Official NBA thread

[Bellhorn04]

These playoffs suck.

 

I don't really care who wins. The remaining teams are flawed basketball product in my eyes.

 

??? It seems what you're saying is that the NBA itself is a flawed product.

[Spudboy]

??? It seems what you're saying is that the NBA itself is a flawed product.

 

Yes, I guess that I am.

 

I don't like the product on the court. They stand around and take 35 footers. That is not the game I played and loved for so long.

 

I miss inside, low post action.

 

But got to give fans what they want!

[a700hitter]

Yes, I guess that I am.

 

I don't like the product on the court. They stand around and take 35 footers. That is not the game I played and loved for so long.

 

I miss inside, low post action.

 

But got to give fans what they want!

It is a very different game today. The guys on Golden State hit three pointers like they are layups. They are incredible. I like watching the playoffs, but generally I don't watch the NBA because the first 3 quarters are meaningless. You just need to watch the last 2 minutes.

[Bellhorn04]

Interesting that the best player in the NBA and the best player in the NHL both have the initials SC and are both in the Finals. Well, interesting to me anyway.

[Spudboy]

That is if you see Curry as the best player in the league.

 

I don't. But it is of no importance, really.

[a700hitter]

That is if you see Curry as the best player in the league.

 

I don't. But it is of no importance, really.

I don't know much about Basketball, but Stephen Curry seems to be the consensus best player. From the little that I have seen from him, he is on another planet. He makes great players like Westbrook look like second tier.

[Spudboy]

It is a very different game today. The guys on Golden State hit three pointers like they are layups. They are incredible. I like watching the playoffs, but generally I don't watch the NBA because the first 3 quarters are meaningless. You just need to watch the last 2 minutes.

 

I agree.

 

I used to follow the ABA as best as I could, even before Julius was drafted by the Virginia Squires. That league was so fun to watch. Most teams had at least one guy who specialized in 3 pointers. Guys like Mack Calvin, Billy Melchiore, and George Lehman.

 

In fact Lehman's 3 point shot had a name "Screamin' Lehmans", lol. He had the advantage ( I guess ) of having a googley eyeball which looked in another direction from his other eye. It used to f*** other players up not knowing where he was going to go!

 

The 3 point shot was introduced as a novelty to help the struggling league gain popularity. It was rarely used as a weapon nor was it the focus of a team's offensive strategy. All teams tried to have a big man in the middle who played with his back to the rim and who's job it was to protect the rim, block shots, rebound, and score follow up baskets.

 

The NBA has gotten away from that style of play. It now has every team with one or two 7 footers standing on the perimeter passing the ball or bombing away along with all the guards and swingmen.

 

To me, it makes for boring play.

[Jasonbay44]

The problem now is the big men in today's NBA can't really do anything besides dunk and rebound, or they just specify in shooting 3s (like a Ryan Anderson type), which is a new trend that coaches want all bigs doing. The best centers in the league are guys like Andre Drummond, Deandre Jordan and Dwight Howard who don't really have post moves, can't shoot to save their life and rely on athleticism rather than fundamentals of the game. Its pathetic you are in the NBA and air ball free throws and shoot mid range jumpers off the top of the backboard, like these guys do consistently.

 

The league today is so guard oriented that even the few guys who do bang down low and get buckets, get very little respect from referees. For example, Demarcus Cousins is the best center in the league in my opinion, but watching him play is so frustrating because he will make a great move, go to the rim, get hammered and because he's so big and doesn't really flop, the refs let teams get away with molesting him. Meanwhile, if James Harden or Chris Paul go to the lane and flop and flail their arms, they get two free throws, this has to be frustrating for a guy like Cousins, who this year became more of a three point shooter and mid range shooter to adopt to the game. There is no way a guy like Harden should shoot 200 more free throws a year then Cousins, when Cousins lives in paint and Harden flops all game. And if you can't tell, I despise James Harden and his play style.

[Jasonbay44]

That is if you see Curry as the best player in the league.

 

I don't. But it is of no importance, really.

 

I honestly think Lebron is still the best player, but that's just me.

[Northern Star]

"Excuse me, are you chOKing?"

[Bellhorn04]

I honestly think Lebron is still the best player, but that's just me.

 

Lebron is an established superstar, all-time great without a doubt. I think Curry has reached the superstar level too, for a much shorter period of time obviously. He's probably getting more attention partially because he's the new kid in town.

 

Should be a good Finals I hope.

[Thunder]

"Excuse me, are you chOKing?"

 

I like OKC Blunder better.

