***OFFICIAL*** NBA 2021-22 thread

[Sloppy Joe]

Much like how Druff kicked off this thread last year, I find myself getting less and less interested in the league as a whole.

Think the relentless media cycle, ie. 4 fucking months of Ben Simmons trade coverage, has just gotten tiresome for me. Also don't care nearly at all about things that used to interest me, such as how Kyle Lowry will integrate with Miami, what the rebuilt Bulls will look like, etc. The best teams usually win regardless - in the east it will be Brooklyn or Milwaukee, the west probably the Lakers. The Russell Westbrook experiment holds zero interest for me.

At least Portland will have a new system and there was significant coaching changes, but I just don't see any new team on the precipice of breaking through and expect this year to be fairly vanilla, even after a pretty exciting (but COVID influenced) playoffs that saw new blood in the finals.

The one over/under I like is BCR's Cavs winning over 28.5 games, but again who gives a fuck. I'm sure I'll get into it again to some degree but am not expecting much this year.

[Dan Druff]

I think the Lakers are going to be a dysfunctional mess, given Westbrook's arrival.

Only four players are returning from last year. Basically they blew up the failteam surrounding AD/Lebron, and are starting with a whole new supporting cast.

I liked Ariza during his first go-around with the Lakers, but we're in the 2020s now, not the 2000s.

This team should be a good deal better than last year's version, especially if AD/Lebron stay healthy, but it's not going to be without a lot of drama.

[nightmarefish]

I think the Lakers are going to be a dysfunctional mess, given Westbrook's arrival.

Only four players are returning from last year. Basically they blew up the failteam surrounding AD/Lebron, and are starting with a whole new supporting cast.

I liked Ariza during his first go-around with the Lakers, but we're in the 2020s now, not the 2000s.

This team should be a good deal better than last year's version, especially if AD/Lebron stay healthy, but it's not going to be without a lot of drama.

Blew up last year’s fail team? Year before they won the championship and last year they had the best record in the west until Lebron got hurt. They likely would have still beaten the Suns if AD doesn’t get hurt in the playoffs. Wasn’t their team that was a failure, their two stars couldn’t stay healthy which was the same story as many teams last year.

I’m not saying they’ll win the championship for sure this year but I think you’re wrong about Westbrook. I think he’ll blend in and willingly take a backseat to Lebron and AD. He wants to win and respects those guys.

[simpdog]

I think the Lakers are going to be a dysfunctional mess, given Westbrook's arrival.

Only four players are returning from last year. Basically they blew up the failteam surrounding AD/Lebron, and are starting with a whole new supporting cast.

I liked Ariza during his first go-around with the Lakers, but we're in the 2020s now, not the 2000s.

This team should be a good deal better than last year's version, especially if AD/Lebron stay healthy, but it's not going to be without a lot of drama.

Blew up last year’s fail team? Year before they won the championship and last year they had the best record in the west until Lebron got hurt. They likely would have still beaten the Suns if AD doesn’t get hurt in the playoffs. Wasn’t their team that was a failure, their two stars couldn’t stay healthy which was the same story as many teams last year.

I’m not saying they’ll win the championship for sure this year but I think you’re wrong about Westbrook. I think he’ll blend in and willingly take a backseat to Lebron and AD. He wants to win and respects those guys.

IMO Lebron/AD can rest more with Westbrook during the regular season. You can throw Russell out with anyone and he can chew up minutes.

Then in the playoffs he needs to back off and let AD/Lebron takeover. I think it can work.

[Dan Druff]

I think the Lakers are going to be a dysfunctional mess, given Westbrook's arrival.

Only four players are returning from last year. Basically they blew up the failteam surrounding AD/Lebron, and are starting with a whole new supporting cast.

I liked Ariza during his first go-around with the Lakers, but we're in the 2020s now, not the 2000s.

This team should be a good deal better than last year's version, especially if AD/Lebron stay healthy, but it's not going to be without a lot of drama.

