Around the NBA - March 2018

[DDolla]

Damn now we just need to continue winning! Go Blazers

 

[speeds]

Ah, we're just pissed that Raps couldn't help us out by beating the Thunder.

Nope. Fraud team.

 

[Natebishop3]

I really wanted OKC to miss the playoffs

 

[speeds]

Anybody watching this? What got the Raps so pissed that DeRozan and Casey both get ejected?

Losing

 

[speeds]

So, you think they closed out the game well? Tied with 40 seconds left, lose by 8. Stupid fouls and turnovers, followed by a complete meltdown.

BNM

It's one game and OKC played well throughout.

 

[e_blazer]

Nope. Fraud team.

Well, there is a natural bias given you southerners claiming to be the north.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Nope. Fraud team.

You gotta admit, that wasn't exactly a championship caliber performance down the stretch. Once Lowry fouled out, things went to shit in a hurry.

BNM

 

[Natebishop3]

I didn't watch the game. Did Lowry actually foul out or did Lowry foul out because the league wants OKC in the playoffs?

 

[Boob-No-More]

It's one game and OKC played well throughout.

What's TOR's record in close games. OKC is consistently bad in close games, but sure looked good today.

BNM

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I didn't watch the game. Did Lowry actually foul out or did Lowry foul out because the league wants OKC in the playoffs?

His last two fouls were definelty fouls.

 

[AFully22]

I’m not sure Toronto would win more than 50 games in the West. Their defense was about as bad as I’ve seen in the last month and on offense it was just chaos until someone bailed them out with a tough shot or drew a foul. Ugly.

Looks like OKC is ready to go on a good run, playing their best basketball of the year. Makes games like tonight’s very important. Can’t lose any of the easier ones.

 

[e_blazer]

Can't wait to hear Casey's comments on the officiating. Wonder if he'll join SVG and Gentry in the "about to have a lighter wallet" club.

 

[Natebishop3]

I’m not sure Toronto would win more than 50 games in the West. Their defense was about as bad as I’ve seen in the last month and on offense it was just chaos until someone bailed them out with a tough shot or drew a foul. Ugly.

Looks like OKC is ready to go on a good run, playing their best basketball of the year. Makes games like tonight’s very important. Can’t lose any of the easier ones.

50 games in the West is damn good these days.

 

[speeds]

Toronto's record against the West is just below GSW and Houston, IIRC

 

[Natebishop3]

As much as I hate the Rockets, they have been doing us a solid by beating the teams we need beaten. We need them to knock down Minny today. Need the Celts to beat NOP.

 

[speeds]

Well, there is a natural bias given you southerners claiming to be the north.

Now the motto is North Over Everything. No longer claiming to be it. However being further North than Toronto doesn't sound like something that will help. A lot of NBA players don't want to be North.

 

[Natebishop3]

 

[AFully22]

50 games in the West is damn good these days.

Absolutely. It’s just that their on pace for about 63 wins in the East and everyone’s talking ECF or bust for them. I’m not sure they would even make it out the first rd out here.

 

[e_blazer]

Now the motto is North Over Everything. No longer claiming to be it. However being further North than Toronto doesn't sound like something that will help. A lot of NBA players don't want to be North.

We'll be fine once this global warming thing kicks in.

 

[Natebishop3]

Absolutely. It’s just that their on pace for about 63 wins in the East and everyone’s talking ECF or bust for them. I’m not sure they would even make it out the first rd out here.

They would probably make it out of the first round. They're not too different from us in how their roster is constructed. It just makes you wonder if we would be winning 60+ games in the East.

 

[speeds]

What's TOR's record in close games. OKC is consistently bad in close games, but sure looked good today.

BNM

.542, OKC is .545.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

The refs needed a security escort lmao

 

[AFully22]

They would probably make it out of the first round. They're not too different from us in how their roster is constructed. It just makes you wonder if we would be winning 60+ games in the East.

If they were a 3 or 4 seed and matched up against the Thunder or Jazz I think it would go 7 games.

I actually think their style of play resembles what we did in the earlier part of the year, a lot of over relying on Lowry and Derozan and too much iso ball at times. How we’ve played in the last month is much different than what I’ve seen out of Toronto lately.

Having Ibaka and Miles over Aminu and Turner would make a big difference for us.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Toronto's record against the West is just below GSW and Houston, IIRC

Depends on how you define "just below".

Records against the Western Conference:

HOU: 35-8 = .814
GSW: 30-14 = .682
MIN: 29-14 = .659
TOR: 18-10 = .643
POR: 25-15 = 625
UTA: 26-16 = .619

TOR has a much better record against Eastern Conference teams (.810) than they do against the West (.643). In the East, they are running away with the No. 1 seed. If they were in the West, they'd probably be part of the group that is fighting it out for the 3 - 6 seeds.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

If they were a 3 or 4 seed and matched up against the Thunder or Jazz I think it would go 7 games.

I actually think their style of play resembles what we did in the earlier part of the year, a lot of over relying on Lowry and Derozan and too much iso ball at times. How we’ve played in the last month is much different than what I’ve seen out of Toronto lately.

Having Ibaka and Miles over Aminu and Turner would make a big difference for us.

Going into the game, TOR had the 4th rated defense in the league. It's only a one game sample size, but TOR sure couldn't get a stop today. They gave up 132 points in a regulation game. Still it's their first loss since the all star game. Not counting today's game, TOR has a 105.2 DRtg (10th best) post all star game and POR has a post all star game DRtg of 98.2 (2nd).

For the season, TOR's DRtg is 102.8 and POR's is 104.0. So, while POR's defense has definitely improved, TOR's seems to have slipped.

BNM

 

[BBert]

Hey take it easy on the Raps. Us northerners need to stick together.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Hey take it easy on the Raps. Us northerners need to stick together.

We already look down on them geographically. Might as well look down on them figuratively, too.

Still, I'd rather see them make the finals than CLE or BOS.

BNM

 

[Rastapopoulos]

 

[DDolla]

Tough week for the Blazers starting today but to be the best we need to beat the very best.

 

[BBert]

We already look down on them geographically. Might as well look down on them figuratively, too.

Still, I'd rather see them make the finals than CLE or BOS.

BNM

I'm with you there. They laid an egg today, but we may need their assistance in the future. I mean, we've helped them out recently. Least they can do is return the favor.