NBA 2014-15 Thread

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Thu Dec 11, 2014 7:33 am

The Warriors are really, really fun. And good. Fun and good is an awesome combination for an NBA team.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Thu Dec 11, 2014 8:50 am

It's really what drew me to the Knicks.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:49 am

Rex wrote:It's really what drew me to the Knicks.

What fun for a Raptors' fan to see the team playing at half speed and still pull out a road win. And hearing the Raptors fans on the road chanting "MVP" late in the game with Lowry at the line put a huge smile on my face.

So where does Carmelo end up this year?

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:17 am

Viral Meningitis Claims Sacto Head Coach

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 12:48 pm

Ryan wrote:Viral Meningitis Claims Sacto Head Coach

That's one of the oddest firings in recent years. This new Kings owner might be a grade A tool.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:12 pm

Golden State 16 in a row now. That's...pretty damn good.

They play at Memphis tomorrow night - and ESPN happily decided to move a Knicks game out of slot to show it nationally. 19-4 Memphis and 21-2 Golden State. Not bad for a meaningless early season game.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:13 pm

tennbengal wrote:Golden State 16 in a row now. That's...pretty damn good.

They play at Memphis tomorrow night - and ESPN happily decided to move a Knicks game out of slot to show it nationally. 17-4 Memphis and 19-2 Golden State. Not bad for a meaningless early season game.

If this were Hollywood (or the NBA in 1983), Gasol and Randolph would do bad things to Curry and we wouldn't see him again until the juicy conference semifinals rematch.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:21 pm

I still marvel at former owner Mike Heisey pushing and talking front office into Thabeet and passing up chance to get Curry. Steph Curry on Memphis would have been...sweet.

DC47 · Post by **DC47** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:28 pm

Rex wrote:It's really what drew me to the Knicks.

For your sake, I hope that this was in 1969.

These Knicks have all the fascination of a burning blimp colliding mid-air with a 747, which then pinwheel to earth onto a train that is in the midst of going off the rails just as it gets to a trestle bridge. Where Dolan is pushing down the plunger to detonate the TNT tied to the supports.

DC47 · Post by **DC47** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:30 pm

tennbengal wrote:I still marvel at former owner Mike Heisey pushing and talking front office into Thabeet and passing up chance to get Curry. Steph Curry on Memphis would have been...sweet.

Except they would then have traded him for his brother, Seth Curry, who is presumably tearing it up in the D League.

Post by **Shirley** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:38 pm

DC47 wrote:
tennbengal wrote:I still marvel at former owner Mike Heisey pushing and talking front office into Thabeet and passing up chance to get Curry. Steph Curry on Memphis would have been...sweet.
Except they would then have traded him for his brother, Seth Curry, who is presumably tearing it up in the D League.

Seth Curry is third in the NBDL in scoring. So, yep.

DC47 · Post by **DC47** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:55 pm

Trading the superstar brother for the unknown brother worked pretty well one time. So why not do it again?

[Checking to see if Josh Smith has any living relatives ...]

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 4:00 pm

Johnny Carwash wrote:
Ryan wrote:Viral Meningitis Claims Sacto Head Coach
That's one of the oddest firings in recent years. This new Kings owner might be a grade A tool.

Reading a bunch on this today and you may be right about Vivek.

Haralabob has been crushing him on twitter, particularly about his thoughts about playing 4-on-5 on defense.

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 4:40 pm

I hadn't connected the dots until today, but Vivek Ranadive is the same guy who a few years back got national attention by coaching his daughter's junior high team with no previous experience and using a full-court press all the time, leading them to the national championship game.

And now there are rumors that the Kings may actually be considering implementing his idea of playing 4-on-5 defense with one guy hanging out at the opposite rim.

