With Doncic and Lebron teaming up and Butler joining Steph, these playoffs are going to be wildly unpredictable!
On a related note: If Steph wins yet another chip, what stratosphere does he enter in the Pantheon of the modern age of NBA? He'd have 5 rings - as many as Lebron - but with the same city!
Clippers are tough if healthy.
Clippers with healthy Kawhi, Beard, Zabac, and pieces parts
VDesai wrote:Clippers are tough if healthy.
Yeah, but they're still depending on playoff Harden. He had tendency to gas out in the post-season.
The way the west are bunched up and given the issues each team has had I say There are no "underdog" there.
Minny is healthy and would be my pick.
As for Steph the goat I think for Lebron Haters they like that. Curry is incredible but you need the right team and coach(s).
Lebron got to more finals then perhaps "deserved" given he was a force of nature and carried teams. Curry had the incredible good fortune to play with Durant for 3 seasons, and two more HOF's in Klay and Dray.
If He wins another ring, so does Dray. Do we say he is a GOAT? Bill Russell has 11 yet we say Jordan is it because he has 6.
Its lovely Steph has been with GSW his whole career. Maybe he takes Magic Johnsons spot as the PG goat?
Back on subject, this parity of teams out west is fascinating. I for one was suprised by how good OKC has been. Similarly how SAC missed the boat, and the starphuch Suns were way off base.
BigDaddyG wrote:VDesai wrote:Clippers are tough if healthy.
Yeah, but they're still depending on playoff Harden. He had tendency to gas out in the post-season.
Possibly as a first round matchup for OKC its really intriguing. One of the most playoff experienced team in the Clippers vs. a dominant, but still young OKC team. I don't necessarily think they bounce OKC, but that's a dangerous matchup.
As we stand the 5 to 8 seed in the West has the same exact record, and the 4 seed Denver only has 1 more win than this group and is tied in the loss column. Anything can happen with how these matchups shape out.
Still wild to me that PHO has 3 $50M dudes on their team and are 35-43 and a solid #11 seed.
Nalod wrote:The way the west are bunched up and given the issues each team has had I say There are no "underdog" there.
Minny is healthy and would be my pick.
As for Steph the goat I think for Lebron Haters they like that. Curry is incredible but you need the right team and coach(s).
Lebron got to more finals then perhaps "deserved" given he was a force of nature and carried teams. Curry had the incredible good fortune to play with Durant for 3 seasons, and two more HOF's in Klay and Dray.
If He wins another ring, so does Dray. Do we say he is a GOAT? Bill Russell has 11 yet we say Jordan is it because he has 6.
Its lovely Steph has been with GSW his whole career. Maybe he takes Magic Johnsons spot as the PG goat? Back on subject, this parity of teams out west is fascinating. I for one was suprised by how good OKC has been. Similarly how SAC missed the boat, and the starphuch Suns were way off base.
Is Dray the GOAT? What kind of strawman argument is this? Dude has been maybe the 3rd best on that team riding Curry's coattails. What is your point? Is Horace Grant the GOAT? Classic Nalod Obfuscation at its best.
Bill Russell played in a very different era. I consider the "Modern" era of basketball starting with Magic and Larry Bird. I clearly said "in the modern age".
I have no idea about Bill Russell. He played before I was born. Maybe he was the GOAT. I have no idea. Since you were around and watched him play, would you say he is GOAT?
Need to coin a new phrase for Draymond - been riding on Steph's "GOAT"tails
martin wrote:Still wild to me that PHO has 3 $50M dudes on their team and are 35-43 and a solid #11 seed.
This ratio of salary to wins is only replicable when Isiah is adjacent
The Timberwolves are better than their record.
They had to adjust to roster changes, and somebody working his way back from shoulder surgery.
They are clicking now.
Lakers are coming out of the West. I expect a full glazing by the refs.
Panos wrote:Nalod wrote:The way the west are bunched up and given the issues each team has had I say There are no "underdog" there.
Minny is healthy and would be my pick.
As for Steph the goat I think for Lebron Haters they like that. Curry is incredible but you need the right team and coach(s).
