2016-17 NBA Regular Season Thread

[TJL]

The draft has run it's course, no need for it anymore.

 

[WiggyRuss]

If Magic's there on lottery night & the Lakers get the # 1 pick there's not question it was rigged. But it's not like the league hasn't rigged the lottery for teams in the past. Just look @ the '03 draft. I think the Celtics deserve the # 1 pick though.

whaaaaaaaaaaaaat? like the NBA would rig it so LeBron would come to Cleveland, and then rig it so the Cavs would have enough assets to lure him back. LOL

Dan G. and Cuban.....thats the NEW powers in the league. lol......dan gilbert gives so little fucks he SITS next to Charles Oakley at the Q while the owner of the NEW YORK KNICKS looks like a total clown.

oh how i love the new NBA CBA.

 

[Wamu]

whaaaaaaaaaaaaat? like the NBA would rig it so LeBron would come to Cleveland, and then rig it so the Cavs would have enough assets to lure him back. LOL

Dan G. and Cuban.....thats the NEW powers in the league. lol......dan gilbert gives so little fucks he SITS next to Charles Oakley at the Q while the owner of the NEW YORK KNICKS looks like a total clown.

oh how i love the new NBA CBA.

Put down the crack pipe wiggy. I never said the NBA rigged the draft for the Cavs so LeBron would return. Where do you come up w/ this mumbo jumbo? Danny Boy for prez-o-dent in 2020! Cuban will be his VP.

 

[WiggyRuss]

overall dont like this writer- but think he did a solid job here... How two uneasy moments made Cavs better equipped for Warriors

In the days leading up to that contest in January, something about the Cavs' demeanor didn't sit right with GM David Griffin. It's still unknown whether he suspected overconfidence or complacency with his group, but management felt that a humbling experience against the Warriors might be necessary for the team's growth moving forward.

And like clockwork, an embarrassing 35-point loss ensued, Cleveland's worst defeat of the season.

LeBron James and Kyrie Irving shot a combined 12-for-37 from the field. They each had six turnovers. James had a plus-minus of minus-32, the lowest in the game. Kevin Love shot 1-for-6 for 3 points.

"I played like s---," James said while walking out of Oracle Arena. "I didn't have it tonight."

Griffin saw the concern on his guys' faces after the game. That's exactly what he wanted to see. Doubt had reappeared. James' comments came a week later.

In New Orleans on Jan. 23, after the Cavaliers' fifth loss in seven games, James told a group of local reporters that he hopes the franchise isn't satisfied with the collecting of one ring. He also had harsh, blunt critiques about the construction of the roster.

"We top-heavy as s---," James said. "It's me, [Irving], [Love]. It's top-heavy."

There was some uneasiness within the locker room following James' candid rant. Players were all of a sudden awkwardly left wondering if they were part of the problem or part of the solution.

Griffin fired back the next day, calling James' remarks "misguided."

Despite the internal conflict, with the liberty of hindsight, the front office now believes James was brilliant in lashing out and considers it one of the turning points in the season.

James had hoped that such a bold controversial assessment might galvanize the team. It appears that may be the case. Cleveland is 11-4 since and appears ready for a third straight push to the Finals.

The Warriors continue to be the ultimate motivator for the Cavaliers. It's been that way the past few years. Former Cavaliers coach David Blatt was fired partly because of the belief that he couldn't get the team past Golden State.

When J.R. Smith and Love return to full health, Cleveland will have the capabilities of going up to 11 deep with subs Korver, Derrick Williams, Deron Williams, Channing Frye, Iman Shumpert and Richard Jefferson. And should a newly bought-out Andrew Bogut choose to join the Cavaliers, that rotation could shoot to 12.

It has the makings of the deepest roster James has possessed during his career. The Cavaliers' best lineup in recent weeks has centered around James, Korver, Jefferson, Derrick Williams and Frye. It's a cerebral roster with flexibility and versatility.

James has the help he called out for, and Griffin now has that sense of urgency back in his locker room.

Griffin on the team's shift, told ESPN "it's joyful to watch." And speaking of watching, the Warriors and Cavaliers monitor each other throughout the season very closely, although they won't admit it. Each transaction is discussed and made with the other in mind.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

shit...it wont be by some miracle- its basically a 50/50 shot if you are either in 2nd or 3rd position- and with how craptastic the Lakers are- i dont see them climbing to 4th, do you?

this is DEF. NOT the year to trade it for a star.

trade ingram or russell for a star if you can manage- this is the year you draft a potential franchise changer in the top 3 (shit even top 6-7)

Sadly that's not the way it works. It's all about the luck of the ping pong balls in the lottery and the Lakers have had #2 two years running. Sooner or later the balls fall the other way and you're left with nothing.

As for not being the year to trade the pick. Well, we heard that last year and the year before that too.

