A couple of years ago I went to a Blazer Nuggets game in Denver. We blew out Denver by halftime I want to say it was something like 80 to 35. I got into some friendly banter with a couple of Denver fans there and we talked basketball in the second half more then watched since the Blazers cruised to like a 25 point win. They said that this game would be closer had Denver kept Carmelo. I told them that they were right but it was the best thing that Denver did was get rid of him, even though I think one on one Carmelo is one of the best basketball players to ever play the game he does not know how to play with teammates and will not,as long as he keeps that attitude, will he ever win a championship. I put Russ Westbrook in that same category. Which is why KD went to the Warriors. My advice to the Thunder is keep PG pay the Luxury tax and trade Russ just as fast as you can before other teams figure out that he aint worth it. As far as Carmelo goes after the season he put up he better not opt out since I do not think he will get the money that he wants and that this next year will probably be his last. His ego is too big to allow himself to sit on a bench for vet min. Disappointing season has to be the Thunder. Under achieved in regular season and playoffs and I am not buying Roberson being injured is the reason they lost. We slightly over achieved during the regular season in a tough western conference and had a disappointing sweep in the playoffs
So you think.. because Lillard did well against OKC during the regular season (he did well against the Pels in the RS too), and because Mitchell had success against bigger and better defenders in Westbrook and PG in the playoffs, that somehow, Mitchell would've struggled against the Pelicans? Am I following that correctly?
I'm saying that New Orleans wouldn't have been able to run the same defense because Mitchell doesnt run much pick n roll, because the Jazz pass, cut, drive, and dish at a decent rate, and because Mitchell is used off the ball more (at least when Rubio plays).
One thing we know for sure and that's nobody knows how a Pelicans Jazz series would play out so projecting results means nothing.
They should give the lakers back to Minnesota, the Jazz back to New Orleans and Utah can become the Utah Saltines,lol
Unfortunately projections and predictions often turn out wrong. It's why the saying has been around a long time "that's why they play the games".
Okc has/had a 134,294,056$ payroll for this Season according to bballreference, so that means they allready Must pay the Luxury Tax this year right?
According to Sportac, they are at $132,920,346, with an estimated tax bill of $25,385,868. Last year they were at $94,870,380. So adding Paul George and Carmelo Anthony cost them $63,435,834 in salary and taxes for one more regular season win and another first round exit. BNM
as well as the loss of some quality players and assets to trade with, especially if George leaves and Melo stays.
Yep, I suppose I should have said: Last year they were at $94,870,380. So adding Carmelo Anthony and a one year rental of Paul George cost them $63,435,834 in salary and taxes, plus Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis, Enes Kanter and Doug McDermott, for one more regular season win and another first round exit. They spent a shit ton of money, sacrificed a lot of depth, and in the end, may have given up the best player in both deals. Oladipo may be better than Paul George at this point, is two years younger and locked up for three more seasons. At this point, Kanter is definitely better than Carmelo, 8 years younger and $9 million cheaper - plus he was perfectly willing to come off the bench in OKC, something Carmelo isn't willing to even consider in spite of his declining performance: "Yeah, I'm not sacrificing no bench role," Anthony said. "That's out of the question." BNM
