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2017-18 official NBA discussion thread


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I said it a while back, when healthy this team is too good to tank. With a healthy Levine and team all season, I still think they are a borderline playoff team. Part of that is because Dunn has been far better then I expected him to be (as has Lauri).

 

Niko has looked fantastic. He's certainly added new aspects to his game this year. I could actually buy him being a much improved player (and it was part of why I liked his contract...from a value perspective). From a tank perspective, he kills the tank (as does Lopez).

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They have streaks under hoiberg of looking really good but it's usually just a few hot 3pt shooting nights. Dunn is fine but their depth is still terrible in the backcourt and wings so I still think they will not be close to playoffs.

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QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Dec 14, 2017 -> 01:21 PM)
This team is still really bad as is, Niko isn't going to shoot 60 percent all year. The tank will be fine. Things do change a bit when Lavine comes back but you wait as long as possible to bring him back. Like make sure he's all the way healthy.

Maybe Niko will go back to sucking, but if you've watched his actual game, he's playing much different offensively. He's getting mid-range shots more then I've ever seen and he's also going down into the paint and using the extra strength he put up in the off-season a lot better. He's also getting much better form on his shot. He's always been a good shooter, but historically he'd rush his shot and get into bad footwork pre-shot which could impact his ability to consistently hit shots. Defensively Niko has become a pretty good defender. It is a really small sample size, but he's playing different and I think some of that could actually be a sign that a switch as flipped and he's emerging to be a better player. Lopez is a legitimate starting center, Niko is a legitimate player...Dunn is playing legitimate right now. Denzel / Holliday don't start for many teams but the depth in the bench is much improved. Portis is playing well and even Grant who I can't stand is much more effective as a bench player. Nwaba has been really solid. List goes on.

 

I didn't even mention Mark / Levine one of which is a rookie who has been more than capable as a starter and the other is a guy who pre-injury had proven to be a legitimate starter. This team is not a bottom 3-5 team when healthy (as currently constructed when healthy). It is closer to a bottom feeder playoff team in the east then it is a bottom 3 team in the NBA.

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QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Dec 14, 2017 -> 01:21 PM)
This team is still really bad as is, Niko isn't going to shoot 60 percent all year. The tank will be fine. Things do change a bit when Lavine comes back but you wait as long as possible to bring him back. Like make sure he's all the way healthy.

I'm not saying it is a good team either...there are just a lot of really bad teams out there and some bad to lousy teams are going to make the playoffs.

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Weirdest part of NBA to me has been how long it has taken some of these young teams to make “the leap” like the bulls did in 2010-11.

 

All the hype I heard about 76ers this year and they are currently ... .500.

 

The bucks are a few games over. The pels stay stuck mired in mediocrity.

 

Meanwhile teams like the raptors and nuggets get way less hype and won more, though I know nuggets are where bucks are except in western conference.

 

I guess the wizards were like that for a few years too before finally getting a top 3 seed.

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QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 16, 2017 -> 09:27 AM)
Weirdest part of NBA to me has been how long it has taken some of these young teams to make “the leap” like the bulls did in 2010-11.

 

All the hype I heard about 76ers this year and they are currently ... .500.

 

The bucks are a few games over. The pels stay stuck mired in mediocrity.

 

Meanwhile teams like the raptors and nuggets get way less hype and won more, though I know nuggets are where bucks are except in western conference.

 

I guess the wizards were like that for a few years too before finally getting a top 3 seed.

 

Well the Sixers haven't had Fultz. But even then, until Embiid is fully unleashed, they will never max out their potential. As for the Bucks, you need a healthy Jabari for them to reach their ceiling. The Pels have crap outside of the Towers and Holiday.

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Ok, time for crazy NBA trade scenarios:

 

Lopez + Portis for Shump, Frye and the Nets pick. All dependent on Portis keeping up his current pace.

Niko + Holliday for Deng, Kuzma and 2019 lottery protected first.

 

Who says no to each? What about Niko + Lopez to Cavs for Shump and TT?

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