Author Topic: Who are the new top NBA contender now?  (Read 6410 times)

0 Members and 0 Guests are viewing this topic.

Who are the new top NBA contender now?
« on: July 03, 2019, 09:39:31 PM »

Offline CelticsElite

  • NCE
  • Danny Ainge
  • **********
  • Posts: 10774
  • Tommy Points: 789
Basically is it wherever Kawhi goes?


Re: Who are the new top NBA contender now?
« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2019, 09:54:54 PM »

Offline gouki88

  • NCE
  • Red Auerbach
  • *******************************
  • Posts: 31552
  • Tommy Points: 3142
  • 2019 & 2021 CS Historical Draft Champion
If he stays in Toronto then I think it's very murky. If he goes to either LA team I'd have them top.
'23 Historical Draft: Orlando Magic.

PG: Terry Porter (90-91) / Steve Francis (00-01)
SG: Joe Dumars (92-93) / Jeff Hornacek (91-92) / Jerry Stackhouse (00-01)
SF: Brandon Roy (08-09) / Walter Davis (78-79)
PF: Terry Cummings (84-85) / Paul Millsap (15-16)
C: Chris Webber (00-01) / Ralph Sampson (83-84) / Andrew Bogut (09-10)

Re: Who are the new top NBA contender now?
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2019, 10:04:41 PM »

Offline hpantazo

  • Tommy Heinsohn
  • *************************
  • Posts: 25355
  • Tommy Points: 2756
If Kawhi stays in Toronto, then it's Lakers, Raptors, Bucks and Sixers in some order

If he goes to the Lakers, then it's just the Lakers.

Re: Who are the new top NBA contender now?
« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2019, 10:04:59 PM »

Offline footey

  • JoJo White
  • ****************
  • Posts: 16039
  • Tommy Points: 1837
This question can't be answered until KL makes a decision.

Re: Who are the new top NBA contender now?
« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2019, 10:09:39 PM »

Offline saltlover

  • Frank Ramsey
  • ************
  • Posts: 12490
  • Tommy Points: 2619
If Kawhi stays in Toronto, then it's Lakers, Raptors, Bucks and Sixers in some order

If he goes to the Lakers, then it's just the Lakers.

If Kawhi stays in Toronto or goes to the Clippers, I’m not even convinced the Lakers make the playoffs.

Re: Who are the new top NBA contender now?
« Reply #5 on: July 03, 2019, 10:11:51 PM »

Offline tazzmaniac

  • Don Nelson
  • ********
  • Posts: 8989
  • Tommy Points: 583
If he stays in Toronto then I think it's very murky. If he goes to either LA team I'd have them top.
I don't think the Clippers supporting cast is as good as the Raptors.  Raptors are much better defensively. 

Re: Who are the new top NBA contender now?
« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2019, 10:16:00 PM »

Offline CelticsElite

  • NCE
  • Danny Ainge
  • **********
  • Posts: 10774
  • Tommy Points: 789
If Kawhi stays in Toronto, then it's Lakers, Raptors, Bucks and Sixers in some order

If he goes to the Lakers, then it's just the Lakers.
how are the Lakers contenders without kawhi? Other than Lebron/AD/Kuz, I can't even name their starting 5. Can you?

Re: Who are the new top NBA contender now?
« Reply #7 on: July 03, 2019, 10:20:54 PM »

Offline saltlover

  • Frank Ramsey
  • ************
  • Posts: 12490
  • Tommy Points: 2619
If he stays in Toronto then I think it's very murky. If he goes to either LA team I'd have them top.
I don't think the Clippers supporting cast is as good as the Raptors.  Raptors are much better defensively.

The Clippers are returning almost all of the key players from last year’s playoff team.  Also, Danny Green is almost assuredly going wherever Kawhi goes, which would give the Clippers another quality player.

Re: Who are the new top NBA contender now?
« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2019, 10:21:09 PM »

Offline hpantazo

  • Tommy Heinsohn
  • *************************
  • Posts: 25355
  • Tommy Points: 2756
If Kawhi stays in Toronto, then it's Lakers, Raptors, Bucks and Sixers in some order

If he goes to the Lakers, then it's just the Lakers.
how are the Lakers contenders without kawhi? Other than Lebron/AD/Kuz, I can't even name their starting 5. Can you?

Rondo and KCP could round it out, and they will sign some more ring chasing vets.

Lebron, AD, Kuzma plus some vets is automatically a contender.

Re: Who are the new top NBA contender now?
« Reply #9 on: July 03, 2019, 10:26:41 PM »

Offline pearljammer10

  • K.C. Jones
  • *************
  • Posts: 13129
  • Tommy Points: 885
If Kawhi stays in Toronto, then it's Lakers, Raptors, Bucks and Sixers in some order

If he goes to the Lakers, then it's just the Lakers.
how are the Lakers contenders without kawhi? Other than Lebron/AD/Kuz, I can't even name their starting 5. Can you?

Rondo and KCP could round it out, and they will sign some more ring chasing vets.

Lebron, AD, Kuzma plus some vets is automatically a contender.

Yeah I'm with CelticsElite. Right now the Lakers lineup would be Troy Daniels/Jared Dudley/Lebron/Kuzma/Davis with zero bench.

