NBA Season Thread 2013-2014

shamrock55

I hope philly get their win tonight:D

PizzamanIRL

Looks like the Sixers have been let off their leash and given the go ahead to actually win a game. The prick in me wants me to see them set the record

Of course they score a season high 70 in the first half in this game lol

For Forks Sake

shamrock55 wrote: »

I hope philly get their win tonight:D

Philly up by 23, 3 mins left in the third quarter...now how do they go about f*cking that up??

NufcNavan

This Pistons/Sixers game is comedy gold, two teams trying to lose. Even though the 76ers are up by 20+ and will probably break the losing streak, I just saw them blow a 4 on 1 and 5 on 2 fast-breaks.

GoldFour4

Shocking display from Detroit. The sixers are made up of players I've barely heard of. This would be excusable if Detroit had given Miami a close game last night but they didn't.

Dublin Red Devil

Looks like Philly got a call from the commissioner to stop the tank fest or else. Or else what? Exactly!

Paully D

I agree with Ken Berger of CBS:

What do they (Philly) have to show for it (tanking)? A thrilling rookie point guard in Michael Carter-Williams; the sixth pick in the 2013 draft, Nerlens Noel, who hasn't played a minute all season; the potential for two premium picks in this June's draft; some potentially salvageable youngsters who've proven their mettle by continuing to work through the misery of what is now a 16-win season; a GM who was taught how to GM by Daryl Morey; and a coach who was taught how to coach by Gregg Popovich.

Somehow, someday, maybe that will make all the losing worth it. Personally, I don't think there was any other way.

padraig_f

Paully D wrote: »

I agree with Ken Berger of CBS:

Yeah, they're in good shape (which is odd to say, having equalled the record for most consecutive losses). Supposedly the GM, Sam Hinkie is a smart guy, and taking Nerlens Noel looks a good move (top draft pick who can't play for a year).

Incidentally I don't blame the Sixers for deliberately losing. If the system rewards losing, it's the system that's at fault. You really blame teams for taking advantage of it.

Paully D

padraig_f wrote: »

Yeah, they're in good shape (which is odd to say, having equalled the record for most consecutive losses). Supposedly the GM, Sam Hinkie is a smart guy, and taking Nerlens Noel looks a good move (top draft pick who can't play for a year).

Incidentally I don't blame the Sixers for deliberately losing. If the system rewards losing, it's the system that's at fault. You really blame teams for taking advantage of it.

I agree.

Carter-Williams can certainly play at this level and will get better. Noel is an unknown quantity at NBA level sure, but a lot of draft experts stated he was the best player in the draft. A year of getting stronger will help his development and if he turns out to be a hit, they have a solid base with those two.

That's before you add in the fact that they'll have 5 picks in the top 50 (2 in the top 12 very likely, 3 in the top 32) of what experts are calling one of the deepest draft classes ever, along with a smart GM and a coach with a lot of potential in their ranks.

Despite this season I'd be extremely optimistic if I was a 76ers fan. If they hit on this years draft they could conceivable have 4 or 5 top young players in the squad taking up relatively little cap space. Throw money at a couple of free agents and you never know.

Then again, it's easy to say on paper. Executing such a plan and hitting on draft picks is a lot harder than that.

ButtersSuki

It's still rewarding failure though, and calculated failure at that, which is the real problem.

They got lucky with MCW - no-one saw that coming. Noel is a defensive specialist so his numbers will never be jaw dropping offensively. It is a good base though on which to build though. But with any of these experiments it does take something you just can't account for - luck. Only time will tell if they get that. And they will effectively have a college starting team next year age wise depending on the draft - that means they'll be very young and very inexperienced. It will take a few years to gel and go above 50. And I'm saying that now even if they get Wiggins and/or Parker. Or both if they can orchestrate it.

Just on last night's game, I'm sorry, but it makes a mockery of the league at the bottom level. A team on a run like that is likely only to scrape a win by the tightest of margins when it finally does win. It does not put 20+ on a team (30+ at times). Leads me to suspect one of a number of things:
1. The fix was in from one of the 2 teams, most likely Detroit to lose in this scenario
2. An edict from Silver was sent down to say "you will not break an NBA worst record in the first 3 months of my watch when I've said all year no-one is tanking"
3. A combo of the above

BQQ

Really big game between the Knicks and the warriors tonight.

