Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return
Lol that is an amazing GIF
Lol that is an amazing GIF
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"Twelve at-bats is a pretty decent sample size." - Eric Byrnes -
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Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return
January 27th, 2018
"When's the wedding?" Lionel Hollins took the towel around his neck and wiped is forehead as the morning light shone through the practice gyms windows. They'd been here an hour already and the team was going to be here in another hour and a half to do a quick recap of last night's win before flying out to NYC.
Max chugged deeply from his bottle of water and let out a satisfied sigh. "Well, actually ... we're not having a wedding." He flashed a smirk. "We got eloped."
A shot clanged off the rim from their right and Ray Allen shot him a surprised glance. "Eloped?"
Lionel was equally surprised, though the coach had a smile on his face nonetheless. "Well, congratulations." He extended his hand and the two shook briefly. "You're gonna have fun."
Max let out a sigh; fun he wasn't worried about. It was everything else he was worried about. He sat down on one of the folding chairs and allowed his body to fully relax. "Thanks, but we're not here to discuss my life. We have a trade deadline to worry over."
Lionel's smile receded and he went into 'Coach Mode', as the players liked to call it. He was serious now. "I still think we need help at the three. Taylor got destroyed last night and it nearly cost us the game."
Ray lofted another shot from behind the arc, which easily went in. "The free throw shooting was what nearly killed us."
Lionel pulled up a chair himself and sat down across from Max. "We need a better backup for Rondae, someone who can defend Durant and his kind better."
"And Taylor's not it?" Max asked, leaning forward. "He's not even starting, Coach -- most of that damage Durant did was against Lance and that's to be expected; Durant has about five inches on him and a ton of length."
"If we don't want to risk suffering that kind of performance again in the playoffs, we need find a better backup." Lionel took a sip from his water, shaking his head. "I wish we hadn't used that last roster spot on the Brazilian kid."
"He's a prospect and we need to develop one since we don't have a draft pick this year," Max reminded him.
Ray finished his shooting and came to sit down beside them, his face barely sweaty -- he was still in playing shape, even now. "Silva is going to be something. His shooting is coming along nicely."
Lionel's face scrunched up in annoyance. "Always about the damn shooting with you, isn't it?"
Ray stared at him coolly. "You win the game by putting the ball in the basket more times than your opponents. Shooting is the easiest and most efficient way of doing that."
Max cleared his throat, drawing the attention of both men and breaking up the moment; they were all a bit tired after the workout and this conversation had been had before. "Guys, if we make a trade, who do we target?"
Lionel took a deep drink from his water, but Ray had an answer immediately. "We're going to need someone comfortable with being on the bench in a reserve role, someone who's a veteran who can give us spot minutes. If we're looking for an upgrade from Taylor, I say we bring in Jared Dudley. Shooter and a solid defender."
Lionel rubbed his chin before giving a few nods. "That could work. Dudley isn't very speedy, but he's savvy. He's well-respected around the league. Marcin and Markieff talk with him every time we play the Warriors, those two really like him."
Max looked between them both. "You think he'd take an end of bench role? Dudley can still be productive. He could easily ask for minutes we don't want to give him."
"He's been stuck on teams his whole career that have gone no where." Lionel capped his water and stood. "If he wants a real shot at a ring, this year and maybe next are it for him. After that, he's an end of bench guy anyway."
Max nodded in agreement. "He's not seeing many minutes with the Warriors and, at least from my end, it'll work. Golden State is spiraling this year, with Speights out the next month and a half, their season is done. Dudley has a 4.5 million dollar contract sitting on their books and they're just barely over the cap; they'll want to unload him for a cheaper end of bench backup. Taylor could be that ... but it depends if they're really even thinking about next year at all yet. They could just decline his option during the summer and not worry about it."
Ray smirked. "But then they'd get nothing for him. You know how GMs hate that."
Max smiled. "Oh, I know. I know."Comment
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Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return
Westbrook's guns must be the cooler of these signatures celebrations in the NBA. I absolutely love it
Nice gifs, friend. Don't worry about them being small, after all it's not the size that matters but how you use it hahahahahahahahha"It matters not how strait the gate
How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate
I am the captain of my soul"
New York Islanders | Utah Jazz | Kansas City Chiefs | Aston Villa | Brazil!Comment
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Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return
The Sonics escaped tonight and they should thank their lucky stars that Malik Newman, Jeremy Lin, and Nerlens Noel played as well as they did. If any one of those three had given less, the Pelicans would have won, claiming a victory in the PAC and easing a little of their pain. Nearly two years after the Sonics sent them home in the WCF, Anthony Davis and his teammates still hold a grudge.
