***The Official 2018-19 NBA Thread***

"Galant wrote:

A recent sound bit from Popovich is being discussed right now. It's nothing new for Pop, but with things being as they are, its an interesting and possibly controversial (light) question.

The 3 point shot. He's never liked it but he's had to adjust to it. The video and quotes are below.

“These days there’s such an emphasis on the three because it’s proven to be analytically correct,” Popovich offered with what appeared to be a sneer. “Now you look at a stat sheet after a game and the first thing you look at is the threes. If you made threes and the other team didn’t, you win. You don’t even look at the rebounds or the turnovers or how much transition D was involved. You don’t even care. That’s how much an impact the three-point shot has and it’s evidenced by how everybody plays.”

“I hate it, but I always have,” Popovich said even as he’s adjusted over the years. “I’ve hated the three for 20 years. That’s why I make a joke all the time (and say) if we’re going to make it a different game, let’s have a four-point play. Because if everybody likes the three, they’ll really like the four. People will jump out of their seats if you have a five-point play. It will be great. There’s no basketball anymore, there’s no beauty in it. It’s pretty boring. But it is what it is and you need to work with it.”

These came from a story looking at the 3 pointer here - https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/how-has-three-point-shooting-changed-game

Jalen Rose jumped in on it:

It an interesting question, but what can be done about it, realistically? No one is removing the 3 point line, so I think the only conceivable change that could be made is to move it backwards... or forwards. Either make 3's more difficult to try to bring their influence back down to previous levels, or make them easier so that there's less of a difference in terms of spacing the court, making them a little easier to defend ,and not needing as elite three point shooters.

Thoughts?

I’m a traditionalist on most sports and don’t really care for alterations to the rules unless it’s a safety issue which I understand. I still enjoy the triangle offense and variants because I understand the concepts which some nba players don’t or don’t want to. I still believe the game you watch is more the result of crappy coaching at the college and HS levels where these kids are not taught the skills they need to be anything other then 1-1 players because those coaches are trying to win games and stay employed rather then develop kids. Pop is 100% correct.

I am a huge fan of the NBA. The 3 point shot is fun. I watch basketball because it is fun. 90s basketball, where guys like Anthony Mason and Charles Oakley we’re beating each other up was not as fun as the game today. My opinion.

Go Pels! Beat the Heat tonight!

"GARDENHEAD wrote:

I am a huge fan of the NBA. The 3 point shot is fun. I watch basketball because it is fun. 90s basketball, where guys like Anthony Mason and Charles Oakley we’re beating each other up was not as fun as the game today. My opinion.

Go Pels! Beat the Heat tonight!

I honestly couldnt disagree more. Todays game is 50% acting over who can draw fouls and flail their arms the best. The league is so scared of another incident like they had in detroit theyve removed all contact from the game. Ive barely watched the regular season because its intolerable and boring. And i love watching the NBA. But theres literally minimal differences in offensive styles from team to team and more about simply who has the most talent and can shoot the best from 3. Its just an awful product to watch right now imo.

"Boik14 wrote:

I honestly couldnt disagree more. Todays game is 50% acting over who can draw fouls and flail their arms the best. The league is so scared of another incident like they had in detroit theyve removed all contact from the game. Ive barely watched the regular season because its intolerable and boring. And i love watching the NBA. But theres literally minimal differences in offensive styles from team to team and more about simply who has the most talent and can shoot the best from 3. Its just an awful product to watch right now imo.

Hell yeah dude. The NBA needs more toughness and less flopping and whining. More contact allowed, less ticky tack fouls. Not sure how a replay system would work to review for flopping, but something should be done. The flailing and flopping is just shit to watch and deceitful.

We are a very bad team right now... we should be doing everything we can to free capspace... rolling into next year with this squad is a recipe for failure

"Vertical Limit wrote:

We are a very bad team right now... we should be doing everything we can to free capspace... rolling into next year with this squad is a recipe for failure

Told ya'll.

Lebron giveth and Lebron take it away.

"Fin-O wrote:

Told ya'll.

Lebron giveth and Lebron take it away.

Eh we have made playoffs twice now post Lebron... lets see cleveland try to win 30 games..

"Vertical Limit wrote:

Eh we have made playoffs twice now post Lebron... lets see cleveland try to win 30 games..

