this is a basketball thread

Yes Hondo is someone to rebuild 4 a second time around.

ClosetOfExhaustion wrote:

Don't even know if it's been mentioned here, but Godspeed DRose. U were an almost legend fucked by the injury nonsense and I'll miss U.

Can't stop thinking about Russ. Hope his 4th is still salvageable.

https://mobile.twitter.com/LILBTHEBASEDGOD/status/750006844953759745

2017 championship confirmed. Fuck.

the minuscule amount of ribbing i took during the playoffs this year has turned me completely against U all. i hope none of your teams ever win another goddamn game and i hope U all hate watching basketball this season because "zomg there's no parity!!". WE GOT KEVIN.

Chrono, how do U actually feel about this trade as a fan? Obviously it makes an already elite team even better, which is almost unimaginable, but it also fucks up a lot of the fun dramatic narratives within the league. It seems like Russ will probably leave now, so this is the death of OKC (RIP).

At best this becomes a Lebron to Miami scenario where the team does win championships but given the talent assembled they sort of underwhelm.

At worst GSW wins the next 5 or 6 titles and average 65-68 wins a season, sucking all the fun out of the league and in the process forcing other stars to try and unite elsewhere to slow the GSW train down. Which would probably mean a Lakers and GSW battle during the stretch.

Ҩ wrote:Chrono, how do U actually feel about this trade as a fan? Obviously it makes an already elite team even better, which is almost unimaginable, but it also fucks up a lot of the fun dramatic narratives within the league. It seems like Russ will probably leave now, so this is the death of OKC (RIP).

It's not a trade.

My belief is that Russ has always wanted to go to the Lakers if they were good enough to contend when his free agency hit. Maybe Durant knew that when he made his decision, we don't know. The evidence I've seen from Westbrook doesn't make me think he gives a shit about being a one-team guy--he wants to live the life he wants to live and he wants to compete. When players say they want to be a one-team guy to the media that's all lip service. Whether they mean it or not, that's what they have to say. Furthermore, the OKC Thunder shouldn't exist and they should be the Seattle Supersonics, so the "death" of their franchise is music to my ears anyway. I love Steven Adams though!

Not sure what dramatic narratives R ruined now. Title competitiveness is hardly the only talking point throughout the season. Everyone talked about the how Finals matchup was a foregone conclusion from day 1 and there seemed to be plenty of interest last season. Lots of narratives pop up. The "best regular season team in history" didn't even win the title after narrative builders guaranteed it. More money is being throw around than ever and there will be high expectations 4 a huge number of players. 4 fans of other teams or casual fans, the level of play has never been higher. It definitely changes the focus of the season from "the title is wide open!" 2"here R other interesting stories to pay attention to", but that can be a good thing in some cases. Prognosticating about the playoffs when there R 60 games left to play isn't the most interesting thing to me anyway.

From my personal perspective I watch Warriors games almost exclusively and get little joy out of a "competitive" game. I enjoy a blowout, a beat down, and an absolute shit-kicking of the opponent. I want the Warriors to win every game by 30. I enjoy the competitive and analytical aspects of basketball immensely, but in my fandom all I want to C is domination. Before the Warriors title I had never seen any of my teams win anything ever. Now I need them to win in an almost unhealthy way. I've managed it though.

The reason U go hard after Kevin Durant after U win 73 games is U never know what can happen. U don't know who will get hurt or whose mind will change. U go after the best players and the best fit and U raise your percentages of success at every single juncture. Bogut's injury, Iguodala's back, and Ezeli's terrible play demonstrates how what looks like a "dynasty" can turn on a dime into a closing championship window. It may seem unfathomable right now, but what if Steph Curry lost his shot and became just good rather than amazing? What is Draymond regresses and defenses begin to disrupt his playmaking? There R no guarantees here. Even though the core will be the same, the 2018 Warriors will look like a very different team than the one today.

I'm throwin' lots of Pacific Sea Salt OKCs way

U guys C all this shit that happened?

Tim Duncan's out. Man. Sad to C him go.

After his extension; his gloating; and the silly media circle jerk about "honor, loyalty, and the great people of Oklahoma"; I'm hoping 4 Russell Westbrook to fail more than ever next year. They won't, but OKC missing the playoffs is a dream scenario.

I want to love the guy, but as long as he's a Thunder player I never will. And I still won't be able to when he's a Laker in three seasons.

this shit is so desperate & corny it physically hurts: https://twitter.com/MickCornett/status/761302281002168320/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/rolopez42

Never really paid any attention to this guy before and it turns out he's really the best dude.

I happen to be at Nike the same day as KD. He is a fucking boss. Gets driven around in a KD branded golf cart.