NBA Thread 2019-20

[Cheeks]

Some are (Porter Moser, TC, some others). Brad Stevens isn't.

Fiserv Forum

[MU82]

Surprisingly litter chatter on one of MU's finest putting up 30/11/5 on the road

I would love to see Jimmy get a title, this Sixers team is loaded and no one seems to be unbeatable this year. Hope he can turn it on down the stretch and bring another championship to the family

Loved Jimmy responding big-time after playing poorly in Game 1. Two sweet assists down the stretch in addition to his other work.

[JWags85]

Surprisingly litter chatter on one of MU's finest putting up 30/11/5 on the road

I would love to see Jimmy get a title, this Sixers team is loaded and no one seems to be unbeatable this year. Hope he can turn it on down the stretch and bring another championship to the family

He'd been inconsistent since Game 1 of the Nets series, but he put them on his back last night.  All the murmurs of dysfunction and such have largely been forgotten.  He's a leader on that team.  They might not win, but they sure as hell need an in-form JFB to have any chance against Toronto

[jsglow]

Well, that was better.

[Lennys Tap]

Keep your pissing match out of the NBA topic please.

Tough guy. Who died and made you the boss? LOL "Fluffy".

[MU82]

Harden just penetrated and dished to wide-open shooters on 2 straight possessions, and both Rivers and Gordon threw bricks. No wonder he usually just shoots!

[4everwarriors]

Harden just penetrated and dished to wide-open shooters on 2 straight possessions, and both Rivers and Gordon threw bricks. No wonder he usually just shoots!

Penetrated? Ewe go dude, hey?

[wadesworld]

Harden just penetrated and dished to wide-open shooters on 2 straight possessions, and both Rivers and Gordon threw bricks. No wonder he usually just shoots grabs a defenders arm, flops around like a fish out of water driving to the hoop, and then falls to the ground like there's a sniper in the nosebleeds before heading to the line!

FIFY.

[JWags85]

I think Harden is an incredible talent and an incredible player.  The numbers he puts up this year across the board are absurd.  That being said, he really kills that offense.  You have one of the best pure PGs of all time, and a coach who is famous for having a free flowing, fast smooth offense and they allow Harden to clog it up.

Basketball Twitter this past week has been interesting breaking down how the Warriors are choosing to defend Harden.  From getting into his grill and forcing the refs to call fouls instead of playing off and getting touch fouls anyways (like Klay in Game 1) to more nuanced methods like contesting from the side so his attempts to kick his legs out or jump forward don't result in contact.

As for the Bucks, FANTASTIC response.  but then again, SHOCKED they won a game because NOTED BASKETBALL SCHOLAR Paul Pierce told us all on Sunday afternoon that the series was over cause the Celtics just had more talent and the Bucks were hopeless unless Giannis was amazing.  He's so laughably bad in studio.

[cheebs09]

I think Harden is an incredible talent and an incredible player.  The numbers he puts up this year across the board are absurd.  That being said, he really kills that offense.  You have one of the best pure PGs of all time, and a coach who is famous for having a free flowing, fast smooth offense and they allow Harden to clog it up.

Basketball Twitter this past week has been interesting breaking down how the Warriors are choosing to defend Harden.  From getting into his grill and forcing the refs to call fouls instead of playing off and getting touch fouls anyways (like Klay in Game 1) to more nuanced methods like contesting from the side so his attempts to kick his legs out or jump forward don't result in contact.

As for the Bucks, FANTASTIC response.  but then again, SHOCKED they won a game because NOTED BASKETBALL SCHOLAR Paul Pierce told us all on Sunday afternoon that the series was over cause the Celtics just had more talent and the Bucks were hopeless unless Giannis was amazing.  He's so laughably bad in studio.

Watching Bledsoe defend Harden is fun. Doesn't try to stay in front of him. Plays on his left side or even behind to guard against the step back. Forces him to the right and into the lane for either a midrange or a layup amongst the shot blockers.

[Dr. Blackheart]

JFB!!!

[wadesworld]

Interesting observation on Zach Lowe's podcast today.  George Hill was basically a nobody in Cleveland with LBJ and is now a very important player for the Bucks, and on Friday night was their second best player in a huge win at Boston.  Also on Friday night, Rodney Hood, who was even less than a nobody in Cleveland with LBJ, was the key player down the stretch for the Blazers in their 4 overtime win over the Nuggets.  This was an observation that he says "did not go unnoticed throughout the league.  It's not easy being Bron's teammate...there were a lot of eyes opened Friday night."

