OT- Around the NBA

[Carlito]

Official now. Ricky Rubio is the new Kevin Durant for s2 posters.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Okay about this "Rubio" love. Did we have an opportunity to get him or something? What's the connection with many Blazer fans on his bandwagon?

Rubio is the Justin Bieber of the NBA. He's young, dreamy and has great hair.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Official now. Ricky Rubio is the new Kevin Durant for s2 posters.

All I'm saying is that he's a helluva a lot of fun to watch (Durant is too).

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I know there was some speculation that they would be pretty decent, but I'm impressed by the Pacers so far. 6-2, with 7 guys averaging between 10-15 ppg. And this is with Granger playing terribly (PER of 12.2). If he gets back into form, they're going be dangerous.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I know there was some speculation that they would be pretty decent, but I'm impressed by the Pacers so far. 6-2, with 7 guys averaging between 10-15 ppg. And this is with Granger playing terribly (PER of 12.2). If he gets back into form, they're going be dangerous.

They probably don't even need Granger to be good, this Paul George kid looks pretty legit.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

The Wizards have problems:



The Washington Wizards lost their eighth straight game Sunday to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 92-73. The team suffered the loss without the help of 32-year-old forward Rashard Lewis, a two-time All-Star.

CSN Washington reports that Lewis "got into an argument with Wizards' assistant coach Sam Cassell" before the game and "decided he didn't want to play."

The team has it that Lewis, who is averaging nine points and four rebounds per game, was out with a sore right knee.

Meanwhile, Andray Blatche raised some eyebrows Sunday when he told reporters that players aren't really listening to head coach Flip Saunders: "Guys want to do it their way, and it's not working," he said, according to USA Today. "Guys need to go home and really focus and think and take into consideration what Flip is saying." That's not a good sign for Saunders.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Meanwhile, Andray Blatche raised some eyebrows Sunday when he told reporters that players aren't really listening to head coach Flip Saunders: "Guys want to do it their way, and it's not working," he said, according to USA Today. "Guys need to go home and really focus and think and take into consideration what Flip is saying."

Andray Blatche is the voice of maturity and reason? Oh man, the Apocalypse must be upon us...

 

[illmatic99]

Check this play out from the Wiz practice and how lethargic McGee is:

[video=youtube;1FJHNwWOFY4]

Flip Saunders' coaching isn't helping.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Who ever expected anything from Javale McGee? His stats at Nevada are pwned by Luke Babbitt. He's like Keith Closs with better PR. Their real problem is John Wall. They've got to hope it's just a slump caused by being surrounded by morons and not a sign of things to come. I guess some PGs take time to mature. Hell, Sebastian Telfair isn't even there yet.

 

[RR7]

Who ever expected anything from Javale McGee? His stats at Nevada are pwned by Luke Babbitt. He's like Keith Closs with better PR. Their real problem is John Wall. They've got to hope it's just a slump caused by being surrounded by morons and not a sign of things to come. I guess some PGs take time to mature. Hell, Sebastian Telfair isn't even there yet.

12 and 10 with 3 blocks? Keith Closs? Gimme a break.

 

[illmatic99]

McGee is anchoring my fantasy team with blocks. He's pretty good.

I don't think Wall is the problem on that team. He's just surrounded by mostly shitty players, and has a bad coach. Check out how Deron is doing this year in NJ in a similar situation.

 

[Nikolokolus]

If the Wiz blow it up the Blazers should put themselves front and center to try and prise McGee away. It probably won't happen, but perchance to dream.

 

[magnifier661]

If the Wiz blow it up the Blazers should put themselves front and center to try and prise McGee away. It probably won't happen, but perchance to dream.

You have no idea how much I want McGee on this team. He would be like a younger version of Camby. Also, it would be awesome being under Camby's wing, since they have a similar game.

