Denial. Kemba had it. Paul can’t bear another late playoff injury. Stubburn greatness is a form of denial. The great ones think they can out think it. Sometimes you can. If you young it helps. Lebron when he played this year freaking killed it. The stats don’t lie. The games started and record aside of course.
Melo and Harden hit the age wall. Paul chaged his diet and it helped. Melo, to his credit once his mega deal ran out had to sit and ponder. He stepped up, lost weight, im sure did a lot of things that hurt, and resurrected himself to a better version and accepted being a role player. Harden is staring at this now and over the next year. Westbrook physically seems fine but his brain seems to have aged. Jimmy butler, same age as Harden don’t play that weak ass mental shyt. That, or he took it easy in the season to preserve and prolong freshness. Lillard had to shut it down and we’ll see how he returns. Kawahi’s quad injury has been an issue since he was at san antonio. He made it thru the finals when toronto won but he has not been the same since. Obviously the ACL is the biggie now.
But outside of Melo whose deal expired, these guys are getting paid.

INjuries always play a role. Can Warriors big three really go two more series wihtout injuries? Doubtful. Klay is not the same player (another big contract). Miami has issues on offense. Lowrey finally broke down. Duncan is bencched for now, and they are overly relient on Herro to be hot. If not, it goes down quickly. Its the semi’s, anything can happen but Celtics are balanced, healthy, and perhaps only older dude in Horford is fragile only because of age. Steven A looked good when he said at half time Brown would come out smoking. Tatum heroics was not needed.

Mav’s the feel good story and the major theme is how happy they are without KP. With so many ex knicks I have to root for them. I understand some fans can’t handle when ex knicks succeed but this is about Luka more than Frank. Knicks are at home. KP is at home. It should be ok. Cuban got rid of his festering issues and sexual harrasment charactors and is ok in my book. Not a fanboy of his, but Ill take him over the Sarvers and sterlings of the world.

Relevance for Knicks: Suns went with Shamet over Elf. Gutsy move. It failed. Williams COY. could not get Ayton effective. COY. We blaste Thibs for his misgivings yet how many COY don’t win chips? OR live up to expetations? Coach Bud had one of those before he got his chip. ?
WTF happend to the ever never could do any wrong and makes the same money as Randle this year Mychael Bridges? Bad series! Ouch!
Suns window is not looking good. Ayton is likley traded. Has to be a Miles turner rumor there somewhere.

This for the Randle haters: Mitch and Randle for Ayton? Suns stay in the tax but can go west small ball when Mitch sits. Its not a dollar for dollar trade. If Mitch is 15 mill we are not signing Ayton for 36mil. Its the day after. Ayton got benched yesterday. Its a bit too raw but he restricted, Sarver is cheap, and he at odds with his coach. He is getting traded. His only leverage is to swear on a list he will sign with and list he won’t and adhere to it. KP had such a list and blew it off. He signed with Dallas. Can’t say I blamed him either. Multi generational wealth at stake. Maybe we bring Crowder back and its up to OBI to beat him out?
Thats if Crowder and Ayton don’t have beef.

jskinny35 wrote:

houston20 wrote:The suns got eliminated last night there owner is kind of a cheap owner robert sarver he won't pay luxury tax for deandre ayton and knicks have julius randle former allstar and mitch robinson 2 starters could give the suns what they want. Julius randle was 20 point scorer and is better then what the suns have in crowder and mitch is not better then ayton but is servicable . I would give suns the dallas pick julius randle and mitch robinson for deandre ayton.

Yes, but only if Ayton's passes a physical to confirm he has an actual heart

ha

Nalod wrote:

smackeddog wrote:Wouldn't the Suns prefer Obi and Mitch as the starting point? Would you want to do that?

You really need to move salary. Ayton is a 30mil per year player.

I'm not as certain about that as I was last year. He might be looking at a Randle type deal, or deal with slightly higher AAV, in this market. Detroit, as always, is wildcard in this year's FA market. FA this year pretty much sucks, but there are a lot interesting scenarios I can't wait to see play out.

BigDaddyG wrote:

Nalod wrote:

smackeddog wrote:Wouldn't the Suns prefer Obi and Mitch as the starting point? Would you want to do that?

You really need to move salary. Ayton is a 30mil per year player.

I'm not as certain about that as I was last year. He might be looking at a Randle type deal, or deal with slightly higher AAV, in this market. Detroit, as always, is wildcard in this year's FA market. FA this year pretty much sucks, but there are a lot interesting scenarios I can't wait to see play out.

Most pundits im reading (not blogs) feelAyton will get max money and will be traded. PHX can match any deal. Then trade. Ayton might prefer somewhere other than Detroit. (Insert “Detroit sucks” joke here.}

jskinny35 wrote:I think it's more likely Ayton goes to either Atl (for Capella and John Collins) or a package involving Anthony Davis.

Davis is fat, injury prone and getting old. That would be a horrible trade for the suns

Why not trade, our best asset, Randle for pieces that would fill gaps and that replace Randle's level of production instead? Ones that fit a model of what is having success. Or why not trade him for someone that fills your biggest void? Ie PG.

A guy like Ayton just does not move the needle IMHO. Rather stick with Mitch and Randle and figure out PG need. IQ as a starter and a solid backup may be the only thing needed to get us in the playoffs.