Everything Playoffs 2024

[Primer]

Everyone being a little dramatic.

Knicks v Sixers and Thunder v Pellies were both good games.

The favorites won every matchup which is expected.

The teams that lost will bounce back.

[golden]

If Pascal is Indiana's best player their future is capped. After paying him I don't see how they get better

It's become a real shell game with the salary cap. You have guys like Pascal, Fred & OG who can make a weak case that they should be paid $40-50M/year, and more importantly, they can get the market to pay it. Then you have guys like: Steph, Jokic, SGA, Giannis, Luka, Embiid, who make that same $40-50M, but are probably worth twice that, or more, based on driving wins. Same idea with guys rookie contracts and reclaim projects over-performing. The trick now with roster building is all about getting as many guys over-performing their contracts, in a big way, as possible.

[golden]

It's the idea that Lue is doing something special without Kawhi in the line up. Look at that roster, it's stacked.

Zubac, Mann and Amir Coffey as your starters, doesn't scream.... stacked.

[3inthekeon]

Old school bigs have fallen out of favour. They can't defend the PnR and get run off the court at times. Yesterday featured 2 of the best known, Zubac and JV.

In the Mavs/Clips game Zubac, who had been run off the court by Doncic in the past was up against Gafford and Lively, the type of C's teams target now. Gafford especially had made a huge impact for the Mavs since they acquired him. Not last night. He was the one run off the court and Lively wasn't much better. They did get a combined 4 blocks in their 33 minutes, but they finished with only 6 points, 4 rebounds and a -27.

Zubac in his 33 minutes - 20 points, 15 rebounds and a team best +15.

JV was up against Holmgren, who was actually pretty good last night. The guys who were expected to lead the Pels, Ingram and McCollum scored 32, but that was on an ugly 14-39 shooting. JV was one of the only reasons the Pels were still in it to the end. Played 29 minutes, which he had done only once in his last 28 games. He only scored 13 on 9 shots, but was a monster on the boards in those 29 minutes. 20 rebounds including 9 offensive.

Only 1 game for each, but last night showed why there still is a place for "Boban types".

[The Great One]

Haliburton is supposed to be Indiana's best player, but he sure didn't look that last night.

Siakam has been their best player since the trade.

Haliburton is overrated. He was incredible in the 1st half of the season, came crashing back down to Earth in the 2nd half of the season..

Haliburton is also another proof how much influence the media have. The media hyped him like he's the second coming earlier this year. You telling me that guy is better than Fox, Brunson and Dame? Haliburton made the Team USA Olympic team, the other three didn't.

[Joey]

Siakam has been their best player since the trade.

Haliburton is overrated. He was incredible in the 1st half of the season, came crashing back down to Earth in the 2nd half of the season..

Haliburton is also another proof how much influence the media have. The media hyped him like he's the second coming earlier this year. You telling me that guy is better than Fox, Brunson and Dame? Haliburton made the Team USA Olympic team, the other three didn't.

Especially funny after all that complaining he was doing about the 65 game limit for Awards season ... quickly became a non-issue if you ask me. Lol

[Primer]

It's become a real shell game with the salary cap. You have guys like Pascal, Fred & OG who can make a weak case that they should be paid $40-50M/year, and more importantly, they can get the market to pay it. Then you have guys like: Steph, Jokic, SGA, Giannis, Luka, Embiid, who make that same $40-50M, but are probably worth twice that, or more, based on driving wins. Same idea with guys rookie contracts and reclaim projects over-performing. The trick now with roster building is all about getting as many guys over-performing their contracts, in a big way, as possible.

So not overpaying for Trent when all he does is 3pt shooting.

[3inthekeon]

Especially funny after all that complaining he was doing about the 65 game limit for Awards season ... quickly became a non-issue if you ask me. Lol

Actually that 65 game thing is why he hasn't looked good since he returned from injury, because he didn't allow it to heal before coming back. He wanted to make sure he could reach 65 games. Don't think he's fully healthy even now.

