NBA Thread 2022-23 Season

[Cusefan0307]

I think he'll finish ahead of both of them.

I think Giannis may as well.

To be clear, I'm a guy that thinks Kobe is overrated and that Duncan is ahead of Shaq, Hakeem and Kobe.

Agree with Kobe. I think Steph has passed him.

Duncan wins for career consistency and availability, but Shaq was the most dominant player in the league when healthy from 99-03. I have both above Hakeem.

 

[Eric15]

Kareem, Jordan, Lebron, Moses Malone, Bird, Magic, Duncan, Giannis, Steph, Wilt. 10 guys. Finals MVP wasn't given out until 1969, so I'll go ahead and give Russell the benefit of the doubt, plus Bob Petit.

I'm not sure why, but people always tend to overlook Moses Malone when discussing all-time greats. 3x MVP, 10th all-time in scoring, 5th all-time in rebounding.

 

[Newhouser]

Jokic will clearly be Top 10 when he calls it quits as I think his game ages very well. He is also the best foreign player ever and I thought Dirk was awesome.

 

[Knicks411]

I'm not sure why, but people always tend to overlook Moses Malone when discussing all-time greats. 3x MVP, 10th all-time in scoring, 5th all-time in rebounding.

SHortish peak maybe? But he did play forever.

He was basically the dominant player in the league from 78 or 79 until Magic and Bird really took over the league. MVP in 79, 82, and 83. And he was beating out guys like Kareem, Magic, and Bird.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I'm not sure why, but people always tend to overlook Moses Malone when discussing all-time greats. 3x MVP, 10th all-time in scoring, 5th all-time in rebounding.

NBA wasn't as popular in his era, plus a lot of fans are just too young to have much connection to him.

I had Moses Malone basketball cards as a kid, but it was at the tail end of his career when he was averaging like 4-5 points a game as a backup.

 

[Eric15]

I wonder where Luka's career will go from here. I know he's only 24 years old. But he has to be a bit antsy having played only 28 playoff games in the past four seasons combined.

 

[Knicks411]

NBA wasn't as popular in his era, plus a lot of fans are just too young to have much connection to him.

I had Moses Malone basketball cards as a kid, but it was at the tail end of his career when he was averaging like 4-5 points a game as a backup.

I had some gameboy NBA game when I was a kid, i remember it had Bernard King on the Wizards and Moses on the hawks. But that's about all I remember.
It is weird he's lost to history, because he was winning MVPs when Magic and Bird were around (and they beat the Lakers in the 83 finals, played them in 82) but I dont think the league really took off until Boston and LA played in the 84 finals.

I wonder where Luka's career will go from here. I know he's only 24 years old. But he has to be a bit antsy having played only 28 playoff games in the past four seasons combined.

I'm pretty sure he will be agitating for a trade by next summer unless Dallas really hits a homer this offseason. (he averages 33-9-8 in the playoffs too. insane)

 

[MikeSU02]

I wonder where Luka's career will go from here. I know he's only 24 years old. But he has to be a bit antsy having played only 28 playoff games in the past four seasons combined.

I'm a huge Luka fan to be clear, so take everything I say with a grain of salt, but I put the issue of the team structure at the feet of Cuban.

I think the Kidd hiring was a mistake and Nico as GM, I'm not sure.

Not paying Brunson the $55M or whatever is probably going to be the straw that really changed the tenor of things.

The Kyrie thing was such a desperate move and then to throw the end of the season for the draft pick was embarrassing.

If I were Giannis, Embiid or Tatum, I would strongly be pushing my front office to at least keep an eye on him, but then you may be getting into cap issues.

The only way I think it can work out is if that ridiculous Bron, Kyrie, Draymond to Dallas fever dream happens, which it will not.

The other place that he would be great is in San Antonio but hell will freeze over before Dallas would trade Luka to SA.

 

[SWC75]

Carmelo helped, sort of:

How the Nuggets cultivated the NBA's most dynamic duo

The roots of this Denver title run extend far beyond the 2014 NBA draft. This is the story of how the Nuggets identified their star pair -- and the fortitude it took to believe in them.

www.espn.com

 

[Eric15]

So what do you guys think is more likely for the Heat next year?

a) this playoff run is a sign that they are a legitimate title contender next year with Herro and finish towards the top of the East

b) this was a flukey one-off, and the Celtics/Bucks/Sixers will regain control, and the Heat will be more of a mid 40s wins, first/second round caliber team at best.

 

[shandeezy7]

So what do you guys think is more likely for the Heat next year?

a) this playoff run is a sign that they are a legitimate title contender next year with Herro and finish towards the top of the East

b) this was a flukey one-off, and the Celtics/Bucks/Sixers will regain control, and the Heat will be more of a mid 40s wins, first/second round caliber team at best.

I think the Heat have some solid role players that played a bit over their heads these playoffs. As we saw in the Finals, if Jimmy can't carry the team, they have no chance of winning.

