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Post by Cabutan on Apr 18, 2018 12:43:57 GMT -5
C's looked like a well oiled machine last night. Milw couldn't run anything and our offense was sharp. Rozier of course but how about Morris shots, they were nothing but net. Pretty impressive game by the C's. I love this team ... Morris, Baynes & Monroe give us a toughness we haven't had in some time. Coupled with the core stars, Irving & Hayward and our future stars in Rozier, Brown & Tatum and the only thing that would excite me more would be trading into the top 5 of this years draft for that missing future center. If we keep playing like this and make it to the EC Finals, the exposure Rozier gets could make his value soare if it hasn't already. I'd like to keep him but he's destined to be a starter on another team. Anyone in the top five 2018 draft want a sure thing and a FRDP? Love this team as well. Last night they played in such a harmonious way. I have some concerns about this team next season. If we keep all the players that is. It could be destined for years of championships but sometimes teams that are loaded like we could be (given we keep all the guys) is, playing time. If everyone is willing to be on the same page which is be productive when they get to play (or when their names get called), we should be unbelievably fine for years to come. Having the luxury of interchanging completely competent guys according to the opponents players, is rarely seen. All these injuries are just making this team much better.
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Post by Cabutan on Apr 18, 2018 12:47:06 GMT -5
By Erik JohnsonThe Boston Celtics took a 2-0 series lead over the Bucks Tuesday night after a solid 120-106 win at TD Garden. Naturally, frustrated Milwaukee fans had a lot to say about it. Here's how they were reacting as the game unfolded: Top ThreeI feel sorry for Boston fans Our D gives them the impression they have a team that’ll go deep… Talk about a spin zone! We might get swept by the Celtics ball boys I really wish the Bucks would "Own the Present" rather than the future This guys' got a good point - someone might want to bring this up with the Bucks' marketing team Full SlateAll i can say is it must be nice to have 3 point shooters. I'm trying to understand how a team can be this bad at rebounding. Giannis is too good for this team This series is over Alright you know what F this team. I’m done Every starter and random backups look like future HOFers vs. the bucks. i just threw up. this is so disgusting i cant take any more. Tatum should shave Our defense is the miracle cure any opposing player needs to get comfortable Waiting for Yabusele's break out performance next game Bucks dont deserve Giannis F*****g Morris is unconscious *One minute later Add Rozier to that list *Two minutes later And horford *One minute later And Brown *And another minute later And Shane Larkin I think im just gonna spin a wheel and whatever team it lands on is my new team. I blame everything on Sr. Charles picking us to win. Bucks in 6 | You can't win in 6 if you don't lose 2. www.celticslife.com/2018/04/green-envy-what-bucks-fans-said-game-2.html Haaaa I love these posts. You know, I even questioned whether the Bucks plainly suck or is it really us. Our strategy has made them look really really bad. Kuddos to BS, he really prepared them for game 2.
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Post by hedleylamarr on Apr 18, 2018 12:53:56 GMT -5
Bucks fans are too funny!!
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Post by Admin on Apr 18, 2018 13:19:00 GMT -5
I love this team ... Morris, Baynes & Monroe give us a toughness we haven't had in some time. Coupled with the core stars, Irving & Hayward and our future stars in Rozier, Brown & Tatum and the only thing that would excite me more would be trading into the top 5 of this years draft for that missing future center. If we keep playing like this and make it to the EC Finals, the exposure Rozier gets could make his value soare if it hasn't already. I'd like to keep him but he's destined to be a starter on another team. Anyone in the top five 2018 draft want a sure thing and a FRDP? Love this team as well. Last night they played in such a harmonious way. I have some concerns about this team next season. If we keep all the players that is. It could be destined for years of championships but sometimes teams that are loaded like we could be (given we keep all the guys) is, playing time. If everyone is willing to be on the same page which is be productive when they get to play (or when their names get called), we should be unbelievably fine for years to come. Having the luxury of interchanging completely competent guys according to the opponents players, is rarely seen. All these injuries are just making this team much better. Exactly ... that's why I wouldn't be surprised if Danny cashes in his Rozier chips. We either keep Irving or Rozier but not both. Larkin is proving to be a competent reserve and we can afford to gamble on Smart breaking out like Rozier did but for far less than Rozier's value. Anyone want to keep Terry and trade Irving? I didn't think so ... Rozier can be couple with a FRDP and we have some depth we won't be needing in Nader and Yabusele or Ojeleye. Theis is a keeper but if he's demanded in a trade for a key piece, oh well. I'd love to see us get into the top 5 of this draft but if not, keep Rozier for a potential Davis trade which I'm losing faith will ever happen but something else may come up ... they always do when you least expect it.
