Let Giannis Play

Sometime last year - I believe circa the end of last season or the beginning of this one - I started to really get pissed off about "load management".  It was Kawhi who sorta brought that standard to the forefront, and now things have totally gotten out of control, to the point where some NBA games have become virtually unwatchable.

For instance, I recently peeping this match between the Grizzlies who were competing against, if I remember correctly, the Warriors.  The most-popular player on the court was Draymond "Dino" Green.  Granted, Dray is an A-lister but not necessarily for on-court production.  That's not to say that he isn't a good or entertaining basketball player, even at this age.  But when Green makes headlines, it's usually for spazzing, not like willing his team to a victory.

So besides Draymond and a few C-listers - like Zach Edey, Santi Aldama and Podziemski - the rest of the players were basically scabs.  Mind you, I'm not dissing anyone.  My philosophy is that every NBA player is more or less as good as the next one.  You can't beat a champion unless you prove yourself worthy to get in the ring with him to begin with.  But that said, you'd have to be like a diehard NBA fan to want to pay to watch those dudes.

In a worst-case scenario, you actually bought season tickets or paid the price of admission well in advance, anticipating that at least two or three stars would be on the court and preferably both teams in a state of competitiveness.  And those are the people I feel most sorry for - the paying fans who are truly getting gypped by load management, these suspect "season-ending" injuries, the proliferation of NBAers whose bodies aren't strong enough for multiple seasons, etc.

MONETARY CONSIDERATIONS VS. FANS

The NBA business model, if a team actually wants to win games, is naturally against fans in a way.  And I'm not talking solely about tanking for draft position.  But now that we're on that subject anyway, let me say that it's pathetic that the best strategy a team full of professional, multi-million dollar athletes (besides high-paid executives) can come up with is 'let's wait to next year, hopefully get a high draft pick and rely on a youngster whose never played an NBA game in his life'.  Like someone isn't doing their job correctly, because half the time draft picks don't even pan out as anticipated.

And besides tanking, there's also the incentive to rest dudes so that they won't get injured, in this current tender age of the NBA.  That's what's apparently happening with Giannis.  Usually this is done to minimize the risk of a healthy-yet-tender player getting hurt before the playoffs.  But in Giannis's case, what's making it interesting is the Bucks already being out of the postseason chase, yet Giannis not being lazy or sheisty to rest, even though he has the opportunity.

F*CK THE BUCKS

So by this point, outside of Milwaukee being able to offer him more money, there really doesn't seem to be much of a reason for Giannis to stick around.  You can't count on this braintrust to turn the situation around and assembly another championship-level team, like LAL did with Kobe.

If Giannis plays and reinjures himself this season, it won't matter either way to the team's current fortune.  But what it could affect is his value in a forthcoming trade.  So it's like they're (over)protecting his health, saving him for a future trade.  Or at least that's what I want to believe.  I'd hate to think they're shitting on fans here and now by looking forward to maybe being better next (regular) season.  Only the truly low organizations, like the Jazz, would do some shit like that.

The idea of the Bucks getting a high draft pick and then trading it for a star to pair with Giannis, I don't really support that.  Remember, it was this blog that incepted the Dame trade.  And I learned a bitter lesson with that one, that you should never, ever count on a injury-prone star, regardless of how good he is.  So if Milwaukee does decide to go that draft-trade route, they better get someone(s) really sturdy - I'm thinking an Anunoby type and maybe a Josh Hart also.  Giannis is exactly a spring chicken himself, so they should continue with the trend established earlier this season (before he came back), of building a roster that can compete without him.

Meanwhile, even though the Bucks suck and aren't even going to make the Play-Ins(!), Giannis wants to suit up for the rest of this season.  He truly is a man of the people, you know, including his loyalty to Milwaukee and all.  But concerning that commitment, if they really do force him to sit even though he wants to play, that should be the straw that breaks the camel's back.  He should no longer feel if he demands a trade that he's somehow selling out or breaking his word, because once an organizations shits on its own fans, I mean you can't really sink any lower than that.

It's one thing to put the future over today, if you actually know the future.  'Hey, I'm getting paid tomorrow, so I'm going to starve today but eat well once I get my money'.  But it's another thing when you decide to suffer today in anticipation of a probable future.  In other words, rest Giannis or not, there's no guarantee the Bucks are going to be any better in 2026-27 than they are now.  Draft picks aren't always reliable, and neither is the health of established stars.

SHOUTOUT TO CAM THOMAS

Cam is, by all accounts, a gifted scorer.  But it was revealed, many moons ago, that he would never be a true alpha in this league.

That was a few years back when the Cam Thomas hype train was at its peak.  Remember that dude averaged 20+ points for a couple of seasons.  So there he was, in Golden State, facing the ultimate test - playing against an inspired Steph.  I don't think they had any direct beef or anything, but the implication was this being Thomas's chance to really prove himself.  And he was doing his thing, going blow-for-blow with the Dubs for most of the game.  So it was like 'oh shit, maybe this dude really is legit, not just prospering because he's on a bad team, like he's out here in Cali, bringing it to Steph'.

But then once that became obvious, that he was trying to show up an all-time great, Curry turned it up a notch in the 4th and humbled him on a crunch-time iso play.  I think he may have even done that "night-night" shit afterwards - like that's how testy the unspoken Thomas vs. Curry motif of the game had become.  You have a young upstart who's trying to prove he's just as good as the old great, and you have the old great out to show, um no, he isn't.  That's the game that broke Cam's career, in a manner of speaking.  That's when it was proven that he's an exceptional albeit "inefficient scorer" as opposed to someone who can win games.  It was sorta like what Lebron did to Lenny Cooke.

THE BET THAT BACKFIRED?

More recently, Thomas betted on himself by not taking an extension with the Nets.  That can be risky sometimes, like when Dennis Schroder shot himself in the foot a few years back.  I disagreed when Dennis made that decision, but I was feeling Cam, in a way.  Schroder was/is a role player, but Thomas was a borderline allstar just last season.

In hindsight, even though the Nets offering him $15/mil a year was kinda insulting, you know, it was only a two-year contract.  But Cam, betting on himself, rather played this season for a mere $6mil, after averaging 24ppg just last year.

Someone shoulda told him that you need to be wise or at least know your worth before getting into contract disputes with your employer, as the Nets proceeded to actually limit his minutes this season, even going as far as to bring him off the bench if I remember correctly.  Was that actually a compliment to Cam, i.e. cutting his minutes, since Brooklyn is supposed to be tanking?  Maybe.  But in the Nets' defense in terms of not offering him more dough, if any team has smarted in recent years due to putting too much faith in high scorers, its Brooklyn.

I felt really good about Thomas going to Milwaukee, that he would get a chance to prove himself on a team that was at least semi-competitive at the time, but I also understood it was a make-or-break type of situation.  And now, it's like he was waived so late in the season that can't even sign with a playoff team.  And to make matters worse, the Bucks gave his roster spot to like some totally no-name dude, like a G-leaguer or some shit.

It's hard to imagine that this is the end of Cam Thomas' career.  Maybe by the time all is said and done, it'll turn into some type of amazing redemption story, of a player who was once undervalued ultimately leaving his mark.  But in the meantime, he doesn't seem to be someone who organizations particularly like.  Is it those tight, homoerotic shorts he used to wear?  I don't know.

CONCLUSION

I don't really know the profitability of being a NBA season ticket holder these days.  So if you are and actually intend to attend games, better to be a fan of a supeream like the Knicks, i.e. one with 3 or more stars, thus making it nearly impossible (though not unheard of in this day and age) for all to be hurt or resting simultaneously.

My solution - offer some kind of waiver where dudes can get their money back or a discount or some shit if stars aren't playing, and that includes fans who pay for streaming.  I'm not trying to be an A-hole, but who really wants to see the Bucks without Giannis, especially now that they're not winning or even in the playoff chase anymore?

If I Could Send One Player to Any Team (Central Division)

There's been a lot more team changing this offseason than many of us anticipated.  Most deals have already been made, but there are still quite a few quality free (and restricted) agents out there, those which, if braintrusts choose wisely, may push this or that team to the next level.  That said, not every suggestion I'm going to make here is free agent but in one case the type of player a particular organization appears to need most, even if the actual possibility of landing him is nonexistent.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (64-18) - JONATHAN KUMINGA

It's arguable that no team disappointed this past postseason moreso than the Cavs.  By the looks of things, they're going to more or less run it back again next season, and on one hand it's like why not?  But on the other hand, I'm not going to dumb out and put my faith in them yet again.

The problem with teams like Cleveland is that it's hard to identify any flaws on their roster to begin with.  People were quick to denounce the idea of having a twin towers, but that strategy worked for the Thunder.  One of the reasons it worked though is because Holmgren is more versatile than Mobley.  You also see that during the Finals, OKC didn't even start Hartenstein.

So the lesson appears to be that, during the regular season if you will, a twin towers may work.  But during the postseason, you need to accommodate or adjust.  And that's why I'm suggesting Jonathan Kuminga.  When the argument is that Allen is too slow to defend on the perimeter or doesn't have enough of an offensive repertoire, then start Kuminga instead.

The fact that no other team has offered Jonathan a contract isn't due to him being undesirable but rather, according to reports, this offseason being one in which virtually all squads are cash-strapped.  So yeah, I don't realistically expect Cleveland to go after him, unless maybe they were willing to give up Jarrett altogether in the process.

And that, once again, is the problem with being really good during the regular season but sucking in the playoffs.  You presume that some type of major change is needed yet at the same time are reluctant to initiate any.  That begs the question of which is better, to be really good but then fail when everything is on the line, or to suck altogether?  At the end of the day, are the Cavs even any better than, say, the Trailblazers?

