2013-2014 NBA Thread - IND @ WAS and OKC @ LAC on ESPN

[datznasty]

KD needs to play 4 full time, somebody tell scott brooks, it took spolstra a year to figure this out, Brooks is running out of time.

Jeremy Lamb in college made, 51% of his 18 footers and in jumpshots, 44% from 18-3 point land, 34 from 3 point land and out.


He can shoot, poor shot selection is impacting his percentage.

That tree has been barked up time and again. Scott Brooks "doesn't believe in" advanced stats, has stated it before many times. He just goes by the eye test, in which case he definitely needs to get his eyes checked playing Perkins and Fisher so much. The finals yr, smallball lineups with KD at 4 were literally historically effective on both ends. But he just feels like he has to have Perkins in the game all the damn time for intangibles, toughness, and leadership.

BHZ, KD was 4 for 8 (50%) from 3 last night. E'rbody else was 1-9(11%). You know hte issue, 2 mil from the luxury tax threshhold plus over the 15 roster limit. Only guys out there who might still take the minimum are Boobie Gibson, Rodrigue Beaubois, Rip Hamilton, Leandrinho Barbosa, Royal Ivey, and Daequan Cook. In house, there's Gomes and Jarrett who they've already committed to Tulsa (D League) all season and I don't even think is physically with the team anymore.

Shoeking, I was upset they took Roberson because he was projected undrafted and we took him with a 1st rd pick (rumor had it the Spurs wanted him and it leaked so the Thunder took him so the Spurs wouldn't or something like that, because we like bitin' their style), but his rebounding and defense is already NBA level. I still think we might regret not taking Tony Mitchell there though, but Roberson has already leapfrogged PJ3 in just a few weeks of camp into the 2nd unit.

And KD can guard 4s just fine. Very few teams even have 2 post up players to begin with, so you just put Ibaka (or whoever the frontcourt player lined up at the 5 is) on LMA, Kevin Love, etc. if you feel like they are going to kill you with post ups, which again very few teams do.

Even against Memphis, he guarded Gasol better than anyone else did. I'm not by any means saying I would go to that full time but as a wrinkle, and typically to force teams to match up to you, small ball is the ticket. It's way better than running Perkins and Ibaka out there

 

[antidope]

KD can do it all.


The only thing more offensive than these comparisons are Dwight's post moves.

This dude really said that like theyre going to retire his jersey or something .

Dwert Pls

 

[RickBlast]

None of those PF's/teams are putting a match up in their favor vs OKC if they go small in the playoffs though. You take your medicine and try your best to offset teams pounding it down low, there's usually ways around it. Aside from Memphis, who is really doing that come playoff time? We already saw that if you go small, SA will match you - and even if they didn't you could hide KD on Splitter. GS would almost certainly match them small for small too. Houston will be 4 out-1 in. And I'm guessing LAC will be going small the deeper they go as well since DeAndre is worthless.

Memphis, Chicago and Indiana are the contenders that are going to look to exploit size. Perhaps BK now as well. OKC's issue on the back end of that is they're still not beating Miami small though, so they're probably not winning a title regardless this year. But going small definitely maximizes what they can do.

Agreed

 
They don't have to guard him on the other end.  I'm sure Batum would guard KD before aldridge would, and Prince over Zbo, Leonard over Duncan ect.  all those dudes can guard 3's (obviously), and can definitely guard KD at the 4.

And David Lee can definitely play back to the basket, I know if I had a massive size mismatch like the one that he has over KD I would go back to the basket

Memphis for example would put prince on Durant correct. Gasol on Ibaka but then who would Zbo guard? Either way one of the big is gonna have to guard someone on the perimiter taken them out of the paint and opening up driving lanes for wessy and kd. And most of the pf's listen demand a double when they are guarded by other pf's. Okc will send the double team like everyone else.

 

[datznasty]

Memphis was also probably the worst perimeter shooting team in the NBA last yr. If you need to help, you can help off pretty much anybody but Conley, Bayless, and at times QPon

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

I feel like the Bron playing the 4 last year was a bit exaggerated. Anyone have numbers on how much he actually was the designated 4. I rarely saw him defending the other teams 4

 

[pmatic]

Battier was the one taking the punishment on defense last season guarding opposing PFs.

