[Repo]

[LedZep]

Now this is all still in the realm of conspiracy theories, more or less. I try not to accept these rumors as a truth, but I do find the story more realistic than Nico Harrison suddenly having a brain fart and trading Luka to his friend Pelinka for peanuts.

A significant amount of Mavs fans online think that Adelson and Dumont families (casino/real estate owners and very shady people in general) acquired the franchise with a specific goal. And that is to build casinos, hotels and other real estate near the arena. Mavs profits are nothing compared to the multi-billion dollar projects like these. There are 2 ways to do this: either move to Vegas or try to legalize gambling in Texas. They've been "investing" (i.e. corruption and lobbying) significant resources into Texas politicians to pass the gambling law, but it has not yet happened. Plan B is to go the Buffalo Braves (today's Clippers) route. Cut the costs (like Luka's supermax contract), tank the franchise, trade the stars, raise ticket prices, do anything to alienate the fans - and then ask Adam Silver for a permission to move the franchise to Vegas. Meanwhile, the NBA has no reason to veto Luka's trade to LA. The biggest star in the biggest market is always a financial plus for the league.

Some people claim that Adam Silver is in on the deal. Some claim that Nico Harrison is just a pawn and he actually has nothing against Doncic, but was forced to make a trade. Not sure what to believe at this point. I don't lkke conspiracy theories, but some of these things have already been proven (lobbying, they've announced higher ticket prices for the next season...) Only time will tell.


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2020s

[Repo]

[Repo]

[CA Dreamin]

1st round predictions (bear in mind I don't follow this as closely as NFL and MLB):

Cavs over Heat in 4 - But I do know about the Butler trade. So Herro and Bam got still them to a bottom-feeder playoff seed. Cavs will wipe them out.

Celtics over Magic in 4 - The defending champs are too well-rounded. Total mismatch. The Florida teams won't win a single game.

Knicks over Pistons in 6 - I can't name a single player for Detroit. Weren't they the worst team in the NBA last year? Quite the one-year turnaround, but farfetched to think they'd beat the more-seasoned Knicks.

Bucks over Pistons in 6 - Star power usually has the upper hand in the playoffs. This could go either way, though.

Thunder over Grizzlies in 4 - Next question

Warriors over Rockets in 6 - Butler seems to fit in well. The Warriors' stars may be 35+ but that experience should get them through the first round.

Lakers over Timberwolves in 6 - Similarly, Doncic seems to be fitting in well with his new team (what the hell was that trade about?).

Clippers over Nuggets in 7 - If we're looking at momentum, it's gotta be the Clippers. They're getting healthy and peaking at the right time. On the other side, the Nuggets were such a mess, they fired their coach and GM a week ago. So their new head coach has no experience. But...they have Jokic. This could go either way.

[AfterHours]

I think I turn these in late pretty much every year hahaha, but here goes...

WEST

OKC 4
Grizzlies 0

Nuggets 4
Clippers 3

Lakers 4
Timberwolves 2

Rockets 2
Warriors 4

EAST

Cavs 4
Heat 0

Bucks 4
Pacers 3

Knicks 4
Pistons 2

Celtics 4
Magic 0


2ND ROUND

WEST

OKC 4
Nuggets 3

Lakers 4
Warriors 3

EAST

Cavs 4
Bucks 2

Celtics 4
Knicks 1

CONF FINALS

WEST

OKC 4
Lakers 2

EAST

Cavs 3
Celtics 4

NBA FINALS

OKC 4
Celtics 3


NOTES:
My one hang up on OKC is their youth/inexperience. Otherwise, they should have passed their comeuppance last year, and have all the pieces now and *should* win the title. The Celtics too, seem inevitable (perhaps the most complete team for the 2nd year in a row -- them or OKC) even while the Cavs are really, really good and even when Giannis, healthy for the love of God, could always go nuclear and will the Bucs to a title with Lillard also getting hot? Really doubt it this year, plus the Pacers are pretty formidable... However, with the Celtics, Jaylen Brown's injury gives me pause and the question of whether they have a leader strong enough (like the ultimate with, say, a Michael Jordan) to keep them hungry enough to persist through everything another year? Not sure if I see that despite how loaded they are for another run. I almost picked them but OKC it is even though they're probably a couple years earlier than one would expect with their youth...

