The playoffs were historically bad. There was more combined garbage time than there was suspenseful intensity. There were about 5 total games that had exciting finishes. We used to get that in one good series. Even the series that went 6 and 7 were almost all blowouts.

6/17/2017 2:18:35 PM

Quote :

"but face said the playoffs sucked, not the Finals specifically "

face said:

Quote :

"This thread sucks worse than the playoffs did. Calling it right now. Nba ratings will be down HUGE next season. Up for the lakers though obviously"

Pretty sure the Finals are part of the playoffs. And I'm also pretty sure he meant regular season ratings for the next season, given the unlikelihood the Lakers will make it to the post season, even with Lonzo Ball.

6/17/2017 2:40:22 PM

The pre-Finals playoffs were so mesmerizingly exciting, that the biggest topic of conversation ITT was triple double and MVP talk.

So competitive that 100% of NBA fans knew who would be in the finals right after the Cavs won it last year

Hey, I'll bet you the Cavs and Warriors meet again in the finals next season. I'm sure the eastern conference 1st round will really get a lot of excitement though!

[Edited on June 17, 2017 at 3:47 PM. Reason : .]

6/17/2017 3:45:39 PM

All valid points, but nobody is forcing you to watch.

6/17/2017 4:05:38 PM

I would love to see Paul george traded to the Cavs.

6/19/2017 2:22:58 AM

Sixers out here fucking up the process. Gave up way too much to move up two spots to get Fultz.

6/19/2017 8:14:53 AM

They aint been on the process for like a year now. Thats why they gave away Noel for nothing. They are at the point where they need to start completing the team though. So if they find a player they like, I don't see a problem with paying a premium for him. Looks like they keep their own picks so it's not totally throwing away their future.

6/19/2017 10:48:59 AM

Quote :

"Looks like they keep their own picks so it's not totally throwing away their future."

Trading away unprotected picks from shitty teams isn't a good idea. I had really hoped they were gonna be a force in the east in the coming years, but the Colangelos are gonna ruin that.

6/19/2017 11:06:56 AM

It might make sense if Fultz was a superstar, but he's not.

6/19/2017 12:17:23 PM

especially when they want simmons to be their point.

they could have easily drafted another very good guard at #3 this year (or wing or whatever) and had another top 5 pick next year because the lakers are gonna suck still. and the kings will suck forever, so even if the lakers don't suck, the 2019 first rounder will be a good one.

it will be interesting to see if they can play Embiid, Saric and Simmons all at the same time.

6/19/2017 12:25:59 PM

Bad franchises do dumb things why is this a surprise? Boston took advantage of another dumb one just like the took advantage of the Nets.

6/19/2017 12:29:31 PM

My question is how does it work having 6 picks in 2 years? Is there a contract limit for lotto picks? Do they have to trade those picks away or could they potentially draft all of those guys and cut reserves. I guess they could end up on the other side of a few trades like this ahead of future drafts if there are special players.

6/19/2017 12:34:09 PM

Boston clearly wasn't sold on Fultz and they arent stupid enough to touch Lonzo Ball with a 10 ft pole so made sense for them to trade down. They probably take Josh Jackson, heard they are pretty high on him.

I dont know salary cap ramifications from that many picks but I guess its fine. I would imagine they would try to use them for other potential trades though.

6/19/2017 1:01:02 PM

There are maximum roster limits (I think 15 players?), but I'm not sure how that will workout in the future if they try to expand upon using the NBDL as more of a minor league system. They can get around it by drafting international guys that stay overseas for a few years.

[Edited on June 19, 2017 at 1:11 PM. Reason : ]

6/19/2017 1:10:46 PM

Quote :

"they could have easily drafted another very good guard at #3 this year"

The problem is that all the guards that wouldn't be a reach at #3 are ball-dominant guards (Lonzo, Fox). They want to run Simmons at point so they were likely in a position where they had to trade down (to get someone like Monk) or in this case trade up to get the right fit. If Fultz turns into a star, I don't hate this trade.

^^Seems like Boston did like Fultz, but since they have so many guards they were willing to trade down if the right offer came along.

[Edited on June 19, 2017 at 1:17 PM. Reason : d]

6/19/2017 1:17:28 PM

Boston is looking to trade several of those picks for Jimmy Butler per NBA twitter

6/19/2017 2:24:32 PM

Knowing the Bulls, they'd fuck it up and do it for just #3 and Crowder or some shit.

But I wouldn't listen unless it's #3, 2018 Nets pick, and Jaylen Brown for Butler (maybe add in this year's #16 too). If too much, then maybe swap out the 2018 Nets pick for one of the other ones they've acquired.

6/19/2017 2:39:41 PM

Stop. 3 lottery picks (most in the top 5) for Butler who they have been shopping like crazy for the last 2 years? GTFO

6/19/2017 3:11:47 PM

Quote :

" I dont know salary cap ramifications from that many picks but I guess its fine. I would imagine they would try to use them for other potential trades though"

They would be flush with cap space for awhile, but when time came to resign all those guys? oof.

Quote :

"The problem is that all the guards that wouldn't be a reach at #3 are ball-dominant guards (Lonzo, Fox). They want to run Simmons at point so they were likely in a position where they had to trade down (to get someone like Monk) or in this case trade up to get the right fit. If Fultz turns into a star, I don't hate this trade. "

Everything I've read has Fultz and Ball as the two top tier players and a group of about 7-8 as 2nd tier. No one at 3 is a reach if they're in that group. I just think they gave up too much to get him in a historically deep lottery. Especially for a guy who was not a good free throw shooter (which has been shown to correlate to NBA 3pt %)

6/19/2017 3:53:43 PM

Just to be clear I did mean the regular season ratings hence the lakers reference.

