****The Official 2017-18 NBA Thread****

"Fin-O wrote:

Amazing what one Friday night can do to narratives.

Warriors still gonna steamroll the Rockets ehh...

I am SHOCKED that the Rockets have had 30 point leads in both their blowout wins when Tony Brothers is not a ref. (Oozing sarcasm)

"CaribPhin wrote:

Oh, so you do remember the link here.

???

"phinswolverinesrockets wrote:

I am SHOCKED that the Rockets have had 30 point leads in both their blowout wins when Tony Brothers is not a ref. (Oozing sarcasm)

I'm curious. Do you think the refs favored the Jazz in the Brothers game, or are you just arbitrarily chalking that up to Brothers? Because the formers is far from true, and the latter is just silly.

"sports24/7 wrote:

I'm curious. Do you think the refs favored the Jazz in the Brothers game, or are you just arbitrarily chalking that up to Brothers? Because the formers is far from true, and the latter is just silly.

Rockets fans know what's up. I know it sounds crazy, but there is a LONG pattern of nonsense with this one ref. It was easy to predict a Rockets loss even though Vegas had Houston favored by 11 points. That is why I came on here 7 hrs before game 2 to say the Rockets would get blown out. The diehard Rocket fans knew the outcome before the game started. It had nothing to do with the Rockets shooting 27% from three in game 2. If that mattered, explain how they built a 37 point lead in game 3 while shooting only 30% from three. I will tell you how they did it, there weren't imaginary calls being made on the 3 star players this time. The refs actually let Houston play defense without calling imaginary b.s. I have been giving Utah credit all year...even in the off-season. So, I am not hating...I am stating fact. The fans know...

There are many, many more.

So many fans knew what was coming.

"phinswolverinesrockets wrote:

Rockets fans know what's up. I know it sounds crazy, but there is a LONG pattern of nonsense with this one ref. It was easy to predict a Rockets loss even though Vegas had Houston favored by 11 points. That is why I came on here 7 hrs before game 2 to say the Rockets would get blown out. The diehard Rocket fans knew the outcome before the game started. It had nothing to do with the Rockets shooting 27% from three in game 2. If that mattered, explain how they built a 37 point lead in game 3 while shooting only 30% from three. I will tell you how they did it, there weren't imaginary calls being made on the 3 star players this time. The refs actually let Houston play defense without calling imaginary b.s. I have been giving Utah credit all year...even in the off-season. So, I am not hating...I am stating fact. The fans know...

FYI: After the Rockets dominated game 1 in San Antonio last year the NBA had Tony Brothers and Scott Foster work game 2. Spurs won by 25. Enjoy tonight's game everyone!

— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) May 2, 2018

Every Rockets fan knew that when Tony Brothers and Scott Foster got assigned to referee this game we lost.

— 🙏🏾🚀💪🏾 (@HtownJ7) May 3, 2018

Rockets will never win a game when tony brothers is a official

— Westbrick baby. (@PrimeZack) May 3, 2018

Tony brothers lol he always hates the rockets

— Houston Hogan (@houstonhogan07) May 3, 2018

There are many, many more.

Don't get me wrong. Brothers is notorious, especially against the home team. He's awful. But I don't think he was the reason they lost despite what fans thought. It was a great performance by the Jazz. That being said, your team is far better, and probably won't lose another game in the series, Brothers or not.

On a side note, I don't know that I ever thought I'd root for the Celtics or Cavs in the playoffs, yet I'm rooting for both because I really dislike the Raptors and especially the Sixers.

"sports24/7 wrote:

Don't get me wrong. Brothers is notorious, especially against the home team. He's awful. But I don't think he was the reason they lost despite what fans thought. It was a great performance by the Jazz. That being said, your team is far better, and probably won't lose another game in the series, Brothers or not.

It's all good. You guys are entitled to your opinions. Just wanted to show that it ain't just me seeing the b.s. by this ref. Many Rockets fans have caught on after the many years of nonsense, and we are calling it out.

Goodnight Sixers.

"aesop wrote:

Goodnight Sixers.

The only thing that would make this sweeter would be if phillys arena shot confetti everywhere thinking they won.

No chance DeFraud DeFrozen stays in Toronto after this.

"Serpico Jones wrote:

No chance DeFraud DeFrozen stays in Toronto after this.

Ill take him in miami. Send them whiteside, send NO winslow and another piece for cousins.

Ben Simmons is having himself a weak series... what happened to the aggressiveness in round 1? Just ridiculous how much his style changed from one week to the next. Good thing for him he still has many years to get better.

Yea and not shocked that the raptors are getting owned by lebron... i had a feeling the wizards would pose a threat in the first round and they did. Toronto will always be Toronto..

"BevoPhin wrote:

Ill take him in miami. Send them whiteside, send NO winslow and another piece for cousins.

