5. "Jabari Parker is not a good defender." In response to Reply # 0
I've given him 3 games, and he... like he just doesn't care. His hands are up but he just guides guys to the lane. No cut off.
He's having a good offensive game tonight w/ the 2nd unit. So I'll give him that. But man, no way we can have him close out games.
Also, when both Parker and LaVine are on the court, and they REALLY shouldn't be on the floor at the same time b/c LaVine is just as clueless on D, any sort of offensive scheme Hoiberg has goes out the door. Them two? Lavine and Parker? Alternate iso plays.
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Tue Oct-23-18 10:59 AM
50. "Jabari's never been able to defend. " In response to Reply # 32
Go back to the earliest comments I've made about him, you'll see that.
But he's also a slow player whose legs are held together by duct tape and hope, so I think LaVine's lack of defense (and Wiggins's) is more unforgivable.
8. "Dubs lost to Denver; Celtics lost to Orlando" In response to Reply # 0
There is a re-shuffling of power balance in the league to where it feels more competitive than it's been in a long time, top to bottom. Both the East & West are packed with teams that presumably will vie for 3-8 seeds - and (almost) all of them are quality teams.
Yea it's early and ultimately the pace will normalize and Bos/GS will be at the top of their respective conferences, creating distance, but the league feels more wide open than it's been in a long time in many ways.
24. "Better but too many basic mistakes" In response to Reply # 0
Just bone-headed mistakes. Regardless, the rotation is becoming clearer - Zubac shouldn’t see another minute as long as Williams is there, Hart is the clear-cut 2 over KCP, and Kuzma is such an effective 3/4 that we can’t waste his mins at the 5.
--------------------------------- <--The drought is over
"have fun reveling in your pettiness tho" (C) Dula summing up 98% of OKS
"I didnt finish a damn thing...matter of fact I jerked off after she left." -Kobe speaking to investigators
25. "Damion Jones gave Ayton that work early on. Played him off the court" In response to Reply # 0
Good win after dropping a game we should've won the night before. Steph balled the fuck out, but really everyone contributed. Got good games from the aforementioned Jones, McKinnie, and Jerebko. Even though Klay is still struggling from behind the arc (so was everyone not named Steph), he still played well offensively and defensively. Actually played Booker well when he was on him (KD and Green guarded him too).
As for the Suns, I like their future. Ayton has got something. Booker is still damn good. And Warren balled out. Those guys continue to mature, and they make some solid pick-ups, and the West will get REALLY thick.
auragin_boi Member since Aug 01st 2003 20939 posts
Tue Oct-23-18 08:17 AM
28. "Last night was LeBron's career in a nutshell:" In response to Reply # 0
-Started slow, team fell behind -Turned it on, team caught up -Gave the team confidence so that when he got in foul trouble, they still played well enough to close the gap -Came in and helped team tie game for OT after hitting an amazing clutch shot -Played ok in OT and helped team build a lead -Choked away two free throws that likely would have won it. -Gets last second redemption opportunity, his whole DNA said, "draw the D and pass the ball to the open guy" but the entire building was expecting heroics. So with 6 seconds left, he dribble, dribble, dribbles into a step back midrange J (only needing 2 points to win) instead of driving to the hoop and at minimum getting fouled (likely avoiding this because he choked away the earlier two free throws).
^^^This is why people have a hard time putting him as #1. Entire LA crowd was like "WTF" at that last play. It ain't that he doesn't have the IQ, it ain't that he didn't have enough talent around him, it ain't that he was expected to do something super human. It's the shrinkage at the most inopportune times. Not to say he does this ALL the time but waaaaaaaay more than a #1 GOAT should.
58. "RE: Mitch’s downfall was 2016. " In response to Reply # 38
>You can lulz me all you want with “helluva job Mitch” but >he earned benefit of the doubt. > >But he was a dinosaur for today’s NBA. > >Of course Maginka is not beyond reproach but acting like a >backup PG last year would have made a difference is beyond >laughable.
You don't think having a solid veteran backup would've sped up Lonzo's development and possibly spared him some injuries so when he was out we didn't have to rely on people like Tyler Ennis and Alex Caruso, 2 dudes that aren't even on active rosters right now?
LAbeathustla Member since Jan 24th 2004 33858 posts
Tue Oct-23-18 09:28 AM
40. "Lebron never shouldve come to the west... he just gon put more tread" In response to Reply # 28
on the tires...He couldve coasted to the finals in the east..on dam near any team...now hes going to have to work for it... I think he knows something about Durants intentions for next year... I cant see him blindly walking into this situation...The lakers have no scorers or defenders around him except Javale defensively..and Lonzo a lil bit...and now I'm hearing rumors of a Lonzo for Reddick deal or some shit..to get him a shooter.. nigga JJ Reddick for your #1 pick and some picks??...that shit bet not be true
60. "lol this is such prisoner in the moment nonsense" In response to Reply # 28
I know you're frothing to cite this as to why LeBron is and will never be GOAT - but stop it. It's October.
Kobe missed 2 free throws in a similar situation - and LeBron's numbers in clutch time (in totality) shadow Kobe's. LeBron had an off night and still did some heroic stuff. It is inexcusable to miss those free throws but citing this as reasoning to why he'll never be the GOAT is dumb.
59. "Indeed. Everyone is going crazy - and 0-3 is not a good look" In response to Reply # 39
but this is an experimental season. They should make the playoffs - and of course they'd like to get home-court in the 1st round. But they will be a wild card team in the playoffs and should they make it to the conference semis - it will be (and should be) viewed as a significant accomplishment.
That said - they've got to figure out how to close - and fast. Not a lot of margin for error in a packed conference where 2-3 games could determine a 5th seed versus a team that doesn't even achieve a playoff berth.
43. "The problem is we're 25th in defRTG right now" In response to Reply # 34
our defense and getting stops underlies everything else right now. We haven't been able to get consistent stops down the stretch of games and it's lost us each game. It was the key last year and it's the key this year.
0-3 is just three games. We've learned a lot about the rotation, especially last night. Zu shouldn't play over Williams, Hart is going to get the lion's share of minutes, Kuz has to play at the 3/4, and Lonzo should be playing with Lebron.
--------------------------------- <--The drought is over
"have fun reveling in your pettiness tho" (C) Dula summing up 98% of OKS
"I didnt finish a damn thing...matter of fact I jerked off after she left." -Kobe speaking to investigators
But even with the defensive struggles, which I think will improve as the team gels, they were down 1 against Houston when the ejections happened and lost by 1 to the Spurs without two of the best players. Both games could’ve been W’s, especially with Ingram and Rondo on the court.
And not having them available for a few games hurts the “gelling” process too. I’m still pissed.
The difference between being like a 4 seed and missing the playoffs in the West is usually pretty small. Can’t afford to be dicking around.
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