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Post by Admin on Apr 18, 2018 13:22:08 GMT -5
He found a way in game 2 as well ... Terry who?
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Post by Admin on Apr 18, 2018 13:53:08 GMT -5
Boston Celtics with most complete victory of season in game 2by Joshua Bateman Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images The Boston Celtics had a dominating performance in game two against the Milwaukee BucksThe Boston Celtics followed up one of the tightest and most inconsistent games in their first meeting against the Milwaukee Bucks, with their most complete performance in game two. When you take into account the players on the court, and the way they executed on both ends, the Celtics showed the league that they can play at a level that many thought was impossible. It was not a perfect game for the Celtics, and they know they have a lot of things they need to work on. That being said, the Celtics were functioning well on both ends for the entire game, and it is no surprise that there was nothing the Bucks could do to respond. The weirdest part is that the Bucks actually had an exceptional game. Giannis Antetokounmpo fell just short of a 30 point triple double, and Khris Middleton continued to score at will, with 25 points on just 14 shots. As a team, the Bucks finished just under 60 percent overall, and just over 40 percent from three point range. It has been close to impossible to shoot that well against the Celtics this season, but it made absolutely no difference, because they really did everything else to make sure there was nothing the Bucks could do to keep up. They were hitting their open shots, and Antetokounmpo was hitting some of the most difficult shots that maybe no one else in the league is capable of. The Celtics responded to that incredible finishing by generating enough turnovers to turn it into a bad offensive game for the Bucks. The Celtics forced 15 turnovers, and collected nine offensive rebounds, leading to them taking 13 more shots than the Bucks. When you take 31 three pointers in a game, and hit them 41 percent of the time, 13 extra shots are more than enough for the game to get out of hand. The one noticeable absence for the Celtics was Jayson Tatum, who finished with four points on 2-9 shooting. He contributed with seven rebounds and three assists, but everyone else had to pick up their scoring load a bit. Jaylen Brown made up for everything and then some. He tallied his first 30 point playoff game, and continues to score on all three levels. Brown is not forcing bad shots, and it able to create in so many different ways. It is abundantly clear that the Bucks have no answer for Brown, and I would expect him to be the team’s leading scorer the rest of the way. Then you have Terry Rozier, who abused Eric “Drew” Bledsoe all game long. His 23 points and eight assists made him almost as impactful as Brown on offense, and with Al Horford adding 16 points and Marcus Morris adding 18 points, the Celtics put together a truly special performance on offense. The Celtics were better on offense than they were on defense, but they are not able to do that if their defense is not generating so many turnovers. Brown, Tatum and Rozier give the Celtics one of the most electric transition attacks in the NBA, and they are punishing the Bucks every chance they get. When the Celtics are able to generate offense from their defense like they did last night, while also shooting lights out, there is nothing the Bucks can do to defeat them. hardwoodhoudini.com/2018/04/18/boston-celtics-rotation-stays-fluid-in-game-2/
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Post by kyceltic on Apr 18, 2018 13:54:52 GMT -5
Love this team as well. Last night they played in such a harmonious way. I have some concerns about this team next season. If we keep all the players that is. It could be destined for years of championships but sometimes teams that are loaded like we could be (given we keep all the guys) is, playing time. If everyone is willing to be on the same page which is be productive when they get to play (or when their names get called), we should be unbelievably fine for years to come. Having the luxury of interchanging completely competent guys according to the opponents players, is rarely seen. All these injuries are just making this team much better. Exactly ... that's why I wouldn't be surprised if Danny cashes in his Rozier chips. We either keep Irving or Rozier but not both. Larkin is proving to be a competent reserve and we can afford to gamble on Smart breaking out like Rozier did but for far less than Rozier's value. Anyone want to keep Terry and trade Irving? I didn't think so ... Rozier can be couple with a FRDP and we have some depth we won't be needing in Nader and Yabusele or Ojeleye. Theis is a keeper but if he's demanded in a trade for a key piece, oh well. I'd love to see us get into the top 5 of this draft but if not, keep Rozier for a potential Davis trade which I'm losing faith will ever happen but something else may come up ... they always do when you least expect it. It's according to who we could get ! I would trade Kyrie For Kawhi and probably throw in a late pick!
