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

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The Heat role players are old and inconsistent outside of Bosh, Rio, and Birdman brings it every night. Wade is no longer top 20 even when he does play. They could get knocked off this year by the West representative if Indiana doesn't do It first. I don't know why they gave Shard a 2 yr deal and James Jones the deal they gave him, those dudes had no leverage, they needed Miami. And they should have kept a spot open and bought in James Ennis who they instead wanted to send to the D League but he bolted to Australia so he could get the money

But they got Pat Riley though? The BEST GM of all times of times?
 
I remember when bron came into his own and me being a kobe fan was in denial and didn't wanna admit he was the best player in the L. Even tho I knew I aint wanna say it. That's how bron fans are right now. KD is the best player in the league right now and only can get better. Bron is def #2 but kd finally closed that gap and surpassed bron this season. I never seen someone make the game look so effortless smh. Dude is on his way if he stays on this path
KD is definitely the MVP right now, and he is playing at his best level ever, but I wouldn't crown him #1 in the league just yet.  They're close (within 1) in APG, RBP, Steals, and Blocks.  KD is averaging 5 more ppg (which is crazy...31 ppg is nuts). However, Lebron's defense is better and far more versatile than KD's.  Also, Lebron's shooting % is better (not that this really matters since they're both over 50% now).  Durant has narrowed the gap, but he is on an incredible scoring streak right now.  Let's at least see how things go for the rest of the season before we say he has now taken the #1 spot from Lebron.
 
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[h2]CourtVision: The Pacers Are the Seattle Seahawks of the NBA[/h2]
The Pacers are the Seattle Seahawks of the NBA. In an offensive era, they are an emerging defensive juggernaut. They have yet to win a title, but this may finally be the year, and if it is, they will have their defense to thank. Like the Seahawks’, the Pacers’ defense is more than good. Statistically, it’s the best defense in the league by a mile.

Indiana has held opponents to a paltry 93.9 points per 100 possessions. Not only is that the best in the NBA, it’s not close. This season, there have been four kinds of defenses: bad defenses, average defenses, good defenses, and the Pacers. Their defensive efficiency is a ridiculous outlier among the rest of the league.



The Pacers’ front office has patiently built a roster full of large players who seem to enjoy playing defense as much as offense, which remains a fairly rare quality in the NBA. Their starting lineup consists of five guys who each guard their position very well. The coaching staff has designed on-court schemes that take full advantage of the attitudes of the players. The results are frightening.

As of Monday, the Pacers have faced almost 3,600 shots from opponents. Maybe the rims are crooked at the field house, because opponents are shooting terribly whenever the Pacers play defense.
[h2]The Hibbert Effect[/h2]
The Pacers’ freakish defensive success starts with Roy Hibbert and his ability to protect the most important space on the basketball court: that little swath of the floor near the basket. Hibbert’s massive presence does two things: It obviously reduces the opponent’s shooting efficiency near the basket, but it also actively discourages them from even trying, which in turn inspires them to shoot from less effective zones. The Pacers currently rank second in the NBA in shots allowed inside eight feet and rank first in opponent field goal percentage near the basket. In fact, they are the only team in the league holding opponents below 50 percent from inside of eight feet. Also, per SportVU, when the Pacers have a single rim protector present (often Hibbert), they have given up the fewest baskets in the league.

So … that’s pretty good.

When teams attempt to drive to the basket on Indiana, they have little success. In fact, per SportVU data, the Pacers defend drives better than any other team in the league. They are currently ranked first in points per drive, and opposing drivers only shoot 37 percent when they attempt to score. That’s the lowest mark in the league by far. As a result, the Pacers have given up the fewest points on drives in the NBA.
[h2]Lots of Midrange Shots[/h2]
Midrange shots are generally the least efficient scoring option in the NBA, and no team forces opponents into taking those shots more than the Pacers. As a whole, NBA shooters take 33 percent of their shots in the midrange, but Pacers opponents take 40 percent of their shots in the “dead zone.” Furthermore, opponents hit only 38 percent of those shots, which is the third-lowest rate in the league.
[h2]The 3-Point Arc of Horror[/h2]
Unsurprisingly, guys like Paul George and Lance Stephenson also make life miserable for 3-point shooters. No team gives up fewer 3s per game than Indiana. This is due in part to its league-best 32.9 percent opponent 3-point field goal percentage, but also because it gives up only 18.2 3-point attempts per game, second only to Portland.

