The NBA thread

[Cormacaroni]

Jimmer can't get his shot against NBA defenses, more-or-less as expected. Also miserable on D.

[Mandark]

(Image removed from quote.)

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA


Never got how those guys didn't catch way more shit for that.

[Human Snorenado]

I'm anxiously awaiting to see how Jordan and the Bobcats can ruin Anthony Davis next year.

[Cormacaroni]

Lin last 5 games:

27.2 pts, 8.8 assists, 58.8% FG%, 1.8 steals. Oh, and 5 wins.

I don't think anybody can call that a flash in the pan really. LeBron, Rose and Wade are probably the only other players capable of numbers like that right now. I love Rubio's creativity and potential but it's like Lin is already a fully-formed All Star

[Smooth Groove]

Anthony Davis is talented but I don't think he'll be a superstar regardless of which team drafts him.  Although Davis will be a huge defensive presence, he is unlikley to be much more than a passable player on offense. I see him as the next Tyson Chandler/Marcus Camby. 

[Smooth Groove]

Lin last 5 games:

27.2 pts, 8.8 assists, 58.8% FG%, 1.8 steals. Oh, and 5 wins.

I don't think anybody can call that a flash in the pan really. LeBron, Rose and Wade are probably the only other players capable of numbers like that right now. I love Rubio's creativity and potential but it's like Lin is already a fully-formed All Star

Yeah, those numbers would be ridiculously good even for a #1 overall pick, even crazier if you consider who he's been running with. 

[Cormacaroni]

It would be eye-opening if Kobe or Durant did that over 5 games really. And I mean, if they did it RIGHT NOW, not their first 5 career starts...

And yeah, I counted 3 or 4 blown assists that got counted as turnovers against Lin. With better teammates the numbers would be even sicker. They've got to come down of course but still.

[Smooth Groove]

Turnovers will probably come down once Lin adjusts to the size of NBA players and learns that certain passes shouldn't be tried.  Although the Ivy League is still Division 1, its players are significantly smaller than most conferences. 

[Cormacaroni]

uh-huh...and he doubles his assists. And gets some blocks.

[etiolate]

Jimmer can't get his shot against NBA defenses, more-or-less as expected. Also miserable on D.

I'm not sure that's it. It seems more like playing with a bunch of chuckers has made him gun shy. He struggles in the lane, but the surprising thing is he's passing up available shots on the perimeter.

[Cormacaroni]

Here's the thing with Westbrook - if he scores in the region of 27, he's not getting 9 assists. If he gets 9 assists regularly, he'll be scoring 22 or so max.
Ditto for Kobe. (Over multiple games obviously - both are eminently capable of having single game stats like that). That Lin is scoring and dishing simultaneously puts him in rarefied air indeed.

[Smooth Groove]

I'm most impressed with Lin's ability to finish at the rim.  He's just really good at absorbing the contact and shielding the ball. 

[Human Snorenado]

I'm most impressed with Lin's ability to finish at the rim.  He's just really good at absorbing the contact and shielding the ball.

Of course you're not impressed with him, he's not a black porn star and doesn't have 32 gigs of ram stuck into him.

[Mandark]

Lin last 5 games:

27.2 pts, 8.8 assists, 58.8% FG%, 1.8 steals. Oh, and 5 wins.

I don't think anybody can call that a flash in the pan really. LeBron, Rose and Wade are probably the only other players capable of numbers like that right now. I love Rubio's creativity and potential but it's like Lin is already a fully-formed All Star

Hey now.  Chris Paul against the Lakers in the first round last year and Deron Williams' series against the Nuggets the year before had better numbers over a five game stretch and those were in the playoffs.

I have to think he's going to cool off at least a little, cause he's had some favorable matchups and he's basically putting up top-5 MVP finisher numbers right now, but five games is enough to show that he's a legit player.

[Stoney Mason]

He will definitely come down to Earth at some point. The question is what will his "real" baseline be. Is 15 or 16 ppg and 8 or 9 assists realistic. Or is he better than that?

Like most people I'm not sure. I think averaging 20 and 8 or 9 would be his high end. Which would be amazing if he could sustain that for an undrafted player who has to share the ball with Anthony. Make no mistake, when Anthony comes back, he will take over as the leading scorer for that team.

