NBA Season 2015-16

[Diablo25]

Don't look now but the Sixers have won 2 of 3. The reacquiring of Ish Smith (he should have never been let go) has ignited the Sixers and, more importantly, Nerlens Noel...as expected. He has been a tremendous spark to the squad. Letting him walk after last year was puzzling so it's great to have him back. There are still huge weak spots on this squad but it's nice to see them finish a game once in a while. They should've beat the Jazz the other night and be 3-0 since getting Ish. 2nd half looks more promising.

[pk500]

Watched second half of Sixers-Kings' game two nights ago at my brother's house in Philly. They look much better with Ish Smith, as the pick-and-roll between he and Noel was VERY effective.

I'm happy for Brett Brown. The guy is a really good coach, and the Sixers always have played hard every night for him. But I think I might puke if I hear anyone say this recent uptick for the Sixers validates Hinkie's "process." Hinkie has no process. He has nearly driven this franchise into the ground.

It will take Colangelo and the continued good coaching of Brown to fix it. The best thing Philly could do is jettison Hinkie and get a real GM to work with and learn from Colangelo.

[Diablo25]

I'm not a Hinkie hater. I stand by my support for what he's tried to do. I can put up with what has been going on if it all comes together. His biggest mistakes have been how he has been with the media/fans. The Okafor situation put a glaring spotlight on that and he failed there miserably. I like the Mike D'Antoni pick up more than Coangelo. Brown loves him...who wouldn't. I just hope when things start to really click (if they do) everyone doesn't just say Coangelo fixed it all. That would be the normal reaction but when you watch the organization on a day to day basis and not through the headlines (not directed towards you Paul...I respect your nba opinons!) you can see the positives and the negatives.

Some big "ifs" here but next year the Sixers will have at least 2 new first rounders on the floor (hopefully Ben Simmons is one of them!) plus Dario Saric and Embiid. Yes they are both big question marks. Saric has stated that he will be coming over next year. I have followed him in the Euro league closely and he has the potential to be a very nice NBA player...perhaps even better than that. He hit a nice game winner the other night! Embiid will be an impact player if he can recover. Of course that is a big if but numerous players have had that surgery and recovered - yes I am a positive guy. If he overcomes all odds and fulfills his potential...look out.

Outside of Simmons, I like the Dunn kid from Providence. Prototype NBA PG (projection). I would be stoked if both him and Simmons had on the new Sixers unit next year. For that to happen the Lakers need to get hot. Sixers play the Lakers tonight so I dont know what to think! I'll be watching.

[pk500]

Simmons isn't the slam dunk "player of a generation" that many think. He can't shoot a jump shot worth a sh*t, and that's essential in today's NBA. He needs a TON of work on his jumper during the summer.

[Diablo25]

Simmons isn't the slam dunk "player of a generation" that many think. He can't shoot a jump shot worth a sh*t, and that's essential in today's NBA. He needs a TON of work on his jumper during the summer.

Yeah, 'the next Lebron" stuff is obviously unfair but I'd still take him! He is only a frosh so there is plenty of room for growth. His biggest positive, from what I've read, is his versatility. Time will tell.

[pk500]

Yep. Ridiculous vision and passing skills for a young, 6-10 dude. Plus he's unselfish as hell, as his coaches urge him to shoot more, especially late in tight games.

[dbdynsty25]

Lebron and Magic both had issues w their shot coming into the nba. Easy to fix when you've got those skills. He'll be fine.

[pk500]

Lebron and Magic both had issues w their shot coming into the nba. Easy to fix when you've got those skills. He'll be fine.

True. I don't think Simmons will be anything short of a star. But the Association relied far less on threes and pace and space when Magic and LeBron were rookies, so Simmons must improve his jumper.

[wco81]

Magic got to take set shots with Kareem in the paint.

He could also drive to the basket. Not explosive but very skilled for a big guy. He just overpowered smaller guards and most players his size couldn't stay with him.

LBJ has always been explosive to the hole. But he shot better than people expected him to. Now though, this season he's shooting like 26% outside the paint. However, he can still get to the rim just about any time he wants to. He's played more minutes than Kobe has in his whole career so there's some speculation that his efficiency is going down from now on. Some teams were daring him to shoot jumpers last year in the playoffs and he beat most of those teams. But having to work harder and harder to do it.

I think Wiggins may be a better comparison. I don't know if Simmons is that kind of freakish athlete but Wiggins isn't a great shooter either. He's shooting even worse than last year on 3s, only 24% but he increased his scoring average so he's an effective scorer and should improve over time.

Teams have had success turning great athletes into good enough jump shooters so there's no reason to believe he won't be either.

[Rodster]

Yikes, the Miami Heat are in serious meltdown mode and that ain't a good thing. The roster Pat Riley put together while good on paper is not going anywhere with today's NBA smal ball. Then you have D-Wade playing ISO Halfcourt ball and taking away any advantage of having Dragic at PG. The only bright spots are the play of PG Tyler Johnson and Winslow but currently Winslow is all defense and with Gerald Green it's feast or famine.

As tight and competitive as the East is this year, the Heat could find themselves out of the playoffs AGAIN and Riley has sold away most of the teams 1st Rd draft choices.

[wco81]

Yikes, the Miami Heat are in serious meltdown mode and that ain't a good thing. The roster Pat Riley put together while good on paper is not going anywhere with today's NBA smal ball. Then you have D-Wade playing ISO Halfcourt ball and taking away any advantage of having Dragic at PG. The only bright spots are the play of PG Tyler Johnson and Winslow but currently Winslow is all defense and with Gerald Green it's feast or famine.

