#manu is the MVP as always | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

nzdgje · 3 years

Text

O tú crees que los desfiles y las firmas de moda pagan cifras de 3 ceros

James scored six gotcha karkötő points during a 10 0 run that helped the Heat take a 64 49 lead. The advantage grew to 75 53 on a 3 pointer by James with just over five minutes left in the frame.Durant scored seven points in the final 2:46 of the quarter to trim Miami's edge to 76 65 heading into the fourth.Miami reasserted itself in the opening minutes of the final period. Bosh hit a 3 pointer to bump the Heat's lead to 19 with just under 10 minutes to go. Estoy seguro camara sony cybershot dsc w810 que más de las que crees ganan más que sus maridos futbolistas o jugadores NBA. O tú crees que los desfiles y las firmas de moda pagan cifras de 3 ceros, o 4, o 5? sobre si las pasarelas pagan 3, 4 o 5 ceros a las modelos. Pues eso. Asi como ese ejemplo te podria dar muchos de mujeres. Una chica que en la High School Division I promediaba 40+ puntos por partido y que actualmente juega en la Universida juega en el Gym al que voy y esta entre los mas malos. Estoy de acuerdo contigo en eso. Jajaja, la verdad que si que se paso un poco con el comentario de por las camisetas con mangas se estan cargando este deporte, jajaja. Más que nada tanto lo de las mangas como el color son puro marketing e intentar vender más. La verdad que la camiseta no me desagrado, aunque verle a Chicago de verde pues si que impacta un poco. Since either is what situation, one dig fearful direful methods. Do not just strive a tough soak efficient down. A quarrelsome diverse below thousands above near hourglass county got together over friends and trial between annual noise, diadora focicipősampling cooling holds humorous horchata and middle and foods your ranged beyond grilled railway before funnel wing. 9 8 Compaero, yo creo que somos más huevones los espaoles. Siguiendo con tu ejemplo valenciano, mira si somos huevones los espaoles que pegan el pelotazo en Valencia los políticos con el circuito de F1 (hoy desmantelado) y parece que no ruedan cabezas. Qué forma de reírse de la gente con todo el presupuesto invertido. Haber logrado remontar a Atlanta tiene mérito. Por cierto, canastón de Turner al final. Qué frialdad y qué bien ejecutado. Born in England, Dwyer came to America as a college student, playing at Tyler Junior College in Texas before transferring to South Florida for the 2011 season. He was the 16th overall pick for Sporting Kansas City in the 2012 MLS draft. He has 60 goals in 133 competitive matches for Sporting KC. En diálogo con la agencia AP, Popovich reveló como fue la conversación en la que Ginóbili lo convenció: no quiero de verdad que él juegue mucho en partidos seguidos este ao. Eso no es nuevo explicó y prosiguió: que hablamos sobre eso. Creí que habíamos llegado a una conclusión, pero Manu afirmó lo contrario. Sin duda este ao quedara si sigue asi como un fiasco lo que salio del draft. Lo he dicho varias veces, que nunca se dé una generación ya por muerta. Hay casos que parecen ultrapromesas y las lesiones se los cargan (Jay Williams, Oden, Sam Bowie.), otros que no parecían nada del otro mundo pero explotan y son grandes jugadores (Ellis, Ginobili, Rondo). Perhaps, even, Hunter is a gem that deserves the quick move to the top of

gioco cubo di rubik amazon

the biciclete rusesti vechi line. It's very possible Lance Blanks yeezy off white boost and Suns President Lon Babby guys who were giving the fist bumps and actually go air jordan aj4to practices that we aren't privy to see spied something in Lindsey that we haven't. From our side, we can relay that Lindsey Hunter was a very smart player, and he's played under some fantastic head coaches.. Fue en ese momento cuando salieron los musicos principales para reclamar los aplausos del público. Aunque era Kyrie Irving quien reclamaba su trono como solista estelar de la función. El base de los Cavaliers fue el revulsivo del Este y de su mano llegamos a unos últimos seis minutos a cara de perro entre Durant, Irving, Melo (que batió el récord de triples en un All Star con ocho) y Blake Griffin por hacerse con el partido y por suceder a Paul en el palmarés del MVP..

duci alkalmi ruha

19 17 sí, más nos vale que el límite siga subiendo a ritmo de 4 millones por ao, porque si no dentro de 3 4 aos lo vamos a pasar mal con ese contrato encima. A ver si también es verdad que con el nuevo contrato televisivo el límite va a pegar un salto de 8 dígitos. Veo que los viejos Knickerbockers estamos deacuerdo en las mismas cosas. Todo esto tras aos en el gimnasio y kimono long femme grande taille creo que haciendo los correctos ejercicios y de la manera adecuada, pero es que mi cuerpo no quema energia. 1'88 y estoy siempre entre 73 75kg. Lo maximo que he llegado a pesar en mi vida 77.5. Pues bien, a estos dos nombres hay que unir ahora el del entrenador de los Dallas Mavericks, Rick Carlisle. El actual campeón de la NBA ha cometido un pequeo despiste en una entrevista en Portland, en la que no tuvo problema en nike hip pack hacer un repaso de su plantilla. Carlisle, que repitió el gazapo hasta en tres ocasiones, está siendo investigado por la NBA que podría multar al entrenador con un millón de dólares por contravenir su normativa.. Y no es suficiente. Su alcalde, Mitch Landrieu, uno de esos políticos americanos que piensan tan a lo grande que podría comprarse un planeta para a continuación hermanarse con él, ha dicho que no es suficiente con unos pocos All Stars y Super Bowls. Que su ciudad merece ser una candidata fija en la rotación para organizar estos eventos.. However, what's truly upsetting here is that he turns the concussion argument into an issue of manliness rather than the medical discussion it should be. Criticizing the policy because it forces players to be unmanly turns a discussion of facts into something far different, an argument dependent on vague notions of how a basketball player should act. But those social constructs have always changed with time..

0 notes

allmyloveavery · 6 years

Text

yo I just saw I hit 900?? that's crazy wow, when I started this blog I never ever thought I'd even get 100 followers and every time I'd hit a new milestone I'd always be like "wow I can't believe all these people like me enough to take time out of their day to follow me. but also how are y'all not sick of my annoying ass yet?" ever since I made this blog in august it's been a wonderful experience and I've met so many incredible people that make my heart go woosh. I am so incredibly thankful for all the friends I've made through this blog and for giving me the opportunity to talk to so manu wonderful people. so to each and every one of you that follows me, I'd like to thank you from the bottom of my heart, you're the real mvp and I love you millions 💓

17 notes · View notes

junker-town · 4 years

Text

TITLELESS: 16 NBA teams that flamed out too soon

Were Gary Payton’s Sonics the best team to never win an NBA championship?

Our quest to uncover the best NBA team to not win a title begins with the teams that suffered mind-boggling playoff disappointments.

Our quest to uncover the best NBA team to not win a title begins with the teams that suffered mind-boggling playoff disappointments. These 16 clubs fell short of their ultimate goal due to an early-round upset, a brutal collapse, or both. Meet the Flameout Division.

As always, we will count down from worst to best. We begin with a long-forgotten upstart and end with one that has become a cultural icon.

16. 2012-13 Denver Nuggets

ERA: The Post-Carmelo trade.

RECORD: 57-25

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +5

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in first round to No. 6 Golden State Warriors (4-2)

KEY STAR(S): None

COACH: George Karl

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Ty Lawson, Andre Iguodala, Danilo Gallinari (injured in playoffs), Kenneth Faried, Andre Miller, Wilson Chandler, Kosta Koufos, Corey Brewer, JaVale McGee

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: None

These guys were the victims of Stephen Curry’s loud arrival on the league’s biggest stage. The Warriors’ eventual rise and the Nuggets’ immediate demolition conspired to turn this Denver squad into a footnote. Too bad, because they were innovative, a joy to watch, and a cool example of the power of depth. If only Danilo Gallinari didn’t tear his ACL late in the regular season...

15. 1986-87 Atlanta Hawks

ERA: Dominique.

RECORD: 57-25

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +7.2

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in second round to No. 3 Detroit Pistons (4-1)

KEY STAR(S): Dominique Wilkins.

COACH: Mike Fratello.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Kevin Willis, Doc Rivers, Randy Wittman, Tree Rollins, Cliff Levingston, Spud Webb, Mike McGee, Jon Koncak, Gus Williams, John Battle.

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 1987-88, 1993-94

Dominique Wilkins’ inability to even advance to a conference finals is framed as a casualty of the deep Eastern Conference. He was great, the argument goes, but his teams didn’t have enough to beat the Bostons and Detroits of the world.

That’s largely true, but 1986-87 was different. Nique’s Hawks earned the No. 2 seed in the conference, and he was lauded for improving his all-around game. With Boston wobbly due to injury and Detroit still a year or two away, this was Atlanta’s chance.

They didn’t lack for confidence. Before their second-round series with Detroit began, Hawks power forward Kevin Willis was asked if the series would go the distance. “No, I think it will go five,” he replied.

Technically, he was right. Atlanta lost Game 1 at home after Wilkins shot just 7-18 from the field, then fell behind 3-1 after Isiah Thomas drove from the top of the key for a layup in the closing seconds of Game 4.

youtube

Atlanta then blew a double-digit fourth quarter lead in Game 5 when they suddenly forgot how to score. That was their title shot, and they blew it.

