NBA Games Discussion Thread - Part 2

[Illmatic21]

^

[Sonny Carson]

Teague has been really balling against the Pacers. I know he's glad to stick it to his hometown team. Really stepping up in the playoffs.

Still surprised the Pacers lost. Even more surprised the Thunder are down 2-1.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

If Memphis bounces OKC, I might actually start to believe you delusional bastards on Durant to Wiz.

Believe.

Dave Joerger is an excellent coach. Expect him to eliminate Scott Brooks' Thunder. The Grizzlies will bounce them two consecutive seasons. Tony Allen and Beno Udrih are really stepping up for Memphis. Scott Brooks favors a washed up Caron Butler over players like Jeremy Lamb, Perry Jones, and Steven Adams. Brooks is in over his depth IMO against Joerger.

I feel that strongly about this one.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Teague has been really balling against the Pacers. I know he's glad to stick it to his hometown team. Really stepping up in the playoffs.

Still surprised the Pacers lost. Even more surprised the Thunder are down 2-1.

Man was I wrong to want Evan Turner and Derrick Favors instead of Wall. Turner isn't nearly the player I thought he would be.

Indy ruined whatever good thing they had in Lance Stephenson when they brought in Evan Turner. Lance needs to be a facilitator/defender first, and not a scorer for them.

[Sonny Carson]

Teague has been really balling against the Pacers. I know he's glad to stick it to his hometown team. Really stepping up in the playoffs.

Still surprised the Pacers lost. Even more surprised the Thunder are down 2-1.

Man was I wrong to want Evan Turner and Derrick Favors instead of Wall. Turner isn't nearly the player I thought he would be.

Indy ruined whatever good thing they had in Lance Stephenson when they brought in Evan Turner. Lance needs to be a facilitator/defender first, and not a scorer for them.

I actually wanted Lance to be drafted by the Wizards to play with Wall (even though it would hurt spacing)

NEVER was sold on Turner. Only player I thought that was worthy of consideration other than Wall was Cousins. Still would have liked to seen Boogie force a trade to D.C.

He would have been the #1 scoring option for the Wiz and Wall would average 10 assists a game. Oh well.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Of course I forgot I DROVE the Cousins bus. I rated Boogie the highest in that draft and wanted him in a trade down.

Interesting, polarizing player to this day, Boogie Cousins. In a way, John Wall is somewhat polarizing, too.

[hands11]

If Memphis bounces OKC, I might actually start to believe you delusional bastards on Durant to Wiz.

Oh. Its get better.

He is going to take less then he can get elsewhere to come here.

And Ibaka is going to follow him the next year.

Wall, Beal, KD, Ibaka

[Higga]

Is this the most parody filled NBA playoffs or what? Literally anyone could win in the 1st round(except I guess Bobcats)and it wouldn't shock me. The championship is as up in the air as it's ever been.

[FAH1223]

Is this the most parody filled NBA playoffs or what? Literally anyone could win in the 1st round(except I guess Bobcats)and it wouldn't shock me. The championship is as up in the air as it's ever been.

It's wide open. The Heat aren't as good as last year, the Spurs are lookin in trouble, the Clippers look like they are the only higher seed who will definitely advance.

[nate33]

^

Wow. 15 seconds still on the shot clock too.

[AFM]

Those are obviously the ideal shot choices. With Aldridge, I'd want to see more of his FGA coming inside since he doesn't seem to have 3pt range.

Those long 2pters are just not good shots.

DON'T LOOK THIS UP -- take a guess. How many players this season do you think shot 50% or better on 2pt jumpers from 10ft and beyond? Bonus points if you can name them.

Aldridge only attempted 15 3 point attempts the whole season and he was 3 of 15. In game 1, Aldridge made 2 of the 3 pointers he attempted. I don't think it's unreasonable for Aldridge to extend his range later in his career like Jason Kidd.

It's not impossible. If Aldridge works on a 3pt shot, I have little doubt that he'd become a good 3pt shooter. But, the point stands that most players are peaking by 28. The odds of him improving significantly in the future aren't very good.

And, the Kidd example is one that gets used a lot, but isn't a good one. Kidd was a frequent and fairly effective 3pt shooter throughout his career. He did improve his percentage and shoot more of them later in his career as he slowed down, but he was an adequate 3pt shooter even when he was young.

Kevin
I thought you would find this discussion on mid range shots and analytics intersting. It's about 20:00 in:
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-l ... aberstroh/

[daSwami]

Of course I forgot I DROVE the Cousins bus. I rated Boogie the highest in that draft and wanted him in a trade down.

Interesting, polarizing player to this day, Boogie Cousins. In a way, John Wall is somewhat polarizing, too.

Funny, I thought of both of those guys when I was watching the "Bad Boys" 30 by 30 the other day. Put Cousins on a contender today, and he'd be the modern-day Lambeer (read: villain), whereas Wall would be like Isiah - likeable enough off the court, but a stone-cold killer on it. Although I don't really see wall as "polarizing" at this point in his career.

I can see why Cousins rubs people the wrong way. He's got a mean streak in him - reminds me a bit of Alonzo Mourning in that way - although Zo did a better job of restraining himself. Cousins tends to let his emotions get the best of him (a la Sheed Wallace).

I'd love to see those two guys reunited on the Wizards someday. I could see Cousins being one of those guys who gets his act together later in his career (like Zach Randolph or even Ron Artest).

[daSwami]

^

Wow. 15 seconds still on the shot clock too.

He must've been trying to draw a 4-pointer. That seems to be the OKC late-game comeback strategy lately.

[nate33]

He must've been trying to draw a 4-pointer. That seems to be the OKC late-game comeback strategy lately.

Hmmm. I didn't notice that there was 30 seconds left in overtime. Westbrook might have been trying to go 2-for-1 on possessions. In that context, it's a justifiable shot. The fact that he missed the open man is an indictment of his court vision, but not necessarily of his decision-making.

[dobrojim]

it's crazy out there. Woulda thunk the Wiz and Blazers would be the only
teams other than MIA to be up 2-0.

OKC is in trouble. IND is in trouble. I'm not sure SAS is in trouble yet but they
could be.

Definitely liking what POR is doing to HOU although LMA is a confounding player
given his gift for the long 2. B2B 40 pt games though. Yow-sir.

[FAH1223]

it's crazy out there. Woulda thunk the Wiz and Blazers would be the only
teams other than MIA to be up 2-0.

OKC is in trouble. IND is in trouble. I'm not sure SAS is in trouble yet but they
could be.

Definitely liking what POR is doing to HOU although LMA is a confounding player
given his gift for the long 2. B2B 40 pt games though. Yow-sir.

The Mavericks have the worst defense of any of the playoff teams in the regular season.

Two games in San Antonio and the Spurs are averaging 9 points less per game than normal.

Spurs are in trouble, everyone thought they matched up well with DAL.

[closg00]

I haven't seen the replay, but it appears as-though dirty McBob resurfaced with that elbow to Brons throat.

[LyricalRico]

Wow, the Joey Crawford crew screwing Portland this time. LOL

[montestewart]

Tonight: Grizzlies could go up 3-1 at home against the Thunder, Hawks could go up 3-1 at home against the Pacers, Mavs could go up 2-1 at home against the Spurs. All that would screw up my bracket.

[montestewart]

Carter 3 at the buzzer puts Mavs up 2-1