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Post by Admin on Apr 18, 2018 13:59:53 GMT -5
Interesting ... Hmmm, I have to think about that!
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Post by puddin on Apr 18, 2018 14:04:58 GMT -5
I, Petey62, hereby rescind all previous comments relating to the Celtics ACQUIRING Kawhi Leonard. All other comments relating to Leonard are unchanged. He is an elite player. When healthy, Leonard is a top 5 player in the NBA (Durant, Lebron, Davis, Leonard, Curry/Kyrie). As great a player as Leonard is, I DON'T WANT HIM. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors but the Celtics would be extremely wise to STAY THE COURSE with the current core. I would NEVER put together a package of two of Rozier, Smart, Brown or Tatum for Kawhi. I just would not do it. I do realize that there is a very high probability that two (or three) of those guys will not be long-term Celtics. There is no way the Celtics can retain Kyrie, Jaylen, Tatum, Rozier, Smart and Hayward. You can make a strong argument that five of those six players are legitimate starters in the NBA. Kyrie, Brown and Hayward stay because they are the starting wing players of the future for the Cs. Tatum stays as a backup which would provide him with more opportunity to develop behind Hayward. Personally, I'd prefer to keep Rozier and package Smart this offseason for a big. Can you imagine a game next season with the Celtics going small with Kyrie, Brown, Hayward, Tatum and Rozier (or Morris)? Why not include Kyrie and/or Hayward for the needed big? They are simply AWESOME players... but do they really fit now with the development of JT, JB and TRo? Pud
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Post by kyceltic on Apr 18, 2018 14:05:11 GMT -5
Interesting ... Hmmm, I have to think about that! Turn Rozier and Smart loose at guard!! Ay times you may see, Tatum, Brown, Hayward, Kawhi and Horford on the floor ay the same time!!
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Post by Cabutan on Apr 18, 2018 14:05:37 GMT -5
who would have thought that we would be here talking about trading Kyrie already. Thats why I dont value that position (PG) that much. Rozier has given us something that we havent seen in other PG's (he is not a PG or is he?). He does not hold the ball much. I like that. It works, it simply works.
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Post by Cabutan on Apr 18, 2018 14:06:52 GMT -5
Exactly ... that's why I wouldn't be surprised if Danny cashes in his Rozier chips. We either keep Irving or Rozier but not both. Larkin is proving to be a competent reserve and we can afford to gamble on Smart breaking out like Rozier did but for far less than Rozier's value. Anyone want to keep Terry and trade Irving? I didn't think so ... Rozier can be couple with a FRDP and we have some depth we won't be needing in Nader and Yabusele or Ojeleye. Theis is a keeper but if he's demanded in a trade for a key piece, oh well. I'd love to see us get into the top 5 of this draft but if not, keep Rozier for a potential Davis trade which I'm losing faith will ever happen but something else may come up ... they always do when you least expect it. It's according to who we could get ! I would trade Kyrie For Kawhi and probably throw in a late pick! At this moment I bet Pops is willing to accept whatever for Kawhi
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Post by kyceltic on Apr 18, 2018 14:14:56 GMT -5
who would have thought that we would be here talking about trading Kyrie already. Thats why I dont value that position (PG) that much. Rozier has given us something that we havent seen in other PG's (he is not a PG or is he?). He does not hold the ball much. I like that. It works, it simply works. I really like Kyrie, but he has a tendency to play hero ball, when we don't need hero ball!
