2016-2017 NBA Game Thread
- Thread starter Kliq
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Yep. Makes me more convinced than ever that OKC would have kicked the crap out of the Warriors this season had KD not bolted for the Bay. Heck, they came about as close as you can last season, then added 'Dipo and Sabonis for a solid but slightly declining player who plays KD's natural position. Meanwhile, Durant and Westbrook are both having career years. And an extra year under Donovan would almost have certainly improved their chemistry.
On the other hand, had the Ws listened to a lot of the pundits and just "kept the 73-win core together," they'd likely have had...
• Curry regressing slightly (at least to the level of his non-unanimous MVP season)
• Klay plateau-ing or regressing slightly
• Draymond plateau-ing (still a total beast, but shooting a lot worse from the perimeter this year)
• Ezeli out for the season
• Bogut constantly banged up, missing every other game, and flirting with alt. right blogs in an area and an era where that kind of thing could rub some people the wrong way
• Andre and Shaun getting older
• Harry Barnes being Harry Barnes, only making $23M a year for doing so (and remaining in a system that doesn't allow him to spread his Black Falcon wings and run his favorite iso-post moves all day, like he does in Big D)
I just don't see that team hanging with an angry and hungry Thunder team that has slid KD to his more natural four spot in an absolutely killer starting 5 of Westbrook-Oladipo-Roberson-Durant-Adams. With Sabonis, Kanter et al. coming off the bench? Yikes.
One of the most underrated aspects of the Warriors' Durant pursuit is that it broke up a team that could easily have blocked them from the finals for the next 3-4-5 years. Probably deprived non-partisan hoops fans of some epic WCF showdowns, but ... that's not such a bad thing from the perspective of us partisans.
And ... as far as those so-called "downgrades" wrought by the massive upgrade (on both ends of the floor) from Barnes to Durant? Well, when you factor in availability: Zaza has vastly outplayed Bogut, JaVale has vastly outplayed Ezeli (duh), David West has been about a push with Speights (less explosive scorer, much better passer and defender), and Ian Clark has outplayed Barbosa.
Man, Bob freaking Myers deserves Exec of the Year, even more than he did in 2014-15 (though I guess I can see an argument for Dork Elvis Morey, too, or even Buford again for losing the Big Fundamental and barely missing a beat...)
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I have one quibble with your take on the Warriors with/sans KD and I think others (HRB, GnMB maybe too) have pointed it out as well.Yep. Makes me more convinced than ever that OKC would have kicked the crap out of the Warriors this season had KD not bolted for the Bay. Heck, they came about as close as you can last season, then added 'Dipo and Sabonis for a solid but slightly declining player who plays KD's natural position. Meanwhile, Durant and Westbrook are both having career years. And an extra year under Donovan would almost have certainly improved their chemistry.
On the other hand, had the Ws listened to a lot of the pundits and just "kept the 73-win core together," they'd likely have had...
• Curry regressing slightly (at least to the level of his non-unanimous MVP season)
• Klay plateau-ing or regressing slightly
• Draymond plateau-ing (still a total beast, but shooting a lot worse from the perimeter this year)
• Ezeli out for the season
• Bogut constantly banged up, missing every other game, and flirting with alt. right blogs in an area and an era where that kind of thing could rub some people the wrong way
• Andre and Shaun getting older
• Harry Barnes being Harry Barnes, only making $23M a year for doing so (and remaining in a system that doesn't allow him to spread his Black Falcon wings and run his favorite iso-post moves all day, like he does in Big D)
I just don't see that team hanging with an angry and hungry Thunder team that has slid KD to his more natural four spot in an absolutely killer starting 5 of Westbrook-Oladipo-Roberson-Durant-Adams. With Sabonis, Kanter et al. coming off the bench? Yikes.
One of the most underrated aspects of the Warriors' Durant pursuit is that it broke up a team that could easily have blocked them from the finals for the next 3-4-5 years. Probably deprived non-partisan hoops fans of some epic WCF showdowns, but ... that's not such a bad thing from the perspective of us partisans.
And ... as far as those so-called "downgrades" wrought by the massive upgrade (on both ends of the floor) from Barnes to Durant? Well, when you factor in availability: Zaza has vastly outplayed Bogut, JaVale has vastly outplayed Ezeli (duh), David West has been about a push with Speights (less explosive scorer, much better passer and defender), and Ian Clark has outplayed Barbosa.
Man, Bob freaking Myers deserves Exec of the Year, even more than he did in 2014-15 (though I guess I can see an argument for Dork Elvis Morey, too, or even Buford again for losing the Big Fundamental and barely missing a beat...)
