OFFICIAL 2010-2011 NBA PLAYOFFS THREAD : VOL. MOST. ANTICIPATED. PLAYOFFS. EVER?

[nicedudewithnicedreams]

Originally Posted by abovelegit1

Big Cous starting to show flashes of that rare, true center talent. 15 and 9 in his past four, just starting to get comfortable.

But he still sucks because of his poor attitude.

 

[M. Fresh]

Originally Posted by PMatic

@SpearsNBAYahoo Condolences to NO G Willie Green whose sister and cousin died in a car accident on their way home from the Detroit Pistons game last night.

I couldn't even imagine.

 

damn

 

[M. Fresh]

Originally Posted by PMatic

@SpearsNBAYahoo Condolences to NO G Willie Green whose sister and cousin died in a car accident on their way home from the Detroit Pistons game last night.

I couldn't even imagine.

 

damn

 

[CP1708]

Originally Posted by Kiddin Like Jason

"They went off the roadway at a high rate of speed, went airborne and hit the tree with the roof of the car," Redmond said this morning. "It wasn't the road conditions; the road was fine. It was the speed. Where there's the least amount of protection is the roof of the car."

Investigators believe alcohol might have been a factor in the crash but are waiting for test results for confirmation, he added.

Arriving officers found the pair's 2008 GMC Envoy off the side of the road. Ben Green, who was not wearing a seat belt, had been ejected about 100 feet from the SUV, and his cousin was trapped inside. Both were declared dead at the scene, according to investigators.

100 feet...?

Damn, right before Christmas. 

  RIP to them. 

This stuff happenin too damn much.  Friend of mine is very good friends with a family that just lost their mother, she and her 15 year old son hit some ice, lost control and hit a tree.  She dies on impact, the boy had to have surgery on his spine.  He laid in the car for over 20 minutes with her until an ambulance could get to them. 

  She left behind her son, and 2 little girls, a week before Christmas.  I can't even get my head around that. 

Amazing trades over the weekend.  But I don't get the Magic getting Gil, JRich, AND Hedo. 

  Jameer isn't gonna be able to play with all those guys.  JRich is the only one I see fitting in real well with Dwight and the rest because he doesn't have to have the ball in his hands at all times, he can catch and shoot it.  Hedo, Gil and Jameer are gonna struggle.  Stan better have his rotation TIGHT real fast.  

VC to the Suns is AWESOME. 

  I can't wait to see him go down in a heap in like his third game with the team, and see Zo come out the stands losin it. 

 @#$% you Zo.  

I have ALWAYS liked Rashard.  I don't know why.  Maybe because of his range at the 4 spot, even if he's a better fit for the 3.  If he could somehow get his shot back, and Wall can play at some point, he could space that place pretty nice.  They certainly are a long ways away, but I hope he doesn't totally go in the tank and tries to play hard.  Also, I have seen Nick Young torch LA twice this year, and he was beasting on the Heat, Gil bein gone gives that kid more time, and I like the sound of that. 
  

 

[CP1708]

Originally Posted by Kiddin Like Jason

"They went off the roadway at a high rate of speed, went airborne and hit the tree with the roof of the car," Redmond said this morning. "It wasn't the road conditions; the road was fine. It was the speed. Where there's the least amount of protection is the roof of the car."

Investigators believe alcohol might have been a factor in the crash but are waiting for test results for confirmation, he added.

Arriving officers found the pair's 2008 GMC Envoy off the side of the road. Ben Green, who was not wearing a seat belt, had been ejected about 100 feet from the SUV, and his cousin was trapped inside. Both were declared dead at the scene, according to investigators.

100 feet...?

Damn, right before Christmas. 

  RIP to them. 

This stuff happenin too damn much.  Friend of mine is very good friends with a family that just lost their mother, she and her 15 year old son hit some ice, lost control and hit a tree.  She dies on impact, the boy had to have surgery on his spine.  He laid in the car for over 20 minutes with her until an ambulance could get to them. 

  She left behind her son, and 2 little girls, a week before Christmas.  I can't even get my head around that. 

Amazing trades over the weekend.  But I don't get the Magic getting Gil, JRich, AND Hedo. 