I bet they add Marcus Morris, Korver after being waived, maybe even Cousins at a vet min. With their depth additions I can see them being a good level playoff team but they are by no means a runaway contender.

Re: Who are the new top NBA contender now?
« Reply #10 on: July 03, 2019, 10:30:39 PM »

Offline bdm860

  • Paul Silas
  • ******
  • Posts: 6135
  • Tommy Points: 4624
Right now PHI and MIL in the East.  Obviously TOR if Kawhi returns.

But the West is wide open.  Will be interesting to see how good Curry/Draymond/Kerr really are. 

I'm sure Houston likes to think they're next up, but they didn't play all that great last year, rumored turmoil, and have done nothing to improve, I'd be surprised if they break 55 wins or get past the 2nd round.  They can beat GS finally, but I don't think they can beat everybody else out West.

Similar story with the Lakers, I'm sure they like to think they're next up with LeBron and AD, but so far have a real lack of depth.  AD's no iron man, and LeBron finally showed signs of being human last year missing 27 games.  LeBron might actually start to decline, maybe have some real injuries that slow him down, or maybe LeBron having 8 months off for the first time in 15 years comes in rejuvenated and has one more monster MVP season giving a big middle finger to all the doubters.  Things could go great in LA or it could be a disaster.

DEN, POR, UTA all have potential to take the West.  I think we've seen the best OKC can offer (and it's nothing special) but with the right matchups who knows.  LAC if they land Kawhi probably go to the top of my West.

But for once, if Kawhi stays in TOR, I could see the top 3 teams (in terms of championship potential) being in the East, for the first time in a long time.

After 18 months with their Bigs, the Littles were: 46% less likely to use illegal drugs, 27% less likely to use alcohol, 52% less likely to skip school, 37% less likely to skip a class

Re: Who are the new top NBA contender now?
« Reply #11 on: July 03, 2019, 10:31:25 PM »

Offline tazzmaniac

  • Don Nelson
  • ********
  • Posts: 8989
  • Tommy Points: 583
If Kawhi stays in Toronto, then it's Lakers, Raptors, Bucks and Sixers in some order

If he goes to the Lakers, then it's just the Lakers.
how are the Lakers contenders without kawhi? Other than Lebron/AD/Kuz, I can't even name their starting 5. Can you?

Rondo and KCP could round it out, and they will sign some more ring chasing vets.

Lebron, AD, Kuzma plus some vets is automatically a contender.

Yeah I'm with CelticsElite. Right now the Lakers lineup would be Troy Daniels/Jared Dudley/Lebron/Kuzma/Davis with zero bench.

I bet they add Marcus Morris, Korver after being waived, maybe even Cousins at a vet min. With their depth additions I can see them being a good level playoff team but they are by no means a runaway contender.
That's not a good playoff team.  Are any of them plus defenders besides AD? 

Re: Who are the new top NBA contender now?
« Reply #12 on: July 03, 2019, 10:34:44 PM »

Offline hpantazo

  • Tommy Heinsohn
  • *************************
  • Posts: 25355
  • Tommy Points: 2756
If Kawhi stays in Toronto, then it's Lakers, Raptors, Bucks and Sixers in some order

If he goes to the Lakers, then it's just the Lakers.
how are the Lakers contenders without kawhi? Other than Lebron/AD/Kuz, I can't even name their starting 5. Can you?

Rondo and KCP could round it out, and they will sign some more ring chasing vets.

Lebron, AD, Kuzma plus some vets is automatically a contender.

Yeah I'm with CelticsElite. Right now the Lakers lineup would be Troy Daniels/Jared Dudley/Lebron/Kuzma/Davis with zero bench.

I bet they add Marcus Morris, Korver after being waived, maybe even Cousins at a vet min. With their depth additions I can see them being a good level playoff team but they are by no means a runaway contender.
That's not a good playoff team.  Are any of them plus defenders besides AD?

AD, Rondo and Cousins took the Pelicans to the playoffs. If you add Lebron, Kuzma, and a few more vets to that group they are a contender.

Re: Who are the new top NBA contender now?
« Reply #13 on: July 03, 2019, 10:37:11 PM »

Offline bdm860

  • Paul Silas
  • ******
  • Posts: 6135
  • Tommy Points: 4624
Also be interesting to guess the Opening Night and Christmas Day prime time games.  Hard to imagine what those will be.

TOR/PHI with Kawhi or maybe PHI/MIL w/o?
GS/LAL maybe with or without Kawhi (but definitely with Kawhi)

Wouldn't be surprised to see Boston/BRK in one of the non prime time Christmas day games.

After 18 months with their Bigs, the Littles were: 46% less likely to use illegal drugs, 27% less likely to use alcohol, 52% less likely to skip school, 37% less likely to skip a class

Re: Who are the new top NBA contender now?
« Reply #14 on: July 03, 2019, 10:41:03 PM »

Offline hwangjini_1

  • Dennis Johnson
  • ******************
  • Posts: 18183
  • Tommy Points: 2747
  • bammokja
Poll!! this thread demands a poll!!!
I believe Gandhi is the only person who knew about real democracy — not democracy as the right to go and buy what you want, but democracy as the responsibility to be accountable to everyone around you. Democracy begins with freedom from hunger, freedom from unemployment, freedom from fear, and freedom from hatred.
- Vandana Shiva