OFFICIAL NBA 2017-2018 Off-Season Thread

[HIM]

I agree, but he definitely was being gassed up.

 

[amitt5504]

That’s cool and all, but what does that have to do with him being a solid backup pg as was being discussed?

He’s an end of the rotation player not a back up. Notice how the offense got better when Fultz was running the second team instead of TJ. He has his shortcomings and imo can’t be a top back up. Love him as a player tho

 

[MVP]

MDA coming up with the excuses already. Lol

 

[freddy fig]

oh ****

 

[God]

He’s an end of the rotation player not a back up. Notice how the offense got better when Fultz was running the second team instead of TJ. He has his shortcomings and imo can’t be a top back up. Love him as a player tho

 

[freddy fig]

My pick 4...Pels, Thunder, Blazers, Nuggets

 

[gaiiige]

"As someone who has held an MVP vote more years than not in the past decade, one of my great professional fears is 20 years from now, we look back on James’ magnificent career and wonder how it’s possible the greatest player of his generation — arguably the greatest of all time — could retire with only four MVP trophies.

That in itself isn’t reason enough to vote for him. The MVP isn’t meant as a career achievement award. But it does demand us to take a deep look at James every spring and make sure we can justify not voting for him.

James had a bad January by his lofty standards. He was sulking, perhaps silently protesting the Cavs’ misfit roster through his play. Yet, he still averaged 23.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.4 assists as the Cavs came apart at the seams. Guys have gone to All-Star games with numbers far worse.

James also has been part of a defense mired in 29th in defensive rating. The Cavs have been a disaster defensively all season, and he is culpable. There is no denying he has failed to close out, failed to get even to half court on plenty of defensive possessions. These are the sins on his season.

Yet, there’s also this: In every year since 2012, one advanced metric has correctly predicted the NBA’s MVP. The player who finished first in Value Over Replacement Player each of the past six years, from Kevin Durant to James to Steph Curry to Russell Westbrook, has also gone on to win the MVP.

This year? James is first in VORP. Harden is second.

What is VORP? It isn’t discussed or referenced as much as player efficiency rating, perhaps because PER came along first and is pushed heavily by ESPN. But those who make a living working for NBA teams and studying these types of numbers believe PER, despite having efficiency in its name, actually is inefficient because it rewards high volume shooters.

VORP, while limited to box score data and play by play, also factors in team performance. It is basically an estimate of the points, per 100 possessions, that a player contributed above replacement level. The Cavs, like most teams, use their own set of internal metrics to measure players. But one data set they do use is a version very similar to VORP.

Now just because James is first in VORP isn’t enough to vote for him, but it’s certainly curious that since 2006, the player who finished first in VORP has won the MVP every year except four times. In all four years (’06-’08 and 2011), James finished first in VORP and failed to win the MVP. He truly could — and perhaps should — win the MVP almost every year.

James will finish this season with more points, rebounds, assists and blocks than Harden. He will also become just the second player in NBA/ABA history to average at least 27 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists while shooting better than 50 percent. Oscar Robertson did it while shooting 52 percent in 1962-63. James is doing it while shooting 54 percent this season.

And yet he’s doing all of this at age 33 and in his 15th season despite less help, not more. As my colleague, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin astutely pointed out, Harden benefited this season from the Rockets adding Chris Paul. The Cavs, meanwhile, took away Kyrie Irving and instead gave James a broken Isaiah Thomas. Then he lost Kevin Love for two months to a fractured hand. Yet, James still has the Cavs back to 50 wins and a division title despite a roster that has been torn down and rebuilt multiple times in the past 10 months"

stopped reading @ VORP

 

[LebronHasMoreFinalsMVPs]

Mike francesa's mvp pick

 

[Clyde Frog]

LeBron probably the most valuable player of all time.

 

[suberzat1]

Pels finna slice da spurs

We can only hope!

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

"As someone who has held an MVP vote more years than not in the past decade, one of my great professional fears is 20 years from now, we look back on James’ magnificent career and wonder how it’s possible the greatest player of his generation — arguably the greatest of all time — could retire with only four MVP trophies.

That in itself isn’t reason enough to vote for him. The MVP isn’t meant as a career achievement award. But it does demand us to take a deep look at James every spring and make sure we can justify not voting for him.

James had a bad January by his lofty standards. He was sulking, perhaps silently protesting the Cavs’ misfit roster through his play. Yet, he still averaged 23.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.4 assists as the Cavs came apart at the seams. Guys have gone to All-Star games with numbers far worse.

