Random NBA Discussion 2013-14 Season

[Andrew]

Pays to be solid from the charity stripe.

[Patr1ck]

Has there ever been a more clear demonstration of the way the NBA is called than Griffin getting tossed mere hours after LeBron was no-called for hanging on the rim for fifteen seconds?

Griffin does get away with his fair share of what probably should be offensive fouls on some of his "poster" dunks, but yeah, that was a good example of the inconsistency in NBA officiating.

The league just keeps people guessing. Two weeks ago Trevor Booker said Blake is babied. He gets ejected on questionable calls and the league sais oops.

[NovU]

James Harden: 2/9, 27 points.

What.

That's just where his value's at. His FG% soars but he makes it up by getting to the line and making threes. People think he's overrated because he misses a lot but he's actually an interesting combination of Kevin Martin and Corey Maggette. He reads the drive lane well and excels at creating contact while avoiding charge calls (but gets blocking foul calls instead!). He is usually in great control too while driving, making it easier for the refs to blow the whistle when contact happens.

Duncan and Spurs on Christmas evening did a great job avoiding fouling him, but it allowed Harden to finish around the rim over Duncan and take good look outside jumpshots (remember lbj in game 7, that's how the Spurs defended him). It probably is a smarter way to guard him but you still need good defensive system/players to be able to do that. With Marc Gasol instead of Zach Randolph as a primary rim defender, I think the Grizzlies would have done something similar. Yet, we saw people clamouring how Toney Allen's a great defensive force that could stop anyone at will, when having a great defensive anchor could make up for not having a great defensive one on one stopper like Toney Allen.

[SoF'nAwesome]

I would like to know on which basis NBA sets the schedule for these Christmas games. How do they choose the teams to play in Christmas?

[Patr1ck]

I would like to know on which basis NBA sets the schedule for these Christmas games. How do they choose the teams to play in Christmas?

I think it comes down to marketing.

Heat-Lakers - Lebron vs Kobe.
Nets-Bulls - I can only assume two potential eastern conference contenders, especially with D Rose back and the Nets roster being built for a 'ship.
Clippers-Warriors - Two contending western conference teams with popular superstars
Rockets-Spurs - the same as Clips and Warriors, plus a Texas rivalry.
Thunder-Knicks - Melo vs Durant is the only ting I can think of.

[NovU]

Stephen Curry had triple double by early third quarter. Beast mode on!

EDIT: LOL Cousins never disappoints me. It's so fun to watch him. The Heat tried to get into his head in last couple minutes and they were succeeding at it. LBJ threw him down to the ground and Cousins didn't get to freethrow line so he became visibly upset. It seemed clear he was trying his hardest to keep cool. Then bonehead Mario Chalmers wanted to free Cousins from rage cage so he ran into him on purpose needlessly. But funnily Cousins stayed out of trouble and kept his cool, then, was awarded with a flagrant. Thanks to that bonehead Chalmers, now the game moves into the overtime and the Heat are losing atm.

[Stress Fracture]

Awful fouls by those two. Now they're paying the price. Add to that the missed free throws in the endgame.

EDIT: Lebron hit three straight triples, then awfully misses the most important one.

[NovU]

Hahaha. The Heat's plan to mess with Cousins head backfired. Chalmers indeed is a proven bonehead. Terrible loss for the Heat.

[SoF'nAwesome]

Pdub, that's a nice summary. In that sense, Heat-Lakers, Nets-Bulls & Thunder-Knicks was a failure. It should have rather been Heat-Trailblazers, Thunder-Pacers & I don't know who for the middle.

As for Miami Heat, the Celtics 1973 record(straight 20 wins against Western Conference Teams) remains untouched. Clearly they were not going for it as Bird, Ray & DWade was out.

Terrible in the sense that LJ gave a killer performance. But I just hope that sitting those players will be worth it against Portland. A loss against Portland would have been much more damaging than a loss against Kings.

[benji]

A loss against Portland would have been much more damaging than a loss against Kings.

What difference does it make?

[bowdown]

A loss against Portland would have been much more damaging than a loss against Kings.

What difference does it make?

Yeah, I was wondering.

[Stress Fracture]

Heat-Lakers was a failure

Wonder how it became a failure when it was not a blowout game to start with.

[YaoKnowWhat_I_Ming]

Heat-Lakers was a failure

Wonder how it became a failure when it was not a blowout game to start with.

Mike D'Antoni has his ways.

[SoF'nAwesome]

]What difference does it make?

Yeah, I was wondering.

