NBA Thread

[GeorgesGoons]

This Houston experiment is going to be fun to watch this year. A lot of offense, no defense, win 55 games, bounce out in the first round

[ReignOnU]

whats "biggier" in 25 years...the NBA or eSports?

NBA and not even close. But that might be my age talking. I can say I have never watched any of those eSports events on ESPN or the other channels.

it might still be the NBA sure, but to say it isn't even close is simply being out of touch IMO. I don't mean that in a bad way, but you are pretty old

I believe traditional sports will rebound with Gen Z and whatever is next. I've followed quite a few of the major esports (Riot/Blizzard based games) for years now and the US hasn't been able to a dent in the the South Koreans and Chinese. At best, we have a bit of a rivalry with Euro teams, but the lack of traction in our ability to compete is holding it back. The other issue that is going on comes down to the genres. While some games are fun, they can also be tough to watch and cast (Overwatch for instance). The traditional powers like DOTA and LOL are so heavily dominated by the Asian teams that we'll never recover.

The one thing to keep an eye on is Riot. They had a big 10yr anniversary announcement in which they put Blizzard (and others) directly in target. If that area of the esports scene is going to explode, it's going to be with what Riot (owned by Tencent) launches in the next year or so (including a large redevelopment of the LoL map).

To put it on context, US esports are to Korea/China as US soccer is to the rest of the world... a joke.

As for what you're seeing with 2K league and Madden... it's good marketing, but the numbers aren't there. The growth isn't what they need and the games themselves aren't conducive to 'great play.' They are skill capped. Madden guys are running bullshit 4-6 play schemes are cheesing their asses off. 2K guys are a bit better, but almost every Pro-Am squad runs a lame ass 5 out with a high pick and roll. The league itself is a touch better, but conceptually, also skill capped.

Strategy games like DotA and LoL offer much more complex gameplay, which creates the skill variance that is needed to have a true esport.

So a long explanation to a short answer... as we move through the concussion stuff, I expect that our traditional sports will remain strong. I don't think we'll see football at the peak that we've seen, but I do think we'll avoid half of the country playing short-sided ball. (that's everyone's big fear because it's happening quite a bit already)

[ReignOnU]

shoutout zugrug

F'n shame what Blizzard did to the HotS players last December. I was a huge Blizzard fan, but have since quite playing Overwatch and HotS and it's largely due to how they handled that situation and have handled themselves since then.

Only 2 PC games I play right now are Riot games.

[nick]

shoutout zugrug

F'n shame what Blizzard did to the HotS players last December. I was a huge Blizzard fan, but have since quite playing Overwatch and HotS and it's largely due to how they handled that situation and have handled themselves since then.

Only 2 PC games I play right now are Riot games.

His bro was on my softball team so I asked him about zug, said the game is done so he’s been playing league of legends

Blizzard is also pro China so fuck them

[Cnasty]

You sexy bitch

[nick]

the storyline this year is... clippers are winning the championship. Kawhi the goat

[GeorgesGoons]

the storyline this year is... clippers are winning the championship. Kawhi the goat

Their bench is very good from what I have seen in their first two games. Kawhi is fun to watch, it literally looks like he is moving in slow motion and uses zero effort when he explodes past people.

[shel311]

https://mobile.twitter.com/nbaontnt/sta ... 6583907330


That Steph Curry comp for Trae Young coming out of college seems spot on right about now. Obviously not likely he'll get to Steph's level of greatness, but the comp is solid.

[wdoupis]

Trae Young shot 36% from 3 in college and 33 percent in the NBA last year. I love his offensive game but he’s never shown to be that type of shooter, just lights out and fun as hell when he is hot. Maybe he gets there but hard to comprare an average to below average 3 point shooter to Steph.

[shel311]

Trae Young shot 36% from 3 in college and 33 percent in the NBA last year. I love his offensive game but he’s never shown to be that type of shooter, just lights out and fun as hell when he is hot. Maybe he gets there but hard to comprare an average to below average 3 point shooter to Steph.

When I think of a comp, I don't think the player has to get to that comp's level or terribly close.

His style of play most closely resembles Steph than any other player I can think of. He's also really young, so he has time to improve the efficiencies, but again, yea they much more than likely won't ever reach Steph levels.

[nick]

My ball comparison is Lebron then. *throws up dust *

[DRiccio21]

Pelicans roster is so fun

[ReignOnU]

Pelicans roster is so fun

Even more fun when I get to watch them against Luka... he's out there going behind the back, bounce pass, splitting the defenders on a high pick and roll... looking chill the whole time. So smooth.

[Cnasty]

Luka is amazing.

Sloppy Pels ending.

[shel311]

Alvin Gentry is still a bottom 3 coach, he's so bad.

Redick hasn't played the last 20 minutes, and when he's in, he runs no plays for him. Rotations are awful.


All that excitement for the season, all gone til Zion returns.

[ReignOnU]

Alvin Gentry is still a bottom 3 coach, he's so bad.

Redick hasn't played the last 20 minutes, and when he's in, he runs no plays for him. Rotations are awful.


All that excitement for the season, all gone til Zion returns.

I disagree, they are going to be a tough game all season long. They were never going to be a top 5-6 team in the West. But they are going to give some of those teams problems. Once they tighten up the rotation, things will clean up.

[ReignOnU]

Lakers about to be 0-2?

I felt like they matched up very well with the Clippers (w/o PG), but they got out-rebounded and out-hustled. I don't feel like they match up well at all with Utah. Can't spread the floor enough and Rudy is going to gobble them up tonight. I could see them attacking hard early and trying to get him in foul trouble, but that's an incredibly risky proposition. You'll find yourself down 10+ in a hurry.

[shel311]

I disagree, they are going to be a tough game all season long. They were never going to be a top 5-6 team in the West. But they are going to give some of those teams problems. Once they tighten up the rotation, things will clean up.

I think you're underrating just how much New Orleans doesn't care about basketball. They won't care if we fall in a hole until Zion returns.


Alvin Gentry is a bottom 3 coach. We have Redick and Favors, 2 players who played pivotal roles on legit playoff teams. Redick played on a team full of studs who had the ball in their hands and STILL averaged 18.1 ppg last season. Favors is a solid 14 and 7 type guy who had 16 and 7 on 8 of 10 shooting tonight.

Both of those guys didn't get in the game the last 1.5 quarters. W...T...F!!!


Gentry got me on tilt already.

[shel311]

Jrue Holiday out tonight with a knee injury.

[wdoupis]

Jrue Holiday out tonight with a knee injury.

Luka can crush a mans spirit