*NBA THREAD* Abe will be missed (4 Viewers)

[sporthenry]

at Drake standing next to the coach giving out signals.

 

[Balco]

Nets are going to blow this.

 

[Premier]

at Drake standing next to the coach giving out signals.

was just about to say that Drake is in the coaches box.

 

[CurlyNight]

Love these down to the wire games! Best playoff round 1 in recent memory!

 

[Abraham]

at Drake standing next to the coach giving out signals.

Drake is awesome. Hoping Toronto wins this. All the fans in the plaza is so cool.

 

[The General]

Why is there a peach / pink hue to the telecast? Is it only my TV? Am I high, this is driving me crazy.

 

[sporthenry]

Mark Jackson going to get fired yet Jason Kidd seemingly still has a job.

 

[phrozen]

Why is there a peach / pink hue to the telecast? Is it only my TV? Am I high, this is driving me crazy.

It is not just you.I was wondering the same thing.

 

[phrozen]

great block by Pierce

 

[Eephus]

Well, that was an interesting play Casey drew up there

 

[Abraham]

The raptors fans are really great. Classy set of people.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Well, that was an interesting play Casey drew up there

You must not know Casey. That's the best play he's ever called.

 

[The General]

Why is there a peach / pink hue to the telecast? Is it only my TV? Am I high, this is driving me crazy.

It is not just you.I was wondering the same thing.

Glad I'm not seeing things. Think it was the a slightly weird court color and all the red in the crowd or something.

Just switched over to watch end of game, great finish.

Nets about to get blasted by the Heat.

 

[Sammy3469]

Well, that was an interesting play Casey drew up there

It was a fine play, Garnett showed really really strongly and blew it up though. Give credit to him there and Pierce for blocking the shot.

 

[Dr Oadi]

Paul? Garnett? When did the celtics start wearing lack?

 

[simmonjm]

Well, that was an interesting play Casey drew up there

You must not know Casey. That's the best play he's ever called.

Not counting that last play the Raps executed like a veteran team scoring a couple of quick baskets and fouling right away. Often times teams will screw this last minute sequence up (might be biased as I mostly watch Knicks).

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Well, that was an interesting play Casey drew up there

You must not know Casey. That's the best play he's ever called.

Not counting that last play the Raps executed like a veteran team scoring a couple of quick baskets and fouling right away. Often times teams will screw this last minute sequence up (might be biased as I mostly watch Knicks).

The Ross layup was on a broken play. Lowry's layup wasnt much of a play call. Throw in the backcourt and let him get up a head of steam.

There is a reason they lost a lot of close games this year. Casey is a great motivator but a terrible x and o guy.

Edit: Only the Suns and Pistons won fewer games that were decided by 3 or less. Toronto was 3-8 and 1-6 in OT.

 

[pizzatyme]

Have a good offseason Dirk.

 

[Dr Oadi]

Have a good offseason Dirk.

thought this was gonna be best game 7. Largest comeback evah?

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

I don't want to sound like DD, but 2 great game 7's and 3 lousy ones is a little bit of a disappointment.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Paul? Garnett? When did the celtics start wearing lack?

My god, you're an imbecile.

 

[pollardsvision]

I'm a casual fan at best, but how do you ever really get into the NBA when the officiating is so inconsistent? I won't suggest it favours on team over another, though it can appear that way, but from one possession to the next the fouls are called differently.

This is why I stopped watching regularly. The whining by the players, the inconsistent calls, and the lack of toughness really chased me away.

If this is enough to make you stop watching, then I don't know how you could enjoy any sport. They all rely on judgement calls that can be frustrating for fans.

NBA officiating is less annoying than NFL officiating to me. The NBA has a 7-game series where the better team will win most of the time (apparently even that bothers some folks too), so questionable calls can be overcome.

NFL Playoff games are determined on about 120 total plays. There's a chance that the entire game will be determined by a judgement call by the refs on a few long potential pass interference plays. If the refs decide to enforce holding on a certain play, it kills one of the precious few drives of the game. Defenders being penalized for all sorts of hits that used to be legal doesn't help matters.

