NBA offseason 2017

[showa58taro]

I thought a separate thread may be in order for the post-playoff moves etc.

So far the NBA draft went as expected. Blazers got a couple fun looking players. A solid draft given the position. A few blockbuster trades so far.

The media scrutiny of Ball is already in overdrive. Poor kid. Hopefully be ok. Starting as 1/11 from downtown hardly inspires.

[Headhunter]

Lonzo just missed shots. If he makes 3 more of those shots, it's a different narrative. His court vision and passing skills are legit, he's an active help defender with his length and IQ, he plays at a high level when the tempo is fast and the shot is clean, it's the footwork and mechanics that are sloppy right now.

The biggest problems I foresee for Lonzo is not being able to guard the best PGs in the West getting to the basket, he doesn't have the burst himself to get to the basket consistently and he may not have the speed to chase the fastest shooters sprinting off ball to the three point line. But you can hide a lot of that with two perimeter defenders around him and the Lakers want to play fast on offense. Lonzo's game will be a lot of zone defense jumping into lanes and starting fast breaks with passes up the court immediately. Brandon Ingram was great last night, that's a good sign.

The Lakers are all-in for a LeBron-Paul George package deal next summer. They will do what they can to make Lonzo and Brandon Ingram appealing to those guys.

[Headhunter]

Early, but how I see the league shaking out based on what we've seen so far:

West

1. Warriors
2. Rockets
3. Thunder
4. Spurs
5. Timberwolves
6. Clippers
7. Nuggets
8. Blazers

Outside looking in, competitive: Jazz, Grizzlies, Pelicans
Tanking/bad: Lakers, Suns, Kings, Mavericks

East

1. Cavaliers
2. Celtics
3. Wizards
4. Raptors
5. Heat
6. Bucks
7. Hornets
8. 76ers (!!)

Outside looking in, competitive: Pistons
Tanking/bad: Bulls, Pacers, Hawks, Magic, Nets, Knicks

[Jason]

Bron ain't goin' to fuckin' Loss Angeles.

[showa58taro]

It's the fact the Ball's game was trending on YouTube for me that is odd. It's preseason. Nothing is decided this early on. But I did see his fadeaway. Looks awkward as all fuck.

[showa58taro]

Hoping Blazers go up from 8th to 5/6 but that's more hope than expectation. Another good but not contending Year seems likely.

[Jason]

Tanking/bad: Lakers

But Lonzo dad guaranteed 'yoffs.

[Headhunter]

Hoping Blazers go up from 8th to 5/6 but that's more hope than expectation. Another good but not contending Year seems likely.

That division is brutal. OKC, Minnesota and Denver all improved and Utah will still be competitive.

[Headhunter]

Tanking/bad: Lakers

But Lonzo dad guaranteed 'yoffs.

As he should.

[Headhunter]

Rockets trying to trade for Melo. If he accepts his role as a spot up shooting PF like he is in the Olympics, that could be scary. He'd have the best opportunities of his career.

But giving up Eric Gordon or Trevor Ariza would be a bad move. Need that three point shooting.

[Jason]

He'd look pretty stupid if the Lakers go 29-53.

[Headhunter]

He'd look pretty stupid if the Lakers go 29-53.

A lot worse things in life than looking stupid. Who cares?

[Jason]

He should care. His brand has achieved success mostly through his mouth and the way he promotes. Guaranteeing 'yoffs and the team blowing ass is gonna ruin that mystique and his sales will drop drastically.

[Headhunter]

As long as the media keeps giving him free air time, he'll do well. Guaranteeing playoffs doesn't hurt him at all lol, it probably helps.

[Jason]

I'm always gonna love him for the way he bodied Kristine Leahy, though. lol. She's back to her feminist shit again with the McEnroe-Serena comments. You hear about that whole ordeal?

[Headhunter]

I know that was talked about and it's really peak "dead period" of sports that it has made the rounds. But I avoid FOX Sports shit as much as possible. Skip Bayless, Colin Cowherd, Clay Travis, Jason Whitlock...nope.

[Jason]

They're like Lavar in that they say off the wall shit to promote their brand, though. :p

Out of all those, I can actually stand Colin Cowherd most of the time.

A female interviewer was talking to McEnroe about Serena, and McEnroe was praising her, saying she is the best female tennis player ever. The interviewer goes SJW and asks "why the label? Why not just say greatest tennis player ever". McEnroe said she wouldn't even make the top 700 in the men's circuit. lol. And he's right. She'd barely be able to return a serve from those guys. I read a story (totally true, by the way), about Venus and Serena playing a match against a dude ranked somewhere around 200. He was drunk off his ass and beat both of them back to back.

[Headhunter]

Lonzo looking a lot better tonight. Not forcing his shot, putting on a passing clinic.

[showa58taro]

Lonzo looking a lot better tonight. Not forcing his shot, putting on a passing clinic.

Nerves settled perhaps. Good for him. Kid deserves a chance.

[Jason]

Holy shit. Peyton Manning is about to get arrested for murder, because he just lit Kevin Durant on fucking fire.

This is an all-time great roast.