INDIANA PACERS (50-32) - JOSH GIDDEY

This one was easy, since it appears that Haliburton will not be suiting up at all next season.  Meanwhile, Giddey is a player with a very similar style, in terms of his build and versatility.  It may even be argued that all-around stat-wise, Josh is better than Tyrese.  But if Indiana did go out and get Giddey, then you'd have to ask what role would be play once Haliburton returns, since Josh is more or less a non-factor when he isn't allowed to run point.

I'm not as pessimistic about the Pacers as a lot of people, including apparently their own braintrust, are concerning next season.  Another viable option would be going after Russell Westbrook who, in a manner of speaking, is like Haliburton and Turner rolled into one player.  I don't think Indiana's braintrust just standing pat is the best solution, especially when it comes to trying to do the best for their fanbase.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS (48-34) - RUSSELL WESTBROOK

Honestly, I'm shocked that Westbrook remains a free agent as of this writing.  But as I have noted numerous times throughout this blog, "the ScapeGOAT" has regularly suffered from misplaced(?) hate throughout the years.

Russell is the victim of what I would call the curse of greatness.  When you're naturally better than most of your colleagues, people expect you to succeed by default.  It's those types of expectations which has turned players like LBJ and KD to superteam feens.

I could easily perceive how Westbrook would at least prove more valuable to the Bucks than Dame did.  It isn't like they have much to lose in giving him a shot.  And since no one has high expectations for Milwaukee this coming season, if they do fail it's not like everyone can then turn around and blame it on Russell(?).  He may not be the best three-point shooter out there, but given his multitude of other talents, does he really have to be?

DETROIT PISTONS (44-38) - KEVIN DURANT

I know that KD isn't actually available, but there's two reasons I suggested him anyway.  First is that, as I've been saying for the longest, I would love to see more of these old superstars go to young teams.  I'm not talking about the way CP3 went to the Spurs last season but more like old superstars joining younger teams and instantly making them contenders in the process.

In the grand scheme of things, there wasn't any super-major difference between the rosters of the Rockets and Pistons entering this offseason.  They both lost in the First Round, after all.  But Houston is more reputable and also apparently better resourced, so Durant could chose them without giving a less-popular team like Detroit a second or even first thought.

That said, unlike the Pacers and Bucks, it makes more sense for the Pistons not to rush out and make any major additions.  But losing both Beasley and Schroder is far from ideal.  Meanwhile, it seems they haven't made any notable additions at all this offseason except maybe Caris LeVert.

CHICAGO BULLS (39-43) - BOL BOL

Recently, there's been reports of the Bulls being interested in Kuminga or something like that, but I don't really see it.  Jonathan is good and likely to get better, but I doubt if he'll ever be even a consistent number-two option.  For the past couple of years, I've rather been advocating him going to a team like the Grizzlies.  Their roster is more on his timeline, and the onus wouldn't be on him to play like superstar night in and night out.  The Warriors, contrastingly, are a high-pressure team, where if you aren't consistently on point, it will show.

Chicago's roster sucks, so much so that if finish anywhere near .500, that would be considered an overachievement.  They have the type of squad that could literally use any good player, outside of maybe a point, since Giddey already seems to have that role locked down.

The general consensus is the best (restricted) free agent currently available is, once again, Kuminga.  But I can't advocate him going from the Dubs to a team that doesn't look like it'll make playoffs anytime soon, even in the lackluster East.  Nor could I condemn Westbrook to such a fate.

So I'm going to go with Bol Bol because first of all, Chicago obviously needs depth in the frontcourt (as they have for years now).  Secondly, it's sorta surprising, at least to me, that Bol doesn't have a contract.  For whatever reason, after a promising season a couple of years ago, his minutes have been drastically reduced.  Maybe he's not as good as I think he is.  Or maybe, he's never gotten a fair shot due to his appearance and shit like that.  His looks aren't exactly what we would call marketable from a Western civilization perspective.  But I would like to see Bol for once get major minutes, like a starter, to really prove what he could do.  And he'll likely only get that type of opportunity on a completely-garbage team(?) like the Bulls.

Trade Talk: KD vs. Brooks, Green, etc.

This seems like a pretty square trade, though all things considered, I wouldn't be surprised if the Suns ultimately come out looking better than Houston.  Ideally, KD would solve the scoring issues within the Rockets' roster, which the world witnessed this past postseason.  Meanwhile, the Suns put themselves in a position to move forward post-Durant without being stuck in limbo or under pressure to win immediately.  They may be garbage next season, but they're not going to trash(?).  But if you were to force me, I would say in the grand scheme of things Phoenix got the best of the deal - even if not by a wide margin - for two main reasons:

KD IN PHOENIX HAS BEEN A DISASTER SINCE DAY ONE

This is the fault of the Suns' braintrust more so than Durant.  You have to remember that they had a really good team before bringing KD in, a good team in the OKC Thunder sense - well-rounded, balanced, with size and depth, not overstacked at a particular position and complete with an MVP candidate (that being CP3).  Remember that squad, pre-KD, actually made it to the Finals.

That compatibility was in large part due to the presence of CP3, perhaps the last true PG allowed to operate in the NBA.  When Phoenix acquired KD, Paul instantly became redundant.  Why?  Because even with all-time great PGs by his side, like Kyrie for instance, Kevin still insists on running point, at least based on what I've seen.

KD is kinda like an Allen Iverson.  If you have someone like him at the center of your offense, the other four guys should more or less be supporting players.  You know, it's kinda hard to get mad at KD for hogging the ball.  That's something Phoenix should have understood before not only putting him next to Booker but going even further to acquire Beal - all three of whom are used to being primary, allstar-level scorers and furthermore wings.

KD wasn't so much of a detrimental chuck when he won those championships with the Dubs, but they had already established themselves as champs beforehand, besides having Draymond "the Equalizer" Green.  Like why was Draymond compelled to bark on him like that to begin with?

ANOTHER FAN FAVORITE BETRAYED

The Rockets, going back decades, have always had what may be considered an above-average braintrust.  But remember that up until like last season, they spent some years in the garbage zone.  They had these promising players like Green, Porter Jr., Smith Jr. and even Sengun but couldn't make it work.  Then, came Dillon Brooks.

Players like Brooks and Draymond are, imo, the most valuable in the NBA in terms of their uniqueness.  There's a number of guys out there that can put up triple-doubles.  Lebron rarely plays defense, to the detriment of his team even, but because he can score, rebound and assist, you know, put up stats, you have pundits declaring him one of the players in the NBA.  But off the top of my head, I can only think of three players in the entire league who have displayed the ability to regularly galvanize an entire team with their defensive tenacity, with none of the triple-double guys being amongst them.

I'll admit that, against the Warriors this past postseason, Brooks looked like a nonfactor.  After watching the highlights, I even had to resort to box scores to make sure he played.  I thought dude was injured or some shit.  And it also seemed that Draymond took his heart and in doing so, definitively changed the tide of the series in the Dubs' favor.  You know, I talk shit, you talk shit, but at the end of the day only the one who wins is going to be justified.  Brooks is like a Draymond without a Steph.

I probably would have been more inclined to trade Fred VanVleet for KD, maybe.  Fred carried the team offensively during Round 1, and you would think Houston would reward him by letting him shoulder more of that responsibility throughout.  It's almost like acquiring Durant is a roundabout way of saying they don't believe in VanVleet, because it's difficult to see their styles meshing.  I'm expecting that now, maybe Fred will play more off the ball, like a 2.

As for Jalen Green, yeah, he more or less had to go.  Up until recently, he was arguably the star of the team, yet dude deadass got benched during crunchtime vs. the Dubs.  There's really no need keeping him around under those circumstances, you know, if he isn't developing, and I don't quite see how he's going to fit next to Booker either (presumably, he'll be coming off the bench).

Hopefully Jalen will wind up in Milwaukee, like Kevin.  That roster, with those old dogs upfront (i.e. if they keep Brooks), is better suited to accommodate young, erratic shooters.  With Dame hurt they need that kinda energy, though in a more constructive way.

Maybe the Bucks will end up with Booker instead?  But I can imagine both Porter Jr. and Green running wild next to Giannis, who more-fundamental style would be able to mitigate some of their shortcomings.  If Milwaukee is going to retain Giannis, all things considered (i.e. an injured Dame being on the books), they need to start thinking a little outside of the box.

SHOUTOUT TO JABARI SMITH JR.(?)

Reportedly, the one player Houston was most keen on trading for Durant was Jabari Smith.  You often hear pundits pointing out how beneficial it is for bigs to develop jumpers.  But what I've been pointing out, for years now, is that in doing so many of them neglect their main advantage, which is their size.

There are some exceptional shooting Cs, but generally speaking Gs remain better at the job.  If you allow dudes to take the easy way out, you know, hoisting up threes instead of posting up or driving, most of them will do it, even the biggest man on the court.

So what I'm envisioning is something like KD chuckin' as usual, and Jabari, instead of waiting under the basket for a rebound, rather opting to linger somewhere behind the three-point line, hoping for a pass.  Indeed, he's the one player on the roster who truly becomes expendable with the presence of Durant, because they have similar builds and to some extent playing styles, tho KD being like 1000x more effective.

