Genetics are not created equal. All-time greats have a lot of respect for what both LeBron and Vince are doing at this stage of their careers.
Blazers are 9-13 since signing Melo. Not really an impact signing at all. They are 15-22 now, so they were 6-9 without him.
I wouldn't write off Portland until they play with Collins and Nurkic. Melo is shooting 41% from three... so he's doing his job at least in terms of providing some instant offense. I think we can beat them either way but I don't think they are done if they come back in time.
I don't necessarily disagree because I haven't watched Portland much. But impact is different than "getting you over the hump". Melo seems to have a positive impact. They had absolutely nothing at PF and now they have a guy that still kind of belongs in the NBA. Its just not enough to get Portland over the hump.
16.5/6 in 32 minutes @ over 40% shooting from 3 is better than most predicted. I would have taken him over Elmer
there's a reason he's burned like 4 bridges in 5 years. and it's not because he doesn't produce. he must be such a handful behind the scenes. where you playing him with the lakers? our 4 men are AD and kuz. you want to completely lose kuzma by cutting his minutes further for a guy that was out of the league. you want to send a message about defense by playing melo 30mpg? i'm glad he's helped them there (not sure if that's actually true, tbh--more like they helped him), but he wasn't the right move for us. portland was--and frankly, still is--desperate. we weren't and aren't.
I know about him wanting a starting gig and all. If that was the case, NO. If he was willing to go the "Dwight route", yes. Kuz will be gone soon anyways... not that i agree with it
if management knew they wanted to move kuz, they should have done it while his value was higher (for a guard) then signed melo as a backup. could have happened late summer, early season. but as long as kuz was on the roster, signing melo made no sense. would have just caused problems and not really solved any. you can't play 15 guys.
hears young and harden both had 40 pt triple doubles, checks box scores: https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401161200 9-34 and 11-30 from the field, 23 and 18 FTAs. harden with 8 TOs. nba action...it's fantastic?
lol. But when you check their stats, Young and Harden are both remarkably efficient for chuckers with no conscience. Both are shooting 45% from the floor and 38% from outside...those would pretty much be career highs or close to career highs for Kobe. Given the amount of 3s instead of 2s, there is no question that they produce more ppp. This chucking has become the new norm. Its not pretty to watch, its an eye sore. But it works when you crunch the numbers.
