*NBA THREAD* Abe will be missed (5 Viewers)

[Abraham]

Beverly deserved the first team slot as did James.

 

[No. 16]

Beverly deserved the first team slot as did James.

Beverly or Klay Thompson honestly who often defended PGs because Curry is too slow and to small to defend PGs.

Most people seemed to think LBJ slacked on defense this year and that's why I think Iggy was able to steal the #1 spot.

 

[got_nugs]

Listening to LeBatard is almost never a good idea.

I understand it takes all kinds to make the world go 'round so I get that not everyone likes him. For me it's the best thing on radio that's not attached to a guitar. His sensibilities and my own match up more often than not.

 

[The_Man]

I'm not a big NBA fan, but watched a couple of games in both Conference Finals and enjoyed them.

And now there's 1 game being played in the entire week following the conclusion of the WCF. Blows.

 

[Freelove]

Beverly deserved the first team slot as did James.

Agree, though I've got no real problem with Iggy, since he's a legit lockdown defender at his best.

Paul has gone a long ways toward using craft and opportunism to hide his very real physical deficiencies on defense, to the point where he's actually probably above average at it, despite not being very good at most of the things that would qualify most players as "plus." But he's got no business bumping guys who can stick to every PG in the league like glue out of their first-team status.

Beverly was robbed, IMO. And in total, I think the second team is far stronger than the first.

 

[saintfool]

I'm a big pops fan but tim duncan plays more of a role in SA success than anyone

Getting guys like Ginobli and Parker with less than prime draft positions is as important. Also pulling off deals like trading Hill for Leonard and finding role guys who fit the scheme perfectly (e.g. Belinelli). The whole organization has been on an impressive 20 year run.

It's fun to have seen him tinker with the formula over the years. It all starts with Timmy though. If he can't perform at a high level then the system doesn't work. There are few big men that can score, defend, rebound, pass, and do it with a brain in their head.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Marc Lasry (part) owner of the Milwaukee Bucks when asked if its true that they want Jabari Parker...

A: *Sheepish shrug* Well him or Embiid.

 

[CurlyNight]

Man, no bball until Thurs........

 

[Routilla]

Los Spurs!

 

[CurlyNight]

Los Spurs!

Si!

 

[TobiasFunke]

I'm not a big NBA fan, but watched a couple of games in both Conference Finals and enjoyed them.

And now there's 1 game being played in the entire week following the conclusion of the WCF. Blows.

This sucks, and there's no real reason for it. They have alternate schedules for the start of the conference semis and finals if the series wrap up early, no reason they can't start tonight or tomorrow. And the schedule itself kind of sucks too- three days between Games 1 and 2, 4 and 5 and (hopefully) 6 and 7. I assume the idea behind both moves is to basically ensure two Sunday night games which presumably is their ratings bonanza? But it could have been games 3 and 6, pretty good chance this goes at least 6.

The upside is maybe DrJ will get bored during the break and take his nonsense elsewhere.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

I have to assume that Thursday and Sunday are clearly the days with the highest ratings.

Not sure what role the tV contract itself might play in the scheduling.

 

[Sammy3469]

I have to assume that Thursday and Sunday are clearly the days with the highest ratings.

Not sure what role the tV contract itself might play in the scheduling.

Granted some large percentage of it is US TV, but they also have a set Final's schedule for the international market so their media knows when and where to go. The Finals are orders of magnitude greater for international audience than the conference Finals.

 

[TobiasFunke]

I have to assume that Thursday and Sunday are clearly the days with the highest ratings.

Not sure what role the tV contract itself might play in the scheduling.

Granted some large percentage of it is US TV, but they also have a set Final's schedule for the international market so their media knows when and where to go. The Finals are orders of magnitude greater for international audience than the conference Finals.

This makes sense, was wondering why they had scheduling flexibility in previous rounds but not for the Finals. Thanks.

 

[Premier]

Also hotels. I read once that when a team makes the conference finals, the league blocks off large chunks of hotels for all 4 cities still involved.

 

[Sammy3469]

Also hotels. I read once that when a team makes the conference finals, the league blocks off large chunks of hotels for all 4 cities still involved.

It's all intertwined. Basically the conference finals are "little" "local" events while the Finals are big international get togethers that need much more coordination.

