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****The Official 2016-2017 NBA Thread****

Discussion in 'Other Sports Forum' started by Section126, Jul 1, 2016.

  1. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    Some terrible shot selections and shots not even hitting rim to end the game, gave us the L.
     
  2. BevoPhin

    BevoPhin Well-Known Member

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    Those 2 days without watching Dion Waiters sucked. Let's dominate.

    Dion scores 26 tonight.
     
  3. BevoPhin

    BevoPhin Well-Known Member

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    Wayne Ellington must run5 damn miles a night on the court
     
    #1 fan likes this.
  4. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    We got some tough SOB's on this team.. dragic playing with a broken face, tyler johnson has played almost a fullseason without teeth and not giving a **** about it saying "i dont need teeth"
     
  5. Limbo

    Limbo Mad Stillz

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    I love this freaking team man. Damn. How amazing has Goran been.
     
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  6. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Beginning of the year most of us said it would be a win/win for Heat fans. They'd either be an extremely fun team to watch or be a lottery team and get a good draft pick in a great draft. Early on it looked like the latter. Apparently, though, it's the former. This has been one of the most fun Heat seasons I can remember. I think for the first time, we're seeing the team in Erik Spoelstra's image. He's not having to change his philosophy to fit stars.
     
  7. aesop

    aesop Well-Known Member

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    He's finally got a team of FAST rejects who sort of care.

    I don't know who else besides OKC or BOS gets a serious look besides Spo for COY. He won't get it without a sexy top 5 playoff spot though, even if the Heat run out the year without a loss.. they will be marginalized by a meaningless 38ft Curry 3 in a blowout against the Nets (away).

    Praying for a first RD match with CLE. Hopefully with Wade paying for tix.
     
  8. phinswolverinesrockets

    phinswolverinesrockets If he dies, he dies

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    3rd best record in the NBA.
    1st in offensive efficiency.
    11th in defensive efficiency.

    All that without an All-NBA player on the entire roster....2 Pelicans rejects (GARDENHEAD's words)...an old Center who everyone thought should retire...a team full of guys who everyone on here laughed at about their defense...and led by the 2015 Shaqtin A Fool MVP.

    Yeah, its not even close who the Coach of the Year is. Mike Antoni (see what I did there...I took the 'D' out like some of you had suggested at the beginning of the season). They will likely finish 15-plus games over what these so-called "experts" predicted.

    I love how Dantoni seemed kind of irritated last night even after a 40 point win. He knows it should have been a 60 point win...lol.
     
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2017
  9. Not So Fast

    Not So Fast Well-Known Member

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    Bad luck for Wade, hope he recovers soon.
     
  10. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    Wade out for season is so weird to hear.. hes been injury prone, but he always pushed through. with his frustrations in chicago, wouldnt shock me if he just said the hell with this im done for season.

    With that said i fully expect him to opt in, and then get bought out midseason next year, and possibly joining a contender for the minimum for the remainder of the year (cleveland).
     
  11. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    You can try and undersell the talent on the Rockets all you want, but they have a perennial MVP candidate, an 8-time NBA all-star, a legit 6th man of the year candidate, and some solid role players. Spo is coaching a team without a single All-Star (not just this season, but ever), 4 of them undrafted, 2 of them most thought would spend the season in the D League, has no less than 6 players putting up career years, has played without one of their best players in just about every game this season, and swept D'Antoni.
     
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  12. phinswolverinesrockets

    phinswolverinesrockets If he dies, he dies

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    Lol...where was all this talk of Rockets talent before the season? They look talented NOW because Mike Dantoni has been coaching his a## off. After losing the great Dwight Howard (LMAO), the Rockets were supposed to be competing with Minnesota for the 8th seed according to Vegas and ESPN. It is really funny how people tend to forget that. OKC, Memphis, LAC, Utah, and Portland were all picked ahead of us. So, when people say Westbrook has no team around him....I sure as hell didn't hear that before the season. OKC was supposed to be a 5th or 6th seed.

    Morey took chances on some injury prone Pelicans that everyone had written off, an old Center who hasn't played more than 60 games in a season since 2011, and a coach everyone thought was a joke (including everyone here).

    Somehow that has turned into 26 games above .500.

    COY will not go to someone competing for an 8th seed no matter how you try to justify it.
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2017
  13. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I'm not trying to pretend that D'Antoni isn't doing a great job. He's been much better than I thought he'd be (although let's see how the playoffs go). But the Rockets were a good team already. This is a team that was a 2 seed a couple of years ago.

    As for COY going to a team "competing for the 8th seed". The Heat are currently 2 games out of the 6 seed, and Miami has the best record in the league since mid-January. The idea of him winning COY isn't some Heat fan creation. It's being talked about by the national media and opposing broadcasters. I think you also can't discount the lifetime achievement aspect here. This is a guy who's had a ton of success in the NBA, but doesn't always get the credit. The job he's doing this year is validating him to the world, and I think those in the game reward that type of thing.

