2018 NBA Game Thread

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Fuck. Cousins killed us.

Actually, shooting 26.8% from deep killed you guys. If they shoot even close to their season average of 34.9%, they likely win this game.

Cousins had a good game but he has been such a huge liability for the Warriors to date. The on/off numbers are pretty bad.

 

[Apisith]

Not sure if Harden’s in a funk or it’s the wrist injury but his 3pt percentage has fallen off a cliff since the ASB.

Bad loss tonight as we’re now in 4th. A win would have put us 1 game behind 2nd. Hoping to avoid being the 4/5 seed, can’t face the Warriors in the 2nd round.

 

[Jimbodandy]

Not sure if Harden’s in a funk or it’s the wrist injury but his 3pt percentage has fallen off a cliff since the ASB.

Bad loss tonight as we’re now in 4th. A win would have put us 1 game behind 2nd. Hoping to avoid being the 4/5 seed, can’t face the Warriors in the 2nd round.

Only 9 FTA for James. You can't expect a man to perform if he only gets to the line 9 times. He can't have been happy with the zebras.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Not sure if Harden’s in a funk or it’s the wrist injury but his 3pt percentage has fallen off a cliff since the ASB.

If it makes you feel better, so have Steph's and Paul George's (the current #2 and 3 guys after Harden in total threes made).

3FG% pre/post ASG
====
Curry .444 / .366
George .406 / .273
Harden .374 / .252

It's the dog days of the regular season now; legs are tired.

I know Harden's a beast of durability and a gamer who never squawks about needing rest, but given that he (a) turns 30 this year; (2) is currently #2 in the NBA (after Beal) in minutes per game at 37.3; and (3) has a possibly overstated but real history of gassing out in the playoffs, I would think that Mike D. might want to consider dialing back his minutes (including rest days here and there) and expanding his "7 players or less" rotations over the final 14 games. Yes, the Rockets are in a battle for playoff seeding, but I'm not sure the differences between the #2 and 5 seeds are worth burning out the core guys over.

Anyway, good win for the Ws, and great game for Cousins, who dominated Capela in his best game since the Achilles injury (27 points on 11-16 fg, 4-4 ft, 8 rebounds, 7 assists). I get the feeling D'Antoni held back a bit on the non-stop P&R spamming that would occur in a playoff game with Boogie on defense, but this game gave a nice reminder that Boogie does actually bring some real strengths along with his shortcomings as a switching defender.

 

[Kliq]

For all the talk about small-ball reshaping the NBA, over the last few seasons there has been a nice renaissance of quality centers in the NBA. Remember how many talking heads kept saying how there were NO DOMINANT BIG MEN ANYMORE? In 2015-2016 DeAndre Jordan was the first-team All-NBA Center. Now it seems like nearly every team has a good starting center. Obviously there are elite guys like Davis, Embiid, Jokic, KAT, Gobert and then you have a bunch of other very good, if not All-Star level players in Horford, Drummond, Nurkic, Vucevic, Ayton, Adams, Turner. In 2015-16, Jordan averaged 12 ppg and 13 rpg, blocked 2 shots per game, did shoot 70 percent from the field, but also 43 percent from the line. Aren't like, all those guys listed above better than Jordan was that season?

 

[lovegtm]

For all the talk about small-ball reshaping the NBA, over the last few seasons there has been a nice renaissance of quality centers in the NBA. Remember how many talking heads kept saying how there were NO DOMINANT BIG MEN ANYMORE? In 2015-2016 DeAndre Jordan was the first-team All-NBA Center. Now it seems like nearly every team has a good starting center. Obviously there are elite guys like Davis, Embiid, Jokic, KAT, Gobert and then you have a bunch of other very good, if not All-Star level players in Horford, Drummond, Nurkic, Vucevic, Ayton, Adams, Turner. In 2015-16, Jordan averaged 12 ppg and 13 rpg, blocked 2 shots per game, did shoot 70 percent from the field, but also 43 percent from the line. Aren't like, all those guys listed above better than Jordan was that season?

