NBA Dec 2015 | Josh Smith Appreciation Thread

By reilo Go To PostHe's 8 attempts shy of attempting more threes than he did all of his rookie year. I'll buy that it's him shooting above his level, but given that his coach was Monty during the New Orleans stint, I'm gonna guess that he was discouraged from taking threes, so it's kinda hard to extrapolate his development of it. New Orleans were ranked dead last in 3PA in 2012, bottom 7 in 2013, and second to last in 2014 in attempts.

If he finished league average three point shooting at 3.5-4 attempts per game, I think that would be wonderful from him.

Oh, sure, it could be real. But people need to be really cautious about extrapolating too much from three point percentage. It takes a long time to stabilize (I think multiple seasons for most players) and as a result the way you have to approach regression with 3P% is a lot closer to baseball statistics like batting average than NBA watchers are used to. That's part of what makes what Curry is doing so crazy, we have the sample size to think it's not a fluke.

Bledsoe out for the season.

Not sure how much his knees have left. Feels like he's moving to Eric Gordon physical status.

Bledsoe out rest of the season after meniscus surgery.

Sounds like they're doing right by Bledsoe and their tank.

revving up the tank engine

By Moris Go To PostBledsoe out rest of the season after meniscus surgery.

Sounds like they're doing right by Bledsoe and their tank.

The stupid part is, the Suns AREN'T tanking.

They're trying to make a playoffs push.

It's why Hornackes job is on the line.

Just Sarver idiocy.

And this means Bledsoe misses another 3/4 of a season of development, which he REALLY can't afford. His contract is looking worse and worse.

Saw the MJ intro for kobe, pretty cool.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/michael-jordan-records-tribute-to-kobe-for-lakers-hornets-intros-012924405.html

Why does Jordan always look like he is/was crying?

Suns are 12-21 and it ain't even 2016 yet. Tank season just starting Giri, buckle up dawg.

By 3SidedPolygons Go To PostJVG is always rumored and never takes the job. Outside of him, what makes you think anyone else would be doing a better job than Derek is? the team plays hard, Melo's playing defense for the first time ever, and no one can shoot straight all year.

Besides which, 10,000 hours and all. No one is going to come in and learn the offense at the same level of mastery as someone like Fish that ran it for over a decade.

Malone/Gentry/Kidd/Karl/Snyder/Hornacek

Are all coaches that have gotten a lot of praise on this forum and all of them have similar or worse records than this Knicks team. Some are failing spectacularly.

Fish is one of the worst game coaches I have seen and that includes Scott

Horny knows the triangle and could run it easy

By blackace Go To PostFish is one of the worst game coaches I have seen and that includes Scott

Horny knows the triangle and could run it easy

on top of that, all of those coaches have dealt with significant injuries while the knicks have been healthy as fuck lol

So they decided to repair it. Better for him in the long-term, in the short-term rip Suns' playoff aspirations.

By Moris Go To PostSuns are 12-21 and it ain't even 2016 yet. Tank season just starting Giri, buckle up dawg.

I think you've forgotten what tank means.

They're way too far ahead of the teams actually tanking. And they're actively trying to win games. I fully expect a win now trade to happen soon too.

It's going to be a BAD season though.

nba scout said skal might barely get run for UK anymore this season

his minutes have been dropping faster than Alex Poythress' did lol

By DY_nasty Go To Poston top of that, all of those coaches have dealt with significant injuries while the knicks have been healthy as fuck lol

I mean Fish is crap in game and his rotations suck.

He has a mean practice tho because players know how to run the O somewhat

By DY_nasty Go To Poston top of that, all of those coaches have dealt with significant injuries while the knicks have been healthy as fuck lol

Afflalo missed like two weeks and they had to play Sasha - that's about as massive a dropoff as you can get as any player/backup in the league. Melo's missed a couple games as well. And several of those teams have objectively more talent.

By giririsss Go To PostI think you've forgotten what tank means.

