2016-2017 NBA Game Thread

[Cesar Crespo]

Nikola Jokic has 21 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal on 9/11 shooting in the first half. Fellow teammate and draftee Gary Harris has 8 points on 3/3 shooting and 2/2 from the line. Nuggets up 64-53.

If they redid the 2014 draft, does Jokic go #1 over Embiid? Does Embiid still goes 2nd, health be damned? That draft class is looking insanely deep although it has suffered a lot of injuries. Still way too early to judge the draft definitively though. It's so hard to rank all these players I wouldn't even know where to start. So many guys would move up that they really wouldn't move up in the end. The only guys besides Jokic that would give me pause taken after Marcus Smart are Nurkic and Gary Harris but there are a lot of players that will have long careers.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Wow... Greek Freak 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks after the first quarter.

And Elfrid Payton has yet another triple double. 4 in March. Another guy from that 2014 draft class. 14 points, 11 rebounds 10 assists at the end of the 3rd quarter. Magic up 92-62 vs Detroit who is playing for the 8 seed.

edit: Giannis finished with the same stat line at the end of the half.

And Devin Booker decides to drop 70 in a loss to the Celtics in a game most of us were watching. Wow. 51 in the 2nd half.

 

[Red Averages]

LeBron with another 40 minutes played tonight in a close game @ CHA. Have to think he sits tomorrow against the Wizards.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

IND loses; MIL beats ATL; CHI and DET both with bad losses. MIL tied for 5th spot. glad BOS is not going to see them in 1st round.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

IND loses; MIL beats ATL; CHI and DET both with bad losses. MIL tied for 5th spot. glad BOS is not going to see them in 1st round.

They are a game up on the 7 seed and 2 games up on the 8th seed. Hopefully we don't but it's hardly a given.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

At this moment, the West from first to worst excluding Minnesota is determined by point differential.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

LeBron with another 40 minutes played tonight in a close game @ CHA. Have to think he sits tomorrow against the Wizards.

LeBron came out of the game in the 3rd after getting a finger in the eye. He returned in the 4th but his eye was swollen half-shut in the post-game presser. If Lue decides to sit him out he may simply give Kyrie the night off as well which seems to be the trend lately......if you give your #1 the night off just punt the game and get minutes to your bench.

 

[DJnVa]

At this moment, the West from first to worst excluding Minnesota is determined by point differential.

I'm missing something here...

 

[the moops]

Ignore MN.
http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/team/_/stat/differential-per-game/sort/avgPointsDifference/league/west

 

[Red Averages]

LeBron came out of the game in the 3rd after getting a finger in the eye. He returned in the 4th but his eye was swollen half-shut in the post-game presser. If Lue decides to sit him out he may simply give Kyrie the night off as well which seems to be the trend lately......if you give your #1 the night off just punt the game and get minutes to your bench.

Followed by @ Spurs on Monday as well. Hopefully San Antonio doesn't rest their starters in that game. They have no game Sunday or Tuesday so I don't see why they would.

Could put Boston in first by Monday if Cavs rest LeBron and Kyrie tonight and lose Monday. Cavs then follow THAT up with @ CHI (Thurs), home vs Philly (Fri), off Saturday, vs IND (Sun), off Tues, vs ORL (Wed), @ Bos (Thurs) Brutal week. Boston has vs MIA (Sun), off Mon, Off Tues, vs MIL (Wed), off Thurs, vs ORL (Fri), off Sat, @ NYK (Sun), off Mon, off Tues, vs CLE (Wed). Boston should be ahead by 2 games in a week assuming they beat Cleveland, and I think most people would assume LeBron and co rest that game.

 

[cardiacs]

Wall with 18 points and 5 assists in CLE and the first quarter isn't over yet

 

[shawnrbu]

Wizards with the road win against Cleveland.

 

[DJnVa]

1 game in loss column...

 

[Red Averages]

And again LeBron/Kyrie/Love played. This is not a GREAT regular season team. We'll see if they can turn it on in the postseason but for now they are clearly beatable.

 

[Kliq]

They are relying on Korver/Kyrie/Love/Derrick Williams/Old RJ to play big minutes. Even with LeBron plugging in holes that is a really weak defensive rotation.

 

[johnmd20]

And again LeBron/Kyrie/Love played. This is not a GREAT regular season team. We'll see if they can turn it on in the postseason but for now they are clearly beatable.

They are not playing defense in any appreciable way in March. Their points against in the past few weeks is comical. I guess they are just hoping to score enough to stay in games but ignoring defense to save energy. They will still probably turn it on in April.

