Around the League: The Offseason
Re: Around the League: The Offseason
We'll see how they play together on offense, but George was 3rd in catch&shoot points in the league last year with 7.4 and Melo wasn't far behind with 6.3, both with around 42% 3pt shooting.
And I really doubt rebounding will be a problem. They get ~7 rebounds per game which is good for forwards, plus Roberson and Westbrook are very strong rebounding guards.
We'll see about the defense, Melo could be a bit more motivated now that the stakes will be higher. Cleveland is doing fine with Love. Who is their backup center though? Only Patterson or do they have anyone else?
I think they should fight it out for the 2nd seed with the Rockets and the Spurs, but those teams have their own issues as well. They should be the favourites in their minds.
And I really doubt rebounding will be a problem. They get ~7 rebounds per game which is good for forwards, plus Roberson and Westbrook are very strong rebounding guards.
We'll see about the defense, Melo could be a bit more motivated now that the stakes will be higher. Cleveland is doing fine with Love. Who is their backup center though? Only Patterson or do they have anyone else?
I think they should fight it out for the 2nd seed with the Rockets and the Spurs, but those teams have their own issues as well. They should be the favourites in their minds.
Re: Around the League: The Offseason
My name is O Gardino, and I support this message.Marty [Mori Chu] wrote:I'm getting on the "OKC is overrated" bandwagon immediately for sure. Can I be the first one to crap on their team? Or do they have a lot of doubters?
My main criticism is that they have 3 ball-dominant guys who can't all dominate the ball. Westbrook won't be able to be Westbrook if he has to give the ball to Melo and George all the time and stand around and watch them operate. Those 3 will just take turns. Not enough passing and team offense. Bad basketball.
The other main criticism is that Melo is a corpse on defense. I don't trust him to stay in front of his man. I think a good team like GSW or HOU will pick and roll them to death.
I also don't think they will be good enough at interior D and rebounding. Having George-Melo at the 3-4 puts a lot of burden on (presumably) Adams at the 5 to swallow up every single rebound and protect the paint all by himself.
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- bajanguy008
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Re: Around the League: The Offseason
I am certainly not gonna give any guarantees they will be a well oiled machine but I do think it is not gonna be a mess either for exactly this point you made. I keep hearing the need the ball for PG and not good 3pt shooters to play off WB but I think people really sleeping on how much spot up 3's and pin down action PG did in Indy. Of course he had Isos as the best player but since coming back from the leg injury his catch and shoot has been much more consistentHermen wrote:We'll see how they play together on offense, but George was 3rd in catch&shoot points in the league last year with 7.4 and Melo wasn't far behind with 6.3, both with around 42% 3pt shooting.
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Westbrook and Durant may have not played great team basketball, they did the whole his turn, my turn thing, but it was still successful. I'm not expecting a great ball movement team, but you can have a good offense without great ball movement. OKC and Toronto are good examples of this. As for George, I think he's the perfect compliment to Westbrook.
Second point, I think melo's poor defense is overrated. Especially if he's covering 4's. Who is Houston going to pick n roll Melo with? Ryan Anderson? I'm not worried about that at all. GS will give them trouble, but GS will give everyone trouble. Melo will guard Draymond and actually probably matches up well. Draymond is a power ball handler but not overly quick. Melo can handle that.
Last point, rebounding won't be an issue, Melo, George, and Westbrook are all great rebounders, even elite in some cases. Rim protection might be a problem, but it's not like they got worse. They gave up Kanter and McDermott, two of the absolute worst defensive players in the entire NBA.
I don't think OKC has a great shot at beating GS, but they turned Kanter, McDermott, Sabonis, and Oladipo into Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. That's a major upgrade.
Re: Around the League: The Offseason
First point, I think this is a pretty valid concern. Melo does like the ball, but he's always been on teams where he was the best offensive weapon. When playing for team USA he deferred often, became a deadly spot up shooter, offensive rebounder, and secondary attacker.Marty [Mori Chu] wrote:I'm getting on the "OKC is overrated" bandwagon immediately for sure. Can I be the first one to crap on their team? Or do they have a lot of doubters?
