2018 -- NBA Games Thread

[Jamaaliver]

We tried this out last season and it worked pretty well.

The 2018 season is already off with a bang.

Thoughts on opening night?

[Spud2nique]

Scrubs got punked in their early celebration on the Durant game winner...that was pretty awesome. I saw a player's foot turn the opposite way...that was unfortunate...Lebron looks like he 57 years old but still brought it.

[Jamaaliver]

1. That Hayward injury sounds pretty bad. He might need at least a couple of weeks to get back on the floor.

2. The Warriors lose on the same night they get their championship rings? Yikes. They are currently on pace to go 0-82.

3. Marcus Smart is no Avery Bradley. Whoever gave him the green light to shoot...should take it back.

4. The Warriors and Rockets play much too late for my taste. They should consider moving those games to the East Coast and a much earlier start time.

But seriously:

A. Jaylen Brown looked like the real deal on both ends last night. Losing Hayward is rough, but BOS is stocked with 6-9 SF/PFs to cover his absence...in the regular season.

B. LeBron James is still really good at basketball. Watching his career play out has been more impressive than Kobe. He still can't touch Jordan's legacy, IMO.

C. L Mbah a Moute took the same number of shots as Chris Paul last night...and the Rockets still won in Oakland?

D. I want Klay Thompson on this team in 2 years. We just need to find him a better PG to pair with.

E. It was largely unfair to throw Jayson Tatum into the fire in Game 1 against the Cavs. But he'll need to step up and mature quickly if Celtics have any shot at rebounding and garnering a top 4 seed.

F. Celtics need a real Center. Horford is still best suited at PF. And Aron Baynes has more fire than skill.

[Jamaaliver]

Most importantly--the Cavs look vulnerable.

WIZ are officially my faves to get the #1 seed.

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

...the Rockets needed only a few hours to stake a new claim to that title. James Harden and company survived a first-half onslaught to pull off a 122-121 come-from-behind upset.

the Rockets needed a generous helping of breaks to stun the defending champions. Stephen Curry was limited by early foul trouble. Draymond Green missed the entire fourth quarter with a knee strain. Andre Iguodala sat out with a minor injury.

Coach Mike D’Antoni’s decision to sit a limited Chris Paul for the final 4:47 of the fourth quarter also weighed heavily on the result, as did Paul’s willingness to accept a “cheerleader” role in his first game following a blockbuster summer trade.

Houston’s aim is clear: To ensure that its offensive firepower is maximized by keeping four or five shooters on the court at once while compensating for its lack of size and rebounding by upping its ability to switch defensively.

[ATL Boy]

For the record, if it's not obvious already, use this thread to talk all things non-Hawks in the NBA, we'll talk Hawks in the game threads.

You can freely use this thread to talk about other NBA games and teams that affect the Hawks in the standings, lotto, ect.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[macd-gm]

Agree that the Cavs are vulnerable. Just don't know who will catch them this year. I couldnt' watch the second half of that game but sounds like Celtics did well. This is the season we see Lebron decline a little bit. Don't let him drive for crying out loud.

I thought the Rockets would have a let down this year but in my defense i forgot they sign Tucker and LMaM. That should help defensively.

I didn't see teh Rockets game, i don't know if outscoring the Warriors will work in a 7 game series but i think there are ways to stop them. Some team has to be willing to get really physical but also be able to score on the other end.

[MaceCase]

Stevens gave the Celtics the Rah! Rah! "win one for the Gipper!" speech at the half but the Cavs weathered their emotional barrage and methodically closed out that game.

Horford came through once again with the Celts missing a star player.... Oh wait. The Cavs were perfectly fine switching anyone onto him as he was predominantly self-checked. The Celts trio of young guns showed greater urgency but an over-exuberance for shooting the ball. We already know Smart has no conscience but Jaylen Brown taking 23 shots to score 25?

Kyrie played poised...yet it seemed like a detriment. Went the last 6 minutes barely even taking any shots and missing all of them. He's basically IT's replacement now without Hayward so we are going to see how well he performs in a similar situation. I mean, the Cavs basically abused Kyrie like IT by passing to whoever Kyrie was guarding but instead of getting the "King of the Fourth" we got Kumbaya Kyrie pulling a Pinocchio trying to prove to the world he's a real PG instead of a coldhearted closer.... I don't know about that one in a close game, chief.

