****The Official 2014-15 NBA Thread****

I just have one question for Sec... if LeBron doesn't come back to Miami, are you willing to change your avatar to the Chris Sheridan american flag bandanna picture? This way I can effectively gauge the situation

 

I think based on what happen with the Decision four years ago that sent Cleveland reeling that if Cleveland was not his choice to be this time around he would have let it be known, that's why I keep thinking he has already made his choice and he is going back home.

 

Here, Ennis highlights vs Pacers.

[video=youtube;hAX5P38AL_k]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAX5P38AL_k[/video]

He is good.

 

If Sheridan ends up being right about everything MASSIVE props to the guy. He had his source, and NEVER backed down from it. I may even forgive him for not putting LeBron on the All NBA team.

 

@
That is faulty logic IMO.

 

On Ennis...Obviously has the tools and offensive game to thrive. The question for me is how quickly he can pick up more complicated, intricate offensive sets and motion. He hasn't really been a part of high-level schematic stuff, having played at Long Beach St, in Australia, and in the Summer League. Those environments are much more haphazard when it comes to advanced game-planning and adjustments on both ends of the floor. I don't know how quick/sharp of a decision-maker he'll be right away...though admittedly the NBA regular season can tend to look pretty loose at times too.

At the very least you're getting an 'instant offense' kind of guy who scores one-on-one and stretches the floor. He could be a bit Jamaal Crawford-like to start, where the offense and defense don't run super smooth, but he's getting you buckets in a variety of ways.

On Napier...I don't worry about him grasping the quick strategic stuff. He played four years at a bigtime college under two tremendous coaches and made two tournament runs when gameplanning and adjustments are paramount. I think he'll be much better once he gets in a bunch of practices where Xs and Os are solidified and repeated. I don't worry about his shot either, as that's what got him drafted. Sure he'll have to be more picky about his shots because airspace is harder to come by, but he'll get that, especially when he doesn't have to carry the offense. You have to worry about his size/length, particularly with how Miami guards PnR...they want to pressure/double the ball to disrupt passing lanes while Napier would rather use his quickness to poke the ball out like he keeps doing in the Summer League. Those steals and poke-outs are how he made up for his size in college, but we'll see if he can do that in Miami's scheme.

I think Heat fans should be excited about this duo though. They seem to have a good chemistry thing going already. A bench unit with Ennis and Napier should have dynamic offensive firepower. And I think these two guys contributing big on offense will mean great things for the energy LeBron/Wade/Bosh will be able to bring on defense.

 

The thing I loved most about that ally-oop was how quickly and aggressively Ennis tossed the ball up the court after the steal. He didn't even put the ball on the floor once, he picked it up and threw it down the court to Shabazz all in one motion. Then he hustled down the court to be an option for Shabazz, and took his rewards.

Twice he penetrated the paint and found someone to dish it off to for an open shot. And then that Dr. J move at the end was a great way to finish it up.

 

He had a 50/50 chance. I am not about to call this guy some ultimate source grabber.

Steven A when everyone else was calling for Lebron to NY or Chicago....and he called the heat....that was big. And I think it got him his job back at ESPN if I am not mistaken.

 

How much do yall think that it plays on Brons mind that he appears hypocritical for being the most vocal on Sterling..then going back to play for assface in Cleveland?

 

How so? If LeBron learned anything from the Decision is his image is important, I think he would realize - at least I would hope - that breaking Clevelanders hearts again would not go over well, my point being is if had decided on Miami he would have said so by now or at the very least let it be known Cleveland IS OUT. I told Sec on twitter that when I heard LeBron was meeting with Riley that it was a great sign he was staying and I would be shocked if he didn't get LeBron's signature on a contract, but now that has dragged on it has to favor Cleveland because if he was staying in Miami this would be wrapped up by now. At least that's my opinion, lord knows I have been very wrong before.

 

I think Shabazz is going to have the toughest transition to be honest. James Ennis seems already to be used to being fed the ball in favorable situations and taking advantage of other situations on an opportunistic basis because of his athleticism. His shot selection in the Summer League has been impressive. He's only taken a "what were you thinking" type of shot maybe twice the whole time (both from deep beyond the arc, and he made one of them).

Shabazz Napier on the other hand has taken a lot of bad shots in Summer League. He's taken a lot of shots that absolutely do not fit with the Heat's offensive style, and especially don't fit within the pecking order they'll have going if they bring the Big 3 back. And looking at Napier's film, he's not doing much different in the Summer League than he did in college. He was aggressive in taking bad shots in college too. He just made a lot of them fall.

In my opinion he's going to have the toughest time dealing with the coaches' demands that he make the smartest basketball play at all times, and also dealing with the pecking order. He says he's fine (and indeed loves) playing his position without the ball, but I'm not sure that's really true.

To me in the Summer League's he's looked like a rookie that is going to need some seasoning before he's going to be able to help the Heat. James Ennis has looked like a guy they could plug in immediately. That's my opinion.

 

That is really not true. At the time he came out with his source and took his position on where LeBron is going, Vegas odds were 85% certain LeBron was staying with the Heat, and none of the other stuff about LeBron to the Cavs had been floating around yet. Give the man his due if he ends up right.

