NBA: 2013-2014 Season - DONE Spurs Win

[JLG_GT]

Bobcats beat Pacers 109-87.
What?

NBA is strange sometimes, looks like this is the classic "play down to their level" game...the Pacers arent going anywhere but they should take this as a boot in the @$$!!

If home-court means anything its going to mean the most for the Pacers-Heat series if they handle business and get to the East Finals.

True, people easily forget about Nerlens Noel, he may still become a Marcus Camby type player in the NBA. Let's predict MCW continues to develop and they draft a solid wing like Jabari or Wiggins and hey presto, they have the building blocks to make a good team.

Edit: I was just reading up on this site that for 2014 being such a deep draft, they have quite a few draft picks in the upcoming draft! In few years they're bound to have struck luck with some of them, they could become a great team.

Yes. It is a deep draft, but the Sixers cant gamble or overthink themselves. I think Julius Randle is maybe the next Zac Randolph type player. But Jabari Parker is a no-brainer for the Sixers (esp after gift wrapping Evan Turner).

I am a huge A.I. fan and I have always kept an eye out for the Sixers. Lakers-Sixers Finals was such a great series (AI mostly) even though they had 0% chance of winning.

 

[JohnBM01]

Six teams are going to have some problems with each other this Thursday night. Three games are lined up for tonight; two of them as part of the NBA on TNT. Here is what is on tap tonight:

* Miami Heat at San Antonio Spurs (NBA on TNT)
* Oklahoma City Thunder at Phoenix Suns
* Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers (NBA on TNT)

Enjoy this first Thursday of March 2014.

 

[JLG_GT]

Six teams are going to have some problems with each other this Thursday night. Three games are lined up for tonight; two of them as part of the NBA on TNT. Here is what is on tap tonight:

* Miami Heat at San Antonio Spurs (NBA on TNT)
* Oklahoma City Thunder at Phoenix Suns
* Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers (NBA on TNT)

Enjoy this first Thursday of March 2014.

Heat blow out Spurs tonight!

OkC/Pho should be on TNT, although Thunder should handle business. Phoenix cant match up with OKC, but I like Phoenix.

Clippers get a chance to get Granger/Big Baby some chemistry as the game is over by half.

Feel free to call me out of my predictions are wrong!

 

[McLaren]

Wait, when did Big Baby make his way to LA?!

 

[Brett]

A week or two ago. He was bought out of his contract in Orlando.

 

[JLG_GT]

Yeah he is back with Doc, and he probably has him running suicides 'til he drops a good 20, em say 25lbs! It could be a "big" asset for the Clips with Granger off the bench. Depth always prevails in the NBA playoffs (w/ the exception of Miami.)

Can't wait for the Skip Bayless comments tommorrow when all my predictions go wrong!

Edit-
End of 1st, this is what I get for runnin' my mouth...

 

[a6m5]

I'm kind of surprised by the Spurs blowout, too. I guess they are as consistent as they come, and they did show in the last Finals that they can hang with the Heat(SO close). Congrats Spurs!

 

[sumbrownkid]

The Spurs are America's team tonight.

Hopefully the Bulls will do the same this Sunday.

 

[a6m5]

The Spurs are America's team tonight.

Hopefully the Bulls will do the same this Sunday.

I doubt that, but good luck. Go Bulls!

 

[McLaren]

A week or two ago. He was bought out of his contract in Orlando.

So many recognizable names now on that roster outside of the Lob City Duo; Davis, Dudley, Barnes, Redick, Turkoglu, Collison, Granger.

Edit* On the topic of these guys, holy crap; 48 point win tonight over the Lakers, the worst loss in team history. Almost every Clippers player finished with double points, 2 of which with 9 & Hollins with 5. Paul raked in a double-double with 11 assists & 13 points, as well as 4 steals.

And surprisingly, the Suns downed the Servant tonight in an amazing comeback. Dragic rallying the team & Green on absolute fire; 8 for 13 3-points, 6 for 6 in the 3rd Qtr.

 

[Paulie]

I doubt that, but good luck. Go Bulls!

Oh, so you're in HIS side.

 

[JLG_GT]

So many recognizable names now on that roster outside of the Lob City Duo; Davis, Dudley, Barnes, Redick, Turkoglu, Collison, Granger.

Edit* On the topic of these guys, holy crap; 48 point win tonight over the Lakers, the worst loss in team history. Almost every Clippers player finished with double points, 2 of which with 9 & Hollins with 5. Paul raked in a double-double with 11 assists & 13 points, as well as 4 steals.

And surprisingly, the Suns downed the Servant tonight in an amazing comeback. Dragic rallying the team & Green on absolute fire; 8 for 13 3-points, 6 for 6 in the 3rd Qtr.

Was hoping those 2 games were better watches on TV. Got 2 predictions right but I would have rather had the Heat win. Lakers are a mess, and nobody wants to go there until D'antoni bounces...

Joakim Noah is putting thoughts in Melo's head...

 

[Brett]

The Thunder's defense since the All Star break has been a mess. Their perimeter defense has just been awful.

 

[sumbrownkid]

The Thunder's defense since the All Star break has been a mess. Their perimeter defense has just been awful.

You wanna talk about awful? How about the Bull's offense. Scored only 2 points in the last 5 minutes of the game. They better come out hard against Miami this Sunday.

And why does Toronto keep playing these scrub teams like the Kings while Chicago is playing playoff teams this week and the next?

 

[a6m5]

Evens out in the end!

I was just about to post how Dallas was going down tonight. Quick look at the score, Blazers down by 20 points in the second quarter.

Oh, so you're in HIS side.

I'm on the side of MJ & Pippen. Plus my favorite all-time player Rod Strickland mentored Rose in Memphis!