[User Name]

I've developed an irrational hate for the Warriors. Can't stand them. Don't hate them individually, but despise the team. f*** them.

[Northern Star]

I like OKC Blunder better.

 

Or the more traditional "can't spell choke without OKC"

[Thunder]

Or the more traditional "can't spell choke without OKC"

 

Or the Thunder logo with a Crying Jordan in place of the basketball.

[Jasonbay44]

I've developed an irrational hate for the Warriors. Can't stand them. Don't hate them individually, but despise the team. f*** them.

 

 

Don't really care for the Warriors but I hate Draymond Green, that dude is a douche

[Thunder]

Don't really care for the Warriors but I hate Draymond Green, that dude is a douche

 

Yeah, same here. Watching all 7 games of this past series, I grew to hate Draymond, but respect the skills of the Splash Bros. Those guys are good.

[Spudboy]

I've developed an irrational hate for the Warriors. Can't stand them. Don't hate them individually, but despise the team. f*** them.

 

Lol. Good.

[Spudboy]

The problem now is the big men in today's NBA can't really do anything besides dunk and rebound, or they just specify in shooting 3s (like a Ryan Anderson type), which is a new trend that coaches want all bigs doing. The best centers in the league are guys like Andre Drummond, Deandre Jordan and Dwight Howard who don't really have post moves, can't shoot to save their life and rely on athleticism rather than fundamentals of the game. Its pathetic you are in the NBA and air ball free throws and shoot mid range jumpers off the top of the backboard, like these guys do consistently.

 

The league today is so guard oriented that even the few guys who do bang down low and get buckets, get very little respect from referees. For example, Demarcus Cousins is the best center in the league in my opinion, but watching him play is so frustrating because he will make a great move, go to the rim, get hammered and because he's so big and doesn't really flop, the refs let teams get away with molesting him. Meanwhile, if James Harden or Chris Paul go to the lane and flop and flail their arms, they get two free throws, this has to be frustrating for a guy like Cousins, who this year became more of a three point shooter and mid range shooter to adopt to the game. There is no way a guy like Harden should shoot 200 more free throws a year then Cousins, when Cousins lives in paint and Harden flops all game. And if you can't tell, I despise James Harden and his play style.

 

This is an insightful post and I agree. Even though you no doubt watch more games than I do.

 

I am not a Harden fan either. I tried to be when he made the Taco Bell commercials. But then he hooked up with one of those Kardashian Twats and I gave up trying to like him.

 

He can score. But overall I think he is just dumb and lazy.

[Spudboy]

I honestly think Lebron is still the best player, but that's just me.

 

I don't watch enough to have a valid opinion.

 

Although I dislike Lebron and his inflated sense of self worth. As for Curry, He's a shooter ( a very good one ).

 

But he is sloppy with his ball handling ( supposedly one of his strengths ) and his passes often go astray.

 

Nope, The game has devolved into something that I have a difficult time watching. I find myself staring at the TV mumbling "Go to the hole, go to the hole". Only to see a 35 ft off balance shot that clanks off the rim and bounces 20 ft out where a guard grabs it for a "rebound".

 

Give me Bob Lanier. Give me Kareem. Give me Cowans. Give me Wes Unseld.

 

s***, give me Sam Lacey or Tom Boerwinkle!!!!!

[Spudboy]

Yeah, same here. Watching all 7 games of this past series, I grew to hate Draymond, but respect the skills of the Splash Bros. Those guys are good.

 

I'd take Thompson on my team. He has size and can shoot.

[cp176]

I don't watch enough to have a valid opinion.

 

Although I dislike Lebron and his inflated sense of self worth. As for Curry, He's a shooter ( a very good one ).

 

But he is sloppy with his ball handling ( supposedly one of his strengths ) and his passes often go astray.

 

Nope, The game has devolved into something that I have a difficult time watching. I find myself staring at the TV mumbling "Go to the hole, go to the hole". Only to see a 35 ft off balance shot that clanks off the rim and bounces 20 ft out where a guard grabs it for a "rebound".

 

Give me Bob Lanier. Give me Kareem. Give me Cowans. Give me Wes Unseld.

 

s***, give me Sam Lacey or Tom Boerwinkle!!!!!

 

What? No love for Russ here? Sadly, because of my youthful dislike of the man, i would take Wilt over any of the so-called big men playing the game today. He was at least as good from the lime as any of them and he could outrun them all.

[Spudboy]

What? No love for Russ here? Sadly, because of my youthful dislike of the man, i would take Wilt over any of the so-called big men playing the game today. He was at least as good from the lime as any of them and he could outrun them all.

