NBA Games Discussion Thread - Part 2

[Kanyewest]

Yes, but Wade's rates are trending down while many think Beal's numbers are going up.

Even trending down Wade's numbers are far better than Beals. And from Jan of his rookie year through the end of last season i didn't see much of an uptrend.

His performance in the playoffs is the only real sign of progress.

And Wade's postseason performance is a very big sign of his decline especially against the Spurs.

Beal's playoff performance came against two of the better defensive teams in the NBA. You are right, Beal is going to have to play like that every night if he wants to be in the same conversation with even this year's Dwayne Wade.

[Illmatic12]

Yes, but Wade's rates are trending down while many think Beal's numbers are going up.

Even trending down Wade's numbers are far better than Beals. And from Jan of his rookie year through the end of last season i didn't see much of an uptrend.

His performance in the playoffs is the only real sign of progress.

And Wade's postseason performance is a very big sign of his decline especially against the Spurs.

Beal's playoff performance came against two of the better defensive teams in the NBA. You are right, Beal is going to have to play like that every night if he wants to be in the same conversation with even this year's Dwayne Wade.

Wade averaged like 20/5/5 through the first 3 rounds of the playoffs. He was just bad in the Finals.

Right now he's averaging 20/6/4 with a 23+ PER. Wade is a HOFer and still has superstar talent when he's on the court, we shouldn't discount him.

[Wizardspride]

I knew this was going to happen.

Baller (Terp)

He had a great game tonight with 19 points and 7 boards. Also committed a dumb foul- fouling Rondo as 3 point shooter when the Suns were up 4 but it didn't cost them as Rondo missed all 3 free throws.

He also had 17 and 11 the night before.

Shooting 68% from the field over the last 5 games.

[dobrojim]

Rajon Rondo is shooting 30% from the free throw line this season (6/20). Good. Lord.

I saw that too. That's pretty much inexplicable. Shaq, Chris Dudley, J-Ves...how can
a supposedly top tier PG be that bad. Coach almost has to take him out at the end of
games/halves. Clang!

[nuposse04]

The Rockets are fools gold. They've played a cake schedule (like us) and have capitalized on it (kudos for that). There brand of basketball won't ever win a championship. Good playoff teams take away your number 1 option and possibly your 2nd best option. The rocket love to jack 3s and get to the line. They won't nearly be as good at those things in the playoffs and will pay for it. Howard needs to be more involved and they desperately need a competent backup big.

James Harden looks scrubish when refs actually treat him like an NBA player and not bobble head mcgoo. I'm going to enjoy watching that flopping flailer fail ever actually winning anything worth a damn.

Also Jordan Adams looks a lot lighter.

I wouldn't read too much into the Rockets loss against the Grizzlies as they were playing their 2nd game on a back to back on the road. They certainly haven't been playing good ball even in the previous game win over the Thunder.

I would say teams recently have won basketball titles have shot 3s and got to the line regularly (Spurs, Heat, Mavericks). Although perhaps you may be on to something that the Rockets half court offense isn't as good as those championship teams because they struggle with their half court offense. I would be more confident in the Rockets if they had a better head coach.

They sucked ass on OKC as well. Their model of jacking 3s without running any semblance of plays is not going to work. Yah they can get hot every now and then, especially against the lesser competition they've played but they aren't a team designed to advance in playoff basketball. Fouls aren't as cheaply called in the postseason so Harden will actually have to play basketball as oppose to flail ball. Teams will run them off the line, and then the flaws in their players will show (again). Outside of Harden I don't really think any of them are truly great ball handlers. Cannon shows promise but no reason to think he'll be an impact playoff caliber player already.

They have a whole bunch of shooters but no real offensive system to utilize it properly IMO, partly because I don't think they're a good passing team and I don't think much of McHale as a coach.

[tontoz]

McHale was a good player but has been a failure at every GM/coaching job he has had. But i am sure he will get another job after Houston lets him go. the NBA loves retreads.

[fishercob]

Tyler Zeller is 25-29 from the field so far this year.

[tontoz]

The Cavs had 4 players score 20 pts and still lost, to the Nuggets. Not easy to do.

[pancakes3]

Tyler Zeller is 25-29 from the field so far this year.

Eerie because I was about to drop a tidbit that Jakhil Okafor is 24 of 28 and counting from the field so far this year.

[tontoz]

Ersan must have heard you guys dogging him. He scored 20 point in 20 minutes, going 8-10 from the field to help beat the Knicks..... actually never mind. It was against the Knicks so it doesn't really count. Nothing to see here...

[pineappleheadindc]

.
Speaking of the Knicks loss, let me say again, J.R. Smith may very well be the stupidest player in the NBA.

[Rafael122]

Atlanta lost to the Lakers, at home. I know a lot of people here are high on the Hawks but I'm in the minority when I say that I didn't buy the hype. I see a 40-42 win, 7th/8th place team.

[Nivek]

I casually watched the Pelicans game last night (meaning, I didn't have open a box score, and I wasn't taking notes on what I was seeing). I thought Davis had good stretches, but had overall a pretty ho-hum game for him. Then I look at the box and see he had 28 and 9 on 58% shooting, no turnovers, 2 steals and three blocks. He's REALLY good.

[pineappleheadindc]

Popovich just called a timeout after a single possession coming out of halftime.

Timeout after a whole 19 seconds to yell at his team.

LOL - Love it, actually. Only one Popovich.

[jangles86]

At least Cavs are losing.

[dlts20]

omg, did anyone just see Knight miss that breakaway layup at the end? Wall wouldve even made that

[RustyMagoo]

omg, did anyone just see Knight miss that breakaway layup at the end? Wall wouldve even made that

Live look-in on NBATV. That was crazy.

Also….The Knicks are getting smoked by a 2-8 TWolves team.

[tontoz]

Yeah epic fail from Knight. Dude seems cursed lol.

[nuposse04]

Just realized the Bucks are 7-5.... O_o

Happy to see Kyrie lose, but LBJ is going to come out with a vengeance against us on fri after losing like that :/

[Kanyewest]

Atlanta lost to the Lakers, at home. I know a lot of people here are high on the Hawks but I'm in the minority when I say that I didn't buy the hype. I see a 40-42 win, 7th/8th place team.

Lakers look a lot better now with Nick Young. They are right now hanging with the Houston Rockets. Atlanta's defense has been pretty bad- we'll see if they turn it around.

EDIT: Dwight Howard isn't playing so that's why the Lakers have been playing it close.