East

1. K. Irving (BOS)
2. G. Antetokounmpo (MIL)
3. B. Simmons (PHI)
4. J. Wall (WAS)
5. J. Emiid (PHI)
6. K. Porzingis (NYK)
7. D. Derozan (TOR)
8. G. Hayward (BOS)
9. V. Oladipo (IND)
10. B. Griffin (DET)

Other honorable mentions: K. Lowry (TOR), K. Love (CLE), D. Wade (MIA), B. Beal (WAS)

Best Players on teams not mentioned: K. Walker (CHA), D. Russell (NYN), L. Markkenen (CHI), A. Gordon (ORL), J. Collins (ATL)

West

1. L. James (LAL)
2. K. Durant (GSW)
3. J. Harden (HOU)
4. S. Curry (GSW)
5. A. Davis (NOP)
6. K. Leonard (SAS)
7. R. Westbrook (OKC)
8. P. George (OKC)
9. D. Cousins (NOP)
10. K. Thompson (GSW)

Other honorable mentions: D. Green (GSW), D. Lillard (POR), C. McCollum (POR), D. Mitchell (UTH), L. Aldridge (SAS), K. Towns (MIN), A. Wiggins (MIN)

Best Players on Teams not mentioned: N. Jokic (DEN), T. Harris (LAC), D. Fox (SAC), D. Smith Jr. (DAL), M. Gasol (MEM), D. Booker (PHX)

I, HEREBY, YIELD TO THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO POST IN THE 2019 NBA FINALS THREAD (WARRIORS/RAPTORS MATCH UPS) LOCATED IN THE MAGIC FORUM.

Sunday, June 2, 2019 @ 8:00 PM

Scotia Bank Arena - Toronto Canada

TV: ABC

GAME 1

Thursday, May 30, 2019 @ 9:00 PM

Scotia Bank Arena - Toronto Canada

TV: ABC

25. Deandre Ayton

24. Domantas Sabonis

23. Gary Harris

22. Aaron Gordon

21. Zach Lavine

20. John Collins

19. D'Angelo Russell

18. Myles Turner

17. Kyle Kuzma

16. Julius Randle

15. Jusuf Nurkic

14. Pascal Siakam

13. Jayson Tatum

12. Jamal Murray

11. De'Aaron Fox

10. Donovan Mitchell

9. Clint Capela

8. Devin Booker

7. Kristaps Porzingis

6. Luka Doncic

5. Ben Simmons

4. Karl-Anthony Towns

3. Joel Embiid

2. Nikola Jokic

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo

1) No more than eight (8) players

2) Assume each player is in their prime, and has access to today's medical, weight training, etc.

3) This must be a team - so you may like 5 centers and 3 power forwards; but whose going to handle the ball and play the perimeter?

My biggest challenge was picking my power forward/center combinations - having to leave out guys like Kevin McHale, Karl Malone, Moses Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O'Neal. Here is my eight-man team, who is yours?

Magic Johnson - most versatile point guard ever

Michael Jordan - a great scorer, and one of the best defensive players at the position as well

Larry Bird - the Legend, proved it didn't take great athleticism to dominate; just the drive, dedication, and just plain cussedness

Tim Duncan - the most fundamentally sound big man ever?! Or does that honor go to:

Hakeem Olajuwan - a post monster on both ends of the floor.

Coming off the bench I have to go with multi-positional coverage, so I am going with:

Oscar Robertson backing up 1/2 - only player to AVERAGE a triple double for an entire season

Lebron James backing up 3/4 - the second best player of all time(?)

Bill Russell backing up 4/5 - defensive monster with 11 Championship rings in 13 seasons, including 2 as player-coach

Reading the headlines and tweets I get a sense that no on else did either, which is really, really, really bad. This time of the year the NBA should have its prime moments with more people paying attention and watching. Instead the people are just waiting for the inevitable finals matchup game 7, minimizing the whole NBA season to a 2 team showdown that was foreseen.

If no one is watching then money isn't flowing. Why sponsor you when everyone is watching something else. So this begs the question:

Are Super Teams and Blow Out Wins good for the NBA?

-I'm gonna start by saying no, because it shows there is no league balance. And if your team isn't a super team, then it's not gonna be fun at the end. For the past ... 6 years or so... you can pick the finals matchups before the season starts. In a way I see the league as watered down. I don't think it's good for business either and I'm sure it has to hit the pockets of the NBA at some point.