  Jameer isn't gonna be able to play with all those guys.  JRich is the only one I see fitting in real well with Dwight and the rest because he doesn't have to have the ball in his hands at all times, he can catch and shoot it.  Hedo, Gil and Jameer are gonna struggle.  Stan better have his rotation TIGHT real fast.  

VC to the Suns is AWESOME. 

  I can't wait to see him go down in a heap in like his third game with the team, and see Zo come out the stands losin it. 

 @#$% you Zo.  

I have ALWAYS liked Rashard.  I don't know why.  Maybe because of his range at the 4 spot, even if he's a better fit for the 3.  If he could somehow get his shot back, and Wall can play at some point, he could space that place pretty nice.  They certainly are a long ways away, but I hope he doesn't totally go in the tank and tries to play hard.  Also, I have seen Nick Young torch LA twice this year, and he was beasting on the Heat, Gil bein gone gives that kid more time, and I like the sound of that. 
  

 

[kiddin like jason]

Rashard is the worst.

I agree about Richardson. And Hedo fit in fine before.

0 will be coming off the bench, which is really the only option.

I would be more concerned about them defensively, especially inside. Bass and Anderson are actually pretty solid, but neither of them are blessed with great enough size/length to spell Dwight. You'd have to think they give Orton a chance now.

 

[kiddin like jason]

Rashard is the worst.

I agree about Richardson. And Hedo fit in fine before.

0 will be coming off the bench, which is really the only option.

I would be more concerned about them defensively, especially inside. Bass and Anderson are actually pretty solid, but neither of them are blessed with great enough size/length to spell Dwight. You'd have to think they give Orton a chance now.

 

[proshares]

Originally Posted by The Fresh Sole

Originally Posted by PMatic

@SpearsNBAYahoo Condolences to NO G Willie Green whose sister and cousin died in a car accident on their way home from the Detroit Pistons game last night.

I couldn't even imagine.

 

damn




Damn, RIP

.

[h3]

[h3]Trending Team: Philadelphia 76ers[/h3]
Saturday's win over the Orlando Magic was the Sixers' eighth in their past 11 games, a run that has lifted Philadelphia's percentage points ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers have used a recipe that is familiar for coach Doug Collins: improvement at the defensive end of the floor.

On average, Collins has produced a 13-spot jump in the defensive rating rankings when he takes over a new team. Most notably, he oversaw the 1996-97 Detroit Pistons' improvement to seventh in the league in points allowed per 100 possessions from 27th the previous season. So far, Collins has helped Philly reach his exact average bump, going from 23rd a year ago to 10th this season.

But that number doesn't show the strides the Sixers have made during the season. Through Thanksgiving, Philadelphia was allowing a below-average 108.4 points per 100 possessions. Since then, the 76ers' defense has been stifling, holding opponents on average to 100.3 points per 100 possessions and at least 10 points below their usual offensive rating in five of their past 10 games.

In typical Collins fashion, Philadelphia relies primarily on contesting shot attempts. The 76ers are the league's second-best team at defending the shot, allowing a 46.6 percent effective field goal percentage. That's remarkable given that the team lacks a premier defender in the paint. However, the Sixers do boast a pair of strong perimeter defenders in Jrue Holiday and Andre Iguodala. Spencer Hawes also has stepped up recently after improving his conditioning, which was hampered by a preseason injury. Hawes has averaged 25.2 minutes per game over the last 11 games, up from 17.1 previously, and is blocking 1.6 shots a night in that span -- including 11 in the past four games.
[h3]Trending Player: Glen Davis, PF, Boston Celtics[/h3]
When Davis stepped in front of Amare Stoudemire during Wednesday's victory over the New York Knicks, he took his league-leading 27th charge of the season. Even though charges are not an official stat, Davis' prodigious total has been widely reported. The attention is deserved because Davis is taking charges at a rate matched by few players in recent years.

Using play-by-play data, Hoopdata.com tracked charges taken from 2006-07 through last season. (The method no longer works because the league has added more data to how it notes offensive fouls drawn.) During this period, three players averaged at least one drawn charge per game.

