***Official NBA Thread***

[nightprowler10]

Frank Vogel ousted. Wtf?

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

I can sort of understand them letting him go in a way, his offense was awful and he directly disobeyed Bird's orders to play small, but the way Bird did it was disgusting. Didn't meet him face-to-face and then told the world in a press conference about how Vogel begged for his job. What a ****ing **** of a bloke.

 

[Anil]

spurs in a thriller!

 

[Pratters]

The Spurs never die..

 

[Ikki]

I can sort of understand them letting him go in a way, his offense was awful and he directly disobeyed Bird's orders to play small, but the way Bird did it was disgusting. Didn't meet him face-to-face and then told the world in a press conference about how Vogel begged for his job. What a ****ing **** of a bloke.

Yep, Larry Legend is the best

 

[andruid]

Hawks swept. Raptors have lost Valanciunas, while the Heat look like losing Whiteside. Could the path to the finsla be any easier for the Cavs now?

 

[Anil]

Could the path to the finsla be any easier for the Cavs now?

no.

 

[andruid]

Curry was too hot for the Blazers it seems.

 

[nightprowler10]

Curry is the first unanimous MVP in league history, per Woj.

 

[Anil]

how was michael not the unanimous choice in 95-96?

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Same as Lebron a few years ago where someone voted for Melo lmao. Journos are idiots. Prime example was Jamal Crawford winning the 6th man award again this year.

 

[hendrix]

gee this is a great series

 

[Anil]

wow did not see that coming...feel like oklahoma city is somehow more desperate than san antonio, it is not over yet and the spurs won't go down without a fight but the fact that they now have a chance to close it out on their home court is very impressive...their defense has improved significantly in these playoffs as has their 4th quarter level...and they are getting significant contributions from ibaka and their role players, not just their superstars...

 

[hendrix]

Ibaka has been terrible, to be honest. He's hit a few 3s here and there, but on defense he's been poor, and he hasn't contributed in terms of setting up plays either.

Kanter and Waiters have had a far more significant (and unexpected) contribution. Kanter has even hit a couple of threes, and has been surprisingly decent defensively, making Ibaka kinda obsolete.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Bringing in Aldridge has significantly changed the way the Spurs play offensively, which is a huge issue for them in the playoffs. They play so much more isolation basketball now, the ball doesn't move anywhere near as much, which has also had an adverse affect on the offensive efficiency of Patty Mills, Danny Green, etc. It's also become painfully clear that Tim Duncan has finally fallen off the cliff, which is depressing to say the least.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

making Ibaka kinda obsolete.

Sure if you completely ignore the way Ibaka's help defence is one of the best at his position in the league, and the way he changes offensive possessions by just being present on the court.

 

[hendrix]

Sure if you completely ignore the way Ibaka's help defence is one of the best at his position in the league, and the way he changes offensive possessions by just being present on the court.

that's just not true anymore, unfortunately.

last season yeah, but he's been pretty bad this playoffs in the games I've watched. Most notably on defense.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

He has been wildly inconsistent in this series for sure, goes from fantastic possessions of post-defence and awesome weak and stong-side help to allowing deep position and players like Diaw the ball in their dominant hand before he even establishes his position. The rise of Adams defensively has hurt his role, especially because OKC don't have enough NBA-level wing players to play a lineup with Ibaka at the 5, Durant at the 4. Kanter has been immense offensively in this series as well, they really don't have anyone who can deal with him in the post now that Tim has declined as far as he has. Aldridge is barely a replacement level defender, and even worse in the post. The Kanter-Adams lineup won't work against the Warriors, Curry-Draymond PnR will absolutely destroy it. They'll need Ibaka then.

Ibaka's almost surplus to requirements for the Thunder going forward tho, his role has been marginalised by their recruiting of big men over wing players (imagine if they'd prioritised decent wings instead of trading for Kanter, people like Batum, Wes Mathews, Aminu etc would make them legitimate challengers to the Warriors with a Westbrook-Wing-Wing-Durant-Ibaka lineup in crunch time) and he's basically a catch-and-shoot guy who stands in the corner and seems to have zero confidence in himself anymore. Assuming they don't win the title, I would be aggresively trying to trade for him if I was a team in need of a PF/C. Someone like the Timberwolves, the Raptors or the Pelicans could really use someone of his skillset and the Thunder are probably better off getting what they can for him now, as Adams is only going to play a bigger role on defence and has added a reasonable mid-range game. If Minnesota don't get a top 3 pick I'd offer it for him and see what happens.

 

[nightprowler10]

Same as Lebron a few years ago where someone voted for Melo lmao. Journos are idiots. Prime example was Jamal Crawford winning the 6th man award again this year.

Jordan, Shaq, Lebron, Wilt, and Kareem should all have undisputed MVPs. This is just the first time voters aren't being idiots and voting against the obvious choice to make a point.

 

[andruid]

Ibaka's almost surplus to requirements for the Thunder going forward tho, his role has been marginalised by their recruiting of big men over wing players (imagine if they'd prioritised decent wings instead of trading for Kanter, people like Batum, Wes Mathews, Aminu etc would make them legitimate challengers to the Warriors with a Westbrook-Wing-Wing-Durant-Ibaka lineup in crunch time) and he's basically a catch-and-shoot guy who stands in the corner and seems to have zero confidence in himself anymore. Assuming they don't win the title, I would be aggresively trying to trade for him if I was a team in need of a PF/C. Someone like the Timberwolves, the Raptors or the Pelicans could really use someone of his skillset and the Thunder are probably better off getting what they can for him now, as Adams is only going to play a bigger role on defence and has added a reasonable mid-range game. If Minnesota don't get a top 3 pick I'd offer it for him and see what happens.

I can also see him being dangled to the Bulls or Celtics for players like Jae Crowder, Avery Bradley, Maybe even James Butler.