2016-2017 NBA Game Thread

[jon abbey]

Knicks have gone 11-4 since their 3-6 start to move up the Eastern standings into a tie for 3rd with CHA, just ahead of BOS and CHI.

Their team defense has gotten better since Rambis was assigned to be in charge of that aspect, tonight Porzingis dominated the interior on D, a career-high tying 7 blocks and he easily could have been credited with a handful more. Hornacek has done a very nice job so far, tonight winning without O'Quinn, who has been one of their best players recently, and the previous game winning without the somewhat resurgent Derrick Rose. Rose and Brandon Jennings combined for 44 from the point tonight on 17-27 shooting (they did play together at times, to be fair, 57 minutes combined).

 

[LondonSox]

Sixers blew out Detroit on the road without Embiid.

Noel's first game back, and immediately made an impact.... And then hurt his ankle. Ffs

So is Drummond actually good defensively? Okafor completely overwhelmed him with his face up game. Was a bit odd.

Meanwhile TJ McConnell was one assist short of a triple double. I still stand by the thought he's not going to hurt your bench. Which considering is pretty interesting. He would have been the first member of the draft class to get a triple double. Undrafted, but you get it.

 

[dirtynine]

Just saw this - not really the target market but thought some here might get use out of it:

https://3ball.io

 

[Kliq]

Just saw this - not really the target market but thought some here might get use out of it:

https://3ball.io

That's awesome stuff.

 

[jon abbey]

Not a great job by the NBA schedule makers somehow having the Clippers/Blazers with all three of their meetings by Dec 13, but it led to an especially intense mid-December game tonight, these two have now played fourteen times in 14-15 months, no love lost.

LAC held on 121-120, also there was a pretty entertaining pushing and slapping faceoff between Evan Turner and DeAndre Jordan at the end, I don't think Turner would fare well if that went down on the playground.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Chicago 26
Minnesota 6

Thibs really has his players respect in his return to Chicago as they lay an egg for him on national television.

How long before this plug is pulled? The deal for my recollection was like 5/$40m which was absurd for a guy who just lost control of his team after years of his leadership skills being questioned. They have way too much invested in these kids to have this go on past next year without some changes. Lol still at double session practice on day off in between games.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

For a team with that much talent, how are they even that bad? They sort of remind me of those early 90's Mavs teams with Mashburn, Jackson and Jason Kidd. So much talent to win 13 games.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

For a team with that much talent, how are they even that bad? They sort of remind me of those early 90's Mavs teams with Mashburn, Jackson and Jason Kidd. So much talent to win 13 games.

Their 3 best players are 21 years old and youth gets killed in this league. I'm very concerned with the learning culture and how being screamed at for 48 minutes each night plus other things I hear about him positively affect 21-year olds.

 

[Kliq]

All of their top plays are 21 and under; Rubio is the veteran and he is like, 26. I know they were a trendy pick to make the playoffs but a veteran skilled team can exploit them.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

They are only 2 behind now in the 3rd, so there is that anyway. 61-59 as we speak.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

74-70 Minnesota

 

[HomeRunBaker]

They are only 2 behind now in the 3rd, so there is that anyway. 61-59 as we speak.

Wiggins and LeVine are sooooo good when they are on. I'd imagine it's the consistentcy that grades them out poorly with the bad nights dragging them down. These are areas that age and experience will only improve upon. Sky is the limit for these guys especially Wiggins.

 

[Devizier]

Whats up with the Kevin Love revival? He's gone back to being really good again. It's not like the Cavaliers have markedly changed or anything.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

and the Wolves won by 5.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

Marquese Chriss with 13 points and 11 boards in the first half.

Wonder if this draft class is going to end up overachieving - not in terms of superstars but maybe in terms of really really good players.

 

[tbrep]

Dear God, OKC are just horrific when Westbrook goes to the bench. Coughed up a 9 point lead in about 2 minutes. The offense is just atrocious without Westbrook

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Marquese Chriss with 13 points and 11 boards in the first half.

Wonder if this draft class is going to end up overachieving - not in terms of superstars but maybe in terms of really really good players.

Wasn't that the feeling going into the draft? I honestly don't remember and I'm only a casual follower of college basketball. It was one of the last 2-3 drafts though that was considered top weak but depth heavy.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Dear God, OKC are just horrific when Westbrook goes to the bench. Coughed up a 9 point lead in about 2 minutes. The offense is just atrocious without Westbrook

The team is pretty horrific outside of Westbrook anyway. Oladipo is pretty good and seems to have improved his shot but that team minus Westbrook is right down there with Philly and Brooklyn.