 

[Kliq]

I like pretty much all of the National TV guys but I can't stand ESPN's A team. JVG is always complaining about the refs and will never in a million years criticize a coach. Jackson is always defending the players, always complains about guys not getting fouled, and always tries to shoehorn in his catchphrases. Breen sucks as well.

 

[BigSoxFan]

Clippers just choked a home game to the Kings. Outscored by 12 in the 4th. Doc's team seems broken. Also 5th game this week but no excuse to blow a 17 point lead in the 4th.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

17 point lead in the 4th.

18 points, with less than five minutes left.

 

[LondonSox]

Clippers just choked a home game to the Kings. Outscored by 12 in the 4th. Doc's team seems broken. Also 5th game this week but no excuse to blow a 17 point lead in the 4th.

Is this what it is like to support the Clippers. Obviously I want the kings to lose every game and holy crap ugh

 

[slamminsammya]

I like pretty much all of the National TV guys but I can't stand ESPN's A team. JVG is always complaining about the refs and will never in a million years criticize a coach. Jackson is always defending the players, always complains about guys not getting fouled, and always tries to shoehorn in his catchphrases. Breen sucks as well.

Ha I love the ESPN team but for all the same reasons. "Give me mah air space"

 

[Kliq]

Buddy Hield since the trade: 27 mpg, 14.7 ppg 55/44/82 shooting.

 

[jon abbey]

18 points, with less than five minutes left.

I am a hundred percent not trying to be a dick here but I can't not post this stat, sorry:

"NBA teams with 18+ pt lead under 5:00 were perfect 6746-0 last 20 years until today."

 

[LondonSox]

I didn't see why but I saw pelicans won and noticed boogie was a dnp coach's decision.

What's that about?

 

[Apisith]

Sprained ankle. Pelicans have been playing well lately.

 

[johnmd20]

I am a hundred percent not trying to be a dick here but I can't not post this stat, sorry:

"NBA teams with 18+ pt lead under 5:00 were perfect 6746-0 last 20 years until today."

That's figuratively insane.

 

[joe dokes]

I am a hundred percent not trying to be a dick here but I can't not post this stat, sorry:

"NBA teams with 18+ pt lead under 5:00 were perfect 6746-0 last 20 years until today."

I recall a game when I was a kid ( maybe during the 72-73 season, but definitely when the knicks were good) when the Knicks scored the last 20 points of the game to beat the Bucks by 1. Bucks' Lucius Allen, missed all three of a 3-to-make-2 down the stretch. Dont know the timing though.

 

[DJnVa]

Maybe this game: http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197211180NYK.html

Knicks won 87-86, box score shows Allen missing 3 FTs.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

I recall a game when I was a kid ( maybe during the 72-73 season, but definitely when the knicks were good) when the Knicks scored the last 20 points of the game to beat the Bucks by 1. Bucks' Lucius Allen, missed all three of a 3-to-make-2 down the stretch. Dont know the timing though.

It was the last 19 points and it was November 18, 1972. Fortunately there weren't many games between Bucks and Knicks to look through.

https://books.google.com/books?id=gbStu-wg1dIC&pg=PA211&lpg=PA211&dq=bucks+knicks+"November+18,+1972"&source=bl&ots=7KkURHnnwX&sig=pORypFueW1Q_uZouZDZSt5pPqKA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi59aLH5PbSAhUDTSYKHTCTAnAQ6AEIJzAC#v=onepage&q=bucks knicks "November 18, 1972"&f=false

 

[joe dokes]

There ya go.....
Glad my memory is of a real thing.
Should've looked and not left it to others. (book says Allen missed two; I thought it was three).

 

[ElUno20]

I am a hundred percent not trying to be a dick here but I can't not post this stat, sorry:

"NBA teams with 18+ pt lead under 5:00 were perfect 6746-0 last 20 years until today."

Yeah but how many of those 6,746 games had Doc Rivers on the sidelines?

I was only half watching but even my dumbass recognized how late in the kings magical run he brought the starters back for.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Yeah but how many of those 6,746 games had Doc Rivers on the sidelines?

I was only half watching but even my dumbass recognized how late in the kings magical run he brought the starters back for.

It was an 11-point lead when Griffin an Paul returned.......they were the worst offenders of the comeback. Was a "run" from 17 to 11 in two minutes really that "magical?"

Not sure what Doc had to do with this. When starters are removed at the start of the 4th for their normal rotation up 11 and then see the second unit expand it to 17 with 5 minutes to go when it's their 5th game in 7 nights it is natural that they are going to shut down both mentally and physically from the game. I could actually see the argument for keeping the 2nd unit in the game to close it out for this reason so in that sense I could see where Doc handles this differently but that wasn't your complaint of him.

