2023-24 NBA (Playoffs!) Thread: Message board poster furiously types out one more horrible post before thread closes (4 Viewers)

[Alex P Keaton]

Dame, Clyde and Walton are all in the running for best Blazer of all time. Not going to rank them but.....

Brandon Roy deserves a seat at the table. If we're going to bring up Walton's injuries and "coulda beens" then we for sure need to bring Roy into this conversation. He was a ****ing badasssssss who gave Portland everything he had until he broke beyond repair. He sunk into major depression over it. That guy will always be my favorite Blazer and I love Dame. But Roy was the leader this team needed and gave the city all that he had. Love him.

I’ll just assume this is shtick.

 

[msudaisy26]

Dame, Clyde and Walton are all in the running for best Blazer of all time. Not going to rank them but.....

Brandon Roy deserves a seat at the table. If we're going to bring up Walton's injuries and "coulda beens" then we for sure need to bring Roy into this conversation. He was a ****ing badasssssss who gave Portland everything he had until he broke beyond repair. He sunk into major depression over it. That guy will always be my favorite Blazer and I love Dame. But Roy was the leader this team needed and gave the city all that he had. Love him.

I’ll just assume this is shtick.

It is shtick because his favorite player is Brandon Roy?

 

[General Malaise]

Dame, Clyde and Walton are all in the running for best Blazer of all time. Not going to rank them but.....

Brandon Roy deserves a seat at the table. If we're going to bring up Walton's injuries and "coulda beens" then we for sure need to bring Roy into this conversation. He was a ****ing badasssssss who gave Portland everything he had until he broke beyond repair. He sunk into major depression over it. That guy will always be my favorite Blazer and I love Dame. But Roy was the leader this team needed and gave the city all that he had. Love him.

I’ll just assume this is shtick.

So your first response to my heartfelt ode to Brandon Roy and his short time as a Blazer is to call it bogus? That's really rude and uncalled for. For a few bright years, Brandon Roy was everything in Portland. He played with bone on bone and gave the city all he had. He was an All Star. If Walton can get the praise for his brief time here before losing out to the injury bug than so too can Roy.

Always thought you were a nice guy but that was below board.

 

[General Malaise]

Dame, Clyde and Walton are all in the running for best Blazer of all time. Not going to rank them but.....

Brandon Roy deserves a seat at the table. If we're going to bring up Walton's injuries and "coulda beens" then we for sure need to bring Roy into this conversation. He was a ****ing badasssssss who gave Portland everything he had until he broke beyond repair. He sunk into major depression over it. That guy will always be my favorite Blazer and I love Dame. But Roy was the leader this team needed and gave the city all that he had. Love him.

I’ll just assume this is shtick.

It is shtick because his favorite player is Brandon Roy?

We still have Brandon Roy jerseys here that have been passed down from son to son and will keep for grandkids one day. He was an amazing player and a better guy. Thanks for having my back per usual.

 

[Yo Mama]

I know there’s still plenty of movement that can shake this up (especially with Lillard and Harden), but I’m bored so here are my Western Conference tiers (with my thoughts on if their team improved or got worse vs last year). Some good teams are going to miss the playoffs in the West.

Title Contenders
1) Nuggets (slightly worse)
2) Suns (better)

Playoff Contenders
3) Lakers (slightly better)
4) Grizzlies (same)
5) Warriors (same)
6) Clippers (same)
7) Kings (same)

Play In Contenders
8) Pelicans (same)
9) Wolves (same)
10) Mavs (better)
11) Thunder (same)

Lottery Contenders
12) Rockets (better)
13) Jazz (slightly better)
14) Spurs (better)
15) Blazers (worse)

Tiers are more important than the specific rankings. The playoff and play in tiers are really close and probably could be one massive tier (health could have a massive impact like last year).

I’m assuming Blazers don’t have Lillard, but they’re in the same tier if they somehow hold onto him.

Clippers stay in the same tier (but move to the top of it) if they get Harden.

 

[Yo Mama]

Eastern Conference Tiers (for now)

Title Contenders
1) Bucks (same)
2) Celtics (slightly worse)

Playoff Contenders
3) Heat (better - with Lillard)
4) Cavs (slightly better)
5) Knicks (same)
6) Sixers (slightly worse - with Harden)
7) Hawks (slightly worse)

Play In Contenders
8) Magic (slightly better)
9) Bulls (same)
10) Pacers (better)
11) Nets (same)
12) Raptors (slightly worse)

Lottery Contenders
13) Hornets (same)
14) Pistons (sameish)
15) Wizards (worse)

Sixers move to the play in tier if they trade Harden for the Clippers pu pu platter.

Heat probably do too if they somehow don’t get Lillard.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

Dame, Clyde and Walton are all in the running for best Blazer of all time. Not going to rank them but.....

Brandon Roy deserves a seat at the table. If we're going to bring up Walton's injuries and "coulda beens" then we for sure need to bring Roy into this conversation. He was a ****ing badasssssss who gave Portland everything he had until he broke beyond repair. He sunk into major depression over it. That guy will always be my favorite Blazer and I love Dame. But Roy was the leader this team needed and gave the city all that he had. Love him.

I’ll just assume this is shtick.

So your first response to my heartfelt ode to Brandon Roy and his short time as a Blazer is to call it bogus? That's really rude and uncalled for. For a few bright years, Brandon Roy was everything in Portland. He played with bone on bone and gave the city all he had. He was an All Star. If Walton can get the praise for his brief time here before losing out to the injury bug than so too can Roy.