    Will he win the award? Not sure. But he certainly deserves it, because there isn't a coach in the league that's doing a better job.
     
  14. phinswolverinesrockets

    phinswolverinesrockets If he dies, he dies

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    Dantoni is working with:
    - A 1st year Point Guard (Harden)
    - A 1st year Shooting Guard (Beverly)
    - A 1st year starting Center (Capela)
    - 2 guys with zero playing experience until this year who are now key bench players (Harrell and Dekker)
    - 3 injury prone players from losing organizations that no one wanted (Gordon, Anderson, NeNe)
    - 1 aging Small Forward who has now become the backup Power Forward (Ariza)

    That is the Rockets' rotation before we just got Lou Williams a couple of weeks ago. Dantoni took THAT, and turned them into the 3rd best team in the league. It's been pretty remarkable.

    Other than Popovich, there isn't another coach who could have done this with this roster.

    Sure, Spoelstra is doing well. He has turned out to be better than I thought without LeBron. But if I'm not mistaken, didn't some of you Heat fans predict a 41-win season before the season began??? That would mean you might barely reach your expectation then, right?
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2017
  15. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Again, I'm not underselling the job D'Antoni is doing. It's been a great season for him. But he has FAR more talent to work with. You keep trying to undersell James Harden. He's one of the best players in the NBA. A team with one of the top 5 players in the league should be a top 3 seed every year as long as he has a solid supporting cast.

    As for the 41 wins, that was with Bosh playing. It was also with Justise Winslow playing. Go back and look at what I said about this team after Bosh went down. I thought it would be a lotto team, or a fun team fighting to get into the playoffs. If we're looking solely at expectations of fans, you thought the Rockets would be a Championship contender.

    Again, this notion isn't fan fiction. This is what Stan Van Gundy said about Spoelstra in February "Certainly, in my mind, and there's a lot of ‘em going on — but certainly in mind, it’s the best coaching job that’s gone on this year.” When the Heat played the Pacers last week, Quinn Buckner (one of the biggest homers in the NBA) said the same thing.
     
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  16. phinswolverinesrockets

    phinswolverinesrockets If he dies, he dies

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    I am not underselling James Harden. I am stating fact...he wasn't named an All-NBA player (so he isn't top 15 in the league). Averaging 29 points, 7 rebs, and 7 assists apparently means nothing. If the so-called "experts" were dumb enough to leave him off the list, then I am dumb enough to use it in my arguments.

    I'll end it with this...Spoelstra has earned his praise. To be so young, he's got a damn nice resume. In my opinion, Dantoni and Harden have made all of the naysayers look really stupid. I've really enjoyed the likes of Stephen A. Smith, Charles Barkley, and many others have to eat humble pie. Dantoni and Harden better get their awards this year.
     
  17. Serpico Jones

    Serpico Jones Well-Known Member

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    Josh Richardson is terrible offensively right now.
     
  18. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    From top 3 pick to 7th seed now
     
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  19. BevoPhin

    BevoPhin Well-Known Member

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    Who do y'all like as FAs for this squad next year?

    Obviously KD, and he can make the right decision this time. Steph isn't going anywhere. What about Gordon Hayward and Milsap? im not sure if griffin wants to leave LA.

    Not as interested in Lowry as I've fallen in love with Dragic in a heat uni.
     
  20. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    Next four games is going to be tough... hope we can at worse split it... 3 of the four is at home tho.. and i wouldnt take the suns lightly
     
  21. Mrtree

    Mrtree Juan Huron's agent

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    So how bad is Waiters ankle injury? Hated to see that after the team found its mojo.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
     
  22. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    Xrays came out negative, he should be ready in about a week
     
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  23. aesop

    aesop Well-Known Member

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    Lucky break there, looked like he was gone for the year the way he was carried off.
     
  24. Mrtree

    Mrtree Juan Huron's agent

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    Yeah I was afraid it was going to be a season ender.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
     
  25. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Gordon Hayward would be my top choice among the realistic options. If Durant actually leaves GS, then Miami might have a chance at him, but it looks like he's going to stay there. There's also the trade market. Riley has done well there in the past.
     
  26. BevoPhin

    BevoPhin Well-Known Member

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    If you really want to be like dwade, you gotta get carried off the court for a minor injury.
     
  27. Ludacris

    Ludacris Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Interesting how every guy on the Miami offence knows where to be and when. They got this team running like they have a singular mind. All in one symbiotic relationship looking to turn good shots to great shots. Ellington also has been shooting well recently getting around those triple screen plays.
     
  28. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    It's kind of like a poor man's Spurs. I think ideally, that's what Spo wants.
     
  29. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

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    You misspelled "Paul Pierce"


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
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  30. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    Well riley is big on superstar free agents but spo is the present and the future..

    so far we have 11 million in cap space (without medically waiving bosh), it could open up to 17 million if mcroberts decides to opt out..

    Big issue is we dont have bird rights on dion nor james johnson.. but when boshs contract clears the books we should have 40 million i believe.. 46 million if we get rid of mcroberts.. thats more than enough to bring back james johnson, dion, and still have cap for a free agent..

