Rich man's Swaggy P.By the way, Dion Waiters is a one of the best things about the NBA...
Westbrook took 1/2 of OKC's non-3P shots. That is pretty incredible, even if he hit 60% of them if I can do math correctly.Westbrook with an incredible individual performance right now on NBATV.
The MVP vote is kind of fascinating this year if you are into that sort of thing (to me its so subjective that its virtually meaningless). There are ostensibly five candidates in Westbrook, Harden, Leonard, Thomas and DeRozan though the latter two won't get much serious consideration. Were he not injured, I might throw Durant into the mix as well but we've already discussed the fact that being part of a super-team dings you.I wonder if his amazing performance of late could potentially cost him MVP votes. He's only 2 assists above the needed amount to average 10 and if he doesn't average a triple double things could get interesting. Assuming voters vote for that sorta thing.
While I agree that IT and Derozan won't (and shouldn't) get much serious consideration, I'm curious why you included Derozan. Was your "ostensibly" meant to imply that these are the guys talked up the most as MVP candidates in the NBA media? Because I don't really see the case for Derozan over Leonard, Butler or Wall, and barring Lowry's bum wrist, I wouldn't even have him as the Raptors' MVP.The MVP vote is kind of fascinating this year if you are into that sort of thing (to me its so subjective that its virtually meaningless). There are ostensibly five candidates in Westbrook, Harden, Leonard, Thomas and DeRozan though the latter two won't get much serious consideration.
Hmmm, how about this: there's no way DeMar DeRozan will be or should be seriously considered for MVP. Dude is not even the best player on the 9th best team in the league. By RPM, he's currently the #138 ranked player in the league — heck, not even the best player named "DeMar(re)" on his team. I mean, RPM is far from a perfect gauge, but #138? You really have to worship at the altar of PPG and/or long two-pointers to consider DeRozan a viable MVP candidate.There's no way to make an MVP statement for/against a single player and include "no way".
Why exactly do you want this scenario to unfold?I hope it plays out like this:
Spurs overtake the Warriors and stay ahead although both teams rest their guys in the final 10 games. Rockets go 12-6 to end season 56-26, OKC goes 9-9 to finish 44-38, I hope(!! although I don´t think he can finish it, based on how the last few weeks have been going) Westbrook gets enough assists to finish with the triple double. Kawhi averages 30+ ppg for the rest of the season and he wins the MVP award. Westbrook goes nuts and gets swept in the 1st round vs. the Rockets.
From my hundreds of personal conversations i´ve had with both of them, it seems to me that Kawhi is the more likable person. I admit it would be fun to see a triple-double for the season, but without the wins and a top5 finish in the West it´s not worth as much, I think. Then Westbrook either gets frustrated or does come back even better, I have no idea.Why exactly do you want this scenario to unfold?
Yes, they really are. I think it merits mentioning that Smith, Williams, Korver, Frye, etc. are all >31 years old.Deron Williams looks cooked. It's strange to see LeBron lose even when he and Kyrie play exceptionally well, to an average team. Is their supporting cast THAT bad?
LeBron has also sat out 5 games this year due to "rest" and will probably tag on a few more before the playoffs begin. Strategically sitting out 10% of his teams games seems like a responsible way to prepare a high usage veteran like LeBron for the playoffs. If he played 34 minutes instead of 39 a night I wouldn't feel it affects him either way. If you're going to play him then play him......6-7 extra trips up the floor is pretty irrelevant imo. It isn't like LeBron is Kareem circa 1987.The most remarkable stat of the night was that LeBron played 39 minutes as did Kyrie. I know the guy is superhuman but this is just nuts for an older player playing in shitty, late-season game in Detroit when the Cavs are the favorite out of the East, one seed or not. Their lead over the C's is now just two...
I thought Denver largely traded for Plumlee because of his passing for when Jokic sits. It's amazing how many of these big Euros can pass and have complete games compared to the American bigs. 8 games, 30.3minutes, 16.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.63 steals, 1.88 blocks on .539/---/.750 since being traded to Portland. He's at 4 personal fouls and 3.3 turnovers too. The turnovers looked like a problem in Denver but not so much in Portland when he's distributing the way he is. He's also shown the ability to get to the free throw line. I can't wait to see Ante Zizic.Nurkic has looked really good since joining the Blazers. He put up a pretty impressive line tonight against Philly with 26 pts, 20 rbs, 8 assists, 6 blocks, 2 steals.
Thanks for posting about this one, I wasn't paying attention and I watched the last few minutes and the OT, fun one.Wizards have come back from at least 15 down in the 4th quarter in Sactown to cut the game within 2 with 5:32 left. A win would put them in a tie with Boston, but give them a higher win %.
edit: Wizards win in OT. Beal scores 17 in the 4th and 5 in OT to help seal the deal. Tied with Boston.