The regression by the Warriors pre-KD big three is, at least in part, attributable to them integrating Durant into their offense. Everyone is having to adjust but Durant is now playing in a system that is a clear upgrade from what he had in OKC - thus the great season even while figuring out how to mesh with the other Warriors players.
Furthermore, I suspect Draymond's shooting numbers would look better on the stand-pat version of the Warriors because he would be asked to carry more of the scoring load if that makes sense. While he is currently shooting more threes per game than last season, they are often of the last option variety where the Warriors are moving the ball around and it finds him behind the arc with little time left on the clock versus designed plays for him where he is comfortable shooting or when he is clearly wide open.
+1 on everything else you said. And yes, OKC made some huge upgrades this season that would have put them right there had Durant stuck around.
They made the Ibaka trade before KD's decision. Apparently they ran it by him; and he said publicly that it wouldn't affect his decision (I think he was fairly close with Ibaka, but he also had nice things to say about Oladipo, with whom he shares Maryland roots).
Ahh. Thought it was after.
Anyway, Sixers are up double digits with 8 minutes left, but Brooklyn is currently up in the 3rd vs Toronto. Minn is playing close with OKC but it's not even half time. Heat are getting smoked.
Anyway, Sixers are up double digits with 8 minutes left, but Brooklyn is currently up in the 3rd vs Toronto. Minn is playing close with OKC but it's not even half time. Heat are getting smoked.
Okafor nailed to the bench again and another sixers win.
Embiid is out of control. The block on Zeller was...
I mean he started playing basketball in 2011 and missed two years. If he (please) stays healthy what is the ceiling?
Embiid is out of control. The block on Zeller was...
I mean he started playing basketball in 2011 and missed two years. If he (please) stays healthy what is the ceiling?
He is a joy to watch. As a side note, the NBA needs to buy Vine. It is tailor made for the sport and I am guessing Twitter would let the technology go for a song.
That was one of the best blocks I've seen in a long time. Watching Embiid run the floor and attack the basket is a sight, the guy isn't just big he's HUGE and the way he moves is supernatural, even by NBA standards.
Speaking of supernatural, Giannis had a dunk tonight that was just insane, it looks exactly like someone dunking on a nerf hoop.
Steve Smith was on NBA TV tonight and they showed this play and Smitty just went "What is happening?"
Speaking of supernatural, Giannis had a dunk tonight that was just insane, it looks exactly like someone dunking on a nerf hoop.
Steve Smith was on NBA TV tonight and they showed this play and Smitty just went "What is happening?"
The mid-dunk pump-fake was something to behold.
He did get about a five step running start, however.
First Sixers three-win streak in three years. Sixers are 6.5 games out of the final playoff spot. A PHI-CLE first round series would get incredible ratings I would think.
If guaranteed health, he has potential to be the best center in the NBA - yes even better than Davis - but that's a big if.
Suns are currently beating the Spurs 96-88 with 5:50 left in the 4th.
Suns win. Devin Booker back to back 39 point games. Crazy to think he just turned 20.
Philly up by double digits early in the 1st with no Embiid and Okafor playing really well. Go figure.
Suns win. Devin Booker back to back 39 point games. Crazy to think he just turned 20.
Philly up by double digits early in the 1st with no Embiid and Okafor playing really well. Go figure.
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Wolves @ Mavs today. Hopefully the Mavs win but we are almost getting to the point where the only other team worth following is Miami in regards to the pick. Rockets @ Nets tonight too, should be an easy L.
I know most folks here aren't Draymond fans but LeBron definitely sold that one (and it was smart of him to do so given the situation and who was involved).
I thought it was appropriately a flagrant one, but LeBron didn't need to sell it like he got shot. If you are going to flex your bicep every time you convert an and-one you also can't flop around when someone manages to knock you on your ass.
There was a play near the end of the half where Curry and Durant were on a fast break with James defending and LeBron, the best pure athlete arguably in American history, was completely helpless. He had to stop the pull-up three, but of course you can't leave KEVIN DURANT open so he was screwed. Curry hesitated for a second, got LeBron's feet stapled to the floor and lofted an easy pass inside for a Durant dunk. It was terrifying.
Damn snowflake millennials!
The refs actually debated calling it a flagrant for a long time before deciding in favor of it. Again, I think part of it was a function of the players involved. The NBA needs to protect LeBron and Draymond's body of work has earned him zero benefit of the doubt.
