My bad, I though you was referring to Love... But yeah Mozgov also got torched by Okafur a few weeks back..
2015 - 2016 NBA Thread - NBA where amazing happens - all rookie team named!!!
- Thread starter Mask
- Start date
My bad, I though you was referring to Love... But yeah Mozgov also got torched by Okafur a few weeks back..
Kevin Durant's Return Propels Thunder Back to Elite Status
By Grant Hughes , National NBA Featured Columnist Nov. 24, 2015
Melissa Majchrzak/Getty Images
Here's hoping the rest of the NBA enjoyed that six-game stretch when the Oklahoma City Thunder, sans Kevin Durant, were the same up-and-down, Russell Westbrook-dependent exhibit of mediocrity they were a year ago.
Because those days are over...again.
Durant returned to the floor in a decisive 111-89 road win over the Utah Jazz on Monday, showing no signs of trouble from the hamstring that cost him a half-dozen contests. He poured in 27 points on just 13 shots, flashing the obscene confidence and rangy bounce we've all come to expect.
By Grant Hughes , National NBA Featured Columnist Nov. 24, 2015
Melissa Majchrzak/Getty Images
Here's hoping the rest of the NBA enjoyed that six-game stretch when the Oklahoma City Thunder, sans Kevin Durant, were the same up-and-down, Russell Westbrook-dependent exhibit of mediocrity they were a year ago.
Because those days are over...again.
Durant returned to the floor in a decisive 111-89 road win over the Utah Jazz on Monday, showing no signs of trouble from the hamstring that cost him a half-dozen contests. He poured in 27 points on just 13 shots, flashing the obscene confidence and rangy bounce we've all come to expect.
I told the pig that Napier pick was a bad idea on day one. Bron made them clowns burn a pick on that bum and then skipped town. 
I told the pig that Napier pick was a bad idea on day one. Bron made them clowns burn a pick on that bum and then skipped town.
Lebron johns Big O as the only players in NBA history to rank in the top 25 in both points and assists.
CLEVELAND -- LeBron James joined Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson on Monday as the only players in NBA history to rank in the top 25 in both points and assists.
James joined the elite company when he found Kevin Love for a corner 3-pointer with five minutes left in the second quarter. It was his fifth assist of the game and 6,387th of his career, which put him ahead of Norm Nixon at No. 25.
James said he didn't want the accomplishment to spark a conversation comparing his career with the Big O's.
Editor's Picks
LeBron James joined Oscar Robertson on an exclusive NBA list and Kevin Love scored a season-high 35 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers remained unbeaten at home with a 117-103 win over Orlando.
"I think what we get caught up in, in our league too much, is trying to compare greats to greats, instead of just accepting and acknowledging and saying, 'Wow, these are just great players,'" James said after the Cleveland Cavaliers' 117-103 win over the Orlando Magic. "I think in the NFL, when you talk about great quarterbacks, they don't really compare great quarterbacks. They say, 'Oh, Joe Montana is great.' You know, 'Tom Brady is great. Aaron Rodgers is great. Steve Young is great.' [Terry] Bradshaw, all those great quarterbacks, they never compare them as much.
"But when it comes to our sport, we're so eager to say, 'Who is better: Oscar or [Michael] Jordan?' or 'Jordan or LeBron or Kobe [Bryant] or these guys?' instead of just accepting greatness. And if you understand the history of the sport, then there is no way you could ever forget Oscar Robertson. This guy, he averaged a triple-double for, like, forever."
Robertson has shared similar sentiments for James.
In October 2010, speaking in an interview with ESPN's Mark Schwarz, Robertson said James is "in a class by himself" in response to Charles Barkley saying James will "never be Jordan."
James was asked why he believed basketball players' legacies get pitted against one another, while football players' don't.
"I think it may be the nature of the sport, and also, the prestige position in sports is quarterback," James said.
James was then asked if basketball players feed into those comparisons by having the conversations he doesn't care for.
"I don't," James said. "I can't speak for everybody else."
Magic coach Scott Skiles brought up other luminaries to whom James has been linked.
"Every time there is a great young player, everybody always talks about Michael [Jordan] and stuff like that, but to me, he's always been more of like a Magic [Johnson] or an Oscar-type player, anyway, because of his vision," said Skiles, the NBA's all-time single-game assists leader, with 30. "That's what makes him so difficult [to defend]. ... Give him a steady diet of running and double-teaming him or whatever, he's going to carve you up. He's going to hit everybody [with passes], find everybody, find the open man. ... His vision certainly sets him apart from a lot of the great players."
James finished Monday night's win with 13 assists, which tied a season high. He scored 15 points and needs just six more to pass Reggie Miller (25,279 points) for No. 18 on the all-time scoring list.
When asked at shootaround Monday whether he had any fond memories of Miller's playing career, James said, "Uh, no," rather abruptly. When Robertson's name came up, James was more than happy to expound.
"Any time we get an opportunity to either see each other or talk to each other, it's always respect," James said. "He's a guy who laid the foundation, and I'm just trying to carry it on. How guys can be triple threats, play for the team first, and then hopefully, someone else can take the example that I took from him and keep it going."
James -- sometimes reluctant to delve into his personal achievements, often going back to the refrain that he and his good friend, Maverick Carter, will talk about all that over wine someday when he's retired -- gave credit for the mark to those he has suited up with on the Cavs and Miami Heat.
"I've been very blessed to be with a lot of great teammates and two great organizations that allowed me to do some unbelievable things," James said. "And obviously with the assists, without my teammates over the years and them making shots, then I don't get the assists. So it is very humbling to see my name linked with Big O, someone that I've always kind of admired."
James' team gave the credit right back to him.
"That gives me chills to even hear that," Cavs coach David Blatt said. "That's an amazing, amazing accomplishment."
Added Love, who informed James he had joined Robertson: "One of, if not the, most unselfish superstar, best player in the game, and it doesn't surprise me. ... The scoring has always been there for him, but he's, by nature, unselfish. That's pretty good company."
James entered Monday night averaging 26.6 points per game. If he can stay at that clip while playing all 82 games for the Cavs, which he has said is his goal, he could pass Hakeem Olajuwon's 26,946 points, which currently rank 10th all time, by season's end.
Robertson ranks 11th in points with 26,710 and sixth in assists with 9,887.
CLEVELAND -- LeBron James joined Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson on Monday as the only players in NBA history to rank in the top 25 in both points and assists.
James joined the elite company when he found Kevin Love for a corner 3-pointer with five minutes left in the second quarter. It was his fifth assist of the game and 6,387th of his career, which put him ahead of Norm Nixon at No. 25.
James said he didn't want the accomplishment to spark a conversation comparing his career with the Big O's.
Editor's Picks
LeBron James joined Oscar Robertson on an exclusive NBA list and Kevin Love scored a season-high 35 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers remained unbeaten at home with a 117-103 win over Orlando.
