NBA Playoffs Season 2014-2015

[D.o.s.]

Peak Austin Rivers on that turnover. Easily gotta be #1 on Shaqtin.

#2 would probably be the same behind-the-back dribble he used in game 1 on a fast break.  Same exact result.

No Gif Left Behind.

[MBunge]

Clips are good or Houston stinks. It looks like Houston stinks IMO. You struggle to beat them when they have no one to run an offense out there AND no bench?

I wonder if it has anything to do with Houston's analytics heavy offense.  When you build your entire team around shooting only 3s or layups and then have a playoff series against a talented, relatively well-coached team that can focus on taking away those two things...what's going to happen?

Mike

[JohnBoy65]

Will the league eventually change the rules about these intentional fouls on bad free throw shooters?  It's a legitimate strategy, but it almost makes games unwatchable.  Nobody wants to watch the Dwight Howards and Deandre Jordans of the world shoot 15+ free throws a game.

Then they should become better FT shooters, or their value isn't that much to the team. That would be like baseball taking away intentional walks. Sort of different because you're conceding that player can hit, but nonetheless it's an annoying strategy.

[sed522002]

Clips are good or Houston stinks. It looks like Houston stinks IMO. You struggle to beat them when they have no one to run an offense out there AND no bench?

I wonder if it has anything to do with Houston's analytics heavy offense.  When you build your entire team around shooting only 3s or layups and then have a playoff series against a talented, relatively well-coached team that can focus on taking away those two things...what's going to happen?

Mike

I can just see Charles Barkley smiling about the analytics..lol. Houston just looks outmatched and Harden doesn't like a MVP candidate out there.

[D.o.s.]

Charles Barkley, it should be noted, loves the analytics that tell him he's a good player.

[Who]

Houston are very close. They just need to add a PG in the summer. Harden is their only real creator off the dribble on the perimeter and that is not healthy. They need someone who can help take some of the load off of Harden's shoulders. Provide some driving, playing and shot-creation. They should be able to find that in the summer.

Ty Lawson would be a fantastic addition to this Rockets team.

[SCeltic34]

Peak Austin Rivers on that turnover. Easily gotta be #1 on Shaqtin.

#2 would probably be the same behind-the-back dribble he used in game 1 on a fast break.  Same exact result.

No Gif Left Behind.

Pure gold when the two gifs synch and show Rivers mishandling the ball at the same time.  The reaction from his teammates is great too, especially Griffin and Barnes who raise their arms in disgust at the same time.

[SCeltic34]

Will the league eventually change the rules about these intentional fouls on bad free throw shooters?  It's a legitimate strategy, but it almost makes games unwatchable.  Nobody wants to watch the Dwight Howards and Deandre Jordans of the world shoot 15+ free throws a game.

Then they should become better FT shooters, or their value isn't that much to the team. That would be like baseball taking away intentional walks. Sort of different because you're conceding that player can hit, but nonetheless it's an annoying strategy.

I agree with the premise that they should improve their free throw shooting.  But the reality is that these players simply aren't capable of improving to the point where it becomes a bad strategy to intentionally foul them.  Even if Howard took 5000 free throws a day, he'd still be a bad free throw shooter.  Same with DJ, Rondo, Shaq, etc.  Some players just don't have the shooting touch.

Anyway, it was a question meant for broad discussion.  Probably deserves its own thread.

[JohnBoy65]

Will the league eventually change the rules about these intentional fouls on bad free throw shooters?  It's a legitimate strategy, but it almost makes games unwatchable.  Nobody wants to watch the Dwight Howards and Deandre Jordans of the world shoot 15+ free throws a game.

Then they should become better FT shooters, or their value isn't that much to the team. That would be like baseball taking away intentional walks. Sort of different because you're conceding that player can hit, but nonetheless it's an annoying strategy.

I agree with the premise that they should improve their free throw shooting.  But the reality is that these players simply aren't capable of improving to the point where it becomes a bad strategy to intentionally foul them.  Even if Howard took 5000 free throws a day, he'd still be a bad free throw shooter.  Same with DJ, Rondo, Shaq, etc.  Some players just don't have the shooting touch.

Anyway, it was a question meant for broad discussion.  Probably deserves its own thread.