James also has been part of a defense mired in 29th in defensive rating. The Cavs have been a disaster defensively all season, and he is culpable. There is no denying he has failed to close out, failed to get even to half court on plenty of defensive possessions. These are the sins on his season.

Yet, there’s also this: In every year since 2012, one advanced metric has correctly predicted the NBA’s MVP. The player who finished first in Value Over Replacement Player each of the past six years, from Kevin Durant to James to Steph Curry to Russell Westbrook, has also gone on to win the MVP.

This year? James is first in VORP. Harden is second.

What is VORP? It isn’t discussed or referenced as much as player efficiency rating, perhaps because PER came along first and is pushed heavily by ESPN. But those who make a living working for NBA teams and studying these types of numbers believe PER, despite having efficiency in its name, actually is inefficient because it rewards high volume shooters.

VORP, while limited to box score data and play by play, also factors in team performance. It is basically an estimate of the points, per 100 possessions, that a player contributed above replacement level. The Cavs, like most teams, use their own set of internal metrics to measure players. But one data set they do use is a version very similar to VORP.

Now just because James is first in VORP isn’t enough to vote for him, but it’s certainly curious that since 2006, the player who finished first in VORP has won the MVP every year except four times. In all four years (’06-’08 and 2011), James finished first in VORP and failed to win the MVP. He truly could — and perhaps should — win the MVP almost every year.

James will finish this season with more points, rebounds, assists and blocks than Harden. He will also become just the second player in NBA/ABA history to average at least 27 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists while shooting better than 50 percent. Oscar Robertson did it while shooting 52 percent in 1962-63. James is doing it while shooting 54 percent this season.

And yet he’s doing all of this at age 33 and in his 15th season despite less help, not more. As my colleague, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin astutely pointed out, Harden benefited this season from the Rockets adding Chris Paul. The Cavs, meanwhile, took away Kyrie Irving and instead gave James a broken Isaiah Thomas. Then he lost Kevin Love for two months to a fractured hand. Yet, James still has the Cavs back to 50 wins and a division title despite a roster that has been torn down and rebuilt multiple times in the past 10 months"

Serious and compelling

 

[freddy fig]

We can only hope!

Pels finna flex at home bro...we doin it big ya herdme

 

[waukeganwill]

So you're saying GS tanked last night to avoid having to face Russ...interesting

The 7th spot wasnt a possibility for okc either way it went. They were ruled outta that for a couple days now

 

[jsindaa]

IF YOU LIKE LEBRON SO MUCH WHY DONT YOU MARRY HIM???!!!

Spicy

Listening to a lot of these podcast & noticing how much a lot of these guys who have actual votes rely on advanced statistics to choose the awards. I don't know How the players union decided to allow player incentives to be focused around these awards smh. a cool 80% of the convos are strictly stat based.

Well 100% of the game is stats so, literally, it makes no sense to not use stats when deciding on awards. Also, most voters aren't using advanced stats. That's very apparent

 

[Peep Game]

"As someone who has held an MVP vote more years than not in the past decade, one of my great professional fears is 20 years from now, we look back on James’ magnificent career and wonder how it’s possible the greatest player of his generation — arguably the greatest of all time — could retire with only four MVP trophies.

That in itself isn’t reason enough to vote for him. The MVP isn’t meant as a career achievement award. But it does demand us to take a deep look at James every spring and make sure we can justify not voting for him.

James had a bad January by his lofty standards. He was sulking, perhaps silently protesting the Cavs’ misfit roster through his play. Yet, he still averaged 23.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.4 assists as the Cavs came apart at the seams. Guys have gone to All-Star games with numbers far worse.

James also has been part of a defense mired in 29th in defensive rating. The Cavs have been a disaster defensively all season, and he is culpable. There is no denying he has failed to close out, failed to get even to half court on plenty of defensive possessions. These are the sins on his season.

Yet, there’s also this: In every year since 2012, one advanced metric has correctly predicted the NBA’s MVP. The player who finished first in Value Over Replacement Player each of the past six years, from Kevin Durant to James to Steph Curry to Russell Westbrook, has also gone on to win the MVP.

This year? James is first in VORP. Harden is second.

