Opinion The NBA Thread

[wicksy]

The Spurs and Dallas of my tips are the two that I wouldn't be surprised in the first round to see going to the favourites, but I'm still one game in still sticking by my picks.

With regard to how far the Clippers can go. Best case scenario for me is Western Conference Finals. It will end with Golden State who are a class above.

The Clippers as a playoff team just aren't suited to executing in the slower paced half court with a bunch of guys who look better with an open floor whereby the bigs can run. The other problem I have with the Clippers is it's a 3 man team. There aren't any good options at the 2 and 3. Then Crawford is the only reliable bench shooter.
So I still anticipate if Tony Parker is healthy that the Spurs win the series.

I have similar issues with Houston who like the Clippers aren't a half court team and with James Harden and his hero ball. It's not suitable for playoff basketball and similarly their best case scenario is making the Western finals.

Have you seen Redick's last month? Both he and Barnes are having career years. Sorry Knightmare, but I think you're off on that statement.

Game 1 was played at the pace LA wanted. There was nothing SA could do to slow them down.
I agree that our bench can't play playoff tempo basketball with Jamal, the only player that can bail out the poor offense but the starters can play half court. Griffin has improved his post moves - which often includes flicking up an oop to DJ - and Paul can get his own shot whenever he wants.... When they collapse on him, Griffin is open for an easy J which he is hitting more often than not.

I think it's a myth that they aren't suited in the half court... LOB City died last season.

 

[wicksy]

One other note is from a watchability standpoint. I'm really not interested in watching the Spurs/Clippers series. It will be a lot of the Spurs sending DeAndre to the line. It's what Pop does every time, so it's really going to be the worst watching of any series.

Please!!!
Watch yesterday's 3rd quarter.... One of the best quarters of bball i've ever watched.

Pop put DJ to the line 2 or 3 times over the space of a minute and a half. Big deal!!

 

[Knightmare]

Have you seen Redick's last month? Both he and Barnes are having career years. Sorry Knightmare, but I think you're off on that statement.

Game 1 was played at the pace LA wanted. There was nothing SA could do to slow them down.
I agree that our bench can't play playoff tempo basketball with Jamal, the only player that can bail out the poor offense but the starters can play half court. Griffin has improved his post moves - which often includes flicking up an oop to DJ - and Paul can get his own shot whenever he wants.... When they collapse on him, Griffin is open for an easy J which he is hitting more often than not.

I think it's a myth that they aren't suited in the half court... LOB City died last season.

Don't get me started on Griffin. I say the same of Serge Ibaka. Griffin has fallen in love with shooting the mid-range jumper and it's hard to watch for someone so dominant around the basket. He is a big boy, so strong, so athletic. He needs to get to the rim more. Terrific passer though, a best 1-3 passing big in the game and that's something that doesn't get spoken about enough. But on the boards and defensively not great by position.

Barnes was better in his Lakers days as a more athletic and better defender then, now he is a low level role player who plays physical, but on a contending team he is less than ideal. Reddick is getting used more on offense as he needed to be as a really good 3pt shooter, and he is shooting it efficiently. But defensively he is poor, and isn't a threat off the dribble or penetrating. Like with Barnes, Reddick is a role player who would be more suited off the bench. But for floor spacing he is a necessary piece to allow Griffin and more so Jordan to function on the inside and allow Paul also more space to move, given a lack of other good options.

My issue with the Clippers in the half court and in the slower game primarily is less offensive execution as much as DeAndre Jordan. In the 4th quarter. He is getting fouled. And he converts less than 40% from the line. You can be 10 points down, and foul Jordan a few times and you can get back in games, particularly if you can shoot the 3 ball like Golden State and the Spurs.

Plainly I don't think the Clippers having a shot. This is a great Western Conference - so great the Thunder aren't even there. The Clippers aren't in that best 1-2 class and too flawed and exploitable in a 7 game series.

None the less I wish the Clippers the best and I hope the Spurs v Clippers series is a good one. But that's my assessment.

