Sure he's still burned by 2007Seems like Dantoni wants to win by 50
Sure he's still burned by 2007Seems like Dantoni wants to win by 50
To me it's less an issue of his not putting up numbers than of being unplayable defensively as a PF against fast modern teams that play four-out (of which the Rockets are the apotheosis). At age 31 it looks like he's lugging around 20-30 lbs. of unwanted weight.I've been a big Aldridge fan and I think he has taken an undue beating for not putting up the same numbers he did in Portland when he came to SA. Everyone puts up smaller numbers in SA and it is always ultimately better for the team. However, I can't defend his performance tonight. Watching him failing to score while posting up on Harden and Ryan Anderson is unacceptable.
He needs to go to the Diaw School of Fat Basketball. He looked incredibly sluggish out there and it was weird to watch. Reminded me of Mark Blount fumbling balls away. Spurs need Aldridge to be much better. When he's on, they can beat anyone.To me it's less an issue of his not putting up numbers than of being unplayable defensively as a PF against fast modern teams that play four-out (of which the Rockets are the apotheosis). At age 31 it looks like he's lugging around carrying 20-30 lbs. of unwanted weight.
But even as far as the numbers: you can live with a drop in volume if it comes with a rise in efficiency (a la David Lee). Aldridge this season has seen a dip in volume (to 19.2 pts per 36) while his efficiency has dipped to sub-mediocre (.532 ts). He's also been pretty crap on the glass (8.1 boards per 36). Not surprising that the Cavs were 4.6 pts better per 100 possessions this season with him on the bench.
I know he's making max money, but that's a sunk cost. I don't see how the Spurs get by the Rockets, let alone the Warriors, with Aldridge continuing to play big minutes at the 4 alongside another slow big like Lee or Gasol. I'd seriously consider relegating him to 15-20 minutes a game at backup C.
Leonard seems like he'd be an ideal small ball 4. Not sure about the rest of that lineup though, if Pop wins with that he should be elevated to coaching sainthood.One game overreaction alert, but at some point Pop has to consider going with a smallball look with Kawhi at the 4 ... right? Trotting out traditional two-big lineups with Lee or Aldridge at the 4 is killing them against this Rockets team.
Personally, I'd try something like Dedmon-Leonard-Green-Manu-Mills.
The Clips wouldn't be wrong to keep Paul. He's pretty irreplaceable. But they need to build up their team depth somehow. A three nickels for a quarter trade involving Griffin or Jordan is probably necessary.Was coming here to post similar. Paul worked his ass off during these negotiations including the no-trade clause for 8/4 guys. There was talk around the all-star break about the $200m extension being a done deal and the President of the Players Union isn't going to allow himself to be traded to Sacramento or Brooklyn. Ballmer loves Doc, loves Paul, and they lost a playoff series again primarily due to injuries. He isn't breaking up this crew for the right to win 30 games next year and Paul isn't going to give up tens of millions of dollars to sign elsewhere while also giving up his no-trade rights.
Wow 1 point. This Raptors team has peaked.If I'm a Raptors fan I'm pretty pissed at DeRozan. 0-5 FG tonight so far.
Update: 0-7
Yup. They're rolling. I'm certainly glad they pissed away the #1 seed. Celtics would need all the help they can get.LeBron's extra gear seems pretty formidable right now.
But....but....all those minutes!!LeBron's extra gear seems pretty formidable right now.
39 points tonight ... on 14 fga. Yikes.LeBron's extra gear seems pretty formidable right now.
But can they defend well enough to prevent GSW from looking like a better version of that...But....but....all those minutes!!
This Cleveland team is a juggernaut. Unstoppable offense with all those shooters surrounding LeBron and Kyrie.
nope.But can they defend well enough to prevent BOS from looking like a better version of that...
I hope it's just a sprain. Don't want to see anyone go out like that.Big injury for Parker. Maybe sprain? Didn't look like ACL to me.
Yeah, it didn't "look" bad until his reaction to it and having to be carried off. It was non-contact occurring on the landing which makes it even more likely that he heard "the pop." Players know.....I have to trust his reaction and inability to even attempt to put weight on it.Big injury for Parker. Maybe sprain? Didn't look like ACL to me.
Skip must have missed the first game of the night where Bron went for 39/6/4/3/2 on 14 FGA. Not to take anything away from Kawhi who was just as ridiculous.
The hottest of takez!
I was hoping for a Pierce moment but I agree that he's probably done for the playoffs.Yeah, it didn't "look" bad until his reaction to it and having to be carried off. It was non-contact occurring on the landing which makes it even more likely that he heard "the pop." Players know.....I have to trust his reaction and inability to even attempt to put weight on it.
I almost forgot about Pierce being carried off in a similar manner. He also had the head bandage at the post-game presser one time too. Makes me wonder if he faked the stab wounds too!.....(that was a joke)I was hoping for a Pierce moment but I agree that he's probably done for the playoffs.
("Gunshot?"I almost forgot about Pierce being carried off in a similar manner. He also had the head bandage at the post-game presser one time too. Makes me wonder if he faked the gunshot wounds too!.....(that was a joke)
But he was OUR drama king!!
Agreed. And don't forget the two-time defending MVP, who has "quietly" put up these #s (per 36 min) while leading his team to a 5-0 record in the playoffs:We, the fans, are the big winners in these playoffs. LeBron and Kawhi last night......Wall and Isaiah the night before.....we've had Harden and Westbrook too. Good times for the NBA.
Ugh, that totally sucks. You kind of knew just from the expression on his face and the way he was holding it and not moving. Just a gross moment. The painfully ironic aspect of it is that he was playing his best hoops in a couple years before it happened. Over the last couple years he has occasionally looked diminished by injuries, slow, slightly overweight, etc. But in this years' playoffs -- last night's game in particular -- he had looked as lithe, aggressive and quick off the dribble as the Parker of old, with a sweet three-point shot added for good measure. As a Warriors fan, I was thinking "ugh ... if this version of Parker is for real, these guys are gonna be really tough to handle."Looks like it's official - Parker done
James Harden and DeMar Derozan combined last night: 18 points on 28 field goal attemptsKawhi and LeBron combined last night: 73 points on 30 field goal attempts.
Round 3? Skip past the Conference finals and straight to the chase?Round 3 between Cleveland and Golden State is like a 99% certainty at this point. And the 1% is only due to the possibility of a major injury.
Sadly, yes. If the Celtics were playing better, I might reduce it to like 97.5%. Spurs losing Parker kills them against GS. And Houston would lose 4-1 or get swept.Round 3? Skip past the Conference finals and straight to the chase?
Hayward actually finished this game strong. Unfortunately, Golden State is just too strong.
17 to 1 run. Toronto just gooning it up but it's not working. And they did it with JR, Love, and Kyrie on the bench.This game got ugly fast. Cavs making it a laugher. They've outscored the Raps 20-3 in the 4th with a little more than 6 to go. Lead by 19.