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Never played anything but pick-up. I knew at a very young age that I did not have the necessary genes to play with a lot of my friends.
But, in gym class, we were tested on it. I was ~70%
According to BB-REF, they have had the easiest schedule so far by a decent margin.
I'm not letting this get buried at the bottom of a page. It helps 6 of those 7 are at home.
EDIT: And what a time to catch the Magic. What a mess (Hollinger talked about them today).
EDIT 2: I can't believe Larry Hughes is on the Magic.
Didn't know there was one. People have talked about Sessions a lot in the LakerLand blogosphere, but the conversations usually end when people remember that Dan Gilbert owns the Cavs. But perhaps that is not actually a factor.
this...may not go well.
STOP THAT!
I was probably in the ~65-70% range when I played all the time (high school). Though I've started playing pickup again over the past year, what little shooting touch I had seems to have left me in the intervening 10-12 years, and I'd bet I'd be closer to 50% (maybe worse) now.
A shame we can't have some sort of thread pickup game.
Abbott and Kobe should get a room already. It's clear he loves the guy.
Note how the players don't say "I wish we could get paid less" right afterwards. I know he thinks the players are basketball playing baboons, but they're smart enough to know that less games = less money.
Hmmm, that's not a very Rose-like comment. And yep, Deng and Rip are both out.
He's a pretty fun announcer to listen to.
Bryant does quite well in crunch time--as I said, feeds the bigs a couple of times, and when he does shoot, takes advantage of the matchups berg noted and gets into his range for pretty good looks inside of 15' and sticks them, rather than clanking 22-footers off the dribble. Struggling Lakers get a win on the road.
James has a bad day in crunch time at home against the team (which is shorthanded and missing the guy who usually checks James) the Heat must beat to reach their goal--misses a couple of heroshots, misses a couple of FTs. Heat wins anyway, but James looks bad enough that in this thread, which is mostly blissfully free of pointless Jamesbashing, a couple of people comment on it.
Abbott's take:
None of it means all that much.
None of it means all that much.
These guys have to do it in the playoffs like Abbott's favorite Chris Paul has.
anyway, that little run at least broke the sixers cherry w/r/t games decided by fewer than 27 points.
and with the win, they've now beaten the 3 teams they're most likely to play in the first round of the playoffs (indiana, atlanta, and orlando).
really looking forward to playing the bulls on wednesday. that should be a hell of a game.
EDIT: and while I do not like how Harris has played this year, Corbin is insane with his love of Watson. Watson came off the bench with like 4 minutes left in the 1st and is still in with the half about over.
the sixers beat the wizards three times in the last 3 weeks by a combined 64 points. but, by all means, chicago's squeaker was much, much more impressive.
But since he plays on the Blazers he leaves the game in pain grabbing his knee.
Jazz shot horribly, but outrebounding your opponent 51 to 37 (and 18 OREB to 5) makes up for a lot. Aldridge was on fire in the 3rd quarter, but pretty much non-existent the rest of the game. Credit to Hayward too. He came out before anyone else during halftime to practice his shot, and he scored 12 in the 2nd half, had a huge block in transition, then grabbed the ball on Miles' missed FT with a couple seconds left.
EDIT: And another one. Durant evacuates.
Wow the Knicks have one guy the same tier as Chris Paul and another the same tier as Pau Gasol and another on the has be to mentioned list. Sounds like an awesome team! If only they also had Tyreke Evans or Monta Ellis! Good thing they don't have bum like Paul Milsapp!
I looked at his numbers. As usual with Bargs, they're sort of superficially decent, but pretty similar to the rest of his career. Then I scrolled down to PER--he's listed with a 22.5 PER. Huge improvements over, say, two years ago, where his numbers look really similar, with the exception of adding 3 FTAs per game. 3 FTA attempts and makes per game is enough to vault a guy from joke to stud?
Really?
And, if you have a team in the 8 spot that is actually pretty good, like last year's Grizzlies, and a balanced conference, like the West, it appeals to me even less.
holy smokes, the sixers played washington three times in their first seventeen games?? and three times in the span of ten days? haha
Please STFU.
The Sixers D was impressive last night until they stopped playing hard with 5 minutes left. Orlando had 49 points with about 5 minutes left in the game. I don't care that Orlando was missing Nelson and struggle offensively. To the Magic's credit they scored 20 points in the last 5 and change to make it a nail biter.
Not the 6ers.
I think this is horribly overstated. I'm sure there are some that fit into this category.
the sixers beat the wizards three times in the last 3 weeks by a combined 64 points. but, by all means, chicago's squeaker was much, much more impressive.
