Around the NBA - March 2017

[PtldPlatypus]

Loss tonight makes it 4 in a row. Only a half game better than the hawks, who they play next. If they lose, our pick moves into the #19 position

Grizz don't have a single "easy" game the rest of the month. Check out this schedule:


After seeing them lose to Brooklyn the other day, I could easily see them going 2-9 in that stretch and dropping to .500.

 

[B-Roy]

I'm watching the Nuggets game and Jokic is so good. He almost has a triple double in 22 minutes. He's pretty much playing point center, getting the rebound, running down and setting up the offense. He's literally doing everything for the Nuggets. The way he gets his assists is also different than how Nurk does it.

Plumlee isn't playing bad, but I can't shake the feeling that every minute he's on the floor is a minute that could be spent with Jokic who is simply much more effective. Jokic has played 22 minutes this game and Plumlee has 19. I thought the idea was that these two could play some minutes together but right now it really just looks like Plumlee is stealing minutes from the better player. They need to figure this out. Jokic is simply too good to be playing less than 30 minutes a night, and if he's not playing more minutes because they want to justify the Plumlee deal than they are making the wrong decision. Jokic should be getting 36 minutes a night to be honest.

 

[KingSpeed]

Grizz don't have a single "easy" game the rest of the month. Check out this schedule:
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After seeing them lose to Brooklyn the other day, I could easily see them going 2-9 in that stretch and dropping to .500.

New Orleans and Sacramento aren't "easy" games? I personally believe there are no easy games in this league but those 2 teams suck. Pelicans were better before the trade and that's the truth.

 

[KingSpeed]

How so? We're 2-2 head to head, and Portland has a better conference record.

And we have the 2nd best division record in the entire conference.

 

[PDXFonz]

Does it matter if the Wiz win or lose tonight?

Does conventional wisdom say that they will be more out to win tomorrow if they lose tonight?.. Looks like its a possibility. But they've also relied on digging out of holes late in games in a few of their recent wins, a strategy that should work better against the Lakers and Kings than the Blazers.

 

[Nate]

I'm watching the Nuggets game and Jokic is so good. He almost has a triple double in 22 minutes. He's pretty much playing point center, getting the rebound, running down and setting up the offense. He's literally doing everything for the Nuggets. The way he gets his assists is also different than how Nurk does it.

Plumlee isn't playing bad, but I can't shake the feeling that every minute he's on the floor is a minute that could be spent with Jokic who is simply much more effective. Jokic has played 22 minutes this game and Plumlee has 19. I thought the idea was that these two could play some minutes together but right now it really just looks like Plumlee is stealing minutes from the better player. They need to figure this out. Jokic is simply too good to be playing less than 30 minutes a night, and if he's not playing more minutes because they want to justify the Plumlee deal than they are making the wrong decision. Jokic should be getting 36 minutes a night to be honest.

I think they're being very cautious with him.

 

[PDXFonz]

SAC PA basically begs fans to stand up and then encourages them to make noise in 3...2...1 coinciding with the return from commercial.

You'd never see Mark Mason begging people to make noise so that the place seems artificially louder than it actually is.

They also had that whole "We broke the decibel record" deal a few years ago, when during the Playoffs Rip City is like 4-5 dBs louder, we just don't give a shit because we're not making noise for some gaudy title, its because T-Rob just erased someone on one end and dunked it off the roll on the other.

I would still put them high on the list of leagues best fan support, but this would weigh against them.

 

[PDXFonz]

I hope this game goes into 7 OT's to break the record.

 

[PDXFonz]

The Kings should be playing Buddy 30+ minutes instead of the 23 he's been averaging there.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

New Orleans and Sacramento aren't "easy" games? I personally believe there are no easy games in this league but those 2 teams suck. Pelicans were better before the trade and that's the truth.

Both are road games against teams trying to make the playoffs. Not easy by any means.

 

[MickZagger]

Warriors suddenly look very beatable. This is a crapshoot this year in the western conference

 

[jonnyboy]

The race for 8th seed is going to be tougher than I thought. The Nuggets are well aware of the criticism regarding the Nurkic trade, and are obviously not going to just lay down. They pounded the Celtics last night. We're going to have to ball to get in this year.

 

[Blazinaway]

Noel sat out last night with nee soreness, always have to worry a bit there given his past injuries

 

[Trackjack]

All 4 teams that chasing the 8th spot is balling right now. Denver Portland Dallas and the Minnesota.

