Anthony Davis

[KqWIN]

Who is the best backcourt creator he has played with? He doesn't even have to role... he can hang out in the dunkers spot and pickup offensive rebounds and dump offs.

Defense is a mixed bag but he can block shots... he gets steals... on a team like Brooklyn that would be helpful even if it changes a few possessions.

The guy has had *** teammates basically his whole career. If Dwight can be effective partly by cutting his ******** out then Andre could as well. Drummond might be more functional in a playoff series than Harrell because he is capable of protecting the rim. A motivated and focused Andre Drummond could be quite helpful to a few teams.

Drummond is very poor around the rim for a big. Again, what does he do better for this team than DJ? DJ is significantly better at the rim and it's not close.

The Dwight Howard thing is also a completely different situation. I don't know why that is seen as a reference point. Howard's issues were mostly character concerns and locker room issues. Drummond does not have those issues. He has issues with not being that good of a basketball players and especially not good at the things that would help BKN.

Dwight Howard also saw a reduced role on both ends of the floor that complimented his strengths. Unlike Drummond, Dwight was and has always been a good finisher around the basket. Most importantly, his defensive role was very reduced. Drummond's theoretical role change has him pushed towards a role where he's very below average amongst bigs. If he doesn't role change perfectly, he's cannibalizing the offense. If he does, then you have a below average player executing that offensive role.

But obviously the issue isn't offense. BKN can score very easily. The defensive side of the ball is where this is a nightmare. You are significantly increasing the defensive burden of a bad defensive player. His defensive load would be Gobert esque, but he's not Gobert. We should know that getting steals and blocks is not the same thing as playing good defense.

So with Dwight Howard you have character concerns, but on the court you're limiting his role to things he's good at on both ends. Drummond isn't a locker room cancer, but you're drastically changing his offensive role to something he's below average at while also drastically increasing his defensive burden, which is another thing he is bad at. Really not comparable situations if you ask me.

Drummond is going to go through the Whiteside experience IMO. We will figure out that he's just a backup C that puts up massive numbers if you play him 30 minutes. I actually think Whiteside is much more functional on a winning team because he's much better at the rim on both ends. I'd be more concerned if he got bought out and went to a contender than Drummond.

 

[Gameface]

Or like everyone's body is different and he puts his through immense stress while having a giant body.

Nah, like he is a drama queen who thinks any amount of pain is life threatening. More like that.

 

[KqWIN]

You are really kidding yourself if you dont think Drummond would be very good, at least offensively, in Brooklyn. He isn't going to command many creation touches (like post ups) when he is playing with Kyrie/KD/Harden.

He might be fine if he drastically limits his role, but he's still not good at finishing around the basket and especially not good in PnR. DJ does what you would want Drummond to do in theory, but Drummond is not god at that. Defensively, which is really what matters, Drummond is horrible. You can try to reprogram him offensively, but BKN doesn't have an offensive problem. They have a serious defensive problem and having Drummond as the C is not going to help.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Drummond is very poor around the rim for a big. Again, what does he do better for this team than DJ? DJ is significantly better at the rim and it's not close.

The Dwight Howard thing is also a completely different situation. I don't know why that is seen as a reference point. Howard's issues were mostly character concerns and locker room issues. Drummond does not have those issues. He has issues with not being that good of a basketball players and especially not good at the things that would help BKN.

Dwight Howard also saw a reduced role on both ends of the floor that complimented his strengths. Unlike Drummond, Dwight was and has always been a good finisher around the basket. Most importantly, his defensive role was very reduced. Drummond's theoretical role change has him pushed towards a role where he's very below average amongst bigs. If he doesn't role change perfectly, he's cannibalizing the offense. If he does, then you have a below average player executing that offensive role.

But obviously the issue isn't offense. BKN can score very easily. The defensive side of the ball is where this is a nightmare. You are significantly increasing the defensive burden of a bad defensive player. His defensive load would be Gobert esque, but he's not Gobert. We should know that getting steals and blocks is not the same thing as playing good defense.

So with Dwight Howard you have character concerns, but on the court you're limiting his role to things he's good at on both ends. Drummond isn't a locker room cancer, but you're drastically changing his offensive role to something he's below average at while also drastically increasing his defensive burden, which is another thing he is bad at. Really not comparable situations if you ask me.

Drummond is going to go through the Whiteside experience IMO. We will figure out that he's just a backup C that puts up massive numbers if you play him 30 minutes. I actually think Whiteside is much more functional on a winning team because he's much better at the rim on both ends. I'd be more concerned if he got bought out and went to a contender than Drummond.

I’m not too interested into diving all the way into this argument. Just want to clarify why I bring up Dwight... it wasn’t just that he was a locker room cancer. For years teams wanted him to set picks and be a roll man... forget the post and just do dirty work. He didn’t want to do it. So part of the story was he was finally willing to limit his game.

Drummond may not be suited for the smaller role. Not as good defensively obviously... but I wonder how much is motivation related. He hasn’t had a reason to play hard an do all the dirty work. I also wonder what happens with him when he is 5th on the scouting report.

Deandre is a better finisher but he’s a statue now... he doesn’t move at all. I am not sure what a motivated Andre looks like but I don’t want it on one of the LA teams. Whiteside might be the comparison but his biggest issue is his brain. I think Andre is more flexible. I think Drummond would be a premium backup center on a minimum for one of the contenders. He’s also in his prime so not washed like some of these guys.