This is what rivalries are all about and these guys are rivals, make no mistake about that. There was no hand shaking between teams before the game and certainly none after -- this was a battle, beginning to end. The first quarter was all about the Pelicans establishing themselves from outside; they relied on JJ Redick and Jrue Holiday for that, the two of them going 4-8 in the quarter. They even got a desperation heave three from a trapped Noah that went in (which stunned the crowd).
But Seattle wasn't going to go down without a fight. In the second, the Sonics found Nerlens Noel and Jeremy Lin were in sync, so they let the duo pick and roll the Pelicans to death. Lin did an admirable job of hitting his shots (few as they were) and dishing the rock, finding open men rolling to the rim or sitting out beyond the arc. The Pelicans had difficulty preventing Noel from getting inside, which contributed to their 7 point halftime deficit.
That wouldn't last. In the second half NOLA found their deep stroke again, this time getting a spark from JJ Barea off the bench (he finished with 15 points, 2-3 from deep), and NOLA rode him throughout most of the quarter. Barea was a terror inside, drawing fouls, mucking things up, and the whistles blew early and often as the two teams traded fouls like Billy King traded draft picks.
The fourth is where the real fireworks started. Up until that point Westbrook had been contained, tallying a measly 9 points, as NOLA dared him to beat them from deep and Russell kept driving inside, determined to punch through their interior defense. That strategy -- thankfully -- paid off as he started to get in, get dunks and fouls, and NOLA was forced to collapse on him even sooner and even harder than before.
That opened the door for Malik Newman, who is basically cementing himself as a starter for someone next season. Newman, once again, has been pressed into action off the bench like last season, and, once again, he's performing astoundingly well for a player with his limited experience. He's only in his second NBA season, but his shooting and overall court awareness has come a long way in such a short time -- this is not the rookie that was taken 10th overall in 2016, he's a legit NBA player now.
As Westbrook got the attention, Newman sat outside and started draining threes. He'd been steady all game, but his deep shot had been shaky up until the fourth -- it wasn't shaky when it came to the final minutes. Newman, Westbrook, and Noel all made big plays to stave off NOLA and keep the Brow from earning a big victory against the conference's best team. This one came down to the wire, Westbrook nailing four straight free throws to end the game, and both teams looked pretty drained afterwords.
But Seattle got the win, their first in February, and now sit at 39-10 on the year as NOLA drops to 28-21.
Around the NBA
Is that ... why, yes, it is! The San Antonio Spurs are on a winning streak of four games and their record now sits at 21-24, which means they're just a half game back behind the 22-24 Kings for the final playoff spot out West. Spurs faithful must be licking their chops at the next four games, as the Spurs face the Knicks (22-24), the Mavs (16-31), the Rockets (24-22), and the Warriors (16-32). Realistically, the Spurs could sweep that schedule and get to above .500 for the first time in months -- could they not be as dead as we thought? Likely. This is the Spurs, after all.
The Jazz now sit at 15-31, losers of four straight, and are no closer to working out a reasonable contract for Dante Exum. Exum and his agents continue to push the 11M a year figure, a payment the Jazz are unwilling to make, and with the trade deadline approaching, Utah is eager to cash in. The market is crowded this year with many teams looking to improve, as both conferences have multiple squads just barely in or barely out of the playoff picture. Exum is still having a good year (compared to his others) with 11.1 PPG, 4.8 APG, on 37 percent from deep (but a below-average 39 percent from everywhere else). He's only 22, he's got room to improve, but it's going to be tough for Utah to get anything more than a draft pick back for him -- and with the way this draft is looking (and with how many young players they have on their roster), that's the last thing the Jazz want.Comment
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Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return
Malik is back at it! That's a sentence that makes me really happy to type. Truth be told I don't have a clue who the kid is but I like him based on this dynasty lol.
I must say I love the proposed Dudley trade too. That's not something I ever thought I'd say, but my own game has me trying to think along the same lines.
The gifs are a great idea too by the way. Lovely little touch!Comment
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Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return
GIF REACTION:
Well, THAT was a game. Tonight, the Sonics moved to 42-11 as they beat the Suns in PHX 118-110, in the first game back for RHJ since he was injured weeks ago. The Sonics weren't quite as fluid as we've gotten used to seeing and, facing the third-best team in the conference (the now 33-20 Suns), the Sonics had a tough draw. The Suns are uniquely built to take advantage of what the Sonics don't mind giving up -- the deep ball -- and the first quarter was all triples for Phoenix as Tobias Harris LIT IT UP.