If all we're going to do is look at the final score, how the hell did the Sixers struggle with the Magic last night? They only won by 5 against a team that's losing by 20 points a game the last week plus. This is a dumb statement, even by your standards.
Snark aside, the Wizards are a different team with Wittman so far. They still suck, but they're trying harder. It was quite the noticeable difference from the first time they played the Bulls and JLIII drank Wall's milkshake. After the Bulls got up 20+, the Wiz started pressing and the Bulls got sloppy. It wasn't the ideal finish, but did highlight a Bulls weakness - lack of ballhandlers. Korver played 44 minutes at SG last night, and he can barely dribble. When they were able to force the ball out of Rose's hands, it got interesting. The Bulls will likely be without Deng and Rip again tomorrow night, so Philly should press - they've got the legs and the athletes to cause the Bulls all sorts of problems. The game obviously means more to Philly, they still need a win to make people other than steagles notice them.
LeBron's dunk over Lucas 3 isn't getting enough praise.
It did on Sunday. After the game, when Lisa Salters asked him about it, said something about how Lucas wasn't that short. He's listed at 5'11", which isn't short for the general population. But in reality, that means he's either 5'8" or 9". So impressive, but still, he's one of the shortest guys in the league (Nate Robinson is shorter for sure, not sure anyone else is, assuming Earl Boykins isn't around anymore).
Just to be clear, and I'm sure you'll agree, jumping over one of the shortest guys in the league to receive and covert a lob is still fairly impressive.
after the first couple weeks, i'm pretty much considering anything within 20 as being a squeaker. hopefully that doesn't become a blueprint for how to play the sixers in the last 5 minutes. this team really needs to start hitting its ####### FTs.
Rose is averaging 6.6FTAs a game this year, down from 6.9 last year (but that really was much higher in the 2nd half of the year - it was over 8 in March/April and even higher in the playoffs)*. Last 3 games have been 10, 14, and 15, so it's trending up again. As has been mentioned elsewhere, the Bulls are one of the best offensive teams this year (they're now 4th if ORtg behind Den, Mia and OKC). So while there's a chance there's something else beyond aesthetics there with you, I will admit the Bulls aren't thrilling me with their offense this year even though there's been measurable improvements. They still have dry stretches, which are always tough to watch. And there isn't another player on the Bulls besides Rose who's "fun" to watch. So if you don't like watching Rose, I can see how painful watching the Bulls would be.
*ESPN's leaders isn't updated for yesterday yet, but he is among the league leaders even if he trails the top guys by a lot.
Contender Watchability Rankings
1. MIA
2. DEN
3. LAC
4. OKC
5. LAL
6. CHI
7. DAL
EDIT: After averaging .6 BPG as a rookie and recording 0 in his first 4 games this year, Blake Griffin hasn't gone more than 1 game without a block since and is averaging 1.14 BPG in those last 14 games including 8 in the last 3. Not saying this necessarily means anything, but I thought it was interesting given some of the early discussion re: his limitations as a defender. Also, post moves are still super rough, but boy can he jump.
Heh.
the team is 15-6, so it's not exactly like i'm sweating them finishing above .500. it's just that i want them to do more than just finish with a pretty record, and i think these deficiencies repeatedly showing up is mildly concerning.
Absolutely, I don't mean to imply ineffectiveness- they're very good, and Rose, specifically, is very good. It's just not my bag.
On the trend upwards in his free throws- it's obviously fair to point out that Deng has been out recently, which probably has an impact on those numbers.
That might be some of it, but given how quick the turnaround has been between Rose acknowledging he hasn't been aggressive enough and Rose taking a ton of FTs has been over the last couple seasons...I think it's mostly just Rose. Sometimes he falls into bad habits (avoiding contact) but when he recognizes it he immediately corrects it. Really impressive.
i'd just like to point out that basketball reference has the sixers at a 28% chance of winning the eastern conference and a 16% chance of winning the NBA finals.
Again, I'll point out Indiana was without Granger and Hill. Altanta was without Horford. Orlando was without Nelson and Richardson (and in the middle of some sort of tragic slump). I believe Philly was without Hawes in the ATL and ORL games.
How you feel about Philly as an actual contender depends on how much weight you put on scoring margin. They are absolutely destroying the terrible teams. They haven't had many chances to beat real teams, so there's only so much they can do about not beating a good team yet. It's a good sign to consistently win big, but how much does it really mean? As steagles pointed out before the year, they have a built-in advantage for this particular regular season - young, deep, and a history together. So that's part of why they're looking good most games. No one knows if that'll translate to the playoffs yet, but no one really expects the ECF to be anyone but Miami and Chicago (the best way for that to not happen is for Philly to get the 1 seed).