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Post by puddin on Apr 18, 2018 14:20:50 GMT -5
who would have thought that we would be here talking about trading Kyrie already. Thats why I dont value that position (PG) that much. Rozier has given us something that we havent seen in other PG's (he is not a PG or is he?). He does not hold the ball much. I like that. It works, it simply works. I really like Kyrie, but he has a tendency to play hero ball, when we don't need hero ball! We need team ball.... its that simple. What we saw last night was anything but hero ball. Pud
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Post by petey62 on Apr 18, 2018 14:21:40 GMT -5
I, Petey62, hereby rescind all previous comments relating to the Celtics ACQUIRING Kawhi Leonard. All other comments relating to Leonard are unchanged. He is an elite player. When healthy, Leonard is a top 5 player in the NBA (Durant, Lebron, Davis, Leonard, Curry/Kyrie). As great a player as Leonard is, I DON'T WANT HIM. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors but the Celtics would be extremely wise to STAY THE COURSE with the current core. I would NEVER put together a package of two of Rozier, Smart, Brown or Tatum for Kawhi. I just would not do it. I do realize that there is a very high probability that two (or three) of those guys will not be long-term Celtics. There is no way the Celtics can retain Kyrie, Jaylen, Tatum, Rozier, Smart and Hayward. You can make a strong argument that five of those six players are legitimate starters in the NBA. Kyrie, Brown and Hayward stay because they are the starting wing players of the future for the Cs. Tatum stays as a backup which would provide him with more opportunity to develop behind Hayward. Personally, I'd prefer to keep Rozier and package Smart this offseason for a big. Can you imagine a game next season with the Celtics going small with Kyrie, Brown, Hayward, Tatum and Rozier (or Morris)? Why not include Kyrie and/or Hayward for the needed big? They are simply AWESOME players... but do they really fit now with the development of JT, JB and TRo? Pud Pud, I like the way Rozier has been playing but Kyrie is on another couple levels from him. I just don't see Rozier developing as the leader-type like Kyrie. There is nobody on the Celtics who can mentor TRoz like Lebron did with Kyrie. You do make a good point with Hayward too. I'm having just a little bit of buyer's remorse on Hayward. Hindsight is 20/20 and as much as I would have called for Danny's head had he not acquired him, I kinda, sorta wish we passed on picking him up last offseason (having nothing to do with his injury). Basically, we got a keeper in Tatum. Had Danny not made a move, we'd be sitting even prettier with as much flexibility and financial flexibility. But oh well. But I could see using Hayward in a trade, but not Kyrie.
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Post by Admin on Apr 18, 2018 14:25:05 GMT -5
Interesting ... Hmmm, I have to think about that! Turn Rozier and Smart loose at guard!! Ay times you may see, Tatum, Brown, Hayward, Kawhi and Horford on the floor ay the same time!! So go younger (than Kyrie) with Rozier at PG (Larkin backup) and trade Kyrie for Kawhi. Starters/backup: Rozier/Larkin Brown/Smart Kawhi/Hayward Horford/Morris Monroe/Baynes Hayward will need to work his way back into the starter role (then what do we do?). So next season we have a $28MM backup to Kawhi? Bench: Theis, Ojeleye, Bird, Nader, Yabusele ... can any of these guys and picks get us into the lottery?
