2018 NBA Game Thread

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

The Western Conference playoffs are going to be so fun if this game and other recent ones are any indication. OKC climbs out of a hole to take a three point lead in Denver as PG13 works out of a shooting funk at just the right time. Russ is making big shots too.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Jokic goes for 36 points, 10 dimes and nine boards as Denver beats OKC 121-112.

The Warriors may be one or two injuries away from truly being vulnerable but even without them, Denver looks tough. If Steven Adams, who is a very good defensive big, cannot slow Joker, can a still-finding-his-legs Boogie Cousins do it?

NBA pundits and fans, what do they know? Do they know things?

 

[Sox and Rocks]

The Western Conference playoffs are going to be so fun if this game and other recent ones are any indication. OKC climbs out of a hole to take a three point lead in Denver as PG13 works out of a shooting funk at just the right time. Russ is making big shots too.

And the Nuggets respond as they have all year at home. Now 20-1 in their last 21 home games.

 

[Sox and Rocks]

NBA pundits and fans, what do they know? Do they know things?

I don't watch the national sports talk/hot take shows because I kinda have a life and even if I didn't, why would I? But they're often on in the background while I'm at the gym or at a sports bar, two places I often frequent, and I don't think they've mentioned the Nuggets all year.

Is there a better/bigger surprise this year than them? Plus, they're fun, right? I mean, I'm biased, but how can they be so under the radar this late into the season?

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

I don't watch the national sports talk/hot take shows because I kinda have a life and even if I didn't, why would I? But they're often on in the background while I'm at the gym or at a sports bar, two places I often frequent, and I don't think they've mentioned the Nuggets all year.

Is there a better/bigger surprise this year than them? Plus, they're fun, right? I mean, I'm biased, but how can they be so under the radar this late into the season?

I agree they are fun and, my BoJack reference aside, I think most NBA pundits - at least the ones I follow - love the Nuggets.

And there are certain players who develop a cult-like following around the NBA and Jokic is in that group. Zach Lowe and The Ringer gang are huge Jokic supporters.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Damian Lillard's IG post shows the team using stairs to go to shootaround. No more elevators in Boston for the Blazers.

 

[The Social Chair]

Wade hit an old man wizards Paul Pierce game winner against the Warriors.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Wade hit an old man wizards Paul Pierce game winner against the Warriors.

Fvcking lucky POS. Hit a contested three with 13 seconds left to cut the lead to one; then KD missed a FT on the intentional foul (after being frozen out by a Heat timeout that they did not have, which should been a tech); then Bell blocked Wade's attempted-game winner with a like 1.5 seconds left. Game over ... only somehow it bounced right back towards Wade's hand with 0.1 seconds left, just enough time to get the ball up off his fingertips, off of one leg ... and somehow it bangs off the glass and in.

Blehhhh. Happy retirement, old man. If the Ws lose the top seed on that shot, I'm gonna be pissed.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

The NBA is my favorite league and I pretty much appreciate players ranging from the superstars to the end of bench and G League guys who come in and get a minute or two of run. Normally, seeing a retiring veteran of Wade's caliber hit a GW over the Warriors would be awesome.

But screw him. He is one of the dirtiest players to play in this era.

 

[Kliq]

My boy Ice Trae with 36 again tonight; him and John Collins combine for 75 points and beat Minnesota in OT. Added 8 boards and 10 assists as well, and was 16/17 from the line.

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

Only 70 points, not 75 (Collins had 34), but still...

Two more fun ones:

 

[lovegtm]

Didn't remember that Steph had so many of those his first year.

 

[ElUno20]

The less than 1% chance of the Dubs not winning it all is they seem to lack some real intensity. And I'm talking outside of the regular season being meaningless for them, there's something lacking in that area for them.

It probably wont bite them in the ass so they'll be fine.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Didn't remember that Steph had so many of those his first year.

They all came the second half the season, many of them during a stretch in February-March when Monta Ellis missed 18 games and Steph had to do everything in starting unit comprised of the likes of Anthony Morrow, Anthony Tolliver, Ronny Turiaf, and CJ Watson.

The most hilarious game that year was the last game of the season v. Portland, when — following a early-game injury to Chris Hunter, Nellie had only five healthy available players: Curry, Ellis, Tolliver, Reggie Williams, all of whom played all 48 minutes, plus DeVean George, who played 42. Late in the game, Devean George fouled out, and Nellie had to plead with the refs not to have to put an injured player on the floor. They ultimately let George back in the game with six fouls, at the cost of a technical foul on the Ws.

Young Steph finished with a Trae-esque 42 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

The less than 1% chance of the Dubs not winning it all is they seem to lack some real intensity.

