Running 2014-15 NBA Thread

He is King James, after all.

 

Don't think a guy from the projects of Akron cares about breaking royal protocol.

BTW, Warriors 18-2 plus one of the most enjoyable teams to watch in quite a while (well I admire the way the Spurs pass the ball).

 

My brother in law and nephews were there and apparently Kate said she's not allowed to pose for pictures. I guess LeBron is an exception.

 

Welp, that was a good game from LeBron.

 

Kobe's currently leading in scoring -- percentage aside -- at 25.5 per game. That would be the lowest average for a scoring leader since Neil Johnston in 1955. Even if the eventual winner bumps it up a bit to 27 or so, it'd still be historically low. Only once since 1957 has the winner been below 27, and that was Iverson in shortened 1999 season at 26.75.

I don't know if part of it's due to the efficiency craze or that half of the Eastern Conference doesn't have real NBA teams so of course they're not going to have anyone scoring a lot. I'm all for team play, but I also love great scorers. I like seeing players go off for 50 or even 40, which is a rarity these days. I loved watching Kobe average 40 per game for an entire month...three times. I liked the high-scoring forwards of the 1980s. Or centers like Hakeem or Ewing or Shaq who could get 30 every night. This isn't a "things were better back in the day" complaint because I do love watching the NBA, but I do miss the explosive scorers. I think once Durant gets back in the groove he'll be back up at 28 or so.

I don't know if this also has to do at all with the obsession with the three that's taken over the game. I know it's analytically the right shot; I love watching players get hot shooting it; I love shooting it in old man hoops. But I feel like it's almost becoming too much. The entire game is played outside the three or in the lane with penetration. Maybe you don't see as many high scorers because there aren't as many players who can score from all over: From three, midrange, and penetration. LeBron would be higher of course if he didn't have Love or Irving. Dirk's dialed it back in old age. Carmelo's...doing whatever he's doing. So the masters of the midrange game have their reasons for not scoring as much, leaving those who rely on the 3 or drives, and maybe you just won't see them putting up 30 points consistently.

 

I'd like tosay the low per player averages is due to the increase in team basketball, looking for the better shot. But Kobe's shooting percentage is career low, both FG% and 3Pt%. and he's shooting as many shots as he ever did.

Defense and Team basketball, the Red Holzman way.

 

Overall scoring is down by less than a point per game from last year, and is at is third highest mark since 94-95 (100.2 this year, 101.0 last year, 100.4 in 09-10). Shooting isn't notably worse. eFG% of .501 last year, .499 this year (it was .496 in 12-13).

So no notable change in offense.

 

Wizards 57 Clippers 42 at the half.

Chris Paul playing almost as well as John Wall

 

WIZ WIN. Beat Clippers Doc Rivers pulls his starters with 2 minutes to go down by 10. Quitter

 

Not sure what's more shocking: Lakers winning at San Antonio or the way this site looks now; 2001 called, it wants its design back.

 

Lakers did everything in their power to give that game away. Up nine with 1:45 left, somehow ends up in overtime.

My Suns, meanwhile, committed the Cardinal sin in the West of losing to a shitty East team at home. You just can't do that, not when it's going to take 48-49 wins to even snag the eight seed in the West.

 

John Wall will never be a great player.