Random NBA Discussion 2014-15 Season

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/eve ... very-game/

Interesting chart and calculator. The team that wins the tip gets a 0.7% chance improvement in winning, and if they score in 24 seconds, they get a 3.7% chance improvement.

Richard Jefferson has blown my mind. That's nuts.

Interesting chart and calculator. The team that wins the tip gets a 0.7% chance improvement in winning, and if they score in 24 seconds, they get a 3.7% chance improvement.

It makes sense. Winning the tip offers an opportunity to score first, potentially offering a slight psychological advantage and facilitating a quick start. Likewise, winning the opening tip gives you the ball at the start of the fourth quarter, thus the first possession of the final period and once again an opportunity to draw first blood.

Whatta shot!

Elaboration on CP3's unseen level of insanely good defense as a PG and Harden's awful defense:

http://grantland.com/features/department-of-defense/

But as you can see, Paul’s chart is full of tiny, mostly blue symbols — dots, really. This means that, whether he was guarding Stephen Curry or Rajon Rondo, on average, Paul reduced his opponents’ field goal attempts and field goal percentage.

No player in Franks-Miller is as stingy as CP3, who allowed 11 points per 100 possessions while dealing with ferocious NBA matchups — Damian Lillard, Steph Curry, Tony Parker, et al. — on a nightly basis. Paul’s matchups ended up shooting about 80 percent as much as expected, while Harden’s matchups ended up shooting about 114 percent as much as expected.

As you can see, all of these guys turned the paint blue, meaning opponents suddenly shot at below expected efficiency when facing them. However, while Roy Hibbert and Tim Duncan each faced a lot of shots in the paint, Dwight Howard deterred opponents from even attempting close-range field goals. Abandon all hope, ye who enter the paint against Superman.
......
......
Rudy Gobert makes Trey Burke a better defender, just like Hibbert made Paul George a better defender.

I think it's about time we place Hassan among the best in defensive business. Hassan should make Dragic a better defender. Looking forward to it.

Phoenix has completely messed up a perfectly good (borderline) playoff team. GM keeps blaming dragic and selfishness but only has himself to blame

https://twitter.com/pbpjasonlieser/stat ... 5201509376

Watch highlights of tonight's MIA vs PHO game. Makes me wonder, was Dragic disliked by teammates in Phoenix? And that crazy brawl between Len and Brightside, wow.

Certainly seems so. No love whatsoever.

Lolds at the Whiteside/Len scuffle. Whiteside keep throwing bitchy hits, like dunking on him over and over again wasn't enough, and then the tackle. Horrible.

Harden suspended for that hilarious poke of LBJ's groin.

I dunno why Goatside did that but it seems something about Len or Phoenix annoyed him. He should know about his position better, he's a vital part of Heat's game now. You can't afford to lose him for players of Len caliber especially in the playoffs. Perhaps take Hibbert kinds out if you're going to be a tool and act stupid.


I'm happy to see Goran torched the Suns. Sweet revenge. Not sure why the Suns players roughed him up in that game. Especially that Bledsoe kid was the reason why Goran was a goner. Bledsoe signed a max deal which left pretty much no room for Goran to be kept. Skills were kinda redundant. It was either lose Goran for nothing or get something.

The Suns imho also did pretty good with Isaiah Thomas. They signed him at a deal and turned him into an asset so traded easily to the Celtics. This Suns team is remaining competitive while rebuilding/re-tooling. They got assets and only 1 or 2 pieces from competing at the higher level. I prefer this model to tank for several seasons to luck into a superstar model.

Mavs and Heat are two known teams interested in JaVale McGee but sense is there are more.

Brightside and Javale, devastating.

I'm happy to see Goran torched the Suns. Sweet revenge. Not sure why the Suns players roughed him up in that game. Especially that Bledsoe kid was the reason why Goran was a goner. Bledsoe signed a max deal which left pretty much no room for Goran to be kept. Skills were kinda redundant. It was either lose Goran for nothing or get something.

The Dragic-Bledsoe was a great combo last season.

They pretty much traded a big game back and forth. When one of them was out, the other had a great stretch.

Ray decides to not come back this season

“Over the past several months, I have taken a lot of time to deliberate what is best for me,” Allen said. “I’ve ultimately decided that I will not play this NBA season. I’m going to take the remainder of this season, as well as the upcoming off-season, to reassess my situation, spend time with my family and determine if I will play in the 2015-16 season.”

Emeka Okafor also isn't playing this year. But at least we know he's eyeing to come back for 15-16.

Ray Allen did all that yearlong bullshit for nothing.
And people mocked me for saying Ray wasn't worth the wait.

I wouldn't be surprised if he's done, and fair enough too. He's had a long and successful career, he'll be 40 in July. Seems as good a time as any to call it a career.

4 straight monstrous triple double by Westbrook. Hero ball is back, guys!

Was Dragic really roughed up? That's basketball. Dragic likes to score in transition and in the paint. Hard fouls are bound to happen. Something you have seen all too much with wade.


What's up with this "kid" talk? Sandusky?

lol at DeAndre Jordan having a JaVale McGee moment that costs the Clippers the win in regulation.



If the NBA was a videogame, Sixers is the team that lowers their own sliders..

Westbrook's carrying the whole team.

Without Westbrook, the Thunder only got D.J Augustin and 'Baka to rely on.
The thought scares me. Augustin's badass, but Ibaka can't create his own shot for shit.

I love you too Gord.

Yeah, both the Heat and Suns played it like any other game in the season. Are we in 90s?