NBA Chatter Thread

1bigfan13

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Detroit really impressed me this afternoon. Reggie Jackson made a lot of mistakes down the stretch but if not for his personal meltdown they pretty much played the Cavs even.

Looks like this one will end up being the best opening round series.
 

1bigfan13

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You can tell that there's slowly a shift in the power dynamic between the Western and Eastern Conferences.

The bottom 4 teams in the west are marginal and don't look like they compete with top 4 teams. While over in the east the 7 and 8 teams have some very good young talent and look like they can legitimately beat the 1 & 2 seeds.
 

Clay_Allison

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You can tell that there's slowly a shift in the power dynamic between the Western and Eastern Conferences.

The bottom 4 teams in the west are marginal and don't look like they compete with top 4 teams. While over in the east the 7 and 8 teams have some very good young talent and look like they can legitimately beat the 1 & 2 seeds.
Who in the East could beat the Warriors or Spurs though?
 

Jiggyfly

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You can tell that there's slowly a shift in the power dynamic between the Western and Eastern Conferences.

The bottom 4 teams in the west are marginal and don't look like they compete with top 4 teams. While over in the east the 7 and 8 teams have some very good young talent and look like they can legitimately beat the 1 & 2 seeds.
The bottom 4 teams in the west could upset any of the top 4 teams in the east outside of Cleveland.

Even as bad as the Rockets have played I would like our chances with any of the other 7 teams in the east.
 

1bigfan13

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The bottom 4 teams in the west could upset any of the top 4 teams in the east outside of Cleveland.

Even as bad as the Rockets have played I would like our chances with any of the other 7 teams in the east.
I just think the bottom half of the eastern conference is ascending while the bottom half of the western conference is descending.
 

Jiggyfly

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Sources: Tom Thibodeau pursuing full team control
By Adrian Wojnarowski and Chris Mannix of The Vertical
1 hour ago
Yahoo Sports

Tom Thibodeau is aggressively pursuing the Minnesota Timberwolves’ president of basketball operations and coaching job because of his determination to have full control of an organization, league sources told The Vertical.



Thibodeau wants to have final say on player personnel, organizational philosophy and hirings, league sources said, and that’s only available with the Minnesota opening now.
If he doesn't end up with Minnesota, Thibodeau will still consider coaching jobs without full control, but his preference is clearly to have it, league sources said.

The lure of hiring his own general manager and constructing a contender around Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins has turned Thibodeau increasingly aggressive in pursuit of the Minnesota job, league sources said. Minnesota ownership is completing its meetings with Thibodeau and Jeff Van Gundy on Monday and is expected to move quickly in making an offer, league sources said.

Thibodeau’s appetite for organizational power has been unmistakable to Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor in the process, league sources said.

Several teams with openings have interest in Thibodeau as a coach, including Washington and Houston, but those organizations aren’t offering full control, sources said. The Sacramento coaching job is open, but Thibodeau has no interest in the Kings’ organization, sources said.

The search firm Korn Ferry has been influential in the Minnesota process and has recommended this coach-as-president structure to Taylor, league sources said. Among the NBA executives Korn Ferry leans on for advice, Thibodeau has had significant allies and support, sources said.

Korn Ferry was instrumental in the hiring of Stan Van Gundy as president and coach with the Detroit Pistons, and the firm has been a strong advocate of the two finalists in Minnesota: Thibodeau and Jeff Van Gundy.

Taylor is expected to be willing to pay a $7 million-a-year package to an elite candidate, comparable to Stan Van Gundy’s deal with Detroit, league sources said.

Thibodeau spent time this season traveling around the NBA and studying franchise models, San Antonio and Detroit among them. How Thibodeau handles power – and how he interacts with a GM that reports to him as president – is a source of intrigue and curiosity around the league.

After five successful seasons as coach of the Chicago Bulls, Thibodeau was fired in 2015 largely because of his inability to work with management.

Korn Ferry has already started to identify possible general manager candidates to pair with a new president and coach in Minnesota, including San Antonio Spurs assistant GM Scott Layden and Memphis Grizzlies executive VP of player personnel Ed Stefanski, league sources said. Layden (Utah and New York) and Stefanski (Philadelphia) each have GM experience in the NBA.

Milt Newton is the Timberwolves GM now, and it is unclear how – or if – he would continue in any organizational role if Taylor goes through with the hiring of one of his top two candidates.

Jeff Van Gundy is intrigued with the structure that his brother, Stan, employs in Detroit, but that hasn’t been a driving factor in his desire to return to coaching, league sources said. Jeff Van Gundy has been diligent in considering potential coaching situations in which he can have a strong working relationship and shared vision with a potential team’s current GM and owner, league sources said.

Jeff Van Gundy is at the top of the Houston Rockets’ list of potential candidates along with Thibodeau, league sources said. Jeff Van Gundy resigned as Rockets coach in 2007 after four seasons and still lives in Houston.

The Rockets won’t begin a coaching search until the team’s postseason ends. Houston is trailing Golden State 1-0 in their Western Conference first-round series. Jeff Van Gundy doesn’t discuss jobs with teams who have a coach in place, and J.B. Bickerstaff has been the Rockets’ interim coach since the firing of Kevin McHale in November.

More NBA coverage from The Vertical:
 

Simpleton

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Makes complete sense considering the shit show that he had to deal with in Chicago. With that said, I don't think Thibodeau being in charge of an organization will be good in the long run for that organization.
 

1bigfan13

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Thibodeau is a good coach and all but I wouldn't give any coach that type of control unless they've have a ring or two. He's never even been to the Finals.

