Red Mosquito

I blame Serge Ibaka's stupid calf.

4/5 wrote:I blame Serge Ibaka's stupid calf.

They might as well have been his 2007 Cavaliers supporting cast.

Wade looked a lot like Larry Hughes in this series.

I can't understand what happened with Wade. He looked great in the Pacers series but he barely could get off the ground in the Finals. He was looking trying to draw a foul on almost every shot there in the last few games. Why?

Was it...

-being guarded by sound defensive players/system?
-lack of consistency in his game due to aging/knees?
-being worn out/down playing D against the Spurs pass happy attack?
-just a few bad games in a row?

Which leads me to some of these questions...

-Will Wade adjust his game to accommodate his again body?
-Will he be willing to move to the bench or take a pay cut?
-Every play transition defense?

I think that Wade is just getting older. Maybe he gave it all he had, and it just isn't enough anymore. Maybe he's more of a sixth man guy now. My bet is that he'll never leave Miami and stay there until retirement, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him play out the the string there, sign a team friendly deal and continue to enjoy all that South Beach, etc. offers.

Coach wrote:I think that Wade is just getting older. Maybe he gave it all he had, and it just isn't enough anymore. Maybe he's more of a sixth man guy now. My bet is that he'll never leave Miami and stay there until retirement, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him play out the the string there, sign a team friendly deal and continue to enjoy all that South Beach, etc. offers.

I hope he plays his entire career there as well. I think he would excellent as a sixth man, 25 minutes a game type of player in the next couple of years.

Celtics fans: Do you want some Love or not? I'm undecided. I guess it depends on their ability to keep Rondo and add another legit star and improve the supporting cast. Will lightning strike twice with a Boston-Minnesota deal?

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... b_headline

Report: Timberwolves Believe Best Trade Offer for Kevin Love Will Come From Celtics

Brian Robb

Boston.com Correspondent
JUNE 17, 2014 11:37 AM

With the NBA Draft just nine days away, the trade market for the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Love is starting to heat up again. According to a new report from ESPN’s Chad Ford, the Wolves may be coming to the realization that the best trade offer for Love may come from the Celtics.

But I continue to get strong signals that the Celtics are trying hard to use pick No. 6 and 17 along with future No. 1s and young players such as Jared Sullinger or Kelly Olynyk to persuade the Minnesota Timberwolves to trade them Kevin Love. One source close to the Wolves said that while Flip Saunders does not want to trade Love, he realizes the team likely will lose him this summer and the package the Celtics are offering is probably the best he's going to get. Given the strength of the draft, picks 6, 13 and 17 could land them three young starters to help them rebuild their roster quickly.

Analysis: Ford’s report is a welcome sign for Celtics fans that have heard conflicting reports in recent weeks that Boston’s trade package might be enough to land Love.

The more you look at the potential list of suitors for Love though, the more sense it makes that the Celtics will be able to make a top bid if they choose. The Rockets reportedly know they are outgunned in any trade offer for Love already.

Teams like the Bulls, Suns, and Warriors can offer young talent such as Jimmy Butler or Harrison Barnes for Love, but lack a high lottery pick Boston can provide in a deal. Additionally, the value of players like Barnes or Butler is limited since they only have a year or two remaining on their current rookie-scale contracts. After that, both players will be due for serious raises in free agency, limiting their value to a rebuilding Minnesota team.

A Celtics package of this year’s first round picks (6+17), Olynyk (under contract for three more years) and Sullinger (under contract for two more years) would provide the Wolves with young cost-controlled talent they would crave for the remainder of the decade. Boston also has the ability to sweeten any offer with additional future first round picks or ample salary cap relief via non-guaranteed contracts (Keith Bogans, Chris Johnson, Phil Pressey, Chris Babb) on their roster.

Signed first round picks are under a team's control via rookie-scale contracts for four full seasons, making them particularly appealing to rebuilding franchises. The Celtics have nine first rounds picks over the next five seasons that they can use in any deal.

