2013-2014 NBA season thread

[Imported_Aussie]

Originally Posted by OzSome

It is good for the city of Cleveland and the NBA that Lebron James is back with Cavaliers. I guess I can enjoy watching him play again. I guess part of the reason why I cannot stand him is because Miami practically bought the championship and just because he was playing with that egomaniac Chris Bosh. I am with other posters here to wish that Cleveland keeps the 3 Canadians on the team. I think Andrew Wiggins will complement Lebron James. If team wants to key on Lebron, Wiggins can do the job. I like that Tristan Thompson is improving a centre something that Miami missed in their championship series with San Antonio Spurs. Bosh was their centre but he played scared. Birdman is a hard worker but he was outplayed by Duncan. Thompson is young and improving and much quicker than Bosh or Birdman. Irving as a point guard is a lot better than Miami's PG combined. Then if Cleveland picks Love, he can definitely help.

Potential lineup : PG Irving, SG Wiggins, SF Lebron James, PF Kevin Love, C Tristan Thompson.

Thompson is 6'9, would only work as a centre in a small-ball lineup. For now, Varejao does the job, but they need a true centre to at least be capable of big minutes when the matchup is needed.

They also need cover at PG, which is why I could see them holding on to Waiters, who can cover the 12 mins at PG when Kyrie sits. Dellavedova is a good, hardworking Aussie guy, but I think he is the 4/5 G in rotation at best, a good 3pt shooter who will play defence.

If they don't get Love, I could see Waiters/Wiggins being the 6th man. if they do get Love, it will be Bennett + Wiggins, since I don't think Minnesota takes less than those 2 (+1st round pick) and I think Waiters, at least positionally, is more important right now. If they want to keep Wiggins, they need a 3rd team involved and need to move more future picks for assets that Minnesota wants

Now if the Cavs can land a capable PG in a deal or on a veteran minimum/biennial exception, then Waiters is moveable.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Miami has reportedly offered Bosh the 5 year max and he will apparently accept.

[JonDuke]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Miami has reportedly offered Bosh the 5 year max and he will apparently accept.

After getting rid of Lin, I'd imagine the Rockets will be pretty upset if that happens

Edit: he did indeed sign with the Heat:
http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miam...g-new-contract

Ouch for Houston

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by JonDuke

After getting rid of Lin, I'd imagine the Rockets will be pretty upset if that happens

Edit: he did indeed sign with the Heat:
http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miam...g-new-contract

Ouch for Houston

No big lost for the Rockets. They should be lucky they managed to stay away from that bum. If Bosh really thinks he is that good, then he'll have to show it without Lebron on that team.

[savemedrzaius]

How much money will James make for the Cavs? A lot.

http://www.fool.com/investing/genera...-millions.aspx

[Hockey_Ninja]

Still can't believe this happened.

[Senator Clay Davis]

With the Bulls closing in on Pau Gasol, it leaves Carmelo in an interesting spot. Houston is open all of a sudden and in terms of winning are a much better option than the Lakers or Knicks. Unfortunately Carmelo seems to care about his wife's "acting" career for whatever reason, so LA or NY are probably the only two choices here. Wade is likely to re-sign in Miami and they'll probably add Trevor Ariza or Luol Deng.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by savemedrzaius

How much money will James make for the Cavs? A lot.

http://www.fool.com/investing/genera...-millions.aspx

I think Lebron going back to Cleveland will boots the value of the Cavs more than if he had never left.

He can played with one leg and still be beloved by Cleveland fans from here on. The Return of the King is a far better story than the King who never left.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Still can't believe this happened.

I do. Once he opted out on his contract in Miami, i had a gut feeling that he will go back to Cleveland. Some think that I was out of it saying there is a 0% chance he will go back and why would he play for a small market team if he can make more money in endorsement somewhere else like New York for instance. Lebron going back to Cleveland will probably gain him some endorsement money. The essay that he wrote is a nice touch and I am sure some companies will try to cashed in and use some part of that essay to some extent.