 

[Devizier]

Wasn't that the feeling going into the draft? I honestly don't remember and I'm only a casual follower of college basketball. It was one of the last 2-3 drafts though that was considered top weak but depth heavy.

Would anyone be terribly excited by a draft full of roleplayers? I mean, that's what we're talking about, right?

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Would anyone be terribly excited by a draft full of roleplayers? I mean, that's what we're talking about, right?

No? I'm not following though, that's not what I was asking. Wasn't this draft considered SImmons, Ingram and then really good depth? I could be mistaken it with the KAT draft.

 

[LondonSox]

Yes it's fair to say it was Simmons Ingram.... Gap.... Lots of interesting players but no clear stars.
A lot of people thought you would be as well off (I mean not literally) drafting mid to late 1st, as late lottery

There were a number of guys to dream on though, from brown and Bender to chriss or dunn etc. The exact order on those guys was all over. You can dream on some picks in the 20s too.

But if a couple of guys pan out, in the lottery it could be a fine draft, but chances are they need development time.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

No? I'm not following though, that's not what I was asking. Wasn't this draft considered SImmons, Ingram and then really good depth? I could be mistaken it with the KAT draft.

The KAT draft was loaded and I still feel it will go down as one of the best ever. The confusion here seems to be what constitutes "deep" in a draft. Some may view that term as one that has potential with multiple high upside flyers while someone else would define it as a lot of role players who stick around in the league.

Previously I was against drafting role players in the first round as these guys were a dime a dozen while you can find diamonds in the rough at little risk. It's why I hated the Olynyk pick with a passion and have pointed out that Ainge has missed on his high-upside guys in the draft aside from Avery Bradley. The difference now is the new CBA where you can get an NBA-ready (or close to it) second unit guy on a cheap 4-year rookie deal in a Moneyball sense. I'm much more open to these guys now for the right team.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

The KAT draft was loaded and I still feel it will go down as one of the best ever. The confusion here seems to be what constitutes "deep" in a draft. Some may view that term as one that has potential with multiple high upside flyers while someone else would define it as a lot of role players who stick around in the league.

Previously I was against drafting role players in the first round as these guys were a dime a dozen while you can find diamonds in the rough at little risk. It's why I hated the Olynyk pick with a passion and have pointed out that Ainge has missed on his high-upside guys in the draft aside from Avery Bradley. The difference now is the new CBA where you can get an NBA-ready (or close to it) second unit guy on a cheap 4-year rookie deal in a Moneyball sense. I'm much more open to these guys now for the right team.

It doesn't help that "deep" and "top heavy" are buzz words for any draft to garner up attention. To your latter point, I hate the safe picks too but there is some value in it. The way that team was constructed, they should have been swinging for the fences though. Olynyk was a dumb pick. Terry Rozier is like medium ground.

edit: I like Olynyk, fwiw. He's a good piece off the bench for a contending team, not for a team that just traded away Pierce and KG for picks.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Larry Nance Jr. killed a man tonight.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Larry Nance Jr. killed a man tonight.

It looked like Brook Lopez to me but I'll take your word for it.

 

[Kliq]

Larry Nance Jr. killed a man tonight.

I saw that highlight in slow-mo above the bar and thought there was no way he was dunking the ball from that far away. God damn, I want Nance, LaVine, Gordon and are own Jaylen Brown in the dunk contest.

 

[the moops]

Love Brooklyn bench reaction. :

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Love Brooklyn bench reaction. :

They wanted to badly to go nuts then simultaneously realized that it would be a bad idea. It was like synchronized political correctness. Awesome.

 

[ElcaballitoMVP]

I saw that highlight in slow-mo above the bar and thought there was no way he was dunking the ball from that far away. God damn, I want Nance, LaVine, Gordon and are own Jaylen Brown in the dunk contest.

That was my first reaction too. Gotta give him an invite now.

 

[Sprowl]

AntetokounmpO My Goodness

 

[BigSoxFan]

AntetokounmpO My Goodness

Would rather have Olynyk

 

[moondog80]

Would rather have Olynyk

Drafting the guy who turns out the best with every pick is impossible. Olynyk was a good get in a subpar draft.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Markieff >>> Marcus

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Drafting the guy who turns out the best with every pick is impossible. Olynyk was a good get in a subpar draft.

Many here on draft nice were wanting the Greak Freak for his upside. Gobert was my guy I wanted at 16. You can always pick up Olynyk types for the second unit when you need them......always readily available. You can't always have shots at physical specimens who have the upside to be impact players. We actually traded UP for the right to draft Olynyk lol. Not Danny's finest draft moment.

