Relic Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 M. Morris might walk back his verbal agreement with the Spurs to sign with the Knicks, who coincidentally want to be the first team in history to start 5 power forwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fez Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 I strongly support this thread title. So here's a question, with the championship looking so wide open this year and so many of the contending teams relying on a duo and would sink if either got hurt, is this going to be one of the more boring regular seasons in recent years? I just wonder if everyone is going to heavily pace themselves and have limited minutes to stay as fresh as possible for the playoffs this year, because they know they have a real shot at winning. Basically, is everyone going to pull a LeBron? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maithanet Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 Just now, Fez said: I strongly support this thread title. So here's a question, with the championship looking so wide open this year and so many of the contending teams relying on a duo and would sink if either got hurt, is this going to be one of the more boring regular seasons in recent years? I just wonder if everyone is going to heavily pace themselves and have limited minutes to stay as fresh as possible for the playoffs this year, because they know they have a real shot at winning. Basically, is everyone going to pull a LeBron? I think that practice is gaining steam regardless. Kawhi was on limited minutes last year, and it wasn't really clear whether that was medically necessary or just something to help him be fresher in the playoffs. But he certainly did look fresh. I think that resting stars for minor bumps and bruises will continue to get more common this year. It dilutes the NBA regular season a bit, but the regular season is already diluted with the ridiculous number of games. I consider myself an NBA fan, and last year I watched portions of maybe 5 or 6 regular season games. It's a far cry from the NFL, where even a middling MNF matchup is worth at least a look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMC Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 Great title. I agree that resting your guys is going to become more and more common. Not just in the NBA. Hell, I'm a Yankees fan, and let's say next year their entire lineup is healthy - I still wouldn't want basically anyone playing more than 140 games. Most I wouldn't want playing more than 130. You're not gonna shorten the season in any sport - the owners want the money - but I don't think it's a problem that teams are trying to adjust around that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fez Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 I agree that resting makes more and more sense. However, I also feel bad for fans going out to a game and then learning before it even starts that it'll almost certainly be a loss, and probably not even a fun one, because of who's resting. Unfortunately, I just don't think there's anything to be done, unless the season were shortened. Which, yeah, that's not going to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maithanet Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 21 minutes ago, Fez said: I agree that resting makes more and more sense. However, I also feel bad for fans going out to a game and then learning before it even starts that it'll almost certainly be a loss, and probably not even a fun one, because of who's resting. Unfortunately, I just don't think there's anything to be done, unless the season were shortened. Which, yeah, that's not going to happen. I think that shortening the season slightly isn't completely out of the question. Going from 82 to 76 wouldn't impact basketball revenue that much. That's a decline of just 7% of regular season games, and those remaining 93% would presumably be (slightly) more important since they're a more scarce resource. In addition, playoff revenue would be unaffected, and TV revenue would be less affected than you'd think, because the season would still have games every night, it's just fewer games. So the TNT deal wouldn't have any fewer games to pay for. Considering what a huge portion of the NBA money pool comes from those TV deals, you're looking at an overall decline not on the order of 7%, but probably more like 2-3% (I'm making these numbers up, but that seems reasonable). IF owners and players were actually getting something from that additional rest (fewer injured stars in the playoffs, fewer stars taking rest nights as a healthy scratch), then it could totally pay off. The problem is that this is passing up on guaranteed money in favor of a theoretical and uncertain payoff. Which is why it's a tough sell for Silver. Nonetheless, I don't think it's impossible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMC Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 5 minutes ago, Maithanet said: I think that shortening the season slightly isn't completely out of the question Agreed - shortening it like as you said, only 6 games, or even ten games, is definitely not out of the question. Especially with players asserting themselves more and more in basically every facet. And it actually working. I just don't think you're gonna get to chop off much more than that (10). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Chatywin et al. Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 You need to though. Six isn't nearly enough if we're adding a midseason tournament. That's why I suggested a 62 game season with two tournaments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Relic Posted July 11, 2019 Author Share Posted July 11, 2019 17 hours ago, Fez said: However, I also feel bad for fans going out to a game and then learning before it even starts that it'll almost certainly be a loss, . Every Knicks fan for the last 20 years, aside from 2013. Cry face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fez Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 Yesterday's news, but I only saw it today: I wonder if the Clippers knew there was a potential for this to only be a two-year run before they agreed to trade so much for Paul George. