Red Mosquito

verb_to_trust wrote:If John Collins had a cooler name people would pay more attention to him. Dude is good. Zion to the Hawks would create a real powder keg down there.

This is a good point. John Collins name is Al Horford's game.

verb_to_trust wrote:Truthfully, the warriors are just a Steph injury away from 2nd round exit.

Sounds like the Rockets and Chris Paul's 2018.

4/5 wrote:You realize if KD leaves the Warriors we can go back to a world of talking about basketball and matchups and strategy instead of free agency, salary cap implications, and tanking strategy???

That ship has sailed. Competitive Balance now hinges on retraction which won't happen.

4/5 wrote:

Monkey_Driven wrote:

verb_to_trust wrote:

4/5 wrote:You realize if KD leaves the Warriors we can go back to a world of talking about basketball and matchups and strategy instead of free agency, salary cap implications, and tanking strategy???

Hate to break it to you but the toothpaste is not getting back into the tube at this point. All this player movement and drama drives interest. It's what fans want.

Yeah, that's what people want to see.

It's fine as a side dish. It's sugary junk food and I like it too sometimes. I just want the main dish back, that's all.

So I should have said "instead of JUST free agency..."

Player movement is like 90% of what decides the champion. So: Durant being a cupcake is the 90 and the other 10 is hitting on a late first or early second round draft pick.

Klay wants the crazy rich Asians at Oracle to "stand up or something" lol

The concept of competitive balance is impossible in a league where players have so much power, contracts are so high, and in a sport where only five players can be on the court at the same time.

Monkey_Driven wrote:The concept of competitive balance is impossible in a league where players have so much power, contracts are so high, and in a sport where only five players can be on the court at the same time.

Agreed. It's never really existed for very long anyway. I just want for there to be a real non-injury-based argument for who will win the championship going into a season. That's pretty much it.

My post was just thinking about how interesting next season )as opposed to just the offseason/player movement stuff) could actually be for the first time in a little bit.

Lol@ the clip of Kerr saying he's "so fucking tired of Draymond"

4/5 wrote:

Monkey_Driven wrote:The concept of competitive balance is impossible in a league where players have so much power, contracts are so high, and in a sport where only five players can be on the court at the same time.

Agreed. It's never really existed for very long anyway. I just want for there to be a real non-injury-based argument for who will win the championship going into a season. That's pretty much it.

My post was just thinking about how interesting next season )as opposed to just the offseason/player movement stuff) could actually be for the first time in a little bit.

Dallas and Detroit's titles are really the only somewhat recent examples of non-star studded teams winning it all.

More challengers in each conference would certainly enliven the playoffs a bit. I think this year's playoffs will be really good, especially in the East. I can see 2-4 teams in the East giving the Warriors at least 5 or 6 games, if not 7.

Rockets are surging too in the West.

4/5 wrote:

Monkey_Driven wrote:The concept of competitive balance is impossible in a league where players have so much power, contracts are so high, and in a sport where only five players can be on the court at the same time.

Agreed. It's never really existed for very long anyway. I just want for there to be a real non-injury-based argument for who will win the championship going into a season. That's pretty much it.

My post was just thinking about how interesting next season )as opposed to just the offseason/player movement stuff) could actually be for the first time in a little bit.

Yeah if you removed the warriors it would truly be a free for all. By my count 8 teams could arguably make a title run.

verb_to_trust wrote:

4/5 wrote:

Monkey_Driven wrote:The concept of competitive balance is impossible in a league where players have so much power, contracts are so high, and in a sport where only five players can be on the court at the same time.

Agreed. It's never really existed for very long anyway. I just want for there to be a real non-injury-based argument for who will win the championship going into a season. That's pretty much it.

My post was just thinking about how interesting next season )as opposed to just the offseason/player movement stuff) could actually be for the first time in a little bit.

Yeah if you removed the warriors it would truly be a free for all. By my count 8 teams could arguably make a title run.

Nets or Pistons would win it all.

Everyone except KAT is injured on the Wolves right now.

Rockets win without Harden. Warriors win without KD. Weird season series.

I dislike Harden so much that I liked when Curry D'd up on him and yelled at him.

4/5 wrote:I dislike Harden so much that I liked when Curry D'd up on him and yelled at him.

I did too.

I can't wait for Harden to have 9 turnovers and go 2-13 from 3 in a pivotal playoff game this year.

4/5 wrote:
Inb4 the "should the Lakers trade Lebron" hot take immediately followed by the scorching, "would anybody even want him?" rejoinder.

And we're officially there. BR has an anonymous GM saying he wouldn't give more than one protected 1st.

I love how much the league now overvalues 1st round picks. Especially not top-10 protected picks.

There is zero chance LeBron is traded

verb_to_trust wrote:There is zero chance LeBron is traded

I agree, but it would be kind of hilarious. Also, I hope AD goes to the Bucks next year. Fuck LA, Boston, and NY.

And by next year I mean after his contract is up, obviously.