2014 NBA Dec |OT| It's Always Slummy In Philadelphia

Now that Reke can't make layups, is he worse than Evan Turner?

By ratcliffja

By AlphaSnacks

By ratcliffjaIt's actually fitting that two of the worst teams in the West are the two Eastern-most teams.

Memphis is more Eastern than Minnesota. And they're the best in the league. So there goes your theory. :)

Memphis is a Vancouver transplant, as OKC is a Seattle transplant. Both were moved in the last 20 years. I rest my case, your honor.

It doesn't change the fact that geographically the Grizz are still an eastern team. LOL

By SmokeySo….what is Kerr doing that Mark Jackson was not? Besides not being Mark Jackson? The difference is shocking and it's pretty much the same team.

Pilon pls help

Mark Jackson is a bottom 5 nba coach imo. He loves calling numerous iso calls every game, case in point, Harrison Barnes. He is not an iso player. Put him in a legit offense like we have now and he completely flourishes. We had the least passes per possession of any team last season, now we are top 10. Last year, we would rarely use Bogut other than as a screener on the offensive end. This year, most of our offense is off Bogut creating for others. He's a great offensive player, that was misused. Last thing, Jackson hated having real assistant coaches because Jackson wanted all the credit to himself. He didn't even let any media talk to his assistants all of last year. Kerr doesn't give a sh*t, he let's anyone get any credit. Kerr is infinitely better than Jackson and it's not even close.

Yeah, Mark Jackson is a terrible coach. I don't know why people show any interest in him.

By etiolationCan the Dubs afford Draymond? I have a feeling he'll leave for money.

They'd better go over the cap for him if need be. I have faith that Myers will do the right thing. The Klay deal is actually pretty smart. They're paying him max level money without actually using the max contract designation (I read somewhere that max level NBA contract is a % annually of the salary cap). With it going up significantly in the next few years, that deal is going to be way more team friendly. Also, Lee's contract will be a good trade commodity after this season. They should be able to shed it easily if need be.

By MethodMark Jackson is a bottom 5 nba coach imo. He loves calling numerous iso calls every game. Case in point, Harrison Barnes. He is not an iso player. Put him in a legit offense like we have now and he completely flourishes. We had the least passes per possession of any team last season, now we are top 10. Last year, we would rarely even use Bogut other than as a screener. This year, most of our offense is off Bogut creating for others. He's a great offensive player, that was misused. Last thing, Jackson hated having real assistant coaches. Jackson wanted all the credit to himself. He didn't even let any media talk to his assistants all of last year. Kerr doesn't give a shit. He let's any get any credit. Kerr is infinitely better than Jackson and it's not even close.

It's almost comical to think how he was paranoid of mutiny by assistant coach Scalabrine.

In Jackson's defense, he did get the W's to play defense...

Don't forget Kerr has somehow gotten legitimate production out of Mo Speights. That's basically turning urine to wine...

By Method

By SmokeySo….what is Kerr doing that Mark Jackson was not? Besides not being Mark Jackson? The difference is shocking and it's pretty much the same team.

Pilon pls help

Mark Jackson is a bottom 5 nba coach imo. He loves calling numerous iso calls every game, case in point, Harrison Barnes. He is not an iso player. Put him in a legit offense like we have now and he completely flourishes. We had the least passes per possession of any team last season, now we are top 10. Last year, we would rarely use Bogut other than as a screener on the offensive end. This year, most of our offense is off Bogut creating for others. He's a great offensive player, that was misused. Last thing, Jackson hated having real assistant coaches because Jackson wanted all the credit to himself. He didn't even let any media talk to his assistants all of last year. Kerr doesn't give a sh*t, he let's anyone get any credit. Kerr is infinitely better than Jackson and it's not even close.

Honestly this makes me dream of what the Rockets would look like without Mchale

;_;

By SmokeyHonestly this makes me dream of what the Rockets would look like without Mchale

;_;

I have no doubt if you made that move you would be much, much better. Kerr has made a substantial difference here, and it showed from day 1 of his hiring.

