NBA 2019-20 thread.

Recency bias BUT Luka is more important than Giannis maybe?

 

Ehhhh. I think it's more that Luka will fit into almost any team configuration on offense, whereas Giannis does require a tiny bit more finesse because he "only" shoots 30 percent from 3-point range. He's 6'11", so with the way the NBA is shifting, maybe he's the world's best 5 at some point, kind of like how LeBron has become the world's best 4. LeBron is probably the best comparable for him - For a couple years, you could sag off LeBron and "dare" him to beat you with long shots, and that was better than hounding him and having your wing defenders foul out. LeBron worked on his outside jumper, and got to 40 percent one year in Miami, and it's not a viable strategy anymore.

 

LeBron won't be in Giannis' league as a pure scorer. (If you doubt it go look at the Per 100 possessions and how many points they score.)

LeBron is almost peerless in league history as an offensive distributor/scorer. That's where Luca can go.

 

Chicken vs. egg issue there. LeBron trended up toward 40 points per 100 possessions in Cleveland, until he went to Miami and got better teammates. He's been in the 34.9 to 38.1 range since. Giannis is at 44.2 per 100 this year, adding a couple points each year. (14.5 as a rookie, 20.7, 24.4, 32.7, 36.4, 39.3.) If Giannis suddenly had teammates as good on offense as Wade, Bosh, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, I imagine his points would go down a bit, but his efficiency would go up.

 

When did the Clippers become the Pistons?

 

I never really bought into the idea that an NBA team needs an "enforcer" - until watching Dallas this series against the Clippers.

 

Indiana has fired Nate MacMillan. Had extended him two weeks ago. Oh, well.

 

They still gotta pay him, right?

 

Still kind of strange the Seattle Supersonics are no more.

 

I heard the news on radio. It's a good question, but wasn't addressed.

 

Fond memories of listening to Kevin Calabro call games of those Sonics teams McMillan was on.

 

McMillan was the (long) legs equivalent of Kevin McHale's (long) arms.