NBA: 2012-2013 Season

[JohnBM01]

Indiana won 105-95 as the Rockets lost six straight... after WINNING five straight previously. I guess we're a lock to lose at Minnesota tomorrow night to fall to seven straight losses. Unless the Rockets are comfortable losing, they need to get off their asses and start f:censored:ing winning for a m:censored:f:censored:ing change before they miss out on the playoffs for yet another successive season.


Congrats to all other winners up to and after the time of this post. That includes Philadelphia's 108-101 win in Overtime over Toronto, and not to mention the Charlotte Bobcats going into Orlando and beating the Magic 106-100.

 

[sumbrownkid]

I love how Jason Terry thought he pulled out a win against the Bulls, only for him and the Celtics to get Marco Bellinelli'd.

 

[Brett]

I was too tired to stay awake for Durant putting down 52.

 

[Paulie]

The refs failed the Raptors again in that Philly game, an obvious pushing foul would have put Anderson at the line to put Toronto up by 4 with 5sec to go. Instead, it counted as a turn-over and Philly scored off it. (The Raps were up by 19 at the start of the 3rd, it was a complete 2nd half raping by the refs that even put them in that position). I finally understand just what a lack of credibility the NBA has these days, very few games are determined via talent or execution on behalf of the players, most games are rigged by the NBA and its refs.

 

[JohnBM01]

92-79 (I think)... Timberwolves. Rockets have lost seven straight and are now 21-21 on the season. Whether we start a new winning streak or extend our losing streak to eight depends on how we do at Charlotte on Monday afternoon. Banged up MIN team with a few guys signed to 10-day contracts, yet we still lose. Terrible shame for the Rockets as they're now content with mediocrity. They are also tired from playing so many games. Still, my team is better than this. MUCH better.


Venting over.

 

[Villain]

Jamallllll Star!

 

[sumbrownkid]

Would anyone be willing to take Nate Robinson off our hands? I'll offer him, and a turkey club sandwich.

 

[Villain]

Would anyone be willing to take Nate Robinson off our hands? I'll offer him, and a turkey club sandwich.

Peppercorn aoli?

 

[sumbrownkid]

Peppercorn aoli?

Deal.

Seriously though, Thibs looked like he was going to choke him. I think we won't be seeing him after Rose comes back.

 

[Stavingo]

Robinson is just one of those guys that just can't seem to stay on one team

 

[Paulie]

Did I hear something about a Euro player the Bulls are planning to debut around the same time as Rose? Something about him playing out his Euro contract which runs out mid-season. If so, is he expected to be any good?

 

[sumbrownkid]

Nikolai mirotic or something like that is his name. Bulls fans are super excited about him and tout him as the next Dirk Nowitzki, but I've got my personal reservations against him. Until he proves himself in an NBA game, I don't really care about him.

 

[a6m5]

Nikolai mirotic or something like that is his name. Bulls fans are super excited about him and tout him as the next Dirk Nowitzki, but I've got my personal reservations against him. Until he proves himself in an NBA game, I don't really care about him.

They boast Euro players these days. We have a player they referred to as the young Dirk during the draft few years back. He's probably averaging handful of minutes a game on a lottery team, and also a handful of points.

 

[JohnBM01]

Most teams have played halfway through the 82-game season. If your team(s) is/are one of them, how do you assess the first half of the season? I'll start with mine.

Many people in the Houston area still don't have Comcast SportsNet Houston, so many people aren't able to see their hometown NBA team on TV unless at a sports bar or have Comcast. I mostly listen to Houston Rockets games until CSN Houston is somehow carried on Dish. Carlos Delfino is still a solid three-point shooter. Omer Asik has been pretty solid at Center. Chandler Parsons is a great player, and not just because he uses the number I use in my games- 25. A newer guy for the Rockets named Patrick Beverley(?) has been pretty good in helping the Rockets' cause. Oh, and we have some guy named Jeremy Lin. Remember him? Maybe he's not ballin' like he was in New York, but he's still a very solid player for the Rockets. I'm pleased we have James Harden (or "Big Nasty Beard" as I call him). Dude can flat out play. He could flat out play like he was when with Oklahoma City.

