NBA 2019/20
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TW3Bee
Can We Play You Every Week
Mr Tree
bigger than massive
NBA 2019/20
159-158 (without overtime) between Houston and Washington on Wednesday - the same night as the cities' two MLB teams clashed in the World Series decider.
the opening couple of weeks of the NBA is always a flurry - some unexpected good and bad starts, but maybe just due to a nice (or tough) run of opponents or an injury or two. generally takes 10 games to settle down.
the opening couple of weeks of the NBA is always a flurry - some unexpected good and bad starts, but maybe just due to a nice (or tough) run of opponents or an injury or two. generally takes 10 games to settle down.
Mr Tree
bigger than massive
NBA 2019/20
So Golden State have won the West for the last five years, winning the NBA title in three of those years. But their juggernaut came to a screeching halt when they lost All-Stars Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson to Achilles and ACL injuries respectively in consecutive games in last year's Final series.
The West has been the stronger conference for the last 20 years (since Jordan retired) - it looks pretty loaded this year, so there was some talk of whether the Warriors would still be able to even make the playoffs. They still had Steph Curry, a phenomenal shooter, and Draymond Green, a brilliant defender and playmaker, but the squad looked a bit thin otherwise.
Curry has now broken his hand, expected to be out for three months at least, and Draymond has a hurty fingy too... Suddenly, they look to be totally out of it and actually might as well give up and finish at the bottom so they can get a high draft pick to add to the team next year.
Not quite the start they were expecting for their new arena in San Francisco after leaving Oakland though!
They had their fun so noone's gonna feel sorry for them. Will be good to see someone else win the West this year! (Unless it's the boo-hiss Lakers
)
The West has been the stronger conference for the last 20 years (since Jordan retired) - it looks pretty loaded this year, so there was some talk of whether the Warriors would still be able to even make the playoffs. They still had Steph Curry, a phenomenal shooter, and Draymond Green, a brilliant defender and playmaker, but the squad looked a bit thin otherwise.
Curry has now broken his hand, expected to be out for three months at least, and Draymond has a hurty fingy too... Suddenly, they look to be totally out of it and actually might as well give up and finish at the bottom so they can get a high draft pick to add to the team next year.
Not quite the start they were expecting for their new arena in San Francisco after leaving Oakland though!
They had their fun so noone's gonna feel sorry for them. Will be good to see someone else win the West this year! (Unless it's the boo-hiss Lakers
)
Mr Tree
bigger than massive
NBA 2019/20
so most teams have played 12 or 13 games now, so things are starting to shake out a little
in the East, Miami (currently sitting pretty in 3rd, having won 9 of their first 12) and Charlotte are in the top 8 after missing out last year, while Brooklyn (who will draw level with Charlotte if they win their game in hand) and Detroit have dropped out. the New York Knicks have won 3 of their first 13 to take up their now-accustomed place at the bottom of the pile. what a pitiful state they are in (and have been for most of the last 20-30 years).
in the West, Phoenix, Dallas, Minnesota and LA Lakers have replaced Portland, San Antonio, Golden State and Oklahoma City in the top 8. quite a change of the guard, especially with Golden State now holding the worst record in the league (2 wins from 14). god i hate the Lakers, nuff said. Dallas are a cool young team with Slovenia's Luka Doncic and Latvia's Kristaps Porzingis leading the way. Minnesota's star Karl-Anthony Towns is going to be a great player, and Phoenix are a great story so far, with no-one expecting too much from them. still a long way to go of course, so hard to see them all staying in - Portland are probably most primed to charge back into the frame.
in the East, Miami (currently sitting pretty in 3rd, having won 9 of their first 12) and Charlotte are in the top 8 after missing out last year, while Brooklyn (who will draw level with Charlotte if they win their game in hand) and Detroit have dropped out. the New York Knicks have won 3 of their first 13 to take up their now-accustomed place at the bottom of the pile. what a pitiful state they are in (and have been for most of the last 20-30 years).
in the West, Phoenix, Dallas, Minnesota and LA Lakers have replaced Portland, San Antonio, Golden State and Oklahoma City in the top 8. quite a change of the guard, especially with Golden State now holding the worst record in the league (2 wins from 14). god i hate the Lakers, nuff said. Dallas are a cool young team with Slovenia's Luka Doncic and Latvia's Kristaps Porzingis leading the way. Minnesota's star Karl-Anthony Towns is going to be a great player, and Phoenix are a great story so far, with no-one expecting too much from them. still a long way to go of course, so hard to see them all staying in - Portland are probably most primed to charge back into the frame.
