NBA Thread 2020-21 Season

[UpstateSM]

are you asking me who is a better shooter than a kid that is shooting 34% from the field for his career (<32% this year) and 32.5% 3pt percentage for his career (32.7% this year)?

Lol. And Buddy is the dude you cite? Hahahahaha.

Just search my posts for JGIII if you want to talk about him. This is an NBA thread.

You used French in the post I replied to and hit me with statistics in this one you must be way smarter than me

Since this is an NBA thread and I put their game tonight on to fall asleep to, are the Cavs maybe not terrible? I find myself paying more attention the NBA with our never ending pause

Edit: For context, I was viewing shooting beyond the numbers I’m well aware they’re less than stellar

 

[Arangeman]

Shouldn’t an MVP have to play respectable defense?

 

[Fireball Jr.]

Shouldn’t an MVP have to play respectable defense?

Thank you

 

[MikeSU02]

Shouldn’t an MVP have to play respectable defense?

Again, Luka? He plays ok defense. His size alone allows him to do so. He isnt Trae Young on D.

This is a little crazy to me. Luka was carrying a mediocre team last year and put up huge numbers (and the team had an historic year on O) and got them into the playoffs. They were just a few wins from jumping in seeding and they took the Clips to six losing KP and Luka playing on one ankle.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

His career is better than Harden's right now.

In no world can you claim he’s had a better career than harden... your hate blinds you from empirical fact .. and I’m sick of the dude

 

[OrangeDW]

LOL the Luka hate. Kid was a first team all nba and led an all time offense with KP as the second best player on top of crushing his career before stepping foot in the nba.

But, I mean hey, this board has people that think JGIII is a great shooter, so c’est la vie.

Right now Luka would be traded for exactly zero other players. Zero if they called Dallas.

Of course he’s in the mvp race bc of how good he is.

Lolllllll.

No Luka hate here. I just think Ingram will be even better. They’re closer than people realize right now, too.

And he should be an MVP candidate for sure. I don’t see “favorite” at this point though. Why wouldn’t Giannis be the favorite?

 

[MikeSU02]

No Luka hate here. I just think Ingram will be even better. They’re closer than people realize right now, too.

And he should be an MVP candidate for sure. I don’t see “favorite” at this point though. Why wouldn’t Giannis be the favorite?

You’re right about Giannis. But the voters will never give him a three peat unless he puts up like 35,20,10 from fatigue. It’s not right, but that’s my guess.

 

[Knicks411]

No Luka hate here. I just think Ingram will be even better. They’re closer than people realize right now, too.

And he should be an MVP candidate for sure. I don’t see “favorite” at this point though. Why wouldn’t Giannis be the favorite?

Because he won the last 2 years and there is probably gonna be some voter fatigue.

So granted, I was playing some games with calling him the MVP favorite. He is, based on the sportsbooks, but it's not like I am saying he's the best player in the league. I'm not. But he did make first team all league, and he did deserve it.

But Luka is unreal. Dallas lead the league in Offensive rating last year. And it's not like the roster aside from Luka is amazing; Luka was the driving force on the best offense in the league and was 20 for basically that entire season.

 

[OrangeDW]

Because he won the last 2 years and there is probably gonna be some voter fatigue.

So granted, I was playing some games with calling him the MVP favorite. He is, based on the sportsbooks, but it's not like I am saying he's the best player in the league. I'm not. But he did make first team all league, and he did deserve it.

But Luka is unreal. Dallas lead the league in Offensive rating last year. And it's not like the roster aside from Luka is amazing; Luka was the driving force on the best offense in the league and was 20 for basically that entire season. There's something about Luka that makes people seem to want to underrate him.

I think he’s right there with LeBron as the best 20 year old I’ve ever seen. He’s beyond advanced in many ways.

I just can’t help but think he’s closer to his ceiling than most 21 year olds though...part because he’s so advanced skill wise and part due to his body: he’s already strong, but he’s not a physical freak the way a lot of other superstars are.

 

[OrangeDW]

As for MVP though: my team has 2 guys that I’d rather have than him, so I guess it’s tough to see him as an MVP...unless Dallas knocks us out of the playoffs.

“Narrative” is definitely a thing when it comes to MVP. IMO that could help Davis this year too, if he stays healthy. He’s always going to have worthy stats, his team is defending champs and will be right there, and he’s great on both ends and really doesn’t have a notable weakness other than his injuries. Could end up being his year.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Again, Luka? He plays ok defense. His size alone allows him to do so. He isnt Trae Young on D.

This is a little crazy to me. Luka was carrying a mediocre team last year and put up huge numbers (and the team had an historic year on O) and got them into the playoffs. They were just a few wins from jumping in seeding and they took the Clips to six losing KP and Luka playing on one ankle.

