₦airaland Forum

Roland17:
No be everything about the Celtics you go debate with this level of distaste.

Tatum was drafted in 2017 as the 3rd overall pick, show me another player who was drafted in the same year, especially in the 1st round that has achieved more than what Tatum has achieved thus far in the NBA! Show me please.. Here are some notable mentions; M. Fultz/ L. Ball/ Bam Adebayo/Josh Jackson/ D'Andre Fox/ J. Isaac/ D. Mitchell/ J. Collins/ J. Allen/ M. Monk/ Z. Collins/ D. Smith Jr/ F. Ntilikina/ K. Kuzma/ O.G Anunoby/ J. Hart/ D. White.

Developing a young player comes with it's growing pain. Why is he getting all this hate when everyone in his year has struggled just as much or not achieved as much as he has? Of course, coming from you, it tastes better because it is a Celtic player. Tatum has an Olympic Gold Medal (No scrub performance), 2 All Star appearances, All NBA Selection, Never missed the playoffs, 2 conference finals appearances, earned his Rookie Max contract and is in his 4th year.

Tatum is suffering from one of the main disadvantages of getting drafted high by a team that has a good enough core that winning happened instantly. So his expected progression tends to be skewed. he is doing his bit IMHO, the team right now is not just well built

Roland17:
Very disappointing to say the least. With that being said, this team is one player and better coaching from Ime away from getting back in the right lane.

Agreed, but it has to be the right player.

Roland17:
Thank you so much for bringing this up. A combination of irresponsible management of picks/ players, freak injuries, bad trade decisions and a lack of accountability has landed the Celtics where we are today. I don't want to delve too much into this situation because I may write an epistle but I am grateful to read a fair criticism from an outsider looking in.

All those stock piled picks was for nothing

Who ever made the decision to draft a TE instead of either Fields or Jones for the Falcons should be fired. That team needed a reset ASAP. Matty Ice is done

birdman:
It will not get any better, with Brad Stevens now president. I am still amazed that a terrible coach can fail his way into a role twice as important. I guess he got some networking skills

The roster needs to be blown up, but with Ainge, err, Stevens at the helm, I dont see many players wanting to be in Boston. That reputation is a given now. And we have been waiting for Tatum to "graduate" like the last 4 years now, same result every year. Like I said last year, Celtcis are going to be eastern conference cellar dwellers for most of this decade. And Im fine with it

Tatum is a scorer and very good on defense when he applies himself, but the issue is he cannot create for others and most of the shots he creates for himself are tough shots just like his mentor Kobe. But the thing is, Kobe is legendary because he made a lot of those bad shots consistently, Tatum on the other hand, makes them sporadically.
So the front office needs to go back to the traditional mode of building a team. Which is pair great scorers with a playmaking PG. THE league has seen so many great scorers in recent time who can also create for others that it seems some GMs have forgotten that PG play is extremely important.
Kobe had fisher, Vince best years were with JKidd, Tmac had Steve Francis, etc

PS: I truly believe if the only way to get the best out of both Tatum and Brown is to follow what the bulls are currently doing, pairing 2 wings scorers with a playmaking PG who can defend (Ball and Caruso), you might not win it all, but you will definitely make some noise.

etidy:
You really have to feel for Celtics fans, from holding several top draft picks getting Hayward, kyrie and AL Ford + studs like Tatum, Jaleyn brown and Marcus smart from the draft and now they have a team without an identity.

At one point it looked like the Celtics was going to be the next dynasty. Now the east looks like a blood bathe for the next 3 years the bucks, Nets, heat and even the bulls look like they would be a perennial problem.

Danny ainge started the shit show and ran away.

Ainge for all his so called savvy, left a weird team which Steven's did not fix this offseason. I still don't understand why they were not going after lonzo in FA, this team badly needs a traditional PG. Someone who can create simple looks for Tatum and brown. They just take too much tough shots IMHO

I do have a question, how long will the wolves rebuild take. Is it that they do not have good enough players or is it just a question of fit?

steady986:
Lol. Who's talking about what others are doing? He made a statement that what Steph is doing this season is making a case for him to be top 15 all time. So I'm wondering whether his performance last season didn't make more of a case for him

It is about stacking up performances, Steph is 33, at that age most small guys are done. There is a reason why small guys are rarely ever talked about in the top 10 or 15 of all time.
Steph with the way he is going might have 5 years of torching teams after age 30. That moves him up any list

SmooshCHN:
I like how the debate about Steph vs Harden, Lillard, Westbrook, etc has died. It was never close.

Assinn, with what the baby faced assassin is doing this season, he his no longer just making a case for a top 15 player all time, he his cementing his place as a top 15 player all time

steady986:
Oh, is this you saying there are appropriate times to retaliate or not retaliate? That means there is a time when he won't/shouldn't get angry enough to retaliate? Lol. This your concept is flawed. Pick a struggle. Should Jokic retaliate every time he's fouled hard or not?

