The Official NBA Week 5 Thread

[PHX]

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Gotta say, I love that.

 

[Vegas.]

Gotta say, I love that.

Haven't seen Pierce get up like that in a loooong time. He's turned back the clock just recently. He looks in awesome shape, way lighter than in previous years, and it's showing.

Everything about that clip was awesome, including the look from Garnett.

 

[PHX]

Yup, and I've seen a bit of hate on the stare taunt at the finish (that deservedly got him a tech for the record) but it just makes the play even more entertaining. Ego isn't always a dirty word.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

genuine posterisation that. Right on his head, and crushed his testicles to boot.

 

[celtic_pride]

Durant with anothe monster game ...

Hope the fans vote him in as a starter for the All-star game, he's having a monster of a season so far.

KD, Green and Westbrook make it 'less' ugly to cheer on such an despicable organisation ... Those poor fans in Seattle have been robbed of something special.

It's very scary to know how good they'll be in another year or two, and hopefuly pick up a decent big man.

 

[Borgsta]

Yup, and I've seen a bit of hate on the stare taunt at the finish (that deservedly got him a tech for the record) but it just makes the play even more entertaining. Ego isn't always a dirty word.

Really? Just for staring at someone? I absolutely loved everything about that vid except for the tech. Possibly the best part is the Raptors thinking Nestor could guard Pierce.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

It's very scary to know how good they'll be in another year or two, and hopefuly pick up a decent big man.

Maybe but I still don't think Westbrook is a point guard yet (although improving-played very well today), and it will be interesting to see how many extensions the owner gives out. Maybe he will be a roundabout owner who develops young talent but ships them off for more young talent before their 2nd contracts

 

[mdc]

Maybe but I still don't think Westbrook is a point guard yet (although improving-played very well today), and it will be interesting to see how many extensions the owner gives out. Maybe he will be a roundabout owner who develops young talent but ships them off for more young talent before their 2nd contracts

Gareth Payton wasn't really a PG when he came into the league either. Just saying.

Your second point is spot on though - plenty of young teams have teased and fizzled.

 

[Messenger]

Yet another display of ineptitude from Minnesota.

Some very loyal, very knowledgeable hoops fans in MN are oh so close to turning their back on a struggling ball club.

The battle to develop a solid on-court combination may well be irrelevant if the hearts and minds battle is already lost.

 

[celtic_pride]

Yet another display of ineptitude from Minnesota.

Some very loyal, very knowledgeable hoops fans in MN are oh so close to turning their back on a struggling ball club.

The battle to develop a solid on-court combination may well be irrelevant if the hearts and minds battle is already lost.

I've actually heard of a couple that switched over to Boston when KG was trade there ...

Good for them

 

[Rough_Edges]

What an annoying day of Basketball (betting wise)

 

[smashh]

Portland getting r*ped by Memphis, could be 50+ if Portland play with this amount of boobery, finally i catch these overrated boobs out, without Roy they are worse than Minnesota

good joke, our bench is better than their starters

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

...and the Mavs keep rolling.

Need Howard, Dampier back and Marion back fully healthy though

 

[SaintsPremiers08]

Might get on Dallas Line (+7.5) tomorrow against the Cavs, thoughts?

 

[celtic_pride]

I would have to say so far this season is the most interesting in years, it's not as obviously one-sided in both confrences as it has been in the recent past.

I cannot clearly pick a standout favourite in the East, whilst in the West, although the Lakers are rightfully favourites now I believe, I wouldn't count out Denver, PHX, The Cubass Mavs or San Blandonio just yet.

And the rise and rise of the young plucky Thunder has been great to watch, as has been the emergence of Atlanta as a contender in the East.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

Might get on Dallas Line (+7.5) tomorrow against the Cavs, thoughts?

Our 4th game in 5 nights

It's the type of game a team could just die in

 

[mdc]

Might get on Dallas Line (+7.5) tomorrow against the Cavs, thoughts?

I'm taking the Cavs at the line. They're a terrible match-up for Dallas (won by 19 and 28 against them last season), and the Mavs are back-to-back on the road. Plus they'll be fired up after today.

 

[celtic_pride]

A very interesting stat today courtesy of ESPN regarding my Celts

BOSTON -- The last time the Celtics shot 62.3 percent from the field, they left the Garden with a 36-point victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Feb. 26, 1988.

What's more, Boston led by 19 at halftime and by 34 after three quarters. If the old Garden had Gino -- and a JumboTron to highlight his smooth American Bandstand moves -- they could have cued it up while Artis "A-Train" Gilmore and Brad "Big Bird" Lohaus enjoyed some extended court time.

While the 2009-10 Celtics equaled that shooting percentage, connecting on 48 of 77 attempts overall, these players enjoyed no such big-lead luxuries. Sure, Boston's advantage surged as high as 17 when it cranked up the defensive intensity in the third quarter, but the Celtics weren't even confident enough to put Gino on the JumboTron with a 15-point cushion and 3:12 to play.




More on the Celtics
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Not when the opposition shot 55.7 percent overall. Not when the Celtics trailed by a point at the intermission.

