2015-16 NBA Thread (feat. the Wives)

Hard to see it getting better. Heard some talk of a four-ref system, but that would make things worse because, as noted, the talent may not be there.

 

I hate the "let's just add another ref" approach to these things. The last thing the game needs is yet another guy who feels obligated to periodically stop play by blowing his whistle. The game may need better calls, but it certainly does not need more calls.

 

Source: Bogut (knee) done for rest of Finals

Noting poin's earlier point about his defense at the rim, I still say the Warriors absorb this one pretty easily. Small-ball for the most part with minutes from Ezeli and Varejao when needed. Green goes after James in the lane better than Bogut does anyway.

 

Refereeing has gone downhill ever since Stern and Darrell Garretson (himself an excellent ref), initiated the cookie-cutter, we don't want you guys to have even as much individuality as NFL officials concept. There have always been missed calls and wrong calls and always will be. But when the refs were allowed to be themselves out there, they did a better job. Joey Crawford is an ass, but at least he is a human being/athlete on the floor.
Earl Strom, Richie Powers and Jack Madden, to name three, couldn't get an NBA gig today working as they did. It's the league's loss.

 

Classy move by ESPN honchos:

Craig Sager will work the NBA Finals for the first time Thursday night

 

ESPN's Warriors writer pointed out, this might force Kerr's hand. He was slow to move off the conventional lineup, despite the fact those groups bled points much of the series. I'd worry about Green overuse, but there are only two games left, so whatever.

Game five, in retrospect, was fascinating. Two guys played unbelievable offense, hitting tons of bad shots or shots they've struggled with this season. To counter without Green, GSW would need big nights from the Splash Brothers, plus have the role players show up. They got a half from those two, the role players were mostly duds and losing Bogut completely destabilized their lineups (they were down their best and second-best groups). By the end, they had Iguodala guarding Love for stretches, which is not what they need. Plus Golden State shot terribly on open shots.

Trends show Irving and James are unlikely to be able to maintain what they did in Game 5. If they do for two more games, they'll deserve their title. Outside that, Cleveland needs an edge from the role-players, probably a sizable one, or a pretty bad game from GSW's big 3. Golden State has a good chance to close it out, but there's a possibility.

 

Golden State will win by 15 and Abbott will return with his basketball brilliance.

 

LTL, just do yourself a favor. Take your radio and heave it out the window.

 

Golden State voluntarily benched Bogut for the last three games of the Finals last year. He won't be missed much.

 

Is there something more going on today? I have definitely stayed away from it since my ranting, now that you mention it. It was cathartic in that regard. I was like "WTF am I letting this bother me for?"

 

The time off between games has sucked some of the life out of this series for me. Lets get it over with.