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

[Alsacs]

Ty Lue played LeBron 47 minutes in a game Cleveland had a 26 point lead going into the 4th quarter.
With all the miles on LeBron's tires that is just beyond stupid.

Who cares if you are the 2 seed you ripped Boston's heart out last week.

 

[Knicks411]

The Rockets have better shooters. OKC is the worst 3 point shooting team in the league outside of Orlando.

Yup, this is a big difference. Okc has a decent stable of good bigs though, and guys who crash the offensive glass, which is a good fit considering how often Russ shoots. They could absolutely use some more shooting.

 

[Knicks411]

I wonder if Lebron sits tonight. Huge game for Miami

 

[Alsacs]

I wonder if Lebron sits tonight. Huge game for Miami

If Cleveland wins tonight Miami is done and Cleveland would get either Chicago or Indiana.
This was the more important game
If Miami wins Cleveland could see them first round.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Yup, this is a big difference. Okc has a decent stable of good bigs though, and guys who crash the offensive glass, which is a good fit considering how often Russ shoots. They could absolutely use some more shooting.

Drafting Sabonis to put him in the corner to shoot 3's seems like a questionable decision for a team that already had Kanter and Adams. Couple that with guys like Roberson and Grant it seems like they would have been better off keeping Ilyasova. If there's a team that could use a Tyler Lydon type player, it is OKC.

 

[Knicks411]

Drafting Sabonis to put him in the corner to shoot 3's seems like a questionable decision for a team that already had Kanter and Adams. Couple that with guys like Roberson and Grant it seems like they would have been better off keeping Ilyasova. If there's a team that could use a Tyler Lydon type player, it is OKC.

Just looking at their stats, it's amazing (there's that word again!) that Anthony Morrow, who is a career 41% 3 point shooter for his career, was 35-119 with them.

 

[Melancer46]

See, the "drawing fouls" thing is part of why I can't stand Harden's game. Tons of those calls are bull.

They're bull in the sense that they probably shouldn't be fouls, but by the letter of the law, they are. Like the adjustment that Harden has made to dribble around screens and then when the defender sticks their arm through to try to slide over the screen, Harden sees it and basically hooks their arm to draw 3 free throws. It's just absolute genius on his part.

It does make a mockery of the game, but I can't help but respect a guy that is so in tune with the defender's tendencies that he sees something like that as an opportunity to draw an easy foul.

 

[Knicks411]

Big 3 resting tonight for Miami

 

[Melancer46]

I saw some of those. Man.

It was worse than 20; a 26 point lead, int he 4th!



Are the Rockets really that much more talented than the Thunder? Certainly before the season both teams had similar expectations. (Which isn't to take anything away from Russ)

Oklahoma City was actually believed to be the better team on paper going into the season. Vegas had OKC at 45.5 wins and Houston at 41.5.

 

[Alsacs]

Big 3 resting tonight for Miami

So basically they are giving Boston the 1 seed when they went on record wanting it?

If Chicago beats Orlando and Brooklyn at home Miami is out.

 

[Melancer46]

Drafting Sabonis to put him in the corner to shoot 3's seems like a questionable decision for a team that already had Kanter and Adams. Couple that with guys like Roberson and Grant it seems like they would have been better off keeping Ilyasova. If there's a team that could use a Tyler Lydon type player, it is OKC.

Yup. Them, Brooklyn (they just need talent plain and simple), and Orlando (if they're fine with drafting him to be a guy that comes off the bench at best behind Aaron Gordon) seem like pretty good fits for Tyler. OKC is probably the most obvious one though. Could be good insurance in Toronto too; Ibaka and Patterson both free agents this offseason.

 

[Trueblue25]

Big 3 resting tonight for Miami

Any time table on Dion's injury? They'd likely be the 6th seed if not for that loss.

 

[Melancer46]

So basically they are giving Boston the 1 seed when they went on record wanting it?

If Chicago beats Orlando and Brooklyn at home Miami is out.

Who owns the tie-breaker between Cleveland and Boston? It's Cleveland now isn't it? So if you both go 1-1 down the stretch, Cleveland would still get it?