In the back of my mind I also harbor a sneaky suspicion about the Nuggets pulling a haymaker this year (and going all the way, middle fingers in the air), assuming Murray doesn't get hurt or something (risky bet). Can Jokic, one of the greatest players we've ever seen, lose a 7 game series when his key pieces are still there (including a healthy Murray)? Yes, they lack ideal depth, but this is somewhat less important in the playoffs (shorter rotation, usually more minutes to your best players) especially where your best players are all relatively young (like the Nuggets). I give the edge to OKC to edge past them with their ridiculous depth and defensive intensity and diversity, but while SGA will win the MVP there is still no doubt that Jokic's overall impact is just overwhelming and he can beat any team even with less at his side to help him than any superstar looking across at him -- sort of like Jordan winning 6 titles with only 4 other all stars appearances those 6 years (each Pippen); the ultimate example being a 35 year old Jordan carrying them to the best record in the league and the '98 title with a hyper-distracted Rodman, Pippen out half the year and relegated to a broken down decoy in the last couple games of the Finals, then having to muster 45 points in game 6 despite total exhaustion; a sheer act of will and competitive drive (and taking over and dominating the action without fear of failing) that Lebron -- btw -- as great as he is and for as long as he has been just doesn't quite have to the same unflinching, courageous degree. Plus -- back to the Nuggets now -- isn't the Nuggets inexperienced coach bound to screw up just enough to lose a close game? I don't know but there are enough question marks that I can't quite pull the Nugget's trigger this year, even if it's tempting and Jokic going full Prime-combo of Bill Walton-Ardvydas Sabonis-Larry Bird all the way to the title would be awesome to see (especially because he "plays the right way" and both the pinnacle of this era of basketball (at least offensively) and is also the counter argument to the overload of superstars that are hard to truly love these days with the way they act and some of their penchant for forming stacked teams as their only MO towards contention or they overly exert the player empowerment movement, don't honor contracts, or whatever... I'm probably playing it too safe with picking OKC but the stats, the odds, and the eye test says they're probably your NBA champs this year (their defensive intensity, reminiscent of the 96 Bulls, is what separates them so as long as they avoid inexperienced mistakes and stick to who they already are, probably only a Jokic led Nuggets team firing on all cylinders or the Celtics can realistically beat them. Luka and Lebron having an epic series would have a shot, but at this stage of Lebron's career, despite how impressive he still can be, it's probably too much to ask (and they have far less room for error than a loaded OKC).
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[AfterHours]

Was thinking about how incredible Jokic is and how he is the antidote to the "super team" and "player empowerment" era (thanks Lebron, thanks KD). In that he is truly capable of lifting a team to the championship despite not having another all star (even if Murray probably needs to play all star caliber offense for them to have a realistic shot).

And this got me thinking as a point of comparison: do we not appreciate Jordan's 1998 (6th and final) title enough?

Obviously its final sequence is iconic so I don't mean that, but...

Do people realize that Pippen missed half the season, Rodman was a distracted mess (though still very effective when focused), and Jordan -- 35 years old -- carried them to the best record and a top defense anyway?

Do people remember that in the Finals Pippen was a shell of himself, injured and was relegated to decoy in the last couple games. Jordan, again 35 years old, mentally and physically exhausted (including having to get through the exhausting 7 game series with the Pacers before that), scores 45 points, controls the pace of the game (keeps it slow even when the pace changes, dominates possessions, knows when to foul hunt, knows how to move the defense to open up opportunities...), then the final three possessions: quick drive to the basket for a score to get them within 1 (and did it fast enough to have two possessions available so they didn't have to foul Utah), then steals the ball from Malone, then keeps the ball and hits the winning shot.

Do people realize that the Pacers that they faced in the conference finals were actually stacked and should've (on paper) won the title that year? You sort of had to be there to realize how much depth they had (simply because second tier players tend to be forgotten to history), but it would be the near equivalent to how loaded OKC is today (not exaggerating). Besides Reggie Miller (who was ahead of his time and would be one of the top players in today's league due to his skill set), Mark Jackson, the Davis brothers, Jalen Rose, Smits, Travis Best, Chris Mullin, McKey -- these were all players in a balanced rotation that could've started on most teams (or with Mullin, a star, one of the best shooters all time now as a role player) and would've had better stats on a less loaded roster. They were built to beat the Bulls and were better across their roster than the Bulls that year, and yet that game 7, Jordan, Pippen, Kukoc willed the Bulls to victory, coming back bit by grueling bit in an exhausting, defensive slug fest.

Anyway, I recently saw some commentary about how Jordan never won without Pippen or some shit as if he wasn't the obvious dominant reason for the Bulls championship success anyway (even though Pippen was very good, one of the best defensive players and one of the most ideal teammates all time, he was somewhat limited offensively especially without space and has become a little overrated). Or how he never had to will them to a title like Lebron has (and other BS like this). 1998 is one of the most impressive titles ever by anyone, all things considered including the attrition of being their 3rd in a row and the oldest team in the league. Only Hakeem's and Dirk's might be more impressive to me.

