2011/2012 NBA Regular Season

[Fafnir]

Another 25 and 15 game for Kevin Love and the Wolves are on their way to their second straight win after not winning for two thirds of a year.

How long until Kevin Love starts getting the recognition that he deserves?  

Being picked for the all-star game isn't recognition enough?

No.  Not when K-Love puts up better numbers than Blake Griffin and has a better all-around game, yet Blake gets all the hype.

Blake was considered close to being a top 10 player by ESPN this summer, while Love didn't break the top 20.  

I think most people who follow the NBA would easily recognize Blake Griffin and consider him a superstar.  I doubt you could say the same about Love, even though he puts up even more impressive numbers (in my opinion).  

Blake Griffin will probably be a better player than Love someday, but right now I'll take the guy who nails shots from anywhere on the floor and rebounds better than anybody not named "Dwight Howard."

I'll take the guy who doesn't project to be a bad defender his entire career.

Meh.  How many stars are amazing defenders?  Kevin Love doesn't block shots, but he gets steals and if you put him next to an athletic big man who can actually make defensive rotations, his defense would be just fine.  Kevin Love is not a worse defender than Dirk Nowitzki, and he's probably better than Amare.


I also disagree with your second point.  Being able to score inside is valuable, but Kevin Love is able to score extremely efficiently by hitting outside shots, and it clearly doesn't take away from his ability to rebound.  He also gets to the line quite a lot for a guy who takes so many outside shots, and he gets a lot of put-backs because of his great rebounding.  Kevin Love doesn't just score from outside -- he can score from anywhere on the floor.


The one thing about Kevin Love is that he's not going to score against double teams and that sort of thing.  I wouldn't want him as my #1 offensive option.  But I can't think of any player I'd rather have as my #2.

When you're a big man its very limiting to be a bad defender. If you're going to be a "star" at the PF/C position more often than not you need to be a good defender.

And the sad thing is that I don't think Love is as good as Dirk or Amar'e defensively. He's basically Zach Randolph with a 3 point shot right now (and a much lesser post game).

Too much time focusing on efficiency and box scores, defense and how you get your points matters an awful lot. Being an elite third option on offense while being a defensive liability doesn't rate that sort of acclaim.

[Fafnir]

If Ginobli is out a long time would the Spurs fall completely out of the playoffs? I'm not so sure. How will Memphis cope if Z-Bo is out for extended period too?

West:
LA Lakers
LA Clippers
Portland
OKC
Denver
Dallas

That's six already who should be playoff bound, so who for the last spots?

[rondohondo]

If Ginobli is out a long time would the Spurs fall completely out of the playoffs? I'm not so sure. How will Memphis cope if Z-Bo is out for extended period too?

West:
LA Lakers
LA Clippers
Portland
OKC
Denver
Dallas

That's six already who should be playoff bound, so who for the last spots?

I think minny will get in and houston?

[Fafnir]

If Ginobli is out a long time would the Spurs fall completely out of the playoffs? I'm not so sure. How will Memphis cope if Z-Bo is out for extended period too?

West:
LA Lakers
LA Clippers
Portland
OKC
Denver
Dallas

That's six already who should be playoff bound, so who for the last spots?

I think minny will get in and houston?

Houston San Antonio Memphis for two slots....

If SA and Mem falter Minnesota, Golden State, or another lesser team could contend for the eighth slot.

[PosImpos]

Another 25 and 15 game for Kevin Love and the Wolves are on their way to their second straight win after not winning for two thirds of a year.

How long until Kevin Love starts getting the recognition that he deserves? 

Being picked for the all-star game isn't recognition enough?

No.  Not when K-Love puts up better numbers than Blake Griffin and has a better all-around game, yet Blake gets all the hype.

Blake was considered close to being a top 10 player by ESPN this summer, while Love didn't break the top 20. 

I think most people who follow the NBA would easily recognize Blake Griffin and consider him a superstar.  I doubt you could say the same about Love, even though he puts up even more impressive numbers (in my opinion). 

Blake Griffin will probably be a better player than Love someday, but right now I'll take the guy who nails shots from anywhere on the floor and rebounds better than anybody not named "Dwight Howard."

I'll take the guy who doesn't project to be a bad defender his entire career.

Meh.  How many stars are amazing defenders?  Kevin Love doesn't block shots, but he gets steals and if you put him next to an athletic big man who can actually make defensive rotations, his defense would be just fine.  Kevin Love is not a worse defender than Dirk Nowitzki, and he's probably better than Amare.


I also disagree with your second point.  Being able to score inside is valuable, but Kevin Love is able to score extremely efficiently by hitting outside shots, and it clearly doesn't take away from his ability to rebound.  He also gets to the line quite a lot for a guy who takes so many outside shots, and he gets a lot of put-backs because of his great rebounding.  Kevin Love doesn't just score from outside -- he can score from anywhere on the floor.


The one thing about Kevin Love is that he's not going to score against double teams and that sort of thing.  I wouldn't want him as my #1 offensive option.  But I can't think of any player I'd rather have as my #2.

