If OKC makes it up to 7 and Durant is really shut down. Grizz would probably win in 5. Four if Ibaka is out.
By jjasperIf OKC makes it up to 7 and Durant is really shut down. Grizz would probably win in 5. Four if Ibaka is out.Possibly. We're a different team than in the past though. We're pretty damn prolific on offense now with Kanter, Augustin, and Morrow. The Grizz won't be able to sag off Perk and make things as hard on Westbrook as in the past, and we have the shooters to stretch the floor better too.
This next game in Memphis will be interesting, especially since we'll be without Ibaka.
If Serge is healthy in the playoffs I really think we could pull the upset.
Yeah I really don't see it and I have been pretty down on this team. No one makes Westbrook turn into Westbrick like Memphis. We just have too many good perimeter defenders and Zach will eat Kanter alive and no one to defend Gasol. Also Ibaka is worthless half the time against the Grizz cause he can't defend the post and Gasol makes him have to defend the elbow and not roam.
By jjasperYeah I really don't see it and I have been pretty down on this team. No one makes Westbrook turn into Westbrick like Memphis. We just have too many good perimeter defenders and Zach will eat Kanter alive and no one to defend Gasol. Also Ibaka is worthless half the time against the Grizz cause he can't defend the post and Gasol makes him have to defend the elbow and not roam.We'll see. We're a lot harder to defend than we have been in the past because of personnel upgrades.
By jjasperBut you are also worse on defense.Did Memphis get an offense all of a sudden while I wasn't looking?
By KingGondoThey are tied with Houston at 13th in the league.. so , not bad.By jjasperBut you are also worse on defense.Did Memphis get an offense all of a sudden while I wasn't looking?
OKC is 12th.
Kanter's man defense isn't the terrible thing.. so its not so much the Randolph matchup that is scary (i mean it still is). It's his pick and roll defense that sucks.
Zach Lowe on Durant:
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/we-need-to-talk-about-kevin-on-life-without-durant-for-the-oklahoma-city-thunder/
The Thunder will put on a brave face. They will say they are confident, that they look forward to the opportunity — how’s that for reframing? — to show Durant that they’re the team for him. But don’t let the false bravado fool you. They know Durant leaving is in play. They know the cap landscape. They were the loudest non-Philly voice against lottery reform, whipping up a frenzy of small-market panic. They traded future first-round picks for Dion Waiters and Enes Kanter in separate deals, and though those players are young and the picks protected, those are the sort of win-now moves the Thunder hadn’t engaged in until this season. They are the mark of a team that knows time is precious — that failure today carries a scary downside that is no longer so far in the distance.
Still, the Thunder are right to be confident in their campaign to keep Durant. The James Harden trade hasn’t worked, and was probably not even financially necessary, but the rush to bury the Thunder as the NBA’s tragic unfulfilled champions has always been premature — and sometimes unseemly.
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/we-need-to-talk-about-kevin-on-life-without-durant-for-the-oklahoma-city-thunder/
By diehardWhich metric are you going by? Can't get the teams to line up that way on Basketball Reference.By KingGondoThey are tied with Houston at 13th in the league.. so , not bad.By jjasperBut you are also worse on defense.Did Memphis get an offense all of a sudden while I wasn't looking?
OKC is 12th.
Kanter's man defense isn't the terrible thing.. so its not so much the Randolph matchup that is scary (i mean it still is). It's his pick and roll defense that sucks.
I'm not even predicting we'd win the series, but I think people (and Jasper specifically) are underestimating how much we've transformed offensively since the all-star break.
By RBKSo KD to Houston is basically confirmed(assuming the foot injury is actually curable)?
Has there been any chatter, at all, that he wants to go to HOU?
By diehardBy KingGondoThey are tied with Houston at 13th in the league.. so , not bad.By jjasperBut you are also worse on defense.Did Memphis get an offense all of a sudden while I wasn't looking?
OKC is 12th.
Kanter's man defense isn't the terrible thing.. so its not so much the Randolph matchup that is scary (i mean it still is). It's his pick and roll defense that sucks.
Not sure season long offensive data matters with this OKC team. Too much change to suggest what happened in November and December is any indication of where they're at now.
By RBKThere's hasn't been much of any chatter really.
We do have James Harden though.
Anytime you can join a guy who left your franchise over 1 million a year you gotta say yes.
