2013 NBA Season News and Discussion

[Thallidomaniac]

And Iggy shows some effort and has a chance to win the game on free throws. And Philly manages to eliminate the Bulls because they were without their only two relevant players.

In which he does. Asik's probably feeling terrible for missing both FTs that possession prior.

[Windry]

Jeez what an ugly finish to both games.

Chicago missing free throws to seal the game, and ends up losing.
Ray Allen misses a big free throw in the final minute that could've put them up by 3.
Al Horford then goes to the line with a chance to tie and misses the first free throw 3 seconds left. Then he makes the 2nd free throw... face palm.

Well Sixers vs Boston in the next round. I think the Celtics will take this series in 6.
I think Paul Pierce will shut down Iggy.
I think KG will slightly out play Elton Brand.
I think the Celtics overall will out scramble the 76'ers in general.

[Skarsguard]

ehh Celtics in 5 more then likely because Celts still has Rondo and he is pretty good I know he can't score but he doesn't have to he just dribbles,rebounds,steals,passes really well.

[Thallidomaniac]

So the Nuggets force Game 7. Do I smell an upset of the Lakers?

[conscript]

So the Nuggets force Game 7. Do I smell an upset of the Lakers?

I think I am taking the Nuggets in that game. The drama in LA is reaching its peak again. The Nuggets are playing team basketball and playing incredibly hard. The Lakers on the other hand are busying calling each other out. Kobe said yesterday in an interview that the rest of the team isn't putting in the same effort he is. That is true, but you don't say that to the media. If anything, the last two games have shown why Bynum has so many detractors. The dude just plays like he doesn't give a shit about 75% of the time. When he is getting absolutely destroyed inside by guys that aren't nearly as good as him you have to question his commitment. I'll say this for Howard, although he quit on his team when his back was injured/he was trying to get SVG fired, he doesn't quit on the floor like Bynum does. If that deal is still there this offseason I think the Lakers should look at trading Bynum for Howard. If they lose game 7 Kobe might absolutely snap in his post game interview. They are going to need Artest to play like crazy tomorrow.

As for the Sixers/Celtics, I think the Celtics are going to kill them. Philly barely beat a Chicago team that had ZERO offensive weapons. Boston is pretty good defensively. They are probably on the same level defensively as the Bulls with Noah on the bench since the C's have a weak interior. Philly could barely score in the 80s against the Bulls. The Celtics are going to throttle them defensively and they have more offensive weapons than even the healthy Bulls especially if KG is playing like yesterday.

[chadwix]

This could get ugly if denver wins. Bynum and meta are kinda freakshow sore losers.

[Blueobelisk]

Denver's got this guys. I like LA better but my money's on Nuggets.

Oh but for tonight, grizzlies push game 7.

[Pendulous]

Lebron's being named MVP again. Not really sure how I feel about that.

[Skarsguard]

Lebron's being named MVP again. Not really sure how I feel about that.

I don't care for him but it would have been a crime not to give it to him. The only other person they could have even given it to would have been Durant and this year was James's year for sure. Lebron can have 10 MVP's and it's not going to matter till he gets rings in the minds of most folks anyways and probably to him as well.

[chadwix]

I wonder what wade really thinks about this, lebraun getting mvp when he is just as valuable. Mvp is kind of a slap in the face to the other players on a winning team. Give it to the guys like kevin love, who are the teams only player.

[obake1]

Wow that Clippers/Grizzlies game was...wtf? I know that they've been catching some heat for obvious flopping, but tonight was some of the most bizarre calls ever. Reggie Evans gets T'ed up for high fiving Blake Griffin...really, come on that's just almost as bad as when Duncan got ejected for laughing on the bench years ago. Tony Allen back pedaling like 4 steps with the ball and a reach in foul is called instead.

[Jibjabb]

Both game 7's Im going to go with the home team. Lakers and Grizzlies. I dont think the Nuggets can beat LA 3 times in a row and the Grizzlies Ive thought were the better team whole series but giving games away

As for the Sixers/Celtics, I think the Celtics are going to kill them. Philly barely beat a Chicago team that had ZERO offensive weapons. Boston is pretty good defensively. They are probably on the same level defensively as the Bulls with Noah on the bench since the C's have a weak interior. Philly could barely score in the 80s against the Bulls. The Celtics are going to throttle them defensively and they have more offensive weapons than even the healthy Bulls especially if KG is playing like yesterday.