By SmokeyHonestly this makes me dream of what the Rockets would look like without Mchale

;_;

Could you imagine Thibs + Rockets? Goddam.

99 NBA Players have shot 100+ shots outside of 8 feet so far, only 4 have made below 31%:
Lance 28%
Batum 29%
DJ Augustin 30%
Kemba 30%

lololololol

That Charlotte stank.

By seph

By SmokeyHonestly this makes me dream of what the Rockets would look like without Mchale

;_;

Could you imagine Thibs + Rockets? Goddam.

They'd be even more injured with no idea what to do on offense?

It's pretty shocking that a guy who previously made his living offering substance-less, meme-filled commentary would be bad at coaching.

Should probably wait for the postseason before anointing Kerr, though.

By dy_nasty99 NBA Players have shot 100+ shots outside of 8 feet so far, only 4 have made below 31%:
Lance 28%
Batum 29%
DJ Augustin 30%
Kemba 30%

lololololol

im really shocked kobe's not on that list.

By iwmtb19Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans make $27 million a year to have a 49% and 46% TS% on offense (while freezing everyone else out) and to play no defense. If they're on the court at all this year.

When I was saying that the Lakers package was better because Eric Gordon was just a rich man's Kevin Martin weren't you one of the guys telling me I was insane and that he had a realistic chance to hit D Wade levels of godliness?


Also, this is awesome. You can't believe there's anything wrong with Anthony Davis so you're trashing his team around him. You did the same thing with Dwight his last healthy year in Orlando too.

Vaggy, do you ever make posts or write arguments where it's not about you inserting yourself into the discussion and try to make yourself look superior? Are you capable of having a discussion where it isn't you versus the world?

By iwmtb19Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans make $27 million a year to have a 49% and 46% TS% on offense (while freezing everyone else out) and to play no defense. If they're on the court at all this year.

When I was saying that the Lakers package was better because Eric Gordon was just a rich man's Kevin Martin weren't you one of the guys telling me I was insane and that he had a realistic chance to hit D Wade levels of godliness?


Also, this is awesome. You can't believe there's anything wrong with Anthony Davis so you're trashing his team around him. You did the same thing with Dwight his last healthy year in Orlando too.


Davis/Asik/Anderson is probably the most versatile front court in the NBA in terms of having two really really good offensive players and two really really good defensive players/rebounders as well as one of the best stretch 4's in the league.

Add that to the guard rotation of gordon, evans, jrue holiday and you have 3 guys who can create their own shot, or get you 15-20 on any given night.

If AD really is a top 3 or 4 player in the league, that team is under achieving.

eric gordon was doing great until he decided to quit basketball when NO matched PHX's contract

i don't blame him either

while you're in the wayback machine, tell us how deron williams is not looking like one of the worst deals in the league still

Wade is averaging 22.6 points on 58%FG his last 9 games.

He needs help

By dy_nastyeric gordon was doing great until he decided to quit basketball when NO matched PHX's contract

i don't blame him either

while you're in the wayback machine, tell us how deron williams is not looking like one of the worst deals in the league still

Let's not kid ourselves. Eric Gordon was never doing great. He played 51 games in his first two seasons in NOH including just 9 in his first season there. In his second season he played 42 games and averaged 17/1.8/3.3...that's not Great.

Deron Williams was a top 2 PG when he was traded. Now that's a guy who quit on basketball.

But my complaints were about Favors and Kanter. I always thought they weren't shit. And since they basically let Milsap go to keep Favors...I don't see how that's a good deal.