DC47 · Post by **DC47** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 4:56 pm

I did that 4 in a zone with a cherry picker thing with my sixth grade team. We ruled. So yeah, great idea for the NBA. What coach is going to figure out an effective response to this? More importantly, time to call Sacramento about a deal for Josh Smith. Tell the Sacramento owner/strategist that Josh will be the best at converting those long passes into layups. We'll take the rights to Chris Webber in return, and add some cash to the deal.

Post by **Shirley** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:03 pm

I think anyone who's played much basketball has wondered about the 4-on-D thing and whether it would actually work in a real game. I do know that it sucks at the gym when you have that one cherry-picking asshole who doesn't want to play D, but loves to yell "woo! woo!" every time anyone on his team gets the ball.

Realistically, the other team would just leave a guy back to guard your one guy and cut off any long passes. Then, their offense is 4-on-4 all day, which is generally going to be more efficient than 5-on-5. So, the 4-on-D team is gonna lose.

howard · Post by **howard** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:22 pm

Shirley wrote:Then, their offense is 4-on-4 all day, which is generally going to be more efficient than 5-on-5. So, the 4-on-D team is gonna lose.

Especially 4-on-4 against a zone.

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:38 pm

Johnny Carwash wrote:I hadn't connected the dots until today, but Vivek Ranadive is the same guy who a few years back got national attention by coaching his daughter's junior high team with no previous experience and using a full-court press all the time, leading them to the national championship game.

God, I hated that article. It really opened my eyes to how much of a bullshitter Malcolm Gladwell is. I don't know what's more ridiculous: acting like Rick Pitino's Louisville teams are a bunch of scrappy underdogs, or acting like the 1996 Kentucky team was great because they pressed (and not because they had 9 NBA players on their roster).

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 8:09 am

Joe K wrote:
Johnny Carwash wrote:I hadn't connected the dots until today, but Vivek Ranadive is the same guy who a few years back got national attention by coaching his daughter's junior high team with no previous experience and using a full-court press all the time, leading them to the national championship game.
God, I hated that article. It really opened my eyes to how much of a bullshitter Malcolm Gladwell is. I don't know what's more ridiculous: acting like Rick Pitino's Louisville teams are a bunch of scrappy underdogs, or acting like the 1996 Kentucky team was great because they pressed (and not because they had 9 NBA players on their roster).

I didn't take that from the article re: Louisville and especially Kentucky. I took that when a team of players who are already better start doing things that undermanned teams do to compete, the results can be devastating.

When Pitino took over here, part of the reason we made a quick turnaround was that he did press and play to his team's strength. It just so happened that he kept doing when he started getting studs.

I'm sure you've noticed that Cal doesn't do the dribble drive anymore, for the most part. I think it's because it doesn't' fit his personnel the way it did when he'd get 1-2 studs. When you get 5-10 studs, you play however to best use them. There's been no real consistent scheme he has run since he has been here. But you've watched as much as I have I assume (I just assume all UK fans watch 100% of the games, but of course I don't know your cable/tv sitch) so I'd be interested what you think.

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 9:05 am

AB_skin_test wrote:
Joe K wrote:
Johnny Carwash wrote:I hadn't connected the dots until today, but Vivek Ranadive is the same guy who a few years back got national attention by coaching his daughter's junior high team with no previous experience and using a full-court press all the time, leading them to the national championship game.
God, I hated that article. It really opened my eyes to how much of a bullshitter Malcolm Gladwell is. I don't know what's more ridiculous: acting like Rick Pitino's Louisville teams are a bunch of scrappy underdogs, or acting like the 1996 Kentucky team was great because they pressed (and not because they had 9 NBA players on their roster).
I didn't take that from the article re: Louisville and especially Kentucky. I took that when a team of players who are already better start doing things that undermanned teams do to compete, the results can be devastating.

When Pitino took over here, part of the reason we made a quick turnaround was that he did press and play to his team's strength. It just so happened that he kept doing when he started getting studs.

