2015-2016 NBA Game Thread

Jed Zeppelin

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In other rookie news, UCLA's Kevon Looney, a projected mid first-rounder who slipped all the way to the Warriors at #30 due to injury concerns, made his NBA debut last night following hip surgery and a brief rehab stint in Santa Cruz. 6 minutes, 2 boards, 1-1 fg. Too early to say much of anything about him, except that he's really young and has an intriguing skillset and fantastic length (7'-3.5" wingspan, 9'-2" standing reach). The Cs apparently liked him and were pondering picking him at #16.

“For a 19-year-old kid he’s got a lot of tools, got a really good frame and had a good freshman year,” Celtics director of player personnel Austin Ainge said following the workout. “I just think the combination of length and skill is unique.”

Actually, I think it may not be too early to say he's at least a very good rebounder: he pulled 20+ rebounds per 36 in Santa Cruz, and a similarly obscene number in Vegas Summer League; and rebounding tends to be the one skill that translates pretty well throughout a player's development. Everything else remains to be seen, though his versatility (42% from 3 in college, former HS point guard with some ball skills) does conjure exciting visions of what he could he could be at age 21-22 after a couple years under the wings of Kerr, Adams, Draymond, Iguodala, Curry, Bogut et al.

I mean, exciting if you're a Ws fan. Perhaps somewhat worrisome if you're not?
He was basically the Perry Jones of this draft class. I remember a whole bunch of "rich get richer" comments after he slipped to the Thunder so I'm hesitant to think much of anything about a guy like this until he moves beyond that tier of intriguingly athletic and upside-filled disappointments. He is very young so that's something, though I can't say I'd be super confident about a guy who has already had hip surgery at his age.
 

Grin&MartyBarret

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He was basically the Perry Jones of this draft class. I remember a whole bunch of "rich get richer" comments after he slipped to the Thunder so I'm hesitant to think much of anything about a guy like this until he moves beyond that tier of intriguingly athletic and upside-filled disappointments. He is very young so that's something, though I can't say I'd be super confident about a guy who has already had hip surgery at his age.
Not only was there "rich get richer" stuff, but this board had a thread devoted specifically to Perry Jones and how the Celtics screwed up royally by not taking him. I believe people were claiming, based on a preseason game, that he was better than Loul Deng (who was an All Star then).
 

Sam Ray Not

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He was basically the Perry Jones of this draft class. I remember a whole bunch of "rich get richer" comments after he slipped to the Thunder so I'm hesitant to think much of anything about a guy like this until he moves beyond that tier of intriguingly athletic and upside-filled disappointments. He is very young so that's something, though I can't say I'd be super confident about a guy who has already had hip surgery at his age.
Take it with a grain of salt coming from a Ws homer, but I pondered the Perry Jones comp at the time the draft and decided it's not a great one for a number of reasons:

• Jones was a sophomore and 1.5 years older than Looney coming out of school.
• Jones wasn't as good a rebounder in college as Looney (8.4 and 9.8 reb per 40 pace adjusted to Looney's 11.4).
• Jones wasn't nearly as good a 3-point shooter in college as Looney (20% and 30.3% from three to Looney's 41.5%).
• Looney has three inches of standing reach and two inches of wingspan on Jones.
• (perhaps most importantly) I feel like Jones was dogged by character questions in school -- or at least damned with faint praise -- whereas Steve Alford has spoken glowingly about Looney's great character and work ethic.

Obviously, none of this is any guarantee Looney won't wash out like PJIII did. From the little of seen him, he doesn't appear to be a super-explosive athlete, which is mildly concerning (though some of that could be that he's still recovering from the hip surgery). But there are a few reasons to think Looney's a good deal better prospect coming out of school than Jones was.

Factor in the recent track record of the Warriors player development machine, and you have to think the odds of his becoming at least a useful NBA rotation player a couple years down the road are pretty good. Steve Kerr has already busted him out in the second quarter of a close-ish game against a playoff team, so I suspect the brass must already see something in him.
 

HomeRunBaker

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95 5-10 KG, Mighty Mouse
96 Ray Allen, Antoine
98 Vince Carter, Pierce
02 Amare
03 Wade
04 Iguodala
06 Brandon Roy
08 Love, Gordon, Lopez
09 Curry, Derozen
10 Cousins, Monroe


Not going through more, so while it may not be the norm, it isn't exactly rare.
11 players in the past 15 years isn't rare? We clearly aren't using the same definition of "rare."
 

Schnerres

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11 players in the past 15 years isn't rare? We clearly aren't using the same definition of "rare."
There must be some players missing. Like some useful to great guys (McGrady, Rip Hamilton, Shawn Marion, Jason Terry) and probably the best player drafted 5-10 in the last 20 years(or ever?).
 