Always thought you were a nice guy but that was below board.

I loved Brandon Roy in college. Big fan. I just don’t think he is anywhere close to a seat at the table for best Blazer of all time. But apologies for disrespecting Brandon Roy the player — not my intent. Truly couldn’t fathom the idea that he belongs on that list.

Edit to add: had zero idea B Roy was your lifelong all time favorite player. In that context, I can appreciate your fandom. My view of Tim Hardaway is similar — I value his impact beyond what other GS or Miami Heat fans might.

 

[Yo Mama]

Dame, Clyde and Walton are all in the running for best Blazer of all time. Not going to rank them but.....

Brandon Roy deserves a seat at the table. If we're going to bring up Walton's injuries and "coulda beens" then we for sure need to bring Roy into this conversation. He was a ****ing badasssssss who gave Portland everything he had until he broke beyond repair. He sunk into major depression over it. That guy will always be my favorite Blazer and I love Dame. But Roy was the leader this team needed and gave the city all that he had. Love him.

I’ll just assume this is shtick.

So your first response to my heartfelt ode to Brandon Roy and his short time as a Blazer is to call it bogus? That's really rude and uncalled for. For a few bright years, Brandon Roy was everything in Portland. He played with bone on bone and gave the city all he had. He was an All Star. If Walton can get the praise for his brief time here before losing out to the injury bug than so too can Roy.

Always thought you were a nice guy but that was below board.

I loved Brandon Roy in college. Big fan. I just don’t think he is anywhere close to a seat at the table for best Blazer of all time. But apologies for disrespecting Brandon Roy the player — not my intent. Truly couldn’t fathom the idea that he belongs on that list.

Edit to add: had zero idea B Roy was your lifelong all time favorite player. In that context, I can appreciate your fandom. My view of Tim Hardaway is similar — I value his impact beyond what other GS or Miami Heat fans might.

My outsider opinion - it wasn’t you disrespect for Roy that was the issue, it was how you responded to GMs opinion (which was basically just the laughing emoji).

 

[General Malaise]

Dame, Clyde and Walton are all in the running for best Blazer of all time. Not going to rank them but.....

Brandon Roy deserves a seat at the table. If we're going to bring up Walton's injuries and "coulda beens" then we for sure need to bring Roy into this conversation. He was a ****ing badasssssss who gave Portland everything he had until he broke beyond repair. He sunk into major depression over it. That guy will always be my favorite Blazer and I love Dame. But Roy was the leader this team needed and gave the city all that he had. Love him.

I’ll just assume this is shtick.

So your first response to my heartfelt ode to Brandon Roy and his short time as a Blazer is to call it bogus? That's really rude and uncalled for. For a few bright years, Brandon Roy was everything in Portland. He played with bone on bone and gave the city all he had. He was an All Star. If Walton can get the praise for his brief time here before losing out to the injury bug than so too can Roy.

Always thought you were a nice guy but that was below board.

I loved Brandon Roy in college. Big fan. I just don’t think he is anywhere close to a seat at the table for best Blazer of all time. But apologies for disrespecting Brandon Roy the player — not my intent. Truly couldn’t fathom the idea that he belongs on that list.

Edit to add: had zero idea B Roy was your lifelong all time favorite player. In that context, I can appreciate your fandom. My view of Tim Hardaway is similar — I value his impact beyond what other GS or Miami Heat fans might.

All good but he was an amazing player at a time when Portland needed it most. He took over a team that was full of decay and rot and put them back on the road to relevance in a hurry. The Jail Blazers were an embarrassment and the future was bleak. All that guy did was take them back to the playoffs when all seemed lost. He played hurt, he played injured and he did it without complaint. Say what you will about Bill Walton's time here - it was short and it was tumultuous - but he whined and complained his way out of here. Brandon didn't do that. He grinded his knees to the stub for us.

So yes, I think he needs a seat at table of best Portland Trail Blazer of all time and think anybody who finds that laughable should read some articles about his life after he left the NBA. It's poignant and I will defend him every chance I get.

 

[General Malaise]

Dame, Clyde and Walton are all in the running for best Blazer of all time. Not going to rank them but.....

Brandon Roy deserves a seat at the table. If we're going to bring up Walton's injuries and "coulda beens" then we for sure need to bring Roy into this conversation. He was a ****ing badasssssss who gave Portland everything he had until he broke beyond repair. He sunk into major depression over it. That guy will always be my favorite Blazer and I love Dame. But Roy was the leader this team needed and gave the city all that he had. Love him.

I’ll just assume this is shtick.

So your first response to my heartfelt ode to Brandon Roy and his short time as a Blazer is to call it bogus? That's really rude and uncalled for. For a few bright years, Brandon Roy was everything in Portland. He played with bone on bone and gave the city all he had. He was an All Star. If Walton can get the praise for his brief time here before losing out to the injury bug than so too can Roy.

Always thought you were a nice guy but that was below board.

I loved Brandon Roy in college. Big fan. I just don’t think he is anywhere close to a seat at the table for best Blazer of all time. But apologies for disrespecting Brandon Roy the player — not my intent. Truly couldn’t fathom the idea that he belongs on that list.

Edit to add: had zero idea B Roy was your lifelong all time favorite player. In that context, I can appreciate your fandom. My view of Tim Hardaway is similar — I value his impact beyond what other GS or Miami Heat fans might.

