NBA thread 2017-18 v. I dub thee champions

[Azyiu]

The Heat's Miami Vice campaign is over.  Back to boring black and red.  Well, that was fun while it lasted.  They had jersey purchases from 100+ countries!  They're backordered until July.

Everytime I see that jersey, I immediately think of GTA : Vice City... great game for its time!   

[Samsara]

Those Miami Vice jerseys are bad ass. If they made retro player replicas, I might have picked up one for Sherman Douglas. Loved that guy.

So, yeah, I'm a TWolves diehard, and they've been my favorite team since their expansion year in 1989 with my man Tony Campbell leading the way for them. But as a native New Yorker, obviously I root for the Knicks as well. And I gotta tell you...Hornacek needs to go. Tell me why Trey Burke, who has completely resurrected his career, is not the starting PG for the Knicks.

He's 25, putting up the best stats of any of the Knicks PGs, yet HOrnacek doesn't give him any starts. I don't get it. Is this how the Knicks are tanking? By not starting their best PG. Frankie N (not going to bother trying to spell it) and Emanuel Mudiay are both terrible. Burke comes in, lights it up, gets the other guys great shots, he literally could be THE MAN. Oh, and by the way, he's getting paid pennies.

I just have no idea (other than tanking) why Burke isn't starting.

[contest_sanity]

For those interested in ultimately meaningless basketball discussions: There is a series going on over at Back Picks that ranks the top 40 players in NBA history. It's the most thorough list of its kind I've ever seen. Thought I'd share in case anyone is interested. Even if you vehemently disagree with his rankings, his write-ups are really informative.

https://www.backpicks.com/

Agree or disagree with various placements, hard to argue that his conclusions aren't based on extremely rigorous analysis. The profiles with video are worth it just for the videos themselves, as even the most devoted, say, Celtics fan will undoubtedly discover new Larry Bird footage. The author also devotes a healthy amount of analysis to these players' weaknesses, which is also pretty unique for a best-of list.

[Azyiu]

We all know Ty Lue isn't a very good coach, and he is possibly the worst one in the league right now. See this video if you are interested : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrjKveSP5LM&t=20s

Even LBJ can't stand him anymore and screams at him tonight @ Blazers  : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMbkDnAXPqs

[Accelerando]

Tony Parker just moved up to 7th in All-Time Wins. IF he can play a couple more seasons  (I think next year will be his final year), he can either tie with former teammate Tim Duncan at #3 or crack it. Manu Ginobli is about to crack the top ten. The winningest trio ever will eventually be in the top ten All Time Wins. This is the most exciting news this season for us Spurs fans since we're probably going to miss the playoffs for the first time in 20 years  

[jingle.boy]

11 straight from the Raps.  Down by 8 with 4.5 to go in the fourth, and they came back.  Had the chance to put it away with the last possession, but after a slow start in OT, they closed it out with a 9-0 run.

[TAC]

Raptors are going to the finals this year.

[jingle.boy]

Raptors are going to the finals this year.

Well... it was both the Pistons and Mavs that took them to OT, so ... yeah.

[TAC]

It's a long season. But they are the best team right now in the East.

[Azyiu]

The Raptors are a good regular season team, but with the Cavs slimping and the C's suffering from a ton of key injuries; I think they have a chance to get out of the East this year.

[TAC]

The door is definitely open for them.

[Azyiu]

I truly want to see them do well in the playoffs, but until either or both Lowry and DeRozan perform well this Spring; I am still a little skeptical about them getting out of the East.

[TAC]

Unless Lebron takes over, I'm not sure who else there is. The Celts are just too wounded to make a run.

[Azyiu]

Don't under-estimate the Pacers.

And if the Heat's injuries are somewhat resolved, they should give the Raptors a very tough first round series. I will judge them then.

[TAC]

Don't under-estimate the Pacers.

Yeah, good point. They have owned the Celtics this year. But I think the Raptors are stronger.

And if the Heat's injuries are somewhat resolved, they should give the Raptors a very tough first round series. I will judge them then.

No chance the Heat beat Toronto.

[jingle.boy]

The Raps have been using a 10-man team all season.  Their depth has been quite impressive, with the bench putting in some solid minutes.  They are far more than the DeRozan/Lowry show that they have had to be the past few seasons.  I really don't see the Cavs turning their fortunes around.

Of course, anything can happen, but things look good for the Raps.

The Mavs were on fire tonight, shooting 50%+ in regular time, and only 7 turnovers... just ran out of steam in OT, and made some sloppy mistakes, right when the Raps got hot.

[dparrott]

Heat with the 2OT win v. Nugs last night.  For regulation and first OT, the per-quarter total was AT MOST 2 point difference.  Tight to the end!

[King Postwhore]

Melo misses 2 free throws to ice the game.  Melo, you are supposed to be elite. Morris them hits the 3. 


Thank you Melo.

[KevShmev]

Pssh, Carmelo Anthony is not elite. Never has been.  The most overrated player of the 21st century.

[King Postwhore]

That was my underlying theme.  He's not and cost them a road win.

