NBA Season 2017/18

Bovidae

Unfortunately the problem is that although Adams says he wants to play for the Tall Blacks at the Olympics/World Champs, they need him to play in order to qualify for these tournaments.

mikedogz

Did Seam Marks use to play these qualification tournaments? I only recall him playing at Sydney and the world champs.

canefan

@mikedogz said in NBA Season 2017/18:

Did Seam Marks use to play these qualification tournaments? I only recall him playing at Sydney and the world champs.

I don't remember him playing all the time, but then again my memory is not what it used to be

Bovidae

There is only one Oceania direct Olympic Games qualifier now so that means NZ needs to beat Aust. They failed to qualify for Rio through the wild card qualifying tournament.

These games are for qualifying for the 2019 FIBA World Cup. 7 countries will qualify from the Asia/Oceania region with the 2nd round from Sept-Feb, which will clash with the NBA season.

canefan

ESPN is reporting that Kawhi Leonard intends to ask for a trade and the Lakers will be one of his preferred destinations...

mariner4life

MOTHERFUCKER!!!!!!!!!!!!

canefan

@mariner4life said in NBA Season 2017/18:

MOTHERFUCKER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leonard comes, LBJ comes coz he can build a team to rival GS, CP3 or PG come.....

barbarian

Kawhi doesn't have nearly as much power as Lebron or PG. He's still got a year to go on his deal, so he can request a trade anywhere he wants, but it doesn't mean the Spurs have to do anything.

They should certainly move him, but should sell him off to the highest bidder. Boston looks the most attractive partner, but there are plenty of other suitors that could make a move.

I reckon he'd fit beautifully on the 76ers, for what it's worth...

canefan

@barbarian said in NBA Season 2017/18:

Kawhi doesn't have nearly as much power as Lebron or PG. He's still got a year to go on his deal, so he can request a trade anywhere he wants, but it doesn't mean the Spurs have to do anything.

They should certainly move him, but should sell him off to the highest bidder. Boston looks the most attractive partner, but there are plenty of other suitors that could make a move.

I reckon he'd fit beautifully on the 76ers, for what it's worth...

If they trade him to a team that he doesn't want to they will run the risk of him leaving for nothing after a year. If he names a destination it will scare off potential suitors. It may not happen, the Spurs might be able to turn him around.

It sounds serious, he feels betrayed by the Spurs over his injury and the money he's leaving on the table is irrelevant

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23803570/kawhi-leonard-wants-san-antonio-spurs

SA may have to begrudgingly deal with LA. Knowing they can never get full value, I could see Kuzma and Ingram being the cornerstones of a trade package. Kawhi and Bron have been texting, LA will field a starting 5 anchored by Leonard, Bron, PG, pass first Lonzo Ball, and a mid level vet. Looks great on paper but where is the 3 point shooting coming from?

ACT Crusader

@canefan said in NBA Season 2017/18:

@barbarian said in NBA Season 2017/18:

Kawhi doesn't have nearly as much power as Lebron or PG. He's still got a year to go on his deal, so he can request a trade anywhere he wants, but it doesn't mean the Spurs have to do anything.

They should certainly move him, but should sell him off to the highest bidder. Boston looks the most attractive partner, but there are plenty of other suitors that could make a move.

I reckon he'd fit beautifully on the 76ers, for what it's worth...

If they trade him to a team that he doesn't want to they will run the risk of him leaving for nothing after a year. If he names a destination it will scare off potential suitors. It may not happen, the Spurs might be able to turn him around.

It sounds serious, he feels betrayed by the Spurs over his injury and the money he's leaving on the table is irrelevant

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23803570/kawhi-leonard-wants-san-antonio-spurs

SA may have to begrudgingly deal with LA. Knowing they can never get full value, I could see Kuzma and Ingram being the cornerstones of a trade package. Kawhi and Bron have been texting, LA will field a starting 5 anchored by Leonard, Bron, PG, pass first Lonzo Ball, and a mid level vet. Looks great on paper but where is the 3 point shooting coming from?

Both Leonard and Lebron are much improved 3pt shooters. PG has some of the longest range in the NBA. Steaky no doubt, but he’s a genuine threat.

What is key is a small ball lineup that will trouble Rockets and Warriors.

Whilst all three are small forwards, they are all versatile on both ends.

Bovidae

NBA Awards

Rookie of the Year: Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers)
MVP: James Harden (Houston Rockets)
Coach of the Year: Dwane Casey (Toronto Raptors) - but fired
Sixth Man Award: Lou Williams (LA Clippers)
Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)
Most Improved Player: Victor Oladipo (Indiana Pacers)

raznomore

I thought AD would get DPOY

Shame both Mitchell and Simmons couldn't have won ROTY but then you'd have to start doing that for other awards when its too close to call.

TeWaio

I thought LBJ should be MVP over Harden.

Also I hate that they announce them after the finals, rather than in the first week of the playoffs. Massively decreases the care factor.

canefan

@tewaio said in NBA Season 2017/18:

I thought LBJ should be MVP over Harden.

Also I hate that they announce them after the finals, rather than in the first week of the playoffs. Massively decreases the care factor.

They are regular season awards. They should present them to the winners at the end of the regular season

ACT Crusader

@tewaio said in NBA Season 2017/18:

I thought LBJ should be MVP over Harden.

Also I hate that they announce them after the finals, rather than in the first week of the playoffs. Massively decreases the care factor.

A classic case of trying to stretch it out and maximise publicity.

Plus they have made it more of an ‘occasion’ that is televised, fashion, fanfare, media etc.

The MVP used to be awarded during the playoffs before a game that the MVP would play.

Magpie_in_aus

raznomore

@magpie_in_aus The problem with these types of comparisons is that the numbers only tell part of the story.

Harden's team won 15 more games in the regular season and in the much tougher Western division. He had to share point scoring with Chris Paul, Clint Capella, Gerald Green and Eric Gordon.

Lebron only has one consistent scorer to contend with, Kevin Love, and he was only available for 45 games. So he was doing it all for his team but won only 50 games in the regular season.

If it was all about stats and nothing else then Westbrook was the MVP, he got more rebounds, more assists and scored 2000+ points in 80 games with another bona fide scorer on his team in Paul George.

But it's not just about stats. Harden's team were the front runners almost all season and he is the main reason why.

What skews everyone's view is the time frame of this award. Its been fucking ages since the last game of the finals. If they'd awarded this at the conclusion of the regular season, silly stat graphics like this wouldn't be a thing.

Magpie_in_aus

Nope....stats > Logic on the fern unfortunately therefore Lebron got robbed.

Magpie_in_aus

Agree 100% though

raznomore

So Paul George has opted out of his final season with the OKC under his current contract in favour of unrestricted free agency. He can still end up playing for the Thunder but it will be on a max contract. Somewhere in the area of $45m per season. The last year of this contract was $21m.

If the Lakers want him they will have to pay through the nose which would mean Kawhi Leonard is their only other real target. Based on the fact they have today made public an offer to trade Ingram, Kuzma and couple draft picks tot he Spurs to get Leonard to the Lakers. So if they take George absolutely no way is Lebron going to the Lakers. Not on a max contract anyway.

The Silver Fern

NBA Season 2017/18