He’s a guy I could see getting on a functional team and looking so much better/different than he currently looks. I’m willing to concede though... I’m certainly not passionate or locked into my Andre Drummond takes.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Name the 5 best players Drummond has played with? Which of those teammates helps him be productive?

Big men more than any other position are dependent on those around them.

 

[KqWIN]

I’m not too interested into diving all the way into this argument. Just want to clarify why I bring up Dwight... it wasn’t just that he was a locker room cancer. For years teams wanted him to set picks and be a roll man... forget the post and just do dirty work. He didn’t want to do it. So part of the story was he was finally willing to limit his game.

Drummond may not be suited for the smaller role. Not as good defensively obviously... but I wonder how much is motivation related. He hasn’t had a reason to play hard an do all the dirty work. I also wonder what happens with him when he is 5th on the scouting report.

Deandre is a better finisher but he’s a statue now... he doesn’t move at all. I am not sure what a motivated Andre looks like but I don’t want it on one of the LA teams. Whiteside might be the comparison but his biggest issue is his brain. I think Andre is more flexible. I think Drummond would be a premium backup center on a minimum for one of the contenders. He’s also in his prime so not washed like some of these guys.

He’s a guy I could see getting on a functional team and looking so much better/different than he currently looks. I’m willing to concede though... I’m certainly not passionate or locked into my Andre Drummond takes.

The difference for me is that it was obvious that Dwight was good at setting picks and being a roll man. Drummond stinks at that. With BKN defense should obviously be the bigger conversation anyways. Seriously, the Nets may be the greatest offensive team ever with or without Drummond. There is a much bigger area of need to address than a rolling big man, which they already have with DJ. I don't think highly of Drummond on defense at all and I prefer the statue of DJ standing at the rim and communicating over Drummond who does nothing but hunt steals and blocks.

When the season is over, I think Drummond will see the same fate as Whiteside. He will become a backup big on a small contract. Unlike Whiteside, however, he is legit bad at the role player things you'd want from a big. He's awful at setting screens and being a roll man and he's awful as a defender in PnR defense. Whiteside at least stands by the rim and is a force there. Drummond runs all over the place and actively takes himself out of position.

Best case scenario for these contending teams is that he reinvents himself as an offensive player and remains a bad defensive player. Much more likely scenario IMO is that he limits some of the dumb stuff he does, but still does some of the same things he always has and becomes an anchor (in a bad way) for a contending team. Old habits die hard and you don't become a smart basketball player simply by being traded.

 

[framer]

yeah maybe Mike can sneak in... I kinda don’t want us to get all the accolades and attention. Stay hungry and keep a chip on the shoulder.

Mike getting an all-star here would be pretty damn big for the narrative of this organization.

 

[Jazzinho]

I’d rather a player force his way out and get the team amazing assets in return than leaving cold turkey like others have.

Oh, dont get me wrong, it was great for the Pels that he demanded a trade before bolting on free agency. He lost my respect with his choice of destination.

 

[framer]

Davis has been reevaluated, will now be out at least 4 weeks.

 

[porfavors]

Now Lakers difficult to defend last year asterisk championship

 

[JazzFever]

That could actually be really bad if the Lakers fall to 4th. We could be back to facing them in the 2nd round and having to play both LA teams.

 

[Gameface]

Now Lakers difficult to defend last year asterisk championship

totally

 

[Gameface]

That could actually be really bad if the Lakers fall to 4th. We could be back to facing them in the 2nd round and having to play both LA teams.

More glory!

 

[JazzFever]

More glory!

So what is the worst/most glorious set of matchups?

1st round Denver, 2nd round healthy Lakers, 3rd round healthy Clips, finals health Nets w/all their pieces working together smoothly?

That would probably be the most difficult championship of any era of caliber of opponents beaten.

 

[Gameface]

So what is the worst/most glorious set of matchups?

1st round Denver, 2nd round healthy Lakers, 3rd round healthy Clips, finals health Nets w/all their pieces working together smoothly?

That would probably be the most difficult championship of any era of caliber of opponents beaten.

Dang. I take it back. Less glory please!

 

[infection]

That could actually be really bad if the Lakers fall to 4th. We could be back to facing them in the 2nd round and having to play both LA teams.

Just get the first seed and let the cards fall where they will. Nothing we can do about that. Do what's in our control. We tried to get cute with matching against Denver but ended up losing.

 

[framer]

Lakers are going to get the 2 or 3 seed. ANd even if they fall to 4th, they are going to face a good to great team and will not be able to coast.

I'm not convinced the Lakers and the Clippers will be 100% healthy come playoff time. Last year was tailor made for them with the pause before playoff then the protest break during the middle of the first round (which really screwed us, btw.)

 

[infection]

Lakers are going to get the 2 or 3 seed. ANd even if they fall to 4th, they are going to face a good to great team and will not be able to coast.

I'm not convinced the Lakers and the Clippers will be 100% healthy come playoff time. Last year was tailor made for them with the pause before playoff then the protest break during the middle of the first round (which really screwed us, btw.)

AD out for at least another month and LeBron probably chasing MVP, so yeah.