Kings 2002 G7. They’ve never had a true championship contender since.

Cavs 2018 Finals G1. JR Smith botching that last possession in regulation killed any chance the Cavs had that series. Lebron joined the Lakers that summer.

Edit: the better (or worse) choice for the Kings is 2003 West Semis G2. Kings were as much of a contender as the year before. Webber does his knee in the second half, and his career - and the Kings franchise - is never the same.

It’s probable that Cade looks much better on 29 other teams. Seems like this lineup is designed to magnify his weaknesses and completely hide his strengths. Worst possible landing spot for him.

Say what you want about Chet’s redshirt year but this top 5 is legit.

If you can see how Kobe is a top 10/15 player all time, then how come you don’t get the hype?

A lot of people see Kobe in the 9-12 spots, and I haven’t seen a consensus for Kobe in the top 5 to begin with.

But to answer the question - in addition to the rings, the resume, and the game, Kobe also played for the most glamorous franchise in the league (and in the running for ritziest sports franchise in the world), and if that wasn’t enough, his career arc also played like a Hollywood drama. Enters the NBA as the prodigy, then becomes the charismatic sidekick to Shaq. Wins the threepeat, then the drama becomes too much, the Colorado incident happens, and suddenly Kobe is the pariah. He becomes the Black Mamba, goes into ronin mode, drops 62 in 3 quarters and 81 in Toronto, but struggles to lead his team deep into the playoffs. Lakers make the Gasol trade, he wins MVP, leads the Redeem Team in '08, rehabs his image as the workaholic who wakes up at 4am to practice, takes the Lakers to b2b titles. Morphs into the ageing great who still has it, the living legend, until he tears his achilles - and that is when you got into the NBA. You weren’t there for everything before. And even then, he drops 60 in his last ever game.

In addition to everything else, he was larger than life, and encapsulated Hollywood like no other LA sports star since Magic. For me, that’s why there was and still is so much Kobe hype.

The question I like more is what happens if 21yo Shaq got drafted in 2023, familiar with today’s game and what is required of modern big men.

I mean he’s 35. It’s nuts the decline hadn’t already started a couple of years ago.

Dynasty might be done.

Warriors made the playoffs 6 times between 1978 and 2012. Might be back in that place soon unless they get lucky in a trade or the draft.

If they picked Hali the future looks much brighter. Heck, if they picked Lamelo and put him in the Steph ankle treatment the future looks much brighter.

It makes sense because he’s on the level below the MVPs of the last 5 years. There’s nothing wrong with that.

It feels like Magic haven’t been this good since Dwight. Orlando has a real squad.

Sucks to see Melo injured again, dude was finally back to his All-star form.

Any word on when Murray returns? Meanwhile, more of this from MPJ would help the Nuggets a lot. He needs to show that “consensus best player in his HS class” talent when Murray is out.

People need to remember AD is who we want Chet and Wemby to eventually become. Minus the injuries, of course.

Chet played so well that I’ve barely seen any underage jokes in this thread. All the comments are “Chet is crazy” or whatever instead of…you know.

Those are two pretty encouraging games for Wemby back-to-back against veteran teams. Would love for him to cut down on the TOs, but hopefully that comes with time. I also want to see his 3fga go down in favour of easier shots, but the whole team shot like ass from beyond the arc today except for Vassell. What happened to Collins lol.

On the Warriors side, Steph putting up another MVP caliber game, and having another MVP caliber season that looks like its going to get wasted.

Honestly point difference should be consequential in the NBA. Like how goal difference in EPL or World Cup is consequential. You should be rewarded for ringing up 150 points against a shit team, just like how teams in soccer are rewarded for smashing a team 8-0.

Jokic, Giannis, Luka, SGA, Tatum, Ant, Hali, Wemby.

What fricking timeline are we living in right now. Last time the Wolves were this good was probably 03-04 with KG/Spree/Cassell.

Flowers to KAT, Gobert, Ant, and everyone else involved for sticking it out through all the slander.

OKC (with or without Giddey) and Orlando. Hopefully the Spurs.

I’m most thankful for the lack of serious injuries so far to big-name players with existing injury/durability concerns, knocking on all the wood around me.

Lebron, Steph, KD, AD, Zion, Wemby, Chet, Porzingis, Lamelo, Booker (missed some games, but still), maybe others I’ve missed. All healthy to start the season and playing well.

We would have given him a pass if it was just injury issues. It’s the perceived or real lack of effort or desire to work on his weaknesses, the quitting on Philly after Rivers and Embiid made their comments after the Trae Young game, the contract holdout, and then blowing off playing for Australia to jet off to London to watch the tennis. Its the numerous offseason videos showing his new and improved jumper only to not attempt to shoot outside of 5 ft when the actual season rolls around.

And still you’re absolutely right because, Giddey, overnight, managed to f*** up worse than any of the above.

He plays for Team USA though.

Meanwhile Simmons has rejected every opportunity to represent Australia since before he got drafted. Along comes Giddey who is happy to play for the Boomers whenever he can…and now this.

Its always the ones you care about that kill you.