They're way too far ahead of the teams actually tanking. And they're actively trying to win games. I fully expect a win now trade to happen soon too.

It's going to be a BAD season though.

I think they went in to the season going for a playoff run, but at this point? No Bledsoe and the record they have? I think they will start giving more minutes to the young guys, i wouldnt be surprised to see PJ traded to a contender.

They might not be 76ers level of tanking but they are going to solidify a good spot in that lottery with this being a transition year with a coach who wont be here next year

By DY_nasty Go To Poston top of that, all of those coaches have dealt with significant injuries while the knicks have been healthy as fuck lol

And bottom 5 SOS. Cleveland, Orlando, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio are only teams that have had an easier schedule. All are .500+ teams.

By 3SidedPolygons Go To PostAfflalo missed like two weeks and they had to play Sasha - that's about as massive a dropoff as you can get as any player/backup in the league. Melo's missed a couple games as well. And several of those teams have objectively more talent.

but yet you name drop synder as if his team isn't decimated

at least clean that list up

hell, every single one of those guys is dealing with a roster with more turmoil than it had last year - whereas the knicks improved across the board.

but w/e

By blackace Go To PostI mean Fish is crap in game and his rotations suck.

He has a mean practice tho because players know how to run the O somewhat

His rotations suck because no one is consistent. Afflalo and LT have been his most consistent players all year. Consequently those 2 and Melo have gotten the most consistent playing time. Everyone else, literally EVERYONE else, has gone through like 8-10 game stretches where they can't shoot at all or they're a bumbling catastrophe.

Thibs and Brooks spent years in the NBA and couldn't draw a play out of a timeout to save their life. I'll concede that Fisher's out of timeout plays are poor and his rotations have been inconsistent.

But the results are what matters. And the results are fine for the talent level and expectations. The effort is pretty damn good 95% of the time. You can't ask for much more from a developing team.

It's almost like consistency is part of what defines a good player.

i was forgiving for fisher's 11 deep rotation nonsense at first because of the fact that those guys suck, but you eventually gotta build some trust with guys and figure out who you're gonna go with

its almost january and he's still throwing shit at the wall. that's outright counterproductive now

By DY_nasty Go To Posti was forgiving for fisher's 11 deep rotation nonsense at first because of the fact that those guys suck, but you eventually gotta build some trust with guys and figure out who you're gonna go with

its almost january and he's still throwing shit at the wall. that's outright counterproductive now

Not really. Seraphin and Amundson and Cleanthony are pretty much out of the rotation now. They play 9-10 guys now most nights.

95% of this teams problem comes from the fact that they can't shoot. Especially from 3. The offense is designed to get tons of easy shots out of back door cuts and give and go's and swinging the ball around for driving lanes. But they don't get much of those because defenders are sagging off and not closing out hard on the catch. It's impossible to run any offense when your players can't shoot straight. Spurs shot 40% from the field and 25% from 3 in their Christmas game and their offense looked like trash.

That's a nightly occurrence for this Knicks.

By pkaz01 Go To PostI think they went in to the season going for a playoff run, but at this point? No Bledsoe and the record they have? I think they will start giving more minutes to the young guys, i wouldnt be surprised to see PJ traded to a contender.

They might not be 76ers level of tanking but they are going to solidify a good spot in that lottery with this being a transition year with a coach who wont be here next year

This is all lead by Sarver. The two assistant coaches fired were not actually Hornacek guys but McD guys by all reports. Everyone in the front office loves Hornacek but Sarver is being a moron and demanding play offs. Even now.

But you're basically down 2 starters now (Markieff has checked out). Bledsoe gone. Which hopefully means that yeah, they move onto give booker and warren a lot more minutes. Knight, Booker, Warren as the starting pg-sg-sf is what we'd ideally see. And that they develop nicely.

Which would really force them to keep Hornacek. Because I don't see how they'd get anyone better than Hornacek any time soon.

