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Message: [QUOTE="Melancer46, post: 3150918, member: 1674"] So happy to have the NBA back. Some random takeaways from watching some of the games this morning: [LIST] [*]Ricky Rubio was such a huge pickup for the Suns. That organization has been such a mess for so long and Rubio instantly turns them into a functioning team. Still probably won't be very good this year but they at least have a chance of developing their players now. [*]Markelle Fultz looked legitimately good yesterday (with the exception of his still ugly 3 point shot). Everything else that made him an amazing prospect was on display: really impressive creativity out of the pick and roll and explosive athleticism coupled with his herky jerky stop and go movements. He might end up being okay after all. Still really sad watching his 3 point shot today versus college though. [*]The Detroit Pistons and Oklahoma City Thunder were my two picks to outperform their over/under by the most this year. OKC lost a tough one to the Jazz, but as long as they can't find a taker for CP3 and he and Gallinari stay healthy, I think they have a shot to win 40 games. Detroit was running some really nice quick-hitters...a lot of plays where Kennard would downscreen for Drummond and then either backscreen for Drummond and pop out, creating either an alley oop for Drummond or a 3 pointer for Kennard, or Drummond would just set a downscreen for Kennard to get him open for 3. Kennard is in the discussion for best pure shooters in the league IMO and he's a much better passer and shot creator than he gets credit for. If Blake is able to come back and be relatively healthy, I think this Detroit team is well-coached and talented enough to make a run at like the 5 or 6 seed in the East. [*]Luka looks like a bonafide superstar. [*]I still think Charlotte and Memphis are the front runners to be the worst team in the NBA this year, but Charlotte in particular had some super impressive ball movement in their shocking win over the Bulls. I doubt Devonte Graham and PJ Washington consistently shoot like Steph Curry, but they were rotating the ball to open shooters so damn quick. Really impressive opener for them in what I thought would be a pathetic season. [*]I think Philly, much like last season, will be a great regular season team that ultimately disappoints in the postseason. I just don't think their current makeup will work in the postseason. I don't really get why the media seems to think they're the frontrunners in the East and arguably the entire league; I don't really think they're any better than they were a year ago and might be worse. [*]I'm still kinda iffy on Ja Morant right now. Not nearly as big of an issue as it was for Lonzo, but I have major questions about his shooting ability and I'm not sure the rest of his game is special enough to make up for that. [*]The Pacers seem poised to be the biggest disappointment in the league IMO. I think they probably finish somewhere in the 8-11 range in the East. [/LIST] [/QUOTE]

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