NBA Thread

[nyquillyn]

LOL.

[4/5]

LOL.

He's really, really good man. I respect the vast majority of your basketball opinions, but I think you're dead wrong about him.

[Monkey_Driven]

LOL.

He's really, really good man. I respect the vast majority of your basketball opinions, but I think you're dead wrong about him.

He is absolutely crushing it right now, no doubt.

[4/5]

Simmons on Kawhi Leonard doubters:

Six sarcastic retorts if/when a buddy says to you, “I just don’t know if Kawhi is a max guy. He’s putting up only 15 and 7 every night and he hasn’t been healthy all season … I think he might take a discount to stay.”

1. “Yeah, it’s not like the league is drifting toward über-athletic forwards who can make 3s, defend both forward spots and thrive in small ball AND big ball.”

2. “Great point, David Kahn.”

3. “You’re right, half the league’s teams have enough cap space to offer him a max contract this summer — there’s no way someone will bite.”

4. “No way he can put up better stats — NBA players always peak statistically at 23 when they’re the fourth option on a contender.”

5. “Yeah, he’ll take a discount to stay — he’s made less than $8 million playing basketball these last four years. He’s definitely ready to leave gobs of money on the table.”

6. “Hold on, I’m gonna make a list of everyone who can successfully defend LeBron or Durant in a seven-game series. Kawhi Leonard, and … oh, wait, we’re done.”

[Monkey_Driven]

Simmons on Kawhi Leonard doubters:

Six sarcastic retorts if/when a buddy says to you, “I just don’t know if Kawhi is a max guy. He’s putting up only 15 and 7 every night and he hasn’t been healthy all season … I think he might take a discount to stay.”

1. “Yeah, it’s not like the league is drifting toward über-athletic forwards who can make 3s, defend both forward spots and thrive in small ball AND big ball.”

2. “Great point, David Kahn.”

3. “You’re right, half the league’s teams have enough cap space to offer him a max contract this summer — there’s no way someone will bite.”

4. “No way he can put up better stats — NBA players always peak statistically at 23 when they’re the fourth option on a contender.”

5. “Yeah, he’ll take a discount to stay — he’s made less than $8 million playing basketball these last four years. He’s definitely ready to leave gobs of money on the table.”

6. “Hold on, I’m gonna make a list of everyone who can successfully defend LeBron or Durant in a seven-game series. Kawhi Leonard, and … oh, wait, we’re done.”

Agree with all of this. I watched a good chunk of the Blazers/Spurs game last night and Leonard was everywhere. Grabbing boards and jumping around like he was teleporting.

[nyquillyn]

To be perfectly clear, I'm not a Leonard doubter and think he is "probably" a max player. But I also don't think he's the savior of this franchise. He'll never be dominate offensively and continues to be way too tentative. Hell, he's not even in the game most of the time the Spurs need a big bucket at the end of the games.

Agree with all of this. I watched a good chunk of the Blazers/Spurs game last night and Leonard was everywhere. Grabbing boards and jumping around like he was teleporting.

I watched the game as well. He had 8 rebounds, was 5-13 shooting and was very passive on offense.

[Monkey_Driven]

To be perfectly clear, I'm not a Leonard doubter and think he is "probably" a max player. But I also don't think he's the savior of this franchise. He'll never be dominate offensively and continues to be way too tentative. Hell, he's not even in the game most of the time the Spurs need a big bucket at the end of the games.

Agree with all of this. I watched a good chunk of the Blazers/Spurs game last night and Leonard was everywhere. Grabbing boards and jumping around like he was teleporting.

I watched the game as well. He had 8 rebounds, was 5-13 shooting and was very passive on offense.

His defensive presence doesn't really show up in stats. He did grab 8 boards as a small forward. He leads all small forwards in that category this season.

[nyquillyn]

To be perfectly clear, I'm not a Leonard doubter and think he is "probably" a max player. But I also don't think he's the savior of this franchise. He'll never be dominate offensively and continues to be way too tentative. Hell, he's not even in the game most of the time the Spurs need a big bucket at the end of the games.

Agree with all of this. I watched a good chunk of the Blazers/Spurs game last night and Leonard was everywhere. Grabbing boards and jumping around like he was teleporting.

I watched the game as well. He had 8 rebounds, was 5-13 shooting and was very passive on offense.

His defensive presence doesn't really show up in stats. He did grab 8 boards as a small forward. He leads all small forwards in that category this season.

[Monkey_Driven]

To be perfectly clear, I'm not a Leonard doubter and think he is "probably" a max player. But I also don't think he's the savior of this franchise. He'll never be dominate offensively and continues to be way too tentative. Hell, he's not even in the game most of the time the Spurs need a big bucket at the end of the games.

Agree with all of this. I watched a good chunk of the Blazers/Spurs game last night and Leonard was everywhere. Grabbing boards and jumping around like he was teleporting.

I watched the game as well. He had 8 rebounds, was 5-13 shooting and was very passive on offense.

His defensive presence doesn't really show up in stats. He did grab 8 boards as a small forward. He leads all small forwards in that category this season.

Draymond pretty much only plays 4 now. I adore his game. I'm a Warriors fan and I hope they do everything they can to match the likely close to max offer sheet someone gives him this summer.

[4/5]

So, was last night a Finals preview?

[nyquillyn]

My son and I got to watch Westbrook shoot 12-38 (1-10 from 3) and blow that overtime layup in person last night.

Although he did rebound a ton of his own bricks, so it showed up as 14 rebs on the stat sheet. And he did have a couple pretty assists.

[Peeps]

there is no G in the league who can shoot his team to a win and a loss in the same week like westbrook. having said that if he was on the team i rooted for id be pretty happy

[Monkey_Driven]

My son and I got to watch Westbrook shoot 12-38 (1-10 from 3) and blow that overtime layup in person last night.

Although he did rebound a ton of his own bricks, so it showed up as 14 rebs on the stat sheet. And he did have a couple pretty assists.

He also had the and-1 to force overtime.

[Monkey_Driven]

So, was last night a Finals preview?

Mariotta or Winston?

[gems and rhinestones]

So, was last night a Finals preview?

Mariotta or Winston?

Mariotta

[Monkey_Driven]

So, was last night a Finals preview?

Mariotta or Winston?

Mariotta

Can he make NFL throws??????? Is he a "system" qb?

God, I hate the three month buildup to the draft.

[gems and rhinestones]

I love the build up to the NBA draft. The NFL draft on the other hand has never been much fun to me. As far as Mariotta goes, I think he will be a very good quarterback. Star potential if he goes to a team like the Eagles where he can be showcased. I think Winston will be good at first then lose his starting job after his second season, all the while stirring up trouble from day one.

[E.H. Ruddock]

Westbrook was too much of a ball hog at the end of the game last night. Missed two late shots when he should have passed, then made a FT he was trying to miss.

[Peeps]

Westbrook was too much of a ball hog at the end of the game last night. Missed two late shots when he should have passed, then made a FT he was trying to miss.

plus he couldnt keep his face in one piece...

[Electromatic]

Neither Cleveland nor Houston looked very special yesterday.

Kevin Love doesn't seem to fit there at all. That team is Lebron and nothing right now.