NBA Season 2016-2017

[SparzWizard]

Atlanta Hawks fans felt what Patriots fans were feeling in the Superbowl tonight.

Stunning win in OT lol.

[jpotter33]

WOOT! So now BOS win out, CLE lose 1 more game, and #1 seed for us?

Unreal what a meltdown

Is this true?

Yep. If we win out and they lose tomorrow, then we're the one seed. There's no guarantee that they play Lebron and Kyrie tomorrow either.

If we manage to steal that 1 seed would we avoid Toronto in the second round?

Yep. Washington is locked in at 4 now, and Toronto is almost 99% certain at the 3 seed.

[Tr1boy]

Hawks are for real...

avoid in the playoffs at all cost

[Phantom255x]

WOOT! So now BOS win out, CLE lose 1 more game, and #1 seed for us?

Unreal what a meltdown

Is this true?

Yep. If we win out and they lose tomorrow, then we're the one seed. There's no guarantee that they play Lebron and Kyrie tomorrow either.

If we manage to steal that 1 seed would we avoid Toronto in the second round?

Yep. Washington is locked in at 4 now, and Toronto is almost 99% certain at the 3 seed.

Yeah it makes it all the more vital.

With Lowry back, TOR are even scarier and it's also better to see them go against CLE second round. Won't be easy for CLE this year.

[mef730]

TP for everyone!

I had a flight today and signed off with the Hawks down almost 30. Just signed on to see what the final score was and gasped out language that I really shouldn't use in front of my eight-year olds. Fortunately, they're on their iPads, so nothing short of the ceiling falling in will distract them.

Mike

[Phantom255x]

TP for everyone!

I had a flight today and signed off with the Hawks down almost 30. Just signed on to see what the final score was and gasped out language that I really shouldn't use in front of my eight-year olds. Fortunately, they're on their iPads, so nothing short of the ceiling falling in will distract them.

Mike

TP back at you!

That's probably not as insane as some Patriots fan hopping on a flight down 28-3 in the SB, only to see the final score afterwards.. 

[hpantazo]

Hawks are for real...

avoid in the playoffs at all cost

Yeah, I think people are overlooking this point. The Hawks beat us and the Cavs recently. They are looking very tough going into the playoffs.

[trickybilly]

Westbrook just won the MVP

[CelticSooner]

Hawks out scored Cleveland 44-18 in the 4th Q 

[RJ87]

Westbrook just won the MVP

James Harden is also deserving, but I just don't see any way Russ doesn't win it now.

[KGs Knee]

Westbrook just won the MVP

James Harden is also deserving, but I just don't see any way Russ doesn't win it now.

Harden has a higher total points created (individual points scored per game + points created per game from assists), WS, WS/48, TS%, Net RTG, and does it with a substantially lower usage rate.  His team also is higher in the standings.  There's plenty of reason to choose Harden.

[MBunge]

Hawks out scored Cleveland 44-18 in the 4th Q 

And helped prove that "rest" is nonsense.  LeBron, Kyrie and Love all played over 40 minutes.  Yes, it was double overtime but no one on the Hawks played more than 36 minutes.  If rest was really important, there's no way you burn them out like that at the end of the season.  But they just lost to Atlanta, so Bron and company wanted to beat them and, miraculously, "rest" ceased to be a concern.

Mike

[Phantom255x]

Westbrook just won the MVP

James Harden is also deserving, but I just don't see any way Russ doesn't win it now.

Harden has a higher total points created (individual points scored per game + points created per game from assists), WS, WS/48, TS%, Net RTG, and does it with a substantially lower usage rate.  His team also is higher in the standings.  There's plenty of reason to choose Harden.

I just think overall, Harden has a better team around him though. Better guys who fit the system, and good shooters (also with the addition of Lou Williams).

Not at all to take away from Harden, but without Westbrook, OKC would legitimately be a bottom-5 team in the league IMO. He's the only reason they are in the playoffs, and would probably have less than 30 wins without him.

[KGs Knee]

Westbrook just won the MVP

James Harden is also deserving, but I just don't see any way Russ doesn't win it now.

Harden has a higher total points created (individual points scored per game + points created per game from assists), WS, WS/48, TS%, Net RTG, and does it with a substantially lower usage rate.  His team also is higher in the standings.  There's plenty of reason to choose Harden.

I just think overall, Harden has a better team around him though. Better guys who fit the system, and good shooters (also with the addition of Lou Williams).

Not at all to take away from Harden, but without Westbrook, OKC would legitimately be a bottom-5 team in the league IMO. He's the only reason they are in the playoffs, and would probably have less than 30 wins without him.

And yet the second best player, and probably the 3rd best player, play for OKC.  Victor Oladipo is better than anyone on Houston not named James Harden, and Enes Kanter is arguably the 6th man of the year.

I don't buy the argument OKC is any worse than Houston, in terms of talent outside the two MVP candidates.  Better fitting, probably, but not less talented.  To me, Harden has done more to make his teammates better.

[Spilling Green Dye]

Westbrook just won the MVP

James Harden is also deserving, but I just don't see any way Russ doesn't win it now.

Harden has a higher total points created (individual points scored per game + points created per game from assists), WS, WS/48, TS%, Net RTG, and does it with a substantially lower usage rate.  His team also is higher in the standings.  There's plenty of reason to choose Harden.

I just think overall, Harden has a better team around him though. Better guys who fit the system, and good shooters (also with the addition of Lou Williams).

Not at all to take away from Harden, but without Westbrook, OKC would legitimately be a bottom-5 team in the league IMO. He's the only reason they are in the playoffs, and would probably have less than 30 wins without him.

And yet the second best player, and probably the 3rd best player, play for OKC.  Victor Oladipo is better than anyone on Houston not named James Harden, and Enes Kanter is arguably the 6th man of the year.

I don't buy the argument OKC is any worse than Houston, in terms of talent outside the two MVP candidates.  Better fitting, probably, but not less talented.  To me, Harden has done more to make his teammates better.

The idea that Harden has a much better team around him is BS. 

Before the NBA season started Vegas put the over-under win totals as:
OKC - 45.5 wins
Houston - 41.5 wins

If both teams go 1 and 1 in their last 2 games, then OKC will have exceeded their expectations by 1.5 wins and Houston by 13.5 wins.  In addition, only Houston has a chance at the championship.  Nobody should win the MVP if their team isn't in championship contention, so to me Westbrook falls behind Harden and Kawaii.