2014-2015 NBA regular season thread.

[Al Bundy]

I will update this when the schedule is announced in a couple of weeks, but I will open with the new uniforms for the Charlotte Hornets below.

Introducing the brand new Charlotte #HornetsUnis! http://t.co/MgHy2DcOTX pic.twitter.com/w59MlUvRgd

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) June 19, 2014

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by KevB

Maybe, maybe not. Agreed there are few teams that could beat that offer, but just takes one. If Chicago decides to throw a Gibson/Mirotic/#1 pick at Minny, I'd probably take that instead. At least it would be comparable.

That is assuming love agrees to an extension. If he doesn't, I guarantee those deals get take off the table. And can't help but feel the cold market has a lot do with love being very selective.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

I get the sense that many haven't seen enough of Kevin Love. Saw somebody on a basketball forum say he was "basically David Lee" the other day. Just hilarious.

Probably where the "he's just focused on putting up big stats" concept has come from. Guess it's easy to compile a 27 PER if you just stat whore on an underachieving team.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by KevB

And with the season on the line, Connor Frankamp was the go to player instead of the #1 pick in the draft. Not sure there's ever been a superstar in the NBA that wasn't the guy getting the important shots at the end of their college season (I'm sure there are examples, but not many).

It's the nature of the NCAA tournament, but I find people put too much meaning into that one game. Wiggins more than showed his potential as a primary option in other games throughout the season. I don't know if/when he'll reach it, but it's there. Getting out of Self's rather restrictive offense should also help his development.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Miles

Probably where the "he's just focused on putting up big stats" concept has come from. Guess it's easy to compile a 27 PER if you just stat whore on an underachieving team.

There was once a time when people said Garnett wasn't a winning player either because his bad TWolves team lost like 8 first rounds in a row. It's silly. Kevin Love isn't as good as prime KG obviously, but he's an incredible talent that many don't get to see very often. One of the best players in the league for sure.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

The cavs have a ton of shooters right now.

No, they have players whose best offensive skill trait is shooting. But they're hardly consistent or good shooters.

I can see a situation forming in the playoffs in the event that the Cavs stay away from Love. Lebron's doing his best to run the offense by himself because everybody freezes up and can't find their own dicks, much less the ****ing basketball hoop. It happened to Lebron when Moe Williams went cold and Delonte West would go cold. There was nothing that could be done.

Kyrie is still getting better as a shooter and might be that guy. But contrary to what RustShack says, the Cavs don't have anybody else who's a consistent shooter. Dion Waiters is still unproven as ****. They have nobody else but Lebron and maybe Irving and a small chance that Waiters could do it.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Miles

Probably where the "he's just focused on putting up big stats" concept has come from. Guess it's easy to compile a 27 PER if you just stat whore on an underachieving team.

I mean, what the **** is Kevin Love supposed to do when your coach is the biggest lunkhead ever to be offered a head coaching job in Kurt ****ing Rambis, and the 2nd best offensive threat on your team is a rotation of Luke Ridnour, Michael Beasley, and Anthony Randolph? Not score with the basketball? Is he supposed to trust Darko Milicic to get those putbacks?

He was probably a stat whore because until Nikola Pekovic started finding his stride, that's all he ****ing had was himself.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by SNR

Kyrie is still getting better as a shooter and might be that guy. But contrary to what RustShack says, the Cavs don't have anybody else who's a consistent shooter. Dion Waiters is still unproven as ****. They have nobody else but Lebron and maybe Irving and a small chance that Waiters could do it.

Statistically Kyrie has gotten a little worse as a shooter each year in the league. The best you can say of Waiters is he was solid enough the second half of the season in general and shooting percentages and hope that continues. The hope would also be that with Lebron there his attitude would improve and help his game but early news makes him sound as bitchy as usual.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by SNR

No, they have players whose best offensive skill trait is shooting. But they're hardly consistent or good shooters.

I can see a situation forming in the playoffs in the event that the Cavs stay away from Love. Lebron's doing his best to run the offense by himself because everybody freezes up and can't find their own dicks, much less the ****ing basketball hoop. It happened to Lebron when Moe Williams went cold and Delonte West would go cold. There was nothing that could be done.

Kyrie is still getting better as a shooter and might be that guy. But contrary to what RustShack says, the Cavs don't have anybody else who's a consistent shooter. Dion Waiters is still unproven as ****. They have nobody else but Lebron and maybe Irving and a small chance that Waiters could do it.

Kylie can shoot. Don't let Mike Browns offense fool you. Waiters has improved significantly as an outside shooter. LeBron is a solid shooter. And you have James Jones and Mike Miller any time you need a shooter. Even though many dismiss Bennett, they don't know what they have in him. But he also offers ability to be a stretch four. He was a solid three point shooter in college.

Keep in mind these guys have had to create their own shots last year in Mike Browns ridiculous offense. They will have opportunities to be pick and pop shooters on open looks.

Now let's do this exercise for who can defend the paint. Varejao who hasn't played fifty games in umpteen years. Tristan Thompson who is a good paint defender at power forward and very average at Center. Haywood maybe as a one year rental.

[Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by KevB

Love is a better shooter/scorer, better rebounder and better passer. Besides that, they're identical.

Especially since Lee's mid range went completely away.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Kylie can shoot. Don't let Mike Browns offense fool you. Waiters has improved significantly as an outside shooter. LeBron is a solid shooter. And you have James Jones and Mike Miller any time you need a shooter. Even though many dismiss Bennett, they don't know what they have in him. But he also offers ability to be a stretch four. He was a solid three point shooter in college.

