NBA Regular Season 14/15

ButtersSuki

Considering the crazy hype around this years rookie class, anyone else shocked at how poor (relatively) they've been? I mean as a total group, not individuals.

ButtersSuki

ButtersSuki wrote: »

Considering the crazy hype around this years rookie class, anyone else shocked at how poor (relatively) they've been? I mean as a total group, not individuals.

not really jabaris playing pretty well,marcus smart has been fantastic and julius randell got injured everyone else was drafted for their upside their are a few like mcdermot that have underwhelmed but a few others like lavine/mcdaniels that have played better than expected so far looks like it could be a damn good draft class

ButtersSuki

Joey Blue Rodent wrote: »

not really jabaris playing pretty well,marcus smart has been fantastic and julius randell got injured everyone else was drafted for their upside their are a few like mcdermot that have underwhelmed but a few others like lavine/mcdaniels that have played better than expected so far looks like it could be a damn good draft class

I'm not saying there aren't good individual players in the bunch but remember this class of rookies was being talked about as the best since 1984.

But, even when you go into individual stats, there's no-one near 20ppg, 10rpg or 10 apt in even one of those categories.

ButtersSuki

ButtersSuki wrote: »

I'm not saying there aren't good individual players in the bunch but remember this class of rookies was being talked about as the best since 1984.

But, even when you go into individual stats, there's no-one near 20ppg, 10rpg or 10 apt in even one of those categories.

i never heard anyone sat that the best since 2004 maybe

upandcumming

ButtersSuki wrote: »

Oh jesus, it's starting again………

My response:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRxagRP1o1c

I suppose on one level, you're technically correct. He has an outside chance. But so does every player in the league by that logic.

I've obviously waded in on something forum specific! Sorry folks.

I'm not using that logic. I think he has a fair chance.

upandcumming

upandcumming wrote: »

I've obviously waded in on something forum specific! Sorry folks.

I'm not using that logic. I think he has a fair chance.

not at all if you look back at older posts their is one poster in particular that feels john wall is a below average point guard

D2D

OK folks, just want to post this now. Can we please leave the whole John Wall thing in the past please? We're 2 months into the season & this place has been great to come to chat about the game. I hope we can discuss John Wall and other players without resorting to petty insults (about the player/poster etc....)

ButtersSuki

D2D wrote: »

OK folks, just want to post this now. Can we please leave the whole John Wall thing in the past please? We're 2 months into the season & this place has been great to come to chat about the game. I hope we can discuss John Wall and other players without resorting to petty insults (about the player/poster etc....)

I fully agree. Let's not discuss John Wall again!

Paully D

Saw on Twitter there that the 76ers have 7 1st round and 16 2nd round draft picks through the next 6 drafts :eek: Works out like the below:

2015: 2 firsts, 3 seconds
2016: 1 first, 2 seconds
2017: 1 first, 1 second
2018: 1 first, 4 seconds
2019: 1 first, 4 seconds
2020: 1 first, 2 seconds

Add to that they've already got some highly rated young players in Noel, Embiid, McDaniels and Saric stashed in Europe. If you can't build a decent roster from that haul and the cap space they'd have from having so many rookies/young players....

The only question would be when do they actually start going from being an embarrassment to improving dramatically? 2016 or 2017 would seem fair.

NufcNavan

Paully D wrote: »

Saw on Twitter there that the 76ers have 7 1st round and 16 2nd round draft picks through the next 6 drafts :eek: Works out like the below:

2015: 2 firsts, 3 seconds
2016: 1 first, 2 seconds
2017: 1 first, 1 second
2018: 1 first, 4 seconds
2019: 1 first, 4 seconds
2020: 1 first, 2 seconds

Add to that they've already got some highly rated young players in Noel, Embiid, McDaniels and Saric stashed in Europe. If you can't build a decent roster from that haul and the cap space they'd have from having so many rookies/young players....

The only question would be when do they actually start going from being an embarrassment to improving dramatically? 2016 or 2017 would seem fair.

I don't wish them any luck. Have no time for franchises that deliberately try to lose as hard as they are doing right now.