How is Deron/Milsap/G-Tyme not an infinitely better core than what they have now?

deron/hayward/millsap doesn't even make the playoffs in the west lol

utah can barely afford hayward

and again - gordon cashing out was as clear as day the moment he got to NO and understood that he wasn't leaving. happens in all sports.

and if you're blaming anthony davis for the lack of success in new orleans than you're just confused lol

By dy_nastyderon/hayward/millsap doesn't even make the playoffs in the west lol

utah can barely afford hayward

and again - gordon cashing out was as clear as day the moment he got to NO and understood that he wasn't leaving. happens in all sports.

and if you're blaming anthony davis for the lack of success in new orleans than you're just confused lol

Favors makes more than Milsap. Kanter takes up a nice chunk of change too. Either way, People were arguing like Kanter and Favors were steals and I thought they were overrated. More so because Milsap is essentially Favors with a 3 point shot.

And I made those arguments when they had Big Al in the fold too. So trading Deron for what ended up being backups to Milsap and Big Al didn't make a lot of sense.

I'm not blaming Davis, I haven't watched that team enough to know. But I'm not going "omg he's such a fantasy dream. look at those stats. everyone else must suck" either but that's how IWMTB operates. Back when he was calling Howard the second best player in the league and they were struggling he did the same thing.

By VahagnI'm not blaming Davis, I haven't watched that team enough to know. But I'm not going "omg he's such a fantasy dream. look at those stats. everyone else must suck" either but that's how IWMTB operates. Back when he was calling Howard the second best player in the league and they were struggling he did the same thing.

coming from the guy who makes it sound like it was kobe who saved the world in space jam...

Dwight/Gasol/Jamison is probably the most versatile front court in the NBA in terms of having two really really good offensive players and two really really good defensive players/rebounders as well as one of the best stretch 4's in the league.

Add that to the guard/forward rotation of Nash, Kobe, Metta World Peace and you have 3 guys who can create their own shot, or get you 15-20 on any given night.

If Kobe really is a top 3 or 4 player in the league, that team is under achieving.

By psychintellectWade is averaging 22.6 points on 58%FG his last 9 games.

He needs help

2008 Wade would've carried this team into the Finals

By VahagnDavis/Asik/Anderson is probably the most versatile front court in the NBA in terms of having two really really good offensive players and two really really good defensive players/rebounders as well as one of the best stretch 4's in the league.

Add that to the guard rotation of gordon, evans, jrue holiday and you have 3 guys who can create their own shot, or get you 15-20 on any given night.

If AD really is a top 3 or 4 player in the league, that team is under achieving.

By VahagnI'm not blaming Davis, I haven't watched that team enough to know.

...

I would trade Lebron for Davis.

Most of that New Orleans roster does suck, though.

Anderson, Asik, those guys are nice, but they have like Austin Rivers, Luke Babbitt and Tyreke Evans heavily featured in the rotation and that's a problem.

It's always funny to see Vaggy posting walls of nonsense.

You guys are such bullies.

By BranduilDwight/Gasol/Jamison is probably the most versatile front court in the NBA in terms of having two really really good offensive players and two really really good defensive players/rebounders as well as one of the best stretch 4's in the league.

Add that to the guard/forward rotation of Nash, Kobe, Metta World Peace and you have 3 guys who can create their own shot, or get you 15-20 on any given night.

If Kobe really is a top 3 or 4 player in the league, that team is under achieving.

I agree with this statement. Kobe was probably a top 3-4 offensive player that year, but he was HORRIBLE defensively whereas AD is amazing on both sides of the ball right now.

Also, LA Dwight/Pau weren't nearly as formidable defensively as AD/Asik and Nash/Kobe/MWP in 12-13 were HORRIBLE on that side of the ball. Old and un-athletic. If they were as good defensively as the Hornets should be - they would have been a top 3 or 4 seed.

As bad as Jrue/Gordon/Evans are defensively. They shouldn't be anywhere near Nash/Kobe/MWP levels unless it's just REALLY bad coaching.


Keep in mind, the Lakers were 27-13 their last 40 games. That's half the season. So once Dwight played himself back into shape and Nash got healthy that team was pretty much playing like everyone expected them to.

By reilo

By VahagnDavis/Asik/Anderson is probably the most versatile front court in the NBA in terms of having two really really good offensive players and two really really good defensive players/rebounders as well as one of the best stretch 4's in the league.

