ESPN ran an article headline "Chink in the Armor" for the Knicks loss to New Orleans.
ESPN: There's no defense for the indefensible. All we can offer are our apologies, sincere though incalculably inadequate.
Nba 2011-2012
- Thread starter ha_rooney
- Start date
Tbf, he's Asian AND he went to Harvard so I'm sure he could actually calculate how inadequate their apology is.
ESPN made the same 'chink in his armor' pun on air.
Very impressive, I'd think that's the best streak of the year. Glad to see them picking up the pace after I picked them to win the West and they faltered early.
If you take all the elements of the game, coaching, players, drafting, holding onto players, et cetera, I think the Spurs have been the best organization in basketball since Tim Duncan's days. Before that I can't really say, but ever since I paid close enough attention the Spurs have been doing everything right.
Wonderful home support as well, very difficult place to win.
Damn Lin and Novak lighting up MSG against Mavs. What a start to the 4th quarter for the Knicks.
All he does is Lin.
Word.
I think the NBA trade deadline is sometime in the next few weeks. Where do people think Howard will end up? I'm hoping the Lakers move for him but we're taking far too long to make any trades, which will probably allow the Nets could nab him from us.
Lin's numbers were impressive against the Mavs, although he needs to cut down on the turnovers. Still don't think the Knicks can beat Miami or Chicago in a 7 game series but they will be a threat, especially if Melo can fit into this team and do his thing without taking too much away from Lin.
Yeah. Just watching him play I thought it's weird he went un-drafted and then released by so many teams. Anyhow, we've probably heard all the discussion enough. He's here, he's queer- Wait, wrong bigotry category.
Hmm. Only part of your post I'd disagree with. Depends heavily on the team. I don't think it'd be hard for anyone to imagine it would have been a big no from a mid-west team. Perfectly understandable from a business point of view. No organization will ever admit/call out another on it.
Yao, for example, came with a 1.5 billion-strong market attached to a super-secret label inside his warm-ups. Which made that decision real easy.
And as for ESPN, that wasn't even racist. That was just plain embarrassing. Our 'leading' sports outlet and they try to pull a joke that's funny enough the first time you hear it. The only problem being that first time for most of us is somewhere during junior high.
And you know that one friend in every group who's perfectly cool but not particularly funny himself and is therefore often going "Hey, remember the time ____ told that joke about the _____ man that was some funny stuff, wasn't it?" That's the only guy who ever brings it up again.
So congrats to ESPN on being that guy.
1. Miami 25-7 [.781]
2. Oklahoma City 23-7 [.767]
3. Chicago 25-8 [.758]
4. San Antonio 22-9 [.710]
5. Clippers 19-10 [.655]
6. Philadelphia 20-11 [.645]
7. Dallas 20-12 [.625]
7. Orlando 20-12 [.625]
2. Oklahoma City 23-7 [.767]
3. Chicago 25-8 [.758]
4. San Antonio 22-9 [.710]
5. Clippers 19-10 [.655]
6. Philadelphia 20-11 [.645]
7. Dallas 20-12 [.625]
7. Orlando 20-12 [.625]
Hmm, my Pacers and Lakers are conspicuously missing.
Missed the Knicks game, but Lin can keep on turning it over at a record pace as long as he scores and passes like he has been.
Missed the Knicks game, but Lin can keep on turning it over at a record pace as long as he scores and passes like he has been.
Kyrie Irving > Kings. BOOYA, jveezy.
Exactly.. Forget the points and the assists, some keep babbling about his 7 turnovers, without even a word about his 5 steals!
EDIT: By the way, the Lakers and the Pacers are sharing the tenth spot after the Hawks at 9th. Although it doesn't look good for the Lakers right now trailing Phoenix by 26 points midway through the 3rd quarter..
He's the best offensive player on my fantasy team since I grabbed him, not even very close really.
I agree about the steals being overlooked, he's averaging just over 2 a game since Linsanity started. And of course the wins speak louder than anything, that's the one stat that really matters, and can wipe all the others aside. His ability to run the offense and move the ball towards the defense's weakness is hard to measure, and excellent. As in seriously top class, All-Star level.
He's making some careless turnovers, but every point guard that goes to the NBA undergoes a learning curve because of the extreme jump in quality from college ball. All the margins for error are smaller, the cuts are tighter, and defenders closer, so passes that would make it through in college won't in the NBA, where they could dribble through the defense and out again without protecting the ball perfectly, now they can't. I'm sure he can get it down to Russell Westbrook levels.
But he also makes quite a few passes on the pick and roll that are either dunks or turnovers. In this case if it gets through its a 100% shot, so if you can get 2 out of 3 through it's great, even if you end up with 10 turnovers.
I agree about the steals being overlooked, he's averaging just over 2 a game since Linsanity started. And of course the wins speak louder than anything, that's the one stat that really matters, and can wipe all the others aside. His ability to run the offense and move the ball towards the defense's weakness is hard to measure, and excellent. As in seriously top class, All-Star level.