My outsider opinion - it wasn’t you disrespect for Roy that was the issue, it was how you responded to GMs opinion (which was basically just the laughing emoji).

All good. We move on. Life is good.

 

[NewlyRetired]

NBA In-Season Tournament Eastern Conference groups:

Group A: 76ers, Cavs, Hawks, Pacers, Pistons
Group B: Bucks, Knicks, Heat, Wizards, Hornets
Group C: Celtics, Nets, Raptors, Bulls, Magic

NBA In-season tournament Western Conference groups:

Group A: Memphis, PHX, Lakers, Utah, Portland
Group B: Denver, LAC, Pelicans, Mavs, Houston
Group C: Kings, Warriors, Thunder, Wolves, Spurs

 

[mr fancypants]

Spurs are extending 74 year old Pop 5yrs 80 million.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10056307-gregg-popovich-spurs-agree-to-new-5-year-contract-after-victor-wembanyama-selection

 

[GroveDiesel]

NBA In-Season Tournament Eastern Conference groups:

Group A: 76ers, Cavs, Hawks, Pacers, Pistons
Group B: Bucks, Knicks, Heat, Wizards, Hornets
Group C: Celtics, Nets, Raptors, Bulls, Magic

NBA In-season tournament Western Conference groups:

Group A: Memphis, PHX, Lakers, Utah, Portland
Group B: Denver, LAC, Pelicans, Mavs, Houston
Group C: Kings, Warriors, Thunder, Wolves, Spurs

I honestly just don’t get the whole concept. Seems ridiculous and irrelevant. And get off my grass.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

NBA In-Season Tournament Eastern Conference groups:

Group A: 76ers, Cavs, Hawks, Pacers, Pistons
Group B: Bucks, Knicks, Heat, Wizards, Hornets
Group C: Celtics, Nets, Raptors, Bulls, Magic

NBA In-season tournament Western Conference groups:

Group A: Memphis, PHX, Lakers, Utah, Portland
Group B: Denver, LAC, Pelicans, Mavs, Houston
Group C: Kings, Warriors, Thunder, Wolves, Spurs

Are those groups going to be randomly assigned each year

 

[Long Ball Larry]

NBA In-Season Tournament Eastern Conference groups:

Group A: 76ers, Cavs, Hawks, Pacers, Pistons
Group B: Bucks, Knicks, Heat, Wizards, Hornets
Group C: Celtics, Nets, Raptors, Bulls, Magic

NBA In-season tournament Western Conference groups:

Group A: Memphis, PHX, Lakers, Utah, Portland
Group B: Denver, LAC, Pelicans, Mavs, Houston
Group C: Kings, Warriors, Thunder, Wolves, Spurs

I honestly just don’t get the whole concept. Seems ridiculous and irrelevant. And get off my grass.

A way to make some regular season games relevant and create another product for more tv revenue

 

[Yo Mama]

NBA In-Season Tournament Eastern Conference groups:

Group A: 76ers, Cavs, Hawks, Pacers, Pistons
Group B: Bucks, Knicks, Heat, Wizards, Hornets
Group C: Celtics, Nets, Raptors, Bulls, Magic

NBA In-season tournament Western Conference groups:

Group A: Memphis, PHX, Lakers, Utah, Portland
Group B: Denver, LAC, Pelicans, Mavs, Houston
Group C: Kings, Warriors, Thunder, Wolves, Spurs

Are those groups going to be randomly assigned each year

Seems like they took last seasons seedlings and put them into pots - pot 1 is seeds 1-3, pot 2 is seeds 4-6, etc. Then the teams get randomly drawn from each pot and put into groups. Basically like the World Cup.

Wish I would have known the draw was happening, I would have watched it live.

I’m more excited for this now. Group games will be the Tuesday and Friday games in November (which are also still regular season games).

 

[NewlyRetired]

NBA In-Season Tournament Eastern Conference groups:

Group A: 76ers, Cavs, Hawks, Pacers, Pistons
Group B: Bucks, Knicks, Heat, Wizards, Hornets
Group C: Celtics, Nets, Raptors, Bulls, Magic

NBA In-season tournament Western Conference groups:

Group A: Memphis, PHX, Lakers, Utah, Portland
Group B: Denver, LAC, Pelicans, Mavs, Houston
Group C: Kings, Warriors, Thunder, Wolves, Spurs

Are those groups going to be randomly assigned each year

I don't know how they will do it in the future, but this is how they did it this year.


======

To create the groups, the NBA used a World Cup-style draw process, splitting each conference into five pots that were separated by last year's regular-season standings. Pot 1 featured the teams that finished first through third -- so, in the East, the Bucks, Celtics and 76ers; followed by teams 4-6 landing in Pot 2 (Cavaliers, Knicks and Nets); teams 7-9 landing in Pot 3 (Hawks, Heat, Raptors); teams 10-12 landing in Pot 4 (Bulls, Pacers and Wizards); and teams 13-15 landing in Pot 5 (Magic, Hornets and Pistons).

From there, one team was randomly selected from each of the five pots to create what the league hopes will be three evenly matched groups of teams to compete against one another.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

NBA In-Season Tournament Eastern Conference groups:

Group A: 76ers, Cavs, Hawks, Pacers, Pistons
Group B: Bucks, Knicks, Heat, Wizards, Hornets
Group C: Celtics, Nets, Raptors, Bulls, Magic

NBA In-season tournament Western Conference groups:

Group A: Memphis, PHX, Lakers, Utah, Portland
Group B: Denver, LAC, Pelicans, Mavs, Houston
Group C: Kings, Warriors, Thunder, Wolves, Spurs

I honestly just don’t get the whole concept. Seems ridiculous and irrelevant. And get off my grass.

