Topic: 2019 NBA Pre-Season - page 2140. (Read 902530 times)

Yes, no pressure on them anymore.

They just have to play the remaining games and enjoy it. See to it, that even up to the remaining games they shall perform well despite of the bad run they had during this season.

Not a GSW fan but hoping that they'll make it next season.

George and Leonard both have a solid game but M. Morris was really struggling with only 1 point and in foul trouble.
This will not happen all the time, let's just say Clippers have a bad game but I would still bet on them in a series game to beat King James and Davis.

I also thought that Clippers will pull this one. LeBron is shooting poorly during the first half and his teammates aren't also performing well. After halftime, Lakers now made a boost. Impressive stats as 3 players from both teams managed to score over 20+ points.

Lakers recently beat the current top team in the East avoiding a season sweep. And now, they beat the 2nd best team in the West for the first time this season. I know this is a season game but if you were able to watch these 2 games, you can see that both teams are playing seriously like its playoffs.

It was really a playoff battle spirit in that game that's why both teams shot below 40%.

I also thought that Clippers are going to win,  but I agree, Lakers deserves to win, this hard fought game. Paul George though really played very well, waxing hot early, but it was not enough.

It's monday in my timezone is its too early so I missed this game.
Lakers won the game, this maybe a blessing that I missed watching it as I could have bet the Clippers to win here.

With the -2.5 only, that's pretty attractive and I am sure a lot of bettors fall to the trap.

Yeah me too, thank God for Sunday and early games so fans in Europe can watch it at the normal times, and no better game this season than Clippers vs Lakers. Not a great game though, awful shooting night, both teams are below 40% ( and below 15% for three). Except Paul George who is kicking ass this game, as you said.
Same thing at the start of the  2nd half, still forcing  threes, and still missing. Let's hope it gets better.

And it's over, Lakers were simply better and deserved the win. Before start of the season I thought that Clippers are the favorites to win the title, but I must admit that Lakers simply look like a better team. Clippers will have to get much better in order to beat them in the playoff.

Currently watching the live coverage of the Los Angeles show, Lakers @ Clippers.

So early here in my country. I just accidentally saw it on my news feed.

Clippers currently in the lead but somehow Lakers always managed to narrow down the lead. Awesome field goal percentage by Paul George. Already have 17 points and it's only 5 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. He's on hot shooting right now.

Let's see if this hot shooting of him will maintain until the end of the game.

NBA was way more physical back in the 80s and 90s, with Detroit Pistons and their "Bad Boys" as best example of that. They based  their team on very aggressive and defense oriented players like Isiah Tomas, Dennis Rodman and Bill Laimbeer, and  managed to  win back to back titles in 1989 and 1990. With today's rules, something like that is not possible anymore. They even had something called Jordan Rules, special tactic to  neutralise him as much as possible. Here is a YT video too, for those that would like to know more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2v0LOhjsJs

But i can understand the change of rules, as despite Detroit being very good, they were still hated by many for their style, and after all, goal of NBA is to make as much money as possible, so they worked towards that, and now we have Harden having something like 13 FT attempts per game, on average. I would like to see him play few games against prime Detroit team in 89/90 season  


While I agree that it would suck if some NBA games are played with no fans due Corona virus, and it would certainly be less enjoyable, I doubt that it would affect players that much. Here in Europe basketball fans are way louder, and make much better atmosphere (good examples are Red Star, Partizan, Aris, PAO and Olympiacos) , and it is not very unusual that some game are played without fans (mostly bans due some incidents), and team are still performing properly. Fans help without doubt up to certain extent, but in the end, it's all about players on the court. Let's hope it doesn't come to that, especially since playoff is near.

I honestly do not remember any NBA game that played without any supporters on the arena. I have seen plenty of games where soccer was played without anyone, that is even a punishment in many nations so that happens, not a big fan of NFL or NHL or whatever in USA world but I love NBA and honestly I do not remember a single time when NBA didn't had anyone watching the game. That might be one of the greatest games ever played or one of the worst depending on whats going to happen.

When you dunk on someone you get that crowd cheering like crazy to pump you up and that might affect you, without that, why would you even go for a flashy dunk? I think it could be worse because players may not feel the supporters outside of the arena for later on but just give up and not give their 100% since nobody is there.

That will be a big problem.
Even up until now there are those who escapes airport checking or in malls.
I don't think they could stop the fans from entering the court though.
Still different when you are watching it live. But if it is the NBA management who will propose this kind of method also for the health of players and fans then they could do nothing about it.

They can still make money with pay per view. Though it will be a big cut to their profits.