44%, per 538. ;-P

I think that number has less to do with their "lack of real intensity" than just the fact that there are 29 other teams, at least two of whom (MIL and TOR) are really freaking good this year; and random variance is always gonna favor the field over one team. In terms of intensity, I think the last couple years the Warriors have given ample enough evidence that they do have something like a "switch" — especially defensively — come playoff time. Last year they stumbled into the playoffs having lost 10 of 17, including some embarrassing beatdowns, before locking down and mostly vaporizing everyone the playoffs (minus the near-fatal choke v. Houston in Games 4 and 5 following the Iguodala injury). They were the top defensive team in the playoffs by a mile last year, after finishing #11 during the season.

Could be a tougher row to hoe this season, though: I'd argue that MIL and TOR are tougher, deeper, and better-balanced than any team in last year's playoffs; plus HOU (with CP3 now looking heathy), BOS, PHI, OKC, and DEN are all potentially dangerous if healthy and engaged.

 

[Kliq]

Only 70 points, not 75 (Collins had 34), but still...

Two more fun ones:

I think this was my favorite Ice Trae stat:

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

Since the beginning of February
Markkanen 9 games .491/.375/.929, 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists in 36.4 minutes per game. Bulls are 4-5 over that stretch.

His numbers for his age 21 season so far
.443/.383/.877, 19.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 32.7 mpg Rebound rate 15.1%, Assist rate 7.0%, Steal rate 1.2%, Block rate 1.8%, TO rate 8.2%, Usage 24.9%
Dirks' age 21 season
.461/.379/.830, 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 35.8mpg Rebound rate 9.7%, Assist rate 10.9%, Steal rate 1.1%, Block rate 1.6%, TO rate 10.0%, Usage 21.2%.
The following year, Dirk's rebound rate climbed to 13.5% and he's at 12.7% for his career. Kinda interesting.

Trae Young's First 26 games: 29.3mpg, .373/.243/.781, 154 points, 7.2 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 0.7 steals, 4.0 Turnovers.
Trae Young's last 35 games: 31.2 mpg, .437/.388/.826, 19.1 points, 8.0 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1.0 steal, 3.8 Turnovers.

He had a terrible November but has been really good otherwise. People would be paying much more attention to him if it wasn't for such a brutal month that he's still digging his way out of. Kinda like Westbrook. I was pretty harsh on Young earlier in the year but he's grown on me and I consider him a serious piece to put next to John Collins, the real steal of the 2017 draft. He's a very unique player and you can't help but love his shot chart. 54.2% from within 3, 73.3% from within 10. 18.9% from 3+. Only 7.8% of his shots are between 10-3pt. On offense, he's like Clint Capela with a 3 point shot. Usually the guy who is getting offensive rebounds, put backs, tip ins etc doesn't have a 3 point shot to go with it. How often does a player shoot over 60% from 2 while shooting 37%+ from 3? Guessing not very. That's a nice duo, and they are in line to land the 5th and 8th pick in the upcoming draft. Huerter looks pretty good himself and Prince could probably be traded for an asset.

And for all the talk that Brandon Ingram can't shoot the 3, the last 2 years:
Jaylen Brown .395 and .327 on 4.4 and 3.7 attempts per game. 121/306 last year, 67/205 this year. That's a combined .368.
Brandon Ingram .390 and .322 on 1.8 and 1.8 attempts per game. 41/105 last year, 28/87 this year. That's a combined .360.

Brown is a .663 FT shooter after 502 attempts, Ingram is a .661 FT shooter after 766 attempts. Brown has a career FG% of .458, Ingram .455.

511 attempts compared to 192 attempts in ~2 years is obviously a huge difference but the success rate has been basically the same.

Overall this year
Ingram .490/.322/.670, 17.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.6 blocks in 33.5 minutes per. TS% of 54.9% ORtg 106.6, DRtg 107.3
Brown .453/.327/.676, 12.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.5 blocks in 25.9 minutes per. TS% of 53.4%. ORtg 106.6 Drtg 103.8.

Seems like the real difference between the 2 is defense.

I posted something similar a while back but of the NBA players who have made more than 150 3Ps, there are only 7 in NBA history who have a FT% <= .670 and a 3P% >= .350:

Nick Anderson (.667 FT%; .356 3p%);
Bruce Bowen (.575 FT%; .393 3p%);
Mikael Pietrus (.665 FT%; .355 3p%);
Jud Buechler (.633 FT%; .366 3p%);
Mike McGee (.597 FT%; .354 3p%);
JB (.663 FT%; .359 3p%); and
Lee Mayberry (.659 FT%; .377 3p%).

Note that JB has the highest TS% of this group.

Interestingly enough, searching NBA history for guys had uner .700 Ft% and shot more than 500 3PAs, JB has the third highest TS% (.547 - tied with Casspi) behind Blake Griffin (TS% = .563) and Jerami Grant (.552). James Johnson is fifth at .542. http://bkref.com/tiny/mocgv

History suggested that JB's season of .644 FT% and .395 3P% was an outlier and either he had to get better at FTs or worse at 3P. History also suggests that he really needs to start shooting FTs better.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

History also suggests that he really needs to start shooting FTs better.