A way to make some regular season games relevant and create another product for more tv revenue

What do the winners get or what makes them more relevant than any other game?

 

[NewlyRetired]

NBA In-Season Tournament Eastern Conference groups:

Group A: 76ers, Cavs, Hawks, Pacers, Pistons
Group B: Bucks, Knicks, Heat, Wizards, Hornets
Group C: Celtics, Nets, Raptors, Bulls, Magic

NBA In-season tournament Western Conference groups:

Group A: Memphis, PHX, Lakers, Utah, Portland
Group B: Denver, LAC, Pelicans, Mavs, Houston
Group C: Kings, Warriors, Thunder, Wolves, Spurs

I honestly just don’t get the whole concept. Seems ridiculous and irrelevant. And get off my grass.

A way to make some regular season games relevant and create another product for more tv revenue

What do the winners get or what makes them more relevant than any other game?

They considered giving the winners an automatic playoff berth but instead it will just be cash money.

$500k for each player on winning team. $200k for each player on team that loses in the final.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I honestly just don’t get the whole concept. Seems ridiculous and irrelevant. And get off my grass.

I can't say for sure but I don't think this was created with American fans in mind. My guess is that they want to use this as a marketing tool for international viewers.

While I understand the focus, I don't think international fans are going to take to this once they learn it has neither the charm of an FA Cup or the elevated status of The Champions League.

 

[GroveDiesel]

NBA In-Season Tournament Eastern Conference groups:

Group A: 76ers, Cavs, Hawks, Pacers, Pistons
Group B: Bucks, Knicks, Heat, Wizards, Hornets
Group C: Celtics, Nets, Raptors, Bulls, Magic

NBA In-season tournament Western Conference groups:

Group A: Memphis, PHX, Lakers, Utah, Portland
Group B: Denver, LAC, Pelicans, Mavs, Houston
Group C: Kings, Warriors, Thunder, Wolves, Spurs

I honestly just don’t get the whole concept. Seems ridiculous and irrelevant. And get off my grass.

A way to make some regular season games relevant and create another product for more tv revenue

What do the winners get or what makes them more relevant than any other game?

They considered giving the winners an automatic playoff berth but instead it will just be cash money.

$500k for each player on winning team. $200k for each player on team that loses in the final.

The winners also get the highly prestigious NBA Cup.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

NBA In-Season Tournament Eastern Conference groups:

Group A: 76ers, Cavs, Hawks, Pacers, Pistons
Group B: Bucks, Knicks, Heat, Wizards, Hornets
Group C: Celtics, Nets, Raptors, Bulls, Magic

NBA In-season tournament Western Conference groups:

Group A: Memphis, PHX, Lakers, Utah, Portland
Group B: Denver, LAC, Pelicans, Mavs, Houston
Group C: Kings, Warriors, Thunder, Wolves, Spurs

I honestly just don’t get the whole concept. Seems ridiculous and irrelevant. And get off my grass.

A way to make some regular season games relevant and create another product for more tv revenue

What makes them relevant? Why do I care who wins the tournament? Why do the players? And why do the stats count but for the final?

 

[Tau837]

Say what you will about Bill Walton's time here - it was short and it was tumultuous - but he whined and complained his way out of here. Brandon didn't do that. He grinded his knees to the stub for us.

Walton was the best player on the Blazers' championship team. As a Blazers fan, you seem oddly unappreciative of his place in Blazers history.

Apparently, you don't like how he left the Blazers, but he didn't like how they handled his health issues. I'm surprised that a Blazers fan would feel he knows so much about it as to absolve the team and castigate Walton.

The 30 for 30 documentary goes into this a bit. Now, maybe that documentary has a slant, but it certainly does not paint Walton in a bad light over it.

None of this has anything to do with Roy. Not knocking him. But he was not close to the same tier talent-wise or in terms of accomplishments as Walton.

 

[Frostillicus]

The inseason tournament seems weird on the surface, but very little changes for the viewer. All the games are the same as would be played anyway, except there's a little more at stake. The more games that matter to the players, the better. I wasn't sure about the whole play-in thing but it's been awesome. Hopefully this wll be too.

 

[NewlyRetired]

And why do the stats count but for the final?

I think most of the games are also considered regular season games. I am not sure the final is also considered a regular season game.

 

[Major]

NBA In-Season Tournament Eastern Conference groups:

Group A: 76ers, Cavs, Hawks, Pacers, Pistons
Group B: Bucks, Knicks, Heat, Wizards, Hornets
Group C: Celtics, Nets, Raptors, Bulls, Magic

NBA In-season tournament Western Conference groups:

Group A: Memphis, PHX, Lakers, Utah, Portland
Group B: Denver, LAC, Pelicans, Mavs, Houston
Group C: Kings, Warriors, Thunder, Wolves, Spurs

I honestly just don’t get the whole concept. Seems ridiculous and irrelevant. And get off my grass.

A way to make some regular season games relevant and create another product for more tv revenue

What do the winners get or what makes them more relevant than any other game?

They considered giving the winners an automatic playoff berth but instead it will just be cash money.

