NBA 2019-20 thread.

Miami and Philly are actually a really good contrast of a well-run franchise vs. a pack of clowns.

Miami is run by as smart a basketball guy as you'll find in Pat Riley. Spoelstra is a really good coach. If you look at that roster I believe there's exactly one guy who was a top 10 pick -- Andre Iguodala, picked ninth in 2004, who is barely a peripheral figure in this team. They found Duncan Robinson just working out in a gym somewhere.

Philly decided the best way to compete was to surrender for year after year after year so they could stockpile top picks. It's a terrible way to run a franchise and that's being proven now. Most of those picks were busts and the ones who can play can't play together.

Since 2004 Miami has had two top 10 picks in the draft.

Since 2010 Philly has had five top 3 picks in the draft. To show for it they have a perpetually out-of-shape, soft big man and a guy who won't shoot.

Philly decided Butler was too old and didn't like that he called out the lack of leadership and work ethic on that team. Miami wanted him because of that work ethic.

 

Yeah, but he was also right. He should get some credit for that.

 

I think you're being a bit too harsh about Philly, because the guy who decided to tank and accumulate draft capital wasn't the one who decided to blow it on the Butler and Harris trades and contracts. Also, Miami's leadership is Pat Riley, and short of getting Jerry West in there, I'm not sure if there is a guy with such a long and established track record at this point.

 

Right, but they replaced bad leadership with bad leadership. Hinkie's approach to tanking and hoarding picks was a bad idea and it failed. Elton Brand decided to let Butler walk and to give a max to Tobias Harris. No one comes out of that looking smart.

And no, there aren't too many guys with Pat Riley's track record out there, but I would rather hand my team over to a successful career basketball guy than a numbers cruncher from Bain Capital.

 

They moved away from their process, that’s when they really fucked this thing up.

 

Got to give Brand some credit, BUT FOR Kawhi’s all-time LUCKIEST shot EVER, the Sixers are right there and just maybe win a title. Yeah I said it but I’ve never ever, pro or otherwise seen a shot like that’d tom the wing, go in.

I didn’t like the Harris trade though.

 

And I would argue that the Process was a flawed notion from the start. It still netted them two number ones and two number threes in a four year span, and two of the four players they picked were stiffs.

How long are you supposed to keep tanking? Joel Embiid was drafted in 2014 -- how long was he supposed to wait for them to start giving a shit?

 

The best player for the Sixers in the postseason last year was Jimmy Butler and Brand let him walk.

 

They were done tanking. I would have given them the opportunity to take the next step.

 

LeBron James: Anyone who didn't vote for me for MVP is a moron.

LeBron on MVP voting totals: 'It pissed me off'

 

Not even close to what he said or implied.

 

I disagree with you on Hinkie, but I don't think its unreasonable to criticize what he was doing, either. Like, I understand why you'd give him a failing grade, whereas I'd probably give him more of an incomplete.

However, I think the track record for the Bain Capital guys is probably going to be way better than the ex-players. For every Pat Riley and Jerry West, I imagine there are way more Elgin Baylors and Vlade Divacs.