 

[Cusefan0307]

So what do you guys think is more likely for the Heat next year?

a) this playoff run is a sign that they are a legitimate title contender next year with Herro and finish towards the top of the East

b) this was a flukey one-off, and the Celtics/Bucks/Sixers will regain control, and the Heat will be more of a mid 40s wins, first/second round caliber team at best.

I think it's somewhat in the middle. They were the 1 seed in the east just last season and lost a close game 7 to Boston so hard to say it was a fluke. They had a lot of guys underperform this year.

The other teams all could finish anywhere and I wouldn't be surprised as they all have some issues. I think I trust Philly the least of those 4 teams especially since it's rumored Harden may be on the way out.

 

[Knicks411]

I think it's somewhat in the middle. They were the 1 seed in the east just last season and lost a close game 7 to Boston so hard to say it was a fluke. They had a lot of guys underperform this year.

The other teams all could finish anywhere and I wouldn't be surprised as they all have some issues. I think I trust Philly the least of those 4 teams especially since it's rumored Harden may be on the way out.

I know Morey is a complete maniac and always has these super complicated scenarios ready to be executed, but I am really struggling to see what they can really do to be a legit contender if Harden leaves as a FA for Houston. Maybe they can turn it into a sign and trade and do something

 

[Cusefan0307]

I can't take credit for this because I saw it on twitter, but in the decade Adam Silver has been commissioner 7 different teams have won a title.

In the 30 years Stern was Commissioner 8 teams won the title.

We really are in the era of parity in the NBA.

 

[SWC75]

I remember when the Nuggets first joined the NBA in 1976, Larry Brown was their coach and he said something to the effect that "This league stinks. We'll win it easily." It only took 47 years.

The Nuggets’ long, tortured path to their first NBA championship

The Nuggets went through hell for decades before finally building a championship team.

www.sbnation.com

 

[Eric15]

I remember when the Nuggets first joined the NBA in 1976, Larry Brown was their coach and he said something to the effect that "This league stincks. We'll win it easily." it only took 47 years.

The Nuggets’ long, tortured path to their first NBA championship

The Nuggets went through hell for decades before finally building a championship team.

www.sbnation.com

It is nuts how many teams Larry Brown coached.

Nine NBA teams, UCLA, Kansas, SMU, and something called the Carolina Cougars back in the 70s which sounds like an adult website but was actually an ABA team. And then he coached an Italian team for one year in 2018.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

It is nuts how many teams Larry Brown coached.

Nine NBA teams, UCLA, Kansas, SMU, and something called the Carolina Cougars back in the 70s which sounds like an adult website but was actually an ABA team. And then he coached an Italian team for one year in 2018.

Wonder if there’s a newer Carolina Cougars club. Let’s see what the google says…..

 

[Knicks411]

I can't take credit for this because I saw it on twitter, but in the decade Adam Silver has been commissioner 7 different teams have won a title.

In the 30 years Stern was Commissioner 8 teams won the title.

We really are in the era of parity in the NBA.

That's also amazing because when Silver took over Lebron was in the middle of making the finals every year for damn near a decade and the Warriors dynasty was about to be born.

This was the 5th year in a row with a new champion (not sure if that wording makes sense; but over the last 5 seasons we've had 5 different winners, maybe that makes more sense) The last time that happened was from 77-81. (also 76-80 would qualify as well, since boston won in both 76 and 81)

 

[jordville]

 

[OttoinGrotto]

So what do you guys think is more likely for the Heat next year?

a) this playoff run is a sign that they are a legitimate title contender next year with Herro and finish towards the top of the East

b) this was a flukey one-off, and the Celtics/Bucks/Sixers will regain control, and the Heat will be more of a mid 40s wins, first/second round caliber team at best.

I trust what the Heat will do as an organization more than what the Celtics/Bucks/Sixers will do, fwiw.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

Wonder if there’s a newer Carolina Cougars club. Let’s see what the google says…..

Don’t try this. You’ll only find a tweenager softball team and an AAU boy’s squad

 

[Melancer46]

So what do you guys think is more likely for the Heat next year?

a) this playoff run is a sign that they are a legitimate title contender next year with Herro and finish towards the top of the East

b) this was a flukey one-off, and the Celtics/Bucks/Sixers will regain control, and the Heat will be more of a mid 40s wins, first/second round caliber team at best.

Definitely B if they don’t make a significant upgrade. At least relative to Boston/Milwaukee. Philly is vulnerable though.

 

[Eric15]

Definitely B if they don’t make a significant upgrade. At least relative to Boston/Milwaukee. Philly is vulnerable though.

I think Philly would be better without Harden. I know Harden is one of the great individual offensive talents in the history of the sport, but I hate the way his style of play results in everyone essentially standing still watching him.

 

[Melancer46]

I think Philly would be better without Harden. I know Harden is one of the great individual offensive talents in the history of the sport, but I hate the way his style of play results in everyone essentially standing still watching him.

It’s possible, but if they lose him for nothing it’s hard to envision how they don’t take a step back unless Maxey makes a monumental leap.

 

[UpstateSM]