Confirmation that NBA deflation is coming

[Fafnir]

I'm not sure...might have something to do with the tides or the Mayan calendar.

So in other words, you have no reason.

They idea that "teams don't play hard till the 4th" is overblown and easily refuted. There are many valid criticisms of the NBA, that isn't one of them.

Yeah...and Jackie MacMullen knows nothing about the NBA (or maybe I was lying).  Sorry, I'm not one of those posters who does research like I'm putting together a term paper for one of my posts.  I'm guessing I'm not alone in saying how the game seems to (at times - not always, like you're trying to paint my prior post) lack that competitive fire until the 4th quarter.

I never said Jackie MacMullen knows nothing about the NBA, or that you were lying. I said you were both wrong, there is a big difference, I'm also not sure why you bring whether or not "people like you" into it. Just because someone disagrees with your point of view doesn't mean you're disliked.

Its not about "researching your posts like a term paper", rather its about having something beyond anecdotes to back up very broad generalizations about an entire league. If you're saying that the entire league (or all the good teams at least) doesn't play hard until the 4th, there should be some data to support you.

[dlpin]

Since I'm guessing you'll do the research (simply to try and make me look stupid) how many games have the Celtics put away by half-time or the early third period (say a 20 point lead)?

I realize a lot of posters can't stand me here (and I'm cool with that - you probably being one of them) but it does seem in today's NBA that the difference between great teams and mediocre ones doesn't totally bear itself out until the 4th quarter...that's all I'm saying.

I don't know how many games the celtics have put away by half time, but I do know that they've blow 11 double digit leads, so if anything the reverse is true with the celtics.

Now, regarding the league in general, 82games.com tracks performance by quarter. Here's the numbers from last season:

http://www.82games.com/0809/QSORT11.HTM

[Andy Jick]

what I found interesting in looking over those numbers (and thanks for the link, btw!) is that cleveland had the highest half-time advantage but it was only a mere 6.4 points...

it's not so much the 4th quarter numbers that i'm focusing on, which is where i think the confusion is coming into my posts (and my apologies for not clarifying that better)...  my point has been to say that teams don't seem to play that hard in the early 1/2 to 3/4ths of the game - and the fact nba champion lakers were only 6.4 points in the black after 3 quarters (on average), well, personally i found that a bit surprising. 

i wish that site went back further in time because i'd be curious to see how those numbers compared to 80's when it seemed that the better teams won by a larger margin (but i could be wrong).  and then the league wasn't watered down by expansion or players entering the nba with less than 3 years of college basketball under their belt.

i'm not wanting to make a stink about this, but i just don't believe the quality of basketball is all that great anymore.  people don't want the nba to play like college basketball (ie. motion offense and a lack of a post game), and if the game turns into 5 guys who all want to play on the perimeter then fans will sour on it.  afterall, how many complaints do we see here about the celtics becoming a perimeter team...people couldn't stand rick pitino's approach to the nba (thinking he could press full-court for 82 games) and even jim o'brien's chuck it from down-town offense... 

people don't want the nba to become a league of gimmicks, and if it does the older generation will walk away from the game.  the younger generation has a different attitude (largely) in that it's not about the competition, but rather about entertainment and participation.  there are so many other options out there for entertainment, and the rise of ticket prices, that if they screw up this next CBA it might spell some trouble for professional basketball...

[Fafnir]

and the fact nba champion lakers were only 6.4 points in the black after 3 quarters (on average), well, personally i found that a bit surprising. 

Their point differential in the regular season was 7.7, the leagues best the Cavs was only 8.9.

Being 6.4 points up over three quarters is actually very good.

[IBLEEDGREEN30]

the NBA has to work all this stuff out because my life without the NBA season in it sucks really bad. The NBA consumes so many fall and winter nights both at games, talking online or just preparing the the season and pre season. needs to work out