NBA 2013/2014 Season Discussion Thread

Tonight the NBA season kicks off. It looks to be a great one. The Heat are just plain dominant, but the Nets have added major pieces, and a Bulls team that was still VERY good deep into last year's playoffs added the only guy not named 'Lebron' that has won an MVP in the last 5-6 years. Indianapolis and the Knicks should be strong too. Out West everyone is calling the Spurs "too old" for about the 5th straight year, the Rockets have added Howard to Harden in the last year, the Clippers look for real, and OKC is still young and hungry.

I know it is still football season, and that's the main attraction for most people, but I'm looking forward to this NBA season more than any in recent memory. I think the Bulls really have a chance to unseat the Heat if they stay healthy.

Who do you root for?
Who do you think will be good this year?

 

Grumble, grumble...Blazers lost...grumble grumble.

They clearly have some stuff to get together.

That said, they have these two announcers I love, Mike (Rice) and Mike (Barrett). They're such homers. Mike Rice, the color commentator, sometimes says the wackiest stuff, stuff that leaves you scratching your head as to where it came from, and Barrett has to react to it. It's hilarious. I missed them. Last night was apparently Polish Heritage Night for the Suns, and that came up over and over again as Mike Rice kept forgetting what it was, even though they'd show people in costumes. Then, Coach Stotts looked grumpy after the half, and Mike Rice said, "He must have eaten some bad popcorn."

 

I'm not one to get too worked up over the first week of a twenty-plus week season, but the Bulls sure aren't coming out of the gate fast.

 

Probably too NBA-nerdish for most here, but here's my take after watching a decent portion of the game and paying specific attention to Kobe.

First, I really think he should've given it a bit more time before coming back. He looks slow and unable to elevate. Obviously the dude is getting older, but I have to guess even with this serious of an injury that he'll get much better than this physically. He is slow on defense and just looks tentative for the most part. He's -12 for the game, and the Lakers are only down by 4, so it is obvious he is costing them tonight by being on the floor.

However, in small bursts his basketball IQ in areas other than shooting is really showing. He has basically no vertical but he has 8 rebounds in less than 22 minutes of playing time (so far). It seems to purely be a function of being in the right place at the right time, which I'll credit him for purposefully doing, not just being chance. He's playing off his man a bit more to avoid getting driven past, and he's setting up 6-7' away from the rim on shots and scooping up all the rebounds that get past the bigs. Also, he's had some really good passes. He has 4 assists, but could've had a few more if anyone could hit a shot. Yeah the 6 turnovers are horrible, but you can partially excuse that because he hasn't played in almost a year. I'm convinced that if he played longer looking to pass as he seems to tonight he'd be able to easily reduce the turnovers.

Honestly, these good things are part of my frustration with Kobe overall. I think if he would've played the style of play he's playing tonight, but with his previous physical abilities and conditioning, guys would've wanted to come to LA to play with him. The last 2-4 years it has been obvious that his legs and body weren't what they once were. I think if he'd have adjusted his mentality a bit and focused on some of the non-scoring aspects of his game, he would've made his teams better and himself more appealing as a teammate.

Regardless, it'll be interesting to see where he is in 3-4 weeks. Right now he obviously is still nowhere near 100%, or if he is, he's barely a shell of his former self. I think he'll be much better by Christmas or New Year's. In a vacuum I think he should've waited a couple more weeks. I don't think he's much help yet. But on the other hand, with the Lakers 10-11th in a very deep West, I can see him wanting to get back before a playoff berth is totally out.

 

No, this is great analysis. I haven't seen him play yet but I agree with your sentiment in your last sentence. The Lakers have got to try something even if it means putting Kobe out there too soon.

 

Some phenomenal games lately. It seems to have truly come down to the four most talented teams. Though I don't dislike the Spurs, I am sad to see that Serge Ibaka looks to be out for that series. I hate when huge series are impacted by injuries like that.

 

I think the Spurs are going to take the whole thing.

 

I definitely think they will beat OKC. I think they would beat the Pacers if they advance. If the Heat win I think the Heat-Spurs would be a coin flip. Lebron is hard to bet against, but the Spurs just function SO well as a team, and they keep doing it no matter how old they get.

 

Donald Sterling allows Shelly Sterling to negotiate sale of Los Angeles Clippers - ESPN Los Angeles


Oh wow, I did NOT see this coming so quickly. I completely expected a long and ugly legal battle.

If this proves to be true, that is awesome news for the league.

 

Big game tonight. I expect Lebron to dominate after having a rough time staying on the court in Game Five.

 

The Spurs are just SO much better.

 

They really are.

 

Lebron has just gotten next to no help. And the Spurs play such efficient basketball. It is incredible to watch.