2016-2017 NBA Thread

[Rennadrel]

So what can people tell me about PJ Tucker? What is he going to bring to the Raptors that we are lacking right now? Our defense has been bad, but we got Ibaka right before the All Star break for shoring up our defense.

[ItachiZaku]

Well, I think he went to UoTexas, they produced KD and LMA, but people like Terrence Rencher and Reggie Freeman didn't pan out. Didn't they also had a few middle of the road guys like Augustin and Ford, Boobie Gibson was one of Bron's boys for a minute in Cleveland first tour... Texas has actually put quite a few dudes into the league over the years - quiet as its kept, and the big mocking of Rick Barnes for never getting anywhere in the tourney with the solid enough talent. Shaka Smart hasn't done much either.

Sadly, that's all I have for PJ Tucker... and that's his alma mater.

[Rennadrel]

Hes a good bench player. You guys really upgraded your front court. I think they will end up as the 2 seed again.

Bucks are falling off. I just hope they can be healthy when the new stadium opens.

Eh, being the number two seed doesn't mean squat if we can't take down the Cavs. Though some basketball media as saying that with Kevin Love out, there is a chance they could. Really, all they'd have to do is shut down everyone not named LeBron. Sure, he is good, but he can't score 90+ points by himself and the Raptors have enough offensive talent to out score him while shutting down the rest of the Cavs offense.

[ItachiZaku]

shut down everyone not named LeBron.

Fat Lowry can't stop Kyrie though. Kyrie was the one that killed Golden State in the finals. Any random dick head on the Cavs can go off on any night, be it JR, Korver, Iman etc T-dot just has to get in Clevelands head.

[Rennadrel]

Fat Lowry can't stop Kyrie though. Kyrie was the one that killed Golden State in the finals. Any random dick head on the Cavs can go off on any night, be it JR, Korver, Iman etc T-dot just has to get in Clevelands head.

Except that shutting down everyone else was exactly why they were the only team to come out of the east last year and win games against Cleveland. That's a hard hill to climb mind you, they have far too many weapons. Granted, with JV hurt for most of the east finals last year, it didn't help us, and Bismack didn't come back from injury until the playoffs started so he wasn't conditioned to play as much. I still don't see us beating Cleveland this year either, but at some point LeBron has to fall off the cliff due to his age.

[Blueobelisk]

Warriors clinch playoffs with 49-9 (84.5%). It's certainly no 73-9 but I guess it'll do.

For reference, the 9th seed, Kings, are 25-34 (42.4%). GS is basically twice as good as Kings this deep into the season.

[ItachiZaku]

The corpse of Deron Williams...

[Rennadrel]

I only follow Celtics stuff as a minor interest on the side, but Isaiah Thomas is a master twitter troll. He's got New England's twitterverse practically melting with his innocent/cryptic/hilarious tweets.

Right before the Horford signing he tweeted out only the 2 eyes emoji. He repeated that a few days ago, and everyone threw a fit, thinking something was in the works again. And then just now he followed it up with only a hourglass emoji.

I suspect twitter will go haywire again for a bit, especially cause there's just been a Woj report that Indiana is looking at Paul George's trade value.

I love this kind of drama.

Isaiah Thomas is also a douchenozzel on the court too. Ya know what they say though, you can take the althete out of the hood but you can't take the hood out of the althete. Thomas is no exception but it just goes to show you the bullshit pecking order that exists in the NBA. On Friday night, Thomas made a gun gesture at DeMarre Carrol who bumped him and he fell to the floor even though he probably could have stayed on his feet. Most players would get fined or suspended for that sort of gesture and have in the paast, but not if you play for Boston apparently. Kiki Vandeweghe is an incompetent boob when it comes to player discipline.

- - - Updated - - -

Oh FFS, now Lowry is out the rest of the regular season with a wrist injury

[ItachiZaku]

Welp, so much for Toronto.

[Blueobelisk]

Rennedrel I can't help but feel like you jinxed the Raptors by asking about them optimistically.

[Blueobelisk]

Deron Williams used to be on Nets so I know all about him. Hes fat and injury prone and can only play in a good system.

I remember Chris Webber was analyzing him once and said "he was always one cheeseburger away from crossing the line and not being able to play".