Thoughts?

And, Lets go Warriors!! 73 or bust!

Open game thread for discussion on both of these games. Warriors/Grizzlies 10:30 on ESPN. Lakers/Jazz 10:30 on ESPN 2

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2015-06-23/nba-draft-2015-quiz-which-team-would-you-play-for-timberwolves-knicks-lakers

I posted a thread about a month ago saying I would be betting on the NBA this season as I have done for many years. As promised, here is my thread in which I will keep record of my picks by posting them before games start, and keep up to date win/loss record of my bets.

Please note, if you choose to place money based on my knowledge do know so you are doing at your own risk and I am not responsible for this in anyway.

I do encourage everyone to have discussion and even post your own picks here and chime in with opinions on my picks, as it creates a awesome vibe in the thread when we are all chatting about certain games.

I look forward to opening night, and seeing everyone in this thread cheering me along!

Cheers

1. Cleveland is on top in the East, but LeBron berates his teammates about their performance.

2. LeBron recently purchased a large home in the LA area.

3. Kobe has announced he is retiring at the end of this season.

So, is LeBron laying the groundwork to bolt to the Lakers after Kobe retires? Inquiring minds want to know.

Standings

EAST

1- Bulls

2- Cavaliers

3- Hawks

4- Bucks

5- Wizards

6- Heat

7- Raptors

8- Magic (I will keep putting us at #8 until we make the playoffs and I finally look smart)

9- Celtics

10- Hornets

11- Pacers

12- Pistons

13- Knicks

14- Nets

15- Sixers

WEST

1- Warriors

2- Clippers

3- Spurs

4- Thunder

5- Rockets

6- Grizzlies

7- Pelicans

8- Jazz

9- Mavericks

10- Kings

11- Suns

12- Lakers

13- Timberwolves

14- Nuggets

15- Blazers

Coach of the year: Steve Kerr

Defensive player of the year: Draymond Green

Most Improved Player: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Rookie of the year: Jahlil Okafor

Sixth Man of the year: Nikola Mirotic

MVP: Anthony Davis

All NBA 1st: Stephen Curry, James Harden, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis

All Rookie: Emmanuel Mudiay, Mario Hezonja, Nemanja Bjelica, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor

Let's see what you got!

I usually bet on the NBA and share my pics at SBRForum, although I would love to share them with fellow Magic fans. Is this frowned upon here or am I free to do this?

Cheers

So do you need to re-subscribe for league pass, after the finals have finished to be able to watch summer league?

Apart from nba.com/leaguepass is there anywhere else to tune into summer league?

Here is the old:

Here is the new:

Thoughts?

Anyone want a new Magic logo?

http://truebluenation.com/forum/index.php?/topic/254219-nba-2014-15-season-predictions/

Now it's playoff time and hopefully the last time I create this thread in the outside section.

--

Hope the Grizz take it all ;)

Here are a few facts about Kentucky's team you may not know.

They have 9 McDonalds All-American's on the team (Charlotte Hornets have 9 currently, the average for most NBA teams is 4.9)

10 players on their roster are over 6'6

Last night Kentucky held the #5 team in the nation to 11 field goals...and they had 11 blocks too.

They have solid depth at every position and size enough to handle NBA bodies and even though MCW is good...he's not THAT good.

Thoughts?

EAST

1- Bulls

2- Cavaliers

3- Raptors

4- Wizards

5- Hawks

6- Hornets

7- Pistons

8- Magic (I pulled the trigger!)

9- Heat

10- Nets

11- Knicks

12- Pacers

13- Bucks

14- Celtics

15- Sixers

WEST

1- Spurs

2- Clippers

3- Thunder

4- Rockets

5- Mavericks

6- Blazers

7- Warriors

8- Grizzlies

9- Suns

10- Pelicans

11- Nuggets

12- Kings

13- Lakers

14- Timberwolves

15- Jazz

Coach of the year: Tom Thibodeau

Defensive player of the year: Serge Ibaka

Most Improved Player: Jonas Valanciunas

Rookie of the year: Jabari Parker

Sixth Man of the year: Taj Gibson

MVP: LeBron James

All NBA 1st: Chris Paul, Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Joakim Noah

All Rookie: Elfrid Payton, Nik Stauskas, Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, Julius Randle

Now it's your turn!