2016-2017 NBA Discussion Thread

Westbrook signs an extension with the Thunders. Smart move money wise.

 

Keep an eye out on the East this upcoming season, I think Indiana are very underrated considering their pick ups! Celtics are probably going to be the big contenders on paper with all their talent. I also think 76ers will finally raise a few eyebrows with Okafor, Noel, Simmons and Embiid. I'm still undecided though who to back for the fun of it, after supporting the Bucks and them extremely under performing last year i expect big things out of them especially with the success that was brought toward the end of season trialling Giannis in PG. Then again i'm thinking of jumping aboard the Suns wagon because even though they are utter trash i think Devin Booker is ice cold and will be looking to make a statement on a lost cause team.

 

True, however who is challenging the cavs?

 

On paper probably only the celtics can match them in playoffs but I expect the regular season to be extremely tight as I feel with lebrons minutes decreasing and the loss of a pivotal defensive Pg in Delly they will drop a few more games. It just will be good to see a competitive conference and a big battle for the 8 spots with teams like Bucks, Pacers, Magic and "New superteams" in Bulls and Knicks all trying to take a slice of finals.Unlike the West who will have the Warriors stomp everyone except Spurs as I feel with 2 experienced bigs in Gasol and Aldridge (also former DPOY in Leonard) gsw's smaller lineup will struggle. Although it's a scary thought thinking any 1 of 3 players in the lineup can single handedly carry a team on any given night. Tbh I'm more looking forward to the 2017/2018 season as that is when the salary cap hikes and if there is no lockout it will be baffling to see the amount of money splashed on certain players!

 

I love the Celtics more than anything, one of my very first favorite teams in any sport. But I don't think they'd have any chance versus the Cavs in a playoff series. Maybe they could stretch it to 6. But it'd be a tilted 6 like the Raptors and Cavs series was.

I think the Celtics are still a few pieces away.

 

Maybe man I'm just not willing to sleep on a young team who played impressive ball last season and made playoffs who have gone on to sign an Allstar in Horford and arguably best draft prospect in Brown should be a close conference at least!

 

A lot of it rides on Jaylen Brown. If he is really good, my confidence will grow a lot. I'm kind of iffy on Ainge's draft this past summer. If Jaylen Brown weren't to pan out, we pretty much wasted all of those picks. I'm not sure anyone else in that Celtics draft class will make too big of an impact. At least not immediately (which usually means they're trade bait and won't ever make an impact in Boston).

Your optimism is refreshing though, a lot of people are usually pretty harsh on the Celtics.

With Brad Stevens at the helm, who I consider to already be one of the best coaches in the NBA, the sky is the limit.

I just hope that they utilize these upcoming picks well. They're really close to hitting that next level, but hitting that next level is really probably the hardest part.

 

I see the cavs sweeping the celtics.

 

Would love to hear your opinions, who do you see as a threat in the east? Also what team do you think will have biggest turn around compared to last year?

 

Probably the Knicks. Orlando will have the biggest turn around.

 

Personally, basketball is almost boring at this point. We will most likely see the Warriors and the Cavaliers in the 2017 Finals. Of course anything can happen, but I am not holding my breath.

Like the OP said above me, if the Knicks still healthy (mostly Rose) they could really make alot of noise and actually make a playoff run.

 

Basketball has always been like that. You usually have 3-4 teams that could win a championship, then you have a few teams that overachieve and expectations are capped prior to a finals appearance, then you have filler teams that make the playoffs just by having an all-around stable team, but not enough talent to get far. The only thing that can really disrupt the flow are injuries.

 

Anyone watching the Olympics?

I'm surprised Serbia put that pounding on Australia.

USA looking vulnerable without LBJ there.

 

USA roster isn't all that impressive so I'm not surprised by games being close against inferior competition.

 

Yeah Coach K usually sticks with the same guys too, short bench all the time. Does the same at Duke. He doesn't seem to like Draymond or Barnes lmao.

 

thoughts on the "new nba legend" devin brooker?

 

Yeah Booker is sick. He was kind of under the radar on the stacked Kentucky team and now he looks like the 1st or 2nd best player from the class. Glad he left Kentucky early lol.

 

dude Bryant sent him a pair of signed shoes saying "to the next NBA legend"
thats insane

 

The only thing I worry about is where he's stuck...Phoenix is so bad. And really don't look like they're going anywhere.

 

but the thing is that this is how all teams have started out, and also keep in mind that Brooker himself said that he plans to make the Phoenix suns a great team which is awesome, but like you said he does need a good roster to back him up

All NBA legends/hall of famers have stuck with a team, and made that team great (Jordan>bulls, Magic>LA, Pierece>Boston, etc, and Lebron>Cavs just recently). If Brooker wants to become a legend, he just needs some good draft picks