When you're a big man its very limiting to be a bad defender. If you're going to be a "star" at the PF/C position more often than not you need to be a good defender.

And the sad thing is that I don't think Love is as good as Dirk or Amar'e defensively. He's basically Zach Randolph with a 3 point shot right now (and a much lesser post game).

Too much time focusing on efficiency and box scores, defense and how you get your points matters an awful lot. Being an elite third option on offense while being a defensive liability doesn't rate that sort of acclaim.

I guess we'll just have to disagree.  I don't think Kevin Love gets nearly enough credit and I don't think he will until the team around him gets better.  Right now he's basically the only reason the T-Wolves are even in games.

[PosImpos]

No joke . . . the Bulls just scored 26 points in a half.  Twenty six.

There's no reason the Bulls should be this bad offensively, with Boozer, Deng, Hamilton, and Noah in the starting lineup alongside Rose.  Not enough outside shooting, to be sure, but still not an excuse to be so lacking in scoring.

I think Thibodeau is a great defensive coach, but I'm not convinced he knows how to get the most of out his roster offensively (much like Mike Brown).



I think the Bulls should consider trading Ronnie Brewer and / or Taj Gibson to get some outside shooting help.  Both of those players are young, talented, and valuable, but their lack of shooting  means they aren't as much a help as they could be.  I feel like the Bulls need to exchange some of their defensive-minded pieces for some better offensive ones -- especially on the wing.  Hamilton hasn't exactly been a deadeye out there so far.

[slamtheking]

No joke . . . the Bulls just scored 26 points in a half.  Twenty six.

There's no reason the Bulls should be this bad offensively, with Boozer, Deng, Hamilton, and Noah in the starting lineup alongside Rose.  Not enough outside shooting, to be sure, but still not an excuse to be so lacking in scoring.

I think Thibodeau is a great defensive coach, but I'm not convinced he knows how to get the most of out his roster offensively (much like Mike Brown).

that's because they need a PG that distributes the ball rather than look for his own offense.   

[PosImpos]

No joke . . . the Bulls just scored 26 points in a half.  Twenty six.

There's no reason the Bulls should be this bad offensively, with Boozer, Deng, Hamilton, and Noah in the starting lineup alongside Rose.  Not enough outside shooting, to be sure, but still not an excuse to be so lacking in scoring.

I think Thibodeau is a great defensive coach, but I'm not convinced he knows how to get the most of out his roster offensively (much like Mike Brown).

that's because they need a PG that distributes the ball rather than look for his own offense.  

I think that's definitely part of it, but I think any offensive is going to struggle when there are so few floor spacers on the roster.

Who on the Bulls can hit 3 pointers reliably and consistently?  Rose, Hamilton, and Deng are each occasionally money from long range, but each of them is prone to long cold streaks, too.  Boozer is a good mid-range shooter, but that's it.  Noah can't really shoot at all.  Brewer and Gibson are okay mid-range shooters, but can't extend their range much.  Asik can't shoot.  

The only pure 3 pt shooter on their roster is Kyle Korver, who doesn't exactly play a ton of minutes.


The Bulls are built like a team from the early 80s.

[greenpride32]

No joke . . . the Bulls just scored 26 points in a half.  Twenty six.

What out for those ATL Hawks; they're just coming off a win in MIA.  I don't have the game on, but the box score shows 28.3 FG% for CHI and 13 TO already with 17 min to go in the game.

[Lord of Mikawa]

No joke . . . the Bulls just scored 26 points in a half.  Twenty six.

What out for those ATL Hawks; they're just coming off a win in MIA.  I don't have the game on, but the box score shows 28.3 FG% for CHI and 13 TO already with 17 min to go in the game.

Holy crap. I hope the Hawks don't stay this hot and face us in the playoffs.. But since they are a young team, I expect them to get a lot of wins.

[Kiorrik]

Yeah, Bulls vs Hawks is ... well, it's captivating to watch. It's not exactly great basketball right now.

[Kiorrik]

Bull announcers annoy me.

"That's what I'm talking about now boiiiii" <- what the hell? Are you kidding me?

[Kiorrik]

I think that's definitely part of it, but I think any offensive is going to struggle when there are so few floor spacers on the roster.

Who on the Bulls can hit 3 pointers reliably and consistently?  Rose, Hamilton, and Deng are each occasionally money from long range, but each of them is prone to long cold streaks, too.  Boozer is a good mid-range shooter, but that's it.  Noah can't really shoot at all.  Brewer and Gibson are okay mid-range shooters, but can't extend their range much.  Asik can't shoot. 

The only pure 3 pt shooter on their roster is Kyle Korver, who doesn't exactly play a ton of minutes.

There's your streak. Chicago back within 5.

[CelticSooner]

Hawks gonna blow it.

[Donoghus]

Yeah, Bulls vs Hawks is ... well, it's captivating to watch. It's not exactly great basketball right now.

It's brutal