2013-2014 NBA Thread - IND @ WAS and OKC @ LAC on ESPN

[datznasty]

The schedule Gods have Miami playing the Spurs Sunday in Mia, then the Thunder Wednesday, then they're in New York Saturday. Nice break there

if it makes you feel any better, next month the schedule gods have you playing the lakers on TNT thursday night, then a week later playing miami on TNT, then 3 days later playing the clippers.

nice break there

Because that's the all star break all 30 teams enjoy

 

[JD617]

 

But...

where were you going with this? real question.

The main difference, another East scout said, is James' ability in the post. He began cultivating a post-up game three years ago, and had success with it almost immediately. But this year has been different. 

"He is the best post-up player in the league, really," the scout said. "You used to be able to get him to take jumpers in the post, but now he is smarter, he is able to get by you and get himself an easy basket. It's a nightmare. He is that much more efficient."

Indeed, when you break down the numbers, it is clear that James’ post-up game has evolved into the league’s best. First, start with frequency (post-up plays as a percentage of James’ total offensive possessions), going back to the 2010-11 season, his first in Miami:

[table][tr][td]Season[/td][td]Possession %[/td][/tr][tr][td]2010-11[/td][td]8.0%[/td][/tr][tr][td]2011-12[/td][td]13.9%[/td][/tr][tr][td]2012-13[/td][td]11.9%[/td][/tr][tr][td]2013-14[/td][td]16.2%[/td][/tr][tr][td](Source: Synergy Sports Tech)[/td][/tr][/table]
Now, take a look at a few aspects of James’ post game over the last four years — the frequency with which he would go to the rim out of the post, his overall efficiency (points per possession) on post-up possessions and his rank within the league in post efficiency:

[table][tr][td]Season[/td][td]To rim[/td][td]PPP[/td][td]Rank[/td][/tr][tr][td]2010-11[/td][td]13.7%[/td][td]1.043[/td][td]4[/td][/tr][tr][td]2011-12[/td][td]14.9%[/td][td]0.959[/td][td]5[/td][/tr][tr][td]2012-13[/td][td]15.0%[/td][td]0.972[/td][td]4[/td][/tr][tr][td]2013-14[/td][td]29.6%[/td][td]1.185[/td][td]1[/td][/tr][/table]

As you can see, James has drastically altered his approach toward his post-up game. Last year, when James set up in the post, it was likely that he would take a jump shot. It is now twice as likely, though — nearly a 30 percent chance — that he will instead go to the basket and get a shot at the rim.

That’s how James’ post-up game has changed, and it reflects an overall shift into what’s become a common bit of wisdom in the modern NBA —t hat the two best shots a player can take are 3-pointers and layups.

To be clear, I was just saying that, up to this point, for this season, Durant has played the best of anyone. That's all.

No, I agree.

 

[EddieDoyers]

if KD had a team built around him being a facilitator, he'd facilitate well. yall sayign he's better, but I'm trying to say what he's done is at a very similar level and no fluke. its consistent b/c lebron plays point for them?????

Like what I said before, they both have different skill sets. If you put KD and LBJ on opposite teams, they will still put up similar stats.
I will guarantee that Durant will not average more than 6 APG even with that switch, while LeBron will still put up Cleveland numbers with OKC.

 

[do work son]

vince put up 4.8 assists per game in his best scoring season, thats comparable with what KD is doing right now

KD will never average as many assists per game as iverson, it just wont happen


when you are an elite player and you get the ball every time down the court you will be able to find open teammates, this is nothing new

watch any elite player and you will see him finding open teammates for open shots because of the attention they demand from the defense

nah fam. like westbrook isnt even as good a facilitator as KD and probably averages more assists. there's a difference between facilitating and getting assists that i can see most of yall arent catching. which is funny considering yall defending Bron who is full facilitator.

this season, granted westbrook has played in only 25 games to KD's 43, (according to nba stats)

KD averages less assists per game, passes per game, and points created by assists per game, for whatever that's worth.

 

[do work son]

The schedule Gods have Miami playing the Spurs Sunday in Mia, then the Thunder Wednesday, then they're in New York Saturday. Nice break there

if it makes you feel any better, next month the schedule gods have you playing the lakers on TNT thursday night, then a week later playing miami on TNT, then 3 days later playing the clippers.

nice break there

Because that's the all star break all 30 teams enjoy

you get the miami heat after a week long break. they play the mavs a day or two before yall. i assume your post was to complain that miami has an easy stretch before they play OKC. OKC in return gets as easy of a stretch before playing miami.

 

[smedroc]

*waits for someone to mention rings*

 

[Peep Game]

Lebron is exiting his prime? Lol

People do this every year when loads of stats are being put up. Though it wasn't on this great of a scale as KD, I'm sure people went crazy over Melo and Stephen Curry as well. Melo got crowned the greatest scorer in history after the Olympics. Calm down the hyper balls.

 

[carltonjunior]

Like what I said before, they both have different skill sets. If you put KD and LBJ on opposite teams, they will still put up similar stats.
I will guarantee that Durant will not average more than 6 APG even with that switch, while LeBron will still put up Cleveland numbers with OKC.

KD would put up more than 6 APG because Miami's whole team is based on spot up shooting. Chalmers, Allen, Battier, Bosh, Lewis, (sometimes) Beasley, Haslem, etc. The only players on the team who can't spot up are centers and Wade. And centers generally score off assists anyway. LBJ's playmaking is completely a product of spot up shooting.

It's actually what makes KD's facilitating good because his teammates really can't score/shoot. The only consistent spot up shooter is Ibaka from mid.

