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OT: Another pointless NBA season

T2Kplus10

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Feb 24, 2010
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GS vs. Houston
LeBron vs. Boston

That was the "d'uh" scenario since the summer. Just like last season, everyone could have skipped the 82 regular season games and the first 2 rounds of the playoffs and jumped right to the "final four".
 
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The NBA interest has never been higher, mostly because of China. They love it.

But it sucks now. I'll tune in if the Lakers make it to the playoffs, just because. But it's boring as hell now and the theatrics have gotten tiring. It's apex is here or not far off.
 
GS vs. Houston
LeBron vs. Boston

That was the "d'uh" scenario since the summer. Just like last season, everyone could have skipped the 82 regular season games and the first 2 rounds of the playoffs and jumped right to the "final four".
You could say that about any sport college or pro in most years, pencil Alabama to the playoffs or the Patriots to the Super Bowl, etc.

As for the NBA, I think the advertisements on jerseys now is the "jump the shark" moment for me. Plus I don't like the way the game is played most of the time or the 24 second shot clock.
 
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Pointless NBA season? That could be the best hot take I've read or heard this week.

Boston and Cleveland aren't even the top two seeds in the east. Most people expected Philadelphia to beat Boston in 6 possibly 5 games. Corrado was the number one seed in the east.
 
that's kind of the point. Cleveland was 4 but they go on to sweep the #1 seed. Cleveland sleep walks thru the last 4 regular seasons...all the fans bitch all year long about how bad they are(trust me I hear it first hand)... and here we are 4 wins away from yet another finals appearance.

I'm just surprised Lebron insisted on playing all 82 games. the cavs have been sitting guys for rest for years. because it's meaningless. that's my take.
 
NBA should consider reducing to a 50+/- game regular season across roughly 4 months and tighten the playoff schedule too...eliminate days between games when not traveling, or make them all 5-game series instead of 7.

Same for NHL as well.

Both have marathon seasons that stretch out longer than MLB. I realize baseball doesn't put quite the same physical toll on players as basketball or hockey, and thus it allows for much greater frequency of games on consecutive days. The flow of the playoffs in MLB keeps me more dialed in if I care to be (depends on teams playing). Two full weeks to play a 7-game series in the other two is too long.
 
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NBA should consider reducing to a 50+/- game regular season across roughly 4 months and tighten the playoff schedule too...eliminate days between games when not traveling, or make them all 5-game series instead of 7.

Same for NHL as well.

Both have marathon seasons that stretch out longer than MLB. I realize baseball doesn't put quite the same physical toll on players as basketball or hockey, and thus it allows for much greater frequency of games on consecutive days. The flow of the playoffs in MLB keeps me more dialed in if I care to be (depends on teams playing). Two full weeks to play a 7-game series in the other two is too long.

I think you forgot 1 VERY, VERY, VERY important thing.
 
Personally I love the NBA----love college hoops too but let's be honest.

You can tell on Labor Day who 58 of the 68 teams are that will make the tournament-----and there are a ton of awful college hoop games on the tube.

In terms of going to a game and enjoying yourself I still feel like watching 2 quality HS teams go at it is a great evening.

The game is 2 hours----no jam getting home out of the parking lot-----and you see great effort .

Best entertainment around for 5 bucks
 
The intensity of the playoffs is impressive. These guys are really getting after it.

The negatives in my view are really related to how the style of the game has evolved. The inability to lay a pinky on the ball handler, constant moving screens and the ability to carry the ball has made the game essentially an on the ball screen, drive and swing pass fame. There is very little off the ball screening or traditional post play. So the game now is disproportionately is tailered to ball handlers and shooters.

I’d like to see refs call illegal screens and carries.
 
The intensity of the playoffs is impressive. These guys are really getting after it.

The negatives in my view are really related to how the style of the game has evolved. The inability to lay a pinky on the ball handler, constant moving screens and the ability to carry the ball has made the game essentially an on the ball screen, drive and swing pass fame. There is very little off the ball screening or traditional post play. So the game now is disproportionately is tailered to ball handlers and shooters.

I’d like to see refs call illegal screens and carries.

I should add that the ability of guys to shoot the ball these days is better than it ever has been. It really is amazing...just about everybody can shoot really well.
 
Raptors fire coach, who lead them to 59 wins, #1 seed and coach of the year. but 2 consecutive sweeps at the hands of the Cavs. lends a little credence to the OP
 
There have been some teams in the mix who have made it interesting.

Does anyone love both college and NBA? A lot of times I meet people who will only watch one. I tend to favor college hoops. I only watch Rutgers basketball though. I sometimes look into what the rest of the Big Ten is doing. Like TD, I could see myself going to HS games in the future here and there.

I tend to only watch the last quarter of the NBA, or a half if the series is interesting.

