone they have and with more players that the GM and many fans don't want to give up.....can't get by a decimated team (Denver) that the Suns swept in the next round.

I'm not going to take anything away from what they have accomplished from being last in the West just a couple of years ago to where they are now. Congrats to them and their 'lucky' fans.

I don't think injuries are luck. Constitution and endurance are attributes, just like strength and speed. They often decline with age, just like other physical skills.

Of course, some injuries are flukes, but some players also get injured and lot and it isn't always by accident.

Then, there's also the factor that, with a salary cap, the more you invest in one, two, or three players, the less there is left to fill out your depth, and you either need those top guys to consistently perform or you need your supporting players to overperform. It's all about team building.

The Suns have gotten where they are with an aging and sometimes unavailable Chris Paul. They overcame the adversity that stalled other teams because they were built to do so. There's very little luck involved, and what luck was involved, they were constructed to be in a position to take advantage of it. They deserve their credit.

 

[TBpup]

First it was 9 picks, now it's 11. The 'goal' line seems to be moving.

And of course no one hits on all of their picks. However, they got significant contributions from recent Draft picks. If people want to go all the way back to the Bender and Len picks, that is fine. I'm referring OBVIOUSLY to the more recent picks who are on the team and contributing.

But feel free to keep picking them apart. More important things for me to do today.

 

[illmatic99]

First it was 9 picks, now it's 11. The 'goal' line seems to be moving.

And of course no one hits on all of their picks. However, they got significant contributions from recent Draft picks. If people want to go all the way back to the Bender and Len picks, that is fine. I'm referring OBVIOUSLY to the more recent picks who are on the team and contributing.

But feel free to keep picking them apart. More important things for me to do today.

if neil had 9 lottery picks in 8 yrs, or 11 lottery picks in 10 years, and only HIT on 3 of them, you would be among the first ones trying to skewer him. but the Suns are "tremendous" at drafting.

alright then

 

[Natebishop3]

For me, it's not really so much the past 9 years for Phoenix, but more so what they have done to build around Booker in the past couple years. They really did a fantastic job of making trades and signing free agents to take advantage of their stars. Yes, Chris Paul is a huge reason for their success this year, but it was obvious in the bubble last year that Phoenix was talented and that they were starting to put the pieces together. So the Phoenix front office recognized the potential of the team and went out and got Paul and Crowder. Unlike our front office who won't seem to take any big swings to put talent around Dame. Phoenix isn't in the Finals if they don't trade for Paul and just try to run it back this year (where have I heard that phrase before?)

I still think Dame carrying this team to the playoffs in 2015-2016 completely jacked up Neil's plan. I think he was expecting a very bad year that would put us in the lottery with potentially another star from that draft. Instead CJ take a big leap and Dame proved that he could carry the team as the #1.

 

[riverman]

The Suns coach is underrated..Monty Williams has been super impressive with his results in Phoenix...mad respect but I think CP3 who played under Monty in New Orleans was a perfect match to get them there....Booker is Dame's favorite player in the league by his own words..he's a superstar...CP3 opened up his game to another level...I'm happy for Monty...he's a great coach.

 

[boredinsalem]

Is anyone else wondering if the Warriors are really going to pay > $100M in luxury tax next year? It seems like they want to bring back Oubre, but they're in repeater luxury tax hell right now.

I'm wondering if they're going to try to send out Wiggins for cap relief. Also curious if they go after Siakam or Simmons if we could send out CJ to a third team and find a way to bring in Draymond.

The "way too big will never happen" deal I threw together is below.

I don't think any trades that big are realistic, but Toronto's lineup looks pretty nice for a young rebuild.

Vanvleet/Trent (if re-signed)/Wiggins/Anunoby/Simmons - and that's not taking into account they'd have picks 4 and 7.

 

[Cugel]

It's pointless to play the "if only they/we were healthy" game. It is meaningless and a crutch. Facts are facts. Suns in the finals.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

The narrative that the Suns are smart and we're dumb is, frankly, stupid shit used by some to justify their Neil hate. I get it, Neil hasn't been perfect. But, neither have the Suns.

3 hits in, what, 9 lotto picks? OK, but 1 of those was the #1 overall pick. That draft they took Ayton, but could also have taken Young or Doncic. Certainly not a lot of brain power required.

Chris Paul trade? Here's the trade:
In return for Paul and forward Abdel Nader, the Thunder received Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and a 2022 first-round pick from the Suns.