Mr Tree
bigger than massive
NBA 2019/20
i'm sure all the ballers :scratch: out there are very aware, but the Michael Jordan documentary that was released yesterday looks bloody stunning and well worth a watch 
(it will be in 10 parts, and they are releasing two parts per week over five weeks - so the first two parts were released yesterday)
(it will be in 10 parts, and they are releasing two parts per week over five weeks - so the first two parts were released yesterday)
maddogging
The Silver Fox of the GPG
NBA 2019/20
Yep. All over it. Amazing how they decided to tear it all down in 1998, how do you not let MJ, Scottie and Phil Jackson stay as long as they wanted !
Already seen my favourite ever dunk, Pippen all over Ewing and the footage of those two MJ performances against the Celtic’s on the back of his broken foot looked incredible
Already seen my favourite ever dunk, Pippen all over Ewing and the footage of those two MJ performances against the Celtic’s on the back of his broken foot looked incredible
hanworthbee
Well-known member
wibs
Well-known member
NBA 2019/20
Eight episodes me too! he is a phenomenally competitive man. Love this anecdote from Linkeer on BBC sport today, the last paragraph sums up MJ
I just watched episode eight of the wonderful The Last Dance. Thought I'd share the story of the day I played golf with Michael Jordan. It was a Thursday night and I got a call from my agent. He said: "I've had Michael Jordan's people on the phone and he wants to play at Sunningdale."
I was a member so he thought I could help. He said: "There's three of them: Michael and two of his basketball friends and they want to play on Sunday." I said: "If it's a Sunday they can't play without a member, but I can host them (too right, I could)."
So Saturday night I get call from my agent: "There's now six of them, two more friends and Samuel L Jackson."
"I'll need to find another member to play with the other three. I'll call my friend, Queeny (former European tour player and Sunningdale member), I'm sure he'll help."
Thankfully he was free and available. I turned up at 8.30am. Keith, the club pro said: "Your guests have arrived, they're on the putting green." There they were, six of them, five giant basketball players and Samuel L Jackson ambling around, putting and smoking cigars.
The observing, quintessentially white elderly members were wide-eyed. We introduced ourselves and headed to the first tee. Now my mate Queeny liked a bet on the golf course and was a bit of a hustler. So we're all stood there and Queeny says in his slightly posh voice....
"So Michael would you like bet, a little wager?" Michael says: "Sure, man." Queeny says: "So how much would you like to play for?" Michael puffs on his cigar, looks straight at him, smiles and says: "Whatever makes you feel uncomfortable, man."
Mr Jordan had already won the day.
I just watched episode eight of the wonderful The Last Dance. Thought I'd share the story of the day I played golf with Michael Jordan. It was a Thursday night and I got a call from my agent. He said: "I've had Michael Jordan's people on the phone and he wants to play at Sunningdale."
I was a member so he thought I could help. He said: "There's three of them: Michael and two of his basketball friends and they want to play on Sunday." I said: "If it's a Sunday they can't play without a member, but I can host them (too right, I could)."
So Saturday night I get call from my agent: "There's now six of them, two more friends and Samuel L Jackson."
"I'll need to find another member to play with the other three. I'll call my friend, Queeny (former European tour player and Sunningdale member), I'm sure he'll help."
Thankfully he was free and available. I turned up at 8.30am. Keith, the club pro said: "Your guests have arrived, they're on the putting green." There they were, six of them, five giant basketball players and Samuel L Jackson ambling around, putting and smoking cigars.
The observing, quintessentially white elderly members were wide-eyed. We introduced ourselves and headed to the first tee. Now my mate Queeny liked a bet on the golf course and was a bit of a hustler. So we're all stood there and Queeny says in his slightly posh voice....
"So Michael would you like bet, a little wager?" Michael says: "Sure, man." Queeny says: "So how much would you like to play for?" Michael puffs on his cigar, looks straight at him, smiles and says: "Whatever makes you feel uncomfortable, man."
