2017-18 NBA (Playoffs): A gasping, wheezing thread begs message board poster arguing how Jordan never lost a Finals to just let it die in peace (2 Viewers)

[DJackson10]

In fact reading the link about how weird things are with Durant got me thinking. He got his ring but at some cost to his legacy. He's labeled the traitor who joined the best team in the league by abandoning a team that came closest to beating them. I get the criticism, but I love Durant. Funny how he seems really tuned into the noise, interviews, social media, whatever. He hears the criticism. He's barely listening to Kerr, doing his own thing sort of half-hearted knowing the Dubs got this. But he's not all in anymore. He has to fix his legacy. So he's joining Lebron in LA to take down the Warrior dynasty. /chaosdogg

This is what I don't get. Plus a lot of this comes from Lebron people who saw no real issues with Lebron teaming with Wade and Bosh in MIA and creating more or less the 1st Super Team in FA (BOS was the first 3 star team but that was based on Draft and a trade for KG). Also KD had tons of reasoning for leaving OKC. Westbrook wasn't the best teammate and he wasn't winning in OKC with Russ. It seems like Russ was catered to by the team and Org and KD felt under appreciated and Russ became a ball hog going for hero ball instead of passing to KD for wide open looks when he was scorching hot. KD left OKC do to Westbrook and not trusting the ORG. I don't think that's reason to hate the guy for joining a team he could win a title on. Now going to GS was probably not the best action by KD but the dude did sign on the cheap for them to make it work too. I can see why people say what they do about KD but it wasn't as much about abandoning the team who came closest to beating them as much as KD didn't feel respected enough in OKC by the team or a teammate. RW is a good player. Incredible overrate IMHO but he's also incredible selfish. Seems more a player who cares about individual stats and honors then winning a title and I don't think Russ on any team ever wins a title. 

 

[msudaisy26]

Why do people keep talking about Lebron to philly?  That is the worst fit ever.  Let's surround him with non shooters...sounds good?  And if they were to sign him they would have to not sign their 3 point ace...it makes zero sense.

Have you ever even watched a NBA game?

 

[Short Corner]

lol it was a joke that had nothing to do with you

Careful joking with him.  He might report you.

 

[Short Corner]

Maybe overall, but the poster was talking about ball movement on offense only and I don't see much correlation this year between passes per game and playoff success.

In any event, rules like this one are superseded these days by the rule that having way more talent than all the other teams wins championships. It's a pretty solid rule!

Number of passes is not a good indicator.  I know a handful of coaches who have charted ball reversals and paint touched and without exception efficiency and OReb% go up as that number rises.

 

[JuniorGong]

No. There is no merit to the story that Lebron was in Philly on the all-star break looking at a prep school. That was made up from whole cloth and leaked to the media as a rumor. Even Ben Simmons, who uses Lebron's agent, said he knew Lebron was in LA. The leakerliar/rumordorks later said it was a representative or something. Whatever. I get that Philly is favored to sign him. There's plenty of merit to that. But the all-star break story is debunked. And Los ####ing Angeles is where he was. Got it? LA!

Come on, Philly is a destination city for NBA players right up there with LA and Miami. Minus the ocean, great weather and beautiful people Philly is almost indistinguishable from the other two.

They have been in the mix on every major FA for decades. Granted, the last star FA they signed was George McGinnis in the 70s but that just means they are due.

 

[xulf]

Have you ever even watched a NBA game?

Wtf are you even talking about?

 

[pollardsvision]

Man I'm not getting sucked into this vortex of dumb.

How about a different kind of dumb?

I'd love to see LeBron go to Utah. Of course he wouldn't, but I think it'd make more sense than Philly. They could work it out in Philly, but I think Mitchell/Gobert would be a ready made perfect fit. They'd have to make some moves, but there've got some movable expiring contracts that they could work with to get something done I'd think. 

 

[parasaurolophus]

Have you ever even watched a NBA game?