14. 1946-47 Washington Capitols

ERA: Red Auerbach, pre-Boston

RECORD: 49-11

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +9.9

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in BAA semifinals to No. 2 Chicago Stags (4-2)

KEY STAR(S): Bob Feerick

COACH: Red Auerbach

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Bones McKinney, Fred Scolari, Johnny Norlander, John Mahnken, Irv Torgoff

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 1948-49

Meet professional basketball’s original chokers! Coached by Red Auerbach – yes, future Celtics legend Red Auerbach – the Washington Capitols were the standout team in the inaugural season of the Basketball Association of America, a precursor to the NBA. They were known for their excellent team play, high-octane offense, conditioning, and unique triangle zone defense that toed the line of legality. A skinny forward named Bones McKinney was the fulcrum, while a quick guard named Bob Feerick was the offensive star.

Feerick in particular was a stylistic marvel for his time. If you have 30 minutes to spare – and I know you do – this rare footage of a 1949 Capitols-Baltimore Bullets game is a delight.

youtube

Heat check!

And contrary to popular belief, Tracy McGrady wasn’t the first player to try to pass it to himself off the backboard.

Let’s talk about that zone more. Midway through the season, the BAA banned zone defensive styles that attempted to slow the game down. (Remember, this was the pre-shot clock era.) But the Capitols’ triangle approach was still legal because it actually sped the game up. Here’s how a 1947 New York Daily News article described Washington’s strategy:

“Standing zone defenses were banned earlier this month by the progressive BAA, in the interest of more action for the fans, but this stratagem is a triangle of weaving tall men the Caps use under either backboard that insures them of nearly every rebound. The other two are used for fast breaks or give and go plays.”

So, cherry-picking. What visionaries!

So how did these dudes not win the title? After losing just one game at home during the regular season, they inexplicably dropped the first two games of their conference finals series against the Chicago Stags by double digits. Told you they were chokers.

13. 1968-69 Baltimore Bullets

ERA: Wes and Earl the Pearl, pre-Elvin Hayes.

RECORD: 57-25.

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +4.3

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in East semifinals to No. 4 New York Knicks (4-0 with home court)

KEY STAR(S): Earl Monroe, Wes Unseld.

COACH: Gene Shue.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Kevin Loughery, Gus Johnson, Jack Marin, Ray Scott, Leroy Ellis.

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 1969-70

The Bullets of the late 60s and 70s were one of the league’s forgotten powerhouses. Ironically, it was their worst regular-season team — an aging 44-win unit that turned back the clock in the 1978 playoffs — that gave D.C. its lone title. I considered the 1973 trade for Elvin Hayes as the line of demarcation between eras, which made these Bullets of Earl Monroe, Gus Johnson, and a rookie Wes Unseld the obvious choice.

Their four-game series loss to the hated Knicks had a slight asterisk because Johnson missed the series due to injury. Still, the Bullets had the NBA’s best record that season thanks largely to Unseld and Monroe. They should not have been swept.

They got their revenge on the Knicks two years later to reach the Finals, but that Bullets team was just 40-42 in the regular season. The 68-69 edition was much better.

12. 2017-18 Toronto Raptors

ERA: Kyle and DeMar

RECORD: 59-23

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +7.8

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in second round to No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers (4-0)

KEY STAR(S): DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry

COACH: Dwane Casey

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Serge Ibaka, Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright, Pascal Siakam, O.G. Anunoby, Fred VanVleet, CJ Miles, Jakob Poeltl, Norman Powell

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 2015-16, 2016-17

I toyed with the idea of excluding all Raptors teams due to last year’s title, but considered the Kawhi Leonard-DeMar DeRozan trade and the firing of Dwane Casey as significant enough changes to split the era up. That means we get to flash back to a time when the Raptors were known for choking in the playoffs and getting owned by LeBron James. Ahh, memories.

youtube

11. 1976-77 Los Angeles Lakers

ERA: Kareem before Magic

RECORD: 53-29

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +2.8

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in West finals to No. 3 Portland Trail Blazers (4-0)

KEY STAR(S): Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

COACH: Bill Sharman

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Lucius Allen, Cazzie Russell, Don Chaney, Kermit Washington, Don Ford, Tom Abernathy, Earl Tatum, Mack Calvin

OTHERS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: None

The only decent Lakers team of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar era before Magic Johnson showed up was exposed as a one-man band in an embarrassing Western Conference Finals sweep. The contrast between Bill Walton’s speedy, team-oriented Blazers and Kareem’s slow, battered Lakers was stark. Kareem outscored Walton, but none of Kareem’s teammates showed up.

It didn’t help that starting power forward Kermit Washington missed the series (this was before he became a pariah after punching Rudy Tomjanovich) and point guard Lucius Allen barely played due to a toe injury.

10. 1994-95 San Antonio Spurs

ERA: Admiral, pre-Timmy

RECORD: 60-22

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +6

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in West Finals to No. 6 Houston Rockets (4-2)

KEY STAR(S): David Robinson

COACH: Bob Hill

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Sean Elliott, Dennis Rodman, Avery Johnson, Vinny Del Negro, Chuck Person, J.R. Reid, Terry Cummings, Doc Rivers, Willie Anderson

OTHERS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 1989-90, 1990-91, 1993-94, 1995-96

This was the best of the David Robinson teams Before Timmy, and also the one that suffered the most humiliating defeat. The 1995 title race was wide open, and San Antonio had home-court advantage throughout the playoffs and the league’s MVP. In the end, that MVP was outplayed by Hakeem Olajuwon in a Western Conference Finals where the Spurs dropped all three of their home games.

youtube

This was one deep team. Dennis Rodman got weird by the end, but he was still a force during the regular season. Nine players averaged at least 15 minutes a game, and each position had a top backup. They could go big or small depending on the matchup and the needs they had during each game. But all of those advantages faded away as Olajuwon dominated.

9. 2015-16 San Antonio Spurs

ERA: Post-Big 3

RECORD: 67-15

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +10.6

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in second round to No. 3 Oklahoma City Thunder (4-2)

KEY STAR(S): Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Tim Duncan (last season)

COACH: Gregg Popovich

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Tony Parker, Danny Green, Manu Ginobili, Patty Mills, David West, Kyle Anderson, Kevin Martin, Jonathon Simmons

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 2016-17

You’re probably wondering why this team (and the 61-win version the year after that lost to Golden State when Zaza Pachulia slid under Kawhi Leonard’s ankle) is eligible for the tournament despite retaining four key core pieces and the legendary head coach from the 2013-14 title squad. Two reasons

The 2015 signing of LaMarcus Aldridge qualifies as a core-altering event.

This was the year the Spurs became Leonard’s team. His usage jumped nearly three points from 2014-15 and would leap up to beyond 30 the next season. Meanwhile, Tim Duncan ended up retiring after the season.

This was a forgotten powerhouse due to the presence of the 73-win Warriors. Ultimately, they were a paper tiger who couldn’t raise their level to get past a Thunder team that coasted in the regular season.

8. 2008-09 Cleveland Cavaliers

ERA: Young LeBron

RECORD: 66-16

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +8.9

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in East Finals to No. 3 Orlando Magic (4-2)

KEY STAR(S): LeBron James

COACH: Mike Brown

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Mo Williams, Delonte West, Anderson Varejao, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak, Daniel Gibson, Joe Smith

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 2009-10

The regular-season fundamentals of these Cavaliers are as good as any in the tournament. Sixty-six wins, a differential approaching nine, and arguably LeBron James’ best individual season. Putting them as a No. 8 seed seems tough.

On the other hand, Mo Williams was their second-best offensive player.

7. 2013-14 Los Angeles Clippers

ERA: Lob City

RECORD: 57-25

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +6.9

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in second round to No. 2 Oklahoma City Thunder (4-2)

KEY STAR(S): Chris Paul, Blake Griffin

COACH: Doc Rivers

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: DeAndre Jordan, J.J. Redick, Matt Barnes, Jamal Crawford, Darren Collison, Jared Dudley

OTHERS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 2012-13, 2014-15, 2015-16

Choosing between Lob City teams was tough. The 2014-15 team was nearly as good as the 2013-14 edition and fell in much more excruciating fashion. The 2015-16 team wasn’t as good, but their title window was briefly opened by Stephen Curry’s ankle injury before both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin got hurt. The 2012-13 version under Vinny Del Negro has a great case, too, though there was plenty of dysfunction lurking beneath the surface.

But I chose the 2013-14 edition for three reasons:

It had the best point differential of the bunch.

It was the most well-rounded thanks to J.J. Redick’s arrival, Matt Barnes’ underrated season, and DeAndre Jordan’s improvement.

Their playoff run was the weirdest of all, from Donald Sterling’s demise to Paul’s out-of-body experience in Game 5 against the Thunder.

youtube

6. 1999-00 Portland Trail Blazers

ERA: Pre-Jailblazers

RECORD: 59-23

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +6.5

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in West Finals to No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers (4-3)

KEY STAR(S): Rasheed Wallace, Scottie Pippen

COACH: Mike Dunleavy

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Steve Smith, Damon Stoudamire, Arvydas Sabonis, Detlef Schrempf, Brian Grant, Greg Anthony, Bonzi Wells, Jermaine O’Neal

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 1998-99

If you want to break Portland fans’ hearts, send them this video.

