OT: Another pointless NBA season

[RUsojo]

The NBa is the second easiest sport to predict (based on skill) winners of of all the U.S. sports. In fact the only activity where the higher skilled party wins more frequently than the NBA is daily fantasy NBA. If you take the daily fantasy sports out of an MIT study it showed that after NBA came NFL, MLB, and then Hockey.

So if you’re upset about the NBAs predictblilty what that really is saying is that you prefer “an underdog narrative” in sports and a hope for the unexpected rather than watching the best and second best teams face off against each other.

There’s nothing wrong with that. But I personally don’t consider the predictability the detriment because there are other narratives to appreciate throughout the course of a post season and individual seven game series.

 

[realhoops2]

Please don't confuse the fact that current NBA players, with rare exception, can't shoot well with actual defense.

You obviously don't watch many NBA games

 

[Groz]

People that watched last night's game between Golden State and Houston would put away the notion they don't play any defense in the NBA.

What an intense game.

Best of Luck,
Groz

 

[RUinOhio]

you're correct with the exception of Harden. great game, thank goodness Houston was able to pull it out. GS was throwing up some bricks in the 4th thanks to some tight D

 

[T2Kplus10]

People that watched last night's game between Golden State and Houston would put away the notion they don't play any defense in the NBA.

What an intense game.

Best of Luck,
Groz

Great defense in 1 game out of about 100 that each team played so far this season. And remember, overall shooting blows in the NBA compared to the past (and this includes college as well). Not many players can shoot well any more, and that has nothing to be with defense.

 

[RUChoppin]

Great defense in 1 game out of about 100 that each team played so far this season. And remember, overall shooting blows in the NBA compared to the past (and this includes college as well). Not many players can shoot well any more, and that has nothing to be with defense.

Says the guy who doesn't watch the regular season.

Not many players shoot well anymore? Average 3P% in the 1980s was 0.283 on an average of 3.83 attempts per game.... since 2010, it's 0.356 on an average of 22.6 attempts per game.

There are a lot more players taking a lot longer shots, and hitting them at a higher percentage. But sure.... not many shoot well anymore. :rolleyes:

 

[T2Kplus10]

Says the guy who doesn't watch the regular season.

Not many players shoot well anymore? Average 3P% in the 1980s was 0.283 on an average of 3.83 attempts per game.... since 2010, it's 0.356 on an average of 22.6 attempts per game.

There are a lot more players taking a lot longer shots, and hitting them at a higher percentage. But sure.... not many shoot well anymore. :rolleyes:

And you just summarized another problem with the NBA today. Thanks!

 

[lilphilw]

And you just summarized another problem with the NBA today. Thanks!

Uhhhh what... Just admit you're wrong and move on

 

[T2Kplus10]

Uhhhh what... Just admit you're wrong and move on

No I didn't, look at overall FG shooting. Much higher during the golden years of the mid-80s.

 

[KnightTerrors]

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

By that logic wouldn’t the nba had been pointless to watch from 1996-98 when Jordan 3 peated?

Same with Kobe and Shaqs 3peat?

Is the NFL a crappy product because the pats make the super bowl every year and I know they’ll win their division for a fact every year?

Is college football garbage because Alabama is a shoe in to the Finals every year?

 

[RUChoppin]

No I didn't, look at overall FG shooting. Much higher during the golden years of the mid-80s.

2P% in the 1980s averaged .493 and since 2010 has averaged .490

Players today are hitting 2P FGs at essentially the same rate, but are hitting 3P FGs at a much greater rate.... because more players are taking more shots from farther out.

So the idea that "not many players can shoot well any more" is laughably wrong.

The reason the overall FG% number was higher in the 1980s was that there weren't many players who were good enough to consistently take three pointers - so nearly all the shots were from close in. That's a result of the guys in the 1980s being *worse* overall shooters, not better.

