Official 2024-25 NBA Season Thread

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

Which generation is he a part of? LeBron was drafted in 2003, KD in 2007, Steph in 2009. If all of them are part of his generation until, say, 2015, no way he's a top 10 player.

If it's something like 2008 to 2015 then yeah.

Went from players drafted between 08 to 15 and here are the for sure better players

Westbrook, Harden, Steph, Kawhi, AD, Lillard, Giannis, Jokic, Embiid

There are probably 10 guys who you could make an argument for the last spot at Kyrie is one of them.

I doubt he’s even top 20 if you expand that range

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

Went from players drafted between 08 to 15 and here are the for sure better players

Westbrook, Harden, Steph, Kawhi, AD, Lillard, Giannis, Jokic, Embiid

There are probably 10 guys who you could make an argument for the last spot at Kyrie is one of them.

I doubt he’s even top 20 if you expand that range

I'll take Embiid out even if his prime was better. When it comes to totals, I think Kyrie is better.

I'll put Jimmy with him too. So it's between Kyrie, Jimmy and Klay for the last two spots.

[Nomad]

On the other hand, he is the only one of the bunch positioned to take credit if his team succeeds in the next couple years (well Harden, but that's not gonna happen).

[daeve]

Originally Posted by tjforce

His legacy is closer to guys like Iverson, McGrady, Westbrook, etc.

Nobody is calling them the GOAT, but they all have their place in NBA lore.

And before we bring up Kyrie not having and MVPs..... none of those guys I noted above have one of the greatest single shots in NBA history.

My brain definitely sees him as being closely related to AI. Both had top handles in their generation, which makes them popular in highlight videos and with the culture. Both probably too small to make a dynasty on their own because neither is the transcendent shooter that Steph is, but either could win a series or with the right pieces be the 1B on a championship team.

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

I'll take Embiid out even if his prime was better. When it comes to totals, I think Kyrie is better.

I'll put Jimmy with him too. So it's between Kyrie, Jimmy and Klay for the last two spots.

Klay not even in the convo for me.

Klay was a great role player but other than that he really has no individual accolades

Embiid still even without health has an MVP and 5x allnba with a 1st team selection.

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

I'll take Embiid out even if his prime was better. When it comes to totals, I think Kyrie is better.

I'll put Jimmy with him too. So it's between Kyrie, Jimmy and Klay for the last two spots.

GUys I would take over Klay in that range, in no order

Love, PG, Butler, Booker, Towns

[mfw13]

Having looked at everyone's schedule, I thought I'd chime in with a few thoughts on how the Western Conference race is going to play out...

OKC is locked in to 1st, and with the Lakers having a slightly easier remaining schedule than the Nuggets, I think they finish 2nd, with Denver 3rd, and Memphis falling to 4th.

Houston has been fading a bit, but have a fairly easy remaining schedule, and look like they will be able to barely hold off Golden State and Minnesota for 5th. The big wild card here is whether or not ANT can avoid picking up two more technical fouls and avoid a 2-game suspension. Golden State has the tiebreaker over both Houston and Minnesota, which may turn out to be a difference-maker, with all three clubs finishing with 48-50 wins. The Clippers and Kings have fairly tough schedules down the stretch, so I've got the Clippers fading to 8th with around 45-46 wins, and the Kings finishing with around 42-43 wins. Phoenix makes up the ground on the now "dead in the water" Mavs to grab the 10th spot.

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Having looked at everyone's schedule, I thought I'd chime in with a few thoughts on how the Western Conference race is going to play out...

OKC is locked in to 1st, and with the Lakers having a slightly easier remaining schedule than the Nuggets, I think they finish 2nd, with Denver 3rd, and Memphis falling to 4th.

Houston has been fading a bit, but have a fairly easy remaining schedule, and look like they will be able to barely hold off Golden State and Minnesota for 5th. The big wild card here is whether or not ANT can avoid picking up two more technical fouls and avoid a 2-game suspension. Golden State has the tiebreaker over both Houston and Minnesota, which may turn out to be a difference-maker, with all three clubs finishing with 48-50 wins. The Clippers and Kings have fairly tough schedules down the stretch, so I've got the Clippers fading to 8th with around 45-46 wins, and the Kings finishing with around 42-43 wins. Phoenix makes up the ground on the now "dead in the water" Mavs to grab the 10th spot.

I mostly agree, I think Lakers and Nuggets flip their place in their standings and Golden State gets to 6th. Minny ends up at 7th, Kings at 8th and they both make it over Clippers/Suns.

A Lakers/Golden State series in the first round would be awesome.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

I mostly agree, I think Lakers and Nuggets flip their place in their standings and Golden State gets to 6th. Minny ends up at 7th, Kings at 8th and they both make it over Clippers/Suns.

A Lakers/Golden State series in the first round would be awesome.

Maybe you're right....looking at the schedules, Denver's remaining schedule is actually just as tough as the Lakers. And they play each other twice. Lakers have a much better conference record, so if they split those games and finish tied, the Lakers get 2nd and the Nuggets 3rd.

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

Klay not even in the convo for me.

Klay was a great role player but other than that he really has no individual accolades

Embiid still even without health has an MVP and 5x allnba with a 1st team selection.

Still owns the single-game records for most points in a quarter (37) and 3s in a game (14).

And role player?! Come on man, Klay was a 2-way beast before his 2 major injuries.

[Asian62150]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

Still owns the single-game records for most points in a quarter (37) and 3s in a game (14).

