2016-17 NBA Regular Season Thread

[CitySushi]

Interesting stat from the first 3 warrior games. The Warriors are down from 13 3 point makes a game last year to only 8 per game so far. That's a 15 point difference per game.

The Warriors have got a ton of clean looks, they just haven't knocked them down. Klay especially has been in a funk to start the year. He hasn't forced any shots, and most of them have been clean looks.

So far on paper the team looks balanced from the stat sheet in terms of shots and scoring, etc. But you can tell from the eye test that they're still disjointed and finding their way. What I would really like to see is Shaun Livingston step up as a scorer on the second unit. His size combined with that turn around jumper is almost unstoppable. I would like to see him a bit more aggressive to take advantage of mismatches and let Iguodala run more point with the second unit.

 

[gordontrue]

1st half of the Warriors Suns game was basically various layup drills for the Suns. 2nd half though, Warriors finally played defense for the first time this season.

 

[gordontrue]

Green says 'teams try to punk' the Warriors

From Haynes' article...

It should have been a four-point play, but the official didn't blow his whistle. An irate Curry got up and pushed Knight into the front-row seats as the Suns attempted to get out on a fast break.

That's some subjective commentary. I didn't think Knight's defense definitely warranted a whistle. 50/50 call at best, imo.

 

[CitySushi]

1st half of the Warriors Suns game was basically various layup drills for the Suns. 2nd half though, Warriors finally played defense for the first time this season.

Yeah their defense is so terrible right now.

The biggest thing for me was I saw a clip of Klay Thompson defending a driver. Basically he forced him baseline to help, which he's always done with Bogut on the back line. He then backed off his rotation (correctly) to switch. But the driver, just took it to Pachulia and scored on him. That wouldn't have happened with Bogut in the past.

The Warriors I don't think can use their old rotations. They'll need to figure out a way to maximize their perimeter defenders, who are their strength of the defense now, and not force towards help defense from the bigs. The bigs the Warriors have right now just aren't reliable.

 

[gordontrue]

What I would really like to see is Shaun Livingston step up as a scorer on the second unit. His size combined with that turn around jumper is almost unstoppable. I would like to see him a bit more aggressive to take advantage of mismatches and let Iguodala run more point with the second unit.

Completely agree. Livingston is one of the most underrated players out there. He's torched the Cavs on many occasions... twice in the 2015 Finals... and then again on Christmas day last year.

 

[gordontrue]

Yeah their defense is so terrible right now.

The biggest thing for me was I saw a clip of Klay Thompson defending a driver. Basically he forced him baseline to help, which he's always done with Bogut on the back line. He then backed off his rotation (correctly) to switch. But the driver, just took it to Pachulia and scored on him. That wouldn't have happened with Bogut in the past.

Yep! I noticed the same thing last night. They are used to handling switches and hedges by guiding their man towards waiting rim protection.

They are probably going to have to adjust their defensive strategy... but with the level of coaching on the bench and defense on their roster... I'm sure they'll be fine in the long run. Maybe not as good as they were last year.. but they have too many elite defenders not to figure it out.

 

[bksballer89]

Thoughts on Whiteside's 27, 15, & 4 against one of the better defensive teams in the league?

 

[CitySushi]

Thoughts on Whiteside's 27, 15, & 4 against one of the better defensive teams in the league?

Tristan would have gotten 40, 18, and 11, in 12 minutes of game play. Whiteside is terrible.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Thoughts on Whiteside's 27, 15, & 4 against one of the better defensive teams in the league?

It was fun to see him and Gasol going at it.
The one problem Whiteside can't seem to stay away from is 1 or 2 stupid, early fouls.
No reason he shouldn't be playing 36 mpg.
Only thing stopping him is himself.

 

[bksballer89]

It was fun to see him and Gasol going at it.
The one problem Whiteside can't seem to stay away from is 1 or 2 stupid, early fouls.
No reason he shouldn't be playing 36 mpg.
Only thing stopping him is himself.

Agree. Last night he picked up 2 fouls. But that 2nd foul was garbage. Good thing is unlike Charlotte, he never picked up another foul after that. Ended up playing 35 minutes and would have been closer to 38 if not for the cramps

 

[Bolts]

Kings have played pretty well so far, outside of the first quarter Saturday. Now they get a 5 game road trip in Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Milwaukee, and Toronto. I'd be happy with a 2-3 record, and 4-4 overall before Collison returns. Considering all 5 games are happening this week, I also wouldn't be surprised if they went 1-4 or 0-5. I hope they at least play teams tough on this trip.

 

[bksballer89]

Kings have played pretty well so far, outside of the first quarter Saturday. Now they get a 5 game road trip in Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Milwaukee, and Toronto. I'd be happy with a 2-3 record, and 4-4 overall before Collison returns. Considering all 5 games are happening this week, I also wouldn't be surprised if they went 1-4 or 0-5. I hope they at least play teams tough on this trip.

They're going 5-0

 

[Bolts]

They're going 5-0

 

[bksballer89]

Sweet. A 6 PM EST game tomorrow

Cavs-Rockets time changed for World Series

 

[NYYFAN126]

Thoughts on Whiteside's 27, 15, & 4 against one of the better defensive teams in the league?

1. i think gone are the days of the great true "bigs"
2. now that Bosh is out of the picture, Wade gone...he will have touches

both those things make him a guy who has the abiltiy to be sneaky good this year...h just has to keep his behavior at a minimum and not act like a 6 year old in the cereal aisle who isn't getting what they want. He might be the only thing in his way.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

At this point, Dirk won't be much of a factor any way

I'm not really sure what the extent of his injuries are.

Yeah, he's getting long in the tooth.

But, I think he's been out mostly because of illness.

He would have made a difference in both games against the Rockets.

They avoid defense at all costs.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Dwight will be a plus as long as he takes to Budenholzer's coaching and plays within the system.
He is a dominant low post defender, rebounder and offensive weapon from the low, low post ( he has no range).
So far it looks like Coach Bud has a good handle on how to make this new dynamic work.

If he continues to accept what he couldn't in Lakerland or Houston, that he is a 3rd option on most nights, the Hawks are in business.

But, he always plays nice for the first month or two before he goes full blown hissy fit.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Green says 'teams try to punk' the Warriors

He would know what that looks like better than most.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Thoughts on Whiteside's 27, 15, & 4 against one of the better defensive teams in the league?

I'd rather have Tristan.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Wow...4/84 Olidipo