"I think what we get caught up in, in our league too much, is trying to compare greats to greats, instead of just accepting and acknowledging and saying, 'Wow, these are just great players,'" James said after the Cleveland Cavaliers' 117-103 win over the Orlando Magic. "I think in the NFL, when you talk about great quarterbacks, they don't really compare great quarterbacks. They say, 'Oh, Joe Montana is great.' You know, 'Tom Brady is great. Aaron Rodgers is great. Steve Young is great.' [Terry] Bradshaw, all those great quarterbacks, they never compare them as much.
"But when it comes to our sport, we're so eager to say, 'Who is better: Oscar or [Michael] Jordan?' or 'Jordan or LeBron or Kobe [Bryant] or these guys?' instead of just accepting greatness. And if you understand the history of the sport, then there is no way you could ever forget Oscar Robertson. This guy, he averaged a triple-double for, like, forever."
Robertson has shared similar sentiments for James.
In October 2010, speaking in an interview with ESPN's Mark Schwarz, Robertson said James is "in a class by himself" in response to Charles Barkley saying James will "never be Jordan."
James was asked why he believed basketball players' legacies get pitted against one another, while football players' don't.
"I think it may be the nature of the sport, and also, the prestige position in sports is quarterback," James said.
James was then asked if basketball players feed into those comparisons by having the conversations he doesn't care for.
"I don't," James said. "I can't speak for everybody else."
Magic coach Scott Skiles brought up other luminaries to whom James has been linked.
"Every time there is a great young player, everybody always talks about Michael [Jordan] and stuff like that, but to me, he's always been more of like a Magic [Johnson] or an Oscar-type player, anyway, because of his vision," said Skiles, the NBA's all-time single-game assists leader, with 30. "That's what makes him so difficult [to defend]. ... Give him a steady diet of running and double-teaming him or whatever, he's going to carve you up. He's going to hit everybody [with passes], find everybody, find the open man. ... His vision certainly sets him apart from a lot of the great players."
James finished Monday night's win with 13 assists, which tied a season high. He scored 15 points and needs just six more to pass Reggie Miller (25,279 points) for No. 18 on the all-time scoring list.
When asked at shootaround Monday whether he had any fond memories of Miller's playing career, James said, "Uh, no," rather abruptly. When Robertson's name came up, James was more than happy to expound.
"Any time we get an opportunity to either see each other or talk to each other, it's always respect," James said. "He's a guy who laid the foundation, and I'm just trying to carry it on. How guys can be triple threats, play for the team first, and then hopefully, someone else can take the example that I took from him and keep it going."
James -- sometimes reluctant to delve into his personal achievements, often going back to the refrain that he and his good friend, Maverick Carter, will talk about all that over wine someday when he's retired -- gave credit for the mark to those he has suited up with on the Cavs and Miami Heat.
"I've been very blessed to be with a lot of great teammates and two great organizations that allowed me to do some unbelievable things," James said. "And obviously with the assists, without my teammates over the years and them making shots, then I don't get the assists. So it is very humbling to see my name linked with Big O, someone that I've always kind of admired."
James' team gave the credit right back to him.
"That gives me chills to even hear that," Cavs coach David Blatt said. "That's an amazing, amazing accomplishment."
Added Love, who informed James he had joined Robertson: "One of, if not the, most unselfish superstar, best player in the game, and it doesn't surprise me. ... The scoring has always been there for him, but he's, by nature, unselfish. That's pretty good company."
James entered Monday night averaging 26.6 points per game. If he can stay at that clip while playing all 82 games for the Cavs, which he has said is his goal, he could pass Hakeem Olajuwon's 26,946 points, which currently rank 10th all time, by season's end.
Robertson ranks 11th in points with 26,710 and sixth in assists with 9,887.
Kristaps Porzingis isn't afraid of you. In fact, the rookie isn't afraid of anyone.
NEW YORK -- He is 20 years old and was born in Latvia, a place that sends a lot of Americans running to Google Maps for a clue to its location. At first glance, New York Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis' grasp of NBA history, like his perfectly accented colloquial English ("It's on, dude") and knowledge of American culture (he's a Drake, Rihanna and Trey Songz fan), seem at odds with his faraway background.
But some of the shock about the overnight sensation Porzingis has become in New York is justified only if you forget that the European invasion of the NBA has been underway for a good 20-some years now.
In many ways, Porzingis -- the youngest son in a basketball-playing family -- has been meticulously preparing for his NBA close-up all of his life. And now that his hard work, shrewd decisions and natural skill have combined to make him a hit around the league -- not just with his Knicks teammates or success-starved, justifiably paranoid Knicks fans -- Porzingis seems good-naturedly surprised that everyone else is surprised.
"Everyone was saying I was a project, and I am going to get better, but I am ready to play right now," Porzingis said last week after he unspooled his first breakout game -- a 29-point, 11-rebound night against the Charlotte Hornets at Madison Square Garden with ex-Knicks greats Patrick Ewing and Willis Reed in the house. By the end, Knicks fans were repeatedly chanting his last name.
By the next day, the NBA reported that Porzingis' No. 6 game jersey had sold out.
And that was before he came back Saturday with an even more remarkable night: a 24-point, 14-rebound, seven-block performance in a 107-102 win against the Houston Rockets. The Knicks improved to 8-6, giving them nearly half of last year's final win total of 17. Porzingis was so terrific, nobody even dwelled much afterward on the fact that the Rockets gave center Dwight Howard a rest night. At 20 years, 111 days, he became the youngest player to post numbers that high in the three categories for a single game, edging Shaquille O'Neal. Porzingis' seven blocks tied the franchise record for a rookie set by Lonnie Shelton in 1976-77.
"I'm not scared -- I'm not scared of anybody," Porzingis said before leaving for the Knicks' four-game road trip that continues Monday night in Miami. "I'm skinny and I'm light. Strong guys can still push me around. But I will fight back, and be aggressive and never back down from anybody. If I want to succeed at this level, I can't be scared of anybody. I can't have fear. I've got to be fearless out there on the court."
So far, Porzingis has kept his word.
Just 14 games into the young season, Porzingis is the biggest on-court sensation the Knicks have had since Jeremy Lin and Linsanity followed Carmelo Anthony's arrival in town. But Porzingis comes with this happy caveat: Hardly anybody is warning he's some flash in the pan, as plenty of cynics did with Lin.
Nor will anybody be surprised if weeks from now the Madison Square Garden crowd again chants Porzingis' name over and over. The belief is there are more great nights for him to come.
"Things are kind of crazy for me right now," he's allowed.
The New York Post has reported that Anthony already has told friends that in Porzingis he may finally have the kind of do-everything wingman who can help him win an NBA championship.