Can you name 3 people on these message boards who WOULDN'T make that trade - again, a no-brainer.

I'm not saying they're complete idiots, they hired a great coach! But, they mostly screwed up their drafts, but hit on booker, fortuitously bought low on Chris Paul, and ran into injured teams.

Here's the deal, the Suns fans have paid for this success by having a LOT of losses - that's the idea. Are you willing to have the Blazers lose for 10 years for a SHOT at the finals? Here are the Suns win totals for the last couple of years:
51
34
19
21
24
23

 

[Hoopguru]

Congrats to the Suns!!

Tremendous Drafting, smart trades, good development of the young players, to put them in a place to take advantage of Home Court and any obstacles other teams might have. It's part of the game.

Well done!

They have a wacko owner, fired the GM that drafted the youngsters, and haven't been the the playoffs in ten years. It cool this see them make the leap but as major sports town fans had options while they sucked for the last decade. We really dont, and no way would Blazer Fans put up with 10 years of not making the playoffs when more than half the teams do.
We couldn't hold onto triple A baseball.

 

[Natebishop3]

The narrative that the Suns are smart and we're dumb is, frankly, stupid shit used by some to justify their Neil hate. I get it, Neil hasn't been perfect. But, neither have the Suns.

3 hits in, what, 9 lotto picks? OK, but 1 of those was the #1 overall pick. That draft they took Ayton, but could also have taken Young or Doncic. Certainly not a lot of brain power required.

Chris Paul trade? Here's the trade:
In return for Paul and forward Abdel Nader, the Thunder received Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and a 2022 first-round pick from the Suns.

Can you name 3 people on these message boards who WOULDN'T make that trade - again, a no-brainer.

I'm not saying they're complete idiots, they hired a great coach! But, they mostly screwed up their drafts, but hit on booker, fortuitously bought low on Chris Paul, and ran into injured teams.

Here's the deal, the Suns fans have paid for this success by having a LOT of losses - that's the idea. Are you willing to have the Blazers lose for 10 years for a SHOT at the finals? Here are the Suns win totals for the last couple of years:
51
34
19
21
24
23

I'm not entirely sure Young or Doncic would work with Booker. I'm also not sure they're in the finals right now if they have Young or Doncic instead of CP3 and Ayton.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I'm not entirely sure Young or Doncic would work with Booker. I'm also not sure they're in the finals right now if they have Young or Doncic instead of CP3 and Ayton.

They'd be just as good or better long term. Of course, it's impossible to know for this year.

 

[Natebishop3]

They'd be just as good or better long term. Of course, it's impossible to know for this year.

What would you rather have, one championship now or Luka/Booker long term?

Personally? Knowing what I know about the NBA? I'd take the ring now.

 

[e_blazer]

I'm not entirely sure Young or Doncic would work with Booker. I'm also not sure they're in the finals right now if they have Young or Doncic instead of CP3 and Ayton.

I think you're missing the larger point. The Suns are a good team, but they've benefitted from a shit-ton of breaks. That's not throwing shade on them. It's been my position for years that the goal of small market teams isn't to try to build the super-teams that the major markets can assemble because of their competitive advantages; rather the goal is to put together a really strong team that can be in a position to make a run for a title when the super-teams suffer breakdowns. The Suns are in that enviable position this year. It's not a great stretch to see the Blazers putting themselves in that position by next year. Those kinds of teams need lucky breaks to win it all, but as we're seeing this year, lucky breaks do happen.

 

[wizenheimer]

The narrative that the Suns are smart and we're dumb is, frankly, stupid shit used by some to justify their Neil hate. I get it, Neil hasn't been perfect. But, neither have the Suns.

3 hits in, what, 9 lotto picks? OK, but 1 of those was the #1 overall pick. That draft they took Ayton, but could also have taken Young or Doncic. Certainly not a lot of brain power required.

Chris Paul trade? Here's the trade:
In return for Paul and forward Abdel Nader, the Thunder received Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and a 2022 first-round pick from the Suns.

Can you name 3 people on these message boards who WOULDN'T make that trade - again, a no-brainer.

I'm not saying they're complete idiots, they hired a great coach! But, they mostly screwed up their drafts, but hit on booker, fortuitously bought low on Chris Paul, and ran into injured teams.