I'm sure you've noticed that Cal doesn't do the dribble drive anymore, for the most part. I think it's because it doesn't' fit his personnel the way it did when he'd get 1-2 studs. When you get 5-10 studs, you play however to best use them. There's been no real consistent scheme he has run since he has been here. But you've watched as much as I have I assume (I just assume all UK fans watch 100% of the games, but of course I don't know your cable/tv sitch) so I'd be interested what you think.

What I didn't like about that article is that Gladwell way overgeneralized the effectiveness of pressing and cherry picked his examples to fit that. He talked about 2009 Louisville as one of his prime examples, but that team was upset by Michigan State in part because State's guards were able to break the press which led to a lot of easy baskets. Calipari's teams don't press very often but I hate it when they do because it seems to greatly increase the odds of the other team getting an easy basket (as compared to playing the usual tough halfcourt defense). I haven't had a chance to see too many UK games yet this year but from what I've seen, the offense runs best with Ulis on the floor. Also, they have such a massive size advantage on almost every team that it will be tough for anyone to keep them off the offensive glass.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 9:06 am

I think my favorite lineup has both Ulis and both Harrisons on the floor with Willie and Towns. I think that's going to be the crunch time lineup.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 12:42 pm

As far as the 4-on-5 defense was going to work out for the Kings, Haralabob cited what NBA shooters will do with wide-open corner threes all game long.

Also, Haralabob and Zach Lowe are all you need for NBA twitter unless you want a news-breaking guy like Woj. I hardly pay attention to the league other than following those two and feel like I have as good a handle the league as I did when I paid attention to it.

DC, your Josh Smith trade dreams could happen. Apparently, Malone had major objections to the Kings trying to trade for him. Now that Malone is out of the way, maybe it could happen.

By the way, not seeing Chris Mullin as a coach, but apparently, he is angling for it in Sacramento.

DC47 · Post by **DC47** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 4:01 pm

Everything about Mike Malone is evil, or at least pretty bad. The ebola of coaching. And his views of Josh Smith should be extirpated with maximum alacrity. Also, chlorine.

After all, what were his Kings able to do with their low-talent, mis-matched roster of screw-ups and losers prior to Cousins going down? Yeah, they were in the top third of the NBA. But besides that?

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 6:18 am

Ended up being a good game in Memphis. Quality of ball in western conference is unreal. With okc now healthy, top 8 are ridiculous, and that is with really interesting young teams with budding superstars in New Orleans and Sacramento just outside that.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 12:03 pm

tennbengal wrote:Ended up being a good game in Memphis. Quality of ball in western conference is unreal. With okc now healthy, top 8 are ridiculous, and that is with really interesting young teams with budding superstars in New Orleans and Sacramento just outside that.

And Phoenix even though they've stumbled a bit this year.

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 7:27 am

Need to hear DC47's take on this play.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 8:41 am

Triple OT in SA for the Grizzlies win. OT for Houston and Denver. Hawks make a statement in Cleveland.

Great start to regular season.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 9:06 am

tennbengal wrote:Triple OT in SA for the Grizzlies win. OT for Houston and Denver. Hawks make a statement in Cleveland.

Great start to regular season.

And Raptors pull away from the Nets. That series in May seems like a long time ago now.

DC47 · Post by **DC47** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 12:22 pm

rass wrote:Need to hear DC47's take on this play.

There's a lot going on here. In keeping with their new style of smart, unselfish ball movement, the Pistons start the play with good spacing. Shooting threat Caldwell-Pope brilliantly stations himself just outside the three point line. Jennings then astutely cuts to the hoop. Dallas defenders perceive this as no threat and let him go untouched. Butler cleverly hits the unguarded Jennings with a bounce pass to create an wide open layup. After catching the pass on the very first try, Jennings then displays the creativity and judgment that make him what he is as a point guard. His footwork draws the attention of a coach on the Dallas bench, who shows some nice dance moves in appreciation. When the ball goes up, the hustling future-of-franchise Drummond shows good technique in boxing out his man. Monroe -- voluntarily playing for much less than his market value, thus freeing cash to add talent -- shows hustle in chasing down the ball before it goes out of bounds. Josh Smith adds value by not being on the floor. Perhaps most important, next to Smith on the bench are two other seats reserved for their next three draft lottery picks.

