I'm off the Ball train.

[TheMaulClaw]

  Never really thought the guy was the type of player that could lead us to the playoffs.  It's all social media hits and what not.  I think we should get out of the Lamelo business.  Get what we can for him.  Team is dreadful.  He is skilled but not a winner.

[frankw]

[Proudiddy]

Careful walking around with that Hot Take there, bro.

[TheMaulClaw]

13 hours ago, Proudiddy said:

Careful walking around with that Hot Take there, bro.

I know it's not popular opinion.  I don't mean any disrespect.  I think he would be a great piece for a contending team, but his game is missing a killer instinct and I don't have much faith in him in the clutch.  If you think about it, prior to the NBA he never really felt the pressure of winning.  Every team he played on a team was meant for his personal development.  Winning didn't really matter.   It got him to where he wants to go so I applaud that, but he never felt the pressure to win.

A team centerpiece is supposed to hold other teammates accountable.  They're supposed to rally their teammates to form a collective.  Ball just isn't a leader, he is a business man.  He is not a bad man and he's a good ball player, but he doesn't have the fire to lead his teammates.

Edited January 6, 2023 by TheMaulClaw

[Brooklyn 3.0]

He's very talented. But he's no Kobe, MJ, or LeBron.

[OldNorthPowell]

Lamelo opinion here:

 

Ceiling:

Jason Kidd with better shooting percentages.

 

Floor:

Andre Miller with slightly better scoring

 

He is the number 2 option on a championship caliber team. Which isn't terrible. They need a number 1 though to compliment his game. 

Edited January 6, 2023 by OldNorthPowell

[Shocker]

30 minutes ago, Brooklyn 3.0 said:

He's very talented. But he's no Kobe, MJ, or LeBron.

LOL, who is?  Kinda lofty comparisons there

I had a professor in college that was really smart.  But he is no Albert Einstein!!

Edited January 6, 2023 by Shocker

[t96]

The rest of the team around him absolutely blows. This kid will win big with a legit team around him. Hopefully it's here with Wemby and Bridges next year, but I won't be surprised when fans like you and our dumbass owner run him out of town and he wins a few championships with the Lakers or Celtics.

[Brooklyn 3.0]

1 hour ago, Shocker said:

LOL, who is?  Kinda lofty comparisons there

I had a professor in college that was really smart.  But he is no Albert Einstein!!

I just mean, homers think he is THE guy to lead the team onward and upward, but I agree with the OP. He's not that guy. He's Klay Thompson not Steph Curry. And yes, I know the kid is better than Klay. I just mean ... he's not the elite of the elite.

[USDepartmentOfSavagery]

4 hours ago, Brooklyn 3.0 said:

I just mean, homers think he is THE guy to lead the team onward and upward, but I agree with the OP. He's not that guy. He's Klay Thompson not Steph Curry. And yes, I know the kid is better than Klay. I just mean ... he's not the elite of the elite.

You think Melo is better than prime Klay? Klay Thompson today yes. But prime Klay Thompson was a top 10-15 player in the league. 

[Wanderlai]

He is good maybe not great. Granted he is surrounded with mediocre to bad players. If they get the #1 pick (not holding my breath) then it is a game changer with Wemby.

[USDepartmentOfSavagery]

1 hour ago, Wanderlai said:

He is good maybe not great. Granted he is surrounded with mediocre to bad players. If they get the #1 pick (not holding my breath) then it is a game changer with Wemby.

I think scoot is a game changer too. 

[Brooklyn 3.0]

16 hours ago, USDepartmentOfSavagery said:

You think Melo is better than prime Klay? Klay Thompson today yes. But prime Klay Thompson was a top 10-15 player in the league. 

Well then that even supports my thoughts and the OP's post I guess.

[Proudiddy]

I think this "lacks killer instinct" stuff and "good, not great," and "solid #2" lacks some serious perspective.  Was Magic the killer MJ and Kobe were?  Could he have won a championship with the supporting cast Melo had had?  Absolutely not.  What about LeBron? Nope.  He is a top-tier NBA superstar.  A lot of people are jumping to these proclamations in a season in which our dumbass organization hired the coach they previously fired, in part for his archaic offense and outlook on the game, as well as his lack of meaningful development of young players during his time here previously.  A season which we were blindsided by Miles DV case which resulted in our second best player, a borderline, burgeoning all-star caliber player, being absent from the team, likely for the season.  A season in which Melo has been injured twice for a significant amount of time.  A season in which the team essentially threw their hands up in the offseason after the Miles issues, and did nothing but punt a lottery pick for nothing, draft a big that'll rarely ever play or develop under the retread coach they brought back, and then signed scraps off the heap that were left the month before the season started.  

So, what exactly did you expect him to do with this roster, coach, and loser ass organization we have on a season in which they chose not to compete?

You should be grateful to have him, imo, because it's one of those things where you don't know what you have until it's gone.  Melo is charismatic, a young star, and the straw that stirs the drink kind of guy who other players love to play with...  you want him here.  Now, if we could just get the talent around him to allow him to fully play to his potential.  And don't hold your breath for Victor W...  even if we finish dead last, the NBA is not giving us that top pick.  It'll be another Anthony Davis situation.  They'll find another franchise that has a more favorable FO and coach in place where he'll get more exposure.

And finally, look at Giannis' and Lebron's history with Melo.  That tells you all you need to know about what his peers consider him.  He needs fuging help.  Period.