By KingGondoWhich metric are you going by? Can't get the teams to line up that way on Basketball Reference.ESPN has sortable ORtg here
I'm not even predicting we'd win the series, but I think people (and Jasper specifically) are underestimating how much we've transformed offensively since the all-star break.
http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/teamstats
Look at that ridiculous pace that the Jazz play with. Makes Paul Westhead blush.
By Vahagnanytime you choose to pay kendrick perkins over a potential mvp candidate, you gotta do it.By RBKThere's hasn't been much of any chatter really.
We do have James Harden though.
Anytime you can join a guy who left your franchise over 1 million a year you gotta say yes.
But the wins, especially the recent ones, haven’t been convincing, mostly because the Thunder cannot guard anyone. They’re 24th in points allowed per possession since the All-Star break.
The starting lineup, featuring Andre Roberson and the Kanter/Steven Adams combo, is scoring just 92.5 points per 100 possessions — about equivalent to Philadelphia’s league-worst offense.
Oklahoma City is allowing 109 points per 100 possessions with Kanter on the floor, even worse than the league’s worst defense.
OUCH
By diehardThat's what I was going by too. Basketball Reference has Memphis 14th, right behind Houston.By KingGondoWhich metric are you going by? Can't get the teams to line up that way on Basketball Reference.ESPN has sortable ORtg here
I'm not even predicting we'd win the series, but I think people (and Jasper specifically) are underestimating how much we've transformed offensively since the all-star break.
http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/teamstats
Pretty close regardless.
Also, we're averaging the most points in the league since the all-star break, and we've only had KD for 5 of those games iirc.
By KingGondoThat's what I was going by too. Basketball Reference has Memphis 14th, right behind Houston.
Pretty close regardless.
Also, we're averaging the most points in the league since the all-star break, and we've only had KD for 5 of those games iirc.
The starting lineup, featuring Andre Roberson and the Kanter/Steven Adams combo, is scoring just 92.5 points per 100 possessions — about equivalent to Philadelphia’s league-worst offense.
Bruh.
Sometimes I wonder, should the Jazz really play at a glacier slow pace? Then I see Trey Burke try to run a fast-break and I'm like, yes, yes they should.
By reiloWhat you posted doesn't contradict what I did.By KingGondoThat's what I was going by too. Basketball Reference has Memphis 14th, right behind Houston.
Pretty close regardless.
Also, we're averaging the most points in the league since the all-star break, and we've only had KD for 5 of those games iirc.The starting lineup, featuring Andre Roberson and the Kanter/Steven Adams combo, is scoring just 92.5 points per 100 possessions — about equivalent to Philadelphia’s league-worst offense.
Bruh.
Our starting lineup only gets about 6 minutes per game (which would lead you to question why it's our starting lineup, but Brooks gonna Brooks).
We are averaging 111.2 points per game since the all-star break.
By VahagnAnytime you can join a guy who left your franchise over 1 million a year you gotta say yes.Well it only makes sense for Harden to leave.
By reiloThe starting lineup, featuring Andre Roberson and the Kanter/Steven Adams combo, is scoring just 92.5 points per 100 possessions — about equivalent to Philadelphia’s league-worst offense.
Bruh.
Andre Roberson plays like your teammates in MyCareer on Pro difficulty.
By reiloIf YNB hadn't gotten injured in 2013 we probably make the Finals at least.
Not confident in how we would have matched up with Miami again though.
By DiprosalicPG is cleared to play. Insane.I said the day of his accident he would be back before the season was over. toot my own horn
toot toot
By IWMTB19The Pels literally traded Nerlens Noel and Elfrid Payton for JRue Holiday, holy shit.damn.....
By IWMTB19The Pels literally traded Nerlens Noel and Elfrid Payton for JRue Holiday, holy shit.I know people like to shit on OKC and talk about KD leaving... But barring some massive turnaround Davis won't be in New Orleans past his second contract.
They were in prime position to surround Davis with some good young talent (including a Louisiana kid!) and squandered everything to "win now."
Edit: Also forgot that their 2015 first is going to Houston unless it jumps into the top 3. Gave up a lottery pick for the right to overpay (or lose) Omer Asik this summer.
Clowns.
I was out of town due to an unexpected family death (gf's dad died in sleep with literally no warning :/) so I missed any relevant news. What's going on in the NBA? I saw the Spurs beat the shit out of the Hawks and something's going on with Kevin Love and Instagram?