That franchise will be bad for as long as I can even imagine.

Wouldn’t surprise me if that is the team LeBron ends up buying.

My conspiracy theory before he left Cleveland is that he knew but the time he was ready to make the purchase, the value would be at an all time low.

Or maybe I’m reaching here, dunno.

"Fin-O wrote:

That franchise will be bad for as long as I can even imagine.

Wouldn’t surprise me if that is the team LeBron ends up buying.

My conspiracy theory before he left Cleveland is that he knew but the time he was ready to make the purchase, the value would be at an all time low.

Or maybe I’m reaching here, dunno.

That sounds plausible to me. Remember, he left Cleveland and only returned once they collected enough assets to trade for another elite player. He’s playing the long game.

"Fin-O wrote:

That franchise will be bad for as long as I can even imagine.

Wouldn’t surprise me if that is the team LeBron ends up buying.

My conspiracy theory before he left Cleveland is that he knew but the time he was ready to make the purchase, the value would be at an all time low.

Or maybe I’m reaching here, dunno.

Oh that would be fun. Lets see how anxious he is to dole out 20m a year to guys like Tristan Thompson as an owner.

"Fin-O wrote:

Told ya'll.

Lebron giveth and Lebron take it away.

Eh, it wasn't really a LeBron issue. They built a team that would have challenged the Cavs, but right after the Dragic trade, Bosh goes out with the blood clots. That was the beginning of the end, but the nail in the coffin was riding out the 2016 team instead of selling the parts at mid-season, then doubling down by giving James Johnson and Dion Waiters those extensions. That put them in cap hell with a mediocre team.

I'm still hoping they come to their senses. A bad road trip right now could do it. Sell what you can, and create a short rebuild similar to what the Grizzlies did. Then wait on another Jimmy Butler-type situation, and don't get cold feet.

"sports24/7 wrote:

Eh, it wasn't really a LeBron issue. They built a team that would have challenged the Cavs, but right after the Dragic trade, Bosh goes out with the blood clots. That was the beginning of the end, but the nail in the coffin was riding out the 2016 team instead of selling the parts at mid-season, then doubling down by giving James Johnson and Dion Waiters those extensions. That put them in cap hell with a mediocre team.

I'm still hoping they come to their senses. A bad road trip right now could do it. Sell what you can, and create a short rebuild similar to what the Grizzlies did. Then wait on another Jimmy Butler-type situation, and don't get cold feet.

You don’t have to explain it anymore bro, we’re well aware of the potential this team had if bosh was healthy and wade stayed. No one should be hating on the route we took - all of our teams suck balls this year.

Let's go Heat! wife and son went to the Lakers/Heat game.

Yea tonight is just pathetic... time to throw in the towel, now midway into the second..

I just watched a great game. PELS/OKC. Not a lot of flopping and stupid drawing fouls. I don’t know what Boik is talking about.

Pelicans played like crap tonight against Heat. It was good to see Wade one last time in person. He got a huge ovation from the New Orleans crowd tonight. A lotta respect from a city with zero history with him.

"GARDENHEAD wrote:

I just watched a great game. PELS/OKC. Not a lot of flopping and stupid drawing fouls. I don’t know what Boik is talking about.

I don’t know how ya miss it? At some point we can watch a game and I’ll point it out for you. There’s a lot of it most nights.

"Boik14 wrote:

I don’t know how ya miss it? At some point we can watch a game and I’ll point it out for you. There’s a lot of it most nights.

Sure, I see it when I watch Houston and some other teams, but I think you’re overstating the frequency.

"GARDENHEAD wrote:

Sure, I see it when I watch Houston and some other teams, but I think you’re overstating the frequency.

Its not every team but its most of the league.

Dion Waiters cleared for contact.

I know it was just the rockets, but the heat looked good tonight. 3 straight.

First three game win streak of the season.

"BevoPhin wrote:

I know it was just the rockets, but the heat looked good tonight. 3 straight.

LOL

Been losing to scrubs all year...heat are no different.

Sigh. And like clockwork, Chris Paul is hurt AGAIN. Harden can't catch a break. Personally, i'd go after John Wall and pay off a couple of refs before playoff start.

With wins over quality teams in the Grizzlies and Pelicans, let’s see if we can keep it going with a win over the bucks tonight.