There is some good basketball to be seen. I know the NBA has never been in a better spot. Not to mention, the generosity of some of these players is a reason to watch their games. They are committed to help improving the world.
 
that's kind of the point. Cleveland was 4 but they go on to sweep the #1 seed. Cleveland sleep walks thru the last 4 regular seasons...all the fans bitch all year long about how bad they are(trust me I hear it first hand)... and here we are 4 wins away from yet another finals appearance.

I'm just surprised Lebron insisted on playing all 82 games. the cavs have been sitting guys for rest for years. because it's meaningless. that's my take.
Cleveland transformed their team in the middle of the season. It's impressive that all those new players were able to gel as quickly as they did. Although I expected that they would be better defensively as a result of who they acquired.

Boston accomplishing what they did is impressive considering the injuries they had to key players.

But the regular season is pointless is just kind of silly to me.

If you don't like Cleveland and don't want to see them advance in the playoffs I totally get that. I didn't want to see them in advance either but the fact that they did is impressive.
 
Perhaps speaks to the commercialization and proliferation of college basketball and football (moreso than say college baseball) that gives plenty of opportunities to follow the college game and not have to bother with following the pro game for entertainment. Other factors play a role too I'm sure, and it's potentially different for each individual.
 
The unfortunate aspect of the NBA is really how the game is marketed...they have no concept or value of coaching, despite the fact that you can learn a lot of concepts that cross over into college. The entire league has evolved into isolating the opposing teams worse defensive player and/or trying to create a switch on defense..... where a guard can get by a bigger defender or is quick enough to create space to score.

It's actually more intriguing because i watch the Celtics Brad Stevens run concepts of offense and other coaches who have double the talent, do less with it.

Why football is king and will remain that way is because coaches and concepts (Head Coaches and coordinators) actually generate the excitement....the players are not any more talented now than 15-20 years ago, but the coaching is significantly more valued in football than basketball right now.

NBA coaching is about trying to minimize your defensive weaknesses and providing the best options to get your best players to score....why the league has "stagnated" is because of the lack of coaches at an NBA level....i could argue there's better college coaching than NBA...in the NFL, even a mid level or non coordinator NFL assistant can turn around a normal college program as an assistant coach, not even a head coach.

There are fans that believe Jay Wright would not have lost if he was Philly's head coach vs Boston.....if you are the NBA and Brad Stevens is viewed in less than 5 years time as one of the best minds in the sport and he wasnt coaching at a major program (Butler), the NBA has a problem...it's not talent....
 
The unfortunate aspect of the NBA is really how the game is marketed...they have no concept or value of coaching, despite the fact that you can learn a lot of concepts that cross over into college. The entire league has evolved into isolating the opposing teams worse defensive player and/or trying to create a switch on defense..... where a guard can get by a bigger defender or is quick enough to create space to score.

It's actually more intriguing because i watch the Celtics Brad Stevens run concepts of offense and other coaches who have double the talent, do less with it.

Why football is king and will remain that way is because coaches and concepts (Head Coaches and coordinators) actually generate the excitement....the players are not any more talented now than 15-20 years ago, but the coaching is significantly more valued in football than basketball right now.

NBA coaching is about trying to minimize your defensive weaknesses and providing the best options to get your best players to score....why the league has "stagnated" is because of the lack of coaches at an NBA level....i could argue there's better college coaching than NBA...in the NFL, even a mid level or non coordinator NFL assistant can turn around a normal college program as an assistant coach, not even a head coach.

There are fans that believe Jay Wright would not have lost if he was Philly's head coach vs Boston.....if you are the NBA and Brad Stevens is viewed in less than 5 years time as one of the best minds in the sport and he wasnt coaching at a major program (Butler), the NBA has a problem...it's not talent....
No coaching and no defense = NBA
This is true with rare exception.
 
I guess you could say I love all sports
The Jacksonville Jags renewed my interest in NFL football last year
I want to root for the Orlando Magic but ownership & management make that impossible
Orlando City Soccer MLS just won 7 straight...I LOVE our new stadium downtown
Orllando may have TWO new football teams in the new football league
I LOVE the Tampa Bay Lighting in the NHL
and
nothing tops the OLYMPICS
(I worked at 6...I now have reached retirement age...I will be VOLUNTEER in Tokyo)

Give me a RUTGERS basketball game!
Or a RUTGERS football game
Mens lacrosse
Mens soccer
Womans soccer
Womans BBall
Wrestling(ranked and loaded)
heck I even checked who won in Big Ten Track yesterday

If its sports...esp Cornell and Rutgers.....count me IN !
 
Can't agree with that at all----if they didn't defend in the NBA the games would be in the 140's.

The guys are that good

You have to remember they play an 82 game regular season schedule as opposed to college hoops who plays 30. I think you get about 50-60 solid efforts from most teams a year but you have games where their legs just aren't there

As to coaching------the college game has become the NBA game offensively-----------3's or layups.

The preparation is totally different----you play back to back games after getting off a flight and there's an optional shoot and a walk through in a hotel ballroom.

