2024-2025 NBA thread: who wants to buy a Duck Boat?!?!

[mcski]

How pissed is Klay now getting stuck on the Mavs

[Danno]

That trade doesn't really make the Cavs better in the regular season, as it trades two rotation players for one slightly better rotation player. But in the playoffs, when your rotation tightens up, having that slightly better player might make a difference.

[Danno]

<p>

How pissed is Klay now getting stuck on the Mavs

</p>
<p>
Maybe, but he&#39;s still on a good team, perhaps a better one in the very short term.</p>

[riser4]

Who you calling a chowd??? And I think the opening minutes in Cleveland showed that Jaylen Brown can effectively score two pointers when he needs to. Go ahead, neutralize our role players. The stars will step up.

[TahoeJ]

I'm skeptical about Jimmy at this point in his career, but a very motivated Jimmy we've seen be a force before. I don't care about losing Wiggins. He flat out disappears in games all the time since 22. Sometimes I'll be watching a game and forget he's even on our team. Warriors had to do something - so while this could work out great or flame out, that's still far more interesting than standing pat with what we have. I'm just glad we kept Kuminga.

[BobMc]

I’d take a motivated 35yo Jimmy on my team any day of the week.

I like what the Pistons did at the deadline. It took a couple moves but they ended up with an upgrade over Sasser to run the second unit, and a second round pick. It doesn’t look like Ivey will be back for any of this season, Shroder will give them a better ball handler to run the reserves. Best of all, they did it without losing any players! He’s on an expiring contract and they can cut him loose after he helps secure A PISTONS PLAYOFF GAME! Heh.

The Pistons have been beating the teams they should, but struggling against the better teams. It was fun to watch them fight it out with the Donovan less Cavs last night. That Garland shot from the logo broke my heart. Were you watching it Bmills? I’d bet the next time they match up Allen may get a strong screen from Beef Stew. The Pistons were lucky Isaiah wasn’t on the floor for that play, I’m sure hands would have been thrown and major suspensions. He’s kinda the Laimbeer of the modern Pistons, people hate him, unless you’re a Pistons fan.

I did get a chuckle seeing Wiseman and Bagley get traded around. The Troy Weaver era of the Pistons will not be looked back on fondly. Both typical Weaver attempts at reclamation projects. Both dudes that every fourth game or so that would make a jaw dropping athletic play, then turn around and look utterly lost for long stretches.

Viva le NBA!

[brutah]

How pissed is Klay now getting stuck on the Mavs

He looked pretty happy lighting up the Cs tonight.

[EWG]

I'm skeptical about Jimmy at this point in his career, but a very motivated Jimmy we've seen be a force before. I don't care about losing Wiggins. He flat out disappears in games all the time since 22. Sometimes I'll be watching a game and forget he's even on our team. Warriors had to do something - so while this could work out great or flame out, that's still far more interesting than standing pat with what we have. I'm just glad we kept Kuminga.

And it’s only a two year commitment. Not a bad move at all.

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

Watching the Dubs game last night, Steph needs help real bad. But giving up a 1st rounder for a 35 yo when you're already the third oldest team in the NBA...

Speaking of age, LeBron is just ridiculous.

[BmillsSkier]

Speaking of age, LeBron is just ridiculous.

I think when this is all long and done and people have the benefit of seeing LeBron&#39;s career in the rearview this will be t he thing that puts him over the top in many eyes - his ability to be so good for so damned long. No one has ever done what he&#39;s doing, especially at his age.
People right now are prisoners of the MJ-LeBron debate moment and can&#39;t seem to objectively step back and look at how amazing his body of work really is.

[Danno]

MJ may have been the peak GOAT but Lebron is the GOAT in my eyes for the reason you mention.

[TahoeJ]

If you’re going with sustained greatness and longevity, I’ll take Kareem. Won Finals MVP at [emoji639][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]]]. Has MJ’s ring count too.

[cinnepa]

OMFG!!! BEN IS AVAILABLE!!! BEN IS AVAILABLE!!!

[MarcusBrody]

LeBron hasn't just scored well the last few games, he's looked really good. Last year, LeBron really made the offense go for the Lakers. Earlier this year, he didn't seem as effective in that role. Even when he scored well, he wasn't serving as group conductor as effectively. The last few games I've seen though (including last night), he has been back to his best in that area. His timing seems to be back and his teammates are more in sync, so fewer sillier turnovers and more effective taking advantage of the pressure which he is now also generating more effectively. I've always enjoyed watching LeBron, but he was out of my top tier to watch earlier in the season (top tier save Jokic, who is in a tier of his own), but has looked back to it the last couple of times I've seen the Lakers play. Whether I'm rooting for him in a particular game or not, that's fun for me given that he's freaking 40.

