2017-2018 Official NBA Regular season

[Al Bundy]

Let's start it... Warriors going for a back to back and 3 out of 4. Yikes for Gordon Hayward.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Rondo has better first step explosion than Ball and Simmons has strength that Ball will never have.

He's made attempts to get in the lane but he can't do it. He's getting closed off almost immediately. So when he can't slash his way in with speed or bull his way in with power, the best he can do is hope that spacing gives him a way to get a couple of strides and he hits a finger roll or a floater.

So now you have a relatively poor athlete trying low percentage, high athleticism shots as virtually the only tool in his toolbelt offensively. That's just a whole bunch of bad news.

The good news for Ball then is that he is a rookie and he can improve in some of the areas he is lacking. I am highly skeptical that he will be able to change his shot drastically though.

Also maybe he can become like Shaun Livingston, who can't shoot 3's but has a nice mid-range shot and can get into the lane and basket really well. Seems to me at least this season Ball should try that tactic.

[dirk digler]

Lakers Pts Diff Wednesday
Ball on court: -18
Ball off court: +19

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 16, 2017

[smithandrew051]

How about that Joel Embiid stat line last night?

46 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, 7 blocks, and only 2 turnovers

He has a special skill set. That Euro step he pulled out was as smooth as Harden’s.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by smithandrew051

How about that Joel Embiid stat line last night?

46 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, 7 blocks, and only 2 turnovers

He has a special skill set. That Euro step he pulled out was as smooth as Harden’s.

Yeah, that play was friggen unreal. I believe it was Lopez that had position and was there for the charge that literally every single other big man in the league bowls into.

And ****ing Embiid sidesteps it like Baryshnikov and executes a perfect little flip for the bucket. I don't even recall prime Shaq doing anything like that. Dwight Howard had the athleticism to do it but never had the technique; he'd have just tripped over his own feet.

That play was really among the most incredible plays I've ever seen. Guys that big just cannot do that and he did it like it was second nature; no thought to it, no hesitation. "Oh, there's a guy here...well I'll just go around him..."

The injuries will always be a concern because big men with lower body injuries don't age terribly well (especially with a track record of them), but he may well be the most dynamic, difficult matchup in the league. Especially with what he's able to do defensively.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

The good news for Ball then is that he is a rookie and he can improve in some of the areas he is lacking. I am highly skeptical that he will be able to change his shot drastically though.

Also maybe he can become like Shaun Livingston, who can't shoot 3's but has a nice mid-range shot and can get into the lane and basket really well. Seems to me at least this season Ball should try that tactic.

If you'll notice, Livingston was the one name you offered that I didn't sidestep because it's probably the closest comparison Ball has. Livingston isn't powerful and he isn't exactly explosive anymore. But let's not forget that when Livingston had star potential, he WAS pretty explosive and it made him a phenomenal playmaker. Then he wrecked his knee.

So when the best comparison I can come up with for Ball is "well, he's like Livingston after Livingston's knee exploded so badly that most thought he'd never play again..." well that doesn't even really qualify as damning with faint praise. It's mostly just damning.

It's the distant cousin of "Matt Cassel is like Chad Pennington after Pennington's shoulder didn't work anymore...". Livingston is a nice role player; a solid 6th man who would be wildly overexposed as a starter. If that's the player the Lakers moved D'angelo Russell and burned the 2nd overall pick on, it's an unqualified disaster. Sadly, that's probably what we're looking at based on skill sets if Ball can't get that miserable jumper of his working.

Which is to say, if Ball doesn't scrap that bullshit form, he's a 6th man in two years. You cannot function in this league off nothing more than hype and court vision.

[O.city]

It made sense from a personal standpoint I suppose in that Tatum didn't make sense with Ingram already there, and such but damn.

I still contend that Fox was the play if you're going with that type of player

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by O.city

It made sense from a personal standpoint I suppose in that Tatum didn't make sense with Ingram already there, and such but damn.

I still contend that Fox was the play if you're going with that type of player

Tatum and Ingram could've played alongside each other perfectly well. But what you don't get is Kuzma at that point. Tatum is essentially a more athletic version of Kuzma, though I actually think Kuzma's polish is a little better. Then again, it should be - Kuzma is three years older than Tatum. And Kuzma is a little bit stronger right now but Tatum will go flying by him by the time he's 22. I don't actually see a ton of separation between the two right now but Tatum's justifiably getting more hype because he's so much younger and the ceiling is immense. But man, watching Kuzma decide "**** it, Joel - stop me" and fly at Embiid 3 or 4 times last night and WIN was a lot of fun. That kid is aggressive and versatile. If he can keep his feet square/still a little more consistently, his 3 ball will come around better as well and he'll be a genuine 20 PPG scorer.