I agree with this mostly, Celtics should demolish them. Im tempted to pick a sweep, probably will be 5. Boston's defense is very similar to Chicago's so Philly will once again be stifled to score most games and Celtics actually have their weapons unlike Chicago. The thing I would say is the big difference is that Chicago was a much better offensive team (when healthy) than Boston was, Chicago was also the very best rebounding team in the league... Boston the worst. Without Rose though Boston will definitely be a tougher opponent to defend.

I wonder what wade really thinks about this, lebraun getting mvp when he is just as valuable. Mvp is kind of a slap in the face to the other players on a winning team. Give it to the guys like kevin love, who are the teams only player.

For MVP they never give to players on mediocre teams its always the best player on of the best teams. For Kevin Love to really be considered he needs to lift that team to one of the best records in the league or he needs to do something absurd like 50 points a game. List of last MVPs:
L James (#2 Seed)
D Rose (#1 Seed)
L James (#1 Seed)
L James (#1 Seed)
K Bryant (#1 Seed)
D Nowitzki (#1 Seed)
S Nash (#2 Seed)
S Nash (#1 Seed)
K Garnett (#1 Seed)
T Duncan (#1 Seed)
T Duncan (#2 Seed)
A Iverson (#1 Seed)
S O'Neal (#1 Seed)

So since 2000 you pretty much need to be #1 or #2 seed to even be considered. GL Kevin Love gonna need it playing in Minnesota

[jreg]

I wonder what wade really thinks about this, lebraun getting mvp when he is just as valuable. Mvp is kind of a slap in the face to the other players on a winning team. Give it to the guys like kevin love, who are the teams only player.

The Heat are 14 - 1 without Wade. LeBron's season is also statistically only matched (and surpassed) by Michael Jordan's ridiculous 88-89 season. If you factor out LeBron's stupidly high shooting percentages, we're talking about the Larry Birds of the world. I don't think the voters were going to rob LBJ twice though I think Dwight was more deserving last season.

[Pendulous]

For MVP they never give to players on mediocre teams its always the best player on of the best teams. For Kevin Love to really be considered he needs to lift that team to one of the best records in the league or he needs to do something absurd like 50 points a game. List of last MVPs:
L James (#2 Seed)
D Rose (#1 Seed)
L James (#1 Seed)
L James (#1 Seed)
K Bryant (#1 Seed)
D Nowitzki (#1 Seed)
S Nash (#2 Seed)
S Nash (#1 Seed)
K Garnett (#1 Seed)
T Duncan (#1 Seed)
T Duncan (#2 Seed)
A Iverson (#1 Seed)
S O'Neal (#1 Seed)

So since 2000 you pretty much need to be #1 or #2 seed to even be considered. GL Kevin Love gonna need it playing in Minnesota

Which is ridiculous. MVP doesn't say "best team", it's the most valuable player. You absolutely cannot discredit someone who plays on a bad team.

[jreg]

Which is ridiculous. MVP doesn't say "best team", it's the most valuable player. You absolutely cannot discredit someone who plays on a bad team.

That's exactly why a case really can't be made for that player. Differential value from a historically bad team like Charlotte, and a sub 40% win percentage team is essentially worthless value. This is especially true in the face of how Minny fared after Rubio went down.

[conscript]

For MVP they never give to players on mediocre teams its always the best player on of the best teams.

They need to have two separate awards. Keep the MVP, but make it actually a vote for the most VALUABLE player to their team. The player that the team would fall apart without. Kobe would be a legit MVP candidate along with Love, Paul, etc. Durant and LeBron aren't in that situation since both their teams would still be good. The MVP is voted by the sportswriters. Then you have the Michael Jordan award given to the league's best player as voted by the members of the player's union. That would be the LeBron/Durant award. The NHL has kind of this system, but the writer's MVP is still given to the best player not the most valuable so they end up being the same damn award.


The Clippers are fucked. Good luck beating Memphis in Memphis when you couldn't beat Memphis when they were turning the ball over left and right last night.

