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****The Official 2015-16 NBA Thread****

Discussion in 'Other Sports Forum' started by TiP54, Jul 1, 2015.

  1. TiP54

    TiP54 Bad Reputation

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    Straw grasping. You're doing it.

    Also, he's been with Miami now longer than he was with the Lakers...but hey...Kobe just missed another shot so you've got that going for you.
     
  2. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Yeah the problem is its not sustainable for long stretches. And the explosiveness....gone. I loved having Amare in NY though...cant front. Wont miss that defense though.

    Kristaps looked pretty darn good today as well....19 minutes 12 points (3/5FG 6/7FT) 3 rebs 2 blocks vs SAS

    Grant and Early looked good as well....Early had 18 and Grant 12
     
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  3. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    we don't need him to do anything for long stretches, he's just a 15 mpg player for us.
     
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  4. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Yeah, like VL said, he doesn't have to sustain it. All we need are bursts.
     
  5. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    He is, but he still needs to work on being aggressive on the attack on offense. He's a little timid at times.
     
  6. TiP54

    TiP54 Bad Reputation

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    Ennis had another subpar, at best, performance.
     
  7. Ludacris

    Ludacris Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I posted that the heat should consider Grant at 10. He was a good get for you guys.
     
  8. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    Spurs signed an ugly giant from euroleague.. 7'4 with a 9'7 standing reach. Slow but pretty good numbers.
     
  9. Limbo

    Limbo Mad Stillz

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    Richardson with another strong performance. Really taking to this kid. Fast, long, active, and a pretty well-rounded set of skills.
     
  10. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    Didn't realize they were playing again. Should have taped it.

    Seems like both Richardson and Kalinoski came back to earth a bit with their three point percentages.
     
  11. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    Confidence must be shot considering the offseason we've had. The guy is athletically gifted but if he cant do somethinng about his handle then he doesnt have a place on this league..
     
  12. Limbo

    Limbo Mad Stillz

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    The weaknesses he had as a prospect are still pretty glaring, imo. He just hasn't improved those areas enough in 2+ years. Struggles to finish in traffic, not a threat to shoot off the bounce, slow first step that doesn't threaten his defender, his handle is a liability, and he's still not consistently quick/smart enough in the offense. I love the vertical playmaking and the highlights and the potential to get hot from 3, but in terms of becoming a well-rounded player, struggling.
     
  13. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

    So what are the numbers on Thornton signing? He said on Twitter he appreciates the love and wants an offer. Is it solely dependent on finding a dance partner for Rio or Biiiiiiirdman? Rio had a weak season but a lot of that was us not giving him the opportunities to take his usual open shot. Grantland even mentioned him in a recent piece here:

    http://grantland.com/the-triangle/2015-nba-free-agency-3-point-shooter-danny-green-demarre-carroll/

    [​IMG]

    Are we going with the idea that he just needs the spacing that guys like Green, Dragic, Wade, and Whiteside will be able to get for him? Also, are we looking at another big? There's literally nothing but worn out tires left available so really only a trade would be possible. If the Warriors like Rio, maybe he and Birdman could return that Festus guy. He's almost the same player by PER but he's a shade better in DRtg is a decade or so younger and is an ascending player. Am I playing too much 2K15?
     
  14. Section126

    Section126 We are better than you. Luxury Box

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    "Former"
     
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  15. FinSane

    FinSane Cynical Dolphins Fan

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    Thornton just signed with Houston according to Winderman, so that's that.

    Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
     
  16. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    Oh well, that means Josh Richardson definitely has playing time opportunities here now.
     
  17. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

    Took a 1 year minimum deal. I guess we weren't so hot on him if we didn't offer. Looks like we're high on our rooks or are confident in Rio. Maybe a combination of both.
     
  18. FinSane

    FinSane Cynical Dolphins Fan

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    I guess signing Green rendered Thornton unnecessary.

    Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
     
  19. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

    Not necessarily. He would have probably been a run the floor/spot up shooter player for us which Rio has been in the past with the added benefit of a consistent handle, occasional drives, and big balls in big moments. They also may not be all that hot on Napier. If you were, with Green/Winslow you don't really need another guy who can go at the 2 position but there's still weakness behind Dragic. Shabazz has averaged 13.5 PPG on only 6-20 shooting 25% from 3PT in Summer League. The only really encouraging numbers are his 14-17 from the FT line meaning he can get the contact and convert at the line and his 5 APG which is encouraging considering what he's passing to in SL. Your backup PG can't shoot that poorly though.
     