Keep in mind these guys have had to create their own shots last year in Mike Browns ridiculous offense. They will have opportunities to be pick and pop shooters on open looks.

Now let's do this exercise for who can defend the paint. Varejao who hasn't played fifty games in umpteen years. Tristan Thompson who is a good paint defender at power forward and very average at Center. Haywood maybe as a one year rental.

So they need Andrew Wiggins?

That doesn't make any sense at all.

[KC_Connection]

LeBron's presence alone makes everyone on his team a significantly better shooter through his playmaking ability and the attention he draws.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by SNR

So they need Andrew Wiggins?

That doesn't make any sense at all.

I don't see Kyrie and Waiters ever getting along. A front four with love, LeBron, Waiters, Kyrie means lbj will do the majority of the work on defense. I think they will have trouble as is figuring out how to distribute touches let alone with love I the mix. Wiggins is a perfect fit because the ideal spot for him right now is a place where he can just play within a system. And I would much rather pair Wiggins with Kyrie and Waiters off the bench. Frankly, Waiters should be traded.

If you keep Wiggins, you keep the cap versatility to sign and trade a rim protector. I would much rather that then a guy like love who makes a living on the outside.

If the cavs want to go all in on winning with love in two years. Fine. I think that's total bullshit that people think they should make this trade because lbjs best years are coming to an end. Yeah, if you force him to play 40+ minutes a game because you have a big 3 and no one else can play defense, he will. If they build around a good young core, you can keep LeBron legs fresher and he can end his career as a facilitator when he loses some of his athleticism . He will be damn good at that.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I don't see Kyrie and Waiters ever getting along. A front four with love, LeBron, Waiters, Kyrie means lbj will do the majority of the work on defense. I think they will have trouble as is figuring out how to distribute touches let alone with love I the mix. Wiggins is a perfect fit because the ideal spot for him right now is a place where he can just play within a system. And I would much rather pair Wiggins with Kyrie and Waiters off the bench. Frankly, Waiters should be traded.

If you keep Wiggins, you keep the cap versatility to sign and trade a rim protector. I would much rather that then a guy like love who makes a living on the outside.

If the cavs want to go all in on winning with love in two years. Fine. I think that's total bullshit that people think they should make this trade because lbjs best years are coming to an end. Yeah, if you force him to play 40+ minutes a game because you have a big 3 and no one else can play defense, he will. If they build around a good young core, you can keep LeBron legs fresher and he can end his career as a facilitator when he loses some of his athleticism . He will be damn good at that.

And he doesn't have to play 40 minutes per game under the ideas I've been throwing out there.

Look, we're not going to agree on this, but one thing I'm trying to make you aware of is the value that Kevin Love has to this Cleveland team. When you say he "doesn't play the post" that's extremely misleading. He DOES play the post. He's just often overpowered or caught out of position by teams with especially huge and talented players up front like Memphis. And in case you're worried about some of the teams in the East, remember that he has had a lot of really good games against Chicago recently going up against Noah and Gibson.

The defense thing is a fair criticism, but again, it's not like he refuses to play defense or is incapable of refining that part of his game. Remember, he's been playing for a Rick Adelman team the past 3 seasons. It's easy for anybody to look like a huge pussy on defense. If Kyrie and Waiters get excuses for playing under Mike Brown, then Love should be granted the same excuse when it comes to his defense. If Blatt is as RustShack says he is, Kevin Love's defense isn't going to be a strong point, but it's not going to be what prevents the Cavs from winning championships, either. Especially when you consider what Love gives you.

Question, chiefzilla: If instead of Kevin Love, the trade was for Dirk Nowitzki circa the year the Mavs won the championship, would you take that? Assume that this version of Nowitzki is the same age as Love.

Love isn't far from that. He's not the ball handler that Dirk is/was, but he doesn't need to be- he's got Lebron and Kyrie. He's not just any stretch 4. He's the best one in the game.

[ohiobronco2]

If the Cavs are going to trade Wiggins to get Love, they might as well go all in and get Dieng as well. Gives them the rim protector they need at center. Personally, I'm willing to wait this out. Sorry T-Wolves fans, but I think the Cavs are currently bidding against themselves up to this point . If Minnesota is not happy with a deal of Waiters/Bennett and multiple 1st rounds picks (and I understand why they wouldn't be), then sit tight and see what happens, I don't think the Warriors are serious about including Thompson. I think the Wolves will get more desperate around the deadline and let him go for less. The Cavs and Wolves are playing one helluva game of chicken.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by ohiobronco2

If the Cavs are going to trade Wiggins to get Love, they might as well go all in and get Dieng as well. Gives them the rim protector they need at center. Personally, I'm willing to wait this out. Sorry T-Wolves fans, but I think the Cavs are currently bidding against themselves up to this point . If Minnesota is not happy with a deal of Waiters/Bennett and multiple 1st rounds picks (and I understand why they wouldn't be), then sit tight and see what happens, I don't think the Warriors are serious about including Thompson. I think the Wolves will get more desperate around the deadline and let him go for less. The Cavs and Wolves are playing one helluva game of chicken.

Dieng with Love?

Who are the Cavs going to trade to pull that off? Dieng would be a prime building chip for me if I'm Flip Saunders.

Dieng's value is far higher than Waiters, Thompson.