The NBA basketball thread 2013-2014

[scratchswinger]

[quote name='MtlJeff' timestamp='1399504846' post='9253053']
I believe Thibodeau is under contract and would have to be given permission to interview for other jobs. He would have to basically tell Chicago he was going to tank the season to get that
[/quote]

Wasn't Doc Rivers under contract?

[tatertot]

Could the Pacers trade Hibbert now? Like, before everybody forgets this game?

[eagle1997]

they poked and prodded and woke the sleeping giant: it's a series now, which is great for the wiz kids.

(i know it's a dumb saying, but i can't help myself this evening)

[size=5][i][b]no pressure, no diamonds.[/b][/i][/size]

[TheGameChanger]

Lakers will get Thibs. Thibs and Front Office don't get along. Hope we can atleast get a pick for Him.

[baseballfrk8998]

Durant was 1 assist away from a triple double, which would have given him and Westbrook both triple doubles in the same game.

Pretty sure that would have been the 1st time ever in the playoffs. What a showing from those 2 last night!

I think Durant's MVP speech lit a fire under Westbrook!

[somaplr]

[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1399515301' post='9254085']
[quote name='MtlJeff' timestamp='1399504846' post='9253053']
I believe Thibodeau is under contract and would have to be given permission to interview for other jobs. He would have to basically tell Chicago he was going to tank the season to get that
[/quote]

Wasn't Doc Rivers under contract?
[/quote]

Yeah, he had a year left. Other teams have to call the GM and request permission to talk. The Nets were actually the first to contact Ainge and he denied the request (division rival).

[RJRJRJ]

[quote name='baseballfrk8998' timestamp='1399549639' post='9255519']
Durant was 1 assist away from a triple double, which would have given him and Westbrook both triple doubles in the same game.

Pretty sure that would have been the 1st time ever in the playoffs. What a showing from those 2 last night!

I think Durant's MVP speech lit a fire under Westbrook!
[/quote]

But did you see the final assist they gave him? Im sure Durant would have had a triple double too if they left him in for another 24 seconds.

And Ernie and Shaq making Charles do the Churro eating had me dying.

[baseballfrk8998]

[quote name='RJRJRJ' timestamp='1399584078' post='9259373'][quote name='baseballfrk8998' timestamp='1399549639' post='9255519']
Durant was 1 assist away from a triple double, which would have given him and Westbrook both triple doubles in the same game.

Pretty sure that would have been the 1st time ever in the playoffs. What a showing from those 2 last night!

I think Durant's MVP speech lit a fire under Westbrook!
[/quote]

But did you see the final assist they gave him? Im sure Durant would have had a triple double too if they left him in for another 24 seconds.

And Ernie and Shaq making Charles do the Churro eating had me dying.[/quote]

Yeah I saw that.. Surprised me that they gave him an assist for that.. It is what it is, however.

[MtlJeff]

[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1399515301' post='9254085']
[quote name='MtlJeff' timestamp='1399504846' post='9253053']
I believe Thibodeau is under contract and would have to be given permission to interview for other jobs. He would have to basically tell Chicago he was going to tank the season to get that
[/quote]

Wasn't Doc Rivers under contract?
[/quote]

I think that situation was a bit different, they wanted to blow up the team, he (likely) told them he wanted no part of that. They also tried to trade Rivers to the Clippers before letting him go

It's a bit different because Thibodeau is a great coach and Chicago is trying to win now

But like i said, if Thibodeau went to them and said "i hate you and i'm going to tank the season and run Butler and Gibson into the ground etc etc" they'd let him go

[MtlJeff]

Is it possible that Russell Westbrook has been reading this exact thread ,on a golf forum by chance, noticed that my confidence in him was shaken, and changed his ways entirely?

I'm going with: almost certainly yes

his last 3 games: 87 points, 30 assists, 24 rebounds on 31/52 shooting

that's basically 30-10-8 in 3 consecutive playoff games....Yowzah!

[Rock Chalk Jayhawk]

[quote name='MtlJeff' timestamp='1399592571' post='9260063']Is it possible that Russell Westbrook has been reading this exact thread ,on a golf forum by chance, noticed that my confidence in him was shaken, and changed his ways entirely?

I'm going with: almost certainly yes

his last 3 games: 87 points, 30 assists, 24 rebounds on 31/52 shooting

that's basically 30-10-8 in 3 consecutive playoff games....Yowzah![/quote]

It's only weird if it doesn't work.

[MtlJeff]

I feel like Spurs/Blazers is almost exactly like Spurs/Warriors from last year

"Spurs are too old, Blazers have young legs, Young guard who will run around Parker, etc etc etc etc"

Media facepalm

[tocino]

[quote name='MtlJeff' timestamp='1399605173' post='9261271']
I feel like Spurs/Blazers is almost exactly like Spurs/Warriors from last year

"Spurs are too old, Blazers have young legs, Young guard who will run around Parker, etc etc etc etc"

Media facepalm
[/quote]

Lol I kept tell that to my co-worker buddies (all warriors fans) last year and this year. you CANNOT sleep on the spurs. I automatically pencil them in as the 1st or 2nd team in the western conference. As long as Pop, Duncan, and Parker are still on the team you have to give them their respect.