The Pacers’ defense seems to turn every shooter they play against into some combination of Josh Smith and Ricky Rubio.



In 2014 the NBA is a drive-and-kick league. In the absence of hand checks, attacking guards and wings run wild, slashing into defenses, wreaking havoc, and either scoring or pitching it out to an open shooter. That formula might work reasonably well against 29 NBA teams, but it doesn’t fly against Indiana, which, like the Seattle Seahawks, has built a modern-day defense that effectively stops teams from scoring the ways modern-day offenses love to score.
 
Does the 1 on 1 matchup really matter that much? ESPN was talking about it like the game went into triple OT and was the game of the year :lol:

A

One thing I hope happens is that people will stop saying Durant plays with a bunch of scrubs and using that as an excuse as to why he cannot have success without Westbrook. Of course, they are not as good without Westbrook, but there are definitely still a high level team.

.

Derek Fisher is a BUM
Kendrick Perkins is a BUM
Thabo Seflosha is a BUM


now we got cats out here, including Stephen A who I normally mess with, trying to flip it as if OKC has better personnel. The rest of the world can let yall get away with it, but I won't. These guys are rallying behind KD's game and attention. It's pretty obvious watching them play. Back to the facilitating convo I had early this week/late last week. yall all in denial
 
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Lebron played alone last night? Lol so the heat only put up 34 lastnight? So when they were up damn near 20 while lebron was doing nothing his team did nothing? Lol comedy
 
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To all the people questioning the Pacers championship credentials, to win a chip, you either have a generational talent or a generational defense.


The pacers have a generational defense.
Yup.

Indy pushed Miami to 6 games to years ago. 7 games last season. And this year they've improved even more & are even armed with literally one of the greatest defenses in NBA history.

Miami is legitimately in trouble.
 
However, Lebron's defense is better and far more versatile than KD's.  

did you watch the game last night? have you actually been watching KD's defense all this season and last season?



Also, Lebron's shooting % is better (not that this really matters since they're both over 50% now).

stop fam, lebron is not "shooting" like KD. He's driving the ball and dunking/layup. Or taking wide open shots. He hit some tough ones last night, but does not do this with consistency. KD shoots anywhere on the court with consistency.

Durant has narrowed the gap, but he is on an incredible scoring streak right now. Let's at least see how things go for the rest of the season before we say he has now taken the #1 spot from Lebron.

you not watching games. KD has been on a "scoring streak" his entire career :lol: The reason why KD supporters are so adamant about this is because of KD's improved defense, passing, efficiency, while still upping his scoring.


all of these boxscore wh-ores and dotcom tom type statements, still holding on to stats and generalities. watch games bro.
 
Ibaka, lamb, Reggie Jackson, collison, pj3 and Adams

Then whenever Westbrook comes back








Thabo, Perkins and fisher all can have roles on the team, unfortunately brooks is reluctant to make changes based on what is happening during the actual game(s)

I guarantee every thunder fun was amazed when Perkins wasn't in the starting lineup for the 2nd half last night
 
Yup.

Indy pushed Miami to 6 games to years ago. 7 games last season. And this year they've improved even more & are even armed with literally one of the greatest defenses in NBA history.

Miami is legitimately in trouble.

They just have to come out and prove it in the playoffs. Heat will still be the team to beat in the East even if they finish as the #2 seed. Not to take anything away from the Thunder, but you can probably make a case that the team is going through the motions, or coasting right now. Taking the Heat to 6 or 7 games in years past is fine, but they still came up short. A lot of debates will be put to rest once April rolls around. As bart scott said...CANT WAIT.
 
we about to witness 09 bron again, all this kd fellatio these past 2 weeks + last nights game is about to make him do it
He's going to need the refs though because he's not capable of scoring 20, 25+ strictly off jumpshots from the perimeter like KD.
 