Fair point. I am not sure i entirely agree with it. To say you simply can't improve at something if you work very hard at it? What I would be interested to see is how much practice goes into this. How often does Rondo, DJ, and D12 practice free throws?

[SHAQATTACK]

Houston are very close. They just need to add a PG in the summer. Harden is their only real creator off the dribble on the perimeter and that is not healthy. They need someone who can help take some of the load off of Harden's shoulders. Provide some driving, playing and shot-creation. They should be able to find that in the summer.

Ty Lawson would be a fantastic addition to this Rockets team.

Yup...he'd be great there !   Harden is no point guard or floor general .  He is stealthy player , he needs less attention so he can work .

Rockets look lost out there ....kinda make it up as you go ball ......

How about CP3 on the Rockets .......that would be a title or two.......that's the team Lakers wanted sooooo bad to have . Stern nixed it .....LOL.

[littleteapot]

Clips are good or Houston stinks. It looks like Houston stinks IMO. You struggle to beat them when they have no one to run an offense out there AND no bench?

I wonder if it has anything to do with Houston's analytics heavy offense.  When you build your entire team around shooting only 3s or layups and then have a playoff series against a talented, relatively well-coached team that can focus on taking away those two things...what's going to happen?

Mike

I don't know how you could look at this series and say Houston's offense isn't working, and the Clips have only attempted 3 fewer 3's in the two games they've played. The problem is that they only have 1 guy who can play D. The Clippers tied it up on the road without Paul because of talent, not play style.

[D Dub]

Will the league eventually change the rules about these intentional fouls on bad free throw shooters?  It's a legitimate strategy, but it almost makes games unwatchable.  Nobody wants to watch the Dwight Howards and Deandre Jordans of the world shoot 15+ free throws a game.

Then they should become better FT shooters, or their value isn't that much to the team. That would be like baseball taking away intentional walks. Sort of different because you're conceding that player can hit, but nonetheless it's an annoying strategy.

I agree with the premise that they should improve their free throw shooting.  But the reality is that these players simply aren't capable of improving to the point where it becomes a bad strategy to intentionally foul them.  Even if Howard took 5000 free throws a day, he'd still be a bad free throw shooter.  Same with DJ, Rondo, Shaq, etc.  Some players just don't have the shooting touch.

Anyway, it was a question meant for broad discussion.  Probably deserves its own thread.

What if they were to award 3 FT's on hackashaq fouls -- does the strategy go out the window if you change the math?

[wdleehi]

Change the rules on the away from the ball fouls.  Fouls while taking a shot, not an issue. 

[blink]

Guess tonight is the "LEBRON!" game we knew had to be coming eventually.

Don't think he can do it 4 times in this series, which is what it'll take to beat Chicago.

I think the Bulls are so overrated.  As a team, they're less than the sum of their parts.

No Love, no Smith, Shumpert was injured for part of the game, and the Cavs still won in a blowout.

Yeah that was a pretty big win for the Cavs especially in the way that they won.

So what is the chance that Thibs can keep his job if the bulls don't beat the Cavs?  And why does the front office hate him so much?  I keep reading stories about how Thibs is gone after this season no matter what happens.  Is it just me that thinks Thibs kept the ship afloat pretty well through all the D Rose injuries and somewhat mediocre roster?

[JohnBoy65]

Guess tonight is the "LEBRON!" game we knew had to be coming eventually.

Don't think he can do it 4 times in this series, which is what it'll take to beat Chicago.

I think the Bulls are so overrated.  As a team, they're less than the sum of their parts.

No Love, no Smith, Shumpert was injured for part of the game, and the Cavs still won in a blowout.

Yeah that was a pretty big win for the Cavs especially in the way that they won.

So what is the chance that Thibs can keep his job if the bulls don't beat the Cavs?  And why does the front office hate him so much?  I keep reading stories about how Thibs is gone after this season no matter what happens.  Is it just me that thinks Thibs kept the ship afloat pretty well through all the D Rose injuries and somewhat mediocre roster?

He's a TERRIBLE minute manager. Like really really bad. He almost killed Loul Deng literally. He called spinal meningitis flu like symptoms. Another example was playing Rose in the 4th quarter when they were up 45 against the bucks. Might I also add he played 37 Gasol deep into the 4th quarter as well, and when he did sub Pau out it was for Noah who had been dealing with lingering injuries all year.

The guy can coach defense, but he can't really manage minutes.