NBA Discussion

[mark-2007]

Caught the second half of the Heat at Dallas, very impressive all round performance from Miami and LeBron in particular, who sat out the final quarter. It finished 110-95, but that's kind to Dallas - they outscored Miami 34-19 in the final quarter when, as I say, LeBron was on the bench.

 

Also, maybe a dumb question, but how is the +/- stat worked out? Wade got a plus-40 last night (apparently huge) off of 19 point and six assists (fairly average for him).

 

I started watching the Knicks vs. Nets from last week too that I had recorded. Up to half-time so far, so I don't know the outcome, but Melo started to heat up in the 2nd quarter after Brooklyn began well - the guy's a lot of fun to watch. Blatche started out well too, and the Nets had another player who I hadn't heard of, a rookie or sophomore player, who had a decent outing (edit: MarShon Brooks). Knicks new unis aren't my fav. I like the classic look of the jersey, but the orange band on the shorts looks nasty.

 

Also, I'd love to see the Nets work out in Brooklyn. I'm not too big on them, was never overly fond of them when they were in Jersey, but it'd be nice to see them do well. However, I'm watching the Knicks-Nets game now and, granted their just an island over from the Knicks so there'll be some fan overlapping, but there's a big NYK presence in the Barclays Center for the match by the sounds of it - 'defence!' chants when the Nets are trying to score, big cheers when Anthony or Kidd hits a three, and even 'MVP!' chants for Anthony! I suppose the Nets still have some work to do to win the hearts of Brooklyn basketball fans, particularly with the Knicks coming out of the blocks as they have done.

 

Only just discovered that I get ESPN for free with Virgin Media package, so I'll be catching a lot more NBA, and in better quality than streaming. Looking forward to Christmas Day too, three very interesting games are being broadcast (well, two at least): Celtics-Nets (not too arsed about), Knicks-Lakers, and Thunder-Heat.

Edited December 21, 2012 by mark-2007

[gta_player5]

 

Also, maybe a dumb question, but how is the +/- stat worked out? Wade got a plus-40 last night (apparently huge) off of 19 point and six assists (fairly average for him).

"The AutoTrader.com +/- stat shows the power of teamwork. It's a way of showing the best-engineered/best combination of players on the court. The +/- stat is a statistic that looks at the point differential when players are both in and out of the game, to see how the team performs with various combinations. The +/- stat can look at a variety of combinations including the best two player, three player and even five player combinations for each game."

 

I don't really like that statistic. I think it's fairly misleading and somewhat useless, in all honesty. That statistic is listed for each player, but doesn't speak to the performance of the individual. Your +/- can be very low despite a great game because your teammates failed to perform. It's really a team statistic rather than an individual stat. I find it to be a meaningless stat just like I don't think WAR, or wins above replacement, in baseball is a good statistic.

[Funktipus]

Knicks have been blown out 2 out of the last 3 home games and were out-physicaled by the Bulls. I don't like seeing the head coach and star player losing their cool - what's going to happen if these teams meet in the playoffs? Woody has to figure out how to solve Thibodeau's defense.

[Jonesizzle]

Knicks have been blown out 2 out of the last 3 home games and were out-physicaled by the Bulls. I don't like seeing the head coach and star player losing their cool - what's going to happen if these teams meet in the playoffs? Woody has to figure out how to solve Thibodeau's defense.

That was a great watch though, that is what a heated rivalry should be like.

 

I literally caught the last minute of the Thunder/Heat game. Should've been a great watch for fans, but it sucks watching our two best players miss the game tying shot... I mean.. both of them had a chance.

[mark-2007]

Recorded the three Christmas Day games that were showing on ESPN over here in the UK but, thanks to sh*tty Virgin+, the end was cut off of all but one of them. Caught the entire Celtics-Nets match - Rondo had a great game, and Jared Sullinger looked good too. Not a fan of Deron Williams too much, ever since the whole Sloan fiasco, and D Will seems to be having a bit of a rough patch at the moment, again rounding on his coach so I hope Avery Johnson isn't also heading for the exit.

