What a win over Timberwolves last night. Meyers was predictably dreadful but Vonleh and especially Crabbe stepped it up. Crabbe was immense, he hit 8-10 from 3P and just could not stop at one point. I guess we only need to win 1 more to confirm our playoffs spot. Roll on Warriors.
NBA 2016-17
- Thread starter ArmchairCritic
- Start date
Looks like the West playoff standings are all but set.
Warriors vs Trailblazers
Spurs vs Grizzlies
Rockets vs Thunder
Jazz vs Clippers
Warriors vs Trailblazers
Spurs vs Grizzlies
Rockets vs Thunder
Jazz vs Clippers
Pop unloads on Lakers tank.
- I can see the Trailblazers stealing 1 game (Lillard and Co. going off)
- Spurs to win in 5
- This is the series to watch...Rockets will be too good, but, Harden and Westbrook trying to outdo each other should be fun
- *yawn*
-I think the Trailblazers steal 2 games. Warriors to struggle with integrating Durant back into the team
- Right now the Grizzlies and Spurs split the regular season series 2-2. Our last defeat to the Spurs occurred in extra time, with Conley injured and Gasol sitting due to minute restrictions. Spurs should be slight favorites here due to home court and Pop being Pop, but I expect this to go to 7 games.
- Rockets to win in 6. Westbrook is that good.
- This will be the most interesting series actually (to the non-casual fan). The Clippers have flown under the radar, but Griffin has been very good, and Paul is back from injury. The Jazz have a fantastic defense and DPOY candidate, but have a poor record against the Clippers, and almost no post season experience. It'll be interesting to see how they clash.
- I know the Grizzlies are one of those grind 'em down teams - in a way more suited for the playoffs...5 games was probably a bit too disrespectful
- He is good...but, Rockets can put up points in a hurry...and the Thunder won't be able to hang with them.
- I genuinely hate the Clippers which is why I won't be watching a minute of this series live. Griffin, Jordan, Paul can go kick rocks. The Jazz however have some interesting players.
My predictions:
- Warriors to go 4-0 vs Trail Blazers.
- Spurs winning 4-2 against Memphis
- Rockets 4-2 against Thunder
- Jazz vs Clippers to go to the seventh match, Clippers to win it.
- Warriors to go 4-0 vs Trail Blazers.
- Spurs winning 4-2 against Memphis
- Rockets 4-2 against Thunder
- Jazz vs Clippers to go to the seventh match, Clippers to win it.
Spurs vs Memphis will be such a snoozefest.
He's annoying at times with his absolutist statements (and the LeBron obsession, 'yes, we all know that he is the best player in the world so stop'), but I kind of agree with him about Russ:
Why are Cavs struggling against Hawks who have 1 first teamer playing? No Millsap, Schroder, Howard or Sefolosha.
A little early for this but, my choice for All NBA team as of now(I doubt much changes by the end of the season)
First Team
G James Harden
G Russell Westbrook
F Kawhi Leonard
F LeBron James
C Rudy Gobert
Second Team
G Isaiah Thomas
G Stephen Curry
F Giannis Antetokounmpo
F Kevin Durant
C Anthony Davis
Third Team
G John Wall
G Chris Paul
F Jimmy Butler
F Gordon Hayward
C Karl Anthony Towns
This is the only award I care about.
First Team
G James Harden
G Russell Westbrook
F Kawhi Leonard
F LeBron James
C Rudy Gobert
Second Team
G Isaiah Thomas
G Stephen Curry
F Giannis Antetokounmpo
F Kevin Durant
C Anthony Davis
Third Team
G John Wall
G Chris Paul
F Jimmy Butler
F Gordon Hayward
C Karl Anthony Towns
This is the only award I care about.
M-V-P! M-V-P!
Russ averages a triple-double for the season!
Russ averages a triple-double for the season!
A shame he achieved it in such a bad game for the team. One of his worst for the season too.
Incredible the lengths he will go to get his stats up. 6-25, wow.
The hawks are such a strange team this year. Go on a massive losing streak without Millsap yet beat the cavs with no starter playing at all.
Oh and Lue's minutes management is terrible.
