2018/2019 NBA Thread

CROJAM95

Tim Duncan has Joined Pops staff as an assistant

pretty cool

tempo_n_groove

CROJAM95 said:

Tim Duncan has Joined Pops staff as an assistant

pretty cool

I wonder if he will be any good?

CROJAM95

tempo_n_groove said:

CROJAM95 said:

Tim Duncan has Joined Pops staff as an assistant

pretty cool

I wonder if he will be any good?

We shall see, maybe he takes over for Popovich

fife

The Juggler said:

Jason P said:

markymark550 said:

OKC making the slow play for 2027

They are the 76ers without the seasons and seasons and seasons of tanking.

3 seasons. Oh the horror!

....and now odds on favorites to win the East.

While I like Philly, i think they are a bit over rated and don't think they win the east.  I actually see them being 3 or 4 in the east behind the bucks, pacers and boston.  i could put them ahead of the pacers but not by much.  also just cause i have to give some love for my home team and defending champs the Raptors are still a very good team

Poncier

I'm not sure how folks are placing the Sixers as the top contender in the east when they swapped out Butler and Reddick for Horford and Richardson and still have one of the weakest benches in the league.
Milwaukee to me is the clear cut top team in the east. The only significant loss was Brogdon and they added in a few complimentary players.
Toronto obviously got significantly weaker. Boston got weaker on paper, remains to be seen if better chemistry can trump the talent drop off form Kyrie to Kemba. And Sixers also look a bit weaker. Indiana may have improved a bit, but they are still a star away, and that's assuming Oladipo recovers well from his injury.

East is the Bucks to lose at this point.

tempo_n_groove

Poncier said:

I'm not sure how folks are placing the Sixers as the top contender in the east when they swapped out Butler and Reddick for Horford and Richardson and still have one of the weakest benches in the league.
Milwaukee to me is the clear cut top team in the east. The only significant loss was Brogdon and they added in a few complimentary players.
Toronto obviously got significantly weaker. Boston got weaker on paper, remains to be seen if better chemistry can trump the talent drop off form Kyrie to Kemba. And Sixers also look a bit weaker. Indiana may have improved a bit, but they are still a star away, and that's assuming Oladipo recovers well from his injury.

East is the Bucks to lose at this point.

Indiana still has Olidipo, right?

Poncier

tempo_n_groove said:

Poncier said:

I'm not sure how folks are placing the Sixers as the top contender in the east when they swapped out Butler and Reddick for Horford and Richardson and still have one of the weakest benches in the league.
Milwaukee to me is the clear cut top team in the east. The only significant loss was Brogdon and they added in a few complimentary players.
Toronto obviously got significantly weaker. Boston got weaker on paper, remains to be seen if better chemistry can trump the talent drop off form Kyrie to Kemba. And Sixers also look a bit weaker. Indiana may have improved a bit, but they are still a star away, and that's assuming Oladipo recovers well from his injury.

East is the Bucks to lose at this point.

Indiana still has Olidipo, right?

Yes, returning from a ruptured quad. Possibly out till January.

tempo_n_groove

Poncier said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Poncier said:

I'm not sure how folks are placing the Sixers as the top contender in the east when they swapped out Butler and Reddick for Horford and Richardson and still have one of the weakest benches in the league.
Milwaukee to me is the clear cut top team in the east. The only significant loss was Brogdon and they added in a few complimentary players.
Toronto obviously got significantly weaker. Boston got weaker on paper, remains to be seen if better chemistry can trump the talent drop off form Kyrie to Kemba. And Sixers also look a bit weaker. Indiana may have improved a bit, but they are still a star away, and that's assuming Oladipo recovers well from his injury.

East is the Bucks to lose at this point.

Indiana still has Olidipo, right?

Yes, returning from a ruptured quad. Possibly out till January.

Damn, still out that long?

Poncier

tempo_n_groove said:

Poncier said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Poncier said:

I'm not sure how folks are placing the Sixers as the top contender in the east when they swapped out Butler and Reddick for Horford and Richardson and still have one of the weakest benches in the league.
Milwaukee to me is the clear cut top team in the east. The only significant loss was Brogdon and they added in a few complimentary players.
Toronto obviously got significantly weaker. Boston got weaker on paper, remains to be seen if better chemistry can trump the talent drop off form Kyrie to Kemba. And Sixers also look a bit weaker. Indiana may have improved a bit, but they are still a star away, and that's assuming Oladipo recovers well from his injury.

East is the Bucks to lose at this point.

Indiana still has Olidipo, right?

Yes, returning from a ruptured quad. Possibly out till January.

Damn, still out that long?