It's rare that three-pointers get blocked anyway.  So you don't need to always have your tallest dude at the three-point line.  But I have to imagine that Smith, once again given his height (and agility), must also have some perimeter D value.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? (PHOENIX SUNS)

Speaking of above-average braintrusts, as noted the Suns have made their mistakes in recent years, but they're also known for perennially fielding competitive rosters, if nothing else at least on paper.  To be totally honest, I thought Beal + Booker + Durant + Nurkic, especially once they added Jones to the mix, was going to be akin to a contender.  Things didn't work out like, I would speculate, off the top of my head, the reason being that if you have three high-scoring wings, then you'd have to have a respectable pass-first PG to complement them, you know, distribute the ball, make sure everyone gets their shots, etc.

The thing tho is that in today's NBA, there really isn't anything like "a respectably pass-first PG" since every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to run point or chuck up threes at will.  And the coaches may sit around like 'yeah, our team prefer freestyle basketball', but at the end of the day, the players probably don't give two fucks what they have to say anyway.  It's like everyone is an Iverson these days.

Speaking of which, I'm now starting to feel sorry for Thibs.  I criticized him a lot in the past, but at least he, unless most of his peers, had a palpable coaching presence.  And it's also now blatantly obvious that whoever NYK replaces Thibs with isn't going to be nearly as good as he is.  You know what I mean?  AI coach.

Going back to the Suns, their current roster isn't half bad.  They'd definitely be a playoff team in the East.  Btu what I'm foreseeing is at some point, you know what I'm saying?

Booker is like their Kobe, the star they drafted who, even after a decade, is still with the team that picked him.  That kinda shit is a lot more common these days then some people realize.  But ultimately, they should have never disbanded the aforementioned squad from a couple of seasons ago.  Sometimes, you only get one chance type shit.

Alongside the likes of Ayton, CP3 and Bridges, Booker had a clearly-defined role that like didn't overlap any of his teammates.  He was unanimously the 2-guard, the go-to scorer.  Now, you have guys like Beal and Green alongside him.  I'm not saying any of them are higher in the pecking order than Devin.  But once again looking at OKC for instance, you see the value of having players who complement each other, rather than their skillsets overlapping.

That said, like Memphis and Houston before them, I do expect Phoenix to find value in Dillon Brooks.  He's the type of player that virtually any squad can use.  When you're in a field where dudes make million of dollars whether they win or lose, some extra fire is a good thing.  I'm even hoping to one day see Dillon next to Draymond, as a mentee, eventually becoming his Warriors' replacement once Green retires.  Draymond needs to stop scaring away potential teammates.  The Suns gave up a player who's cancerous in the locker room sense and replaced him with someone who's known to like uplift entire squads though, like Draymond, Dillon could also benefit sometimes from less aggressiveness.

CONCLUSION

The Rockets needed additional scoring this past offseason, the key word in that sentence being past, because you can't take for granted say, for instance, that if they make the Playoffs next season (which they probably will), they'd once again face the Dubs.  Fukaround and they find themselves against a team like the Thunder or Nuggets, and you find yourself asking would Brooks more beneficial in that scenario than KD?

As for the Suns, I would argue they got the better of this trade because, you know, they really-really needed to break up that Big 3, even if Durant hadn't request a trade.  Houston needed more scoring power, but did they really need that much more?  They probably could have packaged Green and Smith and got he type of scorer they needed, alongside VanVleet and Sengun, instead of, you know, going after one of the best in history.  But I can understand, to some extent, why they wanted to get rid of Brooks, once again considering this past postseason.  But how instrumental was he (and Green) to them finishing in 2nd place to begin with?

Please Don't Do Anything Stupid (NY Knicks Edition)

I know I've been talking a lot of shit about the Knicks lately.  But in their defense, it should be noted that superteams rarely win championships in their first season together.

Moreover, it's arguable whether or not this iteration of the Knicks is actually a superteam.  The way I define a superteam is as:

• a squad whose core is made up of three perennial all-star level players, or
• a squad with two perennial all-stars buttressed by exceptional role players.

I've been saying for awhile that Mikal Bridges is one of the most-underrated players in the NBA.  That's something I picked up on when the Suns devalued him for KD, and dude was like a borderline all-star during his brief stint with the Nets.  But I don't know if Bridges + KAT + Brunson, would meet that first definition of a superteam.

As for that second, if we were the take it that the Knicks true core is rather made up of KAT + Brunson, yes, they're surrounded by some quality players, but the bench isn't deep enough to qualify as a superteam.  With that second definiton, I'm thinking more along the lines of those types of rosters that the Lakers surrounded Shaq + Kobe with back in the day, you know, during their last two championships.  During their first championship, history tends to forget that had Glen Rice by their side and therefore qualified as a straight-up superteam.

The funny thing is, this past season, the only squad that had a straight-up superteam was the Suns.  Bradley Beal has sorta fallen off of late, you know, if you're looking for a scapegoat.  I've been saying since his days in Washington that he was more or less overrated, and now, that's sorta been proven, though to my understanding injury is a major factor.  But anyway, as you know, Phoenix, with that stacked core, didn't even make the Play-Ins.  There's a lesson to be learnt there somewhere.

After the Suns, if I were forced to name another superteam, second on the list would the Knicks.  Talent-wise, NYK has the best starting five in the league.  They fared much better than Pheonix but went on to disappoint nonetheless.

But the point is, now I sorta agree with Jalen Brunson.  For what it's worth, NYK did make progress this season.  They were the only team to have two players start in the All-Star Game.  And they made it all the way to ECF, even if they had some notable 'luck' along the way.

The bottom line is, their current roster deserves at least one more chance.  What the Knicks should be focused on is edifying their bench and, if any player must go, trading Mitchell Robinson for another defensive big who's healthier.  But, once agian this is the Knicks we're talking about, not an organization that's necessarily known for its intelligence when it comes to roster construction.  So instead, we're met with rumors of them rather focusing on trading for Giannis, KD or, oh my goodness, Jason Kidd.  As for the latter, I don't know exactly how that deal would look, but I hope they aren't actually stupid enough to give up a valued rotation player for a coach who, as if the one that just departed, never won a championship.

Now let me be honest and say I can totally picture a frontline composed of KAT + Giannis.  Giaanis is exactly the type of frontcourt runningmate someone like Karl needs.  We already tried Rudy Gobert, but the lack of speed between the both of them wasn't ideal.  Then there's Mitchell Robinson - tall, lanky, quick and defense-first, someone who, in theory, should fit better next to KAT, who himself is more or less like a lumbering big.  But damn, those injuries.  It's like even when Robinson is healthy, he's isn't.

The problem though with trading for Giannis is, who are they going to give up?  The Knicks already gutted their roster last offseason, and whereas they've added guys like Cameron Payne, Landry Shamet and PJ Tucker(?), I think you know what I mean.

Then on the other side of the equation is, who exactly would the Bucks take back in return?  If Giannis goes, I think it's safe to say that would be start of a rebuild rather than Milwaukee still trying to win with the oft-injured Dame as their best player.  That experiment did not work out at all... because of injuries.  It's always sad to see a team fail just because its stars' bodies are banged up, you know, like back in the days when Grant Hill teamed up with Tracy McGrady.  It's like we'll never actually know how good they could have been.

That said, it's hard to imagine the Bucks, say, taking back Brigdes and Anunoby for Giannis.  A  two-for-one deal like would be more or less fair.  But again, there wouldn't be much sense sending Mikal and OG to a team that's rebuilding.  And for the Knicks, that would literally be one step forward, two steps backwards, sorta like they did in trading Randall + DiVincenzo for KAT, though that trade, transaction-wise, was more understandable.

And speaking of not making sense, I don't even know why the Knicks would consider going after KD.  It may sound like I do a lot of Durant bashing, but let me clarify that if I could meet any player in the NBA, it'd probably be KD.  He's someone I actually admire, like personality-wise.  He's also an offensive powerhouse, albeit one not known for defense at all these days.  Unfortunately for Kevin, his mind is stuck in a past where you could go out and grab two other all-stars and boom, a championship.  And even after witnessing the failure of the 2025 Suns, the Knicks are exactly the type of franchise who would comply with some dumb shit like that, you know, assembling a core of three superstars who none of them can play defense.  But I guess the logic would be that the best defense is a good offense, supporting players be damned.

CONCLUSION

The Knicks played well enough this season and were entertaining enough that fans deserve a runback.  Or if they must make additions and subtractions, let it be on some guru shit, like the Thunder did last offseason.

There comes a point where someone needs to sit James Dolan and them down and be like 'look, we need to choose a path and stick to it'.  Even the Trailblazers are on that shit these days.  Yeah, it's cool having more money than you can spend and the ability to shuffle superstars at will.  But there comes a point, even last offseason with NYK, where constantly making big transactions proves counterproductive.  Again, note the Suns.

The Knicks did take a stand bringing in Jalen Brunson a couple of seasons ago, and they followed up by acquiring the services of KAT last year.  Now, since they've made those decision, they need to focus more on acquiring players that will mitigate their weaknesses rather than engaging in perpetual starchasing.

In theory, being backed by Bridges, Anunoby and Hart, all of whom appear to be above-average defensively, should work.  If anything, NYK is over-talented.  But trading dudes to get another superstar does not, all things considered, sound like a viable short-term solution.

2025 NBA Playoff Ruminations (23 April)

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

Let me just get this off my chest.  Every time the Lakers win a big game against an arguably better team, I think shit is rigged.  I also believe that them having the 3 seed is pretty suspicious in and of itself.

Lebron, even at his age, is just as impactful as any other player in the league.  But also at his age, it looks like now he can only perform at top level like that every other game.