BigSoxFan

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There must be some players missing. Like some useful to great guys (McGrady, Rip Hamilton, Shawn Marion, Jason Terry) and probably the best player drafted 5-10 in the last 20 years(or ever?).
Of course, another obvious one is Marcus Smart just last year. HRB is off on this one. He'll realize it at some point.
 

Sam Ray Not

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Could be one of those reverse locks! Plus the Sixers are 3-3 in their last six. They haven't been nearly as bad lately as the Warriors have been good.

Vegas has the Warriors -18. I'm not that confident the Ws will cover, since they've got a B2B in MSG the next day and are likely to give to heavy run to the bench.

Random thought: I how wonder how many old Philly Warrior fans are still kicking around.
 

BigSoxFan

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Could be one of those reverse locks! Plus the Sixers are 3-3 in their last six. They haven't been nearly as bad lately as the Warriors have been good.

Vegas has the Warriors -18. I'm not that confident the Ws will cover, since they've got a B2B in MSG the next day and are likely to give to heavy run to the bench.

Random thought: I how wonder how many old Philly Warrior fans are still kicking around.
Almost! Warriors needed a 3 with 0.4 to go to win.
 

Cesar Crespo

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There must be some players missing. Like some useful to great guys (McGrady, Rip Hamilton, Shawn Marion, Jason Terry) and probably the best player drafted 5-10 in the last 20 years(or ever?).

He said players who made an impact as a rookie. Dirk didn't make an impact as a rookie. Of course, WCS is averaging less than 6/6 and 1.5 bpg so you could definitely add a lot of players.
 

Kliq

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This is such a ridiculously good era of point guard play. It seems like there are 25 good starting point guards. On top you have I believe three elite superstars in Curry, Westbrook and Paul. Below them you have a really talented tier of All-Star level players of Irving, Wall, Lillard, and Kyle Lowry. Below those guys is a good pool of starting-level, borderline All-Stars like Reggie Jackson, Mike Conley Jr., Isaiah Thomas, Ricky Rubio, Jeff Teague, Tony Parker, Goran Dragic, Brandon Knight and Kemba Walker. Then you have some enigmas (Rondo, Deron Williams, Rose) who can play like superstars on given nights, and you have some younger players that can blossom into good PGs, like Mudiay, Jordan Clarkson, Dennis Schroder, hell Ish Smith is playing pretty good ball. We are not that far removed from the years when Luke Ridnour was getting invites to Team USA tryouts.
 

luckiestman

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This is such a ridiculously good era of point guard play. It seems like there are 25 good starting point guards. On top you have I believe three elite superstars in Curry, Westbrook and Paul. Below them you have a really talented tier of All-Star level players of Irving, Wall, Lillard, and Kyle Lowry. Below those guys is a good pool of starting-level, borderline All-Stars like Reggie Jackson, Mike Conley Jr., Isaiah Thomas, Ricky Rubio, Jeff Teague, Tony Parker, Goran Dragic, Brandon Knight and Kemba Walker. Then you have some enigmas (Rondo, Deron Williams, Rose) who can play like superstars on given nights, and you have some younger players that can blossom into good PGs, like Mudiay, Jordan Clarkson, Dennis Schroder, hell Ish Smith is playing pretty good ball. We are not that far removed from the years when Luke Ridnour was getting invites to Team USA tryouts.

It know it hasn't always been, but shouldn't this be the norm simply based on height?
 

Sam Ray Not

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Dray + Klay + Livingston: 65 points, 14 boards. 17 assists, four missed shots total. Warriors move to 44-4 despite possibly the worst game of the year from the MVP.
 

sox311

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That's what she said.
Watching the Bucks/Blazers game. Its pretty fantastic that Dame and the Blazers could lose four starters and be in line to make the playoffs in the West.

As a Celtics fan I would like O'Shay to do the drafting for Danny. McCallum, Dame, Bledsoe(VIA OKC), Deandre. Not to mention Blake...
 

jon abbey

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Kobe with a season best 38 including 7 3s to hold off MIN and save the Lakers from an alltime franchise worst 11 game streak. Maybe the most amusing 'MVP' chants you'll ever hear as he shot FTs to clinch it, but nice game, head to head against Wiggins.
 

Sam Ray Not

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7 threes for Curry in the first. NBA record could be in serious peril if the Wiz can keep it semi-close.
 

Sam Ray Not

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Curry with 36 on 13-14 fg; Wall keeping it relatively close (74-60) with 20 on 8-12 fg. Curry with 8 threes at the half; NBA record is 12. Stay tuned.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Westbrook with his 3rd triple double in a row. 24 points, 19 rebounds 14 assists. His last 5 games have been utterly disgusting.
 

Sam Ray Not

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Aww. Curry ends up with 11 threes, one short of the record. 51 points total on 28 fga. Wall with 41 on 25 fga.

