2020-21 Raptors and General NBA Thread

[Hockey_Ninja]

That close to a series winning shot

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by Hockey

I don't follow basketball as much as other sports, but is Nash that bad of a coach?

Few people I follow on Twitter have basically been ripping him all season and then blamed this loss on him. I don't know if they have anything against Nash, but I figure you'd want him to succeed since he's a local guy here.

Nash was hired as a coach who wouldn't ruffle feathers and let his star players dictate what they were doing on-court (and maybe manage egos if that ever became an issue). I don't think he'll assert himself too much until the first approach starts to fail. That said, the defense both in the Boston series and here is better than anticipated, so the coaching staff (whether that's Nash or his assistants) deserve some props there.

I don't think he's done enough to say whether he's a good coach or bad coach yet, and it's possible we won't know during his time with the Nets. I would not have labelled Lue a good coach based on his 'deferring to LeBron' approach with Cleveland, but I realize now he's a better coach than I gave him credit for.

[devo22]

what a great game. Both Booker and George have been excellent.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Devin Booker putting on an absolute clinic

[devo22]

Suns are easy to root for. Fun team.

if Kawhi is out for more than the first two, I don't see how the Clippers can win this.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Nash was hired as a coach who wouldn't ruffle feathers and let his star players dictate what they were doing on-court (and maybe manage egos if that ever became an issue). I don't think he'll assert himself too much until the first approach starts to fail. That said, the defense both in the Boston series and here is better than anticipated, so the coaching staff (whether that's Nash or his assistants) deserve some props there.

I don't think he's done enough to say whether he's a good coach or bad coach yet, and it's possible we won't know during his time with the Nets. I would not have labelled Lue a good coach based on his 'deferring to LeBron' approach with Cleveland, but I realize now he's a better coach than I gave him credit for.

And Nash’s main assistant is D’Antoni, one of the most conflict averse professional coaches I have been seen. I wouldn’t say the coaching helped that team rise to the level of their talent.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The Sixers still might win, probably will win, but seeing Ben Simmons rocking a 4-8-12 line in the fourth quarter of a Game 7 is pretty goddamn jarring. Dude is a complete black hole on offense, he won't even go to the rim anymore with any consistency which was literally the only thing he could do offensively above replacement level.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Like what is this? Is this like RoboCop and he's got a directive four that he can't shoot?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1406798877722742787

[Hockey_Ninja]

Simmons has always been comically overrated. He’s done in Philly.

[Da_Chief]

Not a great day for Marc Gasol on fathers day, his son embiid is knocked out again. The bafoon complained every time he was touched. Good job Hawks.

Suns-Clippers, Bucks-Hawks. I'm ok with any of these teams winning the championship.
My preference would be.
Suns
Bucks
Clippers
Hawks

[Senator Clay Davis]

Simmons might be gone, but what can you even get for him anymore? He's on a max so it's not like there's gonna be a long queue for a player who is such a negative on offense. Legit hilarious though that everything breaks right for the Sixers and they still can't win it all.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Simmons might be gone, but what can you even get for him anymore? He's on a max so it's not like there's gonna be a long queue for a player who is such a negative on offense. Legit hilarious though that everything breaks right for the Sixers and they still can't win it all.

That’s what they get for trying to lose.

A oft broken Embid and a couple 1st overalls who can’t shoot a basketball.’

How does an NBA team draft two players who aren’t just below average shooters, but physically can’t direct the ball towards the hoop?

How does that happen period, let alone with 1st overall picks?

It’s the sort of thing that makes you believe in God.

[devo22]

I don't know what you guys are talking about. Simmons hasn't missed a single 4th quarter shot in this series, doesn't get more clutch than that! lol

https://twitter.com/user/status/1406803883121381379

[Senator Clay Davis]

It's been suggested that Simmons needs to shoot right handed and stop with the lefty since he's naturally right handed at everything else. That sounds nice in theory, but he comes off as a guy who simply doesn't give a #### about improving his game, so it's hard to believe he'll put in the many hours necessary to completely redo his shooting. The Sixers choke just makes me even happier Masai showed the balls to go all-in when the chance was there, not trading for Lowry absolutely cost the Sixers the Finals, they would have beat the Hawks in 5 or 6 with Lowry.

[octothorp]

Simmons just annoys me so much. I can't think of another situation where you've got one star who cares so much about winning and success and clearly loves playing the game so much (Embiid) and another who just seems like he doesn't care at all. Usually I'd think that this is an opportunity for a team to buy low, give a guy a change of scenery and turn him into a useful asset to either keep or flip. But Simmons seems like maybe he's beyond 'change of scenery' level fixes.

The trade I've seen suggested that makes some sense to me is McCollum for Simmons. Simmons could do better alongside a major-gravity shotmaker like Lillard plus an elite slasher like Powell, while massively upgrading Portland's defense.

If I was developing an offensive system around Simmons (as he is now, not hoping that he'd become a shooter), I'd develop him as a roll-man in pick-and-roll schemes, taking advantage of his finishing ability or dropping into open space and immediately making the extra pass. He's had some success with that role in Philly (particularly last year with Richardson as the ball-handler), but Rivers hasn't really tried that much this year from what I've seen. Lillard would be an ideal PG to pair him with on that type of play.

[The Big Chill]

It’s got to just be a mental block for Simmons. His form doesn’t look all that bad, he really should be a better shooter then his numbers show.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Simmons for McCollum I guess works as a change of scenery/desperation trade, but from the Blazers perspective it doesn't change their fundamental postseason problem of relying too much on Dame. And Simmons on a max is horrifying if he doesn't at least get more aggressive on offense, even if it's just trying to make runners/floaters/layups/dunks. I'm really gonna be interested to see what the Simmons market ends up being, if his contract were a rookie deal I'd imagine there's be tons of teams willing to take a flier on a talented guy. But his contract is as bad as it gets right now so can't see too many teams being in, or perhaps more to the point I can't see teams willing to trade anything other than likewise bad contracts.

[Mathgod]

Lebron out, Sixers out. The table was set for the Nets. Injury bug denies KD a title yet again...

[corporatejay]

KD has two titles bro.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Simmons for McCollum I guess works as a change of scenery/desperation trade, but from the Blazers perspective it doesn't change their fundamental postseason problem of relying too much on Dame. And Simmons on a max is horrifying if he doesn't at least get more aggressive on offense, even if it's just trying to make runners/floaters/layups/dunks. I'm really gonna be interested to see what the Simmons market ends up being, if his contract were a rookie deal I'd imagine there's be tons of teams willing to take a flier on a talented guy. But his contract is as bad as it gets right now so can't see too many teams being in, or perhaps more to the point I can't see teams willing to trade anything other than likewise bad contracts.

That's crazy. Simmons is very talented. Many teams, especially ones that have a hard time attracting top free agents will be looking to acquire Simmons.