"Everyone was saying I was a project, and I am going to get better, but I am ready to play right now."
Kristaps Porzingis
Knicks shooting guard Arron Afflalo is highly impressed, too.
"He's so smart and committed, he's got God-given gifts to play this game in terms of rebounding and scoring, he's tall and skilled, but more importantly he's mentally prepared for a kid at 20," Afflalo rattled off.
"That's very impressive."
And Porzingis? He doesn't deny he noted the critics who booed him vociferously or even burst into tears when the Knicks took him on draft night. But five months later, there's not a bit of I-told-you-so in him. He genially says he has a long way to go, but then quickly adds he always thought he'd affirm Knicks president Phil Jackson's decision to make him the fourth overall pick. And so far, he's been right.
Porzingis volunteers that after he tweeted a photo from his Charlotte performance, he picked up 15,000 followers on Twitter.
In one night? "In one night," he repeated. "But I was a little active, too," he added with a smile. "I wanted to keep the momentum rolling, you know?"
Even Porzingis' little shows of ego like that make him irresistibly likable. Because of the ways he backs it up.
Porzingis had no compunction telling an interviewer earlier this year that he thinks the NBA player his game most closely compares to is New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis -- with a better 3-pointer. But his play is making people forget their worries that his narrow shoulders still look thin as a coat hanger. They're saying, yeah, but look at his sweet shot instead. And the 11 pounds he's added in the past few months. And how even at 7-foot-3 and listed at 240 pounds, he runs the court like a gazelle and plucks rebounds out of the air before shorter players get a finger on them.
Jackson himself initially fed some of the post-draft skepticism about Porzingis by cautioning in an ESPN.com story that there was a chance Porzingis might be "too tall" and spindly to develop into anything more than a latter-day version of Shawn Bradley, the 7-foot-6 BYU star who never dominated in the NBA. That only fed the idea that Porzingis' slight frame might snap like a bread stick once he got into the NBA trenches, even if he's playing power forward for now and not center.
Porzingis' reaction: "Yeah. I saw it. ... It fired me up."
Then he even proved he was aware of Jackson's longtime habit of playing mind games with players, dating back to Jackson's days with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.
"I guess that's what Phil does, gets guys to work hard and [get fired] up," Porzingis said in September. "That fired me up. I'm like, 'I'm not Shawn Bradley, you know.' ... I want to be better than Shawn Bradley, obviously, and be stronger than him, but I'm a different player."
Plenty of people still hold on to the aged-out gripes that Euro players are all somehow "soft," especially big men. They still fall into the habit of comparing Porzingis only to other international players, usually Pau Gasol of Spain or German-born Dirk Nowitzki.
But Porzingis has the potential to be better than both men.
Porzingis already has a terrific shooting touch out to 3-point range, but he moves far better than Nowitzki and he's a far better rebounder and shot-blocker.
"He's for real. Sky's the limit," Nowitzki himself has said.
Knicks coach Derek Fisher believes there is going to come a time, if it hasn't already arrived, when Porzingis is compared to great players, period, and not the cause of amazement simply because he's good for a European. There were 100 international players on opening-day NBA rosters this season, and they hail from 37 different countries.
"I don't know if there's still a bias or not, and I don't think they care, honestly," Fisher says. "I think [Porzingis] is continuing to learn how to navigate all the situations that come with having, at times, lower expectations -- which were initially the case. ... [But] in my opinion, international players have long proven they're some of the best players in the world.
"I don't even like to say 'them,' like they're separate somehow. They're NBA players, and we're fortunate to have them."
If you watch Porzingis' game closely, you can tell how watching the NBA since he began playing at 6 allowed him to steal from some of the best. Both of Porzingis' older brothers played basketball, as did both of their parents, who began sending Kristaps to an English tutor as a grade-schooler because they believed his height might allow him to play overseas someday.
Porzingis says his eldest brother often made him mix tapes or highlight reels of NBA stars. And to this day, Porzingis tries to nick a little from everyone he admires.
Already, Porzingis can shoot a hook shot with either hand, the same skill Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made famous. He's got a little funk in his game, too. There are already YouTube compilations of Porzingis flying to the rim to throw down put-back dunks, including one against San Antonio that brought his Knicks teammates literally leaping off the bench and staggering around in mock amazement, pretending to hold each other back from rushing the court.
Porzingis can mimic how Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, another idol, takes the ball at the top of the key and puts it on the floor to shake the defender flying at him before smoothly launching a pull-up jumper. ("I like him because he's a great scorer. And he's skinny like me," Porzingis says about Durant with a laugh.) And he spent a lot of time this summer scrimmaging with Anthony to pick up some much-needed post-up moves, including a slower-motion version of the "Dream Shake" that Hakeem Olajuwon made famous.
In Houston on Saturday, Porzingis even debuted his version of the step-back, one-legged jumper that Nowitzki has made a living on in Dallas. But Porzingis insisted afterward that the move still needs work.
Knicks point guard Jose Calderon says that kind of humility and work ethic has made Porzingis a quick favorite inside the locker room. He arrives three hours early for games and is often among the last players to leave the practice court.
Even Anthony, who rarely hid his disdain of the phenomena surrounding Lin, has fallen hard for the new kid.
"I knew he was going to be good from way back when I first met him and talked to him this summer," Anthony says.
The hype isn't likely to stop. The Knicks beat Houston even though Anthony had an off night because Porzingis' all-around game was so spectacular, particularly in the final two minutes when he blocked James Harden twice and sank two free throws, nudging his percentage from the line to 83.0.
Then, looking ahead to Monday's game in Miami -- a place he's never been -- Porzingis said something sure to endear himself to his team and Knicks fans even more.
He was asked what he was looking forward to most, and he said, "Getting another win."
NEW YORK -- He is 20 years old and was born in Latvia, a place that sends a lot of Americans running to Google Maps for a clue to its location. At first glance, New York Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis' grasp of NBA history, like his perfectly accented colloquial English ("It's on, dude") and knowledge of American culture (he's a Drake, Rihanna and Trey Songz fan), seem at odds with his faraway background.
But some of the shock about the overnight sensation Porzingis has become in New York is justified only if you forget that the European invasion of the NBA has been underway for a good 20-some years now.
In many ways, Porzingis -- the youngest son in a basketball-playing family -- has been meticulously preparing for his NBA close-up all of his life. And now that his hard work, shrewd decisions and natural skill have combined to make him a hit around the league -- not just with his Knicks teammates or success-starved, justifiably paranoid Knicks fans -- Porzingis seems good-naturedly surprised that everyone else is surprised.
"Everyone was saying I was a project, and I am going to get better, but I am ready to play right now," Porzingis said last week after he unspooled his first breakout game -- a 29-point, 11-rebound night against the Charlotte Hornets at Madison Square Garden with ex-Knicks greats Patrick Ewing and Willis Reed in the house. By the end, Knicks fans were repeatedly chanting his last name.
