Odds and Ends

Nets shut down Lopez and Young for rest of the season

dboss

Atlanta beat Toronto last night.  When Bismack BiYOMMMMBOOOOOO!!!! is your leading scorer off the bench with 10 you know you're in trouble.

Heat beat Bulls too.  Just awful defense by Chicago.  Dunleavy and Mirotic are, to put it nicely, half-hearted defenders.  Their best defender last night was Pau Gasol.  Yep, he was the best.  21 points on 7-11, 12 boards and 4 blocks.  Dunleavy has 2 points on 0-2 in 19 minutes and had a plus/minus of -2.  +/- might be good by the end of a season, especially if there isn't a lot of roster turnover or injuries, but it is terrible game-by-game.

McBuckets hard fouled Whiteside underneath, wrapped him up good.  Whiteside, as he started to fall, hooked his right arm under McDermott's and pulled him down with him.  There was no way McDermott wasn't going down with him.  They called a Flagrant Foul on McDermott.  This league has become ridiculously protective.  

I wouldn't be surprised to see a major fire sale in Chicago this summer.  Nobody is safe except for Jimmy Butler.

So, no help from teams playing our closest competitors last night.

HOWEVER, the Suns beat the Rockets.  That pretty much kills the Rockets as far as getting into the playoffs (and knocking Dallas out) but it does even Phoenix up with Brooklyn with 21 wins.  Phoenix has played one more game than Brooklyn and, of course, it is a loss.  If the 45-33 Hornets, playing at home tonight, beat Brooklyn then we're dead-even with 3 games left each.

Games Remaining:

Brooklyn

@ Hornets (tonight)
@ Indy
vs Washington
vs Toronto

Washington?  Maaaybe, but very unlikely.  Toronto?  Only if Toronto rests everybody.  Charlotte and Indy will play hard because they are still in dog fights for playoff seeding.   1-3, possibly 0-4, going out.


Phoenix

@ NOP
vs Sacto
vs LAC

NOP, as depleted as they are, is a possible win for the Suns, if they can put it together.  Sacto, despite having a good roster on paper, still suck and are tied with the Knicks for 7th worst record in the league.  Clips is a loss.  So, putting my green goggles on, Phoenix could go 1-2 or even 2-1 going out.  With our luck they'll go 0-3.

Play for pride, Phoenix, play for your fans.  And play for getting us the better pick.

How great is it that Danny set us up so that we could root for the Celtics to win every game AND STILL be in position to get a better pick even if we do?


bob


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And, oh, GSW dropped the Spurs like a bad habit last night too.

bobheckler wrote:Atlanta beat Toronto last night.  When Bismack BiYOMMMMBOOOOOO!!!! is your leading scorer off the bench with 10 you know you're in trouble.

Heat beat Bulls too.  Just awful defense by Chicago.  Dunleavy and Mirotic are, to put it nicely, half-hearted defenders.  Their best defender last night was Pau Gasol.  Yep, he was the best.  21 points on 7-11, 12 boards and 4 blocks.  Dunleavy has 2 points on 0-2 in 19 minutes and had a plus/minus of -2.  +/- might be good by the end of a season, especially if there isn't a lot of roster turnover or injuries, but it is terrible game-by-game.

McBuckets hard fouled Whiteside underneath, wrapped him up good.  Whiteside, as he started to fall, hooked his right arm under McDermott's and pulled him down with him.  There was no way McDermott wasn't going down with him.  They called a Flagrant Foul on McDermott.  This league has become ridiculously protective.  

I wouldn't be surprised to see a major fire sale in Chicago this summer.  Nobody is safe except for Jimmy Butler.

So, no help from teams playing our closest competitors last night.

HOWEVER, the Suns beat the Rockets.  That pretty much kills the Rockets as far as getting into the playoffs (and knocking Dallas out) but it does even Phoenix up with Brooklyn with 21 wins.  Phoenix has played one more game than Brooklyn and, of course, it is a loss.  If the 45-33 Hornets, playing at home tonight, beat Brooklyn then we're dead-even with 3 games left each.

Games Remaining:

Brooklyn

@ Hornets (tonight)
@ Indy
vs Washington
vs Toronto

Washington?  Maaaybe, but very unlikely.  Toronto?  Only if Toronto rests everybody.  Charlotte and Indy will play hard because they are still in dog fights for playoff seeding.   1-3, possibly 0-4, going out.


Phoenix

@ NOP
vs Sacto
vs LAC

NOP, as depleted as they are, is a possible win for the Suns, if they can put it together.  Sacto, despite having a good roster on paper, still suck and are tied with the Knicks for 7th worst record in the league.  Clips is a loss.  So, putting my green goggles on, Phoenix could go 1-2 or even 2-1 going out.  With our luck they'll go 0-3.

Play for pride, Phoenix, play for your fans.  And play for getting us the better pick.

How great is it that Danny set us up so that we could root for the Celtics to win every game AND STILL be in position to get a better pick even if we do?


bob


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Bob,

Don't automatically give the Clippers the win over Phoenix on the last day. Clips will have nothing to play for and might rest everyone.

