Author Topic: 2014-15 NBA thread v. 2015-16 thread now playing (Read 56762 times)

black_biff_stadler · « **Reply #525 on:** January 29, 2015, 12:45:54 AM »

Quote from: Syzzle on January 28, 2015, 08:08:22 AM

The dunk contest is about as big of a joke as the Pro Bowl.

Syzz is correct. Week 3 of the NFL's preseason gives both of those a run for their money.

Azyiu · « **Reply #526 on:** February 13, 2015, 06:18:15 AM »

Is this All Star game sort of cursed or something? Among all events this weekend, I counted at least 8 players are out due to injuries. The most I can recall.

KevShmev · « **Reply #527 on:** February 13, 2015, 04:56:14 PM »

It's gonna really suck for the Warriors to dominate all year, and then watch as the Thunder sneak in as the 8 seed and become their first round opponent.

Azyiu · « **Reply #528 on:** February 13, 2015, 07:36:03 PM »

Quote from: KevShmev on February 13, 2015, 04:56:14 PM

It's gonna really suck for the Warriors to dominate all year, and then watch as the Thunder sneak in as the 8 seed and become their first round opponent.

It would be sucky for the Ws, but good for the fans.

Besides, I'd love to see the Grizzlies to go far, very far this year.

Azyiu · « **Reply #529 on:** February 14, 2015, 09:05:50 PM »

Zach LaVine!! Wow!!

j · « **Reply #530 on:** February 14, 2015, 09:27:38 PM »

Dude can hop, impressive showing. Oladipo's 540 at the beginning was particularly nasty too.

-J

Azyiu · « **Reply #531 on:** February 14, 2015, 09:39:14 PM »

Quote from: j on February 14, 2015, 09:27:38 PM

Dude can hop, impressive showing. Oladipo's 540 at the beginning was particularly nasty too.

-J

Yeah, I thought Oladipo was right up there to compete, but it looked like he ran out of gas QUICK!

And his attempt in getting Bill Russell to sign his game ball (prior to his first dunk in the second round), and then got rejected for it was funny!

Hakeem saved his face though.

Dimitrius · « **Reply #532 on:** February 15, 2015, 08:51:12 AM »

That was not a 540. A 540 would entail 1.5 rotations and Oladipo clearly only did 1 full rotation.

j · « **Reply #533 on:** February 15, 2015, 07:11:19 PM »

Quote from: Dimitrius on February 15, 2015, 08:51:12 AM

That was not a 540. A 540 would entail 1.5 rotations and Oladipo clearly only did 1 full rotation.

After watching the replay again, you're right. Guess I just heard everybody calling it a 540 and bought into the hype.

-J

TheOutlawXanadu · « **Reply #534 on:** February 21, 2015, 05:42:56 PM »

This weekend I was talking with some buddies of mine about how, even in basketball, if your teammates suck, your team probably isn't going very far. Another way to look at it, I thought, was that if your teammates don't suck, you can get away with a bad game or two.

As I'm exhausted from a weekend of working, I decided to plop down in front of my computer and waste some time actually researching my theory using statistics. I thought I'd share what I found as it was pretty interesting.

I logged onto Basketball Reference and used their Game Score (GS) metric to identify Shaq, Duncan, Kobe, and LeBron's really bad playoff games, which I arbitrarily decided was a GS of 10 or below. Here are the results:

Shaq: 36 games, 17 wins
Duncan: 35 games, 17 wins
Kobe: 39 games, 15 wins
LeBron: 8 games, 0 wins

These results were pretty eye-opening. Based on GS alone, LeBron was by far and away the least likely of the bunch to have a bad game. The other three guys were about as likely as the next to play a stinker.

Whereas Shaq, Duncan, and Kobe were able to escape bad games with wins about half the time, LeBron's team has not once come out on top on occasions where he crapped the bed. Imagine how differently their careers might be perceived if, say, the Lakers weren't good enough to overcome Kobe's 6/24 performance in Game 7 of the 2010 Finals or if the Heat were able to emerge victorious despite LeBron's 8 point Game 4 in the 2011 Finals.