 

[the moops]

RT @davidortiz: Yo @kevinlove if you need advice on moving from Minnesota to Boston just let me know #CityOfChamps

make it happen Ainge

 

[Ghost Rider]

Regarding the long layoff, yeah, it is annoying, but I am okay with both teams getting more rest time since they both won their CFs in less than seven. You should be rewarded for not going the distance. Had they started it tonight, that would have given the Spurs only one extra day of rest (since Game 7 of Thunder/Spurs would have been last night). The drawback obviously is having the start date essentially set in stone. Had the Heat and Spurs both swept in the CF, we would have had 9 days in between the CF and the finals. That is nuts.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

I have to assume that Thursday and Sunday are clearly the days with the highest ratings.

Not sure what role the tV contract itself might play in the scheduling.

Granted some large percentage of it is US TV, but they also have a set Final's schedule for the international market so their media knows when and where to go. The Finals are orders of magnitude greater for international audience than the conference Finals.

good point.

a couple weeks ago, Lowe was talking about the night and day difference in media coverage between the conference finals and finals, primarily due to foreign media.

 

[grateful zed]

this could be epic

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

RT @davidortiz: Yo @kevinlove if you need advice on moving from Minnesota to Boston just let me know #CityOfChamps

make it happen Ainge

Might as well at this point. Might as well move Rubio too if you can fool someone into thinking his shooting won't kill you.

What would the Celts have to give? #6, Olynyk and another first? Plus expiring contracts?

 

[the moops]

RT @davidortiz: Yo @kevinlove if you need advice on moving from Minnesota to Boston just let me know #CityOfChamps

make it happen Ainge

Might as well at this point. Might as well move Rubio too if you can fool someone into thinking his shooting won't kill you.

What would the Celts have to give? #6, Olynyk and another first? Plus expiring contracts?

Yea, something along those lines.

#6, Olnyk or Sullinger, Brooklyn 1st round pick next year, salary filler.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

I have to assume that Thursday and Sunday are clearly the days with the highest ratings.

Not sure what role the tV contract itself might play in the scheduling.

Granted some large percentage of it is US TV, but they also have a set Final's schedule for the international market so their media knows when and where to go. The Finals are orders of magnitude greater for international audience than the conference Finals.

good point.

a couple weeks ago, Lowe was talking about the night and day difference in media coverage between the conference finals and finals, primarily due to foreign media.

IIRC, every FIBA member nation broadcasts the NBA Finals. That's 213 countries' worth of TV stations to coordinate, most of which are broadcasting their only NBA games of the season. Those Finals games dates have to be set months in advance.

Plus there's the deluge of USA local media that don't send correspondents to out-of-market playoff rounds but do cover the Finals. Not as difficult to accommodate logistically as the international contingent, but still contributing to the circus.

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

RT @davidortiz

: Yo https://twitter.com/kevinlove

@kevinlove if you need advice on moving from Minnesota to

Boston just let me know #

CityOfChamps

make it happen Ainge

Might as well at this point. Might as well move Rubio too if you can fool someone into thinking his shooting won't kill you.

What would the Celts have to give? #6, Olynyk and another first? Plus expiring contracts?

Boston does that deal in a heartbeat , my guess is Minny would also want at least one more first round pick, probably #17 this year.

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

RT @davidortiz

: Yo

@kevinlove if you need advice on moving from Minnesota to

Boston just let me know #

CityOfChamps

make it happen Ainge

Might as well at this point. Might as well moveRubio too if you can fool someone into thinking his shooting won't kill you.

What would the Celts have to give? #6, Olynyk and another first? Plus expiring contracts?

Boston does that deal in a heartbeat , my guess is Minny would also want at least one more first round pick, probably #17 this year.

Yeah, I agree. No matter what it won't feel like enough, but getting multiple first round shots is better than being left holding the bag I guess.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

RT @davidortiz: Yo @kevinlove if you need advice on moving from Minnesota to Boston just let me know #CityOfChamps

make it happen Ainge

Might as well at this point. Might as well move Rubio too if you can fool someone into thinking his shooting won't kill you.

What would the Celts have to give? #6, Olynyk and another first? Plus expiring contracts?

Yea, something along those lines.

#6, Olnyk or Sullinger, Brooklyn 1st round pick next year, salary filler.

