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2021 NBA Offseason Thread

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I mean, in my post I said that I don't have an objective mind when it comes to LeBron either...



Kawhi is in the middle of his prime, but he is worse on the defensive end now than he was when he played for the Spurs. He was good on that end in the playoffs last year, but the Raptors had an insane defensive supporting cast surrounding him. I'm just not sure Kawhi's body can handle an entire regular season + playoffs in the West. Maybe Paul George coming back will make everything fine for them, but if I'm being completely honest George does not scare me at all in the playoffs.

It comes down to what kind of player Lebron will be when the playoffs get here. If he can be the LeBron we saw in the Dallas game this year then I believe they will beat the Clippers. I still wouldn't pick anyone in the NBA over that Lebron in a 7 game series. But, I have no idea if he can be that LeBron when April gets here. Like you said, he will be 35. The last couple games have been shit for him. Passive facilitator Lebron pisses me off. Just shoot the ball.

I think that has to be the Lakers biggest concern. Most players say that the true definition of "father time" is not being washed or sucking or not being able to be great, but rather lacking the ability to be great and dominant every single night like a player can be in their prime. That's what I wonder if we are seeing with LeBron now, that he can be insanely elite for a handful of games or a big cluster of games but not quite at that level every single game (which he seemed to be in his prime). He can probably be elite more nights than not, but when playoffs come around I think LA will need Superman Bron every night.
 
Ja looks like the real deal in Memphis: really like his game
 
So sad to see Cavs fans now perpetuating this nonsense.

*checks Raps v Warriors outcome*

*Raps won*

*Kawhi played great on 1 leg*

I mean, Kawhi was the best player in the league last year. It's just a factual statement. Doesn't mean he can't be de-throned. But he proved himself in the playoffs. Walk-off buzzer beater vs Philly. Shut Giannis down after the first 2 games. Beat the Warriors. Yes injuries are the #1 reason, but still, they won. They outplayed the Warriors even with Klay for most of the series. Obviously he never had to play the super Warriors with a healthy KD. Well, he played them for 1 half in S.A., was up 20 pts, then got hurt by a dirty Pachulia play.

Ya'll are too sensitive about Bron. He was the best player in the league since like what...2007? 2008? It's okay that 34 year old injured Bron lost the throne to prime Kawhi. Maybe he takes it back this year. I just think from a physical standpoint, Kawhi and George is just going to be a LOT for LeBron to handle. Danny Green doesn't have the size or strength, but will be a good defender against Lou Williams. I just feel like AD's interior presence is going to be mitigated by the Clippers team make-up.

Obviously health will decide things first and foremost. Kawhi always seems to be banged up by the end of the year but showed he can play through a lot. LeBron usually never breaks down, but a groin tear at 34 is concerning. The long time off to rest surely helped him immensely. He has said he doesnt plan on any load management. He needs another ball handler who doesnt destroy the spacing.
 
*checks Raps v Warriors outcome*

*Raps won*

*Kawhi played great on 1 leg*

I mean, Kawhi was the best player in the league last year. It's just a factual statement. Doesn't mean he can't be de-throned. But he proved himself in the playoffs. Walk-off buzzer beater vs Philly. Shut Giannis down after the first 2 games. Beat the Warriors. Yes injuries are the #1 reason, but still, they won. They outplayed the Warriors even with Klay for most of the series. Obviously he never had to play the super Warriors with a healthy KD. Well, he played them for 1 half in S.A., was up 20 pts, then got hurt by a dirty Pachulia play.

Ya'll are too sensitive about Bron. He was the best player in the league since like what...2007? 2008? It's okay that 34 year old injured Bron lost the throne to prime Kawhi. Maybe he takes it back this year. I just think from a physical standpoint, Kawhi and George is just going to be a LOT for LeBron to handle. Danny Green doesn't have the size or strength, but will be a good defender against Lou Williams. I just feel like AD's interior presence is going to be mitigated by the Clippers team make-up.

Obviously health will decide things first and foremost. Kawhi always seems to be banged up by the end of the year but showed he can play through a lot. LeBron usually never breaks down, but a groin tear at 34 is concerning. The long time off to rest surely helped him immensely. He has said he doesnt plan on any load management. He needs another ball handler who doesnt destroy the spacing.


I will say I'm pretty damn shocked how good Toronto looks w/o Kawhii: Siakam and Van Fleet are the real deal. Looking back at that Finals I kind of discounted those two when they had big games assuming they were being setup by Kawhi/Lowry/Gasol but that doesn't look right now. That Toronto teams number last year after the Gasol trade was monstrous and it looks like we just didn't realize how good of a team they were. Gasol/Kawhi/Siakam/Van Fleet/Ogu is one hell of a starting lineup.
 
