NBA: 2013-2014 Season - DONE Spurs Win

[Stavingo]

Wow Bogut didn't get ejected for that fight? Pretty surprised about that.

 

[JohnBM01]

It was 93-86 in Memphis as my Rockets won at FedEx Forum. We won the game, but I barely followed it. The action I was able to pick up from the radio coverage was that Dwight Howard got a bit frustrated early on and picked up a Technical Foul for his troubles. D12's got to calm down and play composed. He may be a bigger Rockets diva than Tracy McGrady. But heck, at least T-Mac played his butt off trying to vault the Rockets into relevance. D12 has to grow up.


Elsewhere...
* The Pacers are now 13-1 on the season. Their latest victims were the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was 98-84 in Indianapolis.

* 96-86 was the score as Boston downed Charlotte in Charlotte. Good job by the Boston Celtics.

* MoTown massacre. The poor Milwaukee Bucks got run over 113-94 by the Detroit Pistons.

* Omnis' Miami Heat burned out the Phoenix Suns 107-92 in Miami.

* San Antonio handled their business at home, at the expense of Stavingo's New Orleans Pelicans. Spurs slapped around the Pelicans 112-93.


Before I give my usual sign-off, let me just say that on NBA TV's "The Starters," it is being reported that Charlotte- who will become the Charlotte Hornets next season (keep buying up that Charlotte Bobcat stuff!)- will go back to the classic purple and teal colors for their uniforms. I think they'll even have a white and dark blue outfit as their alternatives. I'm all for nostalgia. So this is a good deal for Charlotte NBA fans. Here's a little more info from ESPN:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10030177/michael-jordan-charlotte-hornets-use-old-color-scheme

What do you all think about this?

Kobe Bryant signed a 2-year extension for $48M. This guy still thinks he can go. So he's still going strong. If you still got it, you still got it.


Congratulations to the eventual winners of the following games:
* DEN at DAL
* CHI at UTA
* NYK at POR

 

[sumbrownkid]

Bulls are playing disheartened. Playing like they won't be around when the trade window starts heating up.

Honestly, I feel this is the last time I'll see Deng, Hinrich, and Boozer in Chicago uniforms. This Rose injury really hit us in the gut hard.

 

[a6m5]

O/T loss to Utah? I thought when the Bulls losing by almost 40 points was pretty much a white flag by the roster. This team proved itself without Rose last year. I'm sorry, but is there even an excuse for this? Granted, Championship is impossible without Rose(even with Rose, it's a long shot), but you still have your fans, you are getting paid tons of money. Have they already begun tanking towards the deep draft? Jesus.

During the Portland at Golden State fight, I was disgusted that Andrew Bogut stayed in the game despite instigating (or basically instigating) that fight. When I saw that on NBA TV, I thought Bogut should have been thrown out in addition to the other players who were involved in that skirmish. I meant to discuss this a long time ago.

Wow Bogut didn't get ejected for that fight? Pretty surprised about that.

That was a pretty slick Laimbeer move. My boss was pretty impressed with our Brit Freeland though, for his composure. Considering the elbow swung at his mug, he was pretty calm.

What I was sort of frustrated by though was the officiating. They just punished Blazers heavily, then I think they kicked out one reserve Warrior for it. Guy who instigated gets off free, after they even completely stopped the game to review the replay. Then the kick in the jimmi jammer: Official interrupt to make additional late call against Portland to make things even more lopsided than before. I was in disbelief by then. In the end though, that awoke Lillard & LaMarcus(21 boards!) so I can't complain. *edit - I just read that Mo Williams & Andrew Bogut were suspended one game.

P.S. Tweet by our local sports writer: "Cannot imagine Kobe and Melo on the same team. Nobody else would ever get a shot" Blazers are putting away the Knicks right now. Melo's putting up numbers, his team is right where it usually is. We've seen this movie before! *edit - Blazer win, Blazers win, Blazers win.