Yeah Luka was way underhyped last season, massively overperformed individually and leading his team, and now I think is overhyped as I think there's a good chance he and the Mavs take a little step back, but then next season when he'll have a full off-season to get a bit more fit and he'll go even another level.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

In no world can you claim he’s had a better career than harden... your hate blinds you from empirical fact .. and I’m sick of the dude

How many Euroleague championships and MVPs did Harden win as a teenager?

 

[OrangeDW]

How many Euroleague championships and MVPs did Harden win as a teenager?

None. He was too busy getting outplayed by Rautins and Devendorf, as Cuse knocked ASU out of the tournament.

I love bringing that up whenever possible.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

How many Euroleague championships and MVPs did Harden win as a teenager?

This is funny .. I didn’t know euroleague championships and mvps were the measuring stick for NBA career success .. harden is a lock for the hall of fame .. Luca may one day get there .. but he’s proven nada so far

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Yeah Luka was way underhyped last season, massively overperformed individually and leading his team, and now I think is overhyped as I think there's a good chance he and the Mavs take a little step back, but then next season when he'll have a full off-season to get a bit more fit and he'll go even another level.

He’s going to need more help than Kristaps Sore Fingers

 

[MikeSU02]

None. He was too busy getting outplayed by Rautins and Devendorf, as Cuse knocked ASU out of the tournament.

I love bringing that up whenever possible.

No doubt in my mind he was out partying and was hungover (that’s the rumor). I do not believe for a second he was sick.

But that was a great win, regardless if Harden was out the night before.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

No doubt in my mind he was out partying and was hungover (that’s the rumor). I do not believe for a second he was sick.

But that was a great win, regardless if Harden was out the night before.

I don’t think that’s it... he has a history of inexplicably just freezing some games ... yet other equally important and pressure packed games he’s dominant .. you just don’t know which one you’re getting which is what keeps him a rung below the true all time greats

 

[Knicks411]

I think he’s right there with LeBron as the best 20 year old I’ve ever seen. He’s beyond advanced in many ways.

I just can’t help but think he’s closer to his ceiling than most 21 year olds though...part because he’s so advanced skill wise and part due to his body: he’s already strong, but he’s not a physical freak the way a lot of other superstars are.

I can definitely buy that. He's also closer to his ceiling than most 21 years olds because how many 21 year olds are already one of the best players in the league?

I'm not trying to knock Ingram, but there's still a pretty good chance Ingram will never be as good as Luka is right now, if he doesnt ever improve from here.

A good sign from Ingram, albeit it is early, is his playmaking is up, assist rate is nearly 30%, up from 19.3% last year and just 12% prior to that. That's a big step for young guys, going from just getting your own to involving your teammates. I'm not trying to knock Ingram here, I just think Luka is a special player, like absolute inner circle, top 5/10 player of all time type

 

[Arangeman]

Also not a fan of giving an MVP to a 7 seed.

MVP is a weird award. I pretty much checked out on it when Steve Nash won his second.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

This is funny .. I didn’t know euroleague championships and mvps were the measuring stick for NBA career success .. harden is a lock for the hall of fame .. Luca may one day get there .. but he’s proven nada so far

You didn't say NBA career, you said career.

 

[Knicks411]

Also not a fan of giving an MVP to a 7 seed.

MVP is a weird award. I pretty much checked out on it when Steve Nash won his second.

If Dallas is the 7 seed Luka won't win the MVP. The only time in recent memory it hasnt gone to a top 2 seed I think was the Russ year?

 

[Arangeman]

Got Jerami Grant at 48-1 to win most improved player. Any thoughts on his chances?

 

[jncuse]

Got Jerami Grant at 48-1 to win most improved player. Any thoughts on his chances?

Typically these awards go to players who have significant minute + usage increases. So that makes him a good candidate on that basis. Not sure who else is going to take that many shots for the Pistons especially when they rest Blake.

 

[jordville]

Came across this recent interview of Shawn Kemp and it had some great stories...
1. In his rookie year, Shawn Kemp played just 13.8 MPG. He was so frustrated, that after Sonics games, he’d go to local Seattle courts and play pickup with fans. So many people came out to watch The Reignman, that the city shut down streets and has to control riots. Sonics then made him stop. I hadn't heard this one.

2. There were always rumors and some little nuggets about a Pippen for Kemp trade back in the day. Kemp not only confirmed it, but said it was a done deal until Seattle management pulled the plug on it because of fear from the Sonics fan burning down the building.

I won't go into all if it, but it is worth a listen for NBA fans...

 

[NineOneSeven]

Steph with 21 in the first Q.