 

[Knightmare]

Please!!!
Watch yesterday's 3rd quarter.... One of the best quarters of bball i've ever watched.

Pop put DJ to the line 2 or 3 times over the space of a minute and a half. Big deal!!

I wish the Clippers were showtime/lob city again. That was fun when that started.

I watched the first half and lost interest of that Spurs v Clippers game. I love the way the Spurs play normally, but I just didn't get hooked to this series with Tony Parker playing hurt and not looking like himself. If it gets to a game 7 I probably will tune-in. But I hardly have time to watch every series of every team.

 

[wicksy]

Don't get me started on Griffin. I say the same of Serge Ibaka. Griffin has fallen in love with shooting the mid-range jumper and it's hard to watch for someone so dominant around the basket. He is a big boy, so strong, so athletic. He needs to get to the rim more. Terrific passer though, a best 1-3 passing big in the game and that's something that doesn't get spoken about enough. But on the boards and defensively not great by position.

Barnes was better in his Lakers days as a more athletic and better defender then, now he is a low level role player who plays physical, but on a contending team he is less than ideal. Reddick is getting used more on offense as he needed to be as a really good 3pt shooter, and he is shooting it efficiently. But defensively he is poor, and isn't a threat off the dribble or penetrating. Like with Barnes, Reddick is a role player who would be more suited off the bench. But for floor spacing he is a necessary piece to allow Griffin and more so Jordan to function on the inside and allow Paul also more space to move, given a lack of other good options.

My issue with the Clippers in the half court and in the slower game primarily is less offensive execution as much as DeAndre Jordan. In the 4th quarter. He is getting fouled. And he converts less than 40% from the line. You can be 10 points down, and foul Jordan a few times and you can get back in games, particularly if you can shoot the 3 ball like Golden State and the Spurs.

Plainly I don't think the Clippers having a shot. This is a great Western Conference - so great the Thunder aren't even there. The Clippers aren't in that best 1-2 class and too flawed and exploitable in a 7 game series.

None the less I wish the Clippers the best and I hope the Spurs v Clippers series is a good one. But that's my assessment.

Fair call. Just a few things though.

- I think you'll find that the Clippers have won the majority of games where Hack-A-DJ has been implemented.
- Blake started the season focusing too much on his jumper but has recently moved back to the post.
- Redick as a bench player? He's been a starter for the past 8 years at three different teams.
- Thunder aren't there because they have 2 players... and one of them was injured.

I still think it's a GSW v Cavs Final but Clippers will make the western conf final and will take the final to at least 6 games.

 

[Knightmare]

Fair call. Just a few things though.

- I think you'll find that the Clippers have won the majority of games where Hack-A-DJ has been implemented.
- Blake started the season focusing too much on his jumper but has recently moved back to the post.
- Redick as a bench player? He's been a starter for the past 8 years at three different teams.
- Thunder aren't there because they have 2 players... and one of them was injured.

I still think it's a GSW v Cavs Final but Clippers will make the western conf final and will take the final to at least 6 games.

Reddick before joining the Clippers was never a regular starter see NBA stats: http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/redicjj01.html
G = games GS = games started.

I'd love Reddick as a role play off the bench as a 7th man. But personally I wouldn't want him starting. Same story with Barnes who is more an 8th man. So they can both still contribute. But starting I just don't like it, particularly on a contending team when they're both among the worse third in the game starting at their positions.

The fact that the Clippers can lose games off DeAndre's lack of free throw shooting is the scary aspect, as opposed to most games under those conditions still being wins. The Clippers are ahead when that happens, so you'd hope you hold on more often than not. But with the Warriors and Spurs particularly so extremely efficient on the offensive end and so capable from 3pt range, for me that's dangerous even with the Clippers up in the final quarter, and more so than if any other team is leading. It may change one game in a series, and that's enough to matter.

