****Official 2017 NBA Playoffs Thread****

[KC_Connection]

The real season begins.

Round 1:

EAST:

#8 Bulls @ #1 Celtics
#7 Pacers @ #2 Cavs
#6 Bucks @ #3 Raptors
#5 Hawks @ #4 Wizards

WEST:
#8 Blazers @ #1 Warriors
#7 Grizzlies @ #2 Spurs
#6 Thunder @ #3 Rockets
#5 Jazz @ #4 Clippers

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Cavs need another player who can help defend Klay and KD to conserve energy for LeBron. A big man isn't going to do much against Golden State. Jimmy Butler would be a perfect fit for them, even more so than Paul George IMO.

That's the inverse of what Durant did for Curry.

When Durant was on the floor, LeBron lost the ability to freelance defensively. He could no longer hide and go providing help defense. LeBron had to be cognizant of Durant at all times and because of that, he couldn't just use that freakish size/speed combo and insane basketball IQ to lurk in the shadows then wreck plays before they got started.

By providing him another elite wing defender, it puts things back to where they were last season. It would free him up to play that defensive disruptor role and force Curry into second guessing himself (or even relying more on Thompson).

Here's a bit of a bargain basement option but one that might be doable - what about Andre Roberson? That guy's an outstanding defensive player. He can play the wings, he can body guys up. He's athletic, he's strong and he's willing. He'd be a fantastic fit in Cleveland.

LeBron
Kyrie
Love
Roberson
Thompson

Eh....still feels light. They'd need to get another upgrade in there somehow. Love for George might be enough as George is a very good defender in his own right and Lue just can't figure out how to utilize Love without ruining LeBron and Irving's game. Perhaps he can incorporate George better.

Butler could be nice in that mix as well but he doesn't have the shooting range and if you lose Love, getting another long outside shooter that can spread defenses would be ideal. With Butler, I don't think you have quite enough range on the floor.

Kyrie
LeBron
George
Roberson
Thompson

I actually like that quite a bit. There are some serious defensive chops on the floor there (only Kyrie is lacking) and while you may lack a little bit of perimeter quickness, you have so much length that you can still get your close-outs and clog passing lanes.

[RobBlake]

if cavs got george, i'll stop watching NBA.

[mcaj22]

Paul George would be great if he put his ego aside and played the 4 more, hes a mismatch nightmare there. I think him and Lebron pairing up would be a nice counter to Golden State if they get the right pieces around them (aka not Tristan Thompson who stinks)

[New World Order]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

Paul George would be great if he put his ego aside and played the 4 more, hes a mismatch nightmare there. I think him and Lebron pairing up would be a nice counter to Golden State if they get the right pieces around them (aka not Tristan Thompson who stinks)

That would be unfair

[-King-]

So when George regresses just like Bosh and love did, what will be the excuse?
Posted via Mobile Device

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by -King-

So when George regresses just like Bosh and love did, what will be the excuse?
Posted via Mobile Device

George is a much better fit for Lebron than either of those guys. And that's considering that Bosh settled into his role nicely, but he had to completely change his game to do so.

I hated the Love trade. Paul George, on the other hand, great fit for the Cavs.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

George is a much better fit for Lebron than either of those guys. And that's considering that Bosh settled into his role nicely, but he had to completely change his game to do so.

I hated the Love trade. Paul George, on the other hand, great fit for the Cavs.

Eh both were PFs who were good at posting up that got pushed into the perimeter and made into 3 point shooters. Paul George is a better fit but he'll still get pushed out into the perimeter so LeBron can drive and kick it out to him. LeBron makes teams better but because he demands 100% of the system be built around him, teammates have to sacrifice what makes them great.
Posted via Mobile Device

[mcaj22]

PG wont regress as fast as those big men did

1) Bosh was doing fine, completetly changed his game to fit the current NBA meta, freak medical injury, if he was healthy he might still be very good today in Miami, they might have been 2nd best team in the East with him this year.

2) Love, who was loved in Minnesota has had his style of play completely gone the way of the dinosaur, his skillset is being completely fazed out in todays NBA, he and guys like him are becoming defensive liabilities as teams go after more undersized tweeners to play small

Its a product of having no dominate athletic 2 way big men left in the league

[-King-]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

PG wont regress as fast as those big men did

1) Bosh was doing fine, completetly changed his game to fit the current NBA meta, freak medical injury, if he was healthy he might still be very good today in Miami, they might have been 2nd best team in the East with him this year.

2) Love, who was loved in Minnesota has had his style of play completely gone the way of the dinosaur, his skillset is being completely fazed out in todays NBA, he and guys like him are becoming defensive liabilities as teams go after more undersized tweeners to play small

Its a product of having no dominate athletic 2 way big men left in the league

A big man who can score from anywhere on the court will never go out of style. The Cavs ****ed him up when they made him a one dimensional 3 point specialist.

Same with Bosh. Bosh even warned Love that he would lose aspects of his game and take a backseat to LeBron.
Posted via Mobile Device

[BigCatDaddy]

Has LeBron ever "Jud Buechlered" a player and made him look better than he is and got him paid somewhere else? Seems his team mates always lose value.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Has LeBron ever "Jud Buechlered" a player and made him look better than he is and got him paid somewhere else? Seems his team mates always lose value.

Jesus Christ.

Ever heard of Dellavedova? Timofey Mozgov? J.J. Hickson?

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Has LeBron ever "Jud Buechlered" a player and made him look better than he is and got him paid somewhere else? Seems his team mates always lose value.

How much did he get paid with the Pistons? I don't really remember this being a thing.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by -King-

Eh both were PFs who were good at posting up that got pushed into the perimeter and made into 3 point shooters.

Except Bosh was a face-up player near the elbow who needed the ball to be successful. He was never a good fit with LeBron (particularly because he didn't add anything defensively), but he made it work as best as he could by the end with his shooting.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

How much did he get paid with the Pistons? I don't really remember this being a thing.

It wasn't. I looked it up and Jud signed a 1 year 850k deal with DET after he was released by CHI. After his two years with DET he the signed a multi year deal.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

How much did he get paid with the Pistons? I don't really remember this being a thing.

He went from league minimum to just above league minimum, until his last year in Detroit, when he made a little over $3 million.

The year he signed with the Pistons he was their 11th-highest paid player.