He was raining straight fire down on the Sonics as Markieff Morris struggled to guard him (the Suns resting star rookie Ivan Raab due to a twisted ankle, forcing Harris to start at the four) and Harris unleashed deep ball after deep ball, amassing a ridiculous 18 point after the first quarter. All that shooting, however, only managed to keep Seattle's lead to just one going into the second.
In the second, the Sonics fed their bigs inside, particularly -- you guessed it -- the Polish Hammer, who once again feasted in the paint on the Suns. Gortat has a special place in his heart for this team and he plays balls-to-the-wall when matched up with the Suns. This game was no different, as he routinely took advantage of the players Phoenix attempted to match up against him (starting with Len, than Chandler, than Harris). Gortat schooled them in the post, drew fouls, and made Phoenix look soft inside. His play, combined with Westbrook (who had 18 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds by the half!) gave the Sonics a 62-56 lead heading into the break.
When play resumed in the third quarter, Seattle came out like the defending champs. They went on a quick 8-2 run, nailing some difficult shots and sucking the win out of the Suns, and it looked like the Sonics were delivering the haymaker. Markieff Morris showed up, knocking down a few jumpers and reminding Phoenix of what he could do, and the Sonics lead ballooned up to 16 points.
The Suns trimmed that down to only 11 by the start of the fourth and then whittled it down further, thanks to late game heroics by Eric Blledsoe. Bledsoe took over the fourth, finishing with 16 points and 15 assists as he repeatedly got to the line and flustered Seattle's interior defense. With Bledsoe driving and kicking out, the Suns started knocking down triples again and the two teams engaged in a close battle, as the lead remained Seattle's but Phoenix was dangerously close to taking it away.
The game came down to the final three minutes, as the Suns closed the gap to just two points, and then it became an exercise. The Sonics would score, the Suns would score, and so and so on -- it wasn't until the final two minutes when Seattle would firmly, finally, put the game away thanks to two huge defensive plays by Markieff Morris. First, a great steal with a 1:38 left to go in the game, that allowed the Sonics to get up court and get a good shot (but one that rimmed out).
The second was a block on Eric Bledsoe, resulting in a fast break down the court that led to a Lance Stephenson assist to RHJ for a backbreaking dunk with 57 seconds left in the game. After that, it was all about trips to the free throw line as the Suns were unable to get a good shot on their next possession, than preceded to foul the Sonics repeatedly, hoping for misses.
It obviously didn't work and the Suns night ended in defeat, as the Sonics once more beat them. If these two teams should meet in the playoffs again, I would expect the series to be very, very competitive.
Around the NBA
The Spurs (24-27) just can't catch a break. With their season hanging by a thread, San Antonio has lost Tony Parker for the next 4-6 weeks with a severe ankle sprain, forcing Jerryd Bayless to start. Results have not been great so far, as the Spurs schedule does them no favors -- they next face Seattle on the 15th before heading into the All-Star Break, desperately in need of good news and maybe a trade (or two).
The Raptors season may be over. At 23-30, Toronto has massively underperformed and disappointed this season. Worse yet, center Jakob Poeltl is out for the next 6 weeks with a hip injury, forcing the Raptors to slide Valanciunas to the five and play Bismack Biyombo at the four (YUCK). Toronto is active in the trade and free agent market, trying to find a suitable replacement for Poeltl. The idea of bringing back Patrick Patterson or signing one of the free agent centers (Myers Leonard has been brought up) has been floated, but their are no certainties. Patterson and the Raptors parted on so-so terms last summer and Leonard is seen as a gamble by many executives, as the big man can shoot but is extremely streaky. What Toronto does over the All-Star Break will make or break their season.Comment
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Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return
The NBA Second Trimester Report: The West
February 21st, 2018
By Vonny Lee
With the trade deadline nearly upon us and the All-Star game passed us, the playoff picture is beginning to take shape. Here's a look at how teams out West stack up.
1. The Sonics -- are blitzing the league. With the NBA's best record, MVP-frontrunner Russell Westbrook, and one of the deepest benches in the association, the Sonics are set up, yet again, for a deep postseason run. Seattle has, so far, opted to stand pat at the deadline and executives around the league expect most teams will after the few moves that were completed over the all-star break. The trick for the Sonics is maintaining their edge going into the final eight weeks of the season, but with the way this team has played so far, that shouldn't be too difficult to manage.
