Opinion The NBA Thread

[Knightmare]

You have got to be kidding me.

- Redick was terrible tonight in comparison to his normal output.
- DJ got on top in the 2nd half but was down in the first.
- Crawford played like he's played for the last 3 seasons.
- Barnes played better against the Spurs.
- Rivers scored well but has no idea how to run plays.

Clippers won that game by destroying them on the defensive end first and getting turnover points. Add CP3 back in and suddenly the offense becomes just as dangerous.

My points relate to scoring, and more specifically scoring from behind the arc.

Austin Rivers 4/6 for 3pt? Are you kidding me? He hardly averages one 3pt fg per 36min.
Then Barnes, Reddick and Crawford hit 3, 3pt shots each, and all shot better than 33% from 3pt range.

I can't see them as a group hitting 13 3pters on 48% shooting again as a collective in this series. Regardless of how bad that Houston defence perimeter defence is without Beverley. Crawford is hot and hold, he'll hit 5 3s in one game and none the next. Reddick can hit his 2-3. Barnes is good for usually 1 3pter and Rivers isn't a consistent outside shooter. So I'm not seeing that aspect being good enough for the Clippers to ensure victory in this series.

Not that the Rockets are unbeatable without Montijunas and Beverley, and a group that isn't at all suited to playoff basketball. With the fouls on Harden to dry up in playoff basketball, and defenses seeing him night after night pretty easily able to stop him.

For me just neither team in the second round in the West, particularly the Clippers possibly without Paul or at least not at his best, I'm not excited.

 

[wicksy]

My points relate to scoring, and more specifically scoring from behind the arc.

Austin Rivers 4/6 for 3pt? Are you kidding me? He hardly averages one 3pt fg per 36min.
Then Barnes, Reddick and Crawford hit 3, 3pt shots each, and all shot better than 33% from 3pt range.

I can't see them as a group hitting 13 3pters on 48% shooting again as a collective in this series. Regardless of how bad that Houston defence perimeter defence is without Beverley. Crawford is hot and hold, he'll hit 5 3s in one game and none the next. Reddick can hit his 2-3. Barnes is good for usually 1 3pter and Rivers isn't a consistent outside shooter. So I'm not seeing that aspect being good enough for the Clippers to ensure victory in this series.

Not that the Rockets are unbeatable without Montijunas and Beverley, and a group that isn't at all suited to playoff basketball. With the fouls on Harden to dry up in playoff basketball, and defenses seeing him night after night pretty easily able to stop him.

For me just neither team in the second round in the West, particularly the Clippers possibly without Paul or at least not at his best, I'm not excited.

Fair enough... I would bet every dollar I had on the Clippers beating the Bulls on current form though. Just my opinion.

 

[Knightmare]

Fair enough... I would bet every dollar I had on the Clippers beating the Bulls on current form though. Just my opinion.

With Paul hurt even if playing I'd back the Bulls with confidence in that matchup.

The Clippers don't have a bench outside of Crawford. And really only have three guys I'd class as worthwhile starters with Reddick and Barnes more guys I'd consider good bench players, if there was that option for them to come off the bench. Even with the Clippers applying the best effort they ever have on the defensive end with this group, and even with Griffen and Jordan who are both dominating on offense and on the boards and defensively respectively. I just don't think that team has enough to beat a Golden State certainly, and I'd add Chicago, Cleveland and Atlanta into that group of teams I would confidently pick over the Clippers in a 7 game series.

The Bulls have all the pieces and are in the conversation with Golden State and San Antonio for the best bench in the NBA. On top of that the Bulls have four all stars (2 present all stars) in the starting group and Dunleavy is also a really good starter to go with the four all stars as largely the Bulls equivalent of Korver, though like Korver before him, similarly underutilised in the Bulls offense, and not allowed to be as effective as he should be with the Bulls not moving it enough on offense and the Bulls off-ball player movement too stagnant and not good enough to allow Dunleavy to feature as much as he should. Dunleavy is so good I'd be using him as the number one option on offense, looking for him every time he is open and running the most plays on offense for him with the intent to get him open. Then that makes life easier for everyone else with his floor spacing.