Obviously these numbers aren't perfect. Like any box score-based stat, Game Score misses out on a lot. For example, even when Duncan posted bad numbers, he probably made up for it by being the best defensive player on the floor. Also, there are times where it's unreasonable to expect a supporting cast to lift up their best player, such as... well... LeBron's Game 4 in 2011 (that was pretty bad).

Despite all this, I do think these numbers have some meaning, and as a guy who is very weary of the "rings equal greatness" cliche, they add a little more to my skepticism.

Dimitrius · « **Reply #535 on:** February 22, 2015, 09:53:30 AM »

Are those Lebron games strictly from his first stint in the Cavs? Or are some of them with the Heat?

EDIT: OK so at least one is from his time with the Heat.

TheOutlawXanadu · « **Reply #536 on:** February 22, 2015, 01:07:18 PM »

Quote from: Dimitrius on February 22, 2015, 09:53:30 AM

Are those Lebron games strictly from his first stint in the Cavs? Or are some of them with the Heat?

EDIT: OK so at least one is from his time with the Heat.

Here is the full list:

https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pgl_finder.cgi?request=1&player_id=jamesle01&match=game&year_min=&year_max=&age_min=0&age_max=99&team_id=&opp_id=&is_playoffs=Y&round_id=&game_num_type=&game_num_min=&game_num_max=&game_month=&game_location=&game_result=&is_starter=&is_active=&is_hof=&pos_is_G=&pos_is_GF=&pos_is_F=&pos_is_FG=&pos_is_FC=&pos_is_C=&pos_is_CF=&c1stat=game_score&c1comp=lt&c1val=10&c2stat=&c2comp=gt&c2val=&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&order_by=pts

Syzzle · « **Reply #537 on:** February 25, 2015, 08:02:00 AM »

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/236807/Derrick-Rose-To-Undergo-Knee-Surgery-To-Repair-Medial-Meniscus-Tear

Holy shit this guy's knees have to be made from glass.

Azyiu · « **Reply #538 on:** February 26, 2015, 07:11:37 AM »

D-Rose is done! He is Penny 2.0, yo! An ultra talented player who is robbed by constant injuries. So sad.

Azyiu · « **Reply #539 on:** February 28, 2015, 08:52:28 AM »

RIP Anthony Mason...

https://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/12397807/anthony-mason-former-new-york-knick-forward-dies-48

j · « **Reply #540 on:** February 28, 2015, 01:40:30 PM »

Quote from: Azyiu on February 28, 2015, 08:52:28 AM

RIP Anthony Mason...

https://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/12397807/anthony-mason-former-new-york-knick-forward-dies-48

Wow, 48 years old. Used to love watching that dude play. RIP.

-J

KevShmev · « **Reply #541 on:** March 01, 2015, 01:36:25 PM »

I don't know what the Thunder did to piss off the sports gods, but this just isn't their year.

Oh, and people can talk about Curry and Harden all they want, but James is the obvious MVP this year.

Azyiu · « **Reply #542 on:** March 02, 2015, 05:47:22 AM »

Quote from: KevShmev on March 01, 2015, 01:36:25 PM

I don't know what the Thunder did to piss off the sports gods, but this just isn't their year.

Oh, and people can talk about Curry and Harden all they want, but James is the obvious MVP this year.

Speaking of Harden and James, I don't know about you guys, but I thought Harden's kick to LBJ was a dirty play. Of course, when James himself is indeed one of the league's best floppers helped selling that call.

TheOutlawXanadu · « **Reply #543 on:** March 02, 2015, 09:15:19 AM »

Quote from: KevShmev on March 01, 2015, 01:36:25 PM

I don't know what the Thunder did to piss off the sports gods, but this just isn't their year.

Oh, and people can talk about Curry and Harden all they want, but James is the obvious MVP this year.

