2016-17 Around the NBA

[Hoop Head]

After reading Jack McCallum's book it was clear the attention the two other stars got rubbed Marion the wrong way. I don't really blame him for feeling that way.

Nash and Amare got all the credit and played zero defense. Shawn did all the dirty work and was a better rebounder than Amare. By all accounts he wasn't a cancer but that might've changed in the weeks leading up to the Shaq trade.

That was a great book, forgot about that altogether. I think Marion was fine being 3rd fiddle to Nash and Amare but he wasn't happy how he was always the "movable piece" as far as trade rumors and also it seemed JJ became prioritized over him, before the deal moving him was finalized which made Marion feel less important than he was.

 

[Finito]

Isiah Thomas being exposed.

 

[slinslin]

Robin Lopez should be proof for all of you who want to kick Len to the curb already.

 

[Sunburn]

Robin Lopez should be proof for all of you who want to kick Len to the curb already.

Lopez has had two very good playoff games now, but other than that he's an average center in the NBA at best. He does remind me a bit of Len. Up and down, frustrating. Lopez did get better and is now serviceable. Hanging onto Len depends on the price. I saw two posts on the Celtics board earlier where they wanted to offer Len the max. Lol we won't be matching that.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lopezro01.html

 

[Hoop Head]

Isiah Thomas being exposed.

I don't think that's correct, Chicago is playing well but IT has a lot on his plate. His sister died before game 1 and the funeral was supposed to be held prior to game 2. Really don't see his off court issues effecting his on court game being exposed.

 

[JCSunsfan]

By the way, Gambo said on the radio yesterday, and I had never heard this as clearly stated, that Goran Dragic, one week before the trade deadline in 2015 told Suns mgmt that unless they traded Isaiah Thomas he would not resign with the Suns in summer free agency. The Suns worked out a trade for IT in response. After the trade was worked out, Goran changed his mind and said he would not sign anyway.

Gambo does have access to get this story straight. It explains a lot. Maybe you all already knew this.

 

[Ronin]

Memphis Grizzlies coach David Fizdale fined $30K for 'data' rant at refs
Take that for NBA discipline.

Memphis coach David Fizdale, whose "Take that for data!" rant at the officials after a Game 2 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday was was so popular it inspired a T-shirt, was fined $30,000 by the league for his comments on Wednesday. Rest assured, the 42-year-old who is in his first year as a head coach knew this was coming when he took such boisterous command of that press conference microphone.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...d-fizdale-fined-30k-data-rant-refs/100648664/

 

[slinslin]

The Spurs are treated differently than other NBA teams, you can't deny that.

If the Suns reach and grab it is a foul, if the Spurs do that they get away with is as gritty defense. It has been like that for 2 decades now.

Btw over the last 2 seasons Suns have been called for more fouls than any other team. This year Memphis was 2nd behind us, but we got called for 10% more fouls than even them.

 

[Finito]

I don't think that's correct, Chicago is playing well but IT has a lot on his plate. His sister died before game 1 and the funeral was supposed to be held prior to game 2. Really don't see his off court issues effecting his on court game being exposed.

He wasn't gonna win this fight with Rondo anyway. It's smoke and mirrors in Boston.

 

[chickenhead]

After reading Jack McCallum's book it was clear the attention the two other stars got rubbed Marion the wrong way. I don't really blame him for feeling that way.

Nash and Amare got all the credit and played zero defense. Shawn did all the dirty work and was a better rebounder than Amare. By all accounts he wasn't a cancer but that might've changed in the weeks leading up to the Shaq trade.

I wish Marion hadn't been so simultaneously insecure and egocentric. Every serious Suns fan I knew was well aware of his unbelievably wide-ranging contribution and loved him for it. To the point of being 1A with Nash as a favorite for many.

The sad part is that he did not get more appreciation by going elsewhere.

 

[Russ Smith]

That was Westbrook in a nutshell last night, brilliant game, kept his team close, and then shot them out of the game in the 4th quarter trying to draw fouls because he was mad at all the FT's harden was shooting. Love the guy but he is often his own worst enemy.

People keep saying OKC has no help, to an extent I get that but I also think the way Westbrook is playing it's just difficult for anybody else to get involved. He gives and he takes and last night it was too much take in the 4th.

Still think he's the MVP this year.

 

[elindholm]

That was Westbrook in a nutshell last night, brilliant game, kept his team close, and then shot them out of the game in the 4th quarter trying to draw fouls because he was mad at all the FT's harden was shooting. Love the guy but he is often his own worst enemy.