No thanks re:Winslow “and a piece” for Cousins. That’s parently ridiculous.

It really isn't even a debate anymore on the greatest basketball player in the game. Even if you flat out HATE Lebron for personal reasons, it's time to concede.

"GARDENHEAD wrote:

No thanks re:Winslow “and a piece” for Cousins. That’s parently ridiculous.

Lol Gotta love Fan trading. Where marginal players are made out to be superstars and superstars are made out to be marginal players.

Sixers are toast. Do whatever they gotta do to get LeBron. Full court press in that regard.

The coaching in this series has been so lopsided. It’s like watching a 7 speed bike vs a little tykes with plastic tires. If no LeBron, I think Brett Brown should definitely be looked at to be upgraded. It’s a game of chess and Brett Brown fell asleep at the table while Stevens puts down an onslaught of checkmates, having his way with Brett. Disgusted. Stevens is exploiting the whole **** Show. Lol Hate to see when Kyrie and Hayward come back, good lord.

"GARDENHEAD wrote:

No thanks re:Winslow “and a piece” for Cousins. That’s parently ridiculous.

Buddy hield and a late lotto pick for Demarcus Cousins is ridiculous. But it happened.

Id rather tank this year and get a chance at him next year for free.

My bad, looks like hes actually a FA this year.

Hassan whiteside may be valuable to us as a tank commander for one season.

"shamegame13 wrote:

Sixers are toast. Do whatever they gotta do to get LeBron. Full court press in that regard.

The coaching in this series has been so lopsided. It’s like watching a 7 speed bike vs a little tykes with plastic tires. If no LeBron, I think Brett Brown should definitely be looked at to be upgraded. It’s a game of chess and Brett Brown fell asleep at the table while Stevens puts down an onslaught of checkmates, having his way with Brett. Disgusted. Stevens is exploiting the whole **** Show. Lol Hate to see when Kyrie and Hayward come back, good lord.

I just don’t see how he fits in with that team..

I think he wants to go hang out with David Fizdale

"CaribPhin wrote:

You went radio silent for a few days there.

Life.

"Fin-O wrote:

I just don’t see how he fits in with that team..

I think he wants to go hang out with David Fizdale

He’s actually highly needed for many reasons.

1) On Court Coaching that these young guys desperately need. Redick and the others aren’t the answer here. They are role players. LeBrons On Court voice would do wonders and it’s highly needed with this young team. Brett Browns awful or lack thereof, mid-game adjustments make Andy Reid look like Bill Belichick.

2) Intangibles. #1 links into this. However, we need a go-to guy for offense besides just Embiid and some streaky shooters while Ben works on a jumper. We need him to show these guys how to close out games, when to slow the ball down (because Brett Brown won’t do it).

3) and probably the most logical reason, because he is 1,000x better than Robert Covington and a clear upgrade. Should always look to upgrade.

LeBron carries a close relationship with Ben Simmons, which helps when it comes to signing LeBron considering Dwayne Wade and the Heat signing him in 2010 because they were good friends.

I wouldn’t count on LeBron to NYK either. They weren’t one of the four teams reported that he had interest in (LAL, HOU, PHI, CLE) That could change now that Phil is gone and Fizdale is in but I still doubt it.

"CaribPhin wrote:

The team would be super clogged up. They'd be better served with a wing who can actually shoot considering how poorly Simmons shoots past 5 feet.

We have “shooters”. I don’t want another streaky (Belinelli, Redick, Covington, Ilyasova) shooter unless we are talking Klay Thompson level, those aren’t championship moves, they help the team out but that can’t be the final move if Philly really plans on making a championship run. I rather have a guy who can take charge and the guy that’s made it to the finals 8 years running and he has actual INTEREST in playing here. Complete the process and sign LeBron so he can teach these young men what it takes to win and how to win.

Philly will be just fine with LeBron. Ask LeBron how he likes the ragtag team (I’m taking all bets that’s CLE finishes in the lottery next year if LeBron leaves) he is winning with right now and I’m sure he would trade that team for Phillys any day of the week. You see clogged up, I see ally oops all day, inside dominance, and less eyes on Embiid and Simmons and a reliant ball handler to take pressure off Ben.

"CaribPhin wrote:

SimonaS, James, Embiid, Fultz (maybe), and Covington is a clogged lineup. Even if Reddick plays over Fultz, that's one guy. You'd be better off with someone like George.

Covington would be gone if we had LeBron. Don’t know the numbers but I can’t imagine us being able to afford him after LeBron with plans on signing Simmons and Saric soon.

PG13 isn’t a bad move either. That’s 1B. I know Klay isn’t available but in an ideal world, he would be the guy behind LeBron that I would want.

It wouldn’t be clogged because LeBron would know what to do with the lineup and how to use them to succeed and win. The guy has a long sheet of success with a lot of different players.