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Haven't they sort of figured things out a little though? They've won 13 of 18 before tonight and of the 5 losses, only losing to Phoenix and getting blown out by the Celtics would count as bad losses in my mind. Hell they still might be able to pull it out tonight. (Actually it looks like OKC's slammed the door while I was writing this. Anyway losing at OKC, even losing by double digits at OKC is not really that big of a mark of shame.)
I honestly don't think the Lakers are that inexplicable any more. What was bizarre about them was not that they weren't as good as they were expected to be, but that they were actively terrible for long stretches of the season. Now they've won some more and will probably finish a bit above .500 and somewhere in the 7-8-9 slot, most likely 8 or 9. While that is a significant underachievement, I don't think it's really that weird given the facts that they are:
1) Old, slow, and not very deep
2) Sort of a weird fitting team
and most importantly 3) Dwight is clearly not right.
I can buy a top-tier talent team being a fringy playoff-type team given the fact that their theoretical best player is basically a shell of his former self and they had a lot of injuries. I know Dwight's box score numbers are still pretty good, but watching him and looking at his Orating/Drating type stats, I think that's a fair enough description.
What was weird is that they were a definite lottery team for a while. Although even then, their point differential was always like 7th in the West and even at their low point I think they had a better winning percentage than basically all of the Eastern Conference non-playoff teams do right now. So the West being a pretty deep and tough conference also played a role in this.
It's still a trainwreck of a season, but it doesn't strike me as being an "I've never seen this before" sort of season like it did earlier. Maybe that's a pretty revisionist view though.
It is trending that way, but it is really not any less inconceivable to see Jazz play at least a little better than .500 ball Lakers go .700 the rest of the way.
The fit stuff is somewhat of an issue; I still think that the two-star platoon system was the way to go (can't really do that with Pau out) with a Kobe/Pau team and a Nash/Howard team.
But the real issue is the D. OKC turns the ball over a bit; last night, they had only 2 TOs, total, and of course scored 71 points in the first half. The Lakers put up 55 points of their own in the first half, and even with all the problems, are comfortably Top 10 in offense. But they are simply too slow on the perimeter on D, and Howard in his current iteration can't cover for enough of it to make up the difference.
I wouldn't bet on their catching Utah, but it can happen, especially since Utah is not a very good defensive team, either.
It has been a meme to point out that D'Antoni's PHX teams were actually pretty good/OK on D, but having watched this team, I think a lot of that was having a prime Shawn Marion and some other jocks. Howard has complained about the Lakers never working on D in practice; Nash made a comment about a lack of a defensive philosophy. They don't seem to make many adjustments on D, and make the same mistakes all the time. A lot of that is not on MDA; Tom Thibodeau could not make this a really good defensive team. But I have not seen many indications that D'Antoni is doing things to try to improve the situation.
From an interview this morning. As a reminder, KC works for the Trib and is kind of a mouthpiece for the org, specifically regarding bad news. So.........
The Jazz are definitely leaving the door wide open, that's for sure. Even with all the tough (k, unwinnable) games coming up this month, I think they'd still be in pretty good shape if they took all the winnable ones, but that isn't happening. 2 of their last 3 losses have come in overtime. They desperately needed those.
If that's truly the case, yes. It's just terrible if it's coming out like this 2 days after Rose sits on the bench for the first time and one day after Thibs calls him "day to day". They've done a poor job of managing expectations if this is true - even giving them some benefit for saying he could miss the year from the start.
I suppose it is possible for Utah to just outright collapse, but it's not something you should bet on.
Also, interseting today, all the Hou / GSW / UTH / LAL plays tonight. given the the former 3 team's seperation is 1 game, we could see a some spot changes tonight.
Also, if Hou win tonight Dallas is essentially completely eliminated.
I'll be scoreboard watching for sure, but with all 4 teams playing against losers (DAL/SAC/CLE/NOH), I'm not expecting any changes in the standings tonight.
