14-15 NBA Playoffs Thread

[stevew]

Love out for the playoffs. Such bullshit.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Kinda of disappointed that someone on the Celtics did not deliver the basketball equivalent of a 99 MPH fastball at a Cavs player's ear hole.

Well, I guess an MMA armbar would also work, right?

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by stevew

Well, I guess an MMA armbar would also work, right?

I watched the NBA in 90's and saw Karl Malone dish out a 40 stitches response to Isiah Thomas talking shit about his teammate PRIVATELY.

Perk did what he was supposed to do. JR went too far.

[ColtCrazy]

Cavs must be thankful for the Bucks for keeping that series going. Even without Love, I think the Cavs can take the Bulls. Probably still take the East, but I can't see them beating anyone from the West.

[nol]

The over/under on games either of these teams would lose while going through the East would be 1.5.

[RainMaker]

Even without Love, the Cavs are heavy favorites in the East. Probably will have a tough time against whoever comes out of the West though.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by nol

The over/under on games either of these teams would lose while going through the East would be 1.5.

No kidding, huh? I hope East Coast fans got a chance to stay up and watch this one. Tough, tough loss for the Clips. There were about a billion game changing plays.

Hoping against hope the Clips can force a Game 7.

[nol]

Big news here if true:

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by nol

Big news here if true:

My work Internet is blocking this. What is it?

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

My work Internet is blocking this. What is it?

Some guy named Carblos has come out of the closet.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Logan

Some guy named Carblos has come out of the closet.

Hmm, never heard of him.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

No kidding, huh? I hope East Coast fans got a chance to stay up and watch this one. Tough, tough loss for the Clips. There were about a billion game changing plays.

Hoping against hope the Clips can force a Game 7.

Any chance I get to watch Deandre clang free throws I'm there.

[bob]

Originally Posted by Logan

Some guy named Carblos has come out of the closet.

Awesome

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by stevew

Any chance I get to watch Deandre clang free throws I'm there.

Thanks to Pop, that's a virtual guarantee.

[stevew]

Wow, Rondo gets no playoff share.

[Groundhog]

I wonder what Rondo signs for this offseason. Some team is still bound to throw $$$ at him, probably after missing out on the first couple of targets.

[stevew]

If he is financially secure, a 1 year deal for the MLE would be his best play to recover value. Especially on a good Eastern Conference team. Indy or Chicago maybe.

[Groundhog]

Nets are showing that you don't really want to face an underachieving mostly-veteran team in the 1st round, regardless of your seed.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by stevew

If he is financially secure, a 1 year deal for the MLE would be his best play to recover value. Especially on a good Eastern Conference team. Indy or Chicago maybe.

It's his last big contract, he's not going to take the MLE. Best hope is a dumb team like the Knicks or Lakers offers up some money. My guess is he signs a 3 year, $30 million deal with the Lakers which is way more than his value is.

[miami_fan]

That sort of deal should guarantee the end of the Jim Buss era in LA.

[heybrad]

Please Lakers... don't sign Rondo.

[Groundhog]

Lakers would be my pick. Top tier FAs this year:

Marc Gasol
LaMarcus Aldridge
Kawhi Leonard
Kevin Love
Draymond Green
Jimmy Butler

And then it's the Jordan/Millsap/Monroe guys. I don't see Gasol or Leonard leaving, and Butler I'd rate a strong chance to return too. Green is a possibility but despite his skill he's not really the marquee guy you build around. That means you are really pining your hopes on Aldridge or Love if you're the Lakers. Love would probably be the best chance, but I don't see him opting out.

I don't see the Lakers tanking, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them throw money at Rondo in an effort to remain competitive next season.

[bhlloy]

Oh man. 2015 Rondo and the corpse of Kobe would be freaking hilarious. Do it, Lakers!

[stevew]

Love should opt out and sign 1+1 at the max and then try for a 3+1 or 4+1 deal in 2016 starting at the new 30% max. Picking up the option makes 0 sense.

[Vince, Pt. II]

If all Portland gets out of this postseason is CJ McCollum being an actual player, I think they have to be happy, right?

[Groundhog]

Love out 4-6 months after surgery today...

[stevew]

It's some tonya harding type shit.

[chinaski]

sigh....

[korme]

This is really depressing knowing that whichever team survives out of the West is probably going to walk to a title

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

Lakers would be my pick. Top tier FAs this year:

Marc Gasol
LaMarcus Aldridge
Kawhi Leonard
Kevin Love
Draymond Green
Jimmy Butler

And then it's the Jordan/Millsap/Monroe guys. I don't see Gasol or Leonard leaving, and Butler I'd rate a strong chance to return too. Green is a possibility but despite his skill he's not really the marquee guy you build around. That means you are really pining your hopes on Aldridge or Love if you're the Lakers. Love would probably be the best chance, but I don't see him opting out.

I don't see the Lakers tanking, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them throw money at Rondo in an effort to remain competitive next season.

I think it's unlikely Kawhi, Draymond, or Butler leave. All restricted and don't see a chance any of the teams wouldn't match. Especially with the cap going up so much (the max deals will be a bargain).

I like Gasol a lot, but he'll be 31 next season. Would probably prefer Love who will be 27. Love, Randle, and the top 5 pick this year is a nice base to rebuild from. Plus they'll have money when Kobe's deal is up to grab another big name.

[korme]

Marc Gasol isn't going anywhere.

If Aldridge leaves, Love to Portland would be very interesting.