But if you draft Tatum there, you don't really have a place to play Kuzma who's becoming a no-shit starting caliber player on a playoff team in his own right. So the trade becomes Russell, Tatum and Mozgov's dogshit contract continuing to clog up your books for Ball and Kuzma.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'd rather have the former. But the Lakers falling into Kuzma closes that gap a little bit (they'd have never drafted him if they'd have taken Tatum at 2). Fox hasn't really been worth a damn either, IMO. I haven't seen much of him, but he doesn't look like a difference maker; more of a tough matchup gadget player that's fine as the 3rd best player on a good team. The upside isn't there, IMO.

Ball has the upside if he'd just commit to shredding his jumper. But his pride (more likely his father's) won't allow him to do so.

Hell, the pick to make may have been Dennis Smith.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Tatum and Ingram could've played alongside each other perfectly well. But what you don't get is Kuzma at that point. Tatum is essentially a more athletic version of Kuzma, though I actually think Kuzma's polish is a little better. Then again, it should be - Kuzma is three years older than Tatum. And Kuzma is a little bit stronger right now but Tatum will go flying by him by the time he's 22. I don't actually see a ton of separation between the two right now but Tatum's justifiably getting more hype because he's so much younger and the ceiling is immense. But man, watching Kuzma decide "**** it, Joel - stop me" and fly at Embiid 3 or 4 times last night and WIN was a lot of fun. That kid is aggressive and versatile. If he can keep his feet square/still a little more consistently, his 3 ball will come around better as well and he'll be a genuine 20 PPG scorer.

But if you draft Tatum there, you don't really have a place to play Kuzma who's becoming a no-shit starting caliber player on a playoff team in his own right. So the trade becomes Russell, Tatum and Mozgov's dogshit contract continuing to clog up your books for Ball and Kuzma.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'd rather have the former. But the Lakers falling into Kuzma closes that gap a little bit (they'd have never drafted him if they'd have taken Tatum at 2). Fox hasn't really been worth a damn either, IMO. I haven't seen much of him, but he doesn't look like a difference maker; more of a tough matchup gadget player that's fine as the 3rd best player on a good team. The upside isn't there, IMO.

Ball has the upside if he'd just commit to shredding his jumper. But his pride (more likely his father's) won't allow him to do so.

Hell, the pick to make may have been Dennis Smith.

I just don't like ever drafting a player into a league dependent on shooting, that can't shoot.

Kuzma looks legit though. I'm not sure what his upside is and I think Tatum may end up being a star though

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by O.city

The shaq treatment

He's just an outlier to be that big and that skilled. There are a few players that will come along that you just have to hope they have an off night in order to stop them. He could be the next one.

As some hated it, I loved watching Shaq. He was just dominant and you knew it was coming but it didn't matter.

Shaq in his prime was the most dominant NBA player of all-time. Like you said not much you could do... Just hope he had an off night.

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

SNR is right - you need to shut the **** up when the adults are speaking.

Hey man I took a lot of s**t for calling Ball a bust. If it turns out to be true I have a right to talk trash. It's not my fault you bought into the hype.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by O.city

I just don't like ever drafting a player into a league dependent on shooting, that can't shoot.

Kuzma looks legit though. I'm not sure what his upside is and I think Tatum may end up being a star though

Kuzma is likely to end up in that same range as Clarkson but a little better. He can be a starter on a playoff team, but probably no better than the 4th best player in that lineup if you're interested in a championship.

Maybe if everything broke right a Joe Johnson type? Otto Porter with less range? Harrison Barnes? Barnes is probably more athletic than Kuzma so maybe Danilo Gallinari?

If you want a conservative estimate, maybe Thaddeus Young?

So that's probably my answer - something between Thaddeus Young and Danilo Gallinari seems like a fair estimate. Johnson/Porter/Barnes seems aggressive because I don't know that Kuzma has a lot more ceiling left to him; he's just so polished already. About all he can do is add a little more muscle so he can draw contact and finish on some of those drives and get his footwork down so he can tick that 3 pt% up closer to 40%. Those are both very doable but I don't expect he's going to suddenly become a do-everything weapon like Johnson was and Barnes may be becoming. Nor do I think he'll be the dead-eye shooter that Porter's becoming.

You'd have to be pleased turning an afterthought of a draft pick into Gallinari.

[PAChiefsGuy]

How nervous is the NBA now that King Kawhi is about to come back soon? Now that Alridge is playing well and if Parker comes back and stays healthy Spurs about to take over the NBA.

#winning

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

Shaq in his prime was the most dominant NBA player of all-time. Like you said not much you could do... Just hope he had an off night.