[CajoleJuice]

I still love AstroLad posts:

http://neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=35154123&postcount=647

[Cormacaroni]

Lin last 5 games:

27.2 pts, 8.8 assists, 58.8% FG%, 1.8 steals. Oh, and 5 wins.

I don't think anybody can call that a flash in the pan really. LeBron, Rose and Wade are probably the only other players capable of numbers like that right now. I love Rubio's creativity and potential but it's like Lin is already a fully-formed All Star

Hey now.  Chris Paul against the Lakers in the first round last year and Deron Williams' series against the Nuggets the year before had better numbers over a five game stretch and those were in the playoffs.

I have to think he's going to cool off at least a little, cause he's had some favorable matchups and he's basically putting up top-5 MVP finisher numbers right now, but five games is enough to show that he's a legit player.

yeeeah ok, that's the kind of territory we're talking about. But playoffs are basically like playing the same game 5 times in a row. And you get weird match-up issues that lead to teams, for example, allowing Steve Nash to go for 50 or Amare to average 40 against one of the best defensive PFs ever. Look at Lin's line against the Lakers and then tell me that CP3 didn't benefit from going against Derek Fisher 5 times in a row.

This is a truly randomized 5 game stretch (well, 6 actually although ESPN only conveniently provides the stats for the last 5).

[DJ_Tet]

(Image removed from quote.)

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA


Never got how those guys didn't catch way more shit for that.

The worst was Raging Spaniard on GAF going on and on about how it wasn't racist and people were overreacting to the joke.  Then he says that Americans are way more racist than that anyway.

That guy is a taco.

[Mandark]

Like I said, I think Lin's for real.  I just don't want to put him ahead of the likes of CP3 and Williams based on one fortnight in the regular season.

[etiolate]

Raging Spaniard is cool. He's come off that viewpoint over time.

I can totally see Lin being a Calderon or Bibby level of player. Very good deal at his current salary. I'm curious about how he levels out over the rest of the year just to see how much he'll cost teams in the summer.

Not that the Kings need a PG or anything.

[Cormacaroni]

I still love AstroLad posts:

http://neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=35154123&postcount=647

Sports Gaf must be an absolute laugh-riot, maybe I should check it out once in a while

[pilonv1]

best gaf is great. Only reason to visit the forum these days.

[Stoney Mason]

[T-Short]

just watched this on League Pass. I was literally lol'ing when he hit that last J in Calderon's grill. The kid has some fuckin' STONES on him The drive and layup before that was even better.

Watched this game today. So amazing. And the swagger he has when walking away after swishing the final three

Super Lintendo

[DJ_Tet]

Glad that got youtubed.  I'll give him a bit of a pass as it was his second game back (and like 5th this year) and both teams were wearing throwback unis.  And he played for the Clips for like 7 years.

It was so bad it was funny.

[T-Short]

Preorder this, Beezy

http://digitalgravel.myshopify.com/products/yellow-mamba-t-shirt

[Joe Molotov]

Jeremy Lin even saved Kobe's marriage in time for WOW-LIN-TIMES Day.

[Phoenix Dark]

Interesting article on China's reaction to Lin
http://idealab.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/02/knicks-star-jeremy-lin-rules-social-media-ignored-by-china-broadcaster.php?ref=fpblg

[CajoleJuice]

The Knicks offense is so fucking bad when Lin isn't on the court

[Cormacaroni]

Yeah, it makes all Lin's talk of D'Antoni's amazing system and how he is an offensive genius etc ring a bit hollow. I mean, D'Antoni is without a doubt a great offensive coach, but he needs the right personnel. His tenure in NYC has been a misery because of his abject failure to tailor that system to the available personnel. He lucked out with Lin for sure.

[Mr. Gundam]

Sounds like an arena deal has been reached in Seattle. Press conference tomorrow morning at City Hall.

Sacramento? Charlotte? Who we stealin?

[Stoney Mason]

Lin 1st half
 
9 assists
1 turnover

Now that's good stuff.

[Smooth Groove]

Haven't been able to watch the game but the radio hosts in LA (hardcore Laker homers) are saying that Lin truly looks like an Asian Steve Nash. 

[Stoney Mason]

Knicks got this one early. 22 point lead going into the 4th. They'll probably sit the starters early. Lin has 10 points and 13 assists.

