NBA: 2013-2014 Season - DONE Spurs Win

[Paulie]

Another All-Star game from Lowry today, something like 33pts and 11 rebounds. However, with DeRozan still out, Patterson now and Amir Johnson also twisting his ankle this game, the upcoming West road trip will be tough. DeRozan is expected to return soon though, and Hansbrough played his first game in ages today after injuries kept him out.

Edit: I almost forgot! Aussie fans, Dante Exum has officially declared for the 2014 draft, no more conjecture about a possible run in college first.
http://www.basketball.net.au/index....s]=3187&tx_ttnews[backPid]=1&cHash=91c4045d23

 

[Brett]

How about that Thunder victory last night? That is probably the best Derek Fisher has ever played in his life. Jeremy Lamb also had a very nice game. This must be what it feels like to have role players step up and play out of their minds. It was getting old seeing Shane Battier and Mike Miller play better than they had ever at any point in their careers.

Scotty Brooks also stepped up his game and did not play Kendrick Perkins after the first five minutes of the game. Perk is fairly and unfairly criticized very often. The criticism is valid when the Thunder play the Heat. He has no business being in the game against Miami, as the Heat have no one for him to guard. After removing Perk, Brooks stayed with a small lineup to match up better with Miami and it worked well.

The Slim Reaper also put up another 30+ point performance. At the moment, Kevin Durant is just unguardable. This stretch of basketball he has been playing in January has been incredible. It has been very exciting to watch.

 

[JohnBM01]

Three games are on tonight, two of them as part of the NBA on TNT. Here is the card:

* Phoenix Suns at Indiana Pacers
* Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks (NBA on TNT)
* Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors (NBA on TNT)

Enjoy some Thursday night hoops.


[UPDATE] Tonight is also the announcement of the All-Star Reserves. We'll see who else will be playing in New Orleans for this season's All-Star Game besides the All-Star Starters.

 

[Aesthetics]

So, here are your All-Star Reserves:

WEST:

• Chris Paul
• Tony Parker
• Damian Lillard
• Dwight Howard
• Dirk Nowitzki
• Lamarcus Aldridge
• James Harden

EAST:

• John Wall
• Joakim Noah
• DeMar DeRozan
• Roy Hibbert
• Chris Bosh
• Joe Johnson
• Paul Millsap

Discuss.

My Snubs: Lance Stephenson, Anthony Davis, Tim Duncan, Demarcus Cousins, Kawhi Leonard, Goran Dragic, Marc Gasol, Kyle Lowry, Aaron Affalo, Mike Conley

EDIT: Lol Kendall Marshall.

 

[a6m5]

Lillard made it? He's been ice cold, so that's sweet bonuses.

P.S. Congratulations on the big win, Brett.

 

[kjb]

My Knickerbockers are trying to be competitive what do you know. Hardaway Jr scored 22 last night. Between him and Shumpert they don't need JR Smith. Hopefully they get rid of him somehow.

 

[Paulie]

Why does everyone think Lance Stephenson should be an All-Star? A good all round player make an All-Star does not. Same for Joakim Noah, he should not be in it IMO. I can't believe Anthony Davis got the snub, I mean sure I don't like monobrows any more than the next person but the kid can ball, and insanely well. Really happy DeRozan is in though! A shame Lowry isn't, despite probably being more deserving than DeRozan (definitely more than Noah!).

 

[JohnBM01]

Happy Chinese New Year (Year of the Horse)! Before heading into Super Bowl weekend, here is a look at how all the teams are doing heading into tonight's eight-game schedule:


--- EASTERN CONFERENCE ---
ATLANTIC: Toronto (24-21), BKN (20-23), NY (19-27), PHI (15-31), BOS (15-33)
CENTRAL: Indiana (35-10), CHI (23-22), DET (18-27), CLE (16-30), MIL (8-37)
SOUTHEAST: Miami (32-13), ATL (23-21), WAS (22-23), CHA (20-27), ORL 12-35)

EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS:
1.) Indiana
2.) Miami
3.) Toronto
4.) Atlanta
5.) Chicago
6.) Washington
7.) Brooklyn
8.) Charlotte
REST: NY, DET, CLE, PHI, BOS, ORL, MIL


--- WESTERN CONFERENCE ---
NORTHWEST: Oklahoma City (37-10), POR (33-13), MIN (23-22), DEN (22-22), UTA (16-29)
PACIFIC: Los Angeles Clippers (33-16), PHX (28-18), GS (28-19), LAL (16-30), SAC (15-30)
SOUTHWEST: SA (33-13), HOU (31-17), DAL (26-21), MEM (24-20), NO (19-26)

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

Just about everyone has surpassed the midway point of the season games-wise. We were past the 41-game mark long time ago. My Rockets don't play again untill tomorrow, when the Cleveland Cavaliers come to H-Town.