 

[kjb]

I see my Knicks have lost again. I like Melo but I honestly still feel they gave up too much to get him. I always felt that if he wanted to come to the Knicks so bad he could have waited to come as free agent. The Knicks real problem is their owner and the fans who continue to sell out the arena. Why field a championship level when fans will come out regardless of the product.

 

[JohnBM01]

Los Angeles Lakers at Washington Wizards

There is your NBA Fan Night Game of the Week this week. The NBA fans obviously want to know how the Lakers will do going far east playing at the Washington Wizards. This is one of four games for tonight. Some of the others:

* Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors
* Orlando Magic at Atlanta Hawks
* Golden State Warriors at New Orleans Pelicans


It's early, but here are the standings after so many games have been played so far heading into tonight's games:


--- EASTERN CONFERENCE ---
ATLANTIC: Toronto (6-7), PHI (6-9), BOS (6-10), NYK and BKN (3-10 each)
CENTRAL: Indiana (13-1), CHI (6-7), DET (6-8), CLE (4-10), MIL (2-11)
SOUTHEAST: Miami (11-3), ATL (8-6), CHA (7-8), WAS (5-8), ORL (4-9)

CURRENT EASTERN TOP 8:
1.) Indiana
2.) Miami
3.) Atlanta
4.) Toronto
5.) Charlotte
6.) Chicago
7.) Detroit
8.) Philadelphia
REST: WAS, BOS, ORL, CLE, NYK, BKN, MIL

EASTERN PLAYOFF MATCHES (if playoffs began today):
#1 Indiana vs. #8 Philadelphia
#2 Miami vs. #7 Detroit
#3 Atlanta vs. #6 Chicago
#4 Toronto vs. #5 Charlotte


--- WESTERN CONFERENCE ---
NORTHWEST: Portland (13-2), OKC (9-3), DEN (7-6), MIN (8-8), UTA (2-14)
PACIFIC: Los Angeles Clippers (10-5), GS (8-6), LAL and PHX (7-7 each), SAC (4-9)
SOUTHWEST: San Antonio (13-1), HOU (10-5), DAL (9-6), MEM (7-7), NO (6-7)

CURRENT WESTERN TOP 8:
1.) San Antonio
2.) Portland
3.) Oklahoma City
4.) Los Angeles Clippers
5.) Houston
6.) Dallas
7.) Golden State
8.) Denver
REST: MEM, MIN, LAL, PHX, NO, SAC, UTA

WESTERN PLAYOFF MATCHES (if playoffs began today):
#1 San Antonio vs. #8 Denver
#2 Portland vs. #7 Golden State
#3 Oklahoma City vs. #6 Dallas
#4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. #5 Houston


And there you have it. Enjoy some NBA hoops tonight.

 

[Brett]

Kobe Bryant signed a 2-year extension for $48M. This guy still thinks he can go. So he's still going strong. If you still got it, you still got it.

The Lakers overpaid on Kobe's contract extension. They have no clue if he will return to form after his torn Achilles. That can be a tough injury to return from and with Kobe getting up there in age, there is no guarantee his form will return. Throw in a roster that needs serious rebuilding and that contract is going to eat up way too much cap space to retain flexibility. Fortunately, this means the Lakers are not likely to be much of a threat in the West for the next few years.

 

[Stavingo]

The Lakers overpaid on Kobe's contract extension. They have no clue if he will return to form after his torn Achilles. That can be a tough injury to return from and with Kobe getting up there in age, there is no guarantee his form will return. Throw in a roster that needs serious rebuilding and that contract is going to eat up way too much cap space to retain flexibility. Fortunately, this means the Lakers are not likely to be much of a threat in the West for the next few years.

I agree, who are they supposed to go for in this years upcoming free agency?

 

[kjb]

I agree, who are they supposed to go for in this years upcoming free agency?

Carmelo Anthony

 

[Brett]

I agree, who are they supposed to go for in this years upcoming free agency?

