NBA Thread

[BtownStrength 1,214]

7 minutes ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

Sure, but how many 7+ footers hold their own against guards in the NBA? Sure Edey would be screwed. But so are Zubac, Valanciunas, Nurkic, Gobert etc. NBA guards are just good. He'd probably get out under a microscope but he'd get torched like any other big man on the perimeter. Cody Zeller is one of the fastest 7 footers I've seen and it ain't like he could ever keep up.

Yeah Edey will just have to be "good enough" to not get picked on enough to make him a net positive. Doesnt always translate but I'm of the opinion he could have a bench role. 

Gobert is actually a good example that can stay in front of a guard some due to foot speed and instincts. The rest of the list for sure gets torched 1v1. 

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 8,657]

35 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

For the record, I also think Edey has a role on the right roster. I think he’ll be able to play in the league, in a limited role, as long as his legs/feet allow him to. 

I only hopped into the conversation when it was mentioned that athleticism is overrated because 2 of the best 5 players in the league right now aren’t athletic. I just don’t buy that, because who exactly is being left out? 

Athletically? I couldn't really tell you off the top of my head. I just think it's a bad point against guys who are good at basketball or a guy like Edey who brings something completely different, his size. It's something that gets used, though is getting replaced by the "he can't shoot" thing. Which I also really really hate in the NBA. As if somehow now coaches can't figure out how to get guys into spots on offense that can't shoot.

[HoosierHoopster 6,871]

2 hours ago, Hovadipo said:

 

Aren’t both of these things true? I’m pretty sure both of these things are true. 

No, Joker is not unathletic. That’s frankly ridiculous. When he first came into the League he was out of shape and much slower, while being highly skilled including shooting. Over several years particularly the last 4-5, he developed significantly in his conditioning, including running the floor and overall fitness.
Does he have an “above the rim@ game? No. Is he unathletic? Of course not. He would literally run circles around the plodding Edey

[HoosierHoopster 6,871]

2 hours ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

Okay... I'm confused here. I literally said he's the best player in the league. He's also incredibly unathletic. Slow, can't jump, isn't explosive etc. The opposite of what teams look for. Yet, his skill makes it all not matter. You don't have to be athletic to be good at basketball and succeed.

He is not slow, and he’s certainly not unathletic, he’d run Edey into the ground. Pretty sure you’re not actually watching him.
The opposite of what teams look for?? On the one hand you argue his skill compensates for your description of his athleticism, while on the other you’re trying to compare him to Edey, and you’re confused?
Joker is one of the most highly skilled bigs the game has seen. Edey isn’t even in the same universe, his “skill” is his size, he can’t create for himself, has no handle, he can’t step out and shoot, he doesn’t break down defenses, in what world is his “skillset” remotely comparable? Again, why do you think he wasn’t getting drafted last year? He does not fit today’s NBA

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 8,657]

9 minutes ago, HoosierHoopster said:

He is not slow, and he’s certainly not unathletic, he’d run Edey into the ground. Pretty sure you’re not actually watching him.
The opposite of what teams look for?? On the one hand you argue his skill compensates for your description of his athleticism, while on the other you’re trying to compare him to Edey, and you’re confused?
Joker is one of the most highly skilled bigs the game has seen. Edey isn’t even in the same universe, his “skill” is his size, he can’t create for himself, has no handle, he can’t step out and shoot, he doesn’t break down defenses, in what world is his “skillset” remotely comparable? Again, why do you think he wasn’t getting drafted last year? He does not fit today’s NBA

Because Jokic is unathletic. Incredibly unathletic. It's why scouts had him out of the league quick and I able to perform in the league. Because he's not an athlete. He isn't explosive. He can't jump. He isn't fast. But he's smart. And he's skilled. And that makes up for his lack of athleticism.

[HoosierHoopster 6,871]

1 hour ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

Athletically? I couldn't really tell you off the top of my head. I just think it's a bad point against guys who are good at basketball or a guy like Edey who brings something completely different, his size. It's something that gets used, though is getting replaced by the "he can't shoot" thing. Which I also really really hate in the NBA. As if somehow now coaches can't figure out how to get guys into spots on offense that can't shoot.