Nobody has said for sure, but speculation is December or January.

fife

Poncier said:

I'm not sure how folks are placing the Sixers as the top contender in the east when they swapped out Butler and Reddick for Horford and Richardson and still have one of the weakest benches in the league.
Milwaukee to me is the clear cut top team in the east. The only significant loss was Brogdon and they added in a few complimentary players.
Toronto obviously got significantly weaker. Boston got weaker on paper, remains to be seen if better chemistry can trump the talent drop off form Kyrie to Kemba. And Sixers also look a bit weaker. Indiana may have improved a bit, but they are still a star away, and that's assuming Oladipo recovers well from his injury.

East is the Bucks to lose at this point.

I think the sixers are the sexy pick with Embid and Simmons.  I didn't really understand the Horford signing cause for me he plays in the paint the same way that both embid and simmons do so it going to crowd the paint and they don't really have shooters.  the Bucks are the clear favorite for me in the east.  my hope for toronto is that the team comes out playing with a chip on their shoulder by not getting the respect they deserve for being champs.  have to remind myself that the Raptors were like 17-5 without leonard. 

Poncier

Horford is quite comfortable playing the high post, so he can coexist with Embiid, but to think him replacing Butler is an upgrade is folly. He may have a better attitude than Butler, but his game isn't as versatile. They lose a lot of athleticism in that exchange. Plus Horford is 33 and has had some knee issues, paying him 29 mil when he's 35 & 36 is risky at best.

We shall see.

tempo_n_groove

Poncier said:

Horford is quite comfortable playing the high post, so he can coexist with Embiid, but to think him replacing Butler is an upgrade is folly. He may have a better attitude than Butler, but his game isn't as versatile. They lose a lot of athleticism in that exchange. Plus Horford is 33 and has had some knee issues, paying him 29 mil when he's 35 & 36 is risky at best.

We shall see.

I loved Horford on Boston.  Dude can D up good and play the 4 or 5.  He doesn't need to have the ball like Butler.  It will get Simmons out further hopefully too or Embiid will be shooting more 3's.

No Coder

tempo_n_groove said:

Poncier said:

Horford is quite comfortable playing the high post, so he can coexist with Embiid, but to think him replacing Butler is an upgrade is folly. He may have a better attitude than Butler, but his game isn't as versatile. They lose a lot of athleticism in that exchange. Plus Horford is 33 and has had some knee issues, paying him 29 mil when he's 35 & 36 is risky at best.

We shall see.

I loved Horford on Boston.  Dude can D up good and play the 4 or 5.  He doesn't need to have the ball like Butler.  It will get Simmons out further hopefully too or Embiid will be shooting more 3's.

Horford is in now way replacing Butler, if anyone is, that will be Richardson, but Tobias Harris will definitely see more shots this coming season. Butler going should assist in Simmons in not standing around whilst Butler had the ball, he will be in control most of the time he is on the court. Simmons WILL start shooting the ball more this season, he absolutely has too.

Horford is a good pick up, as they had a HUGE whole in the middle when Embiid was off the court. They can play together, but the ability to have Horford on whilst Embiid is off the court is a massive upgrade. Not sure if they win the East, that will depend on what they can also get out of their bench, especially Zhaire Smith and Thybulle, but they will certainly be up there.

Bucks will miss Brogdon more than many think, but they will still be very good. Middleton needs to be more aggressive and be a more consistent threat. He's quality, but very rarely takes over a game.

The Juggler

No Coder said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Poncier said:

Horford is quite comfortable playing the high post, so he can coexist with Embiid, but to think him replacing Butler is an upgrade is folly. He may have a better attitude than Butler, but his game isn't as versatile. They lose a lot of athleticism in that exchange. Plus Horford is 33 and has had some knee issues, paying him 29 mil when he's 35 & 36 is risky at best.

We shall see.

I loved Horford on Boston.  Dude can D up good and play the 4 or 5.  He doesn't need to have the ball like Butler.  It will get Simmons out further hopefully too or Embiid will be shooting more 3's.

Horford is in now way replacing Butler, if anyone is, that will be Richardson, but Tobias Harris will definitely see more shots this coming season. Butler going should assist in Simmons in not standing around whilst Butler had the ball, he will be in control most of the time he is on the court. Simmons WILL start shooting the ball more this season, he absolutely has too.

Horford is a good pick up, as they had a HUGE whole in the middle when Embiid was off the court. They can play together, but the ability to have Horford on whilst Embiid is off the court is a massive upgrade. Not sure if they win the East, that will depend on what they can also get out of their bench, especially Zhaire Smith and Thybulle, but they will certainly be up there.

Bucks will miss Brogdon more than many think, but they will still be very good. Middleton needs to be more aggressive and be a more consistent threat. He's quality, but very rarely takes over a game.