 

Caught all but the last 6 or so minutes of the Knicks-Lakers match-up. Kobe looked his usual self, and Melo is one of the most fun players to watch in the league right now - seemed to pick up a bit of a knock when the full weight of Marcus Camby fell back against his knee. The Lakers seemed to get a couple of odd decisions called for them - the main one that comes to mind is Novak throws a poor pass to Felton along the sideline by the Lakers bench, D'Antoni steps in the way of Felton, who manages to pass him and keep the ball in anyway. D'Antoni was blocking the ref's line of sight though, so the ref called it out despite not being able to see. The Lakers promptly went up the other end and Kobe scored a basket and went to the line with it too. Bizarre.

 

@DOOM!: Durant's last second shot was pretty tough with LeBron (?) guarding him so close, and Wade (?) should've been called for a foul against Westbrook's attempt. Poor defence, particularly between Perkins and Kevin Martin, let OKC down though.

 

Also, just saw some of yesterday's scorelines. Nuggets beat the Lakers, and J.R. Smith got a buzzer beater against the Suns - he did something similar against the Lakers, a turnaround three to avoid a shot clock violation - pretty impressive!

 

EDIT:

 

 

D Will seems to be having a bit of a rough patch at the moment, again rounding on his coach so I hope Avery Johnson isn't also heading for the exit.

 

Spoke too soon. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--sources-...-181453922.html

Edited December 27, 2012 by mark-2007

[Funktipus]

Felton's out 4 to 6 weeks with that broken finger.

 

Pri's gotta step it up. Copeland definitely needs more PT.

[mark-2007]

Caught the Trail Blazers-Lakers, Lakers looked impressive all round. Howard was dominating early on, shooting free throws more efficiently than he has been lately. Pau was looking good too, even sinking 2 three-pointers! Nash was good facilitating play, and Kobe was Kobe.

 

Also, anyone see the Bulls against the Knicks jostling for the inbound pass... with no-one inbounding.

 

http://watch.nba.com/nba/video/channels/tn...qtin-a-fool.nba

[Funktipus]

Knicks won on last-second three in Phoenix and lost on one in Sac-town. Crazy.

 

Got some players banged-up, but Amar'e should be back soon. Knicks have to take their time with Shump.

[Jonesizzle]

Such a strange year in basketball. Clippers a top of the West? Waitresses causing ankle injuries? Knicks are actually good? Who would've ever thought?

[mark-2007]

Yeah, a lot of surprises so far. As for that ankle injury, it's not the first time this season that something odd like that has happened - Jason Richardson picked up a similar injury after stepping on a cameraman. Granted, the cameraman and probably this waitress were both out of bounds, but does it not raise issues over players' safety? Should the distance between the court and the fans and bench not be expanded? I know that one of the attractions of basketball as a spectator sport is that the front row allows fans (very rich fans, at least) to be right among the action, but when it poses a risk to the player's safety then it might need to be changed. It might take a superstar to pick up a serious injury from one of these mishaps for it to be looked at closer.

 

EDIT: Busy watching Brooklyn at Oklahoma from the other night that I had recorded. Currently midway through the 2nd quarter and the Thunder are down by twenty, Nets leading 48-28. Joe Johnson's doing good from beyond the arc and Serg Ibaka looks like he's developing a nice all-round game, fleshing out his mid-range jumper.

 

Also, how does everyone here keep up with the league? I've only recently started watching the odd one or two games a week on ESPN over here in England but, bearing in mind how many games are played in a week, I miss a lot of them. I try keep up with Hoopsworld a bit, and The Basketball Jones podcast is pretty informative and a good laugh too. ANy other suggestions?

Edited January 5, 2013 by mark-2007

[Funktipus]

How'd you cats like that vicious dunk by J.R. Smith against the Spurs? He's playing the best ball of his career - 6th man of the year maybe?

[Jonesizzle]

JR Smith is a monster, but I think Jamal Crawford would be the leading candidate for 6th man of the year.

[Funktipus]

Lakers are a hot mess - losing to Denver, Kobe and Dwight feuding, Gasol not fitting in Pringles' system. Wonder how Nash feels right now?

[luongo01]

Lakers are a hot mess - losing to Denver, Kobe and Dwight feuding, Gasol not fitting in Pringles' system. Wonder how Nash feels right now?

Just watching the Lakers, I don't think D'Antoni's system really works with the skillset and personnel that the Lakers have. I don't see the Lakers turning it around unless D'Antoni radically changes his system.