The one thing I fear about the Rockets player-wise is who could get traded. I have a bad feeling we might give up Chandler Parsons or Carlos Delfino (or both) in the trading market. Who we may get in return will be interesting. I'm not sure who exactly the Rockets would give up and who would immediately contribute in place of any current Rockets player.

Right now, the Rockets are going in the wrong direction- lost seven straight and are currently sitting at 21-21. This was after reeling off five straight wins. We're at Charlotte on Monday afternoon. The Rockets will need to get it together and rediscover their winning form and avoid having another winless road trip. And it would sure stink to lose at Charlotte (let alone to Charlotte whether home or road). At best, I can see the Rockets probably finish 6th in the Western Conference at best. More likely would be the Rockets either barely sneak through the back door and enter the playoffs as an 8th Seed, or even miss the playoffs yet again. This young team is talented and can be a playoff contender. Trouble is- they sometimes can't play hard enough and long enough to realize their potential. Maybe they get things turned around, but there's still hope even with just over half a season left. So we'll see what happens for the boys in red from H-Town.


Anyone want to assess your team at this halfway point? And I mentioned it in my assessment- do you fear certain players from your team(s) may get traded and to where they may be traded?

 

[sumbrownkid]

They boast Euro players these days. We have a player they referred to as the young Dirk during the draft few years back. He's probably averaging handful of minutes a game on a lottery team, and also a handful of points.

Yeah they love to boast the big thing out of Europe, when people don't realize the NBA game is much different than the Euroleague stuff.

I just hope he pans out all right and is a nice compliment. That said, the Bulls better beat the Lakers in Chicago.

As for trades, I'd give up Nate Robinson, but I'm sure the league will laugh at us. Boozer is staying, much to the chagrin of the average Bulls "fan" who worries about star power instead of legit basketball..

 

[Stavingo]

Well my assessment of the Hornets is that we're still below .500 but the team is playing good basketball since the return of Eric Gordon. That dude has been playing like a beast lately and is sure worth that max contract. But I think the hornets or soon to be pelicans are probably gonna finish close to last place on the ladder and pray for another pick in the lottery.

There are a few players that I fear may be traded sooner or later, we've got too many big men like Anderson and Jason Smith and production from the 3 is lacking with Aminu losing his starting spot and regaining it again with his crazy inconsistency.

The brow is also playing like a beast but I'm a little disappointed in Rivers, I watched a few games and sometimes he just seems lost on offense as he can't slash like he did with Duke, but hopefully he will develop in due time. Another player going under the radar is Vasquez, the guy goes from being a bench player to a starter who averages the 3rd most assists per game, I seriously hope that he wins Most Improved POTY.

Overall the hornets just need to keep mending with team chemistry, get a lottery pick and then next year they can hopefully have a shot at getting into the postseason

 

[sumbrownkid]

The issue I find with Eric Gordon is his heart to the team, and his injury history.

 

[a6m5]

The issue I find with Eric Gordon is his heart to the team, and his injury history.

If I was the Hornets GM, I'd keep insisting that I'm working out a trade, but the trade partner is just tiny bit skeptical on his attitude & consistency.

I'd tell him that for two, three years.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Depends if Eric Gordon's knee would work with you on that front.

The kid really has the talent, but unfortunately his career is becoming like T-Mac's.

 

[a6m5]

Welcome to the NBA.

 

[Stavingo]

The issue I find with Eric Gordon is his heart to the team, and his injury history.

To be honest the whole thing about him wanting to go to Phoenix is stupid, regardless the hornets were always going to keep him because of how much cap space we had at the time.

But I still have to pray about his damn knee

 

[Brett]

Why I did not have this though earlier is beyond me. Gordon could want to go to Phoenix because the Suns training staff is one of the NBA's best. Phoenix does things a bit differently and appears to be ahead of the curve with regards to injury prevention and rehabilitation. Gordon could be thinking that the Phoenix training staff could help him stay healthy more often and thus be able to stay on the court more consistently.