2. The Nuggets -- are shocking the league. Denver, as of this moment, is the 8th seed in the playoffs and they're doing this despite not having Mudiay (still out for the next 4-6 weeks). Monta Ellis has thrived so far as the team's go-to-scorer in the absence of Mudiay and Mike Malone is doing one of the best coaching jobs in the game with the way he's getting this young team to rally night in and night out. Whether Denver holds on or not is one of the more fascinating stories this season.
3. The Blazers -- are disappointing, but not dead. Not yet, anyway. Portland has been bothered with nagging injuries to their starters all season and their schedule has been brutal for the first 2/3rds of the year. Heading into the final stretch, Portland needs to pick up some wins while attempting to figure out which combination of players works best. Expect to see Terrence Ross get way more minutes as they head down the stretch.
4. The T'Wolves -- have moved on from Ricky Rubio, finally. This was the first trade that occurred over the ASB and it sent shockwaves throughout the NBA.
It's been no secret that the 76ers have been looking for a legitimate point guard for the last two seasons. They tried getting by with Jackson and Cannan, then gave the reigns to Jackson, then drafted rookie Jalen Brunson -- but Rubio is better than any of those players.
For the T'Wolves, this represents a clear sign that the franchise is firmly in the hands of Wiggins and KAT; Tysus Jones is expected to take over the starting spot as Doc Rivers continues to try and find a combination of players that accentuates the talents of his lead stars. The T'Wolves grab a nice 1st rounder here (only top-10 protected) and will likely see it conveyed as they try to make strides towards playoff contention.
5. The Jazz -- soon followed the T'Wolves Rubio trade with one of their own.
Utah shipped off Exum to one of the few teams willing to take a risk on him -- the Bulls. Chicago was eager to pair Jimmy Butler with a successor to Wade (who is still injured for another 6 weeks) and Exum is that player. For the Jazz, this trade was about avoiding overpaying Exum (which the Bulls happily did) and grabbing a pick. Afflalo is hoped to provide the young Jazz team with some veteran leadership, but Utah looks rudderless, for the third season straight, as they struggle to field a competitive squad.
1. The Thunder -- are the clear second best team out West and in the NBA. OKC has another MVP candidate, Kevin Durant, battling to get his team back into the Finals. It seems inevitable that OKC and Seattle will meet again in the playoffs and, as has been the trend since Westbrook left, the entire Thunder team is benefiting from the extra touches. Payne, Ibaka, Kanter, and Oladipo are all scoring above 11 PPG and the team seems to of one mind, as Durant has stepped into the leadership role and is the undisputed king. That's exactly how the Thunder front office like it and want it, and they're ready to take it to Seattle when the time comes.
2. The Pelicans -- are battling the Suns for third-best team out West. Anthony Davis isn't quite having an MVP year (he's just outside the top-five considered), but he's getting a HUGE help from rookie Jayson Tatum, JJ Redick, and his not-great (but not horrible) bench. The Pelicans are fielding a good team and when the playoffs hit, they'll be one of the teams to watch -- expect Davis to go off and avenge last year's early exit.
3. The Rockets -- are surviving. The West is brutal this year and full of surprises, as the bottom dwellers are not so horrible as they once were, and it's making Houston and MVP candidate James Harden (averaging 27.8 PPG, with 5.7 RPG, 7.2 APG, on 44 percent from the field and 39 from deep) is carrying the squad, but not to the extent he has in the past. Pau Gssol is continuing to show that age is just a number (15 PPG with 9.5 RPG at 37!) and the Rockets are getting a big helping of scoring from Rudy Gay (16.7 PPG). The Rockets bench continues to be solid and the team, as a whole, looks to be trending upward.
4. The Spurs -- are struggling, but not panicking. San Antonio has a lot of questions to answer once this season ends, either without a trip to the playoffs or another 1st round exit at the hands of the Sonics/Thunder. Whatever the case, the Spurs haven't been very lucky with injuries and need to seriously consider parting with LMA and Danny Green, two players who continue to put up good stats despite the team struggling as a whole.
5. The Mavs -- are desperate. Again. Joel Embiid has been making a lot of waves over the last few weeks as the Mavs season has spiraled downward, and his agent demanded a trade over the ASB. Remember that unprotected 1st round pick the Mavs gave to 76ers to get Embiid? Well, Dallas does, too, but decided to flip him anyway.
