2021-22 NBA Thread: The Bucks are Reigning Champs

[JWags85]

But isn't he shooting more of them?  I think we can all agree, at the end of the day, the game is about buckets JWags?  If it was about pure fundamentals I would play NBA ball for at least 50 yrs. 

Not really. A bit over 1 attempt a game more.  And only about .5 3PM a game than his mid career. His overall FGA are actually up when you look at most of his career.   Again not drastic or even all that notable in terms of volume or efficiency.

And sure it’s about buckets, but you claimed part of why Lebron is still top 5 to you is cause he’s making a bunch of 3s at a good clip, which isn’t true.  So not sure where fundamentals or buckets or whatever matters to the discussion.  Just more purely opinion based claims

[MuggsyB]

Not really. A bit over 1 attempt a game more.  And only about .5 3PM a game than his mid career. His overall FGA are actually up when you look at most of his career.   Again not drastic or even all that notable in terms of volume or efficiency.

And sure it’s about buckets, but you claimed part of why Lebron is still top 5 to you is cause he’s making a bunch of 3s at a good clip, which isn’t true.  So not sure where fundamentals or buckets or whatever matters to the discussion.  Just more purely opinion based claims

You don't think he's top 5?  He shot 6 triples a game last year at 36.5%.

[JWags85]

You don't think he's top 5?  He shot 6 triples a game last year at 36.5%.

No, I’ve said as much and listed who I think are above him.  And 5 years ago in Cleveland he shot 5 a game at 36.7%. It’s not some significant difference or new critical aspect of his game, especially with how many 3s the league is taking in general.  It’s not like when Brook Lopez became a profilic deep threat out of nowhere.  Or if Giannis suddenly started shooting 6 3s a game in the high 30s

[MuggsyB]

No, I’ve said as much and listed who I think are above him.  And 5 years ago in Cleveland he shot 5 a game at 36.7%. It’s not some significant difference or new critical aspect of his game, especially with how many 3s the league is taking in general.  It’s not like when Brook Lopez became a profilic deep threat out of nowhere.  Or if Giannis suddenly started shooting 6 3s a game in the high 30s

Fiar enough.

[MU82]

I had to ump so I didn't see the game itself, but I just watched the full-game highlights of the Pacers-Hornets game on YouTube. Wow ... what a game!

Pacers up big early, led by 23 in 3rd quarter ... Hornets rally for the lead and go up by 10 in the 4th ... Pacers come back to go ahead by 1 late ... Hornets win by 1 at the end. LaMelo 31-9-7 (with 7 3s), Hayward 27, Sabonis 33-15, Brogdon 28-4-11, rookie Duarte 27.

I was stunned to look at the box score and see Duarte "only" had 27 and "only" hit 6 (of 9) 3s, because watching the highlights it seemed like he hit about a dozen 3s. Very, very smooth shot. Looks like Pacers got a good one.

Hornets were without Terry Rozier, their leading scorer from last season; he sprained his ankle a couple weeks ago. Top draft pick Bouknight didn't play at all, which surprised me.

[MuggsyB]

I know Isaiah Thomas won two titles but of the 6'2 and under guys who would you say was the greatest among Iverson, Thomas, Stockton, Cousy, Archibald, Paul? 

[MU82]

I know Isaiah Thomas won two titles but of the 6'2 and under guys who would you say was the greatest among Iverson, Thomas, Stockton, Cousy, Archibald, Paul?

Isiah.

[MuggsyB]

Isiah.

Those Pistons teams were really good, and deep.  I think you're probably right but if you slot Stockton, Paul, or Iverson on those teams would they not win a chip or two?  Iverson was clearly the best athlete in this group.

[MuggsyB]

Iverson had both zoomability and zippability.  Granted, he wasn't a pure PG, but very few players possess these two traits.  Meaning the talent to dominate North, South, East, and West with the rock in their hands.

[MU82]

Those Pistons teams were really good, and deep.  I think you're probably right but if you slot Stockton, Paul, or Iverson on those teams would they not win a chip or two?  Iverson was clearly the best athlete in this group.

Maybe those others would have been better than Isiah if they had been on the Pistons ... or maybe not. It's hard to deal with hypotheticals.

I just liked Isiah's ability to do whatever the team needed -- if the Pistons needed him to score, he could put in a dozen in 5 minutes; if they needed him to get everybody else involved, he was a double-digit assist machine. He also was a tough (some might say dirty) SOB who would rip your heart out.

But I'd take any of 'em, Muggs.

Saw lots of all of them except Cousy, whom I only know from grainy black-and-white film. He also was on some pretty good, deep teams!

[MuggsyB]

Maybe those others would have been better than Isiah if they had been on the Pistons ... or maybe not. It's hard to deal with hypotheticals.