 

[magnifier661]

“@SpearsNBAYahoo: Yahoo! Sports: Dwight Howard expects to be in a Magic uniform during All-Star Game and possibly longer. http://t.co/hrzBZN75”

That's interesting. I wonder if magic and Howard are on the same page or is this just lip service

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Maynor for OKC out for the year. That alone shouldn't stop the Thunder, but if they get any otehr injuries, especiallly to a major player, all of a sudden it is turning into that kind of year for them.

 

[magnifier661]

Maynor for OKC out for the year. That alone shouldn't stop the Thunder, but if they get any otehr injuries, especiallly to a major player, all of a sudden it is turning into that kind of year for them.

Another injury? Wow

 

[THE HCP]

Who is their backup PG now in OKC?

 

[illmatic99]

Who is their backup PG now in OKC?

Harden will probably take over a lot of the play making duties. They also have Reggie Jackson, their first round draft pick from this previous draft, who played very well in extended minutes.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4906/gamelog;_ylt=AmmIPw0iT_9gQAqOcVngSnSkvLYF

 

[Boob-No-More]

You have no idea how much I want McGee on this team. He would be like a younger version of Camby. Also, it would be awesome being under Camby's wing, since they have a similar game.

No, please god no. One HUGE difference in their games is passing. Javale McGee may be the most selfish ballhog in the history of the NBA. His current AST% of 1.7 is criminally low and his career AST% isn't much better (2.8). Heck remember how everyone called Zach Randolph a black hole? Zach has a very respectable (for a big man) career AST% of 10.4 and his career low is 5.7 (second season when he was still comming off the bench). In his last four seasons in Portland, as a starter, Zach's AST% was 10.4. 10.2. 11.4, and 12.8. That means Zach as 6 - 7x times more likely to pass the ball than Javale McGee - and people here thought Zach was a ballhog! Javale McGee makes Marcus Camby look like John Stockton, Zach Randolph look like Steve Nash and Eddy Curry look like Jason Kidd!

By comparison, Camby has an AST% of 16.7 (nearly 10x McGee's 1.7) and Kurt Thomas has a AST% of 14.9. Those are both outstanding numbers for big men, and I'm convinced it is the smart play and court vision of these two veterans that helps create the good ball movement we are seeing on this year's Blazers team. Take Camby out and replace him with McGee and suddenly that great ball movement comes grinding to a halt. And when the ball movement grinds to a halt, the easy shots also go away and teammates, who are all happy and getting along great start to get upset and pout or complain. Javale McGee would destroy the special team chemistry that is the key to this year's success by the Blazers. I want him as far as possible from this team. DC is a great place for him. They can keep him, or better yet trade him to OKC and let him and Westbrook fight over who gets to steal more shots from Durant.

BNM

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Is the NW division the toughest division in the NBA?

Many picking OKC to come out of the west. Denver has been predicted by some to be a top 3 team in the West. Utah is suppose to be rebuilding and they have won 4 in a row (although I think they are the weakest team in the division). Minny sits on the bottom of the division and is probably the toughest cellar dweller in the NBA (maybe GS). Blazers are the sleepers of the West.

Looks like the toughest division to me. Miami is in a somewhat tough division and they seem to be a notch higher than all the other teams . . . but with teh Wizards and Charlotte in that division, I don't think you can call them the toughest division.

Northwest Division is representing this year!

 

[Rhal]

No, please god no. One HUGE difference in their games is passing. Javale McGee may be the most selfish ballhog in the history of the NBA. His current AST% of 1.7 is criminally low and his career AST% isn't much better (2.8). Heck remember how everyone called Zach Randolph a black hole? Zach has a very respectable (for a big man) career AST% of 10.4 and his career low is 5.7 (second season when he was still comming off the bench). In his last four seasons in Portland, as a starter, Zach's AST% was 10.4. 10.2. 11.4, and 12.8. That means Zach as 6 - 7x times more likely to pass the ball than Javale McGee - and people here thought Zach was a ballhog! Javale McGee makes Marcus Camby look like John Stockton, Zach Randolph look like Steve Nash and Eddy Curry look like Jason Kidd!