[JWags85]

Interesting observation on Zach Lowe's podcast today.  George Hill was basically a nobody in Cleveland with LBJ and is now a very important player for the Bucks, and on Friday night was their second best player in a huge win at Boston.  Also on Friday night, Rodney Hood, who was even less than a nobody in Cleveland with LBJ, was the key player down the stretch for the Blazers in their 4 overtime win over the Nuggets.  This was an observation that he says "did not go unnoticed throughout the league.  It's not easy being Bron's teammate...there were a lot of eyes opened Friday night."

If you need the ball in your hands to initiate offense, to work off the dribble, or you need to get into a rhythm, playing with Lebron just wont work.  The guys that Lebron "makes better" are the ones sitting in the corner waiting for a kick out, a dump off in the lane, or an outlet pass.  Also, if you're not one of his guys that he "trusts" you'll get frozen out, aka Rodney Hood.

He's an insane passer and has otherworldly vision, but the idea that Lebron uniformly makes everyone around him better is an overwrought myth.

[The Sultan]

I can see why there were some negative comments about Brad Stevens this season. Really poor execution on both sides of the ball.

[MUEng92]

Paul Pierce...ha, ha, ha ,ha

[wadesworld]

One to get. Closing it out on Wednesday would be fun.

Giannis is unbelievable. And the George Hill trade went from a nice move to dump salary for a big offseason to an incredible move to add a really good veteran for a Playoff run.

Let's see if Brogdon can add something to this team.

[rocket surgeon]

Paul Pierce...ha, ha, ha ,ha

maybe he needs to go thru concussion protocol...with a rubber glove

[jsglow]

One to get. Closing it out on Wednesday would be fun.

Giannis is unbelievable. And the George Hill trade went from a nice move to dump salary for a big offseason to an incredible move to add a really good veteran for a Playoff run.

Let's see if Brogdon can add something to this team.

The chemistry is so good right now that the can ease Brogdon back some.

[The Sultan]

If I were the Celtics, I would wave goodbye to Kyrie. He's Monta Ellis part 2. Has the talent to make you think he's pretty good, but has no concept of how to fit into a team.

[MU82]

If I were the Celtics, I would wave goodbye to Kyrie. He's Monta Ellis part 2. Has the talent to make you think he's pretty good, but has no concept of how to fit into a team.

I wouldn't want to play with Kyrie. Reminds me of Westbrook, but not as talented all-around. And Russ, as selfishly as he often plays, doesn't routinely throw his teammates under the bus like this guy does. Let him and K.D. go to NY ... and learn to hate each other within a few months.

[tower912]

What has Kyrie done when he isn't playing alongside LeBron?

[JWags85]

What has Kyrie done when he isn't playing alongside LeBron?

To be fair.  He was ROY, then a back to back All Star before Lebron arrived.

Monta Ellis isn't fair.  Kyrie is one of the best ball handling/scoring talents the league has seen in a decade plus, not just a gunner.

However, he's not a fit for Stevens system.  I don't think he can't play in a team setting, but he needs something more free flowing.  I think his attitude got messed up by the Lebron situation and he hasn't recovered, which is a maturity issue.

[Jockey]

To be fair.  He was ROY, then a back to back All Star before Lebron arrived.

Monta Ellis isn't fair.  Kyrie is one of the best ball handling/scoring talents the league has seen in a decade plus, not just a gunner.

However, he's not a fit for Stevens system.  I don't think he can't play in a team setting, but he needs something more free flowing.  I think his attitude got messed up by the Lebron situation and he hasn't recovered, which is a maturity issue.

Kyrie is a slightly better version of Stephon Marbury. Still a very good player and an all-star, but not a Superstar who can be the big dog on an NBA Champion.

[Jockey]

I wouldn't want to play with Kyrie. Reminds me of Westbrook, but not as talented all-around. And Russ, as selfishly as he often plays, doesn't routinely throw his teammates under the bus like this guy does. Let him and K.D. go to NY ... and learn to hate each other within a few months.

Curious why you think it would take that long.

[MUBurrow]

If I were the Celtics, I would wave goodbye to Kyrie. He's Monta Ellis part 2. Has the talent to make you think he's pretty good, but has no concept of how to fit into a team.

But don't forget that Monta Ellis's teammates actually really liked playing with him! That was a big part of Steph wearing his jersey to the last regular season game at the Oracle.