Blew up last year’s fail team? Year before they won the championship and last year they had the best record in the west until Lebron got hurt. They likely would have still beaten the Suns if AD doesn’t get hurt in the playoffs. Wasn’t their team that was a failure, their two stars couldn’t stay healthy which was the same story as many teams last year.

I’m not saying they’ll win the championship for sure this year but I think you’re wrong about Westbrook. I think he’ll blend in and willingly take a backseat to Lebron and AD. He wants to win and respects those guys.

Yes the injuries to the stars were the bigest factor to the Lakers not having a good year last year, but you are kidding yourself if you think AD/Lebron were supported by a strong cast. They weren't. The team without those two was really, really bad.

Obviously there's a reason they only brought back 2 of the 10 supporting players from last year.

I'm just having a really hard time picturing Lebron and Westbrook's egos fitting on the same team. I guess Westbrook is great insurance if they lose either AD or Lebron to injury for an extended period of time, but I really think there's going to be a lot of friction here.

[BCR]

I don’t see any ego clash. Both are always well-liked by teammates. I don’t think Russ is a dick.

If there is a clash, it’s going to be Lebron is an efficiency machine and Russ is the opposite. So Lebron might occasionally get frustrated at RWB’s shot selection or decision making, but it won’t be personal. It won’t be a clash of egos imo. I don’t see RWB wired that way. He just isn’t a cerebral player.

There will be issues meshing, but the roster is good enough to probably fade it until the finals. Russ is going to have a big adjustment. Knowing your role is one thing, I’m sure he has the proper attitude coming in, but it’s hard to change what you’ve always been. That said, I assume it works itself out early and I assume they’ll work it out by mid-season on most nights.


I mean I think the idea of this Big 3 and the names are better than the fit, but it’s really just are Lebron and AD healthy. If he helps that cause and limits his Russ moments to sporadic lapses, it should be ok. Lebron isn’t what he once was, AD is a big, and they can use his energy if he can be smart.

For his legacy as a player, it’s way more important for Russ. If he goes out there and starts chucking and trying to do everything with two better teammates, it’s just going to be this guy won’t ever get it and his career is a joke of fake numbers. If he can strike a balance, it will greatly improve his legacy. It’s a great opportunity for him given he’s went from fan favorite to fake triple double stat padder dumbass over the last 5 years as far as public opinion. He can really flip the script.

[Sloppy Joe]

I don’t see any ego clash. Both are always well-liked by teammates. I don’t think Russ is a dick.

If there is a clash, it’s going to be Lebron is an efficiency machine and Russ is the opposite. So Lebron might occasionally get frustrated at RWB’s shot selection or decision making, but it won’t be personal. It won’t be a clash of egos imo. I don’t see RWB wired that way. He just isn’t a cerebral player.

There will be issues meshing, but the roster is good enough to probably fade it until the finals. Russ is going to have a big adjustment. Knowing your role is one thing, I’m sure he has the proper attitude coming in, but it’s hard to change what you’ve always been. That said, I assume it works itself out early and I assume they’ll work it out by mid-season on most nights.


I mean I think the idea of this Big 3 and the names are better than the fit, but it’s really just are Lebron and AD healthy. If he helps that cause and limits his Russ moments to sporadic lapses, it should be ok. Lebron isn’t what he once was, AD is a big, and they can use his energy if he can be smart.

For his legacy as a player, it’s way more important for Russ. If he goes out there and starts chucking and trying to do everything with two better teammates, it’s just going to be this guy won’t ever get it and his career is a joke of fake numbers. If he can strike a balance, it will greatly improve his legacy. It’s a great opportunity for him given he’s went from fan favorite to fake triple double stat padder dumbass over the last 5 years as far as public opinion. He can really flip the script.

I think it will work fine, especially for the regular season as many analysts have noted. He'll have nights where he's 6-28 but I think it will work out.

Russ has been domineering over beta cucks like Kevin Durant (actually Russ was probably a top 10 player then but still) and James Harden in the past to his team's detriment but can't possibly think he's superior to LeBron and will fall in line. Anthony Davis will likely get cucked by Russ on camera a few times for being soft, but he's too good if healthy for it to matter long term.

