NBA discussion

[SamH]

Hoping a few people want to engage on the NBA as well as the British scene here.

To kick things off, what's been the highlight of the season so far for you? I'm a buzzer beater junky so I'm going with Devonte Graham hitting from 70 feet for the Pelicans to beat the Thunder (despite being a Thunder fan!) right after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit an improbable shot to tie the score. Amazing stuff!

I'd also say Demar DeRozan hitting back to back game winning 3s on new year's eve and new year's Day. Both tough shots and the first person to ever make game winning shots in consecutive games. And as pointed out on PTI, the first person to hit consecutive game winners in different years, something that will probably never happen again!🥳

[Deleted]

I'm just glad the Bulls have found some form and seem to be clicking

[sm11]

I dont watch much NBA nowadays but caught some of the christmas day games as always, just having a glance at the standings now, i would like to see Brooklyn have a good go this year, this i think should be there first big run as Brooklyn, i remember the 2001/02 and 2002/03 New Jersey teams in those Finals and im aware they are the latest team to hoover up together a few of the leagues big guns. Some people dont like that kind of stuff but i like it, i like seeing players thinking about where they can compete rather than where they can get the most money.

The big thing i noticed this year was the 75 year anniversary team. Im aware of the 50 year version in 1996 and this is the latest installments. I have a few disagreements...

1) Not sure on Anthony Davis and Damian Lillards inclusions, now i admit i have not followed a great deal of nba these last 7-8 seasons or so which is where there stints start but for me i dont think they have layed enough of a mark yet. The problem i have with Lillards inclusion that is despite being a fantastic player, has he ever really looked like competing for a championship. I see they were swept in the conference finals in 2018/19 but thats as good as he has done, no mvps, i see just one first team selection. He may get there eventually but a bit early for me. Anthony Davis is now finally competing and becoming relevent but still a little bit more needed for me.

2) Dont agree with re adding Dominique Wilkins. He was supposedly an unfair snub in 1996 but same with Lillard, i dont think he ever competed for championships. He was incredibly exciting but so was Vince Carter for pretty much the same reasons. If you have Dominique Wilkins then you have to have Vince Carter too as he was a better version of him but he was left off too.

3) Tony Parker should absolutely be on this list. 4 championships across a space of 12 seasons, starter in all of them and MVP in one of them

4) Only 2 Europeans and 3 overall internationals in an era when the league supposedly went international. They obviously couldnt leave off Dirk Nowitzki nor Steve Nash and now Giannis has arrived. Like i said Tony Parker should have been an easy inclusion. Pau Gasol could have been in there, maybe Ginobili. Perhaps thats it, a lot of internationals have arrived but only a few have become genuine greats

5) So if i take out Wilkins, Davis and Lillard, I add Parker, but tbf i cant think of any other players that 100% should be in this.

[SamH]

I think with the Nets, it wasn't really the case that the stars all joined together - Irving was traded for as was Harden. Only Durant joined and he left an already dominant Warriors! However, it hasn't been plain sailing so far, they have lost 5 straight at home currently and Irving is only just back and playing road games (that's such a bizarre situation and I am surprised the state of NY hasn't changed its rules yet that would allow him to play at home - after all, it's Kyrie who is most at risk without a vaccination, not anyone else).

As for the 75 team, its funny because last year, the year before, I'd have agreed with Davis and Lillard. But this season they've been poor. Portland absolutely suck, not saying that's Lillard's fault but his game hasn't been what it usually is. Davis has been pretty unexciting this season too. I would definitely put Tony Parker in ahead of them, and probably Pau Gasol - both have achieved a lot whereas Davis and Lillard haven't so far. I wouldn't have Ginobili, he'd be maybe top 100 for me. Your comments on Wilkins were interesting. I wasn't sure but thought he was a top player and not just a dunker (though this is what he is primarily known for). So I checked, and he was a 9 time all star and 7 time all NBA. For 10 straight seasons he averaged over 25ppg and a couple of times over 30ppg. So I personally would have him in over Vince Carter, although I think you can absolutely make a case for VC. Who, also did not ever compete for a championship really. I dont think its always the player's fault that he didn't get that close to a ring. Nash was a victim of circumstances in 2007 with the Robert Horry incident, otherwise the Suns win that title all day long. But he never made it to a final either.

There's a lot of noise that Klay Thompson should be in...again, very difficult. Has he benefitted from being on great teams, or is he a key reason they are great? I can't help but notice the Warriors' record this season with Curry back playing, but Klay not (until yesterday anyway). For me I'd put Tony Parker and Wilkins in ahead of Klay but perhaps Klay instead of Lillard, on account of his championships and historic play alongside Curry, one of the great backcourts of all time.

[erj14]

I think for me it was last night with Klay coming back. I hadn't really given it much thought but decided to stay up last night to watch it (thank god for working from home!), and it ended up being pretty emotional. Really didn't expect him to come out and put two bigs on a poster first game back.

The Warriors have been a great story this year and spending two years integrating younger players in to their system seems to be paying dividends.

It's the polar opposite of what's been done at the Lakers who look awful. If it's true that LeBron has such a huge say in who they sign, it's so strange that probably the best basketball mind of his generation is so bad at surrounding himself with a team that can compliment his talents. He's done it at the Cavs and now in LA. They are such an odd team to watch. I've just seen them get smashed by the Grizzlies last night and it's just such a bad collection of players.

I'm just hoping that Covid is less of an issue for the playoffs as I think there is potential for some great series this year.

I'll try and stay more active in this thread, I've probably watched more NBA this year than any other time in my life.