Heat was basically playing B team tonight. As in the "good if we win & could care less if we lose" mentality. Maybe LeBron passing Larry Bird and Gary Payton was the only thing they were aiming for today. But they are gonna go all in against Portland. Losing that would be a bummer, that's all. "Damaging" was a bit exaggerated maybe, but nobody is gonna think twice about the Kings loss unlike a loss against the best in the West.

Wonder how it became a failure when it was not a blowout game to start with.

Failure because there was no mamba. And there are about 10 teams that can give Heat a better challenge than Lakers.

[Stress Fracture]

Could've been a pretty interesting game if Mamba didn't have another injury again.

[Andrew]

As it stands, it was a pretty competitive game.

[NovU]

The Lakers are a must for Christmas game. They always have been. But this year's Lakers vs Heat didn't really interest me that much. The weakened Lakers versus 2 time defending champion, there kinda was no rivalry present, Kobe or not. The Lakers probably were better off facing the Rockets as Howard vs his former team would have been interesting. The Heat could have used some real foe like SAS or LAC (or CHI, healthy Rose assumed) imo. So I tuned into SAS vs HOU instead this season.

Oh well, the schedule is done before the season starts so I guess it is what is.

[benji]

Heat was basically playing B team tonight. As in the "good if we win & could care less if we lose" mentality. Maybe LeBron passing Larry Bird and Gary Payton was the only thing they were aiming for today. But they are gonna go all in against Portland. Losing that would be a bummer, that's all. "Damaging" was a bit exaggerated maybe, but nobody is gonna think twice about the Kings loss unlike a loss against the best in the West.

Still don't see what difference it makes. Some people will "think twice"? Okay and?

The Heat have exactly one goal for this regular season: make it through without a major injury. There's no way they miss the playoffs and now it's pretty clear there's no way they miss out on a top two seed. If they can learn anything against the Pacers in their regular season games, that's gravy.

And they aren't playing the Spurs and Thunder, just the Blazers, so there's no intel to gather against their Finals opponents.

[benji]

About Bynum suspension, league source tells Yahoo: "He doesn't want to play basketball anymore. He never liked it that much in first place."

feels bad man

[Andrew]

Good thing his contract is only partially guaranteed. Guess he's got plenty of time to go bowling now.

[YaoKnowWhat_I_Ming]

Slowly but surely, Chris Bosh is making the "game-winning 3 pointer" his thing now.

[bowdown]

Blazers got stifled by Miami's defense (gave up 18 points off TOs). Portland also got lucky as Miami committed dumb fouls that led to 5 points from the FT line late in the game for Portland. Blazers definitely got beat by the better team. Got some things to fix.

[NovU]

Wow. How did I miss that game. It looked like a great one. Instead I watched TOR vs NYK last night, lol, was pathetic (but I enjoy bad ball these days). Anyhoo I guess either team could have taken the game, more likely the Blazers otherwise for Bosh's fluke 3 pointer. Still, Bosh's 37 points is amazing. He still can deliver it. No wonder the Mavs and Lakers are rumoured to be targeting him this upcoming offseason.

[Phil89]

Obviously it's only one game, but the Harden trade isn't looking as horrible as everyone made it out to be.

Harden: 8 pts, 3 ast, 3 reb, 0 stl, 1 blk, 2-9 fg
Lamb: 22 pts, 5 ast, 5 reb, 2 stl, 1 blk, 8-10 fg

[SoF'nAwesome]

What's up with Harden & shooting percentages these days?

Still don't see what difference it makes. Some people will "think twice"? Okay and?

The Heat have exactly one goal for this regular season: make it through without a major injury. There's no way they miss the playoffs and now it's pretty clear there's no way they miss out on a top two seed. If they can learn anything against the Pacers in their regular season games, that's gravy.

And they aren't playing the Spurs and Thunder, just the Blazers, so there's no intel to gather against their Finals opponents.

Literally it doesn't make any difference. Just more criticism, that's all. Like after the first time they lost against Pacers. And I think you are underrating the Blazers. They ain't no 76ers. As for the goal, isn't that the primary one every season? Was it anyhow different last season?

I guess either team could have taken the game, more likely the Blazers otherwise for Bosh's fluke 3 pointer. Still, Bosh's 37 points is amazing. He still can deliver it. No wonder the Mavs and Lakers are rumoured to be targeting him this upcoming offseason.

Don't say fluke! Don't you remember that Spurs game? And Bosh actually wanted to shoot the 3, original play by Spo was for a 2 but he said "NO I WANT 3!". And what's up with Bosh shining whenever LJ sits? Inner Raptor or something like that?

But some late fouls like the Batum 3 freethrows were unfair imo. And Portland should have won it anyway because the last play they had set up was pretty awesome. Don't know how Aldridge missed that.