He's making some careless turnovers, but every point guard that goes to the NBA undergoes a learning curve because of the extreme jump in quality from college ball. All the margins for error are smaller, the cuts are tighter, and defenders closer, so passes that would make it through in college won't in the NBA, where they could dribble through the defense and out again without protecting the ball perfectly, now they can't. I'm sure he can get it down to Russell Westbrook levels.
But he also makes quite a few passes on the pick and roll that are either dunks or turnovers. In this case if it gets through its a 100% shot, so if you can get 2 out of 3 through it's great, even if you end up with 10 turnovers.
Just found that they have an NBA download section on wiziwig, catch some Lin if you're so inclined...
NBA 2011/2012 Regular Season Full Game Downloads [No Spoilers] - Page 125
NBA 2011/2012 Regular Season Full Game Downloads [No Spoilers] - Page 125
Read a funny article the other day arguing that the NBA should adopt Euro league rules regarding timeouts and team foul penalties in order to cut down on crunch-time bloat and make close games more exciting.
I could have the numbers wrong but I think it stated the average final 2 minutes of game time turned into 15 minutes real time.
Euro league was 2 minutes/6 minutes.
I could have the numbers wrong but I think it stated the average final 2 minutes of game time turned into 15 minutes real time.
Euro league was 2 minutes/6 minutes.
Durant can get his own shot as well as anyone in the league, imho. Give him the ball and he'll just shoot right over you. And he's great at driving to the rim. He'd be my first choice of every player in the league to build a team around.
Had 51 points on 68% shooting, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals last night. Triple double for Ibaka. Westbrook did okay too.
Yeah, but Durant isn't a dribbler/passer.. A player like him will always need a player like Westbrook in my opinion, but I can't really prove it.. It's down to difference of opinions in the end I guess.
By the way, what a game yesterday! Two players combine for 90+ points? 11 blocks for a triple double? But the sad thing is, they held on to win in the end. (Of course from a Miami Heat fan's point of view)
By the way, what a game yesterday! Two players combine for 90+ points? 11 blocks for a triple double? But the sad thing is, they held on to win in the end.
(Of course from a Miami Heat fan's point of view)Wilt Chamberlain needed someone to pass it to him too, doesn't make him less of a player. Don't get me wrong, I think point guards are crucial and undervalued, but Durant has to get himself open for the pass to make it to him.
Being able to initiate the offense from the perimeter like James is great and all, but I'm not at all convinced that's what's best for Miami or LeBron. What about getting him into the low post? He should be unstoppable down there.
Being able to initiate the offense from the perimeter like James is great and all, but I'm not at all convinced that's what's best for Miami or LeBron. What about getting him into the low post? He should be unstoppable down there.
The last time two players from the same team had a 40 point game was back in 1996 when Jordan and Pippen did it for the Bulls.
I'm not diminishing Durant by any means.. He's a great player.. The point was can he lift a team on his own without a good point guard like Westbrook? I have my doubts. I think Westbrook too had a lot to do with Oklahoma's success, which is why I think he is being a bit underrated because of his bad character/a few bad performances that seem to stick in the memory. But overall, I still think he's one of the best in the league right now..
I think if you turn Durant into a ball handler you get Tyreke Evans with a good jumpshot. A very good player that could potentially be harmful to his own team if he doesn't give up the ball enough. When you're that good you tend to trust your own skills more than you should and combine that with already having the ball in your hands and you end up with a player that takes a ton of shots and dribbles to the hoop far too often while everyone else just stands and watches.
Let a dedicated point guard make the decisions for you from a different perspective on the floor and that prevents you from being too trusting in your own skills. However that might also backfire if they don't get you the ball enough.
Let a dedicated point guard make the decisions for you from a different perspective on the floor and that prevents you from being too trusting in your own skills. However that might also backfire if they don't get you the ball enough.
LOL @ NY's epic fail on Melo's return.
So, Melo did manage to f**k NY up on his comeback.. Another solid game from Lin, 21 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, and he cut out his turnovers as well (only 3).. Melo with 6 turnovers this time, wonder if the headlines tomorrow will read: "Melo's turnovers killed the Knicks".
So, Melo did manage to f**k NY up on his comeback.. Another solid game from Lin, 21 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, and he cut out his turnovers as well (only 3).. Melo with 6 turnovers this time, wonder if the headlines tomorrow will read: "Melo's turnovers killed the Knicks".
Melo hasn't played in a couple of weeks - I think he gets a pass for tonight.
I'm discussing the reasons for their loss, not the excuses.
Deron Williams had an excellent game as well in the second half.
Portland with a big win over the Spurs. Spurs have been very good this season, haven't heard too many people mention them as a contender for the title despite them being the second seeded team in the West at the moment.