And the Clippers even with Jordan and Griffen, the Bulls have Noah who can go with Griffen both down low and away from the basket (same with Taj Gibson off the bench who offers that same versatility on D), and Gasol who can just stay at the rim as he likes to v Jordan. I don't see from a matchup perspective the Clippers causing the Bulls any trouble and I don't see the talent matching the Bulls either.

As a side comment. I feel the top East teams, and really all four remaining East teams are really getting overlooked in terms of how good they all are.

Golden State regardless of opponent for me are winning a series against anyone, and it's hard to see any team winning more than two games in a series against them. But after Golden State, I'd back any of the top four seeds in the East to beat any team out West outside of Golden State, when taking into consideration current form/roster health.
The Spurs would be better than all four teams out East, except without Parker and Splitter healthy they're not. Same story with the Thunder if they had KD and Ibaka. Memphis if they Conley healthy would be a shot against any of the top 3 seeds out East, same story with the Clippers if Paul was 100%, though I wouldn't tip either to come out of the East even with full health. Similar could be argued with the Rockets if they had Beverley and Motiejunas. Or Portland if fully healthy.
But with so many of those Western teams not quite right. I'm a lot more interested outside of Golden State in the Eastern teams now that we're into the 2nd round and the stragglers from the East are out. I'm just not liking anything I'm seeing from anyone else out West.

But the elements I will always concede this playoffs with the Clippers are:
It's the best they've ever looked and played on both ends.
The best they've ever defended as a team by a long shot.
The best Griffen and Jordan have looked and looked in combination.
And the most competent the team has looked with this group in the half court.

It's just a group that needs a Paul Pierce for veteran leadership and playoff performance as well as starting level performance at the 3 or even 4 if you want him to, even though he isn't nearly the same player he was. Had the Clippers found a way to sign Pierce instead of Hawes. I'd be a lot more positive overall with regard to how good the Clippers are and how far they can go. The my expectation more geared to Western Finals and probably the more competitive series the Warriors would get out West.

 

[nahnah]

Great response by the Cavs, Shump is playing so well. And The return of JR next game !

 

[Knightmare]

Great response by the Cavs, Shump is playing so well. And The return of JR next game !

No surprises on the Bulls end. Slow start as mostly happens with that starting group. D.Rose struggling after just on day rest between games as expected.

Pau, Jimmy and Mike I expected better from on the offensive end, and Jimmy also should have been much better on the defensive end.

I would have liked Snell to get minutes on LeBron to relieve Jimmy some and Mirotic for scoring was needed in that game. But Thibs does stick to his preferred rotation and that shortened rotation for playoffs, which with this years exceedingly deep group I don't personally agree with, particularly with this group needing energy on both sides of the ball to play their best basketball, and lesser minutes required to achieve that.

But not at all surprised by Cleveland's response and the Bulls lack of energy overall, with the Bulls too often after big wins playing content basketball.

 

[nahnah]

These refs are so so bad.

 

[nahnah]

Amazing shot rose. Cavs are dunzo.. Irving and Shump limping around everywhere

Refs were terrible for both teams

 

[Knightmare]

The Bulls v Cavs game was a good, close game. Just saw the replay tonight.

I loved the way Rose in the second half looked to draw fouls. He usually looks to avoid contact so I'm glad for a change he was willing to draw contact on drives to get to the line.

The Gasol hamstring will complicate things on the Bulls side and it will be interesting to see how he plays with that over the coming games.

Irving and how he manages that ankle he has had since game 2 v Boston will be the interesting element on the Cavs side.

I look forward to game 4. For me whoever wins game 4 wins the series. It just feels like that critical game in the series that one way or the other should give one of the teams a decisive advantage in the series. With the Bulls if 3-1 up likely to be pretty hard to beat, and if the Cavs get it back to 2-2 I think the Bulls will have a hard time winning the series.

 

[wicksy]

The Bulls v Cavs game was a good, close game. Just saw the replay tonight.

I loved the way Rose in the second half looked to draw fouls. He usually looks to avoid contact so I'm glad for a change he was willing to draw contact on drives to get to the line.

The Gasol hamstring will complicate things on the Bulls side and it will be interesting to see how he plays with that over the coming games.

Irving and how he manages that ankle he has had since game 2 v Boston will be the interesting element on the Cavs side.