I enjoy the NFL, but like all sports, I think you have to overlook the impact of officiating to really enjoy it. I love MLB, and the entire tone of the game is set by different umps taking a subjective view of the strike zone.

 

[sports_fan]

Spurs shooting 72% from the field with a few minutes left in the 1st half.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

I'm a casual fan at best, but how do you ever really get into the NBA when the officiating is so inconsistent? I won't suggest it favours on team over another, though it can appear that way, but from one possession to the next the fouls are called differently.

This is why I stopped watching regularly. The whining by the players, the inconsistent calls, and the lack of toughness really chased me away.

If this is enough to make you stop watching, then I don't know how you could enjoy any sport. They all rely on judgement calls that can be frustrating for fans.NBA officiating is less annoying than NFL officiating to me. The NBA has a 7-game series where the better team will win most of the time (apparently even that bothers some folks too), so questionable calls can be overcome.NFL Playoff games are determined on about 120 total plays. There's a chance that the entire game will be determined by a judgement call by the refs on a few long potential pass interference plays. If the refs decide to enforce holding on a certain play, it kills one of the precious few drives of the game. Defenders being penalized for all sorts of hits that used to be legal doesn't help matters.I enjoy the NFL, but like all sports, I think you have to overlook the impact of officiating to really enjoy it. I love MLB, and the entire tone of the game is set by different umps taking a subjective view of the strike zone.

It's still frustrating even for someone like myself who really enjoys watching. The play sequence he was referring to (Im assuming) were two block/charges that went against Toronto on consecutive plays in the 4th Q. In what was a close game, that was a big swing. Block/charge is a tough call but when you get the short of it on back to back plays it sucks (the Derozan charge was the right call and the Lowry block was very close). To a casual fan, those plays look identical.

 

[dickey moe]

Parker scooping his way to 50.

 

[No. 16]

Woj tweeted that there's not a single person in the GS front office that "will make the case to ownership to keep him." He must be a huge ###.

Jackson certainly is weak when it comes to strategy and making adjustments. They should also be a better offensive team given their talent. He may be a great motivator, although that's hard to judge from here.Add in the reported stuff about how he treats his assistants, Jerry West, etc., and I can see where management is coming from.

Listening to Jackson's "analysis" when he was a TV analyst, I never understood the sentiment that he deserved a head coaching job despite having no experience.

What more do people want? Top 10 in scoring offense and defense. Might only be 12th in offensive efficiency but 3rd in defensive efficiency. So whoever they bring in likely results in a drop defensively. In today's day and age of advanced stats, still seems like people want to sacrifice defense for offense.

And they just took one of the best teams in the league to 7 without Bogut. Looking at the team with or without Bogut, do people really consider this one of the best teams in the league? Seems like they only have 1 superstar in a league where you need at least 2.

Mark Jackson doesn't deserve much credit for the defense. The system was made by Mark Malone and the personnel is really the driving force....not even Pringles could mess team up defensively.

Iggy is Top 3 wing defender (lbj, Allen, Iggy).

Bogut is a Top 3 defensive center.

Klay is a near elite wing defender who can guard 1-3.

Draymond is one of the few players who can legitimately guard 1-5.

If those 4 are playing major rotation minutes, hard not to be a Top defensive team.

 

[dickey moe]

If there's one thing the NBA needs, it's more Pitbull.

 

[pollardsvision]

I'm a casual fan at best, but how do you ever really get into the NBA when the officiating is so inconsistent? I won't suggest it favours on team over another, though it can appear that way, but from one possession to the next the fouls are called differently.

This is why I stopped watching regularly. The whining by the players, the inconsistent calls, and the lack of toughness really chased me away.