You could replace the name and the destinations in this statement with "Sheridan", "Miami" and "Cavs" and that statement would all hold up for 2014.

 

Meanwhile, the Rockets have nailed another 2nd round pick. Nick Johnson just killing it. Hopefully Philly won't ask for him in the Lin trade.

 

Lebron hasn't led Cleveland on at all. All this Lebron rlto Cleveland stuff is their own fault. He owes them no more than he owes Miami.

 

Lol Lebron never met with Cleveland.


How does it get more obvious than that? Until a face to face is scheduled....don't think the Heat have anything to worry anout

 

I think the Heat summer league team Orlando version had a couple of interesting players to be honest, even though they didn't play all that well as a team.

James Ennis and Justin Hamiltron were probably the only guys that looked ready to be plugged into NBA games as role players.

I don't think Shabazz is ready based on what I've seen thus far. In fact being completely honest he might not have even been the best point guard on the Orlando summer league team. That doesn't mean he won't end up a great point guard but this is where he's at right now, IMO.

But to be honest Trey McKinney-Jones looked really interesting. He's not just a hometown kid from The U. He's big (6'5" & 220 lbs) and fast, makes decisions quickly, very balanced, moves quickly and decisively, and he can shoot. He was a 40% three point shooter by the time he left The U. He's very efficient and I think that's what the Heat look for. In four games McKinney-Jones is 8 of 13 (.615), including 2 of 3 (.667) from beyond the arc. He's played 72 minutes, has 19 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks and only 1 turnover. He just tended to make good things happen on the court when he was in, and he was a valid option for the ball to flow through.

Tyler Johnson is the guy that one of the announcers kept fawning over but he's a guy I'm not sure about. I see he's very versatile and athletic. He has big time ups. But he's a short guy. He and guys like Honeycutt feel like some of the players the Heat had in last year's summer league...guys that had their moments, maybe have some athleticism to them, but ultimately you're not sure you're ever going to see their name again.

 

Has LeBron even acknowledged Cleveland???

This is basically a stalker outside of someone's window, while they are with their spouse. LeBron is meeting and working with Miami, and Miami only. There is no reason for him to acknowledge the 31 other teams.

 

Definitely feels like the calm before the storm today

 

Here are Trey McKinney-Jones' highlights from the NBA D-League.

You can see what I'm talking about how he's very balanced and fundamentally sound, yet can be quick and athletic when he needs it.

[video=youtube;DYJGwo8LPd0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYJGwo8LPd0[/video]

The only off-balance shot he took and made was a buzzer-beater.

I think his Mad Ants won the D-League championship. Here's another video of an individual game performance in the D-League. Like I said everything is just very decisive and the ball flows through him within the offense well.

[video=youtube;o-AFDmQBjVA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-AFDmQBjVA[/video]

You kick the ball out to him, he's going to shoot, he's going to penetrate, or he's going to pass...and he makes that decision in a split second, and it's usually the correct basketball decision. Perfect example in James Ennis video against the Pacers where you see Ennis make a 3 pointer from the corner. The ball FIRST went to McKinney-Jones, and TMJ made that one extra pass to the higher percentage shot in the corner for Ennis because that was the smart basketball play. That's the kind of thing that should catch the Miami coaches' attention.

 

"Their" own fault?? Who exactly is that? You know what never mind, you guys are emotionally attached to this and it's clear you don't care for an outsiders opinion so I'll just bow out of this thread, but good luck guys.

 

There's something to be said for looking at a player's highlight reels and finding that in almost all of the highlights he's not just making a shot but he also made the correct basketball play each time. A lot of these guys you watch their highlights and they're doing something ridiculous that they shouldn't have done but they made it work because their shot was that good or they were just that athletic.

 

Good luck in what? This isn't a competition. LeBron James is negotiating with the Miami Heat exclusively. No other team has even spoken to him.

 

Good luck in signing him, you're such a **** sometimes

 

This. So this.

He hasn't spoken a word with the Cavs. Why would any logical person think he's going there?

 

Actually most of the time

 

Thats like saying "good luck breathing today". Him signing is a foregone conclusion. Its a matter of how much and who else at this point.

 

Noone was saying Lebron to Cleveland before the Cavs made a statement about how they "THINK James MIGHT listen to them."

He hasn't even personally met with them. Hes had no more negotiation with them than LA. He was never seriously considering them.

 

5dimes is down to -120 for the Cavs and -120 for any other team.

 

I'm starting to feel like LeBron is just trying to wait bosh out sigh my opinion on this changes everyday

 

I'm in a glass case of emotion!

 

Oh I'm pretty certain that will happen.

 

As interesting as when we will find out is how we will find out. After the debacle that was the decision I think this is going to go polar opposite. Watch Lebron leave for Brazil and then The Heat nonchalantly release an announcement that, "oh by the way. Lebron signed for two more years before he left."

 

Honest question, what has Lebron said or done that would suggest anything but Miami?

This thing seems to be entirely media/agent/twitter driven.

All he did was opt out.

 

I agree entirely. However that same media that fabricated this story out of thin air sure as hell ain't gonna spin it that way