Are people that high on Olynyk? The few times I watched him this year he looked pretty terrible. Hard to see him being anything more than a 4th/5th big on a decent roster.

 

[Freelove]

Olynyk's /36's are right there with Sullinger's, and he probably has a higher ceiling since he's legitimately decent from outside and is a true 7 feet. That's a useful player. He's no stud, but you roll the dice and hope the studs come with the draft picks.

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

Olynyk's /36's are right there with Sullinger's, and he probably has a higher ceiling since he's legitimately decent from outside and is a true 7 feet. That's a useful player. He's no stud, but you roll the dice and hope the studs come with the draft picks.

Sullinger might have been a top 5 pick if he came out a year earlier and is definitely a better player right now. I think his ceiling is higher but the health concerns hurts his trade value.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Olynyk's /36's are right there with Sullinger's, and he probably has a higher ceiling since he's legitimately decent from outside and is a true 7 feet. That's a useful player. He's no stud, but you roll the dice and hope the studs come with the draft picks.

Per36 is pretty useless. Olynyk compares favourably to Valanciunas or Vucevic as well in Per36 but no one projects them as equals.

 

[Freelove]

Olynyk's /36's are right there with Sullinger's, and he probably has a higher ceiling since he's legitimately decent from outside and is a true 7 feet. That's a useful player. He's no stud, but you roll the dice and hope the studs come with the draft picks.

Per36 is pretty useless. Olynyk compares favourably to Valanciunas or Vucevic as well in Per36 but no one projects them as equals.

Just offering a point of comparison.

There's a reason their names are used interchangeably in every trade scenario that gets bandied about. Olynyk isn't a world beater, but the idea that Sullinger is, or can be, has sailed. Nobody sees Sullinger as the next anything by now. That he may have once been considered to have more upside doesn't really factor. I don't think there's a GM alive who sees Sullinger in much more than a utilitarian light at this point.

Feel free to disagree. The way teams value the guys shows up in the way they treat them.

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

Olynyk's /36's are right there with Sullinger's, and he probably has a higher ceiling since he's legitimately decent from outside and is a true 7 feet. That's a useful player. He's no stud, but you roll the dice and hope the studs come with the draft picks.

Yeah, this. I don't love the guy, but he's a rotation player on our new suckier wolves.

 

[the moops]

Chatter about Carmelo wanting to go to Boston to join up with Love (if that deal goes through). What a terrible defensive duo they would make, but sure would be entertaining seeing them together with Rondo.

 

[the moops]

Love’s sighting in Boston over the weekend has undoubtedly spawned a lot of intrigue among hoops denizens. One source, for example, has said that the Boston deal is “pretty much done,” and that the Celtics really intend to pair off Love and Celtics captain Rajon Rondo with New York’s Carmelo Anthony, an impending free agent himself, to form a lethal triumvirate that would rival the Heat’s own Big Three.

 

[coyote5]

I have to assume that Thursday and Sunday are clearly the days with the highest ratings.

Not sure what role the tV contract itself might play in the scheduling.

Granted some large percentage of it is US TV, but they also have a set Final's schedule for the international market so their media knows when and where to go. The Finals are orders of magnitude greater for international audience than the conference Finals.

good point.

a couple weeks ago, Lowe was talking about the night and day difference in media coverage between the conference finals and finals, primarily due to foreign media.

IIRC, every FIBA member nation broadcasts the NBA Finals. That's 213 countries' worth of TV stations to coordinate, most of which are broadcasting their only NBA games of the season. Those Finals games dates have to be set months in advance.

Plus there's the deluge of USA local media that don't send correspondents to out-of-market playoff rounds but do cover the Finals. Not as difficult to accommodate logistically as the international contingent, but still contributing to the circus.

What, don't all these countries get ESPN? That should provide them all the coverage they could want plus more!

 

[TobiasFunke]

Love’s sighting in Boston over the weekend has undoubtedly spawned a lot of intrigue among hoops denizens. One source, for example, has said that the Boston deal is “pretty much done,” and that the Celtics really intend to pair off Love and Celtics captain Rajon Rondo with New York’s Carmelo Anthony, an impending free agent himself, to form a lethal triumvirate that would rival the Heat’s own Big Three.

Interesting take.