I, for one, am waiting for Ray to let me know it is a lock before I start setting aside money for playoff tickets.
That's a great point. Everything we know about scoring margin empirically is based on a system that we're not using this year. It might be more or less valuable, it might even be exactly the same, but we have no way to know, so those empirical models are no very applicable.
1. MIA
2. DEN
3. LAC
4. OKC
5. LAL
6. CHI
7. DAL
(Checks standings)
Is Denver really a contender? They are deep, and they are a good team - but they really seem like the epitome (along with Philly) of the type of team that will succeed in the regular season (this season in particular) but doesn't have the front line talent they will need to get through at best more than a round of the playoffs unless they catch some serious breaks. I felt this way last year as well. I guess they are contenders in the sense that they will finish with a very good record and be a tough out for anyone they play in the postseason - but I don't think they have any real chance at making the Finals, let a lone winning the whole thing. To me, a contender is a team that can win the title. I don't see how Denver could possibly win the title this year as currently constructed. YMMV.
That said, they are fun to watch.
Agree that Chicago, while effective as hell, is often boring to watch. Rose does have his moments - his body control is really something to behold - but, as Moses pointed out and seems to agree with, there isn't another interesting player to a non-Bulls fan on that roster.
i'd just like to point out that basketball reference has the sixers at a 28% chance of winning the eastern conference and a 16% chance of winning the NBA finals.
Well, let's not start sucking each other's ***** just yet.
interestingly, if the sixers finish from anywhere from the 3-6 seeds, the three teams they're most likely to face are indiana, atlanta, and orlando.
there were actually 5 parts to that. they're young and deep, but they're also very experienced, very athletic, and they have the whole continuity thing going for them.
this season is basically perfectly set up for them to make a huge run.
REGULAR season.
We have essentially no idea if that will translate at all to the playoffs or if we go back to the regular postseason secret sauce.
Vucevic was out for ORL too (well, he dressed but DNP). The Sixers beat the Magic with Tony Battie, Elton Brand and Lavoy Allen taking turns on Dwight Howard. Brand was surprisingly effective.
i think that's selling him short. he's been really stout for them in the post when he's been given the task. but last night was one of his most impressive performances.
A lot of it comes down to narrative, but for context:
Win Shares
1. LeBron James-MIA 5.1
2. Kevin Love-MIN 4.4
3. Derrick Rose-CHI 3.5
4. Tyson Chandler-NYK 3.5
5. LaMarcus Aldridge-POR 3.4
Win Shares Per 48 Minutes
1. LeBron James-MIA .329
2. Kevin Love-MIN .257
3. Ryan Anderson-ORL .254
4. James Harden-OKC .252
5. Derrick Rose-CHI
Player Efficiency Rating
1. LeBron James-MIA 33.3
2. Kevin Durant-OKC 26.9
3. Kobe Bryant-LAL 26.6
4. Kevin Love-MIN 26.1
5. Paul Millsap-UTA 25.5
Simple Ratings for some top guys
James- 15.8
Love- 8.5
Kobe- 12.8
Durant- 13.6
Howard- 12.3 (Anderson- 14.8)
Rose- 8.3
Paul- 10.0
Millsap- 10.4
Aldridge- 12.2
The pick the Knicks gave to the Rockets in the T-Mac deal is Top 5 protected for '12 with Houston retaining the rights to our first round pick through like '16 or so. Am I correct in understanding that that means if the Knicks get a Top 5 pick they do get to keep that pick and, Houston then retains the rights to our next first round pick until '16?
EDIT: Pretty sure I'm right now that I wrote it out. Commence tanking.
The Kobe to Simmons' Abbott.
I'll admit, my opinion comes largely from reading about Rick Barry's experiences with NBA players. They are mind-boggling.
There were no Lakers or Celtics questions on this list; we will see what he comes up with tomorrow. I am sure NJ will link both it and tomorrow's Abbott post for us.
I also wanted to note that the way Paul runs that sequence on which Griffin got the throwdown over Perkins was, in its subtle way, as impressive as the dunk itself.
I can't tell if this is a burn or not.
Heh. Neither a burn nor a nonburn. No one forces me to click on Abbott and Simmons and complain about them.
Do you consider it a burn when the crazy man on the street corner yells at the voices in his head?
