2014 NBA Playoff thread

[devilalum]

I think you are correct, that NBA stars get preferential treatment. It's been that way as long as I can remember. I don't like it, but that's the way the game is called.

Since NBA stars get preferential treatment, there is has been some carry-over in thought that star teams (big market teams) get similar treatment. I can see where some fans might think this. The NBA has left itself vulnerable for such beliefs.

As I view it today, NBA stars trump NBA cities in terms of preferential treatment.

They don't market the teams they market the stars.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Wow is this Portland-Houston series a great one!! Lillard is legit!!


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[95pro]

Westbrook is killing the Thunder. His shot selection is hurting them so bad.

 

[Mainstreet]

They don't market the teams they market the stars.

Maybe not directly, but the media loves the big market teams and jump on most any opportunity to heap praise on them. Also star players are attracted to big market teams for hype and product endorsements. It is sort of a bundling thing.

 

[leclerc]

I'm rooting for Portland and RoLo. Lillard (and Steph Curry) (and Derrick Rose) are my non (current and previous) Suns faves.
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[Suns_fan69]

With Portland's success, I don't think there's much of a chance LMA walks away from it now.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

With Portland's success, I don't think there's much of a chance LMA walks away from it now.

With Lillard in the fold zero chance. Not much better situations than that for a big man.

 

[elindholm]

With Portland's success, I don't think there's much of a chance LMA walks away from it now.

Portland hasn't won the series quite yet, but you're probably right. Oh well.

 

[Bert]

With Portland's success, I don't think there's much of a chance LMA walks away from it now.

There's no way he's going anywhere after the way he's played in this series.

Sadface...

 

[Cheesebeef]

thanks to Sterling's rather not sterling rep now, we only need look West for a disgruntled stud PF who may want off his team in the worse possible way.

send every damn draft pick we have at the Clippers and make the deal happen if Sterling only gets a suspension and players want out. They can't make out better then that, IMO simply because any player who would be traded there will throw a ****-fit. draft picks can't...and we've got a lot of them.

 

[Absolute Zero]

thanks to Sterling's rather not sterling rep now, we only need look West for a disgruntled stud PF who may want off his team in the worse possible way.

send every damn draft pick we have at the Clippers and make the deal happen if Sterling only gets a suspension and players want out. They can't make out better then that, IMO simply because any player who would be traded there will throw a ****-fit. draft picks can't...and we've got a lot of them.

I don't think Griffin is worth every draft pick we have. Perhaps a few, but not all of those 1sts. We still have other needs to fill and Griffin alone doesn't get us past Aldridge and the Blazers, for example.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I don't think Griffin is worth every draft pick we have. Perhaps a few, but not all of those 1sts. We still have other needs to fill and Griffin alone doesn't get us past Aldridge and the Blazers, for example.

I kinda think he does, especially if we believe the FO actually knew what it was doing when it drafted Len. Unless we somehow won the lottery and got a top three pick, it's going to take more then a couple mid range first rounders to get Blake unless we sweeten the pot with a Bledsoe and I don't want/nor think we should have to.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

We're talking about a guy who's likely to finish 3rd in the MVP voting at the age of 25. This board way overrates the true value of late 1st round picks. You throw in every pick in this year's draft and you even probably throw in the Lakers pick to get this type of deal done. Blake's the whole package - young, talented, marketable and a winning pedigree.

 

[elindholm]

I don't think Griffin is worth every draft pick we have. Perhaps a few, but not all of those 1sts. We still have other needs to fill and Griffin alone doesn't get us past Aldridge and the Blazers, for example.

Yeah, that's the thing. If you don't have one of the league's blue-chippers, that means they're all on your opponents' rosters. It's not like James or Durant or Paul or Howard cease to exist if they aren't on the Suns. Griffin's pretty good, but would anyone rather have him than Aldridge? I'd rather wait on a top player being available, however unlikely that may be, than continue settling for second-tier stars. Remember how well Tom Gugliotta worked out, even before he got hurt.

 

[Catlover]

thanks to Sterling's rather not sterling rep now, we only need look West for a disgruntled stud PF who may want off his team in the worse possible way.

send every damn draft pick we have at the Clippers and make the deal happen if Sterling only gets a suspension and players want out. They can't make out better then that, IMO simply because any player who would be traded there will throw a ****-fit. draft picks can't...and we've got a lot of them.

I'd offer six number one's along with Len and Plumlee for Griffin and Jordan. We might as well get the center of our dreams while we're at it.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I don't think Griffin is worth every draft pick we have. Perhaps a few, but not all of those 1sts. We still have other needs to fill and Griffin alone doesn't get us past Aldridge and the Blazers, for example.