The player who surprised me more than anyone in Game 2 was Austin Reaves, who btw played more minutes than anyone else in the contest.  He didn't necessarily put up killer stats, but it's like Austin has now developed that cool Whiteboy swag, sorta like Alex Caruso.  And if there's one thing these Lakers could use, it's some swag.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

The Timberwolves are one of those teams I imagine would be 1000x better if they actually played with a consistent (offensive) strategy, because they have all the pieces.  The only other team who on paper have a more balanced roster than Minnesota is OKC.  But these days, you know what I'm saying?  Coaches of many if not most squads are more or less tokens anyway.  Furthermore, you have to believe that the powers-that-be favor the Lakers over the Wolves.  Of the top-three selling jerseys, two of those players are on LAL.  So do I believe Minnesota has the better team?  Yes.  But that might not be enough to get them out of this series.

P.S. - I have to mention the way Edwards threw it down on Jaxon Hayes.  He literally dunked on him, and that was the illest dunk I can remember since the Andrew Wiggins days.

TYRESE HALIBURTON

Haliburton was just voted 'the most overrated player in the NBA' by his peers.  I'm sure I touched upon that idea in this past, how he came over to the East and like instantly but suspiciously became an all-star starter.

But overrated or not, Tyrese is an above-average PG, esp. on offense, and, unlike last year's Playoffs (understandably), he seems to have now meshed well with Siakim.  I'm not counting the Bucks out, but so far they appear to be outmatched.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

I'll be honest and say that I kinda approved of the Kuzma-Middleton trade when it transpired.  Kyle at least made his presence felt, for all it was worth, in Game 2.

But the ironic thing is that last postseason, the Bucks then-big 3 (Giannis, Dame and Middleton), if I remember correctly didn't even play a single game together due to injuries.  Now this postseason, they're all healthy or in the very least playable, like I do believe Khris finished the season actually playing.  So yes, imma say it - imagine if he were still around right now.  

And speaking of last season's Playoffs, there was this one game against the Pacers where he did like some miracle shit.  I won't go as far as to say that, all things considered, Middleton is a better player than Kuzma.  But unlike Kyle, Khris does semi-regularly display that unstoppable all-star magic and is someone you have to always be mindful of on offense.

It's forgivable if, a couple of months ago when the trade transpired, that I believed Kuzma may fit well with the Bucks.  After all, it's not like I'm being paid big money to make those decisions.  So if Milwaukee goes on to lose this series, it's time to start speculating whether or not they have the worst braintrust (outside of Washington) in the NBA.

BOSTON CELTICS

I sorta believe that Tatum may not even be (that) hurt, but the Celtics may use an 'injury' as an excuse to rest him.  They did that same sorta shit last postseason (with Porzingis).  That's the kind of luxury that truly-dominant, supremely-confident teams have, missing a key starter in the Playoffs yet still being able to win.  You can't just sleep on the Magic like that (I guess), but at the same time, if you're going to get some postseason rest, there's no better time than in the First Round against a mediocre squad.

2024-2025 Offseason Grades (Central Division)

CHICAGO BULLS: B+

I was really hoping that Zach LaVine found his way to LAL.  That didn't happen, but the good thing about Chicago's situation is that now, at least they're a one-alpha team.

LaVine may not be a franchise player in the truest sense of the word, in terms of being able to consistently will a team to victory.  But, he isn't a scrub either.  And the pairing of him and DeRozan was always a questionable strategy, given that the Bulls didn't necessarily surround them with complementary role players, or at least those who were able to stay healthy.

I also like the acquisition of Josh Giddey, because he can fill the role that Lonzo Ball was supposed to.  He may not as good of a defender as Lonzo, but he is a better all-around offensive player.

Also, the way the Bulls' roster is currently made up is such that they can tank without looking like they're intentionally doing so.  You know what I'm saying?  Like they have a respectable roster, but perhaps one not good enough to make the playoffs.

That said, Chicago actually has one of the better braintrusts as far as garbage teams go.  I think what this roster, as is, may need to get to the next level, if they haven't gotten one already, is a speedy, athletic big who focuses primarily on defense and rebounding, not built like Drummond but one you can rationalize starting alongside Vucevic, since he apparently isn't going anywhere anytime soon either.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: A-

The Cavs are literally running it back with their same roster from last season and may be the only team in the league doing so.  That type of commitment demands some level of applause in this day and age.  That's more or less how champions were built back in the days.

That said, I agree with pundits who argue or notice that there's compatibility issues between Garland and Mitchell.  Donovan is a 2 who plays more like a 1 and furthermore is ball dominant.  In other words, if he decides to chuck, there's really no need to force him not to.  Forcing Mitchell, against his will, to share the ball with the other Gs and wings may do this roster more harm than good.

One solution is perhaps to bring Darius off the bench and rather start a G alongside Mitchell who's more defense oriented.  But then, the issue will become if Garland is as effective as a sixth man than he is as a starter.

Either way, at this moment there really isn't much reason to believe that Cleveland is on the verge of winning a championship.  But the ex-factor, once again, is Evan Mobley.  He's the type of player who, if Joel Embiid is unable to find his form, no other team in the East possesses.

DETROIT PISTONS: C-

The Pistons seem to have finally forsaken their youth movement by acquiring a handful of vets, most notably Tobias Harris, over the offseason.  I've been arguing for years that more veterans need to go to young teams like this.  However, I was thinking more along the lines of those who can make more of a difference, not only in terms of winning but also like ticket sales.  Meanwhile, Detroit's youth-laden roster from last season was more exciting, on paper, than their current one (even though they kept most of those young guys).

A little progress is better than no progress.  But the question is, has progress actually been made?

The problem with considering Cade Cunningham a franchise player is first of all, the Pistons are now paying him so much money that if they did decide to part ways, he'd be hard to trade.  You know, first it's like what team actually needs his skillset, and then it's like, what would they be willing to give up in return?  I know I may be projecting too far into the future, but that's the kind of issues Detroit, unless it overachieves, is likely to face.

Obviously no perennial all-star, i.e. the type of player they likely need to actually move the needle, is eager to join the Pistons.  So all things considered, it'd probably be better off if they didn't have any max player and engaged in a full rebuild sooner than later.  Or put another way, if Cade isn't a franchise player (which, imo, he has never proven to be, despite the stats), then they're going to look real stupid the longer they hold onto him.

INDIANA PACERS: B

I criticized the Pacers a lot during the playoffs and don't want to go there again.  If certain other teams in the East are healthy, I doubt that Indiana will make the conference finals again.  But that said, logic will dictate that after the success of last season, the right thing would be to run it back, with an upgrade or two.

That upgrade is expected to come in the form of James Wiseman, which isn't a completely bad gamble, since Myles Turner's style of play can be frustrating at times.  Wiseman was drafted onto the Warriors, a team which, as perennial contenders (up until recently), wasn't necessarily the best environment for young, developing, insecure players.  Since then, he's played for the Pistons and never quite panned out to be the phenom some were predicting when he was in high school.

But maybe, things will be different in Indiana.  Unlike Detroit, this is a team that actually wins games.  And unlike Golden State, even though the Pacers are theoretically contenders, there shouldn't be a whole of pressure or expectations unrealistically placed on Wiseman's shoulders, you know, to instantly prove a champion.  It's like either he finally represents in a definitive way, or he doesn't.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS: B-

I enjoy reminding the world that I was the first pundit to suggest the pairing of Giannis + Dame.  The problem is that, due to injuries, we never got to see their full (postseason) potential.  I think it's safe to say that if nothing else, if Giannis was healthy then the Bucks would have gotten past the first round of the playoffs.

I'm sorta a pessimist when it comes to injuries.  Sometimes, players get hurt really bad and make what seem like miraculous comebacks.  Other times, you're expecting them to return to form, and they never do.  Or let me say that my strategy is that, once a star player proves injury-prone, to always have a viable backup plan, just in case.

The Bucks, though they've made some quality additions, do not appear as if they have done so, nor do they necessarily look better than they did last season.  Besides Dame and Giannis, this squad is banking on a handful of aged starters, one of whom has an even worse injury history.  So I don't feel inspired, and obviously neither does any other pundit, since I have yet to see anyone mention Milwaukee as contenders this upcoming season.

But of course, in theory Giannis + Dame can be the best big/small combination in the league.  Maybe what the Bucks should think about doing is going all out and perhaps assembling what looks more like a win-now roster around them.  They're in a tough spot in terms of facing decisions because when you look at their top-six players, they're definitely contenders if healthy (and maybe a bit younger).

CONCLUSION

The Cavs should be the best team in the Central Division and, if they're able to be more innovative, perhaps even contenders.  They're the only team in the East who, as of now, has a starting five that consists of twin towers, not to mention a perennial allstar 2guard.

But of course, you can't sleep on the Pacers after the showing they had last season.  They now should be fully accustomed to the presence of Pascal Siakim.  But after how they performed last playoffs, injuries and all, I'm not convinced.  But, the same thing can be said for the Cavs.

NBA Reflections (2023 November 10)

It's funny how NBC posted an article today pointing out how the Bucks' defense sucks, because I was going to make that same observation after watching them play the Pistons a couple of nights ago. And now, I regret ranking Milwaukee higher than the Nuggets at the beginning of this season, under the belief that they had a better frontcourt defensively.

At the heart of the problem, the way I see it, really isn't the fact that Lillard is a palpable stepdown on defense from Jrue Holiday, because truth be told most teams, by the design of the league even, kinda suck when it comes to perimeter defense anyway.  Dudes be bustin' threes and driving to the lane like it's nothing these days.  The bigger problem is that Brook Lopez has visibly lost a step, maybe even two.  Also, please don't tell me that Khris Middleton is injured again.  Like who couldn't see that coming?

