Official 2017-18 NBA Season Thread

[YGWHI]

It's strange to find the Celtics overrated when all they do is play great defense and ball movement, which is pretty much why SA is so respected in the league

I wouldn't compare both teams. The Celtics have athletic and young top picks. It's fun to watch Boston with Irving, Tatum and Brown, their offense is not just ball movement, it's the way they finish plays, the dunks, the fast-breaks, the Uncle Drew crazy buckets, the things that media and casual fans love.

On other hand, you know, most reporters think the Spurs never were young...

[YGWHI]

I know Fizdale was Lebron's guy but players have to respect other franchises' FOs.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/11/lebr...-david-fizdale

"I need answers"

[SAGirl]

Oh, no Curry and no Durant. Well, not every team can still be good without their starting PG and SF, tbh.

chaaaaa-chiiiiiing!!!!!!
Truth hurts!

[SAGirl]

Rivers...

[SAGirl]

I know Fizdale was Lebron's guy but players have to respect other franchises' FOs.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/11/lebr...-david-fizdale

"I need answers"

It's a thin line for sure. That's not their business. They don't know what the heck is going on there, nor is it their problem. Memphis may not even be done imploding.

[cjw]

they didn't have KD or Steph but yes

Amazing the Spurs without Kawhi are one game in the loss column behind the Warriors. And they’ve taken care of business at home against bad teams despite no Kawhi (and Parker till last night) with the only losses being GS and MIL.

West is significantly down this year with Hou and GS having an outsized net Rtg (both over 10) and only Portland and OKC joining the Spurs above +3.0. Conference is also two games below .500, which hasn’t happened in ages. But imagine with a healthy Kawhi that would flip.

[Dex]

HERE COMES AUSTIN RIVERS!!!!

[SAGirl]

not sure how they calculate their "analytics" impact, but thought it an interesting graphic nonetheless.

[Dex]

not sure how they calculate their "analytics" impact, but thought it an interesting graphic nonetheless.

That's funny, I thought that Anderson and Pau were supposed to be awful defenders.

[DAF86]

maybe???

What do you mean son?

[Fireball]

What do you mean son?

he means with Kawhi we win all these games ... which of course is bull ... Spurs have lost plenty of games against bad teams in the past with Kawhi on board ...

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

That's funny, I thought that Anderson and Pau were supposed to be awful defenders.

Pau's at his career best in DRtg and near best DBPM. Anderson's defensive numbers have always been good as well.

Additionally, LMA's ORtg and OBPM are by far his career best.

[r0drig0lac]

he means with Kawhi we win all these games ... which of course is bull ... Spurs have lost plenty of games against bad teams in the past with Kawhi on board ...

as well as any prediction (including that I quoted), but you know, in a sports forum, they are done anyway

[Seventyniner]

That's funny, I thought that Anderson and Pau were supposed to be awful defenders.

Pau is, at least against the PnR and switching on the perimeter. Anderson is solid though.

[Dex]

Pau is, at least against the PnR and switching on the perimeter. Anderson is solid though.

Pau's seven feet tall and pushing 40. Some players just aren't meant to guard the perimeter.

He is still a very valuable post and help defender, as evidenced by this chart at the fact that the Spurs have been one of the top teams in defensive efficiency the two years he has been here playing heavy minutes (1st last year, 4th so far this year).

[spursistan]

Trade Deandre and tank..No way around it for the Clippers..

[BatManu20]

Now the Cavs are suddenly unbeatable? Up by 30 pts on Miami, about to win their 9th straight.

[BatManu20]

Damn even IT is gonna be back before Kawhi, smh..

[SAGirl]

Now the Cavs are suddenly unbeatable? Up by 30 pts on Miami, about to win their 9th straight.

nah Miami has been bad lately. Holy !
I thought JSimms was in a 7 game losing streak... they have lost 9 games in a row!!!!!

[Spurtacular]

Damn even IT is gonna be back before Kawhi, smh..

Tbh, I never really heard of hip injuries being serious outside of senior citizens and steroid users (eg Bo Jackson) before.

[Hoops Czar]

not sure how they calculate their "analytics" impact, but thought it an interesting graphic nonetheless.

That's why rebounding should be considered a miscellaneous stat because it makes players like Pau look like good defenders when they're actually not.

[BatManu20]

Lebron just got ejected for the first time in his career. Never thought I'd see the day tbh.

[BatManu20]

[BatManu20]

Lebron just got ejected for the first time in his career. Never thought I'd see the day.

[SAGirl]

That's why rebounding should be considered a miscellaneous stat because it makes players like Pau look like good defenders when they're actually not.

I really don't want to go down in the rabbit hole of discussing analytics or what not, as that is not my forte... just saw a nice chart and posted it.
but you can't finish a defensive possession without a rebound and not securing rebounds is a problem... now that stat doesn't account for the teammate that boxed out a big for the other to grab a board... so it's flawed. Also, doesn't show which rebounds were really contested or anything... it's definitely flawed if looked at just flat raw rebounds. Gasol has been good defending at the rim, if he's already standing there of course. He's blocking shots and just being a wall. If he has to move in space that's different.