[MixxAOR]

It's become a real shell game with the salary cap. You have guys like Pascal, Fred & OG who can make a weak case that they should be paid $40-50M/year, and more importantly, they can get the market to pay it. Then you have guys like: Steph, Jokic, SGA, Giannis, Luka, Embiid, who make that same $40-50M, but are probably worth twice that, or more, based on driving wins. Same idea with guys rookie contracts and reclaim projects over-performing. The trick now with roster building is all about getting as many guys over-performing their contracts, in a big way, as possible.

That's why you build through draft with rookie scale deals but i digress

[3inthekeon]

So not overpaying for Trent when all he does is 3pt shooting.

Trent is a real quandary for the Raptors. Yes, all Trent is good at is shooting 3's. Except 3 point shooting is the most important skill in the NBA.

Of the 15 best 3 point shooting % teams, 14 are still alive. Only the 7th place Warriors are gone. The other 2 playoff teams are Philly (18th) and the Magic (24th). And the 6 teams that shot worse than Orlando's 35.2% - Wizards, Pistons, Raptors, Spurs, Grizz, Blazers.

[golden]

So not overpaying for Trent when all he does is 3pt shooting.

Yep. It's part of a front office's job to find the next Grayson Allen, Malik Beasley, Lonnie Walker who is going to over-perform on a value contract. Your strategy can't just be to keep re-signing your own guys at increasingly higher AAV and "hope" they develop into massively over-performing bargains. And if they don't over-perform, then you have to trade them with at least 2 playoff runs for the acquiring team.

[golden]

Trent is a real quandary for the Raptors. Yes, all Trent is good at is shooting 3's. Except 3 point shooting is the most important skill in the NBA.

Of the 15 best 3 point shooting % teams, 14 are still alive. Only the 7th place Warriors are gone. The other 2 playoff teams are Philly (18th) and the Magic (24th). And the 6 teams that shot worse than Orlando's 35.2% - Wizards, Pistons, Raptors, Spurs, Grizz, Blazers.

Man, we already went through this. You can't just cherry pick Good Gary without getting Bad Gary on offense... which nullifies his value. And even Good Gary's 3-pt shooting is inconsistent, as to not be that valuable. And then there's defense, where Gary has admittedly made strides, but is not a difference maker.

But still... it all comes down to price. Donte DiVincenzo is on a 4 year/46.8M contract, and Gary gives you (at most) 70% of DDV brings. So if Gary is willing to take $10M AAV, then welcome back! But I highly doubt it. And if he is going to sign for that number, then he's going to LA or another high exposure market.

[LJ2]

Zubac, Mann and Amir Coffey as your starters, doesn't scream.... stacked.

Lol, I'm just really surprised with this take considering you attempt to discredit any achievements which Nurse or Masai have accomplished with the Raps. That was the point of your fill in the blank post earlier wasn't it?

Anyways if Lue is your guy then all good. Personally, I think he's done less with more, than a lot of other coaches.

[Primer]

Trent is a real quandary for the Raptors. Yes, all Trent is good at is shooting 3's. Except 3 point shooting is the most important skill in the NBA.

Of the 15 best 3 point shooting % teams, 14 are still alive. Only the 7th place Warriors are gone. The other 2 playoff teams are Philly (18th) and the Magic (24th). And the 6 teams that shot worse than Orlando's 35.2% - Wizards, Pistons, Raptors, Spurs, Grizz, Blazers.

I don't agree with the bold.

[LJ2]

Trent is a real quandary for the Raptors. Yes, all Trent is good at is shooting 3's. Except 3 point shooting is the most important skill in the NBA.

Of the 15 best 3 point shooting % teams, 14 are still alive. Only the 7th place Warriors are gone. The other 2 playoff teams are Philly (18th) and the Magic (24th). And the 6 teams that shot worse than Orlando's 35.2% - Wizards, Pistons, Raptors, Spurs, Grizz, Blazers.

If they bring Trent back it has to be in the role of 6th man or microwave scorer right? From that perspective I wonder where he ranks among the best 6th men?