Wow, looks like the Jazz is gonna fall, Irving nearly had a triple double! (and he scored like 8 points in the last 2:30 min)
Also, lakers are getting demolished in New Orleans o_O
Houston and Mavs are close at this point.
Which feed are you watching? The Jazz feed showed Millsap clearly had position, but didn't show whether his feet were outside of the restricted area.
Can't believe Jazz are going to blow this one. On the plus side if they miss the playoffs they get a lottery pick, and maybe it makes it more likely Corbin gets canned.
Houston is struggling inside the paint this game but the Mavs are doing them a lot of favors by keep sending them to the line. and they only missed 1 of 15 FT so far. Though Asik does have 3 PF which is a big risk for Houston.
I think it is fairly safe to say that the Lakers are unlikely to make up a 20 point deficit in 12 min.
Also, why is Orlando leading Miami by 1 in the 4th? (look at stats line)
HOLY #### Vucevic ..
Best. Post. Ever.
Best. Post. Ever.
To be fair, if all four of them lose, that doesn't change the standings.
Even Derek Fisher is at 8.7 this year (and 8 last year).
Really killing it with the predictions tonight. 2 point game with 2 minutes to play.
2 GB from Utah now, let's see how the HOU/ GSW games go.
Harden is having a pretty bad shooting night though. 4-14 , but he did hit 9 free throws and have 8 ass
It's just a game and a half. It is two in the loss column though.
I hate to say it, but I think it's not only possible but actually quite likely now that LAL will make the playoffs while the Jazz stay home. A team that blows an 8 point lead with like 2 minutes to go against Cleveland is going in a very different direction than one that comes back from 20 down in the 4th to win on the road (even against the Pelicans).
#### the refs
That's kind of what made me decide that they were probably screwed. I was looking at the schedule and noticed that essentially every road game they have left is against either a playoff team or one of the semi-respectable lottery teams. Given that the Jazz are basically terrible on the road, it is not a pretty picture.
Link
lin and asik out for the entire 4th quarter? when both were doing at least ok, and the subs weren't lighting it up? insane.
btw, i understand riding beverley as the hot hand a few games ago, although i wouldn't have done it b/c i believe you let young starters come back in to keep confidence / make sure they know how to close games. but yesterday was absolutely terrible.
there's players who mchale trusts (harden, parsons, delfino, any guard who looks like they're running fast lie douglas and beverley) and some he doesn't (lin, asik). harden, yup, you want to ride him, and parsons is good...the rest, they haven't shown you they're even starters, so why ride them?
and somehow francisco garcia got 22 minutes in his second game with the rockets. wow.
edit: i realized the common thread between the players who mchale likes - they 'look' like they are good. delfino has a real sweet shot motion, garcia's seemed ok. td/pb look like they are prototypical point guards.
(Despite this, I'm a fan and glad he's finally in the league.)
(Related: did anyone see the Hoop Dreams "sequel" centered on him? Wondering if it's any good...)
Delfino is a completely acceptable player, though.
I don't mean this as a comment on his overall ability, as he's clearly having a decent season.
der k - a little of both. i think beverley has upside, a LOT more than toney douglas. mchale kept trying to make douglas a point guard, and if he talked with any knicks fans, they'd laugh at the idea of that (i watched almost every knicks game the previous couple years, rooting for whoever was playing the knicks). but i don't think there's any reason he should be out there instead of lin unless lin's hurt/sick, or pb has been lights out on offense/defense.
i think the better ones for TO stats are those that base it off of how often you've got the ball, not just a TO/game. there's a weird dichotomy with lin - if he's making turnovers, he's usually playing decent. when he's not, he's usually being way too passive and hurting the team. when mchale had him earlier in the year playing spot up 3 in the corner with harden running the point, that definitely hurt the team - and in that role, i think any other guard would have been better out there, because you've just taken away his best skills. like making asik only shoot the ball from 15 feet and only get rebounds below his waist or something similar.
and, yes, lin can improve his turnovers. he's nowhere near an all star, and is probably the 4th most valuable rocket (behind harden, asik, parsons). but he's got enough flashes of brilliance on actual performance, not how he looks playing.
i've turned this year on howard - i don't know if it's all from the injury, but i wouldn't want him at all with the max. contract. i know his basic numbers are similar to the past couple years with orlando, it just seems that he's aging quicker than expected.
if you want to see a real smile on the face, check our carmelo anthony. if he's smiling during the game, he's either really happy or REALLY po'd. i'm guessing that's the defense mechanism to not pick up a technical - and if so, it's really smart of carmelo to do that.