I dont really understand this comment. He made a valid point. I dont actually think he means absolutely the "worst fit ever" pretty sure that is hyperbole. Philly would obviously be great with Lebron since they are really good already, but it is a legit argument for why philly wouldnt get over the hump which i think was the point he was making. 

 

[msudaisy26]

I dont really understand this comment. He made a valid point. I dont actually think he means absolutely the "worst fit ever" pretty sure that is hyperbole. Philly would obviously be great with Lebron since they are really good already, but it is a legit argument for why philly wouldnt get over the hump which i think was the point he was making. 

Not only is it not the worst fit ever it is a great fit. Just because Simmons can't shoot doesn't mean it will stay that way. Wade wasn't a great shooter either when they played in Miami and it worked just fine. Plus everyone else on their team can space the floor. Embiid, Covington, McConnell, Redick, Belinelli, etc. Plus LeBron is a decent shooter and so good that it would work and it would work very well.

What I don't understand is how you could tell his worst fit ever comment was hyperbole, and you couldn't understand that my comment was making fun of that was also hyperbole.

 

[hagmania]

@msudaisy26 I actually do not watch much basketball, so feel free to tell me when I'm being stupid. For the most part I just marvel at LeBron and look for memes.

 

[Juxtatarot]

Not only is it not the worst fit ever it is a great fit. Just because Simmons can't shoot doesn't mean it will stay that way. Wade wasn't a great shooter either when they played in Miami and it worked just fine. Plus everyone else on their team can space the floor. Embiid, Covington, McConnell, Redick, Belinelli, etc. Plus LeBron is a decent shooter and so good that it would work and it would work very well.

What I don't understand is how you could tell his worst fit ever comment was hyperbole, and you couldn't understand that my comment was making fun of that and also hyperbole as well.

It would be challenging to afford Redick and Belinelli. However, the 76ers have the trade assets to get some shooters. Plus there will be ring chasers willing to play for LeBron.

Regarding Simmons, has there ever been a player so bad at free throws (56%) in the NBA who turn things around to be considered a good shooter? This seems highly unlikely to me.

Regardless, though, the Sixers would be in the top few teams in the league if they signed LeBron. Everyone should agree with that.

 

[flranger]

Current 2019 Finals winner odds:  (Vegas must be sure LeBron is leaving)

GSW-5/4 HOU-7/2 PHI-7/2 BOS-8/1

SAS-25/1 LAL-20/1 MIA-20/1 CLE-30/1 TOR-40/1

UTA-60/1 POR-80/1 OKC-60/1 NOP-80/1 MIN-80/1

DEN-100/1 MIL-100/1 WAS-100/1 NYK-100/1 IND-100/1 LAC-100/1

PHX-200/1 CHA-300/1 DET-300/1 BKN-300/1 SAC-300/1 CHI-300/1 DAL-300/1

MEM-500/1 ORL-500/1 ATL-1000/1

 

[Good Posting Judge]

It would be challenging to afford Redick and Belinelli. However, the 76ers have the trade assets to get some shooters. Plus there will be ring chasers willing to play for LeBron.

Regarding Simmons, has there ever been a player so bad at free throws (56%) in the NBA who turn things around to be considered a good shooter? This seems highly unlikely to me.

Regardless, though, the Sixers would be in the top few teams in the league if they signed LeBron. Everyone should agree with that.

Ben Wallace shot 92% from the stripe in his last year. Actually true.

 

[msudaisy26]

https://twitter.com/search?q=Hennessy jr smith&src=typd&lang=en

 

[Gr00vus]

Man I'm not getting sucked into this vortex of dumb.

Too late, you already opened this thread during the NBA finals. Now, complain about the refs or be subjected to 17 more multiparagraph posts about the schools in Philadelphia.

 

[ghostguy123]

Still no clue why JR is getting killed and nobody else is.  Someone else coulda called a timeout.  

If anything JR had much more to think about at the time, like not letting a defender strip him.  

He is still an idiot and screwed up, but the other guys certainly arent blameless there.  

