2015-16 NBA thread v. Changing of the guard

[KevShmev]

I would put Jordan's 87-88 regular season over almost anything: his first MVP season when he not only averaged 35 points a game but also won DEFENSIVE player of the year. That's absolutely incredible. But that Bulls team only won 1 round in the playoffs because the team had only just drafted soon-to-be key pieces like Pippen, Horace Grant, and nor was Phil the coach yet.
 

Actually, they only won one round because the Pistons owned them for years.  The Pistons sent Jordan home early in 1988, 1989 and 1990, and it was always glorious.   

[Azyiu]

What?! The Cs beat the LeBrons? Wow! Didn't see that one coming... saw the scores earlier, and didn't expect much from them Cs. OMG, the LeBrons are in a 2-game losing streak! Who should they fire next?     

[bosk1]

Just...wow.

[ASacrificedSon]

Just...wow.

If your talking about the thunder warrior game, it indeed was a wow.
That's was very exciting to see.

[Azyiu]

If your talking about the thunder warrior game, it indeed was a wow.
That's was very exciting to see.

The Dubs didn't execute right for most of the second half. Luckily for them, a couple broken plays in the final 2 minutes or so killed OKC.

On the flip side, geez, the Thunder has got NO bench to speak of... it is beyond sad, and someone from the bench needs to step up big time!

[contest_sanity]

I would put Jordan's 87-88 regular season over almost anything: his first MVP season when he not only averaged 35 points a game but also won DEFENSIVE player of the year. That's absolutely incredible. But that Bulls team only won 1 round in the playoffs because the team had only just drafted soon-to-be key pieces like Pippen, Horace Grant, and nor was Phil the coach yet.

Actually, they only won one round because the Pistons owned them for years.  The Pistons sent Jordan home early in 1988, 1989 and 1990, and it was always glorious.

Yes, I am aware! That's why I never felt bad being a Bulls fan during the 90's when they were dominating -- bc I started watching them while they were still losing to Detroit every freaking year. But Detroit had the better TEAM for those few years -- until 1991 came around and they didn't anymore.

I actually recently found this bball breakdown channel video of game 6 of the 1989 ECF, which was fascinating, especially bc Pippen was playing injured and thus left Jordan to play the Bad Boys functionally by himself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3osYhb4ro0

But keep in mind:

- Jackson didn't become the coach until the 1990 season
- The triangle wasn't installed until 1990
- Pippen and Grant were not fully blossoming until 90 or even 91
- Bulls still took the Pistons to 6 games in 1989 and then 7 games in 1990

So it wasn't like the Pistons were just wiping the floor with them. Unlike 1991 when Chicago finally broke through and swept Detroit...

[contest_sanity]

nevermind... doublepost somehow...

[contest_sanity]

On the flip side, geez, the Thunder has got NO bench to speak of... it is beyond sad, and someone from the bench needs to step up big time!

Umm... Kanter is the backup center, and he gave OKC a nice 14 point, 15 board double-double. Although, I do agree that they would be so much stronger if they had just spent a few more mill and signed, say, Jeremy Lin for their backup PG this year.

[KevShmev]

I would put Jordan's 87-88 regular season over almost anything: his first MVP season when he not only averaged 35 points a game but also won DEFENSIVE player of the year. That's absolutely incredible. But that Bulls team only won 1 round in the playoffs because the team had only just drafted soon-to-be key pieces like Pippen, Horace Grant, and nor was Phil the coach yet.

Actually, they only won one round because the Pistons owned them for years.  The Pistons sent Jordan home early in 1988, 1989 and 1990, and it was always glorious.

Yes, I am aware! That's why I never felt bad being a Bulls fan during the 90's when they were dominating -- bc I started watching them while they were still losing to Detroit every freaking year. But Detroit had the better TEAM for those few years -- until 1991 came around and they didn't anymore.

