Yeah, seems to be just be his personally and vibe, but without that I don't think he could have the swagger he does -- like in one of the most viral clips of round one of him barking at KD as they're going back up the court. It's pretty impressive the improvements he's made and at only 22, he seems fully ready for the stage and the moment. Had a top 9 defensive rating this year, best of any non big.
On the opposite side of that coin.... One of the most confusing players in the league. With that scoring ability and physical profile, I don't get how he disappears so easily. Very curious to see what this next contract looks like. It should be cut in half and then I think he could be a value.
he has to be going to the mle level, right? nobody with space is going to give him 25 per. he'll be 32 when next season starts.
If anyone else watched Game 1 of WCSF, I thought MIN looked about as good as they get in their win over DEN, and I continue to think "Jordan" when I watch Ant. The styles are very similar. Ant has a long way to go, though. Obviously! Kobe looked a lot like MJ too, but proved it over a long career and developed his own style, apart from MJ, by around 2004 or 2005. Ant seems more "explosive" than either of those guys: gets even higher, is a threat to human life when he's clear to dunk. His cross-over dance moves seem more like MJ than Kobe, but others may differ in this. Of course. Those weird stories about MJ not being good enough to make a team in junior high. I noticed the talent in Ant last year, but this season he's metamorphosed over last season. He worked a lot over this past summer. It shows. MIN is his team now, not KAT's. And MIN is better for understanding this. Jayzus he looked good in their win over DEN in Game 1. Let's see if he can keep it up. He's had a handful of glaringly "off" games this past season. He won't turn 23 until August.
Harris really fell off this year, but his tenure with them was hardly bad, and I can't see it as anywhere near a top 5 worst contract ever. Maybe top 5 worst just for Philly. But aren't they paying PJ Tucker for another season, and he's not really in the NBA? Harris in Philly: Four seasons, started 279 games, scored 4756 points, 1800 rebounds, 875 assists, shot 49.5% from the floor, 37.6% from the arc, 87% from the line. 177-112 regular season 22-19 playoffs 17 20-point playoff games
Spiderman showing up huge for CLE as they win Game 7, but CLE has a tough time winning on the road in the playoffs and, sadly, I don't see them giving the Bags a hard time at all. Probably over in 5. I think IND gives Bags a rougher go than NYK in the ECF, but I'm not sure. Just feels that way right now to me. Someone must knock them off. A poster in another thread recently said no one cares about pre-Magic/Bird NBA history, and I get it: you're young. Institutional Memory is a helluva drug, innit friends?
it's boston's year, zoyd. the stars really aligned. they got such a cake walk in the east that even zinger's injury is a blip. whichever west team comes out will be battered--though i think any of the west's top teams will make boston work. amazing how milwaukee saving boston from miami ending them ended up ending both miami and milwaukee AND handing holiday to boston on a silver platter. that is pure luck; i'm sorry. years from now, we'll read about brad stevens's genius here, but that was just sheer, dumb luck.
refs bailed the knicks out, but watching haliburton shrink is weird. watching the first half of denver/minny, and man...murray can't play against length and quickness. we just didn't have any. vando would have helped, but minny's got three of them. denver's getting away with some stuff, too, and minny just keeps playing through it. i'm sure denver will catch up, but their attempt at a mouth punch early missed and was returned. and you can see all of them are rattled right now.
It's a real shame we just didn't get that little extra performance from a role player. I always felt we beat ourselves in that series more than Denver beating us. I hope our FO is watching and learning how to build a roaster. Am loving the crying from denver.
Wolves are going all the way this year. Their defense is something to behold. Denver is done and I’m loving it! Wolves in 7 over Bags.
That very very late illegal pick call on Myles, with Divincenzo selling it: regrettable call. I mean, Myles did commit a foul, but man: why do you call that at that time? Not that I have a dog in the race, I just wanted IND to get a chance. I still think we eliminate DEN with a healthy Vando. Ah, well. MIN has emotional energy going; DEN doesn't. Also: 3 bigs constantly harassing Joker. DEN looks effed down 0-2 going to MIN. I really thought after losing Game 1 DEN would come out and play their A game. They mustered 80 points without Rudy even playing D against 'em. Man. I dare to think MIN could knock off BOS. Even if Porzingis comes back. Call me a romantic.