That said, it isn't as if the Bucks suck.  They do have Giannis and Dame, two players who, and especially the latter, can win games on their own.  So their situation feels a bit more hopeful than, say, the Clippers.  But it's also sorta obvious that, as it currently stands, the Sixers and Celtics are in a different class than the Bucks.

LET'S GO, T-WOLVES!

I have yet to see the Timberwolves play this season, but, from what I've been reading, they've been representing.  Remember that this is the team I predicted to win it all at the beginning of last season.  It proved obvious pretty quickly that was a hasty prediction.  But now that they're healthy and getting their shit together, Minnesota is living up the potential that I expected of them, such as recently beating the Celtics, who lack a palpable interior defensive presence, having traded away Robert Williams III (who, btw, is currently injured anyway).

REMEMBER THE BIGS

Remember that even as recently as last season, there were so-called analysts, even some on the payroll of of major media organizations and maybe some employed by teams also, arguing that bigmen are played out.  Now, for those teams that were actually dumb enough to heed that type of advice, if you don't have a viable big on your roster, then you're assed out.  That's how the Nuggets were able to beat the Warriors the other night.  Jokic, instead of focusing on shooting jumpers, was banging inside, and there was no one on Golden State to give him any type of notable resistance.  Meanwhile, Aaron Gordon is still doing his thing, and Michael Porter Jr. has finally seen the light and is even averaging 8 rebounds.  So who's going to be able to stop the Nuggets?  It can only be a team with comparable size, like the Sixers, Bucks or T-Wolves or one that is really loaded on the wings, like the Suns or Clippers (or Dubs, if the Splash Bros. are on fire).

KAWHI, THE ODD MAN OUT

I know it's only been a couple of games since the Beard has arrived in LA, but something just doesn't feel right with the Clippers.  And the funny thing is, based on what I've seen, Kawhi Leonard, arguably the best player on the squad, appears to be the odd man out with this current arrangement.

Trading for Harden was a risky move, or let me know one which LAC's braintrust should have already had a solid idea what they were going to do with him before making the deal.  It appears that inevitably, either he or Westbrook is going to head to bench.  Logic would dictate that if anyone it should be Harden, since the Clippers were apparently playing better before he arrived (and with pieces they have now traded away).  But then it's like, if they do bench one of them and slot Kawhi back to the 3, then who's going to start at the 4?  Their frontcourt is already thin enough, but the logical conclusion would be the semi-ageless PJ Tucker. 

So the way I see it, the real problem with LAC may turn out to be a ego thing.  It's kinda like how, when Jordan Poole was around, the Warriors were arguably better with Steph coming off the bench.  But then it's like, you can't bench Steph.

So when it comes time to choose between either Harden or Westbrook starting, I wonder if LAC is going to chicken out and prioritize James over Russell.  You know what I mean?  Like I wouldn't want to be the one to tell the Beard to come off the bench, you know, especially for $30+mil/year.  By the time all is said and done, if things they don't work out, some higher up in the braintrust is probably going to get the boot.

FUK THEY DOING TO WEMBY?

First of all, let's get this out of the way - the Spurs' roster, relatively speaking, sucks.  They traded their lone allstar, Dejounte Murray, during the offseason of 2022 in the name of tanking to get Victor Wembanyama, and that goal has been accomplished.  But let's just say, as amazing as Wemby may be, he ain't no Shaq.  And it's becoming increasingly obvious that his game doesn't respond well to intentional contact, which is understandable, considering he's currently one of the skinniest player in the league.

So there's two things that's concerning me here.  First is that, development-wise, I would argue that it's not ideal for someone who's apparently a future allstar to get drafted onto a garbage team.  Like you don't want a player who's potentially an all-time great  to get used to losing.  And if the Spurs are unable to attract any quality free agents or make an exceptional trade or two, then they're going to have to rely on some of that draft magic from days past.

But second and more concerning is the way Popovich and them are using him.  They have Wembanyama, who's like the tallest dude in the NBA, basically playing the 2.  Then, when he does find himself in the post, it's obvious that he isn't used to playing interior defense (or is intimidated by it).  Furthermore, based on what I've seen, he never posts up on offense, despite once again being the tallest player in the league.  Then it's like they be giving him these extended rests during key stretches of the game, sorta like they value and are trying to preserve him over the rest of the squad, which I'm presuming isn't particularly good for the morale of his teammates.  You know, even if it is true, don't make it obvious.

When the Spurs drafted Tim Duncan, he had the luxury of playing alongside a perennial allstar, David Robinson, from the get-go.  But as for Wembanyama, who knows when or if San Antonio will get someone else to ease the pressure, if you will.  But that said, it's pretty obvious, as it currently stands, that fans are going to vote Victor into the 2024 All-Star Game.  So it remains to be seen if the coaches and media will rain on the parade.

Philly Still the Best Team in the East

The NBA season is going to officially start in three weeks, meaning that between now and then I have to write my 2023-24 predictions.  And I can already tell that this time around, it's going to difficult for a number of reasons.

As it currently stands, I'm sorta leaning towards predicting the Warriors as the 2024 champions.  That's not to say that I actually believe they're the best team in the NBA, and I'm not convinced that Chris Paul will prove as valuable to the Dubs as Jordan Poole did.  But what they do have is Steph Curry and a longer continuity than any other contender.

This past week, there's been a couple of monumental acquisitions in the East.  The Bucks got Dame, and the Celtics acquired Jrue Holiday.  Both of those moves sound really exciting on paper, but the caveat is that neither were acquired as free agents.  Instead, there were players who also had to leave both of those teams to make those acquisitions possible.  So that's why, as exciting as it is to finally have Giannis + Lillard, I'm not getting all gassed up and shit.  The Bucks may now have the best two-man combination in the East, if not the entire NBA, but Philly is deeper, even if the Beard were to bounce.

THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Dame is one of only two players, besides LBJ, Steph and sometimes Doncic, who I would say is a viable offense in and of himself.  In other words, you can rationalize constructing a roster around Lillard consisting of like only role and utility players, though with one drawback, that being his inconsistent health.  A couple of those years Dame played with McCollum and Nurkic, the way I see that iteration of the Blazers didn't make the Finals not because they weren't good enough per se but rather they just happened to coexist in the Warriors Dynasty.

Since that combination didn't work out, i.e. Dame alongside another high-scoring G, then what I wanted to see was him rather team up with one who's like all-defense.  I thought it was going to happen when Payton II went to Portland, but it didn't work out that way.  Now that the potential once again existed, for whatever reason the Bucks decided to ship Holiday out, as opposed to, say, Middleton.  Who knows why they did so.  Maybe the owners like Khris better or something like that, or maybe they have their own vision of what Dame + Giannis is supposed to look like.  It's an exciting trade nonetheless, but one that makes you wonder what type of starting five they're going to roll out.

I'm presuming it's going to be something like Dame + Khris + Giannis + Porter + Lopez.  With that backcourt chucking up shots, and the frontcourt focused on rebounding/defense, they could make a case for best starting five in the league.  But then, who's coming off the bench?

Arguably, the best bench player the Bucks currently have, if they use that lineup, would be Jae Crowder, who more ideally would be a starter himself.  I thought Jevon Carter was still around, a G who, in theory, may fit well alongside Dame, but he's now with the Bulls.  They also have Malik Beasley, who isn't a scrub, but.  I guess it would probably make sense, all things considered, the start Crowder and let Porter come off the bench.  Either way, this is an interesting squad up to about the 7th man.  But considering all of the above, I'm not in the rush to jump on the bandwagon and proclaim them the best in the East.

THE BOSTON CELTICS

My heart almost stopped for a second when I learned that the Celtics traded Robert Williams III, furthermore to the Blazers, a team that may now even really need him like that.  I can imagine how some Boston fans may feel.  The other day I was reading an article on NBC which claimed that Holiday + White + Brown + Tatum + Porzingis + Horford is the best six-man combination in the league.  And yes, the Celts really did need a G like Jrue, i.e. a non-chuck who is a +defender and clearly above-average offensive player.  But his effectiveness is likely to minimized by playing alongside Tatum, who's a chuck, as well as Brown, who's developed a chuckin habit also.  And even though Porzingis + Horford is nothing to sneeze at, who are they going to use in games where they're being tortured (inside) by an opposing big?

THE PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

Even if Harden were to be traded, the Sixers arguable have the deepest roster in the East, and like it's not even really that close.  So if he rather sticks around, then they definitely have the deepest roster, even if other teams' starting five may be more formidable.

The simple-minded think that starters win championships.  That's not exactly true, especially in today's age of the tender, load management, mental health, diva NBA player.

By the looks of things, the entire 2023-24 Sixers roster, from 1-12, will have some type of above-average name recognition.  In other words, if you were to look at the rosters of most NBA team, once you get to like the 7th of 8th man, you're not likely to know who dudes are unless you really watch a lot of NBA games.  But Philly has an entire roster of guys that you know can play, i.e. have at least have heard of before.  They have more rotation-level bigs (Embiid + Bamba + Dedmon + Montrezl) than they are likely to have playing time for, and idk if any other team in the association can currently make that claim.  Besides that Tyrese Maxey may be the most-underrated player in the NBA, and Oubre Jr. can play a Harden-like role, i.e. chuck, if the situation demands, so on and so forth.  They obviously have a level of flexibility that neither Boston or Milwaukee can boast of.

