OT: 2019-20 NBA Discussions

[denapista]

I still don't understand the HYPE around Carmelo....

This isn't Carmelo in Denver, or his first year in New York.
This is the an aged, never played stellar defense, never saw a shot he didn't want to take, declining shooting percentage Carmleo Anthony.. This is the same guy who said "I would never come off of the bench".

Good luck to Portland when he goes 3-24 on about every single night. Does he even have his "Bully ball" burst anymore? He was good at taking people off of the dribble and getting to his spots, but that faded in Denver when Iverson was still beside him..

He's BBQ Chicken (Shaq voice)

[XXtwindad]

Originally Posted by denapista

I still don't understand the HYPE around Carmelo....

This isn't Carmelo in Denver, or his first year in New York.
This is the an aged, never played stellar defense, never saw a shot he didn't want to take, declining shooting percentage Carmleo Anthony.. This is the same guy who said "I would never come off of the bench".

Good luck to Portland when he goes 3-24 on about every single night. Does he even have his "Bully ball" burst anymore? He was good at taking people off of the dribble and getting to his spots, but that faded in Denver when Iverson was still beside him..

He's BBQ Chicken (Shaq voice)

Totally agree. I agreed with your Knicks comments as well. I loved Oakley. I just couldn't stand watching the Knicks in their mid 90s heyday. Boring as hell.

[denapista]

IMHO, the James Dolan and Oakley thing just shined a spotlight on Dolan. Almost like the tape recordings of Sterling, but not anywhere as offensive. It just showed an owner TOO involved with everything, even to the point where he's having security escort out ex-legend players.

I wish KD and Kyrie went to the Knicks, as I would love to see that city win. Lakers, Knicks and Celtics are the cream of the crop of the NBA. I bet you anything KD wanted to go there, but was really questioning Dolan and the way that franchise has been ran in the last 20 years. These players are business savvy and aren't playing for crappy owners. Look how they got Porzingis out of there...

[Jaybee]

Originally Posted by denapista

I still don't understand the HYPE around Carmelo....

This isn't Carmelo in Denver, or his first year in New York.
This is the an aged, never played stellar defense, never saw a shot he didn't want to take, declining shooting percentage Carmleo Anthony.. This is the same guy who said "I would never come off of the bench".

Good luck to Portland when he goes 3-24 on about every single night. Does he even have his "Bully ball" burst anymore? He was good at taking people off of the dribble and getting to his spots, but that faded in Denver when Iverson was still beside him..

He's BBQ Chicken (Shaq voice)

To be fair, the smart NBA people are almost universally somewhere between skeptical to making outright fun of this move. Not seeing a lot of hype.

I bet Olshey really wishes he had Moe Harkless or Aminu back right now.

[FlashUNC]

Originally Posted by denapista

IMHO, the James Dolan and Oakley thing just shined a spotlight on Dolan. Almost like the tape recordings of Sterling, but not anywhere as offensive. It just showed an owner TOO involved with everything, even to the point where he's having security escort out ex-legend players.

I wish KD and Kyrie went to the Knicks, as I would love to see that city win. Lakers, Knicks and Celtics are the cream of the crop of the NBA. I bet you anything KD wanted to go there, but was really questioning Dolan and the way that franchise has been ran in the last 20 years. These players are business savvy and aren't playing for crappy owners. Look how they got Porzingis out of there...

Yeah but they did go to New York.

[FlashUNC]

Originally Posted by Jaybee

To be fair, the smart NBA people are almost universally somewhere between skeptical to making outright fun of this move. Not seeing a lot of hype.

I bet Olshey really wishes he had Moe Harkless or Aminu back right now.

Unfortunately neither of those guys are coming off the street on a nonguaranteed deal.

It's a free bite at the apple for the Blazers. If he's horrid, they cut him loose and you get the kitschy jersey to wear 5 years from now. If it hits it keeps them afloat in a deadly serious stacked West.

I doubt they're even having this conversation of Collins is still healthy and playing. And yet here we are.

[Jaybee]

Good thing they paid Whiteside instead of signing just one of their forwards (even Jake Layman!) last July. Or maybe JaMychal Green or even DeMarre Carroll could have helped.

Collins going down sucks, but there is a reason everyone said they were the #1 candidate for an inseason trade for a forward.

Your right, the price/risk is low, and he is still somehow probably better at propping up bench units than Hezonja/Little/Tolliver/Skal.

[denapista]

I wasn't speaking to the HYPE of the signing, but more about the HYPE of a declining/aging basketball player.

[Jaybee]

Originally Posted by denapista

I wasn't speaking to the HYPE of the signing, but more about the HYPE of a declining/aging basketball player.

I get you. My point is that that is mostly ESPN/sports radio BS, and I only brought it up here to make fun of it.

[denapista]

Joe Johnson > Carmelo Anthony at this stage of their careers. haha

[FlashUNC]

Originally Posted by Jaybee

Good thing they paid Whiteside instead of signing just one of their forwards (even Jake Layman!) last July. Or maybe JaMychal Green or even DeMarre Carroll could have helped.

Collins going down sucks, but there is a reason everyone said they were the #1 candidate for an inseason trade for a forward.

Your right, the price/risk is low, and he is still somehow probably better at propping up bench units than Hezonja/Little/Tolliver/Skal.

Whiteside and Bazemore come off the books this summer though giving them some wiggle room to go get a Love or someone else if they're a free agent player. But you're right, took a definite step back in both depth and flexibility this year as a result.

[FlashUNC]

Originally Posted by denapista

Joe Johnson > Carmelo Anthony at this stage of their careers. haha

As someone who watched entirely too much Iso Joe for entirely too long, and enjoyed him as a frisky bench component for the Jazz a couple years ago, this is wildly off base.

Even now Carmelo's the better offensive player and neither of their defense was ever anything to write home about.

Whether either one should be on an NBA roster today is debatable, but if its anyone, it would be Melo, Joe's Big Three MVP season notwithstanding.

[Jaybee]

Originally Posted by FlashUNC

Whiteside and Bazemore come off the books this summer though giving them some wiggle room to go get a Love or someone else if they're a free agent player. But you're right, took a definite step back in both depth and flexibility this year as a result.

Olshey has historically been a pretty solid GM, so he deserves the benefit of the doubt here. Whiteside and Bazemore could be trade chips in-season for someone like Love. I guess it's more of a strategic question - do we go all in while we have Dame + McCollum in their primes and the W's out of the picture, or do we realize that the 2019 WCF run was largely due to a pretty fortunate draw and Dame playing out of his mind, and continue to build without hamstringing the future.

[FlashUNC]

The Blazers have prized continuity and so far it seems to have paid off. Otherwise they'd have shipped McCollum for Love and other pieces long ago.

I think they're akin to those mid 00s Mavs teams in terms of consistent approach.

[akelman]

Totally brilliant observation that you'll only hear here (I don't just give this stuff away for free, you know): Rajon Rondo isn't particularly good at basketball anymore. For people, including me, who thought he was a fascinating player earlier in his career, it's a bummer, but there it is: time comes for us all.

Anyway, Rondo is elderly; KCP is getting booed at home, because he's playing so badly (though he shot pretty well last night for the first time this season); Danny Green is incredibly cold from three (though he's defending quite well); and AD's shoulder seems to be hindering him just enough that he's human. It'll be interesting to see what happens with Bradley out for a couple of weeks.