5. 1992-93 New York Knicks

ERA: Patrick Ewing’s Knicks

RECORD: 60-22

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +6.2

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in East Finals to No. 2 Chicago Bulls (4-2)

KEY STAR(S): Patrick Ewing

COACH: Pat Riley

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: John Starks, Charles Oakley, Charles Smith, Anthony Mason, Doc Rivers, Greg Anthony, Rolando Blackman

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 1991-92, 1993-94, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00

It’s easy to wonder in hindsight how a team with John Starks as its second-leading scorer had any shot against Michael Jordan’s Bulls. At the time, though, the Knicks seemed to have Chicago’s number, pushing them to seven games in the 1992 playoffs before upgrading their roster the next season. They led 2-0 in the East Finals and had a chance to win Game 5 before Charles Smith was stripped, stopped, stopped, and STOPPED AGAIN right under the basket.

youtube

That denied Patrick Ewing his best shot at a ring – the 93 team was comfortably better than the ‘94 team that lost in the NBA Finals and a tad more formidable than the ‘97 club that added Allan Houston and Larry Johnson to their regular core – and our chance to watch a repeat of one of the wildest brawls in NBA history.

youtube

4. 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks

ERA: Dirk, Before Carlisle

RECORD: 67-15

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +6

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in first round to No. 8 Golden State Warriors (4-2)

KEY STAR(S): Dirk Nowitzki

COACH: Avery Johnson

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Jason Terry, Josh Howard, Devin Harris, Erick Dampier, Jerry Stackhouse, Devean George, DeSagana Diop

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 2002-03, 2005-06

It was tough picking between the 2006-07 edition of the pre-Rick Carlisle Mavs and the 2005-06 one that was 2-0 up on Miami in the NBA Finals before Dwyane Wade’s never-ending free-throw parade turned the tide. The 2002-03 edition that went 60-22, beat the Kings in Round 2, and battled San Antonio despite key injuries deserves more love too.

The 06-07 team ended up getting the nod because they were the clear favorites that year and because this was Dirk Nowitzki’s finest regular season. Maybe things would be different if they played anyone other than that weird We Believe Warriors team that matched up so well with them.

youtube

3. 1990-91 Portland Trail Blazers

ERA: Clyde’s prime

RECORD: 63-19

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +8.7

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in West Finals to No. 2 Los Angeles Lakers (4-2)

KEY STAR(S): Clyde Drexler

COACH: Rick Adelman

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Terry Porter, Jerome Kersey, Buck Williams, Kevin Duckworth, Clifford Robinson, Danny Ainge

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 1989-90, 1991-92

The other two Portland contenders of the Clyde Drexler era made the NBA Finals, but this was their best team of the bunch. They went 27-3 to start the season, handily beat the eventual champion Bulls twice, and also won 16 in a row to end the year before giving their starters limited minutes in the season finale.

But after slipping by Seattle and routing Phoenix, the Blazers blew a double-digit fourth-quarter lead to the Lakers in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Terry Porter missed a three that would’ve tied the game, and Buck Williams bricked two free throws with 30 seconds left. The Blazers elected to defend the Lakers straight-up on the ensuing possession instead of fouling, but surrendered an uncontested dunk to Sam Perkins at the shot clock buzzer.

youtube

They never recovered from that collapse and fell in six after Magic Johnson flung the ball down the court to nobody in the closing seconds.

youtube

Imagine these Blazers in the 1991 Finals instead of a Lakers team that didn’t have a healthy James Worthy. Wouldn’t they be the favorites against the Bulls?

2. 2018-19 Milwaukee Bucks

ERA: Giannis and Bud

RECORD: 60-22

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +8.8

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in East Finals to No. 2 Toronto Raptors (4-2)

KEY STAR(S): Giannis Antetokounmpo

COACH: Mike Budenholzer

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Khris Middleton, Malcolm Brogdon, Eric Bledsoe, Brook Lopez, George Hill, Nikola Mirotic

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: None

Is it harsh to put last year’s Bucks on this side of the bracket considering Toronto’s eventual title? I don’t think so. Milwaukee had the league’s best point differential by a mile, a 2-0 series lead, and had Toronto on the ropes in overtime in Game 3. What happened thereafter is a collapse, even if history rewrites it as Kawhi Leonard’s triumph over a too-green Giannis Antetokounmpo.

(Interesting question: if the 2019-20 edition fails to win the title, would they be this tournament’s No. 1 overall seed?).

1. 1993-94 Seattle Supersonics

ERA: Kemp and Payton

RECORD: 63-19

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +9

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in first round to No. 8 Denver Nuggets (3-2)

KEY STAR(S): Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp

COACH: George Karl

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Detlef Schrempf, Kendall Gill, Sam Perkins, Nate McMillan, Michael Cage

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 1992-93, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98

It was tough choosing between these Sonics and the 95-96 edition that made the Finals. The 95-96 team won more games and went deeper in the playoffs. Their two stars, Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, were better versions of themselves. Maybe they’d have given the 72-10 Bulls more of a series if George Karl put Payton on Michael Jordan from the start.

But the 93-94 edition had a better point differential (+9 to +7.8) in a season without expansion teams, as well as a stronger supporting cast and a much scarier trapping defense. Kendall Gill was an emerging star, Nate McMillan wasn’t injured, Sam Perkins could do more, and Michael Cage was significantly better than Ervin Johnson in the middle. Plus, Bob Kloppenburg, the architect of Seattle’s famous SOS pressure defense, was not on the staff by 1996.

It’s easy to forget how monumental that Nuggets first-round upset was at the time. Michael Jordan was retired, so the title was up for grabs. Seattle’s net rating was higher than any other team and nearly double of the eventual champion Rockets. They won 16 of their first 17 games and 30 of their first 35. They had blown out the Nuggets in each of the first two games of the playoff series. This was the peak version of one of the most enthralling non-champions in NBA history, not the 1995-96 version.

0 notes

cjbball · 7 years

Text

The One That Counts

by Cesar Jesus

We take a look at recent and current legends and make our claim to what we consider to be their signature title.

It’s the heart of transaction season right now as free agency is underway, summer league is grooving, and recently drafted players are getting settled in their new digs. But let’s take a step back from the madness of today to appreciate what some legends have carved out in the last few decades.

Today we decide which particular championship matters the most to a player’s legacy. The key here is distinguishing between the series they put up the best numbers in versus the series that defines them as a player. However, you’ll see those paths sometimes intersect. I’ve compiled a list of 5 stars who have claimed at least three rings since the turn of the century. Let the debate (with myself) begin…

Shaquille O’Neal

Rings – 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006

Shaq was an absolute monster during the Lakers ’00 – ’02 three peat run, garnering Finals MVP in each series and dominating anyone the opposition could throw at him. The Lakers only lost a total of three games in those Finals series due to rather weak Eastern conference foes and a prime of his career Shaq.

Upon being traded to Miami in 2004, he and Dwyane Wade pushed the Heat to the conference Finals in 2005, and finally broke through in 2006 with a win over the Mavs to get him to 4 rings.

However, this one is pretty easy. There was nothing like Shaq in 2000. He had one of the most dominant seasons and postseasons I can ever remember. I’d argue that Duncan and Kobe had better careers than Shaq, but neither ever touched the season-long of debilitating shit Shaq served up in the 99-00 season. Nobody could guard him, and he was at his absolute physical peak. He was solid, super quick on his feet, and opened big spacing for a slew of shooters.

This was his 8th season in the league and 4th playoff run with the Lakers, so there was a lot of chatter going around that Shaq was never going to see the promised land. In the end, I think he should have won at least 5 or 6, but more on that later…

Tim Duncan

Rings – 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014

Oh Timmy! The stable force behind San Antonio playoff runs for nearly two decades first took the Spurs all the way behind a twin tower combination alongside David Robinson in 1999. Once Shaq got lazy and stopped training, they nabbed three more in the 2000’s as the core of Timmy, GINOBILI!, and Tony Parker led the way.

Then there was a lull. From 2007 to 2013 the Spurs were continually counted out every season. This is the season they’ll fall off, they’d say. The Spurs would respond by having a great regular season, but not being able to finish the job when the postseason came around. It was widely accepted that Duncan, Parker, Manu and Pop were all going to be Hall of Famers, and amongst players there was league wide respect for what they had done. It was a great run already.

But the Spurs, and especially Tim Fucking Duncan, were not done. After coming a few missed free throws and a Ray Allen dagger short of winning the title in 2013, they returned again to the Finals in 2014 for a rematch with the Heat.

I remember watching the press conferences before Game 1, and I saw something special in Timmy’s eyes. He’s a quiet laid back dude, but make no mistake, he has the killer gene. 4 titles is great, but when you can add another, 7 years after the previous one, spanning your range of titles to 15 years (99 to ’14), you put a hell of an exclamation point on your resume. I liken the Pats and Brady’s recent Superbowl to what Timmy and the Spurs did in 2014.

Kobe Bryant

Rings – 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010

For Kobe, it all comes down to being petty. You don’t have to be a rocket scientologist to guess this one.

Kobe was the clear second banana for three straight Laker titles in his earlier days in the league. Cool.

