2016-2017 NBA thread

[menifee]

Other than Wizards-Celtics, these series were awful. Unwatchable.

[Robert Fischer]

This wasn't a basketball season.

This was waiting for the 82 games, and the 'pre-season' part of the playoffs to get over with, so the two teams in the league could play each other, and we could see who would win. By the time we got to the finale, even the finals were anticlimactic. We knew who would probably win.

This was just as bad as some of the most pre-determined NBA seasons in the past, but perhaps the most obvious, and least captivating. Some of the others at least invoked a suspension of disbelief.

I have to allow for being less naive and more cynical, but as a teen, I believed at least part of the Bulls success was due to the 'greatness' of Jordan.
I'm sure I would now see the Bulls of those days as an ad-revenue vehicle, with everything their own way. However, I think I would be entertained watching them, even in this negative light.

[cj]

Originally Posted by Robert Fischer

This wasn't a basketball season.

This was waiting for the 82 games, and the 'pre-season' part of the playoffs to get over with, so the two teams in the league could play each other, and we could see who would win. By the time we got to the finale, even the finals were anticlimactic. We knew who would probably win.

This was just as bad as some of the most pre-determined NBA seasons in the past, but perhaps the most obvious, and least captivating. Some of the others at least invoked a suspension of disbelief.

I have to allow for being less naive and more cynical, but as a teen, I believed at least part of the Bulls success was due to the 'greatness' of Jordan.
I'm sure I would now see the Bulls of those days as an ad-revenue vehicle, with everything their own way. However, I think I would be entertained watching them, even in this negative light.

Going to be several more years of this garbage. Warriors open at -200 for the title next year.

[Valuist]

Originally Posted by Robert Fischer

This wasn't a basketball season.

This was waiting for the 82 games, and the 'pre-season' part of the playoffs to get over with, so the two teams in the league could play each other, and we could see who would win. By the time we got to the finale, even the finals were anticlimactic. We knew who would probably win.

This was just as bad as some of the most pre-determined NBA seasons in the past, but perhaps the most obvious, and least captivating. Some of the others at least invoked a suspension of disbelief.

I have to allow for being less naive and more cynical, but as a teen, I believed at least part of the Bulls success was due to the 'greatness' of Jordan.
I'm sure I would now see the Bulls of those days as an ad-revenue vehicle, with everything their own way. However, I think I would be entertained watching them, even in this negative light.

I think in those Bulls series, at least some of them, it wasn't a foregone conclusion that they'd win. They had several very difficult series vs the Knicks, as well as in the Finals. This year, the only suspense was would the Warriors lose ANY games in the postseason.

[ronsmac]

Watching the first10 minutes of the Celtics/Lakers documentary . Damn the players sucked in the 50s and 60s.

[FakeNameChanged]

I admit to no longer being much of a fan. But correct me if I'm wrong, didn't the Cavs play better without two of their stars, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving in the playoffs last year? And by playing better I mean beat the Warriors.

[cj]

Originally Posted by Whosonfirst

I admit to no longer being much of a fan. But correct me if I'm wrong, didn't the Cavs play better without two of their stars, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving in the playoffs last year? And by playing better I mean beat the Warriors.

It was two years ago those guys were hurt, and they didn't win.

Irving and Love are decent, but neither are top 5 players at their positions. The Warriors have FOUR starters that are at least top 5 at their position, mostly top 2 or 3, the Cavs have one.

[lansdale]

If only Lebron had let the Cavs keep Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett, they would have won it :-).

[cj]

Originally Posted by lansdale

If only Lebron had let the Cavs keep Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett, they would have won it :-).

Wiggins would definitely have been better than Love, who was awful in the Finals.

Bennett, no comment.

[lansdale]

Originally Posted by cj

Wiggins would definitely have been better than Love, who was awful in the Finals.

Bennett, no comment.

This was like a hit of nitrous -- your anti-KL thing is beyond bizarre at this point ;-). First, KL was good in the Finals -- his numbers 16 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 2.2 stl, 1 block, are similar to those from other 2nd and 3rd options from the past -- McHale, Parish, Worthy, et. al.. They're also very similar to his regular season numbers -- a couple of points less, but he was going up against the best defensive player in the league, and likely an all-time great D guy. He's a very good player, though not on the level of LBJ, KD, SC, DG.

OTOH, Wiggins has proven to be a mediocre to bad player. He's the second option on the one of the worst teams in the league, and has never played in the post-season. If you check the link below, you can see his RPM (Real Plus Minus) ranks -- he's 48th out of 80 SFs on overall RPM and nearly tied for last 79th out of 80 on DRPM (Defensive RPM). He has some scoring ability but, even though he's 6'8" he's a terrible rebounder (4pg) and is atrocious on D, as the DRPM indicates. This was a guy who was touted as a great defensive player at draft time. If you've watched him, you can see he also has zero hoops IQ, even though he's been in the leagure three years.