I agree with that, but on the other hand, it is hard to explain why he and Harden are officiated so differently. If you breathe on Harden, it's a foul, whereas Westbrook is getting hit on every drive. I'm really at a loss to understand why Harden gets so many cheap calls. In all of the years I've been watching the league, I can't think of any other player getting this kind of extreme beneficial treatment.

 

[Mainstreet]

Harden is like an artist at work. I don't buy it but the referees do.

 

[Russ Smith]

I agree with that, but on the other hand, it is hard to explain why he and Harden are officiated so differently. If you breathe on Harden, it's a foul, whereas Westbrook is getting hit on every drive. I'm really at a loss to understand why Harden gets so many cheap calls. In all of the years I've been watching the league, I can't think of any other player getting this kind of extreme beneficial treatment.

in general I agree but in the 4th quarter Westbrook was taking crazy shots. he was jumping sideways into defenders flinging the ball up nowhere near the rim and then throwing his arms up screaming for a foul. harden flops more than anybody, but he's more subtle, and he is much better at creating the contact without it being so obvious what he's doing.

It was almost as if Westbrook was so mad about all the fouls Harden was drawing he was playing I can top that. His first few shots missed and instead of getting better ones he tried harder and harder to draw fouls.

Harden drives me nuts, that one coming off the screen where the screener bumped the defender he put his arm out and then harden hooked the arm and shot, he did that exact move against the Warriors 3 times in one game. Drives me nuts/

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

There's was even a play where I swear Westbrook tried to jump backwards from the three point line into eric Gordon trying to get a call. He was so sure he'd make contact that he just flung the ball wildly toward the backboard (didn't even look remotely like a shot). That one ridiculous attempt made me hate the way the game is played today trying trick refs into calls. I know it happens all the time and has been happening for a long time now, but it really cheapens good basketball imo. I turned the game off at that point.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

And I typically LIKE Westbrook and his locomotive persona.

 

[elindholm]

Harden drives me nuts, that one coming off the screen where the screener bumped the defender he put his arm out and then harden hooked the arm and shot, he did that exact move against the Warriors 3 times in one game. Drives me nuts/

I can't remember who the defender was, but there was a play where Nene was the screener and pushed the defender into Harden's path in order to draw the foul. It was like they'd practiced it.

 

[Russ Smith]

I can't remember who the defender was, but there was a play where Nene was the screener and pushed the defender into Harden's path in order to draw the foul. It was like they'd practiced it.

I'm convinced they do practice it they did that against the Warriors too.

 

[Hoop Head]

Players have always tried driving and drawing fouls, KJ was great at it back in the day and so was Nash, but now with the whole league becoming perimeter oriented they've switched to trying to draw contact on jump shots and 3's and it's hurt the image of the game, IMO. Flopping when in the lane is one thing because there is contact but on the perimeter you have to try and jump into people to get the amount of calls they do and it's ridiculous.

 

[Ronin]

Suns Wire‏@sunssource 5m5 minutes ago
#NBA Wire: Report: Celtics may consider trading for Melo - Carmelo Anthony

The New York Post is reporting that the Celtics will consider trading for Carmelo Anthony if they are eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
According to the Post, the Celtics coaching staff was in favor of trading for Anthony at the trade deadline, but GM Danny Ainge had too many reservations. The article also states that Jae Crowder would be the primary player the Knicks would target in return. After a tumultuous past month for both Anthony and the Knicks franchise, it seems more likely than ever that Melo has already played his final game in a New York uniform. At this point, it appears it's only a matter of when, not if, Anthony gets traded. Apr 21 - 9:10 AM
Source: New York Post

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/929/carmelo-anthony

 

[SirStefan32]

I can't believe there are still team willing to trade for Anthony.

 

[Ronin]

RealGM‏Verified account@RealGM 2m2 minutes ago
Magic Interested In David Griffin For GM Job: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/245693/Magic-Interested-In-David-Griffin-For-GM-Job…

 

[Ronin]

Fred Katz‏@FredKatz 4m4 minutes ago
NBA announced its fined Russell Westbrook $15K for dropping an f-bomb during his Game 2 postgame presser.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Ronin]

David Aldridge‏ @daldridgetnt
NBA fines Wizards’ Kelly Oubre, Jr., $25K for kicking a ball into the stands at the end of Washington’s Game 2 win over Atlanta Wednesday.

 

[Ronin]

Ric Bucher‏Verified account@RicBucher 2m2 minutes ago
One of many reasons it wouldn't be easy for CLE GM Griffin to leave for ORL, as rumored: credits @CavsDan for helping him beat cancer 2011.