  20. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    The Heat just never actually offered Thornton a contract and judging by his language, if he thought they were going to do so he wouldn't have signed elsewhere. Signing with Houston is a sign he thought the Heat just weren't going to pull the trigger.

    I think signing Gerald Green definitely affected things but also the progress of Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson probably affected interest as well.
     
  21. FinSane

    FinSane Cynical Dolphins Fan

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    There's still the possibility of moving Rio/Birdman for another shooter and/or backup PG.

    Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
     
  22. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    I think the question at this point has to be whether they're not in a tenable salary situation. If they're not then yeah they'll continue trying to move Bird and/or Rio. But if they're alright they'll just wait and see if anyone offers anything, which probably won't happen.

    The market seems thin on what to get in place of Bird/Rio.
     
  23. finyank13

    finyank13 Reality Check

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    Man it has been fun watching Bryce Cotton this summer so far, kid has no fear.....leads the summer league in scorning right now...

    Plays for Utah...watched him against the Heat the other night...
     
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  24. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Let's have some fun for minute....Jerian Grant is wearing #13 for the Knicks. The last Knick to wear 13 as a rookie PG was.....?

























    Mark Jackson. He won Rookie of the Year. :)
     
  25. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

    He also made the All-NBA ******* team for his team destroying antics. Let's hope that doesn't carry over.

    Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk
     
  26. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    Here's a statement which is destined to be interpreted the absolute wrong way but when I see people talking about Josh Richardson's needing to beef up I don't necessarily buy it because I think his game reminds me a bit of Michael Jordan's. That's what his build reminds me of, the way he moves, the array of areas where he can threaten on offense. Is he the shooter that MJ was? Course not. Is he the finisher at the rim that MJ was? Not even close. I'm just saying the archetype is sound in terms of the build versus playing style. That said I'm not opposed to Richardson perhaps putting on 10 pounds.
     
  27. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

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    Wait. Was it in Stoudamire's contract to make up with the fire extinguisher?
     
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  28. finyank13

    finyank13 Reality Check

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    You guys got Ricky Ledo too, another PC guy (along with Cotton) I didn't see the game the other night how did he do? Immensely talented, .02 head though, not all his fault though as he watched his father get gunned down in front of him when he was little.....kid had a ROUGH upbringing...
     
  29. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Makes sense. And the last time the Heat drafted a wing from a final 4 team in the lottery...

















    Dwyane Wade. He became one of the best players in NBA history. :tongue2:
     
  30. Limbo

    Limbo Mad Stillz

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    I want to see who can guard Mudiay tonight. Give Napier, Richardson, and Winslow a chance to match with him, see who can hang with a playmaker who has elite size and athleticism. Richardson and Napier struggled a little with Cotton's quickness and trigger, imo, and Mudiay looked really good the other night. Just a matchup to keep an eye on against a hi-level athlete at the PG position.
     
  31. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    Josh Richardson averaging 21.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.8 steals and 2.2 blocks per 48 minutes. Six games worth of data.

    Not sure if that's impressive or not to be honest. I think it's pretty good.

    Looks like Bryce Cotton is averaging 29.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 2.6 steals and 0.0 blocks...four games of data.

    Here's a good comparison with a guy many liked. R.J. Hunter is averaging 22.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.9 blocks. That's a solid five games worth of data.

    Marcus Thornton who most people wanted to sign, 9.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 0.0 assists, 3.4 steals, 0.0 blocks...five games.
     
  32. Section126

    Section126 We are better than you. Luxury Box

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    gotta do it per 36.

    he has been ok. His floor game has impressed more than his stats to be honest.

    I think he makes the main roster and taxi's back and forth between Miami and Sioux Falls.
     
  33. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    Of course my boy Willie Cauley-Stein averaging like 30.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 0.0 assists, 2.3 steals and 3.5 blocks. But only two games. I'd say that's a better showing than Karl-Anthony Towns thus far. But WCS is going to be an All Star. I should just forget about him as he was never available anyway, but still he's just so fun to watch.

