Weezy: I posited that while I was fuming over the way the Lakers looked like the Washington Generals in the last 5 minutes of the game against OKC, in a game they HAD to win. I sound like a nut, but WTF w/AD? What was Russ's act all about? (The slow in getting off the court after being subbed out, and press reports that Ham and Russ got into it after the game.) Russ and Denis basically telegraphed perimeter passes that were picked off for fast-break points. A few guys stood around when a ball was loose. I suspect, but don't know, that there's some deep personal grievances the players have with Lebron's talk to the press, which, let's face it, is not the kind of thing a TRULY good teammate does. I hope I'm wrong and am just all worked up because this season is a different sort of nightmare. (Just now found out KD to PHO for Crowder, Bridges, Cam Johnson, and THREE first rounders? Jeez.)
They’ve both been injured, but all that says to me is they’ll be fresh for the playoffs because they’ve had this time off to recover. Booker hasn’t been injury prone, KD yes, CP3 yes, but being all on the same team you’d have to think helps lighten their load.
Cause it's a fair trade for a superstar imo , I can guarantee you Suns aren't winning s*** Nets won one single playoffs series in three seasons with KD and Kyrie .. and Harden for one season
i'm fine with this trade. phoenix gave up an absolute haul of picks to land KD the one that really pissed me off was when the nets acquired harden for table scraps to team up with kyrie and KD and there was zero outcry about it
To be fair, regarding the “not the sort of thing a good teammate does”, a lot of the biggest winners in league history were pretty ruthless. LeBron talking to the media about that sort of thing is nothing new, he did it last year too, so I guess it doesn’t faze me anymore is all. But regarding your theory I don’t think it’s that wild, it’s entirely possible. But as far as Russ and Dennis go, they’re also very inaccurate passers a lot of the time, Dennis always telegraphs passes, Russ is often way off. The only thing that stands out to me is AD, you do have to wonder now if he heard he was in conversations for KD. And yes I hate the Suns trade, KD went for less than Gobert, ugh.
You're right: this kind of thing from superstars is all too common now. I remember how outraged a lot of people were when Magic had the audacity to take issue with the offense that Paul Westhead was running. Well, Westhead was soon out, Riles was in, and we had Showtime. The very young Magic was right. Now: that's a player vs. coach. But a teammate basically insinuating "we need to get rid of some guys and get me the guys I want" just always seemed effed up to me. At the very least, stop saying stuff to the press. And yea: Denis loses concentration all too often. And Russ was Russ, and I'm so relieved he's gone I feel like we all passed a kidney stone together today. I don't get the standing around like traffic cones on D all the sudden. They really looked like, "Eff it: he passed Kareem. I'm done with this jit. Only a few players actually looked like they cared about winning...in the last 5 minutes...of a game they HAD to win! I don't get it.
I’m not a fan of that sort of thing being aired in the press, but yeah, it never shocks me anymore. And yes Magic is one of the guys I was referring to and that exact situation, these guys want to win at almost any cost, most of it I guess just doesn’t go public. But yeah, Magic, MJ, Kobe, many many more, ruthless when it comes to winning. But anyway I’m so glad to be rid of Russ too, like a weight is lifted, I’m very excited to watch this team with our new players.
clips/boston would be worse, imo. i'll be shocked if cp makes it all the way through four rounds of playoff basketball, and i don't think the suns can win without him, even with durant.
unless we get another major trade today, i'd be surprised if phoenix doesn't cruise to the finals given how weak the west is
Yeah but this really diminishes Boston's chance at a title this year and I am more in line with that than I am in the hate the Suns concept.
i'm actually fine with phx winning. i don't find them as odious as many do. but i don't think they're going to.
You’re ok with that dirty little flopping nut puncher CP getting a ring? No double teams, that mascot is distracting my free throws Booker? Has to join 3 other all-stars to win rings Durant? Screw all of those guys, can’t stand Phoenix.
lol, yeah, i don't have the same antipathy. i hate paul's antics, but he's one of the very best pgs in nba history. durant is a sad weird man, but he's also just outstanding. booker's kind of a punk. i don't know; they're not high on my hate list as a team. honestly, now that harden has generally ceased with the worst of his b******* and settled into an appropriate secondary role, i don't really have serious axes to grind anywhere as a fan. i don't want boston or the clippers to win for lakers reasons, though.
Hate, hateeeee KD, can't stand whiney CPflopter and Booker has the most punchable face in the universe. f***'em
As others have said...once again KD has ruined the parity in the NBA. So sick of this guy man - why can't he just lead a team for once by himself? Knew it was too good to be true when the Kyrie deal happened...KD just can't play his last years in the league with DFS and Dinwiddie and a broke back Simmons. Oh well - everyone knows the team to beat are the Suns. This is essentially Warriors Pt 2.
Like the moves: don't trust Ham to bring it all together in time. Next season should be a significant improvement but have no clue if Lebron will still be a top 15 dude again
Yeah. We improved but is it too late? Can Ham actually put together a line up that works? We will see. At the very least we should be able to enjoy the product on the court more. Also won't have to depend on minimums this offseason. Missing the playoffs this year with the West being so wide open will still sting for me though.
Frankly I still thought based on how they played against the top teams they could have gotten to the finals as long as they were able to miss the Clips. Now Phoenix just seems awesome but maybe I'm wrong - Suns were tough as all their guys seemed to be able to defend and also be good on offense, losing bridges,crowder and johnson from the finals teams hurts them there and Durant and Paul are ancient so we'll see how it plays out.
I'm thinking the same. I don't fear Paul. I think LeBron and AD will somewhat cancel each other out. Their defense definitely takes a hit. Really comes down to Booker and AD to me. I still feel like we've got a puncher's chance against most teams.