ETA: I suppose they would rival the Heat's Big Three if the standard is "names your non-basketball-watching wife would recognize." I think my wife has heard of Rajon Rondo.

 

[Timmay]

Chatter about Carmelo wanting to go to Boston to join up with Love (if that deal goes through). What a terrible defensive duo they would make, but sure would be entertaining seeing them together with Rondo.

Rondo might average 16+ assists a game if Carmelo and Love give him the ball.

 

[17seconds]

Chatter about Carmelo wanting to go to Boston to join up with Love (if that deal goes through). What a terrible defensive duo they would make, but sure would be entertaining seeing them together with Rondo.

Rondo might average 16+ assists a game if Carmelo and Love give him the ball.

Gives it up after the inbounds then never sees it again

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Chatter about Carmelo wanting to go to Boston to join up with Love (if that deal goes through). What a terrible defensive duo they would make, but sure would be entertaining seeing them together with Rondo.

Rondo might average 16+ assists a game if Carmelo and Love give him the ball.

You don't get an assist when the player dribbles for 20 seconds after receiving the pass.

 

[Frostillicus]

Celtics get Love and Kevin Martin, Wolves get Green, Olynyk, Bayless (expiring), and Bass (2 yrs left) to make the money work and the Wolves get out of Martin who's meaningless if they're going to rebuild. How many picks could they get back? #6, #17, and the Clippers 2015? Brooklyn's 2016? Boston's 2015?

The Celtics have so many picks that as a Wolves fan that's the trade I'm hoping for. Get as many picks as possible, the dumping Martin thing would just be a bonus.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Love’s sighting in Boston over the weekend has undoubtedly spawned a lot of intrigue among hoops denizens. One source, for example, has said that the Boston deal is “pretty much done,” and that the Celtics really intend to pair off Love and Celtics captain Rajon Rondo with New York’s Carmelo Anthony, an impending free agent himself, to form a lethal triumvirate that would rival the Heat’s own Big Three.

They'd have to give up all of those draft picks to get rid of the contracts of Wallace, Green and Bass.

 

[Timmay]

Chatter about Carmelo wanting to go to Boston to join up with Love (if that deal goes through). What a terrible defensive duo they would make, but sure would be entertaining seeing them together with Rondo.

Rondo might average 16+ assists a game if Carmelo and Love give him the ball.

You don't get an assist when the player dribbles for 20 seconds after receiving the pass.

True. I can see it now. Iso for Carmelo or Love every play down. Rondo better defend and crash those boards if he ever expects to touch the ball.

 

[Frostillicus]

Wolves give up: Love.

Wolves get: Asik (hou), Parsons (hou), Bayless (bos), Olynyk (bos). #6 and #17 this year, Brooklyn 2016 #1, Brooklyn 2017 #1

Celtics give up: Rondo, Bayless, Olynyk, Anthony, #6 this year, #17 this year, Brooklyn 2016 #1, Clippers 2015 #1.

Celtics get: Love (min), Lin (hou)

Rockets give up: Asik, Parsons, Lin.

Rockets get: Deron Williams (brk),

Nets give up: Williams.

Nets get: Rondo (bos), Anthony (bos), Clippers 2015 #1

 

[TobiasFunke]

Chatter about Carmelo wanting to go to Boston to join up with Love (if that deal goes through). What a terrible defensive duo they would make, but sure would be entertaining seeing them together with Rondo.

Rondo might average 16+ assists a game if Carmelo and Love give him the ball.

You don't get an assist when the player dribbles for 20 seconds after receiving the pass.

True. I can see it now. Iso for Carmelo or Love every play down. Rondo better defend and crash those boards if he ever expects to touch the ball.

The idea intrigues me, that's for sure. The Miami Big Three needed a year to jell on offense, they got by with elite defense in the interim, obviously that's not an option here. Boston's Big Three succeeded immediately in a weak East; obviously that IS a factor here.

Obviously the success would depend in large part on the other pieces. They would really need some sort of cheap rim protection.

 

[rodg12]

Chatter about Carmelo wanting to go to Boston to join up with Love (if that deal goes through). What a terrible defensive duo they would make, but sure would be entertaining seeing them together with Rondo.

Rondo might average 16+ assists a game if Carmelo and Love give him the ball.

You don't get an assist when the player dribbles for 20 seconds after receiving the pass.