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Post by puddin on Apr 18, 2018 14:28:01 GMT -5
Why not include Kyrie and/or Hayward for the needed big? They are simply AWESOME players... but do they really fit now with the development of JT, JB and TRo? Pud Pud, I like the way Rozier has been playing but Kyrie is on another couple levels from him. I just don't see Rozier developing as the leader-type like Kyrie. There is nobody on the Celtics who can mentor TRoz like Lebron did with Kyrie. You do make a good point with Hayward too. I'm having just a little bit of buyer's remorse on Hayward. Hindsight is 20/20 and as much as I would have called for Danny's head had he not acquired him, I kinda, sorta wish we passed on picking him up last offseason (having nothing to do with his injury). Basically, we got a keeper in Tatum. Had Danny not made a move, we'd be sitting even prettier with as much flexibility and financial flexibility. But oh well. But I could see using Hayward in a trade, but not Kyrie. I don't see all that much leadership in KI. Fantastic to watch... very entertaining.... but inclined to play hero ball. Maybe the leadership we need will come from another player or position. Hard to know the impact that Hayward will have or would have had if he had stayed healthy. In KI's absence, others have flourished..... "homegrown" others. And we all certainly like/love that. Pud
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Post by Admin on Apr 18, 2018 14:34:14 GMT -5
Jaylen Brown Will Happily Fill the Boston Superstar VoidHe’s the kind of supporting player that Giannis Antetokounmpo needs right nowBy Haley O'Shaughnessy USA TODAY SportsThe Celtics didn’t mess around in Game 2, taking care of the Bucks early, with a final score of 120-106. Here are three takeaways from a matchup between an unexpectedly bad roster and an unexpectedly good one:Where Were You for The Jaylen Brown Game?In Game 1, Al Horford slid into Kyrie Irving’s scoring role for Boston. But with one look at Al’s averages—numbers that Charles Barkley said would’ve forced him into retirement in his era—Boston’s need for another primary offensive threat was obvious. Jaylen Brown needed less than one quarter of Game 2 to become the guy. Where were you when he went from boy to man with the left? Brown finished with a new playoff career-high (30 points) after doing so in the series opener (20 points) two days prior. He became the youngest C to drop 30 in the postseason—add another point to the Danny Ainge–drafts-well score. A 21-year-old asserting himself as the first option in a playoff game isn’t something you’d expect to see anywhere east of Utah. But for Boston, this is the best-case scenario. Horford doesn’t have enough of a scorer’s mentality, Terry Rozier has too much of a scorer’s mentality for his percentages, Marcus Morris isn’t on that level, and Aron Baynes is … self-explanatory. Brown is no Irving in the lane—no one is—but finished well inside to complement his threat from outside. This series could be Brown’s official coming out party if he brings that same aggression and confidence throughout. Over the summer, Brown made it clear that he wanted a bigger role this season. With Boston down two superstars and one essential role player, it’s his for the taking. Eric Bledsoe Still Doesn’t Wanna Be HereI’m no Joe Prunty, but it might be a bad sign when your starting point guard gets outplayed by Shane Larkin. Bledsoe should’ve entered the game with a vendetta after Rozier gave his ankles a midlife crisis in Game 1— —but that frustration was channeled in the wrong way. Bledsoe was T’d up early and ended with less effect on the game than John Henson. With the utmost respect to my Louisville son Scary Terry, a backup point guard with a streaky shot should not have the advantage over Bledsoe. If Boston’s second-unit backcourt is more consistent than Milwaukee’s one veteran starter, the Celtics should get their brooms out. Middleton in the Middle
Remember Middleton’s miraculous game-winner with 0.5 seconds left that pushed the opener into overtime? He was the wrong kind of late-game shot-maker in Game 2. He didn’t attempt a field goal until halfway through the second quarter! Considering Bledsoe’s weak first game, expecting much out of anyone other than Middleton (and Giannis, which goes without saying) is unrealistic. Middleton was the Bucks’ second-leading scorer this season after Giannis; who is the answer here if he isn’t? Matthew Dellavedova? Is that what the Bucks have come to? Giannis will always come through. Middleton as a strong second isn’t Milwaukee’s best chance at the series—he’s the Bucks’ only chance. Middleton shot well in Game 2, going 10-for-14 from the field and hitting four from distance. But therein lies the problem: That’s six less than the 20 he attempted in Game 1, when he dropped 31 points. Middleton has shown a solid deep stroke so far in the playoffs—the Bucks’ most damning offensive weakness—but they’ll only go in if he takes them. www.theringer.com/nba-playoffs/2018/4/17/17250426/bucks-celtics-game-2-jaylen-brown
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Post by kyceltic on Apr 18, 2018 14:36:16 GMT -5
Turn Rozier and Smart loose at guard!! Ay times you may see, Tatum, Brown, Hayward, Kawhi and Horford on the floor ay the same time!! So go younger (than Kyrie) with Rozier at PG (Larkin backup) and trade Kyrie for Kawhi. Starters/backup: Rozier/Larkin Brown/Smart Kawhi/Hayward Horford/Morris Monroe/Baynes Hayward will need to work his way back into the starter role (then what do we do?). So next season we have a $28MM backup to Kawhi? Bench: Theis, Ojeleye, Bird, Nader, Yabusele ... can any of these guys and picks get us into the lottery?