Then after years of being a chucker for first round fodder, he took a fairly forgettable Lakers team to an even more forgettable Finals series in 2009 where they topped Dwight Howard’s Orlando Magic. It was good for Kobe’s 4th title. That’s the same as his former teammate had now. Cool.

In 2010, it all came together for the Mamba. He was back in the Finals against the same Celtics team that had shot down his 2008 Finals run, and there was a chance at ring number 5 on the line. That’s one more than that guy he used to play with. I wonder if that thought popped in his head at any point during that postseason run. Nah, probably not.

Well, the Lakers won in 7 games, Kobe got his second consecutive Finals MVP, and he unleashed the most petty phrase in NBA Finals history.

Dywane Wade

Rings – 2006, 2012, 2013

Just imagine if you asked this question to D-Wade, what do you think he’d say?

Sure, Wade teamed up with his superbros LeBron James and Chris Bosh on their way to 4 straight Finals appearances and two rings, but the son of South Beach will always be defined by 2006.

There was certainly some funny stuff going on with some calls he was getting in that series, but it was clear that Wade was the best player in his first NBA Finals appearance against the Mavs. Wade was a lane slashing machine and could get into the paint at will. Throw a wall of defenders at him, and he’d pivot and wet a 15 footer from the elbow or find an open teammate.

Miami went on to won in 6 games, and Wade set himself apart from his 2003 draft class compadres by striking first blood on a ring. Now sitting on three rings and a Finals MVP, there is nothing left for this guy to prove.

LeBron James

Rings – 2012, 2013, 2016

LeBron first tasted a championship while with the Heat in 2012 with a 4-1 win over the OKC Thunder, but it felt more like a sigh of relief than a victory. The monkey was finally off his back, and the haters could no longer talk, but that was about it.

2013 continued to build on his legacy, but hoops purists left the table still wanting more. For a lot of folks, it felt more like the Spurs shit the bed and the Heat had fallen bass ackwards into good fortune. Here he was two titles in, but there was still more to be desired from this guy. I guess it’s part of the gig that comes with being labeled the Chosen One.

He almost singlehandedly had the Cavs in position to beat the Warriors in the 2015 Finals, but there is only so much one man can do.

In 2016, LBJ finally got HIS title. There was no shitting of the Tempurpedic and hand delivered jewelry this time around. No injuries to major players on either team to play the “what if” game (BTW, Steph Curry scored 17 in overtime against Portland AFTER he tweaked his ankle, so I’m not buying that he was hobbled). With the help of a clutch Kyrie bucket, Lebron and the Cavs had ended a 52 year title drought in the city of Cleveland.

The King had come home and delivered on his promise. He finally had the title that without question elevated him to all-time great status and into legitimate GOAT conversations. Sure, there’s a chance he’ll add one or a few more onto his count when it’s all said and done, but this is by far THAT title.

Now if only team Banana Boat all signed for the vet minimum with the Lakers next summer…

Legends Bonus

Michael Jordan – 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998

Magic Johnson – 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988

Larry Bird – 1981, 1984, 1986

#tim duncan #kobe bryant #lebron james #shaquille oneal #dwyane wade #miami heat #san antonio spurs #lakers #los ángeles lakers #cleveland cavaliers #michael jordan #larry bird #magic johnson #boston celtics #stephen curry #team banana boat

1 note · View note

phgq · 4 years

Text

Spurs retire French star Parker's jersey

#PHnews: Spurs retire French star Parker's jersey

ANKARA -- The San Antonio Spurs retired four-time NBA champion Tony Parker's jersey in a ceremony to honor the French legend late Monday.

"It's official! Tony Parker's No. 9 jersey will live on in the rafters forever. #MerciTony," Spurs said on their Twitter account, as the ceremony was held at the Western Conference franchise's home court, AT&T Center in Texas.

"San Antonio, it feels great to be home," Parker said.

"San Antonio is always going to be home to me. It’s very important that you know that. Thank you, Spurs fans," he added.

The 37-year-old veteran point guard spent 18 seasons in the NBA. He played for the Spurs for 17 seasons, helping the franchise win four NBA titles in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014.

In the Spurs' 2007 title run, Tony Parker was named the Finals MVP, adding a bright accolade to his resume.

Parker ended his career in June this year.

Parker, along with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, won a total of 701 regular season and playoff games, making them the winningest trio in NBA history.

Six-time NBA All-Star Parker joined the Charlotte Hornets last season. During his NBA career, Parker averaged 15.5 points and 5.6 assists.

Meanwhile, Parker became the 10th Spurs player to have his jersey retired in the Western Conference franchise history.

Spurs pay tribute to their veterans by retiring their numbers as they had honored Bruce Bowen (12), Tim Duncan (21), Sean Elliott (32), George Gervin (44), Avery Johnson (6), Johnny Moore (00), David Robinson (50), James Silas (13) and Ginobili (20) by hanging their jerseys to the rafters. (Anadolu)

***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "Spurs retire French star Parker's jersey." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1085830 (accessed November 13, 2019 at 05:29AM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "Spurs retire French star Parker's jersey." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1085830 (archived).

#Philippines #News #Filipino #Pinoy #Tourism #Politics #Culture #Editorial #Environment #Society #History

0 notes

leehaws · 5 years

Text

Kawhi Leonard’s Handle is the Secret to his Success

Kawhi Leonard is 27 years old, enjoying the prime of a career that’s already turned him into the most complete basketball player in the world. He can score efficiently at all three levels, shoot, rebound, create for teammates, and, without help, defend just about every player in the league.

But when Phil Handy—an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors who specializes in skill development and has worked closely with LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kyrie Irving, among many others—met Leonard over the summer and asked what part of his game he most wanted to improve, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year had ball-handling at the top of his list.

“Great players are great players, and I think they become even better players when they’re willing to get out of their comfort zone and just work on different things,” Handy told VICE Sports. “Kawhi was already a good ball-handler. I just think a lot of people didn’t really get to see that part of his game. It was there.”

They started with simple combinations and focused on improving his balance, base, and footwork, then blended in additional moves with multiple variations. Repetition was key. The objective wasn’t necessarily to teach Leonard new ways to transport himself from Point A to Point B on a basketball court so much as it was to plow what he already knew even deeper into his psyche. Now, when Leonard does something with the ball, his reflexes kick in before his brain has time to process what’s going on.

“Sometimes the dribbling exercises you put guys through, it may not be something they actually use on the floor but it gives transference. Their instincts become better,” Handy said. “They just instinctually start to go from one handle to another to another when they’re in different situations in games.”

He’s availing himself with a broader palette. Here’s Leonard getting hounded by Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Josh Okogie. When he goes between his legs and Okogie reaches in for the steal, Leonard spins baseline fast enough to convince viewers the move was directed by a choreographer.

The result of Leonard’s hard work during the offseason is clear every night. After a lost year in which he only appeared in nine games, Leonard has not only re-inserted himself into MVP and “best player alive” debates, but has also emerged in his first year with the Raptors as arguably the best ball-handler at his position. Plays like the one seen below are already typical.

On the San Antonio Spurs, Leonard’s handle felt like a pencil sketch of the Mona Lisa. Greatness was imminent, but operating in place of flair and spectacle was a robotic efficiency that never really needed to evolve. Every dribble inside Gregg Popovich’s system was a wasted opportunity to pass or shoot, and who was to argue with that calculus? His straight line drives regularly led to tomahawk dunks. The Spurs were a juggernaut. That doesn’t mean Leonard was stagnant, though. He itched to journey past the fundamentals which had already been mastered. There was strobe-light training and a demand to create more than separation for his own shot, particularly in the playoffs, as Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili aged out of their responsibilities.

“He always was able to get to his spots, but now he is so comfortable anywhere,” Jamal Crawford told VICE Sports. “His handle is to the point where he does things to hop into shots, along with getting to the rim, along with using it to get his space in the mid-range.”

Today, Leonard’s ball-handling is an ideal marriage between style and substance; it’s grown from garnish to bedrock. There’s more fluidity and jazz at a higher volume. His dribbles per touch are at a career high, and shots attempted after at least three dribbles account for over 57.2 percent of his own offense. (Two seasons ago that was 42 percent, and one before that it was 37.1 percent.) Leonard is also averaging 5.3 more drives per game than he did three years ago, and 1.5 more than his last healthy season with the Spurs. (So far, only 36 percent of Leonard’s shots have been assisted. His previous career low was 48 percent, and in his third year that number was all the way up at 59 percent.)

“San Antonio did a phenomenal job developing Kawhi and helping him become a better player. I just think it was a different system.” Handy said. “The flow of our offense puts him in different situations where he’s able to expand a little bit more.”

The hard work is paying off, but a change of scenery hasn’t hurt. When I asked why he’s been able to showcase his ball-handling a bit more this season than in year’s past, Leonard acknowledged Toronto’s system and how he’s being utilized: “It’s pretty much just the offense that we’re running. I’m just able to come off pin downs and there’s a lot of cross screens and dribble hand-offs. Nick’s just doing a good job of spacing out the floor.”

Where lineups earlier in his career rarely prioritized offensive gravity over defensive intimidation, Leonard now operates with four three-point shooters by his side (including Pascal Siakam, who’s making a relatively impressive 34.6 percent of his threes right now), in an era designed for stars to take advantage of extra room. When he receives a pick high above the three-point line, Leonard skis downhill and sticks the screener’s defender on an island. It’s impossible to guard, but switching isn’t much of an alternative.

