NBA Season 2016-2017

[kozlodoev]

I really love how E'Twaun Moore has established a name for himself in the NBA. I hated to see him be traded (i think he was part of a package for Courtney Lee?), but I'm quite happy for him now.

Both him and Frazier look like legit rotation players (watched them both last night). Tonight I am interested in seeing if the Hawks are competitive against Cleveland. Will Howard be effective against Mosgov and Thompson? Do wish the game was in Atlanta instead of Cleveland for a better chance of being competitive.

You realize that Mozgov has been with the Lakers for a while now, right?

[A Future of Stevens]

Embiid does at least one thing every game that is just special.  This play is the latest in a long list of examples of what kind of freak he can be long term  https://twitter.com/DColeSports/status/795805911956803584

He did a similar move in the prior game.  I wouldn't be surprised if he pulls off one of those Rondo behind the back fake pass for the layup moves.  All Embiid needs to be really special is time and health.

Im blown away with how natural his enormous frame (7'2.....really?) Looks out there. He honestly looks like an athletic Hibbert who knows how to play basketball lol.

The real question is how often will we see his team down by 10+ in his highlight reels assuming he stays healthy.

[jpotter33]

Hawks hand Cavs their first loss... in Cleveland. I believe that actually stopped like a 13 straight game loss for them. Are the Hawks actually better with Howard than Horford?

[MJohnnyboy]

Hawks hand Cavs their first loss... in Cleveland. I believe that actually stopped like a 13 straight game loss for them. Are the Hawks actually better with Howard than Horford?

They definitely match-up better with the Cavs now from than they did before thanks to Howard. One of the bigger reasons why Cleveland kept beating them so easily was because Love and Thompson are a step above in the rebounding department compared to Millsap and Horford. Now that Howard's there, it isn't so easy for them now. That, and Dwight Howard is one of the few players in the NBA who Lebron legitimately fears.

[RJ87]

Are the Hawks actually better with Howard than Horford?

Yes.

[mr. dee]

Hawks need more rebounding than we do despite our rebounding woes because their backcourt are nowhere near ours defensively. We just need rim protectors that seal off slashers and cutters away from the basket and Horford actually improved our offense.

[tazzmaniac]

Embiid does at least one thing every game that is just special.  This play is the latest in a long list of examples of what kind of freak he can be long term  https://twitter.com/DColeSports/status/795805911956803584

He did a similar move in the prior game.  I wouldn't be surprised if he pulls off one of those Rondo behind the back fake pass for the layup moves.  All Embiid needs to be really special is time and health.

Im blown away with how natural his enormous frame (7'2.....really?) Looks out there. He honestly looks like an athletic Hibbert who knows how to play basketball lol.

The real question is how often will we see his team down by 10+ in his highlight reels assuming he stays healthy.

3 of the 5 games he's played in have been single digit losses even though he's on a time limit.   They're missing two of their starters, Simmons and Bayless.   

[LarBrd33]

I know this will seem like a crazy illogical "bizarre stance" given the start to this season, but I'm standing by my belief OKC will eventually even out as a .500 team and Westbrook will shoot close to 40%... even if that seems really unlikely right now.  I'm not ready to declare myself wrong about Westbrook being supremely overrated.   Likewise, despite his blazing hot start, Jimmy Butler is still nothing more than premium brand Ricky Davis.   I'll let you know if I change my mind on either.

[LarBrd33]

Speaking of supremely overrated...

Kemba Walker spent his first 4 seasons as a incredibly inefficient chucker.

Season 1:  36%/30%/79%   
Season 2:  42%/32%/80%
Season 3:  39%/33%/84%
Season 4:  38%/30%/83%

.... then suddenly saw a jump last season to 43%/37%/85%.     Now this year he's started off with the Eastern-conference leading Horents shooting 47%/44%/83%

Here's an article discussing the changes he made to his shot:  http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/1/20/10799110/kemba-walker-improvements-shooting-charlotte-hornets-highlights

Perhaps it's something to offer hope to folks still grasping to the idea that Marcus Smart can become a star.  Smart's coming off a season shooting 35% and 25% from three (historically bad).   Hopefully the changes he's made to his own shot this summer pay off this year.

