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06-20-2017, 07:13 PM | |
Damnit Peg
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Overland Park
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Official 2017 NBA Off Season Thread
The draft is June 22nd. |
Posts: 23,515
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07-27-2017, 11:21 AM | #661 | |
Sauntering Vaguely Downwards
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, Mo
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People criticize Durant not because he left, but because he joined a turn-key champion and the competitive drive we want to see from our athletes says we'd prefer seem them blaze their own trail. The whole 'to be the best you gotta beat the best' thing is a staple of athletic competition. Durant didn't have to beat the best - he just joined them. That same competitive instinct makes us look at a guy in Irving who wants to leave a winning team to go...well anywhere he can be a more clear #1 option (including shit teams like the Knicks) makes people take pause. It certainly makes me wonder why his motivation is. But then I remember that Kobe didn't want to go to a team, chuck up shots and lose. He wanted to go to a team, chuck up shots and prove that he can kick ass without Shaq. It was still pure ego at work, but it wasn't pure ego without competitive drive (and yeah, the league has plenty of those guys; Carmelo Anthony, for one). So maybe that's what Irving's looking to do. He's not looking to go pile up hollow offense, get a shoe deal and show that he can score from behind. He's looking to prove that he can go somewhere and be 'the man' and win still. I don't fault him, but I also don't think it's fair to say anyone that criticizes both him and Durant are being hypocritical. |
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08-22-2017, 05:07 PM | #662 |
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Join Date: Nov 2001
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08-22-2017, 05:10 PM | #663 | |
Best Body On ChiefsPlanet
Join Date: Jan 2014
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Fail trade for the Cavs but hey at least they get rid of the crybaby Irving. |
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Posts: 6,058
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08-22-2017, 05:11 PM | #664 | |
The Insider
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lake of the Ozarks
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08-22-2017, 05:20 PM | #665 | |
Best Body On ChiefsPlanet
Join Date: Jan 2014
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Second all the details of the trade have not been finalized, if it even happens. Maybe it will turn out to be the greatest trade in the history of the NBA but as of right now I don't see it. Third we all know if the Spurs stay healthy they are winning the NBA Championship anyway so who cares right? |
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08-22-2017, 05:28 PM | #666 |
MVP
Join Date: Feb 2010
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lol all the guys who went to Boston to help rebuild/win/revive their careers are going to get traded away so good.
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08-22-2017, 05:30 PM | #667 |
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Join Date: Nov 2001
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The deal is done.
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08-22-2017, 05:37 PM | #668 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Looks like a good deal for both teams
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Posts: 82,258
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08-22-2017, 05:40 PM | #669 |
Now you've pissed me off!
Join Date: Jan 2006
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That's a really good trade for Cleveland. Irving is a better player than Thomas, who is literally the worst defensive player in the league, but Kyrie is a terrible defender in his own right. Thomas is a legitimate scorer who is only slightly less efficient than Irving.
Key to the deal is Crowder, who is a good enough defender to take the primary scorer, resting LeBron. That, along with a 2018 first from the Nets that is unprotected (and likely a top-5 pick) is a hell of a haul for a guy that everyone knew wanted out. Now Irving can fulfill his destiny of being a miniature Dominique Wilkins. |
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08-22-2017, 05:42 PM | #670 | |
The Insider
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lake of the Ozarks
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08-22-2017, 05:43 PM | #671 |
The Insider
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lake of the Ozarks
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Fair trade for both teams. Celtics get their "star." Cavs get players to help LeBron this season, plus they get a good shot at Michael Porter or Bagley in their post LeBron rebuild. Win for both teams.
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Posts: 50,653
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08-22-2017, 05:44 PM | #672 |
Perpetual Mediocrity
Join Date: Jan 2006
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The 2018 Nets pick too?
Horrific deal for the Celtics. They just got worse now and in the future for what may not even be a upgrade at PG (Kyrie remains the most overrated player in the league, a complete ISO player offensively who doesn't play defense). I have no idea why Ainge felt compelled to bail the Cavs out here after all these years of hoarding assets, they did not have to make this move. |
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08-22-2017, 05:45 PM | #673 |
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Join Date: Nov 2001
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I can't believe Boston gave up that pick. Gives Cleveland a ton of flexibility. They can try to build around LeBron, or if he leaves, they can just tank and have a lottery pick to start it all off.
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Posts: 55,451
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08-22-2017, 05:46 PM | #674 |
Perpetual Mediocrity
Join Date: Jan 2006
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What makes it a win for the Celtics? LeBron is going to beat them easily this year. After he leaves for the Lakers in 2018, they still would have been the best team in the conference (with or without Kyrie) but now they'll do it without Porter or Bagley. They'll almost certainly never have enough pieces to win a championship now. What is the point of this?
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08-22-2017, 05:50 PM | #675 | |
Perpetual Mediocrity
Join Date: Jan 2006
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