For almost like an entire decade now, Philly has had one of the best braintrusts when it comes to roster construction.  Yet this offseason, they still managed to outdo themselves.  But you know, with Lillard and others bouncing around and with the Beard demanding a trade, and all the other headlines it's like no one is recognizing the Sixers' genius.  So now, the onus is really on Nick Nurse to figure out how to beat teams like the Celtics, Bucks or Nuggets who may have a more talented starting lineup.  At least, unlike other coaches, he actually has the pieces to do so.

CONCLUSION

That brings me to my conclusive point, which is my belief that the reason the Sixers have yet to make to the Finals, esp a couple of those seasons when they really should have, is because of image issues.  Look, you already the deepest roster in the East and arguable the best team in the NBA.  So now, the challenge becomes image rehabilitation.  No Joel getting into petty squabbles, talking shit to the media or, you know, coming on the court like a wrestler or some dumb shit.  No more trade demands from the Beard.  And yes, fuck it, he may also consider getting a shave also.  After all, promotion in the world of business, if that's your goal, isn't always only about talent.  If that was solely the case, then I'm sure Philly would've already made it to the Finals a couple of times in the past 5-6 years.

Trade Talk: Dame to Bucks, Jrue to Blazers, Nurkic to Suns, etc.

I introduced the idea of Dame going to the Bucks a couple of months ago.  Off the top of my head, that's the only contender I could think of who could actually using a superstar PG that chucks and who could afford Dame without gutting their roster.  At the time, I was sorta picturing him playing alongside Jrue Holiday, but Milwaukee was going to have to give up at least one of their big names to get this deal done.  I would have rather gone with Middleton, since his game is somewhat similar to Lillard's, though Dame being a lot, lot better.  But no use crying over spilt milk.

THE BIG WINNERS - THE SUN

The biggest winner from this trade, if it all goes through, is the Suns.  Booker + KD + Beal is not a compatible Big 3 (unless one of them is injured at all times, or if Beal becomes pass-first), and DeAndre Ayton wasn't going to solve that problem.  Also, their depth was suspect.  But now they're getting Jusuf Nurkic, who should fit better with KD & co.'s style of play, as well as Grayson Allen, who would logically be the Suns' fifth starter.

WHAT ABOUT JRUE?

I feel sorry for Jrue because first of all, just yesterday he was saying that he didn't want to leave the Bucks (though, imo, he didn't sound that convincing).  Remember that the acquisition of Holiday proved to be the ex-factor which made Milwaukee champions.

Second, I just don't see him fitting in with the Blazers' current roster.  Of course I don't know for sure, and they definitely have enough talent to be a surprise playoff team, like the Jazz were last season if they had stayed on that course.  But Holiday is one of those players who like even though he's not in the news making demands and shit like that, he deserves to be on a contender.

Portland, now with DeAndre Ayton instead of Dame and Nurkic, can be classified as a young team.  These young teams in the NBA, not all of them, but some of them are getting scary good.  If Jrue is cool with taking on a mentorship role and isn't preoccupied with winning another ring, then it's all good.  The one thing many of these young teams lack is a true veteran leader.  Also yesterday, he made those comments in the midst of facing a contract extension, so obviously how much Portland would be willing to pay him will be a factor.  But I wouldn't be surprised, or let me say I would be impressed if the Blazers are already thinking about flipping Jrue to a team that can perhaps better capitalize on the career stage that he's in and vice versa.

FINALLY, A RING FOR DAME?

It may be argued that defense in the NBA is as inconsequential as ever - except on the perimeter.  And I'm not saying that Dame is a bad defender.  But at the same time, in all these years I can't say I ever remember him being heralded for his defense.

And in acquiring Lillard, the Bucks gave up one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.  So will that matter in the long run, with Dame + Giannis and the rest of those Milwaukee overachievers?  That remains to be seen.  But maybe, just to be safe, Milwaukee should have also acquired Matisse Thybulle in the process.

NBA Playoffs Ruminations (29 April 2023)

CONGRATS TO THE LAKERS (I GUESS)

I thought it was kinda cheesy the way the Lakers celebrated after beating the Grizzlies, because I doubt it would've been possible if Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke weren't hurt.  It's almost like one boxer throwing a wild celebration after beating another who everyone knows is injured.  In fact in boxing, if an opponent is dealing with a major injury, then the match has to be postponed or called off.  But basketball is a team game, so you have to compensate.

I do understand how the celebration was a bit extra because first of all, LAL won the series in front of their home crowd, and secondly, it's like they've developed a personal beef with the Griz.  As far as Memphis goes, I would say better luck next year, but that's like the same thing I said when they lost to the Warriors last season.  And it's like, these injuries are a bitch.

I always like to point out that back in the old days, the playoffs weren't like this when you had so many key players injured.  I remember some playoffs were like no star was too injured not to play.  But today's NBA is different.  Some of these dudes are diesel like football players, but they aren't actually stronger than the previous generation.

But that said, there are a couple of things that made me happy about the Lakers' victory.  That would be seeing D'Angelo "Brasco" Russell finally getting some flowers and also AD looking happy for like the first time in months.  I always believed that the LAL would be unstoppable if they played the right way, with both AD and Lebron attacking the post, which is reportedly what they did in that final game.  But Davis does not look as formidable as back in the day, and the reason he was to dominate in Game 6 looked more like it was because he was noticeably taller than everyone else.

THE KINGS STRIKE BACK

I like the Kings, but they're another team that looks woefully thin upfront.  That doesn't really matter much against Golden State, a team that has prided itself on being smaller, faster and better shooters.  I'm still not counting the Dubs out, yet I also retain the belief that they would be more formidable if they let younger, faster guys start, even if they aren't as talented, and then bring Steph (not Draymond) off the bench.  Curry can still score his ass off, but the way the lineup is currently structured is like if he runs out of gas and if Klay or Poole aren't hot, then the Warriors really can't do shit.

Maybe they'll utilize that strategy next season.  But right now they look really vulnerable, and unlike the Lakers' aged core, they don't have a plethora of proven youth to lean back on.  But that's the kinda risk you run when you insist on giving the older guys most of the minutes.  And if they do go on to lose in the 1st Round, it'll be interesting to see how the team is structured into the future considering that most of their dough is going to Steph + Klay, both of whom should arguably be coming off the bench.

FREE KUMINGA

One player I hope will not be with the Dubs next season is Jonathan Kuminga, because the way he's been relegated to the bench, it's like they don't even deserve him anymore.  It's always been my fantasy that he would end up on the Grizzlies sooner rather than later, but I don't know how realistic that is considering that he's still on a rookie contract and like can't really demand a trade unless he's really got some cojones.  Remember that the Warriors also recently traded away James Wiseman for like no immediate return.  That's the kinda shit that's going to come back and haunt them as the Splash Bros. age, and hopefully Draymond will leave town also.

JIMMY BUTLER'S ALL THE RAGE

I didn't see much of the Heat v. Bucks series, but I do remember stating before the plyaoffs that the latter probably wouldn't even be a playoff team without Giannis, and I think now that has been more or less proven.  I was also reading today that Mike Budenholzer's brother died, in a car crash, during the series, which sorta reminded me of what Isaiah Thomas went through a few years back.  So the Bucks were definitely distracted.  And I also found it interesting that the way Grayson Allen ended the series was slightly reminiscent of what Butler did against the Celtics last year.  But that's why I always say that in the NBA, you win some, and you lose some.  And you have to be able to take the losses and hope that the next season the pendulum swings in your favor, like it seems to be doing Butler at the moment, though I would personally pick the Knicks over the Heat.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE - CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

And speaking of the Knicks, wow.  I know that anything is possible, but I never would've imagined, if they were to beat the Cavs, that they would have been able to do it so dominantly.  Cleveland isn't panicking, which is a good sign, because they definitely have a nice, compatible squad.  But it'll be real interesting to see what moves they pull off this offseason.  Draymond, anyone?

NEW YORK KNICKS, CONTENDERS?

I don't believe I ever called the Knicks contenders, but I did say that their roster really isn't lacking anything, and that was even before they got Josh Hart.  Even losing Game 1 against the Heat can be attributed to Julius Randle not being around.  But man, how about those Heat?  Their showing why you can never sleep on a team filled with veteran allstar-level players playing for an organization that knows how to win basketball games without always having to rely on being more talented or healthier than the opposing squad.

DENVER BUSTS PHOENIX'S ASS

Game 1 between the Nuggets and Suns was never really close.  And speaking of organizations that knows how to win and build competitive rosters, you have to give to Denver also, because it's been like 20 years since they've been garbage.  Even back when Andre Igoudala was the team's alpha, they were winning like 50 games a season.

So now, I kinda wish I had stuck to the same prediction I made the two seasons before this one, that Denver will win the championship if healthy.  But still, you know what I'm saying?  Fukaround and Murray or Porter Jr. slips on a banana peel or some shit, and boom, hopes dashed.

As for the Suns, I still believe they have not only the most-talented starting five in the league but also one that is naturally compatible, so long as neither KD or Booker is chuckin when on the floor together.  But now I see they've taken one step forward, two steps backwards, as the homey used to say.

Between last season in this season, they got KD, one of best scorers in history, but lost three starters basically.  And this isn't like back in the days when the Warriors did the same thing to get Durant.  So there's likely going to have to be another player or two outside of the Big 4 to give the Suns a chance, because Denver not only has its own Big 4 but also a number of quality role players, including Bruce Brown, who has become one of my favorites.