Add that to the guard rotation of gordon, evans, jrue holiday and you have 3 guys who can create their own shot, or get you 15-20 on any given night.

If AD really is a top 3 or 4 player in the league, that team is under achieving.

By VahagnI'm not blaming Davis, I haven't watched that team enough to know.

…

It could be coaching. It could be Davis. It could be chemistry. It could be injuries. I'm simply poking fun at what IWMTB does. When he raves about a player based on their advanced metrics and the team starts struggling. He won't drop the MVP talk. He'll just start bashing everyone else.

You're poking fun at IWMTB19 for actually watching games and making an informed decision?

If there's anyone on here that I can actually reasonably assume that they have watched a bajillion and one games on whichever player or team he's discussing, then it's IWMTB19.

You're dumb.

By reiloYou're poking fun at IWMTB19 for actually watching games and making an informed decision?

If there's anyone on here that I can actually reasonably assume that they have watched a bajillion and one games on whichever player or team he's discussing, then it's IWMTB19.

You're dumb.

With the exception of college games, very little he says about the NBA game indicates he's watching games. It's always just something about win shares or ORTG or DRTG or whatever advanced metric he's latching on to this month/year.


In fact, he said something about Evans not making layups when his heat map shows that's the only place he's been efficient all season.

Knicks Don't Like Chances Of Signing Marc Gasol In Free Agency

The New York Knicks don't believe they have a very good chance of signing Marc Gasol in free agency, according to a source.

The Knicks will prioritize finding a center in the offseason with the team not expected to keep any of its current options apart from possibly Cole Aldrich.

Gasol is having a career season with the Memphis Grizzlies, who can pay him an extra season on his new contract.

Via Marc Berman/New York Post

http://nypost.com/2014/12/04/knicks-likely-to-whiff-on-marc-gasol-is-okafor-new-hope/

You know Phil has clout if this kind of stuff is coming out. Prior GMs would have realized this but kept selling the snake oil through July to keep their jobs.

But then you get to this part of the article:

If he leaves Memphis, he likely will choose a title contender, not the woebegone Knicks.
It’s why Knicks management believes tanking is not an option and having a good record, a playoff team and Carmelo Anthony are keys to convincing 2015 free agents — such as LaMarcus Aldridge or Kevin Love — to sign with the team.

So this is them trying?

By reiloYou're poking fun at IWMTB19 for actually watching games and making an informed decision?

If there's anyone on here that I can actually reasonably assume that they have watched a bajillion and one games on whichever player or team he's discussing, then it's IWMTB19.

You're dumb.

You can safely assume that I watch some Jazz games here and there.

By VahagnWith the exception of college games, very little he says about the NBA game indicates he's watching games. It's always just something about win shares or ORTG or DRTG or whatever advanced metric he's latching on to this month/year.


In fact, he said something about Evans not making layups when his heat map shows that's the only place he's been efficient all season.

You're wrong on every aspect.

By reilo

By VahagnWith the exception of college games, very little he says about the NBA game indicates he's watching games. It's always just something about win shares or ORTG or DRTG or whatever advanced metric he's latching on to this month/year.


In fact, he said something about Evans not making layups when his heat map shows that's the only place he's been efficient all season.

You're wrong on every aspect.

So your last two posts have consisted of "you're dumb" and "you're wrong".

Thanks for the reasoned intelligent insight buddy.

By livefromkyotoSo this is them trying?

They're clearly trying. The team is just a jumbled mess on offense right now because half the guys aren't even trying to run the Triangle. JR Smith almost never tries to run it. They have to buy in, and they're not buying it. You see quotes from Melo after practices and games talking about "it's hard but we have to buy in".


There are plenty of isolation opportunities in the Triangle for JR and others, but what accelerates their learning curve is constantly running it so that the movements and cuts and screens become second nature and you stop getting stuck thinking what the next sequence is. They're getting in their own way right now by not committing.