I just liked Isiah's ability to do whatever the team needed -- if the Pistons needed him to score, he could put in a dozen in 5 minutes; if they needed him to get everybody else involved, he was a double-digit assist machine. He also was a tough (some might say dirty) SOB who would rip your heart out.

But I'd take any of 'em, Muggs.

Saw lots of all of them except Cousy, whom I only know from grainy black-and-white film. He also was on some pretty good, deep teams!

Absolutely.  I'd take any of them as well.  We need a prime-time PG at MU.

[jficke13]

Those Pistons teams were really good, and deep.  I think you're probably right but if you slot Stockton, Paul, or Iverson on those teams would they not win a chip or two?  Iverson was clearly the best athlete in this group.

I have this weird feeling like Iverson was thrived in that magical chucker era right before analytics came along and changed the game. I honestly find myself wondering if he was an efficient scorer or not.

[JWags85]

I have this weird feeling like Iverson was thrived in that magical chucker era right before analytics came along and changed the game. I honestly find myself wondering if he was an efficient scorer or not.

Its a fair question, but he did have a career FG% of 45%.  By today's game, he probably wasn't very efficient cause he was never a great 3P shooter and didn't take many of them.  But he wasn't awful given his game and his size.

[MuggsyB]

I have this weird feeling like Iverson was thrived in that magical chucker era right before analytics came along and changed the game. I honestly find myself wondering if he was an efficient scorer or not.

He got to the line a lot.  Tough as nails for his size.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Some historical comparisons:

Iverson
Career usage 31.8%
Career O rating 105

Wade
31.4% usage
109 O rating

Kobe
31.8% usage
110 O rating

Jordan
33.3%
118 O rating

[MU82]

Its a fair question, but he did have a career FG% of 45%.  By today's game, he probably wasn't very efficient cause he was never a great 3P shooter and didn't take many of them.  But he wasn't awful given his game and his size.

Like so many others from the Pre-Emphasis-On-3s Era, Iverson probably would have made himself a very good 3-point shooter if that's what the game called for him to be.

Whether talking about older greats like Frazier, Monroe, West, Havlicek, etc, who played all or most of their careers before the 3-point line even existed, or more recent guys like Jordan, Drexler, Payton, etc ... they would have made themselves more-than-acceptable (and maybe even very good or maybe even great) 3-point shooters because that's what the game would have called for them to be.

Larry Bird was a great shooter ... and yet he only averaged 1.9 attempts from 3 in his career. If he played today, he'd be taking 8+ like Steph, and he'd probably shoot 40% or better on them.

I'm not sure Iverson would have been quite that good from 3, but I'm guessing he would have made himself pretty good.

Then again, he famously didn't like practice -- "You talkin' 'bout practice?" -- so maybe not!

[MuggsyB]

Decent quarter for Curry:  9-9, 5-5 from three, 25 pts.

[Herman Cain]

I know Isaiah Thomas won two titles but of the 6'2 and under guys who would you say was the greatest among Iverson, Thomas, Stockton, Cousy, Archibald, Paul?

Isiah had the ability to completely dominate a game, at a time when the league was dominated by Big Men.

He was a sensational player who played and competed very hard.

The fans always got their money’s worth when he played.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Bulls are gonna struggle against good teams, but they’re gonna be a whole lot of fun to watch.

[forgetful]

Well the lakers roster off to an interesting start. Davis and Howard getting into an altercation on the bench.

[MuggsyB]

Well the lakers roster off to an interesting start. Davis and Howard getting into an altercation on the bench.

Questionable outside shooting and I'm not sure they can guard anyone?   

[MuggsyB]

Chris Paul looks like a conductor out there and the Lakers literally cannot guard him, especially on switches.  The Suns are annihilating the Lakers.  It's a satisfying watch. 

[forgetful]

Chris Paul looks like a conductor out there and the Lakers literally cannot guard him, especially on switches.  The Suns are annihilating the Lakers.  It's a satisfying watch.

Phoenix winning by 32 while shooting 28.6% from 3. Imagine if they actually shot well from 3. They might have been winning by 50.

Lebron needs shooters. His best move right now is to back defenders down and if a double comes kick it out. If not fade away jumper.

If the guys can't hit 3's. He just gets doubled into a bad pass, which happened several times tonight. It'll be interesting to see how they try to make this work.

[MuggsyB]

Phoenix winning by 32 while shooting 28.6% from 3. Imagine if they actually shot well from 3. They might have been winning by 50.

Lebron needs shooters. His best move right now is to back defenders down and if a double comes kick it out. If not fade away jumper.

If the guys can't hit 3's. He just gets doubled into a bad pass, which happened several times tonight. It'll be interesting to see how they try to make this work.

The Lakers are going to struggle to beat good teams if Davis or Lebron have an off night.  But beyond that I'm not sure they have the shooting or defensive pieces.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Lakers are gonna be in trouble. They just refuse to play defense.