Anderson Varejao	CLE	06-07	1.21
Andrew Bogut	MIL	06-07	1.11
Jermaine O'Neal	IND	07-08	1.07
Glen Davis	BOS	10-11	1.04
Devin Harris	DAL	06-07	0.96

[th=""]Player[/th][th=""]Tm[/th][th=""]Yr[/th][th=""]CPG[/th]

If we consider the data in terms of charges per possession, to account for pace and playing time, Davis stays in the same position but with a larger gap from the rest of the pack.

Anderson Varejao	CLE	06-07	2.4
Jarron Collins	UTA	07-08	2.2
Glen Davis	BOS	10-11	2.0
Nick Collison	OKC	09-10	1.8
Devin Harris	DAL	06-07	1.8

[th=""]Player[/th][th=""]Tm[/th][th=""]Yr[/th][th=""]Chg%[/th]

Prior to this season, Davis had been decent but nothing special when it came to taking charges. His rate has doubled per possession, and he's already nearly matched his career high in total charges taken (33 during 2008-09). Davis' stature means he will never be effective as a shot-blocker, so getting in the right position and focusing on taking charges as a help-defender instead of contesting shots has made him more effective at the defensive end.
[h3]League Trend: 3-Point Attempts Remain Steady[/h3]
For decades, one NBA statistical trend was as predictable as rain in Seattle: the inexorable rise in 3-point attempts as a percentage of all shots from the field.

After excitedly dipping their toes into the 3-point pool the first year of the league, teams pulled back the following season. From then until 2007-08, 3-point attempts steadily made up a higher percentage of all shots each season. The only significant alteration to this trend came during the three seasons (1994-95 through 1996-97) when the league moved the line in to a constant length of 22 feet, making the shot easier and dramatically increasing attempts from downtown.

Over the past three seasons, however, that trend has completely disappeared. So far this season, 22.2 percent of all shots in the NBA have been 3s. That's the same ratio as in 2007-08 and 2009-10, while a slight uptick in 2008-09 (22.4 percent) was essentially insignificant. Explaining why teams have settled on two out of every nine shots being 3s is challenging. It's possible that this level reflects the ideal balance beyond which additional 3-point attempts would not be beneficial. Another theory could tie the lack of growth in 3 attempts to the growing recognition by teams -- based in large part on statistical analysis -- that it is crucial to defend the corner 3-point attempt, which was once permitted as part of most teams' defensive systems.

Whatever the explanation, 3s are hardly an endangered species. They simply might have found a point beyond which their importance can't grow. 

 

[/h3]

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Just seven months ago, the San Antonio Spurs couldn't beat the Phoenix Suns a single time in four tries in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. Try as the Spurs might, the Suns' league-best offense was simply too good for them to stop.

Fast-forward to Monday's rematch between the Spurs and Suns, and you'll notice one key difference: The Spurs' offense has become even more unstoppable than Phoenix's. The Suns have led the NBA in offensive efficiency every year since they signed Steve Nash in 2004, but this year the streak may finally end (along with an even more amazing streak -- Nash's team has led the league every year since 2001-02). Believe it or not, it's the Spurs who lead the league in offensive efficiency heading into Monday's games, by nearly a full point per 100 possession over the Suns, who are third.

In doing so, they've completed an impressive transformation. San Antonio's championship teams in 2003, 2005 and 2007 had the same Tim Duncan-Manu Ginobili-Tony Parker nucleus as this year's squad, but those clubs were far better on defense than offense -- they ranked third, first and second, respectively, in defensive efficiency, but never cracked the top four on the offensive end.

That's par for the course for the Duncan Era Spurs. In terms of the league rankings, they were better on defense than offense for the first dozen years of Duncan's career, and often the differences were large -- in 2007-08, for instance, San Antonio was third in defense but a mere 15th in offense.

Last season, we saw the first shift in the Spurs' focus, as the team finished ninth in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Still, one hardly felt like they were selling out their old principles -- not with defensive specialist Keith Bogans starting 49 games and much of the same support crew we'd seen in previous season.

San Antonio offered an inkling of its new leanings, however, during the tail end of the season. Ginobili energized a more guard-oriented attack, and the Spurs played some of their best basketball of the year before meeting their match in the Suns.

