NBA 2018-2019

[Alsacs]

He has but there’s still no cache or history there. Same with the Nets. Same with the Anaheim Angels even back when they were the better team for awhile.

You mean those A team posters I saw all over LA years ago have had zero effect?
The Dodgers were down in LA after O’Malley sold the team until Magic and Anschutz took over from McCourt.

Cluppers aren’t the Sterling Clippers anymore but they definitely have a Mets/White Sox to Yankees/Cubs vibe.

 

[OrangeDW]

You mean those A team posters I saw all over LA years ago have had zero effect?
The Dodgers were down in LA after O’Malley sold the team until Magic and Anschutz took over from McCourt.

Yeah, Dodgers were a mess of a franchise once Fox bought them in ‘98.

But still, it was the Angels doing goofy things like changing their name to the Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles...or something. They were always number 2, even as World Series champs and a really consistent winner for awhile.

 

[OrangeDW]

As basketball fans it will be interesting to see what AD is really made of in big games that matter(I hope).

Obviously we know he’s a great player. But so far he’s been Garnett with the T-Wolves. Or late 80’s-early 90’s Hakeem(I know they had one finals appearance in ‘86 with Ralph Sampson but after that it was perennial .500 land). A guy whose stats exist and make him a primary fantasy hoops target, but the average b-ball fan basically never sees him play.

We finally got to see Garnett on the big stage with the Celtics, and Hakeem went from like the most ignored/taken for granted superstar to THE guy in the league for a couple years.

 

[Cusefan0307]

As basketball fans it will be interesting to see what AD is really made of in big games that matter(I hope).

Obviously we know he’s a great player. But so far he’s been Garnett with the T-Wolves. Or late 80’s-early 90’s Hakeem(I know they had one finals appearance in ‘86 with Ralph Sampson but after that it was perennial .500 land). A guy whose stats exist and make him a primary fantasy hoops target, but the average b-ball fan basically never sees him play.

We finally got to see Garnett on the big stage with the Celtics, and Hakeem went from like the most ignored/taken for granted superstar to THE guy in the league for a couple years.

At least Garnett got those T wolves to a conference Finals. That's more than Davis has done.

 

[OrangeDW]

At least Garnett got those T wolves to a conference Finals. That's more than Davis has done.

True. That was the one year they finally gave him some help with Sprewell and Cassell.

 

[chugg21]

At least Garnett got those T wolves to a conference Finals. That's more than Davis has done.

Has any other 1 player team made it to even the Conference Finals in the West in like the last 20 years? It's been impossible. The Warriors and Spurs I think cover his entire career.

 

[OrangeDW]

Has any other 1 player team made it to even the Conference Finals in the West in like the last 20 years? It's been impossible. The Warriors and Spurs I think cover his entire career.

Yeah, the West has been a monster most years for a long time now. In hindsight, this year might’ve been the weakest it’s been, due to GS injuries and there really wasn’t a stacked top contender to GS for once.

 

[RF2044]

Has any other 1 player team made it to even the Conference Finals in the West in like the last 20 years? It's been impossible. The Warriors and Spurs I think cover his entire career.

Dallas?

Don't specifically recall that team without looking them up -- I remember that they had Tyson Chandler, etc. -- but it was pretty much Dirk and a bunch of role players.

 

[chugg21]

As basketball fans it will be interesting to see what AD is really made of in big games that matter(I hope).

Obviously we know he’s a great player. But so far he’s been Garnett with the T-Wolves. Or late 80’s-early 90’s Hakeem(I know they had one finals appearance in ‘86 with Ralph Sampson but after that it was perennial .500 land). A guy whose stats exist and make him a primary fantasy hoops target, but the average b-ball fan basically never sees him play.

We finally got to see Garnett on the big stage with the Celtics, and Hakeem went from like the most ignored/taken for granted superstar to THE guy in the league for a couple years.

How excited are you to see a washed Carmelo on the Lakers?

 

[chugg21]

Dallas?

Guess that sort of counts. Was before AD was in the league but still within the 20 year window. Guess it depends if in his prime Chandler or some combination of in their 30s Marion/Butler/Terry/Kidd/Peja combine to form a 2nd star.

 

[OrangeDW]

How excited are you to see a washed Carmelo on the Lakers?

Ha. I’m hoping it happens, and hoping Carmelo can find a role off the bench and at least have some good moments and contributions in big spots. I don’t want to see him go out like he did last year.

But as for being washed...yeah. His jumper, jab steps, footwork, etc have been the focus of his game for a long time...it’s easy to forget how he used to run the floor, and how he’d go to the hole and dunk on people. He’s had zero legs ever since his knee surgery.