OKC still got 27 games from Durant and 64 games from Ibaka. Then Kanter as an addition has been seriously good averaging 18.7ppg and 11rbg and Waiters also has been useful. And that's all before talking about Westbrook's special season. And then Anthony Morrow as that Reddick equivalent as that floor spacer off the bench. That's still a 45 win team and 45 wins most seasons should be a playoff team, they would be the 6 seed in the East. So that's a good Western conference when a team like that misses the playoffs.

One area I give the Clippers credit for is improved defence. That last month of the season the Clippers like the Spurs got hot, and it was off the back of good defence. And that's an area the Clippers were poor in, in years past. The key if the Clippers are to go beyond the first round for me is that ability on the defensive end to continue at that pace without dropoff.

 

[Knightmare]

A few amendments to my above playoff predictions.

Washington are beating Toronto easily. 2-0 away? That's crazy stuff. Toronto's backcourt - Lowry/DeRozan/L.Williams. They're all struggling with Wall and Beal really elevating their games and Paul Pierce playing better. Washington are the better team and it's that simple. They've finally clicked and gotten back to their early season play. They'll be a tough out in the second or third round the way they're playing.

Dallas look done with Rondo and Parsons out and Houston will win that series.

Same story with the Clippers v Spurs. The Spurs with Tony Parker not his normal self and no Tiago Splitter. They're just not able to defend the Clippers who are playing really good swarming defence right now and dominating on the inside and on the defensive end.

The other series' should go as I anticipated previously.

 

[nahnah]

I still don't rate Washington, toronto are known to go through terrible shooting periods.. Unfortunate for them it's happening in the first round again
Dallas might acutally play better without rondo but with parsons and chandler under inury clouds they're done
Still confident Spurs will win the series but I am hoping clippers do because I wanna see some new teams in the finals
Cavs are playing ok, been challenged in both games but lead 2-0 I'll take that. JR is struggling at the moment.

 

[wicksy]

Hack a Jordan is a blight on this game!!! f@#$ you Pop you old c@#$!!!

EDIT: Joey Crawford has no idea....

 

[Knightmare]

Hack a Jordan is a blight on this game!!! f@#$ you Pop you old c@#$!!!

EDIT: Joey Crawford has no idea....

You're going to see it throughout the series, game after game with DeAndre to be intentionally fouled in the final quarter. And when he doesn't even shoot 40% from the line, it's not surprising.

That's why I'm not interested in watching the series. Because that's what Pop was always going to do.

 

[wicksy]

You're going to see it throughout the series, game after game with DeAndre to be intentionally fouled in the final quarter. And when he doesn't even shoot 40% from the line, it's not surprising.

That's why I'm not interested in watching the series. Because that's what Pop was always going to do.

It's a disgrace. Spurs were up by 10, used hack a DJ and Clippers went on a 12-2 run. It doesn't benefit anyone......

PS My blood pressure is through the roof right now!!!

 

[the mighty T]

I still don't rate Washington, toronto are known to go through terrible shooting periods.. Unfortunate for them it's happening in the first round again
Dallas might acutally play better without rondo but with parsons and chandler under inury clouds they're done
Still confident Spurs will win the series but I am hoping clippers do because I wanna see some new teams in the finals
Cavs are playing ok, been challenged in both games but lead 2-0 I'll take that. JR is struggling at the moment.

The Raptors are low.. Way overrated imo. Likely to be swept at this rate. Wizards were the true 4th seed anyways so all will be right with the world. then we'll see if Atlanta can handle the Truth.

My Bulls have looked a little disjointed today but I still think we'll claim game 3 and the series pretty comfortably. C's are just being overwhelmed by the Cavs, not that it's surprising. I like the Celtics a lot though and will watch their off season with great interest. They'll be a powerhouse before too long.

 

[Knightmare]

The Raptors are low.. Way overrated imo. Likely to be swept at this rate. Wizards were the true 4th seed anyways so all will be right with the world. then we'll see if Atlanta can handle the Truth.