I do not know who is going to be available in upcoming free agency. Having one guy, that is no longer the player he once was, eat up so much cap space is a bad move. Maintaining cap flexibility is important, especially when a roster needs overhauling.

EDIT: Here is a list of upcoming free agents for the next two years: 2014 and 2015 NBA Free Agents.

Another link worth reading:
The True Hollywood Story of Kobe's Crippling Contract. I have not read the linked report just yet, but Zach Lowe does fantastic work writing about the NBA.

 

[Stavingo]

Carmelo Anthony

Sorry but I can't see Melo and Kobe meshing with the bricks they'll be chucking up.

 

[kjb]

Maybe so but that's rumor going around. Also Melo has mentioned that he would like to play with Kobe. So whether or not it will happen I don't know.

 

[a6m5]

NASA would be able to observe the black hole on earth. Awesome.

 

[JohnBM01]

Just wrapped up...

We had some Atlanta Hawks problems tonight. How did the Rockets do on "Thanksgiving Eve?" Well... how about a 113-84 victory over the Hawks? Jeremy Lin was a little banged up in this one with a right knee contusion. He was done for the game. James Harden was a game-time decision and didn't play. This was a wire-to-wire victory for the Rockets.

The Brooklyn Nets are on the radar next. We take on the boys in black and white this Friday night. Congratulations to all other winners from tonight's games.

 

[a6m5]

I'm bummed about the Spurs losing to Thunder. Blazers were blowing away the Suns until Suns scored 40 frigging points in the second quarter, and now they are down at the half. I hope Blazers pull thru!

 

[Brett]

Thunder win! Reggie Jackson came up big tonight. Serge Ibaka played well. Jeremy Lamb also stepped up to the plate and contributed nicely. Westbrook just did not have it tonight. KD also just played okay, at least with regards to his normal standards.

 

[a6m5]

Spurs lose, Blazers lose.... what a night. We let Phoenix score 120 on us. Need that defense......

 

[Paulie]

I can scarcely believe what's going down with Dion Waiters in Cleveland. He seemed to have such a decent rookie season there and they had high hopes of him making a star studded back court tandem with Irving, then, nek minute, he's starting fights with team mates, coming off the bench and talk is he's being shopped for a trade.

Also, the Derrick Williams trade for Mbah a Moute (is that official yet?) deal caught me off guard too. I thought Williams was still a promising player with plenty of upside, but the Wolves trade him for someone who has precisely zero offensive game. I wonder if the Kings can ever really turn things around, now banking on Boogie, Williams and McLemore.

 

[JohnBM01]

No NBA action today. This is one of the rare days where there is no basketball on for the day. We're all back at it again tomorrow!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[Aesthetics]

Also, the Derrick Williams trade for Mbah a Moute (is that official yet?) deal caught me off guard too. I thought Williams was still a promising player with plenty of upside, but the Wolves trade him for someone who has precisely zero offensive game. I wonder if the Kings can ever really turn things around, now banking on Boogie, Williams and McLemore.

I've watched enough Derrick Williams to know he doesn't have that much upside the way he currently is: He's way too small and skinny for someone who's supposed to be a PF, and Minny really tried to force him to become a SF, and he doesn't have the shooting stroke or speed to keep up with SF's. Only tweener's (people who can't fit into a position well) I know that have made been successful are ones with crazy athleticism (Faried, Josh Smith) or really good shooters. (Ryan Anderson). So maybe with a fresh start, D-Will hopefully can work on his shooting, and maybe a post game to take advantage of his athleticism.
Also, the wolves could really use Mbah A Moute's defense. The Suns really need their pick.

 

[JohnBM01]

Another one falls hard. With Jeremy Lin suffering injury, we still managed to take down the Brooklyn Nets 114-95. I didn't follow the game much at all.


Elsewhere (random musings)...

* I want to congratulate Brett's OKC Thunder on banking that wicked 3-point shot to put away Golden State in Overtime to win 113-112 in Oklahoma City. 👍 Warriors/Thunder could be a playoff series come playoff time.

