NBA Games Thread: 2017 season in review

Post #21 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Dec 7, 2016 2:28 am

Tweet of the day:

Sent from my iPad using RealGM Forums

Post #22 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Dec 8, 2016 7:05 pm

Horford's addition has had some familiar effects on that BOS team.

The Boston Celtics are still working it out

A quarter of the way through the season, it’s fair to say the Celtics aren’t quite where we thought they’d be.

They’re scoring at a better clip than at any other point during the Stevens Era (ninth in the NBA in offensive efficiency heading into Wednesday’s game against the Orlando Magic), but their defense has slipped to the bottom half of the league (17th) and they’ve inherited the Hawks’ defensive rebounding issues (28th in defensive rebounding percentage).

There are explanations aplenty: the Celtics have already used five different starting lineups (and it’ll be six by the time somebody starts in Isaiah Thomas’ place against the Magic on Wednesday), none of them for more than five consecutive games

Their preferred starting five of Isaiah Thomas, Bradley, Crowder, Amir Johnson, and Horford has been on the court together for only 113 minutes across 10 games. And the Celtics have blasted opponents by 11.3 points per 100 possessions when that group has shared the floor. They’ve scored and defended at a top-five level and they’ve even cleaned the defensive glass at a reasonable rate.

Boston really does have more talent than at any point in the Stevens Era, and if and when that talent coalesces together, the expectation should be that the team can give anyone a tough playoff series.

Here

Post #23 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 4, 2017 3:25 pm

Read on Twitter

Post #24 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Jan 6, 2017 4:32 am

Teague's finally starting to heat up in Indy:

Read on Twitter

Sent from my iPad using RealGM Forums

Post #25 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 6:42 pm

Read on Twitter

Post #26 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Jan 17, 2017 12:48 pm

Read on Twitter

Post #27 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Jan 17, 2017 4:57 pm

Pacers are my sleeper pick in the East to upset the established order of the current top 4.

And they are picking up steam:

Read on Twitter

I think they have the 2nd best player in the conference, an experienced coach and a playoff-tested PG in a contract year. I could see them upsetting ATL, Boston or TOR in the first round.

Not a prediction (yet). I just really like their 'big three'.

Post #28 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Jan 19, 2017 12:34 pm

Read on Twitter

Post #29 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 4:03 pm

Random Thoughts from around the Association:

Interesting piece on how playoff standings usually lock in by Jan 20th. True Hoop

Funny article on lone superstars attempting to carry their teams to relevance. With historical context for the millennial crowd. The Ringer

Read on Twitter

Post #30 » by **Jamaaliver** » Mon Jan 23, 2017 5:00 pm

Is this...good company to be in?

Read on Twitter

Why does it always seem like the East is lacking in talent compared to the West? These guys are all 2nd (or 3rd) tier players at best.

Post #31 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Jan 27, 2017 12:18 pm

Read on Twitter

Post #32 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Jan 27, 2017 12:53 pm

Read on Twitter

Interesting...

Is this a result of the schedule for Hawks/Sixers?

Or are we just peaking in January again?

jayu70 · Post #33 » by **jayu70** » Fri Jan 27, 2017 1:09 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:

Read on Twitter

Interesting...

Is this a result of the schedule for Hawks/Sixers?

Or are we just peaking in January again?

7 of those 13 games was on the road with only 1 loss which included 4 straight road wins - winning on the road is hard no matter who you are playing.
Quality home wins against Spurs and Bucks. Chicago is a mess who we pummeled (until the 4th Q), 2 losses against BOS and LAC.
Last 4 games was 3 games in 4 nights with 1 loss.

Post #34 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Jan 31, 2017 3:39 am

Read on Twitter

Sent from my iPad using RealGM Forums

Post #35 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Feb 21, 2017 4:50 pm

Read on Twitter

Post #36 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 5:18 pm

Hawks could unseat Wizards in division

BPI is giving Atlanta a 22 percent chance to win its division at the All-Star break. Meanwhile, the Wizards, currently 2.5 games ahead, are still seen as the overwhelming favorite in the Southeast.

Post #37 » by **Jamaaliver** » Sun Feb 26, 2017 7:44 pm

Read on Twitter

Sent from my iPad using RealGM Forums

Post #38 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Mar 1, 2017 12:58 pm

Hawks might be getting a bit of a respite with both Lowry and Durant working through injuries.

Read on Twitter

Post #39 » by **ATL Boy** » Wed Mar 1, 2017 3:48 pm

Feel like we have to ask ourselves if it would be in this team's best interest to drop to 6th as opposed to stay in 5th or even 4th place (if they can't get 3rd).

Would a series against Toronto (assuming Lowry's back by the playoffs) be easier than a series against say Washington? Then you look at the second round (if you get out of the first) to where a series against Boston is definitely the way to go over one against Cleveland.

Would be ideal (if we can't get a top 3 seed) for us to be 6th and have Boston be 3rd. Out of Toronto, Washington, Boston, the Celtics are definitely the team I think we have the best chance against in a playoff series.

Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

jayu70 · Post #40 » by **jayu70** » Wed Mar 1, 2017 4:18 pm

ATL Boy wrote:Feel like we have to ask ourselves if it would be in this team's best interest to drop to 6th as opposed to stay in 5th or even 4th place (if they can't get 3rd).

Would a series against Toronto (assuming Lowry's back by the playoffs) be easier than a series against say Washington? Then you look at the second round (if you get out of the first) to where a series against Boston is definitely the way to go over one against Cleveland.

Would be ideal (if we can't get a top 3 seed) for us to be 6th and have Boston be 3rd. Out of Toronto, Washington, Boston, the Celtics are definitely the team I think we have the best chance against in a playoff series.

Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

Thing is this team is so unpredictable. Lose badly to teams like Orlando and Miami, go all gangbusters against the Celtics.
The only team we need to avoid is Cleveland as long as possible.