Hey man I took a lot of s**t for calling Ball a bust. If it turns out to be true I have a right to talk trash. It's not my fault you bought into the hype.

Your 'take' means as much as Clay's stance on Mahomes - it came directly from your ass so right or wrong means jack and shit. Nobody bats 0.000.

As for 'buying the hype' - do your homework, dipshit:

Spoiler!

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

But why no comment on his son being athletically demolished by De'Aaron Fox? Because the slowest looking guy on the court against Kentucy was Lonzo. It wasn't necessarily because he was the slowest, but because he kept getting matched up against Fox who is friggen lightning.

And in the process it exposed the fact that Lonzo is a very smart, but athletically limited ballplayer who in fact plays a 'white' style of game. He's very much an early Steve Nash kind of player; before Nash really refined his jumper and made himself more of a shooting threat. Best case scenario would be early Jason Kidd - again, before Kidd became a good enough shooter to make you respect him.

Ball's biggest problem isn't necessarily what he sees in relation to the business/sports world, but rather what he ignores internally. He ignores where he may have ****ed up the pitch (I'm sure he did) or where he may have undermined his coaches and made his son look like a malcontent. He ignores some pretty serious flaws in Lonzo's game.

He loses his credibility not because he's always wrong, but because he's always selling you something. It always someone else's fault and he's always the cure.

I've said from the moment it was clear that the Lakers were looking at this guy that I hated the possibility of rooting for him because of his huckster bullshit artist father. I've noted he is a limited athlete and a poor shooter. I actually wanted the Lakers to trade down out of the 2 spot, keep Russell and try to stockpile assets in the move down.

The only thing I've ever said about Ball was that the Lakers had to take him if they stay at 2 because he was the best shot they had at a genuine superstar. And for that matter, he still is but he and the Lakers have got to commit to rebuilding his stroke.

The Lakers had to take the HR swing with Ball and then hope it worked out. They had to trade floor for ceiling because they have been treading water for too long. They needed to take a bold risk and hope it hit. I'm less and less convinced that it will.

But I was never certain it would.

Like I said - shut the **** up when the adults are speaking. You really have no idea what you're talking about.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Your 'take' means as much as Clay's stance on Mahomes - it came directly from your ass so right or wrong means jack and shit. Nobody bats 0.000.

As for 'buying the hype' - do your homework, dipshit:

Spoiler!

I've said from the moment it was clear that the Lakers were looking at this guy that I hated the possibility of rooting for him because of his huckster bullshit artist father. I've noted he is a limited athlete and a poor shooter. I actually wanted the Lakers to trade down out of the 2 spot, keep Russell and try to stockpile assets in the move down.

The only thing I've ever said about Ball was that the Lakers had to take him if they stay at 2 because he was the best shot they had at a genuine superstar. And for that matter, he still is but he and the Lakers have got to commit to rebuilding his stroke.

The Lakers had to take the HR swing with Ball and then hope it worked out. They had to trade floor for ceiling because they have been treading water for too long. They needed to take a bold risk and hope it hit. I'm less and less convinced that it will.

But I was never certain it would.

Like I said - shut the **** up when the adults are speaking. You really have no idea what you're talking about.

F**k you b**ch... Talking about 'when adults are speaking' your user name is one of the most immature usernames I have ever seen in any message board I have been to. What are you in HS?

If you want to act like an adult change your username. I'm not going to take someone who says 'act like an adult' then posts with your username seriously. Dumbass

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

How nervous is the NBA now that King Kawhi is about to come back soon? Now that Alridge is playing well and if Parker comes back and stays healthy Spurs about to take over the NBA.

#winning

Nobody gives a shit about the Spurs.

In 3 years when Popovich has decided to run for Congress, you won't give a shit anymore either. You're like any asshole Packers fan under 30 that has no recollection of a time they DIDN'T have a HoFer under center.

I notice you didn't have much to say last night after the Wolves butt-****ed them in the first half and spent the 2nd half marking time and milking clock. Yeah, real scary bunch of geriatrics you have there. And sadly, that pack of 30 yr olds isn't going to get better as the season goes along, sport.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

F**k you b**ch... Talking about 'when adults are speaking' your user name is one of the most immature usernames I have ever seen in any message board I have been to. What are you in HS?

If you want to act like an adult change your username. I'm not going to take someone who says 'act like an adult' then posts with your username seriously. Dumbass

Awwww.....username smack; how quaint. Well I suppose that's one way to go about it.

It's okay sweetheart; the grown ups will let you know when we're ready for you to come in the room and sing your little song for us. I know you kiddos spent a lot of time working really hard on it.

You go back upstairs and work on staying between the lines and not soiling yourself. Preferably start with not soiling yourself - it might prevent you from getting shit all over every thread you go traipsing through.