2023/2024 NBA THREAD: WHO WANTS TO GO ON PARADE?!?

[fool]

I don't know if it's an old video or a new one, but Thinking Basketball now has clips on the NBA YouTube channel. The latest one covers the evolution of Steph as seen in game 7 of the Kings vs. GSW series last year. Some crazy plays from Steph and fun to watch.

[Adolf Allerbush]

White-Holiday-Brown-Tatum-Porzingis name a better starting 5 Horford backing up Porzingis

That starting line up is the best in the league IMO. The east is going to be very interesting to watch.

[The Reverend Floater]

Blazers rumored to be moving Brogdan.

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[BobMc]

I renewed my NBA league pass, training camp starts in a couple weeks. Cade and the Pistons gonna make some noise this season.

Where’s the new thread?

[cinnepa]

Blazers rumored to be moving Brogdan.

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We'll take him.....good revenge games against celts

[Adolf Allerbush]

Blazers rumored to be moving Brogdan.

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I'm sure I'll end up regretting saying this, but Cronin is kicking ass. A++ so far with this whole deal. Miami looks so stupid....not only did they miss the boat with Dame but now two of their top competitors in the east are better than they were before they decided to be idiots with one of the leagues best. Now Brogdon to be traded too? and I like Cinnepa's idea...76ers seems a fantastic fit. Maybe for a player and a pick.

and I'm sorry, but this Zers team might be ok. Not gonna win a chip but they could be a pain in the ass for a lot of teams.

[riser4]

I renewed my NBA league pass, training camp starts in a couple weeks. Cade and the Pistons gonna make some noise this season.

Where’s the new thread?

THIS is the new thread!

[riser4]

White-Holiday-Brown-Tatum-Porzingis name a better starting 5 Horford backing up Porzingis

I like seeing White in that list. He's probably my favorite player on the Celtics at this point.

[Grizz]

Cronin the Barbarian? Trader Joe's? I'd like to see him get salty and offer Brogdon to the Heat for Herro and picks.

They probably won't win much but the Zers are going to be a fun team to watch this season. Great foundation for a rebuild and the future. They have also smoothly transitioned between nicknames, from Dame Time to Time Lord.

[cat in january]

If time lord stays healthy you guys are going to enjoy having him on the Blazers. Potential to be the best defensive center in the modern game. Excellent passer and a good dood.

[riser4]

If time lord stays healthy you guys are going to enjoy having him on the Blazers. Potential to be the best defensive center in the modern game. Excellent passer and a good dood.

Yup. I am going to miss him.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

If time lord stays healthy

He never has and never will. But he is an excellent basketball player.

[EWG]

White-Holiday-Brown-Tatum-Porzingis name a better starting 5 Horford backing up Porzingis

Sorry Danno, it's close for sure, but you still have to take the defending champions starting 5. Jokic is better than anyone in the world, and Murray is still being slept on. Last year he played above Brown's level.

So:

Jokic > Tatum and the gulf here is pretty large
Murray > Brown by a little
Holiday = Porter this one could go either way. Porter scores better, Holiday much better on D
KCP > White
Gordon > Porzingus by a good amount, especially on defense

On top of that, Denver's players have always gotten better in the playoffs, especially their top two, where as the new top 3 of the Celtics have historically struggled with the bigger series'. It gets more interesting if you compare top 6.

So it could change but for now Denver is still better. A Suns/Celtics comparison would also be interesting, but I think the Celtics have the better roster on paper there.

[cat in january]

Umm how many division finals has Denver been to in the last seven years? I would switch your 4 and 5 rankings and put Horford above whoever is six. Team game though so we will see how the new Celtics jell.

[Duffman]

All these deals just continue to make this an absolute nightmare off-season for the sixers. If only a few wide open fucking 3s could fall in Game 6. Now here they are instead....

[riser4]

I sure hope old man Al has a few more good seasons left in him. Great resource to pull out as a 6th man.

[EWG]

Ok, FWIW I've surveyed my NBA focused buddies and our consensus is that we have no idea what the Celtics are trying to do here. Jrue, Jaylen and Jason all need the ball. We're not believers in Porzingus. Time Lord and Brogdon were super reliable when on the court.

