Topic: 2019 NBA Pre-Season - page 2167. (Read 902495 times)

I'm surprise the Rockets gave up easily against the Suns, they came from a big win against the Lakers, I understand they are in a back to back game, they maybe tired, they are playing without westbrook but losing by 36 points againts the suns, looks like they didn't come to play.

This game, we saw the real disadvantage of the small ball Rockets, they got out-rebounded by a huge margin.
let's compare the rebounds this game.

Rockets - 29 while Suns - 51.

It does work.
Also a Finals contender during the Nash time.
But we all know Mike D'Antoni never won a title. That kind of strategy has its weakness and it had always been spotted by the opposing team.

It will be a strategy of offense which opens three pointers in their designated areas while one man will penetrate the paint.
That is how Nash did it before. But there is an Amare at that time where Nash could choose to just play the pick and pop as an option.
Here he will be using two agility type guys which is WB and Harden.

Let us see if how will this be fruitful.

Edit: So just finished watching the Lakers vs Rockets game.
Looks like what I said did happen.
Davis and McGee might have dominated the paint but those are 2 point shots.
Rockets team will just get back with a three.
Nice work. Can they keep this pace up?

So far it already brought good outcome playing small, of course without a center it will be a match up problem with them. But they are an improved Phoenix Suns in the mid--to-late 2000's of Mike D'Antoni. Now they have two stars with a lot of good three point shooters. Run and gun, if the opponents take advantage of post up plays against a small center of the team, they will come back and shoot three's. But I don't know how long this system will works though, and that is the big question.

Well, he realized it quickly after the news. There's no doubt that he is a productive player for the Pistons but no offense to Drummond because I just don't see him being their franchise player. He has been overshadowed by the likes of Giannis and Embiid in the past years. He had his time to showcase his ability to lead the team but I guess time run out. Was it last season when Blake Griffin carried the Pistons team into the playoff and played until the end even though he had an injured leg?

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Look out for the Warriors in the free agency this summer. They will be splashing out some cash to support the returning splash brothers. I'm pretty sure many stars would still want to be playing with those two despite the GS team having the worst record (so far) this season.

Difficult to understand but I got your point and it looks like that is the way.
They just need a back up for Steph and not another Steph.

Wiggins is more like catch and shoot, more like Klay.
They need players like that and not ball handlers.
The ball doesn't stay for a long time in one player when it comes to the GSW play.
There are time when it is Draymond who marks the play for offense while handling the ball.
Yeah, GSW ain't a Rockets team. 

This Capela trade is really surprising. Not sure what the coaching staff are thinking and why the management approve this trade,  but considering your insight chances that they are seeing something and they are willing to gamble this small players lineup and let their stars to handle and lift the team. It will be decided once the next round begin whether this changes brings them good outcome or another adjustment will be needed for them.

Detroit Pistons is the team that drafted him. Playing since 2012 and currently can considered as still in his "prime". Never requested any trades despite his good performance and the team always does have a fail rally season by season. Received good offers by other teams but remained loyal to the Pistons franchise. I even think he will become a franchise player of Pistons or his trade will just be considered once he reached his veteran status or so-called post-prime. NBA is really business and Drummond already knows that. It's just that he can't believe it will happen to him despite his loyalty to the franchise.

Pistons are still fighting for the playoffs spot and now that he transferred to Cavaliers, no more playoffs to him this year at 100%.

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That's the best role he should do at the Warriors but that's the problem here. He can't just shift into something that not his usual. Knowing Wiggins, and for the record, he does have an attitude problem even back from the start of his career.

I don't know if he will be fit into Kerr's system but if he will just allow himself to shift into much more of a defensive phase once the Splash Brothers come back, I'm seeing a successful run to this team next season. Right now, obviously he will remain on his usual since that's what Warriors need. A good opportunity to learn the Kerr's system.

Denver not in the conversation?  Denver can play inside or out and can score in various ways to beat teams.  Even when a coue starters are down they beat teams like the bucks, jazz etc as of late.  I think with the nuggets depth they are the team in the west to worry about

Yeah I think so also. They lack the power of forwards this is why they need someone to do that job for them. And as we all know, he is a rhythmic player. By that, it means that he can do what he ought to do when he holds the ball more often. And as of this time he's reviving his career. But man I'm really surprised on these trades man. Especially the Clint Capela trade. Wanna know the real reason why that trade happened? It's simply because the offense rating of rockets is low whenever he's on the floor. That's why they decided to pull off the trade. Not only that, the defensive rating is lower. The score in the paint is so high compare to other centers. No wonder he didn't get the same money as Steven Adams get even though they are the same stat. And I really wonder how the big men of Lakers didn't dominated the board on last night game. Hmm

Lakers still maintaining a terrible win rate against 500 teams. I do not know if this is deliberate but they need to up their game against contenders. Rockets are undersized but they still managed to beat the Lakers. I have serious doubts in how the Lakers will perform come playoffs.