Oh and Lue's minutes management is terrible.
Who gives a feck how he does it now, his numbers are the only thing they have left to play for.
He's turned a lottery team into the 6 seed in the West
Also? You need to enjoy the beatiful things in life more
He's turned a lottery team into the 6 seed in the West
Also? You need to enjoy the beatiful things in life more
Where have you been all this time.Who gives a feck how he does it now, his numbers are the only thing they have left to play for.
He's turned a lottery team into the 6 seed in the West
Also? You need to enjoy the beatiful things in life more
First Team
G James Harden
G Russell Westbrook
F Kawhi Leonard
F LeBron James
C Anthony Davis
Second Team
G Isaiah Thomas
G Stephen Curry
F Giannis Antetokounmpo
F Kevin Durant
C DeMarcus Cousins (he's an arse, but still one of the top big men in the game)
Third Team
G John Wall
G Klay Thompson
F Gordon Hayward
F Draymond Green
C Rudy Gobert
@charlton66 hard cheese award - Jimmy Butler.
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Rockets not even putting effort anymore.
DeRozan should definitely be ahead of Klay and Chris Paul.
First:
Westbrook
Harden
Leonard
LeBron
Davis
Second:
Thomas
Curry
Durant
Greek Freak
Cousins
Third:
Wall
DeRozan
Butler
D. Green
Gobert
Centers are shit to judge, you could switch all three of them around and I wouldn't complain.
Westbrook
Harden
Leonard
LeBron
Davis
Second:
Thomas
Curry
Durant
Greek Freak
Cousins
Third:
Wall
DeRozan
Butler
D. Green
Gobert
Centers are shit to judge, you could switch all three of them around and I wouldn't complain.
Can't wait for magic to unveil Russ in 2018Where have you been all this time.
Russ was born to be a laker
I disagree with him. Don't want to talk about him personally because his analysis is always centred around an attempt to put Lebron in a better light, and in this case all hardcore Lebron fans are trying to belittle the triple double because Lebron was expected to be the player to do it but he failed, so now of course it's "not important, who cares".
My answer to these people: in reality, the triple double is a big deal in the NBA. It's pointless to argue "but why, because round numbers? ...etc.) because all of that is retrospective analysis. The triple double is an established milestone in our age, and it is one that is very difficult to achieve in a single game, let alone average one for a season. It's a bar that has been set long before this season, and Westbrook has cleared it, you're not gonna move the bar now that somebody you don't like has cleared it.
All the other arguments are also weak imo:
- But he has the perfect team for him to do it: Well he didn't ask Durant to leave and leave him and his franchise for dead. Beside countless players were in the same situation, even Lebron had many years in Cleveland where he was the whole team, but still no player could do it.
- But he's shooting a low percentage, and a lot of turnovers: Well Harden is only shooting a little bit better (Precisely Westbrook is shooting 42.39% and Harden is shooting 43.99%, so the difference is less than 1.6%, and it's not like Harden is clearing any bar with his under 44% shooting). As for the turnovers, Harden is number one in the league with most turnovers per game!
- But he's not guarding his man, he's padding his stats...etc.: One stats answers all that. They're 32-9 when he gets a triple double. They're +11 and he's taking a bad team to the playoffs single handedly. He's not hurting his team to get these triple doubles. Stop digging deep in the stats just to find something to justify your inability to accept giving it to him. "he's leaving his man open", but they're winning! He must be doing something more important right (which you're hiding) for his team to have such a record. Besides, it's not like Harden is known for his defence.
And apart from the triple double, there many other things that makes Westbrook deserve the MVP this year. His clutch performances, he's leading the league in scoring, taking a bad team to the playoffs, reviving a franchise after Durant left them for dead (you can't underestimate how important Westbrook has been for the OKC fans and their franchise this season), how hard he plays every game, the fact that he played in every single game in the regular season this year... He just had an unbelievable (historic) season individually and it reflected positively on his team. In ten years we won't remember what Harden or Lebron or Kawaai did in the regular season this year, but we'll be talking about Westbrook's season for years to come.
