2022-23 NBA Thread: “you’ll never let me down like the Heat did”, Miami fan says to giant pile of cocaine (5 Viewers)

[Insein]

What a win

One more.

 

[mr. furley]

corner threes have to be hell for Durant. his feet barely fit between the three point line and the out of bounds line.

 

[Yo Mama]

Never fear, Celtic fans. Doc Rivers is still coach of the Sixers and it’s not like he’s great closing series out.

 

[modogg]

What a win

didn't see that coming. Was finally a great "team" win, with great games from Toby and Maxxey, and the bench chipping in a bit with Melton playing some good D and House cutting to the basket like a guy with no fear. Fun game and glad it didn't come down to Embiid or Harden to have to shoulder the load

Great game by the 76ers. It may be their best complete game in the playoffs. Embiid's defense was fantastic tonight and Maxey was a difference maker with his aggressiveness on offense.

The Celtics offense looked out of sorts tonight. Still looks like Tatum & Brown are taking turns on offense. You expect that from Booker & Durant as they learn to play together still, but the Celtics look like world beaters one game and the next they look disjointed.

was a strange one. almost looked like the bizarro world of game 3

 

[The Z Machine]

Also think PG's while incredibly awesome, just don't have the impact on winning quite like WINGS and BIGS

I don't know how you can say Magic didn't have an effect on winning. He WAS Showtime. Kareem was still a fine player when he arrived, but Magic made the late 80s Lakers.

 

[need2know]

Sixers outplayed the Celtics in like 8 of the last 9 qtrs

 

[need2know]

What a win

didn't see that coming. Was finally a great "team" win, with great games from Toby and Maxxey, and the bench chipping in a bit with Melton playing some good D and House cutting to the basket like a guy with no fear. Fun game and glad it didn't come down to Embiid or Harden to have to shoulder the load

Great game by the 76ers. It may be their best complete game in the playoffs. Embiid's defense was fantastic tonight and Maxey was a difference maker with his aggressiveness on offense.

The Celtics offense looked out of sorts tonight. Still looks like Tatum & Brown are taking turns on offense. You expect that from Booker & Durant as they learn to play together still, but the Celtics look like world beaters one game and the next they look disjointed.

Random. Their coach sucks

 

[dickey moe]

holy moly, Celtics got a lot of white guys on their deep bench

It's like the Bizarro 80's.

 

[modogg]

hmm weird stat, Celtics are 7-9 in their last 16 home games in the playoffs. Seems like a strange stat

 

[dickey moe]

I know everyone is dying to hear my hot take considering I put Durant up with Bird in the top 10'ish of all time. I find top 10 too difficult. Prefer a top 15. Not sure where everyone shakes out, but I have 4 tiers.

TIER 1 WINGS
MJ, Lebron - These guys are top two. I still have MJ over Lebron, but it's close.

TIER 1 BIGS
Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Duncan, Shaq - I think I may have all these BIGS above any of the TIER 2 WINGS, but I waver on a few of these

TIER 2 WINGS
Magic, Bird, Curry, Durant, Kobe - Not all these guys are traditional WINGS, but Magic and Curry are too different from traditional point guards for me to have them in a PG category. Also think PG's while incredibly awesome, just don't have the impact on winning quite like WINGS and BIGS

TIER 2 BIGS
Hakeem, KG, Jokic - Love all three of these guys.

So gun to head

1. MJ
2. Lebron
3. Wilt
4. Russell
5. Kareem
6. Magic
7. Duncan
8. Shaq
9. Bird
10. Durant
11. Curry
12. Hakeem
12. KG
14. Jokic
15. Kobe

Solid list. Only ones I might leave out of the Top 15 are KG and Jokic.

 

[Zow]

I know everyone is dying to hear my hot take considering I put Durant up with Bird in the top 10'ish of all time. I find top 10 too difficult. Prefer a top 15. Not sure where everyone shakes out, but I have 4 tiers.

TIER 1 WINGS
MJ, Lebron - These guys are top two. I still have MJ over Lebron, but it's close.