 

[Gr00vus]

Still no clue why JR is getting killed and nobody else is.  Someone else coulda called a timeout.  

If anything JR had much more to think about at the time, like not letting a defender strip him.  

He is still an idiot and screwed up, but the other guys certainly arent blameless there.  

Or Hill could have hit that free throw. Lots of people assuming GS hits a game winner with 4.5 left - I guess they shoot 100% in those situations.

 

[ghostguy123]

Or Hill could have hit that free throw. Lots of people assuming GS hits a game winner with 4.5 left - I guess they shoot 100% in those situations.

Yah, not real happy with Hill either, but not a crazy thing to split two free throws.  

 

[fruity pebbles]

Current 2019 Finals winner odds:  (Vegas must be sure LeBron is leaving)

GSW-5/4 HOU-7/2 PHI-7/2 BOS-8/1

SAS-25/1 LAL-20/1 MIA-20/1 CLE-30/1 TOR-40/1

UTA-60/1 POR-80/1 OKC-60/1 NOP-80/1 MIN-80/1

DEN-100/1 MIL-100/1 WAS-100/1 NYK-100/1 IND-100/1 LAC-100/1

PHX-200/1 CHA-300/1 DET-300/1 BKN-300/1 SAC-300/1 CHI-300/1 DAL-300/1

MEM-500/1 ORL-500/1 ATL-1000/1

Not only that but also that hes going to Philly. No way Philly is 7/2 and Boston’s 8/1 without him.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Still no clue why JR is getting killed and nobody else is.  Someone else coulda called a timeout.  .  

I don't know what was said in the time out but there is a chance Lue told them if they get a rebound, take the shot. 

JR's first two steps still freed him up to pass to an open Lebron at top of key (which was my first instinct as to what was happening).  It was only after he took a few more steps, Lebron realized what happened and it was too late.

 

[Insein]

They are one of the few teams with max money that can become a contender adding LBJ.

McConnell, Covington, Simmons, LBJ, Embiid would have tons of ball movement, size, and while none of those guys are sharpshooters everyone but Simmons can hit a 3. It won't be a Warriors style offense, but that team has LBJ and Embiid as ISO threats. It won't be pretty, but it's way more talent than CLE has right now.

Plus sixers have enough money to add another top level free agent. LeBron can convince someone like a Paul George to come too and play with Embiid, Simmons and a bunch of shooters. 

 

[Insein]

Dude, players today work like, a billion times harder than players in the past. 

Players in the past were notorious for just showing up. Sometimes high, sometimes drunk and still pulling it off on talent alone because they knew that most of the other guys they went against were regular scrubs too. Smoking cigarettes in between innings of baseball games. Downing chili dogs and pop rocks at half. Players today are like well oiled machines going up against other top of the line machines. 

 

[parasaurolophus]

What I don't understand is how you could tell his worst fit ever comment was hyperbole, and you couldn't understand that my comment was making fun of that was also hyperbole.

I get you don't actually believe that he has never watched an NBA game but I didn't find his post to be intended to be an insult. That is how I interpreted your post. Maybe I am unaware of some past playful banter between you two. If that is the case, I apologize for thinking that. 

 

[parasaurolophus]

Current 2019 Finals winner odds:  (Vegas must be sure LeBron is leaving)

GSW-5/4 HOU-7/2 PHI-7/2 BOS-8/1

SAS-25/1 LAL-20/1 MIA-20/1 CLE-30/1 TOR-40/1

UTA-60/1 POR-80/1 OKC-60/1 NOP-80/1 MIN-80/1

DEN-100/1 MIL-100/1 WAS-100/1 NYK-100/1 IND-100/1 LAC-100/1

PHX-200/1 CHA-300/1 DET-300/1 BKN-300/1 SAC-300/1 CHI-300/1 DAL-300/1

MEM-500/1 ORL-500/1 ATL-1000/1

I find it very interesting that the Bucks are 100/1. Not because I think that is wrong but because last year even pretty late in the year they still had the bucks at 25/1 at several places. I always kinda figured they just were putting their odds there just because of the love for Giannis. Clearly they think that sentiment has changed.

