It's showtime -- let the (NBA) games begin! | Page 44 | Syracusefan.com

It's showtime -- let the (NBA) games begin!

Great win by GSW last night. SAS had a huge lead in the first quarter but GSW just plugged away.

I know getting KD was a no-brainer, but they've won nine in a row and they are starting to look like last year's team without him. Obviously the second unit isn't quite as deep, but Steph and Klay really looked like they were in the groove last night.

I still think SAS could give GSW a bit of trouble, but Tony Parker was getting abused. I'm not really sure how he can play in that series. I can see why they like Dejounte Murray for the future (and hopefully still have Patty Mills).
 
Good job by the Bucks last night.
I think the East will end with the Raptors-Bucks in the 4-5.
Whoever gets Miami will get the hardest series first round.
Miami is 27-9 since starting 11-30
 
MikeSU02 said:
Great win by GSW last night. SAS had a huge lead in the first quarter but GSW just plugged away.

I know getting KD was a no-brainer, but they've won nine in a row and they are starting to look like last year's team without him. Obviously the second unit isn't quite as deep, but Steph and Klay really looked like they were in the groove last night.

I still think SAS could give GSW a bit of trouble, but Tony Parker was getting abused. I'm not really sure how he can play in that series. I can see why they like Dejounte Murray for the future (and hopefully still have Patty Mills).
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Call me crazy, but I think the Warriors are better without Durant.
 
There was an interesting but kinda weird discussion on Mike and Mike this morning. They were talking about how the MVP race this season is likely going to be really close between Westbrook and Harden, and for the voters, if you really feel strongly about one guy or the other, the best strategy for giving your guy the best chance to win would be to not put the other guy in second place, but to put one of the other candidates in 2nd and put the other guy in 3rd or possibly even leave him off your ballot. Reason being that the MVP is determined by a points system, so even if there's unanimous agreement that it should come down to two guys, you can make your vote stronger for your top candidate by downgrading the other guy.

Seems shady.
 
OttoinGrotto said:
There was an interesting but kinda weird discussion on Mike and Mike this morning. They were talking about how the MVP race this season is likely going to be really close between Westbrook and Harden, and for the voters, if you really feel strongly about one guy or the other, the best strategy for giving your guy the best chance to win would be to not put the other guy in second place, but to put one of the other candidates in 2nd and put the other guy in 3rd or possibly even leave him off your ballot. Reason being that the MVP is determined by a points system, so even if there's unanimous agreement that it should come down to two guys, you can make your vote stronger for your top candidate by downgrading the other guy.

Seems shady.
Expand...

It would be a lot shadier most years because usually there's only like 2 legitimate candidates, but this year there's probably 4 so you won't look that bad if you have Harden or Westbrook 4th on your ballot.

I'd personally go with Harden and Kawhi over Westbrook.
 
Fireball Jr. said:
Call me crazy, but I think the Warriors are better without Durant.
Expand...

I think there is a very legitimate argument to be made for this statement:

1) Steph is the best shooter of all time. The less shots he gets, the worse it is.
2) Klay is arguably one of the top five shooters of all time. The less shots he gets, the worse it is.
3) They are 9-0 in the last 9 games now that the team has gotten accustomed to playing without him.
4) From a scoring standpoint, Draymond has taken a big hit this year in terms of efficiency.
5) They were basically one Draymond brain lapse away from being back to back champions. It's not like they got crushed by the Cavs.

I'm also going to say something else that isn't a fact but seems to be a rumor - KD isn't the best teammate. But, he has a great PR team and does fantastic on camera and lending himself to appear like a great guy (which he may be, totally).

But from what I've heard, Russ wasn't an issue in OKC. But he caught all the flack while KD got off easy. But, in reality, KD had something to do with the stuff going on.
 
Melancer46 said:
It would be a lot shadier most years because usually there's only like 2 legitimate candidates, but this year there's probably 4 so you won't look that bad if you have Harden or Westbrook 4th on your ballot.

I'd personally go with Harden and Kawhi over Westbrook.
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Kawhi, MVP.