The single game record will have to wait another day, but (barring injury, knocking wood) the record for threes in a season is toast: he's already #10 on the all-time list with 232 ... through 49 games. The current #1 #2 and #5 on that list are Steph Curry.
 

BigSoxFan

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Aww. Curry ends up with 11 threes, one short of the record. 51 points total on 28 fga. Wall with 41 on 25 fga.

The single game record will have to wait another day, but (barring injury, knocking wood) the record for threes in a season is toast: he's already #10 on the all-time list with 232 ... through 49 games. The current #1 #2 and #5 on that list are Steph Curry.
The NBA record for 3pt attempts is 678 by George McCloud. Curry is already over 500 through 50 games (and he's only played 47). He is going to SHATTER that record. And he's shooting at a 45%+ clip despite being the focus of a team's defense each and every night. So amazing.

Here's my favorite stat: most 3pt attempts in half:

14 - JR Smith
13 - Michael Adams
13 - Damon Stoudamire
13 - JR Smith
13 - Sasha Vujacic
13 - JR Smith
13 - JR Smith
 

sox311

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That's what she said.
JR Don't Care...

How did George McCloud ever get enough playing time to put up that many shots? I remember him well, but not him being a first, second or even third option....

Did some digging, funny to see the one year jump out at you. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mccloge01.html

He attempted more three pointers that season than he did field goal attempts in any other season in his entire 13 year NBA career. That is impressive. I demand a 30 for 30 on that season!
 

HomeRunBaker

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That's Lauren Holtkamp who is at the top of everyone's "Worst ref in the league" list. I've seen several coaches make comments this year about how she doesn't belong in this league and is in way over her head. This was only one example.
 

Kliq

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CP3 had a run-in with the same referee last season when she apparently didn't allow him to in-bound the ball quickly after a made basket.

"I think we have to show better composure, but at the same time some of [the technical fouls] were ridiculous," Paul said. "The tech that I get right there was ridiculous. I don't care what nobody says, I don't care what she says; that's terrible. There's no way that can be a tech. We try to get the ball out fast every time down the court, and when we did that, she said, 'Uh-uh.' I said, 'Why, uh-uh?' And she gave me a tech.

"That's ridiculous. If that's the case, this might not be for her."
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/12287430/chris-paul-los-angeles-clippers-frustrated-techs-female-rookie-ref-not-her
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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It was a horrible technical but it doesn't change the fact that the Clippers were already on the verge of losing a game at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Admittedly the T-Wolves have a ton of young talent and Wiggins had a stand-out game. But the Clippers were on everyone's short-list for contenders in the West. Instead, they lay an egg in Staples against a team tied for the third lowest wins in the league.

I am sorry El Uno. You deserve better and the good news is that Ballmer will spend what it takes. And maybe they will look at blowing it up a little with a move of either CP3 or Griffinforce.
 

Kliq

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The dunk contest participants are out: Lavine, Drummoned, Aaron Gordon and Will Barton. I don't know why they always put the one big man in it, but other than that those look like good names. Some people dislike the Dunk Contest; it is one of my favorite nights of television each year.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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The dunk contest participants are out: Lavine, Drummoned, Aaron Gordon and Will Barton. I don't know why they always put the one big man in it, but other than that those look like good names. Some people dislike the Dunk Contest; it is one of my favorite nights of television each year.
I like it but the difference for someone of my vintage is that we've pretty much seen everything there is to do in a dunk contest. Human props, cars, superhero outfits etc. Its still fun but unless the guys do high-degree of difficulty stuff, its all just theatrics.
 

Kliq

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LaVine killed it last year with four awesome jams, the only problem was that he didn't have a suitable challenger. Wiggins should have been in it but he chickened out because he lost a dunk contest in high school and later said he would never be in one again, even though it is in Toronto and his teammate is the defending champion. I don't have high expectations for Drummond but Barton and Gordon can really get off the floor.

 

Sam Ray Not

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Westbrook vs Curry this weekend could be better than the superbowl.
Arguably the top four MVP candidates in the league (maybe throw in Kawhi Leonard as the 5th), all on the same court:

(Per 36 minutes)

Curry 31.8 pts on .682 ts / 5.6 reb / 6.8 ast / 2.3 stl (#1 in NBA in RPM)

Green 15.3 pts on .586 ts / 10.0 reb / 7.8 ast / 1.5 stl / 1.4 blk (#3 in RPM)

Durant 27.4 pts on .634 ts / 7.9 reb / 4.5 ast / 1.0 stl / 1.2 blk (#12 in RPM)

Westbrook 25.1 pts on .553 ts / 8.0 reb / 10.5 ast / 2.5 stl (#2 in RPM)

I mean, there's only one actual MVP candidate (again, barring injury, knocking wood, etc.), but that's four easy MVP winners in a lot of seasons; plus two teams that love to play uptempo and have a history of head-to-head barn-burners. Plus, for added drama, the KD-to-the-Warriors rumors.