 

[Charlie Harper]

Plus sixers have enough money to add another top level free agent. LeBron can convince someone like a Paul George to come too and play with Embiid, Simmons and a bunch of shooters. 

Yup. People over blow the fact Simmons needs the ball in his hands and can't shoot. This season proves that:

(1) LBJ needs another playmaker

(2) Just get LBJ to the playoffs and he's a one man wrecking crew....even as he approaches his mid-30s.

So joining Philly gives LBJ two teammates that can do the heavy lifting and all LBJ needs is to save his 100% for the last 5 minutes of close regular season games and playoffs. 

In a theoretical playoff matchup vs the Dubs....the DICKD lineup (Dray, Iggy, Curry, Klay, Durant) would get crushed on the glass. Sure Philly wouldn't be able to spread the floor, but they would limit the Dubs to one shot per possessions and would have a huge advantage in 2nd chance points. Pace and space vs bully basketball at it's finest....and sadly I think bully ball would win.

 

[tjnc09]

Not only that but also that hes going to Philly. No way Philly is 7/2 and Boston’s 8/1 without him.

You think the Lakers are 20/1 without him lol

 

[Tau837]

If _______ signs LBJ they're in the Finals next year

Cleveland, assuming they get an immediate impact player with the #8 pick (whether by using or trading the pick)

Houston, assuming Paul is also back

San Antonio, assuming Kawhi and Pop are also back

Philly, assuming they don't mind significantly reducing minutes/role for Simmons and/or Fultz

There are others, but none that seem like likely destinations for him. He could go to the Lakers, but I don't think they would make the Finals in that case, even if George also goes there.

 

[the moops]

Not only is it not the worst fit ever it is a great fit. Just because Simmons can't shoot doesn't mean it will stay that way. Wade wasn't a great shooter either when they played in Miami and it worked just fine. Plus everyone else on their team can space the floor. Embiid, Covington, McConnell, Redick, Belinelli, etc. Plus LeBron is a decent shooter and so good that it would work and it would work very well.

McConnell is not a good three point shooter. He is nearly as reluctant to shoot it as Simmons. Embiid shot 31% from three. Redick and Belinelli are not on the team.

 

[Charlie Harper]

McConnell is not a good three point shooter. He is nearly as reluctant to shoot it as Simmons. Embiid shot 31% from three. Redick and Belinelli are not on the team.

They don't have to be great, they're just good enough to be threats. Reddick got $20 million this year, I'm sure he's fine taking less to play for a title (on his latest podcast he laments that his time playing for a contender is running out) and there will be other ring chasing minimum FA to space the floor. 

Hinkie realized the hardest part is getting the superstars....Philly has 2....adding the possible GOAT is a no ####### brainer. The rest will work itself out.

 

[modogg]

McConnell is not a good three point shooter. He is nearly as reluctant to shoot it as Simmons. Embiid shot 31% from three. Redick and Belinelli are not on the team.

man i can't wait for the excuses and tears and Celtics' fans when Lebron joins the SIxers and beats the Cletics 3 years in a row 

 

[modogg]

Come on, Philly is a destination city for NBA players right up there with LA and Miami. Minus the ocean, great weather and beautiful people Philly is almost indistinguishable from the other two.

They have been in the mix on every major FA for decades. Granted, the last star FA they signed was George McGinnis in the 70s but that just means they are due.

just promise you will legit cry when Lebron and the rest of the Sixers mock the Celtics for the next 3 straight years, and God forbid the Celtics make the playoffs so all of you wonderful, non-racist fans can celebrate that you might be good, all to just get smacked in the face by the Sixers. for the next 3 years, just in time for your team to get too old or hit all the salary cap issues

 

[modogg]

How about a different kind of dumb?