I actually recently found this bball breakdown channel video of game 6 of the 1989 ECF, which was fascinating, especially bc Pippen was playing injured and thus left Jordan to play the Bad Boys functionally by himself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3osYhb4ro0

But keep in mind:

- Jackson didn't become the coach until the 1990 season
- The triangle wasn't installed until 1990
- Pippen and Grant were not fully blossoming until 90 or even 91
- Bulls still took the Pistons to 6 games in 1989 and then 7 games in 1990

So it wasn't like the Pistons were just wiping the floor with them. Unlike 1991 when Chicago finally broke through and swept Detroit...

From 1988-1990, counting both the playoffs and the regular season, the Pistons went 26-9 against the Bulls.  I'd say that is wiping the floor with them.

But when the 1990-1991 season came, the Bulls got a little better, the Pistons got a little older, and the tide turned, but make no mistake about it: the Bulls were the Pistons punching bag for years. 

[Azyiu]

Who could have thought both Kobe and Fisher would retire in the same season, lol! No way Fisher is getting another NBA HC offer. 

[contest_sanity]

^ You could argue that there was really no reason for him to have gotten his first one. Jason Kidd, who seems like a decent coach, is by far the exception of players to jump straight to an HC spot and actually succeed. Fisher has always seemed clueless. There was no way he gets that job without his Phil Jackson ties, anyway, and it looks like even Phil has run out of patience -- not that the Knicks roster was doing Fish any favors tho...

@KevShmev: yeah, I guess you are right. I was not a regular season watcher in the late 80's, being I was only in middle school. I just remember the playoffs being close those last couple of years.

[Azyiu]

@ contest_sanity

You are absolutely right, Fisher would not have gotten that job if Kerr didn't jet for the Dubs. Phil knows free agency is coming up, and to land a big name guy he can't have a lame duck coach like Fisher. I'd hire Jeff Van Gundy if he ever wanted to return to coaching, but I doubt he wants this job.

[black_biff_stadler]

If the Warriors win their next game, they'll be 48-4 and have a 2-game lead on every other team in NBA history at the 52-game point.

[KevShmev]

Anyone else see Popovic's interview with the sideline reporter after the first quarter last night? 

"Your impressions of the first quarter?"

"We're behind and they're ahead."

"Why is that?"

"They scored more points than we did, and we were pretty crappy on defense. It's been fun."

 

[Nekov]

I love how it went from Pop being an ass during the interviews to him just being funny. I also loved his reaction when he found out about the election results in New Hampshire

[King Postwhore]

Pop can get away with anything these days.


So many points last night at the Celts/LA Clippers game.  Crazy fun game to watch.

[contest_sanity]

Just here to leave some more Jordan stats, in this case 23 lesser-known facts in honor of #23:

https://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/114587/23-stats-for-no-23-michael-jordan

My favorite?

21) On Nov. 6, 1990, Jordan had 33 points and 12 assists in a two-point loss to Larry Bird’s Celtics. It was the Bulls' third straight loss. It was also the last time that Jordan lost three straight games in a single season as a member of the Bulls. He played exactly 500 more regular-season games with Chicago.

That's insane! Over a period of 500 games to never lose more than 2 in a row at any given point is just remarkable.

[King Postwhore]

Basically 6 years.   That is amazing.

[Azyiu]

That's indeed a crazy stats. I am still wanting to see the Dubs earning a better than 72-10 record this year though.

[bosk1]

With only 4 losses now that we are officially at the all-star break, it is certainly looking like it is within reach.  If we go purely by percentage points, they are on pace for 75.7 wins.  I know that fails to take into consideration a lot of real-world dynamics that can likely influence a win/loss record over the remainder of the season, but still.  The point is, they are well ahead of the curve to making it.  And if the Spurs keep winning, I think it is even more likely because the Warriors will not be able to coast the last few games of the season if the Spurs are right on their heels for the #1 seed.  IMO, one of the biggest obstacles to getting that record will be if they have a comfortable lead in the playoff seeding heading into the final stretch of games.