Every game I've watched - like 6 or 7 this season - they've gotten 5-6 layups off the weakside pinch post give and go action. They get a handful of low post/mid post isolations for Melo which is his sweet spot. They get open 3's for Calderon and Smith and Melo. They get open 15 footers for Amare and Jason Smith who can both hit them consistently. Their baseline cuts off the n2 pass to the post gets them at least one or two layups a game. Their blind pig action leads to at least 3-4 shots at the rim - in fact that's the play Mike Fratello highlighted when Melo flashed to the FT line and JR cut back door and dropped it off to Dalembert. That's classic Triangle stuff.


If you properly run the triangle, you should never have to hoist up a shot as the shot clock is running down and the worst shot you should get is either a wide open mid range or a 12 foot fadeaway from Melo. But for every one of those, you should get 2-3 layups and open 3's as well. They're just not running it well yet.

By VahagnSo your last two posts have consisted of "you're dumb" and "you're wrong".

Thanks for the reasoned intelligent insight buddy.

You're spending copious amounts of breath discussing what another person is saying and what their internal thought process is and what they do in their personal time.

Your posts do not warrant a serious response. You should stop concerning yourself with what others think and how they process games. That's what you are arguing and I don't understand why.

By Vahagn

By livefromkyotoSo this is them trying?

They're clearly trying. The team is just a jumbled mess on offense right now because half the guys aren't even trying to run the Triangle. JR Smith almost never tries to run it. They have to buy in, and they're not buying it. You see quotes from Melo after practices and games talking about "it's hard but we have to buy in".


There are plenty of isolation opportunities in the Triangle for JR and others, but what accelerates their learning curve is constantly running it so that the movements and cuts and screens become second nature and you stop getting stuck thinking what the next sequence is. They're getting in their own way right now by not committing.

tl;dr: the Knicks are who we thought they were.

By livefromkyoto

Knicks Don't Like Chances Of Signing Marc Gasol In Free Agency

The New York Knicks don't believe they have a very good chance of signing Marc Gasol in free agency, according to a source.

The Knicks will prioritize finding a center in the offseason with the team not expected to keep any of its current options apart from possibly Cole Aldrich.

Gasol is having a career season with the Memphis Grizzlies, who can pay him an extra season on his new contract.

Via Marc Berman/New York Post

http://nypost.com/2014/12/04/knicks-likely-to-whiff-on-marc-gasol-is-okafor-new-hope/

You know Phil has clout if this kind of stuff is coming out. Prior GMs would have realized this but kept selling the snake oil through July to keep their jobs.

But then you get to this part of the article:

If he leaves Memphis, he likely will choose a title contender, not the woebegone Knicks.
It’s why Knicks management believes tanking is not an option and having a good record, a playoff team and Carmelo Anthony are keys to convincing 2015 free agents — such as LaMarcus Aldridge or Kevin Love — to sign with the team.

So this is them trying?

lol at using berman as a source to try to make a point, All he is saying is the same thing everyone is saying.

I'm pretty sure jobber literally watches every NBA game.

Reke from 0-3 feet from the basket:

2013: 64%
2014: 54.4%
This year: 50.7%

He sucks more at jumpers (holy shit, he's only made 20% of his jumpshots this year and he's not even being guarded that tightly, what the fuck), but he's getting close to Rubio-bad at making layups (Rubio shot 49% from 0-3 feet last year)

Meanwhile, check the stats of this future Laker:

9.1 Points per 36 minutes
41% from the field
29% from three
30% from the line
42.5% TS%
-0.1 OWS
.032 WS/48 (sub-replacement level)
105.2 team ORtg with him on-court.

Now check the stats of this guy that the Knicks thought wasn't worth a 2019 pick:

21.7 Points per 36 minutes
45.4% from the field
32.6% from three
81% from the line
57% TS%
2.8 OWS (2nd in the NBA!)
.251 WS/48 (superstar level)
118.4 team ORtg with him on-court.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bfDeVChoco

This is a good video. As he illustrates, most of the stuff that doesn't work is when they make the wrong reads, force passes, or settle for jumpers when there are other options.