 

[PDXFonz]

Aldridge out indefinitely due to heart artythmia. Hard to tell if serious problem like we saw when he was here, or just a smart way for Pops to rest him as long as he wants.

Sounds like the Spurs would rather try to get the 7th seed and face mem/okc than the 1 seed and face den/dal/por... That 8 seed could be dangerous this year if us or DAL get it firing on all cylinders.

 

[PDXFonz]

Fucking tank-a-thon today Spurs vs Warriors. Each team seeing who can rest more of their star players.

 

[PDXFonz]

Philly beating LAC. Guess the Clippers didn't get the message that anything but a blowout vs philly means they have no chance to do anything this year.

 

[theprunetang]

Philly beating LAC. Guess the Clippers didn't get the message that anything but a blowout vs philly means they have no chance to do anything this year.

Philly may currently lack talent, but they play a nice team game. They average more passes as a team than any other team in the league per game.

 

[PDXFonz]

Philly may currently lack talent, but they play a nice team game. They average more passes as a team than any other team in the league per game.

I was being facetious, I agree. They are different when they have Embiid. I think they will be a playoff team in 2-3 seasons if Embiid stays healthy.

 

[theprunetang]

I was being facetious, I agree. They are different when they have Embiid. I think they will be a playoff team in 2-3 seasons if Embiid stays healthy.

I know you were joking, I was just piggybacking on your comment. I certainly hope Embiid can stay healthy. He is a hell of a talent. And who knows how Simmons will integrate into the nba.

 

[PDXFonz]

I know you were joking, I was just piggybacking on your comment. I certainly hope Embiid can stay healthy. He is a hell of a talent. And who knows how Simmons will integrate into the nba.

I still think he's overrated but will be the 2nd best player they have, which is a big deal for them since their current second best is Oak after a big drop from Embiid.

ROY should be fun next year though. I think he will be in the mix.

 

[theprunetang]

I still think he's overrated but will be the 2nd best player they have, which is a big deal for them since their current second best is Oak after a big drop from Embiid.

ROY should be fun next year though. I think he will be in the mix.

After our last game against them, I was left thinking Saric is probably their 2nd best player. I was impressed.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Philly beating LAC. Guess the Clippers didn't get the message that anything but a blowout vs philly means they have no chance to do anything this year.

LOL. Clips comfortably win by 12

 

[jlprk]

Aldridge out indefinitely due to heart artythmia. Hard to tell if serious problem like we saw when he was here, or just a smart way for Pops to rest him as long as he wants.

Sounds like the Spurs would rather try to get the 7th seed and face mem/okc than the 1 seed and face den/dal/por... That 8 seed could be dangerous this year if us or DAL get it firing on all cylinders.

Fucking tank-a-thon today Spurs vs Warriors. Each team seeing who can rest more of their star players.

I read the articles and expected a separate thread to be going strong about it. The heart problem may be why Aldridge can't take a lot of stress.

 

[jlprk]

After our last game against them, I was left thinking Saric is probably their 2nd best player. I was impressed.

Everyone agrees with you except me of course. Every move he made seemed forced, like an out-of-breath horse. He lacks NBA smoothness. When their players come back next season I think he'll have a reduced role.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

After our last game against them, I was left thinking Saric is probably their 2nd best player. I was impressed.

Agreed - he should be ROY, since Embiid didn't play enough games.

 

[PDXFonz]

Wow Boogie is actually reverting to Sacramento Cousins already. Getting upset at a no call and not getting back on the other end leading to a Zeller dunk. NOP better get those 2 help quick or they are going to end up losing Boogie in FA next year.

 

[ripcityboy]

Wow Boogie is actually reverting to Sacramento Cousins already. Getting upset at a no call and not getting back on the other end leading to a Zeller dunk. NOP better get those 2 help quick or they are going to end up losing Boogie in FA next year.

Boogie has the emotional maturity of a 3 year old. There's a reason why Sacramento got rid of him. I'm beginning to agree with Kingspeed. It's a great move on paper but a fucking terrible move for team chemistry.

 

[KingSpeed]

Boogie has the emotional maturity of a 3 year old. There's a reason why Sacramento got rid of him. I'm beginning to agree with Kingspeed. It's a great move on paper but a fucking terrible move for team chemistry.

The truth is if the Pelicans traded Cousins for Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, and Buddy Hield, they'd be a better team.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

The truth is if the Pelicans traded Cousins for Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, and Buddy Hield, they'd be a better team.

The truth is that had they pulled their heads out of their asses (i.e. gotten a better deal), they could be a much better team than they are now.