*NBA THREAD* Abe will be missed (7 Viewers)

[Village Idiot]

ugh

DELUSIONAL!Wolves get 50 wins and make the play offs.

 

[Village Idiot]

Always good shtick that teams are going to improve after losing their far and away best player

How often is the far and away best player also a locker room cancer who's only interest is logging the best stats he can so he ends up on a contender? If I'd ever bothered to buy a Love jersey while he was here, I'd definitely have burned it when he left. Glad he's the Cav's problem now.

Honestly part of the reason I'm so anti-Love now is because I used to defend him a lot. He used to say the right things to make it seem like he wanted to be here, but his actions in the end will always speak louder than words. Love never wanted to be here, never wanted to lead our team, and never accepted any blame for the team's problems and lack of cohesion. Would you give your all while playing with someone with MJ's dickish-ness and not nearly the level of talent?

In contrast, Wiggins has fully embraced his role as the future of this franchise, and actually likes his teammates. Love played here for 6 years and only ever rented an apartment in the burbs during the season, jetting off to the West Coast and essentially cutting ties with the team until the next preseason rolled around. Wiggins just bought a $1.2 mil house in one of the most popular parts of the city center to plant his roots. Wiggins just fits with Minnesotans more than Love ever did. We don't appreciate self-aggrandizing divas (Love), we adore passionate team players (Garnett).

But it's ok Garnett pushed his way out too?Just asking.

 

[mcintyre1]

In regard to my belief that the Wolves will have a better record this year than last, it comes down to this:

The drop-off from Kevin Love to Thaddeus Young will be more than offset by replacing a huge chunk of our horrendous bench unit. The Wolves had one of the best starting lineups in the league last year (statistically) and, contrary to the belief of people that didn't actually watch those games, Love didn't do that on his own. The Wolves finished comically behind their Pythagorean record (expected wins/losses as expected by point differential per 100 possessions) due to how terrible their bench was at scoring.

Here's who was getting run off the bench last year:

JJ Barea

Dante Cunningham

Luc Mbah a Moute

Chase Budinger (coming off of multiple knee surgeries)

Alexey Shved

Robbie Hummel

Ronny Turiaf

Shabazz Muhammad

Derrick Williams

AJ Price

Othyus Jeffers

Replace that with:

Mo Williams

Corey Brewer

Gorgui Dieng

Anthony Bennett

Zach LaVine

Shabazz Muhammad

Chase Budinger

Robbie Hummel

Ronny Turiaf

Glenn Robinson III

The Wolves under Adelman had no identity, no drive, and no passion.

Under Flip, they finally have an identity: disruptive defense (3 of last years top 10 in steals), pick and roll and transition offense.

 

[mcintyre1]

Always good shtick that teams are going to improve after losing their far and away best player

How often is the far and away best player also a locker room cancer who's only interest is logging the best stats he can so he ends up on a contender? If I'd ever bothered to buy a Love jersey while he was here, I'd definitely have burned it when he left. Glad he's the Cav's problem now.

Honestly part of the reason I'm so anti-Love now is because I used to defend him a lot. He used to say the right things to make it seem like he wanted to be here, but his actions in the end will always speak louder than words. Love never wanted to be here, never wanted to lead our team, and never accepted any blame for the team's problems and lack of cohesion. Would you give your all while playing with someone with MJ's dickish-ness and not nearly the level of talent?

In contrast, Wiggins has fully embraced his role as the future of this franchise, and actually likes his teammates. Love played here for 6 years and only ever rented an apartment in the burbs during the season, jetting off to the West Coast and essentially cutting ties with the team until the next preseason rolled around. Wiggins just bought a $1.2 mil house in one of the most popular parts of the city center to plant his roots. Wiggins just fits with Minnesotans more than Love ever did. We don't appreciate self-aggrandizing divas (Love), we adore passionate team players (Garnett).

But it's ok Garnett pushed his way out too?Just asking.

Yes. It is all about how its done. Love did it the wrong way.