[macd-gm]

Despite losing Kyrie, the Cavs were basically the same team as last year (chemistry wise) just with an added talent infusion in Crowder. The Celtics were playing a bunch of rookies and young guys, missing their top 3 starters from last season, and then have to watch their big acquisition get mangled in the first half at which point they proceed to go down big. The fact that the Cavs didn't run away with it should be shocking.

[MaceCase]

Despite losing Kyrie, the Cavs were basically the same team as last year (chemistry wise) just with an added talent infusion in Crowder. The Celtics were playing a bunch of rookies and young guys, missing their top 3 starters from last season, and then have to watch their big acquisition get mangled in the first half at which point they proceed to go down big. The fact that the Cavs didn't run away with it should be shocking.

What? The Cavs had 3 new starters too, you know, and there's a huge drop off in talent from Kyrie Irving to Jae Crowder seeing as Isaiah Thomas is out till next year. No excuses, there are no moral victories here for the Celts or any gleamings into the Cavaliers having fallen off after that game.

[Spud2nique]

Despite losing Kyrie, the Cavs were basically the same team as last year (chemistry wise) just with an added talent infusion in Crowder. The Celtics were playing a bunch of rookies and young guys, missing their top 3 starters from last season, and then have to watch their big acquisition get mangled in the first half at which point they proceed to go down big. The fact that the Cavs didn't run away with it should be shocking.

Lol..u lost the bet brother...#noexcuseleague #Aingeblewit

[Spud2nique]

Despite losing Kyrie, the Cavs were basically the same team as last year (chemistry wise) just with an added talent infusion in Crowder. The Celtics were playing a bunch of rookies and young guys, missing their top 3 starters from last season, and then have to watch their big acquisition get mangled in the first half at which point they proceed to go down big. The fact that the Cavs didn't run away with it should be shocking.

What? The Cavs had 3 new starters too, you know, and there's a huge drop off in talent from Kyrie Irving to Jae Crowder seeing as Isaiah Thomas is out till next year. No excuses, there are no moral victories here for the Celts or any gleamings into the Cavaliers having fallen off after that game.

Exactly! I'm fine with Soth being a resident (old residence ...) Twolves and Nuggets fan but if Mac is gonna start making excuses for the Celtics ...

[macd-gm]

Despite losing Kyrie, the Cavs were basically the same team as last year (chemistry wise) just with an added talent infusion in Crowder. The Celtics were playing a bunch of rookies and young guys, missing their top 3 starters from last season, and then have to watch their big acquisition get mangled in the first half at which point they proceed to go down big. The fact that the Cavs didn't run away with it should be shocking.

What? The Cavs had 3 new starters too, you know, and there's a huge drop off in talent from Kyrie Irving to Jae Crowder seeing as Isaiah Thomas is out till next year. No excuses, there are no moral victories here for the Celts or any gleamings into the Cavaliers having fallen off after that game.

Nah. That's not right. Rose, Wade, and Crowder? 3 new starters with last year's starters moving to the bench. These guys aren't rookies and sophmores. No reason the Celts should have been in that game after Hayward goes down. The Cavs will roll this year again because the east is extremely weak but they don't stand a chance in the finals.

[MaceCase]

I'm starting to agree with Spud about you being a Celts fan, other Mac. So Gordon Hayward is the difference between the Celts being just a young team and a team challenging the Cavs for the East? Not buying the chemistry argument which was your main claim with the Cavs because the old guys are in brand new roles and brand new guys are in their old roles plus LeBron barely practiced or played with any of them in the past month then of course, there's a Kyrie sized talent deficit from the previous year. They are nowhere close to the best Cav's team we've seen yet still started with a 7-0 run and and ended with a 7-1 run.