But if Sarver keeps up this play offs now stupidity you're going to see a win now trade, and Hornacek fired. Which is pure Fuckery.

Last 4 Knicks games:

That doesn't look like a consistent rotation to me. That looks 11 deep most nights.

By reilo Go To PostIt's almost like consistency is part of what defines a good player.

No. It's how much triangle they play.

By 3SidedPolygons Go To PostNot really. Seraphin and Amundson and Cleanthony are pretty much out of the rotation now. They play 9-10 guys now most nights.

they just ran 11 last night and the game before with some fukkery where a guy only got 6 seconds

edit: the last time they went 10 deep as against chicago lol

By DY_nasty Go To Posti was forgiving for fisher's 11 deep rotation nonsense at first because of the fact that those guys suck, but you eventually gotta build some trust with guys and figure out who you're gonna go with

its almost january and he's still throwing shit at the wall. that's outright counterproductive now

I think scott is running 12 deep. And hes going to throw shit at the wall again and rearrange the lineup again.
Probably a fuckery move like brandon bass at center. Logic and advanced stats be damned

Vujacic last 4 games:

5:17min, 0min, 2:24min, 14:43min

The fuck is that?

3.6 RPG for Skal, goddamn.

Time for you teams outside of the top 3 to get on the Jakob Poeltl bandwagon.

By reilo Go To PostLast 4 Knicks games:

That doesn't look like a consistent rotation to me. That looks 11 deep most nights.

Two of those games the 11th guy only played like 2 minutes or less. The third game - Melo wasn't playing so they needed more guys covering his usual 35 minute load and the 4th game Seraphin played because of foul trouble.

Amundson and Seraphin usually don't play anymore. And if Grant plays somewhat decent Sasha doesn't really see floor time too.

It's their five starters plus LT/Galloway/Grant/Williams/OQuinn. Because Grant has been a dumpster fire - Sasha's been playing.

They used to play literally everyone on the team every night.

I think it would be dumb to fire Hornacek, but if they do, I think he may go to a college program. He's already used to his players leaving after a year anyways.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOmeGQqDgHw

Merry Christmas Everyone

It's not a discussion when it's 7 people disagreeing with one guy.

What's the point of even playing a guy 2mins? You're making excuses as to why Fisher was going 11 deep, but the point is that he's finding justifications to go 11 deep.

By reilo Go To PostVujacic last 4 games:

5:17min, 0min, 2:24min, 14:43min

The fuck is that?

PJ Hairston was getting consistent minutes and role while shooting worse than Kobe. Now he's turned it around is about to take Lamb's job completely.

Even if guys suck, you give them a consistent role and it allows them to sink/swim accordingly. Fisher is just... he's not even giving guys a chance to figure out what they're doing. They still suck, but you can make a shit player serviceable. He's not even allowing that.

Fisher, is he worse than Doc as a coach?

Cuz Doc has consistently made iffy rotation choices this year...

But like I said - I'll concede his inconsistent rotations and bad plays out of timeouts. The inconsistent rotations because 70% of the team is unreliable ass most nights and the bad plays out of timeouts because I think that's just what most rookie coaches have to deal with. Most coaches never even get significantly better over time and still do really well. That only becomes a problem when you're contending because it's one small piece of the puzzle that affects 2 possessions or so a game.

Like I said - if a team is properly achieving or over achieving and they're playing hard the coach shouldn't be fired at all. That's the most important thing they have to do. Having weaknesses is irrelevant because all coaches have weaknesses except the very few rare ones.

By reilo Go To PostWhat's the point of even playing a guy 2mins? You're making excuses as to why Fisher was going 11 deep, but the point is that he's finding justifications to go 11 deep.

That may be - but they used to go 13 deep. Now they play 10 guys most nights with an 11th guy playing like a few minutes. That's a shortening of the rotation even if it's too inconsistent for people's liking.

By Adam Blade Go To PostFisher, is he worse than Doc as a coach?