Nba regular season ratings were already down huge this season like 25-30%. I wouldn't be shocked if they tanked another 15--25% this season.

That's a dramatic decline given that enormous tv contract was based on growing ratings.

I think the playoffs will be down huge as well. The finals depends on if cleveland is able to improve their team with George or butler but I think it will be on par with this years assuming it's gsw vs Cleveland part IV

6/19/2017 5:32:29 PM

I really hope Lebron leaves Cleveland again for LA in 2018. It would make for an epic 21st century Lakers/Warriors rivalry, while also delivering a knife in the back to one of the most butthurt/delusional franchises in the NBA.

6/21/2017 9:36:16 PM

How is a franchise (and city for that matter)....that has only won one championship in the last 50 years "delusional"?

Butthurt?? I guess... But if Dennis Smith was drafted by the Hornets, became the best basketball player in the world in the span of 7 years, then left to go win a championship with another organization...then Hornets fans would be pissed. And you have to take it up a few notches because Cleveland is an actual sports city that's heavy on professional sports. I just don't see how Cleveland's fan base is any worse/better than any other team's except for the fact that it's fucking Cleveland.

[Edited on June 22, 2017 at 9:14 AM. Reason : .]

6/22/2017 9:11:49 AM

it's because their owner posts butthurt letters in comic sans on the internet.

6/22/2017 11:13:28 AM

yeah i'm not seeing how they're delusional....

they have the best player in the NBA and have been to 3 straight Finals, winning 1 of those. so their expectations of winning a title are certainly realistic and in-line with reality. what is their delusion?

6/22/2017 11:15:05 AM

Well so far the NBA offseason has been way more interesting than the playoffs

6/22/2017 5:13:02 PM

Why are they trying to blow up the Spurs? They were so close!

6/22/2017 7:14:49 PM

Lol at the salty as fuck Knicks fans..

6/22/2017 7:43:26 PM

Ball family and the purple and yellow bbb hats ready

6/22/2017 7:50:14 PM

Butler to Minnesota?

6/22/2017 7:57:24 PM

Rubio, Butler, Wiggins, Dieng, Towns is a pretty damn solid 5

6/22/2017 8:21:31 PM

Where would they finish in the East?

6/22/2017 8:25:51 PM

They don't play in the East

6/22/2017 8:28:15 PM

Too bad Lakers aren't in the east now that lavar the moron has guaranteed playoffs next year

6/22/2017 9:10:14 PM

moron or a step ahead of everyone else?

he's a wrestling heel who knows exactly what he's doing

6/22/2017 9:11:29 PM

ahh another east team reverts to utter shit while another intriguingly talented team in the west...great

[Edited on June 22, 2017 at 9:32 PM. Reason : k]

6/22/2017 9:31:00 PM

Once Lebron and George head to LA, we can officially call the East the B league.

6/22/2017 9:42:53 PM

I have never seen this many trades during a draft, there must have been at least 20 so far.

6/23/2017 12:08:42 AM

RIP Clippers

6/23/2017 9:31:26 PM

Will be interesting to see if those guys take a huge paycut to play somewhere else. Clippers are the only legitimate team who can pay them their max right now.

If I were a Warriors fan...I would probably want them to stay. They own LAC. Rathber them keep the status quo than go somewhere like San Antonio and make them more formidable.

6/24/2017 6:59:48 AM

speaking of the clippers, my son has started coming up behind me and punching me in the balls. He thinks that it is funny, but it hurts like hell.

6/24/2017 6:27:51 PM

https://www.facebook.com/deadspin/videos/10158909812045072/

6/25/2017 2:58:26 AM

I know Westbrook won MVP like everyone thought he would, but I'd like to wake up to a laundry list of reasons why he deserved it. And go!

6/27/2017 2:33:07 AM

1. He was the most valuable player in the NBA this year.

/theend

6/27/2017 7:32:19 AM

it's a regular season award and voting was done before the playoffs started

6/27/2017 9:07:06 AM

Quote :

"it's a regular season award and voting was done before the playoffs started "

I don't even like that as an argument. He still put up 35, 11, and 10 in round 1...his team was + when he was on the floor and got creamed when he was on the bench. I know it's a regular season award, but I still think he was the MVP regardless.

6/27/2017 9:44:26 AM

that was said to combat the likely, "but the playoffs!" post

6/27/2017 9:54:55 AM

Meh, even with the "but the playoffs!" only helps Westbrook.

OKC wouldn't have sniffed the playoffs without Westbrook.

6/27/2017 11:39:50 AM

Quote :

"1. He was the most valuable player in the NBA this year. /theend"

Quote :

"Begging the question, sometimes known by its Latin name petitio principii (meaning assuming the initial point), is a logical fallacy in which the writer or speaker assumes the statement under examination to be true. In other words, begging the question involves using a premise to support itself."

6/27/2017 12:03:18 PM

Who would you have picked? I know it goes against the advanced-metric crowd, but I'm fine that he won. Dude averaged a triple double for the first time since the early 60's. I don't care that he was a ball hog or swiping assists away from his teammates, he earned it.

KD doesn't really have a case because he missed 20 games. Harden and Kawhi had a similar impact on the game, but both were surrounded by much better supporting casts.

6/27/2017 1:37:58 PM

guy's favorite team won the title and all he cares about is the regular season mvp award

6/27/2017 3:26:35 PM