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Post by kyceltic on Apr 18, 2018 14:37:17 GMT -5
Turn Rozier and Smart loose at guard!! Ay times you may see, Tatum, Brown, Hayward, Kawhi and Horford on the floor ay the same time!! So go younger (than Kyrie) with Rozier at PG (Larkin backup) and trade Kyrie for Kawhi. Starters/backup: Rozier/Larkin Brown/Smart Kawhi/Hayward Horford/Morris Monroe/Baynes Hayward will need to work his way back into the starter role (then what do we do?). So next season we have a $28MM backup to Kawhi? Bench: Theis, Ojeleye, Bird, Nader, Yabusele ... can any of these guys and picks get us into the lottery? Tatum?
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Post by Admin on Apr 18, 2018 14:48:26 GMT -5
It's according to who we could get ! I would trade Kyrie For Kawhi and probably throw in a late pick! At this moment I bet Pops is willing to accept whatever for Kawhi The State of the Kawhi Leonard–Spurs Saga, and Where the Two Sides Go From HereJoe House joins ‘The Bill Simmons Podcast’ to examine the ongoing rift between San Antonio and its star By Bill Simmons Getty Images/Ringer illustrationThe Kawhi Leonard saga began before the 2017–18 NBA season even started. He was held out of the Spurs’ preseason with an unspecified left quad injury, then was ruled out of the team’s home opener in mid-October. Leonard went on to miss San Antonio’s first 27 games before finally suiting up in December and playing in nine of the next 17. But in mid-January he was ruled out again, and he hasn’t played since. There’s been plenty of uncharacteristic drama along the way, from cloaked statements to disagreements between medical staffs, and on Wednesday’s episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, Bill and Joe House broke down the current state of the Leonard-Spurs relationship and assessed where the two sides can go from here.
Listen to the full podcast here. This transcript has been edited and condensed.Bill Simmons: OK, Kawhi Leonard. A couple of things have jumped out at me over the past two months, other than how bizarre this situation is: One is that he’s not even going to the playoff games, which tells me that he’s done with the team. I’ve looked at it every way, I’ve tried to give the whole situation the benefit of the doubt — I cannot for the life of me understand why he’s not at these games. It seems like there’s been an irrevocable breach between him, the coach, and the teammates — unless he’s trapped under something. He might be trapped under something and we don’t know. We haven’t heard from him. He might be — what was that James Franco movie, [127] Hours? Joe House: Oh, he had to cut off his leg? Simmons: No, he might’ve been hiking and he might’ve just gotten an appendage trapped in a rock and we can’t get to him. If that’s the case, I apologize. If not, I can’t believe he’s not at these games. How hard is it to hop on a plane and fly to San Francisco? And if you’re doing rehab, you can do rehab in San Francisco. What’s your read just on that part? House: What if he’s at a crucial stage in this rehab and everybody’s in agreement that he’s much better served going through a proper rehabilitation protocol and not interrupting it with, you know, going to the arena and sitting on a bench for three hours? … Sitting there, getting up and getting down — that that time is much better spent in a consistent rehabilitation kind of protocol where there’s scheduled rest, scheduled treatment, scheduled rehab, and you just want to [follow] that to its logical course. Is that possible? Simmons: You don’t really believe that, do you? House: I have no idea. This whole thing is utterly unfathomable to me. I don’t understand the injury. We had this conversation in October. I was sitting in your office in Los Angeles, California. I didn’t understand the injury back then, but we knew enough at that moment to be skeptical about his ability to return, and as a result we didn’t like San Antonio’s fortunes very much this season. In fact, they hit the under on season win totals. Simmons: Finally. House: Yeah, but we’re in the same spot now! What is the injury? Simmons: I can’t imagine what rehab he’s doing that can only be done in New York City. What do they have, some special UFO machine that Elon Musk created for them? It can’t transfer anywhere else? Get the hell outta here! House: Kobe went to Germany for his treatment. Simmons: That’s different. If you told me [Kawhi] was in Germany, I would understand it more, but New York? … art19.com/shows/the-bill-simmons-podcast/episodes/1f764cdf-ab74-40af-b819-15797b7176d7The second thing with Kawhi that I don’t understand: Everyone is so afraid of [Gregg] Popovich now. … In these press conferences, everybody is so scared to provoke him. Where is