[Azyiu]

I know I am going to upset someone here, but... LOL @ talks about the Raptors being a better, tougher team. 

[jingle.boy]

For sure... I mean, they're only 11 games up on the Cavs in the standings, are 21-4 in their last 25 games, have beat the Rockets twice, whooped the Cavs by 34 earlier, and their two losses to GS were by 5 and 2.

But surely them being better is lol-worthy.  Cleveland was better tonight, but I'll take the Raps overall.

[Azyiu]

For sure... I mean, they're only 11 games up on the Cavs in the standings, are 21-4 in their last 25 games, have beat the Rockets twice, whooped the Cavs by 34 earlier, and their two losses to GS were by 5 and 2.

But surely them being better is lol-worthy.  Cleveland was better tonight, but I'll take the Raps overall.

I would love to see the Raps do good, as I am not a Cavs fan... but until either they could get out of the East or beating a healthy Cavs (come on, the Cavs were depleted tonight) in the playoffs; they are just another good regular season team. 

[jingle.boy]

For sure... I mean, they're only 11 games up on the Cavs in the standings, are 21-4 in their last 25 games, have beat the Rockets twice, whooped the Cavs by 34 earlier, and their two losses to GS were by 5 and 2.

But surely them being better is lol-worthy.  Cleveland was better tonight, but I'll take the Raps overall.

I would love to see the Raps do good, as I am not a Cavs fan... but until either they could get out of the East or beating a healthy Cavs (come on, the Cavs were depleted tonight) in the playoffs; they are just another good regular season team. 

They did beat a healthy Cavs back in Jan... quite handily too - without Lowry and Ibaka.

2 years ago, they went to the EC finals and no one gave them a chance to even make it close... yet they took 2 games from the eventual champs.

Last year against the Cavs, fouls and 3-point shooting was the difference... Cavs hit 61 three pointers (@ 46%); Raps hit 27 (@ 30%).  That's 102 point difference in a series that had 61 point differential ... plus the 29 incremental FT points the Cavs had.  The Raptors are ahead of the Cavs in those areas this year (albeit marginally), but the difference is in the D... Cavs are 4th worst in the league where the Raps are #6, and I'm not sure I see anything that suggests the Cavs can turn that around in the next 12 games.

The way spots 3-8 are bunched up right now in the east, it's plausible this could be a first round matchup!

Regardless, I like our chances.

[Nekov]

How Toronto fans see the raptors



What they actually look like

[TAC]

 

[Azyiu]

  x2

[jingle.boy]

I believe your C's are looking UP at them in the standings.

[TAC]

I believe your C's are looking UP at them in the standings.

Yup...looking up their skirts! 

[jingle.boy]

I believe your C's are looking UP at them in the standings.

Yup...looking up their skirts! 

Two more games against you guys down the stretch... we'll see who's really packin the heat.

[dparrott]

Kemba Walker scored 46 points and made 10 consecutive three-pointers — by the third quarter — to lead the Hornets over the Memphis Grizzlies, 140-79.

The 61-point win marked the largest margin of victory in the NBA in 20 years, and the most lopsided in franchise history.

Walker scored 17 points in the first quarter, 18 in the second and 11 in the third before being pulled with 1:48 left in the period.

It's been a tough year, but that's awesome!

[jingle.boy]

Ya'll can suck it.  30-6 and the best home record in the league.  The Nets were shooting 57% at one point towards the end of the 1st half, and the Raps still overcame a 7 point, 4th quarter deficit.  Granted it was the Nets, and that high shooting % had a bit to do with some crappy Raptors defence, but they were nailing a lot of good shots.

3D from Lowry, and 5-6 from three-point land.  Bring on anyone come the playoffs.  Home court advantage will be sweet.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

Process trusted.
Playoffs clinched.

[Nekov]

Ya'll can suck it.  30-6 and the best home record in the league.  The Nets were shooting 57% at one point towards the end of the 1st half, and the Raps still overcame a 7 point, 4th quarter deficit.  Granted it was the Nets, and that high shooting % had a bit to do with some crappy Raptors defence, but they were nailing a lot of good shots.

3D from Lowry, and 5-6 from three-point land.  Bring on anyone come the playoffs.  Home court advantage will be sweet.

And then an ugly loss with the Clippers. I watched a bit of the 3rd and 4th quarters and it seemed to me the Raptors were not trying hard enough on defense.

[jingle.boy]

Ya'll can suck it.  30-6 and the best home record in the league.  The Nets were shooting 57% at one point towards the end of the 1st half, and the Raps still overcame a 7 point, 4th quarter deficit.  Granted it was the Nets, and that high shooting % had a bit to do with some crappy Raptors defence, but they were nailing a lot of good shots.

3D from Lowry, and 5-6 from three-point land.  Bring on anyone come the playoffs.  Home court advantage will be sweet.

And then an ugly loss with the Clippers. I watched a bit of the 3rd and 4th quarters and it seemed to me the Raptors were not trying hard enough on defense.

Yeah, it was ugly.  They got schooled in the 2nd half - the second unit dropped the ball on that one, and then both DDR and Lowry had 'off' nights.  Shit happens.