2017-2018 NBA Regular Season Thread

[Bolts]

Blazers have the best social media account in all of basketball, IMO.

I think the Kings' twitter is up there too, but still give the edge to the Blazers.

 

[thunderc]

Is coming out on tHoop really a good idea?

Not what happened, but don’t lie you were excited about the possibility of another joining your ranks.

 

[msgkings322]

Couldn't agree more.

1. Whining about All-Star snubs

There is an unearned incredulousness to so much of the whining over All-Star snubs. Russell Westbrook wagged his finger at coaches for failing to squeeze Paul George onto the Western Conference team -- as if only a group of morons could omit George. He even took a veiled shot at Damian Lillard's All-Star campaigning, without naming Lillard (of course).

Anyone with a powerful voice -- player, coach, media member, agent -- sounding off about an All-Star snub with this level of sneering righteousness should be required to disclose who they would leave off the 12-man roster. Let's hear it, Russ: Do you cut Lillard? On what grounds? One of the Warriors? Which one?

You get 12 roster spots. Not 15. Not infinity. Twelve. There are more than a dozen worthy players in each conference. George made my roster, but if you actually follow the rules and list every candidate, it's clear he's not a no-brainer.

Bruce Bowen, the Clippers' color analyst, lamented during a game last weekend that Lou Williams wouldn't make the team even though he belonged. Jeff Schwartz, perhaps the most powerful agent in the NBA, released a statement chastising coaches for leaving off Andre Drummond -- a Schwartz client. (I had Drummond on my team, too.) The same rule should apply here: Who does an aggrieved agent or broadcaster remove?

Most of the complainers have a benign agenda: They are defending clients and teammates. They aren't clinicians, and they probably aren't combing through the All-Star pool player-by-player. They want to make someone important to them feel better. That's fine! Westbrook's rousing monologue apparently deepened his bond with George in a way that could change the Thunder's long-term trajectory.

Still: There is a way to say your guy is deserving without claiming the voting pool has committed some grave injustice. Hammer the voters, and you should go through the same exercise they did in choosing the teams.

Lowe's 10 things: Quit the All-Star whining

I said exactly the same thing above. Where's my blog?

 

[Wamu]

@Bolts (nice avatar)

Congrats to Hoffman for getting into Cooperstown. I was happy that Thome got in.

 

[Bolts]

@Bolts (nice avatar)

Congrats to Hoffman for getting into Cooperstown. I was happy that Thome got in.

Even though it looked good for Hoffman going into the reveal, I was prepared to be disappointed but thankfully the voters came through. I was surprised Thome got in as a first ballot HOFer but the numbers speak for themselves and he deserves to be there. The other 2 were pretty easy choices as well. Overall a great group going in, bring on the Hells Bells.

 

[Wamu]

Even though it looked good going into the reveal, I was prepared to be disappointed but thankfully the voters came through. I was surprised Thome got in as a first ballot HOFer but the numbers speak for themselves and he deserved to be there. The other 2 were pretty easy choices as well. Overall a great group going in, bring on the Hells Bells.

I was actually shocked Thome got in on his 1st try. Although w/ the #'s Hoffman put up during his career I thought he was a no-brainer 1st ballot HOFer. Also congrats to Chipper & Vlad. Overall a very good HOF class.

 

[msgkings322]

I was actually shocked Thome got in on his 1st try. Although w/ the #'s Hoffman put up during his career I thought he was a no-brainer 1st ballot HOFer. Also congrats to Chipper & Vlad. Overall a very good HOF class.

The Hall is stupid until they put Bonds and Clemens in. But they will in the next 2-3 years

 

[Wamu]

The Hall is stupid until they put Bonds and Clemens in. But they will in the next 2-3 years

No Cooperstown isn't stupid for not letting either of those 2 cheaters in. Put Shoeless Joe Jackson & even Pete Rose in & then talk about those other two. What Cooperstown really needs is a **Steroid Wing** of the HOF. The Steroid in the Bay & Roger the Roider are the poster boys for the Steroid Era of baseball. Fuck both of them. They would have gotten into Cooperstown w/o cheating the game of baseball. And they have nobody to blame but themselves that they're on the outside looking in.

 

[trojanfan12]

Anyone with a powerful voice -- player, coach, media member, agent -- sounding off about an All-Star snub with this level of sneering righteousness should be required to disclose who they would leave off the 12-man roster. Let's hear it, Russ: Do you cut Lillard? On what grounds? One of the Warriors? Which one?

^^^This^^^

Easiest thing in the world to say "Oh, so and so got snubbed" or "he deserved to be on the team" but just let us know who he's supposed to replace.

I'd take it even one step further and say if you're going to do that and not name who should be replaced...then he gets your spot.

 

[trojanfan12]

No Cooperstown isn't stupid for not letting either of those 2 cheaters in. Put Shoeless Joe Jackson & even Pete Rose in & then talk about those other two. What Cooperstown really needs is a **Steroid Wing** of the HOF. The Steroid in the Bay & Roger the Roider are the poster boys for the Steroid Era of baseball. Fuck both of them. They would have gotten into Cooperstown w/o cheating the game of baseball. And they have nobody to blame but themselves that they're on the outside looking in.