And he landed at Golden State. The Warriors have been dealing with their own spiral, as Draymond Green asked to be traded. Green's production has been down all year (only 8.9 PPG, with 8.7 RPG and 4.5 APG, shooting 37 percent from the field and 33 percent from deep) and the Warriors sent him away for Embiid and Monroe (glorified cap relief at this point).
For Dallas, this represents yet another reset as the Mavs attempt to build around Green's unique talents (and ability to shoot from deep at the four, something their offense has lacked since Dirk retired) and look towards free agency for a solution to their many woes.
1. The Suns -- are still holding onto the third-best record out West, but suffered a huge injury over the ASB as rookie Ivan Raab, participating in All-Star weekend, tore his ACL and is out for the rest of the season. Raab was having a breakout campaign, going for 19.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG, and 4.2 APG. He was a lock for rookie of the year and now the contest is wide open with him down.
For the Suns, this represents a major challenge -- they'll be sliding Tobias Harris back to the four (a position he had success at in Philly last season) and TJ Warren into the starting lineup at the three, but this was not the news Phoenix fans wanted and the Suns could take a tumble down the standings if they don't adjust quickly.
2. The Clippers -- are not as dead as we thought. LAC has stormed the second part of the season, Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver putting up numbers like they were in ATL. Blake Griffin is having a great year, going for 21.7 PPG and 9.5 RPG with 4.4 APG and Deandre Jordan is doing work (10.5 PPG with 13.4 RPG). LAC's bench is deeper than it has been in a long time and Danny Ferry looks to have assembled a winner, as the team is beginning to gel. Veteran David West announced after the ASG that this season would be his last, so the Clippers have extra motivation to go as far as they can.
3. The Kings -- are winning. Unbelievably so. Sacramento is putting together a campaign that Kings fans haven't seen in over a decade (probably longer) and they are the 7th seed out West. They're not winning pretty, but defense and timely shot making are allowing the Kings to make noise and look like playoff contenders. Brandon Ingram continues to impress as the sophomore SF is scoring 16.4 PPG on 46 percent shooting, 39 percent from deep. This mishmash of talent is defying the odds and they may deliver the Kings first playoff berth this decade.
4. The Lakers -- are falling off and at the worst time. Injuries continue to strip LA of their best lineups, as Jordan Clarkson has missed the last two weeks with a sprained knee (expected to return in a week at most) and veteran Jarrett Jack is still out with a hyperextended shoulder, likely to keep him out of the remaining regular season games. The Lakers are seeing some discontent creep in with Whiteside, as the rumors of him being replaced by DeMarcus Cousins next season continue to make the rounds. LA is so close to getting back to the playoffs, but just can't seem to have the chips fall as they should -- expect there to be a shakeup in the offseason if the team misses the postseason again.
5. The Warriors -- were the last team anyone expected to finish so poorly, but they're on track to have their worst season in years. The Green trade has sent huge shockwaves throughout the locker-room, as the front office has made it clear that no one player (other than Steph Curry) is untouchable. The good vibes and chemistry Golden State has enjoyed for the last few years is officially gone and now the Warriors will have to decide if Embiid and Monroe fit into their future plans. It's likely Embiid, being the defensive center he is, will likely remain -- Monroe's salary makes him difficult to keep, especially as it relates to his fit and he's likely a rental. The Warriors, barring a miracle, are officially done for this season and everyone has to be asking themselves where it all went wrong.Comment
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Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return
The NBA Second Trimester Report: The East
February 21st, 2018
By Vonny Lee
1. The Hornets -- are the 1st seed out East and are playing the best basketball of any of those teams. Charlotte has managed to hold onto their conference spot and are getting stellar performances from Kevin Love and Kemba Walker (Walker, in particular, is having the most efficient year of his career). Even with the Cavs hot on their heels, the Hornets are maintaining their composure, sporting the best defense in the NBA. Kevin Love is reportedly incensed that he was passed up for the All-Star team, so expect him to be on a mission once play resumes.
2. The Hawks -- had their demise reported too early. Despite missing Al Horford (not projected to be back for 2-4 weeks thanks to a bad back), the Hawks are getting wins, making noise, and looking like a much better team than they were last year, despite having (arguably) less talent. Gobert is expected to return to the lineup when play resumes for the first time since early January. Will they be able to survive without Horford, however?
