NBA Thread

[shel311]

When you talk about usage 1/2/3 guys I have no clue what you are talking about. Are these real terms in the NBA now?

Riccio breaking it down!!!

the most misunderstood thing about basketball, imo, is roles and usage. I think that eventually players should stop being classified as PG/SG/SF/PF/C and instead be classified as Usage 1, Usage 2, Usage 3, 3 pt specialist, rebounding specialist, etc.

its what makes good coaches. coaches use players in proper roles and know how to layer the hybrid type guys so when the usage 1 is on the bench the specialist can fit into a higher usage role. fans wonder why they aren't being the dominant player they used to be when they change teams, but most of the time they are being asked to do completely different things (guys like Bosh, Love are easy examples).

Some players will never succeed in different roles. Kyle Korver isn't going to be a very good Usage 1 or 2 player. But he is an excellent 3 pt specialist in a team with a good 1 and 2 option. where as Dion Waiters clearly isn't a good #2 or #3 usage player, but as a low level #1 usage guy he's actually been really solid for Miami (not a superstar, not a championship caliber usage 1, but decent). Thats HIS role. Players come into the NBA having been usage 1 guys almost their entire careers, they never play off ball, they don't know what to do with the ball out of their hands. Then they get thrown into usage 3 or specialist roles and look lost.

one reason GSW is so incredible is that Klay Thompson is probably a usage 1 or 2 player and hes being used as a specialist with a sprinkle of usage 3 from game to game based on game flow. He is also a great defender. same with Draymond. if Melo falls into that type of a role, his numbers are going to look way worse, but chances are he'll be really helpful to them winning games.

[GeorgesGoons]

so is a usage 1 guy the "go-to" guy on the team and usage 2 the next in line almost every trip down the court?

[DRiccio21]

Thomas and Irving are both usage 1 guys.

This is where I know the NBA has passed me by. When you talk about usage 1/2/3 guys I have no clue what you are talking about. Are these real terms in the NBA now?

no, just in my world.

it just means they dominate the ball on their team.

basketball is just a big math problem. usage and efficiency and possessions, essentially. you need to maximize the highest possible usage from your best option before he passes the threshold of diminishing returns and have at least 1, usually 2, other guys who can fill into that role if your usage one guy is off (and lacks an ego to understand he's off)

the reason that you can predict so easily who is going to the finals in basketball (other than playing 7 games series) is because at the end of the day the best player has the ball the most and when all other parts cross themselves out and the game slows down, like it does in the playoffs, you're essentially just getting the best option on one team vs the best option on another team. or in GS case, 3 best options. so you can isolate who is the most efficient guy with optimal usage on one team vs another. and generally speaking over a 7 game series, the norms play out and the best team with the best high usage players win.

[shel311]

Think about a guy like Melo, he's been usage 1 his entire career. Now he'll be usage 3 in OKC behind Westbrook at 1 and PG at 2.


The reason behind is traditional positions are pretty much meaningless. Lebron on offense is a point guard by just about every definition, and definitely not a small forward, so Riccio's breakdowns make much more sense in today's game.

[DRiccio21]

so is a usage 1 guy the "go-to" guy on the team and usage 2 the next in line almost every trip down the court?

i don't know if thats how i'd word it, but sure.

it just means if there is a pizza with 8 slices and we're eating dinner, usage 1 guy is probably going to be eating more than anyone else. and if we're required to eat the whole pie to win the game, he better not be puking after his 3rd slice or we're going to lose alot of pizza eating contests.

[GeorgesGoons]

so is a usage 1 guy the "go-to" guy on the team and usage 2 the next in line almost every trip down the court?

i don't know if thats how i'd word it, but sure.

it just means if there is a pizza with 8 slices and we're eating dinner, usage 1 guy is probably going to be eating more than anyone else. and if we're required to eat the whole pie to win the game, he better not be puking after his 3rd slice or we're going to lose alot of pizza eating contests.

All you had to add there was something about Beer and I am now on board with this being the way we describe it from now on.

I saw you mention the term a couple of times and thought I was missing something while casually watching the games. I get it now

[shel311]

I'm interested to see the Cavs roster without IT4.

Kinda weird seeing Lebron not really surrounded by shooters, not sure how that will work out. Then again, Lebron teams never care about the regular season any way.

Crowder shot it well last season, but Wade and DRose on the court, should be interesting.

[ReignOnU]

Holy shit

[Cnasty]

Chills

Just so terrible man. Dammit

[nick]

rest in peace gordons leg

[Cnasty]

Watching that live was rouuuuuugh and hearing that moan and the other players reactions.

Ugh

[nick]

https://streamable.com/j4yf3

[Cnasty]

It’s seriously rough to watch the rest of this game.

He was all by himself on the floor like that, the Cavs bench reaction, the moans.


Ugh, sucked the life out of opening night.

[shel311]

Shoulda stayed home and played video games.

[wdoupis]

I didn't think this would happen until at least Christmas. Funny thing is that is exactly how I'd expect a Mirotic fight to go

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2105 ... bby-portis

[nick]

oh he'll be playing video games for a while

[Cnasty]

Shoulda stayed home and played video games.

The Shel jinx power is growing right before our very eyes.

I am living on the edge here!

[ReignOnU]

I didn't think this would happen until at least Christmas. Funny thing is that is exactly how I'd expect a Mirotic fight to go

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2105 ... bby-portis

Bobby Portis is about the last guy on that roster I'd fuck with.

[Cnasty]

Oh I thought that was just Mirotic’s face

[DRiccio21]

Derrick Rose is SOOOOOO bad at basketball.

he is single handedly killing Cleveland.

he's going to be benched real soon then eventually released.