* Milwaukee's losing streak continues. They lost at Charlotte tonight 92-76.

* 109-91 was how much San Antonio beat Orlando in Orlando.

* Omnis' Miami Heat beat Paulie's Toronto Raptors by the score of 90-83 in beautiful Toronto.

* Stavingo's Pelicans did what my Rockets sometimes can't do in Philadelphia- beat the 76ers at Philly. The Sixers got cooked well-done by the Pelicans: 121-105.


Congratulations to all other winners from tonight's games.

 

[Brett]

It was an awesome game tonight between the Thunder and the Warriors. Back and forth. Lots of lead changes. Incredible game winning sequence, topped off with Westbrook nailing the three for the win.

 

[McLaren]

The Lakers overpaid on Kobe's contract extension. They have no clue if he will return to form after his torn Achilles. That can be a tough injury to return from and with Kobe getting up there in age, there is no guarantee his form will return. Throw in a roster that needs serious rebuilding and that contract is going to eat up way too much cap space to retain flexibility. Fortunately, this means the Lakers are not likely to be much of a threat in the West for the next few years.

Yep. They talked about this on the radio the other day that the Lakers are going to become just another average team for a few years to come & giving Kobe $48 million over the next 2 will keep them limited on trying to find new talent to build around. And as we all know, the Lakers have by far the easiest chance of convincing new talent to come to them with their gigantic image.

Sad, but I foresee my favorite player, Ms. Nash (as a6m5 would prefer) retiring without a much deserved ring.

 

[a6m5]

He's more like Elder Nash now........ Seriously though, it is sad to see a competitor of that caliber sidelined with age injury. As for the Golden State-OKC game, it would've been awesome, but Thunder came back!(sorry Brett lol)

Spurs win tonight, and I think the Blazers play the Lakers next. Blazers should be able to handle the Lakers, but it's on the road, so anything goes!

 

[Stavingo]

Eric Gordon went well against Philly, finally seeing some of that form he had in LA before his knees got bunged up.

 

[JohnBM01]

We did what nobody else has done yet this season- beat San Antonio in their house. Although the Houston Rockets won 112-106 tonight in San Antonio, it was a bit bittersweet, especially late. Chandler Parsons had some back trouble late in the game followed by Francisco Garcia having some knee issues. They took some for the team and still managed to preserve a Rockets win. This win snaps a seven-game losing streak at San Antonio for my Rockets. When you play in the NBA's Texas Triangle, you better be ready for a fight when the NBA's three Texas teams clash. We were ahead by as many as 23 in this game before the Spurs closed the gap and even took the lead. The Rockets still managed to take down the Spurs for a huge win.


Up next for my Rockets is a trip to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Jazz on Monday. We're back home on Wednesday to host DCyberton's Phoenix Suns on Wednesday and then Golden State's only visit to Houston on Friday night.

 

[Aesthetics]

My suns do horribly in back-to-backs against the same team.
Currently 0-2, and both of them were away for the first game, then home the second.
Who makes these schedules?
Another note: The suns, currently 10th in the west, would be in the 3rd place if they were placed in the Eastern conference. The west is so stacked it isn't even fair.

 

[Brett]

It is not just that the West is stacked. The East is just not very good past Indiana and Miami.

 

[Paulie]

Tell me about it, with a 0.400 record the Raptors are 7th, Rudy Gay happily throwing bricks like he's building a hospital. DeRozan has been an unbelieveable bright spot, for all his critics saying he couldn't shoot, he's shooting about 40% from 3 this season and he's playing both sides of the ball very well, you have to love this guy.
Side note, I wonder when they'll fix the NBA site, no matter how bad Toronto's record gets they're always listed as 4th place.

 

[Brett]

The NBA site is not broken. Toronto would get the fourth seed for winning their division. However, I believe if the fifth place team has a better record, then they would get home court advantage in the playoffs.