The NBA Thread

[ludy51]

1 hour ago, Inqui said:

Once again we tried to discover our inner Pees and nearly choke away an 11-point lead with a minute left. But it always feels good to get back in the winners column. I've said Aaron Gordon's the guy I'm most excited about for the future, and he went off tonight. He's going to be something special when he earns his way into a full-time gig.

But hey, still better than the Pro Bowl.

The first half is actually fun to watch when guys hit. Not the second half though

[DomMcRaven]

So despite losing 4 starters, the Blazers is currently in 7th place in the West. While I don't know if we can continue to hold a playoff spot, I'm very proud of this team exceeding my expectations so far. 

[Inqui]

Just now, DomMcRaven said:

So despite losing 4 starters, the Blazers is currently in 7th place in the West. While I don't know if we can continue to hold a playoff spot, I'm very proud of this team exceeding my expectations so far. 

At least you're still in the play-off picture. We're now 11th and mastering the art of losing the close ones (lost to the Spurs because of a missed reverse layup).

Ah well, still only 3.5 games behind 8th. Hopefully we can start firing after the All-Star break like we did last year.

[DomMcRaven]

1 hour ago, Inqui said:

At least you're still in the play-off picture. We're now 11th and mastering the art of losing the close ones (lost to the Spurs because of a missed reverse layup).

Ah well, still only 3.5 games behind 8th. Hopefully we can start firing after the All-Star break like we did last year.

Tbh, I'm in complete shock with you guys. Care to explain? I'm around Magic fans a lot, but they're quiet.

[-Truth-]

Can't believe the dunk contest had to have a loser. That was a show for the ages. Aaron Gordon had the best dunk of night in my eyes.

[DomMcRaven]

3 hours ago, -Truth- said:

Can't believe the dunk contest had to have a loser. That was a show for the ages. Aaron Gordon had the best dunk of night in my eyes.

Agreed. Hopefully these two do this again for next year. That was one of the better dunk contests in quite some time. 

[Inqui]

On 2/13/2016 at 2:01 PM, DomMcRaven said:

Tbh, I'm in complete shock with you guys. Care to explain? I'm around Magic fans a lot, but they're quiet.

It's honestly hard to say, and I guess if it were a simple fix we'd have made it by now. I haven't been able to watch every single game since I've been busy with work and the like, but I'd say it's a combination of scheduling (we had a fairly easy run to start with and we've run into some much stronger sides recently), general inexperience proving ugly at the wrong time (not entirely unlike the Ravens tbh), guys like Evan Fournier starting to cool off after starting in a rich vein of form, a few unfortunate injuries and the same old combinations just not working anymore. I guess all of that stuff is a way of saying we probably overachieved a bit to start the season and are heading back towards the mean.

But it's not like things are completely hopeless, mind. We just beat the Hawks twice and after that only fell to the Spurs by two points (not to mention putting up a good fight in SA a month or so back), so the signs of life are still there. And the two guys I'm most excited about (Gordon and Hezonja) have been looking really good when they've played.

[Inqui]

4 hours ago, -Truth- said:

Can't believe the dunk contest had to have a loser. That was a show for the ages. Aaron Gordon had the best dunk of night in my eyes.

I think I said this last year, watching Oladipo at the dunk contest was great but I thought Gordon would do so much better and I was pumped to see that he'd entered. I'm pretty bummed he lost and I have to admit I think the judges were a bit more generous to LaVine because of his hype (I'll be honest and say I'm a little bitter, so take me with a pinch of salt). I reckon next year Hezonja will enter and put up a similarly respectable show.

Was really satisfying, though, to hear the commentators talk about nothing but how great it'd be to see LaVine next when Gordon was doing his first dunk - only to hear them change their tune after his second when they actually realised there were people other than LaVine in the contest.

[Inqui]

Well, see what happens when I lose interest in the NBA for a few days during the All-Star break. Two massive trades made at the deadline (well, one, but between the two they show our intent). Shipping Channing Frye works for both us and the Cavs, he gives the Cavs some shooting and will still be on a reasonably-priced contract when the new salary cap kicks in. But shipping Tobias Harris for Ersan Ilyasova and Brandon Jennings makes things really interesting.