Any other sport and they would be fined/relegated or whatever the case may be.

killwill

Paully D wrote: »

Saw on Twitter there that the 76ers have 7 1st round and 16 2nd round draft picks through the next 6 drafts :eek: Works out like the below:

2015: 2 firsts, 3 seconds
2016: 1 first, 2 seconds
2017: 1 first, 1 second
2018: 1 first, 4 seconds
2019: 1 first, 4 seconds
2020: 1 first, 2 seconds

Add to that they've already got some highly rated young players in Noel, Embiid, McDaniels and Saric stashed in Europe. If you can't build a decent roster from that haul and the cap space they'd have from having so many rookies/young players....

The only question would be when do they actually start going from being an embarrassment to improving dramatically? 2016 or 2017 would seem fair.

You left out Carter-Williams too who is putting up serious stats.
Rookie season average of 16 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds which has only ever been achieved by two players before.

Paully D

Paully D wrote: »

Saw on Twitter there that the 76ers have 7 1st round and 16 2nd round draft picks through the next 6 drafts :eek: Works out like the below:

2015: 2 firsts, 3 seconds
2016: 1 first, 2 seconds
2017: 1 first, 1 second
2018: 1 first, 4 seconds
2019: 1 first, 4 seconds
2020: 1 first, 2 seconds

Add to that they've already got some highly rated young players in Noel, Embiid, McDaniels and Saric stashed in Europe. If you can't build a decent roster from that haul and the cap space they'd have from having so many rookies/young players....

The only question would be when do they actually start going from being an embarrassment to improving dramatically? 2016 or 2017 would seem fair.

think thats a lot? boston have 9 from the draft just gone until 2018 and the right to swap with the nets in 2017 additionally the nets picks are unprotected.

they also have 8 second rounders from 2015-2018

and they got them for nothing

the 6ers have the advantage of absolutely sucking though apparently they want okafor out of next years draft bad

Carcharodon

ButtersSuki wrote: »

I fully agree. Let's not discuss John Wall again!

Ahh, those were the days

buyer95

Cavs OKC will be intriguing tonight, although unfortunately LeBron is out with knee soreness. Cavs are flying high atm riding the crest of momentum to an 8 game win streak, and OKC are playing catchup in the playoff race out west and can't really afford to drop this one tonight. They've gone 3-1 since Westbrook and Durant have been back in the lineup, but still lag well behind in the rankings. If the Cavs could somehow pull out the win without James in what is a big game and extend the streak to 9 they would really have something to hang their hat on. The Cavs ran into a really easy part of the schedule, and the winning streak has included 4 wins against opponents with losing records and the two victories against Toronto came without DeMar DeRozan. Gonna be a good one! Ade has OKC picked for what its worth

buyer95

Lakers held an open practice today, and Kobe really went off, funny stuff.

Article:

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/12016979/los-angeles-lakers-star-kobe-bryant-critical-teammates-heated-scrimmage

D2D

Reports/Rumors going around that Charlotte are taking calls about trading Lance after only 6 weeks

ButtersSuki

D2D wrote: »

Reports/Rumors going around that Charlotte are taking calls about trading Lance after only 6 weeks

Not surprised at all, the guy is a lunatic and a supposed cancer in the dressing room. I was surprised people were as interested in him as they were.

Other trade rumors are that NY are potentially going to blow it up and dismantle completely. I just wonder does that include Melo? It should, but will anyone touch his contract as he's over 30? He had his chance this summer and took the money over a chance to win, teams will remember that.

Also, Golden State interested in signing Jesus Shuttlesworth. Would be a great fit for them if he does decide to come back. Would give them quality offense and extend the D further with his 3 point threat.

buyer95

D2D wrote: »

Reports/Rumors going around that Charlotte are taking calls about trading Lance after only 6 weeks

The only team I can think of touching him with a barge pole would be Indiana. His trade value would be crazy low, I would imagine George Hill and a future second rounder would get them him.

Maybe this was Bird and Vogel's plan all along, they knew that he would flame out wherever he went, diminishing his trade value enough that they could get him back for a song. LOL.

