Kyrie was really good down the stretch. Full on hero ball for a couple of minutes. He barely passed the ball at all in the closing minutes but his dish to O'Neale for the wide open 3 with 28 seconds left was a dagger.Nets win, Dubs could not make a shot last 6 minutes
Yeah that was a hard one. Warriors are 16-16 with Steph, 23-24 overall. They have been a thoroughly mediocre team. Of course, the GS optimist would say that after 47 games last year, the Celtics were also 23-24. Maybe the Warriors don't have a closing kick like the 2022 Celtics, but as long as they finish top 6 (currently in 10th place but just 1 game out of 6th), they'll be ok.And Brooklyn stages a comeback from 12 down in the last 5 minutes and holds on thanks to some clutch Kyrie FTs. My rooting loyalties were very unclear there.
This post didn’t age very well now did it?Hack-a-Claxton in full effect in the closing minutes of the Warriors vs Nets. He just missed 2 FTs with 3:25 left to go in the game with the Warriors up by 5.
He and Simmons are damn near unplayable in the closing minutes of close games.
At 3:26, Warriors were up 5 when Thompson fouled Claxton (off ball). He missed both free throws. Forty seconds later Claxton was subbed out with the Warriors still up 5. In the minute he was on the bench, the Nets went on a 5-0 run. As far as I remember he didn’t touch the ball in the half court after that. Ben Simmons was benched from 7:25 on.This post didn’t age very well now did it?
Warriors were up 5 when they began Hack-A-Claxton and lost by 4. Another big Hack-A-Story to go along with another L utilizing this flawed strategy. The Warriors offense flowing with 22 pts and 3:26 to go in the game when they began the strategy. The rest of the way they shot 0-5 with 3 TO’s and only 4 FT’s saved them from the post-Hack goose egg.
You’ve missed my previous takes and real time examples on how the offensive flow of the team doing the hacking not only falls off but nosedives which is what once again occurred today. It has been occurring for years yet some coaches keep trying it. I get the desperation when you’re trailing but what Kerr did tonight was completely unnecessary.At 3:26, Warriors were up 5 when Thompson fouled Claxton (off ball). He missed both free throws. Forty seconds later Claxton was subbed out with the Warriors still up 5. In the minute he was on the bench, the Nets went on a 5-0 run. As far as I remember he didn’t touch the ball in the half court after that. Ben Simmons was benched from 7:25 on.
edit: just watched it again, after missing his last two free throws mentioned above, Claxton didn’t touch the ball apart from a defensive rebound and kicked ball.
You probably shouldn't use last night as an example of the Hack-a-Clax or Ben as a failed strategy.You’ve missed my previous takes and real time examples on how the offensive flow of the team doing the hacking not only falls off but nosedives which is what once again occurred today. It has been occurring for years yet some coaches keep trying it. I get the desperation when you’re trailing but what Kerr did tonight was completely unnecessary.
You are ignoring that many times the last few minutes of a game are a slog regardless of any hackathon that occurs. And that teams lose leads, even large ones all the timeYou’ve missed my previous takes and real time examples on how the offensive flow of the team doing the hacking not only falls off but nosedives which is what once again occurred today. It has been occurring for years yet some coaches keep trying it. I get the desperation when you’re trailing but what Kerr did tonight was completely unnecessary.
Please point these anomalies out as they are rare occurances. Where are all these large leads that evaporated?You are ignoring that many times the last few minutes of a game are a slog regardless of any hackathon that occurs. And that teams lose leads, even large ones all the time
Yeah yeah yeah….but but but. There is always a defense for this strategy when it fails, every time. Got his defense off the floor so they could whiff on 7 of 9 possessions. Big win. Btw, the fouling was to get his OFFENSE off the floor as he had scored at the rim on the previous 3 trips.You probably shouldn't use last night as an example of the Hack-a-Clax or Ben as a failed strategy.