“We knew he could score in and out and off screens and all those kind of things. Play in transition some. And now we’re kind of getting him more in the screen-and-roll game, so he’s learning. And I think he’s starting to see things a little bit better too. He’s finding some kick-outs and passes out of there, and those guys are gonna need to step in and make them,” Raptors head coach Nick Nurse said. “So he can do everything, right? He can do everything, and we’ll just keep progressing with keeping it in his hands in all situations.”

Sit 15 feet away when he warms up at the free-throw line, as I did before a recent Raptors game, and it’s impossible to ignore just how small everything looks in his hands—if the basketball is Earth’s surface, Leonard’s hands are its oceans. At the NBA combine in 2011, his hands were 11.25 inches wide—which is wider than every player measured at the last four combines—and served as exclamation points at the tip of his 7’3” wingspan. They’ve always been his closest friends, around to help deflect passes and tally unreachable steals, sky for a rebound or finish a contested layup. And now more than ever, it’s hard to negate their usefulness when he handles the ball, too.

“Kawhi is really long, so my tendency when I’m working with guys that are long is to help them tighten their handle,” Handy said. “It makes sense biomechanically with your body, if you’re sitting in a wider stance it’s going to help you keep your length in.”

Leonard has more control over his entire body than the average person does over their big toe. Merge that discipline with unparalleled physical dimensions that directly impact his ability to manipulate a basketball, and what you get is a unique handle that defenses can’t really stop. He’s even more compact and under control than he used to be, which, when talking about someone who already takes care of the ball better than any star in the league, is really saying something. It allows him to alter tempos whenever/wherever he wants.

“He doesn’t play at a breakneck speed, but when he changes speeds he’s fast,” Handy said. “He just kind of puts you to sleep with the way he plays, and then boom. He’s really deceptive like that.”

The first time I re-watched this video, I thought the fourth dribble was a glitch; I’m still not 100 percent positive the ball physically travels went between his legs:

Already one of world’s best players, Leonard’s growth in this specific area has elevated his ceiling and made it even less possible to slow him down. Try and trap him and he’ll turn the corner, draw two defenders and still create enough space for a baseline fadeaway. Leonard regularly rips the ball off the rim and goes coast-to-coast, swiveling through defenders with an in-and-out move that’s executed to perfection at top speed. His between-the-legs crossover is lightning and his one, two, three-dribble pull-ups are virtually unguardable. Leonard’s handle isn’t the entree of his skill-set, but it complements everything else that makes him a franchise-altering talent. And just like every other gem who thrives in the same rarefied tier, the best is yet to come.

“I don’t care who you are, Kyrie, Steve Nash, Chris Paul. I don’t think you ever get to a point in your career where you say ‘OK, that’s enough with my ball-handling,’” Handy said. “You always have to constantly continue to get the rhythm of the basketball, and keep your handles tight, so wherever you are on the floor there’s any combination of dribbles you can use.”

Kawhi Leonard’s Handle is the Secret to his Success syndicated from https://justinbetreviews.wordpress.com/

0 notes

flauntpage · 5 years

Text

Kawhi Leonard's Handle is the Secret to his Success

He's availing himself with a broader palette. Here’s Leonard getting hounded by Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Josh Okogie. When he goes between his legs and Okogie reaches in for the steal, Leonard spins baseline fast enough to convince viewers the move was directed by a choreographer.

The result of Leonard's hard work during the offseason is clear every night. After a lost year in which he only appeared in nine games, Leonard has not only re-inserted himself into MVP and “best player alive” debates, but has also emerged in his first year with the Raptors as arguably the best ball-handler at his position. Plays like the one seen below are already typical.

Today, Leonard’s ball-handling is an ideal marriage between style and substance; it’s grown from garnish to bedrock. There's more fluidity and jazz at a higher volume. His dribbles per touch are at a career high, and shots attempted after at least three dribbles account for over 57.2 percent of his own offense. (Two seasons ago that was 42 percent, and one before that it was 37.1 percent.) Leonard is also averaging 5.3 more drives per game than he did three years ago, and 1.5 more than his last healthy season with the Spurs. (So far, only 36 percent of Leonard’s shots have been assisted. His previous career low was 48 percent, and in his third year that number was all the way up at 59 percent.)

"San Antonio did a phenomenal job developing Kawhi and helping him become a better player. I just think it was a different system." Handy said. "The flow of our offense puts him in different situations where he’s able to expand a little bit more."

Where lineups earlier in his career rarely prioritized offensive gravity over defensive intimidation, Leonard now operates with four three-point shooters by his side (including Pascal Siakam, who's making a relatively impressive 34.6 percent of his threes right now), in an era designed for stars to take advantage of extra room. When he receives a pick high above the three-point line, Leonard skis downhill and sticks the screener’s defender on an island. It’s impossible to guard, but switching isn't much of an alternative.

Sit 15 feet away when he warms up at the free-throw line, as I did before a recent Raptors game, and it’s impossible to ignore just how small everything looks in his hands—if the basketball is Earth's surface, Leonard’s hands are its oceans. At the NBA combine in 2011, his hands were 11.25 inches wide—which is wider than every player measured at the last four combines—and served as exclamation points at the tip of his 7’3” wingspan. They’ve always been his closest friends, around to help deflect passes and tally unreachable steals, sky for a rebound or finish a contested layup. And now more than ever, it’s hard to negate their usefulness when he handles the ball, too.

The first time I re-watched this video, I thought the fourth dribble was a glitch; I’m still not 100 percent positive the ball physically travels went between his legs:

Already one of world’s best players, Leonard’s growth in this specific area has elevated his ceiling and made it even less possible to slow him down. Try and trap him and he'll turn the corner, draw two defenders and still create enough space for a baseline fadeaway. Leonard regularly rips the ball off the rim and goes coast-to-coast, swiveling through defenders with an in-and-out move that's executed to perfection at top speed. His between-the-legs crossover is lightning and his one, two, three-dribble pull-ups are virtually unguardable. Leonard's handle isn't the entree of his skill-set, but it complements everything else that makes him a franchise-altering talent. And just like every other gem who thrives in the same rarefied tier, the best is yet to come.

Kawhi Leonard's Handle is the Secret to his Success published first on https://footballhighlightseurope.tumblr.com/

0 notes

amtushinfosolutionspage · 6 years

Text

The Highlights that Reveal the Magic of Manu Ginobili

Manu Ginobili announced his retirement from professional basketball on Monday. The San Antonio Spurs legend was a four-time NBA Champion, scoring 14,043 regular season points, dishing out 4,001 assists, and netting 1,392 steals. Manu was a two-time All-NBA player, a four-time All-Star, the all-time Spurs leader in steals, third in assists, second in boards, and the team’s fourth leading scorer.

Impressive totals by pretty much any rational consideration but it should be noted that he did all this after coming to the league at the age of 25, after a European career that put him on the EuroLeague’s list of 50 Greatest Contributors. Not to mention spending much of his NBA career coming off the bench. Oh, also, he won a Gold Medal in the 2004 Olympics, an accomplishment he shares with fewer than 50 other non-Americans in the history of the sport. He was the greatest South American basketball player who ever lived and one of the surest-thing Hall of Famers of his generation.

But, as amazing as this shit is, the cold stats do very little to really describe Ginobili the basketball player because watching Manu was like watching magic. An oversized shooting guard with a full complement of skills—passing, boarding, scoring inside and outside. If you needed a perimeter player to do it, he could make it happen. His skill set—which maybe came along a decade too early, a stunning consideration when you look at the breadth of his accomplishments—was the harbinger for the style of basketball that would come to dominate the NBA while he was still playing in it.

He was also just a totally enthralling athlete to watch, one of the most entertaining and infuriating players of his era, a dude who complemented his size and athleticism with breathtaking skill and off-kilter train of thought that mystified the staunchest of defenders.

Manu’s mega-power, the adamantium claws that complemented his healing factor, was his touch around the rim. Watch him dive into big men on drives and flip up shots over and over again, and see the dumbfounded looks on their faces. Watch them notice the guard driving, take the foul for the greater good, and force him to the line to get the game into a half-court situation, only to see those hopes utterly dashed and tossed aside when Manu manages to use THEIR body to contort himself midair. He places his hands low and away from their arms—positioned specifically to keep the shot from hitting rim—then creates an arc out of his hands that defies logic, flipping the ball nice and high while putting an extraordinary amount of spin on it, so it hits the backboard and gently drops in.

Kwame Brown can’t even fucking believe it, he just lands and stands there, wondering what the hell he is supposed to do, exactly, the futility of his entire career getting replayed in two or three seconds. Shaq tries to act not mad, looking left and right and dropping the ball, but c’mon, we know, dude. Brad Miller slumps his shoulders and drifts away while Manu, hair and all, pumps his fist and heads to the line. Manu manages to create perfect answers to unsolvable problems, with the sound of one hand clapping perfectly and eloquently.