 

I omitted Bill Russell ( THE GOAT ) because I never saw him in his prime and I was trying to clump players of a certain type together that I had seen a lot of.

 

Wilt could be on the list as well.

 

By the way, Wilt Chamberlain asked my Mother to dance in a Philly night club about 60 years ago.

[Jasonbay44]

This is an insightful post and I agree. Even though you no doubt watch more games than I do.

 

I am not a Harden fan either. I tried to be when he made the Taco Bell commercials. But then he hooked up with one of those Kardashian Twats and I gave up trying to like him.

 

He can score. But overall I think he is just dumb and lazy.

 

You are completely right about Harden, his basketball IQ is not very high, the amount of dumb plays he makes is ridiculous and his effort at times is sad. He doesn't care at all about his defense and guys consistently have career nights and score layups all game over him, its sad. Harden has the talent to win MVP, he just doesn't care, flops all game and plays like a bitch. I cannot stand watching him play. The Rockets are just a generally unlikable team as I don't find Dwight Howard to be enjoyable to watch either. He whines about everything and needs a new team every year.

 

Also, going back to big men who can't shoot, its another thing that annoys people and makes game less enjoyable. When a guy like DeAndre Jordan can't shoot free throws, teams will intentionally foul him for large chunks of the game, meaning us fans get to watch a guy miss free throws, which isn't enjoyable in any way. The NBA has talked about getting rid of off ball intentional fouls, and as boring as it is, I think that's dumb. There is no way a player should be rewarded or given a break for not being able to make free throws. If you can't make them and keep getting fouled, its your fault.

[Spudboy]

You are completely right about Harden, his basketball IQ is not very high, the amount of dumb plays he makes is ridiculous and his effort at times is sad. He doesn't care at all about his defense and guys consistently have career nights and score layups all game over him, its sad. Harden has the talent to win MVP, he just doesn't care, flops all game and plays like a bitch. I cannot stand watching him play. The Rockets are just a generally unlikable team as I don't find Dwight Howard to be enjoyable to watch either. He whines about everything and needs a new team every year.

 

Also, going back to big men who can't shoot, its another thing that annoys people and makes game less enjoyable. When a guy like DeAndre Jordan can't shoot free throws, teams will intentionally foul him for large chunks of the game, meaning us fans get to watch a guy miss free throws, which isn't enjoyable in any way. The NBA has talked about getting rid of off ball intentional fouls, and as boring as it is, I think that's dumb. There is no way a player should be rewarded or given a break for not being able to make free throws. If you can't make them and keep getting fouled, its your fault.

 

Teams have been exploiting opposing players that could not hit free throws to save their own lives for years. It's just the way it goes. If you choose to put that player on your team you must see that the rest of his game makes up for that deficiency. As with say, Wilt.

 

Boy did he ever look inept at the line.

[User Name]

Whack-a-Shaq was a thing since probably before you were born Jbay.

[Jasonbay44]

Oh I know it's been going on for years, I know Shaq was a main guy it was done with, but I don't ever remember this much talk about actually removing the rule, like Adam Silver has talked about doing. Plus at least with guys like Shaq and Wilt, they would carry their teams in games and were way more skilled/dominant then these horrible FT shooting centers today.

 

Its actually sad that Shaq, who shot roughly between 50-60% from the line depending on the season, looks like Steve Nash at the line compared to guys like Deandre Jordan and Andre Drummond who shoot 30-40% from the line... I think I saw Drummond shot 32% from the line in the playoffs and it resulted in the Cavs just fouling him the whole 4th quarter of each game. Its pathetic that guy is your best player and can't do one of simplest things in the game of basketball.

 

My personal favorite of the hack-a-Drummond was when the Rockets activated a player KJ McDaniels just for the purpose of fouling. In a game against the Pistons he played 9 seconds, intentionally fouled Drummond 5 times to get the Rockets in the penalty and left the game. Drummond in this game set an NBA record by missing 22 free throws.

[mvp 78]

Teams have been exploiting opposing players that could not hit free throws to save their own lives for years. It's just the way it goes. If you choose to put that player on your team you must see that the rest of his game makes up for that deficiency. As with say, Wilt.

 

Boy did he ever look inept at the line.

 

You didn't like the granny shot?

[Spudboy]

You didn't like the granny shot?

 

You mean the one like Rick Berry led the league with? Or the one hand set brick?

[Jasonbay44]

What a weird game 1.. Livingston leads the Warriors in scoring and Thompson and Curry do practically nothing, yet Warriors win.