Huge loss for the Spurs and hopefully not a longterm issue.Lamarcus Aldridge is out indefinitely with a heart arrhythmia.
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18883035/lamarcus-aldridge-san-antonio-spurs-indefinitely-experiencing-minor-heart-arrhythmia
I know the Warriors want rest, but why give away this game to SA? Let's be honest here; SA is going to win this game when Dallas Bertans scores 35 points.The inactive list for tonight's Spurs/Ws tilt would be by a pretty wide margin the best team in NBA history.
Warriors: Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Durant, Green
Spurs: Parker, Murray, Leonard, Aldridge
lol@ABC (and get well soon, Kawhi, Aldridge and KD!)
Not if Pat McCaw has something to say about it. Let's see if he passes up open looks like he has been doing all season now that there will be nobody else on the court.I know the Warriors want rest, but why give away this game to SA? Let's be honest here; SA is going to win this game when Dallas Bertans scores 35 points.
Battle of the JV Teams! Actually, I think it will be pretty interesting to watch, even without the stars.The inactive list for tonight's Spurs/Ws tilt would be by a pretty wide margin the best team in NBA history.
Warriors: Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Durant, Green
Spurs: Parker, Murray, Leonard, Aldridge
lol@ABC (and get well soon, Kawhi, Aldridge and KD!)
I'll never doubt Pop's ability to piece together a game between bench guys. I think he could win 30 games with a college team.Not if Pat McCaw has something to say about it. Let's see if he passes up open looks like he has been doing all season now that there will be nobody else on the court.
The guy is the best basketball coach I have ever seen and the Spurs are the best run franchise in the NBA so argument here. What is also awesome is that they are doing it in San Antonio and not one of the larger markets which is great for all sorts of reasons. I think Shea Serrano may die from sadness the day Pop retires.I'll never doubt Pop's ability to piece together a game between bench guys. I think he could win 30 games with a college team.
This is my point though. Kerr is a very good coach but the Spurs are basically giving SA a free win here by benching its stars for rest. In a WC race for the one seed, I don't know why GS isn't just taking the free head-to-head win tonight. Bench them when you play the Kings.The guy is the best basketball coach I have ever seen and the Spurs are the best run franchise in the NBA so argument here. What is also awesome is that they are doing it in San Antonio and not one of the larger markets which is great for all sorts of reasons. I think Shea Serrano may die from sadness the day Pop retires.
One of Golden State's beat writers (Tim Kawakami) was on Twitter last night speculating that they are playing so poorly right now that to go in and lose to the Spurs at full strength would be a bad outcome for the psyche of the team.This is my point though. Kerr is a very good coach but the Spurs are basically giving SA a free win here by benching its stars for rest. In a WC race for the one seed, I don't know why GS isn't just taking the free head-to-head win tonight. Bench them when you play the Kings.
Vegas agrees with you -- the Spurs are 11-point favorites tonight.I'll never doubt Pop's ability to piece together a game between bench guys. I think he could win 30 games with a college team.
I guess something that flew under the radar was that Curry was making a superhuman amount of threes last season, many being very difficult shots. In the midst of everyone losing their mind over how good he was (and rightfully so, he was amazing last year) I guess most people never really thought it was unsustainable, which it looks like it was. Then their depth took a hit when they lost Barnes, Bogut, Ezeli and Speights, plus guys like Iggy and Livingston are another year older.One of Golden State's beat writers (Tim Kawakami) was on Twitter last night speculating that they are playing so poorly right now that to go in and lose to the Spurs at full strength would be a bad outcome for the psyche of the team.
The truth is, Golden State is gassed and Durant had been covering up some of their flaws on both sides of the ball. Thompson and Curry have regressed off of prior years and career averages from deep and are taking more shots around the basket (and making them too - Curry is having his second best 2P% season while Thompson is having a career year inside the arc). However this team is built on them making threes, not twos - the combination of their shooting woes and Durant's absence has messed up their spacing on offense. Missed threes also have resulted in more fast breaks for opponents. On the defensive side of the ball, they miss Durant as well and especially with Thompson regressing defensively and Iguodala continuing to decline.
So there you have it. The Spurs may be without LaMarcus Aldridge for a while (or not). The Warriors are sputtering and even when Durant returns, its not clear what he will be able to give them. And the Cavs are without Love for a while and its not clear what he will be able to do upon his return. Furthermore, they are heavily dependent on LeBron and Kyrie to play big minutes to carry the load.
In short, the playoffs and even championship may be more wide open than we think. Any one of San Antonio (assuming Aldridge comes back in short order), Houston, the Clippers from the West may make the finals instead of Golden State while the East might still get one of Toronto, Washington or Boston instead of Cleveland.
I'm calling it now, Bertans scores 20+ tonight.Vegas agrees with you -- the Spurs are 11-point favorites tonight.