With this review system on out of bounds calls in the last 2 minutes, the refs just say "F it" and call whatever. Then they go try and get it right, it's so lazy. I'm glad they can get it right, but an out of bounds call should be right in minute 1 and minute 48, it all adds up.
Every champion needs "luck" when it comes to health ... but there is a difference between having luck and being lucky as JVG said . GS won 67 and won more games by 20+ (around 20) than it lost during the season . If they stay healthy , they'll be the best team in B-ball since our 2000-2002 Lakers .
couple of observations from last nights games I followed: 1. SAS-WAS: Aldridge looks heavy. Like a taller Boris Diaw. He also moves slow. When there are loose balls, he's just a second or two slow to it compared to the others. Granted he hasn't been the most mobile of big men but that jab step Beal gave him... I'm sure he got an earful from Pop. 2. TOR-OKC: Great win for the Raptors but all I'm seeing is the same thing from last year. They started out great in the 1st half of the season then burned out post All-Star Break. Their offense is still dependent on Lowry & DeRozan. Lowry... I'm okay with. I find his game more diverse than DeRozan. DeRozan can get chuck happy most games. 3. GS-LAC: Steph Curry... 'nuff said. Human video game cheat code.
Toronto returned most of its rotation and added demarre carroll. with continuity in roster and system, it's not surprising they're beating people right now. but yeah, I don't think they're a real threat. derozan and lowry seem to have trouble producing consistently on the big stage (and lowry has trouble staying healthy--in part because of his weight, imo). I think okc hasn't looked very good from the start this year. they've won, but it looks exactly like the scott brooks era but with worse defense so far. I suppose the loss at Houston on the second night of a back to back (with Houston absolutely desperate for a win) isn't a huge deal, but following it up with a loss to Toronto at home is not good. and again, I feel like it's an extension of what they've been doing early on even in wins.
OKC is still the same as its been the last couple years, dependent on Westbrook and Durant way too much. Look at the box scores, the both of them had really good games yet the my still lost. They need that 3rd and 4th option as well. Westbrook and Durant seem hungrier but man they need some help.
okc's FO has pretty much been a comedy of errors since drafting ibaka. the harden trade was obviously stupid for several reasons, but even after that, they made a bunch of head-scratching decisions. why trade harden for a competent, cheaper, bench scoring sg (kevin martin) and then let him walk for a reasonable contract? why fail to develop the other piece from that trade, only to watch him blossom this year (jeremy lamb)? at least they drafted steven adams, i guess. why choose to trade for and pay enes kanter instead of just paying reggie jackson, who already had thrived in your system? i don't understand these things. and if the lakers weren't a putrid tire fire, i'd be rubbing my hands together in anticipation of delivering durant from that mess this summer (or westbrook the next).
Still early but I think the Spurs won't be as good offensively as they were with Parker decline ... His penetration created a lot of open looks from 3 from the whole team ... whereas now it's more about the 2pts midrange game or post up game with Leonard and LMA ... This going to hurt them knowing how important is the 3pt shot in today's NBA . Opponents will be fine with Kawhi or Lamarcus going off ... They are not the most willing passers on the team either . As you said , LMA isn't the best defensive fit ... Pop won't be able to pair him with Duncan against some teams for defensive transition and matchups purposes . I can't see them playing together major minutes and beat GS or LAC
This team has not improved for 3 years regardless of the bad luck injuries ... How was Donovan offense in college ? I start wondering if both Russ and KD are just symply incapable of playing anything else than 1 on 1 B-ball and very basic sets .
Not surprising. From a post game and offensive stand point he's one of the top prospects to come out in the last few draft classes as far as big men go. Be interesting to see what kind of pieces the Sixers can surround him with. Will they try to do what Orlando did with Dwight and surround him with shooters and play a lot of pick and roll like they did with Nelson and Howard? Do they try and play Okafor and Embid together? Assuming he ever gets on the court. What do they do with Noel? With Embid's injuries they really got fortunate that Okafor fell in their lap.
They were after Russell, that idiot Hinkie. They should have traded up. Now the Lakers FO called their bluff and now reeling because of it. Hopefully DAR pans out for us after Scott gets fired.
A lot of the better teams have struggled and a lot of the bad teams have thrived. It's still early in the season though but things have been interesting.
I think it's easy to go crazy with blips at the beginning of the season because despite its obvious small sample size, there's nothing else to go on. at the end of the year, the standings tend to look a lot like most projections, usually with injuries determining the big differences. remember when the raptors were kicking a**? oh wait, that was the beginning of last year! beginning of the season is wacky with new players and coaches, home openers (which tend to lead to either totally energized or totally flat performances), etc.
The Thunder are so frustrating to watch. They have one of the most talented rosters in the league, but down the stretch of these games they're talking HORRIBLE shots. You're not gonna win in the playoffs against the likes of San Antonio, Golden State, and even the Clippers if you can't get better quality looks. Just going one on one with Russell and Kevin ain't gonna work. They'll win a lot of games on talent alone, but if they wanna win a championship Donovan needs to take control of this team and get them to play within his system. Have no idea why they don't run screen and rolls with KD and Russell. That would be very difficult to stop with Durant's shooting ability and if you get a good pick set it'll be very difficult to stop Russell from attacking the paint and he's got a very in between jump shot. They also don't have very good spacing for these guys. Roberson is a worse shooting version of Sefolosha. Waiters is a one on one player. Not a very good one at that. I think they need to insert Murrow into the starting lineup to give them some shooting. If you're gonna play one on one basketball you at least need to have guys who can spread the court.
Sir Charles was right in his criticism of OKC all game long. It's just two superstars putting up numbers for themselves. They don't really make anyone around them any better.
