**NBA FINALS THREAD - RAPTORS DEFY GRAVITY**

[P C H]

If GS wins without KD...doesn't that invalidate his best player in the world claim?

What? Why would it do that

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

This points out what I'm talking about. Also remember that the reason the sixers ended up with Jah is because porzingis wanted no parts of Philly because of how ugly the process was. It was objectively bad for business. The whole point of the process was to win multiple championships. If that doesn't happen then the plan didn't work.

Even with the Sixers winning 50 games and looking like a problem for the Eastern Conference for the next 10 years, something always stops me from genuflecting at the altar of The Process. That something looks a little like this chart.

This is a five-year look at every team that finished within five wins or losses of the 76ers back in 2012-13, the year before Hinkie took over. Philadelphia won 34 games that season; Hinkie burnt down the roster in a series of moves to begin The Process. Six other teams won between 29 and 39 games that 2012-13 season: the Wolves, Blazers, Wizards, Pistons, Bucks, and Raptors.

Fve of them — everyone but the Pistons — will be in the NBA playoffs this weekend.

The Raptors will have 50 wins; in fact, they can still get to 60! The Blazers could also end up with 50. Toronto, by the way, had the same number of wins as Philadelphia (34) back in 2012-13. Portland had 33 in what was Damian Lillard’s rookie season.

But going all the way back to the beginning: is it really so unique that the Sixers went from mediocre to awesome in five years? The Raptors were mediocre five years ago; they have been to the playoffs every year since, including a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals and the top seed this year. The Blazers were mediocre five years ago; they have been to the playoffs every year since in the Western Conference. They will likely finish with the same seed as Philadelphia this season.

Even the Wizards -- a franchise no one would mistake for a stable, reliable winner — will make its fourth playoff trip in five years this spring. Washington has won three playoff series since The Process began. If it turns out that the Wizards meet the Sixers in the first round, which is possible, Washington might actually win that series, too.

Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie’s reputation with player agents is beginning to steer players away from joining the team, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

In a story this week, Pompey reported that the No. 3 and No. 4 picks in the 2015 draft—Sixers forward Jahlil Okafor, and Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis—did not want to play in Philadelphia prior to the draft. It’s also possible that No. 2 pick D’Angelo Russell felt the same way.

According to multiple sources, Hinkie wasn’t permitted to interview Kristaps Porzingis during his predraft workout in Las Vegas in June. But Porzingis, who went fourth to the New York Knicks, wasn’t the draft prospect that agents were trying to get from the Sixers.

Sources say that Okafor’s camp wasn’t in favor of him playing for the Sixers during the draft process. And there’s conflicting stories about D’Angelo Russell. Some say that he welcomed the idea of playing in Philadelphia, at least initially in the draft process. Others say he wasn’t in favor.

The story also notes that agents with clients commanding max-level money don’t want them to play for the Sixers, and that mid-level players would need to be overpaid to consider signing.

Everything about the 76ers' blueprint for building a championship-caliber franchise is unique. As they're learning, some folks around the NBA aren't fans of the uniqueness.


The team has been criticized for having just one "basketball person" in its front office in Brandon D. Williams, who played 18 games in the NBA. The Sixers prefer to keep to themselves instead of joining the old boys' network. And some argue that the Sixers are not establishing relationships with agents to become a major player in free agency in the future.


One agent said he doesn't want his max-level players in Philadelphia. He's open to his midlevel players signing with the Sixers only if they overpay.


The agent also said the Sixers are viewed as a landing spot for clients without any other NBA options.

Another league source laughed at the thought that Kevin Durant would be interested in the Sixers once he becomes a free agent after the season.


"Are you kidding me? There is no way," he said. "Whoever thinks Kevin Durant is coming to the Philadelphia 76ers is absolutely out of their mind. There's no way . . . in any scenario. He's not doing it. He wants to win."


But the Sixers' front office believes you can't govern a team by trying to make everyone happy. The team's lone focus is on building something special that will sustain over a long period of time.


However, the Sixers' lack of relationships with agents could hinder their ability to attract max-level free agents next summer.

Hinkie declined to be interviewed for this story. But a team source said the reason is that the general manager has put what is best for the franchise ahead of what the agents want.

A prime example was when the team drafted Michael Carter-Williams with the 11th overall pick in the 2013 draft. The source said the next morning Hinkie had 35 voice messages from agents, stating that they had the perfect veteran backup/mentor for the rookie point guard. The source said all of those players had one thing in common: They were all over 30 years old, unemployed, and were seeking over $1 million.


Hinkie passed and acquired Tony Wroten, who was a second-year player at the time, in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies to serve as Carter-Williams' backup.


According to the source, the move disappointed agents looking for jobs for their clients. He added that Hinkie treats people with dignity and is straightforward.


However, league sources, including agents, claim Hinkie is hard to deal with. They said he doesn't make it a priority to return calls in a timely fashion or, on occasion, at all.

"If [former power agent] Arn Tellem is making multiple phone calls, or if it's a Bill Duffy or if it's a Mark Bartelstein or a Jeff Schwartz, you'd better take that call, and you'd better show them respect," one source said. "If not, that will come back to haunt you double-fold, triple-fold in a later period. . . . They have egos the size of NBA superstars, and they are very powerful."

Hinkie had reached the end of his rope and the sixers needed new management if they wanted to progress any further.

 

[trynafeelmink]

But two of them are All NBA'ers and All Stars by 25 That's entirely the point.

