NBA Season 2014-2015

[Rondo9]

Brain fart by DJ at the end! 

[LarBrd33]

Westbrook with 4 straight triple-doubles.  Unreal.

[fairweatherfan]

Watched Bucks-Warriors last night.  I don't know if it'll work - it was limited last night - but I can see what Kidd is going for with MCW and Greek Freak together.  That's one long, athletic perimeter.  Pair them with a knockdown shooter or two and a good interior defense and they could be pretty intimidating. 

[celticsclay]

Watched Bucks-Warriors last night.  I don't know if it'll work - it was limited last night - but I can see what Kidd is going for with MCW and Greek Freak together.  That's one long, athletic perimeter.  Pair them with a knockdown shooter or two and a good interior defense and they could be pretty intimidating.

I was encouraged by that Bucks performance myself. The trade could work out for them long term, and I guess in the scheme of things this year doesn't matter for them.

[D.o.s.]

Watched Bucks-Warriors last night.  I don't know if it'll work - it was limited last night - but I can see what Kidd is going for with MCW and Greek Freak together.  That's one long, athletic perimeter.  Pair them with a knockdown shooter or two and a good interior defense and they could be pretty intimidating.

I was encouraged by that Bucks performance myself. The trade could work out for them long term, and I guess in the scheme of things this year doesn't matter for them.

They have Jabari Parker at the three in a perfect world, don't forget.

[fairweatherfan]

Watched Bucks-Warriors last night.  I don't know if it'll work - it was limited last night - but I can see what Kidd is going for with MCW and Greek Freak together.  That's one long, athletic perimeter.  Pair them with a knockdown shooter or two and a good interior defense and they could be pretty intimidating.

I was encouraged by that Bucks performance myself. The trade could work out for them long term, and I guess in the scheme of things this year doesn't matter for them.

They have Jabari Parker at the three in a perfect world, don't forget.

That's true.  I think they could be an intriguing team next year if they get Parker back and can acquire a good big man.

[jpotter33]

Watched Bucks-Warriors last night.  I don't know if it'll work - it was limited last night - but I can see what Kidd is going for with MCW and Greek Freak together.  That's one long, athletic perimeter.  Pair them with a knockdown shooter or two and a good interior defense and they could be pretty intimidating.

I was encouraged by that Bucks performance myself. The trade could work out for them long term, and I guess in the scheme of things this year doesn't matter for them.

They have Jabari Parker at the three in a perfect world, don't forget.

That's true.  I think they could be an intriguing team next year if they get Parker back and can acquire a good big man.

Are they playing GA at the 2 guard?

[celticsclay]

Watched Bucks-Warriors last night.  I don't know if it'll work - it was limited last night - but I can see what Kidd is going for with MCW and Greek Freak together.  That's one long, athletic perimeter.  Pair them with a knockdown shooter or two and a good interior defense and they could be pretty intimidating.

I was encouraged by that Bucks performance myself. The trade could work out for them long term, and I guess in the scheme of things this year doesn't matter for them.

They have Jabari Parker at the three in a perfect world, don't forget.

That's true.  I think they could be an intriguing team next year if they get Parker back and can acquire a good big man.

Are they playing GA at the 2 guard?

They need a big man, they should sign that guy Sanders! He is an awesome rim protector

[Who]

Watched Bucks-Warriors last night.  I don't know if it'll work - it was limited last night - but I can see what Kidd is going for with MCW and Greek Freak together.  That's one long, athletic perimeter.  Pair them with a knockdown shooter or two and a good interior defense and they could be pretty intimidating.

I have been amazed at how much they have been able to accomplish defensively.

2nd in defensive efficiency now.

This despite Larry Sanders only playing about 22mpg and playing less than half their games when he left the team. Zaza is no great shakes defensively. Nor is Henson. The PF position is been just a problematic. Jabari Parker was a weak defender. Ilyasova has been a bad man-to-man defender his entire career but a solid team defender. Jared Dudley playing out of position as PF. Or that Jonny O'Bryant guy.

It's amazing that they have accomplished so much on the defensive end of the floor without a true defensive anchor (once Sanders left) and while also having defensive problems at PF.

