PASS OR SHOOT: Reloaded C’s, Pat Bev and burned Brooklyn bridges
All of the small things NBA players do during the offseason are blown out of proportion because we miss them so much.
Their instagram posts, offseason visits and whatever other non-basketball activity becomes the story.
Luckily, big and small trades have dominated the narrative all offseasons, stirring up whimsical ideas about how teams will look with their new rosters and how far they can go this season.
Time to address some of those queries and suppositions. What better way to do that than with some pass or shoot?
Celtics will win a title win with the roster additions
PASS
Listen, I LOVED the additions of Marcus Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari. Those guys are legit steals considering they’ve been added to an already talented roster. Both guys can still start for many teams in the league.
No doubt, Boston looks better. And now that head coach Ime Udoka has more talent with which he can work, he can do even more damage – some would say win a championship.
But this team STILL doesn’t frighten me when I think about the basketball landscape: The Warriors, Clippers and Milwaukee have a better chance of winning a title before this new rendition of Boston.
Can they win it? Yes. Would I be surprised if they won it? No. That loaded roster and super talented coach gives them a great chance.
They will have to overcome Brogdon and Gallinari’s harrowing injury histories as well. Gallinari already has to miss two months for a meniscus tear.
Patrick Beverly will anchor Lakers’ defense
SHOOT
I like this addition to the Lakers. Far be it from me to understand why because it looks like Russell Westbrook will be sticking around for another season. He and Pat Bev don’t exactly have the best relationship. Feel free to go back and check the tape on that one.
Adding Pat Bev will make the Lakers more exciting again – which is crazy to say because you would think the Lakers would be exciting already with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony.
They weren’t. Enter Pat Bev.
The Lakers lost some of their defensive prowess last season and really didn’t have a guy who was fundamentally a good defender.
Again – enter Pat Bev.
Kevin Durant has burned his bridges in Brooklyn
SHOOT
Kevin Durant’s offseason rampage in which he made a mess trying to force his way out of Brooklyn can’t and shouldn’t be forgotten. If Sean Marks and Steve Nash are there, they shouldn’t forget how he basically tried to get them fired.
How do you go on after that? Somebody has to go – even if Durant and Brooklyn appear to have resolved their relationship woes.
Durant’s words and actions are still out there, hovering in the atmosphere and in the memories of all those he trampled trying to reach the exit door in Brooklyn.
The Nets will look “normal” but I don’t believe they will ever be again after this offseason. Durant has burned several bridges in Brooklyn. Eventually, someone will have to leave that toxic environment, because it’s going to be uncomfortable wearing those hazmat suits for a few more months and horrendous if it’s a few more years.