Yeah. Pretty much. I think you can argue the Sixers have the best starting five in the league right now. Bench is improved but I was really hoping they could’ve gotten Korver. Only thing they’re missing is a sniper off the bench. They’ll get one between now and the deadline though. 

cutz

The real good players really only want to play in the Olympics?

USA Basketball announces updated World Cup player pool

Andrew Joe Potter

6h ago

Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty

With the 2019 FIBA World Cup just over a month away, USA Basketball has updated its 17-player pool that's expected to participate in training camp from Aug. 5-9.

Following a run of high-profile withdrawals from the team, the latest announcement confirmed six new additions: Boston Celtics guards Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown, New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, Chicago Bulls forward Thaddeus Young, Denver Nuggets center Mason Plumlee, and Los Angeles Clippers center Montrezl Harrell.

"Since USA Basketball started the men’s national team program in 2006, we have understood the necessity of fluidity within the program and the importance of having a deep national team roster that features both young and veteran standout NBA players," the team's managing director, Jerry Colangelo, said in a statement.

"The six players we added today are all outstanding players in their own right, and along with the other players who will attend the World Cup team training camp, will offer Coach (Gregg) Popovich and his staff some remarkable athleticism and versatility."

Popovich and his staff - which includes the Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors, Lloyd Pierce of the Atlanta Hawks, and Villanova's Jay Wright - will select their final 12-man World Cup roster from the following group of players:

POS.	PLAYER	TEAM
G	Kyle Lowry	Raptors
G	Donovan Mitchell	Jazz
G	Marcus Smart	Celtics
G	Kemba Walker	Celtics
F	Harrison Barnes	Kings
F	Jaylen Brown	Celtics
F	Kyle Kuzma	Lakers
F	Khris Middleton	Bucks
F	Julius Randle	Knicks
F	Jayson Tatum	Celtics
F	P.J. Tucker	Rockets
F	Thaddeus Young	Bulls
C	Andre Drummond	Pistons
C	Montrezl Harrell	Clippers
C	Brook Lopez	Bucks
C	Mason Plumlee	Nuggets
C	Myles Turner	Pacers

However, it appears the player pool is not finalized, as league sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania that Harrell is unlikely to attend training camp due to previous commitments. Additionally, New Orleans Pelicans shooting guard JJ Redick told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that he's been invited to attend the training camp, but has not yet made a decision on participating.

Additionally, USA Basketball announced its 13-player "Select Team" pool, which will be coached by Jeff Van Gundy with Gonzaga's Mark Few serving as an assistant. The developmental squad will work with the main team during the upcoming training camp.

POS.	PLAYER	TEAM
G	Jalen Brunson	Mavericks
G	Pat Connaughton	Bucks
G	De'Aaron Fox	Kings
G	Landry Shamet	Clippers
G	Derrick White	Spurs
G	Trae Young	Hawks
F	Marvin Bagley III	Kings
F	Mikal Bridges	Suns
F	John Collins	Hawks
F	Joe Harris	Nets
F	Jonathan Isaac	Magic
C	Jarrett Allen	Nets
C	Mitchell Robinson	Knicks

Team USA's World Cup run will begin on Sept. 1 in Shanghai, China, when the two-time reigning champions take on the Czech Republic.

Jason P

No Jackie Moon in the lineup?

tempo_n_groove

I hope that the teams don't get crappy and we start losing to Lithuania again...

23scidoo

tempo_n_groove said:

I hope that the teams don't get crappy and we start losing to Lithuania again...

Haha, are you scared allready??

No Coder

tempo_n_groove said:

I hope that the teams don't get crappy and we start losing to Lithuania again...

There's still a lot of talent on that team, but the rest of the world is a lot better than 10 years ago. Apart from usually great teams like Spain, Canada are getting stronger, Australia have most of their team in the NBA. This World Cup doesn't have all the best players involved for these teams either.
The next Olympics should be the most competitive one in decades with 4 or 5 real chances at beating anyone on their day.

tempo_n_groove

23scidoo said:

tempo_n_groove said:

I hope that the teams don't get crappy and we start losing to Lithuania again...

Haha, are you scared allready??

No Coder said:

tempo_n_groove said:

I hope that the teams don't get crappy and we start losing to Lithuania again...

There's still a lot of talent on that team, but the rest of the world is a lot better than 10 years ago. Apart from usually great teams like Spain, Canada are getting stronger, Australia have most of their team in the NBA. This World Cup doesn't have all the best players involved for these teams either.
The next Olympics should be the most competitive one in decades with 4 or 5 real chances at beating anyone on their day.

Look at the years that we did lose.  There was talent on those teams but we stunk.  No cohesion.  Pick up basketball lost to fundamentals.

No I never want to see that again.