monsterpile wrote:Reggie Bullock Leads the Mavs in minutes played in the playoffs at almost 40mpg. I'm convinced (I did not see this coming) he is part of the reason the Knicks went from being a surprise of the league to one of the disappointments. Dallas with a lopsided win after losing the previous game in a similar way to keep the series interesting.
I can see the Mavs winning the series for two reason:
1. The Suns aren't playing well generally and look very vulnerable. Although the Suns had the League's best regular season record, they've looked like anything but the best team so far in the playoffs. They even struggled against the 36-win Pelicans. Yes, the Pelicans have a number of talented young players, but I think the Suns made them look better than they really were.
2. The Mavs have the best player on the court every time these two teams go at it. While not always true, it's generally the case that, in the playoffs, the team with the best player wins the series.
3. The Mavs just seem to want it more. I see more overall effort from the Mavs than I've seen from the Mavs this series so far.
Having said all that, the Suns will be a tough out on their home floor. And Dallas is not a great team overall.
It should be mentioned that Booker didn't play a couple games against the Pelicans. Also the Pelicans shouldn't be taken too lightly. I'm plenty happy we beat the Clippers so we didn't have to face them. I think we would have won but it was very far from a sure thing.
Cameron Payne was a key last year for the Suns and he played well this season but it looks like he has sucked overall in the Series and Shamet hasn't been good either. They need Payne to return to playing like a top 6th man or they are going to struggle. Suns only have to win one more game and they blew out the Mavs just a few days ago after someone wrote an article with a headline that made me think the Suns were like dead or something.
lipoli390 wrote:Here was one of Harden's comments after last night's loss to Miami. Asked what caused him to disappear offensively, Harden said, ""We ran our offense. The ball just didn't get back to me." Of course, it wasn't Harden's fault; it never is. Embiid covered for him, saying Harden's now a playmaker rather than the MVP elite scorer he once was. I guess that was sort of a dig more than a cover. :) But he didn't throw Harden under the bus as clearly as he did Simmons last year at this time.
I wonder if this year's playoff humiliation will motivate Harden to lay off the burgers and fries and start a vigorous off-season workout program.
Then there's Doc Rivers. His comment was that the Sixers didn't have enough talent on their roster to beat the Heat. Of course, that's a ridiculous Harden like cop out. The Sixers have the League's best big man along with James Harden, Harris and Maxey. The Heat have Butler, Bam and Tyler Herro. Last year Doc joined Embiid in blaming Simmons. This year Doc was essentially blaming the front office for not giving him enough talent. Hmm. There's a pattern here. But to be fair, Daryl Morey certainly delivered Doc a flawed roster. If not for Morey's oversized ego, Doc would have have a better roster and, importantly, a roster that would have played together the entire season before the playoffs. Oh, and the Sixers would have had a better regular season record, perhaps having home court advantage over the Heat.
Love it! All these guys deserve each other and hopefully they keep wallowing in their misery!
Harden is a cautionary tale by the way. Here is a guy that a few years ago was literally unstoppable one on one, but ultimately didn't have the mental makeup or discipline to lead a team to the Finals. Contrast him with Giannis. Or LeBron. Or even Kawhi.
So Ant, lay off those fries and stay out of the strip clubs!
monsterpile wrote:Reggie Bullock Leads the Mavs in minutes played in the playoffs at almost 40mpg. I'm convinced (I did not see this coming) he is part of the reason the Knicks went from being a surprise of the league to one of the disappointments. Dallas with a lopsided win after losing the previous game in a similar way to keep the series interesting.
Big, tough wings and hybrid forwards that can keep a defense honest from outside the arc are just so effing valuable. Bullock, Dorian Finney-Smith, Jae Crowder, PJ Tucker, Dillon Brooks.....and the list goes on. If Okogie had a corner 3 in his tool bag he'd make millions and millions more and be an invaluable rotation player on any playoff team. I've been shocked by his inability to ever improve his outside 3 - it's probably cost him $20-30+M in future career NBA earnings. Just that one thing, because he's got the tenacity and defensive chops to be a coveted asset if it wasn't for his horrid shooting.
I guess Taurean Prince is our version of the archetype mentioned above. I'm not sure he's as good of a defender as those other guys, but he definitely knows how to take a charge and his spot up shooting really took off this season after an early cold spell.
Great points, Q. Those tough wings and hybrid forwards are a huge part of success in today's NBA. Like you, I remain mystified by Okogie's inability to develop a reasonably good consistent perimeter shot. He was a 38% 3-point shooter in college on 4 attempts and he's always been a good free throw shooter. That's why every season I've expected him to suddenly get over the hump. But alas, it hasn't happened. And you're right, it has cost him multiple millions. The Wolves will probably let him walk this summer. Then watch. He'll suddenly become a consistent outside shooter.
I agree that Taurean Prince is our version of the archetype you identified. I just wonder if he can stay healthy. And even if he can, it would be nice to add another to our roster. Any thoughts on available free agents who would fit that archetype?
If Okogie becomes a good shooter elsewhere, just put me in a straight-jacket and haul me away, because that would be the final straw! First its Rubio, then its Wiggins, now its Tyus Jones. Guys magically finding their 3-point shots when they don't play for us!
Prince may actually be the best we can do this offseason in terms of having a hybrid, big wing on the roster. McDaniels certainly brings his own unique gifts to the table, but bulk and strength aren't what he's about.
There are some oldsters like PJ Tucker and Iggy that are UFAs, but feels like they may be running on fumes by next season.
The thing is you can find and develop these players via late firsts/2nd rounders. One of the benefits of drafting later is that you aren't expected to go find some high-usage/high-upside guy and you can just go get solid college sophomores or juniors who have some defensive chops right out of the gate.