Carmelo Anthony just signed with the Blazers. Figures, since I have Dame and McCollum as a two headed offensive monster on my fantasy team. Time for Melo to take 15 shots a night.
 
Blazers are hitting the very early panic button. Unfortunately there's nothing there to get excited about.

They're a contender to just try and take on a really bad contract, big name player and hope it works.
 
Carmelo Anthony just signed with the Blazers. Figures, since I have Dame and McCollum as a two headed offensive monster on my fantasy team. Time for Melo to take 15 shots a night.

They made too many changes this off-season and it hasn't worked out. Melo probably won't help but I think they are making the swing because they have no better options
 
"while Kawhi dominated and de-throned the Warriors (partial thanks to KD's injury of course). "

So sad to see Cavs fans now perpetuating this nonsense.

Did you watch the raptors last year? Every time the game came down to the wire, who was the closer? Kawhi.
Raptors may still be a good team this year, but I expect them to choke a series in the end.

Kawhi just has a knack for being on the team that de-thrones a dynasty.
I'll bet if he does it again this year against the lakers the same people will still discredit him lol
Im not even that big of a fan. One on One in prime...Lebron would crush him.
 
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Did you watch the raptors last year? Every time the game came down to the wire, who was the closer? Kawhi.
Raptors may still be a good team this year, but I expect them to choke a series in the end.

Kawhi just has a knack for being on the team that de-thrones a dynasty.
I'll bet if he does it again this year against the lakers the same people will still discredit him lol
Im not even that big of a fan. One on One in prime...Lebron would crush him.
The Raptors went 17-5 last year when Kawhi didn't play, and they're 8-3 so far this year. Kawhi didn't dethrone the Warriors' dynasty, Kevin Durant's achilles and Klay Thompson's ACL did. The Raptors title last season was like Golden State's 2015 title.
 
The Raptors went 17-5 last year when Kawhi didn't play, and they're 8-3 so far this year. Kawhi didn't dethrone the Warriors' dynasty, Kevin Durant's achilles and Klay Thompson's ACL did. The Raptors title last season was like Golden State's 2015 title.

It's like no one wanted to believe fucking Fred Van Fleet and his 4th quarter scoring in the Finals was legit. I thought for sure this another JJ Barea who a good coach knew how to use but turns out he no fluke and he really is damn good lol.
 
Yes injuries are the #1 reason, but still, they won.
But according to your previous statement, Durant's Achilles tear only *partially* contributed to the Raptors' victory. You think if Durant wasn't out for 5/6 of a series and Klay didn't get hurt that the Cavs led by LeBron wouldn't be celebrating another title or two?

Let's be real here, many RCF'ers (yourself included) are impervious to objective analysis of LeBron after he went to the Lakers, and that extends to pumping up the "Kawhi myth" like he's some kind of "dynasty killer", when in actuality he's inherited the kind of luck (roleplayer on a dynasty coached by the GOAT, multiple injuries) that LeBron could only dream about having.

It's even sadder when Kawhi has had zero of the obstacles standing in his way that impeded LeBron from leading the Cavs to more titles.

That's by biggest problem with this...y'all KNOW it's bullshit, yet your pettiness over LeBron switching teams makes you forget several painful truths about why we only have 1 title.
 
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LeBron didn't even play last year! Of course, he was dethroned as the best player! How is that pettiness?

He has a chance to get it back this year, but so far he just looks like one of the best players instead of THE best player like he did prior to last season.
 
2014 Finals is a terrible example of Kawhi giving LeBron trouble. LeBron shot the ball incredibly well that series. And Kawhi was fourth on his own team in PER that year. So yes @MediumBaller is right - he was essentially a role player who had a good Finals.

The Spurs won that year because they basically played the most perfect brand of basketball I’ve ever seen played. They destroyed Miami’s hard trap with beautiful passing and absurd three point shooting. Even if Wade wasn’t a shell of himself, it really wouldn’t have made a difference.

That being said I still agree with @InBoobieWeTrust’s ultimate point - expecting a 35 year old LeBron to get past Kawhi and George is asking a lot. Not because either one has any track record of stopping him. But because he is not the LeBron of 2014 or even of 2017. This version of LeBron is almost certainly not the best player in the world anymore, and Kawhi might well be. If Lakers beat Clippers in a series, it will be because Clippers have no answer for Anthony Davis.
 
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