If I'm Minnesota I tell him thanks but no thanks. He needs them more than they need him.

That team is stacked with young talent. They're going to be a force to be reckoned with once they find the right coach and mature as a team.

IMO, that's one of the better jobs out there.
 

Texas Ace

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Wow! I thought for sure it was good when I saw it live.

We got lucky there.
 

Texas Ace

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James Harden's "effort" on defense is absolutely inexcusable.
 

dallen

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I don't think there is a chance in hell Dallas wins the series, but to steal one on their home court feels good. Gotta make OKC fight for the right to lose to the Spurs
 

Rev

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Sources: Tom Thibodeau pursuing full team control
By Adrian Wojnarowski and Chris Mannix of The Vertical
1 hour ago
Yahoo Sports

Tom Thibodeau is aggressively pursuing the Minnesota Timberwolves’ president of basketball operations and coaching job because of his determination to have full control of an organization, league sources told The Vertical.



Thibodeau wants to have final say on player personnel, organizational philosophy and hirings, league sources said, and that’s only available with the Minnesota opening now.
If he doesn't end up with Minnesota, Thibodeau will still consider coaching jobs without full control, but his preference is clearly to have it, league sources said.

The lure of hiring his own general manager and constructing a contender around Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins has turned Thibodeau increasingly aggressive in pursuit of the Minnesota job, league sources said. Minnesota ownership is completing its meetings with Thibodeau and Jeff Van Gundy on Monday and is expected to move quickly in making an offer, league sources said.

Thibodeau’s appetite for organizational power has been unmistakable to Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor in the process, league sources said.

Several teams with openings have interest in Thibodeau as a coach, including Washington and Houston, but those organizations aren’t offering full control, sources said. The Sacramento coaching job is open, but Thibodeau has no interest in the Kings’ organization, sources said.

The search firm Korn Ferry has been influential in the Minnesota process and has recommended this coach-as-president structure to Taylor, league sources said. Among the NBA executives Korn Ferry leans on for advice, Thibodeau has had significant allies and support, sources said.

Korn Ferry was instrumental in the hiring of Stan Van Gundy as president and coach with the Detroit Pistons, and the firm has been a strong advocate of the two finalists in Minnesota: Thibodeau and Jeff Van Gundy.

Taylor is expected to be willing to pay a $7 million-a-year package to an elite candidate, comparable to Stan Van Gundy’s deal with Detroit, league sources said.

Thibodeau spent time this season traveling around the NBA and studying franchise models, San Antonio and Detroit among them. How Thibodeau handles power – and how he interacts with a GM that reports to him as president – is a source of intrigue and curiosity around the league.

After five successful seasons as coach of the Chicago Bulls, Thibodeau was fired in 2015 largely because of his inability to work with management.

Korn Ferry has already started to identify possible general manager candidates to pair with a new president and coach in Minnesota, including San Antonio Spurs assistant GM Scott Layden and Memphis Grizzlies executive VP of player personnel Ed Stefanski, league sources said. Layden (Utah and New York) and Stefanski (Philadelphia) each have GM experience in the NBA.

Milt Newton is the Timberwolves GM now, and it is unclear how – or if – he would continue in any organizational role if Taylor goes through with the hiring of one of his top two candidates.

Jeff Van Gundy is intrigued with the structure that his brother, Stan, employs in Detroit, but that hasn’t been a driving factor in his desire to return to coaching, league sources said. Jeff Van Gundy has been diligent in considering potential coaching situations in which he can have a strong working relationship and shared vision with a potential team’s current GM and owner, league sources said.

Jeff Van Gundy is at the top of the Houston Rockets’ list of potential candidates along with Thibodeau, league sources said. Jeff Van Gundy resigned as Rockets coach in 2007 after four seasons and still lives in Houston.

The Rockets won’t begin a coaching search until the team’s postseason ends. Houston is trailing Golden State 1-0 in their Western Conference first-round series. Jeff Van Gundy doesn’t discuss jobs with teams who have a coach in place, and J.B. Bickerstaff has been the Rockets’ interim coach since the firing of Kevin McHale in November.

More NBA coverage from The Vertical:
Why did Gundy leave the first time and why would he come back?
 

Cotton

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I don't think there is a chance in hell Dallas wins the series, but to steal one on their home court feels good. Gotta make OKC fight for the right to lose to the Spurs
That was a fun game to watch. I agree that the Mavs don't stand much of a chance, but it was nice to get the win after they smacked us in the mouth the game before.
 

Jiggyfly

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Why did Gundy leave the first time and why would he come back?
He resigned it was because the Owner wanted to change the offense and give the new GM more say in player movement.

It was pretty amicable, no hard feelings.
 

1bigfan13

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I don't think there is a chance in hell Dallas wins the series, but to steal one on their home court feels good. Gotta make OKC fight for the right to lose to the Spurs
That was a gutty performance by the Mavs last night. Carlisle completely outclassed Billy Donovan. That was the biggest key of the game, IMO.

It also didn't hurt that KD playing like crap evened out the playing field a little. Regardless, the Thunder had no business losing that home game to a team with as many key injuries as the Mavs.

If that Adams shot had counted I think the series is a sweep because a loss like that would have been demoralizing. KD's not going to shoot that poorly again so you have to capitalize when a superstar puts up a clunker like that. That was Dallas' best chance and they held on to steal one.
 

Texas Ace

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[MENTION=63]Jiggyfly[/MENTION]

Your thoughts on one of the most pathetic individual defensive performances ever seen in a playoff game by your boy Harden?

That was all-time bad.
 
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