Lakers in talks for Melo now?

[PtldPlatypus]

Relax dude, Shaq teams have room for growth it is a pretty simple concept to understand. 34.5 Minutes a game, 21.7 points a game, 10.5 rebounds per game, 65 TS%. This guy missed 2 out of every 6 games in the regular season. Do the math dude.

Without Shaq's Monster numbers the Heat lose in the Conference Finals to Detroit (and guess what during the season he was injured). He DOMINATED that elite defense. Unless the Entire playoffs don't count and you can go straight from the second round to the Finals?

It could still help to fact check. Right speed, just like the Heat this year "rallied" to overcome their 9-8 record. It has nothing to do with chemistry and being more comfortable with a new player?

...

Quite true, Drexler was an All-Star in the post-season. Without him they're not "rallying" from anything.

His potential, when the Rockets shorten their rotation and figure it out, is much higher than Otis Thorpe's.

In both those situations, the focii of your post (Shaq & Drexler) had lesser numbers in the postseason than in the regular season, both in terms of standard and advanced stats. It's a bit disingenuous to claim that they won because all-star acquisitions stepped their games up when that was not really the case.

Yeah that's why the Rockets swept the Orlando Magic in the Finals, because they're not that talented. Robert Horry and Sam Cassell entering their primes in the playoffs had nothing to do with it either.

A supremely efficient 22 and 10 against one of the best defenses in the NBA, the Pistons, is also not about natural basketball talent. Anyone can do that.

No one said those teams weren't talented--the point was that they weren't perceived as "elite" heading into the postseason.

 

[huevonkiller]

In both those situations, the focii of your post (Shaq & Drexler) had lesser numbers in the postseason than in the regular season, both in terms of standard and advanced stats. It's a bit disingenuous to claim that they won because all-star acquisitions stepped their games up when that was not really the case.

Ah right, I see the problem you have. You lack basic logic.

Per value of regular season Shaq, 3200 for every 6 games. Per value of post-season Shaq, 4000 for every 6 games. He's taking on a far greater magnitude of his team's possessions. In the playoffs rotations are shortened, and Shaq takes off a bunch of games during the regular season.

 

[huevonkiller]

~Shaq played 30.6 minutes at 24.4 per during the regular season. 28% games missed, he misses 0% in the playoffs. In fact he increases his minutes on the court and his valuable defense.

~ Shaq played every post-season game, 33 minutes at 20 PER.


He plays 4 out of every 6 games. 72% of 24.4 is 17.5 and that is being generous once you factor in the extra minutes Shaq takes on in the post-season (from 30.6 to 33). Therefore the gap widens even more.

Similarly Clyde and Robert Horry increase their minutes, and Horry transitions from a below average starter into an above average starter at 38 minutes per game. They then sweep the Finals and Robert Horry doesn't disappear off the face of the earth, so it wasn't just because he "tried" harder. Clyde's game is perfectly suited for the Rockets shorter rotation, replace him with Otis Thorpe and they also lose.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Ah right, I see the problem you have. You lack basic logic.

Well, that's a bit rude. But you're a mod, so I guess you can get away with that.

He's taking on a far greater value of his team's possessions. In the playoffs rotations are shortened, and Shaq takes off a bunch of games during the season.

OK, so did they win because Shaq played better during the playoffs, because he was featured more, or because he didn't take games off? What exactly is your claim here?

 

[huevonkiller]

Well, that's a bit rude. But you're a mod, so I guess you can get away with that.

Yeah I don't see where I broke the rules? Excessive name calling is one thing, saying things about your logic is another.

*You lack some logic. I think that sounds better? Lol I thought it was kind of funny, but yeah I'm not trying to piss you off. I'm not a bad guy I'll try to be a bit nicer, I like some of your posts.

Anyway I'll leave you with this, the Heat's problem was they lost a pretty solid point guard in addition to Shaq during the regular season. Shaq's record for the heat, not counting the losses he had when Jason Williams was out: 42-11, or a 79.2% winning percentage. On pace to win 65 games over the season, if both were healthy.

The losses Shaq had when Williams was injured (dates): 12-17, 1-06, 1-26, 4-02, 4-06, 4-09.

OK, so did they win because Shaq played better during the playoffs, because he was featured more, or because he didn't take games off? What exactly is your claim here?

It isn't a claim, it is simply true that Shaq and Jason Williams made the Heat a great team. Shaq only played 46% of his team's minutes at his position in the regular season, and 68% in the playoffs. In the post-season he allowed 9 PER when he was defending. So his own PER slightly decreased, but his defensive PER was even better.

 

[KingSpeed]

Read the thread. Never said Knicks won title. Never said Drexler wasn't talented. But the point was that sometimes surprise teams win the championship or, in the case of the Knicks, make a great run. It's not always one of the favorites. Rockets were NOT favored to win in 1995. They played HORRIBLE after the Drexler trade and trailed 1-2 vs Jazz but rallied. Then trailed 1-3 vs Suns but rallied because Barkley missed free throws. They made a miracle run. They came together during the playoffs.

 

[huevonkiller]

Read the thread. Never said Knicks won title. Never said Drexler wasn't talented. But the point was that sometimes surprise teams win the championship or, in the case of the Knicks, make a great run. It's not always one of the favorites. Rockets were NOT favored to win in 1995. They played HORRIBLE after the Drexler trade and trailed 1-2 vs Jazz but rallied. Then trailed 1-3 vs Suns but rallied because Barkley missed free throws. They made a miracle run. They came together during the playoffs.

It isn't a miracle. It just means you don't have an understanding of their components.

 

[KingSpeed]

It isn't a miracle. It just means you don't have an understanding of their components.

When you are trailing the Suns 1-3 in the second round of the playoffs and two Barkley FTs will eliminate you in 5 games, it takes a miracle to win not just the game but the whole damn title. Not to mention, with a 3 point deficit, Nick Anderson missed two FTs in Game 1 of the Finals and then got his own board only to miss two more FTs, giving Kenny Smith the chance to send the game into OT. Those were sports "miracles.". That was The most exciting playoff run I've ever seen. Utterly enjoyable. And it is proof positive that ANYTHING can happen in the playoffs.