NBA: 2014-2015 Season

[a6m5]

Brooks thing was a bit of surprise, but we saw plenty of smokes last week or so. I feel for the OKC fans, loved to read @Brett 's take on it, but at the same time, I'm a critic of the sellout Howard Schultz & weasel Bennett, so...... yeah.

Rondo thing I just heard yesterday on sports radio. What a self-centered drama queen. He had to hang in there for just few months, but he come apart during a regular season, and now he is having a meltdown during a playoff series? Not only did he established himself nationally as a grown man who acts like a crybaby, he pretty much guaranteed himself a much, much smaller contract next year & a roster spot on any team that nobody wants to play for.

Sorry, @McLaren It is now a long shot to tie the series at home, but I do wish you guys the best. Go Blazers(haha), Go Spurs & definitely, Go Mavs, too. 👍

 

[Brett]

@Omnis @a6m5 It is not the biggest surprise to me that the Thunder fired Scott Brooks. He has been pretty excellent at developing some of the younger players into better players, but has been lacking with his offensive scheme and in game adjustments. The thought process of the front office/ownership tends towards OKC has seen the pretty much the best of Scott Brooks and that falls just short of being able to win a championship.

The bad part of it is this year was not really his fault. I doubt there is really any coach in the NBA that could have done much with the ragtag group of players the Thunder were having to run out because of the stupid amount of injuries the Thunder had to deal with this year. It was comical, in a very dark way, how many injuries the Thunder had to deal with this year. The injuries just never stopped.

Further, the short run in the playoff the last two years were not completely Brooks fault either. Last year, it was an untimely injury to Serge Ibaka. Had Ibaka not been injured for the first two games of the Western Conference Finals against San Antonio, OKC may have very well advanced to the Finals. And had they advanced to the Finals, they would have had a very good chance against a gassed Heat team.

The year prior to that, it was an unfortunate injury to the previously indestructible Russell Westbrook. The Thunder were able to get past Houston that year, but Memphis was too much in the next round without Brodie.

Right now, I am on the fence. Brooks has been dealt some very bad hands the last few years, but could have also often done a better job.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Omnis]

What I don't understand with the Mavs is that in the beginning of the season they looked incredible. It has been a complete regression at the end though. They brought Rondo in to see if it could get better again, but that's backfired. What happened?

 

[McLaren]

Dirk is too old to play defense and the Mavs can't outscore Houston. Series over. I can't believe what a mental midget Rajon Rondo is. That guy is pathetic. I wouldn't be surprised if the Mavs actually went after Goran Dragic. They need a smart, mature point guard in the worst possible way. While I'm not sure that Goran can effectively orchestrate a half-court offense, I'm at a loss for who else might be available that can.

Rondo, however, is done. He's proven himself a team cancer and his career is going to be over faster than Allen Iverson's.

That said, I can't believe they canned Scott Brooks. They missed the playoffs by one game despite playing half the season with a YMCA-sized roster. And the team looked great once they got rid of Kendrick Perkins.

They can & they have when Rondo is off the court.

What I don't understand with the Mavs is that in the beginning of the season they looked incredible. It has been a complete regression at the end though. They brought Rondo in to see if it could get better again, but that's backfired. What happened?

Because Rondo isn't allowed to run his own offense & ends up slowing the team down trying to run plays. He's ball dominant which clashes with Ellis who needs the ball in his hands as well & is actually capable of running plays on the fly.

Goran wouldn't be bad, but I think Dallas should play the dark horse & go after Patrick Beverly. He's great in Houston whilst also being a defensive-minded PG. Plus, he's still in his prime & he'll be a lot cheaper than Dragic which should give us enough to re-sign who we need to & go after necessary pieces.

 

[Paulie]

Your team sucks at offensive rebounding. No amount of coaching can fix what the roster lacks in: size in the paint. They just need to tweak it. Right now their only solution is to either clog as many people in the paint (but that prevents potential fast-breaks) or speed up the game and not let Washington's interior defense get set.

But there is one thing coaching can fix: The "It" factor Pierce talked about. Thibs, for all his criticism of minutes management (which I think is overblown), definitely makes his players fight for it.

And this D-Rose guy starting to look a lil' scary guys. Jimmy Butler also showing he is the real deal, not just a regular season warrior.

We don't have size because Casey is always going to small ball when Valanciunas can't operate in his hard show/recover on screens system. I'd prefer to see something much either.