My main criticism is that they have 3 ball-dominant guys who can't all dominate the ball. Westbrook won't be able to be Westbrook if he has to give the ball to Melo and George all the time and stand around and watch them operate. Those 3 will just take turns. Not enough passing and team offense. Bad basketball.
The other main criticism is that Melo is a corpse on defense. I don't trust him to stay in front of his man. I think a good team like GSW or HOU will pick and roll them to death.
I also don't think they will be good enough at interior D and rebounding. Having George-Melo at the 3-4 puts a lot of burden on (presumably) Adams at the 5 to swallow up every single rebound and protect the paint all by himself.
Westbrook and Durant may have not played great team basketball, they did the whole his turn, my turn thing, but it was still successful. I'm not expecting a great ball movement team, but you can have a good offense without great ball movement. OKC and Toronto are good examples of this. As for George, I think he's the perfect compliment to Westbrook.
Second point, I think melo's poor defense is overrated. Especially if he's covering 4's. Who is Houston going to pick n roll Melo with? Ryan Anderson? I'm not worried about that at all. GS will give them trouble, but GS will give everyone trouble. Melo will guard Draymond and actually probably matches up well. Draymond is a power ball handler but not overly quick. Melo can handle that.
Last point, rebounding won't be an issue, Melo, George, and Westbrook are all great rebounders, even elite in some cases. Rim protection might be a problem, but it's not like they got worse. They gave up Kanter and McDermott, two of the absolute worst defensive players in the entire NBA.
I don't think OKC has a great shot at beating GS, but they turned Kanter, McDermott, Sabonis, and Oladipo into Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. That's a major upgrade.
- bajanguy008
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Re: Around the League: The Offseason
In what would be the least surprising news of the offseason.....
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/912712775209758720
SUNS Fan from the Land of Sun, Sea and Sand
Re: Around the League: The Offseason
1 year together, then leave and go to LA with Paul George?
Re: Around the League: The Offseason
I feel your pain, carey.bajanguy008 wrote:In what would be the least surprising news of the offseason.....
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1391
"Too little, too late, too unbothered."
- Phoenix Suns 2023-2024 season motto.
"Be Legendary."
- Phoenix Suns 2023-2024 season motto.
"Be Legendary."
Re: Around the League: The Offseason
But bajanguy did it first.Superbone wrote:I feel your pain, carey.bajanguy008 wrote:In what would be the least surprising news of the offseason.....
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1391
Re: Around the League: The Offseason
Whoa! Don't know how I missed that. My bad, bajan!Hermen wrote:But bajanguy did it first.Superbone wrote:I feel your pain, carey.bajanguy008 wrote:In what would be the least surprising news of the offseason.....
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1391
"Too little, too late, too unbothered."
- Phoenix Suns 2023-2024 season motto.
"Be Legendary."
- Phoenix Suns 2023-2024 season motto.
"Be Legendary."
- bajanguy008
- Posts: 7280
- Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2016 7:28 pm
- Location: Barbados, Caribbean
Re: Around the League: The Offseason
I didn't even realise that I was the subject of some of the last posts smh lol. My badd Bone , I took the new thread as the one to use from when Preseason "game action" starts this weekend
SUNS Fan from the Land of Sun, Sea and Sand
Re: Around the League: The Offseason
Nah, you did nothing wrong. The preseason thread didn't even exist when you posted.bajanguy008 wrote:I didn't even realise that I was the subject of some of the last posts smh lol. My badd Bone , I took the new thread as the one to use from when Preseason "game action" starts this weekend
"Too little, too late, too unbothered."
- Phoenix Suns 2023-2024 season motto.
"Be Legendary."
- Phoenix Suns 2023-2024 season motto.
"Be Legendary."