Almost all their defensive value is coming from the perimeter spots and their scrambling team defense. Using their quickness and length. A terrific defensive scheme revolving around a lot of zoning on strong side of the floor and trusting their long quick defensive guards / forwards to be able to recover in time when the ball switches sides. Also use their length to force a league leading 15.7% turnovers.

It's not like perimeter rotation is full of defensive talent either. They are playing guys like Bayless and OJ Mayo. Dudley is a good defender but a slow one (on perimeter) or badly undersized (at PF). It is incredible what Jason Kidd has managed to build defensively given the personnel he has at his disposal.

Giannis is the real star of their defense. His length and mobility on team defense is a nightmare for opposing teams. Middleton has been very good for Milwaukee as well. Brandon Knight was a very strong defensive PG but I think MCW has even more defensive upside than Knight had and is a perfect fit for Milwaukee's defensive system.

Jason Kidd deserves a huge amount of credit.

[celticsclay]

Watched Bucks-Warriors last night.  I don't know if it'll work - it was limited last night - but I can see what Kidd is going for with MCW and Greek Freak together.  That's one long, athletic perimeter.  Pair them with a knockdown shooter or two and a good interior defense and they could be pretty intimidating.

I have been amazed at how much they have been able to accomplish defensively.

2nd in defensive efficiency now.

This despite Larry Sanders only playing about 22mpg and playing less than half their games when he left the team. Zaza is no great shakes defensively. Nor is Henson. The PF position is been just a problematic. Jabari Parker was a weak defender. Ilyasova has been a bad man-to-man defender his entire career but a solid team defender. Jared Dudley playing out of position as PF. Or that Jonny O'Bryant guy.

It's amazing that they have accomplished so much on the defensive end of the floor without a true defensive anchor (once Sanders left) and while also having defensive problems at PF.

Almost all their defensive value is coming from the perimeter spots and their scrambling team defense. Using their quickness and length. A terrific defensive scheme revolving around a lot of zoning on strong side of the floor and trusting their long quick defensive guards / forwards to be able to recover in time when the ball switches sides. Also use their length to force a league leading 15.7% turnovers.

It's not like perimeter rotation is full of defensive talent either. They are playing guys like Bayless and OJ Mayo. Dudley is a good defender but a slow one (on perimeter) or badly undersized (at PF). It is incredible what Jason Kidd has managed to build defensively given the personnel he has at his disposal.

Giannis is the real star of their defense. His length and mobility on team defense is a nightmare for opposing teams. Middleton has been very good for Milwaukee as well. Brandon Knight was a very strong defensive PG but I think MCW has even more defensive upside than Knight had and is a perfect fit for Milwaukee's defensive system.

Jason Kidd deserves a huge amount of credit.

All of this. I would a million times over take what Milwaukee is trying to do over what the 76ers were. They are adding Parker, who was looking quite good, to a team that already has very very nice pieces. I think MCW is going to do a lot better there with actual NBA veterans telling him what he can and can't do and a coach that is not afraid to yank him for bad play. Kind of the polar opposite of philly.

[tazzmaniac]

Watched Bucks-Warriors last night.  I don't know if it'll work - it was limited last night - but I can see what Kidd is going for with MCW and Greek Freak together.  That's one long, athletic perimeter.  Pair them with a knockdown shooter or two and a good interior defense and they could be pretty intimidating.

I have been amazed at how much they have been able to accomplish defensively.

2nd in defensive efficiency now.

This despite Larry Sanders only playing about 22mpg and playing less than half their games when he left the team. Zaza is no great shakes defensively. Nor is Henson. The PF position is been just a problematic. Jabari Parker was a weak defender. Ilyasova has been a bad man-to-man defender his entire career but a solid team defender. Jared Dudley playing out of position as PF. Or that Jonny O'Bryant guy.

It's amazing that they have accomplished so much on the defensive end of the floor without a true defensive anchor (once Sanders left) and while also having defensive problems at PF.

