LIPTON BASH

Even more crazy is that PG and Russ are both LA guys but have seemed to fall in love with life in OKC.

Makes me wonder If I should visit and there is something we are all missing.

Miami would be my first choice as well.

You get LA weather and pay less taxes. I'm all about straight cash.

Or maybe Russ isn’t nearly as bad as people say and KD simply chose guaranteed title shots over Russ.

I like Russ, I'm not a Russ hater. In fact his attitude is the exact type of player I'd prefer to play with. My point was more about OKC the city. If I could pick my destination I don't know why every player doesn't choose Miami.

I like Boston and Philly in the East for sure but if Golden State stays intact neither of them will beat them.

My 2 out of 5 prediction included GSW breaking up after 19. I'm with you to keep them all will be a ridiculous luxury tax. But with the new Arena they just print money there.

Could be. It’s funny how everyone always said nobody wants to play with Kobe. I think there is something to be said about the pressure of playing with someone who is clearly one of the best to ever play the game. People are scared of it. And the players love Kobe and LeBron. Doesn’t mean they want to play with them. Everyone talks crap about playing with Russ but Paul George chose Russ over LeBron.

Russ must be a hell of salesman. To keep PG in OKC is insane

Agreed with the Warriors in 2019.

 

Kyrie is a free agent next season and reports are that he and Jimmy Butler are working to end up on the same team next season. That could be the Knicks or the Nets or anywhere. Boston won’t win a title without Kyrie. I can’t commit to predicting their success without knowing where Kyrie is over the next 5 years.

 

I can’t wait to see what happens with the Warriors next offseason. I hope they pay everyone the max and pay the luxury tax bill. That would be BOSS.

I think they trade Kyrie because Kyrie to Knicks seems a done deal.

I still like Brown, Tatum, and Hayward as the most versatile wing tandum in league outside of GSW.

Could be.

I feel like their may be some truth to it. Outside of the Bannna Boat crew and the handful of older role players who follow him there doesn't seem to be same reverence from his peers as Kobe and Jordan received.

True. Boston deserves to be added to the list.

I thinks its GSW regardless in 2019 but I think Boston is the only real threat as rosters currently sit . I've said this before the NBA is my favorite sport but I have no team I'm loyal to. With that said I'll be shocked if Boston doesn't have at least 2 titles over next 5 years.

I agree. And right now everyone else consists of 1.) LeBron’s team and 2.) Houston.

 

Who else is a threat to Golden State?

Boston.

This is just going to be interesting. I fully expect another superstar for Lakers. I've heard Leonard , Wall and Lillard mentioned. Without another star it will take another this past years playoff Lebron to get this roster to the playoffs.

It might not be a great shooting team, but it should be a great passing team with a lot of high level IQ basketball players. I for one have complained that the style James likes to play in is as much to blame for the need more help cries because its not a good system for teammates.

 

So maybe that is now changing. He has a head coach who wants to run the same offense as Golden State, since he was there when Kerr implented it. Now with James, Rondo, and Ball you have 3 guys who are smart basketball players and generally make the right basketball plays and move the ball. So it will be interesting if James adapts more to a new system to fit the players around him. Or if he ends up being Lebron James type offense again that is not as great for teammates.

 

Im very excited to see how it all plays out. Could be a very fun team to watch depending on the system they use.

All that matters is your first line. If you can't shoot as a team in today's NBA you can't win much.

Worked for OKC. Problem this time around is the Lakers can offer one of the best packages out of anyone. Celtics and Sixers would potentially make a better offer, but the Lakers aren’t far behind.

Celtics and Sixers have way more to offer. It's not close.

Ehhhh, this move was definitely to send a message to LeBron. LeBron went to the Lakers and they went from not making the playoffs to at worst 3rd favorite to win the title. The Lakers are making moves left and right. Adding dogs and goons to the team and then the Warriors add Cousins but it has nothing to do with LeBron? Yeah I ain’t feeling that theory.