By the next day, the NBA reported that Porzingis' No. 6 game jersey had sold out.
And that was before he came back Saturday with an even more remarkable night: a 24-point, 14-rebound, seven-block performance in a 107-102 win against the Houston Rockets. The Knicks improved to 8-6, giving them nearly half of last year's final win total of 17. Porzingis was so terrific, nobody even dwelled much afterward on the fact that the Rockets gave center Dwight Howard a rest night. At 20 years, 111 days, he became the youngest player to post numbers that high in the three categories for a single game, edging Shaquille O'Neal. Porzingis' seven blocks tied the franchise record for a rookie set by Lonnie Shelton in 1976-77.
"I'm not scared -- I'm not scared of anybody," Porzingis said before leaving for the Knicks' four-game road trip that continues Monday night in Miami. "I'm skinny and I'm light. Strong guys can still push me around. But I will fight back, and be aggressive and never back down from anybody. If I want to succeed at this level, I can't be scared of anybody. I can't have fear. I've got to be fearless out there on the court."
So far, Porzingis has kept his word.
Just 14 games into the young season, Porzingis is the biggest on-court sensation the Knicks have had since Jeremy Lin and Linsanity followed Carmelo Anthony's arrival in town. But Porzingis comes with this happy caveat: Hardly anybody is warning he's some flash in the pan, as plenty of cynics did with Lin.
Nor will anybody be surprised if weeks from now the Madison Square Garden crowd again chants Porzingis' name over and over. The belief is there are more great nights for him to come.
"Things are kind of crazy for me right now," he's allowed.
The New York Post has reported that Anthony already has told friends that in Porzingis he may finally have the kind of do-everything wingman who can help him win an NBA championship.
"Everyone was saying I was a project, and I am going to get better, but I am ready to play right now."
Kristaps Porzingis
Knicks shooting guard Arron Afflalo is highly impressed, too.
"He's so smart and committed, he's got God-given gifts to play this game in terms of rebounding and scoring, he's tall and skilled, but more importantly he's mentally prepared for a kid at 20," Afflalo rattled off.
"That's very impressive."
And Porzingis? He doesn't deny he noted the critics who booed him vociferously or even burst into tears when the Knicks took him on draft night. But five months later, there's not a bit of I-told-you-so in him. He genially says he has a long way to go, but then quickly adds he always thought he'd affirm Knicks president Phil Jackson's decision to make him the fourth overall pick. And so far, he's been right.
Porzingis volunteers that after he tweeted a photo from his Charlotte performance, he picked up 15,000 followers on Twitter.
In one night? "In one night," he repeated. "But I was a little active, too," he added with a smile. "I wanted to keep the momentum rolling, you know?"
Even Porzingis' little shows of ego like that make him irresistibly likable. Because of the ways he backs it up.
Porzingis had no compunction telling an interviewer earlier this year that he thinks the NBA player his game most closely compares to is New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis -- with a better 3-pointer. But his play is making people forget their worries that his narrow shoulders still look thin as a coat hanger. They're saying, yeah, but look at his sweet shot instead. And the 11 pounds he's added in the past few months. And how even at 7-foot-3 and listed at 240 pounds, he runs the court like a gazelle and plucks rebounds out of the air before shorter players get a finger on them.
Jackson himself initially fed some of the post-draft skepticism about Porzingis by cautioning in an ESPN.com story that there was a chance Porzingis might be "too tall" and spindly to develop into anything more than a latter-day version of Shawn Bradley, the 7-foot-6 BYU star who never dominated in the NBA. That only fed the idea that Porzingis' slight frame might snap like a bread stick once he got into the NBA trenches, even if he's playing power forward for now and not center.
Porzingis' reaction: "Yeah. I saw it. ... It fired me up."
Then he even proved he was aware of Jackson's longtime habit of playing mind games with players, dating back to Jackson's days with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.
"I guess that's what Phil does, gets guys to work hard and [get fired] up," Porzingis said in September. "That fired me up. I'm like, 'I'm not Shawn Bradley, you know.' ... I want to be better than Shawn Bradley, obviously, and be stronger than him, but I'm a different player."
Plenty of people still hold on to the aged-out gripes that Euro players are all somehow "soft," especially big men. They still fall into the habit of comparing Porzingis only to other international players, usually Pau Gasol of Spain or German-born Dirk Nowitzki.
But Porzingis has the potential to be better than both men.
Porzingis already has a terrific shooting touch out to 3-point range, but he moves far better than Nowitzki and he's a far better rebounder and shot-blocker.
"He's for real. Sky's the limit," Nowitzki himself has said.
Knicks coach Derek Fisher believes there is going to come a time, if it hasn't already arrived, when Porzingis is compared to great players, period, and not the cause of amazement simply because he's good for a European. There were 100 international players on opening-day NBA rosters this season, and they hail from 37 different countries.
"I don't know if there's still a bias or not, and I don't think they care, honestly," Fisher says. "I think [Porzingis] is continuing to learn how to navigate all the situations that come with having, at times, lower expectations -- which were initially the case. ... [But] in my opinion, international players have long proven they're some of the best players in the world.
"I don't even like to say 'them,' like they're separate somehow. They're NBA players, and we're fortunate to have them."
If you watch Porzingis' game closely, you can tell how watching the NBA since he began playing at 6 allowed him to steal from some of the best. Both of Porzingis' older brothers played basketball, as did both of their parents, who began sending Kristaps to an English tutor as a grade-schooler because they believed his height might allow him to play overseas someday.
Porzingis says his eldest brother often made him mix tapes or highlight reels of NBA stars. And to this day, Porzingis tries to nick a little from everyone he admires.
Already, Porzingis can shoot a hook shot with either hand, the same skill Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made famous. He's got a little funk in his game, too. There are already YouTube compilations of Porzingis flying to the rim to throw down put-back dunks, including one against San Antonio that brought his Knicks teammates literally leaping off the bench and staggering around in mock amazement, pretending to hold each other back from rushing the court.
Porzingis can mimic how Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, another idol, takes the ball at the top of the key and puts it on the floor to shake the defender flying at him before smoothly launching a pull-up jumper. ("I like him because he's a great scorer. And he's skinny like me," Porzingis says about Durant with a laugh.) And he spent a lot of time this summer scrimmaging with Anthony to pick up some much-needed post-up moves, including a slower-motion version of the "Dream Shake" that Hakeem Olajuwon made famous.
In Houston on Saturday, Porzingis even debuted his version of the step-back, one-legged jumper that Nowitzki has made a living on in Dallas. But Porzingis insisted afterward that the move still needs work.
Knicks point guard Jose Calderon says that kind of humility and work ethic has made Porzingis a quick favorite inside the locker room. He arrives three hours early for games and is often among the last players to leave the practice court.