I think LeBron's still the best player when he's zoned in, but those guys have been a little better than him this season. Also, he's missed quite a few games.

Destiny Of Chaos · « **Reply #544 on:** March 02, 2015, 03:28:47 PM »

Yeah, the only obvious thing about the MVP race is that there's no one obvious choice as of yet.

KevShmev · « **Reply #545 on:** March 03, 2015, 04:57:06 AM »

Quote from: Azyiu on March 02, 2015, 05:47:22 AM

Quote from: KevShmev on March 01, 2015, 01:36:25 PM
I don't know what the Thunder did to piss off the sports gods, but this just isn't their year.

Oh, and people can talk about Curry and Harden all they want, but James is the obvious MVP this year.

Speaking of Harden and James, I don't know about you guys, but I thought Harden's kick to LBJ was a dirty play. Of course, when James himself is indeed one of the league's best floppers helped selling that call.

One-game suspension for Harden. Sounds about right.

Quote from: TheOutlawXanadu on March 02, 2015, 09:15:19 AM

I think LeBron's still the best player when he's zoned in, but those guys have been a little better than him this season. Also, he's missed quite a few games.

Right, but the Cavs are 2-9 without him, and 35-15 with him. And I think everyone knows not only how much they stunk before he got there, but that a lot of their additions they've made wouldn't even be in Cleveland if he weren't that. If that isn't most valuable, I don't know what is.

Nekov · « **Reply #546 on:** March 03, 2015, 06:07:56 AM »

Quote from: KevShmev on March 03, 2015, 04:57:06 AM

Quote from: TheOutlawXanadu on March 02, 2015, 09:15:19 AM
I think LeBron's still the best player when he's zoned in, but those guys have been a little better than him this season. Also, he's missed quite a few games.

Right, but the Cavs are 2-9 without him, and 35-15 with him. And I think everyone knows not only how much they stunk before he got there, but that a lot of their additions they've made wouldn't even be in Cleveland if he weren't that. If that isn't most valuable, I don't know what is.

While that is true, you also have to take into account that the cavs didn't have JR Smith, Shumpert and Mozgov during the stretch of games Lebron was out. I'm sure right now the Cavs would be able to have a better record without Lebron because their team improved a lot with those additions.

TheOutlawXanadu · « **Reply #547 on:** March 03, 2015, 06:08:36 AM »

It's also sort of a catch-22 because in order for us to see just how valuable James is to the Cavaliers, he had to miss 11 games, which decreases his value relative to guys like Curry and Harden who have played in every game.

Azyiu · « **Reply #548 on:** March 03, 2015, 08:16:53 AM »

Quote from: TheOutlawXanadu on March 03, 2015, 06:08:36 AM

It's also sort of a catch-22 because in order for us to see just how valuable James is to the Cavaliers, he had to miss 11 games, which decreases his value relative to guys like Curry and Harden who have played in every game.

As of tonight, Harden doesn't play in every game, lol!

TheOutlawXanadu · « **Reply #549 on:** March 03, 2015, 08:25:14 AM »

Quote from: Azyiu on March 03, 2015, 08:16:53 AM

Quote from: TheOutlawXanadu on March 03, 2015, 06:08:36 AM
It's also sort of a catch-22 because in order for us to see just how valuable James is to the Cavaliers, he had to miss 11 games, which decreases his value relative to guys like Curry and Harden who have played in every game.

As of tonight, Harden doesn't play in every game, lol!

Truth

Azyiu · « **Reply #550 on:** March 03, 2015, 08:39:44 AM »

In all seriousness, it kind of sucks Harden is suspended for the game @ Hawks tonight. Or else this could potentially be an intense game between two of the better teams in the league. Of course, with or without Harden, D12 out anyway... guess I will be watching the Wizards @ Bulls instead... damn, can any of these star players (Jimmy Bulter is out) stay healthy for a change?

