NBA Season 18-19: General Thread

[j0Shi]

Guys are seriously talking the "impact" of the Cousins injury. It's like robbing a billionaire of a thousand bucks. Personally I think it's a sad story, but on the court it hardly matters. Also hilarious how people try to build up the Rockets as true challenger. This is still GSW's title to lose by a wide margin.

[saclare]

I'm sure ESPN is touting a graphic somewhere of RWB's near triple double (14/11/9) instead of the real narrative. 5-20 with 6 TOs and a loss.

[sefant77]

TDs became incredible overrated...

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by sefant77

TDs became incredible overrated...

But only for RWB. When Doncic does them, theyre good.

[sefant77]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

But only for RWB. When Doncic does them, theyre good.

Even Lukas...the speed of the game, the amount of available shots, assist and rebounds.

You cant compare TDs from today with prime Jason Kidds etc

[gmb]

Wes Matthews being boneheaded tonight? Sound about right. LMAO

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Joe Ingles is hot garbage.

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Joe Ingles is hot garbage.

All that shit talk he does during the season, then quickly put on hush mode when the playoffs start. Turns out, athleticism matters.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

All that shit talk he does during the season, then quickly put on hush mode when the playoffs start. Turns out, athleticism matters.

Apparently RWB didn't get that memo

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

Apparently RWB didn't get that memo

Apples/Oranges.

[Underdog]

Harden shooting 0-10 (0-5 from three) in the first half.

[dirt_dobber]

Rockets with ZERO bench points in their loss to Jazz.
59 minutes played by the bench unit and none scored - wow.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Wow, Nets with only 2 field goals with 2 minutes left in the first. Leastern Conference indeed...

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Wow, Nets with only 2 field goals with 2 minutes left in the first. Leastern Conference indeed...

@SopanDeb: brooklyn getting more destroyed by the sixers than by gentrification tonight

[EricaLubarsky]

Rip OKC

Maybe Cuban was right about RWB

[Underdog]

Holy hell, Dame... That buzzer beater was halfway between the 3-point line and halfcourt.

[BPo001]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Holy hell, Dame... That buzzer beater was halfway between the 3-point line and halfcourt.

Normally you would say that’s terrible shot selection, but I think I read Dame was 8-12 that series on shots beyond 30 ft.

[j0Shi]

Originally Posted by BPo001

Normally you would say that’s terrible shot selection, but I think I read Dame was 8-12 that series on shots beyond 30 ft.

It's amazing how quickly these shots became the norm for certain players. It's not a good shot for 95% of the league, but you suddenly have to start guarding certain specialists at halfcourt. So I'd agree that it's still a "bad shot" considering all players in the league, but math suggests it wasn't in this series/season for this player. However, let's give it five years or so to build some sample size.

Also I dislike how much everyone is crapping on Westbrook. I don't particularly like him or his antics, but I'd much rather have a loyal player try to carry a franchise than what we're seeing from these Klutch motherfuckers and company lately. RWB had tough luck to some degree (traded Harden, Durant chose the Nazgul path), but you can't question that he plays hard every night. And he stuck to a small market when he had the chance to run away.

For the same reason Dame deserves all the success he's having right now. Hard worker and might be one of the last players that could actually play out his career with one team.

[sefant77]

Originally Posted by j0Shi

Also I dislike how much everyone is crapping on Westbrook. I don't particularly like him or his antics, but I'd much rather have a loyal player try to carry a franchise than what we're seeing from these Klutch motherfuckers and company lately. RWB had tough luck to some degree (traded Harden, Durant chose the Nazgul path), but you can't question that he plays hard every night. And he stuck to a small market when he had the chance to run away.

For the same reason Dame deserves all the success he's having right now. Hard worker and might be one of the last players that could actually play out his career with one team.

No, Westbrick deserves all the blame. Yes, he stayed. Yes, he got paid. But he takes full advantage of this. His is blacklisting local journalists because they wrote stuff he didnt like. And the franchise let him go away with this crap.

Do you really think Donovan wants to run such a crappy offense? What do you think would happen if Donovan wants to control Westbrook? Make him shoot less, make him ditch the 3s etc. Maybe bench him when he abandon the playbook and plays like crap?

You can count until 3 and WB is with the GM/owner and has Donovans ass fired.

[BPo001]

Originally Posted by sefant77

No, Westbrick deserves all the blame. Yes, he stayed. Yes, he got paid. But he takes full advantage of this. His is blacklisting local journalists because they wrote stuff he didnt like. And the franchise let him go away with this crap.

Do you really think Donovan wants to run such a crappy offense? What do you think would happen if Donovan wants to control Westbrook? Make him shoot less, make him ditch the 3s etc. Maybe bench him when he abandon the playbook and plays like crap?

You can count until 3 and WB is with the GM/owner and has Donovans ass fired.

The relationship that really matters, however, is Westbrook’s and Donovan’s. Publicly, Westbrook has praised Donovan, crediting him for being “nothing but great” for himself and the organization. But I keep hearing rumblings that Westbrook’s faith has waned in Donovan, and close observers this season have caught several curious in-game moments between coach and star that make you wonder. If the relationship is fractured, Donovan’s done. It’s hard for any coach to survive three straight first-round exits, and if there’s trouble brewing between that coach and his biggest star then that coach has no chance of survival. –

[sefant77]

Westbrick and "bad shot" George deserve each other

[dirt_dobber]

Originally Posted by sefant77

Westbrick and "bad shot" George deserve each other

Both have stated that they don't watch preparation opponent videos.
And PG has stated that he does not like to run scripted plays. He says
he just likes to run flow style. Westbrook's volatility is a problem and
his stat chasing is character revealing.