This season, they've taken it to a completely different level. The Spurs lead the NBA in offensive efficiency but rank a mere eighth on the defensive end, marking a huge shift in focus for a franchise that had been so remarkably consistent about its strengths and weaknesses. Over the past decade, perhaps only Utah has been more predictable in its approach to the game, yet the Spurs have changed gears despite retaining largely the same personnel.

So what changed?

First and foremost, health. San Antonio has used the same starting lineup for all 26 games this season, and Parker in particular has recovered from last year's agony of da feet to return to his usual high-scoring, high-percentage-shooting ways. Additionally, Ginobili is on pace to set a career high in minutes by more than 300, soaking up a lot more playing time with All-NBA-caliber play.

Second, they have a lot more weapons off the bench. Parker's return has made George Hill one of the league's most potent sixth men, while shooters like Gary Neal and (before his injury) James Anderson fill roles formerly held by defensive specialists. Up front, Tiago Splitter's addition provides a second 7-footer to back up Duncan. Between those moves and Richard Jefferson's improvement in matching up as a small-ball 4, the Spurs have a lot more options for playing big or small, and coach Gregg Popovich has wielded them very effectively.

And finally, they're out-Phoenixing Phoenix. Look at the numbers and one thing that jumps out is that the Spurs have become more extreme, statistically, than the Suns.

Compared to the Nash-led Suns, now the Spurs are the ones who grab fewer offensive rebounds … and draw fewer fouls … and shoot worse on 2-pointers … and make fewer turnovers … and, believe it or not, have assists on a higher percentage of their baskets.

About the only area in which Phoenix remains ahead is 3-point frequency. San Antonio is among the league leaders in this category -- something that would have seemed absurd a few years ago, when the team played almost exclusively through Duncan -- but Phoenix, fourth in the league in 3-point attempts per field goal attempt, is still ahead.

Yet 3-pointers are the Spurs' greatest strength, because they aren't missing any. San Antonio leads Phoenix, and everybody else, in 3-point shooting at a torrid 41.2 percent, accounting for the biggest reason the Spurs are the league's No. 1 offense.

And for that, the Spurs can basically thank three players: Matt Bonner, Neal and Jefferson.

The first two we knew about. Bonner's long-range game has been his calling card ever since he entered the league. Thus, while his 52.0 percent shooting mark is remarkably high even for him and likely destined to return to something in the 40s, the fact remains that he's a 41.2 percent career 3-point shooter benefiting from more open looks than ever because he's playing with so many other talented scorers.

Neal put up great shooting numbers in Europe and in the Vegas Summer League, earning him an NBA contract after he had bounced around overseas for several years, and we shouldn't be surprised to see him hitting 39.1 percent on more than three 3-point tries per game.

But Jefferson? Nobody expected him to be raining 3s like this. Entering this year he'd never made more than 40 percent in a season and was shooting 34.8 percent for his career. Additionally, he'd never taken more than a quarter of his attempts from long range, preferring to focus on diving to the basket.

This season, though, he's turned into a mad bomber. Nearly half of Jefferson's shots have been 3-pointers, and he's shattering his career high by making 46.2 percent. Only Ginobili has taken more attempts on the Spurs, and Jefferson's accuracy has put him in some rather unlikely company. Only one player -- Atlanta guard Mike Bibby -- has both made more 3s and shot more accurately from long distance. (And while we're on the topic, can somebody check what Lute Olson was putting in their water back at Arizona? On the heels of Channing Frye's 3-point eruption a year ago, this is all getting a little suspicious.)

Naysayers will point out that Jefferson and Bonner are bound to cool off a bit once a cake-ola early schedule gets more difficult (16 of their first 26 games at home, against the ninth-easiest opposition), but that doesn't significantly alter the big picture: San Antonio looks just as potent an offensive team as it ever did as a defensive club.

The Spurs' league-best 22-3 mark stands as proof, and while the schedule will get more difficult, San Antonio has a great shot at being the West's top seed in the playoffs -- the Spurs have about a 56 percent chance of clinching home court for the first three rounds, according to the playoff odds.