That being said though, the East is so poor that old Indiana Lance could make them a decent team, and lets not forget that Vogel has not ruled out Paul George returning late in the season. It could be all coming up Pacers haha.

Watch this space for the triumphant return of our old friend DRD if Indiana suddenly became relevant again!

D2D

Lakers head to San Antonio tonight but it could be a historic night for Kobe as he can overtake MJ into 3rd place for the all time points scored. Kobe needs just 30 points to equal the record of 32,292.

ButtersSuki

D2D wrote: »

Lakers head to San Antonio tonight but it could be a historic night for Kobe as he can overtake MJ into 3rd place for the all time points scored. Kobe needs just 30 points to equal the record of 32,292.

Bet of the night will be Kobe to take more shots than the rest of the Lakers combined.

stuba

Not sure if this has been posted up here before or if I even came across it through this forum, but this Youtube channel uploads the Inside the TNT episodes, which I think are gold.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdQGD5KNsTA6PyHxYUX6thQ

Paully D

You won't see a better individual first quarter this season than Aldridge's against the Bulls tonight. 10/12 for 21 points including a couple of ridiculous shots that have gone in. :eek:

stuba

Paully D wrote: »

You won't see a better individual first quarter this season than Aldridge's against the Bulls tonight. 10/12 for 21 points including a couple of ridiculous shots that have gone in. :eek:

He has been on fire. Rose looks as good as he's ever been, so much more controlled now too.

buyer95

Mirotic is a beast, I would say Thibs needs to play him more but that the Bulls frontcourt is just unbelievably talented right now. This kid will be amazing.

Paully D

buyer95 wrote: »

Mirotic is a beast, I would say Thibs needs to play him more that the Bulls frontcourt is just unbelievably talented right now. This kid will be amazing.

Yeah, from what I've seen of him he looks like such a talent. Up and down the court like a yo-yo too. He'll be exceptional.

padraig_f

buyer95 wrote: »

Mirotic is a beast, I would say Thibs needs to play him more but that the Bulls frontcourt is just unbelievably talented right now. This kid will be amazing.

Yes, future all-star I think. Very exciting to see how he develops because he's so multi-talented. Has one or two wow moments a game. One I liked from the last game against the Nets...pulled down a defensive rebound, started running the court, head up, spotted Dunleavy ahead at the 3-point line. Threw a half-court diagonal pass, and Dunleavy swished the 3. You don't see many 6-10 guys doing that.

Then you've got his scoring, inside and outside, very good rebounding instincts as well.

padraig_f

Very enjoyable game last night against the Blazers. Lillard is one of my favourite young players to watch and him and Rose went at it. As Hubie Brown said in the commentary, it was like a summer league game in Rucker Park, with both of them trading baskets. Lillard finished with 35, and Rose with 31 in his 2nd consecutive excellent performance.

Must mention Aaron Brooks as well, who's been an excellent pickup for the Bulls at backup point-guard. Was sorry to see DJ Augustin go last season, but Brooks has come in and really been just as good. I think the 2nd unit can be a real strength of this team with starter-quality guys like Gibson & Mirotic, and Brooks can be a big part of that as well. Averaging 10 points a game in 19 minutes, and had 17 last night in just 17 minutes.

buyer95

Watching Clippers Bucks on ball streams atm, wow Kidd has Milwaukee playing fantastic basketball right now. The team is a real basketball nerds wet dream, Giannis is freaking amazing and is destined for greatness, Jabari has an nba skill set, he's still figuring it out but he will get it. Knight has been decent this year, Mayo has had a major comeback year, and Sanders is also playing very well. They play really hard, have a top 7 defense and are there youth seems to have rendered them fearless. Currently all over the Clippers, this will be a team to be reckoned with in a few years

BQQ

Philly had a 6 point lead on the grizz with about 45 seconds left and blew it.
Grizz bossing OT now.

Tobias Harris with a nice buzzer beater for the Magic. He's been playing really well for Orlando. I'd say the Bucks are regretting that trade now.

NufcNavan

Come back to Papa Lance.

