Tapology Talks: Basketball

I've seen a Tapology Talks for everything else so wth.

 

With the playoffs approaching lets talk some basketball.

Some news from recently:

- Heat get 18th win straight over Indiana.

- Lakers beat Chicago to take 8th seed in the West.

- Durants 23 pts and 10 rebs get the Thunder their 5th win in a row against the Cetics.

- Raptors beat Cavs, Kyrie Irving injures shoulder.

- Magic gave the 76ers their 5th straight loss.

- Suns beat Rockets even though Harden gets 38 pts.

* Edited at 03.11.2013, 12:11 AM ET *

think cleveland should keep wiggins unless they can get gorgui dieng in the trade as well he is going to be a good big man

Blake Griffin seems like a pretty chill dude. 

If Cleveland could trade Andrew Wiggins, a.k.a. an unproven rookie with huge potential, for a proven star big-man in Kevin Love, I'd say do it as soon as possible. Kevin Love is a proven asset and guys who put up 25 points and 10 rebounds are not exactly common.

To put it into perspective, the last person to average 25 points and 10 rebounds in a season was Shaq...back when LeBron was still in high school. That is some ****** up talent and if a player like that wants to join your team, you do everything in your power to get them.

but he is limited on defense and Wiggins will be an elite defender his sop****re season imo and a very capable defender this year but idk I think Wiggins with Lebron as a mentor will turn him into a beast of a player within 3 years

@corey, but what you're saying is all speculation. Sure, Wiggins has the talent to do that. Will he? We've got to wait and see. I do agree about the defense though, the biggest criticism of Love's game is that he is an average defender at best. Potentially Wiggins could be the Pippen to LeBron's Jordan, an elite athlete that could get out and run breaks and defend the perimeter. I see both sides of the coin here, it's a tough call for the Cavs. 

yeah I'm torn with what they should do but if the could get gorgui dieng out of the t'wolves along with love that would be a good pick up imo he has shown glimpses of being a good big man who can grab boards and protect the rim

Gorgi Deng hasn't been putting up big numbers, but if you look at the advanced stats, he looks very promising. Then again, he hasn't done anything that's jumped out at anyone yet. Not a bad throw in for Cleveland, but IDK if Minnesota will give him up.

The Cavs still have Andy Verejao too. He's a very solid interior defender. 

hasn't andy been limited health wise the last few years I know he turned into a solid rebounder after LBJ left

if the bulls trade gibson, butler, and a 3rd player they are dumb and just made their team vulnerable to LBJ because they will have nobody to guard him

I never heard Butler being part of the trade. I've heard McBuckets, Gibson and Mirotic. Which is a little much. I heard an interesting argument for that trade which is "yeah the Bulls are giving up a lot, but if they get Love, Cleveland won't. Considering they're division rivals, that is huge"

from what I read the wolves want butler as part of the trade but who knows what is actually being discussed

Asking for Butler is waaaay too much. They got enough all ready. I would say McDermott and Gibson would be plenty, but Mirotic is a stud, at least in Europe. He should turn into a Danilo Gallinari/Ersan Ilyasova type player

I'm gonna be watching a lot of Suns games this season. I've liked them as a team the last few years, but I love me some Isaiah Thomas.

It's amazing to me how much teams are willing to give up for a guy who hasn't even been able to lead his own team to even a playoff appearance. Love is a good player and he fills out the stat sheet but he doesn't make his teammates better and he doesn't play defense, two things that are pretty important. I just hope my Nuggets don't give up all their depth to get him.

The Suns are the NBA's best kept secret. Nobody talks about them much but they are a young fun exciting team who will make it to the playoffs this year and could surprise some people. Hornacek has done a nice job with that team so far.

How does Love not make his team better? He a power forward who average 4 assists a game last season, that pretty good teamwork.  

I mean he no Larry bird, but who is? Kevin love a dam good player, he pretty dam good teammate as well. 

* Edited at 07.24.2014, 2:08 PM ET *

4 assists per game makes your teammates better? I seriously think you just argue to argue. Kevin Love has never made it to the playoffs. He does not elevate the players around him like the elite level players of the NBA do. If a team is going to give up that much for a player he better do everything and do it damn well. Being a Nuggets fan I've seen the T-Wolves play a lot.  Cleveland should keep their picks and Wiggins and Bennett and develop a team.

Yes, I don't understand how that does not make them better. Your setting them up to score buckets. That a lot of assist for a powerforward to average.   T-Wolves suck, you can't hold him responsible for having a ****** team.  Yes he not a larry bird/jordan/Lebron, but he still a dam good player and a dam good teammate despite what your suggesting. If you put him with some legit talent and he gunna shine and be a playoff threat. Lets put it this way, I rather have him then a prime Ray Allen.

* Edited at 07.24.2014, 2:28 PM ET *

Goat, I agree that the Cavs are better off keeping Wiggins and building, but Love plays for the T-Wolves. They were on pace to make the playoffs in the BRUTAL Western Conference, then they were pretty crushed by injuries. Rubio went down, J.J. Barea is a solid back up, but is not a starting PG in the league. Dieng has been solid defensively, but isn't much of a scoring threat. Pekovic is a solid player as well, but he missed about 30 games last year. Love has dealt with injury issues in the past himself, which may be another reason not to give up too much for him. But, when he is healthy and in the game it's hard to argue that he isn't a difference maker. He ranked 3rd in the league in PER, only behind LBJ and Kevin Durant. Also, let's not forget KL was the Western Conference P.O.T.M. in February where he averaged 34 ppg and 14.1 reb. Last person to do that was Moses Malone in 1982.

I guess I see both sides of the argument, but I do think Love is a difference maker, and makes his teammates better. He's an elite level rebounder and scorer that can run the break and pass. Tough to pass up a guy like that when you have the chance.   

I completely agree with you Michig.  Love a consistent 10 to 14 rebounds a game then add his scoring ability and passing. You have your self a great player and teammate. Plus he only 25 that pretty young still.

* Edited at 07.24.2014, 2:42 PM ET *