This is another concern that needs to have a lots of talk, considering the real situation where risk is really there once the virus spread as it can be transfer
quickly, the NBA commissioners might seeing potential health issue that's why they are looking for this possibilities.
Lots of different opinions for sure since players and fans loves to watch games in a live settings.

As much as I wanted this to happen, we cannot really tell. There are too many contenders on the West and any team can take the Western Conference championship.  Unlike in the East, unless Giannis chokes, it is most likely the Bucks to bag their conference championship.


IF this happens, the role players will make the big difference in taking the Championship. Clippers have solid role players like Williams and Beverly. They do not even have to heavily rely on their star players. Which I can also say with the Bucks. This what makes watching them very exciting.

The NBA just sent a memo on every teams that there might some cases where they're going to play in an empty arena, without the attendance of the fans and media.
But they are still considering some disadvantages if they going to push this to happen.

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2020/03/07/nba-tells-teams-to-prep-plans-for-games-without-fans-due-to-coronavirus.html

Infact, there are some NBA players who doesn't like the idea of playing without the fans. Including LeBron.  
https://www.google.com/amp/s/variety.com/2020/biz/news/laker-lebron-james-not-playing-nba-ban-fans-coronavirus-nba-1203527042/amp/

I guess there are still necessary options left so the NBA can still continue to play with the fans in the arena, such as strict implementation of checking the temperatures and health conditions of every person that comes to the game, including the players, staff, and coach.


What's your thoughts in this issue?
I guess, without the fans, there were no homecourt advantage right? As well as the betting odds might adjust to this.

More like a trio to me.
Clippers is so damn strong even their roleplayers are almost like stars of NBA.
Lou Williams specially. That guy have made his way being the 6th man of the year and over and over again.  3 times to be exact.
He is supposed to be a star now which is in the first five of one team but I think he just want it that way.

He can shoot, he can make his way to the rim. He can really score. An offensive guy.
Bucks is something else to talk about.
I want to see more with Bledsoe. It's like he is becoming on and off and that is not good if you want the championship.

Indeed, they're not taking all the spotlight. Even they are already well known NBA superstars, they still know how to give way in their teammates. They are helping them to shine by giving assists to them or more time of playing. Like on the case of Williams, he is in when Kawhi is out (assuming that they control the game) thus having more time to showcase his talent especially in three point shooting .

Honestly, Clippers vs Bucks in the Finals is interesting as well. This is the battle of "rynamic duos", if Kawhi/PG got Williams then Giannis got Middleton .

Working in silence is a perfect terms from how they are doing everything, they are not hyping everything but instead they are bringing solid
teams down, if they will continue that chemistry and those role players continue to add the spice this team is really a good contender for the
West coast. The Claw and PG's leadership is something that not intimidating their teammates but instead they are providing good plays.

That is really a possible thing to happen, we all know how deadly Kawhi is during crucial situations. What I always notice is that he is just working in silence and shock all of us when the Finals comes. Actually, the moment I watched how Clippers work as a team and beat Lakers, that's the time I'm already convinced that they can make it through the finals. Men! For me they are also a solid team (maybe just underrated) . Kawhi, PG, Williams plus hustle of Beverly. 

I'm more interested to see how Nurkic is going to play on his comeback.

We all know that he had one of the worst injuries we witnessed in a game last year and everyone is hoping for a good recovery. So out of curiosity, we wanted look at how is he going to be, not just physically, but more of a mental as players coming back from that kind of injury might tend to be very careful so their intensity level is somewhat affected.

Steph Curry not going to make an appearance tonight in 76ers game due to illness. And no it aint corona cause not even nba stars are immune getting it.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/warriors/article/Warriors-Steph-Curry-ruled-out-of-76ers-game-15113522.php
His comeback game was pretty good as he still has the touch for those clutch 3 pointers expect his team mates are lagging behind him and need to step up for him to show what he can do. Does not matter much now since they are not going to make it into the post season.
Nurkic is coming back on the 15th from his leg injury last season.
https://www.wweek.com/sports/2020/03/06/nearly-a-year-after-suffering-a-gruesome-leg-injury-trail-blazers-center-jusuf-nurkic-is-set-to-return-next-week

I would also like to add some observations about the longevity of Lebron.

Others might not agree with me, but in this era, basketball games is soft. That's why players are not that banged in and out and to some extent could factor why players can still maintain their form despite playing 10-15 seasons.

As compare to the late 80's-90's and early 2000 wherein the game is pretty physical. Today you can go to the ring uncontested, as compare to those era that once you get inside, for sure there are going to be a lot of help and chances are you will get hurt with elbows poke in the face etc.