2013-14 NBA Season Thread

[Groundhog]

As for Kobe, well, it's to be expected. I mean, it took Rose a few games to get it back tog... oh. nvm.

[Izulde]

Too many turnovers by Kobe, but he didnd't paly alla tht haorible fo rifrrst game back.

I played drinking gme - every time closeup of Kobe and Jordan hill id dosmthing awsome, drink. Baaad idea.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by Izulde

Too many turnovers by Kobe, but he didnd't paly alla tht haorible fo rifrrst game back.

I played drinking gme - every time closeup of Kobe and Jordan hill id dosmthing awsome, drink. Baaad idea.

LOL

[Neon_Chaos]

Over-under on number of games before Boogie and Rudy Gay get into a screaming match?

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Neon_Chaos

Over-under on number of games before Boogie and Rudy Gay get into a screaming match?

I would like to say .25 but I am interested to see if this "tough team leader" Cousins is real or if he is just picking on guys like Isaiah Thomas. I am not too sure he is pulling that type of tough with a vet like Gay no matter how many horrible shots he takes.

[Danny]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

As for Kobe, well, it's to be expected. I mean, it took Rose a few games to get it back tog... oh. nvm.

I'm sure if Kobe milked his injury the entire season that he would have come back strong in 2014/2015.

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by Izulde

Too many turnovers by Kobe, but he didnd't paly alla tht haorible fo rifrrst game back.

I played drinking gme - every time closeup of Kobe and Jordan hill id dosmthing awsome, drink. Baaad idea.

This reads like Flowers for Algernon rather than someone who's been drinking.

[korme]

I was at Pacers/Heat last night. Major bummer that I left my phone in the car - no pictures for me. Refs seemed like they wanted to be known, one of those games where there were so many bad calls you just assumed Joey Crawford was involved.

[Groundhog]

I was surprised how sloppy the Pacers played overall - George in particular, especially the first half - but again the Pacers just out muscled the Heat.

You'd have to think Oden earns some PT to get him prepared for the playoffs, because the Heat could really use him against Hibbert.

[Groundhog]

JR Smith's play in 2013-14 so far is proof that either the law of probability ends up ringing true, or that it's actually CHRIS Smith out there wearing the wrong jersey and Woodson hasn't realised it yet.

[RainMaker]

I don't know why people think Oden is going to be a factor this year at all. If he had anything in the tank, he'd be out there.

[Groundhog]

Obviously it's unlikely but IMO the Pacers are a real threat to topple the Heat this year, as the Heat just don't have anyone who can match West-Hibbert. Rashard freakin' Lewis was on West last night for stretches.

If they can get Oden to the point where he can D up on Hibbert for 15-20 mins come playoffs, that might be enough, because there's no other chance of them acquiring someone else to fill that role.

[RainMaker]

I would give them a 50/50 shot against the Heat. They were a bad coaching decision away from doing it last year and I think this Pacers team is deeper and more talented at the top. Tough to get a grasp on the Heat though as they tend to coast a bit during the regular season and turn it on in the playoffs.

[nol]

If the Pacers have home court, the Heat should be serious underdogs. Indiana took them 7 without it last year and have gotten better as the Heat have gotten worse. They were better at every position last playoffs save for SF, and George has improved enough that I don't think LeBron can make up for the advantages Indiana has elsewhere all by himself.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by nol

If the Pacers have home court, the Heat should be serious underdogs. Indiana took them 7 without it last year and have gotten better as the Heat have gotten worse. They were better at every position last playoffs save for SF, and George has improved enough that I don't think LeBron can make up for the advantages Indiana has elsewhere all by himself.

Even at his worst Wade is still better than Stephenson. Id take Chalmers over Hill because of his shooting and defense. Lebron over anyone. Bosh and West are basically a wash. Pacers dominate the center position.

