Ten years ago there used to be room for guys to do that but given current coaching it is impossible to have guys who never shoot. I am not sure if it is mostly because of defensive coaching or offensive scheming, or a combination of both. I’m not one to buy everything is so much better now, I just think the chess game has evolved where coaches don’t even try any more. But I agree smart could do with less shooting.

I still think the right schemes can allow for a top tier defender and hustle player who is a poor shooter to get sizable minutes without crippling the offense. However I think by the time that pendulum swings Smart will be 37.


As for the bucks my entire skepticism comes from lack of experience as a current unit with the current coaching staff. I feel like they will falter in the playoffs this year but am super high on them for the next two to three years if they can get past the KYRIE-AD-KD Knickerbockers.

Celtics and Raps the only two teams in the East who are notably not trying optimal lineups and strategy since they both know that the regular season barely matters from previous negative experiences.
Raptors coach has come out and said before the season and early on in the season that they would experiment with sub-optimal lineups and sets so when the playoffs start they have experience doing different things against the different defenses they will be facing.

I’m sure that will propel the raptors to a new level this year in the playoffs.

76 will be next. i hope

I still believe the Lakers will find themselves with this ASB coming and they need it more than anyone

I wouldn't sleep too much on the Pacers. They've been playing well lately. Granted, they haven't beaten a bunch of top teams, but they can clearly compete. I wouldn't be shocked (surprised, maybe) if they won a first round series without Dipo (assuming they end up in the 3-6 or 4-5 game).

Speaking of, "Pacers" is a name that doesn't get nearly enough credit for being fantastic. Best team names in the NBA (in no order - I'm just looking through the standings):

Bucks
Pacers
76ers
Pistons
Trail Blazers
Spurs
Mavericks

Special Honorable Mention Category

Nuggets (love the historical meaning, but for some reason, it makes me think of little pieces of poo)
Grizzlies (cool, unique animal name like the Bucks, but obviously misplaced after relocation)

AD mailing it in is peak NBA

Lakers, Grizzlies, and Jazz are such great names that their new locales kept them, even though they were nonsensical.

Knicks is a great name, Celtics too.

when the nugs season ends, we can look back at today as the beginning of the end

There's not a more unique animal name than Pelicans. Their logo and color scheme are lacking tho.

Rockets is another name tied to the city identity. Clippers are another misplaced one (originally SD and their association with sailing - their ABA team was the Sails).

Pelicans - I definitely like the uniqueness and local flavor, just think it's lame sounding.
Jazz - even if it was still New Orleans, dumb intangible name
Lakers - see Jazz

Clippers - I thought about it, but a boat as a name?
Rockets - again, local importance cool, but name feels too generic to me
Knicks - it's good, just not in my top
Celtics - something weirds me out about this

I like the Pelicans' color scheme and logo and name. Most NBA teams have great names, either alteration or something unique to their location. If they've moved, it's a nod to the franchise history (Jazz, Grizzlies, Lakers).

Raptors and Clippers probably the worst named teams.

Kings and Thunder are lame too. Nets doesn't do much for me either.

I can't disassociate myself from my youth, when the Magic were the cool team/colors. Someone more impartial would have to weigh-in. Relevance to Orlando and Disney World are what make it salvageable imo.

Sonics was great. Better than Supersonics, also.

The Celtics seem pretty good at exploiting Simmons' lack of a jump shot and Embiid's discomfort defending out to the three-point line. I think they have a reasonable chance if the Bucks are still conceding a lot of threes in the playoffs, Giannis is weak on the perimeter, and Lopez can't defend out to the arc.

If I knew that Coach Bud was bad at making adjustments within a seven-game series, I'd probably take Boston. If the Celtics beat the Bucks, it will be a grind, however.

Even with adding Harris, I've considered the Sixers to be behind Milwaukee, Toronto, and Boston. Their fans seems to be deathly afraid of how Embiid matches up against any center who can defend Embiid one-on-one and hit threes, so they fear Gasol and, especially, Horford. And I've never been enthusiastic about Simmons, who feels like a player made to beat up bad teams in the regular season, then have his weaknesses exploited in the playoffs.

Kings next 6 games: @Den, @GS, @OKC, @Minn, vs Mil, vs LAC

lakers, mavs and twolves are all still alive for the 8 seed

Nuggets is a nice weed reference for me. I like their pick ax logo as well.

Trail Blazers is without a doubt the best team name itl.

Yeah, Nets is awful. Kings is generic but i don't mind it for whatever reason. I like Thunder. Magic is a very good name. It's specific to the area in a very unique way.

It's really worrisome if the other guards are healthy.

Jamal and Gary have been whatever, but with Joker they will always be elite.

They signed him to be the third guard in case Monte and/or Malik didn't pan out, but those two have arguably outplayed their starters.

Trey Lyles has been ass as has Juancho after doing something to his hip, and Malone has hinted at putting running something like an IT/Morris/Beasley/Craig/Plumlee bench lineup, which I think would put up a 120offensive rating/115 defensive rating.

Tough stretch, but Kings SOS rest of season is about average, while Lakers have 9th toughest, and Minnesota has second toughest. If Kings can survive that with at least 2 wins, they should be in good shape.

http://www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength

Yeah I can see the Kangz dipping below the playoff line, only to storm above it towards the end of the season. Their issue if it's between them and the Lakers is that Loss Angeles has basically locked up the tiebreaker.

What I'm worried about, however, is that it'll be like an extended version of the 2002 WCF fourth quarter.. and I'm NOT here for that.

It would be sweet if GSW rested their players during their game after the ASB.

Kanter to Portland.

Olshey finally gets his man.

The only preseason prediction i got wrong was the bulls making the playoffs & that's mostly due to Markanen taking forever to come back.

Lakers are really about to miss the playoffs hahah; they need to win 60% of games just to be a 43 win team, Lebron deserves it for not going to Philly but rather going to a bum side in the Lakers.