You deal with egos as a college HC and that's critical but in the NBA it's a whole different level. You're dealing with guys livelihoods-----huge dollars and agents-----not easy.

In college they just transfer when they aren't happy----in the NBA they have contracts. It's just a whole different dynamic.
 
The best shooter of all time, the 2nd best player of all time are currently playing. As far as sheer individual talent level, we're on par with Jordan and Bird era. Whether there's intrigue or entertainment in these "rivalries" is up to the individual consumer. NBA revenue, viewership and attendance is at or near an all time high.
 
no defense in NBA?? I suppose if you watched two bad teams in a meaningless late season game you could conclude that, but in the playoffs, there is incredible defensive intensity
Houston = no defense
GS = no defense
Boston = some defense, but only in the 4th quarter
Cleveland = one man team, LeBron plays defense only when needed (i.e., last few mins of the game)
 
Houston = no defense
GS = no defense
Boston = some defense, but only in the 4th quarter
Cleveland = one man team, LeBron plays defense only when needed (i.e., last few mins of the game)

Clueless. NBA playoff games are very intensive and have strategy. Golden State plays defense. Wins championships because of their explosive offensive players but also because of playing defense when they want to.

Best of Luck,
Groz
 
Clueless. NBA playoff games are very intensive and have strategy. Golden State plays defense. Wins championships because of their explosive offensive players but also because of playing defense when they want to.

Best of Luck,
Groz
Please don't confuse the fact that current NBA players, with rare exception, can't shoot well with actual defense.
 
Amongst the younger age group the NBA is more popular than any other American sports league.

And it’s overall growth far exceeds the NFL. It is soon becoming the most popular sport in America
 
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GS vs. Houston
LeBron vs. Boston

That was the "d'uh" scenario since the summer. Just like last season, everyone could have skipped the 82 regular season games and the first 2 rounds of the playoffs and jumped right to the "final four".


Let me know when the final game for the NBA championship is on.
Harden, Curry, Westbrook, Lebron and a bunch of names I can't remember, can't pronounce / don't care about.

As for hockey...avoid at all costs. When I want to see a fight I'll watch the MMA (UFC).

Like MLB Playoffs / WS....and of course Rutgers football / basketball.

MO
 
Houston = no defense
GS = no defense
Boston = some defense, but only in the 4th quarter
Cleveland = one man team, LeBron plays defense only when needed (i.e., last few mins of the game)

You should stay on the Current Events...this whole basketball knowledge and understanding the game thing is not for you....lol

Saying that no defense is played in the NBA is one of silliest comments ever and some people keep saying it over and over like it's a fact.
 
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The intensity of the playoffs is impressive. These guys are really getting after it.

The negatives in my view are really related to how the style of the game has evolved. The inability to lay a pinky on the ball handler, constant moving screens and the ability to carry the ball has made the game essentially an on the ball screen, drive and swing pass fame. There is very little off the ball screening or traditional post play. So the game now is disproportionately is tailered to ball handlers and shooters.

I’d like to see refs call illegal screens and carries.
Three of the teams in the remaining four utilize off-ball screening.
Golden State's offense is built on off-ball screening. In addition to LeBron's heroics, the other big reason for the Cavaliers' playoff success is the off-ball screening action that Kevin Love and Kyle Korver run. The Celtics run a motion-heavy offense based on off ball screening masterminded by Brad Stevens.

Post play isn't really taught competently at the college level anymore. It's not utilized at the NBA level because it's inefficient to dump the ball into the post to players who've never learned post moves. Jayson Tatum is already 10 times the player he ever showed at Duke, which says something about player development and coaching at the college level.
 
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Houston = no defense
GS = no defense
Boston = some defense, but only in the 4th quarter
Cleveland = one man team, LeBron plays defense only when needed (i.e., last few mins of the game)
Golden State has been one of the best defensive teams in the NBA for the last 5 years. Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant are among the best defenders in the NBA. Boston is an excellent defensive team. They defend the 3 better than just about anybody in the league. It's amazing what can be observed by actually watching the games.
 
Golden State has been one of the best defensive teams in the NBA for the last 5 years. Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant are among the best defenders in the NBA. Boston is an excellent defensive team. They defend the 3 better than just about anybody in the league. It's amazing what can be observed by actually watching the games.
Yeah, that's why they gave up the more points per game of all but two other playoff team (14th worse defense out of 16th).

Perhaps you should watch a few more games?
 
Pointless NBA season? That could be the best hot take I've read or heard this week.

Boston and Cleveland aren't even the top two seeds in the east. Most people expected Philadelphia to beat Boston in 6 possibly 5 games. Corrado was the number one seed in the east.
You kinda of make the point that the nba regular season is pointless. Cleveland could sleepwalk and get a 4 seed and still make the finals. The NBA is an awful product with the lack of parity.

Im gonna start watching now though that Houston and GS is the effective NBA final. Whoever wins that is the champ and the world has known that since October
 
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