Yup, definitely a lot more quality. I think the biggest difference between now and the old NBA, however, is that most of the "put this guy on your team and you're instantly a contender" players are guards or wings. The exceptions are Davis and maybeee Embiid.

But it is definitely cool to see how the bigs have adjusted and are playing "big" roles on teams again.

 

[TripleOT]

Yup, definitely a lot more quality. I think the biggest difference between now and the old NBA, however, is that most of the "put this guy on your team and you're instantly a contender" players are guards or wings. The exceptions are Davis and maybeee Embiid.

But it is definitely cool to see how the bigs have adjusted and are playing "big" roles on teams again.

I'd say KAT is comparable to both Davis and Embiid. Embiid's team is a contender, (although I'm not buying into this Sixers team), because of the other top players on it. Put KAT on the Sixers instead of Embiid and they might be more of a contender, since with the more versatile KAT, the paint would be more open to Simmons' drives to the rim.

If any star player has a gripe about being surrounded by bad players and management, it's KAT. Obviously being teamed with fellow max player Wiggins is horrible. Ending up with Covington and Saric when you could have had LaVIne, Dunn, and Markkanen is GM malpractice. Even with Wiggins' many flaws, a core of KAT, Markkanen, Wiggins, LaVine and Dunn would have been solid.

 

[HowBoutDemSox]

If any star player has a gripe about being surrounded by bad players and management, it's KAT. Obviously being teamed with fellow max player Wiggins is horrible. Ending up with Covington and Saric when you could have had LaVIne, Dunn, and Markkanen is GM malpractice. Even with Wiggins' many flaws, a core of KAT, Markkanen, Wiggins, LaVine and Dunn would have been solid.

You have to imagine that if he loses the AD sweepstakes, Ainge turns his eyes to KAT next, as difficult as it will be to extract another talented big man from a perpetually mediocre Minnesota team this time around.

 

[the moops]

You have to imagine that if he loses the AD sweepstakes, Ainge turns his eyes to KAT next, as difficult as it will be to extract another talented big man from a perpetually mediocre Minnesota team this time around.

Take Wiggins contract and he can be had

 

[the moops]

Take Wiggins contract and he can be had

Just to add to this. MIN has two of the worst contracts in the league. Wiggins probably has the worst in the league - after this year he has 4/122 left. And then they have Dieng, who after this year has 2/33.5 left.

Hayward + picks for KAT + Dieng works.

 

[Kliq]

I would be really shocked if Minnesota punted on a 23 year old seven footer, averaging 25-12 and shooting 40 percent from three, because they feel oppressed by the Andrew Wiggins contract.

The Dieng contract isn't great, but outside of John Wall the contract Nic Batum is the biggest trainwreck in the NBA. Batum looks pretty much washed right now, and he is on the books to make $27 million in 2020-21.

Kemba Walker is going to be a fascinating free agent; he is basically just as productive as Kyrie (Irving is a more efficient scorer) but plays on just an awful team. I saw a headline earlier that was just "Imagine if Kemba Walker had one good teammate" and that is pretty accurate. He also seems like a great leader and crunch-time guy; and has been extremely loyal to Charlotte even though they are a horribly run franchise. I'd love for him to go to a good team.

 

[lovegtm]

Take Wiggins contract and he can be had

If this were true, this would be an amazing plan B if Kyrie left. I also think Wiggins is the exact type of player who might show something more under Brad, although he's still overwhelmingly likely to be a negative at his contract. I'm with Kliq though: I can't see Minnesota letting Towns go just to get rid of the Wiggins deal.

 

[HowBoutDemSox]

Just to add to this. MIN has two of the worst contracts in the league. Wiggins probably has the worst in the league - after this year he has 4/122 left. And then they have Dieng, who after this year has 2/33.5 left.

Hayward + picks for KAT + Dieng works.

