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930 sats \ 26 comments \ @grayruby 28 Sep 2023 meta

Yesterday, I thought today's post was going to be about potential Damian Lillard trade scenarios but the Blazers threw a wrench into my plan by trading him to the Bucks before I could make the post.

I was hoping the Raptors could find a way to get Lillard but it unfortunately didn't happen so now we have the Bucks with an absolute two headed monster of Giannis and Dame. Yikes.

So, in the interest of veering away from NFL talk at least a couple times a week, give me your thoughts on the trade and how it affects the power rankings of the NBA heading into the season. Is Denver still the king or is it the Bucks now? Maybe the Suns with all their star power finally put it together?

Sats for all.

Cheers, GR

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308 sats \ 5 replies \ @Undisciplined 28 Sep 2023

Until proven otherwise, Denver has to be regarded as the front runner. Jokic is clearly the best player in the world and their chemistry is phenomenal.

I do think the biggest nightmare for defenses will be Giannis and Dame, though. There's no way to pick Dame up at halfcourt and build a wall against Giannis in the paint.

Denver
Milwaukee
Lakers
Miami (I still think they have a move to make)
Boston
Phoenix
Golden State

I don't think anyone else has a real shot.

0 sats \ 4 replies \ @grayruby OP 28 Sep 2023

Didn't expect to see the Lakers at 3.

20 sats \ 3 replies \ @tobinator44 28 Sep 2023

Because they aren't, no way they jump Phoenix, Boston, or GSW.

20 sats \ 2 replies \ @Undisciplined 28 Sep 2023

They beat GSW last year. I'll believe in Phoenix and Boston when I see it: KP and KD are always hurt for the playoffs.

Obviously, I'm expecting similar health as last year for the Lakers (and everyone else). They could easily be terrible.

30 sats \ 1 reply \ @tobinator44 28 Sep 2023

Gsw will be a different animal with CP3 coming off of the bench, immediate upgrade on JP. KD is frail though, I do agree with that.

30 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined 28 Sep 2023

I hope you're right, but the CP3 move is reminiscent of many failed attempts to bring in aging superstars who don't fit the team's style.

cough...Gary Payton on the Lakers...cough.

210 sats \ 5 replies \ @tobinator44 28 Sep 2023

It definitely makes the East intimidating, but I think the Warriors will take another run and get CP3 a championship next year putting Steph over Lebron.

20 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined 28 Sep 2023

I hope you're right about the CP3 experiment, but I think a healthy Denver team is going to continue dominating the West.

0 sats \ 3 replies \ @grayruby OP 28 Sep 2023

I think I need to agree. Even if the Lakers were that high based on talent chances are Lebron and AD both miss 1/3 of the season at least due to injuries.

20 sats \ 2 replies \ @tobinator44 28 Sep 2023

2/3 AD is made of glass and Lebron is my age, I can barely get out of bed with 4 years of high school basketball on these knees. I know his god pro ass knees have to be imploding daily.

10 sats \ 1 reply \ @grayruby OP 28 Sep 2023

Lebron is built different but point taken. There are a lot of miles on those knees, ankles, feet.

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @tobinator44 28 Sep 2023

He has that Tom Brady shamanism lmao!

50 sats \ 1 reply \ @BlokchainB 28 Sep 2023

This trade sucks for my Knicks 😢

50 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby OP 28 Sep 2023

All of the east.

30 sats \ 8 replies \ @siggy47 28 Sep 2023

I haven't followed professional basketball since Dr J left the Nets.

141 sats \ 7 replies \ @grayruby OP 28 Sep 2023

Ultimate contrarian. Followed it when no one else did but don't follow it now when it's wildly popular. I respect that. I still like basketball but I do kind of miss the days when guys could actually play defense.

NFL is similar too though with PI calls and not being able to tackle the QB unless you lay him down on a bed of roses (there is a NJ reference for you). Also the lack of offensive holding calls is ridiculous especially if a premier QB is playing.

141 sats \ 2 replies \ @grayruby OP 28 Sep 2023

By the way I spent a week in New Jersey once. (clearly it was for a woman). The cities are dumps but outside of the city was very nice. Just as an aside.

30 sats \ 1 reply \ @siggy47 28 Sep 2023

Apt description. Remember, though, Dr J played for the New York Nets. They played on Long Island in a tiny arena and then shared the Nassau Coliseum with the Islanders. I went to many Nets games there.

141 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby OP 28 Sep 2023

Ah yes. NJ nets was later and now Brooklyn nets.

50 sats \ 3 replies \ @siggy47 28 Sep 2023

I had an ABA red white and blue basketball as a kid. I can't explain my lack of interest. I have liked college ball at times. The athleticism now is incredible

141 sats \ 2 replies \ @grayruby OP 28 Sep 2023

Here's another fun story. When I was a kid the company my dad was working for sponsored the Harlem Globetrotters events at Maple Leaf Gardens. My dad was lucky enough to be selected as one of the companies employees that got to participate in the halftime contest. One of those shoot from the key, from the line, from 3 kind of things. And I think 5 employees competed and got three attempts at each spot and the winner got some prize (not sure what it was). Anyways I was really pumped up and yelling "thats my dad" until he proceeded to miss every shot. At which point I was so embarrassed I didn't say a word for the rest of the game.

When I was 10 that seemed like a big failure but looking back now it is pretty cool he got to do that and hell I probably would have missed them all too.

30 sats \ 1 reply \ @siggy47 28 Sep 2023

Great story. I loved the Globetrotters as a kid. I still remember Meadowlark Lemon and Curly Neal.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby OP 28 Sep 2023

Great fun to go to and got to meet some of the players afterwards because my dad's company was a sponsor.

The great news for the dad is even though he missed every shot, since the Maple Leafs played at Maple Leaf Gardens for so many years that's still not even close to the worst performance in that building by a longshot.