 

[ElUno20]

It was an 11-point lead when Griffin an Paul returned.......they were the worst offenders of the comeback. Was a "run" from 17 to 11 in two minutes really that "magical?"

Not sure what Doc had to do with this. When starters are removed at the start of the 4th for their normal rotation up 11 and then see the second unit expand it to 17 with 5 minutes to go when it's their 5th game in 7 nights it is natural that they are going to shut down both mentally and physically from the game. I could actually see the argument for keeping the 2nd unit in the game to close it out for this reason so in that sense I could see where Doc handles this differently but that wasn't your complaint of him.

This is 10000000000% on the players but Paul and Blake both gave him the same wtf are you doing look when they came back into the game. you could feel the momentum shift before they came in. Bring them back early, stomp out the fire, and then pull them back out. Yes, it sucks. Yes, they need rest but they also don't need a moral blow this late into the season. The win is more important.

Same shit as the Houston collapse two years ago, just a general shitty sense of momentum.

 

[DJnVa]

So, there's a decent chance we're tied for the #1 seed around 10:30 tonight isn't there?

 

[smastroyin]

We're tied now. If the Spurs beat the Cavs tonight the C's will be alone in first place (but the Cavs will still have a game in hand)

 

[Cellar-Door]

Kings get permission to speak with Hinkie about exec position

 

[DJnVa]

We're tied now. If the Spurs beat the Cavs tonight the C's will be alone in first place (but the Cavs will still have a game in hand)

You are right of course, I meant tied in loss column.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Sprained ankle. Pelicans have been playing well lately.

They've been a completely different team defensively. They probably don't have enough time to catch Portland or Denver this year. They have the hard part done with building a team anyway. Now they just have to add 1 or 2 more rotational players but have nothing of note to trade. Adding someone like Avery Bradley would change that team dramatically. Very little depth.

 

[LondonSox]

Kings get permission to speak with Hinkie about exec position

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[Red Averages]

Cavs down by 24 after the first half to the Spurs. All of the main Cavs are playing (LeBron 20/24 minutes in the first half). I'll say it again, at what point do people reevaluate this team?

They have given up 64 points in a half. They defense is horrible. For those that think they just aren't trying, at some point wouldn't pride kick in? They are getting embarrassed most nights.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Cavs down by 24 in the first half to the Spurs. All of the main Cavs are playing (LeBron 20/24 minutes in the first half). I'll say it again, at what point do people reevaluate this team?

Its a curb stomping for sure but the counter is that its on the road in San Antonio.

 

[jmm57]

This Cavs team, and LeBron in particular, have established themselves to the point where I won't reevaluate them until they look like this in the playoffs. Right now it looks terrible, but I still assume once the playoffs come they are the best in the East.

 

[RedOctober3829]

The Cavs have taken a vacation until the playoffs start. They clearly don't give a shit about the rest of the regular season with the way they are playing defense lately.

 

[Red Averages]

Its a curb stomping for sure but the counter is that its on the road in San Antonio.

Last 6 games including tonight:

108 points given up @ LAC
120 points given up @ LAL
126 points given up @ DEN
105 points given up @ CHA
127 points given up vs WAS
on pace for 128 given up @SA

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

Glad Ainge didn't listen to the impatient desperate fans who would have traded a chunk of the C's assets and talent for a depth-killing slight upgrade. Staring the 1 seed in the face with no help aside from the classic deadline acquisition known as "getting healthy."

 

[CantKeepmedown]

Would the 1 seed mean a 2nd round matchup with either Toronto or Washington (it appears that one of them will slot into the 4 seed)? Or do they re-seed after each round?

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Last 6 games including tonight:

108 points given up @ LAC
120 points given up @ LAL
126 points given up @ DEN
105 points given up @ CHA
127 points given up vs WAS
on pace for 128 given up @SA

To be clear, I agree that they have looked bad. It definitely is worth asking whether these struggles are them not caring per what others are saying here or if its actually something more.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Would the 1 seed mean a 2nd round matchup with either Toronto or Washington (it appears that one of them will slot into the 4 seed)? Or do they re-seed after each round?

1 faces the winner of 4v5 (currently Toronto and who knows)
2 faces winner of 3 v 6 (Washington and who knows)
So no matter which seed they get the Celtics face one of them 2nd round (assuming top 4 seeds win 1st round).

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Westbrook has 17 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists as his team trails the Mavs 50-35. Thunder scored 10 in the 2nd.

 

[Gash Prex]

So Bron gets an elbow to upper back/shoulder and he falls down like he was shot - bizzare looking injury