2016/2017 Daily Discussion Thread

[ThePointForward]

Damn, the league really is rigged. They clearly allowed Seth and Steph curry to switch for at least one game...

[Andrew]

Seth Curry, the true unanimous MVP.

[Phil89]

Another triple-double for Westbrook today, his 29th on the season. Just read that he needs 193 rebounds (8.4 per game) and 211 assists (9.17 per game) to average a triple-double over his last 23 games. It's really, really looking likely.

Make it 30. Another 40 point triple-double.

He only had 2 rebounds in the first half against Utah, but he grabbed his 10th with 8 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

[ThePointForward]

Another triple-double for Westbrook today, his 29th on the season. Just read that he needs 193 rebounds (8.4 per game) and 211 assists (9.17 per game) to average a triple-double over his last 23 games. It's really, really looking likely.

Make it 30. Another 40 point triple-double.

He only had 2 rebounds in the first half against Utah, but he grabbed his 10th with 8 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

And essentially carried the Thunder in the closing minutes as well. is there anyone who could have legit case to be the MVP?


In other news Vince carter decided to take no shit from Suns' sophomore Devin Booker and got ejected.

KD got injured (hyperextended left knee). MRI scheduled for today and Warriors even fear that he might be out for months.

[Andrew]

I think he has to be the MVP at this point. It's a standout season - historically so - and the Thunder are right there in the Playoff hunt.

[ThePointForward]

Well, KD diagnosed with "Grade 2 (moderate) MCL sprain and a bone bruise". Out indefinitely, to be re-evaluated in 4 weeks. Missing playoffs is definitely a possibility now and Spurs are potentially looking at snatching the conference.

On the upside, Matt Barnes is playing again.

[Andrew]

Definitely could've been worse news for KD, the Warriors, and their fans. Still obviously a blow.

[Sauru]

the mvp is a crazy award. its the one award that could go to the same player every single season if they wanted to. first you have to win enough to even be considered. then they go by stats but what about the "valuable" part. last 2 years curry won it despite lebron being far more valuable to his team. its just a stupid award really. they should change it to most outstanding player and give it to the player with the best numbers

[Andrew]

Not to mention the fact that the meaningfulness of awards seems to depend on whether you agree with the results. Don't agree with the result? They're meaningless tokens handed out by the clueless media. Agree with the result? They're a measure of greatness, and things like unanimous selections are suddenly significant.

[Sauru]

Not to mention the fact that the meaningfulness of awards seems to depend on whether you agree with the results. Don't agree with the result? They're meaningless tokens handed out by the clueless media. Agree with the result? They're a measure of greatness, and things like unanimous selections are suddenly significant.

pretty much. its like all star selections. when a player retires they constantly bring up how many all star games they made like its some grand measuring stick.

[Andrew]

To be fair, even though the game has become a farce, the top players tend to get picked, so it's still a reflection of consistently good play throughout the years. However, I think it definitely applies to some of the records that have been set recently, including this year. It's a contradiction to claim that the game is all in fun and completely meaningless, but then try to give meaning to Davis scoring 52 or LeBron becoming the first player to top 300 points for his All-Star career.

In other words, these things are meaningless unless they're meaningful in backing up your point of view, then suddenly, they absolutely mean something. It can't work that way.

[ThePointForward]

Not to mention the fact that the meaningfulness of awards seems to depend on whether you agree with the results. Don't agree with the result? They're meaningless tokens handed out by the clueless media. Agree with the result? They're a measure of greatness, and things like unanimous selections are suddenly significant.

pretty much. its like all star selections. when a player retires they constantly bring up how many all star games they made like its some grand measuring stick.

“Maybe now you could say I didn't play a second, but in five years, you guys are going to forget. In ten years I'll still be a champion. In 20 years I'll tell my kids I probably started, and in 30 years I'll probably tell them I got the MVP. So I'm probably not too worried about it.”

[air gordon]

Should the media have votes for the all NBA teams?? Now that millions can be had (or lost) based on making an all NBA team I think its something worth considering changing

[Andrew]

The obvious alternative would be to let the players and/or coaches vote on it. On the surface that seems ideal, but I don't think they'd necessarily do a better job. Look at the player voting for the All-Star Game this year. There were clearly players who were voting for themselves or their pals, undeserved. As Steve Kerr noted, there were players who were definitely wasting their vote, and not doing much better than the fans (if at all). Likewise, the coaches have made some truly baffling All-Star selections over the years. And since I've brought up fan voting, that definitely shouldn't be the case for the player awards.

I think we have to look at the results year-to-year, and ask whether the media truly do make such terrible picks that have no merit whatsoever, or whether there's simply a questionable selection here or there. Of those questionable selections, how many are simply a bit controversial because they could've gone either way between a couple of players (and so a lot of people felt the runner up should've won in a close race between two viable candidates), and how many are completely unjustifiable?

It comes back to that false dichotomy of something either being perfect or terrible, and "I disagree with the result, so therefore it sucks".

[Phil89]

Taj seems to be having fun with his new team.

phpBB [video]

[Andrew]

Getting away from the dysfunction in Chicago was probably fun enough, but that's a hell of a heave. Those never get old to watch.

[air gordon]

The obvious alternative would be to let the players and/or coaches vote on it. On the surface that seems ideal, but I don't think they'd necessarily do a better job. Look at the player voting for the All-Star Game this year...".

Yeah I agree with this. Its a not perfect method but I'd rather have the coaches do the vote. They are the ones most familiar with the personnel. They make up the game plans, go over game film, etc.

I'm assuming they would take this vote more serious than the all star selections

[Andrew]

Perhaps. Has the media really done that bad of a job over the past few decades, though? I'm not saying they definitely shouldn't be replaced, but looking back, I'm not sure that they've been as bad or clueless as they're often made out to be.

[Phil89]

Westbrook missed out on triple-double #31 by one assist today. That makes it 6 games this season where he missed out on a triple-double by a single assist or rebound. There are 4 more where he only needed 2 assists or rebounds.

It's crazy to think that he could have been even closer to the record already if things had gone slightly differently.

[Andrew]

Two points shy of 50, as well.

[air gordon]

Perhaps. Has the media really done that bad of a job over the past few decades, though? I'm not saying they definitely shouldn't be replaced, but looking back, I'm not sure that they've been as bad or clueless as they're often made out to be.

I haven't done the research tbh. I think with the $ at stake I would rather have it in the coaches hands for the reasons previously mentioned

[Phil89]

So Westbrook scores a new career-high 58 points and also has 9 assists, but OKC lose their fourth straight game. These losses are probably killing his MVP chances.

He is still averaging the triple-double though (32.1p/10.5r/10.0a).

[Andrew]

Kinda crazy to think if he misses out on averaging a triple-double, it'll likely be due to his assists falling to just under 10 per game. That's not a knock on his passing, it'd just be weird to see a 6'3" point guard averaging more rebounds than assists (while still being among the league leaders in assists), with the assists being the area he falls short on the triple-double.

[Stress Fracture]

Barkley made this point on Westbrook.

phpBB [video]

[Lamrock]

So if Westbrook puts up 31/11/10, he's the MVP but if he puts up 31/11/9.8, he's not? Russ's season reminds me of 2006 kobe - putting up amazing numbers to carry his team to the playoffs. Very impressive but if they put together an elite roster again, that usage has to go way down.

You could make a case for all four candidates. Harden would be my pick because he's doing what Westbrook is but with less rebounding, better efficiency and more wins. Kawhi is right there though, and probably wins it if the Spurs get the top seed.

On another note, Nurkic is dope. That thunder game was the first blazer game I've watched this season where the team didn't look like shit