NBA Games Discussion Thread - Part 4

[Ruzious]

It was fun watching the end of Houston's win over Cleveland (with Lebron toughing out an ankle sprain), and Clint Capella on his way to developing into one of the top bigs in the world. Still averaging just 24 minutes a game - but grabbing over 10 boards and slowly but surely becoming an outstanding offensive player. And he blocked Lebron's shot at the end - showing incredible defensive range. Remember when Houston had Howard and Motie - and Capella would barely get off the bench?

[WallToWall]

Boston has won 9 in a row without Hayward. Brad Stevens is a genius who knows how to leverage his players' strengths.

The Celtics have far and away the best defense in the league. Oh yeah, they're also the youngest team in the league.

And this is after trading 2 outstanding defenders and trading for an offense only supastar. Amazing.

They have a good GM, and a smart coach who creates a system that leaves the team performing better than the sum of the parts. As a wizards fan, its hard for me to see the Celtics have success, but I do respect what they've done.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Cousins goes 8-24, including 2-10 from three in a loss (he must be used to that by now). Guy thinks he's Reggie Miller out there or something.

With 7 turnovers.

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[nate33]

The Celtics just beat Charlotte despite missing Irving, Horford and Hayward due to injury. They've won 11 in a row.

[Meliorus]

Why do the Wizards always end up in the 4/5 seed area. It's like they're allergic to being top of the conference. A lot of work to do to get back up there in the standings.

[tontoz]

Does anyone else enjoy the fact that OKC is struggling?

[dckingsfan]

The Celtics just beat Charlotte despite missing Irving, Horford and Hayward due to injury. They've won 11 in a row.

I worry that they are really becoming a force... I thought they would take a big step backward this year - boy am I wrong (thus far).

[pcbothwel]

Does anyone else enjoy the fact that OKC is struggling?

I feel like a Melo trade to the Cavs is inevitable. Melo for Crowder, Frye, and one of Shump/Smith is perfect.
OKC gets a perfect wing next to PG13 in Crowder and expiring in Frye that also stretches the floor from the 5 spot.
Cavs get a scorer in Melo while also ensuring LeBron stays another year. Worst case scenario is Lebron leaves, but Melo would opt out too. So at least you dump a ton of salary.

[Kanyewest]

Does anyone else enjoy the fact that OKC is struggling?

I feel like a Melo trade to the Cavs is inevitable. Melo for Crowder, Frye, and one of Shump/Smith is perfect.
OKC gets a perfect wing next to PG13 in Crowder and expiring in Frye that also stretches the floor from the 5 spot.
Cavs get a scorer in Melo while also ensuring LeBron stays another year. Worst case scenario is Lebron leaves, but Melo would opt out too. So at least you dump a ton of salary.

It could happen. Frye and Patterson are a bit redundant though.

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[payitforward]

Boston has won 9 in a row without Hayward. Brad Stevens is a genius who knows how to leverage his players' strengths.

The Celtics have far and away the best defense in the league. Oh yeah, they're also the youngest team in the league.

And this is after trading 2 outstanding defenders and trading for an offense only supastar. Amazing.

They have a good GM, and a smart coach who creates a system that leaves the team performing better than the sum of the parts. As a wizards fan, its hard for me to see the Celtics have success, but I do respect what they've done.

I thought losing Crowder & IT would hurt them a lot -- but the other moves they made have been so brilliant that the net result, obviously, is positive rather than the opposite.

For starters, 37% of the Celtics' minutes have been played by Aron Baynes, Jayson Tatum, Terry Rozier & Daniel Theis -- & they are all playing great!

The trade down to get Tatum was obviously brilliant. Choosing Baynes was exceptionally smart as well, & the ability to find a guy like Daniel Theis indicates a very skilled Front Office.

Plus, when you use your draft picks & keep the players, so that you have 6 guys on rookie contracts, it makes it possible to acquire players like Hayward & Horford while keeping your salary structure within bounds.

edit: plus, look at the picks they still have -- including a very high one they acquired trading down for tatum. Wow.

[payitforward]

Does anyone else enjoy the fact that OKC is struggling?

I feel like a Melo trade to the Cavs is inevitable. Melo for Crowder, Frye, and one of Shump/Smith is perfect.
OKC gets a perfect wing next to PG13 in Crowder and expiring in Frye that also stretches the floor from the 5 spot.
Cavs get a scorer in Melo while also ensuring LeBron stays another year. Worst case scenario is Lebron leaves, but Melo would opt out too. So at least you dump a ton of salary.

If the Cavs were dumb enough to trade for Melo, it would certainly be great for us. Though it wouldn't make them any worse right now.

Crowder has played badly so far, but he's so far off his standard of play that I am guessing he'll return to form. In the meantime, JR Smith, Green, Wade & Rose have been absolutely horrible.

Cleveland is done. Cooked. Their run is over.

[pcbothwel]

Does anyone else enjoy the fact that OKC is struggling?

I feel like a Melo trade to the Cavs is inevitable. Melo for Crowder, Frye, and one of Shump/Smith is perfect.
OKC gets a perfect wing next to PG13 in Crowder and expiring in Frye that also stretches the floor from the 5 spot.
Cavs get a scorer in Melo while also ensuring LeBron stays another year. Worst case scenario is Lebron leaves, but Melo would opt out too. So at least you dump a ton of salary.