2023 Eastern Conference Play-in Predictions

Now that the 2023 Playoffs brackets are starting to settle in, I can also began my predictions in terms of who I believe will emerge victorious.  I do believe that sometimes, the better team may not emerge victorious because the NBA powers-that-be deem otherwise.  So I'm going to split each series prediction into two categories, "Fair and Share" and "What Will the NBA Do".  The first centers on who I think will win the series, barring (additional) major injuries.  And that second category is just in case I also feel that the NBA may favor a particular squad, even if they aren't better.  And to note, a higher bracket positioning doesn't actually mean that a team is superior to another.  For instance in some cases, such as has been recently pointed out with the Bucks and Celtics, the former may have a better record, but the latter matches up against them particularly well.

HAWKS (41-40) vs HEAT (43-38)

If you would have told me at the beginning of this season that the Hawks would have finished 8th in the East, I would've had a hard time believing it.  I rather thought they would be contenders, contingent on Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, two alpha PGs, working things out in the backcourt.  But not only aren't they contenders, but also, you would have to believe looking at their record, were never able to incorporate Murray as idealized, even if he is averaging over 20ppg.  In fact what it rather looks like his presence is negatively affecting John Collins' game.

FAIR & SQUARE

Tbh, I haven't seen the Hawks play enough this season to really pin down what their problem is.  But logic would dictate that if they haven't gotten their shit together by now, it's not suddenly going to happen against the Heat, a team who, despite disappointing this season also, at least know their identity.

WHAT WILL THE NBA DO?

I don't see any reason why the NBA would interfere in this one.  But I would presume they'd want Miami to prevail over Atlanta for a number of reasons, such as the Heat being more popular and also EC playoffs' fixtures.

RAPTORS (40-41) VS. BULLS (39-42)

Two more teams that disappointed this season.  Well, at least the Raptors are a disappointment to me, because I thought after getting a quality bigman (Jakob Poeltl) they were going to prove themselves contenders.  Instead, it's as if his presence fukedup their chemistry.  Oh well, no one was really expecting them to do anything this season anyway, I guess except the owners themselves, since they're reportedly on the verge of sacking Nick Nurse.

FAIR & SQUARE

I have to give this one to the Bulls, because their stars, and especially DeRozan, are known to be more clutch than those of the Raptors.  Imagine that, DeMar knocking his old squad out of the playoffs.

WHAT WILL THE NBA DO?

I also believe the NBA wants the Bulls to win.  Would they go as far as to rig for them?  In their eyes I don't think they'd be much of a difference between Chicago or Toronto potentially making the playoffs.  But what should be remembered is that the Bulls got all but decimated by the Bucks - who they would once again go to face in the First Round if they make it past the play-ins - during the 2022 Playoffs.

CONCLUSION

Miami also convincingly handled the Hawks the last year, which is presumably why they went out in got Dejounte in the first place.  So if nothing else, this play-in should act as a litmus test as to whether that experiment has been successful.  In other words, if they beat the Heat it may be considered a success and something to build further on.  But if not, well, don't blame the shit on John Collins.

Giannis Antetokounmpo = What a True MVP Looks Like

A couple of season ago when Jokic won his first MVP, back in those Disqus days, I totally did not agree with that decision.  Others in the forum did and even went as far to accuse me as having something personal against Nikola.  Even to this day I find that idea notion, as I don't see how any true fan of the NBA could hate Jokic.

The heart of my argument was this.  First, for someone who is considered the Most Valuable Player in the entire league, Jokic like never led the Nuggets to any type of significant achievement.  Yes, he does deserve credit for keeping the team respectable, i.e. making the Playoffs, even when Murray and Porter Jr. were hurt.  But it wasn't like he alone was taking them to the next level type shit, not like, say, Jordan or Lebron were able to do when they were stuck on lackluster rosters.

But really what ruffled my feathers is that fact the C is, traditionally, the most-important defensive position and basketball, and like Jokic can't really defend for shit.  It's like he doesn't even really try, because that's not his strong suit.  Meanwhile every MVP I can think of off the top of my head, with the exception of Karl Malone maybe, were all exceptionable defensive and offensive players.

But the purpose of this post is not to engage in any Jokic bashing.  I believe I already stated before that Doncic, imo, is the best player in the NBA, but he has his defensive issues also.  So if I were to start a team and can pick anyone as my franchise player, that would Giannis, even though Luka is a virtuoso.

Guru I may be, I don't always get predictions right.  For instance when the season first started, I thought the Bucks were going to be mediocre because #1 they didn't make any upgrades during the offseason and #2 Khris Middleton is still hurt and may be so permanently.  I also thought that maybe the pressure of carrying this team, as in keeping them in contending status, might be too much for Giannis.  And yes, the season is still young.  But so far, that prediction has proven to way off.

Instead, what Giannis is doing to proving that he's a true MVP, i.e. a player who can 'singlehandedly' make a mediocre roster a threat to win a championship.  In other words, he has stepped up to the challenge and, imo, elevated his game.  Awhile back I likened him to a combination of AI and Shaq.  And now it's like he's also caught on to that reality, that not only can he dominate inside but is also faster than most players.  And it's like, God bless Jason Kidd for teaching son how to dribble.

And in terms of last season's disappointment, well, let me say that anyone who reads this blog knows that I believe the NBA, for whatever reasons of their own, favors who they will, and that dynamic changes from season-to-season.  And I do believe that last season, the powers-that-be wanted the Celtics to go to the Finals, just like I believe they wanted the Bucks to beat the Suns the year prior.

CONCLUSION

As it currently stands, the NBA (in conjunction with KIA) has Giannis ranked number 1 in terms of who's the MVP so far.  Meanwhile Jokic, despite putting up impressive numbers as usual, isn't even the top 5.  And Giannis has always, in reality, been better than Jokic.  So hopefully by the climax 2022-23, he'll be recognized as such, and we won't have a situation where the winner of the award is highly-debatable.

NBA Offseason Power Stinkings (Central Division)

The Central Division could arguably be the all-around most competitive in the NBA, if not for the Pacers.  It's for teams like Indiana that the Power Stinkings were created.  But with them aside, it's easy to predict - or at least fantasize that all others in the division will close out the season with winning records.  The Bucks stand as the favorites, but the Bulls added a couple of quality vets, and it's like who knows what happened to the Cavs last season.  So anything can happen, especially since it seems the Milwaukee failed to really upgrade this offseason.

Since this is the Power Stinkings, we have to start with what looks like the worst team in the division first.  And again, that unflattering honor belongs to:

1.  Indiana Pacers

A decade ago, the Pacers were a contending team with the deepest roster in the league.  Nowadays, they look more confused than the Jazz.  And it says a lot about this braintrust, imo, that they have one of the best centers on their squad but seem unable to trade him.  So it's like are they rebuilding or what?  And then it's also like, who even really cares?

What did say a lot was the Malcolm Brogdon trade.  Ending that disaster of an experiment (and acquiring Haliburton) was supposed to symbolize that the Pacers were now rebuilding.  But maybe not.  So unless they really overachieve, which doesn't seem that likely given the competition, Indiana may be the least-popular team this upcoming season.

2.  Detroit Pistons

There's a couple of reasons I'm leery of the Pistons.  One is that they traded Jerami Grant basically for draft picks, though that move doesn't look so bad now that they got Kemba Walker.  But the way the NBA is these days, I wouldn't be surprised if they try to buy him out.  Everyone is raving about a backcourt consisting of Cunningham - who'll logically get better this season, but to what extent who knows - and Jaden Ivey, an unproven rookie.  I personally don't believe in putting too much faith in rookies, unless maybe it's a Shaq or something.  But how about a backcourt of Cunningham and Walker instead.  How would that fare against others in the NBA?

The Pistons also beefed up downlow with the addition of Nerlens Noel, and Kelly Olynyk is lingering around.  But overall, this looks like a pretty-thin frontline especially, once again, without Grant.

3.  Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs pulled arguably the dumbest trade of last season when they swapped Ricky Rubio for Caris LeVert and then went into an almost immediate freefall.  Well actually, calling it the dumbest may be a bit harsh.  For instance, now they have both LeVert and (a healthy) Rubio.  And sometimes, even some of the wiser braintrusts fall for that 'players are only assets' BS, casting them aside like broken car parts even though their presence may be integral to the team's overall success.  So, you can't be too mad at the Cavs.

Colin Sexton is also back, so now, if he sticks around, Cleveland has the deepest guard core in the NBA, on top of one of the best frontlines.  I'm almost tempted to call them contenders.  So now, it's like just wait and see if the execs dumbout this season also.

4.  Milwaukee Bucks

One of the reasons it doesn't matter that the Bucks didn't make any blockbuster upgrades during the offseason is because they already have a damn good team.  It's one of those situations where the biggest potential threat appears to be health issues (and the Heat).  And the Celtics, who beat them in the Playoffs, have in fact upgraded.  So unless Bobby Portis transforms into an indisputable all-star or Giannis turns it up another notch or two (if even possible), then who knows, the Bulls may prove better. 

5. Chicago Bulls

Putting the Bulls at the bottom of this list doesn't necessarily mean I think they'll fare better than the Bucks.  But at least they upgraded.  Dragic, as I'm sure I said somewhere in this blog before, is like the most-underrated PG of the last decade.  And I still can't understand all of the Drummond hate outside of the fact that it's become trendy to devalue traditional bigs (and that he boned Jennette McCurdy?).

The punchline of The Last Dance is that Jerry Krause and them were absolutely, positively wrong, as the Bulls were not able to promptly rebuild after the departure of Jordan and them.  Instead, it took like a decade to become contenders again, and even that was shortlived.  But now, they're one of the very few teams in the NBA that has been steadily progressing towards contendership throughout the last couple of years, even with Lonzo Ball out until who knows when.  (And then take a look at this, wow).  And that's why I had to put them at the top of this list for now.  But for whatever reason, I'm still hesitant to call the Bulls contenders, maybe because LaVine's playing style is too erratic for my liking.