GSW was successful in implementing small ball against Cleveland Cavaliers in 2015 NBA Finals but unlike Rockets line up right now, GSW still had centers in their roster. If they will not fill up the center position, Rockets is taking a big gamble going small ball the rest of the season.

Once klay and steph come back you might see a resurgence come from Wiggins because he has never played with talent on the outside like that before.  He would get doubled quickly on minn, he wont be seeing the same defenses otherwise if he does expect to see 10+ assists out of him.  Imagine being able to pass to a wide open klay or steph out of a double team lol.  And if minn still sucks that draft pick is going to be the icing on the deal.  Combine that with a front end draft pick of their own and gs might again be set up for years to come.

Both LA franchise have the dominating edge from the West side, the rally of houston bringing small lineup can be eaten alive by those big dominating forces inside. Players like AD and Harrell where very commanding when inside the post.  Houston's fate will be depends from how the coaching staff will
bring good system for the rest of the team.

 I guess wiggins could be more viable for Golden state if they end up utilizing him into more a of a defensive role with some training because dude is a great scorer inside and can definitely play better as a third option instead of a first/second option like he has been all his life, yet the reality is the same that Warriors have been a shooting team for years now and when Klay/Curry comes back, wiggins would have to do a lot to draw the defense to himself to dish out, normally if there is curry at 30 feet and wiggints at 5, I would still guard curry at 30 feet so its not going to be easy. At least D'lo got to play with his friend KAT, thats the fairy tale story here, KAT even meet up with D'lo literally at the airport, they were both so excited.

Watching the game last night, I can tell you that it was literally the Lakers who lost that game and not rockets that won it and I am not entirely sure if I trust Lakers to be the biggest contender this year anymore unless something changes (like Lebron becoming playoff Lebron).

Normally, I understand that league turned into a three point shooting contest with everyone scoring 120+ points and so forth, that is understandable and offense gets more views etc etc, however when you have Dwight Howard, McGee or even Lebron (and AD as well) on the floor and they have literally just a 6'6 guy or someone even smaller guarding those people, you HAVE TO slow the game down, you have to post up, you have to make sure you give the centers enough time to back their opponent up and make an easy basket or at least the chances of missing equals to an offensive board since it is a shorter shoot then a three pointer that can bounce high.

Lakers should have dominated the paint but instead tried to outshoot a small ball line up, strategically a wrong decision by the coaching staff.

I definitely agree with your statement, D'Angelo Russell is more effective when he shoots more and we know Warriors like to play the team game, even Curry and Thompson share the ball with his teammates and only make shots when there's a good look, their style makes their team better and give confidence to other players. I like this move by the GSW, I know they'll not gonna regret this.

Golden state had to move d russel because he needs to ball in his hands and long term that doesnt work with steph and klay coming back.  I think long term Wiggins works better for them than d russel.  Golden state also gets a first round pick which is huge

Agree, all depends on the coaching techniques. Rockets just showed good shooting and efficiency, while the Lakers didn't maximize the opportunity to dominate the paint. Howard and McGee was sat down when they could easily score from the paint. Howard has only played for 4 mins. So, the coaching staff had lapses from their lost.
Anyway, regular season doesn't matter anyway as they are currently sitting top seed in the West.

In the playoffs, they might play an individual game as they have the best ball hogger in the NBA, you know what I mean, Harden and Westbrook combine.
But then again, this still depends on how the coach would make a plan and for them to follow, now there is no warriors where they got defeated 2 times in the playoffs series, but they'll face the Lakers and the Clippers which are currently the favorites in the west.

They have to stick with their current game plan, they have been efficient with it.
Tucker does not even attempt to rebound when his teammates shoots from the outside as Davis is just so tall for him, but somehow he was able to help and even nailed a 3 pointer when the Lakers was already taking the lead.

Covington their new teammate were able to contribute 14 points from a very efficient shooting of 5-9 overall which is 12 points are coming from the 3 point area.

I can't argue with it, it's a series so adjustment happens throughout the series.

I was actually surprised on how efficient the game went for the Rockets. At hindsight, my first guess was they would be dominated by the paint by the Lakers and win by considerable margin but they snatch the win through their efficiency and passing. James Harden does not need to score at least 40+ points per night to win. They just have to continue their pacing and get their scorers to play hot and hit those 3s to seal the deal.

Again this would be a different story if it were the playoffs now as teams will be more competitive and defensive on the end.