NBA Thread

[swan]

MJ had an old man game. Lebron isn't chase down blocking anyone at 35 and his jumper is pretty broke by comparison. He'll deteriorate pretty fast as an elite player once the first injury hits.

LeBron absolutely needs to fix his jumper. You're right, his game as it currently is will not age well. I don't put it past him to adjust and become a good enough shooter to age well but he's going to need to put in work for sure.

His way of aging might be transition fully towards a Magic style of pass first, rebound second, and score third type of game. If he has a really good scorer like Kyrie with him it could work.

I don't know, his jumper looked pretty damn good the last week or so

[spike]

MJ had an old man game. Lebron isn't chase down blocking anyone at 35 and his jumper is pretty broke by comparison. He'll deteriorate pretty fast as an elite player once the first injury hits.

LeBron absolutely needs to fix his jumper. You're right, his game as it currently is will not age well. I don't put it past him to adjust and become a good enough shooter to age well but he's going to need to put in work for sure.

His way of aging might be transition fully towards a Magic style of pass first, rebound second, and score third type of game. If he has a really good scorer like Kyrie with him it could work.

i see lebron further developing his post game, and also depending on a fifteen foot jump shot. he's plenty big enough to pull it off. and yeah, the rebounding and especially the court vision will always be there.

[spike]

The Warriors Went From Heroes to Villains in Record Time

[Orpheus]

If Kobe can develop a late-career post game, Lebron sure as shit can.

[Simple Torture]

When MJ was 31 he had 3 rings in 3 appearances and 3 MVP's. Lebron has 4 MVPs the same amount of rings and double the appearances. He'll get to at least 3 more finals whether he wins who knows but its not out of the question he catches MJ.

You know what's insane? Through his age 31 season, MJ logged 13422 regular season minutes and 5065 playoff minutes--that's 18487 minutes total. LeBron has more than twice as many regular season minutes as MJ had total minutes--38478--plus another 8383 playoff minutes for 46861 total minutes, twice MJ's total. I'm sure his training regimen is more intense and pointed than what Jordan did in the '90s, but those knees are going to go eventually.

[verb_to_trust]

The HGH has helped

[veddar10]

We can agree to disagree. Although I will say that it seems what you are suggesting is Bosh should have been more of a centerpiece on a team with prime wade and Lebron. He fit the situation perfectly in the end because he decided he was going to be a pro. I think love has failed at figuring out what bosh did.

I don't want draymond to ever experience happiness again btw.

I don't think Love has failed completely. Had a nice game last night where he found a way to contribute big on the glass. Although I do think Bosh could have been utilized more effectively centerpiece might be taking it too far. Yes Bosh was a pro about his role and I assume he thinks he could have been incorporated into the offense better. Ultimately I guess I think if they need to have a big 3 the third guy doesn't need to that type of player and they won't ever get proper value out of the salary these two guys have received playing that role. They can find a stretch four that doesn't need a $100 contract. I wonder if they trade Love.

[veddar10]

Yeah, Bosh is awesome. People talked about Bosh like he was Love but he was much, much better. Wade is better as all-time player but Bosh was easily more important for that team.

Bosh is a very underrated defender, great mid range shooter, good passer, developed a 3 when they they asked him to, could handle being the 3rd option. He is IMO easily one of the most underrated players of this generation.

And he's a smart, well-spoken, thoughtful, interesting guy.
Team Bosh for life.

I knew you'd come through

dammit I just can't ignore. I guess I always just wanted to see Bosh do more in Miami of what got him those $100 million contracts putting up huge numbers for the Raptors. He used to be a beast scoring on the block and it pretty much as disappeared in Miami.

[Bammer]

Yeah, Bosh is awesome. People talked about Bosh like he was Love but he was much, much better. Wade is better as all-time player but Bosh was easily more important for that team.

Bosh is a very underrated defender, great mid range shooter, good passer, developed a 3 when they they asked him to, could handle being the 3rd option. He is IMO easily one of the most underrated players of this generation.

And he's a smart, well-spoken, thoughtful, interesting guy.
Team Bosh for life.