Washington might be eliminated tonight and almost definitely by the time they play Brooklyn.
They could shut down their starters, especially John Wall who is already listed as questionable for tonight.
It's doubtful Toronto gives their starters much playing time, if any, for their final game of the season against Brooklyn.

It looks like the Dallas pick will be from 15-17.
I wouldn't be surprised if Dallas jumps ahead of Memphis who has to play at Dallas, GS, at the LA Clippers and at GS.

Phoenix squeaked out a 1 point WIN in NOP.

Brooklyn is now in sole possession of the 3rd worst record in the NBA.

Games left:

Brooklyn

@ Indy
vs Washington
vs Toronto


Phoenix

vs Sacto
vs Clippers

Two almost sure losses and a probable for Brooklyn.  One sure loss and a maybe, because they are at home, against the Kings.

Go Phoenix!! Go Washington!!


bob


.

bobheckler wrote:Phoenix squeaked out a 1 point WIN in NOP.

Brooklyn is now in sole possession of the 3rd worst record in the NBA.

Games left:

Brooklyn

@ Indy
vs Washington
vs Toronto


Phoenix

vs Sacto
vs Clippers

Two almost sure losses and a probable for Brooklyn.  One sure loss and a maybe, because they are at home, against the Kings.

Go Phoenix!!  Go Washington!!


bob


.

Bob - Suns won by 21 tonight in New Orleans, not 1.

steve3344 wrote:

bobheckler wrote:Phoenix squeaked out a 1 point WIN in NOP.

Brooklyn is now in sole possession of the 3rd worst record in the NBA.

Games left:

Brooklyn

@ Indy
vs Washington
vs Toronto


Phoenix

vs Sacto
vs Clippers

Two almost sure losses and a probable for Brooklyn.  One sure loss and a maybe, because they are at home, against the Kings.

Go Phoenix!!  Go Washington!!


bob


.

Bob - Suns won by 21 tonight in New Orleans, not 1.

The league should give them credit for a win-and-a-half.



bob


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For reasons I don't understand, Spoelstra played his players like last night's game vs Detroit was a big deal even though tonight, against us, IS a HUGE game.

Ancient Joe Johnson played 34 minutes.
Deng played 41.
DWade played 34.
Richardson played 37.
Whiteside played 34.

Those are heavy minutes for players who will be playing heavy minutes tonight too.  I guess they are gunning for 3rd place.  They are now tied with Atlanta, but own the tie breaker.  If they win tonight against us they are 3rd but if they lose, and Atlanta beats Washington as is likely, they drop to 5th.

If they are 3rd they have home court and face Charlotte.  If they are 5th they do not have homecourt and they face us.  


bob


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bobheckler wrote:For reasons I don't understand, Spoelstra played his players like last night's game vs Detroit was a big deal even though tonight, against us, IS a HUGE game.

Ancient Joe Johnson played 34 minutes.
Deng played 41.
DWade played 34.
Richardson played 37.
Whiteside played 34.

Those are heavy minutes for players who will be playing heavy minutes tonight too.  I guess they are gunning for 3rd place.  They are now tied with Atlanta, but own the tie breaker.  If they win tonight against us they are 3rd but if they lose, and Atlanta beats Washington as is likely, they drop to 5th.

If they are 3rd they have home court and face Charlotte.  If they are 5th they do not have homecourt and they face us.  


bob


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You answered your own quesrtion. Miami wants third.

There's still some ramifications regarding tonight's games and the Celtics draft picks.
Their first pick will be scheduled to be either 3 or 4.
Their Dallas pick could be 16-19.
Their own pick could be 21-24.

I expect tonight's game to have a playoff atmosphere.
If Boston lays another egg, that would be a bad sign heading into the playoffs.

Congrats to my local, and 2nd favorite team, the Golden State Warriors for their record-setting 73-9 season.

Steph Curry with 46 points on 15-24 shooting, 10-19 from 3.  He MADE 402 3pt shots this season on 45.4% fg%.  To put that into perspective, no other player in the history of the NBA, not Ray Allen nor Kyle Korver not even the shot-happy James Harden, has ever even hit 300 3ptrs in a single season much less 400.  

His overall fg% was 50.4%.  It's amazing for a guard to shoot over 50% on the season especially one who takes so many long 3s.


bob


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bobheckler wrote:Congrats to my local, and 2nd favorite team, the Golden State Warriors for their record-setting 73-9 season.

Steph Curry with 46 points on 15-24 shooting, 10-19 from 3.  He MADE 402 3pt shots this season on 45.4% fg%.  To put that into perspective, no other player in the history of the NBA, not Ray Allen nor Kyle Korver not even the shot-happy James Harden, has ever even hit 300 3ptrs in a single season much less 400.  

His overall fg% was 50.4%.  It's amazing for a guard to shoot over 50% on the season especially one who takes so many long 3s.


bob


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Here are some numbers to check out. Nobody has come close to Curry's 3 point fga's per game. His 2 point fg% of .566 is amazing.

http://bkref.com/tiny/t0wFz


swish

I tout the therapeutic value of Curry to my patients everyday. Rich in curcumoids, curry helps prevent cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's, and is excellent for neuromuscular pain. Curry is my MVP.