$500k for each player on winning team. $200k for each player on team that loses in the final.

They need to have some sort of incentive for the playoffs or draft lottery. Fans don't care about a few extra dollars for a player's salary. Personally, I'd rather just see a USA v. World All Star game instead.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

And why do the stats count but for the final?

I think most of the games are also considered regular season games. I am not sure the final is also considered a regular season game.

Why not?

 

[NewlyRetired]

And why do the stats count but for the final?

I think most of the games are also considered regular season games. I am not sure the final is also considered a regular season game.

Why not?

They are considering the final an 83rd game it looks like (I don't know why)...see below


"The exception is the championship game; that contest will represent an 83rd game for the teams that qualify. Stats for the championship game will not count toward a player’s end-of-season stats, and the championship game results will not be included in each team’s final regular season record."

 

[Deamon]

Dame, Clyde and Walton are all in the running for best Blazer of all time. Not going to rank them but.....

Brandon Roy deserves a seat at the table. If we're going to bring up Walton's injuries and "coulda beens" then we for sure need to bring Roy into this conversation. He was a ****ing badasssssss who gave Portland everything he had until he broke beyond repair. He sunk into major depression over it. That guy will always be my favorite Blazer and I love Dame. But Roy was the leader this team needed and gave the city all that he had. Love him.

I’ll just assume this is shtick.

It is shtick because his favorite player is Brandon Roy?

We still have Brandon Roy jerseys here that have been passed down from son to son and will keep for grandkids one day. He was an amazing player and a better guy. Thanks for having my back per usual.

I'm starting to wonder if you're Brandon Roy.

 

[Yo Mama]

I’m excited for the tournament. I think it’s confusing to have explained in writing - once everyone sees it in practice, things will make more sense.

 

[Capella]

The tournament can’t be worse than a regular season November game. There’s a chance the final four games will be very exciting. We aren’t missing out on anything here, bring it on baby.

 

[Yo Mama]

The tournament can’t be worse than a regular season November game. There’s a chance the final four games will be very exciting. We aren’t missing out on anything here, bring it on baby.

I’ll be following those Tue/Fri November games a lot more now than I would have previously. I like the group stage idea more than if it were just a big one and done tournament.

 

[Gatorman]

If Lillard says "gee, i dunno, i'm fine with whatever" then his leverage tanks and he ****s other future players by taking less than the max he can possibly get.

I am not even sure this applies at all here. Dame has 4 years and $216 million left on his contract. He's not fighting for a new contract . . . he's trying to get to the Heat. He's going to get paid the same no matter where he plays. His agent suggesting that he won't play or potentially won't even report to any team but MIA is tanking his TRADE value, but his CONTRACT value will be the same regardless.

I’ll let gm kind of jump in here if he wants, but it seems to me that dame wanted a title shot w portland and gave the new gm a full year to figure this out. Then he even went a step farther (while watching the heat run through the EC on the way to a drubbing by Denver) and gave them another chance to build around him and the GM said, nope we are not gonna do it. Even after the draft he was like ”ok, go grab some free agents” and then Portland couldn’t do anything so dame and his “team” said f this, I want to go to Miami.

its Weird all the way around. Dame wants out, the gm is likely fighting for his job w the team being shopped and finally, the team is being shopped so everyone involved is doing a lot of chest thumping. Miami sees an opportunity here as well, and likely isn’t giving Portland full worth for dame bc they are competing against themselves.

in the end, I see this being a trade of a couple of guys Portland will likely flip, 3 or four first rounders, and herro ending up on another team to help facilitate the deal (with a pick for herro that gets shipped to Portland) and ESPN vacillating between “the gm did the best he could“ and “the Celtics could have offered more”. Meanwhile in more laker and knicks news….

He gave the new GM a full year. Wow. Portland is like 75 percent of the league, you don't get free agents. See everyone not named Boston, Chicago, Miami, LA teams and title contenders.

Everyone from pick 2 through 5 tried to trade this year and not one of the picks got moved. It was a horrible draft after 1 because there aren't any sure fire guys. The draft will probably produce some quality players, but it was a complete crap shoot.

Miami and Dame will end up together, but Lillard looks bad doing this after playing the loyal guy for so long. Funny part is the first year is probably going to be a wasted year. Bam, Jimmy and Lillard will probably end like the Suns did this year because they have no depth.

I think you underestimate Miami and spo. Not a ”heat culture“ thing but the fact that butler dame and bam mesh well for their skill sets. Even more so than wade Bosh lebron (as wade and lebron were similar position players). Also, Miami has signed a few big men to play alongside bam or sub for him and josh Richardson had his best year as a member of the heat. Also goran is still out there if Miami needs a back up pg who knows this system (and who jimmy loves). Add love to the 8 min a game spot and a few udfa Miami has on the roster (not to mention highsmith who played well in spurts last year)

hard to know what the team will look like when the dust settles, but unless Miami loses Lowry, Robinson, herro, Martin, jovic, and the new guy I think they will be ok. What the second unit will look like will be interesting, but the same can be said for Denver, the suns, the Celtics, etc etc.
finally, a lot of players are in a holding pattern waiting for this all to fall into place. A lot of guys out there willing to take the minimum to chase a ring.

edit to add: Miami went through a pretty decent injury bug last year and then got hot and healthy-ish in their playoff run. Considering they made their run without herro or oladipo and with Lowry being jag while Vincent, struss, and Duncan all played lights out is commendable but you don’t think dame is better than all 4 of those guys for this roster?

