NBA 2019-20: Fresh Champs, Fresh Faces, Fresh Places!

[hollywood9826]

Did the Jazz sign Kawhi and I missed it?

Nah but my reasoning is sound.

GSW will be gimped up with no Klay for a while, Russel is a big unkown.
Lebron and AD dont have the supporting cast yet and will need time anyway so they wont be peak.
Houston has to figure out how to keep the two most ball dominant players in the league engaged.

And then we get to the clippers. And it is abold predection afterall, but the clippers will find a way to be the clippers. Kawhi/George or both get hurt or something stupid like that happens.

Portland and Denver are in the same boat as Utah they need to prove it, I just feel Utah with Conley, and Bogdan to go with Gobert and Mitchell they are a versatile team that can do everything. Last year they didn't know what to when Mitchell was gobbled up. And with a lot of the west teams in transition year I think Utah can sneak up and steal one.

 

[stringertom]

Nah but my reasoning is sound.

GSW will be gimped up with no Klay for a while, Russel is a big unkown.
Lebron and AD dont have the supporting cast yet and will need time anyway so they wont be peak.
Houston has to figure out how to keep the two most ball dominant players in the league engaged.

And then we get to the clippers. And it is abold predection afterall, but the clippers will find a way to be the clippers. Kawhi/George or both get hurt or something stupid like that happens.

Portland and Denver are in the same boat as Utah they need to prove it, I just feel Utah with Conley, and Bogdan to go with Gobert and Mitchell they are a versatile team that can do everything. Last year they didn't know what to when Mitchell was gobbled up. And with a lot of the west teams in transition year I think Utah can sneak up and steal one.

LAL did a decent job surrounding LeUnibrowKuz...Danny Green at #2 and Rondo at the point. Then off the bench going big they will have Boogie/McGee; Sous Chef Cook coming over from GSW when they go small; Lance to blow in GM/HC/SF/PG LeBusybron’s ear; KCPope to get holy and Caruso to sing an aria.

They may be the team with the injury factor though...LeBronski is old in calendar years, minutes played and usage style. Uni also gets dinged a lot too (just two of 7 seasons more than 68 games).

As stacked as the WC is from 1-10, 60 wins for any team seems improbable. Every team will be playing hard all season every game.

 

[hollywood9826]

LAL did a decent job surrounding LeUnibrowKuz...Danny Green at #2 and Rondo at the point. Then off the bench going big they will have Boogie/McGee; Sous Chef Cook coming over from GSW when they go small; Lance to blow in GM/HC/SF/PG LeBusybron’s ear; KCPope to get holy and Caruso to sing an aria.

They may be the team with the injury factor though...LeBronski is old in calendar years, minutes played and usage style. Uni also gets dinged a lot too (just two of 7 seasons more than 68 games).

As stacked as the WC is from 1-10, 60 wins for any team seems improbable. Every team will be playing hard all season every game.

Well said. But there is one Stifle tower

 

[travlerajm]

Nah but my reasoning is sound.

GSW will be gimped up with no Klay for a while, Russel is a big unkown.
Lebron and AD dont have the supporting cast yet and will need time anyway so they wont be peak.
Houston has to figure out how to keep the two most ball dominant players in the league engaged.

And then we get to the clippers. And it is abold predection afterall, but the clippers will find a way to be the clippers. Kawhi/George or both get hurt or something stupid like that happens.

Portland and Denver are in the same boat as Utah they need to prove it, I just feel Utah with Conley, and Bogdan to go with Gobert and Mitchell they are a versatile team that can do everything. Last year they didn't know what to when Mitchell was gobbled up. And with a lot of the west teams in transition year I think Utah can sneak up and steal one.

I like this take. I still see the Lakers as the favorite in the playoffs if both Lebron and AD are healthy, but I suspect some other team will snag the top seed - Utah might be that team.

 

[stringertom]

I like this take. I still see the Lakers as the favorite in the playoffs if both Lebron and AD are healthy, but I suspect some other team will snag the top seed - Utah might be that team.

LAC for me in the inside lane. That will be one helluva defensive ball hawking lineup and they have Sweet Lou/Sour Harrell coming off the bench for depth. Mo Harkless too.

 

[stringertom]

Well said. But there is one Stifle tower

Your favorite meme will be:

 

[stringertom]

The Bucks have added the perfect shooting mentor Kyle Korver to their roster to replace some of Brogdon’s missing treys and to instill some of his famous 21-point checklist to Giannis.

