Is Small Ball dying? (1 Viewer)

[Taker597]

With the crazy plethora of skilled bigs.

Height is getting way more prominence in the playoffs since the Warriors Dynasty.

 

[Infoman]

I wouldn't say that.... It's more like every team would rather have a bunch of position-less 6' 6'' or better wing players that can shoot 3s and switch 1-5... Lot's of teams still go small when the game is on the line... I'd say "bully ball" is dying / done (which is why I am so weary of building around Zion).... Small ball is still very useful.... and let's call is "position-less all-wings in your starting 5" is what's the future / now.

 

[Taker597]

I wouldn't say that.... It's more like every team would rather have a bunch of position-less 6' 6'' or better wing players that can shoot 3s and switch 1-5... Lot's of teams still go small when the game is on the line... I'd say "bully ball" is dying / done (which is why I am so weary of building around Zion).... Small ball is still very useful.... and let's call is "position-less all-wings in your starting 5" is what's the future / now.

I really don't believe in position-less basketball. The top teams usually have clearly defined positions. I know Warriors started a dynasty with it, but when KD joined. It was clearly position based. I feel it's a notion to get by with not ideal size trying to overcompensate.

Zion at the 4 needs to be dead. He needs to cut weight and be a power wing. You have a stretch 4 like a Lauri that's primarily catch and shoot. A real PG. A dynamic 2 and a simple rim protecting 5.

Zion needs a stretch 4 way more than a spacer 5.

 

[Infoman]

I really don't believe in position-less basketball. The top teams usually have clearly defined positions. I know Warriors started a dynasty with it, but when KD joined. It was clearly position based. I feel it's a notion to get by with not ideal size trying to overcompensate.

Zion at the 4 needs to be dead. He needs to cut weight and be a power wing. You have a stretch 4 like a Lauri that's primarily catch and shoot. A real PG. A dynamic 2 and a simple rim protecting 5.

Zion needs a stretch 4 way more than a spacer 5.

The best overall team in the NBA the last few years (Celtics) are essentially a position-less team... To me they are the model for consistent success of the future NBA - And teams with a "specialist - I can only do one thing great" player in their starting lineup.... are in trouble.

 

[Taker597]

The best overall team in the NBA the last few years (Celtics) are essentially a position-less team... To me they are the model for consistent success of the future NBA - And teams with a "specialist - I can only do one thing great" player in their starting lineup.... are in trouble.

Celtics haven't won diddly squat of value, tho. They get eaten up by size every time when it matters most. Especially, if their 3pt game isn't falling

 

[Dago]

The best overall team in the NBA the last few years (Celtics) are essentially a position-less team... To me they are the model for consistent success of the future NBA - And teams with a "specialist - I can only do one thing great" player in their starting lineup.... are in trouble.

Boston was 3-5 against the Final 4 in the West and one of those victories was when everyone was beating LAC in the early part of the season

If Boston was in the West, there is a fairly strong possibility they would be the third or fourth seed

 

[Infoman]

Boston was 3-5 against the Final 4 in the West and one of those victories was when everyone was beating LAC in the early part of the season

If Boston was in the West, there is a fairly strong possibility they would be the third or fourth seed

Disagree... In fact... I think they are likely to smoke whichever team that comes out of the West after they have a super fun matchup against the Pacers... who also represent a team with very little position rigidity.... and who also represent 5 guys that can switch 1-5 and shoot....

 

[Infoman]

if their 3pt game isn't falling

This is what the entire league is about now... not much else. If that 3 is falling... your bigs mean jack.

 

[Dago]

Disagree... In fact... I think they are likely to smoke whichever team that comes out of the West after they have a super fun matchup against the Pacers... who also represent a team with very little position rigidity.... and who also represent 5 guys that can switch 1-5 and shoot....

Boston's record on the season was 64-18 which means they won 78% of the time.

Against the East, they were 51-11 which is an 82% win percentage. Against the West OVERALL, they were 13-7 for a 65% win percentage which would put them in 4th place in the West.

 

[Taker597]

Boston's record on the season was 64-18 which means they won 78% of the time.

Against the East, they were 51-11 which is an 82% win percentage. Against the West OVERALL, they were 13-7 for a 65% win percentage which would put them in 4th place in the West.

The West went from having very little dominant bigs to being skyscraper city. I think Wolves are ahead of the curve with going big once the shooting gap between bigs and guard started to close.

Lauri, Wemby, Chet, Smith, Ayton, Gobert, Ant, etc. it's a death row of bigs now

 

[Infoman]

Boston's record on the season was 64-18 which means they won 78% of the time.

Against the East, they were 51-11 which is an 82% win percentage. Against the West OVERALL, they were 13-7 for a 65% win percentage which would put them in 4th place in the West.

Come on man... 4th and 1st place in the West was decided by 6 games... BOS won the East by 14 games... Had they played a full West schedule there is little doubt they'd be the 1 seed in the West by at least a 4 game margin...

And guys like Wemby, Chet, Joker, LM, KAT, Turner, NAZ, Horford, etc can hardly be called "bigs" anymore... they play, shoot, space, switch and move more like wings that rebound long 3s.

 

[Dago]

Come on man... 4th and 1st place in the West was decided by 6 games... BOS won the East by 14 games... Had they played a full West schedule there is little doubt they'd be the 1 seed in the West by at least a 4 game margin...

And guys like Wemby, Chet, Joker, LM, KAT, Turner, NAZ, Horford, etc can hardly be called "bigs" anymore... they play, shoot, space, switch and move more like wings that rebound long 3s.

Your point is irrelevant...the fact is that their record against the teams in the West is far lower than their record against teams in the east. Even including the games against the worst of the West

 

[Infoman]

Your point is irrelevant...the fact is that their record against the teams in the West is far lower than their record against teams in the east. Even including the games against the worst of the West

What? They didn't play a West schedule... That's relevant.... you funny man you

 

[Dago]

What? They didn't play a West schedule... That's relevant.... you funny man you

They played 20 games against the West and had a record that was worse than the top teams in the West. That's comparing apples to apples

You trying to equate what they did against competition in a conference that had a universal consensus of being far weaker is not

 

[Infoman]

They played 20 games against the West and had a record that was worse than the top teams in the West. That's comparing apples to apples

You trying to equate what they did against competition in a conference that had a universal consensus of being far weaker is not

So ignoring the reality and context that they didn't play a West schedule to make a direct comparison... If we just do the math... and we say they beat West at a 65% clip, and beat the East at an 82% clip... and the play 62 games against West teams... and 20 games against East teams... that's still an estimated 57 wins... Which still equates to 1st place in the West this year. Reality not-withstanding.