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Playoffs 2018 Thread

Tatum isn't the versatile point forward or team player that Hayward is. He's got a scorer's mentality and a few moves, but he's still mostly an iso scorer and a ball stopper. He needs to expand his game to be a star.
 
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There is enough playing time for three wings. I think you go to a three wing line-up for the first 6 mins of the 1st and 3rd and then sub out a true PF for one of the wings. To close games, it just depends on the opposition. Brown may be the casualty down the line, but that's a decision for the future. And he'd likely net a pretty good return if/when he's traded.
I just think with all that young talent, that your gonna have them all demanding minutes. Rozier didn't play as great as he did against Philly, but he's awesome too. Boston is going to have a good few years, but a lot of their young players are going to command big contracts.
 
Name the last three teams who have won championships by doing what you’re advocating. Heck, just name the last one team who won a championship without major signings or trades, complete organic and through the draft. Go!
I'm talking about major deals for franchise players. Especially ones that have won championships.

Yes, I know we traded for Memo, who had won a championship with Detroit, but he was hardly a first-teamer.
 
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No. However, I wouldn't be upset if for some reason both players were swapped. Both have extremely high ceilings. The last draft might go down as one of the best ever.

Good post
 
Watching Lebron play basketball is precious. An all time great that won’t be around forever. I consider myself lucky whenever I get the chance to see him in more playoff games. Royalty. King James
 
Does that also apply to trades? Not sure how old you are, but would you have stopped being a fan of the Stockton/Malone teams because Utah traded for Hornacek?

How about now...are you not a fan because Lindsey went out and signed Rubio?

Very few teams are primarily organic. Even SA, which has drafted extremely well, still has supplemented their stars with key acquisitions. GS, Houston, OKC, Boston, Toronto, Cleveland: all those teams added at least one of their stars via trade or free agency.
Sorry, guess I didn't make it clear enough. I'm talking about superstars that have won championships - franchise players. I miss the days when franchise players stayed with their respective franchises: Stockton, Malone, Bird, Magic, Jordan (going to the Wizards doesn't count).

Of course I remember the Hornacek trade and that's different. He was a very good player, but not a superstar. He was a player I already admired because I remembered our rivalry with the Suns and how he used to torch us. In fact, the year before the trade happened a friend and I were discussing prospects and his name was near the top. We both thought he'd be a better fit for the Jazz than Jeff Malone, but we'd never get him. Then, surprise! :)
 
Never. Hayward/Irving/Tatum are their big 3.

I dont know if its a sure thing Hayward is going to be the 3rd best player. I could see Brown being better. One good reason is that Hayward might not ever be the same after that injury. Its one thing to break your ankle and another to dislocate it. He did both at the same time. I wouldn't be surprised to see him have some problems with that. Just mentally alone he is going to have to get over it. Also, all he ever was was a borderline allstar. Nothing more.

Now take into account he is going to be sharing the ball a lot more. Taking a lot less shots. So there is a good chance he averages like 14ppg or something. And numbers down all across the board. Thats not going to have the look of a big3 player. Suddenly he will look overpaid.
 
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i dunno Tatum is a nice player, but i just don't see anything that totally screams out superstar. Whereas Brown does some things that are just mouthwatering, i think he's got a higher ceiling.
 
Watching Lebron play basketball is precious. An all time great that won’t be around forever. I consider myself lucky whenever I get the chance to see him in more playoff games. Royalty. King James

I 100% agree with this.

However, I cant enjoy any of Lebrons success because I cant stand the MJ v Lebron debate.
 
i dunno Tatum is a nice player, but i just don't see anything that totally screams out superstar. Whereas Brown does some things that are just mouthwatering, i think he's got a higher ceiling.

I remember thinking before the draft that Tatum might end up being the best player from the entire draft.

A year later, I can safely say that I was wrong. I think Tatum is a very nice talent. However, I don’t see him being more than a Paul George like player. He’ll be a star for years. But I don’t think he’ll be able to take over and dominate in the way we’ve seen Mitchell. Mitchell has that “it” factor. He’s got that Dwade, Lebron, Kobe thing going on. Taking over against Cleveland during the regular season. He had a few games in the playoffs where he just took the ball and took over the game. Was it game six against OKC where he scored something like 24 pts in the quarter?

To me, Tatum will be a great sidekick. But he needs an alpha, like brown or maybe kyrie, to be the go to when things get tough.
 
Was there ever a worse team than this years Cavs making to the finals? Maybe 2002 New Jersey Nets or 1999 Knicks? Honestly, take away James and this team is 30 win team at best...
 
Was there ever a worse team than this years Cavs making to the finals? Maybe 2002 New Jersey Nets or 1999 Knicks? Honestly, take away James and this team is 30 win team at best...

No way this collection of scrubs can win 30 games without Lebron.
 
Lets not forget, this team is Lebrons creation.

If he wasnt such a premadonna he would still have Kyrie, his FO wouldn't be stuck with $80M of unmoveable contracts.
I haven't really followed how the Cavs got to where they are personnel wise. Can you explain what you are saying here?
 
Watching Lebron play basketball is precious. An all time great that won’t be around forever. I consider myself lucky whenever I get the chance to see him in more playoff games. Royalty. King James

If you haven’t seen him live (my guess is you have).... Do. It.

I saw young Bron on row 2 or 3... even his jumpers were amazing... so much pop to his legs and so much lift. He’s a sight in person.

I didn’t love Miami Bron but rooted for him his whole career... so fun and kept his nose clean all these years.
 
If you haven’t seen him live (my guess is you have).... Do. It.

I saw young Bron on row 2 or 3... even his jumpers were amazing... so much pop to his legs and so much lift. He’s a sight in person.

I didn’t love Miami Bron but rooted for him his whole career... so fun and kept his nose clean all these years.

I saw him a few years ago when he was with Miami and he dominated us to the point that the jazz home crowd gave him a standing ovation (I was not on my feet and cheering like most of the crowd cause that’s shameful imo. I was amazed by his greatness though)
 
I dont know if its a sure thing Hayward is going to be the 3rd best player. I could see Brown being better. One good reason is that Hayward might not ever be the same after that injury. Its one thing to break your ankle and another to dislocate it. He did both at the same time. I wouldn't be surprised to see him have some problems with that. Just mentally alone he is going to have to get over it. Also, all he ever was was a borderline allstar. Nothing more.

Now take into account he is going to be sharing the ball a lot more. Taking a lot less shots. So there is a good chance he averages like 14ppg or something. And numbers down all across the board. Thats not going to have the look of a big3 player. Suddenly he will look overpaid.
Hayward next year will still easily be their 2nd best player. Maybe not in a couple of years but it's ludicrous to think Brown and Tatum will have the same polished efficient all round games that he has. 14 ppg ?? Farcical suggestion.
 
Hayward next year will still easily be their 2nd best player. Maybe not in a couple of years but it's ludicrous to think Brown and Tatum will have the same polished efficient all round games that he has. 14 ppg ?? Farcical suggestion.
Plus he and Brad have the daddy/son thing going on. Stevens is going to maximize Hayward as much as he can. Boston is going to have a helluva run for a few years until they have to either go "Cleveland-deep" into the tax or let someone like Brown go. I think they'll make that choice with Smart this year if he gets any kind of decent offer as a RFA.
 
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