2013-2014 NBA season thread

[Senator Clay Davis]

The Celtics were the team that tanked that year. There's a difference between not trying at all and injuries. The Spurs didn't embrace a culture of losing like teams that truly tank do, like the Oilers. The Spurs have also never picked inside the top 20 since drafting Duncan, yet they acquired Ginobli, Parker, Spliter and Leonard at the draft, signed Danny Green, Diaw and Patty Mills when absolutely anyone else could have. Without a doubt they are the model sports franchise in the world really.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by 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?

I think the real problem people had with it was that it was player orchestrated. All 3 planned to go to FA, teams were bending over to make room for them, and then the players decided where to go. I'm not saying it's wrong, but it's relatively unusual. And I think that contributed to the backlash and ill will.

Or maybe not. It's just a theory.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

I'm not saying it's wrong, but it's relatively unusual. And I think that contributed to the backlash and ill will.

You are right but most people hated the Heat because they fear their team cannot compete. If 3 no name players orchestrated that deal, nobody will bat an eye on them.

But people fear the Miami Big 3, fear that they were going to win the championship every year and their own team cannot compete.

I don't think these moral high ground argument is valid. If Lebron and Bosh took paycut to join the Spurs and Duncan, were the Spurs fans going to tell the team not to do it because it's amoral?

And why was it wrong for Lebron and Bosh deciding to play with Wade, or Duncan or whoever they wanted to play with? It wasn't wrong but people fear them and so came the hatre.

[ForeverFlameFan]

There is nothing wrong with what Lebron is doing. He originally played in Cleveland in hopes to win a championship with them, was very close, but didn't manage to get one with them. The Cavs weren't going anywhere, so he joined forces with the Heat in hoping to win a few championships. Managed to pull off two, and while he was gone, Cleveland managed to to rebuild and get some good draft picks. Lebron is back, and with the newly acquired players Cleveland has, they should be a contending team. I see nothing wrong with this.

[darklord700]

The Heat now got Deng and Bosh with Wade slatted to be signed. They actually put together a decent team to compete in the East.

[Hockey_Ninja]

I just saw Bosh's new contract...just...lol....

[octothorp]

Yeah, Bosh is, IMO, the big winner so far in free agency. Went from Riley wanting him to take an $80m/5y deal, to getting a $118m/5y deal. That's a nearly $40 million swing. And he gets to stay in the city he loves (where he already has one of the most expensive mansions of any NBA player), and he's now the #1 option on a team that has no choice but to try and build a winner around him over the next few years, and he stays in the east where there are fewer punishing opposing Cs.

That said, that roster has a lot of problems, especially in the frontcourt. McRoberts and Bosh together don't make a lot of sense, at least not unless you're using them both as floor-spacers for a punishing big SF (like James). James' versatility was what made that roster work, and I don't see the pieces they're left with (or have acquired thus far) really work together. They're probably still a top 4 team in the east, but I think they'll dominate weak teams and really struggle against good teams.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I got the Cavs, Pacers, Raptors and Wizards all ahead of Miami. Miami needs Wade to reboot to around 2010 levels, which seems unlikely given that he needed 30 games off last year for rest, and now he'll be seeing the double teams LeBron used to while being expected to up his workload. Could see him suffering a serious knee injury.

[bluejays]

I don't think the Raps or Wiz are ahead of Miami yet. They still have some solid players - Allen, Anderson, Lewis, Battier, Haslem. Generally when a team is forced to rely less on one player, the other players tend to get more touches and play better. The Raps are a prime example of that this past season. While the team will not be as close to as good as last year, they are still a threat in the weak, weak East.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by fleury

I don't think the Raps or Wiz are ahead of Miami yet. They still have some solid players - Allen, Anderson, Lewis, Battier, Haslem. Generally when a team is forced to rely less on one player, the other players tend to get more touches and play better. The Raps are a prime example of that this past season. While the team will not be as close to as good as last year, they are still a threat in the weak, weak East.

I don't think I'd take any of those guys over Raptors bench players (Vasquez, Patterson, Williams, Hayes) let alone the starters. Miami is on a downward slide. There was a reason Raps got anywhere with Bosh, now he's older and a worse player than before.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by fleury

I don't think the Raps or Wiz are ahead of Miami yet. They still have some solid players - Allen, Anderson, Lewis, Battier, Haslem. Generally when a team is forced to rely less on one player, the other players tend to get more touches and play better. The Raps are a prime example of that this past season. While the team will not be as close to as good as last year, they are still a threat in the weak, weak East.

No Battier, he retired. Sounds like a good chance there's no Allen either; may retire or go to Cleveland.

[t0rrent98]

Found my Cavs hat, maybe I'll jumb on the bandwagon and cheer for them again now that LBJ is on the team.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The Raptors and Wizards have the two things that are Miami's biggest weakness: Size inside and high level point guard play. Miami still has 3 backup PGs on their team and one gets to be starter by default, and in Bosh and McRoberts they have two PFs who average less than 6.5 rebounds. The Raps and Wizards just matchup very well with Miami so that's why I have them ahead.

[darklord700]

Lebron masked a lot of weaknesses the Heat had. If you think the Heat's rebounding was weak, next year will be even worse. The drop off from Lebron to Deng is huge and will show next year.

[darklord700]

Wade signed with the Heat for 2 years, 34M. He lost about 8M by opting out. I don't admire him as a player anymore but he has done his part to lure Lebron to stay. That's very admirable.

[darklord700]

Lance Stephenson signed with the Hornets for 9M a year. The Pacers are in a decline next year so the East is wide open. I wouldn't past the Cavs winning the East with Lebron and Irving. The Bulls will also be good in the East with the Gasol addition and if Rose comes back healthy.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by darklord700

Wade signed with the Heat for 2 years, 34M. He lost about 8M by opting out. I don't admire him as a player anymore but he has done his part to lure Lebron to stay. That's very admirable.

May or may not be admirable, I just don't know. He knew the chances he was taking by opting out. I'm sure he didn't mind losing $8M in order to not be a scapegoat to fans when things inevitably go awry with his injuries. "Hey, I took a paycut, you can't treat me like that!"

[Senator Clay Davis]

Sounds like Cleveland is trying to get the last few pieces (namely expiring contracts) they need to get Kevin Love. Wiggins and Bennett would be off to Minnesota with picks and expiring contracts, Love and other parts back to the Cavs. The nice thing about Wiggins in Minneosta is they'll be going nowhere for years so when he gets to Kevin Love's age he can demand a trade only to the Raptors.

[darklord700]

Minny should do this deal. Getting 2 No. 1 picks and a 1st rounder for Love who's going to leave next year is a steal.

[nik-]

Cleveland would be stupid to do that deal. Love has Minnesota over a barrel. Why give that much?