Lebron got to more finals then perhaps "deserved" given he was a force of nature and carried teams. Curry had the incredible good fortune to play with Durant for 3 seasons, and two more HOF's in Klay and Dray.
If He wins another ring, so does Dray. Do we say he is a GOAT? Bill Russell has 11 yet we say Jordan is it because he has 6.
Its lovely Steph has been with GSW his whole career. Maybe he takes Magic Johnsons spot as the PG goat? Back on subject, this parity of teams out west is fascinating. I for one was suprised by how good OKC has been. Similarly how SAC missed the boat, and the starphuch Suns were way off base.
Is Dray the GOAT? What kind of strawman argument is this? Dude has been maybe the 3rd best on that team riding Curry's coattails. What is your point? Is Horace Grant the GOAT? Classic Nalod Obfuscation at its best.
Bill Russell played in a very different era. I consider the "Modern" era of basketball starting with Magic and Larry Bird. I clearly said "in the modern age".
I have no idea about Bill Russell. He played before I was born. Maybe he was the GOAT. I have no idea. Since you were around and watched him play, would you say he is GOAT?
You make it like Curry wins titles by himself.
Dray and Play have as many as Curry. They don't win without him, and he don't with out them.
While we all quaking in our boots about Pistons Im not forgetting Orlando is 12-3 in division play and early on they were looking really good! I take it Suggs is done for the season but if they figure some back court things out they could be a problem for teams. Some of these play in teams have issues that get resolved. If so its not a cake walk.
Nalod wrote:Panos wrote:Nalod wrote:The way the west are bunched up and given the issues each team has had I say There are no "underdog" there.
Minny is healthy and would be my pick.
As for Steph the goat I think for Lebron Haters they like that. Curry is incredible but you need the right team and coach(s).
Lebron got to more finals then perhaps "deserved" given he was a force of nature and carried teams. Curry had the incredible good fortune to play with Durant for 3 seasons, and two more HOF's in Klay and Dray.
If He wins another ring, so does Dray. Do we say he is a GOAT? Bill Russell has 11 yet we say Jordan is it because he has 6.
Its lovely Steph has been with GSW his whole career. Maybe he takes Magic Johnsons spot as the PG goat? Back on subject, this parity of teams out west is fascinating. I for one was suprised by how good OKC has been. Similarly how SAC missed the boat, and the starphuch Suns were way off base.
Is Dray the GOAT? What kind of strawman argument is this? Dude has been maybe the 3rd best on that team riding Curry's coattails. What is your point? Is Horace Grant the GOAT? Classic Nalod Obfuscation at its best.
Bill Russell played in a very different era. I consider the "Modern" era of basketball starting with Magic and Larry Bird. I clearly said "in the modern age".
I have no idea about Bill Russell. He played before I was born. Maybe he was the GOAT. I have no idea. Since you were around and watched him play, would you say he is GOAT?
You make it like Curry wins titles by himself.
Dray and Play have as many as Curry. They don't win without him, and he don't with out them.
And Lebron won with DWade and Bosh and with Kyrie Irving. Jordan won with Pippen. I never said Curry won it alone. I fail to see your point. Somehow out of my post you asked if Dray was the GOAT. Carry on obfuscating.
my point was Draw won 4 rings and is not.
Horry has like 7 rings.
Curry is fucking amazing, but not just you, but fans do this "But he only won xx rings".
Its a team game.
sometimes great players are not on great teams but then get them closer.
Early Jordan got Bulls close but not thru Detroit until Phil came and he bought into the system.
That and the roster gelled.
Kobe similar and he might have gotten six if he was not so stubborn.
Curry got his 4, two also with Durant.
With Doncic and Lebron teaming up and Butler joining Steph, these playoffs are going to be wildly unpredictable!
On a related note: If Steph wins yet another chip, what stratosphere does he enter in the Pantheon of the modern age of NBA? He'd have 5 rings - as many as Lebron - but with the same city!
And Dray would have 5 also.
Personally I put him pretty darn close in this era with Lebron. That last title was really special in many ways.