Also, the Heat have more depth. I mean the Pacers are a nice team and this will be a great series because these two teams matchup well but lets not get ahead of ourselves. Paul George is a superstar I will certainly give you that. Having a superstar gives you a chance in any series but position by position I dont think it favors Indiana.

Also, I think West looked far better last year. This year he is playing like he is old. Isnt playing with the energy he used to have. Maybe saving himself, who knows.

I know technically Bosh is playing the 5 a lot right now but I dont think he would actually matchup against Hibbert. Id guess that job would be left to Anthony or Odom when the time comes.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

Obviously it's unlikely but IMO the Pacers are a real threat to topple the Heat this year, as the Heat just don't have anyone who can match West-Hibbert. Rashard freakin' Lewis was on West last night for stretches.

If they can get Oden to the point where he can D up on Hibbert for 15-20 mins come playoffs, that might be enough, because there's no other chance of them acquiring someone else to fill that role.

Really? I haven't looked at the potential amnesty pool, but there's always a Jason Collins-esque guy floating out there if you just need competent D and 6 fouls for 15 minutes.

[chadritt]

You could even get the ACTUAL Jason Collins if you want.

[jbergey22]

It is too bad KG has such a huge contract. At this point him being dealt to the Heat would work out great for both him and the Heat.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by nol

If the Pacers have home court, the Heat should be serious underdogs. Indiana took them 7 without it last year and have gotten better as the Heat have gotten worse. They were better at every position last playoffs save for SF, and George has improved enough that I don't think LeBron can make up for the advantages Indiana has elsewhere all by himself.

No team with Lebron James and 2 Hall of Famers still relatively in their prime should be underdogs. Talent wise Miami is still miles ahead of Indiana and has a lot of intangibles in play too. I think Indiana could do it, but I wouldn't consider Miami "serious underdogs" to anyone.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

Really? I haven't looked at the potential amnesty pool, but there's always a Jason Collins-esque guy floating out there if you just need competent D and 6 fouls for 15 minutes.

Originally Posted by chadritt

You could even get the ACTUAL Jason Collins if you want.

If it came down to it stick Lebron on Hibbert. Play Battier on George. I think Lebron would cause some disruption. Unlikely scenario as it would limit James in transition but I think it would work.

[nol]

The Heat don't really have more depth against the Pacers because Indiana treats all of Miami's three-point shooting role players interchangeably. For example, Luis Scola guarded Ray Allen for 6 minutes in the 4th quarter yesterday and Allen didn't get a shot off. In the Eastern Conference Finals, Allen, Battier, and Mike Miller scored 11.2 points per game combined. Indiana is totally comfortable putting power forwards on these guys and not helping off of them at all.

The Pacers can slow down LeBron about as much as you can hope to with George + help from Hibbert, and everyone else just plays straight up. That's why I go on about how much Wade has fallen off - even if he still scores 15 or so, good teams can afford to treat him like an ordinary perimeter player that can't shoot threes. The Pacers are totally fine with putting Stephenson on him because over a 7 game series, Wade will make them pay once or twice with some 'vintage Wade' games, but the rest of the time he's just shooting 40% and taking possessions away from LeBron.

Hill is much better defensively than Chalmers, and he even averaged more points that Chalmers in last year's ECF. Joel Anthony is completely useless, and if a single team in the NBA disagreed with that assessment, the Heat would have traded him to that team by now. As it stands, Miami will definitely need Greg Oden to be a difference maker.

edit: if you think Wade and Bosh are relatively in their prime, you either forgot what they were like in their prime or you aren't watching them now. The two of them combined for 26 ppg on 41% shooting vs. the Pacers in the playoffs last year, and they're not getting any better while the Pacers' main players clearly have.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

It is too bad KG has such a huge contract. At this point him being dealt to the Heat would work out great for both him and the Heat.

Heat don't really have any big contracts they can give up to make the trade work.