the reporter who just says, “Hey, Pop, no offense, man, but this is weird. You have to admit this is really weird that your best player won’t even go to your playoff games.” I just want to hear one person ask him this question at a postgame press conference: Can you tell us one sign from the last two months, just one, any sign, any story, anything, that indicates that Kawhi Leonard wants to be on the Spurs next year? Just tell us one story. House: Kawhi said so! Simmons: What? House: That he would re-sign! That he wants to be a Spur for life. … Simmons: I’ve heard some weird — you know the NBA scuttlebutt machine, which I love to dip into. House: It’s your favorite. Simmons: I’ve heard some strange tidbits about Mr. Leonard, about the people around him. Here’s my take, knowing nothing other than just little tidbits I’ve been able to gather from different sources and people who seem to know things. It seems like the people around him, however many people that they are, have started to convince him over the last year that he’s not big enough and famous enough for how talented he is. And I thought when he turned down that Jordan Brand deal for $20 million — which is really low compared to what these other guys get — that confirmed some of the stuff I was hearing, which was basically, like, “You’re not big enough, man. Why’s everybody else getting stuff and you aren’t?” and just all that stuff. And you start hearing about it for a year and you’re like, “Yeah, I’m not big enough, man, I should be bigger, you’re right,” and you get in that mind-set. And combined with [the fact] that he has a real injury and the most underrated part of this whole thing — which is the third point I was gonna bring up: the Isaiah Thomas situation last year, which I think was a watershed moment for any superstar that has a contract coming up and an injury. I think, for the future, we’re gonna see guys change how they behave. I don’t blame Kawhi one iota for not coming back after what happened to Isaiah. Isaiah cost himself $100 million. Just flat out, that’s not even an exaggeration, he cost himself $100 million by continuing to play when he was hurt last year, and I think it’s going to completely change how these guys “play through pain” and “look out for their teammates” and “they were a warrior.” I just don’t see that happening anymore after the Isaiah thing. What do you think? House: Well, let me ask — I do wanna run the Isaiah Thomas theory to ground because I’m very interested in it and I, too, have a lot of sympathy for his situation. I think the Celtics effed him, but what if Isaiah didn’t play and had undertaken the surgery earlier, like, say, in the spring and didn’t play in the playoffs. Wouldn’t he still have been a trade chip in that Kyrie trade? Simmons: Yeah, he would’ve been. House: Because that was really the thing that cost him the money. Getting traded is the thing that cost him the money. Simmons: I think he would’ve been a trade chip, but I also think he would’ve been a more attractive trade chip than a guy who is rehabbing a hip over getting the surgery he needed for it. … It’s really no different than the situation Kyrie was in recently when [he] didn’t 100 percent have to have those staples or the screws in his knee. He could’ve played through pain through the spring and then taken them out, but after what happened to Isaiah, they’re not doing that. That guy is the best asset they have; they’re not messing around with that. I think it’s a shame what happened to Isaiah, and I do think there’s a chance the injury was badly misdiagnosed, and he was trying to be an old-school warrior, and, obviously, Kawhi doesn’t want to jeopardize what he has coming. I don’t blame him for that. [But] I think it’s inexplicable that he’s not with the team. I just don’t get it. House: Well, you have to countenance the possibility that the franchise and his [personal] medical team have some kind of unholy alliance where they have agreed to disagree about the proper path, but they both have the same mutual interest in the outcome, which is a healthy Kawhi. And the Spurs still have the capacity to sign him to that super mega-deal that nobody else has, so the Spurs still have the upper hand. And the right thing to do, I think, is for everybody just to be patient. Let him come back, let him get healthy, all this relationship stuff can get repaired — the most important thing is for his leg to be right and for his head to be right, and for him to step right back in and pick up where he left off from last year’s playoffs. Simmons: How scared would you be if your team traded for Kawhi? Like, this summer, if the [Wizards] traded Bradley Beal straight up for a year of Kawhi — he’s unsigned, you have no guarantee he’s gonna re-sign with you. Would you be