2024 NBA Season and Playoffs

[Phantom255x]

I'm starting to consider Durant one of the more overrated players in the league. People online are saying "he deserves better" and that he should "leave and request a trade". Huh? This guy scurried away from OKC to join a loaded 73-win Warriors team, then tried to build a superteam with the Nets that failed and now the same thing is happening with the Suns.

Isn't Durant supposed to be this Lebron-like player that elevates these teams?  But apparently the only problems are everything around him, nothing else. Not himself either. And I'm sure he's also contributing to the roster decisions which clearly didn't work with Brooklyn and now isn't with Phoenix. This guy clearly can't handle adversity and shies away from it. His rings came on a loaded Warriors team that had already won one without him (and won another since he left too)

[Celtics2021]

I'm starting to consider Durant one of the more overrated players in the league. People online are saying "he deserves better" and that he should "leave and request a trade". Huh? This guy scurried away from OKC to join a loaded 73-win Warriors team, then tried to build a superteam with the Nets that failed and now the same thing is happening with the Suns.

Isn't Durant supposed to be this Lebron-like player that elevates these teams?  But apparently the only problems are everything around him, nothing else. Not himself either. And I'm sure he's also contributing to the roster decisions which clearly didn't work with Brooklyn and now isn't with Phoenix. This guy clearly can't handle adversity and shies away from it. His rings came on a loaded Warriors team that had already won one without him (and won another since he left too)

I’m not on the NBA internets aside from here, but if I were I’d totally stir the pot and say the same thing about KD.  We know he can’t help but read his mentions, and I sort of enjoy when he hops from team to team, blowing things up in his wake, as long as he stays far from Boston’s rumors this time.

[celticsclay]

I'm starting to consider Durant one of the more overrated players in the league. People online are saying "he deserves better" and that he should "leave and request a trade". Huh? This guy scurried away from OKC to join a loaded 73-win Warriors team, then tried to build a superteam with the Nets that failed and now the same thing is happening with the Suns.

Isn't Durant supposed to be this Lebron-like player that elevates these teams?  But apparently the only problems are everything around him, nothing else. Not himself either. And I'm sure he's also contributing to the roster decisions which clearly didn't work with Brooklyn and now isn't with Phoenix. This guy clearly can't handle adversity and shies away from it. His rings came on a loaded Warriors team that had already won one without him (and won another since he left too)

Lebron and kd are more similar than either of their respective fan bases would like to admit (Lebron has had the better career obviously) but both have repeatedly tried to stack their teams around a star model. In one case it worked great for both of them (prime Wade and Bosh and Durant joining the warriors). In other cases it has been disaster (lakers getting Westbrook, the nets big 3). I am sure Durant signed off, if not encouraged the pursuit of Bradley when they Bradley need a frontcourt player. So he can’t really cry about it. I will admit i am still curious if the suns would be any good if Beal ever actually plays.

[Roy H.]

I'm starting to consider Durant one of the more overrated players in the league. People online are saying "he deserves better" and that he should "leave and request a trade". Huh? This guy scurried away from OKC to join a loaded 73-win Warriors team, then tried to build a superteam with the Nets that failed and now the same thing is happening with the Suns.

Isn't Durant supposed to be this Lebron-like player that elevates these teams?  But apparently the only problems are everything around him, nothing else. Not himself either. And I'm sure he's also contributing to the roster decisions which clearly didn't work with Brooklyn and now isn't with Phoenix. This guy clearly can't handle adversity and shies away from it. His rings came on a loaded Warriors team that had already won one without him (and won another since he left too)

I think he's just more comfortable as a 1A or 2 on a team.  He performs very well, but he's not a "get on my back" type of player.  He's not an alpha.

I think that Lebron was a bit like that, particularly early in Miami, but he overcame that in Cleveland.

[Roy H.]

I'm starting to consider Durant one of the more overrated players in the league. People online are saying "he deserves better" and that he should "leave and request a trade". Huh? This guy scurried away from OKC to join a loaded 73-win Warriors team, then tried to build a superteam with the Nets that failed and now the same thing is happening with the Suns.

Isn't Durant supposed to be this Lebron-like player that elevates these teams?  But apparently the only problems are everything around him, nothing else. Not himself either. And I'm sure he's also contributing to the roster decisions which clearly didn't work with Brooklyn and now isn't with Phoenix. This guy clearly can't handle adversity and shies away from it. His rings came on a loaded Warriors team that had already won one without him (and won another since he left too)

Lebron and kd are more similar than either of their respective fan bases would like to admit (Lebron has had the better career obviously) but both have repeatedly tried to stack their teams around a star model. In one case it worked great for both of them (prime Wade and Bosh and Durant joining the warriors). In other cases it has been disaster (lakers getting Westbrook, the nets big 3). I am sure Durant signed off, if not encouraged the pursuit of Bradley when they Bradley need a frontcourt player. So he can’t really cry about it. I will admit i am still curious if the suns would be any good if Beal ever actually plays.

If Phoenix had pursued Porzingis instead of Beal, they'd be scary right now.

[Who]

I don't understand why Phoenix did not sign a point guard this summer.

[celticsclay]

I'm starting to consider Durant one of the more overrated players in the league. People online are saying "he deserves better" and that he should "leave and request a trade". Huh? This guy scurried away from OKC to join a loaded 73-win Warriors team, then tried to build a superteam with the Nets that failed and now the same thing is happening with the Suns.