Braids Denver Carmelo just had a different bounce and fluidity to him.

 

[Cowtown]

As basketball fans it will be interesting to see what AD is really made of in big games that matter(I hope).

Every time I see "AD" here I first think of Adrian Dantley.

 

[chugg21]

Ha. I’m hoping it happens, and hoping Carmelo can find a role off the bench and at least have some good moments and contributions in big spots. I don’t want to see him go out like he did last year.

But as for being washed...yeah. His jumper, jab steps, footwork, etc have been the focus of his game for a long time...it’s easy to forget how he used to run the floor, and how he’d go to the hole and dunk on people. He’s had zero legs ever since his knee surgery.

If he could defend at all he could be a backup small ball 5 at this point. He's got the old man bulk and enough size to play it against most teams. Backup 5s though are usually the easiest guys to grab on the vet minimum so kind of takes that role away.

 

[OrangeDW]

If he could defend at all he could be a backup small ball 5 at this point. He's got the old man bulk and enough size to play it against most teams. Backup 5s though are usually the easiest guys to grab on the vet minimum so kind of takes that role away.

I think he can defend well enough with the right matchups. It depends on the opponent. With this switch absolutely everything style, it seems like we’re seeing more and more players just get completely mothballed for an entire playoff series due to bad matchups.

In OKC, Utah kept getting him switched onto guys that were too quick for him. I think there’s times/situations depending who is on the floor where he’d be ok against a lot of teams.

I think he’s still a guy capable of getting hot and scoring 10 points in a quarter here and there, provided he’s not being exposed by a bad matchup defensively.

 

[Cusefan0307]

There's been some weaker teams that have made the West Finals the past 15 years. The Jazz with Deron Williams. Dirk carried Dallas to a title. AD hasn't done anything close to that. The 2014-15 Rockets was basically all Harden with a fading Howard. Jrue Holiday is pretty good and he had Eric Gordon for a bit too. I like AD, but there's been a lot of excuses for him. He also misses a lot of games. I know the board hates him, but Melo's Nuggets took the champion Lakers to 6 games.

 

[OrangeDW]

There's been some weaker teams that have made the West Finals the past 15 years. The Jazz with Deron Williams. Dirk carried Dallas to a title. AD hasn't done anything close to that. The 2014-15 Rockets was basically all Harden with a fading Howard. Jrue Holiday is pretty good and he had Eric Gordon for a bit too. I like AD, but there's been a lot of excuses for him. He also misses a lot of games. I know the board hates him, but Melo's Nuggets took the champion Lakers to 6 games.

Melo and Kobe were going at it that series!!

Melo has become criminally underrated by NBA fans trying to show how smart and cutting edge they are.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Melo and Kobe were going at it that series!!

Melo has become criminally underrated by NBA fans trying to show how smart and cutting edge they are.

I believe that was the year Garnett was injured and Orlando made the finals. It's really too bad Denver lost a close game one. Had they won that game they probably win the series and are most likely NBA champions and the narrative around Melo is completely different.

 

[RF2044]

Guess that sort of counts. Was before AD was in the league but still within the 20 year window. Guess it depends if in his prime Chandler or some combination of in their 30s Marion/Butler/Terry/Kidd/Peja combine to form a 2nd star.

Even going back 20, that's the only team I can think of that fits that bill.

Maybe the late era Kobe Lakers? They had Pau, but he was older [kind of]. I think he probably still counts as a star, but they're the only other one that comes close to fitting the criteria.

 

[OrangeDW]

It doesn’t have the 80s and now 90s nostalgia pop(yet) and it’s not the current league - but this was a great era of basketball. Like - late 00s-early 10s. I miss that league.

Of course I remember when people hated 90s NBA basketball. Now it’s all the rage to pretend like that was the best era in the history of the world for everything. So perhaps this late 00s-early 10s era will one day get its proper due.

It was really good, balanced basketball with balanced teams IMO.

 

[RF2044]

I believe that was the year Garnett was injured and Orlando made the finals. It's really too bad Denver lost a close game one. Had they won that game they probably win the series and are most likely NBA champions and the narrative around Melo is completely different.

I was in LA [coincidentally] during that game 6. The teams had alternated wins, and of course I was hoping to see Carmelo's team keep the series alive -- also, not a Lakers fan.

The friend I was visiting had lived in LA for several years, and had "adopted" the Lakers, which was annoying. Even worse was that the Nuggets barely put up a fight -- they got destroyed, and the game wasn't even close in the first quarter.