 

[mcintyre1]

Wolves got a nice haul for Love, I wouldn't be surprised if they did better this year. Along with Dieng being a WIS stud...

There is zero chance they are getting anywhere close to 40 wins this year. Their O/U is 25.5

Which to me just reflects the truth that no one outside of MN really watched the Wolves last year (or any year since what, 2004?). 538's NBA season preview has us projected to go 39-43, 10th place in the West.

 

[Moe.]

A big reason I think the Wolves will be better without Love, from an online Q/A with one of the long time Wolves beat writers:

Q: Does the locker room seem to be affected by the personnel changes? Does it matter to the team's success?

A: Yes, I think it's much more unified than a year ago. It's hard when your superstar is also seen as a diva not well liked

When you say better, do you mean in a better situation long-term or that they will literally win more games this year compared to last?

 

[Freelove]

Wolves got a nice haul for Love, I wouldn't be surprised if they did better this year. Along with Dieng being a WIS stud...

There is zero chance they are getting anywhere close to 40 wins this year. Their O/U is 25.5

The O/U is a public perception line.

I don't know if they'll be better or worse, but I'm damn sure the average NBA fan thinks they'll be worse. The average NBA fan also thought the Nuggs would go in the tank after trading Melo that year.

 

[Arsenal of Doom]

Wolves got a nice haul for Love, I wouldn't be surprised if they did better this year. Along with Dieng being a WIS stud...

There is zero chance they are getting anywhere close to 40 wins this year. Their O/U is 25.5

Yeah, the West is really tough, outside the Lakers, of course. I think 30-35 wins is realistic.

 

[Todem]

Heat Nation Unite!!!!!

http://wqam.com/2014/10/28/video-heat-nation-short-film/

It all starts tonight.

 

[Slapdash]

I'd take the over on 25.5, that team has a lot of talent to pull together.

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

Always good shtick that teams are going to improve after losing their far and away best player

How often is the far and away best player also a locker room cancer who's only interest is logging the best stats he can so he ends up on a contender? If I'd ever bothered to buy a Love jersey while he was here, I'd definitely have burned it when he left. Glad he's the Cav's problem now.

Honestly part of the reason I'm so anti-Love now is because I used to defend him a lot. He used to say the right things to make it seem like he wanted to be here, but his actions in the end will always speak louder than words. Love never wanted to be here, never wanted to lead our team, and never accepted any blame for the team's problems and lack of cohesion. Would you give your all while playing with someone with MJ's dickish-ness and not nearly the level of talent?

In contrast, Wiggins has fully embraced his role as the future of this franchise, and actually likes his teammates. Love played here for 6 years and only ever rented an apartment in the burbs during the season, jetting off to the West Coast and essentially cutting ties with the team until the next preseason rolled around. Wiggins just bought a $1.2 mil house in one of the most popular parts of the city center to plant his roots. Wiggins just fits with Minnesotans more than Love ever did. We don't appreciate self-aggrandizing divas (Love), we adore passionate team players (Garnett).

Nice take

 

[mcintyre1]

A big reason I think the Wolves will be better without Love, from an online Q/A with one of the long time Wolves beat writers:

Q: Does the locker room seem to be affected by the personnel changes? Does it matter to the team's success?

A: Yes, I think it's much more unified than a year ago. It's hard when your superstar is also seen as a diva not well liked

When you say better, do you mean in a better situation long-term or that they will literally win more games this year compared to last?

I'm on the record as predicting that they'll finish with 46 wins and barely make the playoffs this year.

 

[Freelove]

A big reason I think the Wolves will be better without Love, from an online Q/A with one of the long time Wolves beat writers:

Q: Does the locker room seem to be affected by the personnel changes? Does it matter to the team's success?

A: Yes, I think it's much more unified than a year ago. It's hard when your superstar is also seen as a diva not well liked

When you say better, do you mean in a better situation long-term or that they will literally win more games this yliear compared to last?

I'm on the record as predicting that they'll finish with 46 wins and barely make the playoffs this year.

I like your reasoning.