 

They should have just gotten Phil Jackson. He'd know how to use Gasol, Dwight, and Kobe together plus he would have had Nash to work with. Jerry Buss screwed Kobe over.

[GTA3Rockstar]

Lakers are a hot mess - losing to Denver, Kobe and Dwight feuding, Gasol not fitting in Pringles' system. Wonder how Nash feels right now?

Just watching the Lakers, I don't think D'Antoni's system really works with the skillset and personnel that the Lakers have. I don't see the Lakers turning it around unless D'Antoni radically changes his system.

 

They should have just gotten Phil Jackson. He'd know how to use Gasol, Dwight, and Kobe together plus he would have had Nash to work with. Jerry Buss screwed Kobe over.

Jackson wasn't interested in coaching anyways.

[luongo01]

Lakers are a hot mess - losing to Denver, Kobe and Dwight feuding, Gasol not fitting in Pringles' system. Wonder how Nash feels right now?

Just watching the Lakers, I don't think D'Antoni's system really works with the skillset and personnel that the Lakers have. I don't see the Lakers turning it around unless D'Antoni radically changes his system.

 

They should have just gotten Phil Jackson. He'd know how to use Gasol, Dwight, and Kobe together plus he would have had Nash to work with. Jerry Buss screwed Kobe over.

Jackson wasn't interested in coaching anyways.

Nah from what I read and heard jackson told them to wait and had another meeting scheduled later in the week. Buss didn't hire him because jackson was going to take a lot of salary for just one year. Buss wanted a longer term coach and there are rumors it was an ego thing as well. Jackson was interested in coming back for the season (atleast what it sounds like in the reports.

[FAH-Q]

HONEY NUT CHEERIOS!!! LMAO MELO'S MAD.

[mark-2007]

I suppose his latest trash-talk doesn't come close to touching this.

 

Classy.

[Funktipus]

Carmelo has to stop losing his cool when teams get physical with him. Same crap happened against Chicago.

[mark-2007]

Been reading on Hoopsworld that Memphis are shopping Rudy Hay, looking to shed some cap space to avoid the luxury tax, and bring in one or two players (plus maybe draft picks?) to help provide a wider arsenal for them come play-offs. I can understand the tax reasons, but there's also the usual question: why break a winning formula?

 

Also, rumours seem to be intensifying over the Maloofs selling the Kings to the Seattle-based Hansen-Ballmer group. Tough break on Sacramento fans, it's tough on any fans to see their team relocate (and something that I still find weird, as an English spectator). The Maloofs had been looking to sell, or at least move, for a good few years now, I believe - Anaheim was the first rumour, then Virginia Beach, and Seattle's always been floating around in the background of the speculation. Still, I'm hoping there's some truth to these rumours this time, would love to see Seattle get a team again; as I've said before in this topic, thy were a favourite of ine when I first got into basketball - used to play as the Sonics on NBA Live 2005 all the time, trying my darnedest to turn Robert Swift into a half-decent center (and failing miserably). Wonder when they'd get the go-ahead to move to Seattle? Mind you, the proposed (and approved, I believe?) arena isn't even built yet.

 

EDIT: Looks like it's more than just rumour, it's one of the headline reports on NBA.com's Hangtime blog.

 

Also, according to Adrian Wojnarowski, fairly reliable and respected reporter, on Twitter

 

 

The Maloofs are finalizing an agreement to sell the Sacramento Kings to the Hansen-Ballmer led Seattle group, sources tell Yahoo! Sports.

 

 

The deal will sell the Kings for approximately $500 million, with the Seattle group seeking relocation to Key Arena for the 2013-'14 season.

 

 

The Seattle group's plans, with support of the NBA, is to play two seasons in Key Arena before moving into a new Seattle arena, sources say.

 

So KeyArena gets basketball again for two seasons, potentially beginning as soon as next season, whilst the Hansen-Ballmer group begin construction on their city-approved arena.

 

See here for his twitter feed.

Edited January 10, 2013 by mark-2007

[Funktipus]

After a fast start, Knicks have played like crap the past ten games. The defense isn't there, no offense outside of 3-pointers, and they're showing their age with all these injuries.

