sillent

1 minute ago, Diesel said:

As we look at the Current picture of the East....

Cleveland - Should be good. 

Milwaukee - New Coach.. but Should be good. 

New York - Should be Good. 

Philly - Ain't going nowhere.

Brooklyn - This is going to be a good team also. 

Boston - May have taken a step Backwards.  Losing Smart is going to hurt. 

Those 5-6 teams is where the contest is going to be...

Wildcards are Miami and Orlando (IMO).   Miami lost a lot in the offseason but Spoelstra can coach. 

I like your optimism for those teams and I get it they clearly are in the mix.

I personally have even higher optimism for ours and the team I'm most concerned about is Boston.

The rest of those teams we either owe, still owe or have there number in my opinion.

I am slightly questioning what we will look like against Cleveland since we don't have JC to dunk on Jarrett Allen anymore. Maybe Onyeka and Jalen take on that role. I know it sounds crazy but I think that really gave us an edge over Cleveland.

Milwaukee we've had their number for awhile now. We keep a stiff arm for Philly and Ny and we won't/shouldn't be sleeping on Brooklyn anymore which means they shouldn't be a worry if we bring our A game.

As long as Miami has Jimmy they will be marked on our calendar because Trae shouldn't ever forget what they did to us/him in the playoffs 2yrs ago.

@shakes you're itching to bet against us hungh?? I don't mind taking fans like that money.

If you really believe or don't believe for that matter we can arrange a bet on the side.

Ok yeah it looks like @Spud2nique "Stand Pat" for the win!!! @Diesel even responded to this multiple times

Reminds me of many fans memories so I understand.

43 minutes ago, shakes said:

@Spud2nique burner account found.

If we're talking victory blunts or cigars to be more kosher than

43 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

2020 class:

 

OO- star

Obi Toppin - BUST ( @kg01 )

Devin Vassell - all star

 

 

 

2021 class:

Alperun Sengun- all star

Cam Thomas - all star

 

 

2022 class:

Jabari Smith - all star

Keegan Murray- star

Shaedon Sharpe- star

AJ Griffin- star

Walker Kessler- all star 

 

2023 class:

Brandon Miller - star

Scoot Henderson -star

Jordan Hawkins - all star

Maxwell Lewis- all star (or extremely close)

 

Didn’t really do the busts. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me either Not because there won't undoubtedly be any but because I like focusing more on the positives.

For all those putting players stock in summer league listen to what a proven player went thru in his about 10mins in.

I already thought we were pretty good as is and I know for a fact that last years record doesn't reflect our true talent.

After looking at the Power Rankings for this up and coming season (of course we were disrespected/underestimated), I can almost say without a doubt we will be top 3 in the East.

For once I'm going to keep my post shorter by sparring the details but I'm willing to bet at the very least my avatar that we have the top 3 seed going into the playoffs next season. Even keeping the team as is currently.

ps. watch it be top 4 (just to play with my emotions Smokey) but I can bet by than we'd all agree we should be top 3.

7 hours ago, Spud2nique said:

Uhhhh @Diesel with all due respect there is an exact title like this by a handsome man here at squawk 

And funnier I was about (still am) to make a post like this but slightly more bolder. 

@Dieselopinions have become different than what I remember them being from the past but for now dare I say great minds think alike

22 hours ago, shakes said:

 

to do this right you should also deduct points from the score for incorrect answers.    Otherwise we just get submissions like yours where you just throw every name you can think of at the wall and wait to see what sticks.  hardly impressive scouting..

I agree which is why I did. If you're saying this though maybe I didn't explain properly but negative 5 for wrong guesses of stars or bust. Same as positive 5 for right guesses in that category for players drafted in the lottery.

Minus 3pts for wrong guesses of allstar drafted in the lottery. Plus 3 for correct guesses

Minus 1pt for fringe allstars/ plus one for fringe allstars drafted in the lottery.

And to add for outside the lottery -2 for wrong all star guesses and -4 for wrong star guesses. 

If someone can come up with a numbering system based on draft position tiers that's good or better I'm up for that too.

Not necessarily like a 17th pick gets more than a 15th because GM's get it wrong too but if y'all tiered it 15th - 20th pick with a point system and so on I'd be up for that. Of course the further picked in the draft the more points. Like a Jokic or Bol Bol pick for instance.

22 hours ago, shakes said:

I'd bet my mortgage that JJ, OO, Kobe and Gueye never become stars.  

I'd bet everyone's mortgage that AJ will never be an all star in the NBA.

 

Love the homering though. Who would've thought that right now we have the ground work for the greatest team in NBA history?  Has a team ever had and all NBA player (Trae), 2 other all stars ( DJ, AJ) and 4 other star players (OO, JJ, Kobe, Gueye) not to mention Bogi and Hunter and Capela.    Can the Bird Celtics or Magic Lakers even come close to matching that?    What about MJ and the Bulls?  Only 2 all stars and no other stars.   They would get killed by the star lineup of OO-JJ-AJ-Gheye-Kobe.