3. The Grizzlies -- are still struggling on offense, especially shooting, but are in the thick of the playoff race as the 7th seed. Memphis, much like the Hawks, could easily leap up as high as the 3rd seed (held by the 76ers) or fall out of the playoffs completely depending on how the East sorts itself out. Tyreke Evans continues to impress with his play and he's likely found himself a home in Memphis long-term when the summer arrives.
4. The Heat -- are far, far back from where they want to be. They've lost 7 straight and there's not a major player of theirs injured. Rumors swirl that Pat Riley is preparing to make a big free agent splash come the summer, but whom Riley is targeting is a mystery. Common sense dictates it's Cousins, but Boogie has been vocal in declaring his intent to get back to the West Coast. Whatever happens this year doesn't seem to matter much for the Heat, who look content to stand pat at the deadline.
5. The Magic -- are struggling, as a team like theirs will have a tendency to do. After the trade of Payton to New York, the Magic have fallen out of the playoff picture and are punting on this season. Rumbles of player discontent have quieted since the trade, but the Magic look like a franchise poised to make a big move or a big mistake come the summer.
1. The Cavs -- are not far behind the Hornets for the best record out East and sit as the 2nd seed in a conference that looks increasingly like it'll come down to the top-2 seeds and little else, at least when it comes to the playoffs. The Cavs are still a team that relies far too much on LeBron and Irving, but they're getting enough from Shumpert, Thompson, and their bench to offset things ... for now. As with anything involving LeBron, expect the playoffs to be his ultimate judge.
2. The Bulls -- are surviving without Wade. Butler, Howard, and Jennings have done enough to keep Chicago's head above water, but the loss of Wade still hurts. The Bulls move to bring in Exum (and pay him) is a sign that Chicago recognizes Wade will not be around forever. His successor has already been named in Exum and Butler remains the alpha-dog. Chicago will likely hold onto their playoff spot, but they currently sit as the 4th seed and would probably prefer to stay where they are in the seeding.
3. The Bucks -- should be dead without the Greek Freak but Monty Williams and his team are outperforming expectations. Jabari Parker and Wesley Matthews have stepped up their games and could give this young team a chance at the playoffs, after missing last season. If the Bucks can last a few more weeks like this, the Greek Freak is set to return (in 2-4 weeks time) and could give the Milwaukee fans a reason to enjoy the postseason.
4. The Pistons -- are disappointing, especially after the way they finished last season and their experience in the playoffs. SVG has to be beside himself as his team is 6 games under .500 but, thanks to playing out East, are still within spitting distance of a playoff spot. There's no one reason why Detroit isn't better, other than they're inefficient. Reggie Jackson leads the cause, shooting only 40 percent from the field and 35 percent from deep, scoring only 11.1 PPG. Jackson's lack of anything remotely resembling value at the two is hurting Detroit, but so is the slightly below-average performances from Andre Drummond and Ryan Anderson.
5. The Pacers -- are looking at a disaster of a season. In a year where Paul George could declare for free agency, the Pacers are abysmal. Derrick Favors and Derrick Rose are both performing well, George's averages have picked up since Ellis was traded, but he's still only averaging 16.6 PPG and that's just not going to do it for a franchise player. Frank Vogel is likely to get axed in the offseason if something doesn't change and the Pacers, as a franchise, find themselves in a very precarious position.
1. The 76ers -- are now in it to make the playoffs and make some serious noise. Philly pulled off the biggest shocker of the deadline, trading for Ricky Rubio, and have now paired their franchise big man with a point guard who routinely makes spectacular passes look normal. This marks a big move for Philly, who's looking to string together two-straight playoff berths for the first time in what feels like forever, and barely had to part with any real assets to do it.
2. The Knicks -- are somehow still in the playoff race. Despite Melo going down and their continued mediocre play since. Chris Paul does his thing still, albeit with lower averages, but the real story here is the Knicks youthful talent -- rookie Malik Monk (scoring 14.4 PPG) and Porzingis (16.5 PPG with 10.5 PPG). Despite the mega signing of Paul, the development of these two young Knicks -- both just 22 -- is a good sign for the franchise. The Payton trade still reeks of desperation, but if the Knicks make the playoffs (currently they sit as the 8th seed) it'll at least be defensible.
3. The Wizards -- much like the Knicks, are mediocre. Unlike the Knicks, they have no reason to be -- no one is injured, they have John Wall and Bradley Beal (and Brook Lopez) and they possess one of the deeper benches in all the league. Yet, they sit with an under .500 record and 9th place in a conference that is full of other teams better than them. The Wizards are winners of three straight and face a relatively easy schedule the rest of the way (with a key matchup against the Knicks on the 23rd) but can't afford any more stumbles. John Wall is getting antsy and will be entering the last year of his contract after this season -- the pressure is on for the Wizards.