 

[Knicks411]

Yup. Them, Brooklyn (they just need talent plain and simple), and Orlando (if they're fine with drafting him to be a guy that comes off the bench at best behind Aaron Gordon) seem like pretty good fits for Tyler. OKC is probably the most obvious one though. Could be good insurance in Toronto too; Ibaka and Patterson both free agents this offseason.

I hope for Tyler's sake Brooklyn doesn't take him, just based on where they'd be picking.

 

[longislandcuse]

Any time table on Dion's injury? They'd likely be the 6th seed if not for that loss.

He's doing drills today, questionable for tonight.

 

[Knicks411]

Who owns the tie-breaker between Cleveland and Boston? It's Cleveland now isn't it? So if you both go 1-1 down the stretch, Cleveland would still get it?

Cleveland won 3 of 4, so yeah, Boston should need to finish 1 game ahead of them.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

They're bull in the sense that they probably shouldn't be fouls, but by the letter of the law, they are. Like the adjustment that Harden has made to dribble around screens and then when the defender sticks their arm through to try to slide over the screen, Harden sees it and basically hooks their arm to draw 3 free throws. It's just absolute genius on his part.

It does make a mockery of the game, but I can't help but respect a guy that is so in tune with the defender's tendencies that he sees something like that as an opportunity to draw an easy foul.

I'm not into it. :noidea:

I especially don't want to further reward it by giving him an MVP trophy.

Same reason why I don't think Dray Green should get DPOY. His BS shouldn't be rewarded.

 

[Alsacs]

Who owns the tie-breaker between Cleveland and Boston? It's Cleveland now isn't it? So if you both go 1-1 down the stretch, Cleveland would still get it?

Boston has Nets/Bucks at home
Cleveland has at Miami/Toronto
If they finished tied Cleveland gets one.

Boston may tank Wednesday if they would face Miami. They want Indiana first if not indiana then Chicago.

 

[Knicks411]

These were the final 5 games of the year for the Bulls, could you ask for a better finish?

@Knicks
@Sixers
@Brooklyn
Orlando
Brooklyn

Granted, 3 of those 5 on the road, but my god. They're 1-2 so far

 

[Melancer46]

I'm not into it. :noidea:

I especially don't want to further reward it by giving him an MVP trophy.

Same reason why I don't think Dray Green should get DPOY. His BS shouldn't be rewarded.

I have the same reservation with giving it to Westbrook due to him just not bothering to defend jumpshots anymore so I hear you. Both of them have their warts.

 

[Melancer46]

In Giannis-centric news, it looks like Giannis will be the first player in NBA history to finish in the top 20 in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks in the same season. He might be good someday.

 

[MikeSU02]

In Giannis-centric news, it looks like Giannis will be the first player in NBA history to finish in the top 20 in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks in the same season. He might be good someday.

Honest question, how many guys would the Bucks trade straight up for Giannis at this point? Can't be many.

 

[Alsacs]

Honest question, how many guys would the Bucks trade straight up for Giannis at this point? Can't be many.

LeBron
Anthony Davis
Kwahi Leonard
That is probably it.

 

[MikeSU02]

Westbrook has taken 1000 more shots than the 2nd highest shot taker on OKC.
Steve Nash won 2 MVPs in Mike D'Antoni's system. That is what Harden is doing.

MVP
1. LeBron James
2. Kwahi Leonard
3. James Harden
4. Russell Westbrook

This is mine as well, except I would add Curry to the fifth spot since voters get five votes.

I have a real hard time considering Russ to win since I don't think his team has a legit shot to win the title and it is extremely tough for me to give the MVP to someone who is the best player on a team that doesn't have a shot to win it all.

I can see four teams winning it all:
GSW
SAS
Hou
Cle

My MVP has to come from one of those four teams.

 

[Melancer46]

Honest question, how many guys would the Bucks trade straight up for Giannis at this point? Can't be many.

I don't think there is a single one honestly. The only one that I think would even cause hesitation is the Unibrow, but I think Giannis' desire to be in Milwaukee + Davis' health issues + Giannis is a better defender/can run your offense = Milwaukee keeps Giannis.

LeBron is too old at this point and I'd be pretty shocked if they valued Kawhi over Giannis honestly. He's 22 and he's unquestionably a top 10 player already with obvious areas to improve upon.