Also, the MVP trophy is not "who's the best player in the league generally". It's who had the most spectacular and effective regular season this year. In my opinion, it's Westbrook, by some clear margin now.
(By the way my post is directed at those analysts obviously, not you
)LeBron could've easily averaged a triple double - especially between 09-13 where he was at his best. He almost averages one in the NBA finals for the past 2 years - and that's against the best team in the league rather than most of the scrubs you play in the regular season.
He didn't do it though. You can't achieve something "hypothetically". Lebron is above the regular season? Thinks it doesn't matter? Good for him, nobody is saying Westbrook's MVP is better than Lebron's championship, or Lebron's finals MVP. It's a different trophy for a different achievement. Like the 73-9 by GS, Cleveland won the title and that's what's important, but the regular season award has to go to GS.
Also, "against those scrubs", well everybody is playing against those scrubs, and still nobody did it, including Lebron.
People should differentiate between 'better player', and 'better regular season this year'. And let's please compare real achievements that actually happened, not hypothetical ones.
Also, "against those scrubs", well everybody is playing against those scrubs, and still nobody did it, including Lebron.
People should differentiate between 'better player', and 'better regular season this year'. And let's please compare real achievements that actually happened, not hypothetical ones.
Lakers can't even tank properly.
Looking for a little bit of expertise here. I very loosely follow NBA, but have been totally out of touch recently.
We're heading to San Francisco on 14th May and I'd quite like to visit the Golden State Warriors at the Oracle. We're there for 5 days, does anyone know what opposition they're likely to face?
We're heading to San Francisco on 14th May and I'd quite like to visit the Golden State Warriors at the Oracle. We're there for 5 days, does anyone know what opposition they're likely to face?
Clippers or Jazz if there's a game during those 5 days at the Oracle.
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Do you think Clippers would be a better match?
It won't be a choice of two, it will either be one or the other.
Clippers are dreadful against the Warriors - they've lost their last 9 against them, and most of them by blowouts. Jazz have also lost their last 7 against them, so you're not really going to see a competitive game tbh.
Yeah I know, but I'm presuming the Clippers would win, last time I got involved in NBA they were a decent-ish team. Maybe times have changed. Ah well, least it might be a great atmosphere.
Clippers-Jazz should be competitive
Dubs vs whoever wins that should not
Dubs vs whoever wins that should not
I disagree with him. Don't want to talk about him personally because his analysis is always centred around an attempt to put Lebron in a better light, and in this case all hardcore Lebron fans are trying to belittle the triple double because Lebron was expected to be the player to do it but he failed, so now of course it's "not important, who cares".
My answer to these people: in reality, the triple double is a big deal in the NBA. It's pointless to argue "but why, because round numbers? ...etc.) because all of that is retrospective analysis. The triple double is an established milestone in our age, and it is one that is very difficult to achieve in a single game, let alone average one for a season. It's a bar that has been set long before this season, and Westbrook has cleared it, you're not gonna move the bar now that somebody you don't like has cleared it.
All the other arguments are also weak imo:
- But he has the perfect team for him to do it: Well he didn't ask Durant to leave and leave him and his franchise for dead. Beside countless players were in the same situation, even Lebron had many years in Cleveland where he was the whole team, but still no player could do it.
- But he's shooting a low percentage, and a lot of turnovers: Well Harden is only shooting a little bit better (Precisely Westbrook is shooting 42.39% and Harden is shooting 43.99%, so the difference is less than 1.6%, and it's not like Harden is clearing any bar with his under 44% shooting). As for the turnovers, Harden is number one in the league with most turnovers per game!
- But he's not guarding his man, he's padding his stats...etc.: One stats answers all that. They're 32-9 when he gets a triple double. They're +11 and he's taking a bad team to the playoffs single handedly. He's not hurting his team to get these triple doubles. Stop digging deep in the stats just to find something to justify your inability to accept giving it to him. "he's leaving his man open", but they're winning! He must be doing something more important right (which you're hiding) for his team to have such a record. Besides, it's not like Harden is known for his defence.