Destiny Of Chaos · « **Reply #551 on:** March 05, 2015, 08:35:25 AM »

When what Russell Westbrook has been doing gets him mentioned with the likes of Michael Jordan and Oscar Robinson, despite having the side of his face caved in, it's a pretty good indicator that he is absolutely incredible.

Add him to the list of dudes rightfully in the MVP conversation.

TheOutlawXanadu · « **Reply #552 on:** March 05, 2015, 08:37:02 AM »

Quote from: Destiny Of Chaos on March 05, 2015, 08:35:25 AM

When what Russell Westbrook has been doing gets him mentioned with the likes of Michael Jordan and Oscar Robinson, despite having the side of his face caved in, it's a pretty good indicator that he is absolutely incredible.

Add him to the list of dudes rightfully in the MVP conversation.

He has been the best player in the league this season when on the floor. Unfortunately he is part of a long list of guys who can't seem to stay on the court.

Azyiu · « **Reply #553 on:** March 17, 2015, 05:52:24 PM »

RIP Jack Haley... What a shocking news! I mean, what's with all these seemingly still very young guys suddenly start dying?

TheOutlawXanadu · « **Reply #554 on:** March 17, 2015, 06:43:37 PM »

Please excuse me while I go on a mini-rant...

I just listened to a podcast with Bill Simmons and Ryan Russillo that featured a 15 minute discussion about how messed up the Cavs are and how the Love for Wiggins trade was the worst thing ever. I don't know why, but Simmons' basketball analysis this year has been borderline unlistenable. Wiggins will almost certainly be better than Love in two or three years, and Love hasn't been utilized properly this year, but Cleveland is still far better off with Love rather than Wiggins in the short term. I don't think the Cavs will win the title, and sometimes their coaching situation makes me cringe, but they're a threat and have a 70% winning percentage when LeBron plays. The "sky is falling" attitude of media guys kills me sometimes.

KevShmev · « **Reply #555 on:** March 17, 2015, 07:38:03 PM »

Well, Bill Simmons would never come out and say the words "I hate LeBron James," but he hates LeBron James, just like he hates Peyton Manning. But it's not like he pretends to be impartial, so it's not a big deal.

TheOutlawXanadu · « **Reply #556 on:** March 18, 2015, 06:55:42 AM »

Quote from: KevShmev on March 17, 2015, 07:38:03 PM

Well, Bill Simmons would never come out and say the words "I hate LeBron James," but he hates LeBron James, just like he hates Peyton Manning. But it's not like he pretends to be impartial, so it's not a big deal.

I've never gotten the sense that Simmons' hates LeBron, but I do think he can't help himself in the moment, something the great basketball writers like Zach Lowe are able to avoid. When Lowe talks about the Cavs, it's very much, "This team is flawed, but so are most teams in the league, and in general are doing fine."

bosk1 · « **Reply #557 on:** March 19, 2015, 08:02:45 PM »

My local station is using fuzzy math and letting their homerism show, unless I am missing something. The sports updates yesterday were saying "the warriors are 40 games over .500!" Um...unless I misunderstand how the math works, that isn't true. Before yesterday, they were 53-13. That means they played 66 games. That means 33-33 would be .500. 53 wins puts them 20 games over .500.

/rant

FlyingBIZKIT · « **Reply #558 on:** March 19, 2015, 08:04:06 PM »

Quote from: bosk1 on March 19, 2015, 08:02:45 PM

My local station is using fuzzy math and letting their homerism show, unless I am missing something. The sports updates yesterday were saying "the warriors are 40 games over .500!" Um...unless I misunderstand how the math works, that isn't true. Before yesterday, they were 53-13. That means they played 66 games. That means 33-33 would be .500. 53 wins puts them 20 games over .500. /rant

Sounds like they didn't really think that one through.

Aefenwelg · « **Reply #559 on:** March 20, 2015, 09:03:31 AM »

That's actually just the parlance. Saying a team is "X games over .500" means they would have to lose X games before they were at .500 again.

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Author Topic: 2014-15 NBA thread v. 2015-16 thread now playing (Read 56762 times)