I'm also curious if people who claim Lebron is better, if they realize how much "offense" Jordan is also creating with his "off-ball" offense (him moving around the court, battling for position, cutting, when he doesn't have the ball). How much is that bending the defense and creating opportunities? A lot. The gravity of Jordan and the distraction he was as such a dominant force is an unwritten piece of his greatness. The only players these days that pose such a threat (though differently) are maybe apex Curry and Jokic. Lebron, even though great and certainly on a short list of greatest players, for all his strenghts and all around game has a major weakness in not being a great player off-ball. On top of that Jordan was probably the best ISO player of all time. But his tireless "off ball" offense is another huge reason why he was such a winning player, that often gets overlooked in comparing when people just try and break it down to his stats when he had the ball. Applies to Kobe too, especially worthy of attention from those who just claim he was "inefficient" but don't understand that a big part of his 5 titles was his tireless off ball offense and all the defensive attention that also drew. This also allows his teammates to play their games instead of him always needing the ball to create offense and those same teammates not having the ball and being thrown off their games -- sounds counter-intuitive with the "just a ball hog" sort of propaganda you sometimes find around Kobe but it's actually true: statistically his teammates tended to get either better with him or didn't lose a thing, contrary to what occurs with many of Lebron's who gets far more credit than these two for supposedly "always making his teammates better".
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[LedZep]

My bracket from the other day:

West
OKC 4:0 Grizzlies
Rockets 2:4 Warriors
Lakers 3:4 T'wolves
Nuggets 3:4 Clippers

OKC 4:2 Clippers
T'wolves 2:4 Warriors

OKC 4:1 Warriors

East
Cavs 4:1 Heat
Celtics 4:0 Magic
Knicks 4:2 Pistons
Pacers 4:2 Bucks

Cavs 4:1 Pacers
Celtics 4:1 Knicks

Cavs 2:4 Celtics


OKC 4:2 Celtics


Looking ok so far except for the Nuggets-Clippers. That should be the best 1st round series in recent memory. Clippers may be the team I'm rooting for this year, although I'm very much in love with the Rockets playstyle. They're stuck in 2001 and I'm here for it. Unfortunately, the Bucks team is so bad that I don't even enjoy watching them anymore, even with Giannis still being one of my fave players. In the East, Cavs are playing the most exciting basketball, but the Celtics should still win the conference. I can see a possible upset there, but it's gonna a lot of luck and good shooting from the Cavs to beat the champs. Ofc, injuries can change any matchup, especially in the West.

Interesting analysis AfterHours!
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2020s

[Repo]

I really don't care about all the messy details. I just know MY CELTICS are going to repeat! 😈

BLEED GREEN, BABY!!! \m/

edit: Ok. I can't resist saying why...

1. We brought fricken' EVERYONE back! That kind of continuity is golden and rare after a championship.
2. As an entire team, we are far, far, FAR more experienced than either OKC or the Cavs. Jaylen & Jayson have been the Eastern Conference Final FIVE times already, but it feels like it's been longer than even that. Experience is everything in the playoffs. You gotta get your heart ripped out a few times first (UNLESS you're the 2008 Celtics. They got heir hearts ripped out (& mine! 🤬 ) two years later in 2010. )
3. Jaylen and Jayson BOTH have pretty good reasons after last summer to still be awfully HUNGRY! 😈

edit2: I think I'm most geeked out rn about watching the Clippers vs. Nuggets series. Already looks like it might be epic. I have no idea who's going to take it.

[AfterHours]

Thanks LedZep and good pics!

So, Repo, you’re picking the Lakers then? 🤣

Speaking of 1998 Jordan, how about Kawhi mutha f-ing Leonard last night???

If he plays like that the whole league is in trouble and they really could go all the way… When he is healthy (which is obviously very hit and miss for years now and the main reason I don’t pick them to do much any more…) and in form plus playing at least half of the defense he used to, he may be the 2nd best player in the NBA behind only Jokic. The throwback almost makes me want to root for them to take it all the way… iffffffff only Harden wasn’t alongside him …one of the few great talents in the NBA that I just don’t want to win, because I actually don’t want him to become more influential than he already has been which has already gone too far: his attitude towards teams is the epitome of what’s wrong with the NBA today, his forceful coercion to super teams (I respected him a little more in Houston before he gave up and how he handled it), his relatively “cheap” play style (his step back move is a travel by any stretch of the imagination and it’s annoying that the league lets it go and claims it isn’t), his lack of effort on defense (and especially his attitude about it, as if he is “too good for it”)… obviously he is very talented and what I do like most about him is his passing ability when he is being more of a point guard, but he is just hard to truly like and respect as much as a player of his caliber should be… Kawhi on the other hand, despite his frustrating injury history and load management, like him a lot as a player when he is healthy and on the court (even if I’m not a fan of how he went to the Clips and the super team collusion with PG and trying to stack the deck… would’ve liked to see him stick with Toronto or even SA before that…)
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