Cuz Doc has consistently made iffy rotation choices this year…

I always thought Doc was a terrible coach tho

By IWMTB19 Go To Post3.6 RPG for Skal, goddamn.

Time for you teams outside of the top 3 to get on the Jakob Poeltl bandwagon.

Its all about Dunn bro

Doc was good enough not to get in the way of 3 HoF players getting their ring, so, he's "good enough" in that sense.

Him as a GM though? lol

By DY_nasty Go To PostI always thought Doc was a terrible coach tho Its all about Dunn bro

Weren't you calling for Clifford's head a few times over the last few years?

FFS I watch this dumpster fire that is the Lakers the last 5 years and I could say that they've underachieved EVERY SINGLE YEAR since Phil left and maybe that first Mike Brown year. I know what it's like to have your players check out on your coach and give a half assed effort.

By DY_nasty Go To PostPJ Hairston was getting consistent minutes and role while shooting worse than Kobe. Now he's turned it around is about to take Lamb's job completely.

Even if guys suck, you give them a consistent role and it allows them to sink/swim accordingly. Fisher is just… he's not even giving guys a chance to figure out what they're doing. They still suck, but you can make a shit player serviceable. He's not even allowing that.

All Fisher has done is give these guys opportunities. What are you talking about. PJ Hairston got a consistent role because you guys were winning a ton of games. It's pretty easy to keep doing what you're doing when you're winning. Now that you're losing, Lamb has been yanked. Whereas Fisher still gives guys like Grant and Galloway solid minutes even when they can't shoot well and bumble the offense.

I don't see anything wrong with Fish learning on the job--he's already met the seasons goal by having KP turn out to be a franchise centerpiece. Anything else is whatever.

By 3SidedPolygons Go To Post70% of the team is unreliable ass most nights

Ahah!
100% of the Knicks players were either signed, traded for or had their contract renewed by Phil Jackson.

By Gabyskra Go To PostAhah!
100% of the Knicks players were either signed, traded for or had their contract renewed by Phil Jackson.

this is true

I literally cannot find a single game where Fisher has played less than ten players all season. Not. A. Single. One.

I found several where he played 13 players more than 5 minutes in a single digit win though, like these:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201511150NYK.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201511100TOR.html

I don't think Fisher is terrible btw, just worse than all the ones 3SP listed

[Knicks] rank 23rd in field-goal percentage within 10 feet, and 29th in effective field-goal percentage on "wide open" shots (closest defender 6+ feet away).

This is their entire problem.

So their entire problem is that their roster consists of 2 maybe 3 good players most nights? Phil the genius.

https://twitter.com/ChiSportUpdates/status/681670653750161408

lol lawry

and WOW. https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/3ymj09/lebron_james_is_now_the_worst_shooter_from/

By giririsss Go To PostI think you've forgotten what tank means.

They're way too far ahead of the teams actually tanking. And they're actively trying to win games. I fully expect a win now trade to happen soon too.

It's going to be a BAD season though.

No doubt they've been trying thus far, but with Bledsoe done, a sharp U turn towards tank town ain't out of the question for Phoenix now.

They can be bottom 4 or 5 team by March with some tank tweaks. I don't know if they do it, but it's something management has to be considering.

By reilo Go To PostSo their entire problem is that their roster consists of 2 maybe 3 good players most nights? Phil the genius.

No their entire problem is that everyone except for Afflalo and Lance Thomas are having poor shooting years so far. The fact that they have 14 wins when they should have like 6 due to their inability to make even easy shots is a testament to coaching.

By DY_nasty Go To Posthttps://twitter.com/ChiSportUpdates/status/681670653750161408

lol lawry

and WOW. https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/3ymj09/lebron_james_is_now_the_worst_shooter_from/

if LeBrons decline is sharp, then KD could have a near free ride to the finals every year in the East

By 3SidedPolygons Go To PostThe fact that they have 14 wins when they should have like 6 due to their inability to make even easy shots is a testament to coaching.

Oh boy.