I've never gotten the Rick Barry thing. (Actually, I get Rick Barry's thing. I don't get why people agree with him.) I know science has shown that the underhanded angle is more forgiving, and science is never wrong, but the argument largely seems to come down to "Rick Barry shot free throws underhanded and he was really good at it."* Well, Rick Barry was also really good at shooting jumpers, and he had two sons who were among the NBA's best shooters. It strikes me as likely that Rick Barry's success at the free throw line was more due to his being Rick Barry than his choosing to shoot underhanded.
Also, I don't know why, but it seems odd to refer to him as "Barry" as opposed to by his full name.
*And also Wilt Chamberlain shooting underhanded for like two weeks or something.
But the fact is they haven't tried it. Science has indicated that it works, and experience has indicated that it works. In my job, or any aspect of life, if I stink at a task, and not only do I not exhaust every method that has shown to be successful by science and experience, but in fact I thumb my nose at them--then I'm either arrogant, lazy or both.
It may be that Rick Barry was so naturally gifted that his style wouldn't work for others. But to dismiss it because that might be true is nuts. That's like saying nobody should even attempt Tiger Woods's swing because he's so gifted that it would therefore be futile.
I'd say it's more like saying it's not worth it to try to throw like Chad Bradford because it's very unlikely to work. Not every washout pitcher tries to submarine, or throw a knuckleball before quitting, and we don't rake them all over the coals for it.
but, something else that i noticed (and it was talked about prior to the season) is that the clippers are tied for 4th in turnover % this season, after ranking dead last in 2010-11. that's a fairly significant turnaround.
Right, but they aren't increasing their team's chances of losing by not pitching differently (they'll get demoted well before that). Dwight Howard and Blake Griffin do lower their team's chances by being such horrible free throw shooters.
But, I came to accept long ago that a) they will never try underhanded because of the mocking they'll get from the media and players and b) usually they come up with better excuses to justify behavior - "He's got big hands" or "He hurt his arm as a kid" or something like that.
That's Chris Paul. He's very valuable.
________________________
I'm basically burnt out already on this season. Deng and Rip's injuries have put a damper on my excitement and essentially it's back to "Derrick Rose and 4 other guys hustling". I'm ready for April, bring on the end of the season.
I think it's stupid Deng opted not to have surgery. He could have had the surgery, got his legs back for a month in April, and been 100% for the playoffs. Now I have a feeling this damn thumb is limit his effectiveness all year.
_________________
On a side note, I saw NBA2k11 for $7 at my local used record place, and picked it up. What an amazing game. I am seriously addicted to "my player" mode. The presentation in that game is unreal, there are many times during gameplay where it feels like I am really playing an NBA game. I would compare it to Fifa in that regard, maybe it's not 100% simulation, but when it gets it right, it gets it right and you are hooked.
Anyone with NBA2K12? I've heard mixed reviews compared to '11, is it worth picking up?
It kind of reminds me of John Daly saying that he would lose the timing of his swing if he lost weight. It's also similar to an elite golfer who can't putt. Do they all try belly putters?
I do not mean to say that all of these guys should refuse to try underhand free throws. In fact, I have always thought it would be a good experiment for a guy like Dwight. Still, I am in the skeptical camp in which I think the presumption ought to be that it will not make a bad shooter a good one. It might happen, but I won't bank on it.
Often times the guys that really struggle are more suffering from a mental block as opposed to something physical, I wouldn't be surprised if many of the guys that are poor during game make them just fine during practice.
They also might be guys that can't consistently make a 15 ft shot in any circumstance, they just lack the skill, but get by because their play to close the basket is so good. These guys would benefit for working on both their regular shots and FTs and it would seem like keeping the techniques similar for each would like make things easier for them.
Same tier as Carmelo Anthony.
I played with a Club Pro once who was a very good golfer, but could never score (putt) well enough to be competitive professionally (according to him, of course.) He was explaining to me that he had just played with an older guy who used a bizarre putter and putting stance that the Pro had not seen before. The old guy would stand facing the hole, ball at the side of his feet, and use kind of a side saddle approach with a long putter that was bent at mid-shaft. Almost like he was sweeping with a bent broom. I asked the Pro if it worked for the old guy and he said it did. I asked him if he tried it, he said no. He explained, only half-kidding, that he was afraid it would work, and if it did, he wouldn't be able to live with the fact that he would still never used that approach himself. The putting style was just too ridiculous for a player to admit he needed it.
Culture is a big deal in any profession. The sports world does not appear to be an exception. Just the opposite I think.
On the brighter side of that same issue is the fact that coaches usually don't send in scrubs to intentionally injure opposing stars, or similar bits of "unacceptable" behavior that we chalk up to the portion of cultural pressure often called "sportsmanship."
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