2017-18 NBA Thread

[Socnorb11]

Stevens.

Stevens' team is still playing (and playing well), even short-handed. Antetokounmpo's team is not.

I think great coaching is under-rated in the NBA.

[33anda3rd]

That LeBron James is able to defy the laws of nature by playing all 82 games plus a tough 7-game round one series with the Cavs entirely on his back at age 33, and still have gas in the tank to hang a triple-double in an OT road win in which he plays 47 minutes against the one seed, is pretty remarkable.

[Tim]

Watched the second half. What a total gag from the Raptors. Missed their last 11 shots in the 4th quarter.

[MrCrowesGarden]

Kinda knew it would happen, but pretty disappointing to see the officiating turn the way it has. AD and Jrue combine for 90 minutes and take nearly 30 combined shots in the paint, yet neither takes a single free throw.

[BottenFieldofDreams]

I keep hearing people compare Donovan Mitchell to Lillard. I don't see it... he's far more dynamic and better, as a rookie at least. His team's needs and the league itself are a different, but he's doing things, especially around the rim, that Lillard wasn't doing until his third year.

[33anda3rd]

Like Lillard, he also won a playoff series on a 5 seed his rookie year.

[cardsfansince82]

[33anda3rd]

This round is shaping up to be pretty boring in the West, but that was predictable. Utah and the Pels are both good teams but way overmatched against truly elite teams with great systems built to highlight the talent on those teams.

The East has been better. It's given us LeBron In God Mode which has been pretty remarkable. Then there's Stevens' current roster of Horford + role players taking down a Philly team that looked like they were poised to break through a year or two ahead of schedule. Looking at the faces of Embiid and Simmons late in games, they just look worn down and defeated by Boston. With all the drama in San Antonio, could be Stevens overtakes Pop as the resident Coaching Guru in the league.

[Socnorb11]

Lest we forget that Stevens led Butler (a team from the Horizon League....... what?) to back-to-back NCAA championship game appearances.

There's nobody better right now. It pains me to say that, because I'm not a Celtics fan. I'd be tempted to take Stevens over pretty much every player in the league right now. I think he's that good.

[MrCrowesGarden]

I can see the writing on the wall for my Pelicans, but this season has been a success no matter what. Winning a series and not getting swept by the Dubs is as much as I could ask for, even if Boogie was healthy.

Glad to see New Orleans kill it with the halftime shows at least. Trombone Shorty is the man. I have no idea why half their home games have little kids playing basketball for halftime entertainment.