You are playing a video game, it takes time to gel as a time and a bunch of UDFA don't just come in and fit perfectly into a system year 1. You keep preaching about Goran as your backup point guard and he is awful now. Plus you are counting on guys that probably won't be there, Herro is gone, Lowry too, Jovic will most likely be in the trade. You can't just give guys like Duncan Robinson more minutes and everything will be great, there was a reason he hardly played until injuries forced him into action.

The same can't be said for any other team but the Suns. No one has turned over their roster this much this off-season that is a contender.

We seem to go round and round on this, but this season is going to be "weird" a lot of guys who are "good" are going to be taking the minimum as the new cap and apron get figured out. In the east, The Bucks are the same, the celts are a little less, as are the sixers. The Knicks are acending, and the heat are going for broke. Short of injuries, Miami should be in the ECF again with a roster of Jimmy Bam Dame and you and I rounding out the top 5.

Meanwhile, Bam played with Dame for team USA (where all of this kind of started) so there is familiarity there. Jimmy is jimmy, and again, short of Miami trading away everyone on my list there should be skill players to be had. Again these things are solved on the court, but you know how the league works: up to the all star game is basically training camp, all star game to the trade deadline is "refining", the buyout market and after that is "settling in"

Dame, Clyde and Walton are all in the running for best Blazer of all time. Not going to rank them but.....

Brandon Roy deserves a seat at the table. If we're going to bring up Walton's injuries and "coulda beens" then we for sure need to bring Roy into this conversation. He was a ****ing badasssssss who gave Portland everything he had until he broke beyond repair. He sunk into major depression over it. That guy will always be my favorite Blazer and I love Dame. But Roy was the leader this team needed and gave the city all that he had. Love him.

I’ll just assume this is shtick.

So your first response to my heartfelt ode to Brandon Roy and his short time as a Blazer is to call it bogus? That's really rude and uncalled for. For a few bright years, Brandon Roy was everything in Portland. He played with bone on bone and gave the city all he had. He was an All Star. If Walton can get the praise for his brief time here before losing out to the injury bug than so too can Roy.

Always thought you were a nice guy but that was below board.

I loved Brandon Roy in college. Big fan. I just don’t think he is anywhere close to a seat at the table for best Blazer of all time. But apologies for disrespecting Brandon Roy the player — not my intent. Truly couldn’t fathom the idea that he belongs on that list.

Edit to add: had zero idea B Roy was your lifelong all time favorite player. In that context, I can appreciate your fandom. My view of Tim Hardaway is similar — I value his impact beyond what other GS or Miami Heat fans might.

My outsider opinion - it wasn’t you disrespect for Roy that was the issue, it was how you responded to GMs opinion (which was basically just the laughing emoji).

All good. We move on. Life is good.

I’m sure this would be an interesting thread on its own. As a Miami fan you look at the wade era and the current one and guys like udonis and forget there is likely no big three without the hardaway/zo heat.

hardaway kind of gets forgotten bc so many players came after him (sure, he’s a hall of famer but you don’t see too many fans rocking a hardaway jersey) but that feistiness on d that is signature Miami came from that group that won very little unto wade came to town.

 

[Kev4029]

The Dillon Brooks contract is worse than reported, it's 4/86 with an additional $4m in incentives. Amazing.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

NBA In-Season Tournament Eastern Conference groups:

Group A: 76ers, Cavs, Hawks, Pacers, Pistons
Group B: Bucks, Knicks, Heat, Wizards, Hornets
Group C: Celtics, Nets, Raptors, Bulls, Magic

NBA In-season tournament Western Conference groups:

Group A: Memphis, PHX, Lakers, Utah, Portland
Group B: Denver, LAC, Pelicans, Mavs, Houston
Group C: Kings, Warriors, Thunder, Wolves, Spurs

I honestly just don’t get the whole concept. Seems ridiculous and irrelevant. And get off my grass.

A way to make some regular season games relevant and create another product for more tv revenue

What do the winners get or what makes them more relevant than any other game?

They considered giving the winners an automatic playoff berth but instead it will just be cash money.

$500k for each player on winning team. $200k for each player on team that loses in the final.

They need to have some sort of incentive for the playoffs or draft lottery. Fans don't care about a few extra dollars for a player's salary. Personally, I'd rather just see a USA v. World All Star game instead.

Fans don’t care about that, but if it makes the games more competitive, fans will care more about watching.

Plus I’m sure fans of some teams that have less/no championship equity will still be psyched for it in the moment.

I mean, why does anything really matter in sports? Why is the championship of the playoffs that important? Why is Wimbledon more important than most other tournaments? Why do soccer fans care about the FA cup? Because they are traditions set forth and marketed as being important, not because they have any particular inherent worth. So it may seem pointless right now, but over time, these traditions can build and become more ostensibly important.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

The winning team of this in-season tournament should get a bonus 1st round pick. fans need real stakes too and that would make a lot of fans care much more about this really quick.

 

[General Malaise]

Say what you will about Bill Walton's time here - it was short and it was tumultuous - but he whined and complained his way out of here. Brandon didn't do that. He grinded his knees to the stub for us.

Walton was the best player on the Blazers' championship team. As a Blazers fan, you seem oddly unappreciative of his place in Blazers history.