The O/U totals for the league have been posted:

Milwaukee 57
LAC 55.5
Philadelphia 54.5
Utah 52.5
Denver 52
Houston 52
LAL 51.5
Boston 49.5
Indiana 48.5
Portland 47.5
Brooklyn 47
GSW 47
Toronto 45
Spurs 43.5
Miami 43.5
Dallas 41
Orlando 40.5

Outside in the playoff hunt is NOP at 39, 4.5 wins back from SAS and two back from Dallas.

Vegas is surprisingly anti-youth movement in Memphis, projecting them at 25.5 and only 1.5 wins ahead of the cellar Cadavers. Somebody get me a bookie for that one! A lineup with Ja Morant, Justin Holiday, the two Jacksons and Valanciunas plus veteran leadership from Iguodala and Jae Crowder will win more than one out of every 3 games.

 

[travlerajm]

The Bucks have added the perfect shooting mentor Kyle Korver to their roster to replace some of Brogdon’s missing treys and to instill some of his famous 21-point checklist to Giannis.

The O/U totals for the league have been posted:

Milwaukee 57
LAC 55.5
Philadelphia 54.5
Utah 52.5
Denver 52
Houston 52
LAL 51.5
Boston 49.5
Indiana 48.5
Portland 47.5
Brooklyn 47
GSW 47
Toronto 45
Miami 43.5
Dallas 41
Orlando 40.5

Outside in the playoff hunt is NOP at 39, two wins back from Dallas.

Vegas is surprisingly anti-youth movement in Memphis, projecting them at 25.5 and only 1.5 wins ahead of the cellar Cadavers. Somebody get me a bookie for that one! A lineup with Ja Morant, Justin Holiday, the two Jacksons and Valanciunas plus veteran leadership from Iguodala and Jae Crowder will win more than one out of every 3 games.

I’ll take the under in Milwaukee, the over on Philly.
Give me the over on Houston and the Lakers.

 

[stringertom]

I’ll take the under in Milwaukee, the over on Philly.
Give me the over on Houston and the Lakers.

Disagree on the Bucks. The East is not as top heavy as last year so I can see them getting to 60 again.

Agree about Philly. They have Harris for a full year and replaced Butler with Horford from the start of the year, again in a softer conference.

The West is going to be hard to be dominant so 55 is a great target for any team. Both Houston (with a slightly softer division) and LAL could get in there at 53-54 but I don’t have as much confidence in RW/Beard coexisting as I do LAL flourishing IF LeBron stays healthy. The odometer is high on that soon to be 35-year-old body. As an Orlando fan, Frank Vogel as HC does not inspire a whole lot of confidence he will adapt if there is any down time for either superstar.

 

[travlerajm]

Disagree on the Bucks. The East is not as top heavy as last year so I can see them getting to 60 again.

Agree about Philly. They have Harris for a full year and replaced Butler with Horford from the start of the year, again in a softer conference.

The West is going to be hard to be dominant so 55 is a great target for any team. Both Houston (with a slightly softer division) and LAL could get in there at 53-54 but I don’t have as much confidence in RW/Beard coexisting as I do LAL flourishing IF LeBron stays healthy. The odometer is high on that soon to be 35-year-old body. As an Orlando fan, Frank Vogel as HC does not inspire a whole lot of confidence he will adapt if there is any down time for either superstar.

Not down on the Bucks - I just think that last season everything went perfectly for them during the regular season, so some regression to the mean is expected.

If RW/Beard stay healthy, Houston is my darkhorse pick to win the top seed. I think Westbrook has a chip on his shoulder - he is determined to prove the doubters wrong. He hears the chatter about how he just plays for stats but is not a winner. I see him having a year where his scoring drops off significantly, but he leads the league in assists at 12/game, and also puts up 12 boards a game, unheard of for a 6’3” guard.

The Lakers are going to be the most fascinating, most followed team in the league. I hear ya on Frank Vogel, but this time coach LeBron will take more accountability for keeping the team afloat when he rolls his ankle or pulls a hammy and has to wear a suit on the sidelines for a few weeks again.

 

[travlerajm]

Clippers to Seattle... I like this plan:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/heavy.com/sports/2019/07/ice-cube-lakers-clippers/amp/

 

[travlerajm]

So Ballmer on the defensive about the rumors picking up steam... says they are not moving. This is exactly what that scoundrel Clay Bennett said right before he was caught red-handed sending emails about his plans to move the Supe’s to OKC. Do you believe Ballmer?

https://larrybrownsports.com/basketball/steve-ballmer-clippers-not-moving-seattle/506178

 

[donquijote]

Bucks will forever regret signing aging Hill and Korver instead of Brogdon who was a key factor in their success.