Manu was tricky as hell. Watch him fool Kevin Garnett, possibly the best on-switch big-man defender in NBA history, with a perfectly executed ball fake at the rim. Manu acts like he is going to flip it in around Garnett, spinning the ball in off the backboard behind Garnett’s back, a basically impossible move that you still have to fear when you’re defending him. Garnett, a spatial genius, bites HARD and tries to reorient to block that shot. Manu, in retort, takes the slim second of time he’s created for himself, reorients, and lifts up for a totally normal-ass layup over Garnett, who, amazing in his own way, finds himself swiping at it. Everything happens so quickly that Garnett has absolutely no idea what has happened to him on that one. His arms shrug, he gestures toward the ball, as if to say, that CLEARLY wasn’t my fault? Someone else fucked up SOMETHING there, right?

And hey: that trickster spirit didn’t make Manu universally beloved. There was a person, here and there, who MIGHT HAVE SAID that, ON OCCASION, Manu might have indulged in a flop every now and then. Now, I am not here to say, for sure, if they were right. They were, of course, but I’m not here to say that. What I AM here to say is that, not only did it NOT MATTER if they were right, but that flopping is, fundamentally, an attempt to fool referees, who are SportsCops, and that fooling cops is cool. What was the man supposed to do!? Deny his truth, which was constructing elaborate lies to gain slivers of advantage? It would have been a crime worse than murder, to not follow his heart in this way.

Manu’s career might have happened a little early. His immediate successor, the fabulous fellow-lefty James Harden, has built himself a year-after-year All-NBA career and netted an MVP award replicating a lot of Manu’s skills and tendencies and trickster spirit, going so far as to openly credit Manu as an influence. Above, we see their greatest on-court moment together, the two of them lightly colliding and flopping off the other. Manu gets the upper hand, as per his senior status.

But anyone who tells you that’s all there was to the dude is full of shit. Here he is trying to get a flop off Ray Allen, managing to not travel in the process, reading the situation and realizing it didn’t work, and picking up his dribble again and trying to create a pick-and-roll basket with Tim Duncan. Manu is correct, here, he has a perfect read, but no one else manages to pick up on what the hell he is trying. If he had a flaw, it was that he simply was always thinking several steps ahead of everyone else, trying and seeing shit that wouldn’t even occur to a normal person and trying to put it into practice at the expense of his teammates understanding. But when it worked, it was spectacular.

Manu’s signature move was a handsome 1-2 Step, or a “EuroStep,” as he came to make it known. A basketball player on a drive is allowed a big step toward the rim. For most of history, NBA players would inevitably take these steps charging forward, to create maximum momentum at the rim. Manu, clever as he was, rejiggered this approach to deny himself the extra momentum while giving himself a different angle at the rim, stepping around his defender and hitting the rim instead of through him.

It’s a signature move that worked for him year after year, but also, in the process, came to exist as a synecdoche for his whole game. While everyone else looked to go through, Manu’s head was up and looking for a way to get around. It made him a true original and one of the greatest players of his generation.

The Highlights that Reveal the Magic of Manu Ginobili syndicated from https://australiahoverboards.wordpress.com

0 notes

junker-town · 5 years

Text

James Harden’s new spinning, one-footed three will wreck the NBA

Xinhua/Liu Liwei via Getty Images

Harden told us he was plotting a new move. Is this it?

James Harden started his summer by promising to unleash a new move on unsuspecting NBA defenders when next season began. He appeared to hint at what he’s been working on during the famed Rico Hines pickup runs at UCLA over the weekend.

Introducing: the turnaround, side-step, one-footed three.

View this post on Instagram

For game. @jharden13 #knowyourbigpicture #familyforever #theblueprint

A post shared by Darico "Rico" Hines (@ricohinesbball) on Aug 18, 2019 at 3:49pm PDT

Harden tried it (unsuccessfully) in the very first preseason game of the new year:

James Harden promised he’d be debuting a new move this season and here it is...a running one-legged what the. this needs a name immediately. pic.twitter.com/O1BLxftDtd

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) October 1, 2019

Harden warned us this was coming

When a young fan asked Harden about his “traveling step-back” earlier this summer, the Rockets star said he was in the lab cooking up something new. In the process, he gave an answer that should inspire every young player to continue working on their game.

”In the NBA, especially at the highest level of basketball, you got to find ways to get better every single year. You got to find ways to create an advantage every single year. And that’s what I’m doing. It’s not a travel.

“This year, I’m going to come up with something more creative, and it’s gonna look like a travel but it’s not. Honestly! Even when I was on a tour, in Europe or China, or even when I’m here in the U.S., I see kids your guys’ age that are working on step-backs, working on moves, because it’s going to gain you an opportunity to be better than the rest of your peers. And that’s what I’m going for.

Harden seems to add a new move every year

Harden is always getting better. He broke into the NBA by debuting a Eurostep that recalled the callous trickery of his idol Manu Ginóbili. As he moved to the Rockets, Harden mastered the step-back and then the side-step. In between, he’s become the NBA’s king of deceleration. All of it has helped him go from a sixth man in Oklahoma City to one of the best players in the world for Houston.

As the NBA game is increasingly played at the point of attack between the offensive and defensive player, the ability to consistently create separation is perhaps the biggest requirement for a superstar-level player. LeBron James goes through you. Giannis Antetokounmpo goes over you. Harden does it every which way, leveraging his enormous frame, superhuman strength, and impossible sleight of hand skills to become the deadliest scorer of his generation.

And no, this isn’t a travel

Some fans are sure to call this spinning, one-footed three a travel if Harden actually uses it in games. Harden himself acknowledged it at the first hint that he was working on something new. No, it isn’t a travel. Harden is taking two steps with a gather, which is totally legal. Instead, it’s further evidence that a player who has finished in the top-two of MVP voting four of the last five years isn’t satisfied with his game yet.

Harden’s work ethic and ingenuity should make him a role model to anyone looking to elevate their game. Just don’t try this move in a game before winning an NBA MVP, kids. As Harden has showed us, you need to have a command of the rules before you know how to break them.

0 notes

hsews · 6 years

Link

CLEVELAND — LeBron James, partially responsible for ushering in the NBA’s era of superteams when he joined the Miami Heat in 2010, said that for as much talent as the Golden State Warriors possess, the greater challenge in bringing them down might be matching their collective basketball IQ.

“Now everyone is trying to figure that out,” James said of the task of beating the Warriors. “How do you put together a group of talent but also a group of minds to be able to compete with Golden State, to be able to compete for a championship?”

The Cleveland Cavaliers trail the Warriors 3-0 in the NBA Finals and are just 1-7 in the Finals against the Warriors the past two seasons since Golden State added former league MVP Kevin Durant to the fold in the summer of 2016.

Kevin Durant confirmed to ESPN on Thursday that he will re-sign with the Warriors this summer. Sources told ESPN in April that Durant would opt out of his contract and sign a restructured deal with Golden State.

On the verge of elimination thanks to a big night by Kevin Durant, Cavaliers star LeBron James said playing the Warriors is “almost like playing the Patriots. You can’t have mistakes.”

After regularly losing to LeBron James in OKC, Kevin Durant has dominated with the Warriors. Flipping the script won’t be easy for James.

2 Related

James reflected Thursday on how the Warriors came to be, a team on the verge of its third championship in the past four years after averaging 66.3 wins in the past four regular seasons.

“Golden State, because of Steph [Curry‘s] injuries early on in his career and his contract situation and then them drafting Draymond [Green] and drafting Klay [Thompson] and them being under the contracts they were in, allowed their franchise to go out to get KD,” James said. “So they win a championship (in 2015). Then we play them and we come back from 3-1 and we beat them [in 2016]. But that was the best regular season — probably the best team I had ever played against. They go 73-9, and then you add one of the best players that the NBA has ever seen.”

Still, James emphasized, the common thread between recent juggernauts in the Big Three Boston Celtics; or his Heat teams with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh; or the San Antonio Spurs teams led by Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard; or the current Warriors is not the All-Stars, but what’s going on upstairs between the ears.

“In order to win you’ve got to have talent, but you’ve got to be very cerebral too,” James said. “Listen, we’re all NBA players. Everybody knows how to put the ball in the hoop. But who can think throughout the course of the game?

“This is so challenging for me to sit up here and say because people who really don’t know the game don’t really know what I’m talking about. They just think that you go out, and, ‘Oh, LeBron, you’re bigger and faster and stronger than everybody, you should drive every single time and you should dunk every single play and you should never get tired, never.’ Like it’s a video game and you went on the options and you turned down fatigue all the way to zero and injuries all the way down to zero. So we come back here and we get the minds and we build a championship team.”

Of course, not lost on anyone is the fact that James is expected to opt out of the final year of his contract with the Cavs to explore unrestricted free agency this July.

Complete coverage | Expert picks | Bracket

• KD takes control of rivalry with LeBron • Even the Splash Warriors had nemeses • 50 best individual playoffs in NBA history • What Warriors are doing to Cavs is just mean • NBA Finals will play key role in free agency • Behind the crucial calls NBA referees make • Playoff MVPs: LeBron, Draymond and more • NBA offseason guides for eliminated teams • Tickets on Vivid Seats

By detailing what type of smart players it takes to win championships, James could very well have been intentionally dropping clues as to what he thinks of his Cavs teammates as well as what he will be looking for in weighing any new franchise he should decide to join.

Of Wade and Bosh, whom he teamed with in 2010, James revealed, “I knew their minds,” before they wore the same NBA uniform. Of Kyrie Irving, whom he teamed with in 2014, James said his goal was, “wanted to try to build his mind up to fast track his mind.”

