The Official Around the NBA: March 2019 edition

CJ shoots a better percentage from the field, the 3 point line and free throw line as well as a better efg%. He is also a better rebounder and scores more points

 

That's how stupid the lakers are. They have done just well enough to probably keep them from getting a high pick.

 

Cj is nice only thing he doesn’t really do well is pass and get to the line. But the passing I think is because of his role. Dude already has a triple double when he runs his own team

 

He only scores more points because he plays more minutes per game than Lou.

Lou has a higher TS%.

 

Career wise the TS% is virtually identical and over the career McCollum averages more points per 36 minutes. TS% is also a weighted stat in favor of those that get to the free throw line. efg% like I said is in favor of McCollum.

 

Since 1970/71 season - 8 teams have one more than 1 title
- 8 teams have won 1 title
Thats nearly 50 years with only 16/30 teams that have won titles.
Whats most impressive, the league/fans are good with it as the popularity of the NBA through TV contracts has really grown.
For those of you that haven't experienced a championship for less than 49 years, why do you still support a pro Basketball forum like this or the local team?
Is it because you are a fan of the game/team? or, is it the frenzy that social media causes with debates, and key board coaching/playing GM, op's, regardless of records, that keeps you coming.

 

I love the Blazers and the game of basketball. I love the X’s and O’s. I have really grown tired of the “ww”NBA at times, and honestly if the Blazers moved I would probably stop watching altogether. Usually when Im watching NBA basketball its related to the Blazers, like playoff positioning, they just played that team, or will be playing it soon.

I dont think the NBA is scripted, I dont think every ref is fixing games, but I do get really tired of NBA star calls AND I get tired of the stars whining they arent getting enough of them. Then theres all the officiating inconsistency. The NBA to me has put entertainment 1st, and competitive basketball somewhere down the priority queue and I just have to accept that at times.

 

I've been watching a lot of NBA basketball this year as I watch the games on ESPN, TNT and NBATV along with some league pass games which is usually about 7 games a week besides the Blazer games. I don;t watch much college until March Madness and then I will follow it closely.

 

Why?

 

Oh, are we taking years from over a decade ago into consideration?

And that's why TS% is better. Driving 5 times and going 1-3 from the field and 3-4 on FTs is more efficient than going 2-5 from the field.

 

TS% is sort of a gold standard for shooting and/or scoring efficiency. Points/FGA is also a fair gauge. Williams is better at both

eFG% has always been a weird stat. Any stat that disregards FT's is an incomplete gauge and has limited use. But a lot of people seem to want to disregard FT's when they are trying to extol the virtues of a player that doesn't get to the foul line.

 

Williams and CJ are essentially equal at TS% - the difference is negligible. And because Williams gets to the line much more than CJ, that means CJ is a much better shooter.
The difference in PPS comes out to a little over 2 points per game. Surely with better coaching CJ could improve in this area.
Additionally, CJ is a starter and Lou is a 6th man - generally speaking CJ plays against better players than Lou does. This probably also figures into their PPS differential in some manner.

 

ok...this might just be semantics but to me, defining a shooter HAS to account for efficiency. FT's are shots too...part of shooting. So when you compare players saying one is a better shooter, and the other is better at TS% and PPS, it seems contradictory. But as I said, maybe that's just a matter of definitions, and those gauges of TS% and PPS are better labeled as components of being a scorer. I'd allow for somebody suggesting that CJ is a better shooter as long as they admitted Williams was a better scorer. I wouldn't agree with it but it's a minor quibble

but if the CJ/Williams comparison is an issue for you, then how about CJ and Dame? CJ has better 3pt and 2 pt percentages, but Dame crushes CJ in TS% and PPS. That makes Dame a better shooter in my book, and certainly a much better scorer. There are just better results when Dame shoots...that makes him a better shooter IMO. In fact, if there is a definition of shooter that only accounts for 2pFG% and 3ptFG%, and nothing else, then scoring is a hell of a lot more important than shooting

you could say that about everybody though. CJ is a 4 year starter who has more than 6500 FGA's. He's 27 years old in his 6th NBA season after a 4 year college career. I have no reason to believe his coaching has not been adequate. That's a portrait of he-is-what-he-is

yeah, I mentioned that their roles are different. But Williams isn't an 18 minutes a game bench player. He's a 25-30 minutes a game 6th man; so I'm not sure how much either plays against starters vs 2nd unit players. Certainly CJ usually is in the game at the top of the 2nd Q and 4th Q, and that's generally when teams have more backups playing. And both CJ and Lou are usually on the floor in the last half of the 4th Q

 

Damn Dallas almost beat Houston. Luka was awesome down the stretch but they should’ve called timeout on last play. Damnit.

 

Thank you!

 

There’s no easy game, look at Phoenix beating the Warriors.

 

Ayton & Booker look had solid games.

 

Perfect example of teams living and dying by the 3, works lagged in that area tonight.
Most NBA defenses have a tough time guarding the 3 line .

 

I wouldn't trade CJ. I would force the coach to limit hit crappy shots. I would cap his shots attempts and bench him, once he goes wild ... like 8 - 24 ? I would challenge him to get more assists, rebound more and get more to the free throw line. In other words, I would challenge him to stop being a black hole at times ... I want CJ to make the team better. PERIOD.

 

CJ came out of college with the rep of being an unselfish, high IQ player. I don't know what changed him into the player he is, but I can't say I am thrilled with the transformation!