 

[T2Kplus10]

2P% in the 1980s averaged .493 and since 2010 has averaged .490

Players today are hitting 2P FGs at essentially the same rate, but are hitting 3P FGs at a much greater rate.... because more players are taking more shots from farther out.

So the idea that "not many players can shoot well any more" is laughably wrong.

The reason the overall FG% number was higher in the 1980s was that there weren't many players who were good enough to consistently take three pointers - so nearly all the shots were from close in. That's a result of the guys in the 1980s being *worse* overall shooters, not better.

Nice try, shooting % since 2010 is barely 45% as compared to almost 50% during the time period I cited.

 

[Rutgers25]

Nice try, shooting % since 2010 is barely 45% as compared to almost 50% during the time period I cited.

Guys in the 80s couldn’t shoot 3s to save their lives. Defense literally would pack it in and give just about anybody an open outside look aside from Larry Bird and a few others. Those defenses would get absolutely annihilated today. If you can’t acknowledge that the quality of 3 point shooting hasn’t gone up immensely than you clearly just have an anti-nba agenda.

I do agree that the mid range shot has gone the way of the dinosaur, but that is driven by analytics (3 point shot at 33% is same as 2pt shot at 50%). At the time, the 3 pointer was a relatively new concept and people hadn’t figured it out.

Also changing the game is the total inability of the defense to be physical. The league has softened the game up to increase scoring. The league also allows everybody to carry the ball with the hesitation dribble. These 2 things combined has killed the motion offense, which used to be a pretty thing to watch when executed right.

 

[RUChoppin]

Nice try, shooting % since 2010 is barely 45% as compared to almost 50% during the time period I cited.

I get it, math is hard.

Current players make 2-pointers at basically the same rate as players in the 1980s. (.490 vs .493)

Current players make 3-pointers at a much better rate than players in the 1980s. (.356 vs .283)

A guy who makes 5-10 footers all day is going to have a higher overall FG% than a guy who takes shots from further out.... that doesn't mean he's a "better shooter" - just that he takes easier shots.

To put it in simpler terms... Shaquille O'Neal was not a better shooter than Reggie Miller... but he had a *much* better overall FG%. To bring it closer to home... just because Omoruyi shoots at .473 and Baker at .380, that doesn't make Omoruyi a better shooter.

In the 1980s, there were an average of 88.5 shots taken per game.... of those, 84.7 were from 2P range and 3.8 were from 3P range.

Since 2010, there are an average of 83.4 shots taken per game... of those, just 60.9 were from 2P range and 22.6 were from 3P range.

Guys in the 80s took much shorter shots than guys today - that doesn't make them better shooters.

 

[T2Kplus10]

I get it, math is hard.

Current players make 2-pointers at basically the same rate as players in the 1980s. (.490 vs .493)

Current players make 3-pointers at a much better rate than players in the 1980s. (.356 vs .283)

A guy who makes 5-10 footers all day is going to have a higher overall FG% than a guy who takes shots from further out.... that doesn't mean he's a "better shooter" - just that he takes easier shots.

To put it in simpler terms... Shaquille O'Neal was not a better shooter than Reggie Miller... but he had a *much* better overall FG%. To bring it closer to home... just because Omoruyi shoots at .473 and Baker at .380, that doesn't make Omoruyi a better shooter.

In the 1980s, there were an average of 88.5 shots taken per game.... of those, 84.7 were from 2P range and 3.8 were from 3P range.

Since 2010, there are an average of 83.4 shots taken per game... of those, just 60.9 were from 2P range and 22.6 were from 3P range.

Guys in the 80s took much shorter shots than guys today - that doesn't make them better shooters.

Sorry, the numbers you cite are wrong. Google the correct numbers and try again.
50% > 45%

 

[Unionst]

Sorry, the numbers you cite are wrong. Google the correct numbers and try again.
50% > 45%

The dumbest stat in sports is that 2 and 3 point shots are combined into one shooting percentage stat called field goal %. People mistake it for the 2 point stat. I haven’t checked but that’s probably what you are looking at.