PizzamanIRL

Done and dusted!
The game was instantly stopped by the Timberwolves and the game ball was given to Kobe, in the middle of the quarter. Was kind of weird.

NufcNavan

PizzamanIRL wrote: »

Done and dusted!
The game was instantly stopped by the Timberwolves and the game ball was given to Kobe, in the middle of the quarter. Was kind of weird.

Yeah was odd wasn't it.

Still a nice touch all the same.

Made the game feel a bit meaningless afterwards.

NufcNavan

Kings doing what the Kings do by sacking their coach who was turning around the fortunes of the franchise.

I had to like quadruple-check that it wasn't a fake Woj account. That makes literally no sense at all. Malone has turned the team around this year and they were playing well when Boogie was healthy. He was getting a lot out of a McLemore-Collison backcourt! How can you fire him?

NufcNavan

Kings doing what the Kings do by sacking their coach who was turning around the fortunes of the franchise.

I had to like quadruple-check that it wasn't a fake Woj account. That makes literally no sense at all. Malone has turned the team around this year and they were playing well when Boogie was healthy. He was getting a lot out of a McLemore-Collison backcourt! How can you fire him?

ButtersSuki

The Kings decision is crazy. Best start in years then your star player goes down sick and you sack the coach? Daft.

in the kings defence there was a real danger of them becoming relevant and thats just not very kinglike

BQQ

I'm gonna play devil's advocate and say the Kings have made the right decision.
Malone's record was poor. [.37 win record since he took over with Cousins beastin 'n' feastin the whole time]
Ok, they got off to a good start this season, but was that down to the coaching?
What about their tailspin since Boogie got sick? He gets a pass because he's missing his best player? Thibs was missing his best player for the best part of 2 years and never had a collapse like the Kings are having now.
Even at the start of the year, when things were going well, they surrendered big leads in several games.

Ty Corbin will take over short-term and I expect long-term. He had a superior record to Malone in 3 seasons with much less talent at his disposal in Utah. [.43 wins]

buyer95

BQQ wrote: »

I'm gonna play devil's advocate and say the Kings have made the right decision.
Malone's record was poor. [.37 win record since he took over with Cousins beastin 'n' feastin the whole time]
Ok, they got off to a good start this season, but was that down to the coaching?
What about their tailspin since Boogie got sick? He gets a pass because he's missing his best player? Thibs was missing his best player for the best part of 2 years and never had a collapse like the Kings are having now.
Even at the start of the year, when things were going well, they surrendered big leads in several games.

Ty Corbin will take over short-term and I expect long-term. He had a superior record to Malone in 3 seasons with much less talent at his disposal in Utah. [.43 wins]

Except Cousins was not "beastin and feastin" all that time. The guy was a borderline cancer in his early years, sure yeah he's been good this season and last. Those Kings teams he coached then were totally useless apart from Cousins, and at the time if you were depending on Cousins to be your leader you were in trouble. Cousins seems to have matured recently.

Firstly the Bulls had a very strong supporting cast, and secondly they play in the East, where the schedule is far more forgiving. Thibs is a top 3 coach in this league, and there's no point comparing Malone to him because Malone is not in that class, however few are, and Malone did not deserve to lose his job on the back of a decent start to the season.

All that being said, if the Kings had a top class replacement lined up then I could begin to see the intelligence in this move. Say for a moment Jeff Van Gundy had given a commitment, or even a George Karl. But they havn't, Ty Corbin has been given the job on an interim basis, probably till the end of the season. I would argue with anyone who says that Corbin marks an upgrade over Malone. In a consistently poor Eastern Conference, he had the nucleus of a decent team with Paul Milsap and Al Jefferson providing a stellar frontcourt, Gordan Hayward decent wing. He failed to develop either Kanter or Favors, and missed out on the playoffs in 3 of his 4 years at the helm. The year he did make it they got swept in the first round. Corbin is a poor offensive coach, who failed to put in place a functional offense with 2 big weapons, Jefferson as a low post beast and Milsap as a pick and pop stretch the floor maestro.