There’s still plenty of time for other teams to jump into the fold for Love with more competitive offers, but with their bevy of assets you can bet Boston's front office will remain in top contention for Love's services until the Wolves pull the trigger on a deal.

so the Bulls had the best offer and now the Celtics? Finally, the Bulls aren't the ones being used as leverage.

Coach wrote:Celtics fans: Do you want some Love or not? I'm undecided. I guess it depends on their ability to keep Rondo and add another legit star and improve the supporting cast. Will lightning strike twice with a Boston-Minnesota deal?

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... b_headline

Report: Timberwolves Believe Best Trade Offer for Kevin Love Will Come From Celtics

Brian Robb

Boston.com Correspondent
JUNE 17, 2014 11:37 AM

With the NBA Draft just nine days away, the trade market for the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Love is starting to heat up again. According to a new report from ESPN’s Chad Ford, the Wolves may be coming to the realization that the best trade offer for Love may come from the Celtics.

But I continue to get strong signals that the Celtics are trying hard to use pick No. 6 and 17 along with future No. 1s and young players such as Jared Sullinger or Kelly Olynyk to persuade the Minnesota Timberwolves to trade them Kevin Love. One source close to the Wolves said that while Flip Saunders does not want to trade Love, he realizes the team likely will lose him this summer and the package the Celtics are offering is probably the best he's going to get. Given the strength of the draft, picks 6, 13 and 17 could land them three young starters to help them rebuild their roster quickly.

Analysis: Ford’s report is a welcome sign for Celtics fans that have heard conflicting reports in recent weeks that Boston’s trade package might be enough to land Love.

The more you look at the potential list of suitors for Love though, the more sense it makes that the Celtics will be able to make a top bid if they choose. The Rockets reportedly know they are outgunned in any trade offer for Love already.

Teams like the Bulls, Suns, and Warriors can offer young talent such as Jimmy Butler or Harrison Barnes for Love, but lack a high lottery pick Boston can provide in a deal. Additionally, the value of players like Barnes or Butler is limited since they only have a year or two remaining on their current rookie-scale contracts. After that, both players will be due for serious raises in free agency, limiting their value to a rebuilding Minnesota team.

A Celtics package of this year’s first round picks (6+17), Olynyk (under contract for three more years) and Sullinger (under contract for two more years) would provide the Wolves with young cost-controlled talent they would crave for the remainder of the decade. Boston also has the ability to sweeten any offer with additional future first round picks or ample salary cap relief via non-guaranteed contracts (Keith Bogans, Chris Johnson, Phil Pressey, Chris Babb) on their roster.

Signed first round picks are under a team's control via rookie-scale contracts for four full seasons, making them particularly appealing to rebuilding franchises. The Celtics have nine first rounds picks over the next five seasons that they can use in any deal.

There’s still plenty of time for other teams to jump into the fold for Love with more competitive offers, but with their bevy of assets you can bet Boston's front office will remain in top contention for Love's services until the Wolves pull the trigger on a deal.

I think it would be a good deal for both sides. Boston would definitely need to add another star though. Love is more of a really good second guy. He needs a coach that will really force him to protect the rim rather than turning around to get a potential rebound. Otherwise, he is a ton of fun to watch.

One rumor that has since quieted down a bit was a Rondo-Love-Anthony situation in Boston. Anthony would be the additional star they'd need, but you have to hold your nose with that one given that Melo can't/won't play defense.

Is there a superstar bold enough that if he were a free agent the summer Duncan retires he'd say "I want to go to San Antonio and be the new main cog in that machine"? That is, assuming Pops doesn't leave when Duncan does (which he probably will).

I mean, if Kevin Love was really so damn worried about winning, there'd be worse ways to go about his business than playing out his contract in Minnesota, seeing if Duncan retires next summer, and walking into that situation.

The Celts should want Love. I'd do everything within reason to get him. All the complaints I hear about him not making others better and never making the playoffs is a goof. Who besides Lebron could drag that Timberwolves team to the playoffs in the West by themselves? Rondo and Love would be a great start. Probably won't happen.

