NBA Discussion Thread

[Brodeur]

Originally Posted by raiderz4life

No he's not and yes he is.

It's his fault that he's a way better player than Amar'e and they don't fit together at all?

[Rosebud]

Originally Posted by Brodeur

It's his fault that he's a way better player than Amar'e and they don't fit together at all?

Well it is his fault that he needs to hold the ball for 4 or 5 seconds before doing anything with it, and if he's started his move...forget about seeing him pass.

[TheBoyWonder22]

Do you guys know how hard it is to root for your rival team in the finals? My whole world has been turned upside down!

[Rosebud]

Originally Posted by TheBoyWonder22

Do you guys know how hard it is to root for your rival team in the finals? My whole world has been turned upside down!

Oh trust me, I had to root for the Pacers and Celtics to not lose this year because of the god damned Heat, I know how much having to root for a team you hate, to beat a team you hate more, sucks

[TheBoyWonder22]

My problem is the Thunder are so god damn likeable, they're starting to grow on me. They need to just go back to Seattle so I can resume my hatred.

[Cudders]

Melo is the problem in New York in that he doesn’t fit the mold of a championship-caliber superstar. He’s one of the absolute best all-around scorers in the NBA, but his game just lacks the other aspects needed to elevate a team from postseason fodder to championship contender, and his poor attitude has a lot to do with it. He gives inconsistent effort on the defensive end and on the glass and his love for isolation basketball can kill all offensive flow. But what’s frustrating is that he doesn’t have to be a ball-stopper or a defensive sieve or a locker room problem. He has the tools to be so much more than that. He just doesn’t know how to put them to effective use.

That said, Amare is a shell of his former self and it’s clear that his contract will be a bigger issue for the Knicks than Melo going forward.

With regards to the Finals, it’s clear that Kevin Durant is locked and loaded right now. He’s been borderline inhuman so far and I don’t think that kind of automatic focus is going to subside as the series wears on. He’s a prolific scorer that can get his shot off whenever he wants against whoever he wants.

The obvious problem for the Thunder has been starting, but I think being on the road has the potential to help them in that area. Their home fans are so rabid and the atmosphere that goes with that franchise’s first Finals appearance was so electric. As the series moves to Miami, and a more subdued home court, it allows the Thunder to narrow their attention to just their basketball.

Other than coming out harder, I don’t expect the Thunder to make a ton of adjustments. For starters, the defender responsible for Battier either needs to cheat less or close quicker. Battier isn’t going to shoot almost 70% from downtown all series, but he’s still a capable sharpshooter that needs to be curbed at this point. He’s nailed a few momentum-swinging threes. And Russell Westbrook’s showing in Game 2 wasn’t the worst point guard performance in the Finals of all-time. That’s ridiculous. Westbrook has his stretches of questionable shot selection, but he still creates splashes and gives the Heat a lot to think about. Coming out in Game 3, I’d like to see him be more aggressive. With his explosiveness, he can get to his spots on the court. He doesn’t need to settle for long, contested jumpers from the start. He needs to pound the paint and get to the rim or utilize that improved pull-up in the process. Just needs to be in attack mode from tip-to-buzzer.

As far as Miami goes, the offense still bogs down for extended periods of time. The side pick-and-rolls for LeBron and Wade created a good amount of offense against the Pacers and Celtics, but the Thunder have much better foot speed to mirror and range to recover. When their offense stagnates with isolation sets, Miami struggles to get good shots on a consistent basis, putting extra pressure on their superstars to make the tough ones. Most of these games are decided in a small window, which makes offensive execution and getting good shots at crucial times critical. From what I’ve seen, I have more confidence in the Thunder to do that than I do the Heat. That’s the reason the Heat’s perimeter defense is one of the ultimate deciders in this series for me. Because in addition to battling the Thunder’s power hitters, the trio of Battier, Wade, and LeBron can manufacture offense in transition via generating turnovers on defense.

Speaking of which, LeBron is the best defender in the NBA. Howard and Chandler are world-class defenders in their own right, and deserve their accolades, but neither can do what LeBron does because LeBron is such a flexible, versatile defender. He can guard one-to-five on most nights and do a superb job at each. He can stick with the opposing team’s best perimeter scorer or drop down and become a stout post defender. His supreme athleticism is a big factor in his defensive success, but he still understands concepts like maintaining sound positioning. He’s just such a rare, remarkable talent.

[bigbluedefense]

Phil Jackson is a ***** anyway. I never considered him a Knick. **** you Phil Jackson, **** your Bulls, and **** your Lakers. You front runner. **** you.

We have a championship team, and next year, we're gonna play like it. Lin. Melo. Stat. Get some bitches.

#KnicksIn2013

[TACKLE]

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

Phil Jackson is a ***** anyway. I never considered him a Knick. **** you Phil Jackson, **** your Bulls, and **** your Lakers. You front runner. **** you.

We have a championship team, and next year, we're gonna play like it. Lin. Melo. Stat. Get some bitches.

#KnicksIn2013

What a sloppy rant. Not surprising though.

[bigbluedefense]

Originally Posted by Brodeur

At least he cares about his team and posted in here when they were godawful in the year when they won like 20 games, unlike certain Knicks fans.

I've been a Knicks fan since Ewing and Marc Jackson played together. Don't even go there.

Just because I didn't post in this ******** thread before doesn't mean I wasn't a fan.

Basketball purists are so ******* annoying.

#KnicksIn2013

[bigbluedefense]

And **** Phil Jackson.

So Isolate Jordan was cool. Isolate Kobe was cool. But Iso Melo is all of a sudden a problem?