[Mandark]

Yeah, it makes all Lin's talk of D'Antoni's amazing system and how he is an offensive genius etc ring a bit hollow. I mean, D'Antoni is without a doubt a great offensive coach, but he needs the right personnel. His tenure in NYC has been a misery because of his abject failure to tailor that system to the available personnel. He lucked out with Lin for sure.

New York's offense was really efficient before the Carmelo trade, no?  I remember Hollinger being skeptical of the deal because it would be hard for them to score better, while their defense had a ton of room for improvement.  But yeah, D'Antoni works well when he has a team of shooters and some decent guard play.  I think the best way to look at it right now is that D'Antoni is helping Lin produce in a way that nobody thought he could, while Lin is saving D'Antoni's system from stagnating with bad PG play.

Lin 1st half
 
9 assists
1 turnover

Now that's good stuff.

Well now he has his usual 6 TO's, but he is out-assisting Sacramento 13 to 11.  Considering the Knicks are up by enough to rest him, the Kings better catch up.

[Stoney Mason]

In other news the Spurs have run off 9 wins a row. And the Bobcats have dropped 15 in a row and are 3-25.

Oh MJ. You so crazy.

[Beezy]

 

7 wins, .500

[Cormacaroni]

Mandark - yes, back in the dark ages when he had a real PG (Felton) and was running Amare into the ground, the offense looked great. But it wasn't going to last and he didn't develop anyone else to score for when Amare inevitably faded. I liked the deal for that reason - they needed another offensive big gun for when the uninsurable knees gave out.

It's just nutty how bad NY's penetration becomes without Lin. You'd think it wouldn't be THAT hard to feed Stat and Chandler but apparently it is.

[Cormacaroni]

7 wins, .500

Never again will you taste the salty tears of defeat my friend. Consider this a personal guarantee

[Smooth Groove]

How did the Jimmer go in the lottery while Linsanity went undrafted?  SMH @ NBA talent evaluators

[Cormacaroni]

Michael Lewis probably about 20,000 words deep in a book about just that right now, Smooth

[etiolate]

I want to apologize for thinking that Tyreke Evans cares about or understands professional basketball.

[Cormacaroni]

Cousins is fucking hilarious, haven't seen a scarier player since back when Artest was on the half-time cognac. Who the fuck would want to play with him?

[DJ_Tet]

Sounds like an arena deal has been reached in Seattle. Press conference tomorrow morning at City Hall.

Sacramento? Charlotte? Who we stealin?

Surely you meant New Orleans.

[Great Rumbler]

Marion really has been great this season, one of the Mav's few constants. Had 16 points on 8 of 14 shootin, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists in tonight's game.

Odom actually had a decent game, as well.

[Mr. Gundam]

Sounds like an arena deal has been reached in Seattle. Press conference tomorrow morning at City Hall.

Sacramento? Charlotte? Who we stealin?

Surely you meant New Orleans.

Yeah. It's still weird that the Hornets aren't in Charlotte.

[etiolate]

Cousins is fucking hilarious, haven't seen a scarier player since back when Artest was on the half-time cognac. Who the fuck would want to play with him?

A little mean is nothing new to the NBA.

[pilonv1]

Sounds like an arena deal has been reached in Seattle. Press conference tomorrow morning at City Hall.

Sacramento? Charlotte? Who we stealin?

Surely you meant New Orleans.

Yeah. It's still weird that the Hornets aren't in Charlotte.

Hornets -> Seattle Sonics

Charlotte regain Hornets IP, all Bobcats merchandise is burned and history erased.

[DJ_Tet]

As a former Charlotte Hornets fan (since inception) and current Bobcats fan I honestly don't think that's in the works.

There are a lot of new people in Charlotte in the last decade and a lot of current Bobcats fans are against the switch. 

I don't think it will bring back enough 'pissed off' Hornets fans to make it worth while, and the Hornets stuff has been tainted in New Orleans (they tweaked the colors to shitty and the logo.)

They've done studies.  Personally I thought we should have been allowed to keep our history (such as it was) ala Seattle and Cleveland Browns, but the NBA didn't agree. 

So to me, the Hornets era died when they left Charlotte.  Dell Curry is still the leading scorer for the Charlotte Hornets etc.  It's a closed history and I'm ok with that.

You don't punish the fanbase that supported the Bobcats by making all their stuff 'worthless.'  Costs too much money to switch the names and it won't help attendance that much anyway.