[Rennadrel]

Rennedrel I can't help but feel like you jinxed the Raptors by asking about them optimistically.

I was curious, I wasn't optimistic. To be honest, with Lowry out, a big chunk of their offense is gone. Delon Wright is not even in the same ballpark as Kyle Lowry is at the point guard position. Better he get surgery now and be ready for the playoffs than wait and wind up missing it entirely.

Looks like they will have to play defense and have DeRozan score 35+ points a night for the next month or so.

[FobManX]

Wiz beat the Warriors, albeit Durant got injured like 30 seconds into the game, but still even without him they're a 2x finalist and former champion. Good to get back on track after two bad losses post ASB. And we get Brandon Jennings to finally fill the backup PG role.

[ItachiZaku]

Wiz beat the Warriors, albeit Durant got injured like 30 seconds into the game, but still even without him they're a 2x finalist and former champion. Good to get back on track after two bad losses post ASB. And we get Brandon Jennings to finally fill the backup PG role.

Splash brothers shot like shit, that's usually how they end up losing. Johnny Wall also shot like shit, but nearly had 20 dimes on them defenseless fools.

[FobManX]

Splash brothers shot like shit, that's usually how they end up losing. Johnny Wall also shot like shit, but nearly had 20 dimes on them defenseless fools.

Yeah it was an entertaining but sloppy game. Lots of turnovers, missed open jumpers, yet both teams still scored in the 110 range. I think these are the two best offenses in the league with the two best backcourts.

[ItachiZaku]

Yeah it was an entertaining but sloppy game. Lots of turnovers, missed open jumpers, yet both teams still scored in the 110 range. I think these are the two best offenses in the league with the two best backcourts.

The only backcourt I would take instead of the Wiz would be my blazers. I love Wall, but Dame is my dude on my team. CJ/Dame vs Beal/Wall... I wouldn't mind either combo.

[Blueobelisk]

Wiz beat the Warriors, albeit Durant got injured like 30 seconds into the game

Look what you did.

The Warriors' leading scorer and rebounder, Kevin Durant, will be out at least four weeks for the Golden State Warriors, the team announced this morning, following a left knee injury last night against the Washington Wizards. Durant suffered the injury one minute into the game when Warriors center Zaza Pachulia fell into Durant's leg.

- - - Updated - - -

Draft bust.

Joel Embiid was the No. 3 pick in the 2014 Draft, but missed his first two seasons while recovering from injuries.

The process is over, at least for this season.

Philadelphia 76ers rookie Joel Embiid, who calls himself The Process after the 76ers rebuilding scheme, will not play again this season, the Sixers announced today.

Said the Sixers in a statement:

"The assessment of Monday's follow-up MRI of Joel Embiid's left knee appears to reveal that the area affected by the bone bruise has improved significantly, while the previously identified meniscus tear appears more pronounced in this most recent scan," said Sixers Chief Medical Director and Co-Chief of Sports Medicine Orthopedics at New York’s Mount Sinai Medical Center Dr. Jonathan Glashow. "We will continue to work with leading specialists to gather additional information through clinical examination and sequential testing to determine the best course of action and next steps."

Embiid initially injured his knee in January against Portland, and hasn’t played in a game since January 29th.

[Maunsta]

The only backcourt I would take instead of the Wiz would be my blazers. I love Wall, but Dame is my dude on my team. CJ/Dame vs Beal/Wall... I wouldn't mind either combo.

can we consider bron and kyrie a back court since lebron almost always handles the ball at point and kyrie i a glorified 2 guard?

[FobManX]

Wiz blow out the Raptors, albeit Raps without Lowry in this matchup is like bringing a knife to a gun fight.

Loving Bogdanovich. Dude is a legit scorer off the bench. And once we get Jennings our bench will be legit scary to go with a starting 5 that's already 2nd in the league in point differential among starting 5s.

[ItachiZaku]

can we consider bron and kyrie a back court since lebron almost always handles the ball at point and kyrie i a glorified 2 guard?

Deron was starting with Kyrie at the deuce last night's loss to the C's. But yeah, I saw something around the all star break that Bron is #1 all time this season for assists per game by a non-point guard or some junk. And really, that is what works. Mario, Boobie, etc were more for defense and spot up shooting than playmaking abilities.