I would bet his agent and those around him would also suggest the same thing and perhaps more stridently than history.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

I posted something similar a while back but of the NBA players who have made more than 150 3Ps, there are only 7 in NBA history who have a FT% <= .670 and a 3P% >= .350:

Nick Anderson (.667 FT%; .356 3p%);
Bruce Bowen (.575 FT%; .393 3p%);
Mikael Pietrus (.665 FT%; .355 3p%);
Jud Buechler (.633 FT%; .366 3p%);
Mike McGee (.597 FT%; .354 3p%);
JB (.663 FT%; .359 3p%); and
Lee Mayberry (.659 FT%; .377 3p%).

Note that JB has the highest TS% of this group.

Interestingly enough, searching NBA history for guys had uner .700 Ft% and shot more than 500 3PAs, JB has the third highest TS% (.547 - tied with Casspi) behind Blake Griffin (TS% = .563) and Jerami Grant (.552). James Johnson is fifth at .542. http://bkref.com/tiny/mocgv

History suggested that JB's season of .644 FT% and .395 3P% was an outlier and either he had to get better at FTs or worse at 3P. History also suggests that he really needs to start shooting FTs better.

Jaylen is the only player on that list who really had any offensive ability off the dribble aside from Nick Anderson's first few years in the league before he became strictly a spot-up shooter. Once you factor this into the equation it only makes sense that Jaylen would have the highest TS% when you include the easy baskets he gets at the time which the others on this list do not see.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

The Warriors drop the second game of a b2b in Florida as the Magic beat a Durant and Iguodala-less squad 103-96. Orlando still in the playoff hunt...

 

[shawnrbu]

Harden drops 58. The Rockets, unlike the Warriors, finish off Miami in a tight one on South Beach.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Harden drops 58. The Rockets, unlike the Warriors, finish off Miami in a tight one on South Beach.

Except it was in Houston.

 

[shawnrbu]

Whoops - big whiff on my part.

The great day in Philly continues with the Sixers snapping their 19 game losing streak to OKC that dated back to November 2008.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Whoops - big whiff on my part.

The great day in Philly continues with the Sixers snapping their 19 game losing streak to OKC that dated back to November 2008.

PG13 DNP though. OKC would have been much tougher for the 76ers with George in there.

On a related note, Jerami Grant is quietly having a breakout season of his own. He is shooting 38.7% from three (he was a career ~32% from deep prior to this year) and has a career high eFG of 58.5%. He is also having a very good defensive season with a career low D-Rating and career high DPM. He is one of the main reasons, aside from George's brilliance, that OKC has been playing so well.

 

[terrynever]

Tobias Harris is the pure scorer that Philly has needed for too long.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Harden drops 58. The Rockets, unlike the Warriors, finish off Miami in a tight one on South Beach.

58 points
10 assists
7 rebounds
4 steals
1 blocked shot
18-18 FT
Almost singlehandedly led a 4th quarter comeback

Pretty sick line.

 

[Kliq]

58 points
10 assists
7 rebounds
4 steals
1 blocked shot
18-18 FT
Almost singlehandedly led a 4th quarter comeback

Pretty sick line.

Meh, I got him about 6th in my MVP voting.

In other news, the fact that Kevin Love is playing for Cleveland is very funny to me. Here is an All-Star level player in the prime of his career that has come back from injury and just found himself in this ultimate tankathon situation. He put up 26-8 tonight and was +17 in leading Cleveland past the Knicks in a tanking special. The second most experienced player on the court for Cleveland was Brandon Knight.

 

[TripleOT]

Steph Curry just hit his 13th three pointer to set a new NBA record for threes in a game.

 

[jon abbey]

Steph Curry just hit his 13th three pointer to set a new NBA record for threes in a game.

That did happen, but it was November 2016 at the time. Klay has the record now with 14 in a game this past October, Curry was 5-17 from 3 point range tonight.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/fg3_game.html

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Steph Curry just hit his 13th three pointer to set a new NBA record for threes in a game.

Huh? This did not happen at all tonight.

 

[Sox and Rocks]

Steph Curry just hit his 13th three pointer to set a new NBA record for threes in a game.

Triple OT at the bar tonight?

 

[TripleOT]

Triple OT at the bar tonight?

LOL Or and having NBATV on when half asleep. No drinking last night, unfortunately. I didn't realize they were showing an old game.

That reminds me of this. A friend who doesn't know a lot about sports, but is a Yankee fan nonetheless, stopped by my house while a SoxIn2 replay was on the television. I bet him that Big Papi would hit a home run on a particular pitch, and of course i was right. He was stunned that i was right, paid me on the bet. I gave the money back to him and explained that the game was a replay.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

LOL Or and having NBATV on when half asleep. No drinking last night, unfortunately. I didn't realize they were showing an old game.