Other than number of 3 point fga per game favoring Curry, he and Nash are remarkably similar, with Nash having a significant edge in assist.

swish

Lakers at 6 and 4.

dboss

Our beloved Nets are now on a 4 game losing streak. YES.

dboss

Yes!

Dallas at 2 and 10. Who'd a thunk it?

Celtics are now at .370% from distance on 32.4 3PA per game compared to last year where Boston shot .335% on 26.1 attempts be game.

Al Horford has embrace the 3 point shot.  This year he is taking 4.5 per game and shooting .341%.  Last year with the Hawks he took 3.1 per game and shot .344%  He is by no means a great three point shooter but he can and will get streaky  where he just knocks them down.

The previous 8 years Al never averaged more than .5 attempts per game.  The NBA has really changed.  

I think one of the goals of the Celtics is to lead the league in 3 point shot attempts.  They may even request that the NBA allow them to shoot all free throws from behind the arc.  

On the serious side, Boston has seen a very noticeable improvement shooting the 3 ball.  Last year they were 28th in the league in terms of %  at .335%  This year the team has moved up 20 spots to # 8 at .370%  They may be able to get that up to 40%  at some point.

The Celtics are 5-1 in January and have taken 219 3 point shots and made 97 of them.  That is an impressive .443%

The Celtics are now 10 games over .500 at 25 and 15.  Last year on January 13th they were 20 and 19 only one game over.

The closet thing to a signature win was the road victory over Memphis.  To set the record straight when I refer to signature wins I am only referring to wins against the Elite teams (Cavs, Warriors, Spurs, Rockets, Clippers, Thunder and Raptors)    Those are teams that we have not beaten this year that are really good teams except for the Clipper who we have yet to play.  The current target that is a pain in the butt is The Raptors.  We have to learn how to beat them and then we can really focus on challenging the Cavs for control in the East.

dboss

the 3 point shooting is because of Kelly right?

cowens/oldschool wrote:the 3 point shooting is because of Kelly right?

Cow,

Kelly is shooting 37.3% from 3 on the season, 58.8% from 3 in the last 5 games.  The Celtics, as a team, are shooting 37% from 3.  He has the 6th highest 3pt fg% on the team but, when you consider that 2 players ahead of him are Demetrius Jackson (who is a perfect 1-1 from 3) and Amir Johnson (who is 38.7% but takes <1 3pt fga/game), he is really more like 4th best.  Of players who play rotation minutes and average 1 3pt fga/game only Jae Crowder, Bradley and IT have higher 3pt fg%.  

So yes, Kelly is carrying his share of the load by shooting the team average and has done more than his share the last 5 games.

Thanks for pointing that out.


bob


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swish wrote:I wouldn't pass judgement on him without knowing what his teammates and coaches think of him. And that of course is info that General Managers will most likely have available to base their evaluations of his worth in any trade scenarios.


 swish

+1

dboss wrote:Celtics are now at .370% from distance on 32.4 3PA per game compared to last year where Boston shot .335% on 26.1 attempts be game.

Al Horford has embrace the 3 point shot.  This year he is taking 4.5 per game and shooting .341%.  Last year with the Hawks he took 3.1 per game and shot .344%  He is by no means a great three point shooter but he can and will get streaky  where he just knocks them down.

The previous 8 years Al never averaged more than .5 attempts per game.  The NBA has really changed.  

I think one of the goals of the Celtics is to lead the league in 3 point shot attempts.  They may even request that the NBA allow them to shoot all free throws from behind the arc.  

On the serious side, Boston has seen a very noticeable improvement shooting the 3 ball.  Last year they were 28th in the league in terms of %  at .335%  This year the team has moved up 20 spots to # 8 at .370%  They may be able to get that up to 40%  at some point.

The Celtics are 5-1 in January and have taken 219 3 point shots and made 97 of them.  That is an impressive .443%

The Celtics are now 10 games over .500 at 25 and 15.  Last year on January 13th they were 20 and 19 only one game over.

The closet thing to a signature win was the road victory over Memphis.  To set the record straight when I refer to signature wins I am only referring to wins against the Elite teams (Cavs, Warriors, Spurs, Rockets, Clippers, Thunder and Raptors)    Those are teams that we have not beaten this year that are really good teams except for the Clipper who we have yet to play.  The current target that is a pain in the butt is The Raptors.  We have to learn how to beat them and then we can really focus on challenging the Cavs for control in the East.

dboss

"They may be able to get that up to 40%  at some point."


Not a chance in Hell that happens.  Season is half over and Boston is shooting threes at a 37% clip.  To get to 40% they would have to shoot 43% the rest of the way and no team in history has ever shot threes at that percentage.  In fact, only 11 players in the WHOLE LEAGUE are shooting threes at 43%:  http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/stats/bycategory?cat=Fielding&conference=NBA&year=season_2016&sort=22&qualified=1

No I do not expect them to hit 40% This year but for the remainder of the season using 1/1/17 as a starting point they may get there.

dboss