Mr Jordan had already won the day.
maddogging
The Silver Fox of the GPG
NBA 2019/20
‘I never asked them to do anything I wasn’t prepared to do myself’ and the scene of him crying on the floor in the locker room after winning the title in 96 are my two lasting memories so far.
It is a great documentary, I’ve read every book about MJ so know most of it, but seeing some of this unseen footage has been superb.
It is a great documentary, I’ve read every book about MJ so know most of it, but seeing some of this unseen footage has been superb.
wibs
Well-known member
hanworthbee
Well-known member
NBA 2019/20
Watched the last 2 episodes last night...have never been into basketball at all but have found myself in the garden shooting some hoops into the kids net !
hanworthbee
Well-known member
NBA 2019/20
watched a couple of good basketball documentaries after the MJ one....Q ball is a about prisoners at San Quentin who use basketball in their rehabilitation and the other one is a feature length show on retired player Allen Iverson
https://www.netflix.com/title/81136736
https://www.amazon.co.uk/IVERSON-Allen-Iverson/dp/B01B8NAOTO
https://www.netflix.com/title/81136736
https://www.amazon.co.uk/IVERSON-Allen-Iverson/dp/B01B8NAOTO
NBA 2019/20
I don't need to say how good the Last Dance is but if it's whetted your appetite for good sport documentaries then BT Sport are showing a lot of the excellent 30 for 30 series. In particular Jordan Rides the Bus (about his time in Baseball), Rodman for Better or Worse (very revealing on the backstory that was only touched in in the Last Dance), Bad Boys (about the Detroit Pistons team of the 80s that the Bulls battled with in the early days) and Magic Vs Lakers (albeit really being 3 feature length documentaries).
Mr Tree
bigger than massive
NBA 2019/20
there is (or was) quite a lot of 30 for 30 on youtube, too. there was a great one about the early 90's Michigan "Fab Five" college team (Chris Webber, Jalen Rose)... just checked, looks like they (sensibly) got these removed from youtube then, fair enough
Mr Tree
bigger than massive
NBA 2019/20
Iverson was the first baller i really latched on to, growing up - i watched the Iverson doc on Netflix a while back, don't remember being particularly blown away by it, though i liked it of course...
Mr Tree
bigger than massive
NBA 2019/20
they've been talking about restarting the season in late July / early August, although with some amendments (because teams with no chance of qualifying don't see the point of playing). the idea was to do it all at Disneyworld, which has enough good accommodation and a professional-standard basketball court with broadcast facilities (why????)
but i can't see it happening. Florida doesn't seem settled yet. and there are a lot of logistical issues...
but i can't see it happening. Florida doesn't seem settled yet. and there are a lot of logistical issues...
maddogging
The Silver Fox of the GPG
NBA 2019/20
They host the Junior NBA championships there every year which is partly why they knew they could cater and accommodate.
When the start date was set of end of July I thought perfect, since then the worldwide events of BLM have quite rightly meant a big question has to be asked whether playing is the right thing to do, and more worryingly the positive cases of Covid in Orange County have started to increase.
As Pat Beverley tweeted, if LeBrons hooping, we’re all hooping !
Mr Tree
bigger than massive
NBA 2019/20
Hello! Yes, I've been a little lax. I've been "following" but not been able to watch much. But the playoffs are heating up a bit - we're down to the last nine teams, with the final match of the first round tonight between Houston and Oklahoma City. Houston will be in total turmoil if they don't manage to win, I think - OKC are led by former Houston player Chris Paul and there are a lot of connections between the two teams, and Houston have title aspirations so going out in the first round would be a disaster for them. I'm rooting for OKC of course
However, they (and the winners of last night's Denver-Utah game 7, won't spoil it just in case, crazy finish though) look like no match for the two LA teams - the Lakers will be confident whoever gets through OKC/Houston, and the Clippers probably had a harder time with the #7 seed Dallas than anything #3 Denver or #6 Utah will throw at them.
As Banana said, over in the East there are two cracking last-eight matches. Boston are looking good but so are the defending champion Raptors. Meanwhile #1 seed Milwaukee have their hands full with #4 seed Miami, who look like they're coming into form at the perfect time, in contrast to their more vaunted opponents.
It's all a bit strange in the bubble in Orlando - no fans, so no real "home" advantage for the higher seeds. But there's been some great action, with Doncic's dramatic game-winner for Dallas and Murray and Mitchell's stellar play in the Utah-Denver series standing out so far.