My Bulls have looked a little disjointed today but I still think we'll claim game 3 and the series pretty comfortably. C's are just being overwhelmed by the Cavs, not that it's surprising. I like the Celtics a lot though and will watch their off season with great interest. They'll be a powerhouse before too long.

I agree with you on the Raptors/Wizards. And on paper the Wizards should be better just looking through their lineup. The Raptors early season really over-performed, and the Wizards relatively underperformed and you're right regarding the seeding, the Wizards should have had the better record and higher seeding given their better roster.

The Bulls had a down period during the 2nd quarter going down 18 I think it was and reclaimed the lead in the 3rd. So they're fine even without Mirotic who may be the Bulls best player on the offensive end. Rose has really played well in this game. Shooting the 3 better than he has all season. The big picture in the Bulls v Bucks series is the bucks just don't have the rebounding or 3pt shooting ability to go with the Bulls. Give the Bucks a few years though and they can be terrific with Middleton, Giannis, Parker, MCW. They just need a better big man and some 3pt shooting beyond just Middleton and Ilyasova on the occasion he gets hot from the 4. If the Bucks can add lets say a Greg Monroe as a free agent. That's an interesting team and maybe a top 4 seed as soon as next season in the East.

I don't see the Celtics becoming relevant any time soon. They have a baron roster without a starting quality big man and they're in that awkward position in the standings where they're not low enough to get a top pick to suddenly get good overnight or have so much talent that they'll attract free agents and realistically rise up the standings. They can remain middle of the pack in the East, but unless a star free agent or two joins. I'm not sure where the improvement comes from with no star calibre young players and more just a bunch of moderately good perimeter players and nothing much inside outside of a few role playing forwards.

 

[the mighty T]

The Bulls had a down period during the 2nd quarter going down 18 I think it was and reclaimed the lead in the 3rd. So they're fine even without Mirotic who may be the Bulls best player on the offensive end. Rose has really played well in this game. Shooting the 3 better than he has all season. The big picture in the Bulls v Bucks series is the bucks just don't have the rebounding or 3pt shooting ability to go with the Bulls. Give the Bucks a few years though and they can be terrific with Middleton, Giannis, Parker, MCW. They just need a better big man and some 3pt shooting beyond just Middleton and Ilyasova on the occasion he gets hot from the 4. If the Bucks can add lets say a Greg Monroe as a free agent. That's an interesting team and maybe a top 4 seed as soon as next season in the East.

I don't see the Celtics becoming relevant any time soon. They have a baron roster without a starting quality big man and they're in that awkward position in the standings where they're not low enough to get a top pick to suddenly get good overnight or have so much talent that they'll attract free agents and realistically rise up the standings. They can remain middle of the pack in the East, but unless a star free agent or two joins. I'm not sure where the improvement comes from with no star calibre young players and more just a bunch of moderately good perimeter players and nothing much inside outside of a few role playing forwards.

I think big Nik has a huge role to play in the future of Chicago, I'm a huge fan. Great touch for a big man and I'm glad he's found a bit of confidence in his shot. Will be interesting to see how the team structures itself going forward, because he deserves more time on court.

On Milwaukee, I'm with you all the way. MCW will be something going forward and clearly won out moving knight when they did. A Monroe (likely to be in NY next season) or Millsap would be huge for them and a great complimentary piece

Don't sleep on the Cs because Danny Ainge is a crafty character. They have a tonne of assets that they can move for established players. Also, Marcus Smart is legit, Thomas is a quality scorer and Bradley is a more than capable 3 and D player. I'll admit their bigs aren't stunning but Sully will be better and KO is versatile. If you add in say, D. Jordan as a defensive anchor through FA and trade in someone better than Turner at the three spot and you've got a strong team for the East

 

[Knightmare]

I think big Nik has a huge role to play in the future of Chicago, I'm a huge fan. Great touch for a big man and I'm glad he's found a bit of confidence in his shot. Will be interesting to see how the team structures itself going forward, because he deserves more time on court.

