OT - Spurs v. Cavs | Page 2 | Syracusefan.com

OT - Spurs v. Cavs

OttoinGrotto said:
Sure there is. GM's don't just take in to account the player, they take in to account the value of that player on ticket sales and ticket prices. Melo increases both. Leonard doesn't give you that impact by himself.
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Maybe owners care about that stuff, so by extension GM's probably do. But I also think that effect may be overstated anyway. Melo helps on ticket sales I think to the extent that he helps his team win games. Not sure how much there is past that.
Leonard is a great great defensive player; I'm interested to see how he does when/if Duncan/Manu ever retire and he truly takes over as the #1 guy on both ends.

The Dion v Kyrie stuff is just so funny to me. Never good when you evaluate players based on where they went to college as opposed to what they actually do on the court.
 
Knicks411 said:
Maybe owners care about that stuff, so by extension GM's probably do. But I also think that effect may be overstated anyway. Melo helps on ticket sales I think to the extent that he helps his team win games. Not sure how much there is past that.
Leonard is a great great defensive player; I'm interested to see how he does when/if Duncan/Manu ever retire and he truly takes over as the #1 guy on both ends.

The Dion v Kyrie stuff is just so funny to me. Never good when you evaluate players based on where they went to college as opposed to what they actually do on the court.
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As a Cavs, and Dion, fan, I cringed when the Cavs picked up JR Swish based on his rep with the Knicks. I've stopped cringing. He's a great fit, better than Dion was, understands his role, appreciates the situation he's in. In addition to being a force from outside, JR's surprised me with his rebounding and defense. Hate to put it all on Dion, but a commentator, a former player, can't recall who, said during a TV game recently that there was poison in the Cavs locker room and they had to get rid of it. A shame.
 
skurey said:
Might be the best player in the league
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I think Curry then Westbrook are the best players in the league not named Lebron. In fact, I think Curry is challenging my thought that Lebron is, hands down, the best in the league.
 
longislandcuse said:
I think Curry then Westbrook are the best players in the league not named Lebron. In fact, I think Curry is challenging my thought that Lebron is, hands down, the best in the league.
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Agreed. Curry and Westbrook are right there. Amazing stuff from both of them this season.
 
Westbrook is incredible but I can't put him quite there yet. Dude might be the most athletically gifted player, but we're still talking 54% true shooting. When looking at the best guy in the league, that stuff matters.

Lebron is still probably the best guy in the league, but you could make the case that last year he didn't have the best season (Durant) and this year he isn't (I love Anthony Davis). But that being said, if I had to win a game tomorrow and my life depended on it, and I could draft any player in the league, I'm taking Lebron first.
 
Knicks411 said:
Plus Harden. Insane number of legit candidates
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A number of players noted above play marginal to lackadaisical defense (or at least have inconsistent efforts). You cannot be the best or almost best player in the league if you can't play both ends.

IMO, the best players are:

Bron
Durant (when he is healthy, there is no one else like him)
Ant Davis

IMO, Russ, Steph and Harden are a notch below. Steph and Harden because they can't achieve the level of defense the top three guys can. Russ because he has to be ball dominant to reach his potential. CP3, when healthy, should probably be in this second group as well.

One other note, Kawhi Leonard is the best defensive player in the NBA. And while not at the level of the guys above, his abilities on the defensive end of the floor alone should place him as one of the best players in the league.
 
I think Steph has probably improved his defense a little the last year or so. Golden State has the #1 defense in the league, Steph Curry leads the team in minutes played; I'm not saying that makes him an awesome defensive player, but it's something.

I think I agree with your top 3 though.
 
There used to be contentions here that Melo was the best offensive basketball player on the planet. Where does he now rank? Still top-10?
 
PoppyHart said:
There used to be contentions here that Melo was the best offensive basketball player on the planet. Where does he now rank? Still top-10?
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Overall? Or offensive? Overall he is certainly lower than top 10. Offensively, yes, he's still likely in the discussion.
 
GoHamSU said:
Overall? Or offensive? Overall he is certainly lower than top 10. Offensively, yes, he's still likely in the discussion.
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I really don't think he ever was, (efficiency j ust not there) but when healthy, he's pretty much the same offensive player as he's always been.
 
two3zone said:
Add Anthony Davis and Durant as well. Davis is insane.
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Davis is amazing. Durant for sure and Harden too like someone suggested. All these guys are so freaking good. Davis is making pick n' pop jumpers now from almost 3pt range. Sick.
 
SoBeCuse said:
Davis is amazing. Durant for sure and Harden too like someone suggested. All these guys are so freaking good. Davis is making pick n' pop jumpers now from almost 3pt range. Sick.
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Davis is also the youngest by quite a bit.

The top talent in the league is fun to watch.
 
Knicks411 said:
I really don't think he ever was, (efficiency j ust not there) but when healthy, he's pretty much the same offensive player as he's always been.
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I absolutely think so. In terms of scoring? 100%.
 
GoHamSU said:
I absolutely think so. In terms of scoring? 100%.
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He's a great scorer, but he just doesn't do it as efficiently as Lebron or Durant or Harden. Those guys are consistent 60% true shooting guys, Melo is like 55%.
 
Wish I booked more Cavs vs Field bets to win the East earlier. Nobody wants it now. Free $.
 
Nobody watches DET but here is another great young player. Andre Drummond. He is 22. On Sportscenter the other day they showed that Drummond has more 20 pt/20 reb games than Shaq, Duncan, Olajuwon, Moses Malone at the moment compared to when those guys were starting out with the same number of games under their belt. He has over 10 of those already I believe so far in his young career. That is impressive. I just didn't think he had that motor and desire when he was leaving UConn.
 
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Knicks411 said:
He's a great scorer, but he just doesn't do it as efficiently as Lebron or Durant or Harden. Those guys are consistent 60% true shooting guys, Melo is like 55%.
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Correct, don't disagree.

In terms of scoring ability, melo was at least top 3 (up to this year maybe). Now efficiency is a different ball game
 
Seems criminal that GS could play OKC in round 1 while Memphis and SA in round 1 and Cleveland is penciled in the finals - been going on way too long - at least the East has one tem that can win recently as opposed to the Nets and 76'ers - take 16 teams - seed them and get it on - guarantee Cleveland ain't making the finals then - another rule no sub 500 teams if there are winning teams - OKC, NO and Phoenix all in over Miami, Indiana, etc.
 
GoHamSU said:
Remember when people were saying dion is on the same level as irving

Gold.
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I NEVER watch NBA but was stuck in a bar out of town with this on .. holy @#$%! .. I haven't seen someone that unconscious in my life. Irving just couldn't miss clutch shot, after clutch shot, after clutch shot, [ad infinitum].
 
zhanjuzi said:
I NEVER watch NBA but was stuck in a bar out of town with this on .. holy @#$%! .. I haven't seen someone that unconscious in my life. Irving just couldn't miss clutch shot, after clutch shot, after clutch shot, [ad infinitum].
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Best players in the world. Add in circumstances like last night where something just clicks and that can be the result.

But the NBA isn't a team game ..:confused:
 
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