Even Anthony, who rarely hid his disdain of the phenomena surrounding Lin, has fallen hard for the new kid.
"I knew he was going to be good from way back when I first met him and talked to him this summer," Anthony says.
The hype isn't likely to stop. The Knicks beat Houston even though Anthony had an off night because Porzingis' all-around game was so spectacular, particularly in the final two minutes when he blocked James Harden twice and sank two free throws, nudging his percentage from the line to 83.0.
Then, looking ahead to Monday's game in Miami -- a place he's never been -- Porzingis said something sure to endear himself to his team and Knicks fans even more.
He was asked what he was looking forward to most, and he said, "Getting another win."
Yeah Man. He had a few rough games but in an intwrview yesterday on local radio, he said while he feels Towns and Russell are great players, those games are personal to him because of how he became sort of the consolation prize in the draft in a sense. He showed that shit last night though.
Absolutely LOVE Porzingas' game. Barring injury he's going to go a long way in changing the immediate perception of foreign white player. Been hearing crickets from all those Dark 2.0 Fools for a minute now
"Kawhi Leonard and the rest of the Spurs have seamlessly integrated into new roles and are winning as much as ever."
Roles change, results remain same as Spurs continue to roll
SAN ANTONIO -- Adjustment periods shouldn’t run so smoothly.
Yet 14 games into the season, the San Antonio Spurs are tied for the second-best record in the NBA (11-3) after thumping the Phoenix Suns 98-84 Monday night, thanks to a Kawhi Leonard double-double (24 points, 13 rebounds) and Tony Parker's 20 points and eight assists.
“I think we’ve come along pretty well for just being this far into the season,” Tim Duncan said.
The Spurs expected to gel eventually, just not this quickly.
Everyone knows the story: San Antonio added prized free-agent acquisition LaMarcus Aldridge during the offseason as well as veterans David West, Rasual Butler and Ray McCallum to the longtime nucleus of Leonard, Duncan, Parker and Ginobili. Typically, the Spurs avoid disrupting the long-established status quo but saw a chance to extend their championship window by adding Aldridge.
That move and other dynamics at play, such as Leonard’s rapid ascension, changed the Spurs more significantly than it appears. At one time San Antonio’s offense ran through Duncan, and later through Parker and Ginobili.
Now Leonard and Aldridge are the team’s main scoring options, which changes everyone else’s roles.
“I think it’s more of just finding rhythms than roles. Everybody knows their roles here. It’s making those other [new] guys feel comfortable, getting them acclimated and just kind of playing with them and seeing how we fit together,” said Danny Green, who finished with a season-high 18 points, including four 3-pointers. “I think it’s on both parties [being] a little bit passive before we can actually feel comfortable enough to be aggressive within each other. David [West] is a very pass-first guy. LaMarcus is more of a scorer, but even him now in this system he’s thinking about [passing]. I think we’re over-passing sometimes instead of being aggressive. But most guys are trying to feel each other out and seeing what spots, and we’re picking and choosing where we’re going to find our looks.”
Those choices, however, now seem to be coming with more confidence and decisiveness.
For example, Parker started off the night serving more as a facilitator and defender, scoring just two points in the first half. In the second half, with Aldridge missing his second consecutive game due to a sprained ankle and Leonard putting in most of the work on the offensive end, Parker decided to crank up the aggression, as he’s still plenty capable of taking on the role of scorer.
“It’s been the dilemma my whole career [between scoring and distributing],” Parker said. “So I’m always looking to find that balance. LaMarcus was out. So I knew I was going to be more aggressive. Kawhi was doing a lot. So I had to help him out.”
Green lent a hand, too.
Normally a long-range shooter and defensive specialist, Green stepped inside the 3-point line and fired 15 attempts from the field. Duncan mentioned that because of Green’s success from long range in the past, teams no longer let him sit out on the wing and drain 3-pointers, which translates to the guard working to find other ways to effectively contribute.
Duncan’s role has changed as well.
“For Timmy, it’s very different too because whenever we wanted to go to the paint, it was going to him,” Ginobili said. “Those plays [were] for him. And now, most of the plays are gonna be for LaMarcus; some for Kawhi, too. So it’s a little different for everybody. We needed a little time to adjust. But Timmy is a great teammate, wants the best for everybody so we’re all better. It was very hard for a little bit, but we’re all gonna adjust.”
The Defensive Player of the Year in 2014-15, Leonard continues to showcase a newfound ability on offense to create off the dribble, which boosts his usage rate, not to mention his confidence. Aldridge served as the go-to guy his entire career in Portland before joining the Spurs, where he’s now becoming more of a passer.
Meanwhile, the vets such as Duncan, Parker and Ginobili seem happy to pass the torch to Aldridge and Leonard as the rest of the team blossoms in their respective roles.
“People are still trying to figure out when and where their shots are and what’s right and wrong in the offense. So that leads to a little bit of hesitation,” Duncan said. “We’re gonna make mistakes, and we’re gonna use as we always do, use the 82 [regular season games] to figure those mistakes out and try to minimize them as much as possible. It’s very different for us, but it’s been wonderful because [the new players have] been great, willing to learn. They’re willing to find their roles and play their roles. They’re here to win, and that’s all they’re about. That’s what we want people to buy into. That’s what we want people to do.”
Duncan said he’s surprised by “how fast we’ve kind of gelled together more than anything. I think we still have some growing to do. We’re going to go through some ups and downs. We’re gonna lose some games. Even the games that we’ve lost and the situations we’ve lost [in], we don’t have the experience to kind of finish those games, and that’ll come. That’s just experience with this crew. All in all, I’ve been really pleased with all we’ve done.”
Roles change, results remain same as Spurs continue to roll
SAN ANTONIO -- Adjustment periods shouldn’t run so smoothly.
Yet 14 games into the season, the San Antonio Spurs are tied for the second-best record in the NBA (11-3) after thumping the Phoenix Suns 98-84 Monday night, thanks to a Kawhi Leonard double-double (24 points, 13 rebounds) and Tony Parker's 20 points and eight assists.
“I think we’ve come along pretty well for just being this far into the season,” Tim Duncan said.
The Spurs expected to gel eventually, just not this quickly.
Everyone knows the story: San Antonio added prized free-agent acquisition LaMarcus Aldridge during the offseason as well as veterans David West, Rasual Butler and Ray McCallum to the longtime nucleus of Leonard, Duncan, Parker and Ginobili. Typically, the Spurs avoid disrupting the long-established status quo but saw a chance to extend their championship window by adding Aldridge.
That move and other dynamics at play, such as Leonard’s rapid ascension, changed the Spurs more significantly than it appears. At one time San Antonio’s offense ran through Duncan, and later through Parker and Ginobili.