I am not a Lebron hater and I am not really a big fan either. That show he made a few years ago when he became free agent left a bad taste for me. Then the fanfare with Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade after they all signed with Miami really ticked me off even more. I just hate teams that tries to buy championship that's why I despised Boston and Miami. I admire teams like San Antonio who build their championship through draft with Duncan, Ginobli and Parker. After that, the comparison between James and Michael Jordan really rattled me. For me, Jordan will always be the greatest player ever played in the NBA.

I guess now that James is back in Cleveland i might enjoy watching him play again.

[Read Only]

Is tanking for a championship, especially the way the Spurs did it, all that much more admirable than "buying" a championship?

[socalwingfan]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

With the Bulls closing in on Pau Gasol, it leaves Carmelo in an interesting spot. Houston is open all of a sudden and in terms of winning are a much better option than the Lakers or Knicks. Unfortunately Carmelo seems to care about his wife's "acting" career for whatever reason, so LA or NY are probably the only two choices here. Wade is likely to re-sign in Miami and they'll probably add Trevor Ariza or Luol Deng.

Lakers are out they have 0 cap space after yesterday's ridiculous signings. Guess Jim Buss never got the "Never go Full Oiler" memo. Melo is going to NY or Chicago - most likely NY as I don't think Chicago has the space to add him and Gasol

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Read Only

Is tanking for a championship, especially the way the Spurs did it, all that much more admirable than "buying" a championship?

24 + .500 seasons in the last 30 years. 26 playoff berths in 30 years. Never finished last in the league in those 30 years.

"Tanking".

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Read Only

Is tanking for a championship, especially the way the Spurs did it, all that much more admirable than "buying" a championship?

Yes. Absolutely.

[Read Only]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

24 + .500 seasons in the last 30 years. 26 playoff berths in 30 years. Never finished last in the league in those 30 years.

"Tanking".

They held a healthy David Robinsin out if the line up so they could finish lower. So yes tanking.

I have no problem with that but people acting like the Spurs are some sort if model organization that should be admired on how they built their team while whining about the Heat signing FA's are a little much.

[Finger Cookin]

Keeping a "healthy" player with a bad back and broken foot out of all but six games in one season definitely explains the 30 year record of excellence I posted. You sir, are a wizard of causality.

[Finger Cookin]

Remember when the Spurs tanked in OT of Game 6 of the 2013 NBA finals, all but guaranteeing their 2014 Championship? How disgraceful.

[Read Only]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Keeping a "healthy" player with a bad back and broken foot out of all but six games in one season definitely explains the 30 year record of excellence I posted. You sir, are a wizard of causality.

30 years?

What are you talking about?

And yes keeping Robinson out and getting Duncan certainly has contributed more than anything to their 18 years of excellence.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Read Only

30 years?

What are you talking about?

And yes keeping Robinson out and getting Duncan certainly has contributed more than anything to their 18 years of excellence.

He played 6 games that season!!! How is that tanking? Are you suggesting that team that had 62 wins the season before said "screw it, hold robinson out for 76 games, we're tanking so we *might* get Duncan (considering boston had a worse record and didn't win the lottery)".

They tanked because they lost two starters (Person and Robinson) for basically the whole year. They were going to be a bad team.

And yes, Duncan is a big reason they became a model franchise, but it's not like they tanked 10 years in a row and stock piled. The reason they have remained consistent is by adding guys like Parker and Ginobli.

[Read Only]

I am saying the team said let's keep Robinson out for longer than needed and take our draft pick and go to next season.

They didn't tank prior to season they tanked when they saw Robinson was injured to finish bottom 5 instead of bottom 10 like they could have by bringing Robinson back. No big deal and what I would say is the smart thing to do. It is also fairly common knowledge and has been talked about a lot so I am not really sure what the big deal is.

But as we have seen with the Flames/Oilers on the main board many people have problems with teams that throw in the towel and go for the low pick so I the context if admiration/class I wondered if some thought the Spurs method was all that much better than signing 2 FA's which is for some reason awful in some peoples view.

[darklord700]

Tanking or buying players are all just part of the game. Everyone does it so I wound't condemn one and praise the other. Was Reily supposed to say no to Lebron and Bosh signing with the Heat at a discount four years ago?

If the same thing happens to your team, would you tell the GM not to sign Lebron and Bosh, or Sidney Crosby and Malkin at a discount for fear of being accused of buying a championship?