Hard to pick a winner right now...... Are we heading towards another Lakers-Celtics final?!?
maddogging
The Silver Fox of the GPG
NBA 2019/20
Can’t see past the Heat at the moment for the East, they are stacked in all the right positions
Mr Tree
bigger than massive
NBA 2019/20
Went for glory, at both ends! Pretty crazy to win three in a row and then lose three in a row to the same team...
maddogging
The Silver Fox of the GPG
NBA 2019/20
Toronto v Boston ending
Shocking coverage breakdown on that inbounds play. Let’s see how that affects both teams
NBA 2019/20
Rules question: When a team scores, I thought the conceding team gets possession at their baseline. Why sometimes do I see them starting on the sideline halfway into the opponent's half? Esp towards the end of a game.
Hampshire Bee 2018
Active member
NBA 2019/20
On your own timeout? So call a TO when you concede a basket and get the ball back in other half? I've seen some nonsense, but....
maddogging
The Silver Fox of the GPG
NBA 2019/20
Miami loving this, few more days rest whilst the Celts and Raps run their players into the ground to win the series.
Mr Tree
bigger than massive
NBA 2019/20
Fantastic series between the Celtics and raptors though. There was some stat, not sure of the timeframe but these two teams have played the most playoff games in the last X years while somehow not managing to meet each other. Now they finally have, and it was worth the wait. Will get up in the early hours of Friday night / Saturday morning for the finale.
All eyes on Houston tonight to show some resistance and stop the LA derby in the West finals. I don't like Houston but I really don't like the Lakers so... They can both get ****ed. Go clippers!
All eyes on Houston tonight to show some resistance and stop the LA derby in the West finals. I don't like Houston but I really don't like the Lakers so... They can both get ****ed. Go clippers!
Ken Richardson
Active member
Mr Tree
bigger than massive
NBA 2019/20
Just seen a fantastic performance by Denver to push hot favourites LA Clippers to a decider, Game 7 on Tuesday night / Wednesday morning.
The Clippers are the downtrodden neighbour of the illustrious Lakers, but this was finally gonna be their year, after they signed the star of last year's playoffs, Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers have never even made the final four!
But that's now two games in a row that they've blown large second-half leads, which will have alarm bells ringing! Immense play by Denver, who are led by the unconventional but incredible Serbian big man Nikola Jokic.
The winner on Tuesday will take on the Lakers in the West final, while Boston and Miami will meet in the East final.
The Clippers are the downtrodden neighbour of the illustrious Lakers, but this was finally gonna be their year, after they signed the star of last year's playoffs, Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers have never even made the final four!
But that's now two games in a row that they've blown large second-half leads, which will have alarm bells ringing! Immense play by Denver, who are led by the unconventional but incredible Serbian big man Nikola Jokic.
The winner on Tuesday will take on the Lakers in the West final, while Boston and Miami will meet in the East final.
Mr Tree
bigger than massive
NBA 2019/20
Was "lucky" enough that my girls aren't having a great night, so saw the end of OT live. Always liked Butler, what a run he's having here. Great block by Adebayo to seal the win.
Hoping to get 1h30m kip now before getting up to watch the second half of Clippers-Nuggets live...
Mr Tree
bigger than massive
NBA 2019/20
I made it. Incredible. Kawhi not quite at those stellar levels of last year, Paul George a joke, and the team didn't gel. Loved the graphic showing Doc Rivers was (already) the only coach ever to blow multiple 3-1 leads - now he's added another!
Huge credit to Denver though - Jokic is something else. And Murray, 40pts in a game 7, that's no joke...
I didn't think they had a chance against the clippers, so now it's hard to write them off against the Lakers, though it's weird to imagine them being in the finals... (people would've thought you had a nasty fall or something if you suggested Denver-Miami as the finals series 9 months ago)... LeBron and Davis will be tough for them to stop, but they have their own weapons so..... Who knows
maddogging
The Silver Fox of the GPG
NBA 2019/20
I love this Nuggets team, could so easily be 2-1 up ! Anything to pipe down the clowns on the Laker bench, they need to show a bit more humility
Mr Tree
bigger than massive
NBA 2019/20
Alas, they couldn't get any further... So the final is now set, Miami vs LA Lakers, starting on Wednesday night / Thursday morning... (I reckon if you get up around 3:45am UK time you'll catch most of the second half, if you fancy watching live!)