Kerr got Claxton's defense off the floor. That's a WIN. Kerr also completely got Simmons off the floor for the last 7+ minutes with the Hack approach
The fact that GSW couldn't hit wide open shots had more to do with them losing than watching Nic Claxton relentlessly miss Free Throws
Seriously? You have been beating the drum religiously as to how 15 point leads really aren't that large and the reason why teams in the lead don't sub out their starters even with 3 minutes to go in the game. So which is it?Please point these anomalies out as they are rare occurances. Where are all these large leads that evaporated?
Huh? What does one have to do with the other? I can’t answer specifically the psychological affect this strategy has with offensive flow but to ignore it is foolish. Not sure what this has to do with when a game is analytically final.Seriously? You have been beating the drum religiously as to how 15 point leads really aren't that large and the reason why teams in the lead don't sub out their starters even with 3 minutes to go in the game. So which is it?
Last night the Warriors called timeout after they hacked Claxton in the use it or lose it situation. They were stopping the flow with the timeout anyway. The earlier fouls were shooting fouls and I don't think there is a question you should foul Claxton instead of letting him get a layup.You’ve missed my previous takes and real time examples on how the offensive flow of the team doing the hacking not only falls off but nosedives which is what once again occurred today. It has been occurring for years yet some coaches keep trying it. I get the desperation when you’re trailing but what Kerr did tonight was completely unnecessary.
Your argument is that teams only blow large leads on rare occurrences. And when they do, it is generally a result because they employ some hack a theory. Except the game you are referencing was only a 12 point lead with over 6 minutes to go. If you think the only teams to blow a 12 point lead with that much time left, well.....Huh? What does one have to do with the other? I can’t answer specifically the psychological affect this strategy has with offensive flow but to ignore it is foolish. Not sure what this has to do with when a game is analytically final.
HRB's assertion is that it disrupts the mentality and offensive execution of the fouling team to pursue tactical fouling late in games. Vaughn removing or not removing Claxton from the game would've had no bearing on GSW's ability to focus and execute on offense, except insofar as Claxton is a good defender and removing him should've made the Warriors' job easier. So your argument does not apply.Last night the Warriors called timeout after they hacked Claxton in the use it or lose it situation. They were stopping the flow with the timeout anyway. The earlier fouls were shooting fouls and I don't think there is a question you should foul Claxton instead of letting him get a layup.
I know you know more about basketball than I do but somehow you think you have solved this issue yet almost every coach in the NBA has it wrong? If you are correct than Vaughn was also wrong for removing Claxton from the game. He should have left him in to continue to get fouled and miss free throws?
It’s not about knowing more about basketball and I admit myself that I have no idea about how it affects an offensive players approach. It everyone wants to continue ignoring the offensive results once a team begins to hack so be it. I became opened minded about it years ago and am astonished by the results that I’ve been sharing for awhile.Last night the Warriors called timeout after they hacked Claxton in the use it or lose it situation. They were stopping the flow with the timeout anyway. The earlier fouls were shooting fouls and I don't think there is a question you should foul Claxton instead of letting him get a layup.
I know you know more about basketball than I do but somehow you think you have solved this issue yet almost every coach in the NBA has it wrong? If you are correct than Vaughn was also wrong for removing Claxton from the game. He should have left him in to continue to get fouled and miss free throws?
Here I thought nobody could put words in my mouth like my wife. I was wrong. Sigh.Your argument is that teams only blow large leads on rare occurrences. And when they do, it is generally a result because they employ some hack a theory. Except the game you are referencing was only a 12 point lead with over 6 minutes to go. If you think the only teams to blow a 12 point lead with that much time left, well.....
Ha! I'm not sure it had any real impact on the outcome of the game.This post didn’t age very well now did it?
Warriors were up 5 when they began Hack-A-Claxton and lost by 4. Another big Hack-A-Story to go along with another L utilizing this flawed strategy. The Warriors offense flowing with 22 pts and 3:26 to go in the game when they began the strategy. The rest of the way they shot 0-5 with 3 TO’s and only 4 FT’s saved them from the post-Hack goose egg.
