2015/16 NBA season

[Aragorn]

Spurs are recording a historic season...Beating teams by 14 on average. I was one who thought they'd finally fall off the wagon after years of dominance. The LMA signing and Kawhi's rise has really given them a new lease.

Can't wait for the Spurs/Warriors matchup in a couple of weeks...

Spurs are ballin' indeed. LMA and KL, this team is set for the next 5-10 years and i can see a good healthy rivalry with GS for the foreseeable future.

 

[betcats]

Im sick to death of this talk about eliminating the deliberate foul to protect guys like DeAndre Jordan and Dwight Howard.
Here is a novel idea......LEARN HOW TO FREE THROW!!!! A two shot penalty is a fair call for a foul....no interference, just two shots at the same range everytime. Jordan and Howard need to learn how to free throw like most players in the NBA. Once they put a few away, people will think twice before hacking them. It would also jack up their salaries like crazy.
To me, the free throw is probably the easiest thing to learn and practice. I just don't understand why they don't put the work in to get better.

They only have get to around 60 percent for the hack strategy to become useless. It is ridiculous. KD called out DeAndre Jordan on it recently.

 

[McLovin]

Jimmy Butler getting the D-Wade '06 Finals treatment with 25+ free throws today...Career game for him

Bulls/Sixers surprisingly fun game to watch

 

[HowHigh]

Good win for the Spurs..when they were up by 5 with about 50 seconds left I thought please don't be a repeat of that game 6 but held on. Wasn't pretty but got the job done.

I'll have to watch that Bulls vs Sixers game to see that performance from Butler.

 

[McLovin]

Ben Wallace night at Detroit. Miss that guy

 

[McLovin]

I don't think Chauncey will have his number retired but it would have been perfect for he and Ben to have their banners raised together imo...

 

[ByRd]

Pistons announced earlier this year that they will be retiring Billups jersey on Feb 10 against the nuggets

 

[McLovin]

Pistons announced earlier this year that they will be retiring Billups jersey on Feb 10 against the nuggets

Well deserved too.

In other news, Cavs getting completely exposed right now. GS can't take a bad shot...

 

[betcats]

Well looking at the scoreline that was ugly. Will check the first half tonight, no need to watch the 2nd.

Lebron fails to live up to his own talk again and has no answer for the warriors disrespectful comments despite claiming he would. I really don't like this guy in case you haven't noticed haha.

 

[McLovin]

Lebron so far has been a disappointment this year. His play this season has been very lethargic (could be saving himself for a big playoff run)... Rarely takes over games anymore...

 

[betcats]

He has a lot of miles on those legs and his game is predicated mostly on athleticism. He gets past defenders with hi fast first step or by just blowing past them with his ridiculous size speed and strength, he has never been a guy who can create his own shot or break his man down off the dribble the way Curry or Irving might. As his athleticism declines he is struggling to get into the lane because he isn't quick enough to just blow past defenders anymore and his handles aren't sharp enough to break down good defenders. Without lots of screens he just cant get into the lane consistently anymore. He is shooting terribly too, like outside of 5 feet he is one of the least efficient shooters in the NBA this year. He will always have that amazing vision and passing but imo his impact will decline with his athleticism, he should focus on his post game more.

 

[Aragorn]

Dwayne Wade is a 34 yr old in a 38 yr old body. Too much mileage, wear and tear. Lebron will be no different. He's 30 yr olds but the body is hitting 35.......

 

[betcats]

Dwayne Wade is a 34 yr old in a 38 yr old body. Too much mileage, wear and tear. Lebron will be no different. He's 30 yr olds but the body is hitting 35.......

Of course everyone suffers wear and tear and a decline in athletic ability once they start getting into their 30s but some players are better able to handle that decline in terms of their on court production. Lebron for all of his amazing talent isn't positioned as well as other past and present players of his calibre to handle that decline physically, skillwise he just isn't on the same level as a Kobe or Duncan or any of these guys who were still producing close to their best at 32, 33, 34 etc

 

[HowHigh]

I'm sure Lebron is good enough to adjust his game over time to still have a big impact as he gets older and less athletic but the points above are true.

 

[Rod]

LeBron will wake up about 15 games out from the playoffs, like he does every year. He is also playing at a high level as it is but it really just reflects people's expectations of him that what is doing now is perceived as not good enough (he is averaging 27-7-7 after all).

That being said he is clearly trying to make a concerted effort to get the team going in the regular season and is playing almost every game he can, which is admirable but actually a little bit pointless when the Cavs are going to stroll into the 1 seed.

As far as the Cavs are concerned I'm a lot more concerned about Love (and Mozgov) than LeBron. Love still doesn't fit properly and was a complete non-factor against the Warriors (quality opposition and only one game but still), while Mozgov has been so bad this year and he almost became a comedy show against the Warriors, falling over on multiple occasions, missing dunks etc.

 

[betcats]

He is good enough but I don't know, the areas he would need to adjust to he is going away from or getting worse at(shooting, Post game). He should be playing PF most of the time imo, but if he doesn't want to do that he needs to get some kind of off ball game to help maximise the impact of Kyrie and Love. The current perimeter orientated drive and kick Lebron is still posting amazing numbers but they are down across the board and his shooting is as bad as it has ever been, and he just takes plays off on defense to often now.

 

[betcats]

LeBron will wake up about 15 games out from the playoffs, like he does every year. He is also playing at a high level as it is but it really just reflects people's expectations of him that what is doing now is perceived as not good enough (he is averaging 27-7-7 after all).

That being said he is clearly trying to make a concerted effort to get the team going in the regular season and is playing almost every game he can, which is admirable but actually a little bit pointless when the Cavs are going to stroll into the 1 seed.

As far as the Cavs are concerned I'm a lot more concerned about Love (and Mozgov) than LeBron. Love still doesn't fit properly and was a complete non-factor against the Warriors (quality opposition and only one game but still), while Mozgov has been so bad this year and he almost became a comedy show against the Warriors, falling over on multiple occasions, missing dunks etc.

The way Cleveland are using Love is dumb. He is basically just a 3 and D roleplayer in their offense now which is ridiculous because he is a known poor defender. You could get the same production for a lot less out of another palyer. He needs to be getting the ball on the elbow and in the post where he is most effective(like he was before Kyrie came back) and he needs to put some weight back on.

When he was traded to Cleveland Bosh came out and said Love would find it hard playing with Lebron and that has proven true. He has been turned into a spot up shooter(Like bosh was).

 

[McLovin]

Worst part for Cleveland is they have so many guys locked into huge long term contracts and it's clear they can't match it with the top west teams.

 

[betcats]

I think they could take OKC in a 7 game series but SAS and GSW are clearly better. They will get to the finals no trouble and who knows the winner of the west might be to beat up to get it done. Its a very tough path to finals in the west.

 

[McLovin]

The Cavs will get to the finals by default imo...there's just not enough competition in the east. OKC I would rate on par with Cleveland. Could go either way. GS and SA are on the other hand are on another level. When Duncan finally retires they'll just unleash Boban on everyone and continue to dominate...