Comments on: “We Got Rid of Phil Jackson, Where’s Our Karmic Reward?” – The 2018 NBA Lottery Open Thread

By: Knick fan not in NJ at this time

Knick fan not in NJ at this time — Wed, 16 May 2018 08:31:03 +0000

Thinking about Marcus Smart, I realized the descriptions above “He allows their defense more options to switch everything and he can get into the paint. His shooting is terrible but the rest of his game looks solid” and “He is the only player in the league with the speed and agility to bother guards and the strength and center of gravity to bother power forwards” reminded me of some things Ntilikina can do. So I compared Smart and Ntilina’s rookie statistics. Smart was drafted number six, two spots higher than Ntilikina and was one year older in his rookie year. Their first year counting and per 36 stats are pretty similar. Their shooting percentages were pretty close, but Smart was a slightly better scorer and Ntilikina a slightly better defender. The advanced stats favor Smart more than the simple ones do, and I am not sure why that is. I noted that Smart’s advanced stats are worse now then when he was a rookie, which makes me doubt them, since I can’t imagine he’s gotten substantially worse since his rookie year. If Ntilikina shows any reasonable improvement next year, his 20 year old season should be better than Smart’s 20 year old season was. Given that he was drafted two spots lower than Smart, that is good potential and good performance for a number 8 pick.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.fcgi?request=1&sum=1&player_id1_hint=Frank+Ntilikina&player_id1_select=Frank+Ntilikina&player_id1=ntilila01&y1=2018&player_id2_hint=Marcus+Smart&player_id2_select=Marcus+Smart&y2=2015&player_id2=smartma01&idx=players

By: Jack Bauer

Jack Bauer — Wed, 16 May 2018 06:28:35 +0000

Letting Marcus Smart go would not be a good move for Boston IMO. He had a huge impact on tonight’s game and several others in this year’s playoffs. He allows their defense more options to switch everything and he can get into the paint. His shooting is terrible but the rest of his game looks solid. I do like watching the Celtics play, they are smart effective on both sides of the ball. I too wonder how they will integrate Irving and Hayward, the rotations look almost perfect now.

I would be shocked and ecstatic if Porter Jr. fell to 9, but I seriously doubt it. A Bridges is likely the destiny of the Knicks.

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Wed, 16 May 2018 05:57:31 +0000

In reply to Z-man.

Stevens has the perfect team for his brand of coaching. I actually wonder if having Hayward and Irving will mess things up next year….

I don’t think it will mess things up so much as it will have a surprising (to the general fans) minimal impact, for the reasons that I think we all get – which is that the guys that those two will replace are playing pretty darn well right now, so there is less room for improvement than you would think when you’re dealing with such famous players.

By: Cock Jowles, #1 Purveyor of Wanton Chuckery

Cock Jowles, #1 Purveyor of Wanton Chuckery — Wed, 16 May 2018 04:46:49 +0000

I believe Kevin Durant has a saying for that. 😉

That’s the, uh, hesi… crossover… stepback jimbo?

By: Knick fan not in NJ at this time

Knick fan not in NJ at this time — Wed, 16 May 2018 04:41:51 +0000

For sure, but next year if they have Irving and Heyward back, Boston’s scoring ability goes up a notch.

By: JK47

JK47 — Wed, 16 May 2018 04:20:17 +0000

Boston is going to have a hard time scoring against the Warriors. Cleveland was a crummy defensive team all year long, so Boston can get some buckets against them, but the Warriors play some A+ defense in the playoffs. I think Boston’s limitations are going to become very apparent against the Warriors.

By: nicos

nicos — Wed, 16 May 2018 04:03:58 +0000

Sixers do have two first rounders and 4(!) seconds this year plus lots of cap space to improve the team. If LBJ goes there the odds immediately shift to them over Boston. The Knicks will need to get miraculously lucky in the draft to have any hope of competing with either of them for the next 4-5 years. That’s why I’m not super high on Mikal- I’d like to see a higher ceiling guy and I think Young, Carter Jr., and certainly Porter and Bamba all have higher ceilings. I’d much prefer Mikal to Sexton however- Sexton seems like De’Aaron Fox with less defense- no thanks.

By: The Glass Half Rebuilt

The Glass Half Rebuilt — Wed, 16 May 2018 03:54:25 +0000

Marcus Smart might leave in free agency and I think he’s the most irreplaceable member of the Boston Celtics. He is the only player in the league with the speed and agility to bother guards and the strength and center of gravity to bother power forwards. Boston’s toughness starts and ends with him, and if Stevens lets him go I’m not sure things will be so interchangeable the way they were with Thomas, Bradley, and Crowder. Stevens is a hell of a coach and his team shouldn’t be this good, but at some point you need talent. A talent like Marcus Smart is unique and I think they’re going to let him walk.

By: Knick fan not in NJ at this time

Knick fan not in NJ at this time — Wed, 16 May 2018 03:35:50 +0000

The way Perry keeps talking about “talent” acquisition (again tonight)

Strat, Where is the quote or video that you are referring to here? I’d like to read or listen to it.

As for current Sixers versus Boston potential, I trust Boston’s management much more than Colangelo to maximize the hand they have — So I am much more worried about the Celtics than Philadephia. And management of the team is important. Look at the Kings. Apparently, they’ve picked in the top ten in the lottery for ten straight years and haven’t made the playoffs since 2006.

By: Z-man

Z-man — Wed, 16 May 2018 03:33:17 +0000

Stevens has the perfect team for his brand of coaching. I actually wonder if having Hayward and Irving will mess things up next year….