NBA 2013-2014

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

I wrote a post a week or two ago on CB about wondering if Durant is actually better at 25 than LeBron was. Then I looked back at the numbers and saw that LBJ had superior production numbers (especially when adjusted for pace) and was still more efficient than Durant. And you could say that even with Westbrook out, Durant still has more talent around him now than James did then in Cleveland. Same goes for MJ at that age too, of course.

But that was before this outburst from KD. He's going to average 30+ and have a PER of 30+. You just don't do that unless you are MJ or LBJ. I wonder how different his success would be in a different era; I certainly thought he'd struggle more scoring unless he got stronger. But with his shooting and 10 FTA/gm, he's unstoppable.

[clackamascoug]

I wrote a post a week or two ago on CB about wondering if Durant is actually better at 25 than LeBron was. Then I looked back at the numbers and saw that LBJ had superior production numbers (especially when adjusted for pace) and was still more efficient than Durant. And you could say that even with Westbrook out, Durant still has more talent around him now than James did then in Cleveland. Same goes for MJ at that age too, of course.

But that was before this outburst from KD. He's going to average 30+ and have a PER of 30+. You just don't do that unless you are MJ or LBJ. I wonder how different his success would be in a different era; I certainly thought he'd struggle more scoring unless he got stronger. But with his shooting and 10 FTA/gm, he's unstoppable.

As I watched Durant destroy the Blazers tonight I was at the same time, amazed and tormented. When the Blazers had a 5 point lead with 5 minutes remaining, I said to my wife that we're about to see the best player in basketball do some amazing things. Just you wait and see.

He delivered, and the pain that I feel every time I see him is because of the knife Greg Oden left in my heart.

[smokymountainrain]

I wonder how different his success would be in a different era; I certainly thought he'd struggle more scoring unless he got stronger. But with his shooting and 10 FTA/gm, he's unstoppable.

Meh, he'd probably be a better scorer in a different era. 60s, 70s, 80s, scoring was higher and pace was quicker than it is now - or at least that's what I remember. Guys couldn't shoot the three as well as they do these days either. He's bigger, quicker, more athletic and a better shooter than Bird was at the same age and Bird didn't have any trouble scoring in his era.

[Jacob]

Meh, he'd probably be a better scorer in a different era. 60s, 70s, 80s, scoring was higher and pace was quicker than it is now - or at least that's what I remember. Guys couldn't shoot the three as well as they do these days either. He's bigger, quicker, more athletic and a better shooter than Bird was at the same age and Bird didn't have any trouble scoring in his era.

Not sure how much quicker, but I'll give you more athletic. As for the rest, slightly taller, but not bigger, and not a better shooter. Take it back! Not to mention the lack of assists and rebounds by comparison.

Not that Durant isn't clearly the 2nd best player in the league, IMO. And an all-time great offensive player.

[smokymountainrain]

Not sure how much quicker, but I'll give you more athletic. As for the rest, slightly taller, but not bigger, and not a better shooter. Take it back! Not to mention the lack of assists and rebounds by comparison.

Not that Durant isn't clearly the 2nd best player in the league, IMO. And an all-time great offensive player.

I'd have to look, but Bird shot about 25% from three when he was 25. Durant has consistently been above 40% for about 3-4 years.

Also, Durant is 6'11, Bird was 6'9" which is significant, but when you add the extra length, Durant has a lot of size in terms of height and length on Bird.

[Blueintheface]

I'd have to look, but Bird shot about 25% from three when he was 25. Durant has consistently been above 40% for about 3-4 years.

Also, Durant is 6'11, Bird was 6'9" which is significant, but when you add the extra length, Durant has a lot of size in terms of height and length on Bird.

But he can't bench 150 lbs.

[MarkGrace]

I'd have to look, but Bird shot about 25% from three when he was 25. Durant has consistently been above 40% for about 3-4 years.

Also, Durant is 6'11, Bird was 6'9" which is significant, but when you add the extra length, Durant has a lot of size in terms of height and length on Bird.

It's interesting to compare shooting numbers from the current era to earlier eras. I was looking at Bird's 3pt shooting numbers the other day and was surprised by how pedestrian they look compared to current numbers. Obviously he scores a lot of points for degree of difficulty and big shots, but on the whole there's nothing that blows you away. The league just shoots the ball from deep so much better now. I was looking at stats the other day and there were like +40 players shooting +40% from 3 on at least 2-3 attempts. Kind of crazy how much the game has evolved in that respect.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Meh, he'd probably be a better scorer in a different era. 60s, 70s, 80s, scoring was higher and pace was quicker than it is now - or at least that's what I remember. Guys couldn't shoot the three as well as they do these days either. He's bigger, quicker, more athletic and a better shooter than Bird was at the same age and Bird didn't have any trouble scoring in his era.

