Well I guess that depends on what your definition of "better" is.
Better top team: West
Better top few teams: East
Better entire conference: West
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2018-19 NBA Thread: Magic Johnson leaves Lakers in order to pursue other jobs to be completely terrible at (3 Viewers)
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Better top team: West
Better top few teams: East
Better entire conference: West
The Suns recently spent 3 top 8 picks on possible/probable non-NBA players (Bender, Chriss, Jackson). That’s quite remarkable. The only comparable run I can think of is the Kings with Jimmer, Thomas Robinson, McLemore, and Stauskas, although at least the Kings can say none of those guys were top 4 picks.
Gr00vus
Footballguy
The Kings also didn't land a Booker or an Ayton.
People like to look back on past drafts like everything was obvious at the time they happened. You just can't know how a 19 year old is going to adapt to being thrown into the NBA ahead of time. Its always a risk. Sometimes you get LeBron, sometimes you get Darius Miles. In light of that, I kind of get @tjnc09's point that your best bet might be accumulating lots of bullets to keep shooting and eventually land yourself a franchise player or two rather than getting wrapped up in any one guy.
Which is pretty much the Sixers' model from the last 5 years.The Kings also didn't land a Booker or an Ayton.
People like to look back on past drafts like everything was obvious at the time they happened. You just can't know how a 19 year old is going to adapt to being thrown into the NBA ahead of time. Its always a risk. Sometimes you get LeBron, sometimes you get Darius Miles. In light of that, I kind of get @tjnc09's point that your best bet might be accumulating lots of bullets to keep shooting and eventually land yourself a franchise player or two rather than getting wrapped up in any one guy.
But also, the drop off from #1 to #2 is big. And from #1 to #4 massive... as you can see by all those #4 picks by the Suns that aren't turning out. More bullets hardly ever equals the best bullet.
Jayrod
Footballguy
They are a .500 ball club right now and have no injuries to point to as an excuse. They may still finish as the 2-seed in the West, but they are a far cry from what they were last season.
The Kings also didn't land a Booker or an Ayton.
People like to look back on past drafts like everything was obvious at the time they happened. You just can't know how a 19 year old is going to adapt to being thrown into the NBA ahead of time. Its always a risk. Sometimes you get LeBron, sometimes you get Darius Miles. In light of that, I kind of get @tjnc09's point that your best bet might be accumulating lots of bullets to keep shooting and eventually land yourself a franchise player or two rather than getting wrapped up in any one guy.
I am just noting a couple remarkable streaks of futility. The draft is a crap shoot, which is why I’m not a big fan of the burn everything down and rebuild through the draft philosophy. But even still, to not even get guys who can stick in the league with picks that high is pretty crazy. To respond to your point though, I’m not sure Suns fans should be too comforted by landing two guys I think have a real good chance of being “great stats on bad teams” types.
Gr00vus
Footballguy
Sometimes. But the thing is, you don't know where the 1st rounders land until the lottery anyway. Accumulating them ahead of time is the best you can do. And sometimes you trade up to #1 and you get Fultz, the consensus #1 pick. I don't think you can speak in absolutes about talent distribution. Anyone picking top 5 last year would take Donovan Mitchell instead of who they took if they could have a do over.
Gr00vus
Footballguy
It's up to the coaches to make the talent work in this case. At least they have a chance, whether or not the cash in on it.
To respond to your point though, I’m not sure Suns fans should be too comforted by landing two guys I think have a real good chance of being “great stats on bad teams” types.
I said Duncan was "too many years since his draft" even though the bulk of his playing years were within 20 years. Exclude him and I listed four instead of five
Greg Oden had no skills besides being big. It's amazing that anyone watched Durant vs. Oden and thought Oden would translate better in the NBA. Durant was a freak unicorn who could do everything on the court.
Besides, Oden's legs were different lengths. Guys getting paid to do this for a living didn't think that was a huge risk on a seven footer.
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Gr00vus
Footballguy
They just did a little addition by subtraction in letting Anthony go. And I don't think their early season losses mean a whole lot anyway. I'd figure they'd beat anyone in the east in the finals in about 6 games.
They are a .500 ball club right now and have no injuries to point to as an excuse. They may still finish as the 2-seed in the West, but they are a far cry from what they were last season.
Harden was injured, Paul was suspended and it's November.
They are a .500 ball club right now and have no injuries to point to as an excuse. They may still finish as the 2-seed in the West, but they are a far cry from what they were last season.
Exactly my point. But you can't always assume you can trade up to #1 for the consensus top guy. That is impossible to do in a year where the #1 pick looks like a future can't miss superstar... which it didn't in the Fultz year (he was still worthy of the #1 pick at the time, but wasn't touted as a Lebron/Zion type player). If you think any team is trading away the #1 pick next year you're crazy.