A knicks win would be a huge step towards the last spot in the east with atlanta faltering.
The warriors are also just a couple of wins ahead of Memphis and Dallas in 8th and 9th.
A loss here would drag them right into the dogfight that is going to leave one team agonisingly missing out on the playoffs.

Dublin Red Devil

Yeah potentially Philly can build a strong team for the future with this draft.

Team next season

Start with

Joel Embiid, 7ft, C

Nerlens Noel, 6ft11, PF

Thad Young, 6ft 8, SF

James Young, 6ft6, SG

MCW, 6ft6, PG

For Forks Sake

Dublin Red Devil wrote: »

Yeah potentially Philly can build a strong team for the future with this draft.

Team next season

Start with

Joel Embiid, 7ft, C

Nerlens Noel, 6ft11, PF

Thad Young, 6ft 8, SF

James Young, 6ft6, SG

MCW, 6ft6, PG

They're not going to take Embiid, it'll be Noel at center with T.Young at PF. They'll draft either Parker or Wiggins at SF.

The notion of Thaddeus Young at SF is as dumb an idea as Detroit trying to play Josh Smith at SF, won't work.

shamrock55

As a bit of a newbie to the world of nba after many years away from it, can someone explain to me how the play offs work, seeing as i have a liking for the raptors , who might they get in the play offs, and when are they on? Thanks folks

Paully D

shamrock55 wrote: »

As a bit of a newbie to the world of nba after many years away from it, can someone explain to me how the play offs work, seeing as i have a liking for the raptors , who might they get in the play offs, and when are they on? Thanks folks

The top 8 teams from each conference get in. 1 plays 8, 2 plays 7, 3 plays 6 and 4 plays 5. These series' are best of 7 games, so first to four wins. Then the winners from the east after 3 rounds play the winners from the west after 3 rounds in the final which is also best of 7.

At present, the Raptors (3rd seed) would play the Wizards (6th seed). Here gives a more detailed breakdown of each of the potential games, they also update it each day so it's very handy - http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/matchups

First round of the playoff starts April 19th.

Alfred Borden

Pacers and PG struggling in Cleveland. Need a big second quarter now.

D2D

Raf32 wrote: »

Pacers and PG struggling in Cleveland. Need a big second quarter now.

We're doing well against ye, need our bench to put up some points now

Alfred Borden

Dare_2_defy wrote: »

We're doing well against ye, need our bench to put up some points now

Yup yee look really good actually. Hopefully can pull closer this quarter.

PizzamanIRL

I can't wait until the Playoffs start so we can see some competitive basketball instead of these pups tanking their arses off.

Alfred Borden

Copeland playing very well

padraig_f

Good game here, would be fun to see the Cavs in the playoffs.

Paully D

Pacers offense was shocking in that half.

Alfred Borden

Pacers offence is horrible at the moment. Cavs well worth their lead. Really like to see them get the playoffs.

D2D

49-36 Cavs at the half. Great half for the Cavs, took our shots well, defensively doing well and the bench is helping out big time. Pacers offence was just awful that half. Some very, very poor shot choices.

D2D

Andy Varejao has a right shoulder injury and is doubtful to return

Alfred Borden

Dare_2_defy wrote: »

Andy Varejao has a right shoulder injury and is doubtful to return

Big big loss for you guys

D2D

Raf32 wrote: »

Big big loss for you guys

Yep, big loss but we still have Spencer and Tyler as big men.

I've said it before and I'll say it again though, when it rains on Cleveland, it pours.....

Alfred Borden

Dare_2_defy wrote: »

Yep, big loss but we still have Spencer and Tyler as big men.

I've said it before and I'll say it again though, when it rains on Cleveland, it pours.....

Yup unluckiest team in the NBA. Ye are going really well again now, beginning to pull away. too many turnovers from us

Alfred Borden

This is turning into a drubbing

BQQ

I'm starting to suspect that the Pacers are tanking the number 1 seed,
so they won't have to play the winner of Bulls Vs Nets in the 2nd round.