NBA Thread

[thethe]

I've been happy with him, 9 points a game in only 17 minutes...obviously the rebounding is going to need to go up with no Chandler. But he's been scoring and shooting a lot better than last year. Knicks are worthless without Tyson, so none of it really matters, as our season is over.

He still plays zero defense and the effort just isn't there on the offensive end other than just standing on the perimeter. I have seen 3 of the 4 games and he has been awful.

[gilesfan]

Howard is an awful offensive player in the sense that you can't feature him in an offensive gameplan. Lopez has become an excellent post defender and rim protector. Sure, he should be stronger on the defensive boards but every other part of his game is a plus. He can shoot the ball and he has a pleathora of offensive moves.

I don't care how many PPG Howard scores. About 3/4 of that is based on put backs from offensive rebounds. When you need a bucket Howard is hte last person you go to. Further, he is probably never going to even touch the ball because you don't want him to go to the foul line.

Speaking of anyone coherent...Shaq has repeatedly said that Lopez is the best center in the game.

You claim Shaq is coherent?

Do putbacks not count as points?

[BRule]

He still plays zero defense and the effort just isn't there on the offensive end other than just standing on the perimeter. I have seen 3 of the 4 games and he has been awful.

I've watched every game and been to the Minny game, what you're saying isn't true. He is active on O, setting screens and rolling, cutting through the lane. He can't post up because that's where Melo and Tyson are...plus, they don't want him in the paint.

[thethe]

LOL at quoting Shaq, who has admitted he hates Dwight.

The bottom line is that Lopez is right there when you consider the total package. He needs to improve his rebounding but the way the Nets are construted he doesn't need to do that.

He is the best offensive center in basketball. He is a solid post defender and an excellent help defender. I'd take him over anyone else in basketball at this point from the center position. Have you seen him this year? Just his appearance. The man is a monster now.

[thethe]

I've watched every game and been to the Minny game, what you're saying isn't true. He is active on O, setting screens and rolling, cutting through the lane. He can't post up because that's where Melo and Tyson are...plus, they don't want him in the paint.

Maybe I'm not paying attention as much to waht is happening away from the ball but I try to focus on him because I need to make a decision if I am going to dump him or not. I don't see effort and trust me I was hopeful for him which is why I picked him.

[thethe]

You claim Shaq is coherent?

Do putbacks not count as points?

Would you ever go to Howard inside if you need a bucket with 2 minutes left to go in a game?

[BRule]

"Monsters" should probably get more than 6 rebounds a game....

[BRule]

Maybe I'm not paying attention as much to waht is happening away from the ball but I try to focus on him because I need to make a decision if I am going to dump him or not. I don't see effort and trust me I was hopeful for him which is why I picked him.

I would keep him, with Chandler out he is going to get run....and he is going to score. When Woodson plays him, he scores and is shooting good percentages. He obviously needs to rebound and play better D but strictly from an O stand point...he's far exceeded my expectations. Obviously it's an extremely small sample size, so he could revert back to the Bargs of last year but I've been encouraged.

[thethe]

"Monsters" should probably get more than 6 rebounds a game....

The team is surrounded by rebounders at almost every position. The team doesn't rely on him to rebound. Its funny that this is the only knock on him at this point. Every other part of his game is a plus now. Sure, I want my center to get at least 9 boards a game and I think that will come eventually with him but aside from rebounding he is EVERYTHING you want from a center.

[thethe]

I would keep him, with Chandler out he is going to get run....and he is going to score. When Woodson plays him, he scores and is shooting good percentages. He obviously needs to rebound and play better D but strictly from an O stand point...he's far exceeded my expectations. Obviously it's an extremely small sample size, so he could revert back to the Bargs of last year but I've been encouraged.

I am going to hold onto him now because the KNicks will probably just go all offense at this point and just play Bargs at the 5. I will take your opinion because I feel you are very knowledgeable on basketball issues. I just see lack of effort but maybe its my negative slant towards everything Knicks.

[Heyward]

Havent seen many Knicks games, so cant comment on Bargs.

Regards to Lopez, he is a beast, best C in the league, its up for debate.

[BRule]

The team is surrounded by rebounders at almost every position. The team doesn't rely on him to rebound. Its funny that this is the only knock on him at this point. Every other part of his game is a plus now. Sure, I want my center to get at least 9 boards a game and I think that will come eventually with him but aside from rebounding he is EVERYTHING you want from a center.

The problem with him is, he has NEVER rebounded over 9 a game. His first 2 years were his best and since then he rebounds like a SF. Very nice player but if he wants to be in the convo for best Center in the league, you better be grabbing AT LEAST 9-10 a game.

[gilesfan]

Would you ever go to Howard inside if you need a bucket with 2 minutes left to go in a game?

On a strict post up, depends on the matchup. On pick an rolls or drive and dish; sure. You act like the most important part of basketball is a post up.

[thethe]

The problem with him is, he has NEVER rebounded over 9 a game. His first 2 years were his best and since then he rebounds like a SF. Very nice player but if he wants to be in the convo for best Center in the league, you better be grabbing AT LEAST 9-10 a game.

He is a better offensive player than any center in basketball. I'm sorry but just because he is averaged over his career 2-3 less rebounds a game than most centers doesn't make him not the best one. He is still growing as a player and as a man. I expect those rebounds to increase and would be shocked if he was under 8 this year.

[thethe]

On a strict post up, depends on the matchup. On pick an rolls or drive and dish; sure. You act like the most important part of basketball is a post up.

Unless Howard is going up against a severley undersized center you should never want to post him up. He has basically zero moves. He is not an offensive player. On a PnR all Howard can do is roll. That severely limits how you run the PnR. He is not a good offensive player. What he is though is a great defensive player and excellent rebounder. But the fact that you can't run an offense through him should be a huge knock on him moreso than the fact that Lopez isn't a big rebounder.

[gilesfan]

How can he be such a terrible offensive player and average more points?

[thethe]

How can he be such a terrible offensive player and average more points?

So you would rather Howard have the ball with 2 minutes left in the game than Lopez?

HOward has zero reliable post moves. You know how he gets his points. You are just being argumentative.

[BRule]

Your argument is flawed and it's rather simple....as giles stated, Howard is always amongst the top scoring centers. So how can someone who is "awful" achieve that?

2013 - 2nd
2012 - 1st
2011 - 1st
2010 - 2nd

"This sh!t just doesn't make sense b"

[gilesfan]

So you would rather Howard have the ball with 2 minutes left in the game than Lopez?

HOward has zero reliable post moves. You know how he gets his points. You are just being argumentative.

So your argument is you would rather have Lopez bc of the last 2 mins of the game? 4% of the game?

[thethe]

So your argument is you would rather have Lopez bc of the last 2 mins of the game? 4% of the game?

No, I'd rather have Lopez for the whole game. I am using the last two minutes as an example to show that Lopez is by far a better offensive center to the point its laughable to even compare the two. If you absolutely need a bucket Howard is one of the last players that you would go to. Lopez would be a guy that can get you an easy bucket at any point in the game.