Due respect to Dieng’s and Wiggins’ deals, but John Wall has a player option for $46,872,000 in 2022-23.

Anyways, I think if KAT could be had for taking Dieng’s deal, salary and picks, Ainge would be all over it, but I don’t think Minny would take that.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

To get KAT, you'd have to give up Tatum.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

I was so wrong about the Pacers. I thought they would fade hard after Oladipo went down. Instead they are playing tough all the time.

 

[ElUno20]

Denver, this is why it's hard to take you serious.

 

[Just a bit outside]

Luka with a great move and dunks on Plumlee and Millsap to give Mars the lead with 5.8 but misses free throw so Mavs only up one. Joker then makes off balance 8 footer to win it at the buzzer.

 

[HowBoutDemSox]

Luka with a great move and dunks on Plumlee and Millsap to give Mars the lead with 5.8 but misses free throw so Mavs only up one. Joker then makes off balance 8 footer to win it at the buzzer.

Dallas really going the full Dukakis with their tank. Annoying for the Memphis pick but they have a lot of incentive to sneak into the top five and keep their pick this year.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Luka with a great move and dunks on Plumlee and Millsap to give Mars the lead with 5.8 but misses free throw so Mavs only up one. Joker then makes off balance 8 footer to win it at the buzzer.

That ending was insane. Luka's dunk was sick but that Jokic buzzer beater was just dirty.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

I don't say this lightly - barring injury or something weird, I believe Luka will be the consensus best player in the NBA in the next three to five years.

 

[benhogan]

I don't say this lightly - barring injury or something weird, I believe Luka will be the consensus best player in the NBA in the next three to five years.

Perennial All-Star, no doubt. Love the guy also... But best? How do you rate his defense? Shooting needs work, right?

 

[lovegtm]

I don't say this lightly - barring injury or something weird, I believe Luka will be the consensus best player in the NBA in the next three to five years.

I love him, but don’t see it happening on the defensive end. I guess if you think he’s the next Harden, which actually might be the best comp for him.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

I know we discussed the value of B-Ref data recently but it has his is DBPM as marginally positive for whatever that is worth. I agree that his shooting isn't elite either but he has all the tools to get there. And going back to defense, I think the guy will make up for whatever shortcomings he may have the same way he has shown thus far - he has an incredible basketball IQ.

There are guys who can just see the floor differently than others. LeBron, Steph, Harden, PG13, Kyrie, Giannis, Russ, KD, Lillard, Jokic and guys like Smart are examples though the list goes on. Doncic plays the same way and while he isn't yet in the company of those guys, it bears repeating that he just turned 20 two weeks ago.

As a side note, I think his main competition will be Tatum and Zion though it may take them a bit longer to get there.

 

[jon abbey]

Doncic is awesome but I don’t think he’ll even clearly be the best player on his own team if Porzingis is back to himself.

 

[Apisith]

Doncic will be the primary ball handler and I think today’s NBA game is so tilted towards dominant ball handlers that he’ll be the best player on his team by default, IMO.

I love his game as well. Echo DeJesus in that I believe he’ll be one of the best players in the league in the next few years and will be the face of the league. I think his potential prime is a better defending James Harden, which maybe on SoSH doesn’t mean as much and because the Warriors have 5 all-stars Harden won’t win a title and get recognition, but in any other era, he would win a title. Doncic’s potential prime is a slightly better version of that, IMO.

 

[nighthob]

You have to imagine that if he loses the AD sweepstakes, Ainge turns his eyes to KAT next, as difficult as it will be to extract another talented big man from a perpetually mediocre Minnesota team this time around.

It’s nice to dream about, but the Knicks couldn’t get him if they won the lottery, tossed in Knox and DSJ, and offered to eat the Wiggins and Dieng contracts. The T’wolves have five years to put a winner around KATman, if they don’t think that they’re competent enough to do that, they should be leaving now.

