Lol

Their frontcourt got smaller, but their backcourt got a lot bigger. They've probably actually improved on rebounding by adding Aron Baynes. They were 4th in defense two seasons ago when their only shot blocker was Amir Johnson.

In the playoffs, they're going to go small and bet on their offensive advantage outweighing whatever defensive disadvantages they may have, and Stevens is good at compensating for undersized players on defense. It will be interesting if the Brad effect leads to Kyrie giving enough effort to be at least close to an average defender.

The Celtics are a really poor team to evaluate with hot takes because there is such a range of outcomes that seem possible. I can see them making the NBA Finals and not drawing dead. I can see them taking a second round exit.

Yes Fly mentioned Toronto, but we were primarily talking about vs Cleveland. Do you think that they will have an offensive advantage against Cleveland?

This itself seems like a hot take. They're making the 2nd or 3rd round and exiting. That's the range of outcomes.

Other than injuries, how? They would have neither an offensive nor defensive advantage, instead having a huge deficit in one or both of them.

yeah, it was very well written. The section on the game he played after his sister's death got me chocked up.

Stevens inspires Kyrie to play league-average defense with a more efficient shot selection that is three-heavy. Jayson Tatum plays well enough that it looks plausible that trading down to get him was a non-horrible move. Daniel Theis is a rotation-worthy big who is can be on the floor for meaningful minutes deep in the playoffs. Jaylen Brown improves enough so that no one thinks he was a draft mistake. Having Horford and Hayward's playmaking abilities on the floor at the same time has a synergistic effect that makes the offense better than expected.

A lot of things need to go right, but it's not impossible and I love that Danny Ainge has taken a course that says he's rejects the idea of waiting out Golden State and trying to time a championship window for after the Warriors peak.

The NBA should start a Champions League.


4 Playoff SemiFinalists from previous year + previous CL Winner autoqualify and up to the 2 other best records in the league after 50 games also qualify(6 total teams), with the NBA Champion and CL champion(Or if 1 team is both the best record of remaining teams) getting a bye.

2 rounds of best of 3 and a 1 game final at a select location.

Even if all that happens, which is pretty much their best case scenario, there's no way that their offense, defense, or synergies are better than Golden State's. There's no way they have a realistic shot at beating them aside from injuries and black swans.

I suppose we could be quibbling about the meaning of "not drawing dead," since, yes, they have > 0% chance, but far less than any realistic chance. So as not to be quibbling, even if all that happens, what % chance do you think Boston would have against GS next year?

Also, Ainge probably did not make this move trying to win right now. Of course they have a small chance now, mainly due to injury risk, but they are not maximizing their chances of taking on GS right now, unless he trades Brown, Tatum, more future picks, etc. He seems to be mainly waiting out GS and LeBron and aiming to maximize their championship chances in 3-5 years when their young potential develops and Kyrie & Hayward are still in their prime, and LeBron is done, and GS is at the end of their run, or perhaps even broken up by then.

assuming no injuries, boston is <10% to beat GSW, for sure.

and even then, most of the 10% is GSW suffering at least minor injuries during the series.

most of basketball is about having the best player on the court, GSW has two players better than anyone on boston. its not close.

Maybe a not so interesting question, but in your guys' opinion who is the best player GS could lose and still be favored over the second best team in the league?

Durant, assuming the cavs' defense is on the same level as last year. Maybe even Curry

Durant>Curry in almost any situation but definitely in a series against CLE right? I mean Curry creates some nightmare matchups for CLE especially with IT2 but thats a hard question to answer I guess

edit: what about same question but if CLE still had Kyrie? Does it change?

And McLovin I was pretty serious about the +350 but its kinda hard to take an accurate guess at this point in the year. We havent seen how Boston will play at all.

edit: what we know at this point I'd lean closer to +400 than +300 though

Thanks for clarifying.

Good point. I think it will be very interesting to see how Boston develops as a team this year with so much turnover that they have had. If I had to guess, I would think Stevens has an impact on Kyrie regarding his shot selection and defense. How much of an impact I'm not sure.

If LeBron is still at the same level he should be able to cut threw Boston's defense like a hot knife through butter. I definitely look forward to what type of defensive scheme Stevens will throw at LeBron and what effect it has (if anything tangible).

Cavaliers -275

We've had this argument before many times, I'm sure people are done with it by now but: In the warriors, Curry > Durant. Easily and against anyone

No timetable for Isaiah Thomas' return, a lot of implications that the Cavs are going to take it very slow

https://www.oddschecker.com/basketba...ivision/winner

What's the max I could probably bet with William Hill on that line? Will they accept a $10k bet?

Lol

Lowe has joined Simmons & O'Conner on the don't understand the hate for what the Celtics did wagon.

Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders used to make like 15 dollars a game. Those jobs are resume builders, exposure potential and rich husband locators.

I heard morey once made an inappropriate remark to his wife once and his entire motivation in buying the team was getting to fire him.

Oldish article on Curry/Durant pnr, in the finals in particular. Also talks about curry an Durant as pnr ball handlers

https://bballbreakdown.com/2017/06/1...-is-overrated/

Is his wife LeBron's mom?

Has he moderated his position from "Boston not crazy, but..."?

Here's the Podcast...

http://www.espn.com/espnradio/play?id=20593467