And apart from the triple double, there many other things that makes Westbrook deserve the MVP this year. His clutch performances, he's leading the league in scoring, taking a bad team to the playoffs, reviving a franchise after Durant left them for dead (you can't underestimate how important Westbrook has been for the OKC fans and their franchise this season), how hard he plays every game, the fact that he played in every single game in the regular season this year... He just had an unbelievable (historic) season individually and it reflected positively on his team. In ten years we won't remember what Harden or Lebron or Kawaai did in the regular season this year, but we'll be talking about Westbrook's season for years to come.
Also, the MVP trophy is not "who's the best player in the league generally". It's who had the most spectacular and effective regular season this year. In my opinion, it's Westbrook, by some clear margin now.
(By the way my post is directed at those analysts obviously, not you
With no horse in this race between any MVP candidate, I appreciate both sides of the argument, and for once I think no choice is wrong. Storyline-wise, it's been one of the best regular seasons I can recall.
Lillard was ridiculous last night. 59 points with 9 three-pointers, second highest scorer had 12 points and he pulled us through the game on a night when Crabbe could not play and we only had 2 players coming from the bench, and CJ went 4-20 from the field. Incredible. Playoffs spot virtually confirmed now!
I agree that there are two sides of the argument here.
One is that he is leading the league in points, and is averaging a triple double. Kind of impressive to be fair, only an another player in the league history has done it.
The other is that since when we cared about point guards making rebounds. Or that Russ is leading the league in uncontested rebounds (over 8 uncontested rebounds). Or that despite that he is leading the league in points, he isn't in top 100 players in accuracy, and from all 71 leaders since NBA started, he is on 62nd position in accuracy that is kind of terrible. Or that he is a bad defender. Or that he is second in turnovers in the league. I mean, for each point about him being MVP, there is a counterpoint.
I think that it will be either him or Harden, there isn't much difference between them, and whoever wins it, it's a correct decision. But bar statistics, he really isn't one of the best performers in the history of the league. I think that James was better in all of his 4 MVP seasons (and some more), Kobe at his best was better, same about Duncan, McGrady in 2003, Shaq at his best, Curry last season, and so on.
I mean, even if he wins MVP, I would guess that having the choice to choose any player in the league, the vast majority of managers would go with LeBron, Curry/Durant, Kawhi and then Russ/Harden. He's probably the fifth/sixth best player in the league, having impressive stats because he is surrounded by average players (and there could be made a decision to death while all those top players left him).
MVP? Probably deserved.
Best player in the league? Absolutely no. LeBron is a level (or two) above anyone else, and then Curry, Durant and Kawhi are a level above him.
One of the best in history? Are you drunk?
I listened to a portion of an interview last night where Oscar Robertson was being asked about his triple double season and did he have any hard feelings about only finishing third in the MVP voting after such an accomplishment. He replied that he didn't even know that he'd done it until about 15 years later when the NBA went back and retroactively figured out the stats for that season. He said back then the only thing that mattered was wins and losses and the MVP was usually chosen from the best team, hence Bill Russell won that year. I suppose we really have got to the point where "it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game."
And it should be that way. In fact, I have no idea why there isn't a single MVP award, that takes into the account the entire season.
And well, neither triple doubles, not the rebounds for point guards mattered until this season. People never even mentioned them. I mean, how ridiculous it sounds 'point guard X is awesome, he makes all those rebounds', where by default, almost all of those rebounds are uncontested ones.
It is a good statistical stat, but I don't see how a player that plays for the tenth or so best team in the league is having 'one of the best seasons in the history of the league'. No, he isn't. He is just surrounded by a lot of duds (because all the best players couldn't play with him) and takes 300 more shots than any other player in the league (with a bad efficiency), has the ball more in his hands than any other player in the league, and his centers don't even jump to get rebounds in order to allow him to get them. He's a very good player (top 5 - top 6 in the league) but that's it IMO. Just an another Iverson and Anthony, great player, but other great players won't want to play with him and he will win feck all (in terms of trophies) in his career.
Westbrook is having a phenomenal season and it is impressive that he is doing something that has not been done in a long time. But, Stephen Curry had a more impressive season last year and Chris Paul has had more impressive seasons in the past.
Cleveland "supermarket" Cavaliers. No defense whatsoever.