    It's a credit to James Ennis he can average 20.1 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.0 blocks per 48 minutes and all we've done is bag on the guy for having a bad summer league, lol.
     
  34. Sumlit

    Sumlit Well-Known Member

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    Will be interesting to see how things end up. This Heat team is seriously deep and they might realistically only have 2-3 spots to give to these fringe players.

    Talented starting 5 of Dragic, Wade, Deng, Bosh and Whiteside; with an easily 6 man deep bench of Chalmers, Winslow, Green, McRoberts, Amar'e and Birdman. That's 11 deep, without counting UD and Napier. That means, assuming you keep Napier, you have 2 spots left, 3 if you cut ties with Napier.

    Who do you keep? Z. Dragic, Richardson, Ennis, Johnson, Walker?
     
  35. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    I saw an article awhile ago that looked at past summer league MVPs and how they fared the following seasons. The results were kind of a mixed bag. Amongst the best summer league players you had stars like Wall and Griffin and guys who never did anything. Now I didn't watch these guys play and there was little evaluation in the article. The author just looked at the trophy and the stats, but it was interesting nonetheless. It seemed like sometimes it was a fatal flaw in their game that was the difference. Like maybe a Napier might be a good enough athlete at that level, but not good enough to take the next step. Or maybe an Ennis has good skills but lacks the discipline or has some other impediment to ever improve his handle sufficiently. (I'm not claiming either of those statements are facts or even predictions. They're just potential flaws I've heard mentioned).
     
  36. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    It seems like Napier's actually playing well so far. And like I said before I don't know if you can afford to sour Goran on you by cutting Zoran.

    Tough call.
     
  37. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I think the odds of keeping both Chalmers and Bird are extremely low. I think there is a better chance that both are traded than neither is traded. That means at least 1, and possibly 2 more open spots.

    Dragic, Wade, Deng, Bosh, and Whiteside are locks. As are Winslow, Green, UD, and Amare. McRoberts could be traded, but my money says they keep him because he could be a very valuable role player. That is 10 relative locks. I don't see them giving up on Napier just yet, and I think Richardson makes the team. That is 12 relatively safe bets, leaving 3 spots for Zoran, Ennis, Johnson, Chalmers, and Bird (I don't see a need for Walker at this point). I already said I think Rio and/or Bird get moved, and I think Zoran stays because of his brother. If both Rio and Bird get moved, then Ennis and Johnson stay. If they feel they need to keep Rio at backup PG, then I think they keep Ennis over Johnson.
     
  38. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    Interesting that at this point the main thing we're wondering is who's going to be let go.

    Otherwise we've got the roster set at Goran Dragic, Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside, with Justise Winslow, Amar'e Stoudamire, Gerald Green, Josh McRoberts, Mario Chalmers and Chris Anderson as the primary bench.
     
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  39. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    I kind of expect that the salary cap issues will mean that Bird and/or Rio and maybe UD and Napier as well will be moved eventually even if it's at the trade deadline. But going into a playoff run with those healthy 9 would leave me pretty optimistic. There is the real question of how well they'll play together, since they never have, but I think given a season to work on it they should be fine. Dragic and Wade seemed comfortable together. And Dragic, Green and Amare have played well together in the recent past. I see Bosh, Deng, McRoberts and Winslow as guys with flexibility in their games who integrate petty easily. Whiteside is probably the toughest one to integrate into the offense. I like the fit and talent of that roster better than other in the East. Health is obviously the key, but it is for Cleveland as well (who was obviously the best in the East last season).
     
  40. Limbo

    Limbo Mad Stillz

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    If Napier can show that his shot isn't broken, he should make the roster. In college with defenses honed in on him he filled it up on basically jump-shots alone. Give him this off-season (camp, preseason) to see if that stroke is still there, and if he figures out how to get it off. He'll never be a good defender (though he has quick hands on steals), but if he just brings some higher effort there it should be okay...I guess.

    For tonight, I'll be interested to see if they keep putting Winslow in the PG/initiator role. I suspect that the staff sees this as a way to get him on the floor alongside the other wings, and because he has the potential to be a matchup problem for opposing PGs (while still quick enough to guard them). And also they may need a guy to do this if Rio gets moved.
     

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