TIER 1 BIGS
Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Duncan, Shaq - I think I may have all these BIGS above any of the TIER 2 WINGS, but I waver on a few of these

TIER 2 WINGS
Magic, Bird, Curry, Durant, Kobe - Not all these guys are traditional WINGS, but Magic and Curry are too different from traditional point guards for me to have them in a PG category. Also think PG's while incredibly awesome, just don't have the impact on winning quite like WINGS and BIGS

TIER 2 BIGS
Hakeem, KG, Jokic - Love all three of these guys.

So gun to head

1. MJ
2. Lebron
3. Wilt
4. Russell
5. Kareem
6. Magic
7. Duncan
8. Shaq
9. Bird
10. Durant
11. Curry
12. Hakeem
12. KG
14. Jokic
15. Kobe

9 of your top 10 matches my "terrible" list.

 

[Zow]

Elgin Baylor and Oscar Robinson need to be on more lists - especially the top 20 ones.

They'd be in my top 20. Jerry West, too, probably.

 

[Otis]

I attended Knicks game 2 and we won.
I am attending game 5 tomorrow.
If we hit the miracle, I’m also attending game 7. LFG.

Fuxk the heat. And also the refs. Hoping for actual officiating the next few games. Idiots.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

That's a serious rock on the finger of Sean Payton's wife.

 

[modogg]

I attended Knicks game 2 and we won.
I am attending game 5 tomorrow.
If we hit the miracle, I’m also attending game 7. LFG.

Fuxk the heat. And also the refs. Hoping for actual officiating the next few games. Idiots.

pulling for the Knicks a bit. NBA overall is more fun when the Knicks are good

 

[the moops]

I know everyone is dying to hear my hot take considering I put Durant up with Bird in the top 10'ish of all time. I find top 10 too difficult. Prefer a top 15. Not sure where everyone shakes out, but I have 4 tiers.

TIER 1 WINGS
MJ, Lebron - These guys are top two. I still have MJ over Lebron, but it's close.

TIER 1 BIGS
Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Duncan, Shaq - I think I may have all these BIGS above any of the TIER 2 WINGS, but I waver on a few of these

TIER 2 WINGS
Magic, Bird, Curry, Durant, Kobe - Not all these guys are traditional WINGS, but Magic and Curry are too different from traditional point guards for me to have them in a PG category. Also think PG's while incredibly awesome, just don't have the impact on winning quite like WINGS and BIGS

TIER 2 BIGS
Hakeem, KG, Jokic - Love all three of these guys.

So gun to head

1. MJ
2. Lebron
3. Wilt
4. Russell
5. Kareem
6. Magic
7. Duncan
8. Shaq
9. Bird
10. Durant
11. Curry
12. Hakeem
12. KG
14. Jokic
15. Kobe

9 of your top 10 matches my "terrible" list.

Yes, but your 10th was awful!

 

[the moops]

Also think PG's while incredibly awesome, just don't have the impact on winning quite like WINGS and BIGS

I don't know how you can say Magic didn't have an effect on winning. He WAS Showtime. Kareem was still a fine player when he arrived, but Magic made the late 80s Lakers.

I was more talking traditional PGs (Stockton, Cousy, CP3, etc). Magic could do all that **** they could, but as we famously know, he could play all 5 positions. Similarly Curry can run off screens like any good PG could only dream to do. And him extending 3P range to ungodly territories has fundamentally changed the game

 

[the moops]

I know everyone is dying to hear my hot take considering I put Durant up with Bird in the top 10'ish of all time. I find top 10 too difficult. Prefer a top 15. Not sure where everyone shakes out, but I have 4 tiers.

TIER 1 WINGS
MJ, Lebron - These guys are top two. I still have MJ over Lebron, but it's close.

TIER 1 BIGS
Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Duncan, Shaq - I think I may have all these BIGS above any of the TIER 2 WINGS, but I waver on a few of these

TIER 2 WINGS
Magic, Bird, Curry, Durant, Kobe - Not all these guys are traditional WINGS, but Magic and Curry are too different from traditional point guards for me to have them in a PG category. Also think PG's while incredibly awesome, just don't have the impact on winning quite like WINGS and BIGS

TIER 2 BIGS
Hakeem, KG, Jokic - Love all three of these guys.

So gun to head

1. MJ
2. Lebron
3. Wilt
4. Russell
5. Kareem
6. Magic
7. Duncan
8. Shaq
9. Bird
10. Durant
11. Curry
12. Hakeem
12. KG
14. Jokic
15. Kobe

Solid list. Only ones I might leave out of the Top 15 are KG and Jokic.

