NBA Thread

[gilesfan]

By watching a lot of basketball and almost every thunder game. I just hope his foot injury doesn't sap his agility and leaping ability.

There is nothing in the statistics or any ability of him to defend either his opposing player or the statistics of the impact of his defense with him on/off the court that come anywhere close to supporting your opinion.

[thethe]

There is nothing in the statistics or any ability of him to defend either his opposing player or the statistics of the impact of his defense with him on/off the court that come anywhere close to supporting your opinion.

And that's the difference between us. I like to use both and make my judgement. My suggestion to you is to do the same.

[BRule]

His assist per 36 doubled. Now he gets to play with KD and go through a train camp with the team.

It's inline with his career numbers in Utah, unless you feel like counting his 19 yr old rookie season. Keep trying though

[Heyward]

Everyone knows how good he can be on O, everyone.....problem is he's actually the worst defensive big in basketball and he's extremely selfish and a horrible team player. Again, go look at his assist numbers once the ball is dumped to him in the post.

Kanter is a decent passer, and look who he was playing with.

No one brought up defense, in terms of pure offense, not many have a better all-around skillset.

[Heyward]

There is nothing in the statistics or any ability of him to defend either his opposing player or the statistics of the impact of his defense with him on/off the court that come anywhere close to supporting your opinion.

KD's a pretty solid defender, not great by any means but not Kanter-level bad.

[BRule]

Kanter is a decent passer, and look who he was playing with.

No one brought up defense, in terms of pure offense, not many have a better all-around skillset.

Kanter doesn't pass once he gets the ball, if you think Melo is a ball stopper then what shall we call Kanter?

[thethe]

It's inline with his career numbers in Utah, unless you feel like counting his 19 yr old rookie season. Keep trying though

His career rate in Utah was less and yes I believe those skills are improving based on what I saw.

Remember how crazy I was to say KD's assist numbers would wscalate?

[thethe]

Kanter doesn't pass once he gets the ball, if you think Melo is a ball stopper then what shall we call Kanter?

You expect much less passing from kanter than you would with Melo. Not sure why that comparison means anything.

[Heyward]

Kanter doesn't pass once he gets the ball, if you think Melo is a ball stopper then what shall we call Kanter?

He never played with the full team but he has good passing for a big man.

[gilesfan]

And that's the difference between us. I like to use both and make my judgement. My suggestion to you is to do the same.

Im sure your unbiased judgment (contradicts everyone) holds a lot of weight. You act like no one but you watches the Thunder (perennial playoff team/in the NBA finals recently)

[gilesfan]

His career rate in Utah was less and yes I believe those skills are improving based on what I saw.

Remember how crazy I was to say KD's assist numbers would wscalate?

They did for 1 season

[thethe]

They did for 1 season

Yeah, that season would have been the last season over 5 assists a game.

Geez, its like you've never watched Kevin Durant play basketball.

[gilesfan]

Yeah, that season would have been the last season over 5 assists a game.

Geez, its like you've never watched Kevin Durant play basketball.

The difference between LeBron and Durant is the former really doesn’t have a weakness. Even if James slipped as a defensive force this season, at least some of that seemed to be a matter of effort, given his track record as a good defender. Defensively, Durant’s just bad, relative to his size and lengthy frame. A lot of that coordination and mobility we see on offense leaves him on the defensive end. He can be a wobbly defender, unsure of how much space to cede, unable to turn his hips when driven past.

To be fair, Durant does well defensively in the right matchup (He was good against Kawhi Leonard in this series, for example). The problems happen when he has to guard someone outside his comfort zone, like he frequently had to when OKC decided put Durant on Danny Green after Green’s Game 1 3-point outburst. In this matchup, Durant struggled to get around screens and fell asleep off the ball. Durant’s defense was a party to half of Green’s threes after Game 1. He also got blasted in the post by Boris Diaw in Game 2, causing the Thunder to largely abandon that strategy the rest of the way.


That guys doesn't watch KD either.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/pos...or-improvement

[Heyward]

Yes, comparing him to the 2nd best player all-time, great example.

[thethe]

The difference between LeBron and Durant is the former really doesn’t have a weakness. Even if James slipped as a defensive force this season, at least some of that seemed to be a matter of effort, given his track record as a good defender. Defensively, Durant’s just bad, relative to his size and lengthy frame. A lot of that coordination and mobility we see on offense leaves him on the defensive end. He can be a wobbly defender, unsure of how much space to cede, unable to turn his hips when driven past.

To be fair, Durant does well defensively in the right matchup (He was good against Kawhi Leonard in this series, for example). The problems happen when he has to guard someone outside his comfort zone, like he frequently had to when OKC decided put Durant on Danny Green after Green’s Game 1 3-point outburst. In this matchup, Durant struggled to get around screens and fell asleep off the ball. Durant’s defense was a party to half of Green’s threes after Game 1. He also got blasted in the post by Boris Diaw in Game 2, causing the Thunder to largely abandon that strategy the rest of the way.


That guys doesn't watch KD either.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/pos...or-improvement

Strauss is more of a basketball commentator than analyst. He likes to be witty and say unpopular opinions but is entertaining nonetheless.

[gilesfan]

Strauss is more of a basketball commentator than analyst. He likes to be witty and say unpopular opinions but is entertaining nonetheless.

You think saying Durant isn't an elite defender is an unpopular opinion?

[Heyward]

You think saying Durant isn't an elite defender is an unpopular opinion?

I dont think he's elite but it depends on the right matchup.

[BRule]

Strauss is more of a basketball commentator than analyst. He likes to be witty and say unpopular opinions but is entertaining nonetheless.

Perfect response

[thethe]

You think saying Durant isn't an elite defender is an unpopular opinion?

No, I'm just commenting on Strauss. I am entertained by his schtick overall.

[Heyward]

Most league execs informally polled here at Summer League expect Durant to stay in Oklahoma City when he hits the market next summer.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/writer/...r-kevin-durant