If this is enough to make you stop watching, then I don't know how you could enjoy any sport. They all rely on judgement calls that can be frustrating for fans.NBA officiating is less annoying than NFL officiating to me. The NBA has a 7-game series where the better team will win most of the time (apparently even that bothers some folks too), so questionable calls can be overcome.NFL Playoff games are determined on about 120 total plays. There's a chance that the entire game will be determined by a judgement call by the refs on a few long potential pass interference plays. If the refs decide to enforce holding on a certain play, it kills one of the precious few drives of the game. Defenders being penalized for all sorts of hits that used to be legal doesn't help matters.I enjoy the NFL, but like all sports, I think you have to overlook the impact of officiating to really enjoy it. I love MLB, and the entire tone of the game is set by different umps taking a subjective view of the strike zone.

It's still frustrating even for someone like myself who really enjoys watching. The play sequence he was referring to (Im assuming) were two block/charges that went against Toronto on consecutive plays in the 4th Q. In what was a close game, that was a big swing. Block/charge is a tough call but when you get the short of it on back to back plays it sucks (the Derozan charge was the right call and the Lowry block was very close). To a casual fan, those plays look identical.

Oh I agree and I can see why it's frustrating. I was really just saying that I think it would be hard to like sports in general worrying too much about the effects of officiating.

 

[sporthenry]

Woj tweeted that there's not a single person in the GS front office that "will make the case to ownership to keep him." He must be a huge ###.

Jackson certainly is weak when it comes to strategy and making adjustments. They should also be a better offensive team given their talent. He may be a great motivator, although that's hard to judge from here.Add in the reported stuff about how he treats his assistants, Jerry West, etc., and I can see where management is coming from.

Listening to Jackson's "analysis" when he was a TV analyst, I never understood the sentiment that he deserved a head coaching job despite having no experience.

What more do people want? Top 10 in scoring offense and defense. Might only be 12th in offensive efficiency but 3rd in defensive efficiency. So whoever they bring in likely results in a drop defensively. In today's day and age of advanced stats, still seems like people want to sacrifice defense for offense.

And they just took one of the best teams in the league to 7 without Bogut. Looking at the team with or without Bogut, do people really consider this one of the best teams in the league? Seems like they only have 1 superstar in a league where you need at least 2.

Mark Jackson doesn't deserve much credit for the defense. The system was made by Mark Malone and the personnel is really the driving force....not even Pringles could mess team up defensively.

Iggy is Top 3 wing defender (lbj, Allen, Iggy).

Bogut is a Top 3 defensive center.

Klay is a near elite wing defender who can guard 1-3.

Draymond is one of the few players who can legitimately guard 1-5.

If those 4 are playing major rotation minutes, hard not to be a Top defensive team.

Well, this is going to turn into a chicken or the egg argument. Almost all coaches' success is at least partially determined by personnel. Either way, I guess we'll get to see how much of GS's lack of success is attributable to Mark Jackson since they'll be returning a near identical team next year.

 

[Eephus]

Woj tweeted that there's not a single person in the GS front office that "will make the case to ownership to keep him." He must be a huge ###.

Jackson certainly is weak when it comes to strategy and making adjustments. They should also be a better offensive team given their talent. He may be a great motivator, although that's hard to judge from here.Add in the reported stuff about how he treats his assistants, Jerry West, etc., and I can see where management is coming from.

Listening to Jackson's "analysis" when he was a TV analyst, I never understood the sentiment that he deserved a head coaching job despite having no experience.

What more do people want? Top 10 in scoring offense and defense. Might only be 12th in offensive efficiency but 3rd in defensive efficiency. So whoever they bring in likely results in a drop defensively. In today's day and age of advanced stats, still seems like people want to sacrifice defense for offense.

And they just took one of the best teams in the league to 7 without Bogut. Looking at the team with or without Bogut, do people really consider this one of the best teams in the league? Seems like they only have 1 superstar in a league where you need at least 2.

Mark Jackson doesn't deserve much credit for the defense. The system was made by Mark Malone and the personnel is really the driving force....not even Pringles could mess team up defensively.

Iggy is Top 3 wing defender (lbj, Allen, Iggy).

Bogut is a Top 3 defensive center.

Klay is a near elite wing defender who can guard 1-3.

Draymond is one of the few players who can legitimately guard 1-5.