Always love these debates.

What old dude takes their place?

 

[identikit]

Weak fandom to blame refs for your team playing badly and losing.

Special credit to Philly fans for doing it, win or lose

 

[the moops]

Weak fandom to blame refs for your team playing badly and losing.

Special credit to Philly fans for doing it, win or lose

Is anyone blaming the BOS loss of the refs?

 

[identikit]

Weak fandom to blame refs for your team playing badly and losing.

Special credit to Philly fans for doing it, win or lose

Is anyone blaming the BOS loss of the refs?

Probably, somewhere

Not every fan does it, you know?

 

[the moops]

Weak fandom to blame refs for your team playing badly and losing.

Special credit to Philly fans for doing it, win or lose

Is anyone blaming the BOS loss of the refs?

Probably, somewhere

Not every fan does it, you know?

I misread your post.

I should have that was funny

 

[ShamrockPride]

Jokic such a great troll

Pulling the Lance Stephenson sneaking into the huddle just to flop a technical out of KD.

 

[Frostillicus]

I know everyone is dying to hear my hot take considering I put Durant up with Bird in the top 10'ish of all time. I find top 10 too difficult. Prefer a top 15. Not sure where everyone shakes out, but I have 4 tiers.

TIER 1 WINGS
MJ, Lebron - These guys are top two. I still have MJ over Lebron, but it's close.

TIER 1 BIGS
Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Duncan, Shaq - I think I may have all these BIGS above any of the TIER 2 WINGS, but I waver on a few of these

TIER 2 WINGS
Magic, Bird, Curry, Durant, Kobe - Not all these guys are traditional WINGS, but Magic and Curry are too different from traditional point guards for me to have them in a PG category. Also think PG's while incredibly awesome, just don't have the impact on winning quite like WINGS and BIGS

TIER 2 BIGS
Hakeem, KG, Jokic - Love all three of these guys.

So gun to head

1. MJ
2. Lebron
3. Wilt
4. Russell
5. Kareem
6. Magic
7. Duncan
8. Shaq
9. Bird
10. Durant
11. Curry
12. Hakeem
12. KG
14. Jokic
15. Kobe

Jokic 14th?

 

[Frostillicus]

Jokic is the best player ever to not win a title?

 

[Frostillicus]

Never mind, I fell for it.

 

[the moops]

I know everyone is dying to hear my hot take considering I put Durant up with Bird in the top 10'ish of all time. I find top 10 too difficult. Prefer a top 15. Not sure where everyone shakes out, but I have 4 tiers.

TIER 1 WINGS
MJ, Lebron - These guys are top two. I still have MJ over Lebron, but it's close.

TIER 1 BIGS
Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Duncan, Shaq - I think I may have all these BIGS above any of the TIER 2 WINGS, but I waver on a few of these

TIER 2 WINGS
Magic, Bird, Curry, Durant, Kobe - Not all these guys are traditional WINGS, but Magic and Curry are too different from traditional point guards for me to have them in a PG category. Also think PG's while incredibly awesome, just don't have the impact on winning quite like WINGS and BIGS

TIER 2 BIGS
Hakeem, KG, Jokic - Love all three of these guys.

So gun to head

1. MJ
2. Lebron
3. Wilt
4. Russell
5. Kareem
6. Magic
7. Duncan
8. Shaq
9. Bird
10. Durant
11. Curry
12. Hakeem
12. KG
14. Jokic
15. Kobe

Jokic 14th?

Yes. You see the #14 right next to his name?

 

[Jayrod]

Observations from BOS/PHI:

- This game should shut up the Brown > Tatum talk. Brown no-showed tonight. He can be great, but he isn't better. They needed both of them tonight and only JT showed up.
- Horford is killing them on offense. He even forced some bad shots tonight.
- Smart has actually been consistently good on offense pretty much all playoffs.
- They have not had an answer for Harden/Embiid P&R game yet.
- Neither Brogdon nor White played well tonight. Need at least one to step up in game 6 if not both.
- Tucker reacts to every foul called on him in shocked disbelief. Worst whiner on the court tonight and that's saying something with this group.

