The Official 2017-18 NBA Regular Season Thread

[EagleFan]

SPORTSRADIO 94WIP on Twitter: "Ben Simmons gives his jersey to a kid, as he walks off the court last night. https://t.co/G9Za37IPES"

What is that guy behind the kid doing? Almost looks like he's trying to take the jersey. If so, I hope someone kicked his ass.

[Young Drachma]

Raptors fired Dwayne Casey, no big surprise. Stackhouse already under contract and in your organization, you might as well give him a shot at running the big ship.

[Arles]

I thought they've been grooming Nick Nurse and he's the heir apparent

[Fidatelo]

Originally Posted by Young Drachma

Raptors fired Dwayne Casey, no big surprise. Stackhouse already under contract and in your organization, you might as well give him a shot at running the big ship.

I feel it is insane that a guy wins coach of the year and then is fired two days later. Also, it's no big surprise.

[korme]

I'm hearing Budenholzer to Toronto.

[korme]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

I feel it is insane that a guy wins coach of the year and then is fired two days later. Also, it's no big surprise.

He won the coach's coach of the year, an award that is 2 years old. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. While he still may win the traditional media COY, that award won't be handed out until mid-June.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by korme

I'm hearing Budenholzer to Toronto.

Stolen from Twitter

Raptors fire Dwane Casey because team won 59 games, was the No. 1 seed and was swept by the Cavs and are interested in Mike Budenholzer, whose 2014-15 team won 60 games, was the No. 1 seed and was swept by the Cavs.

[Fidatelo]

Originally Posted by korme

He won the coach's coach of the year, an award that is 2 years old. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. While he still may win the traditional media COY, that award won't be handed out until mid-June.

So are you arguing that the media are better at identifying coaching performance than coaches?

[Young Drachma]

I think media stinks, but the coaches not giving Brad Stevens a single vote lets you know they clearly don't appreciate the young guy showing them up out of college.

[mckerney]

Dwane Casey can't catch a break. He got a raw deal when he was fired by Kevin McHale for only having the team at 20-20 and contending for a playoff spot with Ricky Davis, Mike James, Trenton Hassell and Mark Blount starting alongside Garnett.

Randy Wittman finished out that season going 12-30.

[stevew]

I'd probs hire Stackhouse. If he's a mistake you can pivot off of him to some other retread. If the guy that they bring in falters, Stackhouse probably will have left by then.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Young Drachma

I think media stinks, but the coaches not giving Brad Stevens a single vote lets you know they clearly don't appreciate the young guy showing them up out of college.

Ehh, it's a fraternity and sometimes you want to give it to a good guy who could use the boost. I don't think most of those people actually think Dwayne Casey is a better coach than Gregg Popovich, f.e., and I don't think Stevens is disliked by many in that group. It's not even like Stevens was a frontunner - I thought he should get a couple votes, but the groundswell for him only picked up after Kyrie was officially ruled out and these playoffs in particular, which might have been after votes were cast.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by korme

I'm hearing Budenholzer to Toronto.

Which will only work (for him) if he has complete control.

Otherwise, well, get ready for another vacancy in a couple years

[BishopMVP]

I think certain Celtics homers (like Bill Simmons) are overrating Jayson Tatum just a bit, but man, if he's adding that Harden-esque step back 3 from the corner as an iso move at his age...

[Dantooine98]

^^ I really think Tatum right now is better than both Mitchell and Simmons. I guess those top two teams who skipped on Tatum are regretting it

[Dantooine98]

people should also credit Ainge for giving him that kind of personnel... Ainge is really shrewd that's why other GMs really don't trust this guy

Originally Posted by Young Drachma

I think media stinks, but the coaches not giving Brad Stevens a single vote lets you know they clearly don't appreciate the young guy showing them up out of college.

[Jas_lov]

I don't watch too much NBA. Has Houston's offense always been dribble for 20 seconds and shoot a step back 3?

[Vince, Pt. II]

When it's not Harden trying to crash into someone to draw a foul, yeah. /Snark

Houston is actually incredible, but both these teams are showing how incredibly hard it is to face a defense that can switch at will at every position. Hard to believe that it's the defenses stealing the show between these two teams.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Jas_lov

I don't watch too much NBA. Has Houston's offense always been dribble for 20 seconds and shoot a step back 3?

No, they've drastically upped their % of isolation's this season to take advantage of Harden/Paul's skillsets, and partially to counter those switch everything defenses that cut down on the number of drive and kick 3's they can get in the playoffs vs dialed in defenses. How Mike D'Antoni learned to embrace the iso, and why he won't stop now - NBA

Also, unrelated, but lololololololol Robert Covington made 1st team All-NBA defensive team. Has anyone else gotten overrated so quickly because they were on a cheap contract? Guy was getting benched during defense-only possessions coming out of timeouts in the 76ers/Celtics series.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Amazing performance by LBJ.

+1

[Brian Swartz]

Is he ever going to actually get old?

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

Is he ever going to actually get old?

At this rate would anyone be surprised if he could play reasonably well into his mid 40s if he wants to? I don't think much is out of the question until he does something like tear out an Achilles or needs microfracture.

[Chief Rum]

Don't matter. He's losing the next one and won't get to the Finals for once.

[Groundhog]

I hate to say it, but I think Lavar is spot on with his comments re: the Lakers' "celebrity trainer". Bogut had a veiled comment a week or so ago on Twitter without naming which trainer/team he was talking about, but I think Lavar's tweet makes it clear.

Oh, and yeah, Celtics by 15+ next game, and Warriors with two wins I think, assuming no Paul.

[Groundhog]

I'm trying to root for the Rockets, but it's such an ugly brand of offense that they run. It might work more often than not with the guys they have, but it's just not fun to watch. Less than 4 minutes into the 2nd Q and at least 6 bad contested 3s attempted just this quarter alone.