The draft is an inexact science, but by spamming it you increase your chances of drafting one of those All NBA 1st team guys.

And that could have been done w/o the extreme tanking that Hinkie did is my point. at the end of the day this is still a competitive sport & Coaches/FO prople/Players don't want to go to an Org that is continuously trying everything in their power to strip away any talent from the team. Were all fans of the NBA, we all see teams that try the excessive tanking method.... more often than not franchises who are consistently trying to be bad stay bad

that isn't an opinion, that it a factual trend in the NBA we've seen more instances of the Suns & Kings situations then the OKC's.

 

[art vandelay]

If GS wins without KD...doesn't that invalidate his best player in the world claim?

It honestly shouldn’t. MJ was the best ever, his squad still got washed by the Detroit Pistons, didn’t diminish his GOAT status, KD would be just fine.

 

[WASHED KING]

It honestly shouldn’t.

You're right..but you know how it's going to be spun lol.

 

[hand2handking]

gs wins tonight so they get a rest
kd comes back gm3 next round

 

[freeze]

we booed because we were up alot and just playing lousy basketball allowing the raps to come back.. boos are nothing but motivation

yall wont get it thought cause yall aint from philly so it makes sense

no bruh..thats dumb as ****. and trying to rationalize it makes yall sound like hicks.

 

[VARNELL HILL]

There was only one season when Philly had the league's worst record. Was is that big of a deal despite other teams being worse during the Process era?

Nobody is going to answer this question

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

Nobody is going to answer this question

Pretty sure I covered this

There was only one season when Philly had the league's worst record. Was is that big of a deal despite other teams being worse during the Process era?

Depends. Do you think it's a big deal if the commissioner has to get involved and players as well as agents want nothing to do with the franchise?

 

[had pants]

 

[angels47]

Is hick an acceptable term? Just curious where that falls on the slur spectrum.

 

[xxpizzo]

no bruh..thats dumb as ****. and trying to rationalize it makes yall sound like hicks.

yea right

so while we were up 18 and the raps cutting it to 6 or 7 points we are supposed to stand/sit in the arena and be quiet ? man if you dont boo or are muted are you even considered a fan ?

players play off the crowds emotions.. we booed and look what happened it got the sixers to lock back in

yall in here complaining about Boos yet players like butler love it.. it means the fans actually care and shows emotion

you guys are just some corny fans its ok

acting like we dont praise our players when they do good lolol the boos really bothers no philly people and its hilarious

 

[shotsrangout]

Nah fam... This is wild. The NBA gotta stop this one

Keep politics out of my basketball

These European dudes is wylin. From Kanter to this now

 

[hand2handking]

Is hick an acceptable term? Just curious where that falls on the slur spectrum.

doesnt even register

 

[second2nonee]

What odds would u give me for g6?

You offered me, you come up with it and I'll see what's good.

 

[Fozz]

Who deserves more slander if they lose the series GS or Houston?

I would say Houston.

 

[xxpizzo]

just gotta get it thru your guys heads

PHILLY CROWD AND FANS ARE DIFFERENT THEN ANY OTHER FANBASE.. WE DONT CARE HOW YOU GUYS TREAT YOUR PLAYERS ETC JUST KNOW WE DO THINGS OUR WAY AND IT WILL NEVER CHANGE NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE THINKS OF IT.. PLAIN AND SIMPLE

Players love fans who show emotion whether its good or bad

I am done on this topic

 

[Fozz]

If GS wins without KD...doesn't that invalidate his best player in the world claim?

No, that would just re-ignite the argument that the W's didn't need any help after blowing the 3-1 lead in the finals lol

 

[lawdog1]

I would say Houston.

Now, with KD out, definitely Houston.

They wanted this rematch, have suggested they got robbed against GSW last year and that they can beat the Dubs even with KD. Definitely put up or shut time for them now.

 

[amitt5504]

There was only one season when Philly had the league's worst record. Was is that big of a deal despite other teams being worse during the Process era?

Optics. Since the other teams were signing guys to try to win

People were mad we decided to flip guys who had no future with the team than to try to compete for wins where we wasn’t gonna win. That’s how you end up like Orlando or the Kangz with 5-7 pick every year for 5 years

 

[moe200069]

Ain no fanbase worse than Bron-stans.

QFT

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

Optics. Since the other teams were signing guys to try to win

People were mad we decided to flip guys who had no future with the team than to try to compete for wins where we wasn’t gonna win. That’s how you end up like Orlando or the Kangz with 5-7 pick every year for 5 years

It was more than just optics bro . It was tangibly impacting the sixers ability to rebuild. Yall are just gonna keep sidestepping that inconvenient fact tho so whatevs

 

[MVP]

If GS wins without KD...doesn't that invalidate his best player in the world claim?

Winning what this series? They damn sure ain't winning the chip without him.

 

[second2nonee]

Who deserves more slander if they lose the series GS or Houston?

The optics, it’s Houston cause GS is without their best player. We have no excuses, rightfully so. We lose, slander is appropriate.

But don’t get it twisted, GS is still a 2-1 favorite to win the series and 19/20 media members at ESPN picked GS. A majority of posters here also picked GS still.

 

[JD617]

Pretty sure I covered this


Depends. Do you think it's a big deal if the commissioner has to get involved and players as well as agents want nothing to do with the franchise?

Shouldn't the commissioner have gotten involved with the teams who were worse?