So no, I don't think this was a good call from the Kings top brass.

padraig_f

Bit weird playing the Heat without Lebron (and Deng in his place), didn't have the same edge to it as past Bulls-Heat games. The Heat were without Bosh, so the Bulls were expected to win.

The Bulls started sloppily with lots of turnovers, but were able to shut down the Heat defensively with ease, with Wade stranded on Butler Island. The Heat had just 48 points after 3 quarters, and by that time the Bulls offense had recovered on the back of some hot shooting from Mike Dunleavy. The game was effectively over after 3 quarters, with the Bulls leading by 20 odd points.

They had an interesting stat in the game:

The Bulls are the most improved offense this season (in terms of points-per-game)
They are also the defense that has regressed the most (again in terms of points-per-game).

This is overall encouraging though, as I think the defense can be improved as the season goes on (get Noah healthy, and new players adjust to the system better).

padraig_f

Don't know much about Mike Malone, but certainly his numbers look good.

The Kings won 34% of games last year in his first season, and won 46% of games this year, with DeMarcus Cousins out for the last 10 games. That's a pretty good improvement, and were on pace for their best season since '07/'08.

The Bulls have an interest in the Kings this season. They have one of their 1st round picks (top-10 protected), that expires in a couple of years. They needed the Kings to finish outside the bottom 10 to get it, which looked like happening this season.

At least until they fired their coach.

NufcNavan

Sorry, but take Cousins out of that roster and it's very poor. Rudy Gay is your best player after that, that won't hack it in the West.

Can't emphasise it enough. Collison-McLemore backcourt. Starting. And he got them to 11-13 despite Cousins' sickness? Come on..

What about the front office being answerable for wasting their pick on Nik Stauskas? Early doors I know but from what I've heard he's not going to cut it in the NBA. They passed on Elfrid Peyton and Zach Lavine who with the absence of Thomas would have suited their needs much better.

As Nerd alluded to there, people can rightfully bitch about the flaws of the NBA and its uncompetitiveness, but the bottom line is the same sh*tty franchises make the same stupid decisions over, and over, and over and bar lucking out in the draft never learn.

And were Ty Corbin's Jazz much worse than the current Kings? They both had/have bigs with a dominant offensive game (Jefferson and Boogie) and then not much else. In fact the Kings would struggle to get someone to match Paul Milsap.

BQQ

buyer95 wrote: »

Except Cousins was not "beastin and feastin" all that time. The guy was a borderline cancer in his early years, sure yeah he's been good this season and last. Those Kings teams he coached then were totally useless apart from Cousins, and at the time if you were depending on Cousins to be your leader you were in trouble. Cousins seems to have matured recently.

Firstly the Bulls had a very strong supporting cast, and secondly they play in the East, where the schedule is far more forgiving. Thibs is a top 3 coach in this league, and there's no point comparing Malone to him because Malone is not in that class, however few are, and Malone did not deserve to lose his job on the back of a decent start to the season.

All that being said, if the Kings had a top class replacement lined up then I could begin to see the intelligence in this move. Say for a moment Jeff Van Gundy had given a commitment, or even a George Karl. But they havn't, Ty Corbin has been given the job on an interim basis, probably till the end of the season. I would argue with anyone who says that Corbin marks an upgrade over Malone. In a consistently poor Eastern Conference, he had the nucleus of a decent team with Paul Milsap and Al Jefferson providing a stellar frontcourt, Gordan Hayward decent wing. He failed to develop either Kanter or Favors, and missed out on the playoffs in 3 of his 4 years at the helm. The year he did make it they got swept in the first round. Corbin is a poor offensive coach, who failed to put in place a functional offense with 2 big weapons, Jefferson as a low post beast and Milsap as a pick and pop stretch the floor maestro.

So no, I don't think this was a good call from the Kings top brass.

Malone has only been in charge this year and last, so yeah Cousins has been playing all star basketball for his entire tenure.

(Utah are in the West btw, so he actually got to the playoffs in the West with that team :0)

BQQ

NufcNavan wrote: »

Sorry, but take Cousins out of that roster and it's very poor. Rudy Gay is your best player after that, that won't hack it in the West.

