[Bytor Peltor]

Originally Posted by the ikara cult

Its only on a public court, i meet up with people and play 3 on 3. There aint decent faacilities anywhere. Im still in love with Jeff Hornacek and John Stockton.

Two class acts of the game. Hornacek is doing a great job in his first season has Phoenix Suns head coach.

Did you know John Stockton holds two of the NBA "all time" records? Stockton has more steals and assists than anyone NBA player who has ever laced them up. Now the assists can be contributed to Karl Malone, which is why Malone is the number two scorer in NBA history......but Stockton being the all time steals leader is solely based on his tenacity, determination and hustle.

Not sure if you get to see many NCAA games, but John Stockton's son is having a big year playing for, Gonzaga.

[Bytor Peltor]

Miami Heat At Houston Rockets tonight......Heat are favored by -1.

LeBron had 61 points last night on 22-33 from the floor and hit his first eight 3s.

Should be a good game.

Also last night, the Trailblazers help the Rockets cause by losing the the Lakers = crazy!

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by Bytor Peltor

Miami Heat At Houston Rockets tonight......Heat are favored by -1.

LeBron had 61 points last night on 22-33 from the floor and hit his first eight 3s.

Should be a good game.

Also last night, the Trailblazers help the Rockets cause by losing the the Lakers = crazy!

In the entire history of their rivarly, the lakers have only 8 wins in Portland, out of 35 games played there.. However it should be noted that 4 of those rare wins have come since the arrival of Pau Gasol..

Oh yeah, y'all should watch out for the Heat, Lebron took that KD mvp shit to heart and has decided to destroy teams for the rest of the season, meanwhile quietly Dwyane Wade is both actually HEALTHY and playing 100% (for once!!!) and sat out last night, so expect him to be the bigger threat, especially considering Harden's ..coughs.. err.. defense

[Bytor Peltor]

Originally Posted by SuchFriendsAreDangerous

meanwhile quietly Dwyane Wade is both actually HEALTHY and playing 100% (for once!!!) and sat out last night, so expect him to be the bigger threat, especially considering Harden's ..coughs.. err.. defense

Harden = ZERO D

Dwayne Wade will be playing with motivation!

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by Bytor Peltor

Harden = ZERO D

Dwayne Wade will be playing with motivation!

hahahahahaha.. I had totally forgot about that! I think that Heat-Thunder has evolved into something like the Bulls-Jazz rivalry.. these dudes are making each other better competing against each other all year long even when never playing against each other but 2 times a year, with the strong possibility of meeting in the Finals every year having already done it once. Thunder are the NBA's anti-Heat team, one just as popular but NOT the Heat. So the Heat naturally focus in on them, because the Heat LOVE the spotlight..

[Rob Instigator]

Love that my Rockets catch the Heat on the second night of a back-to-back.

[Bytor Peltor]

^^^such is life in the NBA.

After the All-Star break, the Rockets opened with a five game West Coast swing that included two sets of Back-to-back games. The Rockets lost two of those five games, each being the 2nd night of the B2B.

Numbers to consider from last night:

Rockets Starters: 91 points, 38 rebounds, 24 assists.

Heat Starters: 56 points, 16 rebounds, 14 assists.

The Rockets led the game wire-2-wire.

LeBron James two game point total is 93. James only needed 32 points last night to set a new two game point total for himself, however, LeBron only scored 22 points last night......only three points in the second half!

Wilt Chamberlain is still the ONLY NBA PLAYER to score 60+ points in consecutive games......LeBron had a shot at that last night.

[Rob Instigator]

wilt averaged 50 pts one season. that is sick! LeBron is so BORING.

at least Jordan was fun to hate on.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by Rob Instigator

wilt averaged 50 pts one season. that is sick! LeBron is so BORING.

For what, being able to do EVERYTHING??

at least Jordan was fun to hate on.

That is true because he was such a villain, and Lebron is really just a likable guy with superhuman powers on the basketball court.

Originally Posted by Bytor Peltor

^^^such is life in the NBA.

After the All-Star break, the Rockets opened with a five game West Coast swing that included two sets of Back-to-back games. The Rockets lost two of those five games, each being the 2nd night of the B2B.

Numbers to consider from last night:

Rockets Starters: 91 points, 38 rebounds, 24 assists.

Heat Starters: 56 points, 16 rebounds, 14 assists.

The Rockets led the game wire-2-wire.

LeBron James two game point total is 93. James only needed 32 points last night to set a new two game point total for himself, however, LeBron only scored 22 points last night......only three points in the second half!

Wilt Chamberlain is still the ONLY NBA PLAYER to score 60+ points in consecutive games......LeBron had a shot at that last night.

Wilt played in an era where dudes were shorter, had no hops, and no defense.. We really shouldn't even use his stats to compare against contemporary players. Its a different NBA out there... Also. Rockets, slow your roll.. Y'all just BARELY won, on your own floor, well-rested, against the defending champs coming in back-to-back after playing a lights out game the night before... Meh. James Harden STILL can't play defense

[Rob Instigator]

Because the liocal network that carries Rockets/Astros games in Houston (CSN) is not carried by Direct TV, I have not been able to watch any Rockets games.