I was watching some of the old Bulls-Pistons playoff games on the Vintage Jordan Youtube channel the other day. It is crazy the contact Jordan had to play through for years in a row. It was led him to set the bar in terms of conditioning his body and getting stronger with Tim Grover. Now, if Durant even gets tapped he flails his arms and gets a trip to the line. Jordan would've shot 25 FT/gm if the whistles were used in the same fashion back then. So that is what I was implying. Certainly Durant would still be able to shoot over any defender and get great looks most of the time, but in the late 80's/early 90's it was a totally different game on the perimeter. Durant gets away with not being as strong in today's game because of it.

An all-time great player isn't going to all of a sudden start struggling big time if you drop him into a different era. But seeing how those Pistons series went and the style of defense they used, I do think KD has a harder time adjusting to that than Kobe or LBJ would.

[MarkGrace]

I was watching some of the old Bulls-Pistons playoff games on the Vintage Jordan Youtube channel the other day. It is crazy the contact Jordan had to play through for years in a row. It was led him to set the bar in terms of conditioning his body and getting stronger with Tim Grover. Now, if Durant even gets tapped he flails his arms and gets a trip to the line. Jordan would've shot 25 FT/gm if the whistles were used in the same fashion back then. So that is what I was implying. Certainly Durant would still be able to shoot over any defender and get great looks most of the time, but in the late 80's/early 90's it was a totally different game on the perimeter. Durant gets away with not being as strong in today's game because of it.

An all-time great player isn't going to all of a sudden start struggling big time if you drop him into a different era. But seeing how those Pistons series went and the style of defense they used, I do think KD has a harder time adjusting to that than Kobe or LBJ would.

In the fwiw category, Pelton was discussing this the other day and doesn't think it was any harder to score in that era than it is now. His argument was that despite the rule change for contact on the perimeter, the practical difference in what gets called isn't nearly as dramatic as most fans seem to think. He also said that defenses (particularly help defenses) are far more sophisticated than they were then. He mentioned some study that adjusted for difficulty in scoring and suggested the current more complicated defenses more or less offset the higher degree of contact that was previously allowed, ultimately making scoring difficulty in the two eras a wash.

Also, playoffs is a different beast than regular season. Even now they don't call shit in the playoffs and let the players get away with way more contact.

[Jacob]

It's interesting to compare shooting numbers from the current era to earlier eras. I was looking at Bird's 3pt shooting numbers the other day and was surprised by how pedestrian they look compared to current numbers. Obviously he scores a lot of points for degree of difficulty and big shots, but on the whole there's nothing that blows you away. The league just shoots the ball from deep so much better now. I was looking at stats the other day and there were like +40 players shooting +40% from 3 on at least 2-3 attempts. Kind of crazy how much the game has evolved in that respect.

The difference even 5 or so years ago would be dramatic. So many teams are shooting the 3 so much more. The Suns used to be an aberration, but the current Suns are putting the old Suns to shame in the 3 pt attmpts department, I think.. The Jazz are probably one of the worst offenders. Look at Kyle Korver. A 41% 3pt shooter while with the Jazz, he attempted the following 3 pt/36minutes over his career:

PHi: 6.4
UTH: 5.2
CHI: 6.5
ATL: 6.4

Sure, it's less than 2 attempts per 36 minutes, but it is an increase of more than 23% over the rate with the Jazz.

Larry Bird was over 40% for 4 straight years before injury started to slow him down. But the most he attempted was 3.1 per game compared to Durant attempting more than 5. In any case I remain unconvinced of SMRs claim that Durant is a better shooter than Larry Bird was.

[smokymountainrain]

In any case I remain unconvinced of SMRs claim that Durant is a better shooter than Larry Bird was.

You're missing a key part of what I said.

[smokymountainrain]

36 and 11 turnovers tonight for Durant.

[cougjunkie]

36 and 11 turnovers tonight for Durant.

He had 7 in the first half. Kawhi was giving him absolute fits. Kawhi breaks his hand, second half Durant is guarded by Belinelli and goes off. Ginobili also took a crack at him and did a nice job as well. But Belinelli was no match. Durant also gets every single call, it is ridiculous. One point he hip tosses Belinelli to the ground and they call a foul on Marco. Even Van Gundy was going nuts and talking about the star treatment Durant receives.

[New Mexican Disaster]

Carmelo is going off on the Bobcats. 56 after 3 quarters.

[smokymountainrain]

Carmelo is going off on the Bobcats. 56 after 3 quarters.

Finished with 62. Most impressive to me is that he did it without a parade to the FT line. Only 10 FT attempts.