NBA Offseason 2016

[SqDanceCallingSteve]

Style and fundamentals aren't mutually exclusive, the most enjoyable players to watch had it all going for them: MJ, Dr J, Magic, Bird, Oscar . . .

Zaza makes his 'glad to be here' speech today. He and Wyclef Jean have a mutual friend, which led to Wyclef's support for his All-Star candidacy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhdQmpqVO7w

>>Pachulia's reported deal has him signed under the room exception and comes at a number [$2.9M] probably far less than he could have fetched during a free-agency period that saw salaries skyrocket. He made $5.2 million each of the past three seasons and is coming off what he considers to be the best year of his career in which he grabbed a personal high 9.4 rebounds to go along with 8.6 points.

Of taking a pay cut, Pachulia said, "I made a decision. I'm proud of my decision. I'm happy with it. I'm never going to look back."<< http://www.mercurynews.com/warriors/ci_ ... be-warrior

[jon abbey]

Sometimes this, sometimes that, no? Both sets of skills are impressive. If you're asking me, I wouldn't want either Timmy or Westbrook ALL the time.

I reject your comparison to music. for me watching Westbrook do absolutely anything on the court is enjoyable, and the reverse is true for Duncan. for me watching Duncan was like there was one insanely well programmed basketball robot on the court with nine human beings.

so, yes, if you let me choose between watching a game with Westbrook or with Duncan, I would choose the Westbrook one 500 times in a row.

[Noj]

Scoreboard. Seeing the ball go through the hoop at a high percentage from the low block works for me. Effective is a fine replacement for flashy.

Was he my favorite player? Not by any stretch of the imagination. I'd rather watch Westbrook too.

[jon abbey]

yeah, no one is questioning his skill or effectiveness, 'scoreboard' has nothing to do with what I'm talking about. winning is not the only thing when you are a fan (and more specifically a general NBA fan, not a team-specific fan), entertainment level for me is foremost.

I got more enjoyment out of the one year that the quintet of Amare/Marion/Q/Joe Johnson/Nash were together than I did from all 19 years of Duncan's career. honestly I got more out of most individual games in that Suns season than I did from Duncan's career, like watching paint dry for me.

[The G Man]

I got more enjoyment out of the one year that the quintet of Amare/Marion/Q/Joe Johnson/Nash were together

Don't forget Barbosa as a young blur on that team. He was very exciting back then.

[Noj]

Understand, I'm being objective here as I hate the Spurs almost as much as the Celtics. Ginobili and Tony Parker have been very exciting players throughout their careers, if only for craftiness. I love Kawhi Leonard's game, even though he's not the most thrilling player to watch I appreciate his effort on both sides of the ball. Not all that's flashy is above the rim. Sometimes it's handles, quickness, dimes, circus shots, or really stifling defense.

Still, there's nothing like a ferocious dunk.

[walto]

yeah, no one is questioning his skill or effectiveness, 'scoreboard' has nothing to do with what I'm talking about. winning is not the only thing when you are a fan (and more specifically a general NBA fan, not a team-specific fan), entertainment level for me is foremost.

I got more enjoyment out of the one year that the quintet of Amare/Marion/Q/Joe Johnson/Nash were together than I did from all 19 years of Duncan's career. honestly I got more out of most individual games in that Suns season than I did from Duncan's career, like watching paint dry for me.

I think where we differ on this is that I also like to see a perfectly executed back door or pick and roll or double screen or box out or match-up zone defense. If a women's team does it, that's great too, although it's generally slower and not as athletically peformed. I like to see the westbrooks fly, but not exclusively. I mean, a slam dunk contest doesn't move me after about 10 minutes.

When I think about it, the kind of basketball I hate watching most isn't the dull duncan post play stuff. It's the hero ball where somebody pounds it at the top of the key for 22 seconds with everybody else standing around, and then flings himself at the basket in an attempt to pick up a foul. I hate that sooo much.

