NBA 2016-2017 Season Thread

[HRoi]

Still don't get the Thunder. Cruising in the early fourth, then they suddenly refuse to let Durant take a single shot as the Rockets go on a 21-2 run. They finally come to their senses after actually falling behind - KD hits a three, dishes a couple of dimes, and accounts for 8 easy points. Why do they insist on making it hard for themselves?

 

[Neo_Version 7]



Still don't get the Thunder. Cruising in the early fourth, then they suddenly refuse to let Durant take a single shot as the Rockets go on a 21-2 run. They finally come to their senses after actually falling behind - KD hits a three, dishes a couple of dimes, and accounts for 8 easy points. Why do they insist on making it hard for themselves?

Westbrook.

 

[HRoi]

Bingo

 

[HRoi]

I like the new Spurs unis

 

[RFX45]



Both teams played really solid D in the first, low scoring game too, and the Dubs lost by 2 because old man Miller decided to play the best game of his life. The Dubs have a legit chance at winning the series if they can hold Denver to a half-court set, without having to shoot lights out.

I really do not see it being that simple. Lawson was crap in game 1 and Miller had to pick up the slack. Iggy was just as bad.

In game 2, much better offensive game for the Nuggets but terrible, terrible defense. At times the Dubs would simply throw it in the paint and it is an easy dunk or lay-up for whoever is there. It was worse than the Lebron lay-up drill against the Bucks. Partly to blame is playing Faried as well, dude is less than 100% and looks like he is hurting just to move out there.

The only consistent player in the Dubs is Curry and Thompson, Barnes just isn't going to score like that all the time and Jack is more consistent but I am not sure he can sustain averaging 20 a game. They lost an All Star that averages double double for the season, I just do not see them moving past the Nuggets based on those two games alone.

 

[skitlets]

On the flip side, Curry missed everything in game 1 and had a lot of trouble with double teams and traps. I don't know how I feel about DLee going out. It really sucks for him but MJ has been extremely unimaginative with his rotations. With Lee out, he's actually forced to make adjustments and did a great job in Game 2.

 

[RFX45]

Curry still scored 19pts though, for 7-20 (4-10 3pt) but still 19pts w/ 9 ast (he was actually +8 in game1). Thompson had 22pts and shot well. Difference was Jack started at the point in game 2 and freed up Curry but I don't see that happening again, at least not as often as Denver adjusts to the smaller line-up.

Lawson 12pts and 4ast and Iggy had 8/10/5, not even close to their point percentage. Iggy is somewhat typical with his stats but Lawson is their #1 guy w/ Gallo out.

I really do think it was more of a surprise to Denver to see Dubs play small ball with Barnes at the 4 spot, if I were Denver I'd load that paint with big men and murder Dubs and get them in foul trouble early and remove the rookie from the line-up or put him on the SF and put WIlson back on the bench and let Koufous and Faried start, McGee if Faried can't go.

 

[skitlets]

Not sure why Karl hasn't been playing McGee. His athleticism is hard for the Dubs to handle, especially when Bogut sits. Faried looked slow and hobbled. Didn't have his usual motor and racked up fouls real quick because he was a step slow. Dubs attacked him in the PnR all night and he could not defend it. Nugs should just play McGee more.

I actually don't like Jack at the 1 much. He had a good second half in game 2, but he tunnel visions hard most of the time and passes as a last resort, frequently resulting in turnovers. It also takes the ball out of Curry's hands, who is a threat to shoot the 3 off the dribble. Curry adjusted to double teams/traps really well in the game 2, leading to all the assists.

You're right about Thompson. He has been on fire both games. Still gets ticky tack fouls on jump shooters by crowding too much, but damn he's been unexpectedly good. Can't wait for game 3, the crowd will be PUMPED.

 

[Steve B.]



I like the new Spurs unis

Agree. Didn't like them at first...

 

[foodguy]



But see that's my whole point. For instance, a lot of people think the Suns teams in the middle part of the last decade played really bad defense. As evidence of this, they point to how many points per game they allowed. The fact, however, is that those teams played at a much faster pace than most of their competition and in games where an opponent is playing the Suns they are going to have more possessions, because of the pace of the game, then they would in most games.

For instance, in the '06-'07 season the Suns allowed 103 points per game. The Detroit Pistons, however, only allowed 92, or 11 points fewer. So Detroit is the better defensive team, right, Well let's look at those stats by putting things in terms of per 100 possessions. Now Detroit allows 104 points per game and PHO allows 107. So in this case, DET is still the better defensive team, but the difference is much less dramatic.

i think we're talking about two different things -- and both are interesting questions. I'm not asking which team has the worst defense -- that's what would be answered by points per 100 possessions. My question is which team allowed the most points and still managed to win a championship. That, of course, would be a team that played at pace -- a killer fast offense making up for a more lackluster defense.

 

[Biggskip]



i think we're talking about two different things -- and both are interesting questions. I'm not asking which team has the worst defense -- that's what would be answered by points per 100 possessions. My question is which team allowed the most points and still managed to win a championship. That, of course, would be a team that played at pace -- a killer fast offense making up for a more lackluster defense.

Well in that case, the '85 Lakers would be a good candidate. They allowed 110 points per game while scoring 118.

 

[foodguy]



Well in that case, the '85 Lakers would be a good candidate. They allowed 110 points per game while scoring 118.

AAAAAAANNNNNNNNND so we're back to the Lakers! my work here is done. Eat it Stevie (sadly you'll own the series anyway).

 

[AldenPyle]



i think we're talking about two different things -- and both are interesting questions. I'm not asking which team has the worst defense -- that's what would be answered by points per 100 possessions. My question is which team allowed the most points and still managed to win a championship. That, of course, would be a team that played at pace -- a killer fast offense making up for a more lackluster defense.

Probably this was the early 1960's, though it seems like defensive stats from the era might be harder to find. This compares a lot of the great championship teams
http://www.nba.com/playoffs2004/challenge_celtics1960.html. The 1960 Celtics for instance scored 125 ppg, but it doesn't say how many they gave up.

 

[Biggskip]



Probably this was the early 1960's, though it seems like defensive stats from the era might be harder to find. This compares a lot of the great championship teams
http://www.nba.com/playoffs2004/challenge_celtics1960.html. The 1960 Celtics for instance scored 125 ppg, but it doesn't say how many they gave up.

And we have a new winner. The '59-'60 Celtics gave up 116.2. Basketball-Reference.com has most of the stats you could want.

 

[lawyerdad]



And we have a new winner. The '59-'60 Celtics gave up 116.2. Basketball-Reference.com has most of the stats you could want.

And that's without 3-pointers, obviously. Or a shot clock for that matter.