Now Leonard and Aldridge are the team’s main scoring options, which changes everyone else’s roles.
“I think it’s more of just finding rhythms than roles. Everybody knows their roles here. It’s making those other [new] guys feel comfortable, getting them acclimated and just kind of playing with them and seeing how we fit together,” said Danny Green, who finished with a season-high 18 points, including four 3-pointers. “I think it’s on both parties [being] a little bit passive before we can actually feel comfortable enough to be aggressive within each other. David [West] is a very pass-first guy. LaMarcus is more of a scorer, but even him now in this system he’s thinking about [passing]. I think we’re over-passing sometimes instead of being aggressive. But most guys are trying to feel each other out and seeing what spots, and we’re picking and choosing where we’re going to find our looks.”
Those choices, however, now seem to be coming with more confidence and decisiveness.
For example, Parker started off the night serving more as a facilitator and defender, scoring just two points in the first half. In the second half, with Aldridge missing his second consecutive game due to a sprained ankle and Leonard putting in most of the work on the offensive end, Parker decided to crank up the aggression, as he’s still plenty capable of taking on the role of scorer.
“It’s been the dilemma my whole career [between scoring and distributing],” Parker said. “So I’m always looking to find that balance. LaMarcus was out. So I knew I was going to be more aggressive. Kawhi was doing a lot. So I had to help him out.”
Green lent a hand, too.
Normally a long-range shooter and defensive specialist, Green stepped inside the 3-point line and fired 15 attempts from the field. Duncan mentioned that because of Green’s success from long range in the past, teams no longer let him sit out on the wing and drain 3-pointers, which translates to the guard working to find other ways to effectively contribute.
Duncan’s role has changed as well.
“For Timmy, it’s very different too because whenever we wanted to go to the paint, it was going to him,” Ginobili said. “Those plays [were] for him. And now, most of the plays are gonna be for LaMarcus; some for Kawhi, too. So it’s a little different for everybody. We needed a little time to adjust. But Timmy is a great teammate, wants the best for everybody so we’re all better. It was very hard for a little bit, but we’re all gonna adjust.”
The Defensive Player of the Year in 2014-15, Leonard continues to showcase a newfound ability on offense to create off the dribble, which boosts his usage rate, not to mention his confidence. Aldridge served as the go-to guy his entire career in Portland before joining the Spurs, where he’s now becoming more of a passer.
Meanwhile, the vets such as Duncan, Parker and Ginobili seem happy to pass the torch to Aldridge and Leonard as the rest of the team blossoms in their respective roles.
“People are still trying to figure out when and where their shots are and what’s right and wrong in the offense. So that leads to a little bit of hesitation,” Duncan said. “We’re gonna make mistakes, and we’re gonna use as we always do, use the 82 [regular season games] to figure those mistakes out and try to minimize them as much as possible. It’s very different for us, but it’s been wonderful because [the new players have] been great, willing to learn. They’re willing to find their roles and play their roles. They’re here to win, and that’s all they’re about. That’s what we want people to buy into. That’s what we want people to do.”
Duncan said he’s surprised by “how fast we’ve kind of gelled together more than anything. I think we still have some growing to do. We’re going to go through some ups and downs. We’re gonna lose some games. Even the games that we’ve lost and the situations we’ve lost [in], we don’t have the experience to kind of finish those games, and that’ll come. That’s just experience with this crew. All in all, I’ve been really pleased with all we’ve done.”
I told the pig that Napier pick was a bad idea on day one. Bron made them clowns burn a pick on that bum and then skipped town.
Shut yo ass up old nigga we rebounded nicely..
Who?
Man back in the early/mid 90s a Latvian kid gave me fits on the court. Cat was about 6'3 lean with long arms and a handle. Those eastern european trash dirtball cacs been playing ball for a minute.
2nd or 3rd in the east depending how u look at it
Absolutely LOVE Porzingas' game. Barring injury he's going to go a long way in changing the immediate perception of foreign white player. Been hearing crickets from all those Dark 2.0 Fools for a minute now
Whiteside cooked him i
The NBA's decision to fine, not suspend, Mike Budenholzer has drawn the ire of league's referees' union.
Refs union: Mike Budenholzer's contact with official merits suspension
The NBA referees' union said it deplores a decision not to suspend Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer after he made contact with an official during a loss in Cleveland on Saturday night.
NBA vice president Kiki VanDeWeghe fined Budenholzer $25,000 on Monday for what he determined was "incidental" contact with referee Ben Taylor during the second quarter of the Cavs' 109-97 victory. It appeared Budenholzer was arguing a non-call on the previous possession. Taylor stopped the game and immediately ejected Budenholzer after Budenholzer took several steps onto the court to argue during live play.
"Referees operate in an environment in which an influential NBA team owner has repeatedly mocked the efficacy of fines as means to change bad behavior," Lee Seham, the National Basketball Referees Association general counsel, said in a statement.
"Recent league precedent dictated that a coach who aggressively charged onto the floor during live action and physically interfered with a referee would be suspended. We are now operating at a lower level with less transparency, degraded safety, and diminished respect for the game. Coaches should compete by creating better teams, not by physically intimidating officials."
In a statement released Monday night, Budenholzer said he has issued an apology to Taylor.
"With the league's permission, I have reached out to and apologized to Ben Taylor for what happened in the game versus Cleveland," Budenholzer said. "Ben is an excellent young referee who is a valuable member of the NBA family. We all understand that any contact -- including incidental contact -- with an official is unacceptable. I accept the NBA's fine and look forward to putting this situation in the past."
Reacting to Seham's statement, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, for whom Budenholzer served as an assistant coach from 1996 to 2013, said: "I think it's just a case of an anonymous suit trying to gain 15 minutes of stardom more than anything. It's comical."
The last time the NBA suspended a coach for on-court treatment of an official was in 2012, when Lakers coach Mike Brown was suspended for a game after making contact with an official. In 2009, Scott Skiles, then of the Milwaukee Bucks, also was disciplined for confronting an official on the floor.
The NBA has routinely fined coaches for public comments on officiating, foul language toward an official or not leaving the floor in a timely manner after an ejection.
Budenholzer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he did not intend to make contact with Taylor.
"I was very close to him," Budenholzer told the paper. "That seems like that could be the reason why he threw me out after just a single technical. If there was any contact it would be totally unintentional. If there is contact, I'm sure that's why he made the judgment call that he did."
In his statement, Seham appears to have been referring to Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who has routinely been fined for criticism of officials over the past decade. Cuban, who has been fined more than $2 million by the NBA during his tenure, regularly matches his fines for criticism of officials and donates the excess to charity.
Over the summer, the NBA and the NBRA reached an agreement on a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement.
Information from ESPN's Michael C. Wright was used in this report.
