Hoops - NBA/Basketball Talk

[kskate2]

GSW @ Lob City starting right now. It's the final game of the day.

 

[the AntiPusher]

more high praised for Butler.. Glad they didnt aquire Melo..

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bulls/post/_/id/21130/butler-proving-to-be-a-star-in-his-own-right

 

[brokenshoelace]

Yeah Melo could have messed up Chicago's balance. D-Rose still needs to get sharp but at least he's playing.

 

[kskate2]

Melo would have never worked because he barely plays defense. We discussed all this back then and I'm glad he didn't come here.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Kevin Durant is the best player in Basketball.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Kevin Durant is the best player in Basketball.

Yeah, the kid is OK...Curry is up there with him though.

Neither of them have half the talent Nalby has though, cross sports comparison and all...

 

[DarthFed]

Best player this year is wide open. The big question mark going forward is whether "THIS" is the new Lebron. He is having a pretty miserable year for his standards and that's a big part of the team's struggles. MVP right now? Probably would have to go with Curry. AD's team just isn't good enough.

 

[kskate2]

I would say Curry or M Gasol.

 

[brokenshoelace]

MVP right now is definitely Curry, though it is open. I just meant that KD is literally, the best player in Basketball. MVP doesn't always mean the best player. Obviously Durant hasn't played enough to be in the MVP race yet, but I wouldn't say Steph is in his league, and I'm a huge Curry fan.

 

[kskate2]

Right. Best player doesn't equal MVP. I think Durant is the best/purest scorer in the game. When I think of the best players, I measure it by offense/defense. Who's the best 2-way player in the game, etc.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Right. Best player doesn't equal MVP. I think Durant is the best/purest scorer in the game. When I think of the best players, I measure it by offense/defense. Who's the best 2-way player in the game, etc.

Best 2-way player would have been Lebron, but he's honestly been sub-standard this year, even on defense. I still think when Durant is on his game, he's so unstoppable offensively, it doesn't matter that his defense is nothing to write home about (though it's not bad by any means). Right now, when he's on his game, he's the best.

If he goes on a run similar to next year and gets OKC to the playoffs, it wouldn't surprise me if he's the MVP again.

Right now, Steph is the leading candidate. Harden is doing great things in Houston but not sure it's MVP level quite yet.

 

[DarthFed]

I wouldn't throw dirt on Lebron just yet. He's been the best player in the world the last 7 years IMO (very close last year but he had a much better playoffs than KD) but he has dropped off a ton this year. Durant has been the best scorer for a long time.

 

[kskate2]

Popcorn game on tonight. Rockets @ Bulls. The Beard vs the Butler. Should be entertaining.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Good thing Lowry got the appreciation for the EC player of the month. He played out of his mind , in the absence of Derozan. Kudos.
Harden got the nod for the West.

 

[kskate2]

Very competitive half. :clap 62 all at the break. I'm expecting an exciting finish.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Good grief, Why?

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12125440/jr-smith-dion-waiters-involved-3-team-trade-new-york-knicks-cleveland-cavaliers-oklahoma-city-thunder

 

[DarthFed]

Nice move for the Thunder I'd say. Waiters is still raw but gives them another scorer.

Cali's main man going to Cleveland will be interesting. They couldn't even beat Philly tonight. By the time Lebron gets back they will be .500 at the half way point of the season and probably will hope to get the 4 seed at best.

 

[kskate2]

Good grief, Why?

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12125440/jr-smith-dion-waiters-involved-3-team-trade-new-york-knicks-cleveland-cavaliers-oklahoma-city-thunder

I know why the Thunder did it. I'm a little confused about why the Cavs did it and here's the reason why NY did it: In all, the moves to unload Shumpert, Smith and Dalembert will save the team more than $20 million in salary and luxury taxes.

 

[calitennis127]

Nice move for the Thunder I'd say. Waiters is still raw but gives them another scorer.

Cali's main man going to Cleveland will be interesting. They couldn't even beat Philly tonight. By the time Lebron gets back they will be .500 at the half way point of the season and probably will hope to get the 4 seed at best.

Yes indeed.....this is terrific. As long as the coaches don't stupidly thwart the development of this duo's power (which they probably will because coaches are the eternal enemy of talent), LeBron and JR can dominate together. Danny Ferry actually thought about trading for JR back in 2006 and 2007 to pair him with LeBron. JR's shooting and offensive aggression will jibe very nicely with LeBron's passing if they play at a high pace.

I can't wait to see it, but I will probably get very frustrated with Blatt, Irving, Love, and Dellavedova in no time for slowing the game down and/or hogging the ball.

I am also disappointed that Shumpert was included in this deal. I can't stand his game for the most part and I would hate to see him steal JR's time.

 

[calitennis127]

Good grief, Why?

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12125440/jr-smith-dion-waiters-involved-3-team-trade-new-york-knicks-cleveland-cavaliers-oklahoma-city-thunder

I know why the Thunder did it. I'm a little confused about why the Cavs did it

Well, let me explain it to you: JR Smith is the most talented and electrifying offensive player in the NBA when he is at his best. You can't teach much of what he is capable of doing. Him going to Cleveland and being free of the Derek Fisher Prison will allow him to just be himself and play his game, which he was not able to do in New York this season due to system restrictions.

Cleveland will be winning the East now.....you can book it.