I wonder if Miami would be better off using Bosh to get assets back. What about a deal centered around Bosh and Asik/Lin? Houston would have a killer front line of Bosh and Howard to go with Parsons and Harden. Beverley could probably hold his own at PG for awhile, but they could try and make another deal for a veteran on a bad team to sure that up.

For Miami it gives them a big guy to match up with Hibbert who will basically do nothing but block shots and grab rebounds. Bosh is a real good player, but Miami doesn't utilize him the way he should be. They are better as a team that drives and kicks.

[bhlloy]

Yeah, I think once the Pacers get Granger back the concept that the Heat have more depth is laughable. With Scola as well the Pacers have two impact players off the bench that are far more valuable than anything the Heat can bring and the benches shorten hugely in the playoffs anyway.

Maybe if Oden's healthy the Heat have decent depth but that's got to be a massive question mark.

[RainMaker]

The Heat have no depth down low. But their bench is filled with guys who make 3-pointers at a real high clip which is valuable.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Yeah, I think once the Pacers get Granger back the concept that the Heat have more depth is laughable. With Scola as well the Pacers have two impact players off the bench that are far more valuable than anything the Heat can bring and the benches shorten hugely in the playoffs anyway.

Maybe if Oden's healthy the Heat have decent depth but that's got to be a massive question mark.

Ray Allen, Michael Beasley, Rashard Lewis, Chris Anderson, Odonis Haslem

vs

CJ Watson, Orlando Johnson, Solomon Hill, Luis Scola, Ian Mahinmi

This is why the Pacers starters play so many minutes. That bench is putrid. Yeah, I didnt include Granger because he is a huge question mark just like Oden is for the Heat whom I didnt include either. I dont mind Scola but his defense is shaky at best.

The Heat have former All-Stars and 1st overall picks on their bench.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by nol

Hill is much better defensively than Chalmers, and he even averaged more points that Chalmers in last year's ECF. Joel Anthony is completely useless, and if a single team in the NBA disagreed with that assessment, the Heat would have traded him to that team by now. As it stands, Miami will definitely need Greg Oden to be a difference maker.

Points is a useless way to decide who is or did better. Chalmers clearly is the 4th option on the Heat and doesnt even handle the ball much as a point guard while Hill clearly handles the ball a lot more and gets more opportunity than Chalmers to create his own offense.

As far as defense, I have no idea how you could say Hiill is a lot better? Miami finishes in the top 5 defense against point guards every year. Chalmers is a ballhawk. Hill plays team defense well but in no way is as disruptive as Chalmers. Chalmers averages almost 2 steals per game in his career while Hill doesnt even average 1 steal per game. Combine both of these things together and I am sure most would agree Chalmers is a better defender. I am not saying Hill is not a very good defender but Chalmers is a big reason that team can play the way they do. He disrupts the other teams offense so Wade and Lebron can jump passing lanes.

[Chief Rum]

If I were running the Heat, I would be checking in with Houston on Asik. Probably couldn't pull it off, but you would have to try. He's exactly what they need.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

If I were running the Heat, I would be checking in with Houston on Asik. Probably couldn't pull it off, but you would have to try. He's exactly what they need.

If you're Daryl Morey, what they hell does Miami have that you want (and they would trade away)?

SI

[Logan]

So now the Knicks are contemplating trading their 2018 1st for Kyle Lowry.

I'm really glad I'm like the lowest level of Knicks fan imaginable; I have some friends who are die-hards and it has to be excruciating.

[DaddyTorgo]

It's amazing how 1st round picks are treated as such a valuable commodity in the NBA by GMs, right up until they're not.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

It's amazing how 1st round picks are treated as such a valuable commodity in the NBA by GMs, right up until they're not.

Hard to keep track of them. So many protected 1st round picks that some trades arent resolved for 7 years.

I remember where the Clippers were owed a non protected pick from the Timberwolves for years in a deal for a PG(cant even remember his name right now).

[DaddyTorgo]

I think the whole concept of allowing teams to "protect" them is stupid.