Can't emphasise it enough. Collison-McLemore backcourt. Starting. And he got them to 11-13 despite Cousins' sickness? Come on..

What about the front office being answerable for wasting their pick on Nik Stauskas? Early doors I know but from what I've heard he's not going to cut it in the NBA. They passed on Elfrid Peyton and Zach Lavine who with the absence of Thomas would have suited their needs much better.

As Nerd alluded to there, people can rightfully bitch about the flaws of the NBA and its uncompetitiveness, but the bottom line is the same sh*tty franchises make the same stupid decisions over, and over, and over and bar lucking out in the draft never learn.

And were Ty Corbin's Jazz much worse than the current Kings? They both had/have bigs with a dominant offensive game (Jefferson and Boogie) and then not much else. In fact the Kings would struggle to get someone to match Paul Milsap.

Even if you say they were similar levels talent-wise, corbin's record is still 6 percentage points better. That's an upgrade in my book.

NufcNavan

BQQ wrote: »

Even if you say they were similar levels talent-wise, corbin's record is still 6 percentage points better. That's an upgrade in my book.

Even if he has a slightly better record, it's getting away from the point of whether Malone deserved to be sacked or not.

Many felt Malone's coaching was the reason that SAC got off to such a good start. It doesn't make sense to fire him because of this losing streak when his best player has been injured during this stretch.

Ranadive at some point in his life is going to realise he knows nothing about basketball and should let his people manage his team.

And that's if Kings fans are lucky. Hopefully he doesn't fancy himself as a coach anytime soon..

GoldFour4

Been fiddling around with the trade machine this evening after seeing a thread on it on reddit. Great way to procrastinate!

This is one of the trades I came up with for the Suns. Also involves the Bulls and Pistons.

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=qzn7k8x

the 6ers really are a very very poor basketball team noel looks like a beast though

padraig_f

Impressed with the Hawks last night, outplayed the Bulls and Horford was the best player on the floor. Well balanced team....Horford and Millsap are strong both both offensively and defensively, Teague is a capable PG, and then Korver is an elite 3-point shooter. They look well-coached and play hard. Should be a solid 2nd round playoff team.

For the Bulls, after two good games, Rose had a 2nd straight poor game (6-21, 6 turnovers), so the consistency isn't there yet. Not gonna lose any sleep over the result, when you're playing a good team on the road and aren't at your best (Noah still out, 2nd night of back-to-back), you're gonna lose. Was somewhat encouraged that the team was within 3 with a minute to go, despite not playing well, and could've nicked it with some luck, but it wouldn't have been deserved.

NufcNavan

The most anticipated game of the year took place the other night. Evan Turner's return to Philadelphia. Here's what "The Villain" had to say about his return:

"Before the game I signed like 100,000 autographs, I'm kissing babies and what not and all that stuff," quipped Turner. "I'm getting my hand kissed by people; I got little girls come up to me fainting."

"Once the game started, it was like, 'what the hell is going on?'" Turner said. "I was like, 'this is weird. Did they take all the good people out?"

He added, "I don't worry about it anymore. I don't want to sound super weird, but Jesus was hated too..."

Now, before you think it's a stretch for a professional basketball player, and not a very good one at that; to compare himself to Jesus Christ (a superstar, in every sense of the word), you must admit that he did perform a miracle this off-season. I mean, how else could you explain his two-year, multi-million dollar contract with the Celtics after his time with Indiana?

buyer95

NufcNavan wrote: »

The most anticipated game of the year took place the other night. Evan Turner's return to Philadelphia. Here's what "The Villain" had to say about his return:



Now, before you think it's a stretch for a professional basketball player, and not a very good one at that; to compare himself to Jesus Christ (a superstar, in every sense of the word), you must admit that he did perform a miracle this off-season. I mean, how else could you explain his two-year, multi-million dollar contract with the Celtics after his time with Indiana?

Evan Turner, hereafter known as Jesus Christ Superstar.

padraig_f

Griz-Warriors should be a good one.