Speaking of MVPs, what I learned today so far, thanks to the Le Batard/Stugotz show: the season ('61-'62) that the Big O averaged a triple double and Wilt averaged 50 points and 26 rebounds, they finished third and second, respectively, for MVP (Russell, yawn, won it).

I want an investigation. At the very least, since Wilt's dead, Russell should give that award to Oscar. It's only right.
1961-62 NBA Awards Voting | Basketball-Reference.com
 
I don't see how an argument can be made that any player does more for a winning team than Westbrook, thus, Westbrook is the living definition of Most Valuable Player.
 
OttoinGrotto said:
I don't see how an argument can be made that any player does more for a winning team than Westbrook, thus, Westbrook is the living definition of Most Valuable Player.
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I think Harden's simply been better this year than Westbrook and the Rockets have won more than the Thunder.
 
Harden is the MVP. You don't give someone the MVP just because they are used about 15% higher than anyone else.
 
Last edited:
MikeSU02 said:
I think there is a very legitimate argument to be made for this statement:

1) Steph is the best shooter of all time. The less shots he gets, the worse it is.
2) Klay is arguably one of the top five shooters of all time. The less shots he gets, the worse it is.
3) They are 9-0 in the last 9 games now that the team has gotten accustomed to playing without him.
4) From a scoring standpoint, Draymond has taken a big hit this year in terms of efficiency.
5) They were basically one Draymond brain lapse away from being back to back champions. It's not like they got crushed by the Cavs.

I'm also going to say something else that isn't a fact but seems to be a rumor - KD isn't the best teammate. But, he has a great PR team and does fantastic on camera and lending himself to appear like a great guy (which he may be, totally).

But from what I've heard, Russ wasn't an issue in OKC. But he caught all the flack while KD got off easy. But, in reality, KD had something to do with the stuff going on.
Expand...


Guys, don't do this!

Kevin Durant is an incredible player. The Warriors are better with him.

They're still really good without him, and the team they had last year (with the depth they sacrificed in part to get Durant) was all time, but, it's Kevin Durant!!
 
Fireball Jr. said:
Call me crazy, but I think the Warriors are better without Durant.
Expand...
If you believe this and you were the Warriors would you trade Durant to Boston for Avery Bradley and the two lottery draft picks from Brooklyn?
You would be getting a top four pick at worst this year and next year probably a top five pick at worst.
By trading Durant you would increase your depth of your roster and get young studs to pair with Curry, Thompson, and green.
 
Melancer46 said:
I think Harden's simply been better this year than Westbrook and the Rockets have won more than the Thunder.
Expand...
I don't see how you can say he's "simply" been better.
 
The MVP is LeBron James. If the MVP isn't LeBron its Harden or Leonard.
Westbrook is having a great year but he wouldn't be putting up these stats without the high usage rate.
I think Westbrook is a top 4 candidate obviously.
 
I just listened to LaVar Ball on Boston radio. This guy has to get his own reality show. He is a first class entertainer.
LaVar = Kris Jenner.
I am convinced the lottery is going to be rigged for the Lakers to get Ball.
 
OttoinGrotto said:
Westbrook has a higher PER tho.
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Yeah... I just don't care about PER at all.

29/11/8 on 62% TS% versus 32/10/11 on 55% TS%...it's tight, but I think Harden's stats are more impressive, plus he's on a team that at least has a semblance of a chance at a title.

I also just don't like the fact that Westbrook has become so obsessed with averaging a triple double that he just doesn't bother to contest shots anymore. He's purposefully gotten worse defensively to try to win the MVP, whereas Harden has played harder on defense than he has in the past.
 
Alsacs said:
Westbrook is having a great year but he wouldn't be putting up these stats without the high usage rate.
Expand...
I'm not sure that's true. He's always been a stat stuffer.
 
Saw a great stat on twitter; Russ has scored 75 clutch baskets this year (I think its like a 5 point game in the last 5 minutes, something like that). 72 of them were unassisted.
 
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