Mr. Chemistry

[lexrageorge]

A healthy Kyrie and Durant will make the 2020-21 Nets a fairly formidable EC opponent, but I don't think that puts them head-and-shoulders above the Conference's elite either. There's the obvious caveat that Brooklyn's roster next season has not been cast in stone yet.

However, Kyrie could easily hit the decline phase of his career fairly quickly, and he becomes far less valuable once he's in that decline.

 

[nighthob]

Well, the first season back from Achilles injuries is usually even worse than Hayward’s return year. It might be Kyrie’s age 30 season before Durant is back to something like full strength, and Mr. C. may have gone full frontal Deron Williams on them by then.

 

[RetractableRoof]

Well, the first season back from Achilles injuries is usually even worse than Hayward’s return year. It might be Kyrie’s age 30 season before Durant is back to something like full strength, and Mr. C. may have gone full frontal Deron Williams on them by then.

This is an interesting point, and one that I think has some subtlety in it.

What parts of Durant's game do we think will be impacted by his achilles? Is he a star because of his explosiveness? I wonder if his overall game may look different, but he might be able to contribute at a high level especially given the penetration skill of Irving will demand reaction from the defense.

Also, I wonder how quickly Irving's game will deteriorate - as his game seems dependent on his handle and creativity versus pure speed or athleticism. I guess I'm thinking that neither of them is going away any time soon, and I don't know that Brooklyn is going to be an easy out any time soon.

 

[nighthob]

Durant’s overall defense and drive game are going to suffer. His quickness just isn’t going to be what it was. And there’s going to be an adjustment to his new normal. He will still be a heckuva shooter though.

As for Mr. C., I think the nagging injuries are going to overtake him sooner rather than later.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

I agree on Mr. C.....in many ways I suspect he will age suddenly like Kenny Anderson or Deron Williams. He's a better shooter than either and might be able to adjust to being more of a spot-up shooter who can create than a pure point guard as his skills erode (and his quickness declines)...but he might not, there's plenty of guys who can't mentally make that shift.

 

[Euclis20]

It's a good point, neither of these guys are stars because of their athleticism. Without his speed Durant would still look like Dirk, and for Kyrie it's not just his handle and creativity, he's a terrific shooter (and for a point guard, he's not small). As Nighthob said, it will be the injuries (not standard aging) that limit Kyrie going forward. By the end of this season he'll have missed 99 regular season games over three years and two entire postseasons (assuming Brooklyn doesn't fall out of the playoffs). He's unlikely to get healthier as he hits his 30s.

 

[The_Powa_of_Seiji_Ozawa]

A healthy Kyrie and Durant will make the 2020-21 Nets a fairly formidable EC opponent, but I don't think that puts them head-and-shoulders above the Conference's elite either. There's the obvious caveat that Brooklyn's roster next season has not been cast in stone yet.

However, Kyrie could easily hit the decline phase of his career fairly quickly, and he becomes far less valuable once he's in that decline.

It will be glorious when Mr. Chemistry ignores an open or mismatched Durant in the paint and then misses his hero ball 3 at the buzzer.

 

[joe dokes]

It's pretty hard to come up with a good reason to have impingement surgery in February while your team is currently in the playoffs (assuming his new imaging studies didn't show a rotator cuff tear or something new).

Even if Kyrie really does have substantial pain that's preventing him from playing right now, he could let it settle down and see how things are feeling in few weeks. If he was willing to try Advil, that might also help...

The surgery is minor and almost always done in the offseason. There is no real risk by waiting. Feels a lot like just a way to punt on the season, avoid an embarrassing exit, and save his legs for Durant.

I think you're underestimating how difficult it is to carry the world on your shoulders. (Although it would be a lot more difficult if the world was round.)

 

[InstaFace]

I think you're underestimating how difficult it is to carry the world on your shoulders. (Although it would be a lot more difficult if the world was round.)

I enjoyed this.

 

[tims4wins]

It doesn't necessarily belong here, but reading Ben Watson's comments about the CBA negotiations... it just struck me how he is on such a different level than Kyrie with regard to humanity. He is also truly articulate, as opposed to Kyrie's faux-articularity (not a word, I know).