I knew you'd come through

dammit I just can't ignore. I guess I always just wanted to see Bosh do more in Miami of what got him those $100 million contracts putting up huge numbers for the Raptors. He used to be a beast scoring on the block and it pretty much as disappeared in Miami.

After watching the NBA this year I have a question: What is scoring on the block?

[verb_to_trust]

Next year will be the rise of the 5 out offensive revolution. Plus I heard warriors are going to experiment with a small ball lineup with Curry at the 5.

[Peeps]

After watching the NBA this year I have a question: What is scoring on the block?

i may be mistaken and verb or electro can comment, i believe it is generally considered anywhere from 1/2 way down the lane to the baseline

[Bammer]

After watching the NBA this year I have a question: What is scoring on the block?

i may be mistaken and verb or electro can comment, i believe it is generally considered anywhere from 1/2 way down the lane to the baseline

Yeah nobody does that anymore

Spoiler: show

Ha ha by the way yes, let's please call in an expert to explain it because it was a completely serious question

[Monkey_Driven]

Shit, the draft is this week.

Think we'll see any tasty trades? Surely Boston will be active, they have like 354 picks.

[Joesanity]

I think Love stays. He played really well until the Finals (outside of a couple games against Toronto, but nobody played well in those) and Golden State has always been a bad matchup for him.

Can they use him better? Of course. Will the coaching staff figure it out at all this offseason? Maybe.

Plus I don't think there's a deal out there right now that will give back enough for Cleveland to pull the trigger. Unless LeBron commits to playing the 4 full time, then Love is expendable.

[Monkey_Driven]

I think Love stays. He played really well until the Finals (outside of a couple games against Toronto, but nobody played well in those) and Golden State has always been a bad matchup for him.

Can they use him better? Of course. Will the coaching staff figure it out at all this offseason? Maybe.

Plus I don't think there's a deal out there right now that will give back enough for Cleveland to pull the trigger. Unless LeBron commits to playing the 4 full time, then Love is expendable.

If the Cavs can get rid of him and get a couple 3 and D perimeter guys while also shedding salary, they need to to do it.

[4/5]

I think Love stays. He played really well until the Finals (outside of a couple games against Toronto, but nobody played well in those) and Golden State has always been a bad matchup for him.

Can they use him better? Of course. Will the coaching staff figure it out at all this offseason? Maybe.

Plus I don't think there's a deal out there right now that will give back enough for Cleveland to pull the trigger. Unless LeBron commits to playing the 4 full time, then Love is expendable.

If the Cavs can get rid of him and get a couple 3 and D perimeter guys while also shedding salary, they need to to do it.

I agree. I don't think Love is a net negative but they're sinking too much money into what is essentially a spread the floor and get rebounds when Thompson isn't in role. It's also true that GS provides a uniquely bad matchup for him. I think he could be a big contributor in a potential series against the Thunder.

Ultimately, they might just have to figure out how they think he'll help them against the Warriors, Thunder, or Spurs because that's really the only time it'll matter.

[Monkey_Driven]

Cavs also need some picks in the next couple years.

[verb_to_trust]

Why do people care how much money guys make? Gilbert obviously doesn't and now he has a ring. The question with love is not whether he plays to the actual value of his contract it's: does this guy actually just suck?

[4/5]

Why do people care how much money guys make? Gilbert obviously doesn't and now he has a ring. The question with love is not whether he plays to the actual value of his contract it's: does this guy actually just suck?

100% disagree. It's not that I care one bit about Dan
Gilbert's bottom line; it's the opportunity cost of having a $110m stretch 4 that doesn't play defense. With the salary cap in place the Cavs are essentially excluded from free agency beyond whatever exceptions they may have. I see trading Love (to Boston?) for a couple of guys as a way for them to potentially improve, perhaps their best way to do so.

I read that they could save $15m next year by dumping him. Combine that with the huge cap increase idk if they could possibly sign someone (between when LeBron opts out and then resigns). I'm not sure if they're in position for that or not.

So it's not about his salary, it's about how his salary limits them in other ways with the salary cap. Also, Love doesn't suck, so I think the question is "can we improve by dumping Love or is keeping him our best option?"

[verb_to_trust]

I think his body of work outside of playing pointless stat grab minutes for a bad team clearly points to suck.