Where Lebron gets the nod is the work he did getting early Cavs to finals. They did not win which is seen as a stain by the "Jordan is God" crowd. Btw, he was.
To really answer your question Yes If GSW wins and Curry can gain a second Finals MVP he very much shines even more. Curry is on my Mt Rushmore BTW. Its crazy he has had only one finals MVP! TO me he is ahead of Magic Johnson. Perhaps my pea brain was also thinking one more title won't jump Curry up much because I have him in such high regard.
Im not a fan of Dray given his on court demeanor but respect his accomplishments.
Perhaps the ring count comment is to give nod to guys like Barkley, Karl Malone, and Ewing who never won a chip but were still great. Wilt was the greatest outlier in the history of the game but his chip count works against him and its not entirely fair.
Jordans 6-0 is quite the feet but Lebron career has its own metrics besides the chip count and its often bought up to discredit him. Its subjective so we discuss.
Nalod wrote:my point was Draw won 4 rings and is not.
Horry has like 7 rings.
Curry is fucking amazing, but not just you, but fans do this "But he only won xx rings".
Its a team game.
sometimes great players are not on great teams but then get them closer.
Early Jordan got Bulls close but not thru Detroit until Phil came and he bought into the system.
That and the roster gelled.
Kobe similar and he might have gotten six if he was not so stubborn.
Curry got his 4, two also with Durant. With Doncic and Lebron teaming up and Butler joining Steph, these playoffs are going to be wildly unpredictable!
On a related note: If Steph wins yet another chip, what stratosphere does he enter in the Pantheon of the modern age of NBA? He'd have 5 rings - as many as Lebron - but with the same city!
And Dray would have 5 also.
Personally I put him pretty darn close in this era with Lebron. That last title was really special in many ways.
Where Lebron gets the nod is the work he did getting early Cavs to finals. They did not win which is seen as a stain by the "Jordan is God" crowd. Btw, he was.
To really answer your question Yes If GSW wins and Curry can gain a second Finals MVP he very much shines even more. Curry is on my Mt Rushmore BTW. Its crazy he has had only one finals MVP! TO me he is ahead of Magic Johnson. Perhaps my pea brain was also thinking one more title won't jump Curry up much because I have him in such high regard.
Im not a fan of Dray given his on court demeanor but respect his accomplishments.
Perhaps the ring count comment is to give nod to guys like Barkley, Karl Malone, and Ewing who never won a chip but were still great. Wilt was the greatest outlier in the history of the game but his chip count works against him and its not entirely fair.
Jordans 6-0 is quite the feet but Lebron career has its own metrics besides the chip count and its often bought up to discredit him. Its subjective so we discuss.
So I see the issue, something I thought should have been obvious. When I say he'd have 5 rings, I meant, 5 rings as the best player on the team. Does that clarify it?
As for its a team game, again, perhaps I should have been clearer, the point is Jordan won 6 rings, but it was not the same players throughout: Horace Grant, Toni Kukoc, BJ Armstrong, Dennis Rodman were not with him the whole time, though Pippen was. Lebron won multiple rings with entirely different teams. Kobe won with Shaq, but he also one without him, with Gasol instead. My non-obvious point, is IF Curry won another chip this year it would be without Durant (which he's done before) without Iggy (first chip MVP) and without Thompson. Yes, clearly he would have Butler. So he's would have muliple chips with different supporting players - except as you so wisely pointed out Dray. I think there is a different level for these guys that have won championships with different parts to their teams. Do you not?
BigDaddyG wrote:VDesai wrote:Clippers are tough if healthy.
Yeah, but they're still depending on playoff Harden. He had tendency to gas out in the post-season.
Isn't "playoff Harden" something his opponents usually hope for?
fishmike wrote:BigDaddyG wrote:VDesai wrote:Clippers are tough if healthy.
Yeah, but they're still depending on playoff Harden. He had tendency to gas out in the post-season.
Isn't "playoff Harden" something his opponents usually hope for?
the nets had Harden, KD and Kyrie for like 8 games