    Side note I think mcgruder and jj has made justise and richardson available, but their potential is high and on low contracts spo will continue try to develop them. Plus it keeps us knee deep in talent..

    I think they will definitely try to address the PF position...

    And two names that wont demand 25 million per and would fit like a glove is Millsap and Danilo Gallinari... far from what we used to demand for free agents (lebron, durant), but either of those two makes our team better and they just fit with the way we play currently.
     
  31. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    nate robinson asked boozer if hes going to sign with the Clippers or the Heat. Boozer replied to him saying he will soon find out after the china basketball championships
     
  32. BevoPhin

    BevoPhin Well-Known Member

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    Can he still ball? That seems a little underwhelming.
     
  33. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    2 things:
    1. COY: Im fine with any of Popovich, Spoelstra or Antoni but i do think Pop will get it especially if they get the top seed. No one listed Kawhi as an MVP candidate before this year. No one thought theyd still challenge GSW. But here they are. Good for them. The other 2 have done a great job as well and id have no objection to either winning the award.

    2. Just lose baby. Its that time of the year for my knicks. We NEED Josh Jackson. Best player in this years draft, yes id take him over Fultz or Ball and not think twice about it. Thats Phil's next MJ or Kobe. All these drafts saying the Knicks will draft a PG...ya ok. They have have placed less emphasis on scoring at that position than anyone else i have seen and seem to want another Derek Fisher more then they want to resign Rose. And if you read into Porzingis comments yesterday, he seems to acknkowledge the flaws this team had and its a veiled shot at Rose's "Superteam" remarks made before the start of the year.
     
  34. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Jackson has really come on. I'd still probably take Fultz and Ball over him, but he went from a great defensive player and a great athlete, to a damn good basketball player very quickly. When Miami was in the top 3 mix earlier in the year I said I wouldn't take him because we have a similar player in Winslow. Jackson has completely changed my perception of him, though, the way he has started making his jump shots (and 3's in particular). He seems pretty locked in to the top 3 right now IMO.

    As for the draft for the Heat, we'll still probably get a good player. I'm hoping against hope that a Winslow situation happens and a guy like Fox, Smith, Markenen or Ntikilina falls, but a more realistic name that might get there would be Mile Bridges. I'd take a chance on Harry Giles because as mediocre as he's been, the upside is still huge. Another guy I've started to like is TJ Leaf. He has a nice skill set, but gets pigeon holed as another white PF that won't do anything in the NBA.
     
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  35. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Ive been a Jackson fan from the begining. His story is inspiring. And his ability to play at this level imo is unquestionable. I see his floor as Paul George and his ceiling as elite.

    As for the PGs i rank them:
    Ball (despite his blowhard father)
    Fultz
    Fox
    Smith
    As always i go for pgs that pass more then score. Purposely left Ntikilina off because hes 18 and doesnt play much. We really dont know how he stacks up. I like what little i know about him and that Phil Jax probably likes him because he likes big guards.

    Not high on Markanen. Hes very robotic in the post right now. He needs to work on his agility in a big way based on what i have seen. His skillset can be developed but its not there yet. The comparisons to KP suck. Hes more Chris Kaman then Kristaps right now.

    I like Leaf as well. He profiles well as a modern PF aka a stretch 4.

    Bridges is a very Izzo player. Tough, high motor, competes hard, plays D. People sleep on him but id take him in the lottery over some other players.

    Giles is a very big question. I like him but hes fragile. Ability is, imo, unquestionable and you can tell hes not awkward with the ball or uncomfortable with it which is important to how a big will profile as an NBA player. For instance, for a triangle or any offense that really emphasizes a post game, id take Giles over Markannen and not think twice. My big questions about Giles are related to toughness, drive and health more then ability. Hes a boom or bust guy as much as any player in this draft. He might do well to stay another year. If he can answer the health concerns he will go top 3.
     
  36. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    I would caution teams about lonzo..

    How annoying are the bucks.. they keep winning games..
     
  37. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    The Bucks would win a lot more if they had Antetokoumpo-Parker-Middleton out there together more often. That's a good trio with a lot if length at PG-SG-SF
     
  38. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    Giannis had a dunk that was near the freethrow line... and he did it so easy
     
  39. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    "Though two teams have rallied from 19 games under .500 (like the Heat) to make the playoffs in the past 30 years, no team has ever gotten back to .500 after being 19 under, as Heat TV voice Eric Reid has noted. The Heat can do that by beating Toronto on Thursday."

    And more from Barry via the link.
     
  40. PhiNomina

    PhiNomina White-Collar Redneck

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    Really think the Heat could beat Boston in the first round. Seems like an awful match-up for Boston. Gonna be crazy to watch the standings the next few weeks. Not sure I feel as confident in them beating Toronto or Washington.

    Who do you guys want to face?

    (Also I have the receipts on my MIA>BOS take from before it was on the Lowe Post. So mad I didn't say it here)
     

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