4. The Celtics -- are likely looking at the end of the brief Boogie Cousins era in Boston. Danny Ainge hasn't been fielding any offers for him, according to rumors, but it's clear this team isn't working. Boogie, Isiah Thomas, and Avery Bradley are all free agents this summer and it's a guarantee that at least two of those players leave for other teams. Bostonians are torn on whether they want Boogie back and Boogie, for his part, is pining for the warmth of the West Coast. Unless the Celtics trade him, expect them to ride out the year and reevaluate their position then.
5. The Raptors -- are more disappointing than many teams in the league. The conference's best last year, Toronto has endured a massive drop off in production thanks to the sub-par play of DeRozan. With the injury to their center, the Raptors moved Joey-V back to the five and signed Patrick Patterson to hold down the four spot (much like he did last year). The team is hoping a return of the previous lineup will improve the Raptors enough to shoot them up the standings, but a late run to the playoffs seems unlikely with a schedule heavy with Western Conference foes.Comment
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Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return
GIF REACTION:
The Thunder fall again to the Sonics, losing the regular seasons series in a 4-0 sweep. More than that, they've lost any chance to grab bragging rights or momentum from Seattle as OKC only had a chance in the first quarter of this game. They jumped out to a 7-2 lead and looked to be firmly in control of the game as they were launching triples at will.
And then Russell Westbrook drove into the lane for a dunk, but blew it -- the ball careened high into the air before landing in the hands of RHJ, who passed out to a waiting Lance behind the arc and Lance nailed the triple as Oladipo watched. That was the turning point in the first as the Sonics went from hibernation to ON. The first quarter saw OKC get smothered on defense and Seattle taking advantage of the changes of possession with devastating fast breaks.
By the time halftime rolled around, Seattle was firmly in control of the game. The start of third quarter saw the Sonics take that control, sharpen it, and drive it through the heart of OKC. It was game over from that point on.
When the fourth arrived, both teams were playing their deep reserves, and nothing of note happened there other than the Thunder fans evacuating the arena as though a tornado was going to it it. Lance wasn't named player of the game (that honor was given to Westbrook) but he got the quote of the night.
BOOM. Choke City it is, Lance. It's not Oklahoma City, it's Choklahoma City, it's the Oklahoma Chokers ... yeah, that works.I hear they call this place 'Loud City' ... think they might need to change it to Choke City. Seems to fit them better, right?
Around the NBA
The 76ers are now 31-26 (3-1) since the trade for Ricky Rubio and it looks like the Spanish Pistol Pete has begun to unlock the offense for Philly. They're best win in the Post-Rubio stretch has been a big win in OKC, 97-81, a team that, theoretically, is better than them. The early results look promising for Philly.
Boston has won three straight and now sit at 26-29; the big move for the Celtics was naming rookie De'Aaron Fox as the starting point man, moving Isiah Thomas to the bench for the rest of the season. It's desperate times in Boston, as Boogie continues to flirt with the idea of leaving the city. Danny Ainge has made a big, big bet that Boston can make a late push into the playoffs and give Cousins the postseason berth he so desperately craves. With a home heavy schedule for most of March and a large number of .500 and sub-.500 squads on their schedule for the month, this is the time for Boston to make gains.Comment
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Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return
Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself but I don't feel like okc ever closes the gap. I think your sonics definitely have the upper hand for the foreseeable future. Another solid win for the team it seems that they can quite happily coast along before flicking on the switch and imposing their will.
GIF REACTION:
The Thunder fall again to the Sonics, losing the regular seasons series in a 4-0 sweep. More than that, they've lost any chance to grab bragging rights or momentum from Seattle as OKC only had a chance in the first quarter of this game. They jumped out to a 7-2 lead and looked to be firmly in control of the game as they were launching triples at will.
And then Russell Westbrook drove into the lane for a dunk, but blew it -- the ball careened high into the air before landing in the hands of RHJ, who passed out to a waiting Lance behind the arc and Lance nailed the triple as Oladipo watched. That was the turning point in the first as the Sonics went from hibernation to ON. The first quarter saw OKC get smothered on defense and Seattle taking advantage of the changes of possession with devastating fast breaks.
By the time halftime rolled around, Seattle was firmly in control of the game. The start of third quarter saw the Sonics take that control, sharpen it, and drive it through the heart of OKC. It was game over from that point on.