[KevShmev]

I hope the Warriors win 73+, if only to annoy the legend of annoying Jordan fans, who cop that "he's no MJ" attitude whenever a new star is talked about in glowing terms.

[Azyiu]

Best dunk contest ever! Even better than the 2000 one!

Usually you only have one guy leading the way, but this year we have TWO! Sadly I think Aaron Gordon got robbed at the end. IMHO almost all of his dunks were highly creative and far more entertaining than LaVine's.

[Accelerando]

Aaron Gordon was ROBBED!!!



He defied the laws of gravity!

Other than the crime, hot damn was that a dunk contest or what! Best in recent memory! 

[j]

LaVine and Gordon were both super impressive, those dudes can fly.  At the very least, that was the best dunk contest since Vince, and one of the best ever.

-J

[ReaPsTA]

I hope the Warriors win 73+, if only to annoy the legend of annoying Jordan fans, who cop that "he's no MJ" attitude whenever a new star is talked about in glowing terms.

I agree with this.

Aaron Gordon was ROBBED!!!



He defied the laws of gravity!

When I saw this the first time, I didn't totally believe it.  Amazing dunk.

[ThatcrazyKISSfan]

Apparently the Jazz have picked up Gordon Hayward's old teammate Shelvin Mack. This brings them one step closer to winning the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

[Accelerando]

Duncan and Kobe played their 82nd and last game against each other tonight.  The Spurs and Lakers had such great match-ups for nearly 20 years, especially when it was Duncan/Robinson and Kobe/Shaq. As a big Spurs fan, and as much as I hated the Lakers, I'm gonna miss what Kobe brought to this rivalry.

[Azyiu]

Duncan and Kobe played their 82nd and last game against each other tonight.  The Spurs and Lakers had such great match-ups for nearly 20 years, especially when it was Duncan/Robinson and Kobe/Shaq. As a big Spurs fan, and as much as I hated the Lakers, I'm gonna miss what Kobe brought to this rivalry.

As a Lakers fan, I grow to respect the Spurs over the year. I too will miss having those games featuring both Kobe and Duncan. Oh, and how about the Kobe just popped his finger back in after it was dislocated? Classic Kobe, lol! 

On another note, I was going to praise the Dubs for a great 46-minute effort tonight @ Clippers... but what the hell in the final 2? They'd better take care of the ball and cut down on those TOs. Or else that will come back and bite them. 

[Accelerando]

As a Lakers fan, I grow to respect the Spurs over the year. I too will miss having those games featuring both Kobe and Duncan. Oh, and how about the Kobe just popped his finger back in after it was dislocated? Classic Kobe, lol! 

Yup! LeBron would've been carted off in a wheelchair. Respect to the Black Mamba 

[Syzzle]

He's going to own this list in 2 more years

Stephen Curry is the first player in NBA history to record a 50-point game with one or fewer free throw attempts.


7 times in NBA history a player scored 50 points and made 10 3-pointers in a single game.

Steph Curry has 4 of the 7 games

Steph Curry is 4-of-11 (36.4%) when shooting from 35+ feet out. Andre Drummond's FT percentage on the season is 36.1%

[Nekov]

Holy shit!

[bosk1]

Did you see the half court shot he made at the end of the third?  +

[Nekov]

Did you see the half court shot he made at the end of the third?  +

Yeah, you can see by his reaction that even him was a little surprised by that one

[bosk1]

Did you see the half court shot he made at the end of the third?  +

Yeah, you can see by his reaction that even him was a little surprised by that one

I thought his reaction was kinda funny given that he nailed one of those just the other day as well.

[Azyiu]

Maybe I am biased, but Dellavedova is a dirty SOB to me. He is very clever with all of those little stuff he does, and he does not get caught often enough; yet it doesn't mean he is innocent. I just do not like him.