Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

Warriors

1 (33.3%)

Celtics

2 (66.7%)

Total Members Voted: 3

Voting closed: June 13, 2022, 11:38:11 PM

[chipstern]

Come Back, Shane, er, PHAROAH. 

[bodiddley]

Er, I already have Ball as #1.

Edwards and Wiseman are the next tier.
Either one could have a 2nd half surge, but right now they are 4/5 on rookie rankings.

[chipstern]

4/$52M would be a good deal, locking up Mitch at another bargain rate, while still making sure he gets paid.  If I'm Mitch I would not be happy at all playing out next year on a minimum contract, at risk of injury and losing out on financial security.


Ant Edwards has been breaking out lately.
5 straight games with 20+ points.
With good shooting splits 47% / 39%

Kat and Edwards both scored 40+ to defeat PHX.
AntEd is just 19.  Terrific athlete.  Harnessing his game.

Funny, pre-season some thought ObiT and Avidja would be leading ROY candidates, basically due to their experience v. the relative youth of the other draftees.
But Toppings was always destined to be stuck behind Randle.  And Avdija has seemed rather passive (playing with ballhogs in Rustbrook and Beal).

Instead we have Ball, TyH and Quickly as the clear top rooks thus far.
Ball making a huge impact at 19.
TyH looking like a vet (how'd he slip again?)
Quix the biggest surprise, with his 3's, his floaters, his ability to get in the lane and draw fouls and make FT's.  Though we're seeing that he's not a PG, at least not yet.
Thibs has done a nice job pairing IQ with another ballhandler, first Rivers and then a  PG in Rose.  Lately I've been impressed that Quicks' defense has improved.

Obi should be in rookie of the year contention just for breathing down Randle's neck.

Not certain that the Knicks were sure about Julius.

Hell, early in the season, after another really good performance, on one of Alan Hahn's post-game Facebook podcasts, Alan was floating the notion that Julius was still in play as a trade Chip, citing Obi, and I really dig Hahn, but I was aghast.  "Typical Knicks....snatching defeat from the jaws of victory" Chip posted. 

That ship appears to have sailed. 

ROY?

Ball
Haliburton
Quickley

And coming on strong

Edwards
Bey

[kidcarter8]

Er, I already have Ball as #1.

Edwards and Wiseman are the next tier.
Either one could have a 2nd half surge, but right now they are 4/5 on rookie rankings.

disagree - but thats fine

Also like Bey, Achiuwa, Stewart, Williams

[kidcarter8]

KIRA LEWIS is one to watch second half

[carlos123]

KIRA LEWIS is one to watch second half

Why?
Any particular reason(s), or must we just believe it because chamacocartero8 said so?

[bodiddley]

Magic take some lazy 3's instead of working for better shots.
Vuc a main culprit.  Vuc willing to take bad shots, 3's or otherwise.

Orl was quite susceptible to guys cutting right down the gut while they over-watched Randle posting up.  Burks and RJB took advantage with timely dives in the 1Q.

Magic just don't seem focused.
End of 1Q, they get a 24 sec violation.  Gordon receives an extra pass with almost no time left and he dribbles.  Er.  Then 6 ticks left, Randle gets the ball in the backcourt, dribbles up and Birch ... sags off, giving Randle a wide open 3.  Quarter was ending, gotta play up.

Chasson Randle looked pretty mediocre.  I realize he hasn't played much with these guys.  But right out of the gate, he threw a mushy pass which Randle picked off easily.  Followed by Chasson bobbling a pass out of bounds.  All 3 of his assists were 1Q.  Seemed his main highlight was getting fouled by Franc and making all 3.
I recall Chasson being somewhat intriguing when briefly a Knick.  But that's some time ago.  Good for him, hanging around the fringes of the NBA and even getting to start.

[bodiddley]

Early 2Q, Knox gets called for defensive 3 seconds.
I counted 7 secs.  He never stepped out.
And then comically he complained, pointing to his feet while one remains in the paint.
Clyde: "Knox is baffled by the call."

[Jack Straw]

Come Back, Shane, er, PHAROAH.

Pharaoh is busy this time of year contending down low with Moses on a 2 on 1 break

[Kam]

14-28 from 3 over the last 3 games
18-39 from 3 over the last 4 games

[kidcarter8]

It will be a little sad breaking up the Bullock-Burks tandem as we try to improve.

[chipstern]

KIRA LEWIS is one to watch second half

Why?
Any particular reason(s), or must we just believe it because chamacocartero8 said so?

Much as it pains me to co-sign Man Coulter, even a broken clock is right twice a day.

The Pelicans really like Kira Lewis.  He is a human jet ski along the lines of Morant. 

Wasn't that high pitched motherfucker who played for the Spurs his college coach at Alabama? 

The Knicks heavily scouted him going into the draft.  Trying to remember the narrative, but they either checked him out twice, or Leon & Friends made special trip to take him to dinner.  The Knicks really liked him, but supposedly thought #8 might have been too high to draft him.  He went at #13 right after Haliburton. 

In any event, if one is to buy into the narrative, the Pelicans are not real keen on the luxury tax and Ball's possible asking price and cap hit. 

That sounds a bit odd to me. 

His father, of course, is campaigning to get Lonzo out of New Orleans.  Not sure how his son or David Griffin feel about that. 