You were right to flag this play. It illustrates the tremendous progress and even greater potential of the future Pistons.

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 12:38 pm

DC is giving Haralabob a good run for his spot as King of Passive-Aggressive NBA Commentary.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 1:17 pm

Toronto, Washington and Atlanta have the best records in the East, and the Warriors are #1 in the West.

Bizarro world.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 3:53 pm

Johnny Carwash wrote:DC is giving Haralabob a good run for his spot as King of Passive-Aggressive NBA Commentary.

DC will need to one-up "trashcan" to pass Haralabob in my book.

howard · Post by **howard** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 5:08 pm

DC47 wrote:After catching the pass on the very first try…

I've been giggling at this all afternoon.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 7:01 pm

Rondo to the Mavericks along with Dwight Powell for Brandan Wright, Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson, 2015 first-round and future second.

Rondo is said to have expressed interest signing an extension with the Mavs this summer.

EdRomero · Post by **EdRomero** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 9:37 pm

DSafetyGuy wrote:Rondo to the Mavericks along with Dwight Powell for Brandan Wright, Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson, 2015 first-round and future second.

Rondo is said to have expressed interest signing an extension with the Mavs this summer.

I love this trade for Rondo. He plays better on national tv or when he's facing a highly touted point guard, and he'll have plenty of opportunities of that now. He was so damn good in that series they lost to Miami.

So are any of those guys the Celtics got any good? I heard of Jameer and that's it.

DC47 · Post by **DC47** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 9:42 pm

DSafetyGuy wrote:
Johnny Carwash wrote:DC is giving Haralabob a good run for his spot as King of Passive-Aggressive NBA Commentary.
DC will need to one-up "trashcan" to pass Haralabob in my book.

If this bob guy can come up with more plausible reasons as to why dealing for Josh Smith is critical to the Kings future, he's all right in my book and I'll gladly play second fiddle.

I'm thinking of a deal where the Kings send the Pistons the rights to Vlade Divac and Chris Webber, plus the contract of the coach they just fired. In addition they get the right to send the Pistons the worst contract they end up with at any time in the next 10 years, in exchange for a first-round pick with no lottery protection. But that contract cannot be for Josh Smith or any of his progeny. Or anyone named Josh Smith, even if he is unrelated to the current Josh Smith. Or anyone who even looks like him.

DC47 · Post by **DC47** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 9:46 pm

EdRomero wrote:
DSafetyGuy wrote:Rondo to the Mavericks along with Dwight Powell for Brandan Wright, Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson, 2015 first-round and future second.

Rondo is said to have expressed interest signing an extension with the Mavs this summer.
I love this trade for Rondo. He plays better on national tv or when he's facing a highly touted point guard, and he'll have plenty of opportunities of that now. He was so damn good in that series they lost to Miami.

So are any of those guys the Celtics got any good? I heard of Jameer and that's it.

Contracts, energy guy, and roster filler. Plus the first-round pick, which won't be anywhere near the lottery. It's a bit of a mystery. Boston could have had Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings for Rondo. If they negotiated hard, the Pistons might have taken Jennings out of the deal.

Johnnie · Post by **Johnnie** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 1:22 am

All Mavs fans right now:

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 1:25 am

DC47 wrote:Contracts, energy guy, and roster filler. Plus the first-round pick, which won't be anywhere near the lottery. It's a bit of a mystery. Boston could have had Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings for Rondo. If they negotiated hard, the Pistons might have taken Jennings out of the deal.

Also 61 days from the trade deadline, guys have to be on the team 60 days before they're traded. Tradin' Danny ain't done.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 10:17 am

Holy hell, this Rondo opening tip montage is great