It all just feels ... weird. Will it mesh? Can they all work together?

Maybe they just want a full starting 5 of J names?

[BobMc]

THIS is the new thread!

I guess I’m still a little loopy.

Jimmy Butler with the best look at media day.

[riser4]

Ok, FWIW I've surveyed my NBA focused buddies and our consensus is that we have no idea what the Celtics are trying to do here. Jrue, Jaylen and Jason all need the ball. We're not believers in Porzingus. Time Lord and Brogdon were super reliable when on the court.

It all just feels ... weird. Will it mesh? Can they all work together?

Maybe they just want a full starting 5 of J names?

Stevens be like hold my crack pipe and watch this!

[TahoeJ]

Sorry Danno, it's close for sure, but you still have to take the defending champions starting 5. Jokic is better than anyone in the world, and Murray is still being slept on. Last year he played above Brown's level.

Curry - Klay - Wiggins - Draymond - Looney had the highest net rating for five players on the floor last season, well ahead of Denver's starting five. Problem was our second unit and Jordan Poole were absolute garbage. Denver was definitely the better all around squad no doubt, but those are the numbers if we're just talking starting five.

[Brock Landers]

I guess I’m still a little loopy.

I can’t tell the difference either. Same shit different thread!

[Brock Landers]

With r Williams always hurt or playing reduced minutes because he’s forever “working his way back”, I think Boston actually improves its consistency (I’ve bitched about their inconsistency ad nauseum) including defense.

Last year Smart was so wildly inconsistent, including defensively, I think Jrue is a big upgrade there. Jrue + White > smart + brogdon + White. And porzingis > R Williams 20 mins a night.

Unless Porzingis gets hurt a la Gordon Hayward which isn’t that much of a stretch.

I still don’t think Tatum has balls though. And Jaylen has trouble dribbling.

[riser4]

I think they shoulda gotten rid of Brown. That's my hot take. And put Tatum on notice.

[Danno]

Sorry Danno, it's close for sure, but you still have to take the defending champions starting 5. Jokic is better than anyone in the world, and Murray is still being slept on. Last year he played above Brown's level.

So:

Jokic > Tatum and the gulf here is pretty large
Murray > Brown by a little
Holiday = Porter this one could go either way. Porter scores better, Holiday much better on D
KCP > White
Gordon > Porzingus by a good amount, especially on defense

Agree with your first two takes, 100%.
Disagree on the 3rd, MPJ has WAY more potential but on the court right now? No way.
I don't think you watched enough White last year, he was better than KCP by a good stretch.
Gordon and Porzingis is interesting. Gordon is certainly more reliable historically and is a completely different kind of defender. KP is a much better rim protector and scorer. If he's healthy and plays like last season, I think your take is completely wrong. But he may be neither.

[brutah]

Jimmy Butler with the best look at media day.

His media day haircuts the last few seasons are hilarious.

I love these swings for the fences by the Bucks and Celtics! Makes the upcoming season super fun and it will be great to see how these swings turn out once the season starts. Good thing there’s an in season tourney now lol

Hard to guess how porzingis will work on a contender and I don’t think playing for the wizards (or any bad team) is a good gauge. He certainly won’t get the ball as much and he’s had locker room issues in the past, but he is older so maybe he’s matured. Either way, I think Jrue is a huge upgrade over Marcus Smart, and KP is ultimately an upgrade over Grant Williams and time lord. I’d be stoked if I was a Celtics fan.

I’m kinda interested to see how the new CBA effects these teams that now have some giant contracts on there books. The Celtics have 3 guys making over 30 mil this season and are 16mil over the luxury tax threshold. Bucks are also 16 mil over with Giannis and Dame making 45mil this season. GSW is 41 mil over this season, clippers and suns are both in the 20 mil over range. It will be interesting to see how that hampers these teams in the coming years. And while the blazers are under the luxury tax threshold they’ve got a few terrible contracts on their books after this summer; overpaying jermani grant and now adding ayton, though I hope ayton turns it around on a new team which could make his contract not look bad.

All I know is only the nuggets and warriors are returning with core of their champion teams and that makes a huge difference in the team sport that is basketball.

And lastly, James Harden sucks