 

[OrangeDW]

I believe that was the year Garnett was injured and Orlando made the finals. It's really too bad Denver lost a close game one. Had they won that game they probably win the series and are most likely NBA champions and the narrative around Melo is completely different.

Yup. And Ariza with those TWO late game steals were huge. Denver was really tough that year. They were better than Orlando, if they could’ve gotten by the Lakers.

They don’t really get the same “what if” treatment the 02 Kings get, or even the 92 Knicks get as non finals teams that easily could’ve won it all. But they were really good and really close.

 

[OrangeDW]

Even going back 20, that's the only team I can think of that fits that bill.

Maybe the late era Kobe Lakers? They had Pau, but he was older [kind of]. I think he probably still counts as a star, but they're the only other one that comes close to fitting the criteria.

Pau was really good in those championship years and in his prime IMO.

Really, Odom was too. He sacrificed his minutes/numbers so much to make that loaded frontcourt(had young Bynum and Ariza/Artest too) work so he didn’t get the all star appearances. But that was his peak years as a player though IMO. Really, really good player.

 

[Alsacs]

It doesn’t have the 80s and now 90s nostalgia pop(yet) and it’s not the current league - but this was a great era of basketball. Like - late 00s-early 10s. I miss that league.

Of course I remember when people hated 90s NBA basketball. Now it’s all the rage to pretend like that was the best era in the history of the world for everything. So perhaps this late 00s-early 10s era will one day get its proper due.

It was really good, balanced basketball with balanced teams IMO.

1980s-1991 the Bird and Magic Era.
Nobody played defense, nobody shot 3’s but it was good team basketball and fun to watch. Super teams are loved by fans and the rivalry between them grows the sport a lot of interest.

1991-1998 the Jordan Era. Pat Riley brought the Bad Boys toughness to New York, the West was a mess and Jordan made watching basketball greatness fun. No more super teams are the rage instead it’s the best player and his really good sidekick are loved like a super team.

1999- 2004 the Shaqobe Era.
Basketball wasn’t fun to watch, games were finishing in the 60s and 70s for winning scores. Hand checking got out of control and the Lakers/Spurs were the dominant teams. Still no super teams.

2004-2007 the Duncan Era. The top dog was boring and didn’t like talking to the press. Spurs were fun to watch but not really interesting on purpose.
Basketball was getting better but still in the post-Jordan Era until LeBron was ready.

2008-2013 LeBron James Era. He became on the level of Jordan/Magic. Games are higher scoring and the skills outstanding. 3 point shooting improved. Super teams become the rage again like the Bird/Magic Era.

2014- present Golden State/LeBron Era. LeBron is still top dog but Klay/Steph/Durant are co-big dogs of this era with LeBron. 3 point shooting has gotten out of control. Total opposite of the Magic/Bird Era.
Teams embracing analytics, skills and teams are way improved. Super teams are still around because of players wanting to team up to win.


It just depends on the eye as to which era is best.

 

[Alsacs]

Yup. And Ariza with those TWO late game steals were huge. Denver was really tough that year. They were better than Orlando, if they could’ve gotten by the Lakers.

They don’t really get the same “what if” treatment the 02 Kings get, or even the 92 Knicks get as non finals teams that easily could’ve won it all. But they were really good and really close.

02 Kings got royally screwed in game 6.
Just watching that game is sick to see the calls the Lakers were getting in the 4th Q.
The entire Kings front line all fouled out or had 5 fouls at the end. Having to play Funderburke or Webber on Shaq at the end was a joke.

The Kings gagged game 7 no doubt they had game 6 stolen from giving them an honest chance to win. The smiles Rick Adelman had at one of the last bad calls was hilarious. Kobe elbows Mike Bibby and Bibby gets the foul.

 

[OrangeDW]

02 Kings got royally screwed in game 6.
Just watching that game is sick to see the calls the Lakers were getting in the 4th Q.
The entire Kings front line all fouled out or had 5 fouls at the end. Having to play Funderburke or Webber on Shaq at the end was a joke.

The Kings gagged game 7 no doubt they had game 6 stolen from giving them an honest chance to win. The smiles Rick Adelman had at one of the last bad calls was hilarious. Kobe elbows Mike Bibby and Bibby gets the foul.

Yeah, the game 6 aspect takes that series to another level.

But much like the Kings in 2002, the series was 2-2 and easily could’ve been 3-1 after the first 4 games. In both cases, I don’t think the Lakers were coming back from 3-1.