Ok reading back through the thread I don’t think we’re actually that far apart on considering Edey’s potential role if drafted — we differ more as i understand in how you perceive Edey’s skillset, you see a higher skill level than ai do, and we definitely see Joker (who I’ve watched for years) differently. 
Fwiw, I’d agree Edey could find a home if a team wants him for that specialized role off the bench, and Yao lite works for me — but man Yao was a genuine giant, Shaq was small next to him

[HoosierHoopster 6,871]

5 minutes ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

Because Jokic is unathletic. Incredibly unathletic. It's why scouts had him out of the league quick and I able to perform in the league. Because he's not an athlete. He isn't explosive. He can't jump. He isn't fast. But he's smart. And he's skilled. And that makes up for his lack of athleticism.

We can just disagree, this is way off the player Joker is now

[Hovadipo 55,313]

30 minutes ago, HoosierHoopster said:

No, Joker is not unathletic. That’s frankly ridiculous. When he first came into the League he was out of shape and much slower, while being highly skilled including shooting. Over several years particularly the last 4-5, he developed significantly in his conditioning, including running the floor and overall fitness.
Does he have an “above the rim@ game? No. Is he unathletic? Of course not. He would literally run circles around the plodding Edey

I don’t think it’s ridiculous at all, but I don’t suppose we’ll find common ground based on that response. 

[HoosierHoopster 6,871]

3 hours ago, Hovadipo said:

I don’t think it’s ridiculous at all, but I don’t suppose we’ll find common ground based on that response. 

Nahh i’m not calling you ridiculous dipo it’s the idea that he’s not athletic, which is the above discussion. I don’t know what definition of athletic trying to be used here, he’s athletic. 

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 8,657]

9 hours ago, HoosierHoopster said:

Nahh i’m not calling you ridiculous dipo it’s the idea that he’s not athletic, which is the above discussion. I don’t know what definition of athletic trying to be used here, he’s athletic. 

Except... He isn't. Yes, he's an athlete technically. But he's slow, can't jump, isn't explosive. He's unathletic. He's Dwight Howard or Shaq or something.

[KingPG21 6,583]

I generally like Giannis. But all of this was a pretty big oof

[BtownStrength 1,214]

13 minutes ago, KingPG21 said:

I generally like Giannis. But all of this was a pretty big oof

If only the game ball were made of ladders, Giannis would have just chucked the thing into the stands. 

[Hovadipo 55,313]

30 minutes ago, KingPG21 said:

I generally like Giannis. But all of this was a pretty big oof

The Pacers are in his head or something. He was totally out of character all night.

[KingPG21 6,583]

Ummmm. Yah Giannis needs to be suspended. I had just seen the video of him getting animated with Pierce and Ty. 

Then there is Rick after the game:

 

Yikes. 

 

And just for reference sake. Its a tradition for the Pacers to give a game ball to a player when they score their first career point. Worth noting, it was one of the reservce balls the Pacers had, not the game ball. Not that it matters. Just send personnel to the other teams lockerroom and sort it out. Not charging in there like Giannis and others did

[OliviaPope40 6,478]

Draymond Green good lord I agree with the league on that suspension but don't know how the league and Golden State handle that fallout going forward.

Edited December 14, 2023 by OliviaPope40

[BtownStrength 1,214]

Warriors playing now on NBA TV. For those interested I would guess TJD gets some minutes with Draymond out. 

[Hovadipo 55,313]

Had to triple check on Basketball Reference that he wasn’t playing against the Indiana Hoosiers. 

[Demo 19,698]

Yeah, not the NBA, but this may be the nastiest poster I’ve ever seen. There is nothing left of that dude. 

[HoosierHoopster 6,871]

10 hours ago, Demo said:

Yeah, not the NBA, but this may be the nastiest poster I’ve ever seen. There is nothing left of that dude. 

Oohhhh that’s naaasty! 

[Stuhoo 79,893]

Jamie Jaquez Jr. is real and he is spectacular.

The guy is super special. A modern day Havlicek.

And because of that, the Miami Heat may have the best roster in the NBA.