 

 

I could use some mortgage money. Would hate to take it from a fellow Hawks fan.

I hope it's clear I didn't say they all would reach these levels at the same time or in the next yr. Just said in their careers.

Teams have had that before (OKC) is the best example with KD, Russ, Harden, Ibaka, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony 

Kevin Martin at the time was fringing which is why they traded him for Harden. Dennis Schröder, Victor Oladipo

And they now host the likes of guys like SGA, Josh Giddey, Chet Holgrem.

Like us they've drafted well and/or have had plenty stars on the team. Problem with them is they've struggled to keep them.

We have an opportunity to keep a lot of ours and they are all on good timelines to develop together so yes I do believe we have a greater team than most can imagine coming into this season.

Will they make young mistakes, of course but they are more heady than most players their age which I think this yr will prove.

ps I would mark Josh Giddey and Chet as 2 more players on my list but it would be too easy.

I guess I'll add Jabari Smith jr (all star), Mark Williams (fringe all star) and wait to include a few more names for now.

16 minutes ago, sillent said:

I'd like to think I would be a pretty good NBA Scout especially from my past vision/picks as far as who would thrive in the nba.

I guessed right in guys like Giannis early when he was only 6'7 and I knew he was a Larry Drew guy but we lost Larry and Giannis to the Bucks. Of course a few yrs in the league and Giannis growing 4 inches has catapulted him.

I saw a lot of McGrady in Paul George before anybody was giving him a look since his rookie yr as well.

I would've/did sleep on Jokic and Kawhi. I didn't think they would be bust based on their picks but I didn't think they would become who they became. I slept on Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as well.

Guys like RJ Barrett are just who I thought they would be.

For the Squawk though I'm interested to know/test our scouting game.

For players in the league 4yrs or less who would you consider to be stars, allstars or bust? 

5 pts for correct guess of stars bust/ minus 5 for incorrect guess.

3pts for correct all star guesses drafted within the lottery/ minus 3 if they don't make it.

1pt for borderline all star/minus 1 if they aren't close.

5pt extra bonus if you pick an allstar outside of the lottery.

10pt bonus if you pick a star outside the lottery.

 

We can exclude the 1st picks in the draft because they are the assumed consensus stars (unless you consider them as a bust).

Pick as many players as you like but remember they count with or against you based on the total number of correct and incorrect picks.

To keep it completely fair pick as many players as you like but that number will be divided by your overall score. 

I will pull this out from the archives as time passes.

Anfernee Simons (star)

Tyrese Maxey (all star)

To start it off I think

Amen Thompson (star)

Auser Thompson (all star)

Jalen Johnson (star)

Onyeka Okongwu (star)

AJ Griffin (all star)

Trey Murphy III (borderline all star)

Kobe Bufkin (star)

Mohammed Gueye (star)

Scoot Henderson (star)

I'll add more later...

I'd like to think I would be a pretty good NBA Scout especially from my past vision/picks as far as who would thrive in the nba.

I guessed right in guys like Giannis early when he was only 6'7 and I knew he was a Larry Drew guy but we lost Larry and Giannis to the Bucks. Of course a few yrs in the league and Giannis growing 4 inches has catapulted him.

I saw a lot of McGrady in Paul George before anybody was giving him a look since his rookie yr as well.

I would've/did sleep on Jokic and Kawhi. I didn't think they would be bust based on their picks but I didn't think they would become who they became. I slept on Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as well.

Guys like RJ Barrett are just who I thought they would be.

For the Squawk though I'm interested to know/test our scouting game.

For players in the league 4yrs or less who would you consider to be stars, allstars or bust? 

5 pts for correct guess of stars bust/ minus 5 for incorrect guess.

3pts for correct all star guesses drafted within the lottery/ minus 3 if they don't make it.

1pt for borderline all star/minus 1 if they aren't close.

5pt extra bonus if you pick an allstar outside of the lottery.

10pt bonus if you pick a star outside the lottery.

We can exclude the 1st picks in the draft because they are the assumed consensus stars (unless you consider them as a bust).

Pick as many players as you like but remember they count with or against you based on the total number of correct and incorrect picks.

PG Trae Young/Mookie Blaylock

SG Joe Johnson/Steve Smith

SF Dominique Wilkins/Josh Smith

PF Paul Millsap/ Shareef Abdul Rahim

C Dikembe Mutombo/ Onyeka Okongwu (premature but high hopes)

Coach Lenny Wilkins but Snyder is coming

Considerations Jeff Teague (Mookie was more impactful during his time period), Pistol Pete/Moses Malone/LouHudson/Bob Petit (didn't get to see for real), Al Horford (last 2 yrs left a sour taste in my mouth), Cam Reddish/DeMar Johnson/Boris Diaw (didn't get enough time to be impactful for us). Korver was impactful for us but mainly on one side of the floor (still one of our best shooters).

8 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

He needs a strong floater,  that's how Trae adjusted

That would be nice but honestly that floater isn't easy to master.