Championship hangover is probably the biggest reason the Warriors are struggling this season. Betting the under on their win total would have been a nice playYeah yeah yeah….but but but. There is always a defense for this strategy when it fails, every time. Got his defense off the floor so they could whiff on 7 of 9 possessions. Big win. Btw, the fouling was to get his OFFENSE off the floor as he had scored at the rim on the previous 3 trips.
I know right? I thought this too years ago before I began paying close attention to these now-rare sequences.Ha! I'm not sure it had any real impact on the outcome of the game.
I don't think hacking Claxton had much to do with the Warriors missing their last five shots from the floor and turning the ball over three times in the final 3+ minutes of the game.
They weren’t struggling. They were up 5 and pacing for a 30-pt 4Q which is well above league 4Q average.Championship hangover is probably the biggest reason the Warriors are struggling this season. Betting the under on their win total would have been a nice play
Claxton is really elevating himself, regardless of his FT clankfest. He is the Net's version of TimeLord on defense
They also effectively played Hack a Clax in the first half when they opened up a 12pt leadI know right? I thought this too years ago before I began paying close attention to these now-rare sequences.
They weren’t struggling. They were up 5 and pacing for a 30-pt 4Q which is well above league 4Q average.
Your assertion that a defensive tactic like fouling on purpose disrupts the offensive flow of the fouling team needs something more than anecdotal evidence to get more then a “huh?” From this crowd. This is especially true for something like fouls, which you would have to differentiate between purposeful and accidental. Consider establishing some parameters for what you are looking for and spending some time trying to show it statistically. That is the only way to gets some traction here with that idea.You’ve missed my previous takes and real time examples on how the offensive flow of the team doing the hacking not only falls off but nosedives which is what once again occurred today. It has been occurring for years yet some coaches keep trying it. I get the desperation when you’re trailing but what Kerr did tonight was completely unnecessary.
FWIW. The original argument (weeks ago) was that Hack-a-Clax & Hack-a-Ben is more effective in limiting the Nets offensively than letting Kyrie & Durant cook on offense.To put this in some perspective, average points per half court possession in the NBA is roughly 1.09. That's a 55% free throw shooter. Free throw shooting is lower variance, and when you are down late lower variance is not always the sort of thing you are looking for (though sometimes it is, e.g. when down by 2 late). The list of Hack-A candidates is pretty short. Mitchell Robinson, Simmons and Claxton, Kenrich Williams, maybe Steven Adams (he's been terrible this season, though never good), Haywood Highsmith... those kinds of dudes.
Not one team has employed the Hack-a-Simmons or Hack-a-Clax strategy during the Nets' win streak. Not sure why, but they have been allowed to take lay-ups at their leisure and play excellent D. While letting Kyrie and KD cook on offense.
CJM has no problem cooling off KD/Ky by making them witness the Ben/Nic Free Throw Show. This will lead the Nets to compromise their defense. ALSO the C's have the perimeter defenders (Tatum, White, Smart, Grant) to somewhat slow Ky/KD down. The Celtics are well-constructed to beat the Nets.
Your argument is that fouling is bad for the defensive team. If that is the case then the offensive team should leave the player in to be fouled. Vaughn took Claxton out so he couldn't be fouled on purpose. Wouldn't that be the wrong strategy even if it worked in this game?It’s not about knowing more about basketball and I admit myself that I have no idea about how it affects an offensive players approach. It everyone wants to continue ignoring the offensive results once a team begins to hack so be it. I became opened minded about it years ago and am astonished by the results that I’ve been sharing for awhile.
How did Vaughn get it wrong when his strategy was effective? This is a bizarre to me.