I think that's because of their play-off collapse last year (despite their outstanding record in the regular season), and because they look too old/cracked to survive the playoffs. But then the same goes for Dallas last year, and we know how that turned out..
May be it's for their best that people are leaving them alone at the moment.
What's really amazing is that the Spurs have climbed from 12-8, about half with Ginobli, to go 11-1 since! I did pick them to win the west, but not the title.
And this loss last night included Duncan and Parker being rested, because they're playing 3 games in 4 days, so while it still counts the starters still haven't lost together in 11 games.
And this loss last night included Duncan and Parker being rested, because they're playing 3 games in 4 days, so while it still counts the starters still haven't lost together in 11 games.
He's good enough to be MVP in my opinion or at least up there. He can definitely create his own shot. There is no question about that. He averages 25+ points a game. You really think every shot he puts up is due to someone else creating it for him.
Melo saying the right things.
"I want Jeremy to have the ball, hands down, I want him to create for me, I want him to create for Amare [Stoudemire], I want him to create for everybody and still be as aggressive as he's been in the past. My mindset was just to not try to come in and not do too much, try to fit in and try to play my game within the system," Anthony said on Monday night. "[I want to] play the way that they've been playing the last few weeks: passing the ball, finding the open man, making the right play."
Meanwhile, LeBron tries to make it sound like Jeremy Lin isn't 5 times the draw the he is, or the idea of any old Knicks-Heat game.
"Just knowing the rivalry, knowing the history between the Heat and Knicks, it could be one of the most watched games we’ve had in a long time, especially with what Jeremy Lin is doing.”
"I want Jeremy to have the ball, hands down, I want him to create for me, I want him to create for Amare [Stoudemire], I want him to create for everybody and still be as aggressive as he's been in the past. My mindset was just to not try to come in and not do too much, try to fit in and try to play my game within the system," Anthony said on Monday night. "[I want to] play the way that they've been playing the last few weeks: passing the ball, finding the open man, making the right play."
Meanwhile, LeBron tries to make it sound like Jeremy Lin isn't 5 times the draw the he is, or the idea of any old Knicks-Heat game.
"Just knowing the rivalry, knowing the history between the Heat and Knicks, it could be one of the most watched games we’ve had in a long time, especially with what Jeremy Lin is doing.”
You think Oklahoma City would be number 1 in the West without Westbrook?
Durant is a great player. But in my opinion, he is only a contender for the MVP because he has Westbrook on his team. Without Westbrook, Durant can't lead Oklahoma City to top the West on his own.. He will still put in some big numbers probably. His FG% will drop. His turnovers will increase, but he will never be able to replace Westbrook's 23.4 ppg (on 47.4% shooting), OR help his teammates effectively do it.
Here is a comparison between the stat lines of the point guards you mentioned, and Westbrook's. I say he belongs to this list.
EDIT: Also, add to that, Westbrook's team ranks 1st among those in the list.
Danny, look at that list. He has the lowest assists per game of any of those PGs, despite the fact that he's got Durant on his team. That's like the opposite of proving that Durant is getting some big boost from Westbrook.
Durant is the next clutch, face of the franchise, superstar, if anything Westbrook is a hinderance. Last year Westbrook cost them, Westbrook wants to be the main man too much, Westbrook is class but Durant is the main man and he will win titles at OKC.
The only thing Durant lacks is that indomitable will to win, which is something Westbrook has much more of, so I think they compliment each other well. Westbrook was a real gamble by OKC, most thought he wouldn't be able to turn into a point guard, but it's turned out fabulously.
Though I suspect their improvement this year is as much to do with the improvements to the games of Harden, Ibaka and others as much as anything.
Though I suspect their improvement this year is as much to do with the improvements to the games of Harden, Ibaka and others as much as anything.
He has the lowest assists because he is the top scorer among them.. Likewise the top two in assists rank last on points.
Also, Durant is getting boost from Westbrook through two other ways (other than direct assists). First, Westbrook draws the defense which gives Durant more space to work with and makes it harder for the opponent to double-team him. And second, he is taking a lot of pressure off him through scoring in big numbers without having to rely on Durant every time (which would drain his energy and hurt his efficiency).
You can't just neglect 23.4 points per game (5th in the league!) and say: He is just a regular player! Hate him for his character, but without his numbers Oklahoma won't be first.
Having said that, I still think Durant is better than Westbrook as a player..
Obviously Westbrook helps Durant but for me he needs to defer to him in late game situations.
Yes. I agree. But the discussion was about this statement:
Rose and Paul are obviously better than Westbrook. Williams too in my opinion (the situation in NJ is hurting his numbers though). Rondo is debatable, but Nash, Parker, Ellis, Curry?? I definitely think he is good enough to belong to this list..
Sorry I am a Durant fanboi, Westbrook is an elite point guard no doubt. Always been a pure point guard man myself, Westbrook is a little too selfish for me.