2018-2019 NBA Season Thread [Archived] Basketball • Page 1011

read this on Deadspin comment board:

(This is as of June 2018):

Over the course of 6 seasons, Player A averaged 21 5 4 on 47% shooting. He was the first option on his team for 3 years and the second or third option for the other 3 years.

Over the course of 6 seasons, Player B averaged 21 5 3 on 45% shooting. He was the first option on his team for 3 years and was the second option for the remaining 3 years.

Neither player’s team won more than 36 games in the 3 years they were the number one option.

Both players are combo guards. Both are known for their abilities to drive and create their own shot.

Can you figure out which one of these guys is considered a star or superstar player based on his 6 year run and which one was considered a good, though not great, player during his 6 year run?

Player A is Monta Ellis during his first six years in Golden State
Player B is Kyrie Irving in his first six years in Cleveland

I don't know if I buy that all the way - there is an argument but Kyrie is a better 3 point shooter and his efficiency and TS% are better than Monta Have It All.

 

But I do think this playoff run for Kyrie has moved him down into the second tier of point guards now. He's no where near the level of Steph, Dame, or even Westbrook.

 

If I needed a bucket in a game I'd choose Kyrie over Westbrook every single time.

 

Okay i'm down to pile on on Kyrie as much as the next guy but Westbrook is bad.

 

kyrie is still one of the best around the rim finishers for a guard in the league. he’s just such a zero on defense and his outside/midrange shooting has taken a dip. i’d take him over 2019 westbrook but yeah there’s several guards i’d rather have.

 

I saw that, too. I think it's pretty interesting, and while I do think Kyrie is a better player, I don't think he's that much better. I think his reputation as a top-level player has definitely benefited from playing at Duke, and then winning a title with LeBron.

That said, I'd also take him over Westbrook for a last shot.

 

thing is kyrie on his best night is still kyrie. he's just such a pouty baby that if the team has a bad night or he feels bad for whatever reason he just spirals and becomes an annoying and shitty player

 

It's just incredible how he has turned the most likable team in the city to an absolute dumpster fire.

 

*whispers*

Most of us didn't think they were likable last year either.

 

After what they did to IT they lost a lot of goodwill.

I still am sort of at a loss for Stevens not knowing how to coach this team. They don't even have basics down for defense and switching and knowing what they're going to do in different situations. He should have taken the reigns at some point this season when things were going crazy, and didn't. And while LA got a lot of shit for the trade stuff, rightfully so, Boston basically did the same thing when they told NO to wait cause they'd have a package for them this summer. All their young players probably felt the same as those in LA did, but there was enough other chaos to blame ... but Tatum, Brown, even Smart, all being basically told you may not be here next year can't have been good for morale.

 

I agree with a lot of this. My wife and I talk about it a lot because like, of course Brad Stevens is a very good coach and it's hard to find a better coach on the market, and I'm not saying "fire him" obviously hahaha...but it's very suspect how bad this team has played under him and how little he's done to fix that.

 

celtics have never been likable. the team with doc, paul, KG and ray? absolutely not.

 

(He'll stay.)

 

I just wanna stop seeing that "I thought I defeated you" commercial

 

he doesn't deserve the crumbs after the way he played last night. dude was in his head every offensive possession, and forced every shot in the second half. it seemed like every time he touched the ball it was for .5 seconds, and was getting flung at the basket if he was open or not.

 

at least he plays defense haha

 

can I use a life line and bring in Dame instead? If I need a bucket in a game and my choices are Westbrook or Kyrie I'm just gonna assume I'm losing haha

 

(bledsoe is the best defender of them all)

 

Which one does? Lol

 

yeah the season with IT after his sister's death was peak likability for any Celtics team

 

that's fair lol

using Westbrook was a poor example - I should have used a superior PG like George Hill instead.

 

I meant within the city. They were BELOVED last year and now it just is a bunch of negativity while everyone else thrives.

Edit: Oh hey! The shop looks good in the Nav bar!