I look forward to game 4. For me whoever wins game 4 wins the series. It just feels like that critical game in the series that one way or the other should give one of the teams a decisive advantage in the series. With the Bulls if 3-1 up likely to be pretty hard to beat, and if the Cavs get it back to 2-2 I think the Bulls will have a hard time winning the series.

So Cavs win then?

What are we thinking in the west if the Clippers win 2 more and the Warriors keep getting found out in playoff tempo bball?

 

[nahnah]

Amazing win

 

[Knightmare]

So Cavs win then?

What are we thinking in the west if the Clippers win 2 more and the Warriors keep getting found out in playoff tempo bball?

I tipped the Cavs going into the series. Terrific series though. These last two games (and I'll watch game 4 later on today/tonight), but you can't get any closer than this.

I still have the Warriors over Grizzlies. I feel the Grizzlies will struggle to win another game. But the Grizzlies play a brand of basketball very suited to the playoffs. So you never know. If they win the series then I have no idea who I'd have in the finals let alone winning the chip.

The Clippers and specifically their non-stars are surprising me. Austin Rivers and JJ Reddick had an incredible game 3. The series is still a toss-up for me. If Clippers win game 4 then it's over for the Rockets. If not, then it probably goes to 7 games. It will be the closest playoff series I'm not interested in watching - with the Rockets in game 2 getting to the line 64 times I think it was. It's just unwatchable and without and flow with Jordan and Howard to get fouled too often.

The Hawks v Wizards series is also a good one with the Wizards up a game. The Wizards if Wall isn't right to go surely lose, but they've come good at the right time of the year and can make it a good series.

 

[wicksy]

I tipped the Cavs going into the series. Terrific series though. These last two games (and I'll watch game 4 later on today/tonight), but you can't get any closer than this.

I still have the Warriors over Grizzlies. I feel the Grizzlies will struggle to win another game. But the Grizzlies play a brand of basketball very suited to the playoffs. So you never know. If they win the series then I have no idea who I'd have in the finals let alone winning the chip.

The Clippers and specifically their non-stars are surprising me. Austin Rivers and JJ Reddick had an incredible game 3. The series is still a toss-up for me. If Clippers win game 4 then it's over for the Rockets. If not, then it probably goes to 7 games. It will be the closest playoff series I'm not interested in watching - with the Rockets in game 2 getting to the line 64 times I think it was. It's just unwatchable and without and flow with Jordan and Howard to get fouled too often.

The Hawks v Wizards series is also a good one with the Wizards up a game. The Wizards if Wall isn't right to go surely lose, but they've come good at the right time of the year and can make it a good series.

You're right about one thing.... This first half has gone for an eternity!!

 

[Knightmare]

You're right about one thing.... This first half has gone for an eternity!!

26ft attempts to Jordan before half time is pretty terrible viewing just checking the box score now.

Basketball teams know that the concept works, so given it's the playoffs, whatever helps you win games of basketball.

 

[nahnah]

The stats show the TV rating are unaffected by hacking so I doubt nba will change the rule in foreseeable future

 

[Knightmare]

The stats show the TV rating are unaffected by hacking so I doubt nba will change the rule in foreseeable future

Adam Silver about a month ago now addressed the issue and to paraphrase suggested that there wasn't an issue and he had no intention of changing the rule.

But I certainly hope the rule does change. I'm tuning out both for Clippers and Rockets games.

Internationally it's an unspoken rule that you don't hack a guy and send them to the line. They just don't do it. But with Coach Pop doing it and succeeding with it, others are more and more following suit and it's hurting the ascetics of the game.

I hope from next season people start tuning out of Clippers and Rockets games completely, just to prove a point. But with both having large fan bases, and the Rockets particularly with their large following in China. Therein lies the challenge.

 

[nahnah]

It doesn't work, it hasn't worked all playoffs. The rockets are just prolonging their own agony

 

[wicksy]

Knightmare, i really question some of the things you say sometimes. The Clippers are now up 29 with 5 minutes to go after being hacked the entire game. We are also 24 and 2 for the season when heavy hacking has been applied. The concept does NOT work.

