Running 2017-18 NBA regular season thread

[TigerVols]

I don't watch the games, so maybe you can help me understand. All I hear about Thomas is how you can't put him on the floor because he's so bad defensively. Where was that last year as he was the best player on Boston carrying them through the playoffs? Is it possible that Lue just isn't a very good coach?

Seems to me he's still playing hurt, or at least favoring his injury.

 

[sgreenwell]

I don't watch the games, so maybe you can help me understand. All I hear about Thomas is how you can't put him on the floor because he's so bad defensively. Where was that last year as he was the best player on Boston carrying them through the playoffs? Is it possible that Lue just isn't a very good coach?

Two things at play here: 1) Thomas wasn't good defensively last year, but Stevens is a pretty good to great game coach, and could think of ways to hide him better. 2) Thomas this year is just a different player. Whether that's because he's still coming back from the injury, or because he's permanently lost skill / ability because of the injury, I'm not sure.

 

[sgreenwell]

Truly stunned the Cavs haven't yet swapped Lue for Fizdale.

If you're Fizdale, or any other decent coach, do you take the job without knowing if LeBron is sticking around? Fizdale will probably have a decent choice of jobs in 18-19, since as Jalen Rose pointed out, no coaches got fired this past off-season. If you take the Cavs job now, you do have a better shot of winning the championship short of the Warriors, Rockets, Celtics or Raptors jobs opening up. But there's a really strong chance that from 18-19 onward, you're coaching a team stuck in the lottery with a lot of mid-tier players.

 

[HanSenSE]

And, hey, Ted Stepien has finally helped the Cavaliers.

Because of him, they can't deal that pick before the draft now.

The late Pete Franklin just declared the Cavs his winner of the day.

 

[sgreenwell]

I kind of like a team "buying low" on Mudiay... but it's high-level Knicks that its the Knicks doing it. They already have one PG that isn't getting enough minutes.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

I kind of like a team "buying low" on Mudiay... but it's high-level Knicks that its the Knicks doing it. They already have one PG that isn't getting enough minutes.

And 4 PGs in their rotation. What a weird team. The new trend in the NBA seems to be to give up on your top picks earlier than ever.

 

[Stoney]

I don't watch the games, so maybe you can help me understand. All I hear about Thomas is how you can't put him on the floor because he's so bad defensively. Where was that last year as he was the best player on Boston carrying them through the playoffs? Is it possible that Lue just isn't a very good coach?

You're operating on the false premise that he's the same player he was last year, when actually he's a sad shell of that guy. Seems that injury really zapped the explosiveness out of his legs. Last year he was healthy and a legit star, this year he looks like a broken down 5'8" shrimp struggling to recover from serious injury.

That's a damn nice coup landing both George Hill (a superb defender) and Clarkson to replace what IT is this year.

 

[Cosmo]

They still have the Nets pick, or did I miss something?

I forgot about the Brooklyn pick. I don't know how. I'm surprised Bill Simmons didn't name one of his kids the Brooklyn pick for as many times as he mentioned it on his pod.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

If you're Fizdale, or any other decent coach, do you take the job without knowing if LeBron is sticking around? Fizdale will probably have a decent choice of jobs in 18-19, since as Jalen Rose pointed out, no coaches got fired this past off-season. If you take the Cavs job now, you do have a better shot of winning the championship short of the Warriors, Rockets, Celtics or Raptors jobs opening up. But there's a really strong chance that from 18-19 onward, you're coaching a team stuck in the lottery with a lot of mid-tier players.

I think you probably take the Cavs job.

Best case scenario: Lebron stays, and he's still a top player for a few years, now surrounded by a better and younger supporting cast.

Worst case scenario: Lebron leaves, but you still have George Hill, Kevin Love, some decent other parts and that Nets pick. Maybe more if you end up doing a sign and trade for Lebron. That's not terrible.

Bottom line, good jobs don't come open very often. Most of his other options are likely to suck, too. Los Angeles might be more attractive if Walton gets fired, but otherwise that Cavs gig might be as good as it gets.

 

[Chef2]

Knicks get Mudiay in deal with Nuggets, Mavs

I'd like to think Denver turned out OK on this deal.
Mudiay was a stud his first two years.

 

[Chef2]

Baby, baby, where did our love go?

The lovely Gabrielle Union appears to have been in that position on many many occasions.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

I think you probably take the Cavs job.

Best case scenario: Lebron stays, and he's still a top player for a few years, now surrounded by a better and younger supporting cast.

Worst case scenario: Lebron leaves, but you still have George Hill, Kevin Love, some decent other parts and that Nets pick. Maybe more if you end up doing a sign and trade for Lebron. That's not terrible.

Bottom line, good jobs don't come open very often. Most of his other options are likely to suck, too. Los Angeles might be more attractive if Walton gets fired, but otherwise that Cavs gig might be as good as it gets.

Worked out OK for Spolstra.