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maithanet Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 9 minutes ago, Fez said: I wonder if the Clippers knew there was a potential for this to only be a two-year run before they agreed to trade so much for Paul George. Most teams would trade away a decade of draft picks for a two year window as title favorites. And the Clippers, with 0 Finals appearances, are definitely one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime L Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 4 minutes ago, Fez said: Yesterday's news, but I only saw it today: I wonder if the Clippers knew there was a potential for this to only be a two-year run before they agreed to trade so much for Paul George. It's a pretty big deal. And Paul George signed the same deal: 2 + a player option contract. Every time stars come together we think they'll last 5-10 years when really it's always 3-4. Now if there's an injury or Kawhi or George don't get along or either starts to noticeably decline (which considering their combined injury history would not be out of the question), either or both could pull the ejection cord two years in and leave the Clippers in a state of burning wreckage. This was why the AD trade was such a haul - the chances the Lakers are still a superteam in the mid 2020s when the picks came due are pretty damn slim. And same deal here for OKC and the Clippers picks. Pels and Thunder have a ridiculously bright futures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briantw Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 18 minutes ago, Jaime L said: It's a pretty big deal. And Paul George signed the same deal: 2 + a player option contract. Every time stars come together we think they'll last 5-10 years when really it's always 3-4. Now if there's an injury or Kawhi or George don't get along or either starts to noticeably decline (which considering their combined injury history would not be out of the question), either or both could pull the ejection cord two years in and leave the Clippers in a state of burning wreckage. This was why the AD trade was such a haul - the chances the Lakers are still a superteam in the mid 2020s when the picks came due are pretty damn slim. And same deal here for OKC and the Clippers picks. Pels and Thunder have a ridiculously bright futures. Paul George was traded, so he didn't sign anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Chatywin et al. Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 Kawhi was always going to sign a 2+1. That way he can get the 10 year 35% super max or leave if it doesn’t work out. Say what you want about The Board Man, he understands leverage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime L Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 9 minutes ago, briantw said: Paul George was traded, so he didn't sign anything. Noted. Regardless he's still on the same 2+1 timeframe....which is probably a big part of why Kawhi signed a contract to put him in alignment with George's contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fez Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 44 minutes ago, Maithanet said: Most teams would trade away a decade of draft picks for a two year window as title favorites. And the Clippers, with 0 Finals appearances, are definitely one of them. Are the Clippers title favorites though? If so, I think it's only by the slimmest of margins and that's only for this year. Next year, if KD fully recovers, it might be Brooklyn. It's not like they're the 2018 Warriors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Chatywin et al. Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 4 minutes ago, Fez said: Are the Clippers title favorites though? If so, I think it's only by the slimmest of margins and that's only for this year. Next year, if KD fully recovers, it might be Brooklyn. It's not like they're the 2018 Warriors. Kawhi and George are better than KD and Kyrie, even if KD comes back, which I doubt. The Clippers still have a lot of talent. They are instantly the best defensive team and they have two dudes who could have won sixth man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maithanet Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 Just now, Fez said: Are the Clippers title favorites though? If so, I think it's only by the slimmest of margins and that's only for this year. Next year, if KD fully recovers, it might be Brooklyn. It's not like they're the 2018 Warriors. They are the Vegas favorites, yes. It is fairly close, with the Lakers and Sixers next in line. But you don't need to be overwhelming favorites to make a move like this worth it. They have two very realistic shots at being NBA champs by 2021. In the past 20 years, how many teams have had similarly good shots? 10? I know I can easily make a long list of teams that were haven't been anywhere near this close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maithanet Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 Ok, so I was curious and made a quick list. The criteria is "Has this team in the past twenty years (2000-2019) had a two year window as promising as the Clippers right now?" Yes (7) - Celtics, Cavaliers, Warriors, Lakers, Heat, Thunder, Spurs No (18) - Hawks, Nets, Hornets, Bulls, Nuggets, Pacers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Bucks, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Knicks, Magic, Sixers, Raptors, Jazz, Wizards, Blazers Maybe (5) - Mavericks, Pistons, Rockets, Kings, Suns Note that I am aware that the Raptors, Mavericks and Pistons won titles over this span. But sometimes long shots come through - it doesn't mean they were particularly likely to win. The Raptors were like 15 to 1 odds on a championship before last season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime L Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 1 minute ago, Maithanet said: Ok, so I was curious and made a quick list. The criteria is "Has this team in the past twenty years (2000-2019) had a two year window as promising as the Clippers right now?" Yes (7) - Celtics, Cavaliers, Warriors, Lakers, Heat, Thunder, Spurs No (18) - Hawks, Nets, Hornets, Bulls, Nuggets, Pacers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Bucks, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Knicks, Magic, Sixers, Raptors, Jazz, Wizards, Blazers Maybe (5) - Mavericks, Pistons, Rockets, Kings, Suns Note that I am aware that the Raptors, Mavericks and Pistons won titles over this span. But sometimes long shots come through - it doesn't mean they were particularly likely to win. The Raptors were like 15 to 1 odds on a championship before last season. I don't about "as promising" because we still have to see how this team comes together but the Mavs (2006-2007), Pistons (2004-2005), Kings (2001-2003), Suns (2006-2010) all had windows as elite contenders. Infact that's probably an understatement. They all had a period of time where they were either the out and out favorite or co-favorite. That's roughly where the Clippers are now. I'm not ready to say Kawhi/George is immediately better than the 6 seconds or less Suns or those great C-Webb Kings teams. I need to see it first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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