The NBA Thread

[Greggulator]

I have to disagree on the greatness of Griffin. He's good but he has so many flaws. Inconsistent jumper, mediocre defense, terrible free throw shooting are three that he'll probably always have. I do think he can develop into a great post player both on offense and defense, but I think his jump shot and free throw shooting are going to keep him from being great along with having huge matchup problems with forwards who play outside the post. He doesn't have an intangible to make up for those flaws like Howard does with his size and defensive abilities.

I do think Blake's great. He's averaging 20 and 10 for a good (but struggling) team and shoots just about 53% from the field. Those are terrific numbers. He does hustle his ass off and dives for every loose ball. And his want to destroy on every dunk possible also makes a difference when it gets the crowd into it, etc. But he's doing this on pretty much all on pure ability, since VDN absolutely sucks. He's constantly put in the high post which gives him too much temptation to take crap jumpers. But he's unstoppable on a pick'n'roll and doing garbage work down low. He's almost at Amare-level levels of terrible defense which stinks because he could be an All-Defensive team guy with his athleticism.

[Key Loser]

Some thoughts:

1) The OKC/Minnesota game Friday night was amazing. Anyone who could watch that game and not walk away loving basketball will never appreciate basketball. I've been immersed in college basketball the past few weeks (of course) but watching the OKC/Wolves game forever killed any arguments that college basketball was as good as the NBA.

Couldn't agree more. I got to watch a few minutes of the OKC/Heat game last night. Just the fluidity of it all was incredible compared to the frenetic pace of some of these NCAA tournament games. 

[Gilly]

I do think Blake's great. He's averaging 20 and 10 for a good (but struggling) team and shoots just about 53% from the field. Those are terrific numbers. He does hustle his ass off and dives for every loose ball. And his want to destroy on every dunk possible also makes a difference when it gets the crowd into it, etc. But he's doing this on pretty much all on pure ability, since VDN absolutely sucks. He's constantly put in the high post which gives him too much temptation to take crap jumpers. But he's unstoppable on a pick'n'roll and doing garbage work down low. He's almost at Amare-level levels of terrible defense which stinks because he could be an All-Defensive team guy with his athleticism.

I think the big reason I think he's overrated is because he's being billed as one of the best in the league already when he's not even in the top 3 at his position. I'd put Love, Dirk and Josh Smith ahead of him... maybe still Duncan. We'll see what happens when Del Negro goes, but I don't see him developing into anything more than he is right now, but probably with a little better basketball IQ as he matures. I do agree that Del Negro hasn't run his team efficiently, but I don't know what else you could ask him to do with Griffin. It's not like he's being played out of position or that he hasn't been given the freedom to play to his abilities like Rambis did with Love in past years.

[JON IN PHL]

Josh Smith?

I agree that Blake has plenty of work to do, but c'mon...At least say Pau Gasol.

Also, in addition to college teams being exhausting/frustrating to watch, man are the NCAA refs horrible. Really the pits.

Lastly, I can't wait to see Anthony Davis in The League. What a tremendous athlete and efficient ball player.

[Gilly]

Lastly, I can't wait to see Anthony Davis in The League. What a tremendous athlete and efficient ball player.

He also has to be the nerdiest looking guy since Rambis played ball!

I'll take Josh Smith over Gasol any day, but I did forget about him. He's above Griffin too. Josh Smith is probably the most underrated player in the NBA.

[Rick in Salt Lake]

Greggulator,
What are you opinions on the Jazz's chances of making the playoffs? While they won't go very far, I'm curious as to what you think, and perhaps your opinion on the Jazz in general...

[Greggulator]

The West is so crazy this year. There are four games separating the three seed to whoever is number ten in the standings. And that doesn't even factor in Minnesota's late push with Kevin Love putting up "second best player in the league" type numbers. It's anybody's game to make the playoffs. A healthy Denver team would compete for a Top 4 seed. If they grab the 7 or 8, then there could be a classic Game 5 on our hands.

As far as Utah -- I really love watching that team play. They're still running a beautiful system of basketball and haven't really changed things from Sloan. They all move the ball very well. Paul Milsap is one of my favorite players in the league. The young core they have is pretty fantastic. They don't have that one guy who will get them over the top, though. And I don't know how they'll get that guy since it's hard to lure free agents to Utah. Maybe Steve Nash would be interested in the off-season since he's a film producer and he'll be close to Sundance?

[Rick in Salt Lake]

The young core they have is pretty fantastic.

I tend to agree with you. I'm thinking Gordon Hayward is maybe a few seasons away from being an impact player...

They don't have that one guy who will get them over the top, though. And I don't know how they'll get that guy since it's hard to lure free agents to Utah. Maybe Steve Nash would be interested in the off-season since he's a film producer and he'll be close to Sundance?

I think Nash would be great for the Jazz (or with most any team. I've always loved Steve Nash), as the Jazz seem to me to be a bit deficient at the point guard. The problem is would they be able to afford him? THE Millers are very tight fisted with regard to the salary cap...

[Mr. Spacely]

Very entertaining Clips/Blazers game last night.

Clips only one back of Lakers now. Drama! That last Lakers/Clips game is going to be something else. Who will have the honor of losing to San Antonio in the Semis!

[dave from knoxville]

NBA rankings update

   2-Apr
1   Oklahoma City
2   San Antonio
3   Chicago
4   Indiana
5   Boston
6   Miami
7   LA Clippers
8   Phoenix
9   Dallas
10   Houston
11   Memphis
12   LA Lakers
13   Denver
14   Orlando
15   Philadelphia
16   Portland
17   Toronto
18   Utah
19   Atlanta
20   New Jersey
21   Sacramento
22   New York
23   Milwaukee
24   Minnesota
25   Detroit
26   Charlotte
27   Washington
28   New Orleans
29   Golden State
30   Cleveland

[Kormod]

What do you guys think of this song?

James Dolan - Fix the Knicks

[Mr. Spacely]

Kobe's clinching three against NJ last night was hilarious, improbable, amazing, and wholly expected. I loved every tenth-of-a-second it.

Also, we may need to start a separate thread to chronicle the Wrestling/NBA crossover that is Andrew Bynum. The man-child's had yet another heel turn.

[Greggulator]

WTF was up with Ian Eagle calling out Fratello last night?

[buffcoat]

It's looking more and more like the Bobcats are gonna pull this off.  23 straight losses to end the season and finish, by one, with the worst record of all time.

If they can't beat Boston without the Big 3, and can't get within 30 of the Rip Hamilton-led Bulls, they can do this thing.  Memphis, Sacramento, Washington, Orlando and the Knicks.  C'mon, Bobcats, you can do it!

[dave from knoxville]

Think I forgot to post this Monday

NBA Power Rankings Update
16-Apr
1 Indiana
2 San Antonio
3 LA Lakers
4 Boston
5 Chicago
6 Miami
7 Memphis
8 LA Clippers
... 9 Oklahoma City
10 Phoenix
11 Toronto
12 Dallas
13 New York
14 Utah
15 Houston
16 Denver
17 Atlanta
18 New Jersey
19 New Orleans
20 Philadelphia
21 Orlando
22 Portland
23 Milwaukee
24 Sacramento
25 Detroit
26 Golden State
27 Cleveland
28 Washington
29 Minnesota
30 Charlotte