Just remember not be fooled next time you watch them. The names on the jerseys are mostly the same, but defense is no longer their calling card. These Spurs win with a devastating floor-spacing offense that looks like a half-court version of the Phoenix attack, and so far, has been even more effective than the Suns'.

 

[proshares]

Originally Posted by The Fresh Sole

Originally Posted by PMatic

@SpearsNBAYahoo Condolences to NO G Willie Green whose sister and cousin died in a car accident on their way home from the Detroit Pistons game last night.

I couldn't even imagine.

 

damn




Damn, RIP

.

[h3]

[h3]Trending Team: Philadelphia 76ers[/h3]
Saturday's win over the Orlando Magic was the Sixers' eighth in their past 11 games, a run that has lifted Philadelphia's percentage points ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers have used a recipe that is familiar for coach Doug Collins: improvement at the defensive end of the floor.

On average, Collins has produced a 13-spot jump in the defensive rating rankings when he takes over a new team. Most notably, he oversaw the 1996-97 Detroit Pistons' improvement to seventh in the league in points allowed per 100 possessions from 27th the previous season. So far, Collins has helped Philly reach his exact average bump, going from 23rd a year ago to 10th this season.

But that number doesn't show the strides the Sixers have made during the season. Through Thanksgiving, Philadelphia was allowing a below-average 108.4 points per 100 possessions. Since then, the 76ers' defense has been stifling, holding opponents on average to 100.3 points per 100 possessions and at least 10 points below their usual offensive rating in five of their past 10 games.

In typical Collins fashion, Philadelphia relies primarily on contesting shot attempts. The 76ers are the league's second-best team at defending the shot, allowing a 46.6 percent effective field goal percentage. That's remarkable given that the team lacks a premier defender in the paint. However, the Sixers do boast a pair of strong perimeter defenders in Jrue Holiday and Andre Iguodala. Spencer Hawes also has stepped up recently after improving his conditioning, which was hampered by a preseason injury. Hawes has averaged 25.2 minutes per game over the last 11 games, up from 17.1 previously, and is blocking 1.6 shots a night in that span -- including 11 in the past four games.
[h3]Trending Player: Glen Davis, PF, Boston Celtics[/h3]
When Davis stepped in front of Amare Stoudemire during Wednesday's victory over the New York Knicks, he took his league-leading 27th charge of the season. Even though charges are not an official stat, Davis' prodigious total has been widely reported. The attention is deserved because Davis is taking charges at a rate matched by few players in recent years.

Using play-by-play data, Hoopdata.com tracked charges taken from 2006-07 through last season. (The method no longer works because the league has added more data to how it notes offensive fouls drawn.) During this period, three players averaged at least one drawn charge per game.

Anderson Varejao	CLE	06-07	1.21
Andrew Bogut	MIL	06-07	1.11
Jermaine O'Neal	IND	07-08	1.07
Glen Davis	BOS	10-11	1.04
Devin Harris	DAL	06-07	0.96

[th=""]Player[/th][th=""]Tm[/th][th=""]Yr[/th][th=""]CPG[/th]

If we consider the data in terms of charges per possession, to account for pace and playing time, Davis stays in the same position but with a larger gap from the rest of the pack.

Anderson Varejao	CLE	06-07	2.4
Jarron Collins	UTA	07-08	2.2
Glen Davis	BOS	10-11	2.0
Nick Collison	OKC	09-10	1.8
Devin Harris	DAL	06-07	1.8

[th=""]Player[/th][th=""]Tm[/th][th=""]Yr[/th][th=""]Chg%[/th]

Prior to this season, Davis had been decent but nothing special when it came to taking charges. His rate has doubled per possession, and he's already nearly matched his career high in total charges taken (33 during 2008-09). Davis' stature means he will never be effective as a shot-blocker, so getting in the right position and focusing on taking charges as a help-defender instead of contesting shots has made him more effective at the defensive end.
[h3]League Trend: 3-Point Attempts Remain Steady[/h3]
For decades, one NBA statistical trend was as predictable as rain in Seattle: the inexorable rise in 3-point attempts as a percentage of all shots from the field.