By KingGondoAnd people criticized CP3 for leaving when they'd already let David West go to Indiana. They just have no idea what they're doing, no matter who's in charge apparently. That seems to be a recurring theme in small market teams aside from Memphis and San Antonio.By IWMTB19The Pels literally traded Nerlens Noel and Elfrid Payton for JRue Holiday, holy shit.I know people like to shit on OKC and talk about KD leaving… But barring some massive turnaround Davis won't be in New Orleans past his second contract.
They were in prime position to surround Davis with some good young talent (including a Louisiana kid!) and squandered everything to "win now."
Edit: Also forgot that their 2015 first is going to Houston unless it jumps into the top 3. Gave up a lottery pick for the right to overpay (or lose) Omer Asik this summer.
Clowns.
By KingGondoEdit: Also forgot that their 2015 first is going to Houston unless it jumps into the top 3. Gave up a lottery pick for the right to overpay (or lose) Omer Asik this summer.
Clowns.
By ratcliffjaAnd people criticized CP3 for leaving when they'd already let David West go to Indiana. They just have no idea what they're doing, no matter who's in charge apparently. That seems to be a recurring theme in small market teams aside from Memphis and San Antonio.I'd say we belong in that group as well.
Also, I forgot that the then-Hornets gave up Robin Lopez for the right to pay Tyreke $11 million/year.
The only thing they haven't fucked up is the AD pick, and that was as close to a no-brainer as you can get.
How is your relationship with LeBron?http://deadspin.com/kevin-love-says-his-relationship-with-lebron-is-fine-i-1693148790
A: My… it's fine. It's… it's… You know, we're not best friends. We're not hanging out every day, but we see each other every day whether at the practice facility, whether on the road or going to a game.
Leave, Kevin. Run, far away.
By rodeoclownI did some slaent translations for those in the dark.How is your relationship with LeBron?http://deadspin.com/kevin-love-says-his-relationship-with-lebron-is-fine-i-1693148790
A: My… it's fine. It's… it's… You know, we're not best friends. We're not hanging out every day, but we see each other every day whether at the practice facility, whether on the road or going to a game.
Leave, Kevin. Run, far away.
How is your relationship with LeBron?
A: My… it's fine. It's… it's… You know what? fuck him. I'm not one of his butt-buddies like his bitchmade BFF wade, but I have to see his hair receding bitchassness every other day whether I like it or not.
My… it's fine. It's… it's… You know, we're not best friends. We're not hanging out every day, but we see each other every day whether at the practice facility, whether on the road or going to a game.
This statement is so funny. It basically amounts to him saying "We're teammates" and the part that goes unsaid is "but I hate his ass."
Hayward is probably out tonight. Unless he goes all tough guy again.
We are definitely the worst offense in the league without him so we might actually lose to the Wolves.
We are definitely the worst offense in the league without him so we might actually lose to the Wolves.
By diehardHayward is probably out tonight. Unless he goes all tough guy again.
We are definitely the worst offense in the league without him so we might actually lose to the Wolves.
First team to 65 wins.
Jazz without Hayward vs. the 76ers would be fascinating and terrible.
So PG is coming back to try to push indiana into the playoffs? Or is it just so he can get some burn before the season is over?
Remember when Bill Simmons was writing articles and going on Grantland podcasts suggesting that Kevin Love is far and away the best player Lebron's played with? And that Lebron will be able to take Kevin's game to a whole new level and vice versa?
That's prime for a Wade/Bosh/Mo Williams "Simmons how my a** taste" freestyle rap.
That's prime for a Wade/Bosh/Mo Williams "Simmons how my a** taste" freestyle rap.
By VahagnRemember when Bill Simmons was writing articles and going on Grantland podcasts suggesting that Kevin Love is far and away the best player Lebron's played with? And that Lebron will be able to take Kevin's game to a whole new level and vice versa?
That's prime for a Wade/Bosh/Mo Williams "Simmons how my a** taste" freestyle rap.
mo williams? cmon now, lol
Its going to be interesting when Kevin Love leaves the Cav's for LA (Cause another season of stretch 4 and K love isn't going to get a better contract in 2016 anyway)
Once Love is gone that is going to let the cavs have about 18 mil in cap space after cap holds.... possibly 24 if they don't take shumps QO. That is enough for them to make some significant moves in FA.
Once Love is gone that is going to let the cavs have about 18 mil in cap space after cap holds.... possibly 24 if they don't take shumps QO. That is enough for them to make some significant moves in FA.
By diehardHayward is probably out tonight. Unless he goes all tough guy again.thankfully hayward is out, i need wolves to get this W. Still not guaranteed since their tank is strong.
We are definitely the worst offense in the league without him so we might actually lose to the Wolves.