If there were breadcrumbs to follow, it’s worth mentioning that in October, James said “his passing is his best quality and [his] high basketball IQ,” when asked about Philadelphia 76ers rookie Ben Simmons. Then again, in February, he said, “I think George Hill‘s basketball IQ complements me,” when asked about the Cavs’ new point guard. He has made similar comments countless times about his longtime friend Chris Paul as well as Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball, when asked about him in December: “It’s always team. He passes the ball. Pushes the ball up the floor. Someone you want to play with.”

In other words, all four of the presumed most likely destinations for James this summer — Cleveland, L.A., Philly and Houston — have at least one player who fits the smart teammate mold that he seeks out.

If he meant for his statements to be a reflection of what his current Cavs team is lacking, James would only hint at it, rather than state it outright.

“We have a lot of talent as well,” James said. “We’ve been in a position where we could win two out of these three games. So what do we have to do? Do we have to make more shots? Is it we have to have our minds into it a little bit more?”

Green was asked about James’ praise of the Warriors’ mental strength and returned the compliment.

“I think you really learn where a guy’s IQ is and then you kind of adjust to that,” Green said. “IQ isn’t going to be everyone’s strength. You look at LeBron, he’s probably one of the smartest players to ever play the game. You can’t say that about the rest of the Cavs’ team. He’s special in that aspect. But it’s on him to make sure that what he does rubs off on them, and he puts them in the right spots. And he does do that.

“I think as far as we go, when you look at guys who are having a high IQ on our team, it’s our job to make sure we’re doing whatever we can to help other guys who may not be as strong in that area. And I think that all comes with the system we play in, the culture that we’ve built. You don’t really want to be the sore thumb sticking out.

“So, I think that’s very important and I think it’s one of the most underrated things when you’re talking about the success that we’ve had because you can’t really measure it.”

In other words, if the Cavs were to complete another historic comeback against the Warriors, Golden State will have to have a mental meltdown as much as anything.

“When you make mistakes, they make you pay,” James said. “Because they’re already more talented than you are, but they also have the minds behind it, too, and they also have the championship DNA.”

Source link

The post LeBron James of Cleveland Cavaliers — ‘Basketball IQ’ key to toppling Golden State Warriors appeared first on HS NEWS.

#Breaking News

0 notes

medproish · 6 years

Link

The Indiana Pacers weren’t expected to make the playoffs after losing their franchise player, Paul George, for what was considered an underwhelming haul of Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. They ended up being a game away from knocking off the three-time reigning Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers and advancing to the second round of the playoffs.

But there was horrible news out there for Indiana fans that proved prophetic again. LeBron James, the timeless wizard and indestructible hulk, is alive and well, and has still dominated all of the Game 7s he’s ever played in. That now includes this Game 7, during which he shut the Pacers down with 45 points in a 105-101 win.

LeBron’s dominance hasn’t always equated to wins in the past, but it didn’t matter this time. He’s now won 5-of-7 such occasions, going undefeated this decade after coming up short twice in the conference semis last decade.

Let’s take a look back at The King’s Game 7 history.

Pistons 79, Cavaliers 61 — May 21, 2006

Once you’re done hysterically laughing about the 61-point total (the third-lowest ever in a playoff game), let’s begin talking about how LeBron made more shots from the field than the entire rest of his team combined. He had 27 points on 11-of-24 shooting and eight assists. His team went 9-of-31 from the field.

Not bad for a 22-year-old carrying a pathetically constructed team to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, huh.

Here’s how he scored his points:

[embedded content]

How James won 50 games with a trash heap of a roster that featured Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Larry Hughes behind him is beyond words, but that’s for another day. The point here is that James will wreck your team in a Game 7 regardless of who he’s surrounded by.

Celtics 97, Cavaliers 92 — May 18, 2008

It was another losing effort for James, who had 45 of his team’s 92 points because Oh My Lord this team was somehow more depleted than the 2006 one. James scored his points efficiently on just 29 shots, adding six assists, five rebounds and two steals. The next-leading scorer was Delonte West with 15 points, then precisely zero other players scored in double figures. Ilgauskas had eight points, Sasha Pavlovic had seven and Joe Smith had six.

It’s a miracle that the Cavs LeBron James took the eventual NBA champions to seven games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Please watch:

[embedded content]

Heat 101, Celtics 88 — June 9, 2012

Surrounding LeBron James with talent actually worked in 2012, when the Heat would go on to win the championship. LeBron scored 31 points on 21 shots in this Eastern Conference Finals Game 7, beating the Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce Celtics, adding 12 rebounds and two assists.

Dwyane Wade had 23 points, and Chris Bosh had 19 off the bench.

[embedded content]

Heat 99, Pacers 76 — June 3, 2013

After the first quarter, this game was never close. LeBron closed out the Eastern Conference Finals with 32 points on 17 shots, eight rebounds and four assists. Dwyane Wade had 21 points, and Ray Allen scored 10.

Paul George had… seven points. Oof.

[embedded content]

The Heat went on to win their second consecutive title — but it took another Game 7.

Heat 95, Spurs 88 — June 20, 2013

Guess what? LeBron played well in another Game 7 just 17 days after the conference finals!

The King dropped 37 points on 23 shots with 12 rebounds and four assists and two steals to knock off Kawhi Leonard, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan’s Spurs. LeBron hit 5-of-10 threes, and sunk all eight of the free throws he attempted.

[embedded content]

Cavaliers 93, Warriors 89 — June 20, 2016

We can start with The Block, but y’all remember this one.

[embedded content]

In case you need a reminder, the unanimous MVP and the Golden State Warriors blew a 3-1 lead to the Cavs. James scored 27 points on 24 shots, with 11 assists and 11 rebounds, and completed his crowning moment in NBA history.

[embedded content]

Cavaliers 105, Pacers 101 — April 29, 2018

[embedded content]

LeBron wasn’t going to let the Cavaliers lose. He vowed to play the entire game, then dropped 26 points in the first half. Cramping ruined his plans to go the full 48, but his teammates picked him up at the beginning of the fourth quarter to extend Cleveland’s lead. Then, LeBron brought it home by hitting the game-sealing layup and then snatching the ensuing defensive rebound.

The bottom line here is that LeBron James is downright vicious in Game 7s, even when he has the inferior team. The Pacers now know this for sure after witnessing an afternoon of James domination.

Good Morning It’s Basketball

NBA news and links delivered to your inbox each weekday, so you never miss out.

By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and European users agree to the data transfer policy.

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

Source link

The post An (updated) history of LeBron James' Game 7s appeared first on trend views word.

#IFTTT #WordPress

0 notes

cbholganza · 7 years

Text

Finally. As the dark clouds of war gather on the horizon, the trumpets signaling the arrival of our mighty gladiators beckon us once again into the arena.

Enough of the wheeling and dealing. Enough of the dance rehearsals. Enough of the meet-and-greet. “Behold, ye merry mortals, your feast of fun and fury cometh. Let the games begin!!!” Thus spake the booming voice of our cage god.

Indeed, these are exciting times.

We watched in awe as big stars such as former champ Kyrie Irving shimmied and shuffled across the entirety of the NBA geography, engaging new dance partners, trying new dance steps. We marveled as fresh new faces such as Lonzo Ball gave us a glimpse of what the league would look like in the years ahead. We wondered if the chemistry would work among new dynamic duos or the even more compelling triple threats. And we asked how they can match up against Golden State’s fabulous four?

The Minnesota Timberwolves started the post-season ‘Star Wars’ when it plucked Jimmy Butler from Chicago to baby-sit a potential group of juveniles led by Jeff Teague, Karl Anthony-Towns and Andrew Wiggins. This is a young combo ready to give the seniors some lessons in contemporary ball.

Will Butler and the new look Wolves step forward this year? (courtesy of NLSC Forum)

More teams followed suit as they stocked up on star power to try to stop that juggernaut in the west named the Warriors.

Kyrie Irving exchanged his Cavalier digs for the Boston green. He is joining Al Horford and Gordon Hayward, who unfortunately got injured on his very first game with the Celtics. It looks like Gordon will be out for the season, stunning the Celtics’ faithful, and dashing hopes for a great season.

Things were looking bright for the Celtics until Gordon Hayward took a fall in his very first game in green. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Team go-to guys Carmelo Anthony of New York and Paul George of Indiana flew to Oklahoma to form a formidable triumvirate with current league MVP, Russell Westbrook. With steady big-man Steven Adams, this upgrade will outgun, outrun and destroy most other opposition in the land.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (13), guard Russell Westbrook (0) and forward Carmelo Anthony (7) pose for photos. (Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY)

Over in Houston, James Harden goes back to playing shooting guard with the arrival of Chris Paul. With the vastly improving Eric Gordon, the Rockets could give the Warriors a serious run for their money. And this was put in full display in their shock upset over the Warriors on opening day last Thursday.

Chris Paul relieves James Harden of much of the ball-handling duties, making him a more potent scoring threat. (Photo from DD Prognostics.)

In New Orleans, veteran point guard Rajon Rondo will lead the charge with big men Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins providing the demolition derby at the low post. Just a couple of snipers more and you’ve got a most dangerous band here.