Trey Lyles still can't get any respect around the league but damn he is a nice bench piece for these guys.The Kings make 22 threes (including tying an NBA record with 12 in the first quarter) and smash the Grizzlies last night, 133-100. This comes shortly after they made 23 threes, a franchise record, back on Jan. 9. They are now 27-19 and in third place in the West. They lead the league in PPG and are second in offensive rating.
Given the power of their offense, I thought they'd be more elite at shooting, but they are 9th in the league in team three point percentage (37%) and 7th in three pointers made per game (13.7).
Sabonis is having a monster year; really close to a Jokic season. 19-12-7 and shooting 60% from the field; just mashing people on the block and running the offense from the elbows. Fox is having a really interesting season. His three-point shooting is still somewhat Westbrookian, but he is making up for it by shooting 57% on twos, buyoed by his trademark insanely high finishing around the basket numbers (76% shooting at the rim, a number only players like Giannis ever approach in great quantity).
It's interesting that while his usage rate is still around the same as his last few seasons, he's clearly playing more off-ball as Sabonis has become the primary initiator for the offense. Part of the reason they did the Haliburton trade (a really fascinating trade in hindsight, given the jumps both Sabonis and Haliburton have made) was because they didn't feel like Fox and Haliburton could play together because they were both ball handlers, yet Sabonis is now being used as a primary creator and leads the team in assists.
Harrison Barnes started slow but has been really hot lately and is their most dependable wing player. Keegan Murray looks like a rookie on defense but is big and shooting 42% from three at a high volume, he looks like a real player. Huerter has been a nice addition, adding ++shooting and some playmaking.
Crazy game. Tied at 80 midway through the 3Q and the Kings finished on a 53-20 run. The Grizz scored 10 points in the 4Q without Morant. The Grizz go as Ja goes. How do these Kings, who gladly offer opponents a free layup line, hold anyone to 10 pts in a quarter? NBA Insanity.The Kings make 22 threes (including tying an NBA record with 12 in the first quarter) and smash the Grizzlies last night, 133-100. This comes shortly after they made 23 threes, a franchise record, back on Jan. 9. They are now 27-19 and in third place in the West. They lead the league in PPG and are second in offensive rating.
Given the power of their offense, I thought they'd be more elite at shooting, but they are 9th in the league in team three point percentage (37%) and 7th in three pointers made per game (13.7).
Sabonis is having a monster year; really close to a Jokic season. 19-12-7 and shooting 60% from the field; just mashing people on the block and running the offense from the elbows. Fox is having a really interesting season. His three-point shooting is still somewhat Westbrookian, but he is making up for it by shooting 57% on twos, buyoed by his trademark insanely high finishing around the basket numbers (76% shooting at the rim, a number only players like Giannis ever approach in great quantity).
It's interesting that while his usage rate is still around the same as his last few seasons, he's clearly playing more off-ball as Sabonis has become the primary initiator for the offense. Part of the reason they did the Haliburton trade (a really fascinating trade in hindsight, given the jumps both Sabonis and Haliburton have made) was because they didn't feel like Fox and Haliburton could play together because they were both ball handlers, yet Sabonis is now being used as a primary creator and leads the team in assists.
Harrison Barnes started slow but has been really hot lately and is their most dependable wing player. Keegan Murray looks like a rookie on defense but is big and shooting 42% from three at a high volume, he looks like a real player. Huerter has been a nice addition, adding ++shooting and some playmaking.
The Grizzlies are 24-9 over the last two years without Ja.Crazy game. Tied at 80 midway through the 3Q and the Kings finished on a 53-20 run. The Grizz scored 10 points in the 4Q without Morant. The Grizz go as Ja goes. How do these Kings, who gladly offer opponents a free layup line, hold anyone to 10 pts in a quarter? NBA Insanity.
I’m referring to this year. In the past he was all flash no substance but that has changed. They also had a second unit in the past that could start in the league.He’s made a ridiculous leap since last season in my ratings in how he has learned to control the game.The Grizzlies are 24-9 over the last two years without Ja.