What is VORP? It isn’t discussed or referenced as much as player efficiency rating, perhaps because PER came along first and is pushed heavily by ESPN. But those who make a living working for NBA teams and studying these types of numbers believe PER, despite having efficiency in its name, actually is inefficient because it rewards high volume shooters.

VORP, while limited to box score data and play by play, also factors in team performance. It is basically an estimate of the points, per 100 possessions, that a player contributed above replacement level. The Cavs, like most teams, use their own set of internal metrics to measure players. But one data set they do use is a version very similar to VORP.

Now just because James is first in VORP isn’t enough to vote for him, but it’s certainly curious that since 2006, the player who finished first in VORP has won the MVP every year except four times. In all four years (’06-’08 and 2011), James finished first in VORP and failed to win the MVP. He truly could — and perhaps should — win the MVP almost every year.

James will finish this season with more points, rebounds, assists and blocks than Harden. He will also become just the second player in NBA/ABA history to average at least 27 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists while shooting better than 50 percent. Oscar Robertson did it while shooting 52 percent in 1962-63. James is doing it while shooting 54 percent this season.

And yet he’s doing all of this at age 33 and in his 15th season despite less help, not more. As my colleague, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin astutely pointed out, Harden benefited this season from the Rockets adding Chris Paul. The Cavs, meanwhile, took away Kyrie Irving and instead gave James a broken Isaiah Thomas. Then he lost Kevin Love for two months to a fractured hand. Yet, James still has the Cavs back to 50 wins and a division title despite a roster that has been torn down and rebuilt multiple times in the past 10 months"

It's amazing how handy this gif has become

The last paragraph though as if Lebron isn't responsible for the way that roster is constructed. Those are HIS players

 

[LebronHasMoreFinalsMVPs]

It's amazing how handy this gif has become

Need a new gif. Im at escalante's in meyerland pull up
CC hardens beard

 

[MVP]

The 7th spot wasnt a possibility for okc either way it went. They were ruled outta that for a couple days now

I actually believe it was still a real possibility. If the Jazz would have lost last night, and beat Portland, OKC would have they ended up in a 4 way tie with the Blazers, Jazz, and winner of SA/NO (all with 34 losses). OKC would have lost every tie breaker and ended up as the lowest seed which would be 7 and faced GS in the 1st round.

GS also by losing ensured they won't face the Jazz in the 1st rd as well.

 

[jsindaa]

I actually believe it was still a real possibility. If the Jazz would have lost last night, and beat Portland, OKC would have they ended up in a 4 way tie with the Blazers, Jazz, and winner of SA/NO (all with 34 losses). OKC would have lost every tie breaker and ended up as the lowest seed which would be 7 and faced GS in the 1st round.

GS also by losing ensured they won't face the Jazz in the 1st rd as well.

No. It was literally impossible

 

[hardens beard]

 

[kingfoamnyc]

LeBron should be MVP. His season is just superior in every way outside of wins

 

[wavycrocket]

It's amazing how handy this gif has become

The last paragraph though as if Lebron isn't responsible for the way that roster is constructed. Those are HIS players

Remember when like @lil fish & @B Sox were saying @tyisny and others were arguing with Ghosts?

They wanted to find any reason to give Bron the MVP this year...and he knows it. That’s why this year, he went OD with the “15th season” and posting his stats & highlights in wins/losses.

Harden has been the wire to wire MVP. But the media is making a strong push for Bron. I called it back in October .

Bron be failing up. It’s amazing.

 

[MVP]

.

 

[wavycrocket]

LeBron should be MVP. His season is just superior in every way outside of wins

Bruh.....you don’t remember October when they rolled out 5-8? Or when he completely quit on his team for over an entire month and shifted the blame to his teammates and threw them under the bus? Same ***** posting his “doing my part” stats on social media while his team loses is an “MVP” this year?

 

[drewsone]

media gonna say
"year 15. no kyrie. lots of adversity. injuries. new teams. trades. 3 different teams. IT trash. same record as last year. doesn't look to be slowing down much."



Bron my guy but MVP going to Beard

 

[air jsarg]

Bruh.....you don’t remember October when they rolled out 5-8? Or when he completely quit on his team for over an entire month and shifted the blame to his teammates and threw them under the bus? Same ***** posting his “doing my part” stats on social media while his team loses is an “MVP” this year?

So last year in Westbrook's MVP season, the team had a stretch where they went 4-8. Did Russ quit or was it "not his fault"

I could go through and pick out holes in Westbrook's MVP season too, but hey he got the award.