Apparently, you don't like how he left the Blazers, but he didn't like how they handled his health issues. I'm surprised that a Blazers fan would feel he knows so much about it as to absolve the team and castigate Walton.

The 30 for 30 documentary goes into this a bit. Now, maybe that documentary has a slant, but it certainly does not paint Walton in a bad light over it.

None of this has anything to do with Roy. Not knocking him. But he was not close to the same tier talent-wise or in terms of accomplishments as Walton.

This gets complicated for me.

For one, I grew up in Dallas in the 70s/80s and when I discovered the NBA, was a die hard Mavericks fan. Bill Walton was a Celtic. I have no memory of the 77 Blazers' team. I was 4. I didn't know where Oregon was. Rolando Blackman was my favorite NBA player.

I moved to the Portland area in 1996. The Blazers were not good. They got better but got better through players who caused the city great embarrassment. The Jail Blazers Era was not a fun experience and I kept my Mavericks' loyalty.

Over time, Portland matured, brought in guys like Brian Grant, Scottie Pippen, Steve Smith to pair with malcontents like Sheed Wallace and Bonzi Wells. At the same time, I was able to afford NBA tickets and went to games. I morphed into a Blazer fan over time.

But the Blazers got old fast and the talent left behind wanted out. It was a rough ride but rescue came in a hurry and it came through Brandon Roy. He had some help with LaMarcus but he didn't burst onto the scene the way Roy did. Roy made clutch shots, made other players better and led the team to the playoffs. By then, I had season tickets through work and Roy was my dude.

So, it's sentimental I know but I do think he belongs in the discussion of best Blazer players of all time. Not THE best but he needs a seat at the table.

I love Bill Walton the person. I find him fascinating. I'm 2/3 of the way through his 30/30 and read Breaks of the Game. The Portland doctors did Bill Walton no favors but it wasn't a pretty departure from here once he picked up his grudge. I wasn't around for it, didn't experience it and can only go on what I read and watch. I mean he sat out a whole season under protest...that sort of behavior would never have come from Brandon Roy.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I mean, why does anything really matter in sports? Why is the championship of the playoffs that important? Why is Wimbledon more important than most other tournaments? Why do soccer fans care about the FA cup? Because they are traditions set forth and marketed as being important, not because they have any particular inherent worth. So it may seem pointless right now, but over time, these traditions can build and become more ostensibly important.

It is the "you need to start somewhere" theory. Even the league came out and said they don't expect to have buy in across the board but if you want to add new wrinkles, you do have to try.

I give the league a lot of credit. They have identified that many of the teams are sleep walking through that part of the season and are trying to do something to reinvigorate them. I don't know if this will work but it is certainly worth a shot.

The FA Cup started back in 1871. It takes many many decades for things to take hold. It might be that this dies in early experimentation or 30 years from now people can look back and say "this is where it all started".

 

[Mister CIA]

Say what you will about Bill Walton's time here - it was short and it was tumultuous - but he whined and complained his way out of here. Brandon didn't do that. He grinded his knees to the stub for us.

Walton was the best player on the Blazers' championship team. As a Blazers fan, you seem oddly unappreciative of his place in Blazers history.

Apparently, you don't like how he left the Blazers, but he didn't like how they handled his health issues. I'm surprised that a Blazers fan would feel he knows so much about it as to absolve the team and castigate Walton.

The 30 for 30 documentary goes into this a bit. Now, maybe that documentary has a slant, but it certainly does not paint Walton in a bad light over it.

None of this has anything to do with Roy. Not knocking him. But he was not close to the same tier talent-wise or in terms of accomplishments as Walton.

This gets complicated for me.

For one, I grew up in Dallas in the 70s/80s and when I discovered the NBA, was a die hard Mavericks fan. Bill Walton was a Celtic. I have no memory of the 77 Blazers' team. I was 4. I didn't know where Oregon was. Rolando Blackman was my favorite NBA player.

I moved to the Portland area in 1996. The Blazers were not good. They got better but got better through players who caused the city great embarrassment. The Jail Blazers Era was not a fun experience and I kept my Mavericks' loyalty.

Over time, Portland matured, brought in guys like Brian Grant, Scottie Pippen, Steve Smith to pair with malcontents like Sheed Wallace and Bonzi Wells. At the same time, I was able to afford NBA tickets and went to games. I morphed into a Blazer fan over time.

But the Blazers got old fast and the talent left behind wanted out. It was a rough ride but rescue came in a hurry and it came through Brandon Roy. He had some help with LaMarcus but he didn't burst onto the scene the way Roy did. Roy made clutch shots, made other players better and led the team to the playoffs. By then, I had season tickets through work and Roy was my dude.

So, it's sentimental I know but I do think he belongs in the discussion of best Blazer players of all time. Not THE best but he needs a seat at the table.

I love Bill Walton the person. I find him fascinating. I'm 2/3 of the way through his 30/30 and read Breaks of the Game. The Portland doctors did Bill Walton no favors but it wasn't a pretty departure from here once he picked up his grudge. I wasn't around for it, didn't experience it and can only go on what I read and watch. I mean he sat out a whole season under protest...that sort of behavior would never have come from Brandon Roy.

I had a similar path to becoming a Spurs fan. Was a Mavs fan (was already a Cowboys and Rangers fan, so why not), but my fandom withered on the vine, probably not long after the Derek Harper dribbling incident.

Then I moved to SA in 92 and went to my first live basketball game. It was one rare NBA games ever coached by Jerry Tarkanian, including former NYC phenom, Lloyd "Swee' Pea" Daniels. The rest is history.