At this point (IMO) i'd happily trade the 1st 2nd or 3rd pick, and one of the Lakers' young players for a guy like Paul George

 

[Bolts]

I'm good with that. If the Kings win the lottery and the 76ers make the top 3, that would I think lock the 76ers in to two top 5 picks this year.

It'd suck to not get Fultz, but getting a top 3 or even top 5 pick would be great. Keeping the Lakers pick out of the top 3 so Philly takes that pick would be cool too.

 

[Bolts]

if the Lakers dont keep their pick obviously there is ZERO chance he ends up a Laker....all comes down to lotto night and who has the most ping pong balls in the hopper and who gets lucky!!!

that will be a fun night

itll either be elation or devastation! lol.

I'd like to think the Kings are due to have some good luck come their way, draft night(and the results from it afterwards) usually ends in devastation.

 

[trojanfan12]

and with how craptastic the Lakers are

Craptastic seems a bit strong for this team. Last years team was craptastic. They are more crudtastic this year.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Craptastic seems a bit strong for this team. Last years team was craptastic. They are more crudtastic this year.

i didnt know they had passed the Suns- thats gonna be a helluva tard-fight between those 2 teams for the 2nd spot i nthe lotto.

 

[trojanfan12]

i didnt know they had passed the Suns- thats gonna be a helluva tard-fight between those 2 teams for the 2nd spot i nthe lotto.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

The dude needs to understand that he's not doing his son any favors. Players will target him for the stuff his Dad is saying.

I'm all for supporting and believing in your kid, but you gotta know when to just shut the hell up and be a little humble.

This is what happens when you live vicariously through your children.

 

[LAD]

Cavs have played GS twice

Once without Kyrie and love and it went 6

2nd with kyrie and love and they won in 7

GS would have no championships if love and Irving played.

But the question was WITHOUT LBJ.

 

[LAD]

Would have? Lol

He played games 6 and 7, why didn't they win those?

Um because their rim protector was out which meant it was open lay-up season.

 

[knowyourenemy]

It was on their home court, how many visiting teams win game 7 on the road?

You have to be significantly better to win a road game 7

There is nothing to support modifying the term "better" with the adverb "significantly" in this sentence.

 

[knowyourenemy]

I'm getting a bit sick of the lottery now. Even if by some miracle the Lakers do hold on to a top 3 pick, i'd damn well hope they trade it in a package for a star player.

As a Lakers fan, this isn't surprising. The Lakers' future basically hinges on how the lottery plays out in 2017. If they get a top 3 pick . . . great because they get a top pick and also great because they won't give up a first rounder in 2019 (although their 2018 pick will be unprotected and go to the 76ers). If they fall to 4th or lower, they're giving up an unprotected pick in 2019 and they also lose a top pick in a loaded draft. It's tough to have so much hinge on lottery balls.

Side note -- are they even able to trade their 2017 pick (if it stays with them) since they've already traded their 2018 pick?

Edit: Scratch that -- it only applies to future draft picks. So I think they could get around it by drafting and trading.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

As a Lakers fan, this isn't surprising. The Lakers' future basically hinges on how the lottery plays out in 2017. If they get a top 3 pick . . . great because they get a top pick and also great because they won't give up a first rounder in 2019 (although their 2018 pick will be unprotected and go to the 76ers). If they fall to 4th or lower, they're giving up an unprotected pick in 2019 and they also lose a top pick in a loaded draft. It's tough to have so much hinge on lottery balls.

Side note -- are they even able to trade their 2017 pick (if it stays with them) since they've already traded their 2018 pick?

Edit: Scratch that -- it only applies to future draft picks. So I think they could get around it by drafting and trading.

As soon as that draft lottery order is set, teams can trade their picks. If they're unprotected that is.

 

[knowyourenemy]

As soon as that draft lottery order is set, teams can trade their picks. If they're unprotected that is.

That makes sense. Good to know.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Sorry, but 24 and soon to be 25 with 5 years in the league, is not "still very young." Chronologically he's young, but 5 years in the league is plenty of experience and not young.

He isn't NOW but he is now going on his 3rd season playing with Lebron. Before Lebron came back he was still very young. 5/6 years experience isn't young in term of NBA experience but in the real world, of course it is.

 

[lebron23james]

Um because their rim protector was out which meant it was open lay-up season.

You are full of excuses. When Kyrie and Love missed the ENTIRE series, you said we couldn't use that as an excuse.

Do u really want me to slap you around again?

 

[lebron23james]

There is nothing to support modifying the term "better" with the adverb "significantly" in this sentence.

Well there is this

There have been 18 Game 7's played in the NBA Finals

The home team has gone 15-3 (83%) in those contests.

Being slightly better means you still lose based on the odds of winning a road game.