When the fourth arrived, both teams were playing their deep reserves, and nothing of note happened there other than the Thunder fans evacuating the arena as though a tornado was going to it it. Lance wasn't named player of the game (that honor was given to Westbrook) but he got the quote of the night.
BOOM. Choke City it is, Lance. It's not Oklahoma City, it's Choklahoma City, it's the Oklahoma Chokers ... yeah, that works.
Around the NBA
The 76ers are now 31-26 (3-1) since the trade for Ricky Rubio and it looks like the Spanish Pistol Pete has begun to unlock the offense for Philly. They're best win in the Post-Rubio stretch has been a big win in OKC, 97-81, a team that, theoretically, is better than them. The early results look promising for Philly.
Boston has won three straight and now sit at 26-29; the big move for the Celtics was naming rookie De'Aaron Fox as the starting point man, moving Isiah Thomas to the bench for the rest of the season. It's desperate times in Boston, as Boogie continues to flirt with the idea of leaving the city. Danny Ainge has made a big, big bet that Boston can make a late push into the playoffs and give Cousins the postseason berth he so desperately craves. With a home heavy schedule for most of March and a large number of .500 and sub-.500 squads on their schedule for the month, this is the time for Boston to make gains.
The choklahoma Thunder, oh boy. Lance got jokes! But you can feel like that breezing through the season, even more so when you just handed them another L. Clay must be absolutely livid at this point.Comment
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Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return
^Oh yeah, Clay IS livid. Working on a follow-up post with him now -- he's MAD.
And those jokes, they made me laugh when I thought of them, so they're there. Lance, IRL, is always good for a fun quote, so I wanted to give him that. Might make him a regular quote for the recaps, just for kicks.Comment
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Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return
It would be rude not to read Clay's inability to come to terms with getting his *ss handed to him time and time again lol.
Oh lance is definitely a character lol. I've never been a fan of his game personally but always enjoyed the crazy things that come out of his mouth so I definitely approve of a recaps with lance section.Comment
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Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return
February 28th, 2018
"End him." His fist collided with the table in the luxury suite and the two other people in the room with him -- Victoria and his GM, Sam Presti -- could only watch. He could only watch. They were going to lose the season series, that was a given, but to lose like this, with fans streaming out of the building with an entire quarter of the game left?
"I want you to end him." Clay Bennett eyed Victoria, his look one of pure disdain. "I want you to release what we have. I want you to make Newman bleed."
Victoria, pretty as she was, wasn't as cuthroat as he. She wasn't that type of person, but few people were in the world -- the realm of business necessitated a certain attitude. One had to be willing to take big risks and make ballsy, bold moves. He was more than willing to do that on a regular basis.
But he had played it too safe since Seattle came back into the NBA. He had believed that the league was beyond that backwater city in that depressing state; the NBA had moved into the future and they were firmly in the past, stuck with the bones of the overpriced Nets and without a single valuable asset.
Newman had turned them into champions. Back-to-back champions. And he went through his team to do it both years.
"Clay --"
"Do it," he insisted, his tone leaving no room for debate. "I want it out there by lunch tomorrow, understand?"
She looked frightened, but she nodded. "I'll get right on it." She quietly excused herself.
Sam took off his glasses, cleaning them. "I don't think it's wise."
"To hell with wisdom." He grabbed his glass of brandy off the table, some of it spilling onto the carpet below in the process. He shotgunned it and dropped the glass back down without a thought. "We need to sign someone. Someone to get us over the edge."
Sam calmly placed his glasses back on. "We need help at the three -- "
"Grab JR Smith and sign him." Clay turned around, staring out into the empty arena. "And when you do, you tell that son of a *itch that if he screws up like he has in the past, I will keep him out of the NBA until he's 90."
Silence for a moment. "I'll paraphrase that," Sam said eventually, his tone measured. "He might help."
"He will help." Clay turned to face his GM, his eyes smoldering. "God as my witness, this is the last time we lose to that team. You hear me?"
Sam gave a slight nod. "I'll draw up the paper work." He exited the suite, leaving Clay alone.
Clay only turned back to the arena, the empty seats staring back at him.Comment
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Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return
Clay I think you need to see somebody about those anger issues. Can't be doing the blood pressure any good at all. Definitely clouding his judgement too. Jr swish is not the kind of guy who's going to beat the sonics.
I'm almost a little frightened to find out what it is that they have on max! Great twist for sure.Comment
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