A lot of the stuff is experience and timing though and will improve. They obviously won't be a contender with this roster, but the idea that the Triangle doesn't get you layups and 3's or FT attempts is pretty misinformed.

Only Toronto has a PPG differential above 4 in the East? lol

IMWTB is a bit of a know-it-all, but at least he does his research and isn't super-antagonistic or defensive. Anyway, everybody has their biases. If you didn't have somebody you want to do well, there's no point in watching sports.

So apparently Mudiay might be done in China.

He's going to get six months just to prepare for the draft combine. Wonder how much muscle he can put on by then.

Maybe future Jazz man Karl Towns playing against maybe future Jazz man Myles Turner tonight. This will hopefully be not that terrible. Hopefully Texas keeps it within 30 and the level of play is at least 76ers-tier.

By ratcliffjaIMWTB is a bit of a know-it-all, but at least he does his research and isn't super-antagonistic or defensive. Anyway, everybody has their biases. If you didn't have somebody you want to do well, there's no point in watching sports.

Individual, partial-season NBA advanced stats are almost entirely for trolling purposes, IWMTB19 is just fucking around 90% of the time. This reminds me of a project I want to resume working on...

Davis has things he can work on. His offensive game is limited to mostly lob and putback dunks, along with face up jumpers. Teams don't worry too much about him getting the ball in the high post unless they have terrible defensive bigs. If you have decent defensive bigs, they'll stick a hand up and body him. He's still too light to deal with some NBA bigs.

So teams focus on containing NO's guards and that contains Davis, since taking away the lob then takes away a lot of his game.

He does great things on defense, but he could porbably benefit the team defense by merely challenging shots instead of stretching out to block everything and miss the defensive rebound. He also isn't guarding any low post player down low. Pellies were scared to put him on Cousins when they played the Kings.

So, he needs to develop a go to move. He shoots better baseline than high post, and I think he should work on a one dribble fade-away to the baseline sort of move. It's unstoppable and puts his release point near his honey area % wise.

Davis still has a ton of room to be more effective defensively, but Monty Williams sucks and runs a defensive system that is as ancient as Flip's and Scott's systems so it's hard to say what he should be doing differently in this (terrible) system. Offensively, AD is already elite. And:

Davis on: +6.5
Davis off: -17.6

He's not the problem. That Tyreke and Eric Gordon have been horrible this year is the problem.

By etiolationDavis has things he can work on. His offensive game is limited to mostly lob and putback dunks, along with face up jumpers. Teams don't worry too much about him getting the ball in the high post unless they have terrible defensive bigs. If you have decent defensive bigs, they'll stick a hand up and body him. He's still too light to deal with some NBA bigs.

So teams focus on containing NO's guards and that contains Davis, since taking away the lob then takes away a lot of his game.

He does great things on defense, but he could porbably benefit the team defense by merely challenging shots instead of stretching out to block everything and miss the defensive rebound. He also isn't guarding any low post player down low. Pellies were scared to put him on Cousins when they played the Kings.

So, he needs to develop a go to move. He shoots better baseline than high post, and I think he should work on a one dribble fade-away to the baseline sort of move. It's unstoppable and puts his release point near his honey area % wise.

Hey Reilo, this is what it sounds like when someone watches a game.

By iwmtb19Davis still has a ton of room to improve defensively, but Monty Williams sucks and runs a defensive system that is as ancient as Flip's and Scott's systems. Offensively, AD is already elite.

Davis on: +6.5
Davis off: -17.6

He's not the problem.

Which elite top 10 player has a negative point differential or a negative +/-? That doesn't mean that developing a low post game, right and left hook shots, a 3 point game, and better position defensive skills won't help. His NO teams have been bottom of the barrel. Let him make the playoffs as a top 4 seed before you start anointing him the MVP.