 

[Frostillicus]

You're a madman, @the moops

 

[need2know]

Observations from BOS/PHI:

- This game should shut up the Brown > Tatum talk. Brown no-showed tonight. He can be great, but he isn't better. They needed both of them tonight and only JT showed up.
- Horford is killing them on offense. He even forced some bad shots tonight.
- Smart has actually been consistently good on offense pretty much all playoffs.
- They have not had an answer for Harden/Embiid P&R game yet.
- Neither Brogdon nor White played well tonight. Need at least one to step up in game 6 if not both.
- Tucker reacts to every foul called on him in shocked disbelief. Worst whiner on the court tonight and that's saying something with this group.

Nah that's tuckers game. You got way more problems bro. Wonder if they can force a game 7. Doesn't smell like it

 

[identikit]

Celtics don't look like a team that wants to try hard/give a big effort on offense and defense for more than one quarter per game.

At least for the last couple of games

 

[ShamrockPride]

Observations from BOS/PHI:

- This game should shut up the Brown > Tatum talk. Brown no-showed tonight. He can be great, but he isn't better. They needed both of them tonight and only JT showed up.
- Horford is killing them on offense. He even forced some bad shots tonight.
- Smart has actually been consistently good on offense pretty much all playoffs.
- They have not had an answer for Harden/Embiid P&R game yet.
- Neither Brogdon nor White played well tonight. Need at least one to step up in game 6 if not both.
- Tucker reacts to every foul called on him in shocked disbelief. Worst whiner on the court tonight and that's saying something with this group.

This one's over. I've been saying it for the past few years as I watched the pieces try and come together time after time.....but this team is just a collection of great parts, it's not a unit.

They lack a real leader. They were able to get so far last year due to Ime as those guys came into their prime. They lost him, and they lost the one leader that they had since neither of the Jay's are up to the task. Unmotivated, unfocused, careless, entitled.

Tatum, from every interview I've ever seen, just seems to be that "life is great, I'm just happy to be here" type. Jaylen is too even-tempered to be a leader.

For once, I'd just like to see one of those dudes get angry, hold teammates accountable, and say to the guys, "I'm going off tonight, stand back and let me do the heavy lifting."

Neither of those guys have that in their DNA. There's no "glue guy" holding the pieces together.

 

[Frostillicus]

These should be everyone's top 12 in some order:

Jordan

Lebron

Kareem

Russell

Magic

Wilt

Bird

Shaq

Duncan

Kobe

Hakeem

Oscar

I don't think KD and Curry are there yet, but they both can get into this group. I would welcome any argument for any one else to crack this group.

 

[scoobus]

These should be everyone's top 12 in some order:

Jordan

Lebron

Kareem

Russell

Magic

Wilt

Bird

Shaq

Duncan

Kobe

Hakeem

Oscar

I don't think KD and Curry are there yet, but they both can get into this group. I would welcome any argument for any one else to crack this group.

Wow, KG is crushed.

 

[Yo Mama]

Celtics lost because they wore the Bucks road uniforms at home again. Shameful.

 

[Jayrod]

Observations from BOS/PHI:

- This game should shut up the Brown > Tatum talk. Brown no-showed tonight. He can be great, but he isn't better. They needed both of them tonight and only JT showed up.
- Horford is killing them on offense. He even forced some bad shots tonight.
- Smart has actually been consistently good on offense pretty much all playoffs.
- They have not had an answer for Harden/Embiid P&R game yet.
- Neither Brogdon nor White played well tonight. Need at least one to step up in game 6 if not both.
- Tucker reacts to every foul called on him in shocked disbelief. Worst whiner on the court tonight and that's saying something with this group.

Nah that's tuckers game. You got way more problems bro. Wonder if they can force a game 7. Doesn't smell like it

Ok, bro.
Tucker was a tool on every foul tonight. And "I" don't have any problems, the Celtics do.
Night night, pumpkin.

 

[Frostillicus]

These should be everyone's top 12 in some order:

Jordan

Lebron

Kareem

Russell

Magic

Wilt

Bird

Shaq

Duncan

Kobe

Hakeem

Oscar

I don't think KD and Curry are there yet, but they both can get into this group. I would welcome any argument for any one else to crack this group.

Wow, KG is crushed.

Please don't tell him or me that I made this list.