After excitedly dipping their toes into the 3-point pool the first year of the league, teams pulled back the following season. From then until 2007-08, 3-point attempts steadily made up a higher percentage of all shots each season. The only significant alteration to this trend came during the three seasons (1994-95 through 1996-97) when the league moved the line in to a constant length of 22 feet, making the shot easier and dramatically increasing attempts from downtown.

Over the past three seasons, however, that trend has completely disappeared. So far this season, 22.2 percent of all shots in the NBA have been 3s. That's the same ratio as in 2007-08 and 2009-10, while a slight uptick in 2008-09 (22.4 percent) was essentially insignificant. Explaining why teams have settled on two out of every nine shots being 3s is challenging. It's possible that this level reflects the ideal balance beyond which additional 3-point attempts would not be beneficial. Another theory could tie the lack of growth in 3 attempts to the growing recognition by teams -- based in large part on statistical analysis -- that it is crucial to defend the corner 3-point attempt, which was once permitted as part of most teams' defensive systems.

Whatever the explanation, 3s are hardly an endangered species. They simply might have found a point beyond which their importance can't grow. 

 

[/h3]

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Just seven months ago, the San Antonio Spurs couldn't beat the Phoenix Suns a single time in four tries in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. Try as the Spurs might, the Suns' league-best offense was simply too good for them to stop.

Fast-forward to Monday's rematch between the Spurs and Suns, and you'll notice one key difference: The Spurs' offense has become even more unstoppable than Phoenix's. The Suns have led the NBA in offensive efficiency every year since they signed Steve Nash in 2004, but this year the streak may finally end (along with an even more amazing streak -- Nash's team has led the league every year since 2001-02). Believe it or not, it's the Spurs who lead the league in offensive efficiency heading into Monday's games, by nearly a full point per 100 possession over the Suns, who are third.

In doing so, they've completed an impressive transformation. San Antonio's championship teams in 2003, 2005 and 2007 had the same Tim Duncan-Manu Ginobili-Tony Parker nucleus as this year's squad, but those clubs were far better on defense than offense -- they ranked third, first and second, respectively, in defensive efficiency, but never cracked the top four on the offensive end.

That's par for the course for the Duncan Era Spurs. In terms of the league rankings, they were better on defense than offense for the first dozen years of Duncan's career, and often the differences were large -- in 2007-08, for instance, San Antonio was third in defense but a mere 15th in offense.

Last season, we saw the first shift in the Spurs' focus, as the team finished ninth in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Still, one hardly felt like they were selling out their old principles -- not with defensive specialist Keith Bogans starting 49 games and much of the same support crew we'd seen in previous season.

San Antonio offered an inkling of its new leanings, however, during the tail end of the season. Ginobili energized a more guard-oriented attack, and the Spurs played some of their best basketball of the year before meeting their match in the Suns.

This season, they've taken it to a completely different level. The Spurs lead the NBA in offensive efficiency but rank a mere eighth on the defensive end, marking a huge shift in focus for a franchise that had been so remarkably consistent about its strengths and weaknesses. Over the past decade, perhaps only Utah has been more predictable in its approach to the game, yet the Spurs have changed gears despite retaining largely the same personnel.

So what changed?

First and foremost, health. San Antonio has used the same starting lineup for all 26 games this season, and Parker in particular has recovered from last year's agony of da feet to return to his usual high-scoring, high-percentage-shooting ways. Additionally, Ginobili is on pace to set a career high in minutes by more than 300, soaking up a lot more playing time with All-NBA-caliber play.

Second, they have a lot more weapons off the bench. Parker's return has made George Hill one of the league's most potent sixth men, while shooters like Gary Neal and (before his injury) James Anderson fill roles formerly held by defensive specialists. Up front, Tiago Splitter's addition provides a second 7-footer to back up Duncan. Between those moves and Richard Jefferson's improvement in matching up as a small-ball 4, the Spurs have a lot more options for playing big or small, and coach Gregg Popovich has wielded them very effectively.

And finally, they're out-Phoenixing Phoenix. Look at the numbers and one thing that jumps out is that the Spurs have become more extreme, statistically, than the Suns.