I'm still taking the under on the 27.5, but I like your reasoning.

 

[Moe.]

Are you Flip Saunders?

 

[Freelove]

I am not.

 

[Moe.]

Not you. You posted too fast.

 

[Moe.]

I don't do the multi-quote crap for the bros out there on mobile.

 

[mcintyre1]

Are you Flip Saunders?

No comment. Might as well be, though. I realize I'm way outside the norm on this one, I just feel pretty strongly that the construction of this Wolves team is better than last year's, and that their record will reflect that.

 

[Frostillicus]

This made me laugh.

 

[Yo Mama]

A big reason I think the Wolves will be better without Love, from an online Q/A with one of the long time Wolves beat writers:

Q: Does the locker room seem to be affected by the personnel changes? Does it matter to the team's success?

A: Yes, I think it's much more unified than a year ago. It's hard when your superstar is also seen as a diva not well liked

When you say better, do you mean in a better situation long-term or that they will literally win more games this year compared to last?

I'm on the record as predicting that they'll finish with 46 wins and barely make the playoffs this year.

46 wins doesn't make the playoffs in the west. That's 10 seed at best.

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

For the record, I'm guessing our Wolves be TANKING HARD in the second half.

 

[mcintyre1]

A big reason I think the Wolves will be better without Love, from an online Q/A with one of the long time Wolves beat writers:

Q: Does the locker room seem to be affected by the personnel changes? Does it matter to the team's success?

A: Yes, I think it's much more unified than a year ago. It's hard when your superstar is also seen as a diva not well liked

When you say better, do you mean in a better situation long-term or that they will literally win more games this year compared to last?

I'm on the record as predicting that they'll finish with 46 wins and barely make the playoffs this year.

46 wins doesn't make the playoffs in the west. That's 10 seed at best.

It's only a couple of wins under what made the cut last year. If the west beats itself up a little more than last year, totally within the realm of possibility.

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

Wolves 1st rounder next year goes to the Suns unless they're bottom 12 too, iirc.

 

[Freelove]

A big reason I think the Wolves will be better without Love, from an online Q/A with one of the long time Wolves beat writers:

Q: Does the locker room seem to be affected by the personnel changes? Does it matter to the team's success?

A: Yes, I think it's much more unified than a year ago. It's hard when your superstar is also seen as a diva not well liked

When you say better, do you mean in a better situation long-term or that they will literally win more games this year compared to last?

I'm on the record as predicting that they'll finish with 46 wins and barely make the playoffs this year.

46 wins doesn't make the playoffs in the west. That's 10 seed at best.

46 wins almost always makes the playoffs in the West.

 

[Freelove]

For the record, I'm guessing our Wolves be TANKING HARD in the second half.

That's why I had the under. One of the few BS Report thoughts that swayed me.

 

[Arsenal of Doom]

This made me laugh.

Sounds like the guy I always despised playing with or against. The worst trash-talkers are usually horrible basketball players.

 

[Abraham]

25 does seem low. Teams that cAnt win 20 games are few and far between and completely void of more than one or two decent players. The wolves have Kevin MArtin, so that's worth at least a dozen on it's own.

 

[mcintyre1]

I'm ready

 

[Gr00vus]

I'm ready

Shopped.

 

[Abraham]

Randle out for the year.

 

[Gr00vus]

Randle out for the year.

The Royals won game 6.

 

[mcintyre1]

An /r/nba Redditor compiled this list of screencaps from old Twitter posts from NBA players. Kind of interesting to look at, especially the Damian Lillard ones from before he was drafted. RE: Kevin Durant shopping at Bath & Body Works, one of my coworkers used to work at one in MN and sold him some of that lotion.

 

[simmonjm]

How much are the Knicks gonna win by tonight? Who is with me?

 

[pollardsvision]

The Hornets only have the 2nd best looking uni's in Charottle, NC tonight. Love those red Bucks uni's.

Both these teams are fun to watch. Well, the Hornets bench isn't.

 

[Christo]

Da Bulls!