Mark my words, nobody will foul jokic in any hard manner going forward. He sent a message that he is willing to take the fine and 1 game suspension and the rest of the league has taken notice.
There is a reason nobody tries that with Steven Adams because you know the next time you get isolated in a PnR you will get decked hard.

PS: the Morris bros use the bully mentality, and one thing that works well against that is to dish back as much if not more than they did

steady986:
When people start using too many "what ifs" in an argument you know they don't have any valid argument. "What if he injured his ribs" "what if he fractured his knee" "what if he broke his head". All moot points. If he didn't break his head then he didn't break his head. When he breaks his head then we can talk about how he broke his head.

These are the same people that complain nonstop about how the NBA has gone soft. They tell us how back in the day guys were hacking people. Now someone is playing hard and they're saying " what if he died". It was a dirty play, we get it, but miss me with all this "what ifs". We know a play that has the potential of becoming life-threatening or career-threatening and this was not one of them.

Thank you brodaly, in one breath they complain about the softness of the modern players, and when the players now carry out the same actions that made the OGs game hard, they scream lack of emotional intelligence.

steady986:
Lol. You wouldn't be saying this if he plays for your team and he did it in a crucial playoff game/series.

But he didn't do it in the playoffs, he picked the right time and place to send the message.

steady986:
Exactly. They all got what they deserved. Suspension for Jokic and a fine for Kieff.

I don't know whether we're now condoning retaliation for every hard foul in the NBA. When I think a foul is hard then I throw you a punch to let you know. Not suspending Jokic would have made the NBA look bad. Kudos to them.

The suspension was always a given, but Jokic sent a message which I liked, you don't mess with the Big man.

steady986:
Because he's not an alpha. And that's not an indictment on him. Not everyone can be an alpha. Kyrie is one of the most skilled ballers in the league, but can he carry a team. The answer is no. As blasphemous as it may sound, even KD is not an alpha. Skilled player no doubt, but hasn't shown that he can carry a team. AD needs a good PG to be successful.

Question, does every number 1 option need to win a championship, for them to be an alpha?

Since MPJ got the bag, he has been playing like a journeyman

Is Lillard doing a Harden to get out of Portland? Cause 4pts in 36min of play no be here ohh.

A40:
This Simmons saga is getting super interesting. They have gone back to fining him for each game he misses moving forward. Kudos to Phiily for showing some balls. Even better Philly have not missed him one bit. I've always maintained they have grossly overrated Ben Simmons's importance. If a guy like Tobias Harris can't at bare minimum be a Middleton to Embiid's Giannis then it begs the question why you got him a max deal. They should use this season to groom Maxey, Thybulle and simply drive the pettiness home to Simmons. Man's showed up to try and game the system and they need to treat his fuckup

Even the players around the league will not back Simmons. Yes, they all want player empowerment, but he is taking it way beyond reason.

A40:
Who else is following the Henry Ruggs case? I really need to understand what goes on in the minds of these young athletes and their propensity for self destructive behavior. That young woman didn't deserve to die in such a horiffic manner. I get at 22, young, rich and on top of the world but don't these niggas recognize what it took to get there and where they came from? Shouldn't that at least guide you to make relatively smarter choices? Man's was driving at 156 mph. Like nigga is you Max Verstappen? Are you trying to die? Even Max will not do that outside a race track

I've always been of the opinion that DUI offenders are not getting harsh enough sentences, because the drunk driver typically gets away while an innocent bystander pays with their lives. There needs to be stricter deterrents IMO you should know when you man a steering drunk there is a very strong chance you will spend quite a lot of time in jail. Accidents happen while sober how much more when you're drunk

A young man with money living in Vegas, it is quite understandable that you would want to have fun and enjoy yourself sometimes, but just a little more thought of the possible consequences of his actions, would have saved him all of this problems. He should just have used an Uber or a chauffeured car if he wants to show off.
I tell all my guys this, if you are going out and drinking is involved leave the car and get an Uber even if your car ends up getting towed because you parked in the wrong place, it is still a whole lot cheaper than the worst case scenario which is what happened to Ruggs. Ruggs just threw away generational wealth because of alcohol

A40:
He needs some advice from Sir Charles like Moses Malone did for him when he was new in the league and had weight issues. This should be a season he and BI become a potent 1-2 punch and that's why a lot of these really young teams need high character vets. Because some of us are self driven while some of us need a little pushing and encouragement

This is his 3rd season, if he has not gotten the memo by now, then I doubt he will ever, Unless it threatens his chance to get the bag.
If the Pelicans tells his camp that they would not offer him the max unless he gets his weight under control and the feedback his agent also gets from around the league shows that other teams will follow same pattern, then he might change.

Giannis 7/7 from FT

Roland17:
The Miami Heat culture is so impressive. If they had pursued K. Lowry last season, they probably would have made it to the finals.

Nope, last season Tyler Herro was having his Miami partyboy experience so it would not have worked.
Now, as for this season, everything is in play for them especially if Kyrie's issue continues through the postseason.