For those of you who are not fond of Philly and Morey (and there are several of us), how would you like to be saddled with having to pay James Harden $47.4 million next year after he opts in! Only Steph Curry will be paid more, and maybe it's just me, but I'll take Curry over Harden ;-) .
monsterpile wrote:Reggie Bullock Leads the Mavs in minutes played in the playoffs at almost 40mpg. I'm convinced (I did not see this coming) he is part of the reason the Knicks went from being a surprise of the league to one of the disappointments. Dallas with a lopsided win after losing the previous game in a similar way to keep the series interesting.
Big, tough wings and hybrid forwards that can keep a defense honest from outside the arc are just so effing valuable. Bullock, Dorian Finney-Smith, Jae Crowder, PJ Tucker, Dillon Brooks.....and the list goes on. If Okogie had a corner 3 in his tool bag he'd make millions and millions more and be an invaluable rotation player on any playoff team. I've been shocked by his inability to ever improve his outside 3 - it's probably cost him $20-30+M in future career NBA earnings. Just that one thing, because he's got the tenacity and defensive chops to be a coveted asset if it wasn't for his horrid shooting.
I guess Taurean Prince is our version of the archetype mentioned above. I'm not sure he's as good of a defender as those other guys, but he definitely knows how to take a charge and his spot up shooting really took off this season after an early cold spell.
Great points, Q. Those tough wings and hybrid forwards are a huge part of success in today's NBA. Like you, I remain mystified by Okogie's inability to develop a reasonably good consistent perimeter shot. He was a 38% 3-point shooter in college on 4 attempts and he's always been a good free throw shooter. That's why every season I've expected him to suddenly get over the hump. But alas, it hasn't happened. And you're right, it has cost him multiple millions. The Wolves will probably let him walk this summer. Then watch. He'll suddenly become a consistent outside shooter.
I agree that Taurean Prince is our version of the archetype you identified. I just wonder if he can stay healthy. And even if he can, it would be nice to add another to our roster. Any thoughts on available free agents who would fit that archetype?
If Okogie becomes a good shooter elsewhere, just put me in a straight-jacket and haul me away, because that would be the final straw! First its Rubio, then its Wiggins, now its Tyus Jones. Guys magically finding their 3-point shots when they don't play for us!
Prince may actually be the best we can do this offseason in terms of having a hybrid, big wing on the roster. McDaniels certainly brings his own unique gifts to the table, but bulk and strength aren't what he's about.
There are some oldsters like PJ Tucker and Iggy that are UFAs, but feels like they may be running on fumes by next season.
The thing is you can find and develop these players via late firsts/2nd rounders. One of the benefits of drafting later is that you aren't expected to go find some high-usage/high-upside guy and you can just go get solid college sophomores or juniors who have some defensive chops right out of the gate.
I feel like Prince might be more valuable than it seems on both ends of the court. Again who thought Bullock was THAT good? Meanwhile DFS was undrafted and there was chatter about the Mavs moving him before the trade deadline. I was never really a believer that was the case but he is pretty valuable.
Gary Payton finally made it so maybe Okogie will find his bag when he is in his late 20's. Lol
Monster - I share your sense that Prince might be more valuable than it seems. He already turned me around from disliking the deal that brought him here to liking his presence on the team. The more I saw of him, the more I like the idea of keeping him around next year and possibly beyond. It's just a matter of how much we have to pay him. In my view, it has to be under $10M per year. I'd be OK offering up to a 3 year guaranteed deal totaling $25M (about $8M per year).
FNG wrote:For those of you who are not fond of Philly and Morey (and there are several of us), how would you like to be saddled with having to pay James Harden $47.4 million next year after he opts in! Only Steph Curry will be paid more, and maybe it's just me, but I'll take Curry over Harden ;-) .
Did you mean Seth Curry over Harden for under 8.5 million? :)
Morey probably believes in Harden and honestly that's probably not completely stupid. I think If I was a Sixers fan I would prefer Harden opt in for one more year and then see where's they go from there then have him sign some expensive multi year deal. It would be interesting to see what his market was if he opted out and what he could get. Not many team have cap pace though right? I haven't looked but I remember hearing there isn't a lot of money available to be spent this offseason and we know someone is gonna spend it all on Tyus Jones!!!
Yeah, I think we need to make a run at Prince because I just don't know if we can do any better in terms of finding a legit 3&D hybrid wing via free agency. Hopefully McDaniels absolutely owns that spot eventually. But without regard to potential or scheme, we aren't where we need to be yet compared to some of the big boys still playing the playoffs. McDaniels needs to keep improving and hopefully Prince stays healthy.
In terms of team needs v playing time I don't see carrying Beas, Prince and Nowell into Next year. I would assume there would have to be a choice between Beas and Prince. I'd rather have Prince over Beas and direct those funds to the 4 via trade.
thedoper wrote:In terms of team needs v playing time I don't see carrying Beas, Prince and Nowell into Next year. I would assume there would have to be a choice between Beas and Prince. I'd rather have Prince over Beas and direct those funds to the 4 via trade.
The Wolves don't have another big SF on the roster right now other than McDaniels so Prince brings something neither of those other guys does. To me if the Wolves don't resign Prince they should be looking to sign another competent SF or combo forward to replace him. As Q noted the pickings are kinda slim unless some teams turn some guys loose that have team options.
I'm totally on board moving Beasley and I probably want Nowell to get his shot about as much as anyone but I don't mind having the problem of too many players that I think can actually play. The Wolves have guys with injury history including Russell, Beverly and if he returns Prince. That was one of the reasons the Wolves kept winning this season was their depth.
