NBA: 2014-2015 Season
- Thread starter JohnBM01
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- Azle, TX
- supermanfromazle
- SanjiHimura
Denver fans, what do you think? Tanking?
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-b...nt--getting-set-up-for-failure-184758989.html
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-b...nt--getting-set-up-for-failure-184758989.html
Brett
Premium
- 8,632
- Oklahoma
Not a Nuggets fan, but with the way success typically happens in the NBA, tanking can be an option to improve. The NBA is driven by star players and those are most readily available at the top of the draft. Tanking sucks for the players on that team and the fans of that team, but being around average is not much different. Ask Buck fans about just making the playoffs every year and have no real chance of advancing beyond just making the playoffs. It will interesting to see what comes of the 76ers tanking and how their recent draft picks/upcoming draft picks pan out.
- 26,628
- OREGON
- a6m5zero
I've been partial to the Wiz since the Bullets days(Rod Strickland, my fav), and I do like John Wall a lot. My work computer also has John Wall....paper.
I'm still rooting for the Blazers, but I don't share the optimism of other fans calling this team the Championship contender. With Wesley Matthews in, I think we are still short one more piece.
Edit: We lost to the Heat? Really?
That Dragic is a curse to us. He sure seem to have our number. 
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- 2,798
- Arizona
- Will1amC
- killvvill
Yeah that Dragic fellow... He was good with us until a certain Isaiah Thomas came and messed the whole rotation up.
Anyways, Knight and Len are both out with bum ankles and this season is basically down the drain for my Suns.
So I'm here to ask: What are your guy's picks for the season awards?
Mine are:
MVP: James Harden. As much as I love Steph Curry, I feel that he isn't basically carrying a team on his back because of Thompson, Iguodala, etc.. Harden's been basically carrying "a bunch of roleplayers" around since Dwight's been injured almost all season. Westbrook, even though he's been amazing recent;y, just hasn't been doing it long enough.
Rookie of The Year: Andrew Wiggins. No contest, unless if Jabari Parker was still around.
Most Improved Player: 3-way Tie between Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Rudy Gobert for me. Hassan Whiteside doesn't count because he didn't play last year.
6th Man of the Year: Isaiah Thomas. Does he count if he's on two different teams? If not, Lou Williams.
Defensive Player of the Year: It's between Draymond Green and DeAndre Jordan. Green has the highest defensive rating and amount of win shares, and can guard multiple positions. But if the voters prefer blocks...
Coach of the Year: Mike Budenholzer (is that how you spell it?) Steve Kerr may seem like the easy choice, (he's pretty close) but he has a lot on his plate to work with, and you can't really go wrong with that Warriors roster. Budenholzer was able to turn Kyle Korver into an all-star with his system. And he's exceeded literally every single expectation of the Hawks this season.
And for fun.. Finals Champion: I'm gonna go out on a limb here and make my bold prediction of a Grizzlies-Bulls (if D-Rose does come back this season) finals. It will be tough to decide, and it will be full of intense defense. Grizzlies in 7.
So, what are your guys' decisions?
Anyways, Knight and Len are both out with bum ankles and this season is basically down the drain for my Suns.
So I'm here to ask: What are your guy's picks for the season awards?
Mine are:
MVP: James Harden. As much as I love Steph Curry, I feel that he isn't basically carrying a team on his back because of Thompson, Iguodala, etc.. Harden's been basically carrying "a bunch of roleplayers" around since Dwight's been injured almost all season. Westbrook, even though he's been amazing recent;y, just hasn't been doing it long enough.
Rookie of The Year: Andrew Wiggins. No contest, unless if Jabari Parker was still around.
Most Improved Player: 3-way Tie between Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Rudy Gobert for me. Hassan Whiteside doesn't count because he didn't play last year.
6th Man of the Year: Isaiah Thomas. Does he count if he's on two different teams? If not, Lou Williams.
Defensive Player of the Year: It's between Draymond Green and DeAndre Jordan. Green has the highest defensive rating and amount of win shares, and can guard multiple positions. But if the voters prefer blocks...
Coach of the Year: Mike Budenholzer (is that how you spell it?) Steve Kerr may seem like the easy choice, (he's pretty close) but he has a lot on his plate to work with, and you can't really go wrong with that Warriors roster. Budenholzer was able to turn Kyle Korver into an all-star with his system. And he's exceeded literally every single expectation of the Hawks this season.