Almost all their defensive value is coming from the perimeter spots and their scrambling team defense. Using their quickness and length. A terrific defensive scheme revolving around a lot of zoning on strong side of the floor and trusting their long quick defensive guards / forwards to be able to recover in time when the ball switches sides. Also use their length to force a league leading 15.7% turnovers.

It's not like perimeter rotation is full of defensive talent either. They are playing guys like Bayless and OJ Mayo. Dudley is a good defender but a slow one (on perimeter) or badly undersized (at PF). It is incredible what Jason Kidd has managed to build defensively given the personnel he has at his disposal.

Giannis is the real star of their defense. His length and mobility on team defense is a nightmare for opposing teams. Middleton has been very good for Milwaukee as well. Brandon Knight was a very strong defensive PG but I think MCW has even more defensive upside than Knight had and is a perfect fit for Milwaukee's defensive system.

Jason Kidd deserves a huge amount of credit.

All of this. I would a million times over take what Milwaukee is trying to do over what the 76ers were. They are adding Parker, who was looking quite good, to a team that already has very very nice pieces. I think MCW is going to do a lot better there with actual NBA veterans telling him what he can and can't do and a coach that is not afraid to yank him for bad play. Kind of the polar opposite of philly.

Brett Brown is a good coach not some weak shrinking violet.  At the start of the 2nd half of one of our games with the Sixers, Sully beat their bigs down the court on two successive fast breaks.  With less than a minute gone, Brown called a timeout and chewed out Noel and the other big for letting it happen.  The Sixers are tanking so there is little reason to yank young players for bad play.  They aren't going to get better sitting on the bench.   

The Bucks are 1-4 since the MCW trade.  Maybe Kidd can eventually develop MCW into an efficient player but in the short term they've taken a step back.  The Bucks have better existing talent but the Sixers have better draft picks and cap space.  Their situations are different but I don't think either is significantly better than the other.  The T-wolves may actually be in the best shape except for them being in the West. 

[celticsclay]

Watched Bucks-Warriors last night.  I don't know if it'll work - it was limited last night - but I can see what Kidd is going for with MCW and Greek Freak together.  That's one long, athletic perimeter.  Pair them with a knockdown shooter or two and a good interior defense and they could be pretty intimidating.

I have been amazed at how much they have been able to accomplish defensively.

2nd in defensive efficiency now.

This despite Larry Sanders only playing about 22mpg and playing less than half their games when he left the team. Zaza is no great shakes defensively. Nor is Henson. The PF position is been just a problematic. Jabari Parker was a weak defender. Ilyasova has been a bad man-to-man defender his entire career but a solid team defender. Jared Dudley playing out of position as PF. Or that Jonny O'Bryant guy.

It's amazing that they have accomplished so much on the defensive end of the floor without a true defensive anchor (once Sanders left) and while also having defensive problems at PF.

Almost all their defensive value is coming from the perimeter spots and their scrambling team defense. Using their quickness and length. A terrific defensive scheme revolving around a lot of zoning on strong side of the floor and trusting their long quick defensive guards / forwards to be able to recover in time when the ball switches sides. Also use their length to force a league leading 15.7% turnovers.

It's not like perimeter rotation is full of defensive talent either. They are playing guys like Bayless and OJ Mayo. Dudley is a good defender but a slow one (on perimeter) or badly undersized (at PF). It is incredible what Jason Kidd has managed to build defensively given the personnel he has at his disposal.

Giannis is the real star of their defense. His length and mobility on team defense is a nightmare for opposing teams. Middleton has been very good for Milwaukee as well. Brandon Knight was a very strong defensive PG but I think MCW has even more defensive upside than Knight had and is a perfect fit for Milwaukee's defensive system.

Jason Kidd deserves a huge amount of credit.

All of this. I would a million times over take what Milwaukee is trying to do over what the 76ers were. They are adding Parker, who was looking quite good, to a team that already has very very nice pieces. I think MCW is going to do a lot better there with actual NBA veterans telling him what he can and can't do and a coach that is not afraid to yank him for bad play. Kind of the polar opposite of philly.