If those 4 are playing major rotation minutes, hard not to be a Top defensive team.

(Much maligned) Mark Malone - now there's what I call a mustache.

It's hard to judge Jackson because his issues are all happening outside of the public's view. He's apparently lost the trust of the front office which may be impossible to repair. If you base it just on wins and losses, it's not fair for him to be axed. But nobody ever said the game is fair. The Warriors are probably better off making the inevitable move sooner than later.

 

[sporthenry]

It's hard to judge Jackson because his issues are all happening outside of the public's view. He's apparently lost the trust of the front office which may be impossible to repair. If you base it just on wins and losses, it's not fair for him to be axed. But nobody ever said the game is fair. The Warriors are probably better off making the inevitable move sooner than later.

For the record, this reason is completely fair. The relationship with front office is more than enough to get canned. If we all just left it at that, its fine. As you mention it isn't fair and it could come back to bite GS but I'm just amused at the people who think that Jackson is the issue from a W/L standpoint? So what does the successor have to do?

 

[mlbnfl]

I'm sad Cliff :'( Now I have to boo the #### out of Brooklyn in person I guess. Was a good run and not surprising the fans reacted how they should which was nice but wish the season kept going. Hopefully they retain Lowry Vazquez and Patterson and let Salmons walk. Looking forward to next year, hopefully we have a nice run of consecutive playoff appearances coming in the next few years after missing out so long.

 

[Eephus]

It's hard to judge Jackson because his issues are all happening outside of the public's view. He's apparently lost the trust of the front office which may be impossible to repair. If you base it just on wins and losses, it's not fair for him to be axed. But nobody ever said the game is fair. The Warriors are probably better off making the inevitable move sooner than later.

For the record, this reason is completely fair. The relationship with front office is more than enough to get canned. If we all just left it at that, its fine. As you mention it isn't fair and it could come back to bite GS but I'm just amused at the people who think that Jackson is the issue from a W/L standpoint? So what does the successor have to do?

I'm sure a lot more detail will get leaked out after Jackson leaves but right now it's hard to piece together what the situation is. The Erman and Scalabrine incidents were disturbing but individual assistant coaches are replaceable assets. But successful coaches put together and maintain effective coaching staffs. If Jackson can only tolerate a handful of trusted yes-men on the bench, that's not going to help him long term in the NBA.

 

[hxperson]

I'm sad Cliff :'( Now I have to boo the #### out of Brooklyn in person I guess. Was a good run and not surprising the fans reacted how they should which was nice but wish the season kept going. Hopefully they retain Lowry Vazquez and Patterson and let Salmons walk. Looking forward to next year, hopefully we have a nice run of consecutive playoff appearances coming in the next few years after missing out so long.

Yeah this sucks but really par for the course for a Toronto sports team. I still believe we need to tank or we will just remain a treadmill team. Talent just isn't there.

 

[Premier]

I'm sad Cliff :'( Now I have to boo the #### out of Brooklyn in person I guess. Was a good run and not surprising the fans reacted how they should which was nice but wish the season kept going. Hopefully they retain Lowry Vazquez and Patterson and let Salmons walk. Looking forward to next year, hopefully we have a nice run of consecutive playoff appearances coming in the next few years after missing out so long.

Yeah this sucks but really par for the course for a Toronto sports team. I still believe we need to tank or we will just remain a treadmill team. Talent just isn't there.

Wait what?

Your team just had a great season and played a phenomenal series. Wtf are you talking about.

 

[Freelove]

I'm sad Cliff :'( Now I have to boo the #### out of Brooklyn in person I guess. Was a good run and not surprising the fans reacted how they should which was nice but wish the season kept going. Hopefully they retain Lowry Vazquez and Patterson and let Salmons walk. Looking forward to next year, hopefully we have a nice run of consecutive playoff appearances coming in the next few years after missing out so long.

Yeah this sucks but really par for the course for a Toronto sports team. I still believe we need to tank or we will just remain a treadmill team. Talent just isn't there.

Wait what?

Your team just had a great season and played a phenomenal series. Wtf are you talking about.