[Groundhog]

I would be very surprised if Green left given how important he is to that team, but it might come down to a numbers game on the GSW side ala James Harden in OKC - especially if they don't win the title this year. I'd say it's still a 98.5% chance he sticks around.

[stevew]

I've certainly come to terms with Love leaving for awhile, but I do think they'll be able to find a lot of what he provides via a different player/combo of players. For example, I dunno if Ilysova would be available for cheap, but he could do many of the Love things

[korme]

Originally Posted by stevew

I've certainly come to terms with Love leaving for awhile, but I do think they'll be able to find a lot of what he provides via a different player/combo of players. For example, I dunno if Ilysova would be available for cheap, but he could do many of the Love things

That is the key. Love individually can do so much more, but Cleveland didn't utilize him fully nor do they necessarily need it.

[nol]

Originally Posted by korme

This is really depressing knowing that whichever team survives out of the West is probably going to walk to a title

This was likely the case with Kevin Love healthy. It was even the case last year.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Green is more than likely staying if only because the Warriors are without a doubt getting rid of David Lee (and his $15.5M salary). Combine that with how much he is loved by the fans and what he means to this team (and the front office publicly stating several months ago they would match any offer sheet he is signed to) and it's extremely unlikely he goes anywhere.

[whomario]

Just wrote a long ass article that got swallowed by the internet demons ... Summary: The Cap goes from 58 (last season) to 67, then 89 and 108 mio. Which means that a max contract starting at 15+ mio this summer will basically be a 10-11 mio deal in 2 years. Meaning that the Warriors would be absolute fools not to sign Green to the 4 year max if he agrees.

There will be a ton of seemingly terrible deals this summer where the GMs have the cap rise in mind and fans forget about it. On the other hand i think that a few players might be tempted to sign shorter deals to get the most out of this (This also imo all but guarantees that guys like Brook Lopez will opt in for their player option years)

But guys like Green or possibly Jimmy Butler or Leonard will take that max and run with it. It is a great year for teams to have sought-after players coming off their rookie deals.


As for Gasol: You cant discount his connection with Memphis (remember, he went to HS there when Pau played for the Grizz), seems to me to be perfectly happy there.

Aldridge seems the most likely to leave. Overall i dont think there will be a ton of movement. Guys that are obvious fits with their teams will get paid handsomely with the looming cap rises (guys like Mozgov, Millsapp, Carroll).

I think a few teams will take a flyer at guys that are not total staples of their respective team like Hibbert, Green, Deng, Kanter, Asik or older guys like West. (again, hoping that an overpay now will look good in a year or two)

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Green is more than likely staying if only because the Warriors are without a doubt getting rid of David Lee (and his $15.5M salary). Combine that with how much he is loved by the fans and what he means to this team (and the front office publicly stating several months ago they would match any offer sheet he is signed to) and it's extremely unlikely he goes anywhere.

Is Lee's contract done this year? If not, how will the Warriors get rid of it?

[stevew]

Someone will take 1 year of Lee with the right incentive

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by stevew

Someone will take 1 year of Lee with the right incentive

What is the incentive? I don't see Lee being moved unless the Warriors give up something significant.

[korme]

The guy is an offensive machine and works the glass, he gets 18-10 regularly as a starter. A team on the fringe could definitely use him if they have the right center.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by korme

The guy is an offensive machine and works the glass, he gets 18-10 regularly as a starter. A team on the fringe could definitely use him if they have the right center.

No, that's what he used to do. That was 2-3 years ago, and he is now older and slower and probably still doesn't care about defense any more than he did before. And he costs $15.5 M of cap space, which means that to move him, the Warriors will either need to find a team with the cap space that still feels Lee is worth that or find a team with a similarly bad contract (which seems to go against keeping Green, the start point for this discussion) or they need to ship other assets of value (Barnes? a back end of the draft 1st rounder?).

We saw this same sort of thing happen with Stoudemire. The Knicks were unable to move him until the last year of his contract (and they did it by cutting him). I don't think the Warriors are going to be much more successful at this situation.

[Chief Rum]

And before you say "Lee is in the last year of his contract", note that Stoudemire was still unmovable right up until the Knicks cut him around the All Star break this year. Cutting Lee at the AS Break 2016 won't help them keep Green this summer.

[miami_fan]

Funny that you mentioned Stoudemire because as I read your precious post, the first team I thought about were the Knicks. I have not looked at their salary cap situation but I could see them taking on Lee's contract for the benefit of a 1st rounder or two.

[stevew]

"Right incentive" is one first round pick. javelle mcgee got dumped with one pick and he can't play and had a multiyear deal. Salary cap space is everywhere.

[stevew]

I mean you can match Green, pay the taxpayers MLE and as long as you've dumped Lee by the deadline, you pay no tax on him. Someone who is under the floor would even welcome that cause they'd get a 2019 #1, and get to count all of Lee's salary towards their floor, and then could buy him out and pay even less. Amar'e wasn't traded cause his deal was just two big or the Knicks didn't offer the right incentive(and had no reason to)

[RainMaker]

Can't they also just waive him and use the stretch provision?

Donovan to OKC is a great move I think. Was hoping Donovan would hang around till Chicago fired Thibs but can't blame him for taking that OKC gig.

[stevew]

Contract is pre stretch provision.

[RainMaker]

That sucks. I guess they could dump him for a 1st round pick, although this year's will be the worst in the 1st round and they can't trade the pick in 2016 because they've traded their 2017 1st already.

[stevew]

Wow, the Bucks really took a dump in the restricted zone. Nobody in double figures.