I've said it since he got drafted and I will reiterate now he's a lot like DJ so if I was him I'd study his game 1st while picking up some of Trae's game as he develops a little more. 

I think Kobe being a student of the game can eventually be a combo of both. DJ's mid range/defense and Trae's court vision/hopefully floaters. He definitely got drafted to the right team.

1 hour ago, NBASupes said:

I like his overall makeup more than Vit and Tyrese. Shit, I like it more than Bufkin

Bukfin a tad boom or bust

Maybe I misread.

4 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

With Joinel play, I think we can free Forest and give the last two way spot to Manek

This right after the bust comments. For some reason I thought your talent evaluation was a little better than that. Tell me more Maybe I'm sleeping but time will tell.

1 minute ago, gurpilo said:

We can forget about Bufkin playing an NBA game this season, we need a backup PG, Mills might be that man if not traded

I wouldn't bet on the "student" driver to be my getaway driver so yeah I agree Patty should play the Bulk of the back up role.

Still it's a long season and Bufkin should be ready by at least half the season to play some spot minutes and possibly a backup role.

Another great pick up especially as a two way player is Miles Norris I see. A sleeper at that spot.

9 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

Those are two that hit. The guys that miss are never brought up by anyone other than your haters using it to attack you

Those are the two I've argued about. Tracy Mc Grady, Kevin Garnett, Baron Davis, Gilbert Arenas. I've spotted a lot of talent young. I'm not talking about guys analyst had hope for I'm talking about guys that I personally saw with that it factor at their rookie stages.

If Cam Reddish and Bol Bol end up being busy than ok I flopped on them but honestly it's not because of their skillset but more because of their mental factors and understanding the politics of the game. Same with Josh Smith.

Jeff Teague didn't go as far as I expected him to but he was a little more passive than the rest and atleast got a ring.

I guess my newest examples will be AJ, JJ, OO, Kobe, Mo G and Lundy because I see greatness in all of them even if it's just being great in their roles (Lundy).

3 minutes ago, bleachkit said:

Trae was a terrific passer in his summer league though. 

True. I was trying to sum it up but figured most of us saw Trae's bad showing so didn't need to detail it. Dimes were pretty good though.

1 hour ago, NBASupes said:

I like his overall makeup more than Vit and Tyrese. Shit, I like it more than Bufkin

Bukfin a tad boom or bust

Quick backstory. In 96 I was going back and forth with my dad watching this 18yr old. He was shooting air balls, ball hogging, missing shots left and right but he had a certain aggressiveness, confidence and basic skillset to him that I saw and made me argue with my dad that he's going to be great. The future later showed what I saw. His name was Kobe Bryant.

I saw another kid in 2018 same age same type of horrible showing. His name was Trae Young.

Point is greatness takes time. Patience 

49 minutes ago, terrell said:

So Bufkin is a future 2?

We have Trae and DJ for the foreseeable future. Bufkin will be a fill in combo guard that mainly plays off the ball.

40 minutes ago, Diesel said:

Let me give the less bias opinion.

Clint is head and shoulder's better than OO.   Period.  

OO...

OO has potential.  He's a great shot blocker.   He's pretty good in space.   He works well against bigger defenders because he can get into their body.  OO has a pretty good motor. He has some range on his shot. 

BUT...  OO has a lot of work to do on the offensive end.  He's very mechanical on the PNRs.  He has the best pNR PG ever setting him up and from time to time he still brings the ball down after catching it high.  OO is good versus a few big bigs but his defense on active bigs is different.   Al Horford and RObert Williams gave him the business in the playoffs.   He never has a good game vs. Bam.  Guys that can move to the basket not name Giannis gives him the most problems. 

Overall though, he's learning and he seems to learn quickly.  He's even developing range on his set shot. And he stopped Jumping at every upfake.  

 

Clint...

Clint is the best PNR 5 in the game.   He is a wizard on the PNR.  He works seamlessly with Trae (they don't have to speak or signal).  It's no wonder that LUKA specifically asked for Clint Capela. Luka recognizes that with a force like Capela, they would be unstoppable.  Clint is a great POA defender.   The best thing about Clint is that he knows where everybody is supposed to be on defense.  So he can QB the defense.  He has the best motor of any 5 that I have seen play.  He's the Dennis Rodman of Centers.  His rebounding is textbook.   He has shown that he is a warrior playing head to head against Gobert, Jokic, Bam and Embiid.  He doesn't give up much to those bigs like you would expect. 

BUT...  Clint does not do well in a switching situation.   He gives up too much advantage when he is asked to go out of the post area and guard a smaller player on the perimeter.   Smaller faster players at this time in his career can get passed him.  The worst sin on Clint is the missing of bunnies and the low FT%.  For somebody who can catch and finish as well as he can, his fingers are too long and he has never learned to shoot from the hands/fingertips.  So he almost palms - pushes  the ball on a shot.  Offensively, he does not give you range... so he clogs up the middle.   It gives players like DJ less room to operate because CC's man is not going to follow him out of the paint. 

 

 

Not for sure if that was completely less bias but good analysis overall.