[alldaboston]

Speaking of supremely overrated...

Kemba Walker spent his first 4 seasons as a incredibly inefficient chucker.

Season 1:  36%/30%/79%   
Season 2:  42%/32%/80%
Season 3:  39%/33%/84%
Season 4:  38%/30%/83%

.... then suddenly saw a jump last season to 43%/37%/85%.     Now this year he's started off with the Eastern-conference leading Horents shooting 47%/44%/83%

Here's an article discussing the changes he made to his shot:  http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/1/20/10799110/kemba-walker-improvements-shooting-charlotte-hornets-highlights

Perhaps it's something to offer hope to folks still grasping to the idea that Marcus Smart can become a star.  Smart's coming off a season shooting 35% and 25% from three (historically bad).   Hopefully the changes he's made to his own shot this summer pay off this year.

I am still hopeful of Smart. Some players just take a bit more time to figure it out.

Regarding the Hornets, too, I didn't notice they were leading the ECF until last night. I have to say, they've played well so far, but they've also had a rather easy schedule so far, at least in terms of the caliber of teams they've played. And their one loss was to us, when we had both Jae and Horford playing, but not Kelly and Smart. Imagine how much more we would have beat them if we were fully healthy.

[tazzmaniac]

I know this will seem like a crazy illogical "bizarre stance" given the start to this season, but I'm standing by my belief OKC will eventually even out as a .500 team and Westbrook will shoot close to 40%... even if that seems really unlikely right now.  I'm not ready to declare myself wrong about Westbrook being supremely overrated.   Likewise, despite his blazing hot start, Jimmy Butler is still nothing more than premium brand Ricky Davis.   I'll let you know if I change my mind on either.

I'm not sold on OKC being a top team either.  Four of their wins have been against Sixers, Suns, Lakers and TWolves.  I think they'll end up 6th or 7th in the West.  Westbrook is certainly a top player in the league.  I'd take him over Irving for example.  He's only shooting 42% but he's shooting 6.5 3s at 34.6% which is significantly higher than his norm so regressing to 40% wouldn't be a surprise. 

[celticsclay]

I know this will seem like a crazy illogical "bizarre stance" given the start to this season, but I'm standing by my belief OKC will eventually even out as a .500 team and Westbrook will shoot close to 40%... even if that seems really unlikely right now.  I'm not ready to declare myself wrong about Westbrook being supremely overrated.   Likewise, despite his blazing hot start, Jimmy Butler is still nothing more than premium brand Ricky Davis.   I'll let you know if I change my mind on either.

This isn't a bizarre stance. Most people think they are a Lower level playoff team

[jpotter33]

I know the NBA is pretty socially conscious, but why does the TNT talk show need to discuss politics for the first ten minutes of the show? I thought their messages were good by preaching unity and respect and not partisan rhetoric, but I feel like sports should be an escape from the political issues and troubles of the day. I just hate that every single institution, both public and private, is becoming more and more politicized, and you can't hardly turn anywhere without being bombarded by political rhetoric.

[Endless Paradise]

I know the NBA is pretty socially conscious, but why does the TNT talk show need to discuss politics for the first ten minutes of the show? I thought their messages were good by preaching unity and respect and not partisan rhetoric, but I feel like sports should be an escape from the political issues and troubles of the day. I just hate that every single institution, both public and private, is becoming more and more politicized, and you can't hardly turn anywhere without being bombarded by political rhetoric.

Inside the NBA has *never* been a strictly-sports show. They've always veered into discussing non-sports-related subjects, so it should be of no surprise that they'd discuss one of the most controversial elections in recent history.

[jpotter33]

I thought people said this LA team was good? They look absolutely terrible against the Kings right now. They look very, very young with lots of dumb plays and turnovers.