Isn't Durant supposed to be this Lebron-like player that elevates these teams?  But apparently the only problems are everything around him, nothing else. Not himself either. And I'm sure he's also contributing to the roster decisions which clearly didn't work with Brooklyn and now isn't with Phoenix. This guy clearly can't handle adversity and shies away from it. His rings came on a loaded Warriors team that had already won one without him (and won another since he left too)

Lebron and kd are more similar than either of their respective fan bases would like to admit (Lebron has had the better career obviously) but both have repeatedly tried to stack their teams around a star model. In one case it worked great for both of them (prime Wade and Bosh and Durant joining the warriors). In other cases it has been disaster (lakers getting Westbrook, the nets big 3). I am sure Durant signed off, if not encouraged the pursuit of Bradley when they Bradley need a frontcourt player. So he can’t really cry about it. I will admit i am still curious if the suns would be any good if Beal ever actually plays.

If Phoenix had pursued Porzingis instead of Beal, they'd be scary right now.

The ayton trade also never made any sense to me

[Who]

I was looking at Ayton's stats in POR after the mention above. Then switched to POR's team stats.

This shocked me. Jerami Grant is only averaging 3.8rpg in 35mpg. This is one of the most athletic big forwards in the league. Those are rebounding numbers you would expect from a point guard. One rebound every 10 minutes. That is a PG number. Frail little Anfernee Simons gets 3.0rpg in 34mpg. Brogdon gets 3.6rpg in only 28mpg.

How in the world is Jerami Grant getting such a low number of rebounds? That is a pure lack of effort. No other reason for it.

This is the same guy who only averages 2.5apg despite taking 20 shots a night (16.6 FGAs + 5.8 FTAs, roughly 20 possessions). So a bit better than one assist for every 10 shots he takes. A 2.5:2.3 AST:TOV ratio. Almost 1:1 which is what you look for in a center. Not what you want to see in your star forward who has the ball in his hands most of the night.

This dude only cares about scoring the ball. He is not a winner at all. His effort as a defender & rebounder have sunk every year since he moved into a star scoring role. It is not like he is not capable of it. He made his name as a defensive role player early in his career. He just doesn't want to do it.

[Big333223]

I'm starting to consider Durant one of the more overrated players in the league. People online are saying "he deserves better" and that he should "leave and request a trade". Huh? This guy scurried away from OKC to join a loaded 73-win Warriors team, then tried to build a superteam with the Nets that failed and now the same thing is happening with the Suns.

Isn't Durant supposed to be this Lebron-like player that elevates these teams?  But apparently the only problems are everything around him, nothing else. Not himself either. And I'm sure he's also contributing to the roster decisions which clearly didn't work with Brooklyn and now isn't with Phoenix. This guy clearly can't handle adversity and shies away from it. His rings came on a loaded Warriors team that had already won one without him (and won another since he left too)

I think he's just more comfortable as a 1A or 2 on a team.  He performs very well, but he's not a "get on my back" type of player.  He's not an alpha.

I think that Lebron was a bit like that, particularly early in Miami, but he overcame that in Cleveland.

I think he overcame that his 2nd year in Miami. I think the biggest reason the Heat lost to Dallas in 2011 is because Lebron was too passive, trying to let the team belong to him and Wade. In the second season, Lebron started to take on more of Wade's personality which led to him overtaking Wade and the Heat became his team and they dominated.

[hpantazo]

The Pistons officially set the NBA all-time losing streak tonight with their loss to the Nets.

[Donoghus]

The Pistons officially set the NBA all-time losing streak tonight with their loss to the Nets.

Watch them end up with the 4th pick.

I’ve said it before but it has to suck being a Pistons fan

[hpantazo]

The Pistons officially set the NBA all-time losing streak tonight with their loss to the Nets.

Watch them end up with the 4th pick.

I’ve said it before but it has to suck being a Pistons fan

They had several high draft picks and came up with duds. Then they threw a ton of money at a head coach who rewarded them with the worst losing streak in NBA history. It's brutal.

[Donoghus]

Just saw a tweet that the Arizona Diamondbacks have more recently won a game than the Detroit Pistons.

[celticsclay]

The Pistons officially set the NBA all-time losing streak tonight with their loss to the Nets.

Watch them end up with the 4th pick.

I’ve said it before but it has to suck being a Pistons fan

They had several high draft picks and came up with duds. Then they threw a ton of money at a head coach who rewarded them with the worst losing streak in NBA history. It's brutal.

None of their moves were awful in a vaccuum (at least in the form of like taking Okafor number 2, Bennett number 1, wiseman 2 etc) but they just don’t fit together at all. Their worst trades were actually taking on other teams busts like wiseman and bagley. I think Cade, Ivey, Duran, Thompson could all still be solid players but probably not on this team.

[RodyTur10]

The Celtics need to start reeling in those championships before the Thunder are ready  . They just gave the Timberwolves their biggest beatdown of the season by 23 points.

That team is so talented. Obviously SGA and Holmgren are unique talents. But Jalen Williams is great as well. The rookie Wallace looks promising. And they have a bunch of other young talented players. Besides that, they still have a huge bag with draft capital. It will be hard for them to mess that up. Scary.

By the way, Karl-Anthony Towns was absolutely awful. The Wolves are very long and strong defensively, but in the playoffs that double-big line-up will hinder Towns immensely on the offensive side against playoff-level-defense with less space and more ball pressure.