If DeMarcus thrives from Rajon’s feeds, the Pelicans should be a power to reckon with. (courtesy of nba.com)

In San Antonio, a healthy Kawhi Leonard leads the veteran pack of LaMarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and newy-acquired Rudy Gay.

A healthy Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker will always make the Spurs a serious threat. (Photo from Bleacher Report)

And then there’s the steady dynamic duos of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum of the Portland Trailblazers; John Wall and Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards; Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors. With better back-up support, any of these teams could go deep in the playoff action.

Jan 6, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2), Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3), Wizards forward Markieff Morris (5), and Wizards center Marcin Gortat (13) stand on the court against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 112-105. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

But the biggest challenge for the Warriors’ fab four will still be the Cleveland Cavaliers. Isaiah Thomas replaced Kyrie as Lebron’s second-in-command. Joining them are old vets Dwyane Wade, another former MVP – Derrick Rose, and of course, Kevin Love. Add to that another Boston migrant, Jae Crowder, and voila! This team’s upgrade is so evident, it bumped off 2 erstwhile starters – JR Smith and Tristan Thompson – to the bench.

The Cavs’ starting line-up features 2 former season MVPs, 2 Finals MVPs, and 4 All-Stars. This doesn’t include Isaiah Thomas yet. (courtesy of nba.com)

Question is: will these star combinations work in total harmony? Will they be able to make music together as good as the league’s benchmark, the Warriors? For it is not enough to have superstars aboard, it is imperative to have them fit well together, be comfortable playing together, and share the ball unselfishly.

With their tested chemistry, their collective cage IQ, their vaunted skillsets, the Warriors are still the team to beat. (courtesy of Pinterest)

Indeed, this was by far the craziest off-season in league transfers. A total of 93 out of the 450 players in the NBA changed uniforms. That’s roughly a fifth of the league’s population. And there were too many big names that you could come up with an all-star cast from this list of hardcourt heroes, not to mention the bumper crop of rookies joining the league this year. Truly, it makes for a more fascinating season up ahead.

And so, enough of the appetizers. On to the main course. “Let’s get ready to rumble!!!!”

Let the Games Begin!!! Finally. As the dark clouds of war gather on the horizon, the trumpets signaling the arrival of our mighty gladiators beckon us once again into the arena.

0 notes

hoopslab · 7 years

Text

Have Curry and Durant surpassed Pippen and Kidd on GOAT list?

In the RealGM Top 100 project, once the GOAT rankings started getting around GOAT ranking number 29 or 30, the competition reached an interesting juxtaposition between past and present...how do you compare MVP-level players with relatively short careers vs superstars from other eras that never quite got that MVP, but that were close to that level and played much longer?

I'd like to weigh in at least a bit on Stephen Curry, and the perceived difference between players like he and Kevin Durant vs. guys like Scottie Pippen and Jason Kidd (or even Draymond Green, since he's been brought up).

As someone pointed out in the last thread or two, we're reaching a point where there are around 30 perceived "#1" types such that consensus "#2 types" like Pippen may slide out of the top 30. But...I just tend to look askance at the whole #1 vs #2 narrative. There may be some elements of truth in these designations, I'm not weighing in on that...but I feel like there is definitely an artificial boost or decrement that some players get based on style of play (especially scoring, in different ways) that does not in any way fit what I perceive based on analysis of impact approaches through history (to whatever level is available).

Bring it to Durant and Curry. For both, the prevailing argument for their inclusion so high is that they are "true #1" types that have the accolades (MVPs) and team success, which makes them just inherently more valuable than some of the other players considered here. SO much more valuable, in fact, that them having shorter (or even dramatically shorter) resumes is counteracted by how dominant they are.

Only...when I look at impact, I don't see that level of dominance for them. And while there is push-back (as always) about how good of a job the impact stats actually do, I would point out that the other players of the databall era that are considered to have GOAT-level peaks (LeBron, Shaq, Duncan) ALSO have RAPM footprints much more impressive than anything we've seen from Curry or Durant. Dirk and KG have much more impressive impact footprints than anything we've seen from Curry or Durant. Kobe's impact has tended to measure out as slightly higher/comparable to the absolute best that we've seen from Durant, but Kobe did it a heck of a lot longer. Their impacts have measured out more similarly to guys like Paul, Nash, or Kidd...only again, they did it for way shorter.

So. I'm forced to ask myself...is there some kind of fluke reason for why Durant and/or Curry measure out as clearly great (peaking at top-5 in NBA for given season) but not all-time the way that the other GOATs of the databall era have? Remember, the argument for their inclusion here is (my paraphrase) that they are all-time great, but for shorter periods...what I'm seeing is that their impacts are one-to-two steps under all-time-great, also for shorter periods. That's a key distinction.

Bringing it to players like Kidd or Pippen, broad terms. All of Curry, Durant, Kidd and Pippen peaked as top-5 (but not #1) in RAPM (or on/off +/- for 1994 - 97) from 1994 to 2016. I went through and tabulated all their finishes, but seem to have not saved/lost that. But for each, they peaked in the #3 - #5 range in the NBA for a given year. Each had a couple of finishes in that range, then others that ranged down into the lower top-10 on out to the 30s range. The difference is, though, guys like Kidd (and presumably Pippen, who in theory should have strong unmeasured seasons pre 1994) had a lot more seasons with impact in that strong range than Durant or Curry do.

So again, for me to put Curry and Durant higher, I have to convince myself that their style of play, their mechanisms of impact, are SO much more valuable that a) it trumps a lot of longevity and b) it's also evident enough that I should ignore that it doesn't show up in the available impact stats.

So, let me go next level a bit, starting with Durant. Is Durant's style of play, the mechanisms of impact for a guy like him, so much beyond what I would expect from some of these other guys? Is he, as a "true #1", just the type that tends to be more impact? Answer...no. Historically, guys like him (wings that are excellent scorers but without another discernible mega skill) have NOT tended to break the impact scale. On offense, Durant's specialty, the biggest impact players have unquestionably been both mega scorers AND mega distributors. ElGee has an article out right now on Nylon Calculus on how offense created tends to be a function of a combination of scoring volume, assists and 3-point range. Durant is very strong at the first and last, but not so much for the middle...AND THE CREATION ASPECT MATTERS! So no, I don't see Durant as the type of offensive GOAT that would necessarily be putting up the top overall impact in the league...which, to me, makes it believable that in fact he never HAS exhibited that kind of impact. Again, when the focus of the pro-Durant argument over some of the other players available is tied directly to him having much higher impact than them but for a shorter time window, then yeah, this type of information will make me question where he was voted in.

But what about Curry? I gave him a secondary vote a few threads back, because my impression is that he DOES have a game approach that might lend itself to higher impact than a guy like Durant. But even so...he's never shown it in the measurements either. And Draymond is the key factor, with Curry. Because, as was laid out a few threads back, according to RAPM it's been Curry AND Draymond that are all-history as a combo, not Curry alone. And it's NOT the case that a great player can't have a great sidekick or great teammates...but in almost every other situation, the GOAT-level player still put up massive numbers and/or separated himself in the impact studies. Shaq had Kobe, but Shaq's RAPM was dominant. MJ had Pippen, but (at least for the mid-late 90s we have data for), MJ was dominating the on/off +/- data. Manu was mentioned as having great RAPMs, and he did, but a) it was more part-time as noted and b) Duncan was still dominant and reaching the top of the RAPM scale anyway. That's not what we see with Curry and Draymond...they measure out almost dead even, with more tie-breakers probably in Draymond's favor, in the numbers.

So, for Curry to have the GOAT impact, the argument has to go the way DocMJ laid out...that he's the one with the outlier skillset, and that the team's success is built around him and thus that Draymond is the side effect. But again...just like with Durant...I'm not sure I see it. Because while yes, Curry does have the type of scoring volume/passing/OMG shooting that should realistically be an offensive juggernaut...Draymond ALSO exhibits the playing style hallmarks of a mega impact player. He's a big man that's a dominant defensive anchor, he's a point- big man, and (relative to his position) he's a spacing threat. That playing style lends itself, through history, to players with outlier and higher-than-expected impacts. And, with the tools we have, Draymond MEASURES OUT with that type of impact. So...I should just ignore that, because Curry is a "true #1" type? I don't see it at all.

I can consider the notion that maybe, in a vacuum, Curry might tend to be more outstanding than Draymond in more situations. It's discussion worthy, and I'm not sure enough of the counter to be arguing Draymond anytime soon. And really, like Durant, I don't have a huge problem with Curry getting attention in this neighborhood. But I also can't just ignore that on their ACTUAL teams, Draymond tends to measure out as just as important as Curry, and there are legitimate reasons to expect this to be a reasonable outcome. Thus, I can't just give Curry bonus points from Draymond's category and assume that his impact was more in the Shaq/Duncan range than the Kobe/Paul range. And this is compounded by the fact that we DO have such a short body of work for Curry...it could be that, when we look back at him in 10 years, it'll be clear that this era really WAS his impact because it stayed robust and Draymond's fell off as time went on. But right NOW, I'm not convinced of that at all. Especially not enough to make him a slam-dunk entry over guys with similar impact footprints that did it for longer.

#historical #analytics #evaluations #Stephen Curry #Kevin Durant #Draymond Green #Scottie Pippen #Jason Kidd #RAPM #on/off +/-#RealGM Top 100

0 notes