If the Cavs were dumb enough to trade for Melo, it would certainly be great for us. Though it wouldn't make them any worse right now.

Crowder has played badly so far, but he's so far off his standard of play that I am guessing he'll return to form. In the meantime, JR Smith, Green, Wade & Rose have been absolutely horrible.

Cleveland is done. Cooked. Their run is over.

As a fan I'd love it, but not true.
1) The GOAT
2) Track Record of team/player history (I.E. JR, Crowder, Wade, Rose all SEVERELY under performing)
3) IT Returning
4) Nets pick (though not looking too valuable now...probably 7-9 instead of top 3

Again, you might end up correct, but those 4 things weigh pretty heavy right now.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Cousins goes 8-24, including 2-10 from three in a loss (he must be used to that by now). Guy thinks he's Reggie Miller out there or something.

With 7 turnovers.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using RealGM mobile app

35-15-5 in a win today.

4-8 threes.

Fourth in the league in plus-minus behind Curry , Giannis A, and Durant.

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[Kanyewest]

Cousins goes 8-24, including 2-10 from three in a loss (he must be used to that by now). Guy thinks he's Reggie Miller out there or something.

With 7 turnovers.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using RealGM mobile app

35-15-5 in a win today.

4-8 threes.

Fourth in the league in plus-minus behind Curry , Giannis A, and Durant.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using RealGM mobile app

A slight negative was the 8 turnovers. All things considered, still a nice game against DeAndre.

Sent from my LG-D851 using RealGM mobile app

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

DeMarcus Cousins really is a very polarizing player.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/couside01.html

He leads the league in minutes played.

He also leads the league in field goal attempts, turnovers, personal fouls, and missed field goals.

On the other hand he leads the league in defensive rebounds. He is 6th in value over replacement. He is second in defensive box plus minus.





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[queridiculo]

I find myself turning into Pelicans games on occasion and I'm really trying my hardest to like Cousins but there's just something about the way he moves out there on the floor that makes me dislike him.

He looks like walk runs most of the time trying to expend as little energy as possible.

4 TOs a game, .471 from the field and .337 from 3, on paper those stats don't scream winning basketball to me.

He'll pop off for some monster games but the sum of his games don't amount to much.

Perhaps he'd be more efficient in a role where isn't relied upon to do that much, but I'm skeptical, you'd expect somebody with his tools to consistently shoot over .500 but he's yet to manage to put a season like that together over his 8 year career.

[nate33]

I find myself turning into Pelicans games on occasion and I'm really trying my hardest to like Cousins but there's just something about the way he moves out there on the floor that makes me dislike him.

He looks like walk runs most of the time trying to expend as little energy as possible.

4 TOs a game, .471 from the field and .337 from 3, on paper those stats don't scream winning basketball to me.

He'll pop off for some monster games but the sum of his games don't amount to much.

Perhaps he'd be more efficient in a role where isn't relied upon to do that much, but I'm skeptical, you'd expect somebody with his tools to consistently shoot over .500 but he's yet to manage to put a season like that together over his 8 year career.

Yup. Last night was typical. It looks like a monster night: 35 points, 15 boards, 4 assists. But then you look a little deeper and you see 8 turnovers, no steals, no blocks. Factoring the turnovers and the FGA's it took to generate those free throws, and he scored 35 points on 34 possessions. That's a respectable outing, but not nearly as impressive as it looks in the headline.

Cousins leads the league in turnovers and missed field goal attempts. He ranks 4th in 3PA's per game but only shoots them at a .337 clip. His rebounding is good but a bit overstated because he plays a ton of minutes. (He actually ranks 14th in total rebound percentage.) He ranks 37th in WS/48, behind both Beal and Porter.

To be fair, there isn't much guard play to help him out, and that usually makes it very difficult for bigs to reach their true potential. But overall, I'd have to agree with queridiculo that his stats do not scream winning basketball. He has the potential to help his team so much more if he would just change his mindset.

[Meliorus]

I kinda like this Detroit team after getting rid of Morris and acquiring Bradley. But Orlando can't be for real right? Seems like multiple players on that team are shooting unsustainable percentages from the field/3.

[payitforward]

With 7 turnovers.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using RealGM mobile app

35-15-5 in a win today.

4-8 threes.

Fourth in the league in plus-minus behind Curry , Giannis A, and Durant.

A slight negative was the 8 turnovers. All things considered, still a nice game against DeAndre.

Well... no green font so maybe you actually think that's a "slight negative?" Anthony Davis had a better outing while scoring fewer points.

I also was impressed by Cheick Diallo's 19 minutes. E'Twaun Moore, who was picked #55 in 2011, is having a good season for NO as well.

As to Cousins, he started the season like a ball of fire. His numbers are still very good overall but trending downhill.

Two key facts from my pov:

1) Cousins turnover level negates much of his rebounding prowess. I would think the reason must be obvious.
2) if a Center shoots 34% on 3 pointers, it's not a positive stat -- that translates to 51% if he was taking 2-pointers instead -- which is average for a 4 or 5.

[nate33]

The Celtics CAN'T LOSE!

With Kyrie Irving (and of course, Gordon Hayward) out, they just beat Toronto for their 12th straight win.