[macd-gm]

I'm starting to agree with Spud about you being a Celts fan, other Mac. So Gordon Hayward is the difference between the Celts being just a young team and a team challenging the Cavs for the East? Not buying the chemistry argument which was your main claim with the Cavs because the old guys are in brand new roles and brand new guys are in their old roles plus LeBron barely practiced or played with any of them in the past month then of course, there's a Kyrie sized talent deficit from the previous year. They are nowhere close to the best Cav's team we've seen yet still started with a 7-0 run and and ended with a 7-1 run.

I hate the Celts and the Cavs. The Celtics won't be challenging the Cavs seriously this year in the East. Unfortunately no one will. The Celtics, even with Hayward, aren't nearly as good as the Cavs. Or they shouldn't be. But if I'm the Cavs I'm still concerned that Kyrie/Brown/Smart/Tatum/Horford nearly beat Rose/Wade/Crowder/Lebron/Love in the 1st game. I mean at what position outside of PG should the Celtics have an advantage there? This is without even comparing the benches and the C's bench sucks bad.

But it's one game. Doesn't mean anything and as you said there were a lot of outside factors at play. To be honest i'm just shocked it was close.

[Spud2nique]

I'm starting to agree with Spud about you being a Celts fan, other Mac. So Gordon Hayward is the difference between the Celts being just a young team and a team challenging the Cavs for the East? Not buying the chemistry argument which was your main claim with the Cavs because the old guys are in brand new roles and brand new guys are in their old roles plus LeBron barely practiced or played with any of them in the past month then of course, there's a Kyrie sized talent deficit from the previous year. They are nowhere close to the best Cav's team we've seen yet still started with a 7-0 run and and ended with a 7-1 run.

I hate the Celts and the Cavs. The Celtics won't be challenging the Cavs seriously this year in the East. Unfortunately no one will. The Celtics, even with Hayward, aren't nearly as good as the Cavs. Or they shouldn't be. But if I'm the Cavs I'm still concerned that Kyrie/Brown/Smart/Tatum/Horford nearly beat Rose/Wade/Crowder/Lebron/Love in the 1st game. I mean at what position outside of PG should the Celtics have an advantage there? This is without even comparing the benches and the C's bench sucks bad.

But it's one game. Doesn't mean anything and as you said there were a lot of outside factors at play. To be honest i'm just shocked it was close.

Hahaha you were mad high on the Celts..(I'll do some digging in the threads)...but now they have no chance?...lol

[macd-gm]

I'm starting to agree with Spud about you being a Celts fan, other Mac. So Gordon Hayward is the difference between the Celts being just a young team and a team challenging the Cavs for the East? Not buying the chemistry argument which was your main claim with the Cavs because the old guys are in brand new roles and brand new guys are in their old roles plus LeBron barely practiced or played with any of them in the past month then of course, there's a Kyrie sized talent deficit from the previous year. They are nowhere close to the best Cav's team we've seen yet still started with a 7-0 run and and ended with a 7-1 run.

I hate the Celts and the Cavs. The Celtics won't be challenging the Cavs seriously this year in the East. Unfortunately no one will. The Celtics, even with Hayward, aren't nearly as good as the Cavs. Or they shouldn't be. But if I'm the Cavs I'm still concerned that Kyrie/Brown/Smart/Tatum/Horford nearly beat Rose/Wade/Crowder/Lebron/Love in the 1st game. I mean at what position outside of PG should the Celtics have an advantage there? This is without even comparing the benches and the C's bench sucks bad.

But it's one game. Doesn't mean anything and as you said there were a lot of outside factors at play. To be honest i'm just shocked it was close.

Hahaha you were mad high on the Celts..(I'll do some digging in the threads)...but now they have no chance?...lol

Good luck. You ain't going to find anything where i said the Celtics would beat the Cavs this year. We're going to have to clarify this bet because i see you're going to change the terms to suit your agenda.

[Jamaaliver]

I'll do some digging in the threads...

Careful, now. I hear that's frowned upon around here.



____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tweet of the day (Am I allowed to have more than one?):

Read on Twitter

[macd-gm]

Spud and Mace like to put words in my mouth because maybe my "writing isn't clear" or I just want to "sound smart" or I "don't know what point it is i'm trying to make"