He's kind of right.

It's nice to have had a fun series, but the absolute worst thing a team can be in the NBA is a first-round playoff loser. Nowhere near contending, and no shot at the lottery. It's just no-man's land, and it's tough to get out of there.

It may seem like a pessimistic approach, but the NBA sort of sets itself up to engender pessimism. The best teams stay the best for ages, the worst teams have a chance to turn it around fast if they stumble onto a massive talent, and the teams in the middle mostly tread water. Careers are long in the NBA, they make it possible to resign stars, and with small teams, one or two stars makes a huge difference. It ain't like other sports, and mediocrity is a reason for immense pessimism.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Going to game 4 at the Barclays Center next Monday... Odds this will be a sweep?

 

[Abraham]

Toronto is a good team. They are much closer to contender then tanker. Just because a team doesn't have Lebron or kd doesn't mean they should tank.

 

[Premier]

Man it you're a Toronto fan and couldn't enjoy the season you probably should just stop watching sports.

 

[Popinski]

Woj tweeted that there's not a single person in the GS front office that "will make the case to ownership to keep him." He must be a huge ###.

Jackson certainly is weak when it comes to strategy and making adjustments. They should also be a better offensive team given their talent. He may be a great motivator, although that's hard to judge from here.

Add in the reported stuff about how he treats his assistants, Jerry West, etc., and I can see where management is coming from.

Listening to Jackson's "analysis" when he was a TV analyst, I never understood the sentiment that he deserved a head coaching job despite having no experience.

What more do people want? Top 10 in scoring offense and defense. Might only be 12th in offensive efficiency but 3rd in defensive efficiency. So whoever they bring in likely results in a drop defensively. In today's day and age of advanced stats, still seems like people want to sacrifice defense for offense.

And they just took one of the best teams in the league to 7 without Bogut. Looking at the team with or without Bogut, do people really consider this one of the best teams in the league? Seems like they only have 1 superstar in a league where you need at least 2.

12th doesn't match their offensive talent. And why would their next coach automatically cause a drop defensively? They would still have 2 of the premier defenders at their positions in Bogut and Iguodala, who were that way before they came to Golden State.

I don't think Jackson did a horrible job, but he does have clear weaknesses which are partially attributable to him not having any experience before he took the job. It's one thing if he utilizes an assistant to cover up his deficiencies which would be fine, but it appears he freezes them out instead.

 

[sporthenry]

Woj tweeted that there's not a single person in the GS front office that "will make the case to ownership to keep him." He must be a huge ###.

Jackson certainly is weak when it comes to strategy and making adjustments. They should also be a better offensive team given their talent. He may be a great motivator, although that's hard to judge from here.

Add in the reported stuff about how he treats his assistants, Jerry West, etc., and I can see where management is coming from.

Listening to Jackson's "analysis" when he was a TV analyst, I never understood the sentiment that he deserved a head coaching job despite having no experience.

What more do people want? Top 10 in scoring offense and defense. Might only be 12th in offensive efficiency but 3rd in defensive efficiency. So whoever they bring in likely results in a drop defensively. In today's day and age of advanced stats, still seems like people want to sacrifice defense for offense.

And they just took one of the best teams in the league to 7 without Bogut. Looking at the team with or without Bogut, do people really consider this one of the best teams in the league? Seems like they only have 1 superstar in a league where you need at least 2.

12th doesn't match their offensive talent. And why would their next coach automatically cause a drop defensively? They would still have 2 of the premier defenders at their positions in Bogut and Iguodala, who were that way before they came to Golden State.

I don't think Jackson did a horrible job, but he does have clear weaknesses which are partially attributable to him not having any experience before he took the job. It's one thing if he utilizes an assistant to cover up his deficiencies which would be fine, but it appears he freezes them out instead.

For the same reason people automatically assume their next coach will automatically cause them to increase offensively? Jackson seemed to be a pretty good defensive coach and got his guys to buy in.Their efg% and TS% were 8th and 10th respectively. Where do you think that should be? Are they better offensively than Miami, OKC, San Antonio, LAC or Houston? So we're talking about a few positions better?

