The NBA Thread

[Babar]

So.... Lebron James is a point guard. Not just during crunch time, he's now their go-to point guard. Eddie House is pretty much the starting shooting guard. Why doesn't Spoelstra just stock up his starters and have Lebron start as PG and have Haslem playing the SF or somethin' (he is averaging almost 30 minutes a game). I mean, Lebron is a great Magic Johnson kinda point guard.

Anyway, the Celtics manage to get another win. Doc Rivers is having a heck of a time managing this team with all the injuries at the 5 and Delonte being suspended. He can breath a little easier when Delonte comes back in one game.

[dumbfish]

I work at his alma mater, so this is low-grade heresy, but del Negro looks like a bad coach. Why do former point guards get all the coaching jobs? Do people really believe that "floor general" shit? Ugh.

[Ignatius]

Wolfpack! When they were both starters in San Antonio, Avery Johnson handled most of the point duties. Of course this only strengthens your point... It does seem like a dumb prejudice, though. Even if a PG has the most experience in running an offense, it's not like drawing up plays is a head coach's only or most important responsibility.

Of the 3 best coaches in the NBA right now, one played forward, one never played in the NBA and the other played off guard. Maybe the GMs should listen to you.

[Ignatius]

I know people are down on the Nuggets this season but when they get going they still look like they can outscore any other team in the NBA.

[Babar]

Stan Van Gundy is the best coach in the NBA on principle.



That principle being...



He is Stan Van Gundy.

[Captain]

Kevin Love stat line: 31 points 31 rebounds 5 assists....

How did this happen???

[dumbfish]

Love is awesome and has only Darko to fight for rebounds.

[DanielBurns11]

Russell Westbrook is officially my hero.

[Ignatius]

Love is awesome and has only Darko to fight for rebounds.

Also the Knicks shot 38% from the floor.

[Ignatius]

The Spurs are only .500 against decent teams, rely way too much on 3 point shooting, and are inconsistent on defensive rotations. That said, they're a one-loss team, and most of those wins have been by a pretty wide margin. Tony Parker may have rightfully been forgotten entirely in favor of other younger, faster scoring PGs like Derrick Rose and Jon Wall but the dude has added some depth to his game and he can still beat most guys on the break. He looks pretty good. It's too early to say he's a top 5 point guard, but if he plays this way all season, he definitely belongs in that conversation.

It's definitely not consistent so far, but they have selectively turned on serious defense, as they did against the Thunder in the second half tonight. I like 'em ok so far.

Also, the top five WC teams are 15-0 against the East. It's 10-7 the other way around. Obviously the season is young.

[Ignatius]

Man if you didn't hate Turkey Lou before...

edit - hate hate hate the technical on Odom with a minute left that initiates a four point play for the Suns, followed by the Suns bitching demonstratively every time they tip the ball out and getting away with it. I don't totally blame the refs because it's not like you can measure the full weight of the game every time you're spurred to blow the whistle until after you do it once.

[Ignatius]

Also I like Kobe but he's blowing this one.

[Thermofusion]

How 'bout them Hornets? I can't root for them out of principle, but still.

[Ignatius]

They're pretty good. If they awarded Coach of the Year right now, Monty Williams gets it without a doubt.

[Babar]

There's bad, there's really bad, then there's

[coldforge]

Did the NBA really instate a rule that all coaches need to wear suit jackets courtside?

[Ignatius]

Suit or sport jackets. As of this year, they have to wear collared shirts as well.

edit: by default, that dress code also extends to players who don't dress for the game because of injury, etc.

[Babar]

One of the "David Stern being David Stern"-rules I like.

[coldforge]

That's so bizarre. I love it.

[Ignatius]

The suit/sport jacket rule for coaches has been around for a pretty long while. It might well precede David Stern's reign as commissioner. On the other hand, the corresponding rule for players was enacted following 2004-2005 season, when the Pacers fought Pistons' fans in the stands and David Stern subsequently decided to clean up the NBA's reputation as a league where injured black people wore comfortable clothes.

The collared shirt rule is really a no mock turtleneck rule that specifically punishes Stan Van Gundy, coach of the Orlando Magic. I don't know of any other coaches who consistently wore collarless shirts.

[Thermofusion]

Thanks to the new rule, van Gundy now looks even more like a loan shark.

Also, my God, Charlotte was a good fucking team last night.

[Ignatius]

Pure offense! It's too bad that it's the second game of a back-to-back for both teams, but I'm looking forward to see them plays the Knicks on TV tonight.

[hannah]

I caught the first half of the Spurs/Cavs game last night. Was rooting for the Cavs but damn the Spurs were pretty amazing. Oof.

[Captain]

The most surprising thing for me this NBA season so far has been just how good the Spurs are this year.  I mean, it's not like I wrote them off or anything... I knew they'd be relevant.  But I just didn't think they'd be this good.

[dumbfish]

If Jefferson really is Bowen 2.0 + athleticism, the Spurs are gonna be nasty all year.