And for fun.. Finals Champion: I'm gonna go out on a limb here and make my bold prediction of a Grizzlies-Bulls (if D-Rose does come back this season) finals. It will be tough to decide, and it will be full of intense defense. Grizzlies in 7.
So, what are your guys' decisions?
- 9,473
- QLD, Down Under
- GTP_Paulie
- Paulie LDP
As a player that would suck being on that team, and flat out tanking games is against NBA rules. Putting together a bad team is different. Perhaps the Denver Nuggets organisation deserves a fine for that.
Alright, I'll play your sick little game!
MVP- I'm going to go with Westbrook, I'm not a fan of his, but I have to give him credit for his performance this season. Among the league leaders is most categories, had that insane run of triple doubles and has been pushing the Thunder along without Durant. Plus I think Harden is WAY over rated, he draws a lot of fouls that just aren't fouls at all. That makes people afraid to touch him and play good defence, and it helps him get to the line more often. Plus I've yet to see him prove he's not a choker when it matters (see: every play-offs series he's ever been in).
ROY- Easy, Wiggins. Would have been great to see him and Parker duke it out all season. Hopefully Jabari gets well and develops in to a star himself.
Most Improved- I'll second your sentiment to Rudy Gobert, what a BEAST!!!!
6th Man- I'm not well versed in all the 6th men playing well, so I'll just exhibit some bias for Lou Williams of the Raptors.
Defensive Player of the Year- Andrew Bogut, the best team in the league is a different team without him, and since he's not allowed to play much offence he must be doing something out there!
Coach of the Year- Mike Budenholzer has done an amazing job with the Hawks, putting the pieces together to make a contender.
Finals Prediction- Cleveland vs Warriors, Warriors win in 5. Cavs are putting it together in scary fashion lately, they'll be too much to handle for any Eastern team including the Hawks come playoffs time. The Warriors though....man the Warriors.
- 26,628
- OREGON
- a6m5zero
Thanks for making sure I caught that. Jerk face.
Is that how it went down? Did you guys even keep Thomas? Wasn't he traded?
McLaren
Premium
- 45,737
- Texas
Westbrook's nearly an empty stats player when you actually watch how he plays.
Against Indiana, he had 20/11/10; 50% shooting, 5 TOs.
Against Phoenix, he had 49/14/11; on a 12-38 (1-10 3PT) shooting with 4 TOs.
Against Portland, he had 40/13/11; on a 14-32 shooting night, again with 6 TOs.
Against Philly, he was 49/15/10; 16-33, 4 TOs. Probably his best TD of the season.
Against Toronto, he had 30/11/17; 9-21 which isn't bad. Still committed 9TOs.
This last Triple Double was 29/10/12. 8TOs, though.
When he shoots around 20 shots a game & gets his assists up, the team plays well. When he decides to become the Ninja Turtle Westbrick & shoot 30+ shots, he flat out sucks & commits bone-headed plays that cost the team games.
I'd give the MVP to Curry, or even LeBron over Westbrook. He is just like Harden; he barrels into the paint for points when he's not chucking 3's. The key difference is Harden manipulates his shot into defenders to look like they fouled him. I don't like it, but that's what he does & it's a crafty way to draw fouls. Westbrook however, tries to bulldoze his way into the paint trying to draw fouls whilst nearly committing offensive fouls every single time. Thankfully, the refs in Dallas weren't giving him those calls when they played here.
Against Indiana, he had 20/11/10; 50% shooting, 5 TOs.
Against Phoenix, he had 49/14/11; on a 12-38 (1-10 3PT) shooting with 4 TOs.
Against Portland, he had 40/13/11; on a 14-32 shooting night, again with 6 TOs.
Against Philly, he was 49/15/10; 16-33, 4 TOs. Probably his best TD of the season.
Against Toronto, he had 30/11/17; 9-21 which isn't bad. Still committed 9TOs.
This last Triple Double was 29/10/12. 8TOs, though.
When he shoots around 20 shots a game & gets his assists up, the team plays well. When he decides to become the Ninja Turtle Westbrick & shoot 30+ shots, he flat out sucks & commits bone-headed plays that cost the team games.
I'd give the MVP to Curry, or even LeBron over Westbrook. He is just like Harden; he barrels into the paint for points when he's not chucking 3's. The key difference is Harden manipulates his shot into defenders to look like they fouled him. I don't like it, but that's what he does & it's a crafty way to draw fouls. Westbrook however, tries to bulldoze his way into the paint trying to draw fouls whilst nearly committing offensive fouls every single time. Thankfully, the refs in Dallas weren't giving him those calls when they played here.
