2015/2016 NBA SEASON OFFICIAL PREDICTIONS

[702]

Quote: Originally Posted by ojandpizza

The conversation was Ibaka > Love individually, or that's how I took it. Nobody really mentioned either as a 3rd option. With that said, I think Love was a better fit in every aspect aside from rim protection. Especially considering there wasn't all that many games for all 3 of them to mesh. Ibaka has been around for like 5 years with his guys. Ibaka might be a better fit for Cleveland, because they never needed what Love brought to the table anyways, IMO. But the way OKC uses Ibaka I actually think Love would for their system better, much better even. They would regress some as far as rim protection, but Ibaka in their offense is just ugly. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Conversation was big 3 vs big 3. So how each player fits into that is what the discussion was.

Love would absolutely crater OKC's defense. Adams fouls too much, and would even more trying to cover up for him. Kanter and Love would be hilarious. Add in they don't really have lockdown guys on the perimeter and it'd be a layup line or free throws.

He would improve the offense a small bit but not nearly well enough to offset the negative impact. Durant is a good passer but not nearly the playmaker LeBron is, which means it would be even more difficult to fit him there than it had been for Cleveland. Ibaka doesn't look good because the offense has been a joke. He's not a very good offensive player but he's not a bad one, and his strengths and weaknesses align to what OKC needs. Also would like to note Ibakas better defense also creates more runouts for Russ and KD.

Being the third player and being a big on top of that... No team where he'd be the third option would need what love brings to the table. Being a third option means you Have to be a plus defender, as your impact offensively can only be so high when you're deferring to two other players 80% of the time.

There isn't a single scenario where Love would he a third option and be a better fit than Ibaka, simply because being a third option in itself means they have two players who do what he does (score/create offense) better than he does already. The only thing that he really has over Serge is rebounding and even then that's lessened because he absolutely can't play center.

Elite defensive bigs > elite offensive bigs.

[Trent Booty]

When healthy, I think Cleveland > OKC. I think they're the best two teams in each Confrence. I think potentially teams like the Spurs, Warriors could take OKCs spot in the finals, but I think ultimately, if (and that's a big if), they're healthy, Cleveland wins the finals against any team.

[wwharton]

Quote: Originally Posted by Trent Booty

When healthy, I think Cleveland > OKC. I think they're the best two teams in each Confrence. I think potentially teams like the Spurs, Warriors could take OKCs spot in the finals, but I think ultimately, if (and that's a big if), they're healthy, Cleveland wins the finals against any team.

Don't mean to be too literal, but it sounds funny hearing that the Warriors would have to take [insert any team]'s spot in the finals.

[JazzMan]

Yeah, no kidding. Nobody is locked into the Finals or even the playoffs in the West.

[luizslayer]

MVP LeBron James
MIP Andrew Wiggins
ROTY Jahlil Okafor
DPOY DeAndre Jordan
COTY Steve Kerr
West
1- Warriors
2 -Spurs
3- Clippers
4 -Thunder
5-Rockers
6-Grizzlies
7-Pelicans
8-Mavericks

East
1-Cavs
2-Bulls
3-Hawks
4 -Pacers
5-Wizards
6-Raptors
7-Heat
8-Bucks

[wwharton]

Do Parker and Randle qualify for ROY? I think Parker does but Randle doesn't?

[redsox4evur]

Quote: Originally Posted by wwharton

Do Parker and Randle qualify for ROY? I think Parker does but Randle doesn't?

I think Randle would have the better chance because he only played a couple of minutes and Parker played some games. But the only one that is eligible from last year's class is Embiid because he didn't play at all. I think in the NBA the only way you are eligible for ROTY is if you didn't play at all during your draft year.

[luizslayer]

Quote: Originally Posted by wwharton

Do Parker and Randle qualify for ROY? I think Parker does but Randle doesn't?

I think none of them.They already played a NBA game