2015-16 NBA Thread (feat. the Wives)

Oscar just kicked his dog and knows not why.

 

Lot of salty old men coming out of the woodwork this week. The Big O just sounds like a Big Fool.

And seriously, Ced's broke ass needs to shut the hell up. This Warriors team would destroy the '94 Suns.

 

Oscar Robertson can suckk a big fat cock.

 

I don't begrudge the old guys saying whatever they want because there are just as many people who say the old guys could never compete in today's game. I got into a debate that took up way too much of my life about whether Hakeem would still be a dominant player in today's game.

I do think it doesn't make sense for the old fellas to say coaches don't know anything today or to say anything about how they'd stop Curry *today*. That's dumb. But what they could say is that you simply can't compare eras. Yeah, Curry wouldn't dominate in the 1960s or 1970s because what would he have been like growing up without, and playing without, the three-pointer? Still awesome....but he'd have a different type of impact. And even if he'd played in the 1980s he wouldn't have been allowed to shoot them like he does now. Just as all of those guys we remember with great midrange shots wouldn't have those shots if they grew up in the past 25 years. They too would have gravitated to the three-point line. Just wish the players of all eras could appreciate their times for what they were or are, while also recognizing that greatness does transcend time, going forward and into the past. (even if they wouldn't have the exact same effect on the game, the greats would always be great).

Curry was a bit shortsighted with that last three-pointer that tied the single-game record. If he'd missed it, he surely would have held it himself once it went into a second OT and he would have had 5 more minutes to hit two more for 13. But yeah, he'll probably get it next week. The fact he doesn't have that is crazy, even if it's a matter of time. It's like if Wilt had all of those scoring records....except he'd never scored 100 and someone else had the single-game mark.

 

12 three-pointers:

Kobe Bryant
Steph Curry
Donyell Marshall

Now there's an unusual group.

 

Kobe's was an awesome display as well because it included 9 in a row.

 

Was anyone arguing LeBron was better in his age 30 year than Bird?

Through age 30, LeBron is a better 2-point shooter, worse 3-point shooter. Bird had an edge in rebounding. LeBron's assists on a far higher percent of teammate's shots and he was better at getting to the line. James was a better defender at his peak, though Bird did what he could there. LeBron to this point has played as many seasons as Bird and has already passed him in minutes and games.

One also has to remember, Bird's raw stats got an era boost as well. His lowest-paced team was at 95.8 possessions a game, second-lowest was 97.9. James has never played on a team that topped 92.9 possessions a game, and was only on two that topped 91.4. The game slowed down, became more deliberate and less ragged, and James was on some damn slow teams (perhaps his fault). Which is all to say, LeBron is pretty special and unique, and Bird was also pretty special and unique.

 

The point really wasn't Bird v LeBron, the point was the absurdity that LeBron James is somehow a point of departure in the discussion if NBA players. THat he is unique, different, special. And by special it is generally meant that James, the King, The Chosen One, is unlike any other player. Maybe his physical appearance is rare, but not unique. But his play and performance is well within the comprehension of anyone who watches basketball. He plays at an elite, all star level. But not more

 

The motherfucker collects himself and "settles" for a 40-footer.

That's his RANGE.

 

I would never have thought comparing a player to Larry Bird was somehow denigrating said player, 'cause it isn't.

 

The denigration is not saying or inferring that LeBron James isn't better than Larry Bird, but that he's an order of magnitude better than those that came before him

 

I like how the announcer (Breen?) knew it was going in pretty much the instant it left Steph's hands.