Refs union: Mike Budenholzer's contact with official merits suspension
The NBA referees' union said it deplores a decision not to suspend Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer after he made contact with an official during a loss in Cleveland on Saturday night.
NBA vice president Kiki VanDeWeghe fined Budenholzer $25,000 on Monday for what he determined was "incidental" contact with referee Ben Taylor during the second quarter of the Cavs' 109-97 victory. It appeared Budenholzer was arguing a non-call on the previous possession. Taylor stopped the game and immediately ejected Budenholzer after Budenholzer took several steps onto the court to argue during live play.
"Referees operate in an environment in which an influential NBA team owner has repeatedly mocked the efficacy of fines as means to change bad behavior," Lee Seham, the National Basketball Referees Association general counsel, said in a statement.
"Recent league precedent dictated that a coach who aggressively charged onto the floor during live action and physically interfered with a referee would be suspended. We are now operating at a lower level with less transparency, degraded safety, and diminished respect for the game. Coaches should compete by creating better teams, not by physically intimidating officials."
In a statement released Monday night, Budenholzer said he has issued an apology to Taylor.
"With the league's permission, I have reached out to and apologized to Ben Taylor for what happened in the game versus Cleveland," Budenholzer said. "Ben is an excellent young referee who is a valuable member of the NBA family. We all understand that any contact -- including incidental contact -- with an official is unacceptable. I accept the NBA's fine and look forward to putting this situation in the past."
Reacting to Seham's statement, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, for whom Budenholzer served as an assistant coach from 1996 to 2013, said: "I think it's just a case of an anonymous suit trying to gain 15 minutes of stardom more than anything. It's comical."
The last time the NBA suspended a coach for on-court treatment of an official was in 2012, when Lakers coach Mike Brown was suspended for a game after making contact with an official. In 2009, Scott Skiles, then of the Milwaukee Bucks, also was disciplined for confronting an official on the floor.
The NBA has routinely fined coaches for public comments on officiating, foul language toward an official or not leaving the floor in a timely manner after an ejection.
Budenholzer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he did not intend to make contact with Taylor.
"I was very close to him," Budenholzer told the paper. "That seems like that could be the reason why he threw me out after just a single technical. If there was any contact it would be totally unintentional. If there is contact, I'm sure that's why he made the judgment call that he did."
In his statement, Seham appears to have been referring to Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who has routinely been fined for criticism of officials over the past decade. Cuban, who has been fined more than $2 million by the NBA during his tenure, regularly matches his fines for criticism of officials and donates the excess to charity.
Over the summer, the NBA and the NBRA reached an agreement on a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement.
Information from ESPN's Michael C. Wright was used in this report.
"Things couldn't be more opposite for the Warriors and 76ers."
Tanking for Ben Simmons
...pathetic it's only November and this is our season objective all ready #facepalm.gif#
Tanking for Ben Simmons
...pathetic it's only November and this is our season objective all ready #facepalm.gif#
Man somebody gotta go then...
Joel
Oak
Noel
Ben???
Y'all gotta look out for Pelicans & Lakers even tho y'all legendary at this shit of late
"Kawhi Leonard and the rest of the Spurs have seamlessly integrated into new roles and are winning as much as ever."
Roles change, results remain same as Spurs continue to roll
SAN ANTONIO -- Adjustment periods shouldn’t run so smoothly.
Yet 14 games into the season, the San Antonio Spurs are tied for the second-best record in the NBA (11-3) after thumping the Phoenix Suns 98-84 Monday night, thanks to a Kawhi Leonard double-double (24 points, 13 rebounds) and Tony Parker's 20 points and eight assists.
“I think we’ve come along pretty well for just being this far into the season,” Tim Duncan said.
The Spurs expected to gel eventually, just not this quickly.
Everyone knows the story: San Antonio added prized free-agent acquisition LaMarcus Aldridge during the offseason as well as veterans David West, Rasual Butler and Ray McCallum to the longtime nucleus of Leonard, Duncan, Parker and Ginobili. Typically, the Spurs avoid disrupting the long-established status quo but saw a chance to extend their championship window by adding Aldridge.
That move and other dynamics at play, such as Leonard’s rapid ascension, changed the Spurs more significantly than it appears. At one time San Antonio’s offense ran through Duncan, and later through Parker and Ginobili.
Now Leonard and Aldridge are the team’s main scoring options, which changes everyone else’s roles.
“I think it’s more of just finding rhythms than roles. Everybody knows their roles here. It’s making those other [new] guys feel comfortable, getting them acclimated and just kind of playing with them and seeing how we fit together,” said Danny Green, who finished with a season-high 18 points, including four 3-pointers. “I think it’s on both parties [being] a little bit passive before we can actually feel comfortable enough to be aggressive within each other. David [West] is a very pass-first guy. LaMarcus is more of a scorer, but even him now in this system he’s thinking about [passing]. I think we’re over-passing sometimes instead of being aggressive. But most guys are trying to feel each other out and seeing what spots, and we’re picking and choosing where we’re going to find our looks.”
Those choices, however, now seem to be coming with more confidence and decisiveness.
For example, Parker started off the night serving more as a facilitator and defender, scoring just two points in the first half. In the second half, with Aldridge missing his second consecutive game due to a sprained ankle and Leonard putting in most of the work on the offensive end, Parker decided to crank up the aggression, as he’s still plenty capable of taking on the role of scorer.
“It’s been the dilemma my whole career [between scoring and distributing],” Parker said. “So I’m always looking to find that balance. LaMarcus was out. So I knew I was going to be more aggressive. Kawhi was doing a lot. So I had to help him out.”
Green lent a hand, too.
Normally a long-range shooter and defensive specialist, Green stepped inside the 3-point line and fired 15 attempts from the field. Duncan mentioned that because of Green’s success from long range in the past, teams no longer let him sit out on the wing and drain 3-pointers, which translates to the guard working to find other ways to effectively contribute.
Duncan’s role has changed as well.
“For Timmy, it’s very different too because whenever we wanted to go to the paint, it was going to him,” Ginobili said. “Those plays [were] for him. And now, most of the plays are gonna be for LaMarcus; some for Kawhi, too. So it’s a little different for everybody. We needed a little time to adjust. But Timmy is a great teammate, wants the best for everybody so we’re all better. It was very hard for a little bit, but we’re all gonna adjust.”
The Defensive Player of the Year in 2014-15, Leonard continues to showcase a newfound ability on offense to create off the dribble, which boosts his usage rate, not to mention his confidence. Aldridge served as the go-to guy his entire career in Portland before joining the Spurs, where he’s now becoming more of a passer.
Meanwhile, the vets such as Duncan, Parker and Ginobili seem happy to pass the torch to Aldridge and Leonard as the rest of the team blossoms in their respective roles.