[mark-2007]

Yeah, I caught the end of their loss to Chicago last night and they've fallen off a bit. 'Melo seemed to be trying to step up in the last minute or so, but it was too late by then. As you said before, he's prone to losing his temper and letting physicality or pettiness have an effect on his own game, something he should really know how to deal with after almost ten years in the league. I haven't caught much Knicks lately. Has Stoudemire done much since his return?

[Funktipus]

Yeah, I caught the end of their loss to Chicago last night and they've fallen off a bit. 'Melo seemed to be trying to step up in the last minute or so, but it was too late by then. As you said before, he's prone to losing his temper and letting physicality or pettiness have an effect on his own game, something he should really know how to deal with after almost ten years in the league. I haven't caught much Knicks lately. Has Stoudemire done much since his return?

Nah, not much. It's going to take Amar'e a while to find his way.

 

The player we really miss is Felton, and his attacking the basket.

[mark-2007]

Ah right, yeah, I wondered who was missing. Felton is a big loss. I'm watching them host the Hornets at the moment, only in the first quarter at the moment but, as you say, they're lacking offensively and there's little defensive effort.

 

Watched a couple Lakers losses through the week too - one to the Spurs and he other a blowout to the Thunder. Their defence was embarrassing at times, absolutely no desire to defend the perimeter - Kawhi Leonard and Stephen Jackson were having a field day from 3-pt territory at times - and no post-presence - although that may largely be down to Gasol and Howard being out. Sacre's no Dwight. I do quite enjoy them struggling though, I must be honest.

 

Also, I may have been a bit premature with my excitement over the return of the NBA to Seattle. Didn't realise that the Maloofs are notorious for their impetuousness in business deals.

Edited January 13, 2013 by mark-2007

[Jonesizzle]

Hopefully they will be the Super Sonics ad not some other cheesy name, ala The Thunder.

[mark-2007]

Yeah, I've heard various names suggested. I reckon it'll be the Supersonics as, from what I know, Klay Bennett allowed some kind of shared history deal which would allow any new Seattle franchise to reclaim the name. Someone online suggested keeping the Kings, which is fitting as Seattle's situated within King County, Washington. Also heard a sort of portmanteau of the two, with SuperKings. Sounds a bit hyperbolical.

Edited January 13, 2013 by mark-2007

[Jonesizzle]

SuperKings is a more absurd name than Thunder. I remember reading of hearing that Phil Jackson would be interested in coaching in Seattle if they returned a franchise there, we shall see if there is

Any relevance behind that rumor seeing the Kings have been needing a coach for quite some time.

[mark-2007]

Yeah, I heard that too. Would be very exciting to see DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans (if those two are even still there by then) playing under Jackson. It'd be a tough couple years for the franchise to turn itself around, but I think fan excitement about having basketball back would keep attendance pretty high, and you only have to look at OKC to see how quickly a team's fortunes can change with a good set-up and some good draft picks.

 

The Kings are pretty woeful though, even managed to make Mario Chalmers look like an All Star - 34 points and 10-13 from behind the arc in a blow-out win for the Heat.

Edited January 14, 2013 by mark-2007

[Funktipus]

Ah right, yeah, I wondered who was missing. Felton is a big loss. I'm watching them host the Hornets at the moment, only in the first quarter at the moment but, as you say, they're lacking offensively and there's little defensive effort.

 

The ball moves around better when Felton's on the court. You can get away with the iso crap against teams like the Hornets, but not with the Bulls, who bring it on defense.

[mark-2007]

Felton's still got a couple weeks on the sidelines I think, but at least Shumpert's back soon - heard reports he could make his season debut on Thursday in London - so he might help shore up the perimeter defence.

 

Paul George seems to be developing nicely for the Pacers, who have turned around their poor start to the season. Roy Hibbert improved in December compared to his dismal start to the season, but he's still seeming a shadow of his former self - was really expecting him to have a big season, especially after his performances on defence in last season's play-offs. Could Danny Granger be on his way out? Not sure if the competition at SF between a Paul George and a healthy Granger would benefit Indiana, and they seem to be coping pretty well without him. Heard his name bandied around a bit a few weeks back, with one rumour sending him to Toronto in return for Andrea Bargnani and/or Jose Calderon, or using one of them as the ase for a trade package.

 

 

Edited January 14, 2013 by mark-2007