Pippen Ain’t Easy roundtable: The Pre-2017 NBA Draft Edition

Jan 4, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) defends Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 4, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) defends Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
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Can anyone in the 2017 NBA Draft stop Kevin Durant? Probably not.
Jun 12, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrates after winning the NBA Fianls MVP in game five of the 2017 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Whitlow (@couldbelikemike): Let’s get into it, fellas. What were your thoughts on the 2017 NBA Finals?

Daniel Coughlin (@xvanwilderx): It was beautiful. LeBron James played out of his mind. Kevin Durant had a good series. Steph Curry was the real MVP of the Finals and had some ridiculous displays of skill. Both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love had outstanding performances, though not for the entire series. We got solid basketball and lots of history from both sides.

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  • Dru Berry (@druberry_): Kevin Durant is a bad, bad man. Durant’s performance in the Finals was something to behold, and it’s hard not to imagine him doing the same thing in next years Finals. Similarly, watching Golden State and Cleveland square off made me realize how far away Chicago is from even sniffing the Finals. It’s going to be a rough couple of years.

    Willie Lutz (@willie_lutz): First and foremost, we now know that the Bulls are either the best or second best team in the league. After going 4-0 against the Cavaliers during the season series, we know that they’re easily the best team in the East. Factor in the 1-1 split with Golden State and it’s a coin flip for the better club. On a serious note, I think we learned a lot about what the Cavaliers aren’t and what a team from the East has to change. Golden State is tough, but not invincible.

    Patrick Sheetz (@bull_sheetz): Watching the Warriors dominate the playoffs the with their new superstar was exciting. They seemed to push the limits of the game and I still don’t feel like they played as great as they could have. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the league adjusts, specifically the Cavs. Will GM LeBron pull the trigger on Kevin Love for Paul George? It feels more realistic than it should, though at some point another option may present itself. What if LeBron goes straight to Team Banana Boat? The guys all gather in Los Angeles to take a shot at the mighty Warriors. I’d tune in.

    Bryce Fields (@B_Freaky13): I think we are witnessing the beginning of a dynasty. As much as I hate the super-teams, dynasties end up being those. More importantly, I’m excited to see how LeBron (no, not the Cavs front office, we all know who runs the show) combat the Warriors with who they pick up in the off-season.