**** you, you hypocrite. He just wants a ready made team like he always does He doesn't have the heart to build a team.

We don't need that garbage in NY

[nobodyinparticular]

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

#KnicksIn2066

Fixed it for you

[Rosebud]

I'm not ready to say Amar'e a shell of the player he was, because he still had games where they actually went to him early, while he was healthy, and he beasted. The condensed schedule and the personal tragedy in his life really took a tole on him. He was a shell of the player he used to be last season, but I still think he could return to form. Especially since he won't need to be slimming down during the season now that he knows we have Chandler and he won't be playing the 5.

My biggest worry is Melo, specifically how long it takes him to make decisions, the man almost never catches the ball and rapidly does something with it, if he's going to pass he needs to hold it and survey the court, if he's going to try to score he needs to hold the ball for a little bit while he decides how he's going to do that. If he could make his decisions quicker I'd have much less concerns about him, regardless of whether he made better decisions or not.

[MetSox17]

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

Phil Jackson is a ***** anyway. I never considered him a Knick. **** you Phil Jackson, **** your Bulls, and **** your Lakers. You front runner. **** you.

We have a championship team, and next year, we're gonna play like it. Lin. Melo. Stat. Get some bitches.

#KnicksIn2013

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

And **** Phil Jackson.

So Isolate Jordan was cool. Isolate Kobe was cool. But Iso Melo is all of a sudden a problem?

**** you, you hypocrite. He just wants a ready made team like he always does He doesn't have the heart to build a team.

We don't need that garbage in NY

[TACKLE]

[Complex]

[MetSox17]

hahaha now that is gold right there.

[TitansCJftw]

Anybody know if you can watch on espn3?

[bantx]

Originally Posted by Cudders

Melo is the problem in New York in that he doesn’t fit the mold of a championship-caliber superstar. He’s one of the absolute best all-around scorers in the NBA, but his game just lacks the other aspects needed to elevate a team from postseason fodder to championship contender, and his poor attitude has a lot to do with it. He gives inconsistent effort on the defensive end and on the glass and his love for isolation basketball can kill all offensive flow. But what’s frustrating is that he doesn’t have to be a ball-stopper or a defensive sieve or a locker room problem. He has the tools to be so much more than that. He just doesn’t know how to put them to effective use.

That said, Amare is a shell of his former self and it’s clear that his contract will be a bigger issue for the Knicks than Melo going forward.

With regards to the Finals, it’s clear that Kevin Durant is locked and loaded right now. He’s been borderline inhuman so far and I don’t think that kind of automatic focus is going to subside as the series wears on. He’s a prolific scorer that can get his shot off whenever he wants against whoever he wants.

The obvious problem for the Thunder has been starting, but I think being on the road has the potential to help them in that area. Their home fans are so rabid and the atmosphere that goes with that franchise’s first Finals appearance was so electric. As the series moves to Miami, and a more subdued home court, it allows the Thunder to narrow their attention to just their basketball.

Other than coming out harder, I don’t expect the Thunder to make a ton of adjustments. For starters, the defender responsible for Battier either needs to cheat less or close quicker. Battier isn’t going to shoot almost 70% from downtown all series, but he’s still a capable sharpshooter that needs to be curbed at this point. He’s nailed a few momentum-swinging threes. And Russell Westbrook’s showing in Game 2 wasn’t the worst point guard performance in the Finals of all-time. That’s ridiculous. Westbrook has his stretches of questionable shot selection, but he still creates splashes and gives the Heat a lot to think about. Coming out in Game 3, I’d like to see him be more aggressive. With his explosiveness, he can get to his spots on the court. He doesn’t need to settle for long, contested jumpers from the start. He needs to pound the paint and get to the rim or utilize that improved pull-up in the process. Just needs to be in attack mode from tip-to-buzzer.

As far as Miami goes, the offense still bogs down for extended periods of time. The side pick-and-rolls for LeBron and Wade created a good amount of offense against the Pacers and Celtics, but the Thunder have much better foot speed to mirror and range to recover. When their offense stagnates with isolation sets, Miami struggles to get good shots on a consistent basis, putting extra pressure on their superstars to make the tough ones. Most of these games are decided in a small window, which makes offensive execution and getting good shots at crucial times critical. From what I’ve seen, I have more confidence in the Thunder to do that than I do the Heat. That’s the reason the Heat’s perimeter defense is one of the ultimate deciders in this series for me. Because in addition to battling the Thunder’s power hitters, the trio of Battier, Wade, and LeBron can manufacture offense in transition via generating turnovers on defense.

Speaking of which, LeBron is the best defender in the NBA. Howard and Chandler are world-class defenders in their own right, and deserve their accolades, but neither can do what LeBron does because LeBron is such a flexible, versatile defender. He can guard one-to-five on most nights and do a superb job at each. He can stick with the opposing team’s best perimeter scorer or drop down and become a stout post defender. His supreme athleticism is a big factor in his defensive success, but he still understands concepts like maintaining sound positioning. He’s just such a rare, remarkable talent.

[Bulldogs]

Nobody didn't read's Cudders on my watch... NOBODY!

[soybean]

Is the okc defense "let lebron have anything he wants?"

[wogitalia]

Looks like James is sick of being called a choker right now! Going HAM!

[wogitalia]

I think you call that a phantom call because that was not a foul...

[SeanTaylorRIP]

Originally Posted by wogitalia

I think you call that a phantom call because that was not a foul...

He made it look like he got fouled. Just like the next trip down didn't get touched but shot it like he got contact. But Dwade has always been great at that, it's all a part of the game. He so many times kicks guys in the balls and gets the foul call.

[bantx]

KD making it look easy shooting it. Lebron is havingt his way in the paint it's getting ridiculous.

[Smooth Criminal]

Anyone else see Perkins giving up on th play and throwing his arms up well before the Heat grabbed that rebound?