 

[mcintyre1]

The Hornets only have the 2nd best looking uni's in Charottle, NC tonight. Love those red Bucks uni's.

Both these teams are fun to watch. Well, the Hornets bench isn't.

Yeah, I'm liking the jerseys for both teams. Great to see Charlotte with their name back. I dig the court too, wish more teams had unique patterns.

 

[mcintyre1]

NBA League Pass broadband is one of the reasons I'm getting very close to preferring Basketball to Football. Love how much the NBA embraces their open online presence. Youtube is loaded with highlights of pretty much all important players in high quality a day after the game because they don't care if people make them and make a little coin off of the ads, compared to NFL.com's train wreck of a website. Free publicity for the league and players.

 

[Freelove]

The Bucks aren't particularly scary, but I'll say this for them: their starting five could all die in a plane crash, and I don't think there'd be any dropoff in production.

 

[Freelove]

This new Hibbert-centric offense? Electric.

 

[pollardsvision]

The Bucks aren't particularly scary, but I'll say this for them: their starting five could all die in a plane crash, and I don't think there'd be any dropoff in production.

They look pretty good all-around, though the Hornets look clueless out there.

 

[mcintyre1]

Happy to see the Wolves hanging with the Grizzlies through a quarter. Randolph looking like an MVP against that interior D, though.

 

[Bucky86]

I keep thinking the thread title says "labia"

 

[Freelove]

Happy to see the Wolves hanging with the Grizzlies through a quarter. Randolph looking like an MVP against that interior D, though.

Peko -9 so far, Dieng +11.

I know it's too early to draw even the most tenuous of conclusions from that, but let's do it anyway. I'm calling for a coup.

 

[mcintyre1]

Happy to see the Wolves hanging with the Grizzlies through a quarter. Randolph looking like an MVP against that interior D, though.

Peko -9 so far, Dieng +11.

I know it's too early to draw even the most tenuous of conclusions from that, but let's do it anyway. I'm calling for a coup.

I think Pek is still working himself in to game shape, honestly. He looks just a touch, well, softer I guess? I know they basically told him not to do anything all offseason in an attempt to heal up his chronic injury issues (he got custom made Nikes I hear, as well), so I'm sure his conditioning isn't where it has been in the past.

 

[pollardsvision]

Gutty comeback for those hornets.

 

[Britney Spears]

I kind of like Kobe. I mean, I'd hate to play with him and he screwed his team by signing that recent contract (not really his fault though) and also he sounds like he's kind of a #### in real life and maybe he kind of raped that girl and stuff, but I kind of like him outside of that. This isn't sarcasm, though it probably sounds like it. I like him because he's all about the basketball. I may not like his style of play, but I can respect that.

I'm also drunk, and he's on my fantasy team.

I've been much more appreciative of him recently too- he's funny and smart as hell and obviously a great player, and although that Abbott piece mostly just confirmed what most of us assumed, the tone a little over the top. The league isn't the same now that he's irrelevant.

But then they cut to Rachel Nichols early in the broadcast for Kobe's response to the article and he he said that what you get when you play with him is "7 Finals appearances and 5 rings" and I remembered why I hated him. He honestly thinks he did those things by himself. I can't remember another legendary player in our lifetimes who gave less credit to his teammates and the organization. It's pretty off-putting.

That arrogance and irrational sense of self is the biggest reason he's where he's at. I agree it's off putting, but who are the other guys his size who have his accolades? Duncan, LeBron, and Magic are all freaks of nature. Kobe's much more of a self made player than any of those guys.

Lol. He's 6'6 and can jump out of the gym. Let's not act like he's a scrappy 6 foot kid with bad feet.

Sure. But so are hundreds of other players we've seen the last two decades.

Oh come on.

 

[pollardsvision]

#### yes.

 

[Freelove]

I may not have been pessimistic enough on Brooklyn.

 

[Mister Martie]

Bulls' depth is ridiculous.

 

[pollardsvision]

Lance and Marvin making $15 mill combined this year, both on 2 year contracts.

Jordan won back to back off-seasons.