Edit: would love to hear @lovegtm spin this into how Kyrie would have said it

https://www.espn.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4819351/retiring-patriots-te-ben-watson-shares-players-view-of-critical-cba-talks

"Throughout the history of pro football, players have always come together for the betterment of the collective past, present and future. It is imperative that every player concern themselves with the issues that affect the business of football," he explained. "Our player leadership, myself included, has spent countless hours discussing the future of our workplace on calls and in face-to-face meetings with each other and ownership."

"My job is to serve the membership by being a voice, as well as a conduit of information, and acting in the best interest of players. There are tough decisions that have to be made that are sometimes not in one's best personal interest.

"But the examples of sacrifice set before us compel us to do the same. It has been quite a process and we are hopeful for a favorable outcome. The league refers to players as partners. My intention is to encourage an agreement that accurately reflects that sentiment."

 

[benhogan]

Just more dirt on Kyrie's Celtic grave

https://www.celticsblog.com/2020/2/23/21150082/boston-celtics-recognize-that-jayson-tatum-is-the-guy-to-lead-them-jaylen-brown-gordon-hayward

 

[lovegtm]

Jaylen with a Mr. Chemistry subtweet done in the man's own style:

View: https://twitter.com/AdamHimmelsbach/status/1232549091957035008?s=20

 

[ifmanis5]

Mr. Chemistry has never played for the same coach in more than two consecutive seasons. Played under 7 coaches in 9 seasons.

 

[TripleOT]

Just to recap:

1) Tatum is now a superstar
2) Brown is a borderline all star and strong Most Improved Player candidate
3) The Celtics team is appreciably better, on the upswing, with a positive demeanor, and a legit ECF contender.
4) Some Celtics fans are bemoaning the loss of Colin Sexton in the Kyrie trade
5) The scrappy, up and coming playoff team Nets from last season are now a dysfunctional, coachless, almost lottery team.
6) The world is still round.

 

[InstaFace]

7) Kyrie has played only 20 games this season, amid both injuries and "injuries".

 

[djbayko]

I love when this thread gets bumped.

 

[tims4wins]

View: https://twitter.com/nbcsboston/status/1236497344184582144?s=21

 

[Van Everyman]

Wasn’t the story with Lue that he was a players coach who basically let Lebron run the show?

 

[BigSoxFan]

View: https://twitter.com/nbcsboston/status/1236497344184582144?s=21

This is so awesome. Kyrie and KD want their babysitter in place for when KD gets back.

 

[lovegtm]

1. The NBA is, most definitely a players’ league. If Jayson Tatum ever wants Brad gone, Danny will ask CBS not to let the door hit him on the way out.

2. Kyrie Irving has shown pretty conclusively that he’s not a player you fire a coach for. This is awesome.

 

[tims4wins]

1. The NBA is, most definitely a players’ league. If Jayson Tatum ever wants Brad gone, Danny will ask CBS not to let the door hit him on the way out.

2. Kyrie Irving has shown pretty conclusively that he’s not a player you fire a coach for. This is awesome.

Marrying 1 and 2, if Kyrie had told Ainge he would re-sign in Boston if they fired CBS, they would have told Kyrie not to let the door hit him on the way out.

 

[lovegtm]

Marrying 1 and 2, if Kyrie had told Ainge he would re-sign in Boston if they fired CBS, they would have told Kyrie not to let the door hit him on the way out.

Yeah, that sums up Kyrie’s perceived value pretty clearly.

It’s sad: he easily has the talent to be a top-10 player, but it likely will end up just being unrealized potential.

 

[pjheff]

It’s sad: he easily has the talent to be a top-10 player, but it likely will end up just being unrealized potential.

“Kyrie, your thoughts on the departure of Kenny Atkinson?”

 

[Van Everyman]

NyPost article pins this on Kyrie:

Having stars such as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on the team put a target on Atkinson’s back, and sources say it was Irving who put the knife in it.

 

[lovegtm]

“Kyrie, your thoughts on the departure of Kenny Atkinson?”

Yeah...it's almost not funny anymore, like mocking Biden's mental state. At a certain point, you just have a dude with some pretty obvious issues that no one in the Nets organization can help him with because he was needed to get them Durant.

