2020-2021 AROUND the NBA: Archived

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Ya'll better put some respect on Trae Young's name.

[SwisherPrice]

The Hawks are too good...you have to play almost perfect to beat them in a close game

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Just shoot me now. It's as if the basketball gods are aligning absolutely everything in such a way as to upset Luka this offseason. Imagine the apocalyptic nightmare for the Mavs of a Suns-Hawks Finals, which is looking pretty likely right now.

Obviously it ain't about Luka. It's about Young and the surging Hawks. Dallas better get their act together, because they are falling behind some of these teams that we thought were worse.

[KillerLeft]

Obviously it ain't about Luka. It's about Young and the surging Hawks. Dallas better get their act together, because they are falling behind some of these teams that we thought were worse.

Yeah, I have been very much in the camp of "follow the diabolical plan to get a superstar next to Luka" for the past few years, but I have to admit that 3 of the 4 teams left, especially ATL, have me second guessing that thinking. 

Luka is closer than I thought, and he probably could've made some noise with a few Bogdanovic level guys to help.

The Mavs still wouldn't be on the cusp of the dynasty I was hoping for (but have now given up on) but we'd all feel way better than we do right now.

[cow]

Just shoot me now. It's as if the basketball gods are aligning absolutely everything in such a way as to upset Luka this offseason. Imagine the apocalyptic nightmare for the Mavs of a Suns-Hawks Finals, which is looking pretty likely right now.

I doubt Luka is that petty.  I'm pretty sure he'd be happy for his draft class mates success.  He might be envious of the Suns and Hawks front offices and their ability to build a team.

[Scott41theMavs]

I doubt Luka is that petty.  I'm pretty sure he'd be happy for his draft class mates success.  He might be envious of the Suns and Hawks front offices and their ability to build a team.

That right there is my point. 

They better get this summer right.

[cow]

They better get this summer right.

We are way farther away than just this summer.  This team might need to take a step backward to move forward in the long term.  I think we also need to realize that no one wants to come Dallas as the team really hasn't shown a ton of loyalty to players outside of Dirk and JJ and we've had our hand in tanking the value of our highest profile acquisitions.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Just shoot me now. It's as if the basketball gods are aligning absolutely everything in such a way as to upset Luka this offseason. Imagine the apocalyptic nightmare for the Mavs of a Suns-Hawks Finals, which is looking pretty likely right now.

I can't call a Suns/Hawks final after one game. But I give Atlanta credit for winning the first game of each series on the road. NY, Philly and now Milwaukee.. Trae has had his way with 2 of the best teams in the East. The Bucks are still very much alive, but I'm impressed with what Atlanta is doing after such a poor start to their season.

[TurkishMFFL]

Atlanta is showing everyone how important a coach is for a team and how to build a team around a potential franchise player. They really have a great combination of shooters and defensive bigs.

I really wonder what it takes to snatch Collins as a RFA.

[ItsGoTime]

The Mavs still wouldn't be on the cusp of the dynasty I was hoping for (but have now given up on) but we'd all feel way better than we do right now.

Why does having better players hurt our chances of being a dynasty? I still can’t understand why people think this way. Better players helps us achieve a dynasty so much easier because we have players other teams would want if their disgruntled star decides he wants a trade here. Also, getting FA to say yes becomes easier cause we are a much more successful team. Finally, in a FA says yes and we don’t have cap to outright sign them, better players are either easier to dump for space, or use for SnT.


ALWAYS BE UPGRADIN!!!

[KillerLeft]

better players are either easier to dump for space, or use for SnT.

Yeah, that's valid. 

Cut me some slack, Jack - I literally just said I was rethinking the argument. 

[Kammrath]

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/NBAHistory/status/14...2271554561

[SleepingHero]

Did a double-take at this. Really?

Because 1) POR is bad at defense. 2) Simmons is good at defense. 

Not rocket science.

If only the NBA was as simple as that.

Sure they desperately need defense. But POR also had an issue being 1 dimensional on offense and relying on Lillard to steal games for them. Ben will help their defense for sure, but it'll cost them their 1 other consistent scorer and creator to do it and doing so will tire them out of assets. 

It's an all-in move that comes with a huge downside and even less flexibility than just standing pat.

[JamesConway]

https://twitter.com/sportsreiter/status/...88448?s=21

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Too funny... 


https://larrybrownsports.com/basketball/...anz/580681

[ReunionMav]

Atlanta spent big money on several big money guys last summer and no one thought it was great planning. Right now they indeed look very good. We will see. 

It helps a whole lot that the traditional super teams guys all got hurt...even Trey is dinged. Spending money does sometimes work. So does 2nd and 3rd stars. We will see how we move forward.

[Mavs2021]

Atlanta spent big money on several big money guys last summer and no one thought it was great planning. Right now they indeed look very good. We will see. 

It helps a whole lot that the traditional super teams guys all got hurt...even Trey is dinged. Spending money does sometimes work. So does 2nd and 3rd stars. We will see how we move forward.

Difference being Atlanta has mutliple young studs in Young, Collins, Hunter (who completely shut down Randle in Round one before he got hurt) and Huerter is arguably a level above Brunson, too. Then you have Reddish and Okungwu who could come good, too. Capela is better in his role than anything the Mavs have. Therefore for them adding Bogdanovic and Gallinari is completely different to the Mavs.

First you need the young core and then you add the "veterans". Its the tried formula. Same in Phoenix: Booker, Ayton, Bridges, Johnson ---> add Crowder, Saric, CP3.

[MFFL]

Atlanta spent big money on several big money guys last summer and no one thought it was great planning. Right now they indeed look very good. We will see. 

Most national NBA writers called the Hawks the winner of the offseason

The season started out rough with injuries and bad coaching but once that was corrected (and Rondo traded) the Hawks took off

[Chicagojk]

The Hawks defense has been really good and maybe that is the catalyst.  Although, there offense gets good and easy shots all the time.  When teams like Philly and the Bucks have stretches when their offenses grind to a halt, the Hawks just get layups, floaters, lobs and open threes all the time.

I am in the boat of getting back to an elite offense and adding another elite shot creater for him and others.   Figure out the other stuff later with smart moves.