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NBA Offseason 2017 |OT| Only Big Ballers™ Allowed *please pay $495 to be a Big Baller

D

darkwing-buck

Member
Ninja Scooter said:
Nearly everyone in the NBA gives a shit. It's just usually the lower skilled players (guys like Delladova or Rivers) who get hit with the "but he has heart!" crap as a means to prop them up, as if it even means anything. Chris Paul is going to go down as one of the 2 or 3 greatest point guards in NBA history. He didn't get that far because he doesn't have heart or doesn't give a shit.
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CMJfOhzVAAANSt5.jpg
 
B

Boogs31

Member
TTG said:
I don't know what you're going to do with both Paul and Harden on the floor, but damn.
Click to expand...

I don't understand why everyone thinks this won't work. They can both play off the ball because they can both shoot threes. I also imagine Dantoni will stagger their minutes so one star is on the floor at all times. The reason Houston lost game 5 against San Antonio was because Harden got tired down the stretch and walked the ball up the floor. With Paul taking some of the scoring and playmaking burden off Hardens shoulders, that late game fatigue shouldn't be a problem now.
 
H

Hyperactivity

Banned
When James Calls, You Pick Up
Eric Gordon said:
It was sometime last summer. Early June, maybe. My phone lights up and I see the name flash on the screen:

James Harden

James and I have been good friends ever since we played together in the McDonald’s All-American game in 2007, but I wasn’t sure why he would be calling me on a random weekday afternoon. I picked up, and before I could even say anything, James started in with:

“Are you signing with us, or what?”

No “Hey, how’s it going?” or anything like that. All business.

He knew I was a free agent, and I guess he didn’t really care that I wouldn’t be able to make a final decision for another month. He told me that he needed a playmaker who could create off the dribble, make plays for others and take some of the load off of his shoulders.

“That’s all you!” he said.

I was definitely intrigued. For years, we’d talked about how fun it would be to play on the same team. I told James I’d think about it.

Almost the second I hung up, my phone lit up again. This time it was Trevor Ariza.

“Are you signing with us, or what?”

It was like a coordinated attack. I was like, Wow, these guys aren’t messing around. Trevor told me how much I’d benefit from the team’s training program — swearing that I’d feel like I was 10 years younger. After he talked about the city for a few minutes, we hung up.

I figured that would be that. But then, around the same time the very next afternoon … buzzzzzzz.

James Harden

And that’s how it went almost every day until the start of free agency on July 1. (I signed with the Rockets shortly after.) James and Trevor, calling me, recruiting me, telling me that I was the missing piece.
Click to expand...

In 2015 he asked for another point guard to share responsibilitie. He tried to recruit Durant. He didn't do the Olympics so that he could be more involved and up to date with the FO.

By all account, Harden is becoming another LeBron type when it comes to make FO moves, except for the fact that there seems to be a mutual respect between all of Les Alexander (owner), Daryl Morey (GM), James Harden (superstar player), Mike D'Antoni (head coach), and Jeff Bzdelick (assistant coach, but bigger role than most, organizes defense)
 
L

LionPride

Banned
Hyperactivity said:
When James Calls, You Pick Up


In 2015 he asked for another point guard to share responsibilitie. He tried to recruit Durant. He didn't do the Olympics so that he could be more involved and up to date with the FO.

By all account, Harden is becoming another LeBron type when it comes to make FO moves, except for the fact that there seems to be a mutual respect between all of Les Alexander (owner), Daryl Morey (GM), James Harden (superstar player), Mike D'Antoni (head coach), and Jeff Bzdelick (assistant coach, but bigger role than most, organizes defense)
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Man hit him up immedieatly damn. No hey what uo, just bruh sign with us nao
 
H

Hyperactivity

Banned
What our roster looks like atm.

Paul / Harden
Harden / Gordon
Ariza / Troy Williams
Anderson / Ariza
Capela / Onuaku

Yeesh, need Morey to do his magic with pulling players up out of nowhere and D'Antoni-CP3-Harden to do their magic with how they make players look really good (and hopefully giving us a bunch of trade value for them)

Boogs31 said:
Completely agree. He would move Anderson to the backup power forward slot which is probably the best place for him given his atrocious defense. Millsap could also fill the backup center spot if Nene doesn't return.
Click to expand...

Think we would have to do a sign and trade if we got him. Think they take Anderson?
 
D

darkwing-buck

Member
Hyperactivity said:
What our roster looks like atm.

Paul / Harden
Harden / Gordon
Ariza / Troy Williams
Anderson / Ariza
Capela / Onuaku

Yeesh, need Morey to do his magic with pulling players up out of nowhere and D'Antoni-CP3-Harden to do their magic with how they make players look really good (and hopefully giving us a bunch of trade value for them)



Think we would have to do a sign and trade if we got him. Think they take Anderson?
Click to expand...

That's the hard part, if KLove has little value rn then I doubt Ryan isn't much better.
 
