NBA Regular season games thread

[Numbers Guy]

The Knicks may be the best team in the NBA right now. Shumpert will fit right in when he gets healthy.. but Amare really has no place on this team even in a 6th man role.

[Numbers Guy]

So, uh, Norris Cole pushes JR down.. and the foul is on JR?

[Mdog1]

Anybody else excited to see the Knicks take a shit on Miami WITHOUT Melo, and Amare...

[MGMT]

The Knicks may be the best team in the NBA right now. Shumpert will fit right in when he gets healthy.. but Amare really has no place on this team even in a 6th man role.

And they cant get rid of that contract lol. They're stuck with him.

[RaptorFan]

The Knicks may be the best team in the NBA right now. Shumpert will fit right in when he gets healthy.. but Amare really has no place on this team even in a 6th man role.

i love rasheed and i love the whole roster. it's just that i cant seem to like them because of they're the damn knicks. but i feel the grizzlies are right above them because of their monster frontcourt. I'd throw in the lakers too just because of Nash's potential when he comes back healthy.

[Rich]

Rich and melecoaze...

Its all about being objective. If you actually watch the games and not the highlights or the stats, you can see why everyone said he would easily have been the 2nd pick in that, were it not for buyout situation. This isnt a shot at you guys, I just so happen to watch alot of games throughout the day and Raptors strike me as odd because its clear they are a better team as a result of having their PG and C now clearly defined.

There are things you can see if you just watch. The Raptors are doing alot of their players a disservice by not committing to a style of play. They are stuck trying to salvage Bargnani and by doing so, they are not playing to their strength as the roster is constructed and as Casey is fully capable of coaching. To be honest, Bargnani is REALLY slow and has absolutely no lateral quickness or athleticism. They spoonfeed him so he can be a threat. It is an anchor to everyone else on the team.

Things like that, political things, affect more than a stat sheet will ever show.

If Bargnani was injured or traded, I think the Raptors would be in the playoff talk right now. Lowry has been that good for them, Derozan is showing flashes and JV, while inconsistent, is showing flashes of being much more than just serviceable and is exactly what that team needs to shore up a good defense (without bargs) and run the floor to make use of Lowrys strengths and all the young guys they have.

I've watched a number of Raptors games. Tell me what exactly you have seen on a consistent basis that tells you this guy is on his way to being one of the best centers in the league.

[Triumph36]

So what are the thoughts on the Thunder? They took a lot of heat after that trade, but right now they look like geniuses.

I actually like the look of this team more than last years. Mainly this is due to Ibaka's improvement on offense (averaging 14.5 ppg) and the return of Eric Maynor. I think, right now, they are the favorites to get out of the West again.

yes, they are geniuses because they traded one of the most well-rounded offensive players in the league (who is also a capable defender) for someone who is now a glorified spot up shooter who still doesn't play defense, a young sg who never plays, and a pick in a weak draft even though they are looking to win now.

their success now, or martin's efficient numbers really do nothing to prove they are actually a better team. especially long-term.

also, a few days ago martin had some interesting comments wrt: his impending free agency. something along the lines of "never getting the chance to really be a free agent" and also being one of the top sg's available. so yeah, okc isn't gonna have to pay him a bunch of money to stay. trading harden was such a smart financial move!

[pr26]

yes, they are geniuses because they traded one of the most well-rounded offensive players in the league (who is also a capable defender) for someone who is now a glorified spot up shooter who still doesn't play defense, a young sg who never plays, and a pick in a weak draft even though they are looking to win now.

their success now, or martin's efficient numbers really do nothing to prove they are actually a better team. especially long-term.

also, a few days ago martin had some interesting comments wrt: his impending free agency. something along the lines of "never getting the chance to really be a free agent" and also being one of the top sg's available. so yeah, okc isn't gonna have to pay him a bunch of money to stay. trading harden was such a smart financial move!

This is coming from someone who agrees with a lot of your posts: I challenge you to write 5 posts without using sarcasm.

[Rich]

yes, they are geniuses because they traded one of the most well-rounded offensive players in the league (who is also a capable defender) for someone who is now a glorified spot up shooter who still doesn't play defense, a young sg who never plays, and a pick in a weak draft even though they are looking to win now.

their success now, or martin's efficient numbers really do nothing to prove they are actually a better team. especially long-term.

also, a few days ago martin had some interesting comments wrt: his impending free agency. something along the lines of "never getting the chance to really be a free agent" and also being one of the top sg's available. so yeah, okc isn't gonna have to pay him a bunch of money to stay. trading harden was such a smart financial move!

Should have just typed this and left it. That about sums up the post. The fact that they are playing so well and the guy the traded for is playing so well? Well who the hell cares about that! Proves nothing...

BTW, Harden's TS% is currently 10th in the league among shooting guards (that play at least 20 minutes a game). His PER is fourth in that same group. Good, solid player. But still not worth max money.

[Birdy89]

Noah went totally ballistic tonight.

30 pts, 23 boards, 6 assists, and 2 blocks & steals.

[Birdy89]

This just in:

Russell Westbrook is pretty freakin good.

[MGMT]

Westbrook > Rose.

Come at me.

[MJA1080]

Westbrook > Rose.

Come at me.

He easily could be. It just infuriates me to watch him heat check everything this game in the 3rd quarter. Now the D is focusing on him. He should be drawing the defense his way and setting up plenty of assists which will then let the defense back off him again.

[Rich]

Thunder blowing out the Lakers, leading the league in wins, and in margin of victory. Yea, crazy talk about them possibly being better than last year.

[Birdy89]

Thunder blowing out the Lakers, leading the league in wins, and in margin of victory. Yea, crazy talk about them possibly being better than last year.

They were great last year, and just watching the game you can see how much better Durant/Westbrook and Ibaka are.

It's a scary combination when you have guys with as much talent as they have (particularly durant/westbrook) and they are willing to work as hard on their game as they do.