In terms of losing the player, I think something always had to give with our mish-mash of talented but awkwardly fitting players and clearly Harris was it. But it's a shame to lose a really talented 23-year-old (it feels like he's been around forever, but he's younger than me) who's already represented Team USA. It always sucks to lose that kind of upside, but with Vucevic as a strong scorer and suspect defending, we can probably look to add someone a bit more complementary. As well as giving Mario and Gordon a bit more room to do their thing (dunno how I feel about rushing them in, but there you go).

As for getting rid of Frye, come the free agency window we're going to have something obscene like $50 million to play with, which should be able to give us two max deals. Looks like this offseason (or the one after at the latest) will be huge in deciding how the next 10 years looks for us. Either we hit on a piece or two that makes everything click and set ourselves up for a run at a genuine superstar to push us over the top, or we get a couple of role players on bloated contracts and end up looking like the Jazz or Bucks and sit in the play-off limbo until we luck into a superstar like Houston or just give up and rebuild the whole thing again. We've got five or six supremely talented pieces, but no-one of the calibre we need will want to waste a couple of years of their prime waiting for an up-and-coming team to finally arrive, so a play-off run this season could be immense.

[DomMcRaven]

56 minutes ago, Inqui said:

Well, see what happens when I lose interest in the NBA for a few days during the All-Star break. Two massive trades made at the deadline (well, one, but between the two they show our intent). Shipping Channing Frye works for both us and the Cavs, he gives the Cavs some shooting and will still be on a reasonably-priced contract when the new salary cap kicks in. But shipping Tobias Harris for Ersan Ilyasova and Brandon Jennings makes things really interesting.

In terms of losing the player, I think something always had to give with our mish-mash of talented but awkwardly fitting players and clearly Harris was it. But it's a shame to lose a really talented 23-year-old (it feels like he's been around forever, but he's younger than me) who's already represented Team USA. It always sucks to lose that kind of upside, but with Vucevic as a strong scorer and suspect defending, we can probably look to add someone a bit more complementary. As well as giving Mario and Gordon a bit more room to do their thing (dunno how I feel about rushing them in, but there you go).

As for getting rid of Frye, come the free agency window we're going to have something obscene like $50 million to play with, which should be able to give us two max deals. Looks like this offseason (or the one after at the latest) will be huge in deciding how the next 10 years looks for us. Either we hit on a piece or two that makes everything click and set ourselves up for a run at a genuine superstar to push us over the top, or we get a couple of role players on bloated contracts and end up looking like the Jazz or Bucks and sit in the play-off limbo until we luck into a superstar like Houston or just give up and rebuild the whole thing again. We've got five or six supremely talented pieces, but no-one of the calibre we need will want to waste a couple of years of their prime waiting for an up-and-coming team to finally arrive, so a play-off run this season could be immense.

I do not understand for the life of me of why you guys traded him.

[DomMcRaven]

Speaking of things I can't fathom, how the heck do we go from getting blown out by the Sixers to annihilating a healthy and rested Warriors team? Lillard going off for 50+ with ZERO TURNOVERS was great! 

[Inqui]

On 2/20/2016 at 7:38 PM, DomMcRaven said:

I do not understand for the life of me of why you guys traded him.

I think I've said it once or twice here, but long-term we were never going to be able to keep the band together. Aside from how awkwardly everything fitted together, it's just inevitable when your guys on rookie contracts have to come up for second deals that you can't keep everyone. Harris was a good scorer (albeit kinda streaky at times), but he was too much of a defensive liability to put at the 4 with Vucevic (who also has his share of defensive issues) and we seem to have decided he wasn't the answer at the 3 with Gordon and Mario waiting in the wings. Getting Jennings from the trade makes sense too, since he should be a better fit with Oladipo. As opposed to relying on two defensively sound guards that can't shoot.

Like I say, I expect we'll target one or two max-level contracts the minute FA starts. The ideal player to pick-up would be a guy like Ibaka who can sit in the paint with Vuc and swat everything away, while Vuc takes care of the inside scoring. But the word is we're going to go hard after guys like Horford and Conley (sorry codizzle!), and I think from there the plan would be to hope Gordon or Mario become a title-calibre superstar or we become good enough to attract a title-calibre superstar.

Basically I think a trade like that was inevitable, and it probably hints at a partial rebuild where we try to become a more complete team with a clear identity. Or we fail over the next couple of years and end up in the 8-seed limbo. That's why I think a play-off berth this season would be huge - if we make enough noise that gives the best FAs not named Durant a reason to actually listen to our offers.