T

Tom Penny

Member
It's pretty crazy now that a rookie can get drafted were he wants and any good player with one year left can force his way to any team he wants by telling them they won't resign. In the NFL they just cut you.
 
H

Hyperactivity

Banned
darkwing-buck said:
That's the hard part, if KLlove has little value rn then I doubt Ryan isn't much better.
Click to expand...

One of these has Morey at the helm negotiating, the other team doesn't have a GM. Plus, with Love, there's a chance that he makes you good enough that you struggle to tank.

Idk though, the value for a star keeps fluctuating imo, with the DMC, Butler, and Chris Paul trades all seemingly setting different prices, along with the Love and Paul George rumors

https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/880164438216757248
Woj said:
Sources: So far, departure of Phil Jackson hasn't changed MSG's mindset on Carmelo Anthony's eventual exit. Knicks want trade, not buyout.
Click to expand...

Fuck it, at the end of FA, Rockets go after him. How many non-guaranteed contracts would it take?
 
M

MikeRahl

Member
Tom Penny said:
It's pretty crazy now that a rookie can get drafted were he wants and any good player with one year left can force his way to any team he wants by telling them they won't resign. In the NFL they just cut you.
Click to expand...

Value of a strong union right there.

I have no idea how with all of the NFLs medical issues, they are the only league where contracts for the most part being non-guaranteed is the norm.
 
B

Boogs31

Member
Hyperactivity said:
Think we would have to do a sign and trade if we got him. Think they take Anderson?
Click to expand...

If Houston threw in every other first round pick they have for the next 10 years then maybe. Can't see why Atlanta would take on Anderson's contact without getting value back. And they would already want stuff in return for Millsap.

Also the Rockets already lost a lot of their bench with the CP3 deal. If they lose much more depth their whole bench becomes useless.
 
H

Hyperactivity

Banned
MikeRahl said:
Value of a strong union right there.

I have no idea how with all of the NFLs medical issues, they are the only league where contracts for the most part being non-guaranteed is the norm.
Click to expand...

Because an extended strike doesn't take up a serious amount of a player's career. In the NFL, where the average player has 3 years, missing a single season is a lot of their potential earnings.

http://www.slamonline.com/nba/jj-redick-leaving-clippers-chris-paul-trade/#EJ7S8JLFqcsDkYi8.97
Brian Windhorst said:
“Chris Paul wanted to hear what the Clippers’ plan was going forward. How were they going to compete with the Golden State Warriors?” […]

“JJ Redick is walking. He is not gonna be back. That was the worst-kept secret in the NBA for the last couple of months.

“They didn’t have a material way to replace JJ Redick. So the difficulty here was that the Clippers weren’t able to sell a feasible plan to Chris Paul to change his mind.”
Click to expand...

Seems more likely than the click-baity Austin Rivers facebook post
 
H

Hyperactivity

Banned
You want to know what's ridiculous?

I was thinking recently (Zach Lowe recently brought it up on his podcast, made me think) about how it felt sorta weird that the Rockets had basically finally run out of all of those picks and assets that Morey had stockpiled from that 2010-2013 era where Morey was just trading and gradually building up a stockpile.

And Morey still somehow managed to pull this out of nowhere.

I sometimes miss having a 1st round pick or really early 2nd round pick. Morey and the Rockets have generally been great at their picks and development.

Still a little sad about that 2016 playoff push, had we not made the playoffs we would have kept our pick that year. The Nuggets got a combo forward in Juancho Hernangomez with that pick, and he seems to be a great young prospect.

Shams Charania said:
The Los Angeles Clippers have waived Paul Pierce, league sources say.
Click to expand...

Incoming Paul Pierce to the Rockets to add another Paul to the team
 
O

overcast

Member
As a rockets fan I'm pretty concerned because our depth is pure garbage. But I appreciate Morey going for broke and not just giving up the conference.

We'll see how these moves pan out.
 
H

Hyperactivity

Banned
For those talking about fit

Zach Lowe said:
This is a worthy, fascinating gamble for Houston that will force Morey and Mike D'Antoni to reimagine a go-go, 3s-and-rim-only attack in which Harden served as alpha and omega. Paul likes to play slow, pound the ball, bark out orders in over-choreographed half-court sets, and jack midrange shots. Every bit of that runs counter to how Houston played last season.

And that's OK. Harden and Paul can share, and be better for it. Almost every championship team in history meshed two ball-dominant stars who learned to play off of each other. A lot of those duos and trios didn't bring the combined outside shooting of Harden and Paul. Both are useful away from the ball. Paul has hit 40 percent from deep in two of his last three seasons. Harden has shot much better than his blah overall mark from deep on open catch-and-shoot 3s -- the kind of looks he should see more alongside Paul.

Houston can stagger minutes so that one is always on the floor, and each gets ample time to run solo. Paul is one of the best crunch-time shot-makers of his generation, but he has too often been asked to take every late-game shot -- a heavy burden for a 6-foot-nothing guard peeking over and around elite wing defenders. He has never teamed with a perimeter playmaker like Harden.
Click to expand...
Doing everything for Houston took its toll on Harden, too. The Rockets season effectively ended with Harden settling for lazy step-back 3s in an overtime loss to the Spurs in Game 5 of the conference semifinals.