- 26,911
- Houston, Texas, USA
- JMarine25
James Harden went golden tonight- scoring 50 points even with Hakeem Olajuwon at Toyota Center tonight. It is the first time a Rocket scored 50 or more points in a game since Hakeem Olajuwon hung 51 on a team back in 1996. Harden got himself a double-double by also recording 10 rebounds. We won tonight's game 118-108 against the Denver Nuggets.
Congratulations to all other winners from Thursday. Yeah, March Madness ruled the airwaves, but the pros need loving too. Most of you probably know me to care more about college than most pro sports. But anyhow, yeah.
Congratulations to all other winners from Thursday. Yeah, March Madness ruled the airwaves, but the pros need loving too. Most of you probably know me to care more about college than most pro sports. But anyhow, yeah.
- 2,798
- Arizona
- Will1amC
- killvvill
Yep and yep. Dragic was fine with playing half - off the ball with Bledsoe. Thomas came in, originally to come off the bench to rest Dragic, but he wanted to get starter minutes. To satisfy all of them we eventually played all three together to close out games (Hey, it worked) and Dragic got absolutely pissed that he essentially became a SF with how ball-dominant Thomas was. We shipped both complainers out for basically Brandon Knight.
Long story short, the front office dun goofed up.
Anyways, in honor of March Madness, the Suns and Pelicans decided to play a college game. Both teams' offenses were sizzling, to end in a score of 74-72, Suns win.
- 26,628
- OREGON
- a6m5zero
I'm sure you are right. Blazers front office went thru a similar phase under Bob Whisitt(GM, Jail Blazers-Trail Gangsta Era). I thought you guys had interesting, but working formula with the Dragic & Bledsoe. I was bit taken by how quickly it fell apart.
👍 Oh, yeah. Go Blazers, too.
- 9,473
- QLD, Down Under
- GTP_Paulie
- Paulie LDP
Brett
Premium
- 8,632
- Oklahoma
Another great performance by Russell Westbrook tonight. He put up his ninth triple double of the season with 36 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists and bailed the Thunder out in the fourth quarter scoring 15 of his 36 points tonight in the fourth. Dion Waiters and Anthony Morrow also contributed heavily to get the Thunder a win against the Atlanta Hawks.
- 2,798
- Arizona
- Will1amC
- killvvill
- 2,798
- Arizona
- Will1amC
- killvvill
I'll miss the dude. Grew up watching him, he became my idol. He was always looked seemingly out of place on the court, yet was one of the most toughest and craftiest players ever. I remember when he got chucked into the scorer's table by a certain Robert Horry.. that series against the spurs with that huge eye gash... that one time when he broke his nose and adjusted it right back into place.. he would never quit. It's sad to see his body finally give up on him this way. He revolutionized the offense of the NBA with D'Antoni, and yet with all his accomplishments he was still one of the most humble, down to earth guys ever. ( he doesn't even own a car, he skateboards to practice. That's freaking awesome).
An NBA without him will be weird, and I hope he enjoys the best in retirement.
Thanks for the Memories, Steve. And thanks for screwing over the Lakers for us Suns fans.
EDIT: Here's his retirement letter. It's a good read.
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- 26,911
- Houston, Texas, USA
- JMarine25
Maybe Steve Nash's retirement made the Suns play like "let us do you proud as you head off into the sunset." In other words, we f:censored:ed up and failed tonight here in Houston, losing 117-102 to DCybertron's Phoenix Suns. The Suns surely need this win to help their own cause. On our end, this is just another case of being a top-level team stubbing your toes. You just can't do this in a loaded Western Conference... especially not with regularity. Our record is now 46-23. Still in 3rd Place in the West. The Suns are now 37-33. Memphis won, so that's not helping our cause either.
Congratulations to all other winners from Saturday. Better luck next time to all losers from Sunday.
Congratulations to all other winners from Saturday. Better luck next time to all losers from Sunday.
- 26,628
- OREGON
- a6m5zero
Only after the David Stern screwed them by nixing CP3 to the Lakers. I was not a Nash fan during most of his stay in Phoenix(Spurs rivalry thing), but he truly is a all-time player. I'd see him do his thing, and go "This is the NBA, right? Why don't we have like 100 more players who can do this?"
P.S. I guess I was a Suns fan tonight. Sorry, John.