True. I can see it now. Iso for Carmelo or Love every play down. Rondo better defend and crash those boards if he ever expects to touch the ball.

The idea intrigues me, that's for sure. The Miami Big Three needed a year to jell on offense, they got by with elite defense in the interim, obviously that's not an option here. Boston's Big Three succeeded immediately in a weak East; obviously that IS a factor here.

Obviously the success would depend in large part on the other pieces. They would really need some sort of cheap rim protection.

Obviously...

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Chatter about Carmelo wanting to go to Boston to join up with Love (if that deal goes through). What a terrible defensive duo they would make, but sure would be entertaining seeing them together with Rondo.

Rondo might average 16+ assists a game if Carmelo and Love give him the ball.

You don't get an assist when the player dribbles for 20 seconds after receiving the pass.

True. I can see it now. Iso for Carmelo or Love every play down. Rondo better defend and crash those boards if he ever expects to touch the ball.

The idea intrigues me, that's for sure. The Miami Big Three needed a year to jell on offense, they got by with elite defense in the interim, obviously that's not an option here. Boston's Big Three succeeded immediately in a weak East; obviously that IS a factor here.

Obviously the success would depend in large part on the other pieces. They would really need some sort of cheap rim protection.

I'd say that team, with mediocre role players, takes the 1 seed in the East.... but I also think they'd lose in 5 games to this years version Miami and get beat fairly easily by Indy as well. Essentially, they'd crush it in the regular season with their offence but not have enough D to compete with top playoff teams.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Chatter about Carmelo wanting to go to Boston to join up with Love (if that deal goes through). What a terrible defensive duo they would make, but sure would be entertaining seeing them together with Rondo.

Rondo might average 16+ assists a game if Carmelo and Love give him the ball.

You don't get an assist when the player dribbles for 20 seconds after receiving the pass.

True. I can see it now. Iso for Carmelo or Love every play down. Rondo better defend and crash those boards if he ever expects to touch the ball.

The idea intrigues me, that's for sure. The Miami Big Three needed a year to jell on offense, they got by with elite defense in the interim, obviously that's not an option here. Boston's Big Three succeeded immediately in a weak East; obviously that IS a factor here.

Obviously the success would depend in large part on the other pieces. They would really need some sort of cheap rim protection.

Obviously...

Who's out there? Okafor?

I just noticed the "obviously" thing

 

[the moops]

Celtics give up: Rondo, Bayless, Olynyk, Anthony, #6 this year, #17 this year, Brooklyn 2016 #1, Clippers 2015 #1.

Celtics get: Love (min), Lin (hou)

4 first round picks and Rondo for a guy who is going to leave the Wolves. That is preposterous. Lin is not an asset

 

[Timmay]

Chatter about Carmelo wanting to go to Boston to join up with Love (if that deal goes through). What a terrible defensive duo they would make, but sure would be entertaining seeing them together with Rondo.

Rondo might average 16+ assists a game if Carmelo and Love give him the ball.

You don't get an assist when the player dribbles for 20 seconds after receiving the pass.

True. I can see it now. Iso for Carmelo or Love every play down. Rondo better defend and crash those boards if he ever expects to touch the ball.

The idea intrigues me, that's for sure. The Miami Big Three needed a year to jell on offense, they got by with elite defense in the interim, obviously that's not an option here. Boston's Big Three succeeded immediately in a weak East; obviously that IS a factor here.

Obviously the success would depend in large part on the other pieces. They would really need some sort of cheap rim protection.

I'd say that team, with mediocre role players, takes the 1 seed in the East.... but I also think they'd lose in 5 games to this years version Miami and get beat fairly easily by Indy as well. Essentially, they'd crush it in the regular season with their offence but not have enough D to compete with top playoff teams.

It intrigues me as well. It would certainly be a "big three" that I could get behind and root for.

Without looking at the whole free agent class, some FA to be players that I would want to be pieced on this team would be Birdman, Jordan Hill, and PJ Tucker-some players that can be somewhat affordable.

 

[the moops]

Celtics have a 10 million dollar traded player exception. Houston would probably take that and a pick for Asik.

 

[the moops]

Too many moving pieces to actually make it work, but a Rondo, Bradley, Melo, Love, Asik starting 5 would be an interesting mix.