So many angles to this, the first ever meeting between the two at this stage...
- LeBron playing against his former team, where he won 2 of his 3 titles
- LeBron's 10th appearance in the finals, the 4th man to ever have that many
- between them, these two teams have won eight titles in the 21st century
- but, bizarrely, this is the first time ever two teams who didn't even reach the playoffs last year will meet in the finals
Miami's ascent has been driven by Jimmy Butler's arrival last summer - he's done incredibly well for himself, never really been on that elite level, but a title here would surely propel him there. Or maybe it would lead to young big man Bam Adebayo getting wider recognition.
They're very much a team that performs better than the sum of the parts, with some useful (albeit inexperienced) weapons.
The Lakers are like the Man Utd of basketball with their perennial success and sense of entitlement - noone in their right mind would want them to win.
Not sure how you'd fix it but I always find it kinda strange that the basketball season (to me) peters out, rather than reaching a crescendo. Here's hoping for a good series though
Mr Tree
bigger than massive
NBA 2019/20
while i applaud the GPG for denying that the Lakers won, i feel that it's important that we address the matter...
Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
now that that's off my chest, we can at least pay homage to the individuals involved - LeBron James has proved himself to be a generational talent, if not the best all-time (i'd always have Jordan above him, but it's an eternally boring discussion and i was listening yesterday to some highly respected basketball journalists who said it really might be LeBron, which is high praise indeed).
and credit to Lakers coach Frank Vogel, who always reminds me of Martin Allen...
...as well as Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma, who may be a long-lost cousin of Oliver Watkins?
God knows what the NBA does next - it seems pretty certain that, while the Disneyworld "bubble" went well, no-one is really keen to repeat it. So back to the "usual"? Without fans? There doesn't seem much traction on getting the number of games reduced (everyone greedy for that TV money), but the season start will be at least two months delayed, and the finale (or even earlier) may end up clashing with the Olympics... I'd probably go for shorter regional competitions, maybe ending up with a championship "group", and having unconventional competitions until we can get back on track, but... it's all very tricky.
Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
now that that's off my chest, we can at least pay homage to the individuals involved - LeBron James has proved himself to be a generational talent, if not the best all-time (i'd always have Jordan above him, but it's an eternally boring discussion and i was listening yesterday to some highly respected basketball journalists who said it really might be LeBron, which is high praise indeed).
and credit to Lakers coach Frank Vogel, who always reminds me of Martin Allen...
...as well as Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma, who may be a long-lost cousin of Oliver Watkins?
God knows what the NBA does next - it seems pretty certain that, while the Disneyworld "bubble" went well, no-one is really keen to repeat it. So back to the "usual"? Without fans? There doesn't seem much traction on getting the number of games reduced (everyone greedy for that TV money), but the season start will be at least two months delayed, and the finale (or even earlier) may end up clashing with the Olympics... I'd probably go for shorter regional competitions, maybe ending up with a championship "group", and having unconventional competitions until we can get back on track, but... it's all very tricky.
maddogging
The Silver Fox of the GPG
NBA 2019/20
Good to hear that they are likely to start as near to Christmas as possible in an attempt to not affect the start of the 2022 season, which hopefully by then will have fans back into stadia. Quite a good idea really.
Mr Tree
bigger than massive
NBA 2019/20
Lots of "interesting" player movement in recent days, but in the middle of all that, some sad news, with immensely popular Golden State guard Klay Thompson declared out for the season with an Achilles tear suffered in training. Puts a massive dent in GSW's hopes of rising back into contention - they were the West champions 2015-2019, winning three rings in that period, before quickly sinking to the bottom last year after devastating injuries in the 2019 Finals. Klay himself suffered his initial cruciate ligament injury that sidelined him for all of 2019-2020 after landing awkwardly from a dunk as part of a virtuoso performance to keep his team alive against Toronto in the 2019 Finals.
A great defender and an elite shooter, dude's had a good life - but those are two very hard injuries to come back from, especially back-to-back
A great defender and an elite shooter, dude's had a good life - but those are two very hard injuries to come back from, especially back-to-back