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What was it last year?
Best in the league by a small margin over the Grizz.

Last year:

2rddapf.jpg


This year, best in the league by a mile:

5lxcfm.jpg


Top 4 since 1980:

2mxlr44.jpg


Scoring was down league wide in '99 and '04 though. Compared to the league average the '99 Spurs were 7.2 points better, the '04 Spurs were 8.8 points better, the '04 Pistons were 7.5 points better and this year's Pacers are 9.4 points better. The case could be made the Pacers are the best of the bunch.
 
did you watch the game last night? have you actually been watching KD's defense all this season and last season?
stop fam, lebron is not "shooting" like KD. He's driving the ball and dunking/layup. Or taking wide open shots. He hit some tough ones last night, but does not do this with consistency. KD shoots anywhere on the court with consistency.
you not watching games. KD has been on a "scoring streak" his entire career
laugh.gif
The reason why KD supporters are so adamant about this is because of KD's improved defense, passing, efficiency, while still upping his scoring.


all of these boxscore wh-ores and dotcom tom type statements, still holding on to stats and generalities. watch games bro.
I have watched a decent amount of his games this year.  I didn't say KD's defense was bad or even worse than Lebron's.  I said it wasn't as versatile.  Do you really think KD could guard any player on the floor 1-5 as well as Lebron?  I don't think he could, but that's not to say he isn't good at defense.  I've actually said that his defense has improved a lot.

As for shooting percentage, I said it didn't really matter.  I was just putting it out there as a stat that someone may use in an argument.  I think I literally said "but this doesn't really matter".

Finally, can you honestly say that KD has scored and shot as well for "his entire career" as he had the last dozen games? I didn't say he wasn't always great at scoring, but he hasn't scored and played at this level his whole career.  If he had, then these last 12 games wouldn't be noteworthy.

I've been watching him play.  He is great and is having an incredible season.  Since my hometown doesn't have an NBA team, I just get to enjoy watching it without rooting for anyone.  As a result, I'm very excited that KD is improving so quickly.  I'm just saying that I want to wait until the season is over before I crown KD the #1 in the league.
 
Best in the league by a small margin over the Grizz.

Last year:

2rddapf.jpg


This year, best in the league by a mile:

5lxcfm.jpg


Top 4 since 1980:

2mxlr44.jpg



Scoring was down league wide in '99 and '04 though. Compared to the league average the '99 Spurs were 7.2 points better, the '04 Spurs were 8.8 points better, the '04 Pistons were 7.5 points better and this year's Pacers are 9.4 points better. The case could be made the Pacers are the best of the bunch.

Thanks for the info, bro.

I just can't wait for the playoffs. I want to see if Indy can completely stifle the Heat and make it out of the ECF.
 
Will there ever be a happy medium between the stats folks and the "watch the games" people? :lol:
 
I'm just hoping that the pacers are healthy come playoff time. Literally any other team in the east who could challenge MiamI somewhat has had an injuries to star players (Knicks, damn near whole roster, Nets Brook Lopez, D-rose)

considering the first two rounds should be washes for both teams... i just want to see both teams at their best and ready to go to war.
 
Will there ever be a happy medium between the stats folks and the "watch the games" people? :lol:

No :lol: and as you can see the guys who "watch all the games" so they know better, will start to use stats when it suits them.

But then again, every person who says/assumes that stance is a ******g idiot in my book. So what do I know.
 
And does anyone else see Pau Gasol bolting to the Spurs after this season... something tells me Pau is far from done and would be utilized perfectly with Pop.
 
Will there ever be a happy medium between the stats folks and the "watch the games" people? :lol:
you dont agree with me so you must not watch the games is the worst nt generalization since you dont agree with me so you must be mad
 
Did either of you watch the game? KD was switched off Lebron because he picked up 3 quick fouls early on, not because "he can't guard Lebron" (and the fouls weren't from guarding Lebron, just general random fouls)

Advanced stats have Durant as one of the best wing defenders in the NBA this season, pretty sure he can guard anybody reasonably well.
He got the charging foul earlier when he ran into Battier, then he picked up another one while guarding Bron. Since then he stopped guarding Bron.
 
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