Take Wiggins contract and he can be had

No.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

I don't say this lightly - barring injury or something weird, I believe Luka will be the consensus best player in the NBA in the next three to five years.

Better than Giannis? I think Giannis can impact a game more ways.

Will be interesting to see. Trae Young has said that he's going to be better than Luka too.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

interesting article from 538 on how turnovers in the NBA are way in decline. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-nbas-other-offensive-revolution-never-turning-the-ball-over/. Didn't know this but makes a lot of sense given the new style of play.

Interesting pic from the article:

 

[Devizier]

interesting article from 538 on how turnovers in the NBA are way in decline. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-nbas-other-offensive-revolution-never-turning-the-ball-over/. Didn't know this but makes a lot of sense given the new style of play.

Those first two panels look familiar

 

[RedOctober3829]

It seems like LeBron James may no longer be untouchable after all.

According to Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher, the Los Angeles Lakers considered moving James before last February’s trade deadline, just six months after signing him to a four-year, $153-million contract.

Bucher reports that the team’s relationship with Rich Paul, James’ agent, was weakened after the agent allegedly leaked rumours about Los Angeles being willing to trade everyone but James in order to get New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis, who is also represented by Paul.

That didn’t appear to sit well with Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, who reportedly considered terminating the team’s relationship with the agent by trading away LeBron. Paul denied the allegations and mended things with the team’s ownership, according to Bucher.

“Several league executives would not be surprised if the Lakers at least explored their options,” Bucher wrote of the tense situation.

James’ current four-year deal does not include a no-trade clause, according to Bucher, but does include a 15-per cent trade kicker — “his contract’s value increases 15 per cent and the raise has to be accounted for in making the deal work under salary-cap rules,” Bucher wrote.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Better than Giannis? I think Giannis can impact a game more ways.

Will be interesting to see. Trae Young has said that he's going to be better than Luka too.

Maybe three years is a bit aggressive to assume fall off and I am giving Giannis short shrift by not emphasizing how great he is now. That said, I am assuming some decline from him over the same time-frame if only because of wear and tear.

Its worth noting that he, AD, Milsap and Griffin have all been consistently amongst the leaders in RPM for PFs over the past three years so maybe Giannis can maintain or even improve. The guy plays so damn hard and though he pretty elusive for his size it still looks like he takes a beating.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Since Oladipo's injury
Pacers 11-11
76ers 12-8 (they were 9-8 before their 3 game win streak)
Celtics 12-9 (they were 8-8 before going 4-1 in their last 5)

The Pacers have definitely fallen back, it just doesn't feel like it because the 76ers and Celtics had their own struggles. Hell, Celtics are 7-8 in their last 15 games.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

It will also be the first time since 13-14 that 2 teams didn't win at least 60 games, assuming Toronto doesn't close the year 11-2 or better. The Bucks have to go 8-5 so should easily get there. I don't know the last time there wasn't a 60 game winner.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Just to add to this. MIN has two of the worst contracts in the league. Wiggins probably has the worst in the league - after this year he has 4/122 left. And then they have Dieng, who after this year has 2/33.5 left.

Hayward + picks for KAT + Dieng works.

Replace Hayward with Tatum and you can have a conversation. Definitely value in taking on Dieng’s contract.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Since returning to play, Mitchell Robinson has done the following: 25 games, 21.0 minutes, .724/---/.606, 9.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, 0.8 steals.

3.1 blocks in 21 minutes. Ridiculous.

 

[jon abbey]

Since returning to play, Mitchell Robinson has done the following: 25 games, 21.0 minutes, .724/---/.606, 9.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, 0.8 steals.

3.1 blocks in 21 minutes. Ridiculous.

Also he is only 20, the list of guys who have blocked 2 shots per game at that age is very short. The only other one I could find the other day was Andrew Bynum.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Also he is only 20, the list of guys who have blocked 2 shots per game at that age is very short. The only other one I could find the other day was Andrew Bynum.