On Milwaukee, I'm with you all the way. MCW will be something going forward and clearly won out moving knight when they did. A Monroe (likely to be in NY next season) or Millsap would be huge for them and a great complimentary piece

Don't sleep on the Cs because Danny Ainge is a crafty character. They have a tonne of assets that they can move for established players. Also, Marcus Smart is legit, Thomas is a quality scorer and Bradley is a more than capable 3 and D player. I'll admit their bigs aren't stunning but Sully will be better and KO is versatile. If you add in say, D. Jordan as a defensive anchor through FA and trade in someone better than Turner at the three spot and you've got a strong team for the East

With Milwaukee I look at some of their players a little differently. MCW I think will remain much as he is today, in the way Tyreke Evans was a really good rookie and has remained the same player since as a big, tall point guard without a great jump shot. But then again with Kidd as a coach, maybe he can do a little better than that. But Knight was definitely in my view the better point guard, but for salary cap reasons knowing Knight would want a big contract, that's more why I see the move having happened as opposed to MCW being an upgrade. Though MCW from a switching perspective on defence with his length from a gameplan perspective is compatible which will help.
The guys on Milwaukee I'm particularly bullish about are actually Khris Middleton who I'd say today while he is not recognised as nearly this level talent, but I think today he is a best 20 in the game player, with the scope to become a best 10 in the game player. And Giannis while still developing, he is someone I see as having a similar ceiling to Middleton, though not the same level shooter, as more a KD type of guy without the jumpshot or range but better defence.
Then Parker I see as that third best player and a really high level starter and probably that second if not best scorer on that team, though probably not as good on the defensive end is my feel.
The more I think about Milwaukee actually the player I'd go after instead of Monroe is Omer Asik. Asik simply cannot score on the offensive end and doesn't like catching passes in the post either, regularly fumbling it. But on the defensive end and on the boards, he is among the best certainly five in the game, as someone who can switch on defense and allow all five positions to switch on defense but then also on the boards he is big time. A bit like Monroe he will go cheaper than expected, and would be an incredible piece for that team if they can get him for $8m a year on a long term deal. Have Asik amongside Parker who will have to play the 4 to start on that team, it better balances that frontline and would be another piece that works for their gameplan, without breaking the bank which as a small market team is key.

Ainge is a good GM, I agree. Sullinger is a good rotation player and maybe a starting quality player in time as a good scorer and rebounder, though not a great defender. Olynyk though I'm not so high on. Good shooting centre, but a pretty poor rebounder and while improving on the defensive end still below average, so as anything more than your backup centre, I wouldn't be comfortable with him. I agree the guard rotation is good though with a number of guys who can be components to a team, if you put a couple of stars beside them. Also I give credit to Brad Stevens who has done a really good job with the team in getting them into the playoffs after Rondo and Green got moved - he deserves to be in the best 3-4 in the coach of the year voting, having along with Kerr, Budenholzer and Kidd done a terrific job far exceeding any realistic expectation that anyone could have expected with that group. The interesting thing for me is not the rise of the young players, I kind of feel with the current group that we know who they are and they're going to remain much the same as they are. But with the substantial growth in the salary cap that will come in a couple of years, that with no big contracts on the books, that might be the interesting factor to watch and Boston's best chance to make something happen.

 

[mattys123]

The Spurs are an amazing team, to still be going so well when their main man is 39 is just nuts.

Tim Duncan just keeps getting better, that block on Griffin late in the game was just stunning.

I think sums up game 5 and where the Spurs are now;

 

[wicksy]

The Spurs are an amazing team, to still be going so well when their main man is 39 is just nuts.

Tim Duncan just keeps getting better, that block on Griffin late in the game was just stunning.

I think sums up game 5 and where the Spurs are now;

They didn't win.... The Clippers lost!!
DJ goal tending was the most ******ed thing i've ever seen and will cost the more talented team a place in the 2nd round.

 

[Knightmare]

This Bulls v Cavs matchup will be fun!

No Love or Varajao then JR Smith missing the first two games through suspension.