 

[Knightmare]

Knightmare, i really question some of the things you say sometimes. The Clippers are now up 29 with 5 minutes to go after being hacked the entire game. We are also 24 and 2 for the season when heavy hacking has been applied. The concept does NOT work.

On ESPN.com during the first round of the playoffs there was on Truehooptv and another program some different people speaking about the hack-a-whoever theory and it was determined in various studies that the theory is successful. I recall one of the examples given was that per 100 possessions it is advantageous by 1 point to your team v the opposing team.

The Rockets evidently are just being outplayed in the series v a hot Clippers who seem to have taken confidence from the series v the Spurs. Or that is my interpretation of the events.

Not that I am watching the series.

 

[wicksy]

This was calculated before today's games. Look out below!!!

 

[Knightmare]

This was calculated before today's games. Look out below!!!

With the Clippers up a game and the Warriors down a game in their respective series' going into today's games I'd imagine that plays a fair part in it. Otherwise probably points differential would come into the calculation.

Presumably the winner of the chip comes out of the West. But for me it's still Golden States to lose.

Clippers with some lesser names going terrific look set to knock out the Rockets. But if Golden State gets through. I'll concede with the way the Clippers are playing and Austin Rivers is suddenly developing before our eyes. It will be a good matchup.
Always chippy between the Clippers and Warriors. So I'm certainly hoping to see that matchup as a basketball fan to get the opportunity to watch that happen next round.

 

[TradeDraft]

Dereck Rose is the Ben Reid of the Chicago Bulls

 

[Knightmare]

Dereck Rose is the Ben Reid of the Chicago Bulls

Rose has after Butler been Chicago's most reliable through the playoffs.

The wrist is a different injury and not something he has had trouble with before. If it's a fracture, then that's his playoffs done. It seemed to bother him throughout the remainder of the game which is worrying, but until we know what the problem is nothing can be certain.

Rose may well be playing game 6, and unless it's a fracture he should be, and just like pretty much everyone else on the court just be playing banged up with his own respective injury to be carrying into the game. Irving for the Cavs is playing hurt also. So that may even up that matchup, after Rose has taken advantage of Irving throughout this series.

Though the Cavs with Rose at 100% or not still are the better team. I concede. With the Bulls still not moving well enough off the ball or cutting like they need to, with too much ball watching and stagnant offence which won't get them past the Cavs.

 

[nahnah]

As long as hinrich and Brooks keep playing mins ahead of Snell I'll be reasonably confident of getting it done next game, does Thibs not know Snell does not miss against the cavs

 

[Knightmare]

As long as hinrich and Brooks keep playing mins ahead of Snell I'll be reasonably confident of getting it done next game, does Thibs not know Snell does not miss against the cavs

I was annoyed after Butler got his second foul that Snell didn't go to LeBron. Butler could have defended JR Smith or Shumpert without fouling and have towelled either of them up and probably with the easier defensive assignment had a greater impact on offense. And Dunleavy wasn't really involved on offense for there to be a need to have him on the floor.

For some reason Thibs is steadfast on his preferred lineups and matchups, and he obviously wants Butler going with LeBron from start to finish, but that's what cost the Bulls game 5. But with LeBron having been lazy defending Snell on the defensive end trying to cheap on him by getting into the passing lane for cheap steals, Snell could have once again gotten hot from the outside with some rhythm 3s.

 

[Knightmare]

Somewhat bummed out by the conference finals matchups.

Really wanted to see a Warriors v Clippers series for the chippyness, and similarly for the same reasons a Bulls v Wizards series. But the second round did go as I had predicted going into the round.

For the conference finals I have:
Atlanta in 7 and Golden State in 6.

Cleveland may get through over Atlanta and Atlanta have hardly played convincing basketball through the playoffs but the Cavs with Love and Varajao obviously out then Irving hobbled and barely playing to a worthwhile level at least based on the Bulls series. It's hard to pick the Cavs even though they're if healthy clearly the better team as they showed over the second half of the season.

As a viewer I also hope for an Atlanta v Golden State finals. Apologies to nahnah, but I just want to see the two best ball moving teams playing eachother. A half strength Cavs v Golden State just isn't a series that would entertain me as much, but two teams who play unselfishly and move the ball so easily, I look forward to seeing that.