Please take a moment to admire the great LeBron for the special talent he is. It never gets old looking at the King's history. So many accomplishments Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan will never achieve:

1. Bronze 2006
2. Bronze 2004
3. NBA finals sweep 2007
4. Go entire Finals scoring 20 pts only one time
5. Quit on his team the year after he promises a championship
6. Dunked on by a highschool kid and then confiscate tape
7. Bail on the dunk contest 9 times
8. Only able to win a ring with 2 superstars
9. 7th best player in NBA finals series.
10. Average 1.8 pts in the 4th quarter of NBA finals.
11. Lose not 1, not 2, but 3 times in the Finals.
12. Host a national televised TV show to leave his team
13. Play on the same team as his moms boyfriend
14. Go 2 for 18 in an NBA playoff game.
15. Get stuffed by a player under 6 feet (Nate Robinson)
16. Flop every single game in the playoffs
17. Choke 4 out of 5 finals games by dropping FG% by 18
18. Vow revenge for 2007 sweep, then proceed to choke again

Some guy posted this in one of the ESPN article talkbacks. I have no idea if all this is accurate but number 13 made me laugh.

Remember back in the days before Lebron when it was Kobe who got all of this shit? And now Kobe is held up as something Lebron can't live up to.

I wonder if people will be like "Wake me up when Jabari Parker makes four straight finals, cause till them I'm not impressed" in ten years.

Its gotten to the point where if you aren't Jordan you suck yet most of the people who say that never watched Jordan or don't remember him very well. I seem to recall a lot of 9 for 27 shooting performances. His supporting cast is criminally underrated. One odd thing I realized last night was I barley remember the Shaq/Kobe years. I'm trying to remember all the legendary Kobe performances. I gotta youtube.

I'm a die hard Chicago Bulls fan, so obviously I think the world of Jordan, but you're right. His reputation has gotten a bit insane at this point. You'd think he dragged eleven random people pulled off the street to those six titles. I'm probably going to end up thinking he's the greatest of all-time forever no matter what, but his greatness is so cemented that Kobe or Lebron being great as well could never diminish it.

I spent a lot of time hating Kobe when I was younger, but reached an age where I began to appreciate him for his own greatness. By the time Lebron came into the league I was thankfully mature enough to appreciate him for his own merits. It's a shame more basketball fans can't. He's a remarkable, totally unique player. I've loved being able to watch his career. He's easily lived up to the hype, and has done so in a way that is pretty amazing considering he came into the league at 18 and is playing under a social media microscope that no other generation had to deal with.

Lament wrote:I'm a die hard Chicago Bulls fan, so obviously I think the world of Jordan, but you're right. His reputation has gotten a bit insane at this point. You'd think he dragged eleven random people pulled off the street to those six titles. I'm probably going to end up thinking he's the greatest of all-time forever no matter what, but his greatness is so cemented that Kobe or Lebron being great as well could never diminish it.

I spent a lot of time hating Kobe when I was younger, but reached an age where I began to appreciate him for his own greatness. By the time Lebron came into the league I was thankfully mature enough to appreciate him for his own merits. It's a shame more basketball fans can't. He's a remarkable, totally unique player. I've loved being able to watch his career. He's easily lived up to the hype, and has done so in a way that is pretty amazing considering he came into the league at 18 and is playing under a social media microscope that no other generation had to deal with.

I don't think any respectable basketball fan hates Lebron or doesn't see him as the best player (with Duncan) since Jordan. The media pressure he has faced throughout his entire life far surpasses any previous star. Also, in my opinion Scottie Pippen was a better wingmate than Wade or Bosh has been the last two or three years. You're right, the Bulls supporting cast has been very underrated.

This Embiid foot injury sucks.

Joesanity wrote:This Embiid foot injury sucks.

Yeah, I agree. Watch him slip to the Celtics or Lakers and turn into a franchise player.

This proposed Minny/Golden State trade would be a home run for the Warriors and a bad one for the Wolves.