What has Bosh said that made him look particularly bad? Or was that a dig at his physical appearance? Cuz let's face it, dude is fugly.
Ty Corbin
Vinny Del Negro?
They'll be busy waving goodbye to Millsap and Jefferson. Actually, that wouldn't be such a bad thing if they got a real PG who their coach will play coming in.
For one, I think it was easier to hide him with Westbrook, Sefolosha, and Durant playing around him. For another, Morey did a ton of media during Sloan and always said that they lean so heavily on Harden offensively that he has little in the tank for defense. That's not a total excuse, and his defense is very concerning to me, but it is interesting to note.
At least Marvin Williams is coming back. Ugh.
Maybe they should ask LDS leadership to send waves of missionaries to Chris Paul? That's probably the only scenario where he'd sign in Salt Lake.
Who else is available? I think Brandon Jennings, Jeff Teague, and Darren Collison are RFA. None of them are that appealing, but I might take a chance on Jennings since he's so young, and the Jazz could really use someone that can create their own shot. I guess Jose Calderon is a possibility, though his defense...
Any good trade targets?
Rondo, maybe?
I can definitely see HOU saying "James, we don't need you playing hard on defense this year." However, I could see him needing to turn that dial back up in the future to make a more successful team. But this year? I'd definitely put on the Harden show.
It's hard to say what the Clippers really want for him. Their management values him a lot more than Del Negro does, but it's hard to say exactly how much. After Paul is resigned he'll probably be more available, because they are worried about his contract situation after the next season, but at the same time if they are serious about contending next year they aren't going to get a better player for the price next year and things will be tight with Griffin's extension and Paul's potential new contract. It's also possible Del Negro isn't back next year and whatever new coach they bring in appreciates him more.
I think a trade with Hayward as a main piece has potential, but I think the Clipper value Bledsoe a little more to where something else would need to be added. I don't think they would really be interested in Jefferson.
As has been covered, there's little reason to think the Clippers would deal him for Jefferson or Millsap. Favors will probably be expensive like Bledsoe, and his strengths and weaknesses overlap pretty well with Jordan. Kanter might be interesting for them since he can shoot from midrange and could play well with either Griffin or Jordan, but it would take more than Kanter to get Bledsoe.
Agreed. Not only is it not guaranteed that Bledsoe is even better than Hayward to begin with , but this wouldn't solve the Jazz's problems, either. Their problem is that they have a logjam at PF/C, while having no good PG's and only one good wing. This trade would leave them with an even bigger problem at wing without addressing their PF/C problem at all. So yeah, I'd pass on that one.
Yeah that, and because he's actually a nice guy don't help in terms of not getting picked on / made fun of.
Lin: yes his dribble is still pretty blah (also doesn't help that he's kinda tall for a PG), he beats you by exploding past you and he has really nice play making ability / court vision . but the dribble part is an issue for him , if he can improve on that and the whole going left thing, and retain the improvements he made shooting 3s this year (check out his monthly 3pt split)? that's scary. he's still shown plenty of flashes this season of him being able to dominate a game at times. and that's despite playing with Harden who overlap with him a bit too much. if the two can work out a more consistent way to doing things then they're scary as hell.
Beverly : Beverly has some of the same issue Lin does. on the defensive side he tend to over compensate on the ball and blows the rotation. both can be mean 1 on 1 defenders though. Bev doesn't have the same slash ability as Lin though, but do seem to be a better dribbler at this point. it is kinda amazing how a guy like that can not get a job in the NBA. the Jazz certainly could use him nowadays. He's a big time gambler though, even more so than Lin, he tend to always crash the offensive board and that burns them about as often as it helps. (though a new study does show that you probably should have 2 guys crash the board, and it might as well bet he fast guy who still have a chance to get back I guess.)
