The NBA thread

[TakingBackSunday]

Absolutely sick to my stomach.  Paul was one of my favorite players.  This is heartbreaking.

[TEEEPO]

oh fuck, i just watched the gif and spotted a piece of bone

i don't even feel like going out tonight. the east just got way more shitty

[TakingBackSunday]

Fuck this gay earth

[Phoenix Dark]

It's very similar to the Kevin Ware injury except the camera caught the bone shooting out. Fuck.

[Himu]

There's a basketball World Cup? Color me interested.

[benjipwns]

That might just kill off this version of the Pacers. 

[TakingBackSunday]

There's a basketball World Cup? Color me interested.

There is, but it's basically been USA, Yugoslavia, Spain, and Russia these last 20 years

[benjipwns]

Argentina.

[Phoenix Dark]

Argentina.

Why are they paying basketball players instead of balancing the deficit
*wrings hands while kicking a soccer ball*

[TakingBackSunday]

Argentina.

That one time in japan

[benjipwns]

I always assumed other countries just enslaved their players.

Which is why America sometimes loses, because we choose Freedom over Winning.

[Himu]

There's a basketball World Cup? Color me interested.

There is, but it's basically been USA, Yugoslavia, Spain, and Russia these last 20 years

So is there a bigger deal this time?

[Shadow Mod]

There's a basketball World Cup? Color me interested.

They need to bring the short shorts back from the early 90s and before.

[TakingBackSunday]

It's a forgone conclusion it'll be USA v Spain

Irving/Harden/Thompson/Durant/plumlee

V.

Rubio/Calderon/Claver/gasol/gasol

[TakingBackSunday]

Of course it's always outstanding players who play the right way and never Dwight or LeBron.

I've met you and I like you and all, but fuck off with this dude.

[benjipwns]

Some people are probably regretting all the stuff they said about Kevin Love recently.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

j/k no they aren't

[close]

[jakefromstatefarm]

That might just kill off this version of the Pacers. 

Evan Turner killed off this version of the Pacers

[benjipwns]

I thought they had added some decent enough pieces this offseason to stay at the top, especially with the Heat deconstructing.

[etiolate]

That George injury made me yelp out loud. There's gotta be a way to move those supports further back.

[Mandark]

Paul George. 

The East. 

Even "small market" places like Milwaukee did well at one point (Glen Robinson days). I think the issue is moreso about small market teams acquiring and keeping talent, and I continue to believe the best way to do that is to introduce some type of franchise tag

I hate the idea of a franchise tag, where a player is punished for doing their job well.

It's also a solution looking for a problem.  Teams already control their draftees for 7-9 years, and have the rules tilted in their favor (allowed to offer more money/years to their own players than other suitors can) after that.  Some cities are going to be generally more appealing to young, rich men than others, but the actual flow of players hasn't been a mass exodus to NY/LA/Chicago.  The idea that players give discounts to those teams and make up the difference in endorsement deals is basically a fantasy.  The Knicks and Nets have had to pay top dollar for their "stars" and take on some pretty awful value and risks over the years (ie the max deals for Joe Johnson and D-Will, and the uninsurable contracts for Amar'e and Eddy Curry).

Though the change that's probably going to happen and rustle the hell out of my jimmies is an extra year on the age limit.  silvur pls

[benjipwns]

Though the change that's probably going to happen and rustle the hell out of my jimmies is an extra year on the age limit.  silvur pls

I wonder if anyone has delved into the impact that could have on the NBDL.

You can get away with a one-and-done who's borderline academically and "not paid", it probably gets harder at two years and beyond.

[jakefromstatefarm]

Evan Turner is one of the most overrated human beings of all time.

But he totally made that one shot in college remember?

In a RIVALRY game no less, in the POSTSEASON no less. I mean, sure MICH/OSU means shit outside of a football stadium and that was just a conference quarterfinal and they did lose in the Sweet Sixteen to 6th seeded Tennessee whose best player was a sophomore Scotty Hopson, but...that shot still went in ya know?

I thought they had added some decent enough pieces this offseason to stay at the top, especially with the Heat deconstructing.

