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2021 NBA Offseason Thread

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I think the Lakers would struggle mightily defensively against the Rockets. I could see Westbrook really having an all-time type series.

However, I stand firm that the Nuggets are being slept on a criminal amount. They've won 67% of their games in the last two years. They have a legit superstar in Jokic and some big-time players in that supporting cast.

They've dealt with a significant amount of injuries to rotation players, but just keep plugging along and winning games.

The Lakers have a top 5 defense for a reason. They have very good defensive guards. And they have elite rim protection. For every game a guard does well in against them, there are two other games in which the Lakers completely shut them down. So teams that rely heavily on guards (Houston, Denver, Dallas, Memphis, etc.) are going to have a tough series against the Lakers, especially in the playoffs when the Lakers will watch film and scheme against them. Houston though always has a puncher's chance thanks to their three point shooting as a team. Of course, the Lakers defense has a glaring weakness. They have nobody to guard big wings. Like Kyle Kuzma is probably their best non-AD/LeBron guy to throw at the Giannis, Kawhi, and Tatum types. It's such an Achilles heel that I would pick the Clippers and the Bucks over the Lakers, despite the Lakers having two of the five or so best players in the world.

As for Denver in particular, my fear for them is that their point differential - one of the best indications of a team's strength - is lower than any of the other top teams in the West. Denver's altitude advantage is always lessened in the playoffs as well when teams have time to acclimate to Denver. Not to mention that just last year in the playoffs they looked shaky against a pretty mediocre Spurs team before losing to a Portland team running on fumes. Jokic is no doubt an absolute beast. And his pick and roll chemistry with Murray is remnant of Stockton-Malone at times. But when it comes down to it in playoff crunch time against an elite defense, it's hard for me to believe that Jokic/Murray will generate better offense than LeBron/AD or Kawhi/PG.
 
The Lakers have a top 5 defense for a reason. They have very good defensive guards. And they have elite rim protection. For every game a guard does well in against them, there are two other games in which the Lakers completely shut them down. So teams that rely heavily on guards (Houston, Denver, Dallas, Memphis, etc.) are going to have a tough series against the Lakers, especially in the playoffs when the Lakers will watch film and scheme against them. Houston though always has a puncher's chance thanks to their three point shooting as a team. Of course, the Lakers defense has a glaring weakness. They have nobody to guard big wings. Like Kyle Kuzma is probably their best non-AD/LeBron guy to throw at the Giannis, Kawhi, and Tatum types. It's such an Achilles heel that I would pick the Clippers and the Bucks over the Lakers, despite the Lakers having two of the five or so best players in the world.

As for Denver in particular, my fear for them is that their point differential - one of the best indications of a team's strength - is lower than any of the other top teams in the West. Denver's altitude advantage is always lessened in the playoffs as well when teams have time to acclimate to Denver. Not to mention that just last year in the playoffs they looked shaky against a pretty mediocre Spurs team before losing to a Portland team running on fumes. Jokic is no doubt an absolute beast. And his pick and roll chemistry with Murray is remnant of Stockton-Malone at times. But when it comes down to it in playoff crunch time against an elite defense, it's hard for me to believe that Jokic/Murray will generate better offense than LeBron/AD or Kawhi/PG.
I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

Personally, I think just about every series will be tightly contested regardless of the opponent. That's my real point.

I'd be surprised if the Nuggets didn't at least go 6 games with the Lakers.
 
I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

Personally, I think just about every series will be tightly contested regardless of the opponent. That's my real point.

I'd be surprised if the Nuggets didn't at least go 6 games with the Lakers.

It's weird you are advocating for Nuggets so hard considering the fact that they have looked like absolute dog shit the last couple of months.
 
It's weird you are advocating for Nuggets so hard considering the fact that they have looked like absolute dog shit the last couple of months.
I don’t agree with that at all

They’re 18-10 since the calendar turned to 2020 with a lot of really good wins over top teams despite being ravaged by injuries
 
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I saw the Nuggets play the Clippers in LA and I know it's a single game but they looked totally outclassed however on the season they're 14-10 against teams above .500 (tied for 4th). Jokic is even more ridiculous in person but they have guys logging heavy minutes who shouldn't, backcourt beyond awful from deep (traded their best shooter in Beasley) and 2nd to last in pace which is odd considering their personnel. I wish Malone would play Michael Porter Jr. more and Plumlee less but that's not happening either. I don't see them as a threat in the slightest but I do enjoy watching Jokic play basketball.
 
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The dude loves being a contrarian...he knows the Nuggets and Rockets aren’t doing shit.
I apologize for thinking there are a lot of really good teams in the NBA right now. Playoffs are going to be fun to watch.

EDIT: Hell, in the post you quoted, he claims Denver has looked like shit the last few months which is objectively not true. Yet I'm the contrarian?
 
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I apologize for thinking there are a lot of really good teams in the NBA right now. Playoffs are going to be fun to watch.

EDIT: Hell, in the post you quoted, he claims Denver has looked like shit the last few months which is objectively not true. Yet I'm the contrarian?

18-10 is supposed to be impressive?
 
This season for Giannis is just so so wild to me. Like Lebron is having one of his 5 best seasons ever, and he’s a guy whose worst season would be better than most hall of famers’ best seasons. Yet Lebron might not even pick up an MVP vote and it’d be deserved because Giannis is just that good. Offensively he’s unstoppable, he’s one of the 5-10 best rebounders playing right now, and defensively he can casually shut down literally ANY player, from Steph to Embiid, on any given night. He’s just such a freak of nature
 
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