 

[Tau837]

I mean he sat out a whole season under protest...that sort of behavior would never have come from Brandon Roy.

Walton sat out the 1978-79 season. Roy entered the NBA in 2006. Everything about the NBA, sports medicine, player compensation, and media coverage was completely different. Roy never really could have been in the same situation.

Not to mention, very few NBA players would be willing to forego the kind of salaries players like Roy were making based on principle. Walton made a total of about $3M in his NBA career. Roy made $100M.

Here is a SI Vault article about his departure from Portland: OFF ON A WRONGED FOOT
Here is an article published in Willamette Week, Portland weekly newspaper, in 1978: Why Bill Walton Wanted Out

That second article really makes the team, its doctors, and Jack Ramsay look bad. Altogether, based on what I have read about the situation, I don't think any reasonable Portland fan should have any issue with Walton.

 

[Major]

I had a similar path to becoming a Spurs fan. Was a Mavs fan (was already a Cowboys and Rangers fan, so why not), but my fandom withered on the vine, probably not long after the Derek Harper dribbling incident.

Then I moved to SA in 92 and went to my first live basketball game. It was one rare NBA games ever coached by Jerry Tarkanian, including former NYC phenom, Lloyd "Swee' Pea" Daniels. The rest is history.

As a fellow Texan, I just lost all respect for you

 

[Mister CIA]

I had a similar path to becoming a Spurs fan. Was a Mavs fan (was already a Cowboys and Rangers fan, so why not), but my fandom withered on the vine, probably not long after the Derek Harper dribbling incident.

Then I moved to SA in 92 and went to my first live basketball game. It was one rare NBA games ever coached by Jerry Tarkanian, including former NYC phenom, Lloyd "Swee' Pea" Daniels. The rest is history.

As a fellow Texan, I just lost all respect for you

Not sure I understand why, but at least I'm not a Rocket's fan.

 

[Major]

I had a similar path to becoming a Spurs fan. Was a Mavs fan (was already a Cowboys and Rangers fan, so why not), but my fandom withered on the vine, probably not long after the Derek Harper dribbling incident.

Then I moved to SA in 92 and went to my first live basketball game. It was one rare NBA games ever coached by Jerry Tarkanian, including former NYC phenom, Lloyd "Swee' Pea" Daniels. The rest is history.

As a fellow Texan, I just lost all respect for you

Not sure I understand why, but at least I'm not a Rocket's fan.

I'm just joking around but I can't imagine a move to San Antonio would make me change my allegiance to a conference rival

 

[Mister CIA]

I had a similar path to becoming a Spurs fan. Was a Mavs fan (was already a Cowboys and Rangers fan, so why not), but my fandom withered on the vine, probably not long after the Derek Harper dribbling incident.

Then I moved to SA in 92 and went to my first live basketball game. It was one rare NBA games ever coached by Jerry Tarkanian, including former NYC phenom, Lloyd "Swee' Pea" Daniels. The rest is history.

As a fellow Texan, I just lost all respect for you

Not sure I understand why, but at least I'm not a Rocket's fan.

I'm just joking around but I can't imagine a move to San Antonio would make me change my allegiance to a conference rival

All good. I was never emotionally invested in the Mavs. In fact, the NBA fell off my radar completely for about three or four years in the late 80s/early 90s.

 

[Major]

I had a similar path to becoming a Spurs fan. Was a Mavs fan (was already a Cowboys and Rangers fan, so why not), but my fandom withered on the vine, probably not long after the Derek Harper dribbling incident.

Then I moved to SA in 92 and went to my first live basketball game. It was one rare NBA games ever coached by Jerry Tarkanian, including former NYC phenom, Lloyd "Swee' Pea" Daniels. The rest is history.

As a fellow Texan, I just lost all respect for you

Not sure I understand why, but at least I'm not a Rocket's fan.

I'm just joking around but I can't imagine a move to San Antonio would make me change my allegiance to a conference rival

All good. I was never emotionally invested in the Mavs. In fact, the NBA fell off my radar completely for about three or four years in the late 80s/early 90s.

That makes a little more sense. I'll give you a pass because you were there before the Duncan dynasty and endured all those thrashings from Hakeem and co.

 

[Major]

It's just summer league but Jabari Smith is looking like the second coming of T-Mac. Hope some of this dominance carries over to the regular season.

 

[msudaisy26]

Jordan Poole asked about the impact of the Draymond Green incident on the end of his time with the Warriors: “We’re in Washington now. Playing with Kuz. Great duo.”

Well those are the two greatest shooters of all-time in my opinion”, Poole said. Also built a relationship where I can ask them — I can text Steph. I can text Klay. I can call them. Have a conversation. That doesn’t leave. That doesn’t go anywhere. If anything, I just know the plays that they run.”

Two very different answers about his former teammates. I was very confident Green opted out because if Poole wasn't traded then he was leaving. This proves it for me.

 

[Gatorman]

5 team trade news imminent… (only one source so far)

 

[Moe.]

It's just summer league but Jabari Smith is looking like the second coming of T-Mac. Hope some of this dominance carries over to the regular season.

I am still very high on him. Last year was just tough all around down there and I'm not sure you can judge him too harshly for any of it. They just need to be too good for a top 4 pick but not good enough to make the playoffs.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

5 team trade news imminent… (only one source so far)

Who is the source?