[SMC0007]

I am eager to see if GS makes it to the finals. If so, KD will likely have to deal with Kawhi or Giannis and that's a major headache waiting for him. He thought PB was a hassle... it only gets harder. That may hold some weight in his decision on where he goes if he leaves. If he is interested in going to the Knicks which I don't know why, even with Kyrie as a co-star it's an incredibly difficult path to even get to a finals.

[Underdog]

@SteveNash: Kevin Durant’s 38 pts in the half of a playoff game are 3 more than steve nash’s 35 in 2005 vs Dallas. It’s not nearly as impressive though because there are more possessions in today’s game. And because Kevin Durant is taller and better at basketball.

[Underdog]

WTF Spurs?

[dirt_dobber]

Wow - that was so un-Spurs like - weird finish.
On another series - nice to see a player like Raptors Siakam really have a break out post season. He finished with 29 points and 7 rebounds. Raptors overall bench or depth is pretty weak though.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

The Raptors are actually in trouble because they are being carried by Siakam and Leonard. If one of them doesn't have a good game, the'll lose. Lowry has just fallen flat.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

The Raptors are actually in trouble because they are being carried by Siakam and Leonard. If one of them doesn't have a good game, they'll lose. Lowry has just fallen flat.

Siakam had a bit of a better game tonight, but their woes are exactly as I feared. You can't go far with the rest of that squad doing zilch.

[mac222b]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Siakam had a bit of a better game tonight, but their woes are exactly as I feared. You can't go far with the rest of that squad doing zilch.

The Raptors are my team in the East, and I was hoping they'd trade for another bench scorer with some size ala Lou Williams before the deadline. Ironically, they may have had a decent enough facsimile if they had kept Delon Wright and given the Grizz FVV (don't know for sure that was an option) who has been singularly ineffective.

Maybe they could've packaged OG and some picks? James Ennis was basically given away to Philly. But then they would be thin on the wing and if Kawhi leaves be bereft of young talent.

I liked the Gasol trade at the time but he is so out of sorts offensively, he's used to being option 1 or 1A for the last decade +.

I love Masai but seems he didn't quite go ALL in. He hedged by not using every chip (assuming Siakam is untouchable).

I wonder if he tried throwing JV, FVV, OG and future 1sts at NO for Jrue Holiday(though this probably wouldn't be enough). And then try buyout and/or modest trades for a second and third big next to Ibaka instead of Gasol. It was rumored that Mirotic was their first choice.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by mac222b

The Raptors are my team in the East, and I was hoping they'd trade for another bench scorer with some size ala Lou Williams before the deadline. Ironically, they may have had a decent enough facsimile if they had kept Delon Wright and given the Grizz FVV (don't know for sure that was an option) who has been singularly ineffective.

Maybe they could've packaged OG and some picks? James Ennis was basically given away to Philly. But then they would be thin on the wing and if Kawhi leaves be bereft of young talent.

I liked the Gasol trade at the time but he is so out of sorts offensively, he's used to being option 1 or 1A for the last decade +.

I love Masai but seems he didn't quite go ALL in. He hedged by not using every chip (assuming Siakam is untouchable).

I wonder if he tried throwing JV, FVV, OG and future 1sts at NO for Jrue Holiday(though this probably wouldn't be enough). And then try buyout and/or modest trades for a second and third big next to Ibaka instead of Gasol. It was rumored that Mirotic was their first choice.

Gasol is basically Andrew Bogut now. They are slow, smart veterans that you like to make a few good defensive plays on a championship team. He has all but erased getting a decent contract this summer.

[mac222b]

Gasol is still a great passer. Their 3 point % shot way up after his arrival. He’s been in many playoff series and played well so it’s strange to see him struggle.

[mac222b]

Steve Kerr sucks. 38 secs left, with the ball and two timeouts he elects NOT to call a timeout for a 2 for 1 after Rockets made ft. GS doesn’t score and if not for a great defensive play by Klay they maybe lose in regulation.

[gmb]

I have the Raptors in the finals.

[sefant77]

god i hate Moreyball....ruined basketball

[j0Shi]

Floppets not getting their usual bs closeout calls and collecting T's. Love it. Last one by Chris Paul was especially hilarious. Sticks his goddamn butt out while landing, trying to draw the foul. Then complaining hard. Fuck this team.

[gmb]

Originally Posted by j0Shi

Floppets not getting their usual bs closeout calls and collecting T's. Love it. Last one by Chris Paul was especially hilarious. Sticks his goddamn butt out while landing, trying to draw the foul. Then complaining hard. Fuck this team.

Facts! They're fucking cheaters and I hope they get swept!

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by sefant77

god i hate Moreyball....ruined basketball

Well there’s still a chance of a sweep

Also Moreyball comes from Nellieball. Just adds flopping and whining to jacking.

[sefant77]

Harden with his newest trick to draw bullshit calls:

https://twitter.com/dyllyp/status/11...4.757%2Fpage-6

[j0Shi]

I get this whole "giving players airspace and letting them land". That's important. It however gets hilarious when people jump several feet forward and then even extend body parts to draw contact. In my opinion the league needs to clarify / change the rule so it only gives you the right to land in the area that you started your jump in. Go straight up and you have every right to complain, but the defender can't adjust to personal shooting motions and back off as much just to not potentially get jumped into.

I mean wtf? In most cases Harden / Paul jump further than the defender and that's supposed to be a foul on the opponent? But hey, this is only a thing because the league is shitty in calling rules consistently. I get why Houston is upset, but last night was exactly how the stuff should get officiated.

[Lestat_1795]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2...define-rivalry

I really had to laugh reading this without seeing a single second of this game.
Harden's way of playing is excactly what's going wrong in the NBA.
Hope the Rockets get swept.