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Hard to keep track of them. So many protected 1st round picks that some trades arent resolved for 7 years.

I remember where the Clippers were owed a non protected pick from the Timberwolves for years in a deal for a PG(cant even remember his name right now).

Hell, the Bulls still have a 1st from...Charlotte, I think. For a 2010 Tyrus Thomas trade. That only goes completely unprotected in 2016. (It's top 10 this year).

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

I think the whole concept of allowing teams to "protect" them is stupid.

Not really. Single year protection is a good thing. It's the multiple year protections where it gets stupid.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Hard to keep track of them. So many protected 1st round picks that some trades arent resolved for 7 years.

I remember where the Clippers were owed a non protected pick from the Timberwolves for years in a deal for a PG(cant even remember his name right now).

That would be the first rounder the Wolves gave to swap Sam Cassell for Marco Jaric.

[mckerney]

Pretty much every trade the Wolves have made involving point guards has been a disaster. And of course their attempt to remedy that problem will probably be to pay Ricky Rubio way more than he's worth.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

If you're Daryl Morey, what they hell does Miami have that you want (and they would trade away)?

SI

Hence, the Probably couldn't pull it off...

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by mckerney

That would be the first rounder the Wolves gave to swap Sam Cassell for Marco Jaric.

Haha. Thanks.... That trade worked out well....lol

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Haha. Thanks.... That trade worked out well....lol

I will give Jaric credit for usually putting his jersey on the right way.

[nol]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Points is a useless way to decide who is or did better. Chalmers clearly is the 4th option on the Heat and doesnt even handle the ball much as a point guard

There's a reason he doesn't handle the ball much - he turns it over roughly twice as often as Hill. Chalmers might be a better shooter, but he also gets more open looks playing in the Heat offense and his decision-making is bad enough to offset that advantage. Hill scores more points per 36, and his ORtg is consistently higher than Chalmers'.

The Heat can defend point guards like they do because Bosh is quick enough to disrupt them on the perimeter on the pick and roll. In the past few postseasons, LeBron has famously guarded guys like Derrick Rose and Tony Parker late in games while Chalmers sat, so the Heat coaching staff doesn't agree that Chalmers is that disruptive of a defender. Team defense is much, much more important than getting 1 extra steal per game. Chalmers also fouls about twice as often as Hill.

My main point for the Pacers vs. Heat is that if you threw the names out and said "Team A beat Team B 4-3 when Team A had homecourt advantage. Team A's best players are 28-31 years old and Team B's are 23-27. Which team is more likely to win a year later when Team B has homecourt advantage?" it's definitely Team B.

The Pacers are pretty freaking good; they've only lost to the Bulls (with Rose), Blazers and Thunder, and all three of those games were on the road and the 2nd game of a back-to-back. They're already three games ahead of the Heat, who have only played one Western team on the road so far (the T-Wolves without Kevin Love).

[nol]

Originally Posted by mckerney

I will give Jaric credit for usually putting his jersey on the right way.

And for marrying Adriana Lima.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Hence, the Probably couldn't pull it off...

Ah, it's Houston and the NBA so maybe they'll be forced to deal ("basketball reasons").

SI

[larrymcg421]

Rondo cleared for full practice.

[Matthean]

Ray Allen of Miami Heat to wear Jesus Shuttlesworth jersey - ESPN

[RainMaker]

Bernstein: Rose No Longer Humble, Hometown Kid « CBS Chicago

[Groundhog]

Nicknames on jerseys is idiotic.

[BishopMVP]

Apparently the best offer the Rockets received for Omer Asik was Brandon Bass, Courtney Lee and a protected 1st round pick. That would have been interesting.

[Matthean]

I find it odd that Kobe is out for 6 weeks, and I'm the first to mention it.

[Izulde]

I've commented on FB about it.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Fucking Warriors can't beat the Spurs' B team. Blech.