And role player?! Come on man, Klay was a 2-way beast before his 2 major injuries.

Now that I think about it, Klay might be the best combo of shooter/defender in league history.

[daeve]

Joker grabbing boards with 3 Kings hanging on him like a jungle gym

[rhigh2390]

Originally Posted by daeve

Joker grabbing boards with 3 Kings hanging on him like a jungle gym

It seems like every game, his arms look like he was in a bar fight. Definitely doesn't get the superstar whistle that most stars get.

[daeve]

shootout now. Westbrook hitting clutch 3's with his Korean superfan in attendance but Derozan and Lavine refusing to die

[Nomad]

Sounds like 2017.

[ninjacookies]

Vintage form Strip Club Patron carries the hobbled cast of Air Bud past surging 8 Mile.




Could be the most intriguing wc playoff bracket of the past decade.

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Vintage form Strip Club Patron carries the hobbled cast of Air Bud past surging 8 Mile.




Could be the most intriguing wc playoff bracket of the past decade.

20 Free throws to 19.....

That's Harden specifically vs the entire Pistons team.

JB musta been furious and had that dumb look on his face.

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Vintage form Strip Club Patron carries the hobbled cast of Air Bud past surging 8 Mile.




Could be the most intriguing wc playoff bracket of the past decade.

Only interesting first round matchup is Denver/LA vs Golden State IMO. Even Memphis/Houston looks more like a "Who gets to lose against OKC?" the way they are playing.

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

Only interesting first round matchup is Denver/LA vs Golden State IMO. Even Memphis/Houston looks more like a "Who gets to lose against OKC?" the way they are playing.

Houston isn't interesting anymore. They were fun for a month and that faded fast.

Memphis is quickly becoming not interesting. They just haven't looked very good either and now JJJ is hurt.

[kipgen]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

Houston isn't interesting anymore. They were fun for a month and that faded fast.

Memphis is quickly becoming not interesting. They just haven't looked very good either and now JJJ is hurt.

The luster of Ime Udoka is fading now that we're going into season 2 and past the initial hot streak of early season

He's out of his depth on offense, the team is terrible at shooting across the board, and even the defense that was great early in the year and how we won most of our games is looking lethargic

Meanwhile, this is his response:







We lost? Oh well our players just didn't play hard enough. Not my fault. Basketball gods got us. It'd be nice to have Anthony Edwards on my team.

This is three separate interviews he's talking like this, and there are plenty more on top of these.

Lack of effort is one thing, maybe in a game or two the players lack the requisite "effort" to win, but every loss? Every loss they're not playing hard enough to win? Is the expectation that they give 110% every game? If the players need to give maximum effort in order to win each game they play, that's an issue of strategy, not effort. The coach's job is to put each player in the best position to succeed, maximizing the effort to results ratio. If the players are putting in max effort and not getting results, that's a sign that the coach isn't playing them correctly.

The other worrying aspect is he doesn't seem to recognize it either. He's got "his guys" in the building and from what I've heard the front office isn't looking for anyone that can help him out on the offensive side, which he desperately needs because he obviously doesn't know what he's doing on that end.

[yiguiri2002]

More than anything, this sounds like Houston will go hard after KD this offseason.

[jcardstore]

Houston desperately needs offensive players who don't suck the life out of the ball and can create efficient shots.

Between FVV, Green, Brooks they are taking 42 shots a game at 41% from the floor. Not making excuses for Ime or his offense but it's gonna be really hard to overcome that.

Especially when your 2 best players can't shoot 3s. They don't have a single 40% 3pt shooter on the entire roster.

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

Houston desperately needs offensive players who don't suck the life out of the ball and can create efficient shots.

Between FVV, Green, Brooks they are taking 42 shots a game at 41% from the floor. Not making excuses for Ime or his offense but it's gonna be really hard to overcome that.

Especially when your 2 best players can't shoot 3s. They don't have a single 40% 3pt shooter on the entire roster.

FVV + Jabari + Green and a 1st for KD + Grayson Allen + Cody Martin.

Unless San Antonio goes FU mode, I can't see anyone offering more than the Rockets.

[kipgen]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

Houston desperately needs offensive players who don't suck the life out of the ball and can create efficient shots.

Between FVV, Green, Brooks they are taking 42 shots a game at 41% from the floor. Not making excuses for Ime or his offense but it's gonna be really hard to overcome that.

Especially when your 2 best players can't shoot 3s. They don't have a single 40% 3pt shooter on the entire roster.

When one player isn't shooting well, that's a player thing. When the entire team minus the vets aren't shooting well, that becomes a team thing, and more specifically, a coach thing. What's more likely, that the Rockets just happen to have the worst collection of shooters in the league by a giant margin on a talent basis, or that they're being given bad information?

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by kipgen

When one player isn't shooting well, that's a player thing. When the entire team minus the vets aren't shooting well, that becomes a team thing, and more specifically, a coach thing. What's more likely, that the Rockets just happen to have the worst collection of shooters in the league by a giant margin on a talent basis, or that they're being given bad information?

1) I think the Rockets have a bunch of players who can’t shoot

2) I blame Stone more than anyone for not really having any team building vision. The FVV and Brooks signings made no sense at the time and even less now. I mean I kind of get the defense first / toughness mentality from Ime but at a certain point you need to bring in players who compliment each other.

The Rockets need to take this offseason and offload anyone non-core. (FVV, Green, Jabari) and start thinking about how they can build a team around Amen with Sengun being the secondary building block