You've heard this a million times, but the sheer mediocrity of the East means they can't do any worse than a 5 seed w/o George. Indiana is a relatively well put together team w/ proven management chops and a general idea of direction and identity, that is so much more than the rest of their conference can say it isn't even funny. I still see them in that 2-5 range with Washington/Chicago/either Brooklyn or Miami, all of the aforementioned have a chance of getting to the ECF imo.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

That 2010 Tennessee team had two transfers from Arizona following Olson-leave-of-abscence-gate. Bruce Pearl, ever the opportunist...

[close]

[benjipwns]

But he totally made that one shot in college remember?

In a RIVALRY game no less, in the POSTSEASON no less. I mean, sure MICH/OSU means shit outside of a football stadium and that was just a conference quarterfinal and they did lose in the Sweet Sixteen to 6th seeded Tennessee whose best player was a sophomore Scotty Hopson, but...that shot still went in ya know?

Plus he averaged like almost a triple double! And swept all the awards!

spoiler (click to show/hide)

As a 22 year old Junior...

[close]

[jakefromstatefarm]

Real talk, w/ how Rose looked tonight, this really opens the door for Chicago, they are the clear front-runners for that 2 spot

[jakefromstatefarm]

But he totally made that one shot in college remember?

In a RIVALRY game no less, in the POSTSEASON no less. I mean, sure MICH/OSU means shit outside of a football stadium and that was just a conference quarterfinal and they did lose in the Sweet Sixteen to 6th seeded Tennessee whose best player was a sophomore Scotty Hopson, but...that shot still went in ya know?

Plus he averaged like almost a triple double! And swept all the awards!

spoiler (click to show/hide)

As a 22 year old Junior...

[close]

Plus plus he was taken 2nd overall!

spoiler (click to show/hide)

In a lottery that featured Wesley Johnson, Ekbe Udoh, Cole Aldrich, Xavier Henry, Ed Davis, Al-Farouq Aminu and Patrick Paterson

[close]

[benjipwns]

Michael Beasley is somehow four months younger than Evan Turner.

Hell, almost the entire 2008 lottery is around the same age. 

Wesley Johnson was even better, a 23 year old three weeks after the Draft! But, "THE POTENTIAL!"

[Phoenix Dark]

Beasley was such a beast

[benjipwns]

https://twitter.com/Hoya2aPacer/statuses/495397548648316929

Roy HibbertVerified account
‏@Hoya2aPacer

Wtf

[benjipwns]

@WojYahooNBA
Owners and GMs united tonight: Paul George injury could be tipping point for use of stars in international play. "Game-changer," GM told me.

[Mandark]

You can get away with a one-and-done who's borderline academically and "not paid", it probably gets harder at two years and beyond.

You'd think so, but they seemed to do okay before the last two decades, and college football just vacates a title every few years and otherwise gets along fine.

[benjipwns]

Yeah, but now there's a much stronger overseas market, and a legitimate minor league. I wonder if the "prestige" of the NCAA's, especially the tournament, is going to be able to hold it for guys who won't want to wait two years.

Then again, lots of college chicks to bang.

[Phoenix Dark]

Though the change that's probably going to happen and rustle the hell out of my jimmies is an extra year on the age limit.  silvur pls

I wonder if anyone has delved into the impact that could have on the NBDL.

You can get away with a one-and-done who's borderline academically and "not paid", it probably gets harder at two years and beyond.

guess you aren't familiar with the states of Alabama, Ohio, California (USC), North Carolina, and Kentucky. Hell, throw the entire SEC in the mix. These guys aren't going to class for 2-3 years while getting PS4s from boosters.

[benjipwns]

But what about when President Scott Walker slashes higher education spending and the universities have to tighten their belts?

[Mandark]

But what about when President Scott Walker slashes higher education spending and the universities have to tighten their belts?

Well then they'll have to go to Europe, probably.

[Mandark]

Oops, never mind, I was thinking of liberal arts majors.  The players will just keep getting paid by the boosters.  We're good.

[Mandark]

Thanks?

Anyways, the NDBL doesn't have an age minimum, but I think the NBA would rather have the NCAA's around as a de facto farm system which provides its own marketing and will produce rookies with public recognition.  I feel like China and Europe won't be major factors until there's at least one test case that turns out really well, with the player increasing their stock, saying good things about the experience, etc.  Brandon Jennings' experience was mixed at best, IIRC.