Could ultimately be a non-factor come playoff time. Bet that the Lakers finish as a 3 or 4 seed and make the finals. Do not see any west team knocking off a healthy AD/LeBron team.

[Sloppy Joe]

I think the Lakers are going to be a dysfunctional mess, given Westbrook's arrival.

Only four players are returning from last year. Basically they blew up the failteam surrounding AD/Lebron, and are starting with a whole new supporting cast.

I liked Ariza during his first go-around with the Lakers, but we're in the 2020s now, not the 2000s.

This team should be a good deal better than last year's version, especially if AD/Lebron stay healthy, but it's not going to be without a lot of drama.

I love LeBron teams historically but have just never been into any rendition of Lakers LeBron.

If Anthony Davis is healthy and returns to form they should make the finals. I think it will be a year filled with LeBron drama, Westbrook taking time to settle in, they'll end up like a #3 seed and make the finals. Largely a result of the west no longer being as good and key injuries to others.

Maybe something happens like Luka Doncic going up three levels or the Nuggets get in rhythm, but don't see either happening.

[Dan Druff]

I think the Lakers are going to be a dysfunctional mess, given Westbrook's arrival.

Only four players are returning from last year. Basically they blew up the failteam surrounding AD/Lebron, and are starting with a whole new supporting cast.

I liked Ariza during his first go-around with the Lakers, but we're in the 2020s now, not the 2000s.

This team should be a good deal better than last year's version, especially if AD/Lebron stay healthy, but it's not going to be without a lot of drama.

I had various debates with people during the preseason who told me this was going to be a great team, and everyone would learn to play together.

Uh huh.

[Sanlmar]

I think the Lakers are going to be a dysfunctional mess, given Westbrook's arrival.

Only four players are returning from last year. Basically they blew up the failteam surrounding AD/Lebron, and are starting with a whole new supporting cast.

I liked Ariza during his first go-around with the Lakers, but we're in the 2020s now, not the 2000s.

This team should be a good deal better than last year's version, especially if AD/Lebron stay healthy, but it's not going to be without a lot of drama.

I had various debates with people during the preseason who told me this was going to be a great team, and everyone would learn to play together.

Uh huh.

I faded Lakers vs Suns last matchup. It was a pk. Lulz. 30 point beat down with fights and dysfunction. I then started fading upcoming games and ended up accidentally betting Nets -1 vs Lakers on Christmas.

Nets are a different dysfunction.

[BCR]

Shocker tonight. Cavs laid it on them. Jarrett Alllen is really playing out of his mind. Denver had a cold shooting night. Kevin Love played the best game I’ve seen him have in yearrs Team is fun to watch. Two good defensive performances in a row against two pretty good offenses in Atl and Den

[Kalam]

Shocker tonight. Cavs laid it on them. Jarrett Alllen is really playing out of his mind. Denver had a cold shooting night. Kevin Love played the best game I’ve seen him have in yearrs Team is fun to watch. Two good defensive performances in a row against two pretty good offenses in Atl and Den

Bill Simmons was very high on the Cavs in his preseason pod. I thought about taking their team over (37 wins I think) but ultimately didn't. There was a lot of extra juice I didn't want to lay.

[Sloppy Joe]

Shocker tonight. Cavs laid it on them. Jarrett Alllen is really playing out of his mind. Denver had a cold shooting night. Kevin Love played the best game I’ve seen him have in yearrs Team is fun to watch. Two good defensive performances in a row against two pretty good offenses in Atl and Den

They're talented, and everyone kind of forgot about Jarrett Allen once he ended up in Cleveland. He was great on those Nets teams and well deserving of the contract he got, which many considered an overpay iirc.

Will they end up 'good' this year? Probably not, but theyll be fun and could see them in the play-in tourney as an 8-10. Things will get rough for Mobley this year as he's too small but that's normal.

The East is much more fun this year for the first time in forever. Maybe I'm just sick of the continuity in the West but find myself checking out Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland etc much more than normal.

EDIT: Knicks as well.