NBA

[SLAVEN BILIC]

I follow the Bulls and NBA with little interest nowadays. There’s a handful of players that actually enjoy defending. Yes there are some super talented players in the league, but there’s no drama anymore and players are getting left with time and space to sink 3s uncontested.

 

[SerenityNigh]

The problem is in a game uncontested twos still have to go in at over 50% to compete with 3s and that's hard with the current line. You move it back and suddenly there is more space for twos and you don't have to make as many. It'll change the dynamic.

3 ways to score > 2 ways to score, which is why a Morey team will never win the NBA Finals

 

[TheBigIguana]

3 ways to score > 2 ways to score, which is why a Morey team will never win the NBA Finals

A Morey team only didn't win the Finals because the greatest team ever was in their way.

That said you're not wrong but only because defense has adjusted and won't let you shoot nearly as many open 3s as they may have once upon a time. I still think the game needs a bit of a reconfiguration though. You're really only shooting mid range to open up everything else.

 

[SerenityNigh]

You're really only shooting mid range to open up everything else.

Right; no need to over complicate the game.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Right; no need to over complicate the game.

I mean we're not saying the same thing though. Teams still aren't trying to take those shots often in any way like they used to, but also defenses aren't going to defend there if you don't ever shoot it so they aren't able to just ignore it like peak Rockets with Harden. The mid range isn't "back" it's just fed table scraps instead of completely starved.

 

[Martin Alvito]

A Morey team only didn't win the Finals because the greatest team ever was in their way.

That said you're not wrong but only because defense has adjusted and won't let you shoot nearly as many open 3s as they may have once upon a time. I still think the game needs a bit of a reconfiguration though. You're really only shooting mid range to open up everything else.

True of a lot of things, like a credible running attack in oblong-ball.

I agree that when Curry makes them for fun from where he does, it's time to move the line back. It won't much bother him - it's probably to his advantage in much the same way that Tiger-proofing did the opposite - but he's evidence that you should have to take on more risk on a shot than is currently required to yield three points rather than two.

 

[TheBigIguana]

True of a lot of things, like a credible running attack in oblong-ball.

I agree that when Curry makes them for fun from where he does, it's time to move the line back. It won't much bother him - it's probably to his advantage in much the same way that Tiger-proofing did the opposite - but he's evidence that you should have to take on more risk on a shot than is currently required to yield three points rather than two.

Running the ball is back!

 

[SerenityNigh]

I mean we're not saying the same thing though. Teams still aren't trying to take those shots often in any way like they used to, but also defenses aren't going to defend there if you don't ever shoot it so they aren't able to just ignore it like peak Rockets with Harden. The mid range isn't "back" it's just fed table scraps instead of completely starved.

The game always changes; good players create new advantages and good coaches maximize this. It makes sense that you need guys with an outside shot who can space the floor... but there's only 1 Curry (sorry Seth), and how many guys are even near him? Are there even 4 other guys who can shoot from range that can't be defended? Most of the teams employing this strategy are playing average shooters in a system that produces average results. If anything, volatility of results is up, but most of these teams are not good (enough.) There is no "winning strategy" using Morey's model, unless you have a freak at one of the key positions (Steph, Durant, Giannis, etc...), and it's not something that other teams can replicate, no matter what flimsy models on spreadsheets suggest. It's a matter of getting the wrong answer because the wrong question is asked.

 

[Wizard]

 

[Connor]

TMZ is undefeated

 

[SerenityNigh]

twitter is twitter but the level of people going ape over the Dramond-Poole incident is too much for me. Dray is always friction, and maybe Poole can't handle it but I think they'll get it settled down, and IMO this can be good to focus a team that was already likely to coast through the season and not be ready to defend. it could all still fall apart for them, but I see this as good.

also, if Poole really did call Draymond "Triple Single" that's my new favorite.

 

[Nymzee]

twitter is twitter but the level of people going ape over the Dramond-Poole incident is too much for me. Dray is always friction, and maybe Poole can't handle it but I think they'll get it settled down, and IMO this can be good to focus a team that was already likely to coast through the season and not be ready to defend. it could all still fall apart for them, but I see this as good.

also, if Poole really did call Draymond "Triple Single" that's my new favorite.

I mean you still can’t just punch people. It’s a criminal offence no matter your profession or reputation.

 

[SerenityNigh]

I mean you still can’t just punch people. It’s a criminal offence no matter your profession or reputation.

I won't get into the quibbles here, but they're grown ass men.

 

[Nymzee]

I won't get into the quibbles here, but they're grown ass men.

So? Grown ass men can't punch other grown ass men without repurcussions. Think of the message it sends to young ball players if he's not punished? Oh I can chin my teammate, or an opponent, or a ref if they've riled me up. Draymond needs to remember how many people will look up to him to set an example.

 

[SerenityNigh]

So? Grown ass men can't punch other grown ass men without repurcussions. Think of the message it sends to young ball players if he's not punished? Oh I can chin my teammate, or an opponent, or a ref if they've riled me up. Draymond needs to remember how many people will look up to him to set an example.

Yes, he's got to be punished. There is a wide range of punishments available. I don't think it's yet 48 hours after the incident, and the team has the day off today. Let's see how this shakes out; obviously if there is a problem that can't be mended, seems like one of them has to go, but IRL time sometimes heals differences and on twitter judgements are made in nanoseconds.