But then on the other side of things you've got the ever inconsistent Bulls who don't move the basketball or move without the basketball game after game which is leading to stagnant, predictable and poor offense. And they're hardly the defensive juggernaut they were a few years back. So the Bulls are hardly certain to take advantage of the Cavs even minus a few players.

The key to the series for me is LeBron and specifically whether he starts at the 4 or 3. At the 3, the Cavs are doomed to lose with not enough floor spacing for LeBron to adequately operate and as a result he'll take too many long 2s and have a below standard fg %. At the 4 I think it's a different story entirely, he'll have more shots closer to the rim and then can place the floor spacers around him on the perimeter and the Cavs can win the series.

 

[nahnah]

Cavs have to find a way to win the first two home games. Shump and Jones need to step up.
I hate olynyk

 

[nahnah]

Cavs already have two players suspended and Noah hasn't even arrived in cleveland yet.. This series could be brutal, A lot of dislike

 

[Knightmare]

Cavs already have two players suspended and Noah hasn't even arrived in cleveland yet.. This series could a brutal

Who outside of JR is suspended for the Cavs?

Noah is a competitor. The Bulls (and Noah) play hard but clean basketball. It's not a cheap shot team. The Bulls just play with intensity and go after you on the defensive end. But guys like Noah and Butler particularly, they're never backing down from a challenge. They're fair, but hard men who won't back down and will elevate their games if/when challenged.

Kendrick Perkins for the Cavs will be the instigator in this series if he gets minutes. He is the only dirty player I'd identify from either team. And if it gets nasty then Nazr Mohammed for the Bulls is the more likely to retaliate/foul hard.

 

[nahnah]

Who outside of JR is suspended for the Cavs?

Noah is a competitor. The Bulls (and Noah) play hard but clean basketball. It's not a cheap shot team. The Bulls just play with intensity and go after you on the defensive end. But guys like Noah and Butler particularly, they're never backing down from a challenge. They're fair, but hard men who won't back down and will elevate their games if/when challenged.

Kendrick Perkins for the Cavs will be the instigator in this series if he gets minutes. He is the only dirty player I'd identify from either team. And if it gets nasty then Nazr Mohammed for the Bulls is the more likely to retaliate/foul hard.

Perk was suspended 1 game, Noah will instigate stuff no doubt

 

[wicksy]

It's disappointing how weak the East is. I believe all losers in the West round 1 barring maybe New Orleans would end up winning the East Conf Final.
I really hope that they take the best 16 next year and do away with the top 8 from each.

PS Huge win by the Clips today..... Real backs to the wall stuff.

 

[nahnah]

It's disappointing how weak the East is. I believe all losers in the West round 1 barring maybe New Orleans would end up winning the East Conf Final.
I really hope that they take the best 16 next year and do away with the top 8 from each.

PS Huge win by the Clips today..... Real backs to the wall stuff.

I would back the cavs over every team in west other than warriors and Spurs

 

[Knightmare]

It's disappointing how weak the East is. I believe all losers in the West round 1 barring maybe New Orleans would end up winning the East Conf Final.
I really hope that they take the best 16 next year and do away with the top 8 from each.

PS Huge win by the Clips today..... Real backs to the wall stuff.

Atlanta had a might good record v the Western Conference.

The Bulls would struggle with Golden State and I can't see a win in that series for the Bulls, but otherwise everyone else the Bulls would have a shot at beating. Particularly with a complete roster to choose from which they haven't had during the season.

Cleveland against anyone has a shot but again Golden State are better and I don't like how they would matchup against San Antonio. But otherwise I'd be confident in saying they have everyone else covered. Probably even without Love if they move LeBron to the 4.

But you're right to say the West is stronger. With only 3 teams in the East that could realistically win a series against any of the top 7 seeds out West.

I don't personally like the conference concept, and even stupider from a playoff perspective is the divisions. But certainly the Eastern and Western Conferences are staying with not the least bit of chatter that anything will happen regarding the playoff format or conferences.