2018-19 NBA Thread

Kerr is on record as saying that he didn't think the Bulls could have won four straight, even if Jordan stayed for one of the stretches, because it's so exhausting and draining to have to play that deep each season. I realize that's kind of self-serving, but yeah - the league adjusts, your team gets worn down, and it's hard for me to believe that you can honestly be as pumped for Title Attempt Four as you are for numbers one and two. The Warriors have cycled in guys on the margins - hey, that Durant guy is helpful, who'd have thunk it? - but ultimately the "core" of Curry, Thompson, Green and Iggy have played a hell of a lot of basketball the past couple years.

All that being said - I'm still a tiny bit of a Rockets skeptic. Harden was incredible this year, and awesome in round one against a stout Jazz team. I don't know if this means Ugly Playoffs Harden from years past isn't going to show up. I still think the Warriors are going to give them more effort and be more 'up' for games against them than the plucky Clippers in round one, even if that series ends up going seven games.

 

1993-94 was Kerr's first with the team. He'd never played with Jordan, who was pathologically competitive. How would he know what that team would have accomplished?

 

This is an angels-dancing-on-the-head-of-a-pin question if ever there was one, and I'm not pretending that my thoughts are an answer, BUT, I covered Jordan in his first spring training with the White Sox, and he was so obviously relieved, relaxed and happy as a AA prospect I do not believe he could've returned to the Bulls for that fourth title nor could he have won the next threepeat if he hadn't had his baseball i interlude. He needed a space to see what failure was like.

 

Jerry West has kind of lousy seats for this Clippers game. Immediately behind the basket. Gotta think his view is really obstructed.

He's the logo. Move the man over by Ballmer.

 

He normally didn't watch games at all when he was the GM, maybe since he's only a consultant now he he can tolerate obstructed seats.

 

Since we don’t have the search function, who was the one that thinks Durant can’t carry a team? I’m leaning towards @DanOregon

 

I thought I was pretty clear about what I meant - I was talking about the locker room leadership, not points. That was the Melo comparison.

 

And it was ridiculous.

 

Good god, cut your losses.

Durant and Melo aren't in any stratosphere together.

 

My get off my lawn rant, I’m getting old and now I just want to admire the brilliance of Harden/Paul/Durant/Curry and whoever wins so be it. Energy into whether “my” team wins is wasted energy and I’ve missed the chance to appreciate the greatness of the opponent.

 

One thing I've discovered as I've gotten older -- I enjoy the games more now that I have virtually no rooting interest in any team. I find hardcore fans of individual teams to be borderline insufferable. There are teams I'll pull for in an individual game or series but if they lose it won't change my mood one iota.

 

So Durant is a that much of a better team leader than Melo? He's one of the best players, if not the best, in the league. I've never heard him praised for his leadership skills.
Durant says he’s ‘not a leader,' calls Steph the 'face' of the Warriors