[jon abbey]

hmm, I can appreciate a wide range of skills in the NBA, but thinking about it more, it's the athletic aspect as specifically represented in jumping ability (not just dunks) that I truly love. Tony Parker is obviously incredible, the number of layups in the half court that he's had in his career despite barely jumping defies logic, and he is someone I probably would have liked more had he not been on The Big Dinosaur's team his whole career despite his lack of hops. not Ginobili, though, his game is proto-Harden, full of bullshit Eurosteps, flopping, and other tricks that may be effective but I don't enjoy watching.

and I actually think I prefer hero ball to team ball, although I obviously see why many don't agree. what I love about hoops besides hops is improvisation in the moment, and when the whole arena knows you're going to try to score, including all five guys on the other team, your improv instincts need to be fully engaged.

interesting discussion, some things in my own taste that I hadn't examined in much detail, just took them for granted...

[Enforcer]

I like the entertainment value of sports, music, movies and everything else, but I go for the geekier aspects more. I think there's also a non-conformist component to that for me, and probably some elitism as well. So I love car chases and explosions, but I want my Tarkovsky. I like a good hook, but bebop moves me more. I'm playing Pokemon Go, but chess is my favorite game.

So with sports, I enjoy athletic dunks and huge home runs, but I get more out of advanced metrics and the subtle elements of strategy and fundamentals.

I guess food is an exception. I can enjoy haute cuisine, but at the end of the day, I get more excited about the perfect slice of pizza.

[walto]

what I love about hoops besides hops is improvisation in the moment, and when the whole arena knows you're going to try to score, including all five guys on the other team, your improv instincts need to be fully engaged.

My younger daughter plays field hockey. And one (the only maybe?) cool thing about the sport is the way they do penalties. 8 seconds to score from way the hell out, just one player against the goalie. There's the same drama as penalty kicks in soccer, but here you're not allowed to score from that deep. In fockey you've got to drive toward the net, making one, six, twelve, moves against this giant, padded THING. The adlibs by both players are what it's all about.

Maybe fencing was like that a bit?

[jon abbey]

heh, maybe if only one person had a sword and there was a very short time limit for each point. I see what you mean a little, I think. maybe if the field was only ten feet long and each player received a ball to start and the first one to score wins? that's a little closer anyway.

[The G Man]

Dario Saric is giving up a lot of money over the next few years to join the Sixers for the season, one year too early from a financial perspective. He, along with Ingram and Embiid could form a very good core at a low price.

[jon abbey]

Simmons, not Ingram, but I still think those guys might be too tall collectively to have success in today's league (and that's even if they dump Okafor and Noel).

[walto]

heh, maybe if only one person had a sword and there was a very short time limit for each point. I see what you mean a little, I think. maybe if the field was only ten feet long and each player received a ball to start and the first one to score wins? that's a little closer anyway.

Here are a couple of vids of shoot-outs. You won't be surprised to find that the women seem to find beating the goalie more of a challenge.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T6zCVX8ntg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzpmwdOWGsc

[SqDanceCallingSteve]

Funny stuff, from the end of an article detailing how Iguodala's coming here was the central factor in creating the current Warriors: " . . . This is, after all, the man with the foresight to feign back spasms in the Finals to throw the series to Cleveland, knowing that KD likely wouldn't come to Golden State had the Warriors just won a championship. (I'm kidding! We all know Steve Kerr was behind the most Machiavellian, #LightYears strategy the sports world has ever seen in throwing the 2016 Finals by playing Anderson Varejao. But I digress...)"

[walto]

Now the big rumor in Boston is that the C's are about to make a 3-way trade getting them Blake Griffin.

[Captain Hate]

What a pathetic train wreck this has become: http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2016/07/ ... 1468421741

[SqDanceCallingSteve]

Andy headed back to the Dubs for another year. Let's hope he doesn't become a game 7 option next session.

[The G Man]

Andy headed back to the Dubs for another year. Let's hope he doesn't become a game 7 option next session.

They brought him back over Speights. I think Kerr has a personal fondness for Andy and none for Mo. I don't see this justified on the merits.

I would like to see the league take a harder line against flopping. Andy, for one, should be forced to play real defense.

[SqDanceCallingSteve]

Mo was less effective this year than last, but I don't get keeping Andy over Mo, either.

2nd round draft pick Patrick McCaw with 28 points and 3 steals in summer league.