[Chief Rum]

Maybe they do this every win and I just never noticed until now, but the Warriors dropped a crap ton of confetti on the court after winning today. It was as if they had won the championship instead of just tied the series at 3. Do they always do that for a win?

[korme]

I just want a tight game tonight, and a Herculean LeBron performance.

[jbergey22]

Cavs dont stand a chance if someone else doesnt step up. Lebron is the one man show and the only one able to create anything.

[Groundhog]

Tatum with a hell of a stuff on LeBron, but he might regret the bump on LBJ on the way back down the court... we'll see.

[JPhillips]

All I want is a finals that isn't GS/CLE.

[Groundhog]

Holy crap. Morris holding him down and he still puts it in.

[Groundhog]

The worst Finals team LeBron has been on since his first, easily.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Amazing performance by LBJ.

Originally Posted by miami_fan

+1

+2

Absolutely amazing.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

The worst Finals team LeBron has been on since his first, easily.

Yes.

But NOT worse than that first one.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by Galaril

Yikes that last quarter was serious Lebron favored officiating. Oh well another GS- Cleveland final how boring. Worst sports league competition wise. What a joke the NBA is. I am done.

Speaking of yikes...

Yikes this post.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Yes.

But NOT worse than that first one.

But it's close.

[jbergey22]

Wow Lebron! Congratulations. Remarkable achievement getting this team to the finals.

And the Celtics should be proud as well. These youngsters played well and the future is very bright. Tatum can build off of these playoffs and carry it into the next season to make a huge leap.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

And the Celtics should be proud as well. These youngsters played well and the future is very bright. Tatum can build off of these playoffs and carry it into the next season to make a huge leap.

Wholeheartedly agree with this Celtic take. Hopefully, this performance tonight will stop that hot take nonsense about trading Kyrie and starting Rozier.

[Groundhog]

Looking at that 06-07 Cavs roster (yikes, memories come flooding back), without Love you could make the argument that Larry Hughes would still be the 2nd best player on this team, and Drew Gooden for all his faults (and he had many) might be the 3rd best.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

Looking at that 06-07 Cavs roster (yikes, memories come flooding back), without Love you could make the argument that Larry Hughes would still be the 2nd best player on this team, and Drew Gooden for all his faults (and he had many) might be the 3rd best.

Larry Hughes? Didnt they have the big Z? Hughes couldnt have been their 2nd best player considering he was highly inefficient offensive player with poor defensive skills. Larry Hughes is a poor mans JR Smith IMO.

[EagleFan]

Always a wonderful day when the Celtics choke.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Wholeheartedly agree with this Celtic take. Hopefully, this performance tonight will stop that hot take nonsense about trading Kyrie and starting Rozier.

Which situation do you like better at the moment going forward Boston or Philly?

[Young Drachma]

Celtics had that game won, but for some reason, those kids decided to play like kids down the stretch. Rozier getting that many opportunities to brick was deplorable, and it seems no timeout could settle them down from making awful decisions. It's as if they think a 3 pointer is worth more than 3 points every time they eschew the inside two for a kickout 3 that somebody bricks.

That said, Cavs turned on the jets when they needed to at the end and Boston refused to answer.

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Larry Hughes? Didnt they have the big Z? Hughes couldnt have been their 2nd best player considering he was highly inefficient offensive player with poor defensive skills. Larry Hughes is a poor mans JR Smith IMO.

Z slumped a bit that season. Bounced back the next year. Hughes wasn't really a poor man's JR IMO, he was never that one dimensional. He was pretty good at a lot of things and great at none. Meanwhile Gooden was flirting with a double-double line and making people go nuts while still not playing a lick of D and losing track of his man on 75% of possessions.

And Sasha... looked promising at times, and then fell of a cliff. And Eric Snow... wow, what horrible, horrible memories. Looking back, it makes me even more grateful for the Cleveland championship season.

[bhlloy]

GOAT. 5-0 in playoff games playing all 48 minutes. 35, 12 and 7 in game 7’s.

[murrayyyyy]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Yes.

But NOT worse than that first one.

I'm not sure either of those teams win 20 without him.

[stevew]

This Cavs off-season should be fascinating.

[stevew]

Billy King has gotta be pissed he isn't getting a ring for building this Celts team.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Young Drachma

Celtics had that game won, but for some reason, those kids decided to play like kids down the stretch. Rozier getting that many opportunities to brick was deplorable, and it seems no timeout could settle them down from making awful decisions. It's as if they think a 3 pointer is worth more than 3 points every time they eschew the inside two for a kickout 3 that somebody bricks.

That said, Cavs turned on the jets when they needed to at the end and Boston refused to answer.

Take out Marcus Smart who I think should never shoot off the dribble, and that's 5 decent or better 3-pt shooters who went 7-35. During the stretch from 3:30 to 1:15 when it was 76-73 at the start and 79-74 until Hill made the breakaway layup, I thought Horford, Morris and Rozier 2x had good open catch & shoot looks and just missed all 4. Maybe the pressure was in their heads when shooting, but I didn't think they were rushing shots or doing things that aren't normally in our offense, they just missed shots that they've been hitting all playoffs at home.

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Always a wonderful day when the Celtics choke.

They lost in 7 to a team that was heavily favored coming into the series. I don't really think that's choking, like say a team that's -340 to win a series losing in 5 games, but YMMV.

Whether it's Cleveland or Philly I definitely hope LeBron stays in the East next season. Another great game by him, though I could do without people celebrating his staredown and pretending that was another great chasedown block on Rozier when he clearly fouled him on the arm after initially getting ball.

[RainMaker]

Paul out for Game 7. Huge break again for the Warriors.