You're free to assess your team if you like. Here's my latest one...

I have the say my Rockets are really surprising me. This team is talented, but are they talented enough to where they could be NBA Finals worthy? I don't really see that with the Rockets. I would surely love to see the Rockets win their 3rd championship in team history. Perhaps even more than three. At best, I see the Rockets as a team that could surprise rather than just blow everybody away like they're the Western Conference equivalent of the Miami Heat. There are still a number of things that needs fixing on the Rockets' end for them to become Finals-worthy. Of course, before thinking about making any postseason noise, they need to first make the postsesaon and advance to that level. Until the Texans and Astros get their respective acts together, the Rockets are basically the best thing going in Houston sports right now; and us Rockets fans surely will cheer on this team to go as far as possible with this current season the way it is.


Enjoy this ball night. Good luck to all of your team(s) moving forward.

 

[Paulie]

Alright a6m5, time to boost your win % tomorrow when the Blazers host Toronto. We took care of the Nuggets today, so it's a back-to-back for the Raps. At least we have all our players back from injury, although no doubt a few are playing through pain. DeRozan returned today but didn't quite look like himself.

 

[Aesthetics]

Today, David Stern retires as Commishioner. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one that wants the door to hit him on the way out.

EDIT: Also, the Pacers have signed Andrew Bynum, probably for the sole purpose of keeping him away from Miami.

 

[McLaren]

Andrew Bynum either going to tear the team down from a Championship or leech his way to another ring. Guy is a low-life who should be kicked out of the league.

Alright a6m5, time to boost your win % tomorrow when the Blazers host Toronto. We took care of the Nuggets today, so it's a back-to-back for the Raps. At least we have all our players back from injury, although no doubt a few are playing through pain. DeRozan returned today but didn't quite look like himself.

Ross' dunk on Faried. Dammmn.

 

[a6m5]

Don't know much about Bynum, but that's about my impression of him, too.

Alright a6m5, time to boost your win % tomorrow when the Blazers host Toronto. We took care of the Nuggets today, so it's a back-to-back for the Raps. At least we have all our players back from injury, although no doubt a few are playing through pain. DeRozan returned today but didn't quite look like himself.

We are afraid of no Canadians. now watch us lose after 3 days off lol

P.S. Hate David Stern, but Silver is his protege, so I'm not holding my breath for any kind of positive change. If anything, they may turn NBA even more business heavy & lesser actual game of basketball. 👎👎

 

[Paulie]

Bynum on the Pacers makes no sense to me either, I thought Mahinmi did a good job off the bench for them, Bynum can't really improve on that, but he can poison the locker room.

 

[a6m5]

I totally missed DC's post about Bynum signing with the Pacers. Sorry.

If I were the Pacers, I wouldn't have signed him either. Going by his reputation, it seem to be high risk/low payoff move to me. He'll give you size, maybe depth in the middle(he's a hit & miss this season, right?). Trade deadline isn't here yet, so they may be looking at moving a front court player, or a front court player along with Granger, but most likely trying to trade Hibbert to Portland.

 

[JohnBM01]

It was 106-92 in Houston tonight as we beat the Cavaliers. The lead was as much as about 15 at one point for the Rockets. I'm glad the Rockets woke up and didn't play down to the level of their opposition like some teams do against inferior competition. The big story out of this game was Jeremy Lin recording his first triple-double of his career. I don't have exact numbers, but I'm proud for J-Lin to get himself a triple-double.

I hope your favorite team won tonight if they played. If so, congratulations to your team(s). Tough luck if they didn't win.

 

[Paulie]

Damn that Lillard and his super clutchness!!!!! Seriously, has he ever missed a shot with a game on the line? After a slow start, the Raptors surged in the 2nd half, DeRozan monstering all over the place to finish with 36pts and 12ast (30pts in the 2nd half). They almost completed a huge comeback until Damian Lillard hit a clutch runner to give Portland a 1pt lead with 11sec to go.