That Huerter trade is turning into a heist. Sticking a completely useless Justin Holiday on ATLs roster while adding multiple years of a starting sniper. ATL can enjoy that Kings 1st along with their play-in game pick.The Kings make 22 threes (including tying an NBA record with 12 in the first quarter) and smash the Grizzlies last night, 133-100. This comes shortly after they made 23 threes, a franchise record, back on Jan. 9. They are now 27-19 and in third place in the West. They lead the league in PPG and are second in offensive rating.
Given the power of their offense, I thought they'd be more elite at shooting, but they are 9th in the league in team three point percentage (37%) and 7th in three pointers made per game (13.7).
Sabonis is having a monster year; really close to a Jokic season. 19-12-7 and shooting 60% from the field; just mashing people on the block and running the offense from the elbows. Fox is having a really interesting season. His three-point shooting is still somewhat Westbrookian, but he is making up for it by shooting 57% on twos, buyoed by his trademark insanely high finishing around the basket numbers (76% shooting at the rim, a number only players like Giannis ever approach in great quantity).
It's interesting that while his usage rate is still around the same as his last few seasons, he's clearly playing more off-ball as Sabonis has become the primary initiator for the offense. Part of the reason they did the Haliburton trade (a really fascinating trade in hindsight, given the jumps both Sabonis and Haliburton have made) was because they didn't feel like Fox and Haliburton could play together because they were both ball handlers, yet Sabonis is now being used as a primary creator and leads the team in assists.
Harrison Barnes started slow but has been really hot lately and is their most dependable wing player. Keegan Murray looks like a rookie on defense but is big and shooting 42% from three at a high volume, he looks like a real player. Huerter has been a nice addition, adding ++shooting and some playmaking.
Needs to get 7 more points and a coupe more assists to get to peak MVP jokicSabonis is having a monster year; really close to a Jokic season. 19-12-7 and shooting 60% from the field
That real old guy the Lakers have seems to have something to do with it too.This officiating in the clippers lakers game is awful. Just dragging the lakers back into the game
He just hit a bunch 3s and cried all game like a baby. Clipps let them punch themselves out then shut the door when it mattered.That real old guy the Lakers have seems to have something to do with it too.
*cried all career like a babyHe just hit a bunch 3s and cried all game like a baby. Clipps let them punch themselves out then shut the door when it mattered.
Nice to see reggie jackson still has a pulse
It’s so weird (I know this is Ben) but he was beginning to play so well up until a few weeks ago. It looked like he had his legs back and was really working in sync w Kyrie. Then it stopped.I am not sure if Ben Simmons is a playable NBA player right now. I just watched about 4 minutes of him playing (not looking at anyone else) and he took like 3 or 4 steps each possession (on Off and Def...when not bringing the ball up court or on-ball defending). Only real movement was when the ball bounced to him and he missed a 5 foot bunny.
Currently 14 MP. 0-1, 2 DRB, 2 Ast, 1 block, 3 fouls. -10
Edit: And he just got the ball at the restricted area and didn't hesitate before passing it.
And at least the announcers aren't shying away from it. There was no way you could ignore the fact that Simmons sat out the last 5+ minutes.It’s so weird (I know this is Ben) but he was beginning to play so well up until a few weeks ago. It looked like he had his legs back and was really working in sync w Kyrie. Then it stopped.
And even if his line looks fine, he's a defensive specialist, and the other team scored 137 points. And Simmons had the worst +/- of anyone who played. The big problem with Simmons isn't how he's playing right now (his basic numbers are almost identical to draymond), the problem is that everybody knows he's afraid to score and afraid to go to the line. This is a problem that will get worse in the playoffs when the game slows down and every possession is grind it out.I thought you guys were overreacting on Simmons because his line looked okay, but then I checked his player page and..
View attachment 60462
(231/255 players in points per 100 possessions)