Game #8: Toronto Raptors 129 (7-1) vs Philadelphia 76ers 112 (4-4)

[The Great One]

Impossible to rank Curry against the oldtimers because the rules have been warped so much in his favor, and guards in general.

Fair.

So since i started following basketball(mid 90's). Here's my top 5 greatest PG's of all time.

1. Curry
2. Kidd
3. Stockton
4. Westbrook
5. Nash

[S.R.]

Jimmy B refusing to play now per Shams. Getting hot in the kitchen in Minny!

[golden]

Jimmy B refusing to play now per Shams. Getting hot in the kitchen in Minny!

If the Wolves are really trying to trade him, they should be sitting him. Imagine if Butler gets injured? That would be a fitting next act in this tragicomedy.

[KeonClark]

If there was actually an offer for 4 1sts and thibs hasnt done it yet he needs crazy pills. Bruh this isn't Michael Jordan you're holding on to lol

[Scraptor]

If there was actually an offer for 4 1sts and thibs hasnt done it yet he needs crazy pills. Bruh this isn't Michael Jordan you're holding on to lol

Late firsts have almost no value though. Some say negative value compared to early seconds because of tbe guaranteed money.

It's a testament to Masai that he was able to use our late first to get Kawhi, but we also included two legit pieces in DeRozan and ninth pick Poeltl. Houston is apparently offering Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss, and Knight is basically out of the league and Chriss has been a dumpster fire.

That said, I thought the Wolves could do better before Jimmy pulled this shit. Now I don't know.

And you were right... There is a certain amount of BS that I thought was understandable from Jimmy, but this is way over the line. Unless Masai knows him and trusts in his character I'd probably steer way clear now.

[The Claw Reborn]

Per Woj:

Sources: The Timberwolves suggested that Jimmy Butler rest vs. Utah tonight and there’s an expectation that he will join the team on flight to Bay Area to play Golden State on Friday. Teams talking to Minnesota about trades say that the asking price remains steep.

How steep?

If ever Masai and Webster are on this, up to where their limitations are?

Lowry/ Butler and Kawhi trio, hard to ignore the ecstasy.

[golden]

Late firsts have almost no value though. Some say negative value compared to early seconds because of tbe guaranteed money.

It's a testament to Masai that he was able to use our late first to get Kawhi, but we also included two legit pieces in DeRozan and ninth pick Poeltl. Houston is apparently offering Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss, and Knight is basically out of the league and Chriss has been a dumpster fire.

That said, I thought the Wolves could do better before Jimmy pulled this shit. Now I don't know.

And you were right... There is a certain amount of BS that I thought was understandable from Jimmy, but this is way over the line. Unless Masai knows him and trusts in his character I'd probably steer way clear now.

Ibaka (or JV) + Miles (or Powell) + 1st would seem like great offer, in comparison. In that case, it wouldn't be a disaster to take back Dieng's salary, because we'd need depth at PF/C.

Time to fire up Trade Machine.

[planetmars]

Shams and Woj seem to have competing sources. Woj claims its the Wolves that want to rest Butler, and Shams is implying its Butler that wants to sit out so he can get traded.

I'll go with Shams on this one.

[planetmars]

Ibaka (or JV) + Miles (or Powell) + 1st would seem like great offer, in comparison. In that case, it wouldn't be a disaster to take back Dieng's salary, because we'd need depth at PF/C.

Time to fire up Trade Machine.

The first is what's tough to sell. We can't give up the 2019 (owed to SA). Can't give up the 2020 (due to the Steipen rule). So that leaves 2021 as the first available pick. 2021 could be a tank year if Kawhi/Jimmy/Lowry all leave in free agency.

I'd need heavy protections on it. Lottery protected for that year and the year after at the minimum.

[The Great One]

Per Woj:

How steep?

If ever Masai and Webster are on this, up to where their limitations are?

Lowry/ Butler and Kawhi trio, hard to ignore the ecstasy.

Anyone but Klaw, KL and Siakam.

[LJ2]

Yup, this was a clean block. Refs admitted afterwards they screwed it up:

The lead official is primarily responsible for this play. We are taught to referee the defender in all one-on-one situations. The defender gets to the ball first, and cleanly blocks the shot. We missed this one, and plays like this keep us up all night staring at the ceiling. https://t.co/WSsfL9zfQZ

— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) October 31, 2018

Maybe I'm reading too much into it or just in awe of Kawhi, but it looks like he jumped for the block before Simmons jumped for the lay up. That's not quite at the level of awareness it took to steal the ball on a bounce pass with your back to the play, but that is still some pretty damn amazing instinct and feel for what Simmons was going to do.

[planetmars]

Can Kawhi play PF full time? I'd like to keep Green in the starting unit, and have Siakam come off the bench in a hypothetical Butler trade.. or swap in Siakam for bigger front court's (like Detroit's, or Denver's, etc).

Assume Ibaka (and say Delon) is on his way out.. so the starting unit would be: JV, Kawhi, Jimmy, Green, Lowry

Bench would have Fred, Norm/CJ, OG, Siakam, Monroe. And we'd have to play a lot of Brown, and rely on Pascal and Greg to help Fred out with play making when Brown is on the bench.

Not as deep, but would be a hard team to beat in the playoffs if we go 8 or 9 guys in the playoffs.

[Maury]

I like our team the way it is

[LJ2]

Can Kawhi play PF full time? I'd like to keep Green in the starting unit, and have Siakam come off the bench in a hypothetical Butler trade.. or swap in Siakam for bigger front court's (like Detroit's, or Denver's, etc).

Assume Ibaka (and say Delon) is on his way out.. so the starting unit would be: JV, Kawhi, Jimmy, Green, Lowry

Bench would have Fred, Norm/CJ, OG, Siakam, Monroe. And we'd have to play a lot of Brown, and rely on Pascal and Greg to help Fred out with play making when Brown is on the bench.

Not as deep, but would be a hard team to beat in the playoffs if we go 8 or 9 guys in the playoffs.

I don't really think Kahwi as a full time PF would work. He'd take a beating guarding guys like Griffin, the Morrises, etc. and it limits his ability to guard the other teams best wings. He's in the perfect spot to optimize his defence right now.

[golden]

I like our team the way it is

Sure, we all love our team, but it's still not good enough to beat Golden State.

If this is Kawhi's only year here, then might as well go for it. Not just make the finals, but have a shot to win it. When you factor in 2-way play, Lowry/Butler/Kawhi can definitely compete with Curry/Klay/Durant. Lowry/Kawhi can't.