NBA 2010-11

[MarkGrace]

I agree.

Just looked at some Griffin stats. Over his past 6 games he is averaging 30 and 14 with 4.7 assists on 60% shooting.

[Jacob]

During the 3 games Griffin played in October, he averaged 16.7 ppg and 11.0 rpg but shot only 42% from the field.

In 15 games in November, those averages went up to 20.9 ppg, 11.9 rpg, and 54% from the field.

More impressive is his 29.8 ppg and 14 rpg average over the last 6 games. I'm guessing he had to take some time to get a rhythm back after not being able to play any basketball for such a long time, let alone going up against NBA regular season competition for the first time.

Scary if he gets his FT% up like Karl did.

Also Kaman was jacking up about 18 FGA per game while shooting 33% and hogging post possessions during Oct and the 1st part of Nov. Kaman being out has been good for Griffin.

[Jacob]

Tyler Hansbrough?

That is funny. I was hoping to see a little Psycho T during the Jazz game yesterday, but he only got garbage time. Seems like he'll need to dedicate himself to the game a little more. Maybe as much as Josh McRoberts.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Locke giving Dirty Dirk some love today.

If you watch Sports Center or NBA TV you would believe that the ”clutchest players in the NBA” are Kobe Bryant, LeBron James or maybe Carmelo Anthony. However, over the last two years Dirk Nowitzki blows those guys away. This year Deron Williams can make a case for the ”clutchest player in the NBA.”

When the game is 94-94 tonight with 4 minutes left the best in the NBA at willing their team to a win will be on the floor at Energy Solutions. Get your tickets it will be great.

Dirk’s 4th quarter and late game numbers are insane. Last year, in the 4th quarter of games he hit 166 of 173 free throws (96%) while hitting on 46% of his three pointers. Only LeBron, Dwight Howard and Kevin Durant took more 4th quarter free throws.

In clutch circumstances (last 5 minutes of game within 6 points) Nowitzki was out of this world last year. He hit on 46% of his shots (2nd in the NBA) on an incomprehensible 72% of his three pointers (13 of 18) and 63 of 65 free throws both best in the NBA.

In late and close game situations (last 2 mins within 4 points) Dirk hit on 6 of 6 three attempts, 30 of 31 free throws and hit on 48% shooting (3rd best behind Nash and Paul).

Finally with the game on the line, (final 24 seconds within 3), Dirk has hit on 9 of his last 14 dating back to last season and 15 of 16 from the free throw line. His 9 game on the line FG’s are #1 in the NBA as is his 64% FG.

[Jacob]

Locke giving Dirty Dirk some love today.

Does he have to say "clutchest?" How about "most clutch?"

[MarkGrace]

Booz 29/12 tonight. Should give them some solid frontcourt help.

[MarkGrace]

K-Leezy is just beastin' it. 24/18 over his last 5.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Love with 15 and 10 through 18 minutes in first half tonight.

He gets Wes Unseld comparisons because I guess they both throw good outlet passes. Kind of like comparing Earl Watson to Isiah Thomas because they dribble low the floor at times. But Love is channeling Moses Malone this year.

[MarkGrace]

The ray felton uptempo renaissance continues in a major way. Kid should make the AS game.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

More like for Love:

Kevin Love scored 22 points and grabbed 21 rebounds for the Minnesota Timberwolves in their 111-103 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Love has surpassed both 20 points and 20 rebounds in five games this season while all other NBA players have combined to do that only once (Andris Biedrins on Nov. 26).

No NBA player had more than two such games in 2009-10 and the last player with as many as five in one season was Dwight Howard, who did it six times in 2008-09.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Updated SOS of division leaders:

Chi - .566 (1st - 10 road games)
Utah - .533 (7th - 9 road games)
Bos - .509 (14th - 9 road games)
SAS - .483 (23rd - 9 road games)
Orl - .470 (25th - 10 road games)
LAL - .404 (30th - 9.5 road games)

[Color Me Badd Fan]

The Knicks are on a 10-1 streak. It will be interesting if they end up landing Carmelo.

[MarkGrace]

Evan Turner is a mess right now. Back to the bench and scoring just 2.8 ppg on 14 mpg over his last 5. Didn't see that one coming.

[Jacob]

I'm totally with Abbott and Hollinger on too many coaches being ninnies and not letting their guys foul out. Van Gundy also mentions this all the time when he is calling a came. Sloan is a well-established ninny in this respect, never allowing anyone to get a 3rd foul in the 1st half. Players fouling out has gone down 43% over the past 20 years.

From Henry Abbott

My theory: Coaches have become ninnies.

Seems like every game some player -- even players who don't normally play long minutes, and are little threat to get six fouls -- is called to the bench with two fouls in the second quarter, where they will remain until halftime.

So many coaches worship in the religion of never letting a guy get a third foul in the first half, or a fourth foul in the third quarter. They have a hair trigger benching guys, which I don't think was so common twenty years ago.

My best guess is that's coaches do that because heading to crunch time, or overtime, missing good players is one of the best ways for coaches to look dumb to fans, reporters and owners.

But in fact, as John Hollinger has written many times, almost the opposite is true. Losing good players again and again all season out of fear of fouling out is more damaging to a team than getting them to play the most possible minutes, even at the cost of missing crunch time once in a blue moon.

Maybe, instead of chastising coaches for having players foul out, we should say: Good for the coach, he got every last possible minute out of that player.

[CardiacCoug]

I'm trying to decide what I'm enjoying most

1. The absolute disaster that is the Heat
2. The Big 3 experiment falling so flat so quickly
3. The radio silence from Laker haters that spent all summer on Lebron's tip and had hitched their hopes to the Chosen One
4. The silence from a few specific folks on this board
5. Somehow, someway this is frustrating Jazz fans
6. It is obvious to everyone, especially the media, that the Heat are not winning a title this season.
7. The lakers look pretty good
8. High likelihood of yet another Lakers Celtics finals

Really, lots of options to choose. So yes, I definitely am interested. I may be in the minority, though.

LOL!

Miami will be 1/2 game behind the Lakers by the end of the night.

Yeah, it was a little early to be disregarding the Heat.