Compared to the Nash-led Suns, now the Spurs are the ones who grab fewer offensive rebounds … and draw fewer fouls … and shoot worse on 2-pointers … and make fewer turnovers … and, believe it or not, have assists on a higher percentage of their baskets.

About the only area in which Phoenix remains ahead is 3-point frequency. San Antonio is among the league leaders in this category -- something that would have seemed absurd a few years ago, when the team played almost exclusively through Duncan -- but Phoenix, fourth in the league in 3-point attempts per field goal attempt, is still ahead.

Yet 3-pointers are the Spurs' greatest strength, because they aren't missing any. San Antonio leads Phoenix, and everybody else, in 3-point shooting at a torrid 41.2 percent, accounting for the biggest reason the Spurs are the league's No. 1 offense.

And for that, the Spurs can basically thank three players: Matt Bonner, Neal and Jefferson.

The first two we knew about. Bonner's long-range game has been his calling card ever since he entered the league. Thus, while his 52.0 percent shooting mark is remarkably high even for him and likely destined to return to something in the 40s, the fact remains that he's a 41.2 percent career 3-point shooter benefiting from more open looks than ever because he's playing with so many other talented scorers.

Neal put up great shooting numbers in Europe and in the Vegas Summer League, earning him an NBA contract after he had bounced around overseas for several years, and we shouldn't be surprised to see him hitting 39.1 percent on more than three 3-point tries per game.

But Jefferson? Nobody expected him to be raining 3s like this. Entering this year he'd never made more than 40 percent in a season and was shooting 34.8 percent for his career. Additionally, he'd never taken more than a quarter of his attempts from long range, preferring to focus on diving to the basket.

This season, though, he's turned into a mad bomber. Nearly half of Jefferson's shots have been 3-pointers, and he's shattering his career high by making 46.2 percent. Only Ginobili has taken more attempts on the Spurs, and Jefferson's accuracy has put him in some rather unlikely company. Only one player -- Atlanta guard Mike Bibby -- has both made more 3s and shot more accurately from long distance. (And while we're on the topic, can somebody check what Lute Olson was putting in their water back at Arizona? On the heels of Channing Frye's 3-point eruption a year ago, this is all getting a little suspicious.)

Naysayers will point out that Jefferson and Bonner are bound to cool off a bit once a cake-ola early schedule gets more difficult (16 of their first 26 games at home, against the ninth-easiest opposition), but that doesn't significantly alter the big picture: San Antonio looks just as potent an offensive team as it ever did as a defensive club.

The Spurs' league-best 22-3 mark stands as proof, and while the schedule will get more difficult, San Antonio has a great shot at being the West's top seed in the playoffs -- the Spurs have about a 56 percent chance of clinching home court for the first three rounds, according to the playoff odds.

Just remember not be fooled next time you watch them. The names on the jerseys are mostly the same, but defense is no longer their calling card. These Spurs win with a devastating floor-spacing offense that looks like a half-court version of the Phoenix attack, and so far, has been even more effective than the Suns'.

 

[CP1708]

^
Hedo fit in with Rafer Alston on the team, and in crunch time, they would go with lineups like Hedo, Lewis, Pietrus, and Lee out there with Dwight.  Hedo was the defacto PG with Jameer out.  I dunno if he'll be the same if Jameer stays there.  They def need another big though.....Availables? 

 

[CP1708]

^
Hedo fit in with Rafer Alston on the team, and in crunch time, they would go with lineups like Hedo, Lewis, Pietrus, and Lee out there with Dwight.  Hedo was the defacto PG with Jameer out.  I dunno if he'll be the same if Jameer stays there.  They def need another big though.....Availables? 

 

[proshares]

Kosta Koufus.

LOL.


UPDATE: According to Tim Povtak of FanHouse, the Magic have inquired about New York's Ronny Turiaf and Phiadelphia's Tony Battie.

Backup PG Chris Duhon, along with possibly Quentin Richardson, could be use as trade bait, according to Povtak.

Jason Williams is now challenging Duhon for backup PG minutes, so he could be viewed as expendable. And while Richardson brings some solid 3-point shooting to the fray, newly-acquired Jason Richardson can fill the gap at small forward if the Magic are forced to deal Quentin Richardson.