The shit last night was on the nBA network, which I get, but it was blacked out. FUCKERS

[Rob Instigator]

Wilt would cream any team in the nBA today. There are no Centers capable of dealing with the Stilt. he'd fuck up everyone.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by Rob Instigator

Wilt would cream any team in the nBA today. There are no Centers capable of dealing with the Stilt. he'd fuck up everyone.

That is just not true.. We are judging the guy based on stats and achievements playing in a boring, no-talent era where essentially it was Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor. THAT WAS IT, period. I'm not one of those NBA nostalgists, fuck that. The 1960s SUCKED. Wilt would NOT dominate the current NBA, he'd be spaced out by stretch-centers like Tim Duncan and Chris Bosh, dominated by aggressive and quick bigs like Howard and Hibbert, and just be plain out-gassed by rim attacks by players like Lebron. Trust me. The NBA is 5-on-5 now, even JORDAN wouldn't thrive as well as he did in the 1990s. The defense is SO MUCH BETTER than it was even from the 1990s let alone the 1960s.. Plus the floor spacing offenses challenge lumbering bigs. Why do you think there aren't as many bigs in the NBA as there were even 10 years ago? Bigs are just less relevant than they used to be, the speed, athleticism, and ball-moving teamwork have made them much less effective. Sorry to burst your bubble, but its a small ball league for the next ten years at least.. Look at "big teams" like Detroit? Playing like shit. Even Indiana, they are longer than they are big, and some of their most effective offense is driven by small-ball strategies. If anything, their offense is a hybrid between "big" inside-out b-ball and quick, small-ball attacking.

Also, really, believe it or not the Heat play this same kind of strategy of hybrid ball. They are not a purely "small" team (i.e. jump shooting, catch and shoot, 3-pointers), that if anything has been Houston's strategy or the Knicks last season. No. LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR MIAMIA LED THE NBA IN POINTS IN THE PAINT. Wade is the most successful attack-guard in the history of the NBA. He and Lebron combined for the most effect tandem in-the-paint both last season and this season, and last season bordered on the best combo in the paint ALL-TIME. Surprising isn't it? One of the smallest teams in the NBA leads the leage in a "big" stat? Oh yeah. And Lebron is the ONLY non-"big" player to shoot above 57% for a season. He is the only non-"big" to lead the NBA in shooting percentage under the rim (he is currently shooting above 70% in the paint), IN ANY SEASON IN NBA HISTORY, and he is doing it TWO CONSECUTIVE SEASONS. So much for all that "big" ball and all that "Wilt" bullshit

[Rob Instigator]

There are no BIGS nowadays, which is why LeBron can dominate the post.

If BronBron played in late 80's-early 90's he would be forced to play only outside game. Ewing would have broke his face.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Bullshit. Again. Bigs are myth. They dominated in an NBA era of 1-on-1 defense, and no surprise their size as an advantage. Now? Smaller, quicker, more athletic line ups will simply move the ball so fast so as to confuse a big, then either sink the jumper or drive and attack. Its basic b-ball. Sorry to hurt your guys old-man NBA nostalgia, but those days of bigs are over, and they were overrated. There are only TWO bigs in NBA history who had the athleticism, speed, and skill to dominate in the modern era, Hakeem the Dream and Big Diesal Shaq daddy. Period. Even Kareem probably would get out-gased in today's NBA.

Also, you guys seem to forget that in today's NBA one guy can score 50-60 points and their team STILL LOSE THE GAME. That is what would happen to Wilt style players. They may possibly have great stats, but their entire team would suffer. The current NBA is about help-defense, floor spreading, up-tempo pace, and 3-point shooting. Sorry. Bigs are out-dated and over-rated

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by Rob Instigator

If BronBron played in late 80's-early 90's he would be forced to play only outside game. Ewing would have broke his face.

Maybe you underestimate Lebron. Hakeem didn't. Hakeem is the one who taught Lebron to actually be more effective in the post than just as a rim attacker. Now? Lebron only attacks the rim to open up shooters for the pass. Also, you think that those supposed "NBA tough guys" would beat up Lebron? Lebron is big, fast, strong dude. I wouldn't be surprised if Lebron would be the one breaking their faces driving to the basket. Fuck that. "Tough guy" NBA was a joke. Its basketball, not a school yard fight. That is why I liked Showtime Lakers. In the era of "tough guy" basketball they were the Heat of their era, instead of getting caught up "tough guy" feuds on the court, they let their game do the talking. Fist fights are for bar room brawls, the basketball court is for basketball. If anything, that era of "big black guys fighting on the court" was just a manifestation of America's racist desire to watch black men be ignorant. Fuck that. The one good thing Stern did for the NBA was shift it away from a league full of "niggers acting like their in the circus" to a bunch of professional black business men who focus on their talent, not their machismo.

[Bytor Peltor]

Originally Posted by SuchFriendsAreDangerous

Rockets, slow your roll..

There is no roll to slow.

