The Real 2014-15 NBA Regular Season Thread

[travesy3]

Amir's finally looking healthy.

 
This guy is so key for us.  
 
I hate our exhausting defensive style.  The amount of works Amir/Patterson do showing on screens, then recovering or finding their rotation seems so unnecessary.  Teams are starting to break us down so easily by slipping the screen, or a good PG is splitting it.  If the screener floats high it breaks the D down because our big is showing on the ball handler, so our wing defending the corner 3 rotates leading to a wide open corner 3 (NOOOO) or if he doesn't rotate, a good paint shot.
 
Zach Lowe touched on this a few weeks ago but it's becoming a very big cause for concern.  We play a demanding defensive style that isn't producing results.  Most teams are imitating the Bulls defence of the screen by trying everything to snuff it out, whereas we rely so much on the effort of the PG/SG to fight over the screen.  If they don't (Lowry, Vazquez, Ross, Demar all suck at this), our D goes into fits.
 
Huge cause for concern going forward and the elite teams expose us.  The lack of progression is concerning.  We were top 10 in D last year so I don't know if it is a schematic change, teams actually scouting us, or what.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Do me a favour and compile a list of teams that have won the NBA championship and not paid the luxury tax.  I can think of the Heat in 05/06, that's it.
 
EDIT: SMH at blaming hindsight.  First of all, that Raptors pick was protected so that it could only land somewhere from 4-13.  The Raptors pick the year prior was 8th when they were trying to tank.  No one thought it would be bottom 5.
 
That was a horrid trade from day 1.  If they held onto Kevin Martin it wouldn't be one of the worst trades of all time, but add that to the long list of cheap-ass moves the Thunder have made letting one of the league's best shooters walk.
 
No one knew Harden would become an MVP candidate, that's true.  But everyone did know he had more to give and he was a key cog on the USA team for a reason.  People knew he was a budding star at one of the league's weakest positions.  The craziest thing is this was a great player WILLING to take a back seat, and fill in the gaps.
 
Just a crazy trade that'll wind up being one of the biggest what-if's in the history of the NBA.

The Spurs didn't pay the luxury tax last year. In 07, they were like 200K over so barely. Pistons also barely had to pay it. 06 Heat didn't either as you alluded to.

He played the 2nd least minutes on Team USA in 2012. He wasn't a key cog at all. There were also rumors going around that he didn't like coming off the bench and wasn't even a lock to resign with the Thunder at all. I think he would have had they forked over a max deal, but this goes back to them not wanting to pay the luxury tax. And I think they were even willing to go over for Harden. But when you go over the luxury tax I think you have to pay more for how far you go over, and Harden would've put them WAY over. They couldn't afford it, plain and simple.

 

[elcheato]

They seem to be able to afford it now, after those years of avoiding have seemingly driven Durant away. 
 
I propose a S&T of Kevin Durant for Kevin Love. 

 

[snipezo]

It may be because teams have caught on to their defense. I really don't think Casey's defensive scheme works with the roster either especially val. He's simply not mobile enough to keep hedging on pick and rolls.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

They seem to be able to afford it now, after those years of avoiding have seemingly driven Durant away. 
 
I propose a S&T of Kevin Durant for Kevin Love. 

 
I really would be surprised if Durant left man.

 

[elcheato]

Amar'e might get bought out. Could be a significant addition to a contender. 

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Hassan!!!

 

[Mexi]

Lakers tank game is way too strong

 

[Mexi]

Said this rhe other day

Tarik Black
Jordan Hill
Ed Davis
Carlos Boozer(moments of good offense off bench)
Robert Sacre(6 fouls)

Usable bigs. 2 should be traded imo

 

[CameronCrazy06]

At what point will you root for the Lakers again

 

[Mexi]

Dont forsee it anytime soon
Ill prob root for individuals like randle

Or if they became a trendy little team like last years suns or raps

But theyd need a period of shittyness first

 

[Mexi]

Ill always follow the lakers tho regardless. I check in on them every day lol

 

[Pugz]

the lakers are no houston james hardon

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Dont forsee it anytime soon
Ill prob root for individuals like randle

Or if they became a trendy little team like last years suns or raps

But theyd need a period of shittyness first

Is this not a period of shittyness haha

 

[Mexi]

Too soon
Still havent weeded out the dumb fans

Still booing the clips at dodger games and shit

Too soon

 

[travesy3]

Love watching the Bucks play.  I wonder if one day down the line Giannis will get DPOTY votes.  His length is crazy - I just picture him helping and recovering within a step. 
 
What would you say his upside is?  I can't think of a comparable player - maybe a rangier, less well-rounded version of prime AK47?  Totally guessing, as I barely watch him.

 

[Pugz]

i don't think he's going to be the star people think.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Fuck you Rob.

 

[Pugz]

he's not.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Can we talk about how we really haven't seen any improvement from Giannis?
 
I mean his shot selection has improved (catch and shoots only make up 10% of his shots this season compared to 26% last season for example) but you haven't really seen improvement anywhere else.