As tight and competitive as the East is this year, the Heat could find themselves out of the playoffs AGAIN and Riley has sold away most of the teams 1st Rd draft choices.

Weren't most of the losses from a recent West Coast trip?

EC teams had a winning record against WC teams the first part of the season but it's starting to reverse.

[dbdynsty25]

Yikes, the Miami Heat are in serious meltdown mode and that ain't a good thing. The roster Pat Riley put together while good on paper is not going anywhere with today's NBA smal ball. Then you have D-Wade playing ISO Halfcourt ball and taking away any advantage of having Dragic at PG. The only bright spots are the play of PG Tyler Johnson and Winslow but currently Winslow is all defense and with Gerald Green it's feast or famine.

As tight and competitive as the East is this year, the Heat could find themselves out of the playoffs AGAIN and Riley has sold away most of the teams 1st Rd draft choices.

At least they aren't the Suns. The only bright spot for Phoenix this season has been Devin Booker errr Clay Thompson with an even better shooting stroke. Man that kid can shoot (and he's literally a kid at 19 years old). Finally a good draft pick mid first round.

[Diablo25]

Yikes, the Miami Heat are in serious meltdown mode and that ain't a good thing. The roster Pat Riley put together while good on paper is not going anywhere with today's NBA smal ball. Then you have D-Wade playing ISO Halfcourt ball and taking away any advantage of having Dragic at PG. The only bright spots are the play of PG Tyler Johnson and Winslow but currently Winslow is all defense and with Gerald Green it's feast or famine.

As tight and competitive as the East is this year, the Heat could find themselves out of the playoffs AGAIN and Riley has sold away most of the teams 1st Rd draft choices.

At least they aren't the Suns. The only bright spot for Phoenix this season has been Devin Booker errr Clay Thompson with an even better shooting stroke. Man that kid can shoot (and he's literally a kid at 19 years old). Finally a good draft pick mid first round.

I'll be courtside for the Sixers Suns game next Tuesday...so you are saying it won't be one of the premier games of the night?

[dbdynsty25]

I'll be courtside for the Sixers Suns game next Tuesday...so you are saying it won't be one of the premier games of the night?

If the "premier" is gunning for the #1 pick, you're in luck! Both teams have some young talent, but that's all it is. So at least you'll be entertained by bad basketball. Guess it's kind of like college hoops in that way.

[Diablo25]

I'll be courtside for the Sixers Suns game next Tuesday...so you are saying it won't be one of the premier games of the night?

If the "premier" is gunning for the #1 pick, you're in luck! Both teams have some young talent, but that's all it is. So at least you'll be entertained by bad basketball. Guess it's kind of like college hoops in that way.

Very true. I'm still going to enjoy the all you can eat/drink Lexus Club!

[Rodster]

Only a matter of time before LeBron fired, oops I mean Griffin fired David Blatt.

[pk500]

Only a matter of time before LeBron fired, oops I mean Griffin fired David Blatt.

So true. No surprise LeBron's buddy Ty Lue was named as replacement, either.

[wco81]

Well he can vindicate himself, from all the criticisms he's getting in the past 24 hours, by winning the title.

[Rodster]

So true. No surprise LeBron's buddy Ty Lue was named as replacement, either.

From what i've read after the Blatt firing was that was his choice before David Blatt was appointed HC before LeBron made his decision to return to Cleveland.

Well he can vindicate himself, from all the criticisms he's getting in the past 24 hours, by winning the title.

His best chance to win a title was by staying in Miami. Now that he's personnel scout, pseudo GM, head coach and GOAT, he doesn't stand a chance against San Antonio and Golden State. Whoever wins between GS or the Spurs will be NBA champs. My bet is on GS doing it again and again until LeBron retires. At 31, the clock is ticking but now it's becoming clear why he bailed on Miami. Pat Riley was not going to give him that kind of power within the Heat organization.

[wco81]

Yeah but GS and SA could beat each other up while Cleveland coasts to the Finals.

And really anything can happen, including major injuries towards the end of the season.

[Rodster]

Yeah but GS and SA could beat each other up while Cleveland coasts to the Finals.

And really anything can happen, including major injuries towards the end of the season.

The one thing neither GS or SA has is dysfunction. The Cavaliers are the NBA version of the Miami Dolphins. Ownership is just saying yes to what LeBron wants and signing the checks. The only person really running that organization is #23.

I'd still give the nod to a worn down GS or SA team over the Cavs. I can't see GS being worn down by young players who thrive on perimeter play and small ball. SA will have it's hands full and as good as Leonard is, he can't guard the entire GS team.

[Rodster]

SA plays the Warriors tonight. We should get an idea how close these two teams are.

[dbdynsty25]

SA plays the Warriors tonight. We should get an idea how close these two teams are.

Except Duncan isn't playing.

[Rodster]

With or without Duncan the Warriors are making a statement to both the Cavs and the Spurs. A beat down is taking place with the Spurs down by 27 late in the 3rd.

[wco81]

Yeah it's surprising though Spurs seemed to have decided to give this one up early. They took out Leonard and didn't really try. They didn't put back Parker either. Wouldn't surprise me if Pop decided to keep his cards close to the vest.

He complained about 8 turnovers in the first quarter but they were only down 6 after 1 quarter.

I think they'll try to hammer the Warriors in the paint the next time they play with Duncan. And Parker won't cruise, he'll attack over and over, make the Warriors defend.