 

[nighthob]

It’s nearly as much fun watching Kyrie go full frontal Deron Williams on the Nets as it is watching Jayson go sunshine supernova on the NBA here in Boston.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

If the Nets are smart (open question) they are already working on a plan to get KD to see that Kyrie is a problem. They have to do that subtly or they’ll lose both of them, but if they aren’t at least thinking about how they might do so next year they are delusional. KD is a good enough player to be the alpha that keeps Kyrie in line, but I”m not sure that’s his personality.

Nets need a Phil Jackson-esque player’s leader more than they need x and o guy (though they need both). I’m not sure who the fit really is—-Tyronn Lue is not a serious coach; Jason Kidd probably isn’t a fit for this particular mess—-I personally don’t think he’s the fit for any mess—-who else is out there that realistically can get these guys to play together and at least do some actual coaching?

 

[Van Everyman]

Few things would make me happier than Jason Kidd taking over this mess.

 

[The Mort Report]

If the Nets are smart (open question) they are already working on a plan to get KD to see that Kyrie is a problem. They have to do that subtly or they’ll lose both of them, but if they aren’t at least thinking about how they might do so next year they are delusional. KD is a good enough player to be the alpha that keeps Kyrie in line, but I”m not sure that’s his personality.

Nets need a Phil Jackson-esque player’s leader more than they need x and o guy (though they need both). I’m not sure who the fit really is—-Tyronn Lue is not a serious coach; Jason Kidd probably isn’t a fit for this particular mess—-I personally don’t think he’s the fit for any mess—-who else is out there that realistically can get these guys to play together and at least do some actual coaching?

I get what you’re saying but if that was the case, and if the reports are true, they would have never let KI push a coach out. If the reports are true, they picked Kyrie over a good coach, so I think they are banking on him deferring to KD next year and I think they are delusional

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

I get that some C's fans still feel jilted by Irving or angry at him for how the last few seasons went. However if these reports are true, the guy did the Celtics and their fans a massive favor. It appeared that Ainge was all-in on keeping him even without Davis so him making Boston's decision for them was what you would refer to as a good miss.

He may yet win another ring because he is a very good player and could still flourish in the right situation whatever that is but the prospect of that happening is, in no way, enough to deal with all the other drama he brings.

 

[tims4wins]

I get that some C's fans still feel jilted by Irving or angry at him for how the last few seasons went. However if these reports are true, the guy did the Celtics and their fans a massive favor. It appeared that Ainge was all-in on keeping him even without Davis so him making Boston's decision for them was what you would refer to as a good miss.

He may yet win another ring because he is a very good player and could still flourish in the right situation whatever that is but the prospect of that happening is, in no way, enough to deal with all the other drama he brings.

For lack of a better word, the last couple years with Kyrie were just mentally fatiguing / exhausting, and I say that as only more of a fairweather / casual Celts fan than a true hardcore fan. Every press conference after losses was the same. It got really old, really fast. It would be hard to imagine 4 more years of that or whatever. They're so much more fun this year, and it's not just because they have a better record and style of play.

 

[BigSoxFan]

For lack of a better word, the last couple years with Kyrie were just mentally fatiguing / exhausting, and I say that as only more of a fairweather / casual Celts fan than a true hardcore fan. Every press conference after losses was the same. It got really old, really fast. It would be hard to imagine 4 more years of that or whatever. They're so much more fun this year, and it's not just because they have a better record and style of play.

Precisely. He just sucked the life out of the team. No way Tatum makes this kind of a leap with Kyrie still here. We’ll see what the non-Kyrie squad does come playoff time but even if they flop, this year was 1000000X more enjoyable.

 

[djbayko]

Wasn’t the story with Lue that he was a players coach who basically let Lebron run the show?

Yup. That’s exactly what Kyrie wants - someone he can push around,

And here we have yet another example where someone else was the problem, not Kyrie.

 

[TripleOT]

Nets 8-12 with Kyrie, 20-22 without.

 

[Marciano490]

How does a dude who’s skipped 1/3 of his team’s games sour on the coach? Was Atkinson trash in the group chat? Thanks for the memories, Kyrie.

 

[InstaFace]

You answered your own question: Clearly, he was upset with his playing time.

 

[lovegtm]

You answered your own question: Clearly, he was upset with his playing time.