 

[stringertom]

Clippers to Seattle... I like this plan:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/heavy.com/sports/2019/07/ice-cube-lakers-clippers/amp/

There’s complications regarding his rendered plans to build a new Clipdome in Inglewood adjacent to The Forum, now owned and operated as a concert venue by MSG/Dolan.

So Ballmer on the defensive about the rumors picking up steam... says they are not moving. This is exactly what that scoundrel Clay Bennett said right before he was caught red-handed sending emails about his plans to move the Supe’s to OKC. Do you believe Ballmer?

https://larrybrownsports.com/basketball/steve-ballmer-clippers-not-moving-seattle/506178

 

[travlerajm]

Who’s ready for Medieval LeBron?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/lakers...ames-will-go-medieval-on-nba-this-season/amp/

 

[DSH]

Where will Iguodala play?

 

[stringertom]

Where will Iguodala play?

Memphis

 

[DSH]

Memphis

Wasn't he going to go to a team that disputes the championship?
LAL or LAC?

 

[stringertom]

Wasn't he going to go to a team that disputes the championship?
LAL or LAC?

Traded to Memphis the first week of FA.

 

[stringertom]

Finally, the real reason for Kawhi bailing on T-dot for LA emerges...he needed to be home in LA when his sister was arrested and jailed as part of the robbery/murder of an elderly woman in an LA area casino. The 35-year-old and one female accomplice followed an 84-year-old woman into a casino bathroom and stole the elderly woman’s purse after fracturing her skull.

Another elite pro apparently raised without any morals. I’m about ready to give up watching pro sports because every major sport has some superstar that is a thug or related to one. Antoolio Brown is the next one to go bad!

 

[Vcore89]

Dwayne Wade recently retired from his NBA playing career, but he plans to be on the court with Lakers star LeBron James at Staples Center often in the coming season.

Is he trying to gauge his viability just like Ray Allen, Stephon Marbury [did prior ] and Carmelo Anthony [recently but no takers, yet] for a possible immediate comeback?

 

[Ronaldo]

Finally, the real reason for Kawhi bailing on T-dot for LA emerges...he needed to be home in LA when his sister was arrested and jailed as part of the robbery/murder of an elderly woman in an LA area casino. The 35-year-old and one female accomplice followed an 84-year-old woman into a casino bathroom and stole the elderly woman’s purse after fracturing her skull.

Another elite pro apparently raised without any morals. I’m about ready to give up watching pro sports because every major sport has some superstar that is a thug or related to one. Antoolio Brown is the next one to go bad!

For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?

 

[travlerajm]

I’m excited for this upcoming season more than any I can remember since ‘95-‘96. And my home town still doesn’t have a team again.

The player movement this offseason creates a lot of intrigue.

 

[stringertom]

I’m excited for this upcoming season more than any I can remember since ‘95-‘96. And my home town still doesn’t have a team again.

The player movement this offseason creates a lot of intrigue.

Yessir! All that intrigue took front stage center on Media Day, held a month before Opening Night and upstaging coverage of the last weekend of MLB regular season and both NFL/college football mid season news cycles.

 

[Ronaldo]

I’m excited for this upcoming season more than any I can remember since ‘95-‘96. And my home town still doesn’t have a team again.

The player movement this offseason creates a lot of intrigue.

And the pre-season starts in less than 10 days.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Zion looks every bit as scary as he did at Duke versus NBA talent, completely embarrassing the back to back reigning DPOY several times tonight.

55 pts over the last 2 games. Yeah, if this dude is like this in the regular season, which I expect him to be, the Pelicans are going to be must see TV.

 

[Ronaldo]

Zion looks every bit as scary as he did at Duke versus NBA talent, completely embarrassing the reigning DPOY several times tonight.

55 pts over the last 2 games. Yeah, if this dude is like this in the regular season, which I expect him to be, the Pelicans are going to be must see TV.

2 games missed 4 shots, damn, watch every NBA pre-season highlite on.

 

[stringertom]

Zion looks every bit as scary as he did at Duke versus NBA talent, completely embarrassing the back to back reigning DPOY several times tonight.

55 pts over the last 2 games. Yeah, if this dude is like this in the regular season, which I expect him to be, the Pelicans are going to be must see TV.

You’ll get plenty of chances to watch him...30 games on national TV.