 

[T2Kplus10]

The dumbest stat in sports is that 2 and 3 point shots are combined into one shooting percentage stat called field goal %. People mistake it for the 2 point stat. I haven’t checked but that’s probably what you are looking at.

Part of being a good shooter is knowing what shots you can make. Way too many lazy players are chucking up 3's nowadays.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Part of being a good shooter is knowing what shots you can make. Way too many lazy players are chucking up 3's nowadays.

You just need to leave this basketball board and NEVER come back.....NEVER....lol

 

[T2Kplus10]

You just need to leave this basketball board and NEVER come back.....NEVER....lol

[cheers]

 

[RUChoppin]

Sorry, the numbers you cite are wrong. Google the correct numbers and try again.
50% > 45%

lol... no, the numbers are accurate. You just want to ignore them.

But, going by your numbers, Shaq (.584) is a far and away better shooter than Reggie Miller (.471) and Pistol Pete Maravich (.441), I guess. That's absurd, but you can live in your own bubble. Also, Shaq Doorson is the best shooter on Rutgers, naturally.

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

By that logic wouldn’t the nba had been pointless to watch from 1996-98 when Jordan 3 peated?

Same with Kobe and Shaqs 3peat?

Is the NFL a crappy product because the pats make the super bowl every year and I know they’ll win their division for a fact every year?

Is college football garbage because Alabama is a shoe in to the Finals every year?

i'm too young to even remember the jordan 3 peat and kinda same for kobe shaq as i didn't follow nba too closely then, still dont.

But the NFL is amazing because the pats are a complete and total anomaly and as great as they are they still aren't a lock. There's no such thing as a lock in the NFL, it's the greatest league in the world.

Bama is basically an auto bid to the final 4 every year which is bullshit imo. But college football is a tremendous product, even better than the NFL. CFB could be improved by expanding to at least 8 teams so an auto bid like bama is forced to earn it.

 

[TDIrish27]

i'm too young to even remember the jordan 3 peat and kinda same for kobe shaq as i didn't follow nba too closely then, still dont.

But the NFL is amazing because the pats are a complete and total anomaly and as great as they are they still aren't a lock. There's no such thing as a lock in the NFL, it's the greatest league in the world.

Bama is basically an auto bid to the final 4 every year which is bullshit imo. But college football is a tremendous product, even better than the NFL. CFB could be improved by expanding to at least 8 teams so an auto bid like bama is forced to earn it.

If they're an auto bid it's because they earned it.

 

[RU_Planning]

You just need to leave this basketball board and NEVER come back.....NEVER....lol

Some people just like to be wrong all of the time

 

[RU_Planning]

We are on the verge of a Rockets / Celtics NBA Finals, which was not something anyone was expecting even with their seeding. Anything different means at least 1 team comes back down 3-2.

Predictable... [roll]

 

[Seton75]

I dont watch nba as much as i used to, but i hear tge,same comments,about no d on our board, and that is ridiculous. And the deep shooting is nuts. Just as big an uptick in college too re 3 or %. Fuquan edwin at SHU shot a higher percentage in his best season than in jj Riddick ever did st duke...getting better all the time...

 

[RUforJERSEY]

Fantastic game last night. Gordon was the star IMO.

 

[RUinOhio]

can't believe Houston won, Gordon bails out Harden. 0-11 from 3. Not a fan of Harden. Harden was awful and doesn't play D.

We are on the verge of a Rockets / Celtics NBA Finals, which was not something anyone was expecting even with their seeding. Anything different means at least 1 team comes back down 3-2.

Predictable... [roll]

 

[TDIrish27]

Both series going 7 IMO

 

[RU_Planning]

can't believe Houston won, Gordon bails out Harden. 0-11 from 3. Not a fan of Harden. Harden was awful and doesn't play D.

Harden has been good defensively the past 2 games. The Rockets have figured out how to slow the Warriors and thus far the Warriors have been unable to find a way to counter.