---------- Post added 2012-05-12 at 07:53 PM ----------

The Heat are 14 - 1 without Wade. LeBron's season is also statistically only matched (and surpassed) by Michael Jordan's ridiculous 88-89 season. If you factor out LeBron's stupidly high shooting percentages, we're talking about the Larry Birds of the world. I don't think the voters were going to rob LBJ twice though I think Dwight was more deserving last season.

Ya the MVP last year was a total sham. The only reason LeBron didn't win it was because of the media backlash about the Decision. He was better than Rose in every major stat except Assists, which he trailed by all of .7 in, and I still think Dwight should have got it. 23 and 14 is pretty great averages along with being a defensive stalwart.

[Windry]

Well Lakers close out the series. That's a small sigh of relief for me.
Denver really impressed me in this series. They played with a lot of heart, and have a great young team.
I think a lot of teams are going to be giving Andre Miller a call this offseason. Even tonight with his poor shooting, he had a major impact.

It's interesting in the sense that I think Denver really exposed LA this series. Double Kobe, double the big men, and dare the Lakers to shoot 3's.
I think if the Thunder try this kind of defense at all, they'll sweep LA, or win in 5.

[Jibjabb]

I wanted to wait for the west to be decided before making 2nd round picks... but since the NBA just decided to start the east early have to pick something

Spurs over Memphis in 5 (if its LAC then I still say in 5)
Thunder over Lakers in 6
Celtics over 76ers in 5
Heat over Pacers in 6

It was nice to hear Shaq also agree that Kevin Durant shouldve won especially considering he has ties to Lebron and none to KD. Anyways, the Lakers series really comes down to which tandem can have more sustained success. Can Westbrook/Durant consistently beat Ron/Kobe defense or can Pau/Bynum consistently score on Ibaka/Perkins. Conventional wisdom would say Westbrook/Durant should still play well despite Lakers most likely putting their best defenders on them, Bynum is such a Wild Card who knows what you will get especially against arguably the best center defender in the game in Ibaka.

I will be rooting hard for the Pacers, they have heart and a somewhat deep team to match up with Miami. I worry if they get in close games how they will score against a very good Heat defense. They cannot take bad shots against them since it just gives Lebron opportunity for his 1 man fastbreak show. Limit the fastbreaks with smart offense and they have a realistic chance

[Skarsguard]

I wanted to wait for the west to be decided before making 2nd round picks... but since the NBA just decided to start the east early have to pick something

Spurs over Memphis in 5 (if its LAC then I still say in 5)
Thunder over Lakers in 6
Celtics over 76ers in 5
Heat over Pacers in 6

It was nice to hear Shaq also agree that Kevin Durant shouldve won especially considering he has ties to Lebron and none to KD. Anyways, the Lakers series really comes down to which tandem can have more sustained success. Can Westbrook/Durant consistently beat Ron/Kobe defense or can Pau/Bynum consistently score on Ibaka/Perkins. Conventional wisdom would say Westbrook/Durant should still play well despite Lakers most likely putting their best defenders on them, Bynum is such a Wild Card who knows what you will get especially against arguably the best center defender in the game in Ibaka.

I will be rooting hard for the Pacers, they have heart and a somewhat deep team to match up with Miami. I worry if they get in close games how they will score against a very good Heat defense. They cannot take bad shots against them since it just gives Lebron opportunity for his 1 man fastbreak show. Limit the fastbreaks with smart offense and they have a realistic chance

If the Pacers want to win they have to keep the Heat off the foul line and the Pacers foul a lot so that will probably hurt them if they don't find a way to deal with it. I think Celtics will be the 76'ers in 4 and the Thunder will beat the Lakers in 5 rest of your picks I agree on.

[Twiddly]

I predicted KG would be beast mode this entire postseason, he started a bit slow but he is REALLY coming on. Watch for more big games from him the rest of there post season.

On lebron winning mvp, if you qualify "MVP" as "Best player in the league" then yes, he 100% deserved it. I consider MVP to be someone who is most valuable to there team however, and lebron is not that. Heat make playoffs without lebron. Lakers do not make playoffs without kobe. Clippers dont without Paul.