CONCLUSION

I'm just as excited about the Pistons as the next man, but the Bulls are my sentimental favorites in this division.  But I still think, when you factor in experience and overall depth, the Bucks may be better.  I'm also looking forward to watching the Cavs play, but who knows how long Sexton may be around, and I was kinda hoping that Rubio would go to Golden State instead.  And as for Indiana, well, every year there has to be some team to grace the bottom of the NBA barrel.

Brook "the X-Factor" Lopez

Today I stumbled across a sports' website called How They Play that beforehand I didn't even know existed.  And they have this article entitled "5 of the Biggest NBA Draft Steals".  And on that list is Isaiah Thomas.

He is someone who, according to the article, had undeniable scoring skill even in college.  Meanwhile, he wasn't drafted all the way down to the 60th pick, meaning that, since each of the 2 rounds has 30 picks, that he was actually the last players selected.  That was in 2011.  By 2017, Thomas was in the MVP conversation.  And I think I even remember that season, the one where the NBA helped the Cavs get pass the Celtics.

Now anyone who knows of Isaiah Thomas would also be able to figure out on their own that the reason he went so low in the draft is because of his height.  Wikipedia lists him as being 5'9", which would probably mean he's even as short as 5'6" or 5'5", which may be hard to imagine.  But the reason I say that is because it is also common knowledge that the NBA adds a few inches to players' official height.  I went to school with a dude who went to the NBA who is listed at 5'11".  Meanwhile, I can assure you that he's no taller 5'8", and as I remember 5'7" even.

So don't let anybody tell that you that height doesn't matter in the NBA.  If the Warriors were able to construct a dynasty being relatively small, that doesn't mean that any team can do it.  Shorter guys tend to be the more skilled basketball players, and I know a number of average-sized dudes who, if it were about skill alone, would probably be NBA players.

But damn, what if you then have to face up against a Lebron or Giannis.  I'm not even talking about mismatches that are designed by a coach; I'm talking about giants who are able to run the point.  So unless you're the deadass Splash Brothers, size does matter.

"THE X-FACTOR"

The Bucks look very mediocre these days.  This isn't due to the team having a flawed roster per se.  In fact they have one of the most balanced rosters, and the last couple of seasons, even prior to the arrival of Jrue Holiday, they've also possessed the best regular season record.  And of course we know they also achieved a Championship last year.  So what's the difference between the last couple of years and now?  Well, Brook Lopez has been injured this entire season.

Brook Lopez is someone who looks big even standing next to other NBA players.  And I remember him making a number of timely plays during last season's playoffs.  His stats aren't going to jump out at you, but Lopez is a skilled and effective bigman.  And he's even developed a pretty-reliable 3pt shot over the years, which is good for him, or else somebody out there would be out saying some dumb shit like he's obsolete.

THE LOGIC BEHIND BASKETBALL

Basketball is not like soccer, or football as it is called in most of the world.  In football, the goal is on the ground.  So you see like a lotta averaged-sized dudes playing professional football.  I actually know a professional football player, and dude is like 5'4".

Meanwhile, in basketball the goal is 10ft up in the air, and shooting percentage is a big factor.  So of course being taller is more advantageous than otherwise.

I believe that being short has its advantages also.  But there's more if you're taller, i.e. blocking, rebounding, shooting percentage, being able to defend multiple positions, etc.  So unless Steph Curry goes out and like sires an entire generation of children, we shouldn't be looking forward to the NBA going short anytime soon.  The more logical prediction would be that we'll rather see teams with like five giants on the court who can all shoot 3s.  (And even that's taking longer to happen than I thought, though the Cavs are pretty close.)

And don't forget that even the Warriors had to bring Andrew Bogut into the fold before winning their first championship.  The only way to mitigate a lack of size is with a lethal offense.  That's the experiment that the Nets are trying right now, and it's blowing up in their faces.  I would have never let Jarrett Allen go in the name of signing James Harden after already having KD and Kyrie (unless the goal is selling tickets over winning).  Also remember that the top two MVP candidates as we speak, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic, are both centers.

You have people dissing the likes of Andre Drummond because he doesn't shoot 3s.  Meanwhile Joel Embiid can be hurt, and the Sixers will still bust your ass.

CONCLUSION

It doesn't look like Brook Lopez is coming back this season, if ever, after just having back surgery in December.  I would have thought that, since we knew from early on this might be the case, that the Bucks would have went out in search of a quality bigman or if not, move Giannis to the 5.  Instead it seems Bobby Portis is holding down that role.  And you know, Portis has his moments, but he's no Brook Lopez in terms of overall effect, i.e. the type of player whose skill coupled with his size can take a team to the next level.

F*ck the Bucks?

Here at NBA Inception, we don't condone White-on-White violence neither.

Let me be honest and say that coming into this post, my intent was to tear into the Deer, which apparently is kinda en vogue these days.  But before I get around to saying anything potentially negative about the organization, let me clarify that I have nothing against any of its players, not even Grayson "Spivy" Allen.  As with any sane NBA fan, Giannis "I Still Don't Know How to Spell His Last Name" Antetokounmpo is one of my favorite players.  I also enjoy watching Kris Middleton play when he's hot, making fools out of defenders.  Then there's Jrue Holiday who is perennially in the All-Star conversation.  And he really earned my respect back when played for the Pelicans since, even after it was established that they weren't really going anywhere, at least to my remembrance he never tried to force a trade or anything like that.

Also I have to give a shoutout to Bobby Portis who, during the early goings of his career, some people calling a bust.  And last but not least is Brook Lopez who, for some reason I can't truly explain, is one of my utmost favorite players in the NBA.  Like if I went to a Foot Locker or some shit, I'd buy a Brook Lopez jersey even before I'd buy a Lebron or Curry.

And even concerning Grayson Allen, it's only today that I finally got around to watching that flagrant foul he committed on Alex Caruso's tender ass.  Based on the way the media has been describing the incident, I was expecting to see dude like bodyslam Caruso out of the air or some shit.  But instead, we got this:

Not it's obvious that Grayson really didn't want him to make the shot.  But it's not like he hooked Caruso's arm or anything like that.  In fact I would venture to say that a foul like this, a stronger player like Lebron probably would have still made the shot.  But instead, I guess because Alex wasn't really expecting it, he ended up landing hard on his back.

And this is why I've personally coined the adage "your name walks in the room even before you do".  Grayson Allen was one of only a few players from the 2010s that I actually heard of even before he was drafted.  Why?  Because in college he developed a reputation as a dirty player.  In fact from then all the way til now, I think I've only come across one article about Grayson that actually focused on his basketball skills.  So I was under the impression that he was allowed to play dirty in college because #1 he's White and #2 he played for Duke.  But of course if a team of that caliber continues to give a controversially-dirty player run, that means he must be really good also.

A couple of weeks back, some dude from Portland also committed a foul on Kyrie Irving which the media was reporting as potentially career-ending.  Said player, Nassir Little, is someone who I would venture to say most of us never really heard of.  So even though that play did make headlines, no one really gave AF.  But by contrast, look at the history of your boy Spivy:

The last play on Jrue Holiday (who's now Grayson's teammate) was really dangerous.  But that said none of us, not even the people in the arena watching the game live, are actually aware of the relationship between players.  Things get said on the court; sometimes dudes get like hit in the nuts and all types of shit; feelings get hurt, and the refs can't police all of the action.  And I'm not saying that Jrue Holiday or Alex Caruso or any of the other victims in that video actually did anything to offend Grayson.  But what I am saying is that when offended, different people may react differently.  For instance earlier this year we even bore witness to Lebron James, who never gets into fights, actually drawing another player's blood.

F*CK THE BUCKS?

So when Mike Budenholzer came to the defense of Grayson Allen after the Alex Caruso foul, I was all ready to get into the Bucks' ass.  Then after watching the play, whereas I wouldn't agree with Coach's assessment that Allen was completely innocent, I personally don't see what the big stink is about.  But still, it's as if I don't really like the Bucks.

And again, it's nothing personal but rather harps back to my belief that the NBA more or less gifted them the Championship last year.  Now let me make something clear - many, if not most NBA Champions got some executive help along the way.  We know that the Shaq and Kobe benefited from David Stern's affinity for the Lakers. And The Last Dance strongly implied that even the Micheal Jordan Bulls were assisted by higher-ups.  So it's like it's their league, and who they want to win will most likely win.  But the way the Bucks were mediocre in the 2021 Playoffs, barely getting pass the Hawks even, I mean how on Earth did they beat the Suns?  And even til now the Bucks are mediocre, getting their asses handed to them by the Cavs just last night, though in their defense, Brook Lopez still isn't playing.

CONCLUSION

That said, the Bucks are still the betting favorites to take the East after the loaded Nets.  I personally believe that the Sixers, even without Ben Simmons, may be better than the Bucks.  But once Playoff time rolls around, it's like who knows.  Maybe the Bucks will luck out once again by only facing injured or equally-mediocre squads in the East.

One thing I will say though is that if they are looking forward to being the beneficiaries of executive privilege, it's like Milwaukee already got their one championship.  And like a wise woman once told me when it comes to navigating through the professional world, 'it's better for people to like you than not'.  So it really wouldn't help their cause if the team developed the reputation of shielding a dirty player.  But since the NBA only suspended Grayson for one game anyway, then obviously they didn't perceive that play against Caruso as being too dirty either.