Here's the deal, the Suns fans have paid for this success by having a LOT of losses - that's the idea. Are you willing to have the Blazers lose for 10 years for a SHOT at the finals? Here are the Suns win totals for the last couple of years:
51
34
19
21
24
23

I'm sorry but that is a nonsense argument in my view

why? Well, how many of those Phoenix fuck-ups were committed by James Jones? The difference between Phoenix and Portland is that Phoenix ownership recognized they had mediocre management and corrected it instead of spending 9 fucking years in rinse/repeat mode....going on 10 now

before Jones took over (he handled the 2018 draft and was named GM in October of that year), Phoenix had one player on their roster that is till there today: Devin Booker. Jones built a contender around Booker in 3 years. Olshey hasn't built a contender around Dame in 9 years. That's comparing the results of great management vs mediocre management

 

[Fairly-Hard]

U telling me a healthy lakers, nuggets and or clippers team wouldn't take out the suns

I’m telling you the Suns haven’t been healthy either.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm sorry but that is a nonsense argument in my view

why? Well, how many of those Phoenix fuck-ups were committed by James Jones? The difference between Phoenix and Portland is that Phoenix ownership recognized they had mediocre management and corrected it instead of spending 9 fucking years in rinse/repeat mode....going on 10 now

before Jones took over (he handled the 2018 draft and was named GM in October of that year), Phoenix had one player on their roster that is till there today: Devin Booker. Jones built a contender around Booker in 3 years. Olshey hasn't built a contender around Dame in 9 years. That's comparing the results of great management vs mediocre management

Ding ding ding!

 

[DDolla]

Dame to the Lakers confirmed with Blevins lol

 

[julius]

I'll take those Drafts their GM got fired over any day over ours as of late. The contributions Ayton, Bridges, Booker, etc have made are 'tremendous'.

I didn't say you said anything about our "shit team" did I. Just was using ours for comparison.

Can I get you a coffee? Seem a bit grumpy this morning.

so you'd rather the team have high lotto picks instead?

 

[Wizard Mentor]

They'd be just as good or better long term. Of course, it's impossible to know for this year.

No, No, No, and you wouldn't either.
Your logic presupposes all of these current playoff team injuries.
The best strategy is to go for long term greatest if you have a young team.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Dame to the Lakers confirmed with Blevins lol

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[Idog1976]

TIL that Steve Balmer seems to be gay and a sexual predator? WTF?

Playing mind reader for a sec

Guy to right of Balmer (camera left) is like:

“Hey Steve, STEVE bro! Man, don’t grab my sack wtf bro?!”

 

[Idog1976]

Is anyone else wondering if the Warriors are really going to pay > $100M in luxury tax next year? It seems like they want to bring back Oubre, but they're in repeater luxury tax hell right now.

I'm wondering if they're going to try to send out Wiggins for cap relief. Also curious if they go after Siakam or Simmons if we could send out CJ to a third team and find a way to bring in Draymond.

The "way too big will never happen" deal I threw together is below.

I don't think any trades that big are realistic, but Toronto's lineup looks pretty nice for a young rebuild.

Vanvleet/Trent (if re-signed)/Wiggins/Anunoby/Simmons - and that's not taking into account they'd have picks 4 and 7.

View attachment 39355

It’s cool we have Raptors fans posting here in the Blazers forum.

 

[Dom McBlazer]

LOL Pacers

 

[blazerkor]

Is anyone else wondering if the Warriors are really going to pay > $100M in luxury tax next year? It seems like they want to bring back Oubre, but they're in repeater luxury tax hell right now.

I'm wondering if they're going to try to send out Wiggins for cap relief. Also curious if they go after Siakam or Simmons if we could send out CJ to a third team and find a way to bring in Draymond.

The "way too big will never happen" deal I threw together is below.

I don't think any trades that big are realistic, but Toronto's lineup looks pretty nice for a young rebuild.

Vanvleet/Trent (if re-signed)/Wiggins/Anunoby/Simmons - and that's not taking into account they'd have picks 4 and 7.

View attachment 39355

If we can get Simmons for CJ straight up, that is the deal to make for us. He is far more valuable than Dray. I would take Paul George before Simmons but of all the people that I can think of that might be available this off season PG13 is the only one I would take ahead of Simmons for the same price.

Yes, if we trade Simmons then we would probably need to trade Nurk and get a stretch big in return but Simmons current game and ceiling are just too valuable to pass up on unless you can get someone of Paul George's level instead.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Fun yet irritating fact.

No Western Conference team outside of California or Texas has won the title since 1979 (Seattle)