Great few games today, Bucks took the Bulls to double overtime and Warriors overcame a 20pt deficit in the 4th to win in overtime. Much better round 1 playoffs than in some of the previous years where most teams swept their first round opponents. It was excellent to see Mills come through in crunch time for the Spurs yesterday as well, an OT win where he scored 18pts filling in for the injured Tony Parker.

 

[JohnBM01]

Everybody up! It's go time! It is another 'Ball Night with more playoff action coming up. Enjoy some NBA basketball tonight.

 

[JohnBM01]

It was "Go Time" in Dallas for Game 3 of the HOU/DAL series after two games being played out in Houston. Dem' boys up north (speaking as a native Houstonian) will do all they can to rattle the Rockets' brains with Games 3 and 4 in Dallas. This Friday Night Fight between two of the NBA's three fine Texas teams ended up in a 130-128 victory for the Houston Rockets. The Rockets just simply had a better 2nd Half after sleepwalking in the 2nd Quarter. James Harden had a new playoff career high 41 points in this one. It wasn't a vintage performance for Big Nasty Beard (as I call him), but it was great enough to help the Rockets' cause. Well... these two teams will suit up, lace 'em up, and get ready to go again this Sunday for Game 4 of this series. Us Rockets fans will surely take this one. Houston is now up 3-0 in this series.

By the way, it's pretty surreal that today marks the anniversary of that awkward incident when Ron Artest... or "Metta World Peace" elbowed James Harden in the head, with Harden then playing for Oklahoma City.


Congratulations to all other winners from Friday.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Let's see if the Bulls bring their boom sticks to the arena.

I myself have my doubts because this Bucks team has heart. Kudos to Jason Kidd for putting some iron into them, and testing the Bulls' resolve.

 

[Paulie]

Two big upsets today, well done to the Nets and Bucks for not being clean swept. Not so lucky for the Pelicans who are out, if only they didn't blow that 20pt 4th quarter lead.........

 

[Omnis]

This Mavs game is fantastic. Carlisle's offense is great when his players run it. The team is like night and day without Rondo. Hopefully Carlisle's victory over personnel and the 3-game pin lit a fire under everyone's ass. The only thing that's driving me crazy is watching Monta Ellis and other guards just standing and watching shots that they can't close out on. It's like... Dude! Run the floor and start a fast break.

Also:

edit: lmao did you guys hear Shaq when they showed him shadowboxing? "They call me Manny Blackiao."

 

[a6m5]

Dang, dude. I hope Dallas win tonight.

@Omnis - That "Raptor" thing is also true with my two favorite teams: Blazers & Atlanta Braves.

I got an idea..... if we get rid of the post season, we'd rule! 💡

 

[JohnBM01]

Bulls:censored: play gives you a bulls:censored: loss. We failed 121-109 by bricking all kinds of shots and in thinking we somehow scored enough points to beat the Mavericks (or at least playing like it). Maybe the Rockets needed to have a clunker of a game just to get it out of their system. As for the Mavs, it's one more day. But that one more day will be in Houston for Game 5 of this series. Suit up and take to the floor Tuesday night in H-Town.


Congratulations to all other winners from Sunday.

 

[McLaren]

How Houston gonna rep #ClutchCity & claim Harden is the MVP when freaking Josh Smith kept them in it all of the 4th Qtr.

James Harden under pressure just like the last 2 years when the refs aren't choking on the whistles.

 

[Omnis]

Aminu shut his ass down though.

 

[McLaren]

Aminu has been great for us. I really hated seeing Marion leave, but Aminu has been everything Shawn was for us. I really hope Cuban offers him at least 3 years.

On that, it's being rumored the Pelicans are going to offer a full contract extension to Davis to keep him; 5 years, $140 million at 22 years old. It's not guaranteed as everything depends on the new CBA, but that will easily place him in the Top 3 highest paid players for the next few years. And to be honest, if he keeps going at his current pace, will be worth it. This kid is still a couple years from his prime & he has been beast mode-ing it this season.

 

[Paulie]

Aminu has been great for us. I really hated seeing Marion leave, but Aminu has been everything Shawn was for us. I really hope Cuban offers him at least 3 years.

On that, it's being rumored the Pelicans are going to offer a full contract extension to Davis to keep him; 5 years, $140 million at 22 years old. It's not guaranteed as everything depends on the new CBA, but that will easily place him in the Top 3 highest paid players for the next few years. And to be honest, if he keeps going at his current pace, will be worth it. This kid is still a couple years from his prime & he has been beast mode-ing it this season.

Anthony Davis is definitely worth every penny. If he's smart he'll realise he can live with a Cadillac instead of a Bentley (or would that be a Bentley instead of a Veyron?) and take a hometown discount to allow the GM to field a more competitive team. But either way works well, Pelicans should want to wrap him up long term what ever the cost.
Spurs are also said to be offering The Claw a max deal, the kid has been balling for sure. Do you guys think he's worth a max though?