 

[JohnBM01]

Seven game losing streak O-VAH! We got her done in Charlotte to the tune of a 100-94 victory. The Rockets trailed for about most of the game until leading about 83-82 or something like that. A Rockets loss would have dropped us to 21-22 on the season and eight straight losses. Thankfully, we averted that dubious losing streak to end this road trip 1-3. Our next game is home vs. Denver on Wednesday night. Oh... and Charlotte has now lost 15 straight home games now.


Congratulations to all other winners up to and beyond the time of this post. And don't forget to share your own assessment of your team(s) at this mid-point of the season if you want to talk about your team(s).

 

[Stavingo]

Why I did not have this though earlier is beyond me. Gordon could want to go to Phoenix because the Suns training staff is one of the NBA's best. Phoenix does things a bit differently and appears to be ahead of the curve with regards to injury prevention and rehabilitation. Gordon could be thinking that the Phoenix training staff could help him stay healthy more often and thus be able to stay on the court more consistently.

I agree within the fact that the Suns training staff is the best out there, but then he has to consider both teams roster, at the moment Phoenix has a worse record then NOLA and his second and third scoring option behind him is Dragic and Gortat, compared to say Davis and Ryan Anderson and finally has to consider which team has more chance making the postseason in the coming years.

 

[JohnBM01]

On this day in 2006, Kobe Bryant dropped 81 points on the Toronto Raptors in Los Angeles. The Lakers ended up winning that game 122-104. NBA TV is supposed to be re-airing that later deal today. Yep. Kobe Bean Bryant hanging 81 on the Raptors.

Four games are on the card for today. Check it:
* Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers
* Orlando Magic at Detroit Pistons
* Philadelphia 76ers at Milwaukee Bucks
* Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Clippers

Sadly, OKC at LAC is the ONLY Western Conference match tonight.


Here are the winners from Monday's games (home team underlined):
* 82-81; IND def. MEM
* 114-105; NO def. SAC
* 104-95; ATL def. MIN
* 100-94; HOU def. CHA
* 88-85; BKN def. NYK
* 106-99; GS def. LAC
* 90-85; SA def. PHI
* 95-83; CHI def. LAL
* 98-95; WAS def. POR


Enjoy some NBA basketball.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Jimmy Butler is the mamba handler. All he needs to do is develop a reliable shot and should be seeing more minutes, and perhaps even more starter minutes. I know Luol would like some added rest.

 

[a6m5]

Steve Blake used to damnnear stop Kobe Bryant. That lasted about a season. Of course, Kobe's a lot older now.

 

[sumbrownkid]

True, but Steve Blake also didn't have a coach like Thibs willing to bury him if he underperformed.

 

[a6m5]

True, but Steve Blake also didn't have a coach like Thibs willing to bury him if he underperformed.

You played ball, you tell me: Can you teach someone to play defense?

I grew up watching Scottie Pippen. It wasn't even taking pride in playing solid defense. I enjoyed staying in front of somebody as much as crossing somebody over. They say that you either want to play defense or you don't. I don't think it's ever that black & white, but I do think it's true to a degree.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Yes you can teach the player anything. As a coach, the number one thing is to ensure the player along with the rest of the team buys into the system he preaches. When D Rose entered the league, his defense was so-so and not as agile. After Thibs put his fork into him, he shuts down players or at least make them work for it. Rose usually makes Rondo or Paul run around a lot to get a sniff at the basket.

Now take a look at D'Antoni. He clearly has lost his team, he has a center that is a shadow of himself, a Kobe that doesn't respect his system, and a power forward disinterested in coming to work. Even if Mike Brown was somewhat of a clown, his team respected him and his system. And they ended up in the playoffs. Where is this Laker team headed?

Jordan is perhaps the best example (I know it's cliched but bear with me). When he entered the league, his defense was half hearted at best and not really respected. In comes Phil Jackson who calls him out on it, coaches him on it, and places a very defensive mastermind in Pippen next to him in practices. The rest is history.👍

It's all in the coaching where it starts. Put Thibs in Portland, and their offense may stagnate, but you can damn be sure no team would want to visit Portland.