By comparison, Camby has an AST% of 16.7 (nearly 10x McGee's 1.7) and Kurt Thomas has a AST% of 14.9. Those are both outstanding numbers for big men, and I'm convinced it is the smart play and court vision of these two veterans that helps create the good ball movement we are seeing on this year's Blazers team. Take Camby out and replace him with McGee and suddenly that great ball movement comes grinding to a halt. And when the ball movement grinds to a halt, the easy shots also go away and teammates, who are all happy and getting along great start to get upset and pout or complain. Javale McGee would destroy the special team chemistry that is the key to this year's success by the Blazers. I want him as far as possible from this team. DC is a great place for him. They can keep him, or better yet trade him to OKC and let him and Westbrook fight over who gets to steal more shots from Durant.

BNM

Great points only thing id add is he is horrible on D. The guy can rebound and block but is a bad defender and may be one of the worst help defenders in the league. He looks lost on d and only seems to care about blocks and d.

Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk

 

[Rastapopoulos]

You have no idea how much I want McGee on this team. He would be like a younger version of Camby. Also, it would be awesome being under Camby's wing, since they have a similar game.

You deserve to be slapped upside the head by Marcus for that comparison. JaVale McGee is all sizzle and no steak. He's to "blocked shots as a measure of defense" what Allen Iverson was to "steals as a measure of defense". Are there any stats that purport to measure defense? (Didn't somebody, possibly you, cite some for Gerald? Well, go check McGee's. I would be ASTONISHED if they showed he was anything but a negative. And defense is supposed to be his strong suit.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I compared McGee to Keith Closs, to which RR7 replied:

12 and 10 with 3 blocks? Keith Closs? Gimme a break.

McGee's per 36 stats: 14.8 pts, 12.1rbs, 3.7 blks. In his 4th season.
Closs's per 36 stats: 13.2 pts, 10.3 rbs, 3.7 blks. In his second season.

You're right. There's no similarity. (Closs shot 80% from the stripe that year. So far, McGee is under 50%.)

 

[jlprk]

Take Camby out and replace him with McGee and suddenly that great ball movement comes grinding to a halt. And when the ball movement grinds to a halt, the easy shots also go away and teammates, who are all happy and getting along great start to get upset and pout or complain.

Agreed. It's so easy to overlook the benefits of experienced players and idealize some new find. A couple of years ago we were .500 starting our substitute PF at C, yet we cut him without a thought, Juwan Howard, causing a C-PF vacuum the next season which cost wins.

It took years to accumulate so many experienced players (the obstacle was Pritchard), yet some posters scheme to get rid of older players because "he's bound to get injured next season." Besides, substitute C-PF is covered for next season--Freeland.

 

[illmatic99]

Hornets beating Nugs in DEN at halftime. Lawson might be hurt.

 

[illmatic99]

Hornets up 18 now with 4mins left in the game. Huge loss for the Nuggets at home who now fall to 6-4.

 

[Carlito]

This is gonna be a crazy crazy season. Won't surprise me if the wizards get their first win vs Miami. Will be very up and down for every team. I am starting to think a team like Utah might sneak in playoffs instead of a team like Dallas. That's an example btw.

 

[tlongII]

Hornets up 18 now with 4mins left in the game. Huge loss for the Nuggets at home who now fall to 6-4.

Loved seeing the Nuggets get kicked at home! Now if we can just get OKC to drop a couple...

 

[magnifier661]

I was hoping for a Denver loss. Woohoo! Our resume is pretty solid. Now if we can beat clippers at home, it will neutralize that loss on the road. Gotta take care of Orlando too.

 

[THE HCP]

I don't think the average fan realizes how much of a toll travel has on the players. It wears you out! This schedule is going to take a huge toll on the players. There will be some very strange outcomes this season for every team.