[DomMcRaven]

7 hours ago, Inqui said:

I think I've said it once or twice here, but long-term we were never going to be able to keep the band together. Aside from how awkwardly everything fitted together, it's just inevitable when your guys on rookie contracts have to come up for second deals that you can't keep everyone. Harris was a good scorer (albeit kinda streaky at times), but he was too much of a defensive liability to put at the 4 with Vucevic (who also has his share of defensive issues) and we seem to have decided he wasn't the answer at the 3 with Gordon and Mario waiting in the wings. Getting Jennings from the trade makes sense too, since he should be a better fit with Oladipo. As opposed to relying on two defensively sound guards that can't shoot.

Like I say, I expect we'll target one or two max-level contracts the minute FA starts. The ideal player to pick-up would be a guy like Ibaka who can sit in the paint with Vuc and swat everything away, while Vuc takes care of the inside scoring. But the word is we're going to go hard after guys like Horford and Conley (sorry codizzle!), and I think from there the plan would be to hope Gordon or Mario become a title-calibre superstar or we become good enough to attract a title-calibre superstar.

Basically I think a trade like that was inevitable, and it probably hints at a partial rebuild where we try to become a more complete team with a clear identity. Or we fail over the next couple of years and end up in the 8-seed limbo. That's why I think a play-off berth this season would be huge - if we make enough noise that gives the best FAs not named Durant a reason to actually listen to our offers.

After talking with some of my friends who are Magic fans, they aren't as upset as I thought. I could see Conley leaving MEM for you guys (sorry NOT sorry codizzle). It'd be fitting too since we struggle @ ORL as well. 

 

Oh and by the way, thanks for Harkless. The boy has really come along. And only 22 years old...................man. 

[redrum52]

Steph Curry was sent back from the future to kill present day players hopes.

 

 

Are you serious!?!?!?!?

 

One of the best games I've seen in a long time.

Edited February 28, 2016 by redrum52

[1/28/01]

This guy is just insane.  Just not human... 

[DomMcRaven]

Calling Steph Curry not human is basically saying water is wet. Why are you guys stating the obvious?

[PurpleCity5]

Stephen Curry is not from Planet Earth. I am convinced of that. He's just not from Earth, he's an alien sent to conquer the sport of Basketball and broke hearts. 

Edited February 28, 2016 by PurpleCity5

[beanfigger]

Playoffs and MVP clinched before March. Well done.

[usmccharles]

14 hours ago, PurpleCity5 said:

Stephen Curry is not from Planet Earth. I am convinced of that. He's just not from Earth, he's an alien sent to conquer the sport of Basketball and broke hearts. 

I have watched a lot of basketball in my life.  But never in my life have i seen something like this guy, to do it so consistently is what makes him insane.  I feel like he has the Jordan stigma, where each game he plays in, is like an event, a thing to do. 

[stampedehero]

My Blazers did great up to the Knicks game. We were in control and Dame/CJ played superb.  Boston was a let down but Toronto had to pull it out at the end for a two point win. I'm hoping some home cookin helps us start a new streak.  . 

[codizzle]

 

[LosT_in_TranSlatioN]

2 hours ago, codizzle said:

 

"Better than Kobe and Wade were"

Edited March 7, 2016 by LosT_in_TranSlatioN

[DomMcRaven]

Timberwolves beat the Warriors?!?! Huh?!?!?!?

[beanfigger]

Sixers win, Warriors lose, yada yada yada...

[Inqui]

"Oladipo fouled by Harris." Feels really weird to hear that.

8 hours ago, beanfigger said:

Sixers win, Warriors lose, yada yada yada...

Also known in the NBA as Tuesday.  

[52520Andrew]

72 wins for Golden State with one more game left

[DomMcRaven]

12 hours ago, 52520Andrew said:

72 wins for Golden State with one more game left

You mean 73? Grizz has no chance to win IMO. 

[52520Andrew]

2 minutes ago, DomMcRaven said:

You mean 73? Grizz has no chance to win IMO. 

That is why I said with one more game left lol

[usmccharles]

Never thought it would be broken. . . 

[ludy51]

20 minutes ago, usmccharles said:

Never thought it would be broken. . . 

it?