Belichick , the man just has a way of confusing young QBs

A player like RJ Barrett just shows how lazy and totally uncaring Ben Simmons is. RJ came into the league with so many holes in his game and it is refreshing to see a young player who actually puts in the work grow in front of our eyes. Sophomore season improved his FTs, and from what he is doing so far he has improved not only on his 3s, but also his his finishing at the rim with his off hand and also his off the dribble shooting. Ben Simmons is a scammer

Roland17:
Max bawo? He has to earn it. I doubt another team will take a max contract risk. If it happens, it will have a ton of clauses. Take a look at what the Nuggets did with MPJs contract. They know his history with injuries, so they did not guarantee a lot and there are tons of exceptions hinged on MPJs health and return. The owners are getting wiser and you can see it with how the Ayton contract conversation ended quickly. See, the Simmons and Kyrie situation as another example. In the past owners would have given in to a trade for Simmons/ Kyrie but not anymore.

Zion’s problem is his family and the Pelicans who are careless enablers in managing his health. They have over catered to him and his lack of control when it comes to food and workout. There is no way a player you refer to as a franchise player should be allowed to put on that much weight knowing fully well he has a bad knee. He should have had the off-season surgery immediately they decided to tank last season but they held on, allowed him to return home. Guess what? He returns to training camp north of 300 pound still injured and unable to do any serious workout and now the fans can’t see their franchise player, all he can do is eat, eat and eat!

I don’t think Zion has the killer mentality that Ja has. Ja earned my respect when he refused the Grizzlies plan to shut him down and tank the season 2 seasons ago. This man played his soul out and nearly got his team into the playoffs. Last year while the Pelicans who had a strong chance to make it into the playoffs were shutting down Zion, Ja was fought to get his team into the post season! Today, we are watching the rewards of those decisions Ja has made over the last two seasons. Ja is playing with a ton of confidence, has expanded his offense, including passing and is now a respected leader of that team because he has earned his stripe.

When I heard he was 300lbs, I was more disappointed than shocked honestly. The buzz emanating from his camp, just screams of people who are enabling him just as to milk the cash cow for as much as possible

A40:
Pelicans would be dumb to do anything till he shows his durability and also there's something to be said about the unwillingness or inability to play defense. They will probably pay out of desperation. They really missed on Ja.

Just imagine a core of Ja, Ingram and Lonzo. I think they would have kept Ball if they had picked Ja instead of Zion.

Roland17:
I hope Zion Williamson and his camp are watching Ja Morant?

Ja is already by far the best player of that draft especially when you include off the court issues.

Quick question, if Zion struggles with his weight continues, should the Pelicans give him a max extension?

A40:
I like that guys can guard him now. I bet he wishes he could run and just dunk like Giannis

It will be a huge catastrophe for Harden if his season continues like this, not just for his legacy but also his pocket. Remember he rejected a healthy payday, trying to bet on himself getting a near supermax extension. Added to his detractors who if his poor play continues will start saying he was only a multiple time scoring champion because of the flopping he did in his Houston years

steady986:
Ha. I never hear this one before. So Kyrie is not a generational talent just because he can't run a team? E no make any sense o. Forget the mad handles, he's an elite shooter too. Guy just had a 50/40/90 season averaging 27 a game. How many times has that ever happened in this league?

Put Kyrie and Butler side by side for instance. Butler is the number one option and leading the sh*t out of Miami. Is he a generational talent?

Steve Nash 2x, Reggie Miller, Malcolm brogdon have all shot 50/40/90. Nash is even a 2x MVP to boot does that make anyone of them generational talents. Generational talents change the trajectory of franchises, they pick a dead beat franchise and drag them into relevance.

A40:
Generational talent is Kareem,Bird, Magic, GOAT, Hakeem,Malone Shaq, Kobe, Dirk,Duncan, LeNomad, KD, Steph, Giannis. All these other names I'm seeing omo ko ye mi

Thank you, I will also include Wilt in there and that's about it.

DeeMain:
Not necessarily so. Talent and leadership are two different things.

You can have insane talents but can't lead a team. Example, Kyrie.

Kyrie is not a generational talent, yes he has handles for days, but what else does he do at an all time level.
For God's sake, he is a PG that cannot run a winning offense.

DeeMain:
Not necessarily so. Talent and leadership are two different things.

You can have insane talents but can't lead a team. Example, Kyrie.

Kyrie is not a generational talent, yes he has handles for days, but what else does he do at an all time level.
For God's sake, he is a PG that cannot run a winning offense.

steady986:
Una dey give this generational talent unnecessary definition sha. Generational talent is simply what it means - generational talent. Meaning talent that doesn't come by easily. It means talent that we don't see regularly. Generational talent doesn't mean someone that can lead a franchise, neither does it me number 1 option. There are countless number one options and franchise players that are not generational talents.

Generational talents are very high tier number 1 option