In the longevity debate, I'd probably take LeBron over Kareem but it's close. That 1985 season TahoeJ points out is a good argument for Kareem and he followed it up with a great year in 85/86 too at 38 (Kareem's birthday is mid April, so he didn't turn 38/39 until after those regular seasons). But LeBron's 39 year old and 40 year old seasons have been pretty amazing for the age while simultaneously being asked to drive a lot more of the offense than Kareem was (though Kareem had more defensive impact). I think it will be easier to compare offensively with Luka's arrival, as he's going to fill the Magic role for LeBron. We will see if LeBron looks more or less impactful.

[BmillsSkier]

Wow. Apparently Simmons is meeting with Cleveland.

[cinnepa]

Imagine if luka put the same investment into his body as lebron does.

[Danno]

<p>

OMFG!!! BEN IS AVAILABLE!!! BEN IS AVAILABLE!!!

</p>
<p>
&nbsp;</p>
<p>
The Sixers should look into signing him.</p>

[TahoeJ]

[emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]][emoji637][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]]][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji639][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]][emoji638]]Imagine if luka put the same investment into his body as lebron does.

I don’t know how LeBron finds the time while reading the first page of all those books. ;-)

[EWG]

MJ may have been the peak GOAT but Lebron is the GOAT in my eyes for the reason you mention.

Let&#39;s see if that quote works. I hear yah, but its not like MJ just had 4 good years or anything, and what he accomplished in his time in the NBA was at least two levels above what anyone has ever accomplished in that amount of time. You dont get to be the GOAT by just hanging on lonnger than anyone else.

I actually feel the opposite of BMills. When Kobe was playing he was kinda sorta in the GOAT debate. Afterwards that fell off cause peopel got mroe perspective. I think LeBron will fall off a bit in the average fans eyes when he&#39;s not out surprising us nightly with incredible 40 year old performances.

Also, Cavs out here trying to get a better draft pick by bringin Simmons into the fold...

Editted to remove apostrophes since they seems to cause text problems.

[Danno]

<p>

Lets see if that quote works. I hear yah, but its not like MJ just had 4 good years or anything, and what he accomplished in his time in the NBA was at least two levels above what anyone has ever accomplished in that amount of time. You dont get to be the GOAT by just hanging on lonnger than anyone else. I actually feel the opposite of BMills. When Kobe was playing he was kinda sorta in the GOAT debate. Afterwards that fell off cause peopel got mroe perspective. I think LeBron will fall off a bit in the average fans eyes when hes not out surprising us nightly with incredible 40 year old performances. Also, Cavs out here trying to get a better draft pick by bringin Simmons into the fold... Editted to remove apostrophes since they seems to cause text problems.

</p>
<p>
&nbsp;</p>
<p>
I dont really agree.&nbsp; I am not giving LBJ a long term participation award. I do think longevity plays a role in the GOAT debate, sure, and I do think MJ at his best was a little bit better than LBJ, but LBJ dragged some sorry ass teams a long way.&nbsp; Take a look at this team and tell me that is a Finals caliber team: https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/2007.html&nbsp;</p>
<p>
&nbsp;</p>
<p>
I think MJ had a more killer instinct, he was more of an asshole and more willing to rip out your jugular, and that is why I give him the edge re peak, but he had very little success until a stellar team was put around him, lets not forget that. And I fully disagree re perspective, I think once LBJ retires and people gain more perspective, his stature will rise, not fall.&nbsp; I think people take his greatness for granted right now.</p>
<p>
&nbsp;</p>
<p>
If someone thinks that GOAT means how was the best at peak power, that I agree that MJ was the GOAT.&nbsp; But I dont think LBJ was two levels behind him ever. And I think his overall body of work is superior.</p>

[BobMc]

Remember me hoping for Beasley making the 3 point shoot out? WTF, Cade? I have no idea where that came from, Cade is shooting better from three this season, but c’mon. Beasley is second in the league in made threes, from the bench!

I know most of you probably get tired of reading my Pistons homerisms, but, it was nice seeing them on ESPN for the first time in a minute. Settled in to pregame to see Cade was out, fuck. I saw the twisted ankle against the Cavs on Wednesday and was amazed he played through it. So, I wasn’t totally surprised.

What did surprise me was the total ass kicking they put on the Sixers. Beasley dropping 36, 9-19 from 3. Ausar playing point forward, y’all gonna keep hearing more about these Thompson kids. Pre-game, every ESPN analyst picked 76’ers, heh.

I’m calling it now, Pistons will make the playoffs with the sixth seed. I think the top five seeds in the East are pretty established, most of them stayed pat at the deadline. Not saying the order is set, just the teams. That sixth spot will be close. The Pistons and Magic were the only teams that didn’t move backwards or improve. I thought perhaps the Sixers could threaten, but see above.

[Danno]

I think the Magic are hoping to improve by getting their two best players healthy.

[BobMc]

<p>
Mo is done for the season, Franz and Banchero have been back for a few weeks, hasn&rsquo;t translated to wins.</p>

[cinnepa]

Simmons and harden teammates now. Pretty funny.

[riser4]

Popcorn please.