Official 2012-2013 NBA Thread

[Al Bundy]

Looks like James Harden has been To the Rockets for Jeremey Lamb, Kevin Martin and future picks. Plus... this is a general NBA thread.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

I played against Ronnie Brewer in high school. He had a weird shot, we called it the chicken wing shot. But he could ball thats for sure.

IIRC, he broke his arm when he was young and had to shoot like that.

[O.city]

Spurs will (as everyone does) struggle to guard Durant. I don't think Jackson can do it effectively

[noa]

I think the Spurs will be the same story this year as last year. They're always at the top of the division, and you're right that Pop is the best coach in the NBA, but they're too old and have too many injury problems to make it to the finals.

[KC native]

Originally Posted by O.city

Spurs will (as everyone does) struggle to guard Durant. I don't think Jackson can do it effectively

The Spurs will let Durant get his points. Pop will concentrate on the others. The Thunder won the series last year because their role players stepped up and beat the Spurs. The Spurs bench disappeared in that series too.

The Spurs bench is better this year. And it's an odd year, Spurs win championships in odd years.

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by O.city

They aren't struggling with the Clips athletes tonight, but offensively the Spurs are just damn near perfect in terms of efficiency tonight.


I'm afraid the Harden loss will show it's head in the playoffs more than the regular season when defensive intensity really kicks up. It sucks, cause I'm actually a pretty big Thunder guy (Spurs fan too).

They swept the Clippers in the playoffs last year. Don't get me wrong. The Spurs can win the whole thing, but the Thunder give them more problems than any other team even with Martin.

I kind of like the mini slump because now OKC is in the dog role again. We are usually in every game so we will be right there. Match up wise we've had more problems with the Clippers than Spurs, and of course the fighting LeBrons.

I won't judge anything off regular season though. All the top teams know they will be there and it's hard to stay motivated. I think a Spurs/Thunder series is a toss up.

I just remember being infatuated with SA last year. They had won 20 in a Row and most of them impressively, then they dropped 4 straight to the Thunder.

We would be having the same struggles with Harden. Discipline and coaching is the issue not talent. Remember Harden had a couple of non-spectacular playoff series himself.

[KC_Connection]

The Spurs were an incredibly small margin away from making the NBA Finals last year (lost 4-2 to a OKC team that had three elite basketball players on it instead of two now). There's really little reason to think they can't make it this year, especially with home advantage. I'd give them about the same chance as the Thunder.

[O.city]

Yeah, but I just think Harden has the killer instinct the Thunder need in the playoffs especially. I know you've heard it over and over and he's a good player no doubt, but IMO, Westbrook just mentally isn't strong enough to be with Durant and take the role he needs to, all the time.

IMO, again you've heard it before over and over, Westbrook should have been moved. Not because he's selfish etc, just because I think Harden is a better fit for the Thunder.

But it's past that point and Westbrook has been better this year IMO. Just have to wait and see.

[KC native]

Originally Posted by okcchief

They swept the Clippers in the playoffs last year. Don't get me wrong. The Spurs can win the whole thing, but the Thunder give them more problems than any other team even with Martin.

I kind of like the mini slump because now OKC is in the dog role again. We are usually in every game so we will be right there. Match up wise we've had more problems with the Clippers than Spurs, and of course the fighting LeBrons.

I won't judge anything off regular season though. All the top teams know they will be there and it's hard to stay motivated. I think a Spurs/Thunder series is a toss up.

I just remember being infatuated with SA last year. They had won 20 in a Row and most of them impressively, then they dropped 4 straight to the Thunder.

We would be having the same struggles with Harden. Discipline and coaching is the issue not talent. Remember Harden had a couple of non-spectacular playoff series himself.

I think the break between when we finished our series and when the WCF started was terrible for our bench. They just went cold after having that 5-7 days off. OKC was playing hot and had better bench play.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by O.city

Yeah, but I just think Harden has the killer instinct the Thunder need in the playoffs especially. I know you've heard it over and over and he's a good player no doubt, but IMO, Westbrook just mentally isn't strong enough to be with Durant and take the role he needs to, all the time.

IMO, again you've heard it before over and over, Westbrook should have been moved. Not because he's selfish etc, just because I think Harden is a better fit for the Thunder.

But it's past that point and Westbrook has been better this year IMO. Just have to wait and see.

I do think Harden made a big difference for them in their playoff series wins. But we'll never know for sure how they'll deal with elite competition until OKC has to play teams like LAC and SAS in May.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

I do think Harden made a big difference for them in their playoff series wins. But we'll never know for sure how they'll deal with elite competition until OKC has to play teams like LAC and SAS in May.

Honestly, I loved having him play PG late in games because of his decision making and ability to get in the lane and finish one way or another. I love watching Westbrook, he's an elite elite athlete.

But, IMO, he's a 2.

[O.city]

Damn, I also forgot they had Kawhi Leonard.

[KC native]

Originally Posted by O.city

Damn, I also forgot they had Kawhi Leonard.

Yes, Kawhi has come a long way this year. He is extremely underrated. He's learning how to become more of a consistent high scorer this year. His defense is excellent. He's like a Bruce Bowen type that can play around the rim and hit more than baseline 3 pointers.

[okcchief]

I love Harden. Wish we still had him. However, there is one playoff game they ever let him take over (game 4 against Dallas) he hit a big 3 game 5 against SA, but that was only because he caught with the ball. So when you say Westbrook can't hit clutch shots like Harden I have to disagree. Westbrook has hit a lot more big shots in the playoffs for the Thunder. He gets a lot of blame (some deserved) but The dude is a balls to the wall competitor.

The legend of James Harden when it comes to the Thunder is a bit exaggerated. His biggest contributions were normally in the second and third periods. Same as what Kevin Martin does now. The role is the same and he fills it the same. In fact maybe better because they desperately needed a 3 point shooter to stretch the floor. Thabo is also shooting over 40% from 3 this year. So in some aspects OKC is better than last year.

The West will come down to OKC, SA, and LAC. Nothing that happened would surprise me. The Harden trade will be pointed to if OKC gets knocked out earlier, but I honestly don't feel it will be the difference. Harden was held down in OKC and Martin can do what he was asked to do. Now if playoff pressure gets to him that's another story, but I've seen it get to Harden as well.

As I have said all year I don't think this is the year we win a title with or without Harden. They will be a really tough out though, and will get better and have very good chances in the coming years.

I respect the shit out of SA, but they have been the best regular season team 3 years running, and haven't been to the Finals once. Yeah, they can win a championship, but the recent track record hasn't been good.

[KevB]

I think Memphis belongs in that group, especially if you're going to include the Clips. People are starting to figure them out; don't turn it over and get them in the half court.

Spurs are dismantling the Clippers tonight, and Parker is dominating the PG battle (although they're not necessarily guarding each other each trip down).

[okcchief]

James Harden is infinitely better than Kevin Martin, but he grew out of that role the last year.

I'm excited about Lamb's potential. Instead of cutting his teeth in the big show like Harden he's doing it in the D-league. When Harden came in he had to play. At that time I never imagined he would be the player he is today.

Presti has a vision and its continuing to develop young talent. They do an excellent job of it too. That is where the coaching staff excels. So 4 years from now we'll find out if he is too smart for the room or outsmarted himself.