Anthony Davis 2.8 blocks, 35.2 mpg
Shaq 3.5, 37.9
Myles Turner 2.1, 31.4
Chris Webber 2.2, 32.1
Kevin Garnett 2.1, 38.9
Josh Smith 2.6, 32.0
Andrew Bynum 2.1, 28.8
Mitchell Robinson 2.4, 19.0

Pretty good list of players there. No one has done it at 19.

 

[DannyDarwinism]

Mitchell Robinson: 6.1 blocks/100 possessions, 10.8 Block%.

Time Lord: 6.9 blocks/100, 12.8 Block%.

(this isn’t intended as anything more than drive-by homer posting, Robinson has been impressive and is a justified source of much-needed excitement for Knicks fans, I was just a bit surprised when I compared the numbers)

 

[Devizier]

Robinson’s >10% block percentage is Manute Bol territory.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Robinson’s >10% block percentage is Manute Bol territory.

If the season ended today, Robinson would have the highest block percentage for a season in NBA history (among qualified players), at 10.8%. Manute Bol had 2 years at 10.8% too, but Robinson is higher.

The only other player besides Manute Bol with a 10% season is Alonzo Mourning at 10.2% in 05/06. Manute Bol did it 5 times.

I would have thought Mark Eaton made the list but his highest year was 9.2%. Shawn Bradley's was 9.4%.

For players with over 200 minutes played in a season, Robert Williams is the highest ever at 12.8%. RW3 has 232 minutes, and 33 blocks. Robinson has 1006 minutes and 128 blocks.

 

[the moops]

It will also be the first time since 13-14 that 2 teams didn't win at least 60 games, assuming Toronto doesn't close the year 11-2 or better. The Bucks have to go 8-5 so should easily get there. I don't know the last time there wasn't a 60 game winner.

2011-2012 there were no 60 game winners

 

[the moops]

Real answer is 2000-2001 season. SAS led the league with 58 wins

 

[jon abbey]

Anthony Davis 2.8 blocks, 35.2 mpg
Shaq 3.5, 37.9
Myles Turner 2.1, 31.4
Chris Webber 2.2, 32.1
Kevin Garnett 2.1, 38.9
Josh Smith 2.6, 32.0
Andrew Bynum 2.1, 28.8
Mitchell Robinson 2.4, 19.0

Pretty good list of players there. No one has done it at 19.

Thanks for that! I've been wondering about comparable players for him, the closest I came I think is Marcus Camby but he still had a year-plus left at UMass at Robinson's age. Imagine if he was on a team where any of the other players played defense too...

 

[lovegtm]

Replace Hayward with Tatum and you can have a conversation. Definitely value in taking on Dieng’s contract.

That trade would be interesting as hell. Not sure how you make salary match; Hayward would have to go just for that purpose.

Kyrie/Brown/Smart/KAT is a really, really good core, lined up well in terms of timeline.

 

[Bad Penny]

Watching GSW v OKC. Cousins looks like he is wearing Kendrick Perkins' old boots

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Malcolm Brogdon out indefinitely with a plantar fascia tear. Really sh*tty blow for the Bucks — probably their third best / most integral player.

 

[garlan5]

Malcolm Brogdon out indefinitely with a plantar fascia tear. Really sh*tty blow for the Bucks — probably their third best and most integral player.

at uva he had a foot issue as a first year. there was some talk at that time he may not have been able to play basketball again, but obviously recovered. unfortunate to hear today. one of my all time favorite Hoos.

 

[ElUno20]

Gentry should be fired for the end of that suns game.

That was dumbest choke job I've seen in a basketball game in a long time.

 

[HowBoutDemSox]

Gentry should be fired for the end of that suns game.

That was dumbest choke job I've seen in a basketball game in a long time.

Play-by-play makes it seem like they pulled a Chris Webber with the extraneous timeout technical, was it just a brain lapse or was there something more?

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Gentry should be fired for the end of that suns game.

That was dumbest choke job I've seen in a basketball game in a long time.

What happened?