[MtlJeff]

not a big fan of super chippy games. The announcers were talking about it a bit because OKC/LAC got pretty bad in the first half. One of them even said it had gotten to the point where after every basket guys would stare at each other. Last minute of the first half there was 3 technicals and a flagrant foul review

Just play guys!

[scratchswinger]

OKC has taken LAC spirit- this series is on ice. Donald Sterling should be ashamed of getting in the way of his team.

I'll bet that Stern wishes CP3 was a Laker right now.

[scratchswinger]

That was some incredible D by CP3 on KD

[MtlJeff]

Zach Lowe wrote before the series that Westbrook and Griffin would be the X factors.So far Griffin has been pretty good but not great. Basically 2 really good games and one kind of non factor game. He usually has a tough go against Ibaka but he's done well.

I think the Thunder are really tough to beat if Westbrook is shooting well and playing like a PG. He could end up close to another triple double today. I think many people would pick the Thunder to make the finals, if not win the title, if you said Russell would average 26-9-8 with generally decent shooting

Of course he may not continue this pace, or continue playing smartly....really anything is possible with him.

This is a very important 4th quarter though

[MtlJeff]

pretty obvious "the book" is being written on Durant this offseason. And that is to cover him with a small defender. He cannot take people to the post, he didn't do it against Tony Allen, he is not doing it against Chris Paul. He has 5-6 inches on these guys and he can't score on them in the post, and these guys have the quickness to stay with him outside

He's been invisible in the 4th quarter, he's hardly even touching the ball. Part of that is on Scotty Brooks, part of that is on Durant.

Regardless of what happens, he'll need to work on that in the offseason

[scratchswinger]

Yikes I spoke too soon, it looked like LAC were about to give up. Doc was the difference maker IMO, no way last years Clipper team has the belief to win that game. CP3 has a very elite competitive spirit.

[mnplayer]

I don't understand how OKC didn't foul on that last possession. If they would've gotten a stop there would've only been 3.5 seconds left. They got bailed out with the steal but if that doesn't happen there's no way they get a decent shot at the end of the game, and there's no guarantee they would've gotten one anyways.

[MtlJeff]

[quote name='mnplayer' timestamp='1399866627' post='9277065']
I don't understand how OKC didn't foul on that last possession. If they would've gotten a stop there would've only been 3.5 seconds left. They got bailed out with the steal but if that doesn't happen there's no way they get a decent shot at the end of the game, and there's no guarantee they would've gotten one anyways.
[/quote]

I almost hope they lose the series, as i'm somewhat of an OKC fan. Scotty Brooks needs to go. I respect that he has them playing great D for the most part, but the 4th quarter was an abomination offensively. Even though they scored 24 points and gave up 38 (meaning the defense screwed the pooch too)

There's no excuse for wasting 5-7 minutes of the game doing the same uninspired thing, Westbrook bringing up the ball, picking up his dribble and trying fruitlessly to get the ball to Durant in a position that isn't even good (45 degree angle past the 3 point line), knowing LAC is going to immediately double. I mean that was a high school offense, and it took both Westbrook and Durant out of the game

Brutal....

[mnplayer]

[quote name='MtlJeff' timestamp='1399934661' post='9282065']
[quote name='mnplayer' timestamp='1399866627' post='9277065']
I don't understand how OKC didn't foul on that last possession. If they would've gotten a stop there would've only been 3.5 seconds left. They got bailed out with the steal but if that doesn't happen there's no way they get a decent shot at the end of the game, and there's no guarantee they would've gotten one anyways.
[/quote]

I almost hope they lose the series, as i'm somewhat of an OKC fan. Scotty Brooks needs to go. I respect that he has them playing great D for the most part, but the 4th quarter was an abomination offensively. Even though they scored 24 points and gave up 38 (meaning the defense screwed the pooch too)

There's no excuse for wasting 5-7 minutes of the game doing the same uninspired thing, Westbrook bringing up the ball, picking up his dribble and trying fruitlessly to get the ball to Durant in a position that isn't even good (45 degree angle past the 3 point line), knowing LAC is going to immediately double. I mean that was a high school offense, and it took both Westbrook and Durant out of the game

Brutal....
[/quote]

The funny thing about it is that it wasn't even a good matchup. Durant wasn't dominating Paul enough to warrant forcing it to him every time. The second he caught it(if they were lucky enough to get it to him) they brought the double, and then they either turned it over or got a horrible shot. Like you said, awful offense in the second part of the 4th.