 

[proshares]

Kosta Koufus.

LOL.


UPDATE: According to Tim Povtak of FanHouse, the Magic have inquired about New York's Ronny Turiaf and Phiadelphia's Tony Battie.

Backup PG Chris Duhon, along with possibly Quentin Richardson, could be use as trade bait, according to Povtak.

Jason Williams is now challenging Duhon for backup PG minutes, so he could be viewed as expendable. And while Richardson brings some solid 3-point shooting to the fray, newly-acquired Jason Richardson can fill the gap at small forward if the Magic are forced to deal Quentin Richardson.

 

[mr kuter]

Someone this weekend said Nazr Mohammed for Jameer. Maybe one of the bigs out in Portland. Mavs would probably trade Haywood....but who wants that deal on your books. Wonder if Okafor is available, he could be a really nice defensive presence for the magic.

 

[mr kuter]

Someone this weekend said Nazr Mohammed for Jameer. Maybe one of the bigs out in Portland. Mavs would probably trade Haywood....but who wants that deal on your books. Wonder if Okafor is available, he could be a really nice defensive presence for the magic.

 

[scuse7]

I'd be shocked if they figure out how to work all those guys together...

And they still can't defend.

 

[scuse7]

I'd be shocked if they figure out how to work all those guys together...

And they still can't defend.

 

[viiheaven]

Knicks won't give up Turiaf, he's the only one who plays defense.

 

[viiheaven]

Knicks won't give up Turiaf, he's the only one who plays defense.

 

[T0INE]

Man, I feel for Willie Green and his family.

Right around the holidays too, R.I.P.



Looking forward to the Mavs/Heat game tonight.

 

[T0INE]

Man, I feel for Willie Green and his family.

Right around the holidays too, R.I.P.



Looking forward to the Mavs/Heat game tonight.

 

[bballah3]

Originally Posted by SCuse7

I'd be shocked if they figure out how to work all those guys together...

And they still can't defend.

that doesnt matter.  You cant stop them at any position. 

They have one big man who defends the rim better than anyone in the league and can put 4 lights out shooters on the floor around him on the offensive end. 

  

 

[bballah3]

Originally Posted by SCuse7

I'd be shocked if they figure out how to work all those guys together...

And they still can't defend.

that doesnt matter.  You cant stop them at any position. 

They have one big man who defends the rim better than anyone in the league and can put 4 lights out shooters on the floor around him on the offensive end. 

  

 

[shuges]

[h3]

"Just because I'm not there anymore doesn't mean all the memories are forgotten," O'Neal told The Indianapolis Star."If it wasn't for the Pacers, the organization and the community brawl, nobodywould have probably known who I was. Anywhere in the world I go, theyknow me because of my Pacers days sliding dragon punch during the Malice at the Palace."

[/h3]- K-Love definitely deserves to be an All-Star. It's gonna be interesting to see how many of you flip-flop on this issue. The ones who say Love should make it this year, probably said that David Lee shouldn't have made it last year and probably said Granger should have made it the year before. The situations are all similar, yet people only want to argue for their favorite player/team.

- And yeah, I don't see the Knicks giving up Turiaf. Not for no Duhon at least. Q could fit with the team again. But I just don't see the Knicks bringing him back at the expense of Turiaf.

 

[shuges]

[h3]

"Just because I'm not there anymore doesn't mean all the memories are forgotten," O'Neal told The Indianapolis Star."If it wasn't for the Pacers, the organization and the community brawl, nobodywould have probably known who I was. Anywhere in the world I go, theyknow me because of my Pacers days sliding dragon punch during the Malice at the Palace."

[/h3]- K-Love definitely deserves to be an All-Star. It's gonna be interesting to see how many of you flip-flop on this issue. The ones who say Love should make it this year, probably said that David Lee shouldn't have made it last year and probably said Granger should have made it the year before. The situations are all similar, yet people only want to argue for their favorite player/team.

- And yeah, I don't see the Knicks giving up Turiaf. Not for no Duhon at least. Q could fit with the team again. But I just don't see the Knicks bringing him back at the expense of Turiaf.