And this year they already pretty much got career years out of Iggy and Bogut WRT to efg% and TS% (granted their usages are down) and had Lee's best year since New York. Of course the younger guys like Thompson, Green, and maybe Barnes can improve but will that be because of the new coach or just them maturing? It'll be interesting to watch to say the least.

 

[saintfool]

Jackson is a player's coach, pure and simple. He got a lot out of his players and that's why the front office will have a tough time with his ouster. It's going to take Curry to sign off on this, I think.

 

[CurlyNight]

LET'S GO SPURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But.........................................................feel bad for Dirk.............

 

[pizzatyme]

Well, the Pacers collapse begins again tomorrow! Good luck to all the combatants in round 2.

 

[thecatch]

I'm sad Cliff :'( Now I have to boo the #### out of Brooklyn in person I guess. Was a good run and not surprising the fans reacted how they should which was nice but wish the season kept going. Hopefully they retain Lowry Vazquez and Patterson and let Salmons walk. Looking forward to next year, hopefully we have a nice run of consecutive playoff appearances coming in the next few years after missing out so long.

Yeah this sucks but really par for the course for a Toronto sports team. I still believe we need to tank or we will just remain a treadmill team. Talent just isn't there.

Wait what?Your team just had a great season and played a phenomenal series. Wtf are you talking about.

He's kind of right.

It's nice to have had a fun series, but the absolute worst thing a team can be in the NBA is a first-round playoff loser. Nowhere near contending, and no shot at the lottery. It's just no-man's land, and it's tough to get out of there.

It may seem like a pessimistic approach, but the NBA sort of sets itself up to engender pessimism. The best teams stay the best for ages, the worst teams have a chance to turn it around fast if they stumble onto a massive talent, and the teams in the middle mostly tread water. Careers are long in the NBA, they make it possible to resign stars, and with small teams, one or two stars makes a huge difference. It ain't like other sports, and mediocrity is a reason for immense pessimism.

at the worst thing being a perennial playoff team. Much more fun to be treading water there than at the bottom.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

I'm sad Cliff :'( Now I have to boo the #### out of Brooklyn in person I guess. Was a good run and not surprising the fans reacted how they should which was nice but wish the season kept going. Hopefully they retain Lowry Vazquez and Patterson and let Salmons walk. Looking forward to next year, hopefully we have a nice run of consecutive playoff appearances coming in the next few years after missing out so long.

Yeah this sucks but really par for the course for a Toronto sports team. I still believe we need to tank or we will just remain a treadmill team. Talent just isn't there.

This year was a resounding success for the team. I don't know how you can think otherwise. Had they tried to tank after trading, they'd be in an even worse position. They had to much talent to sniff a top 5 pick. Top 10 maybe, but what does that get you? Maybe a quality starter like say, Derozan or Lowry and another 5 years year of being terrible.

They were one of the best teams in the league post trade; 41-21 once the Sacremento players arrived. That winning % was 4th best in the league only behind, SA, LAC and OKC. Better than the entire eastern conference, GS, Memphis, Portland, Dallas, Phoenix, etc. The starting lineup had 2 sophomores, an "all-star" who is 25 and a top tier PG still early in his prime. Their best bench pieces, Patterson and Vasquez, are still young (Vasquez is older but not many miles on him). Every single core player is going to be getting better (in theory). There are only some LeBron's and Durant's out there and even one of them doesn't guarantee you anything.

They were a quality SF anyway from winning this series. Hell, if they had anyone who could matchup with Iso Joe or a coach who could have taken advantage of his quality matchups, they would have won.

Maybe with the exposure the team got in these playoffs will help them attract some free agent talent. If they could add guy like Deng, Batum or Igoudala they'd probably be the 2nd best team in the east.

Maybe I'm just a deluded homer and spewing garbage. I dunno. I liked what I saw this year.

 

[Max Power]

Don't the Raps have to resign Lowry next year? After this season, that's not going to be cheap. How much money are you going to have left over to grab another difference maker?