Even Houston's cruel and efficient offense can use a dose of unpredictability in the playoffs. Stingy postseason defenses have held Houston below its regular-season scoring mark two years in a row, and the gap got bigger this season. The Spurs exposed the formula: Encourage Harden to drive, plant a tall guy near the rim, stick close to shooters, and concede midrange jumpers Houston will never take.

It worked. Houston's scoring fell off. They exchanged a bunch of catch-and-shoot triples for much harder off-the-bounce attempts.

Paul is one of the greatest midrange shooters ever. The Rockets should let him take those shots. They are good looks for Paul, and they will loosen up better looks for teammates. If opponents suddenly have to defend the midrange, other spaces will open.
Click to expand...

Rockets became too predictable last post-season. More mid-range shots, more varied playmakers, etc. is good for the team.
 
J

jdstorm

Banned
Tom Penny said:
It's pretty crazy now that a rookie can get drafted were he wants and any good player with one year left can force his way to any team he wants by telling them they won't resign. In the NFL they just cut you.
Click to expand...

Thats because NBA players impact a game far more then any one NFL player. Especially if they are 2 way players.
 
J

jbug617

Banned
Hayward Schedule so far:

Saturday- Heat
Monday- Jazz

Got to assume the Celtics are on Sunday and Jazz get the last meeting.
 
O

Officerrob

Banned
Ninja Scooter said:
Nearly everyone in the NBA gives a shit. It's just usually the lower skilled players (guys like Delladova or Rivers) who get hit with the "but he has heart!" crap as a means to prop them up, as if it even means anything. Chris Paul is going to go down as one of the 2 or 3 greatest point guards in NBA history. He didn't get that far because he doesn't have heart or doesn't give a shit.
Click to expand...

I have a real hard time seeing that
 
P

Peter Ian Staker

Member
Hyperactivity said:
Also, Hayward's dad retweeting a song made to try and keep Hayward in Utah
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Also his wife posted letter kids send him begging him to stay.

They will make him look really bad if he leaves.
Hyperactivity said:
For those talking about fit




Rockets became too predictable last post-season. More mid-range shots, more varied playmakers, etc. is good for the team.
Click to expand...

But GAF told me midrange shots are inefficient and about to go the way of the 8-track when I brought this up during the play-offs.
 
M

mjp2417

Banned
Boogs31 said:
Completely agree. He would move Anderson to the backup power forward slot which is probably the best place for him given his atrocious defense. Millsap could also fill the backup center spot if Nene doesn't return.
Click to expand...

They would need to find somewhere to offload Anderson's contract for that to work. I'm not sure what sweeteners they have left for that. Ironically enough the Rockets roster now resembles OG Lob City in many ways (elite starting 5, instant offense 6th man, and absolutely nothing after that).
 
P

Peter Ian Staker

Member
darkwing-buck said:
:)))))))))))))))))
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Happy to see him on a better organization. He was very good on the Nets.
Ninja Scooter said:
Nearly everyone in the NBA gives a shit. It's just usually the lower skilled players (guys like Delladova or Rivers) who get hit with the "but he has heart!" crap as a means to prop them up, as if it even means anything. Chris Paul is going to go down as one of the 2 or 3 greatest point guards in NBA history. He didn't get that far because he doesn't have heart or doesn't give a shit.
Click to expand...

Magic Johnson
Steph Curry
Oscar Robertson

Unless he does something spectacular with the Rockets he ain't replacing any of these 3.

CP3 will likely end of on the lower tier with Stockton/Nash/Kidd were they had great careers but their teams didn't accomplish much during their prime.
 
L

LionPride

Banned
Peter Ian Staker said:
Happy to see him on a better organization. He was very good on the Nets.


Magic Johnson
Steph Curry
Oscar Robertson

Unless he does something spectacular with the Rockets he ain't replacing any of these 3.

CP3 will likely end of on the lower tier with Stockton/Nash/Kidd were they had great careers but their teams didn't accomplish much during their prime.
Click to expand...
Stockton was better than Nash and Kidd
 
M

MetalFearSolid

Banned
Peter Ian Staker said:
Happy to see him on a better organization. He was very good on the Nets.


Magic Johnson
Steph Curry
Oscar Robertson

Unless he does something spectacular with the Rockets he ain't replacing any of these 3.

CP3 will likely end of on the lower tier with Stockton/Nash/Kidd were they had great careers but their teams didn't accomplish much during their prime.
Click to expand...

I think you missed the main point ...where Cp3 ranks among the greats doesn't really matter for the point Ninja was trying to convey.
 
M

MetalFearSolid

Banned
Zach Lowe article said Austin Rivers carried himself like he was a superstar.
Glen Davis was right, Doc needs to be held accountable as the coach and GM.
 
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