So yes, I guess you can trade your top pick to a team that you're hoping might land the top pick the following year, but the odds of that coming true are extremely extremely small.
Having that option is a million times better than wasting a #1 on a guy who proved nothing in a nothing conference.
Gr00vus
Footballguy
All it takes is for some idiot to take Greg Oden or Sam Bowie and your #2 overall pick is gold. This contention of yours that the #1 overall is a lock is not borne up by history.
I don't think I have ever laughed watching a sports team like I do with the Lakers. It's a sideshow of comedy. (glad to see McGee doing well though)
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I'm not sure about that. Golden State is best team in the league for sure but the three (or maybe even four) teams that may give them the best series are in the East.
When did I say a #1 pick is a lock? I most definitely never suggested that. I never said Fultz was a lock to be a stud. I said that given what everyone knew about him at the time, he was the right pick. I don't like the trade up to #1 more than anyone else does.
Agreed. So how do you determine "Better"? Top team? Top 4 teams? Top entire conference?
General Malaise
Footballguy
Again....that conference had 2 of the 8 teams in the Elite 8 and 1 team in the Final Four. But keep repeating this and maybe it'll come true?
http://www.espn.com/espnmag/story?id=3683493
I was concerned during his high school years when it was revealed that one leg was shorter than the other.
Nothing to worry about here guys. Oden was your average 7', 280 LB guy walking with a permanent limp.
Pay me $100 in consulting fees and I'll tell your favorite team that's probably not a risk you want to take there.
I was concerned during his high school years when it was revealed that one leg was shorter than the other.
Nothing to worry about here guys. Oden was your average 7', 280 LB guy walking with a permanent limp.
Pay me $100 in consulting fees and I'll tell your favorite team that's probably not a risk you want to take there.
And what were your thoughts on where Embiid was taken? I'm assuming you hated that pick too. Actually I'm assuming you liked it as it now turned out.
General Malaise
Footballguy
Maybe you should apply for a GM job for a team? You've obviously the smartest person alive, so my question to you is this: Why haven't you been hired yet? What's keeping you unemployed by the NBA?
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I think what you said a few posts later was true. Overall the West is better but the East is top heavy and arguably has 4 of the top 6 teams.
General Malaise
Footballguy
Oregon held a good Kansas team to 60.
Keep going, Red Auerbach.
he missed the entire 2015-16 season and played less than 1/2 of the 2016-17 season. A guy with a lot of health red flags missing a ton of time :shocking:
Oregon held a good Kansas team to 60.
Keep going, Red Auerbach.
wow, one game where they lucked out that Bell got more playing time. Go back and analyze all the defenses of your trash conference.
Jayrod
Footballguy
You have about a 50/50 chance of the best player in the draft still being available at #4.
General Malaise
Footballguy
Who said anything about money? This should be about winning. So again, why aren't you out there winning NBA games for a franchise? Don't walk, run to the nearest one and turn their fortunes around. Hell, I'll tell Neil Olshey to vacate this afternoon personally if you can get here by Sunday. Sound okay? Let's win one for the Rose City, Billy Beane!
Frostillicus
Footballguy
You sure about this? 3 top 30 defenses and 7 top 100.
I have the mathematical background where there is a non-zero chance I could get a job on a team that values analytics. It's a good time for you to go clutter up another thread now, thanks.
Craig_MiamiFL
Footballguy
And why Ryan McDonough's out of a job now. Bender and Chriss should have spent the last 2 seasons in the G league (or college).
Amazing how clueless both guys are on the court. And neither guy has progressed in that area. Bender looked as clueless this past summer league (his 3rd year there) as the moment he stepped on the court there for the first time. Chriss had the athleticism (emphasis on had) when he came into the league to mask how utterly clueless he is out there. Then got lazy and out of shape and why he doesn't play (and deservedly so).
Basketball IQ isn't something guys are going to improve leaps and bounds on. It's something you have or don't. Neither Bender or Chriss have it at all.
Jackson (while a lot more talented than the aforementioned that don't belong in the NBA at all IMO) is heading down that same path as well. Wings that can't shoot aren't in high demand.
General Malaise
Footballguy
No, I'm fine right here, watching the delicate genius you are put on a show for us, Archimedes.
KP doesn't use home/road splits. Fultz's schedule was a joke when venue was taken into consideration.
Short Corner
Footballguy
I'm sure.. 54,000 posts. Where else could you possibly be other than typing away on a message board?
Their whole team sucked in his last season. His whole team was great when he "led" them to the SB. Kaepernick supporters love to use the latter as evidence he was good. I'm playing the same simple minded game.
Short Corner
Footballguy
Gr00vus
Footballguy
General Malaise
Footballguy
Right here! Eagerly awaiting your next post. I admire profound intelligence, especially from humble men of means willing to share their thoughts with the plebes.
ShamrockPride
Footballguy
Frostillicus
Footballguy
ShamrockPride
Footballguy
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