Neither player came out looking good on that play. Green over-commits himself physically all the time which oftentimes ends up as a flagrant. Lebron definitely overreacted and looked like Green's bitch lying on the floor. It's hard to reconcile this LeBron with the guy that bullies people when he gets frustrated.
Rudy Gay likely out with a torn achilles.
Meanwhile, Westbrook will finish with a quadruple double this evening (double digit turnovers).
Meanwhile, Westbrook will finish with a quadruple double this evening (double digit turnovers).
Westbrook tells teammates: "don’t say what’s up to that bitch-ass."
I knew there was no love lost between them, but that's even saltier than I imagined, especially 6 months removed from KD's decision.
I knew there was no love lost between them, but that's even saltier than I imagined, especially 6 months removed from KD's decision.
Meanwhile, "that bitch-ass" put up 40 points on 16 fga, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks in 34 minutes.
I love it. The NBA is the one sport where petty rivalries make the game even better and this is the best one going right now though the Cavs/Warriors is the most competitive. Runner up is the C's/ Wizards on just about both fronts.Westbrook tells teammates: "don’t say what’s up to that bitch-ass."
I knew there was no love lost between them, but that's even saltier than I imagined, especially 6 months removed from KD's decision.
Man I love Westbrook. The NBA needs a good blood feud.Westbrook tells teammates: "don’t say what’s up to that bitch-ass."
I knew there was no love lost between them, but that's even saltier than I imagined, especially 6 months removed from KD's decision.
Also, what's up with Nikola Jokic? In December he averaged 17ppg 8.9rpg 4.9apg on 68/39/79% shooting in 25.7mpg. This month hes at 23.2/11/4.8 .611/.430/.820 in 30mpg. Is he really this good?
probably not quite this good in the sense that he's not going to shoot 70% from the floor, but yes he's the forgotten man in the "next great big man" debate, he's a monster.
tough to say, Denver is the worst D in the league, but they are 2.5 points per hundred better on defense when Jokic is on the floor versus off. Of course it's a train wreck either way, but he's definitely not the worst defender on that team.
Jokic continues his torrid streak, putting up 35 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks on 12-22 shooting, 2-4 from 3, 5-5 FT in a loss versus the Spurs.
The Wolves 4th quarter lineup down the stretch in their win at Staples last night over the Clippers.........
Towns - age 21, 66 days
Wiggins - age 21, 332 days
LaVine - age 21, 316 days
Jones - age 20, 255 days
Dunn - age 22, 308 days (elder statesman lol)
Oddly enough, that rumor includes this:
It seems like, aside from the ultimately becoming a back-up thing, Rubio's a pretty perfect bridge guard. Seems like a really weird trade.
Implied in my post (but should have been clearly stated) was players with significant trade value.
Utterly random thought on how hard it is to win as many games as the Warriors did last season:
1. Through 42 games (36-6), GS is only 2 games behind last season's pace (38-4).
2. That means they'd have to win 26 straight to equal last year's record by they time they lost their 7th game (62-6).
1. Through 42 games (36-6), GS is only 2 games behind last season's pace (38-4).
2. That means they'd have to win 26 straight to equal last year's record by they time they lost their 7th game (62-6).
My random Golden State thought of the day.
The Warriors are 1st in the league in Opponents 3-point FG%.
They are 2nd in the league in Opponents 2-point FG%.
They are pretty good.
The Warriors are 1st in the league in Opponents 3-point FG%.
They are 2nd in the league in Opponents 2-point FG%.
They are pretty good.
Wait until next year when Zizic arrives and you don't have to give up anything while keeping an extra $3m off the cap this summer to go after Hayward.
Nurkic has all the makings of a player who will explode with full time minutes. 16.6 points and 11.9 rebounds per 36 minutes, only 22 years old. Zeller leads the Celtics with 8.7 rebounds (and only 12.2 points). I think it's a leap of faith to think Zizic will produce at that level. His rep had been that he can't stay out of foul trouble, but his PF /36 is down to 4 this year from 6 last year and 6.8 the year before. That's still not great but it's less than Amir and Olynyk and just a touch above Zeller.
He's signed for the same length of time as Smart (next year plus an option), for less money. I'd make the deal in a heartbeat.
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So what are you willing to give up to get Nurkic? And what is Denver looking for in return? The fact that the Nuggets been unable to trade any of their veterans (they've been trying to unload Faried for at least a year) leads me to believe that they overvalue their players.
Wow, six of the top eight guys in the league in 3 pointers made are playing in this HOU/GS game, 4 of them on HOU (Ariza? I did not realize that).
http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/3-points/sort/threePointFieldGoalsMade
http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/3-points/sort/threePointFieldGoalsMade