Agree to a point.

Shoeless Joe definitely needs to be put in. I'd like to see Pete eventually get in, but the dude bet on baseball. Then he lied about it forever.

I think all of the steroid guys should get in. Baseball was complicit in the use of steroids. They knew something fishy was going in, but did nothing about it because all of those home runs brought back the fans that had stopped watching because of the latest strike and the WS being cancelled because of it.

I don't think a Steroid Era wing is necessary, but it could be mentioned in their bio.

I also think steroids should be legal in professional sports. These are grown men and if that's what they want to do, they should be able to. They know the potential risks, so it's on them to decide if it's worth it or not.

 

[msgkings322]

No Cooperstown isn't stupid for not letting either of those 2 cheaters in. Put Shoeless Joe Jackson & even Pete Rose in & then talk about those other two. What Cooperstown really needs is a **Steroid Wing** of the HOF. The Steroid in the Bay & Roger the Roider are the poster boys for the Steroid Era of baseball. Fuck both of them. They would have gotten into Cooperstown w/o cheating the game of baseball. And they have nobody to blame but themselves that they're on the outside looking in.

The thing is, everyone was using. Bonds hit the HR to tie Aaron (#755) off a journeyman nobody named Clay Hensley who had, himself, been busted for using steroids. Put them in but mention the situation on the plaque. Bonds and Clemens were HOFers before they used, and then they were better than all the other users after. They won't be the first drug abusers in the Hall either.

Rose's transgressions were totally different, gambling is a fundamental assault on the competition that is sports. And anyway let him in after he's dead and the lifetime ban he agreed to is over.

These arguments have been had countless times, I'm sure you won't change your mind, but happily the tide is turning and Bonds and Clemens will get in in a couple years.

 

[msgkings322]

Agree to a point.

Shoeless Joe definitely needs to be put in. I'd like to see Pete eventually get in, but the dude bet on baseball. Then he lied about it forever.

I think all of the steroid guys should get in. Baseball was complicit in the use of steroids. They knew something fishy was going in, but did nothing about it because all of those home runs brought back the fans that had stopped watching because of the latest strike and the WS being cancelled because of it.

I don't think a Steroid Era wing is necessary, but it could be mentioned in their bio.

I also think steroids should be legal in professional sports. These are grown men and if that's what they want to do, they should be able to. They know the potential risks, so it's on them to decide if it's worth it or not.

Agree with most of this, I'm on the fence about legal PEDs though.

 

[thunderc]

Couldn't agree more.

1. Whining about All-Star snubs

There is an unearned incredulousness to so much of the whining over All-Star snubs. Russell Westbrook wagged his finger at coaches for failing to squeeze Paul George onto the Western Conference team -- as if only a group of morons could omit George. He even took a veiled shot at Damian Lillard's All-Star campaigning, without naming Lillard (of course).

Anyone with a powerful voice -- player, coach, media member, agent -- sounding off about an All-Star snub with this level of sneering righteousness should be required to disclose who they would leave off the 12-man roster. Let's hear it, Russ: Do you cut Lillard? On what grounds? One of the Warriors? Which one?

You get 12 roster spots. Not 15. Not infinity. Twelve. There are more than a dozen worthy players in each conference. George made my roster, but if you actually follow the rules and list every candidate, it's clear he's not a no-brainer.

Bruce Bowen, the Clippers' color analyst, lamented during a game last weekend that Lou Williams wouldn't make the team even though he belonged. Jeff Schwartz, perhaps the most powerful agent in the NBA, released a statement chastising coaches for leaving off Andre Drummond -- a Schwartz client. (I had Drummond on my team, too.) The same rule should apply here: Who does an aggrieved agent or broadcaster remove?

Most of the complainers have a benign agenda: They are defending clients and teammates. They aren't clinicians, and they probably aren't combing through the All-Star pool player-by-player. They want to make someone important to them feel better. That's fine! Westbrook's rousing monologue apparently deepened his bond with George in a way that could change the Thunder's long-term trajectory.

Still: There is a way to say your guy is deserving without claiming the voting pool has committed some grave injustice. Hammer the voters, and you should go through the same exercise they did in choosing the teams.

Lowe's 10 things: Quit the All-Star whining

If they can pick the teams in privacy Westbrook doesn’t have to say shit.

 

[bksballer89]

If they can pick the teams in privacy Westbrook doesn’t have to say shit.

This makes no damn sense.

 

[DJ Fieri]

TGIF!!!

 

[DJ Fieri]

Adams kicked Beal in the groin? LOL.













Draymond Green is rubbing off on folks around the League.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Rockets vs Pelicans should be competitive.

 

[flyerhawk]

If they can pick the teams in privacy Westbrook doesn’t have to say shit.

Uh they did pick the teams in private. Westbrook assumed he was picked last because they listed the rosters in alphabetical order.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Mark Brown and Hubie Brown announcing......this should be good.






For those not watching, no......they aren't related.

 

[DJ Fieri]

The Rockets are 19-0 when Harde, CP, and Capela all play together.