 

[sumbrownkid]

a6m5 just has good tastes.

 

[a6m5]

Pippen is one of my top-3 all-time favorite players. Strickland & Sabonis I became fan when they were with the Blazers, but Pippen, long before he became a Blazer. Imagine my shock when he actually joined our team.

Edit: Look out, @McLaren. Blazers storming back, down only by 19 at the half. At this rate, we just need 19 more quarters to force an overtime!

 

[Paulie]

And why does Toronto keep playing these scrub teams like the Kings while Chicago is playing playoff teams this week and the next?

Toronto has something like the 2nd easiest schedule after the All-Star break in the NBA. If it comes down to the last week for 3rd between Bulls and Raps, Toronto play the Bucks twice I think, so we are looking on the up.

 

[McLaren]

Pippen is one of my top-3 all-time favorite players. Strickland & Sabonis I became fan when they were with the Blazers, but Pippen, long before he became a Blazer. Imagine my shock when he actually joined our team.

Edit: Look out, @McLaren. Blazers storming back, down only by 19 at the half. At this rate, we just need 19 more quarters to force an overtime!

Won't be hard. We like to blow leads late into the game against teams that use that momentum to their advantage.

 

[Brett]

Houston is playing some really good basketball tonight.

 

[a6m5]

Won't be hard. We like to blow leads late into the game against teams that use that momentum to their advantage.

Looks like the Blazers may have made a game of it, eh? Reminds me of our last Lakers game. Just completely dominated, catch up at the end of the game, lose by 1. LaMarcus was little out of sync still, after coming back from his injury. Hopefully after L-Train gets back into the rhythm of things, our younger guys start settling down(probably a long shot this season lol), we can start beating good teams. You know, not on the second of back-to-back at home & no you Blazer homers, dominating Spurs don't count.

 

[JohnBM01]

Sweet revenge, much? We won 112-86 on a nationally-televised match against the Pacers. The Rockets had their butts handed to in Indianapolis last time Houston took on the Pacers. This time at Toyota Center, it was sweet revenge. We're First team to beat Miami and Indiana in the same week. Harden accounted for 28 or so points. I'll take the win.

Up next is a date with Portland here in Houston on Sunday. Playoff positioning is the name of the game for this one when D. Lillard and company come to H-Town.


Congrats to the winners from Friday night's games.

 

[McLaren]

So, Phil Jackson possibly mulling joining the the Knicks front office. I can see Lakers fans throwing a huge fit if he agrees considering that while both teams really need help turning things around, he is a Lakers icon.

 

[a6m5]

He's a Bulls icon too though. He also showed interest in Blazers front office job, but the timing was all whack & it never really took off.

 

[McLaren]

That's true, 6 of his rings are with Chicago. But the Bulls aren't in any real need of a turn around. Thibs is doing a good job working with what he has. It's Rose they need back.

 

[sumbrownkid]

I think the Knicks are doing this to find a way to keep Melo.

Honestly, I think he'll still leave. Will it be for Chicago? I doubt it, but I personally hope so.

A starting court of Rose, Butler, Gibson, Melo, and Noah is pretty formidable on paper. With Thibs, it definitely will be.

 

[JohnBM01]

There is an idea being pitched around about play-in games to determine the 8th Seed in the playoffs. The way I understand it, teams 1-7 in conference rankings are safe. Those 8th to bringing up the rear will play each other for the 8th playoff spot. In other words, a poorly placed team could literally STEAL the 8th playoff spot! Imagine if it happened this season... say, Milwaukee somehow wins this single elimination and makes the playoffs by beating the other teams in the single-elimination tournament. THEY would be in the playoffs facing the #1 East seed while the other teams will have their seasons over. It almost seems like a Last Chance Qualifier, if you ask me. Surprisingly, this propsal has some support from players and such.

What do you think about this?

 

[JLG_GT]

There is an idea being pitched around about play-in games to determine the 8th Seed in the playoffs. The way I understand it, teams 1-7 in conference rankings are safe. Those 8th to bringing up the rear will play each other for the 8th playoff spot. In other words, a poorly placed team could literally STEAL the 8th playoff spot! Imagine if it happened this season... say, Milwaukee somehow wins this single elimination and makes the playoffs by beating the other teams in the single-elimination tournament. THEY would be in the playoffs facing the #1 East seed while the other teams will have their seasons over. It almost seems like a Last Chance Qualifier, if you ask me. Surprisingly, this propsal has some support from players and such.

What do you think about this?

Where did you hear about this?

I dont like it, I actually think its too water down as it is. Consider that only a handful of 1st and 2nd seeds have ever lost in the 1st round. I think they should make it 6 teams. Top 2 get byes, 5 game series in first round. The playoffs are long enough and if those top teams sweep and take time off as it is.

On the other hand I think they could probably do away with 1 or 2 teams from each conference. Its more difficult in basketball for teams to be championship calibur. Some teams are just stuck in the middle and get a mid round pick. Star power is key in the NBA more than any sport.

 

[a6m5]

I also don't think it will work well in the NBA.

I'd rather see it modeled after NCAA. IMO, best of 7 in the first round is blatant greed & damn near silly. This will sound radical, but I'd love it if it were all do-or-die until the Conference Finals. Best of 3 in the Conference Finals, Best of 5 in the Finals. It'll never happen!

 

[JLG_GT]

I also don't think it will work well in the NBA.

I'd rather see it modeled after NCAA. IMO, best of 7 in the first round is blatant greed & damn near silly. This will sound radical, but I'd love it if it were all do-or-die until the Conference Finals. Best of 3 in the Conference Finals, Best of 5 in the Finals. It'll never happen!

Yeah that would make things interesting!

But as we both know its all about the benjamins, baby.