upset? Happy? Confused? What would your reaction be? House: I’d be thrilled! He’s unbelievable, he’s an outrageous talent, he’s worth the gamble. This is the thing that we kind of went through — different circumstances, but the Wizards had an opportunity, if you believe the reports, to take on James Harden, and they chose to keep the very young Brad Beal way back when. Kawhi is in that class of player — he is one of five or six or seven or eight players in the league that can dramatically change the trajectory of your franchise, so he’s definitely worth the gamble. Simmons: I think I agree. I guess, for me, it would depend on the franchise. I feel like if the Wizards did it that he would just stay hurt and it would never work out just because of the Bullets-Wizards karma. … I think the Spurs are in a massive amount of trouble, because I’m just not convinced that if they decide that it does make sense to trade Kawhi that they’re going to get market value for him. House: They can’t possibly get market value for him — you’re not getting back a top-six player! … Simmons: The Clippers, their hat was in the ring for Kawhi — what’s really interesting is the two L.A. teams are very logical suitors for him, and I hesitate to mention this, but I think Philadelphia. I did a Kawhi Twitter trade poll and I didn’t put Philadelphia in there, and people were like, “You missed a team.” Because they might have, like, the sixth or seventh pick in the draft and they have cap space and there are packages they could put together that could trump everybody else if they wanted to. … But the Lakers have cap space and young guys, the Clippers could potentially put the Tobias Harris contract, they could put the 12 and 13 picks in this year’s lottery, a future [first-rounder] and they could give them Patrick Beverley and take back Patty Mills’s contract. I personally would rather keep Kawhi unless I just felt like he was leaving in a year and there was no way around it, but I don’t know, we’ll see. www.theringer.com/the-bill-simmons-podcast/2018/4/17/17249680/kawhi-leonard-injury-san-antonio-spurs-bill-simmons-podcast
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Post by Admin on Apr 18, 2018 14:50:29 GMT -5
So go younger (than Kyrie) with Rozier at PG (Larkin backup) and trade Kyrie for Kawhi. Starters/backup: Rozier/Larkin Brown/Smart Kawhi/ Hayward Tatum Horford/Morris Monroe/Baynes Hayward will need to work his way back into the starter role (then what do we do?). So next season we have a $28MM backup to Kawhi? Bench: Theis, Ojeleye, Bird, Nader, Yabusele ... can any of these guys and picks get us into the lottery? Tatum? SEE ... we have too much damn talent! I forgot him ... where do we put him? I already put Hayward on the bench. Maybe Petey is right ... we might need to trade Hayward. [Fixed Tatum - Hayward for a 2018 draft pick - LOL ]
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Post by hedleylamarr on Apr 18, 2018 14:59:11 GMT -5
I maintain Leonard is going nowhere. It's all BS, he'll be back in San Antonio.
NOT in favor of trading Kyrie. NOT in favor of trading Tatum or Brown.
Anyone else is fair game, for the right price.
I also don't think Davis is going anywhere, either. Let's keep who we have and add Hayward and our draft pick, and see where that takes us. I'm excited and optimistic about the future.
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Post by Admin on Apr 18, 2018 15:09:22 GMT -5
I maintain Leonard is going nowhere. It's all BS, he'll be back in San Antonio. NOT in favor of trading Kyrie. NOT in favor of trading Tatum or Brown. Anyone else is fair game, for the right price.
I also don't think Davis is going anywhere, either. Let's keep who we have and add Hayward and our draft pick, and see where that takes us. I'm excited and optimistic about the future. So, Hayward is on your SELL list ... for a lottery pick?
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Post by hedleylamarr on Apr 18, 2018 15:16:58 GMT -5
I maintain Leonard is going nowhere. It's all BS, he'll be back in San Antonio. NOT in favor of trading Kyrie. NOT in favor of trading Tatum or Brown. Anyone else is fair game, for the right price.
I also don't think Davis is going anywhere, either. Let's keep who we have and add Hayward and our draft pick, and see where that takes us. I'm excited and optimistic about the future. So, Hayward is on your SELL list ... for a lottery pick? Well, let's see him play first. I cannot intelligently put him on either list at this time. Add him, then see what the fit is like. If he's redundant, yes, we can trade him. If he's the better player, then he gets added to the list. My guess is he'll be on the NO TRADE list, but I'd like to see him play first.
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