-
Changing RCF's index page, please click on "Forums" to access the forums.
2021 NBA Offseason Thread
- Thread starter Los216
- Start date
- Status
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2008
- Messages
- 35,973
- Reaction score
- 101,647
- Points
- 148
I think the Nets are going to end up regretting their choice to go big game hunting for Kyrie and post-Achilles durant. Pre-achilles, sure. But I think even when he's back this Nets team is probably second-tier East contenders at absolute best. I just don't see MVP Durant returning ever again. They need him to come back from the achilles at 100% for it to have been worth it. Tough ask.
If one guys game will translate post achilles, it's KD though. That smooth perimeter touch and unguardable length are just so deadly.
If one guys game will translate post achilles, it's KD though. That smooth perimeter touch and unguardable length are just so deadly.
Cassity14
Gold Star Member
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2012
- Messages
- 6,948
- Reaction score
- 14,457
- Points
- 123
In today's NBA, I think it's a risk you absolutely have to take if you're the Nets. As an outside observer, it's easy to say it was a shitty risk to take, but what could they have possibly done better?
They got two of the best finals performers of the past 4 years, and they know Kyrie is as good as anyone at playing the role they envision him playing alongside Durant. I disagree that KD has to come back at 100%. If he can come back and even just be a 25 points per game guy, I think he and Kyrie will figure it out. They have some really good role player pieces around them who look out of sorts because they're being asked to play above their role right now.
Can;t remember the last time we saw a non-playoff team come out of nowhere to look as good as the Mavs are looking this year. Was shocked to see them beat the Bucks on the road last night without Luka. Yes, we all knew last year that Luka was a terrific rookie and that Porzingis would be helpful, but all of a sudden they are looking like a dark horse Finals contender, it usually takes years of development and building for a team to reach that point if it happens at all.
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2008
- Messages
- 35,973
- Reaction score
- 101,647
- Points
- 148
Luka being a legit MVP-level player in year 2 is basically unheard of.
Arguably Lebron was up there in his sophomore year, 27/7/7 on decent efficiency while leading the league in minutes and carrying an awful team to a winning record. But the Cavs weren't good enough to support an MVP bid, not a playoff team.
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2008
- Messages
- 35,973
- Reaction score
- 101,647
- Points
- 148
If LeBron is the only comparison that makes sense, I feel good about "basically unheard of"
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2008
- Messages
- 35,973
- Reaction score
- 101,647
- Points
- 148
What's wild about Luka, versus Shaq, Bron and to a lesser extent Duncan...is that those 3 guys had varying levels of elite athleticism/physical traits that made them so physically imposing early on, particularly Duncan and Bron... And both Shaq and Duncan played multiple years in college whereas Luka is much more like LeBron except instead of playing Ohio high schools from 14-18 he was playing against elite Euroleague competition. Which is probably what explains how he is already this good.
Luka is, by NBA standards, a slightly thicccccccc 20y/o Slovenian who is a 2nd year MVP basically 95% due to skill. Sure his size of a modern NBA 4 helps greatly, but he isn't dominating athletically by any means. It's all skill, playing smarter, etc.
Cavatt
Hall-of-Famer
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2008
- Messages
- 29,254
- Reaction score
- 38,436
- Points
- 148
Porzingus is really wild. I still can't get over the fact that the Knicks traded him for that shit. He is one guy who can sort of negate what Giannis does.
I don't know enough about the Rockets with Hakeem, but I thought he was really good out the gate.
Magic of course, Bird and Oscar Robertson are the ones that were just incredible immediately. Wilt scored 37 pts and 27 rebounds in his first season lol. Doncic would do something similar in 1959.
I don't know enough about the Rockets with Hakeem, but I thought he was really good out the gate.
Magic of course, Bird and Oscar Robertson are the ones that were just incredible immediately. Wilt scored 37 pts and 27 rebounds in his first season lol. Doncic would do something similar in 1959.
Cavatt
Hall-of-Famer
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2008
- Messages
- 29,254
- Reaction score
- 38,436
- Points
- 148
More Harden then Lebron, but more polished at a younger age. Can't negate the fact he is so big really helps his distribution/seeing over the defense. He's no Lebron, but his athleticsim is more like Dirks where he is just super smooth and moves like a smaller guy.
Stark
The Winds of Winter
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2012
- Messages
- 22,103
- Reaction score
- 23,876
- Points
- 135
Going to throw a few more names in:
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31.7 PPG, 16.0 RPG, 29.0 PER, 22.3 WS)
- Wilt Chamberlain (38.4 PPG, 27.2 RPG, 27.8 PER, 18.8 WS)
- Oscar Robertson (30.8 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 11.4 APG, 26.0 PER, 15.6 WS)
- David Robinson (25.6 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 3.9 BPG, 27.4 PER, 17.0 WS, 8.4 BPM, 8.1 VORP)
Throw those guys in with the previously given examples of LeBron, Duncan, and Shaq.
But still, different eras for Kareem, Wilt, and Oscar factor in a lot and David Robinson was already 25 years old in his second year in the league.
Interesting stat - only LeBron James and David Robinson have had a VORP of 8+ in their second season in the league (VORP became a stat in 1973-74). Luka currently is on pace to have a 9.6 VORP if he plays 75 games.
We tend to have a kind of narrow view of what "athleticism" consists of, where e.g. athleticism is jumping out of the gym and being ripped, rather than more subtle elements like quickness and coordination. Luka has incredible ability to change speeds, fantastic body control, and extremely quick reflexes...some genetic gifts there for sure.
Rich
Saucin'
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2010
- Messages
- 45,646
- Reaction score
- 69,866
- Points
- 148
Oladipo assigned to practice with the G-League squad.
His return is one of my most anticipated moments of the season.
That's an 18-9 squad as is. If he can somehow come back and get himself to full strength, woo boy. That team can go.
I know the odds of him returning to form aren't great this season. It takes normally a full season, if not more.
His return is one of my most anticipated moments of the season.
That's an 18-9 squad as is. If he can somehow come back and get himself to full strength, woo boy. That team can go.
I know the odds of him returning to form aren't great this season. It takes normally a full season, if not more.
- Status