 

[McLaren]

I think Leonard's contract depends on how he finishes these Playoffs. If they go deep and he continues to come up big, he's earned most of a max contract.

The question I have with offering him a max deal is how will he play under new leadership. Because Timmy & possibly Pop will be gone in that time frame.

 

[Omnis]

Davis is a 7ft guard from NBA 2K. He needs post-cba max money. The Claw is also the future in San Antonio. He's worth a max for sure. Both of these players are elite on both sides of the floor. The difference is that Kawhi has a better coach and supporting cast, so his workload seems diminished by comparison.

 

[JohnBM01]

The only teams eliminated so far are the following:

* Boston (eliminated by Cleveland 4-0)
* Toronto (eliminated by Washington 4-0)
* New Orleans (eliminated by Golden State 4-0)

As more of the 1st Round series conclude, more teams will be eliminated until we have eight teams to play in the conference semifinals round. Tonight's schedule is as follows:

* ATL Hawks at BKN Nets (Game 4 - ATL leads series 2-1)
* MIL Bucks at CHI Bulls (Game 5 - CHI leads series 3-1)
* MEM Grizzlies at POR Trail Blazers (Game 4 - MEM leads series 3-0)

Enjoy some NBA basketball tonight, GTPlaneteers. Also, good luck to all of your teams.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Well looks like Bucks are gonna force a game 6, and honestly probably a game 7.

Bulls keep making the same mistakes over and over, and I won't be surprised if they are the first team to let a team down 0-3 to come back and win the series.

 

[a6m5]

OMG, Bucks is winning & Brooklyn did win. Do I even bother watching the Blazers tonight?

Edit: We may get swept tonight, but we at least had one positive:

We drafted him almost three years ago, but I wasn't sure if he was even a NBA player, as late as first half of this season. He's starting to have his moments(big center w/good looking three), and I get the feeling that he may become a starter someday.

White Larry Bird reference:

 

[JohnBM01]

Elimination? Or one more day? Teams facing elimination at this point have to battle to keep their playoff hopes alive and last... [at least] one more day. Enjoy tonight's games!


Good luck to all of your teams.

 

[a6m5]

I hope San Antonio win tonight. Clippers/Houston series would make me the biggest Golden State fan ever.

 

[Omnis]

@a6m5 Sabonis Jr.!

 

[JohnBM01]

Houston Rockets advance! 103-94 was the score as the Rockets won this series in five games. The Rockets' next opponent will be the winner of the Clippers/Spurs series. It would be the first-ever playoff meeting between HOU and the Clip Joint if it was HOU/LAC. An HOU/SA series means once again, the Rockets won't have to leave the great state of Texas. Anyhow- Houston advances; Dallas is done.

And really, Dallas has nothing to be ashamed of. As much as the Rockets could have been just ballin', Dallas could have been equally 'ballin. I'm not one to overly gloat or think victory was a foregone conclusion. This was still a good series. The next series for the Rockets would be just as physical, if not more so than the HOU/DAL series. Great series and great season, Dallas. *shake McLaren's hand*

 

[a6m5]

@a6m5 Sabonis Jr.!

What about him? Didn't he play for Gonzaga?

P.S. Sabonis is one of my top-3 all-time favorite players. 1. Rod Strickland 2. Arvydas Sabonis 3. Scottie Pippen

 

[Omnis]

No, no! Baby Sabonis! Shaq's nickname for your boy.

 

[a6m5]

No, no! Baby Sabonis! Shaq's nickname for your boy.

You mean the white Larry Bird?

 

[Omnis]

BRO did you see Tim Duncan stuff Smug Griffin? Blake thought he could come in with that weak **** to tie the game. Timmy said THIS ISN'T EVEN MY FINAL FORM! BAM!

White Larry Bird = Baby Sabonis.

edit: Broooooooo! What a game! You guys KNOW Danny Green missed that free throw on purpose. The overhead replay made it so obvious.

edit 2: Now Doc Rivers is crying about the refs. Come on, man. Doc Rivers sounds like his voice box is a dried out vagina.

 

[McLaren]

Sorry John, but I have lost any respect for Houston after this series. Watching countless fans troll Dallas' social media during the series is one thing, but to see the organization itself post something like this?

Never seen a team celebrate a 2nd round exit so heavily.


Here's to hoping the Spurs pull off a back-to-back & Timmy D. join the GOAT with 6.