"Usually [when] you come into the half and you shoot 67 percent, the way we did and the way we passed the ball, we should have been up 10 to 15 points," said Celtics captain Paul Pierce. "So we're still a work in progress. You know we're trying to put four quarters together, instead of stretches. The way we move the ball, when we shoot at this rate, we should be able to beat anybody. It should be a blowout, so we still got some ways to improve.

"We still got a ways to go."

On a team that believes defense will bring it Banner No. 18, the offense produced a banner night. The mere idea that this unit has "a ways to go" might leave the Raptors with cold sweats on the flight back to Toronto.

Boston's starters combined to connect on 34 of 51 attempts (66.7 percent) for 80 points. Both Kendrick Perkins (8 for 8, 18 points) and Kevin Garnett (6 for 6, 12 points) posted perfect games. Ray Allen (8 of 15) finished with a team-high 20 points.

The Celtics shot 83.3 percent (15 of 18) in the first quarter; 52.6 percent (10 of 19) in the second quarter; 60 percent (12 of 20) in the third quarter; and 55 percent (11 of 20) in the fourth quarter.

Boston's previous best shooting percentage was 58.1 percent in a 118-90 thumping of the Bulls on Oct. 30.

Damn if we could match that shooting percentage with out stellar defense for the rest of the year, we'd go a long way from raising banner no 18 to the New Garden

LOL @ Nets, one loss away from tieing the record for shittest start in NBA history ..

Go for gold nets

 

[PHX]

Really? Just for staring at someone? I absolutely loved everything about that vid except for the tech. Possibly the best part is the Raptors thinking Nestor could guard Pierce.

Should clarify.

Deservedly given under the rules the refs go by, not in my opinion.

 

[Biggie]

Nice dunk Pierce.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

Hope the fans vote him in as a starter for the All-star game, he's having a monster of a season so far.

I actually think he's been a bit up and down. He's had some big games sure, but he's also had some poor games, his shot selection has been off a fair bit and his three ball hasn't dropped all season. It says something about him that he's still putting up nearly 28/8 and hasn't really hit a consistent groove yet. On the positive side, he's getting to the line more, rebounding more and showing he can get others involved offensively.

Still an All-Star season mind you.

The Thunder's biggest strength this season, besides Brooks' coaching and improved team defense, is that they are getting contributions from a number of different players rather than just the big three.

 

[peternorth]

Gareth Payton wasn't really a PG when he came into the league either. Just saying.

Your second point is spot on though - plenty of young teams have teased and fizzled.

darren williams was PG when he came into the A and still is

I've actually heard of a couple that switched over to Boston when KG was trade there ...

Good for them

fans switching teams? say it aint so!

Nice dunk Pierce.

agreed. up there with shannon browns during pre season. but dunk of the year so far features the accordion varajeo and wade

 

[mdc]

darren williams was PG when he came into the A and still is

I have it on good authority that Dazza played the 2 at the U of Illionois.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

Dee Brown for the win.

 

[Damon_3388]

Here's some interesting statistical tidbits that I just discovered -

Tim Duncan is currently having his best ever season at the moment. The Big Fundamental is right now working with career best numbers in the following stat categories:

• Player Efficiency Rating (PER) (Standardised per minute production)
• Offensive Rating (Points produced per 100 possessions)
• True Shooting Percentage (Measure of shooting efficiency which takes into account 2-point FGs, 3-point FGs and free throws)
• Total Rebound Percentage (% of available rebounds grabbed while player was on the floor)
• Defensive Rebound Percentage (% of available defensive rebounds grabbed while player was on the floor)
• Assist Percentage ((% of teammate's field goals player assisted on while they were on the floor)
• Rebounds Per 36 Minutes
• Defensive Rebounds Per 36 Minutes
• Assists Per 36 Minutes
• Turnovers Per Game (Career low)
• Turnovers Per 36 Minutes (Career low)
• Personal Fouls Per Game (Career low)
• Personal Fouls Per 36 Minutes (Career low)

Duncan's Usage Percentage (% of team's plays used by player while they were on the floor) is at a career low (as is his minutes per game), which is further evidence that while the Spurs' offense isn't going through him as much as before, when he gets the ball, he's certainly using it better and more efficiently than ever. A full breakdown of Duncan's stats can be found here.

Furthermore, Steve Nash is right now working with career best numbers in the following stat categories:

• Offensive Rating
• Free Throw Percentage
• Assist Percentage
• Block Percentage (% of opponent's 2-point FGs blocked by player while they were on the floor)
• Assists Per Game
• Assists Per 36 Minutes
• Personal Fouls Per Game (Career low)
• Personal Fouls Per 36 Minutes (Career low)

Nash's current PER is almost equal to that of his previous best seasons in 2005-06 and 2006-07, and excedes his PER from his 2004-05 MVP year. His True Shooting Percentage is almost equal to his previous career best from 2006-07 as well. A full breakdown of Nash's stats can be found here.

Amazing that both of these greats continue to produce as well as ever right into their mid-30s.