Now watch it end up an 89-81 clankfest. But yeah, all NBA fans should be riveted to their screens.
 

ElUno20

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Lmao. Trading Griffin would go down as the stupidest move in franchise history. And I'm talking about the Clippers.

The trade rumors/talks are so stupid to me. Last week Simmons spends 10 minutes shooting the shit about it and it makes no sense. So you trade Blake to acquire some pieces so you can... be at best a 2nd round playoff team? That's exactly what they already are.
 

soxhop411

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Lmao. Trading Griffin would go down as the stupidest move in franchise history. And I'm talking about the Clippers.

The trade rumors/talks are so stupid to me. Last week Simmons spends 10 minutes shooting the shit about it and it makes no sense. So you trade Blake to acquire some pieces so you can... be at best a 2nd round playoff team? That's exactly what they already are.
Blake Griffin trade not likely, despite rumors about Clipper star's alleged availability (ocregister)
 

Sam Ray Not

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Lmao. Trading Griffin would go down as the stupidest move in franchise history. And I'm talking about the Clippers.

The trade rumors/talks are so stupid to me. Last week Simmons spends 10 minutes shooting the shit about it and it makes no sense. So you trade Blake to acquire some pieces so you can... be at best a 2nd round playoff team? That's exactly what they already are.
You're a Clips fan so better informed than I ... but hypothetically, what if they were able to turn Griffin into, say, Gallinari and Will Barton? Since the Griffin injury, it seems like they've been playing a lot more four-out looks, with DJ or Aldrich manning the post, and some combo of PP, Wes, and LMAM at stretch 4 ... and I think they've surprised a lot of observers at how successful they've been doing it. Now imagine CP3, JJ and DJ playing with an elite stretch 4 like Gallo? Plus Will Barton, who's probably better than any of their current wings?

I dunno, as a Ws fan I kinda fear that team more than the current team with Blake. Their D could still be a bit shaky, but offensively I think they could be GSW/OKC-level deadly.
 

coremiller

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Zach Lowe had a good column on this, pointing out some of the reasons a trade might make sense. Basically, it's gotten really hard to play a big man who can neither defend the rim nor shoot 3s, and Blake can't do either of those things.

Lowe ultimately concluded they shouldn't trade Griffin because Griffin does so many other things so well, but the drop-off from Griffin to a lesser player but one with a skillset more complementary to Jordan is probably not as big as it might seem.
 
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ElUno20

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You're a Clips fan so better informed than I ... but hypothetically, what if they were able to turn Griffin into, say, Gallinari and Will Barton? Since the Griffin injury, it seems like they've been playing a lot more four-out looks, with DJ or Aldrich manning the post, and some combo of PP, Wes, and LMAM at stretch 4 ... and I think they've surprised a lot of observers at how successful they've been doing it. Now imagine CP3, JJ and DJ playing with an elite stretch 4 like Gallo? Plus Will Barton, who's probably better than any of their current wings?

I dunno, as a Ws fan I kinda fear that team more than the current team with Blake. Their D could still be a bit shaky, but offensively I think they could be GSW/OKC-level deadly.
Turning Blake into Will Barton and Gallo, who are good nba players, isnt taking you any further than you're probably going to get now. On paper it may read like a better matchup but I'm a little tired of all the attempts to replicate or matchup with the warriors. They have Steph Curry, a guy who never misses, and Draymond, a guy who can guard four positions, no one is replicating that.

The guys needed to get further than where they're going can't be acquired in a Blake trade ( Durant, Lebron, Curry, AD). So to me it's just a waste of time trading him to end up getting bounced again.

As far as the success without him, their schedule has been pretty weak but just like last year with Blake out, DJ seems to embrace his role more and the team rallies (their defense is up a few spots too I think).

What would help them the most is a couple decent wings off the bench and for Chris Paul to close games out when they matter. Fourth quarter leads against the warriors, spurs, and thunder this season only to cave down the stretch.

I know that was long winded but the trade talks irritate me, this team isnt anywhere close to winning a title. A shakeup at the top isn't going to do much.
 

moondog80

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Hassan Whiteside with his second triple-double (points/boards/blocks) of the year. How did this guy end up playing overseas for two seasons? His cup of coffee with the Kings in 2011-12 showed tremendous promise (12.9 rebounds, 5 blocks per 36 minutes).

He's an UFA this year. We'd be happy if the C's gave him the max, right?
 

bowiac

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I would not want to give him the max. The little things are just little things, but he does none of them correctly. He doesn't set good screens, he blows his assignment to get blocks, a lot of his blocks are low-value. Plus, he has 21 career assists. I know he's a big who rarely has the ball, but that's really a terrible sign.

He's a hard player to understand, but I'd rather street clear. I don't know what kind of roster you need to build around him to win.