Official NBA Thread 2013-2014 ed.

Your track record would have to be good having Westbrook, Durant, Ibaka, and for most of it Harden. That's a fucking solid team. Shane covered it well, but yes Brooks is fucking terrible. Rotations are bad, never seems to stick with the hot hand (I was watching a game like 2 weeks ago where Jackson had hit 3 or 4 shots in a row ... and Brooks takes him out. It's like ... say what?). Doesn't do the same kind of coaching the greats do, like Pop who can have his stars on the bench, and just match up with you and give his team a chance to win.

 

Yep, drives us nuts being fans.

Sad thing is that those in the "know" can clearly see that this is a championship team. It is there, they just have to be put in the right spots. Your Pop reference was spot on. The other day, hell I don't remember who the spurs played but Pop said "I"m not starting Splitter, I'm not even going to play him because it is a terrible match up for us". Brooks would NEVER do that. His starting 5 is who he is going with no matter what. I hope Presti sends his ass packing soon or he will waste the career of KD and Russ both.

 

I'm sure you guys are right. Pop is obviously a great coach and maybe not fair to compare any other coach to him. The Thunder have the 2nd (or 3rd?) best record in the NBA and have dealt with a lot of injuries. Every time I see them play, they look like the best team in the NBA. After you get past their big 3, the rest of the roster doesn't seem as strong. The Spurs (for example) seem to have a better bench.

I'm just forming my opinion on seeing them play a handful of times each year.

I also hear McHale get criticized locally but think he's doing a decent job this year. Not in the conversation with a guy like Pop but let the season (and possibly next) play out before looking elsewhere.

 

Meh, I don't know, the Thunder bench is pretty strong. Collison is just money damn near every time he is on the floor. It won't show up in a box score or a stat sheet but what that dude brings is just immeasurable. Fisher is like having another coach and is having a pretty good year. Jackson off the bench is pretty special although he needs a lot of work on D. Lamb is hot and cold, never really know what you are going to get with him and Adams who has been starting usually comes off the bench and is going to be something special once he gets used to the league. He needs to go to one of those big man camps and learn the position better, especially since he has only been playing basketball for a couple of years now.

 

There's a reason why the Spurs bench looks so fucking strong ... Pop plays the guys at the right time, rides the hot hands, and looks for matchups. There are only two coaches I've seen that did it as well as Pops and that's Phil Jackson and Pat Reilly. Pretty damn good company.

McHale is a shit coach also, that team should be dominating everyone not named the Thunder.

The Thunder have amazing roleplayers on their team, they just aren't given the chance to succeed. shane is going over all of it there and it's his team so I'll let him explain but to be honest I've seen and agree with everything he is saying as an outsider fan who watches way too much basketball.

 

The Rockets have had a lot of injuries this year also. When they finally got healthy, they had a good stretch. A couple of weeks ago, it was mentioned that the Rockets had the best record since Jan 1st. I think they are something like 3-0 against the Spurs, they beat the Heat and Pacers in back to back games, and have had some other impressive wins against the top teams.

Not saying I'm completely sold on McHale but my nature is to at least let a full season play out before making comments like you (and others) have said about him.

 

Also, I just play Devil's Advocate at times. I hope you guys are right about Brooks and the Thunder implode in the playoffs.

 

Oh we are right about Brooks, there isn't any doubt about it. That doesn't mean they will implode though, just like another team that comes to mind, they win a lot in spite of their coaching and not so much because of it. That is another story. Here is the deal with OKC, if they can find a way to cut turnovers, and win the rebound battle then it is pretty damn tough to beat them. They are typically a really good defensive team although that hasn't been the case as of late, maybe that is because Perkins isn't there, I don't know. That is the one place where I actually like Brooks because he is staunch defense guy and that wins games IMO. It has been said by more than a few that this team just seems to have another gear that they can find when they need it. We will see shortly.

I don't see them catching San Antonio and they will probably end up being the 2 seed out of the West. If the season ended today that would match them up with Memphis and that isn't good. I'm hoping that the Grizz can either pass Golden State or get passed by the Suns.

As for Kevin Mchale, I really haven't paid enough attention to formulate an opinion. I can tell you this, if he has that prima donna Howard playing ball then that is a win in my book.

 

He has what Orlando had years ago in the East, but with a star guard in Harden instead of Nelson. Dwight + 3 point shooters. And what did that ever get them? That's right, a trip to the finals to get manhandled by the Lakers, nothing else. In the slow down playoffs the Rockets will be dust. GSW, Spurs, Memphis, Clips and Thunder are all better playoff teams than the Rockets.

 

Speaking of the Grizz, they are coming into their own recently aren't they? If they ever find an offense, good god look out, they will be a frightening team to play. Definitely one of the dark horse low seeds that could make a run.