Three years ago, like everyone else, I thought this guy was a future all-star who, at 18, was just too young to help LBJ win his next title any time soon. Now it's clear no way will this guy ever be an all star, let alone a starter on any team going to the Finals. His ceiling is probably Rudy Gay -- a very mediocre player who can shoot the ball -- and that's it.

Weren't you the one who has always been skeptical about guys who were the big scorers on bad teams -- empty point specialists. Can't you see that Wiggins is that guy?



https://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/...RPM/position/5

[cj]

Originally Posted by lansdale

This was like a hit of nitrous -- your anti-KL thing is beyond bizarre at this point ;-). First, KL was good in the Finals -- his numbers 16 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 2.2 stl, 1 block, are similar to those from other 2nd and 3rd options from the past -- McHale, Parish, Worthy, et. al.. They're also very similar to his regular season numbers -- a couple of points less, but he was going up against the best defensive player in the league, and likely an all-time great D guy. He's a very good player, though not on the level of LBJ, KD, SC, DG.

OTOH, Wiggins has proven to be a mediocre to bad player. He's the second option on the one of the worst teams in the league, and has never played in the post-season. If you check the link below, you can see his RPM (Real Plus Minus) ranks -- he's 48th out of 80 SFs on overall RPM and nearly tied for last 79th out of 80 on DRPM (Defensive RPM). He has some scoring ability but, even though he's 6'8" he's a terrible rebounder (4pg) and is atrocious on D, as the DRPM indicates. This was a guy who was touted as a great defensive player at draft time. If you've watched him, you can see he also has zero hoops IQ, even though he's been in the leagure three years.

Three years ago, like everyone else, I thought this guy was a future all-star who, at 18, was just too young to help LBJ win his next title any time soon. Now it's clear no way will this guy ever be an all star, let alone a starter on any team going to the Finals. His ceiling is probably Rudy Gay -- a very mediocre player who can shoot the ball -- and that's it.

Weren't you the one who has always been skeptical about guys who were the big scorers on bad teams -- empty point specialists. Can't you see that Wiggins is that guy?



https://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/...RPM/position/5

I don't know what the numbers say about the finals, but in the time I watched Love was pretty bad. I don't think Wiggins is any great shakes either but I think he would fit better on the Cavs.

Kevin Love is a decent player of course. I just don't think he is near as good as many make him out to be. He isn't an all star either in my opinion. The Cavs are looking to trade him allegedly. I wonder why?

[Robert Fischer]

what is next for the NBA?

simply celebrate the Warriors greatness/dynasty?

give Lebron more free-agent superstars in hopes of repeating this boring season?

not a lot of options, in terms of micro-managing another rivalry. Spurs and Clippers are in the West. Make them a super-team, and you don't create a finals matchup. Mess up and make them actually competitive, and with some injuries/luck, - the worst-case scenario of defeating the Warriors pre-finals could possibly play out. -$

Boston would sell, and has decent coaching. I guess Silver could do more meddling and do something similar to sending UFA's Steph Curry and Milsap and a piece to be named later to the Celtics.
Not sure that wouldn't make the league even worse. But it might be profitable. The fans in the north-east may eat it up, and the media would be able to sell it.

Have to guess that 'celebrate the Warriors' is the most likely option at this point.

This is what the NBA wanted.

[Robert Fischer]

Originally Posted by lansdale

He's a very good player, though not on the level of LBJ, KD, SC, DG.

your love of 'DG' is on par with Cj's dislike of 'KL'

[cj]

Originally Posted by Robert Fischer

your love of 'DG' is on par with Cj's dislike of 'KL'

Draymond is obviously very talented, but he is a star because of the cast he is playing with currently.

[cj]

Originally Posted by Robert Fischer

what is next for the NBA?

simply celebrate the Warriors greatness/dynasty?

give Lebron more free-agent superstars in hopes of repeating this boring season?

not a lot of options, in terms of micro-managing another rivalry. Spurs and Clippers are in the West. Make them a super-team, and you don't create a finals matchup. Mess up and make them actually competitive, and with some injuries/luck, - the worst-case scenario of defeating the Warriors pre-finals could possibly play out. -$

Boston would sell, and has decent coaching. I guess Silver could do more meddling and do something similar to sending UFA's Steph Curry and Milsap and a piece to be named later to the Celtics.
Not sure that wouldn't make the league even worse. But it might be profitable. The fans in the north-east may eat it up, and the media would be able to sell it.

Have to guess that 'celebrate the Warriors' is the most likely option at this point.

This is what the NBA wanted.

The league tried to smooth the salary cap to prevent this sort of thing but the players wouldn't go for it. It is bizarre. It would have helped your average player, but instead they voted to make the stars richer. Of course a star runs the group so it shouldn't be surprising I guess.

I also think that the league really doesn't mind a super team. This time probably went too far though, they ruined a season and probably more to come.