The Rockets have turned the Warriors into a 1 on 1 team by really eliminating the passing lanes. Warriors ball movement has been nonexistent against this defensive approach.

 

[JIMSOULS]

The NBA is much better than it was in the '90s and the first part of the 21st century. I was a Nets fan, but them making the finals in back-to-back years was a low point for the league.

 

[RUforJERSEY]

The NBA is much better than it was in the '90s and the first part of the 21st century. I was a Nets fan, but them making the finals in back-to-back years was a low point for the league.

Why? That was a very good and talented team. Especially with a fully healthy Kerry Kitties. They played an exciting brand of basketball also.

 

[JIMSOULS]

Why? That was a very good and talented team. Especially with a fully healthy Kerry Kitties. They played an exciting brand of basketball also.

They would not be a Top 10 team today. Current NBA is just much better.

 

[Groz]

Harden will probably win the MVP, but everyone knows that Lebron is the true MVP in the NBA.

Best of Luck,
Groz

 

[T2Kplus10]

Harden has been good defensively the past 2 games. The Rockets have figured out how to slow the Warriors and thus far the Warriors have been unable to find a way to counter.

The Rockets have turned the Warriors into a 1 on 1 team by really eliminating the passing lanes. Warriors ball movement has been nonexistent against this defensive approach.

[roll]
Harden is a joke on half the court. And it is a joke for him or anyone else to win the MVP award beside LeBron for this year and the past 10. LeBron is so much better than anyone right now, it is not even close.

 

[higgins3]

Lebron James is the best to ever play the game.

Assist, rebounds, blocks, scoring, defense. He does it all. If you compared the two teams, the celtics had a lot more talent. Still, James found a way for his team to win.

 

[T2Kplus10]

Lebron James is the best to ever play the game.

Assist, rebounds, blocks, scoring, defense. He does it all. If you compared the two teams, the celtics had a lot more talent. Still, James found a way for his team to win.

Do the Cavs win even 30 games next season if LeBron leaves?

 

[higgins3]

Do the Cavs win even 30 games next season if LeBron leaves?

Absolutely not.

That is one of the greatest point that has been made in the last three days.

He carries a team through games they should never be in, by himself if he has to. He has that level of skill and leadership.

 

[Mr Magoo]

Jordan is still the best player ever. It’s still not that close either. Jordan made everyone around him better and didn’t continuously beg for better players around him and run to loaded teams that would protect his reputation (I’m sure he’ll do it again this year). Jordan was also a bigger a-hole than LeBron, and had a killer instinct that LeBron still does not have...regardless of last night.

 

[cubuffsdoug]

Jordan is still the best player ever. It’s still not that close either. Jordan made everyone around him better and didn’t continuously beg for better players around him and run to loaded teams that would protect his reputation (I’m sure he’ll do it again this year). Jordan was also a bigger a-hole than LeBron, and had a killer instinct that LeBron still does not have...regardless of last night.

Here is a list (regular season only) to compare the two. Btw, LeBron has clearly shown he has the killer instinct.


MJ LEBRON
15 Seasons 15
706-366 (.659) Record 716-356 (.668)
41,011 Career minutes 41,688
32,292 (4th) Career points 29,105 (7th)
30.1 Points per game 27.2
6.2 Rebounds per game 7.3
5.3 Assists per game 7.1
0.8 Blocks per game 0.8
2.3 Steals per game 1.6
31 50-point games 11
28 Triple-doubles 56

* Regular-season only

 

[higgins3]

Jordan is still the best player ever. It’s still not that close either. Jordan made everyone around him better and didn’t continuously beg for better players around him and run to loaded teams that would protect his reputation (I’m sure he’ll do it again this year). Jordan was also a bigger a-hole than LeBron, and had a killer instinct that LeBron still does not have...regardless of last night.

jordan had a very good bulls roster for majority of the time.