Brett Brown is a good coach not some weak shrinking violet.  At the start of the 2nd half of one of our games with the Sixers, Sully beat their bigs down the court on two successive fast breaks.  With less than a minute gone, Brown called a timeout and chewed out Noel and the other big for letting it happen.  The Sixers are tanking so there is little reason to yank young players for bad play.  They aren't going to get better sitting on the bench.   

The Bucks are 1-4 since the MCW trade.  Maybe Kidd can eventually develop MCW into an efficient player but in the short term they've taken a step back.  The Bucks have better existing talent but the Sixers have better draft picks and cap space.  Their situations are different but I don't think either is significantly better than the other.  The T-wolves may actually be in the best shape except for them being in the West.

I 100% agree on Minnesota. They have the brightest group of young talent between Wiggins, Dieng and Lavine (Lavine actually looks like a player since all-star break). Throw in Rubio, Pek, Martin and a top 5 pick and they really have something. The cavs totally jump started the t-wolves rebuild with a massive overpay for Love.

As for Philly/Bucks that wasn't meant to be a dig on Brown. I also think he is a good coach, could possibly turn out to be a great coach. I more was referencing the situation you mentioned where Kidd has the ability to put in a Bayless, Mayo or other veteran if MCW is making boneheaded plays.

I do totally disagree with you about there not being a benefit to yanking a young player after bad plays. A coach can chew out a young player all he wants for a bad play, but if he gets to play 38 minutes no matter how many bad plays he makes he is probably not going to change (and will eventually tune out the chew outs). Now if a player makes a boneheaded plays and goes and sits on the bench for a half hour maybe he thinks a bit more about the play.

[tazzmaniac]

Watched Bucks-Warriors last night.  I don't know if it'll work - it was limited last night - but I can see what Kidd is going for with MCW and Greek Freak together.  That's one long, athletic perimeter.  Pair them with a knockdown shooter or two and a good interior defense and they could be pretty intimidating.

I have been amazed at how much they have been able to accomplish defensively.

2nd in defensive efficiency now.

This despite Larry Sanders only playing about 22mpg and playing less than half their games when he left the team. Zaza is no great shakes defensively. Nor is Henson. The PF position is been just a problematic. Jabari Parker was a weak defender. Ilyasova has been a bad man-to-man defender his entire career but a solid team defender. Jared Dudley playing out of position as PF. Or that Jonny O'Bryant guy.

It's amazing that they have accomplished so much on the defensive end of the floor without a true defensive anchor (once Sanders left) and while also having defensive problems at PF.

Almost all their defensive value is coming from the perimeter spots and their scrambling team defense. Using their quickness and length. A terrific defensive scheme revolving around a lot of zoning on strong side of the floor and trusting their long quick defensive guards / forwards to be able to recover in time when the ball switches sides. Also use their length to force a league leading 15.7% turnovers.

It's not like perimeter rotation is full of defensive talent either. They are playing guys like Bayless and OJ Mayo. Dudley is a good defender but a slow one (on perimeter) or badly undersized (at PF). It is incredible what Jason Kidd has managed to build defensively given the personnel he has at his disposal.

Giannis is the real star of their defense. His length and mobility on team defense is a nightmare for opposing teams. Middleton has been very good for Milwaukee as well. Brandon Knight was a very strong defensive PG but I think MCW has even more defensive upside than Knight had and is a perfect fit for Milwaukee's defensive system.

Jason Kidd deserves a huge amount of credit.

All of this. I would a million times over take what Milwaukee is trying to do over what the 76ers were. They are adding Parker, who was looking quite good, to a team that already has very very nice pieces. I think MCW is going to do a lot better there with actual NBA veterans telling him what he can and can't do and a coach that is not afraid to yank him for bad play. Kind of the polar opposite of philly.

Brett Brown is a good coach not some weak shrinking violet.  At the start of the 2nd half of one of our games with the Sixers, Sully beat their bigs down the court on two successive fast breaks.  With less than a minute gone, Brown called a timeout and chewed out Noel and the other big for letting it happen.  The Sixers are tanking so there is little reason to yank young players for bad play.  They aren't going to get better sitting on the bench.   