I'd love to see LeBron go to Utah. Of course he wouldn't, but I think it'd make more sense than Philly. They could work it out in Philly, but I think Mitchell/Gobert would be a ready made perfect fit. They'd have to make some moves, but there've got some movable expiring contracts that they could work with to get something done I'd think. 

seeing him in Utah or Indiana would be interesting. i have heard Portland in the talk too as a rumour. of course these are just off-season talks, but still intereting

 

[Anarchy99]

I admit to not being fully aware of how the NBA salary cap works. That being said, Spotrac has the Sixers $14 million over the cap for next year with current salaries and cap holds. Even if they were able to somehow get out of the cap holds, they would only have $30 million left after the salaries for the players they already have signed. 

Given that teams can’t sign free agents if they are over the cap (and have to be under the cap after signing them), how do they have enough cap room to sign LeBron and another top free agent as some people are allocating them?

 

[Chaos Commish]

Cleveland, assuming they get an immediate impact player with the #8 pick (whether by using or trading the pick)

Houston, assuming Paul is also back

San Antonio, assuming Kawhi and Pop are also back

Philly, assuming they don't mind significantly reducing minutes/role for Simmons and/or Fultz

There are others, but none that seem like likely destinations for him. He could go to the Lakers, but I don't think they would make the Finals in that case, even if George also goes there.

Going to LA is the biggest basketball project no doubt, and he'd be facing Rockets and/or Warriors before the finals. Still for whatever reasons, maybe the house he bought, odds have LA third behind Philly and Cleveland. That's not bad considering he may want out of Cleveland and Philly might be cursed. 

 

[JuniorGong]

just promise you will legit cry when Lebron and the rest of the Sixers mock the Celtics for the next 3 straight years, and God forbid the Celtics make the playoffs so all of you wonderful, non-racist fans can celebrate that you might be good, all to just get smacked in the face by the Sixers. for the next 3 years, just in time for your team to get too old or hit all the salary cap issues

I can do whatever you would like me to do in your fantasy land

 

[wikkidpissah]

In fact reading the link about how weird things are with Durant got me thinking. He got his ring but at some cost to his legacy. He's labeled the traitor who joined the best team in the league by abandoning a team that came closest to beating them. I get the criticism, but I love Durant. Funny how he seems really tuned into the noise, interviews, social media, whatever. He hears the criticism. He's barely listening to Kerr, doing his own thing sort of half-hearted knowing the Dubs got this. But he's not all in anymore. He has to fix his legacy. So he's joining Lebron in LA to take down the Warrior dynasty. /chaosdogg

i too get a feeling KD's going to do something weird after he wins. opt-out for Philly - where he'd be perfect & part of a first championship & be close to home & probably have more fun  - is my guess

 

[Tom Hagen]

I admit to not being fully aware of how the NBA salary cap works. That being said, Spotrac has the Sixers $14 million over the cap for next year with current salaries and cap holds. Even if they were able to somehow get out of the cap holds, they would only have $30 million left after the salaries for the players they already have signed. 

Given that teams can’t sign free agents if they are over the cap (and have to be under the cap after signing them), how do they have enough cap room to sign LeBron and another top free agent as some people are allocating them?

Conventional wisdom is they need to give up the 26th pick to have some take Bayless' contract to afford LeBron. Not sure how they could afford George but Kawhi is possible as a trade.

 

[SHIZNITTTT]

Are they gonna play a game any time soon?

God the NBA sucks at this.

Game 7 is on Halloween night I believe. 

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Partly on board the "jr smith actually had the baskets mixed up" theory.

 

[msudaisy26]

I can do whatever you would like me to do in your fantasy land

Easy there, they don't allow that sorta stuff around here. 

 

[Long Ball Larry]

I admit to not being fully aware of how the NBA salary cap works. That being said, Spotrac has the Sixers $14 million over the cap for next year with current salaries and cap holds. Even if they were able to somehow get out of the cap holds, they would only have $30 million left after the salaries for the players they already have signed. 

