Real Deal

Howard is at 47%. Shaq also shot under 50% (I believe it was 49%) when we reached the 2004 NBA Finals. We have dealt with this problem before. We are losing games because we continue to turn the ball over (not having a PG in a PG-driven offense is a big deal), we can't utilize the P&R without Nash (and that was one of the biggest reasons to pair Nash and Dwight), and we can't get consistent help on offense, aside from our two superstars. Atlanta is 28th in the NBA in free throw shooting, a hair under 69% (we are 66%), and they are 9-5 right now. Brooklyn is 27th in the NBA, and yet, they are 11-5. Meanwhile, the Hornets shoot free throws better than most teams, 4th in the league...and are 4-11. Our misses can be a problem, but it's not our biggest problem. We can win it all shooting poorly from the FT line. In 2004, we shot 69% (28th). In 2002, it was 70% (28th). In 2001, we were at 68% (29th). In 2000, 70% (28th). Three of those seasons (last three) were championship seasons, and one was our NBA Finals loss to Detroit.

Howard meets a lot of players at the rim when they slip past Gasol. Other thing is, there are a lot of instances where Gasol defends centers, mainly because he's slower. Problem: 82Games doesn't know that. So, when Brook Lopez obliterates Gasol, 82Games sees it as "center production" (as if Howard is the one getting destroyed). But, it was Howard who was defending Humphries and holding him to 2-10 shooting (because otherwise, Hump would just take Gasol down low and physically work him over). It's better to look at a guard's defensive numbers on 82Games if you have a clear-cut PG and SG on a team. However, you still run into a similar problem, where a guard's defensive numbers are better/worse because of a defensive anchor (or, as you know, a Bargnani) in the frontcourt.

Jordan Hill would likely be a better starter for us at this point, over Pau Gasol. Hill actually does well for us when he's in the game. I don't think people realize just how bad Gasol is playing, and that we are starting Darius Morris at PG (Nash and Blake are still out). I know some of you like advanced stats...so take in the fact that Jamison and Hill's PER are both better than Gasol's right now. Aside from the defense that Ron Artest gives us, we have two inept offensive veterans (one that thinks he should be a point-forward, instead of a PF, for all the times he passes on wide-open shots and never gets into the post), and a PG that should be in the D-League. Kobe and Howard sound good, and they are playing very well...but Jamison aside (and his offense really doesn't make up for the lack of defense), the rest of the team resembles the Bobcats of last season. Howard - 60% FG Kobe - 49% FG Jamison - 48% FG Hill - 45% FG The rest of the team, including Gasol, are shooting 42% or less from the floor. Our third leading scorer is Ron Artest, who is taking six threes a night and shooting 41% from the floor. Defensively, it's hilarious. Our bench may be bottom three in the NBA back on defense, and Gasol is dreadful at this point...I'd say that Antawn Jamison is similar in defensive impact. Teams know exactly how to attack us. The funny part is, we actually play good on both ends of the court...in spurts. Then, we get ignorant, and lose the game. We are top ten in offense AND defense this year (ORtg and DRtg), and randomly, we'll play like we're bottom five. ------------------ Simply put, our turnovers and missed free throws are losing us games. We can still go with the free throw misses, as long as Dwight is shooting Shaq-like (because we have done it before, and so did the Magic), but we need a PG badly. We can't run with Darius Morris and Chris Duhon. It's mind-blowing to see those two trying to play in D'Antoni's system...one that has no basketball IQ, and the other who has no legs. Once we get Nash back, we need to drive the final stake into the ground by trying to trade Gasol before the deadline. Even if we don't land another PF (like Josh Smith), we could always start Hill and trade for a three, bring Ron off the bench...or hell, even start Ron at the four, because he would still defend that position better than Pau, and we could always give Jordan Hill big minutes when we play a team like the Thunder (Perkins/Ibaka) or Spurs (Blair).

Why would Cleveland want Perkins and his contract? I also don't understand the need for Jeremy Lamb, when you have Waiters and Irving eating up the minutes in the backcourt. You're basically trading Varejao for a Raptors pick that is top three protected, a player with a bad contract and that has been overrated for a while now, and a rookie that has yet to prove anything AND won't get enough burn behind someone like Waiters (who Cleveland loves).

It's Javascript code, to rotate the two banners, so that's possible.

LOL. That's hilarious. Probably true, also. Cleveland.

Really? http://www.discusshoops.com/banners/KobeBryant.jpg http://www.discusshoops.com/banners/LeBronJames.jpg

http://www.the-coli.com/gifs/kobe.gif

It's difficult for me to root for the Spurs, since they are a Laker rival...but I was so happy to see them beat the team with the best record in the NBA (Memphis) last night, the same team he supposedly decided to rest his guys for.

LOL.

WELP...so much for this topic, lol. I completely forgot about those two putting in their 20-plus.

OMG, Dwight made a three, lol.

LOL...this team is hilarious.

Meeks and Jamison are going to love Stevie. No, not Steve Blake.

I was looking up the top ten leading scorers, and I ran across this... Kobe Durant Carmelo LeBron Harden Westbrook Aldridge Bosh Those are the only players (eight of them) that are averaging 20+ PPG this season (so far). The last time a season contained eight or less averaging 20+ PPG? 1964-1965. I realize it's not mid-April yet, but if this stays consistent, you have to start looking at the NBA's "superteams" and how they have changed the game a bit. I mean, Wade would be on this list without his two teammates...and so would Pierce, and Howard...maybe even CP3 and Griffin (if they were split up). Dirk would be on the list if he wasn't injured...but that would still make just nine, and that particular number still holds the 1965 comparison.

That's pretty impressive, really. LA has had some pretty decent defensive teams over the years. That's what you're going to get with Kobe, Howard, and Ron out there, though. Kobe and Howard are putting up incredible defensive numbers.

Ha...yep. Stern should write himself up for that one. If I was Popovich, I'd suit them up for the Utah/SA game on ESPN December 12th...and then play the big three just one minute into the first quarter, call a timeout, then sit them the rest of the way.

LOL he fined the Spurs $250,000 for THIS???

LOL at Gary Neal, degrading my last name.

De Colo can pass the ball. Damn.

LOL, also read that both Stephen Jackson and Kawhi Leonard are going to miss the game. Tim Duncan Tony Parker Manu Ginobili Danny Green Stephen Jackson Kawhi Leonard That's basically the beef of the roster, hahaha. Popovich is hilarious.

He's not a LeBron fan, he's an anything-but-Kobe fan. His favorite player is Shaq, and up until 2009, his entire argument centered around Kobe not winning without O'Neal. Once that happened, it was all about Gasol being the MVP of the Lakers (lol), and now, I'm not sure what he's saying.

Running down? Westbrook and his man were the only two guys trailing. Harden pulled down a long board, and immediately went to take the 16-footer, and Westbrook came out from 50+ feet and immediately knew that block was his. Harden was doing that many times in OKC, off of a rebound...he could have backed up and reset, could have taken it to the rim and took a chance on not getting a charge called on him, but that 16-18 foot jumper is his in that situation. It almost felt like Westbrook jumped before Harden did (close...I'd say he did).

Wow...Minny comes down and drills a three, then they somehow don't get the foul, and Billups throws a perfect halfcourt lob to Jordan.

OKC knows Harden all too well. He really hasn't changed his game much at all, just getting more touches. When Westbrook blocked the hell out of him, it was like he knew Harden was going to pull up from there.