Yeah, that's the thing. If you don't have one of the league's blue-chippers, that means they're all on your opponents' rosters. It's not like James or Durant or Paul or Howard cease to exist if they aren't on the Suns. Griffin's pretty good, but would anyone rather have him than Aldridge? I'd rather wait on a top player being available, however unlikely that may be, than continue settling for second-tier stars. Remember how well Tom Gugliotta worked out, even before he got hurt.

A guy who's going to end up 3rd in MVP voting isn't a second tier star and even mentioning Googs tangentially as an example of Griifin's worth is so ridiculous, I feel stupid even acknowledging you said it.

 

[Catlover]

Yeah, that's the thing. If you don't have one of the league's blue-chippers, that means they're all on your opponents' rosters. It's not like James or Durant or Paul or Howard cease to exist if they aren't on the Suns. Griffin's pretty good, but would anyone rather have him than Aldridge? I'd rather wait on a top player being available, however unlikely that may be, than continue settling for second-tier stars. Remember how well Tom Gugliotta worked out, even before he got hurt.

Yes, me. And I'm not anywhere close to being alone. Griffin is arguably better than Aldridge today and he's almost four years younger. He's not a second tier star unless Lebron is viewed as the only one on that first tier and Blake is still getting a little better each season.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

We've had top 10-ish players in the league twice in the my lifetime (Barkley and Nash/Amare) and both times we were championship contenders. You always take the bird in hand. Draft picks aren't as easy to nail as some are making them out to be.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Yes, me. And I'm not anywhere close to being alone. Griffin is arguably better than Aldridge today and he's almost four years younger. He's not a second tier star unless Lebron is viewed as the only one on that first tier and Blake is still getting a little better each season.

Bingo. Prior to this season, no one would have even put Alsridge in the same sentence as Griffin. And to be honest, I still don't think most people would take him over Griffin.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Yes, me. And I'm not anywhere close to being alone. Griffin is arguably better than Aldridge today and he's almost four years younger. He's not a second tier star unless Lebron is viewed as the only one on that first tier and Blake is still getting a little better each season.

But Griffin has short arms, so there is no way he could really be good.




<sarcasm alert>

 

[Catlover]

We've had top 10-ish players in the league twice in the my lifetime (Barkley and Nash/Amare) and both times we were championship contenders. You always take the bird in hand, draft picks aren't as easy to nail as some are making them out to be.

They're not and that's one of the reasons I'd be against trading all our picks to move up a couple of spots. But trading them all for a fairly known product, absolutely. With perhaps six first-rounders over the next two drafts we have a decent chance at selecting a pretty good player (if we kept all our picks) but even if we get lucky we're not likely to get Blake Griffin lucky.

 

[Mainstreet]

They're not and that's one of the reasons I'd be against trading all our picks to move up a couple of spots. But trading them all for a fairly known product, absolutely. With perhaps six first-rounders over the next two drafts we have a decent chance at selecting a pretty good player (if we kept all our picks) but even if we get lucky we're not likely to get Blake Griffin lucky.

I'd like for the Suns to trade for a player like Blake Griffin but no way he is worth 6 first round draft picks. I'd package some but not all.

 

[Catlover]

I'd like for the Suns to trade for a player like Blake Griffin but no way he is worth 6 first round draft picks. I'd package some but not all.

I think he's easily worth OUR 6 first round picks. These aren't exactly premium picks we're talking about. If a mediocre team offered us three future unprotected first round picks for our 6, we'd probably jump at it. If it were a bad team, we'd probably make the deal for two unprotected first rounders.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think he's easily worth OUR 6 first round picks. These aren't exactly premium picks we're talking about. If a mediocre team offered us three future unprotected first round picks for our 6, we'd probably jump at it. If it were a bad team, we'd probably make the deal for two unprotected first rounders.

I disagree. I would feel differently if his name were Durant or Lebron. Just because the picks the Suns control may not be considered premium picks does not necessarily translate that those selections will be mediocre players. For example, a Mason Plumlee type player (drafted #22) would would do wonders for the Suns at PF. There are potential stars to be found in the draft using BPA. I feel the Suns new GM can find those players. I like a combination approach using the draft, free agency and trade to upgrade the roster rather than put all the eggs in one basket approach.

 

[elindholm]

Just because the picks the Suns control may not be considered premium picks does not necessarily translate that those selections will be mediocre players. For example, a Mason Plumlee type player (drafted #22) would would do wonders for the Suns at PF.

Maybe, if by "Mason Plumlee type" you mean, "Someone like Mason Plumlee, except much better."

There are potential stars to be found in the draft using BPA. I feel the Suns new GM can find those players.

True, but they can also be found in free agency. Getting stars is much harder than getting role players to complement them. Whatever you have to do to get a star, do it. Putting the other pieces in place is the (relatively) easy part.

I don't think Griffin is the right target, even if he's available, but once you find the right target, treat it like the once-in-a-decade opportunity like it is, and do what you can to make it happen.