Given that teams can’t sign free agents if they are over the cap (and have to be under the cap after signing them), how do they have enough cap room to sign LeBron and another top free agent as some people are allocating them?

I don't think that they could.

I think the sometimes unspoken piece is that they have plenty of assets to figure out how to make it work (Sign and trade for Lebron or George, trade for Kawhi, or free up the space otherwise.)

 

[msudaisy26]

Come on, Philly is a destination city for NBA players right up there with LA and Miami. Minus the ocean, great weather and beautiful people Philly is almost indistinguishable from the other two.

They have been in the mix on every major FA for decades. Granted, the last star FA they signed was George McGinnis in the 70s but that just means they are due.

Golden State wasn't a free agent destination until they started winning, Houston wasn't. Once they start winning players will go there. 

 

[Capella]

Partly on board the "jr smith actually had the baskets mixed up" theory.

Oooh this could be the winner 

 

[wikkidpissah]

I admit to not being fully aware of how the NBA salary cap works. That being said, Spotrac has the Sixers $14 million over the cap for next year with current salaries and cap holds. Even if they were able to somehow get out of the cap holds, they would only have $30 million left after the salaries for the players they already have signed. 

Given that teams can’t sign free agents if they are over the cap (and have to be under the cap after signing them), how do they have enough cap room to sign LeBron and another top free agent as some people are allocating them?

Sixers have 70.4mil committed to 11 players for 2018-9. The figure you saw must have included cap holds for their FAs (Redick, Amir Johnson, Belly, Ersankenstein, etc) to which they are not committed

ETA: They're not actually committed to TJ & Holmes but, with club options @ 1.5 per, they might as well

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Oooh this could be the winner 

If you thought your team was up 1, you get the ball, why do you even move or put the ball on the deck? You just hug the rock and wait for the foul. 

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Sixers have 70.4mil committed to 11 players for 2018-9. The figure you saw must have included cap holds for their FAs (Redick, Amir Johnson, etc) to which they are not committed

The $70.4 mill allocated leaves them with $30.5 to spend up to the cap.

I guess it is true as Hagen alluded to, that trading/stretching Bayless and trading a draft pick could get them to a point where they could still be under the cap after handing out a max deal and then go over the cap to sign another max player if they were willing to pay the luxury tax?

 

[msudaisy26]

If you thought your team was up 1, you get the ball, why do you even move or put the ball on the deck? You just hug the rock and wait for the foul. 

Because he is JR Smith. 

I bet if you asked him today what happened at the end of game o e he w9uld give a totally different answer or say "Wait we already played game 1"

 

[Long Ball Larry]

If you thought your team was up 1, you get the ball, why do you even move or put the ball on the deck? You just hug the rock and wait for the foul. 

i think that this is what jr argued in his "defense"

Smith said if he thought the Cavs were leading the game, he would have held onto the ball and waited for the Warriors to foul him. Smith also said he stopped because he saw James trying to timeout — the refs didn't see James' attempts.

http://www.businessinsider.com/jr-smith-explains-running-out-clock-game-1-nba-finals-2018-6

though Lue is reported as saying that JR knew they were up 1.

 

[Anarchy99]

The $70.4 mill allocated leaves them with $30.5 to spend up to the cap.

I guess it is true as Hagen alluded to, that trading/stretching Bayless and trading a draft pick could get them to a point where they could still be under the cap after handing out a max deal and then go over the cap to sign another max player if they were willing to pay the luxury tax?

Teams can’t sign a free agent if that puts them over the salary cap, even if they are willing to pay the tax. They could trade for a player and go over the cap, but there is the salary matching dance that has to go on. 

 

[Juxtatarot]

The $70.4 mill allocated leaves them with $30.5 to spend up to the cap.

I guess it is true as Hagen alluded to, that trading/stretching Bayless and trading a draft pick could get them to a point where they could still be under the cap after handing out a max deal and then go over the cap to sign another max player if they were willing to pay the luxury tax?

How could they go over the cap to sign a max player? I don’t understand..