LJ, Zo and Muggsy aren't walking through those doors.  The Bobcats have done a better job embracing the Hornets history since Jordan came aboard.  I think the Bob Johnson era ignored the Hornets and that kinda pissed me off. 

Can't pretend like it didn't happen.  Can't really go backwards either though.  But hell, after this season is done the Bobcats name might be so tainted that I'll feel differently 

[Human Snorenado]

I've taken to calling them the Charlotte Paperbags.

[Brehvolution]

[Dickie Dee]

Good article on Allen Iverson:

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/1/31/2761217/the-tragedy-of-allen-iverson

[Stoney Mason]

Sad when anybody blows through a lot of money but I was never a fan. Reminds me of that mold of a guy like Mayweather. Somebody who has escaped bad conditions and poverty but never grows up and stops acting like a knucklehead. You could see this one coming from a mile away.

[DJ_Tet]

I've taken to calling them the Charlotte Paperbags.

The kinda sad thing is they are still trying.  Credit to Silas. Just have no talent and lost their top 3 on top of that.  DJ came back last night and Hendo is supposed to be back soon so hopefully they will win enough to avoid the record.

[Phoenix Dark]

Sad when anybody blows through a lot of money but I was never a fan. Reminds me of that mold of a guy like Mayweather. Somebody who has escaped bad conditions and poverty but never grows up and stops acting like a knucklehead. You could see this one coming from a mile away.

Yup, same goes with Tyson.

He's only 36 years old, and was in pretty good shape a couple years ago. It's likely he could have still been in the league if he was willing to accept that he was no longer the player he once was. Even in Detroit he was unwilling to take that step of maturity, and it's one of the reasons teams won't give him a second chance. I think he could start at PG for some team, and at the very least he could have been a backup making six figures.

Not every guy from the gutter makes it out and stays out, like a Jay-Z or 50 Cent.

[DJ_Tet]

Don't forget that Memphis gave him 'that last shot' after he had burned bridges in Denver and Detroit, and he quit on them after 8 games or so.

Sucks to hear he's broke but he's not the first one and won't be the last one.  Maybe he can go hang out with TO and Antoine Walker.

[pilonv1]

But hell, after this season is done the Bobcats name might be so tainted that I'll feel differently 

That was my reasoning. Make people forget everything about this season, start new. I'm not there so I can't tell how people feel but I think it would be nice to have it back the way it was.

[Phoenix Dark]

Don't forget that Memphis gave him 'that last shot' after he had burned bridges in Denver and Detroit, and he quit on them after 8 games or so.

Sucks to hear he's broke but he's not the first one and won't be the last one.  Maybe he can go hang out with TO and Antoine Walker.

iirc Memphis was a decent team that year right? Really shows what his priorities are

The TO thing...lol. Dude had a good season just two years ago but literally burned every bridge imaginable in the NFL. Fucking distinguished mentally-challenged fellow

[Stoney Mason]

Jeremy Lin will play in the Rising Stars Challenge after all.
The Knicks point guard was added Thursday to the roster of players for the Feb. 24 game, just before Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley began drafting for their teams.
Lin's breakout came after the pool of 18 players was selected, and the NBA was pressured to add him after he scored 136 points in his first five starts, most by an NBA player since the merger with the ABA in 1976-77.

Beyond his strong play, there has been enormous interest in Lin because he was undrafted out of Harvard and is the first American-born NBA player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. Other NBA players have praised his feats on Twitter, and even President Barack Obama is a fan.
But Commissioner David Stern had told USA Today that Lin would not receive a special invite to play in the game involving rookies and second-year players.

Barkley praised the addition, saying it was "really stupid the NBA denied him in the beginning."
O'Neal took Lin with his third pick after starting with the Clippers' Blake Griffin. Barkley took Cleveland's Kyrie Irving at No. 2.
Miami's Norris Cole also was added to make 20 eligible players.
The game formerly matched rookies against second-year players, but the NBA changed the format this season so the teams would be mixed. O'Neal and Barkley served as general managers.

[Cormacaroni]

Really love the idea of a draft. Been saying for some time that the actual game should be done playground-style, with Kobe and LeBron (or whoever the big dogs are at the time) picking live, regardless of Conference ('cause really - who gives a shit).

The stories and feuds this would create would be so awesome. And it would be like how real people actually play basketball!