I called my Dad one day last August (I believe) to tell him I was stopping by and asked what he was doing. My dad is in his 90's so when he told me he was "Watching the Celtics game. It's a good game." I couldn't wait to see what I was about to walk into. I get there and he says I missed a great game but got here just in time for the end. As I look at the TV I see Reggie Lewis walking out of the timeout huddle and onto the parquet floor. True story.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

It didn't take long for Isaiah to wear out his welcome in Denver. 9 TO's over last 3 games covering 50 minutes and a public calling out by coach Mike Malone, "On the other hand, he's also got to understand how we play, and move the ball, and get guys involved."

 

[TripleOT]

I think this was my favorite Ice Trae stat:

Going 8-12 on long threes against the Rockets is like using a leg drop finish against Hulk Hogan. This proficiency on long threes, pioneered by the Rockets, is changing pro basketball.

 

[the moops]

Meh, I got him about 6th in my MVP voting.

6th? Harsh
I have him pretty much tied with Giannis at the top

 

[Cesar Crespo]

6th? Harsh
I have him pretty much tied with Giannis at the top

I have him behind Giannis and George. 6th seems harsh but if he has Durant and Curry on his list, it seems less harsh. I'm guessing the 5th player would be Jokic, maybe Embiid. It looks like Embiid may miss some time though.

 

[Kliq]

I’m sorry if it was misleading, my post was a joke. I have Harden in FIRST, he’s averaging an efficient 36.5 ppg.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

I could definitely see Harden as high as #2, ahead of George, with the Rockets now just 1.5 games behind OKC. George rates better by advanced stats (RPM, RAPM, e.g.), and is obviously the much better defender, but Harden's combo of usage and efficiency is insane. George has actually slipped a bit in scoring efficiency since the break, to the point where Harden has a non-trivial edge on him there: .618 to .593 TS (on 39.3 to 28.6 USG).

It's harder to make case for Harden ahead of Giannis, imho. The Bucks have been the best team in the NBA all season BY FAR, and Giannis has been their best player BY FAR, with no clear consensus second-best player. Any player who checks both of those boxes so clearly is the MVP in my book, without need to get into the weeds on advanced v. traditional stats, etc.

But even in those weeds: Giannis checks all the counting number boxes you'd want from an MVP (PPG, PER, RPG, APG, BPG, SPG, e.g.) while also being a significantly more efficient scorer than Harden (.639 to .618 ts), and obviously miles ahead in terms of defensive impact. And for the sentimental types, he also passes all the grey ink tests with flying colors: first time MVP candidate (voters love to spread the award around, as Jordan and LeBron will tell you); and a lovable, engaging personality who plays for the small-market team that drafted him and has them wildly overperforming all pre-season expectations. (Meanwhile, the teams of Harden, Curry, and Durant have been a bit worse than expected, and George's team is about where people would have pegged them).

Jokic checks a lot of the same boxes as Giannis, just not quite as impressively across the board.

Curry annoyed me last night (and has been generally clang-o-rific since the AS break) so I'm sliding him back a bit.

1. Giannis
2. (tie) George, Harden
4. Jokic
5. Durant
6. Curry

 

[HomeRunBaker]

As good as George has played this year I give him little chance of cracking the Top-2. Harden has had another historic season on top of last years historic season. My heart hurts for those who continually cry about the league not being what it used to be.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

Pau going to Buxs. https://sports.yahoo.com/report-spurs-pau-gasol-agree-to-buyout-213211275.html

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Paging Kliq...



34 points on 12-22 shooting (5-9 from deep) and 11 assists. I was too soon to pronounce Schlenk wrong on this one. Wow...

 

[Sam Ray Not]

18 point 4th quarter for Trae to help erase an 11-point Bulls lead, including a three with 3 seconds left that would have been the game winner, had Otto Porter not gotten fouled at the buzzer and hit all three FTs to send it to OT.

In OT now, and he just hit a three to start the quarter. Holy shite...

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

41 points now. The most by a rookie this season.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

43 and counting ... and if I'm counting right, 27 in the 4th quarter and OT alone...

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

This Chicago @ Atlanta game is amazing. LaVine is playing out of his head too

 

[Buster Olney the Lonely]

Trae with another buzzer beater.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Trae with another buzzer beater.

45 points and 12 dimes. Most points by any rookie this year. And he isn't done yet. This game is really damn good because LaVine is getting buckets too.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Portland and Toronto tied up at 103 in Toronto. 3:18 to go.

 

[ifmanis5]

Just want to go on record and apologize to TY for all the bad things I said about him in Summer League. Guy just kept working and getting better. Big props to him.