 

The fact that the Rockets had the Warriors on the ropes is more reason for the Warriors to snatch up Cousins. This had everything to do with LeBron in LA.

If the Lakers don't add another star they will be lucky to be top 5 in the west.

Legalize drugs like heroin as well? Biggest issue with legalizing weed for me is there is no gauge on what is considered high. We have BA tests available but not limits on the level of weed in the system and the effects it causes.

Like to chime in and give my recurring answer of yes legalize everything. Big believer in Social Dawarnism

I'd make the argument ADHD is the most over diagnosed health issue and adderall is the most over prescribed medication in America. That to go along with pain pills I feel over the last couple decades have poisoned or altered brain chemistry in our youth. So if they are going to over diagnosis I'd prefer a cannabis solution.

Are the players at their new home in the NBA today? Going to be a hectic time for the next week or so as they find housing, meet with team, ect

Will be a happy time but stressful too. I am sure they will be enjoying every minute of it. Their lives have now changed forever.

They have all worked so hard and now are living their dream.

I love Lavar's outlandish style and make money above all else approach. My only problem is stories coming out about his treatment of his sick wife.

With the reported contracts for the players and bringing Jay-Z on I now want to know how much PUMA is investing in their newly formed basketball division. Also where is PUMA successful today? Are they soccer, track or a lifestyle brand? This is an interesting business case study to follow. Their has to be new leadership.

That’s possible. It’s definitely weird to see KyKy’s Dad be put on the same level as Lavar Ball. I’ll never be convinced that Cal hasn’t been around 10s and 20s of dads just like KyKy’s Dad and that things have been fine or worked out if Cal really wanted the kid. KyKy’s Dad lost a game of chess. KyKy is good enough to play immediately at UK but not good enough to play at UK. As a result KyKy’s Dad looks like a bad guy for stating the obvious. I’d say that’s the last we’ll hear from KyKy’s Dad.

I just think it's a simple risk vs reward scenario. If he had John Wall talent it wouldn't matter what his dad said.

So here's my question. Pseudoephedrine purchases are tracked and people are able to purchase only a certain quantity in a certain time frame. In a previous discussion about this it was also implied that if a person made several attempts to purchase outside of their buying window, their name could be turned over to law enforcement. We still have an issue with meth even with all those safeguards, but that's another discussion. Why couldn't that sort of system be set up for opioids?

Opioids are prescribed by doctors and there is no cost efficent way for the government to oversee every diagnosis, not would I want them to.

Interesting to note that according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, approximately 50% of non-medical users of prescription opioids get them from friends or relatives; 25% get them by prescription from physicians; fewer than 10% are purchased from drug dealers or other strangers. Not sure where the other 15% or so comes from.

Actually expected friends/family to be higher.

I can’t recall anyone other than Tony Parker really saying anything that would be considered as negative towards Kawhi and even then Tony Parker never said his name.

I've read of speculation that Pop pushed Parker and Ginobli to speak out and also saw where most people think the leaks to a couple reporters have been from Buford . But nothing concrete.

That’s a lot of bad blood down there.

I mean I get it. But money talks. If I were him I would of made SA make the first move, I have a feeling they weren't going to offer the super max. Then the team is the bad guy. The whole story is confusing and I hope we really find out the truth. Did Pop and R.C. Buford stab him in the back with the media?

The narrative is that SA is the other team besides LA who liked Kuzma. Still shocking?

Yes. The only reason he would end up with the Lakers is teams with better pieces don't offer. Heck the Clippers can put together a better offer with their picks.

It’s still really weird to see Kawhi continue to get a pass for his behavior.

This whole last season has been a mystery with him. I would say part of the reason he doesn't get the coverage is because the media really didn't cover him when he was considered the 2nd or 3rd best player.

The craziest part to me is passing on the super max.

So I read an article on this lawsuit and I don't want to get political so I'm trying to word this as vague as possible. Did anyone else have their antenna go up that the state is partnering with CVS and now suing maybe it's main competitor?