“People are still trying to figure out when and where their shots are and what’s right and wrong in the offense. So that leads to a little bit of hesitation,” Duncan said. “We’re gonna make mistakes, and we’re gonna use as we always do, use the 82 [regular season games] to figure those mistakes out and try to minimize them as much as possible. It’s very different for us, but it’s been wonderful because [the new players have] been great, willing to learn. They’re willing to find their roles and play their roles. They’re here to win, and that’s all they’re about. That’s what we want people to buy into. That’s what we want people to do.”
Duncan said he’s surprised by “how fast we’ve kind of gelled together more than anything. I think we still have some growing to do. We’re going to go through some ups and downs. We’re gonna lose some games. Even the games that we’ve lost and the situations we’ve lost [in], we don’t have the experience to kind of finish those games, and that’ll come. That’s just experience with this crew. All in all, I’ve been really pleased with all we’ve done.”
I have been watching them play when I get the chance and their game is as ugly as it was in 2003 and 2005. The methodical and pure traditional style basketball. And they really have to work on their cohesiveness. If they make it to the finals again, I'm going to be flabbergasted because it will be 2016 and Duncan is still relevant.
Lebron Jones the shade tree mechanic
Bron & K. Love are killin' me with them goofy ass mustaches...
Joel, then Noel in terms of expensability. Okafor ain't going nowhere. They will offer him max bread when it's time and with Ben and Saric coming, if we can get a Mike Conley level PG we will be a problem in a few. Shit is depressing ad fuck right now tho.... I've got season tickets and have only been to 1 game this season...
If you think GS has made incremental improvements you havent been watching the games; Harrison Barnes is very much improved, Green is very much improved; Hell Curry has improved; Oh I forgot Festus, who didnt even play last year and now is splitting time with Bogut; I cant talk to people who make it a point to minimize shit; And being improved mentally is the best thing one can do in their life/profession; so to say that its incremental is absurd; Now the spurs, they look older and slower outside of Leonard; LA hasnt adjusted yet to them and vice versa; but he will so thats not a concern; Parker is older and slower, Manu is too, and so is Tim; And its early in the season; Green is playing ok; Long season which tends to wear down players, and the spurs older players will wear down; Key to Spurs is Parker, if hes healthy they have a chance; Still dont think they will beat GS whether healthy or not...
But again thats suggesting they make a trade; As of right now they dont have what it takes from my perspective and all we can do is go on right now; Now if a trade will happen then thats something different; But what do they really have to trade anyways; they not trading Leonard or Green so who else do they have that teams would want???
Irving and Love have been hurt the whole careers; Irving been hurt since college; Im not sure how you cant say they are chronic injury players...
Bron & K. Love are killin' me with them goofy ass mustaches...
Guess u haven't watch them much this year...
mustache count on the cavs... mo williams... lebron james... kevin love.... what is going on is like 1974 in cleveland
(that was before JR joined in)
Love shut it down with the truck driver
The Reason Behind LeBron James’ New Old-Man Look
You may have noticed the new look that LeBron James has sported to start the season. The old-man look, as they say, complete with the short shorts and mustache.
Now, why would we even care about his mustache, right? Well, it is actually connected to something relevant.
It’s not only James but all Cavalier players have actually participated in showing support for Movember. For those not in the know, Movember is an annual November event that is meant to raise awareness for men’s health issues.
According to James, it also serves another purpose for the Cavaliers.
“First and foremost, it’s for men’s health and prostate. We all know the history behind that stuff, but it’s also another way to have team bonding.”
J.R. Smith has a blunt recollection of how James started it within the team.
“He just walked in the locker room and said everybody has to cut their beards and keep their mustache; and everybody fell in line.”
James has often showed support to various causes and issues so it’s no longer a surprise to see him get his whole team on board. The only thing left to see is how they will all look like by the end of the month, but as long as their game does more of the talking, they can grow whatever they want on their faces.
Look how they play and how they been used... They have always logged in big mins on poor team with poor benches... Usually they shot at high volume and got banged up in the paint... The reason why its not chronic because its not the same injury happening over and over again, like Rose...
For the first time in their career they have the luxury of playing with in their game instead of being the work horse that carries the brunt of the teams burden..
Note: this is the reason why bad team stars stay injured...
Kyrie started to change his style up last year...manly because Lebron took over the ball handling duties but he gonna have to make them same changes Wade made three years ago...mid range game have to be deadly, the added bonus is his long range is there already unlike Wade
Hey man, as a courtesy, if you're gonna type in this bullshit font and bold, can you add in a couple "enter" keys here and there and give us paragraphs? Shits hell on the eyes.
And yes, incremental improvements. Which itself implies minimal roster variation yet accounts for player development and skill progression. And thats exactly where GS stands. As a team, they are on par offensively while actually playing a less efficient defensive game. While Barnes and DG have improved, Klay is way down in productivity and AI is slightly declining. Festus has near the same level of contribution per minute, he just doubled his on court time. And yes, Curry is playing lights so. So again, incremental improvements.
And the Spurs have the 2nd best record in the league along with the highest defensive rating... So im not sure what the fuck you're talking about... And quite honestly, neither are you. This team is actually younger than they were last season and they only have two players to log more than 30minutes per night. And one of those is the reigning DPOY. So feel free to agree or disagree. But to act so insulted while talking all this shit about old and slow just sounds like misinformed garbage that doesnt jive with the facts.
And of course health is the key concern. But how is that different than with any other team? Why do you think everyone keeps making a deal out of how healthy GS has been the last 12months?
Cory Joseph is just a guy. Before him it was Patty Mills, before him it was Gary Neal (remember him? didnt think so.)... Interchangeable system guys. Team wont miss him in the least.
Yea I remember each one of those cats...well what was the problem last year when TP was hurt?
Thats exactly the problem. He was hurt. They lost a tough 7 game series to the paper clips because of bad seeding (they actually switched the rules because of that shit) and losses to NO down the stretch. Game seven was a 2point loss where Duncan had 30 and 10 but Kawhi no showed. Once the post season started Corey Joseph was logging DNP's. Patty, Manu, Diaw were supplementing the point spot.
Im not discounting the issue of injury. Im merely saying every team has that hanging over their head.
Kinfolk I'm all the way with you...100
That's why I referred to Cory Jo...just felt his defensive presence and ball handle could've help spare those other of that role.
Some folks thought the Cabs was gonna let Delly go, I'm a firm believer in that he would've resigned even with a heathy Irving and Williams signing...
Just depth and familiarly in the systems that I focus more on, which 3rd guards often get over looked but the Cavs proving those cats are worthy...
Gotcha. Agreed.
But the main difference with Cavs is that main guy is ALWAYS hurt.. So the 3rd PG will get rotation minutes (even in postseason) relatively often.
They'll miss him, because he was a lot better than Mills on defense
Similar threads