A game was played and they won. It's as simple as that. Winning last night has NOTHING to do with the post season and I would say the same if the Rockets had lost last night. Rockets play in Miami a week from this Sunday and we will see what happens then.

As a Rockets fan, there are a few encouraging things to consider: A) Rockets have the leagues best record since January 1st. B) Dwight Howard has played in EVERY game this NBA season.

After playing in Orlando tonight, the Rockets are starting a tough stretch in the schedule: Indiana, Portland, @OKC, @Chicago, @Miami, Utah, Minnesota......all of these teams will make the playoffs.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Ain't hating on the Rockets. They're surprisingly a top-10 defense this year. HOWEVER, they are essentially playing the EXACT same basketball that the Knicks rode to a 54 win season last year... when you live by the 3, you die by the 3. Also, if your top-player has ZERO defense, you don't get far in the playoffs where defense trumps offense.

I again, I ain't hatin on the Rockets in the slightest, in fact, I kind of like them dudez, but it is what it is. The Heat can lose, in fact, its really 50-50 for them, but, all things considering its clearly theirs to win. ALL the teams, repeat ALL the teams in the NBA have the same flaws they had the last few years when they couldn't win it big. The Warriors still rely on lucky shots. The Spurs are still boring as ever. The Thunder still rely too much on iso plays. The Bulls still can't shoot. The Pacers still have too many turnovers. The Rockets are interesting, but relying on gimmick basketball which 20 past years of playoffs have proven is an ineffective strategy. The Trailblazers are hanging in there, but are essentially last years Nuggets. Fun to watch, really just winning lucky games they shouldn't even be winning. The Clippers are developing, but really, they're the same old Clippers. The Raptors are playing great, but not quite playoff great. The Suns are fun, and they should be excited, but not quite a playoff team yet either. The Mavs? Meh. See... its the Heat's to lose.. If Wade AND Bosh are actually healthy this year? Nobody stands a chance. If the Heat lose I'd be the first to congratulate the winner, but the first also to suspect rigging

[Bytor Peltor]

In NO WAY was I comparing eras or players.

Last night, LeBron had the opportunity to do something in Houston that hasn't been done since Chamberlain did it many years / eras ago.

It's just an odd and meaningless statistic that may never be broken.

Originally Posted by Bytor Peltor

Wilt Chamberlain is still the ONLY NBA PLAYER to score 60+ points in consecutive games......LeBron had a shot at that last night.

Originally Posted by SuchFriendsAreDangerous

Wilt played in an era where dudes were shorter, had no hops, and no defense.. We really shouldn't even use his stats to compare against contemporary players. Its a different NBA out there...

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Lebron didn't have a chance at that. He was clearly exhausted from taking a career high in FGA while also getting a handful of hours of sleep from traveling...


Wilt did it because the NBA sucked in his era, and he was feasting on its suckiness. Ever wonder why Wilt looked like he didn't give a flying fuck in that famous picture of his 100 point game? Ever wonder why Wilt clearly just didn't ever even give a flying fuck about basketball most of the time? Simple. 1960s NBA might have well been the 1860s, it sucked. Also, this whole 1980s/90s "tough guy" basketball also sucked in comparison. All guys could do was shove each other around a bit more, now? Even if guys wasted their time trying to be "tough guys" and started shoving and playing "more physical" they'd just get burned by a quick pass and wide open elbow jump shot or catch and shoot 3

Literally, I believe that if you put some 1990s NBA players on the court today they'd look lost on defense, and get harassed into an inefficiency whole like **coughs** #StayMelo

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

 

Pacers may still have the best record in the NBA but after a totally shit-kicking
February I'm glad the NBA talking-heads have finally got back to their senses! Roy Hibbert
is an offensive liability, the tallest dude in the NBA yet averages 11pts and 7 boards with a 15.4 PER.... not even
top 20 centers in the league. Also, when the refs actually call all the bullshit "verticality" fouls
and 3-second violations the guy becomes ineffective and hits the bench, much like
he has for most of his career. People were just pumping up the Pacers to Heat hate, just like they pumped
up the Thunder in 2012, and the Spurs last year, when in actuality, neither of these 3
teams are really favorites, popular, or truly capable of beating the Heat in a 7 game series.
As to Paul George, all the quasi-MVP chatter has finally died down as the guy regressed
back towards the mean, shooting a measly 40% since January and generally slacking
in all offensive stats. Quietly David West, much like he did in New Orleans, has been
carrying this team through. Simply put, their win-record in 2014 has been predicated more on
lucky breaks than improvement from last season, so I predict a serious regression in the playoffs.
Shit, these dudes may not even get past the Bulls if they don't get back up on their game, let alone
challenging Miami for the ECF

Originally Posted by Paul George's split stats for 2014

games..minutes..FG-FGA..shooting %, 3FG-FGA, %, FTA, PPG

January 15 35.9 7.3-17.9 .410 1.9-6.1 .315 4.7-5.8 .816 21.3
February 12 34.3 6.9-17.3 .401 2.5-6.3 .395 4.7-4.8 .966 21.0
March 4 37.0 5.8-17 0.338 1.8-6.0 .292 5.5-6.3 .880 18.8