 

[victor page]

 
I'm not even gonna take part in this argument but some of you guys were saying Paul George was better than KD as recently as a month ago. We're going from PG24 > Durant to Durant > LeBron in the span of about a month. 

 

[hand2handking]

 

 
I'm not even gonna take part in this argument but some of you guys were saying Paul George was better than KD as recently as a month ago. We're going from PG24 > Durant to Durant > LeBron in the span of about a month. 

therfore pg > bron 

 

[jjs07]

to whoever posted that shot chart (dont wanna quote all that plus pictures), taht's laughable as a post argument. those are layups. he passes out of the post when he actually does go into the post.

 

[bonafide hustla]

this season, granted westbrook has played in only 25 games to KD's 43, (according to nba stats)

KD averages less assists per game, passes per game, and points created by assists per game, for whatever that's worth.

their offense attributes more to that than anything. westbrook creates points by assits all predicated off him driving the ball, not facilitating

 

[bonafide hustla]

*waits for someone to mention rings*

team accomplishment

 

[sea manup]

 

to whoever posted that shot chart (dont wanna quote all that plus pictures), taht's laughable as a post argument. those are layups. he passes out of the post when he actually does go into the post.

 

if it was KD in the same situation passing out of the post he would be talking about how great of a playmaker KD is

 

[sea manup]

 

this season, granted westbrook has played in only 25 games to KD's 43, (according to nba stats)

KD averages less assists per game, passes per game, and points created by assists per game, for whatever that's worth.

their offense attributes more to that than anything. westbrook creates points by assits all predicated off him driving the ball, not facilitating

how do you get points off assists by driving the ball and NOT facilitating? 

 

[bonafide hustla]

KD would put up more than 6 APG because Miami's whole team is based on spot up shooting. Chalmers, Allen, Battier, Bosh, Lewis, (sometimes) Beasley, Haslem, etc. The only players on the team who can't spot up are centers and Wade. And centers generally score off assists anyway. LBJ's playmaking is completely a product of spot up shooting.

It's actually what makes KD's facilitating good because his teammates really can't score/shoot. The only consistent spot up shooter is Ibaka from mid.

FINALLY someone really breaking down and understanding the dynamics of this game we call basketball. my man. this is a huge point to make which might go unnoticed. he keeps shooters on deck. and then a couple of guys that can isolate and score when his scoring isn't popping

 

[bonafide hustla]

how do you get points off assists by driving the ball and NOT facilitating? 

go watch early tony parker tape maybe? nothing i say is gonna make you understand it if the answer to this isnt obvious

edit* wait, i answered it in the same post you quoted fam . his assists are predicated off driving/attacking the rim. at some point people are going to realize you do it very well and converge. that's when you pass. that's when you get an assist. he's not hitting guys in spots for wide open shots like Lebron...or (now) KD

 

[rell826]

 

[sea manup]

so when player A that doesnt support your argument gets assists its because of a plethora of other factors unrelated to the players playmaking ability

but when player B that does support your argument gets the same amount of assists does it its because he is a great playmaker

and anyone that disagrees doesnt know basketball/doesnt watch games

 

[jjs07]

if it was KD in the same situation passing out of the post he would be talking about how great of a playmaker KD is

His "logic" is making my head hurt

 

[bonafide hustla]

if it was KD in the same situation passing out of the post he would be talking about how great of a playmaker KD is

we already talkin bout how great of a playmaker he is where you been at fam?

but nah, you cant use that argument b/c KD shoots the ball well out of the post. He doesnt even have to bully to be effective. He hits that fadeaway.....just like how MJ was so effective in the post. no need to bully. Bron has to bully his way on the block which he cant do ALL game. tiring, especially when you're running around trying to be the point.

 

[sea manup]

 

if it was KD in the same situation passing out of the post he would be talking about how great of a playmaker KD is

we already talkin bout how great of a playmaker he is where you been at fam?

but nah, you cant use that argument b/c KD shoots the ball well out of the post. He doesnt even have to bully to be effective. He hits that fadeaway.....just like how MJ was so effective in the post. no need to bully. Bron has to bully his way on the block which he cant do ALL game. tiring, especially when you're running around trying to be the point.

when lebron posts up (he does so more times per game than durant) he shoots a higher % than durant does when he posts up

meaning that if you put lebron in a post up situation 100 times and if you put KD in a post up situation 100 times, lebron will score more points

 

[datznasty]

so when player A that doesnt support your argument gets assists its because of a plethora of other factors unrelated to the players playmaking ability

but when player B that does support your argument gets the same amount of assists does it its because he is a great playmaker


and anyone that disagrees doesnt know basketball/doesnt watch games

LeBron doesn't have to pass the ball to Kendrick Perkins though. He's passing to Birdman, who shot an incredible 81%fg last playoffs. You'd have a better chance getting an assist by trying to bounce the ball off of Kendrick Perkins into the basket. #semiserious LeBron is a better passer, seriously.

 

[bonafide hustla]

so when player A that doesnt support your argument gets assists its because of a plethora of other factors unrelated to the players playmaking ability

but when player B that does support your argument gets the same amount of assists does it its because he is a great playmaker


and anyone that disagrees doesnt know basketball/doesnt watch games

nah man i gave you specifics, dont generalize my statement. WESTBROOK does not get assists predicated off facilitating. KD does, Bron does, CP3 does, I can go on and on.

Iverson DOES NOT, Tony Parker DOES NOT (he's gotten better though), Kobe DOES NOT, but he's shown the ability in a trolling fashion. its just mindset. ive literally never seen westbrook try to be a facilitator

 

[shoeking2101]

Wake up to see people entertaining that Durant is the better overall player out of him and Lebron Yikes