I just looked and they have to resign Patterson too... That's basically you're offseason spending.

I'm glad to see the Raps doing better, but getting over that next hump is very difficult the way the NBA is set up.

 

[Abraham]

Don't the Raps have to resign Lowry next year? After this season, that's not going to be cheap. How much money are you going to have left over to grab another difference maker?

I just looked and they have to resign Patterson too... That's basically you're offseason spending.

I'm glad to see the Raps doing better, but getting over that next hump is very difficult the way the NBA is set up.

Lowry should be looking at 4/50 at least, and it will be worth every penny.

 

[Popinski]

Woj tweeted that there's not a single person in the GS front office that "will make the case to ownership to keep him." He must be a huge ###.

Jackson certainly is weak when it comes to strategy and making adjustments. They should also be a better offensive team given their talent. He may be a great motivator, although that's hard to judge from here.

Add in the reported stuff about how he treats his assistants, Jerry West, etc., and I can see where management is coming from.

Listening to Jackson's "analysis" when he was a TV analyst, I never understood the sentiment that he deserved a head coaching job despite having no experience.

What more do people want? Top 10 in scoring offense and defense. Might only be 12th in offensive efficiency but 3rd in defensive efficiency. So whoever they bring in likely results in a drop defensively. In today's day and age of advanced stats, still seems like people want to sacrifice defense for offense.

And they just took one of the best teams in the league to 7 without Bogut. Looking at the team with or without Bogut, do people really consider this one of the best teams in the league? Seems like they only have 1 superstar in a league where you need at least 2.

12th doesn't match their offensive talent. And why would their next coach automatically cause a drop defensively? They would still have 2 of the premier defenders at their positions in Bogut and Iguodala, who were that way before they came to Golden State.

I don't think Jackson did a horrible job, but he does have clear weaknesses which are partially attributable to him not having any experience before he took the job. It's one thing if he utilizes an assistant to cover up his deficiencies which would be fine, but it appears he freezes them out instead.

For the same reason people automatically assume their next coach will automatically cause them to increase offensively? Jackson seemed to be a pretty good defensive coach and got his guys to buy in.Their efg% and TS% were 8th and 10th respectively. Where do you think that should be? Are they better offensively than Miami, OKC, San Antonio, LAC or Houston? So we're talking about a few positions better?

And this year they already pretty much got career years out of Iggy and Bogut WRT to efg% and TS% (granted their usages are down) and had Lee's best year since New York. Of course the younger guys like Thompson, Green, and maybe Barnes can improve but will that be because of the new coach or just them maturing? It'll be interesting to watch to say the least.

The reason people assume that other coaches could make the team better offensively is because of analysis of the product Jackson's team puts out on display. They don't run enough offensive sets, favor isolations too much, don't space well, and exercise little creativity, rather relying on individual players' natural ability to score points. Contrast it to a team like the Spurs, although it's admittedly unfair to compare Jackson to Pop. When his team struggles he likes to say he prefers to let his team grow and fight through it, which seems to be code for being unable to make adjustments. His rotations can also be confounding - not playing Bogut in critical stretches in the 4th quarter, running small lineups with Lee at the 5, etc.

I'm not sure what the significance of a career year in TS% is, especially when you yourself note that Bogut and Iguodala are taking significantly fewer shots than they did before. Lee has essentially been the the same player he was in New York.

And I understand that the players play hard for Jackson which is to his credit, but that is not what the criticism is about.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Don't the Raps have to resign Lowry next year? After this season, that's not going to be cheap. How much money are you going to have left over to grab another difference maker?

I just looked and they have to resign Patterson too... That's basically you're offseason spending.

I'm glad to see the Raps doing better, but getting over that next hump is very difficult the way the NBA is set up.

And Vasquez. It'll be tough to do much this summer. Salmons contract is a nice trade piece, $7M with only $1m guaranteed. That with Ross and a pick would be a nice package.

They need to get rid of some dead money in Fields and Hayes. Ujiri has shown he's pretty good at that see: Gay and Bargnani.