Edit:

Jonathan Abrams alert.

Giant Steps

How Pistons center Andre Drummond became the man

 

[certifiedflyboi23]

It's wouldn't be smart to have Bron guard the 4 all game.

Easy way to tire him out and get him into early foul trouble. It makes better sense to have him guard the 3 because most are perimeter players and all he has to do is put a hand up.

 

[ballinsam23]

i'm fully prepared for andre drummond to average something around 15-12-3 and be named the MIP this year

 

[do work son]

those comparisons are pretty bad, but i don't disagree with him on the basis that this team was built loosely on that team. big man with a lot of shooters around. i think this team has better attackers though

 

[toolazy21]

FGA: 18.6 efg: .502 fta: 5.5 rpg: 10.2 apg: 2.2 tpg 3.1 bpg: .7 fpg: 4.3 ppg: 22.8 PER 17.2 against Lebron

I couldn't find the exact stat only per 48 but this was when Lebron was designated only to PF, he played 42% of his minutes listed as PF

 

[big j 33]

Abrams with another great article as usual.

 

[markangelo]

i'm fully prepared for andre drummond to average something around 15-12-3 and be named the MIP this year

Drummond is about to beast this season

 

[pmatic]

Lee Jenkins alert too:

@SI_LeeJenkins Here's this week's @KobeBryant cover: http://on.si.com/16N47UE . And here's my story: http://bit.ly/1anQlFC

 

[RickBlast]

 
Drummond is about to beast this season

That UCONN team should have gone back to back

 

[antidope]

Battier was the one taking the punishment on defense last season guarding opposing PFs.

Edit:


Jonathan Abrams alert.

Giant Steps


How Pistons center Andre Drummond became the man

Dre Drum and her are on the rocks? Say it aint so man

 

[friscostylez]

FGA: 18.6 efg: .502 fta: 5.5 rpg: 10.2 apg: 2.2 tpg 3.1 bpg: .7 fpg: 4.3 ppg: 22.8 PER 17.2 against Lebron

I couldn't find the exact stat only per 48 but this was when Lebron was designated only to PF, he played 42% of his minutes listed as PF

I find that hard to believe due to the fact he never guarded the opposing 4.

 

[Dr.Kickologist]

@DrKickologist - smh, tell that to Mchale
(i.e. Delfino on Okafor , Delfino on Ibaka , Delfino on West )

He will OK...

 

[hood17]

Pistons playoff chance rely heavy on that front court of Detroit. I have Washington at 6 Detroit at 7 and Cleveland at 8.

Can Monroe play PF? I feel like he's an undersized center.

Watching the Pelicans (felt weird typing that and it will be the last time I do that) grantland preview I agree that Davis is better off at the 4 with a old fashion Center next to him. Wonder could they get Gortat off of Phx.

 

[osh kosh bosh]

Chandler Parsons, Hedo Turkglu is a good comparison. Both solid shooting, 6-9 point forwards.

 

[Dr.Kickologist]

Memphis was also probably the worst perimeter shooting team in the NBA last yr. If you need to help, you can help off pretty much anybody but Conley, Bayless, and at times QPon

It hurt them when they let Rudy go took away another wing player who could shoot. They team was built to play slow ball problem is Tony A can't really help on off.

 

[Dr.Kickologist]

Pistons playoff chance rely heavy on that front court of Detroit. I have Washington at 6 Detroit at 7 and Cleveland at 8.

Can Monroe play PF? I feel like he's an undersized center.

Watching the Pelicans (felt weird typing that and it will be the last time I do that) grantland preview I agree that Davis is better off at the 4 with a old fashion Center next to him.

Piston may move Dumm cause he wants a max deal and the piston don't think hes a max player...

 

[Trillmatic90]

According to ESPN, Kobe is not a top 20 player. They listed him at 25. Who the F makes these lists?

 

[kal-el-8]

According to ESPN, Kobe is not a top 20 player. They listed him at 25. Who the F makes these lists?

People on here will agree with that statement, but Blake G is gonna win the Mvp too.. so..

 

[akhi]

 
That UCONN team should have gone back to back

What I still don't understand is how that Rudy Gay/Marcus Williams squad didn't make it to the final 4

 

 

[licensed to ball]

According to ESPN, Kobe is not a top 20 player. They listed him at 25.

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