[sm11]

Ok i stand corrected on the whole Wilkins comments, his numbers are better than i thought, and the all nba teams i didnt realise there were so many. Vince Carters numbers are not quite as good.

I think its a fraction too early for Klay, he has the rings, just needs a few more seasons at the top and hes there. True about Ginobili, he had that fantastic 04-05 season but after that he was a very handy but not an absolute elite player.

Im really liking the Raptors love in on this thread lol.

[SamH]

Did anyone see Game Time tonight? Fantastic feature, celebrating 50 years to the day the Lakers historic 33 game winning streak was ended by the Bucks, complete with interviewing Bob Dandridge about the occasion and footage/stats from the game. Awesome. 🙂

[sm11]

what is this game time tonight, is it some kind of daily or weekly show, can i watch it some how

[erj14]

Jan 10, 2022 22:27:32 GMT sm11 said:

Im really liking the Raptors love in on this thread lol.

They're a super fun team to watch this season. Especially on the defensive end, they're long (apart from Fred) and switch everything. They aren't too far away from being a quality team again.

I love Nick Nurse as well, such a breath of fresh air. He always speaks so highly of his time spent in the BBL, he seems like a really humble guy.

[SamH]

Jan 10, 2022 23:12:19 GMT sm11 said:

what is this game time tonight, is it some kind of daily or weekly show, can i watch it some how

It's on sky sports most days mate, if you have it?

[sm11]

unfortunately i currently dont, sounded like a good history lesson, i love sports history lessons lol

[SamH]

Yeah me too, it was especially great seeing Kareem matching up against Wilt in this one.

But to more recent moments...I hope you all saw THE block by Ja Morant? Play of the season for sure! Hell, wouldn't surprise me if they're watching that play back 50 years from now too! Amazing.

[sm11]

Just looked it up. Its that good a block that it might not even constitute a block, hes grabbing the ball out of the air, is it a steal lol.

[SamH]

That's what someone said on Around the Horn today, that it was more of an interception! Whatever it was, it was amazing. Morant is fast becoming my favourite player and I bet the Grizzlies are glad they drafted him instead of winning the top pick that year to draft Zion, who is looking like being a bit of a Greg Oden so far.

[erj14]

Ja has taken athleticism in the NBA to a whole new level. He scares me sometimes, he's utterly fearless and I'd hate to see him get a bad injury. He's really started to work it all out this year, the Grizzlies are a pleasure to watch at the moment.

[stepback3]

Ive lost a bit of interest in the nba since I had a kid and late night viewing has gone out the window. What i do watch is the games become very samey, 3s and no defence. No wonder LeBron is still able to do what he does when the mould has shifted completely

[SamH]

What's made me, not lose interest, but I struggle to watch full games, is all the breaks and time outs, referee reviews, coaches challenges...I'm sure it never used to be this bad. But that's why I like League pass, the 10 minute highlight packages allow you to watch the best bits and watch more games in the time you have. Or sometimes just the recap videos. I still watch more playoff games in full but it is hard work at times.

But I don't like to complain too much when I think back to the limited coverage we had 20, 25 years ago in this country. Switching on Teletext to get last night's scores, anyone?😱

[stepback3]

Probably got to add atleast 10years to do 😂

[sm11]

I have the same problem as Stepback, having kids has effected all of my sports viewing both on TV and attending. Especially basketball as its a sport that can only truely be appreciated with total concentration and when the kids are constantly distracting you, you end up missing that big dunk or 3, the commentator starts yelling but you missed it because the kids dropped there milk lol. Its why i have perhaps come to appreciate Football more so in recent years which is a sport you can take your eye off for a few moments and still not feel like you have missed anything.

As for the NBA specifically, at times it can feel a bit unreal, too unreal some times, fake even, almost WWE like lol. By that i mean its obviously not fake but there are times when you think are they really trying. I mean you see scores of 135-130 in regulation time and you think are they really that good or are they in fact really not trying on defence at least anyway. You do hear rumours and full on admitions that teams stopped caring about pushing themselves in the regular season and are just getting themselves ready for the play offs. Another thing the fact you cant play zone, or double team etc feels a bit wrong as well, i just feel that as a team you should be able to design your team oriented defensive strategy however you like no matter what the sport. I cant think of any such comparable rule in any sport, but would be interested to see if anyone can think of one.

I watch a Euroleague game and you can tell everyone is doing everything they can to win the game. Same in the BBL. An NBA game does feel bigger, and they feel bigger than Euroleague games now that they have reduced the size of the league and extended the regular season so that every game doesnt matter anymore.

I do like the NBA, and regardless whether its the NBA, Euroleague, Basketball Champions League, BBL etc, they all have there pros and cons. Its probably why I like International Basketball the most because it kind of merges all of Basketballs leagues, cultures and styles.

[SamH]

Well, teams can certainly defend with double teams but I know what you mean - a lot of stuff has changed since the 90s like hand checking, zones, what constitutes a foul etc. But I liked the new rule this year which stops the offensive player from drawing cheap fouls by leaning in - Harden and Young were the main two culprits and it's reduced free throw attempts across the board I believe. But you go back in the day, guys would kick out with their leg while taking a jumper, there's always something and some way they find to be a bit dirty to gain an advantage. Sometimes I admire the creativity!

I don't watch European ball really but when I have done, or like certain countries in the Olympics, its a completely different style of play. Less athletic but a lot sharper in terms of the fundamentals - passing, spacing, moving without the ball and of course shooting (I don't mean from 3). I don't know if any other sport is so diverse in terms of how varied not only the rules can be, but the style of play, from one part of the world to another.