Coach was great, he knows so much about basketball and his craft, but for me, I need someone who has been there, who can be an example, like, I mean, we talk about time and space and limitations and injuries, but what does that really mean? Injured, not injured, for me those are just words that the media narrative machine buys into and instantiates into reality--they shouldn't really have an effect on my playing time, and in some ways coach and I couldn't quite see into the same spiritual level about those kinds of concepts, but I think you guys just hear that and don't quite feel that energy I'm on.

 

[bakahump]

We need a like button.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

Coach was great, he knows so much about basketball and his craft, but for me, I need someone who has been there, who can be an example, like, I mean, we talk about time and space and limitations and injuries, but what does that really mean? Injured, not injured, for me those are just words that the media narrative machine buys into and instantiates into reality--they shouldn't really have an effect on my playing time, and in some ways coach and I couldn't quite see into the same spiritual level about those kinds of concepts, but I think you guys just hear that and don't quite feel that energy I'm on.

If you haven't started a Mr. Chemistry Twitter account to distribute these pearls, you need to get on it.

 

[Van Everyman]

If you haven't started a Mr. Chemistry Twitter account to distribute these pearls, you need to get on it.

280 characters would be a reach for Mr. Chemistry.

 

[lovegtm]

280 characters would be a reach for Mr. Chemistry.

You're thinking locally, not globally: each 280 characters isn't a limit, it's part of the one Long Tweet that we all share a cosmic part of, that I'm just humbled to be tweeting in.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

There would be something so Mr. Chemistry about taking 4 or 5 consecutive Twitter posts to say absolutely nothing.

 

[Mueller's Twin Grannies]

If you haven't started a Mr. Chemistry Twitter account to distribute these pearls, you need to get on it.

Seconded. Might fill the void left by the Captain Andrew Luck Twitter account.

 

[Marciano490]

Coach was great, he knows so much about basketball and his craft, but for me, I need someone who has been there, who can be an example, like, I mean, we talk about time and space and limitations and injuries, but what does that really mean? Injured, not injured, for me those are just words that the media narrative machine buys into and instantiates into reality--they shouldn't really have an effect on my playing time, and in some ways coach and I couldn't quite see into the same spiritual level about those kinds of concepts, but I think you guys just hear that and don't quite feel that energy I'm on.

This needs to be publicized if not monetized. It’s too good just to cabin here.

 

[amarshal2]

Coach was great, he knows so much about basketball and his craft, but for me, I need someone who has been there, who can be an example, like, I mean, we talk about time and space and limitations and injuries, but what does that really mean? Injured, not injured, for me those are just words that the media narrative machine buys into and instantiates into reality--they shouldn't really have an effect on my playing time, and in some ways coach and I couldn't quite see into the same spiritual level about those kinds of concepts, but I think you guys just hear that and don't quite feel that energy I'm on.

You had me at instantiates

 

[JCizzle]

Coach was great, he knows so much about basketball and his craft, but for me, I need someone who has been there, who can be an example, like, I mean, we talk about time and space and limitations and injuries, but what does that really mean? Injured, not injured, for me those are just words that the media narrative machine buys into and instantiates into reality--they shouldn't really have an effect on my playing time, and in some ways coach and I couldn't quite see into the same spiritual level about those kinds of concepts, but I think you guys just hear that and don't quite feel that energy I'm on.

Late to the party, but this is great!

 

[tims4wins]

You had me at instantiates

Ditto, hook line and sinker

 

[lovegtm]

This needs to be publicized if not monetized. It’s too good just to cabin here.

Haha thanks, but I've done internet-known stuff before, and it wasn't really worth it. I enjoy this intimate, ephemeral format. If anyone wants to steal and post elsewhere with no credit, they have my blessing.

 

[amarshal2]

Haha thanks, but I've done internet-known stuff before, and it wasn't really worth it. I enjoy this intimate, ephemeral format. If anyone wants to steal and post elsewhere with no credit, they have my blessing.

Instantiates. Ephemeral. You don't hear these words everywhere.

Are you a software developer? A developer who knows how to get into the mind of Mr. Chemistry? What a strange combination.

Then again, the posts that you instantiate in here aren't really ephemeral, so, maybe not!

 

[Montana Fan]

I’d be interested in reading Mr. C’s thoughts on the Coronavirus.