 

[Ronaldo]

You’ll get plenty of chances to watch him...30 games on national TV.

Seems The Pelicans are on daily this exhibition season. Nice to see Lonzo Unchained Ball out.

 

[Vcore89]

Seems The Pelicans are on daily this exhibition season. Nice to see Lonzo Unchained Ball out.

''Change Lonzo's name to Alfonso the fact he's damaged goods the last two years.''

Lonzo is too legit to quit?

 

[Ronaldo]

Speaking of damaged goods, AD left his thumb in China

 

[stringertom]

Speaking of damaged goods, AD left his thumb in China

AD pretty much stands for Always Damaged.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

You’ll get plenty of chances to watch him...30 games on national TV.

Birds in 7 over the Sixers in Nba finals

 

[stringertom]

Birds in 7 over the Sixers in Nba finals

They are the only avians in the West so you’re good there.

 

[Ronaldo]

Birds in 7 over the Sixers in Nba finals

Ball Pick by Lavar?

 

[travlerajm]

Ball Pick by Lavar?

Won’t happen unless they sign all 3 Ballz.

 

[Deleted member 766172]

I am hoping the Rockets take the chip this year unless they face the Celtics in the finals.

 

[travlerajm]

I am hoping the Rockets take the chip this year unless they face the Celtics in the finals.

538’s player-based model really loves the Rockets.

 

[Deleted member 766172]

538’s player-based model really loves the Rockets.

Wow, 1st. Wasn't expecting that. I myself would probably put them something like 3rd most likely, behind the Clippers and Lakers. I think the Warriors will play really well against the Rockets as well, like they always do. I hope the Rockets don't run into the Warriors in the playoffs.

 

[stringertom]

538’s player-based model really loves the Rockets.

Rockets #1 in Sara Lee production for sure. Hardenbrook on a good night will donate 8 giveaways. On bad nights, 10-12.

 

[stringertom]

One fresh face we won’t see for a couple of weeks of the regular season is the biggest face...Zion has enough soreness in the same knee he injured in the Nike blowout that the Pelicans are shutting him down for at least three weeks. Apparently he tweaked the knee in the Spurs exho game this past weekend and developed some soreness overnight after the game that is not quickly dissipating.

 

[travlerajm]

One fresh face we won’t see for a couple of weeks of the regular season is the biggest face...Zion has enough soreness in the same knee he injured in the Nike blowout that the Pelicans are shutting him down for at least three weeks. Apparently he tweaked the knee in the Spurs exho game this past weekend and developed some soreness overnight after the game that is not quickly dissipating.

I worry that a human body is not designed to handle the explosive forces that his knees must feel when his 300-lb body is skying above the backboard.

 

[stringertom]

I worry that a human body is not designed to handle the explosive forces that his knees must feel when his 300-lb body is skying above the backboard.

His shoes couldn’t handle one of those explosive moves while planted on the ground.

Apparently the Pelicans ownership/front office are vested in keeping Zion healthy, insisting there is presently no structural damage and this is a precautionary step. VP David Griffin has also improved the physio/training staff this year to accommodate extra attention towards their generational athlete. Longtime Suns’ Head Trainer Aaron Nelson was lured away by Griffin. His work with veterans Steve Nash, Grant Hill and Shaq to extend their careers should help in dealing with their unique athlete.

 

[Ronaldo]

I worry that a human body is not designed to handle the explosive forces that his knees must feel when his 300-lb body is skying above the backboard.

That's what the Round Mound of Rebound stated daily

 

[stringertom]

That's what the Round Mound of Rebound stated daily

His off court training to avoid injury included throwing small people through plate glass windows!

 

[Ronaldo]

His off court training to avoid injury included throwing small people through plate glass windows!

Highlight of Court TV!

 

[stringertom]

Highlight of Court TV!

I was living here in Orlando when Chuck chucked the little guy through Phineas Fogg’s barroom storefront on Church Street, about a block away from where they built the new Amway Center.

 

[Ronaldo]

I was living here in Orlando when Chuck chucked the little guy through Phineas Fogg’s barroom storefront on Church Street, about a block away from where they built the new Amway Center.

So did Charles win the dwarf tossing competition that night?

 

[stringertom]

So did Charles win the dwarf tossing competition that night?

Repoarted for sizeism slur. They are little people. Get with the times!

 

[Ronaldo]

Repoarted for sizeism slur. They are little people. Get with the times!

Butt Sir Charles' toss was almost 30 yrs ago. Unaware Florida banned this sport.