 

[southshoresoxfan]

KO is absolutely terrible at basketball. Id rather they had forfieted the pick then have to watch this guy.

 

[Cellar-Door]

KO is absolutely terrible at basketball. Id rather they had forfieted the pick then have to watch this guy.

Yeah this hot take is both incorrect and dumb,and you should feel stupid for making it.

 

[southshoresoxfan]

Yeah this hot take is both incorrect and dumb,and you should feel stupid for making it.

Nope i feel great..sorry that you watch Kelly Olynyk and consider anything he does useful on a basketball court.

The take was hot but the take is correct

 

[Cellar-Door]

Kelly Olynyk is like a basketball litmus test. If people look at him play and think he's terrible you know that they don't know anything and all their opinions on the sport can safely be ignored. It's fascinating.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Westbrook is not human

 

[Kliq]

It is unreasonable to slams the Cs for not taking Giannis, he was a teenager that was playing D2 Greek basketball. In a world where top prospects are hyped to oblivion, he came out of nowhere. Even Milwaukee didn't expect him to be this good.

 

[BigSoxFan]

It is unreasonable to slams the Cs for not taking Giannis, he was a teenager that was playing D2 Greek basketball. In a world where top prospects are hyped to oblivion, he came out of nowhere. Even Milwaukee didn't expect him to be this good.

It is not unreasonable at all. The Celtics in 2013 were a mess. They were in the perfect position to draft a guy based on upside. I have no problem if people want to defend the Olynyk pick - he's a useful player - but to say it's unreasonable to question Olynyk over The Freak is just wrong.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

It is not unreasonable at all. The Celtics in 2013 were a mess. They were in the perfect position to draft a guy based on upside. I have no problem if people want to defend the Olynyk pick - he's a useful player - but to say it's unreasonable to question Olynyk over The Freak is just wrong.

I don't want to speak for Kliq but I believe the point he was trying to make was not that the C's should have passed on a high upside player. It was that nobody really saw Antetokounmpo with the upside that would make him a top 15 player in the league and possibly climbing the charts. IIRC, HRB loved him back in the day but otherwise, he was a big flier playing in a Greece's A2 league (their second tier) and he wasn't even actually selected as an all-star (but per his Wikipedia, he played anyhow as a "treat for fans").

 

[BigSoxFan]

I don't want to speak for Kliq but I believe the point he was trying to make was not that the C's should have passed on a high upside player. It was that nobody really saw Antetokounmpo with the upside that would make him a top 15 player in the league and possibly climbing the charts. IIRC, HRB loved him back in the day but otherwise, he was a big flier playing in a Greece's A2 league (their second tier) and he wasn't even actually selected as an all-star (but per his Wikipedia, he played anyhow as a "treat for fans").

I get the point he was making but I don't necessarily agree with it. Clearly, the Bucks saw something to warrant picking him that high. I absolutely agree that nobody saw this kind of ascension but Olynyk has probably come pretty close to his ceiling. He's a solid big man - nothing more, nothing less. The Celtics roster in 2013 was a dumpster fire so the argument could have been made to take a flier on a guy like the Greek Freek.

Saying that it is unreasonable to criticize it is certainly an opinion that isn't "wrong" but I don't see it as cut and dry.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

It's not unreasonable to second-guess but DA's strategy for his first title and the one he continues to use is to try to accumulate assets that can be aggregrated to get better assets. I'm sure at that point DA felt like the worst thing he could do is take a flier on someone and have them end up like Bruno Caboclo.

Though GA would solve a lot of Boston's problems right now....

 

[jon abbey]

Houston is now a ridiculous 15-2 since Patrick Beverley came back and let Eric Gordon come off the bench. They're very deep, a legit 4th contender in the West (as much as anyone is a contender with the Warriors there).

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Evan Turner really transformed back into a pumpkin as soon as Stevens wasn't coaching him anymore. Minus 2.5 for BPM which puts him back near where he was at the abysmal start of his career.

 

[luckiestman]

Nm

 

[tbrep]

I never root for injuries but for the sake of competitiveness, I really hope one of the Warriors' core four isn't able to play in the playoffs. If that happens, we'll be in for some ridiculously fun playoff series between the Spurs, Clippers, Rockets and Warriors.

 

[BigSoxFan]

I never root for injuries but for the sake of competitiveness, I really hope one of the Warriors' core four isn't able to play in the playoffs. If that happens, we'll be in for some ridiculously fun playoff series between the Spurs, Clippers, Rockets and Warriors.

Now, just imagine if Durant had stayed in OKC.