I guess you can look on the side that this year for the Rockets, the plan was and still is to just let it rip and let the players develop. to this go they've been wildly successful. pretty much everyone on the roster developed including guys riding the bench, guys signed out d-league, and guys declared dead last year (Morris / Douglas), the only guy that you can say isn't doing as well as last year as a whole is Lin, but in more objective context he's improved quite a bit too.
The general argument for McHale yesterday on not using Asik was that they were hacking him and he was Free throwing poorly, but that seems like a pretty poor decision, the Mavs were actually in pretty deep foul trouble yesterday and Dirk fouled out close to the very end, if they just keep Asik in they probably foul themself out of the game anyway even if he keep hitting only half his free throw.
Although, Thomas Robinson looked much better in these 2 games against Dallas.
I don't see it. He's a bottom third starting PG. His 3pt FG% is exactly where it was last year. I think the improving over month is going to be mostly noise. His ability to take over a game is nothing that special other than he's given more of an opportunity to do it than a lot of guys of his caliber. The bottom third of starting PGs and good bench guards can dominate games.
I root for him, and I like him - but his stats over the last 2 years suggest he's a role player. Which is still impressive given nobody expected that.
There is also the context of age and experience. for example him being better than 24 year old Dragic but not 26 year old one . of course everyone develop differently , so that is really hard to say, you have guys like Dragic / Lowry that had a pretty steady upward trend, you have guys like Nash who suddenly became much better later on, you have guys like Jrue Holliday who's improvement seems to be difficult to tell (in terms of per min production) . and you have guys like Deron William who was great almost right away then began to fall back.
So who knows? but there seem to be at least a decent chance that he's more Lowry / Dragic in terms of improvement I'd guess. though Nash type of tragectory obviously isn't the norm. (then again, there also isn't a lot in Lin's game that suggest he's the norm.)
I should also point out that neither one of these teams is really safe from DEN at the moment. DEN's 1 back of MEM and 2.5 back of LAC. I'm pretty sure that DEN's got the tiebreaker on both of those teams after beating the Clips tonight. After playing the Clippers on Wed, the Grizz turn around and play the Nuggets in Denver on Friday, so this could be a pretty big week for the middle of the West.
This little stretch for the Grizzlies is one where they play 6 games in 9 days, all but one on the road. This could go way wrong.
178 - i heard that. if legit, it's pretty awful thinking, and you've cited just some of the reason. plus, the *entire* fourth? i could understand if it was for a part of it, but not the whole thing. and the best way to play a young team is to give them enough time with specific roles that give them enough playing time, yet flexibility for outstanding performance / awful performances. neither in play that game (lin/asik good, beverley/t-rob not amazing).
180 - royce white is playing decent? those last few games of his were atrocious. i've gone from "awesome job by him to be aware of working with his illness and rockets allowing him some freedom" (in october) to dislike of him from all his twitter stuff, his comments towards non-haters (not me, don't even have an acct).
184 - that's jr smith for you. some nights, you'll get a ton of points on a ton of shots. most nights, you'll get a ton of misses. i have seen him make a game winner on a similar kind of sick shot (charlotte?) but it's really not the best play for the end of game.
It's a freakin' rollercoaster over here. I gotta say, it seems to me like the team is pressuring him, now publicly, and he's resisting.
Were you asking about yesterday's subtweet?
A. The bulls are play reasonably well
B. Andrew Bynum makes everyone else looks better
of Rose would be getting a lot more flak than he is now.
of Rose would be getting a lot more flak than he is now.
It's starting, locally at least. Between this today and his brother's comments last week, it's the first time he's really taken any heat here - and heat's too strong of a word. But it's still more than ever before.
EDIT: The "heat" is from people described here:
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