 

[a6m5]

Damn that Lillard and his super clutchness!!!!! Seriously, has he ever missed a shot with a game on the line? After a slow start, the Raptors surged in the 2nd half, DeRozan monstering all over the place to finish with 36pts and 12ast (30pts in the 2nd half). They almost completed a huge comeback until Damian Lillard hit a clutch runner to give Portland a 1pt lead with 11sec to go.

Was that the bank shot I saw on the news? To answer your question Paulie, Roy was pretty clutch. Lillard seems to be clutch-ier. I do feel for DeRozan not being able to get the final shot off. It happens, but you can tell he really wanted it.

Go Blazers, eh?

 

[McLaren]

Callin' it. Portland going to make it 2nd round guaranteed, Conference Finals I believe if they match up with anyone but SA or OKC. I think those are the only 2 teams that can definitely stop them.

 

[a6m5]

Callin' it. Portland going to make it 2nd round guaranteed, Conference Finals I believe if they match up with anyone but SA or OKC. I think those are the only 2 teams that can definitely stop them.

It's too early, this team is so tricky. There are just so many variables with our weird team with weird dynamics. Capable shooters, can move the ball, uber-elite power forward, but thin on the muscle & weak defense(trust me on this).

My feeling's that we'll probably lose in the first round again, but it'll depend on the match-ups. Assuming team's will be reasonably healthy, my power ranking for the West:

1 OKC

2~6 Golden State, LAC, Portland, Houston, San Antonio

7&8 Phoenix & ???

San Antonio, we've actually matched up well against, last couple of seasons. OKC, we definitely don't have the depth to challenge. Golden State & Houston, if the ball bounce our way, maybe, but still a long shot. Clippers, if our shooters are on, doable. Phoenix has kicked our ass this season. I think we should be able to beat them, but record(also my frigging eyeballs) suggests otherwise.

My glass is half-empty, but I think I'm on the money.

P.S. I think we should make a trade. We are so close to becoming a formidable playoff team afterall.

 

[Stavingo]

Oh man I've had a long hiatus from this thread, my boy AD got snubbed from the ASG.

 

[Aesthetics]

How about no

 

[Stavingo]

Depends on what you give up for him, but imagine the cap space you'll gain after this season.

 

[Aesthetics]

Depends on what you give up for him, but imagine the cap space you'll gain after this season.

Well since it will be probably be Emeka Okafor's expiring contract (he's not playing this season) + something else, my only concern is how Coach Horny would fit him in, because he doesn't fit the offense.

 

[Stavingo]

Well since it will be probably be Emeka Okafor's expiring contract (he's not playing this season) + something else, my only concern is how Coach Horny would fit him in, because he doesn't fit the offense.

Fair enough.

 

[Paulie]

I must have missed it because of the glitchiness on NBA game time, but Lowry sprained his knee today.

 

[Stavingo]

I must have missed it because of the glitchiness on NBA game time, but Lowry sprained his knee today.

Ouch I hope he's okay that dude is an absolute beast haha.

 

[JohnBM01]

The first NBA Fan Night Game of the Week for February 2014 is...

...Chicago Bulls at Phoenix Suns!

So the NBA fans want sumbrownkid's Bulls get some hospitality in the desert against DCybertron's Phoenix Suns. All I know is that the Suns will be on a back-to-back, because the Suns will play tomorrow night here in Houston against my Rockets.


Enjoy some hoops, ya?

 

[a6m5]

My Blazers got their butts kicked in DC, last night. As much as that sucks, I'm happy for the Wiz finally going over .500, I think they said for the first time in years? This season, I guess they've reached .500 several times, only to lose the first game after reaching 50/50. I hope they keep up the good work.

Now I want to find those idiot homer Blazer fans who called me a fake fan for not agreeing that we are contenders.

 

[Paulie]

My Blazers got their butts kicked in DC, last night. As much as that sucks, I'm happy for the Wiz finally going over .500, I think they said for the first time in years? This season, I guess they've reached .500 several times, only to lose the first game after reaching 50/50. I hope they keep up the good work.

Now I want to find those idiot homer Blazer fans who called me a fake fan for not agreeing that we are contenders.

What is with you guys? You beat the Raptors in a late game situation then let Washington win, you're not helping Toronto's position in the standings!

 

[a6m5]

Wizard's better than the Raps, no?