Weird how this is like a bizarro version of the US soccer development discussions.

[Mandark]

no

[Stoney Mason]

I refuse to watch the video of the injury so haven't seen it yet.

[Phoenix Dark]

I refuse to watch the video of the injury so haven't seen it yet.

@MarkJonesESPN: All you need to know about seriousness of Paul George's injury is I'm looking at Kyrie Irving sobbing in his Dad's arms

.

[Stoney Mason]

Unfortunate timing because there was already a move from people like Cuban to not allow NBA players into these international competitions. As someone who grew up with the original dream team, I've always loved professional participation in this stuff. I would be a lot less likely to watch college kids do it.

[Phoenix Dark]

Larry Bird said it best, he could have suffered that injury at any time, in any game; he could have come down like that while training in the summer or playing a pick up game. Most catastrophic injuries occur during regular season or playoff play.

[Beezy]

Exactly. Overreacting because of this one injury and pulling superstars from international play is stupid.

[etiolate]

I do wonder if this will cause the USA team to switch styles. They basically play Pitino style college ball. Fast pace, high pressure D.

[Stoney Mason]

Pacers are really screwed now with no lance stephenson either.

[Your Stalker]

lebron lookin skinny

[Beezy]

Any predictions on how this will change his game?

[TakingBackSunday]

Probably means he'll play closer to his actual position as SF instead of the hybrid power forward he was playing in Miami.  Makes sense -- Cleveland will have the second best power forward in the game come September.  Man, Cleveland's offense is gonna be killer.

[ToxicAdam]

As somebody who has been watching the Cavs for the last 4 years, I'm most interested in how Thompson/Waiters will perform with Lebron around.

 The 'lazy sports take' is that Lebron makes everyone better, but that's not actually the case for all players. So, it will be interesting to me to see if Waiters can still thrive as the 4th option on offense or Thompson can actually become a solid role player down low (ala Andy Varejao 6 years ago).

[benjipwns]

Chad Ford's already posted a 2015 Mock Draft. 

Based it on the "ESPN EXPERTS" predictions of the team finishes.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Has the Sixers drafting yet another big man #1

[close]

[Human Snorenado]

Probably means he'll play closer to his actual position as SF instead of the hybrid power forward he was playing in Miami.  Makes sense -- Cleveland will have the second best power forward in the game come September.  Man, Cleveland's offense is gonna be killer.

Hmm, I wonder who the Cavs could be planning having at PF?

[TakingBackSunday]

whoosh

[Phoenix Dark]

lebron lookin skinny
(Image removed from quote.)

I didn't know LeBron bought a house in Virgina.

[TakingBackSunday]

Cavs look like they're gonna sign Marion and Possibly Billups.

Not a center to be seen...

This team is gonna be so bad at defense.  Maybe dieng is included in the Love deal?

[etiolate]

I feel Minny would be stupid to give up Dieng.

[Stoney Mason]

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--cavaliers-have-agreement-to-acquire-kevin-love--who-commits-to-staying-in-cleveland-054657392.html

[ToxicAdam]

Kind of amazing work that the Cavs have done with failing upwards. Despite all the poor choices they made, they should have their ticket punched to the ECF at the least.

I don't think the East is any better, but it's sure going to be more interesting this season compared to the last one.

[TakingBackSunday]

So:

Kyrie/Dellevadova
Waiters/Miller/Allen?
Lebron/Marion
Love/Thompson
Varejao/hopefully some corpse that plays defense

Not a bad team, not bad at all.

[ToxicAdam]

I'd almost rather see Waiters play as Kyrie's back up and give more minutes to Miller and Allen instead. Waiters could become a lethal 6th man.

[TakingBackSunday]

Miller played all 82 games last season and had his best year of his career.  I'd be okay with that, too.

[ToxicAdam]

Hindsight being 20/20, how good would've Nerlens Noel fit on this Cavs team instead of taking Bennett?  I wonder what tangible value Bennett even had in this trade.

 It's almost like the Cavs threw him in just so they don't have to waste time/resources trying to develop him.