“No! No, he can’t stay in New Orleans. Come on, man. Come on, listen. … Lonzo’s always been a playmaker. Why are you trying to change him into a defensive specialist that stays in the corner and shoots 3s? And you’re trying to change Zion and Brandon Ingram who, all through their careers, have never been playmakers. Scorers! Now you want to put the ball in their hands and be playmakers?! … Go score the ball and do what you do and guess what? They’re gonna have a hard time trying to win every game if the playmaker ain’t making the right plays.”

The caveat with LaVar at this point is that it has been a long time since he’s spoken on behalf of his two sons. Memorably, LaMelo took a hard stance against his dad during the predraft process, distancing himself from his father’s opinions.

Lonzo has not taken that stance publicly – yet – but has spoken about being in New Orleans in the future in quotes that directly contradict LaVar. Prior to the All-Star break, Ball stated that he wanted to be apart of the future with the Pelicans alongside Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson.

“I love playing with those guys, and I’m also really cool with them off the floor as well. We’re all young. I think we can do some big things, especially in the future coming up.”

In reality, LaVar’s quotes from Thursday likely are how he feels about Lonzo’s situation. It ultimately likely won’t matter anyway as reports have indicated the Pelicans are focused on keeping Ball at least through the trade deadline and into restricted free agency.

Ball has good size and length ay 6'6". 

He defends. 

Good court vision. 

My main issues with him were inconsistent shooting, range, and lousy free throw shooting.  Not to mention with his athletic abillity he should be able to work the downhill game more effectively and get to the FT line more. 

Well, this season his FT% has risen RJ like from .566 to .767

His shooting has also improved this season...a steady ascent from a .420 FG% in his rookie year to .497  this season, .385 from trey. 

Again, I am hard pressed to wonder why the Pelicans would not match RFA offers.  Would a VanVLeet scaled deal get them to back off or at least consider a S&T? 

We shall see. 

I don't think the Knicks are going to entertain any dramatic moves before the trade deadline.  Think Rose and Company want to make a playoff run and evaluate options going into the summer. 

[kidcarter8]

Saw a little think on Hoopshype about CLIPPERS and Lonzo

Makes sense.  Trade/extend.  Plays at home.

[chipstern]

Good luck with that one. 

They have practically NO ASSETS.

Thanks to a series of dumb ass trades, such as with the Knicks (who have the right to swap #1s with the Clippers this summer, unlikely as that might be).

And then, there is the PAUL GEORGE TRADE. 

The price of Kawhi committing to the Clippers in free agency was for them to get him a rumming buddy. 

Sam Presti obtained Paul George for Victor Oladipo and Sabonis The Younger. 

And when the Clippers came a calling, Sam exacted A TERRIBLE PRICE, worthy of Masai Ujiri's Epic Gang Rape Of Donnie Walsh and James Dolan in the Carmelo Heist. 

Let's go to the video tape. 

OKC now owns the Clippers' 2022, 2024 and 2026 #1 picks. 

Nice?  Ah, but there's MORE. 

OKC has the right to flip their #1 for the Clippers' in 2023 and 2025. 

LONZO BALL FOOTNOTE: And of course, the Clippers cannot trade #1 picks in consective years, so they are stuck with their 2021, 2023 and 2025 picks, all of which may be flipper favorably by the Knicks and Thunder. 

The Clippers do own the second round picks of Portland [2023], and in multiple years, Detroit, presumanly from the Blake Griffin trade, speaking of dumbass transactions [2024, 2025, 2026]. The Clippers have already conveyed Detroit's 2021 #2 to the Knicks from the Morris Trade. 

And apprently Sam Presti not only obtained Miami's 2021 and 2023 #1 picks but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and forward Danilo Gallinari.  Gallo has moved on, but the 22 year old, 6'6" POINT GUARD out of Kentucky [the 11th pick, after we took Knox at #9]in only his third season is averaging 23.5 ppg, 4.8 boards, and 6.0 assists, which converting FTs at a .807% clip [180-223, compared to Ball's 33-43], while his 3-pt conversion rate is .807% [67-164, compared to Ball's 114-296].

Finally, not only no draft assets with which to tempt the Pelicans, but with the fourth highest payroll in the league, no tradeable bodies. 

Paul George   $35,450,412   $39,344,970   $42,492,568   $45,640,165   $48,787,763
Kawhi Leonard   $34,379,100   $36,016,200   $0   $0   $0
Marcus Morris   $14,883,721   $15,627,907   $16,372,093   $17,116,279   $0
Patrick Beverley   $13,333,333   $14,320,987   $0   $0   $0
Serge Ibaka   $9,258,000   $9,720,900   $0   $0   $0
Louis Williams   $8,000,000   $0   $0   $0   $0
Ivica Zubac   $7,000,000   $7,518,518   $7,518,518   $0   $0
Luke Kennard   $5,273,826   $12,727,273   $13,745,455   $14,763,636   $14,763,636

Oh, and THIS bears repeating....Kawhi has a player option this summer.  And while Paul Geroge's numbers this year are stellar, if Leonard bolts, as unlikley as that might be, well.....

[kidcarter8]

Zubac would fit in New O.

Don't get me wrong.  Ball is likely not being dealt anywhere