 

[Insein]

These should be everyone's top 12 in some order:

Jordan

Lebron

Kareem

Russell

Magic

Wilt

Bird

Shaq

Duncan

Kobe

Hakeem

Oscar

I don't think KD and Curry are there yet, but they both can get into this group. I would welcome any argument for any one else to crack this group.

Curry is definitely in there. I'd say over Oscar at this point. That might sound like blasphemy but no one from any era can shoot like Curry.

 

[Harry Frogfish]

Love Jordan. And the demographic for this board seems like he is the de-facto number 1, which falls in-line. But leaving Curry off that list seems biased. For example, I would take him over Larry Bird, no question, among others.

Let's say you're picking/drafting a team tomorrow. Who would you take, Bird or Curry?

As an aside, Jordan got maybe the most perfect window of all. And absolutely made the most of it, good for him, deserves it. But timing can be everything, or at least a nice boost. Don't get me wrong or twist it, he didn't need timing, but it didn't hurt, and domination is stuck in our minds for good. Which is fine. But when you look at video of today's players and guys that played 30-50 years ago? It's a far cry.

The best shooter of all-time, and then some. Also lifts his teams, no matter who he plays with, which should be a part of whatever parameters meet one's "greatest" list.

 

[Instinctive]

These should be everyone's top 12 in some order:

Jordan

Lebron

Kareem

Russell

Magic

Wilt

Bird

Shaq

Duncan

Kobe

Hakeem

Oscar

I don't think KD and Curry are there yet, but they both can get into this group. I would welcome any argument for any one else to crack this group.

My biggest struggle with Hakeem is actually Hakeem vs Giannis.

 

[Otis]

Serious question: what’s the case for Duncan in the top 10?

 

[identikit]

Serious question: what’s the case for Duncan in the top 10?

He was extraordinarily, consistently good at the game of basketball

ETA for a very long time

 

[zoobird]

Serious question: what’s the case for Duncan in the top 10?

I asked the same thing a few pages back. The answer was that he was dominant defensively, offensive stats were comparable to the very best big men of his approximate time period, and he was the best player on a great team for a long, long time.

 

[the moops]

Serious question: what’s the case for Duncan in the top 10?

He was extraordinarily, consistently good at the game of basketball

This. Such a good basketball player for so very long

4 championships
2 MVP
3 Finals MVP
Rookie of Year
19 pts, 11 rebs, 2 blocks, 50% from floor (I think only Kareem hits all these)
15 time all star
15 time all NBA
15 time all defense

 

[Capella]

Was watching the Suns game this morning since I’m old and can’t stay up and my wife walked out and said “wow is that Durant? Has he played for every team in the league?” Lol

 

[Capella]

These should be everyone's top 12 in some order:

Jordan

Lebron

Kareem

Russell

Magic

Wilt

Bird

Shaq

Duncan

Kobe

Hakeem

Oscar

I don't think KD and Curry are there yet, but they both can get into this group. I would welcome any argument for any one else to crack this group.

Curry is for sure in that group.

 

[Capella]

Celtics lost because they wore the Bucks road uniforms at home again. Shameful.

My oldest man take is I don’t care how many jerseys a team wears during the regular season, but they should pick 2 for the playoffs and stick with it.

Boston wearing ugly *** alternates at home for a playoff game is a disgrace.

 

[the moops]

Was watching the Suns game this morning since I’m old and can’t stay up and my wife walked out and said “wow is that Durant? Has he played for every team in the league?” Lol

He's no Jeff Green (SEA, OKC, BOS, MEM, LAC, ORL, CLE, WAS, UTA, HOU, BRK, DEN)

 

[Ghost Rider]

Duncan wasn’t exciting to watch, but was awesomely efficient. He’s top 6-7.

Curry is top 10 now. I’d put him ahead of Shaq, Bryant and Hakeem.

 

[Kev4029]

Was watching the Suns game this morning since I’m old and can’t stay up and my wife walked out and said “wow is that Durant? Has he played for every team in the league?” Lol

He's no Jeff Green (SEA, OKC, BOS, MEM, LAC, ORL, CLE, WAS, UTA, HOU, BRK, DEN)

Ish Smith can do him one better - HOU, MEM, GSW, ORL, MIL, PHO, OKC, PHI, NOP, DET, WAS, CHO, DEN