The Bucks are 1-4 since the MCW trade.  Maybe Kidd can eventually develop MCW into an efficient player but in the short term they've taken a step back.  The Bucks have better existing talent but the Sixers have better draft picks and cap space.  Their situations are different but I don't think either is significantly better than the other.  The T-wolves may actually be in the best shape except for them being in the West.

I 100% agree on Minnesota. They have the brightest group of young talent between Wiggins, Dieng and Lavine (Lavine actually looks like a player since all-star break). Throw in Rubio, Pek, Martin and a top 5 pick and they really have something. The cavs totally jump started the t-wolves rebuild with a massive overpay for Love.

As for Philly/Bucks that wasn't meant to be a dig on Brown. I also think he is a good coach, could possibly turn out to be a great coach. I more was referencing the situation you mentioned where Kidd has the ability to put in a Bayless, Mayo or other veteran if MCW is making boneheaded plays.

I do totally disagree with you about there not being a benefit to yanking a young player after bad plays. A coach can chew out a young player all he wants for a bad play, but if he gets to play 38 minutes no matter how many bad plays he makes he is probably not going to change (and will eventually tune out the chew outs). Now if a player makes a boneheaded plays and goes and sits on the bench for a half hour maybe he thinks a bit more about the play.

There are certainly occasions where benching a player could be effective and necessary.  I'd make a distinction between bad plays and bonehead plays.  Most of the time I think it is better to let players play through their mistakes.  MCW actually was actually pretty productive overall but was very inefficient.  Brown didn't have much success correcting MCW's issues but maybe Kidd can.  Trading MCW for the Lakers 1st was a no brainer with all the talented PGs around.  On the other hand, Noel has improved a lot from the beginning of the season and looks like a keeper or at least a good trade asset. 

[LarBrd33]

Watched Bucks-Warriors last night.  I don't know if it'll work - it was limited last night - but I can see what Kidd is going for with MCW and Greek Freak together.  That's one long, athletic perimeter.  Pair them with a knockdown shooter or two and a good interior defense and they could be pretty intimidating.

I was encouraged by that Bucks performance myself. The trade could work out for them long term, and I guess in the scheme of things this year doesn't matter for them.

I'm certainly in the minority, but I think Ennis vs MCW is a real thing we might see play out.

They both played for the same College a year apart.

2012 MCW Freshman - 2.7 points, 2.1 assists, 1.5 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 0.6 Turnovers  43%/39%/56% 10.3mpg
2013 MCW Sophomore - 11.9 points, 7.3 assists, 5 rebounds, 2.7 steals, 3.5 turnovers 39%/29%/69% 35.2mpg

2014 Ennis Freshman - 12.9 points, 5.5 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 steals, 1.7 turnovers 41%/35%/77% 35.7mpg

Anyone else find that interesting?  MCW is 23 years old.   Ennis is 20.   MCW gets taken #11 in "historically bad" draft.   Ennis gets taken 18th in a "historically great" draft. 

Clearly, MCW got the keys to the kingdom on a D-league worthy Philly roster.  Given 34.5 mpg and a starting role right out the gate.  It was clear to a lot of people that he was overrated and wouldn't put up those kind of stats on a good team.

Meanwhile, Ennis joins a team where he's buried behind Dragic, Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas.  Playing a total of 128 minutes during his entire tenure on the Suns.  He did, however, play in the D-League where he put up solid stats (18.4 points, 5.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals on 48%/33%/81%)

Am I crazy, or is it possible that Ennis can threaten MCW for the starting role at some point?   

At the very least, MCW should be looking over his shoulder.  This is a great example of the value of roles.   If Ennis had joined Philly, would he have gotten 35mpg out of the gate?   If MCW had joined the Suns, would he have spent most of his time in the d-league behind Bledsoe/Dragic/Thomas?  I'm curious to see what happens there.

[alley oop]

Lebron James says "Maybe I got to protect myself a little bit more, too" after the Toronto Raptors game where late in the 3rd quarter Jonas Valanciunas wrapped him up to prevent a layup. He got up immediately after the play.

After all the hard fouls and wresting plays his Cavaliers and Heat put Rondo through, he says this.