[baseballfrk8998]

I know there are a lot of people out there that don't care for LeBron (and I can't blame them), but the guy is still the best player in the league by a pretty good margin. He put up 48 tonight and made it look easy. He also completely shut down Joe Johnson on the last 3-4 possessions of the game.

If I need a player that can play both ends of the floor during crunch time, that's who I'm taking every time.

[TheGameChanger]

Shame Injuries ruined the East this season.

[RJRJRJ]

[quote name='TheGameChanger' timestamp='1399950000' post='9283941']
Shame Injuries ruined the East this season.
[/quote]

The East is a barren wasteland consisting of Miami and a questionably good Indiana.

[mnplayer]

[quote name='RJRJRJ' timestamp='1399951969' post='9284179']
[quote name='TheGameChanger' timestamp='1399950000' post='9283941']
Shame Injuries ruined the East this season.
[/quote]

The East is a barren wasteland consisting of Miami and a questionably good Indiana.
[/quote]

Toronto also looked really good to me at times, just needed more consistency from Lowry and Derozan. For as bad as the east was in the regular season, the playoffs haven't disappointed. Even all of the Bobcat games were competitive.

[TheGameChanger]

[quote name='mnplayer' timestamp='1399956552' post='9284493']
[quote name='RJRJRJ' timestamp='1399951969' post='9284179']
[quote name='TheGameChanger' timestamp='1399950000' post='9283941']
Shame Injuries ruined the East this season.
[/quote]

The East is a barren wasteland consisting of Miami and a questionably good Indiana.
[/quote]

Toronto also looked really good to me at times, just needed more consistency from Lowry and Derozan. For as bad as the east was in the regular season, the playoffs haven't disappointed. Even all of the Bobcat games were competitive.
[/quote]

Boston looked good early in the season too. Then they tanked. They'll be a team to watch next season.

[eagle1997]

zorn! zorn! all done but the weeping for my wizards, who undoubtedly will go quietly into that good night this night.

hibbert's re-awakening certainly is something to behold.

[MtlJeff]

[quote name='baseballfrk8998' timestamp='1399948800' post='9283795']
I know there are a lot of people out there that don't care for LeBron (and I can't blame them), but the guy is still the best player in the league by a pretty good margin. He put up 48 tonight and made it look easy. He also completely shut down Joe Johnson on the last 3-4 possessions of the game.

If I need a player that can play both ends of the floor during crunch time, that's who I'm taking every time.
[/quote]

I don't talk about Lebron enough because frankly so much has been said of him. But at work, the guy i sit next to is a huge basketball fan too (which is [i]awesome[/i]). And the first thing i said to him yesterday was "I don't care what anyone says about Lebron, if they put Chris Paul on him he'd take him to the post and brutalize him.

Lebron maybe can't shoot like KD, but Lebron does everything well enough that i don't believe anyone in the league can effectively guard him , in a playoff style game. He's an overall matchup nightmare

KD has good numbers, but he's shooting 46% overall and 30% from 3 in the postseason. Allen and Paul have affected him a bit

I realize i'm nit picking here, Durant is fantastic. Lebron is more fantastic for now

[MtlJeff]

[quote name='mnplayer' timestamp='1399956552' post='9284493']
[quote name='RJRJRJ' timestamp='1399951969' post='9284179']
[quote name='TheGameChanger' timestamp='1399950000' post='9283941']
Shame Injuries ruined the East this season.
[/quote]

The East is a barren wasteland consisting of Miami and a questionably good Indiana.
[/quote]

Toronto also looked really good to me at times, just needed more consistency from Lowry and Derozan. For as bad as the east was in the regular season, the playoffs haven't disappointed. Even all of the Bobcat games were competitive.
[/quote]

Zach Lowe wrote about Washington today and how they can make some moves in the offseason. He also hinted Toronto could become quite a competitor too.

Both teams have a bit of cap flexibility, though also need to resign players. Essentially Lowe's point was that the Wiz could either resign Ariza, Gortat and maybe add one other guy (maybe like a Spencer Hawes?) and be pretty good. Or they could also go for broke and try to sign a Carmelo type player, or maybe a Chris Bosh if he opts out. They could also provide a compelling "win now" home for Kevin Love if he lasts till free agency and they sign short term contracts. Beal and Wall are great young assets on good contracts

Toronto is a Jonas-development away from being a 56-58 win team (in the east of course). There are a lot of people who might scoff at that, but their record sans Rudy Gay was indicative of a 52-54 win team. And there's a lot of people who think Valenciunas is a premier big man talent. He's 21....he could be a 19-11 guy within a couple of years. I mean he was 11-9 this year and shot over 50%, with some nice post moves here and there. They obviously REALLY need to keep Lowry

These 2 teams could really make a jump the next couple of years, into Houston "quasi contender" territory

A bit more far fetched, but if Charlotte can add another dependable scorer (Arron Afflalo, the new and improved Rudy Gay etc) they could make a jump too