Around the League: Week 15 2/2-2/8

[INFORMER]

So, INF, how again do we reboot the rebuild? Because I am beginning to see it as a 5-year plan to get us a potential 2nd round playoff exit if we are lucky. Basically the Jason Kidd all over again...

So true.

[INFORMER]

On Kevin Love's struggles, including his 1-7 gem against Philly:

Love looked passive and disengaged on the offensive end. When Love's lack of involvement was brought up to Cavs coach David Blatt during his postgame press conference, he admitted that it's an issue.

"That shouldn't happen," Blatt said of Love only shooting seven times. "That absolutely shouldn't happen."

Blatt later said: "I don't think we moved the ball well enough. We could have played at him a little bit more. We haven't practiced for a while. We have to work on a few things and clean that up."

LeBron James, who finished with 18 points and 11 assists in 36 minutes, felt like Love had more opportunities to contribute to the scoring outcome.

"I think Kev had some shots that he passed up on," James said. "Maybe he just felt like he wasn't in a good rhythm, but I know I hit him for a few shots after the first quarter where he had some good looks and he decided to swing, which is OK because it kept the ball moving.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf ... ove_1.html

[INFORMER]

Phil Jackson, on whether the triangle has a place in this new age offense era:

But as to skepticism about whether he can make the triangle work in a league in which no one else plays it, Jackson said: “I’m not daunted by the number of people who have commented that this way of playing is arcane, that the game has moved on. The game has moved on.”

He also believes that the game, stylistically, moves in mysterious ways.

“I think it’s still debatable about how basketball is going to be played, what’s going to win out,” he said, leaving no doubt of his disdain for the point guard dominating concept of “screen-and-roll, break down, pass, and two or three players standing in spots, not participating in the offense.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/04/sport ... .html?_r=1

[Mori Chu]

Yeah sure, Phil, good luck with that.

[ShelC]

but I know I hit him for a few shots after the first quarter where he had some good looks and he decided to swing, which is OK because it kept the ball moving.

Way to go, leader. Cavs have been talking about needing to get Love into the mix all season. How many times have they let him post up and played through him?

[carey]

Love is just a bad fit there. I think he is L.A. bound.

[ShelC]

He's going to NY. Everyone wants to play for NY.

[LazarusLong]

I'm with Carey. Love grew up in the LA area, played at UCLA. Hell, his uncle is a Beach Boy!

[Shabazz]

Love was born in LA, but is actually an Oregon guy. Grew up there. It was a big deal when he went to UCLA over playing for the Ducks.

[Cap]

Love was born in LA, but is actually an Oregon guy. Grew up there. It was a big deal when he went to UCLA over playing for the Ducks.

But he did choose LA, which is a clue that he's likely to do so again.

[carey]

Love was born in LA, but is actually an Oregon guy. Grew up there. It was a big deal when he went to UCLA over playing for the Ducks.

Yes he did, but everyone knows he is all about the West Coast. I'd bet money, any amount really, he is a Laker in 6 months. The only thing that might jam it up is Kobe. There is an outside chance he doesn't opt out, rides with LeBron another year then gets a fresh Lakers team with $70Mil in cap room in 2016.

[Shabazz]

Something's amiss in Denver.

[Gladiator]

Some weird stuff going on around the league today: Detroit went on a 25-1 run to lead by 21 at quarter time against Miami. And the Nuggets, who are being accused of actively trying to lose to get rid of their coach, trail Philly by 20 at half-time.

[Gladiator]

Something's amiss in Denver.

This is an interesting read on what's going on there

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_274 ... -be-trying

[INFORMER]

It's funny; if the players are losing on purpose, it might cause management to want to keep Shaw the rest of the season just to improve their draft pick.

[Mori Chu]

And we think OUR problems are bad. We could be so much worse. I wouldn't trade our situation for Denver's any day.

[Mori Chu]

Didn't Detroit's players stage a similar "mutiny" a few years ago against their coach, Kuester?


http://articles.philly.com/2011-02-26/s ... s-coverage

[Robot]

Love would actually be smart to come to the Suns if we made a few adjustments. It would be a good fit for him . Not sure if it's a good fit for us, he is kinda a ghost over there right now. He prob will goto Lakers if he leaves Cleveland but if the Suns didn't have such a horrible ower with a bad rep we might have a shot. I feel like this is no longer a destination in the post Colangelo world. Sarver is like a troll on Reddit but less interesting.

- R

[SDC]

Nationally televised games this week.

Monday:
Tuesday: Miami @ Detroit 7:30PM EST NBATv, Utah @ Portland 10:00PM ESTNBATv
Wednesday: Chicago @ Houston 8:00PM EST ESPN, Dallas @ Golden State 10:30PM EST ESPN
Thursday: Phoenix @ Portland 10:30PM EST TNT, L.A. Clippers @ Cleveland 8:00PM EST TNT
Friday: L.A. Clippers @ Toronto 7:00PM EST ESPN, Miami @ San Antonio 9:30PM EST ESPN
Saturday: Chicago @ New Orleans 7:00PM EST ESPN
Sunday: L.A. Clippers @ OKC 1:00PM EST ABC, L.A. Lakers @ Cleveland 3:30PM EST ABC, San Antonio @ Toronto 7:00PM EST NBATv

NBA News.
John Feinstein suggests the NBA adopt a MLB style draft: LINK
How Korver perfects his jumper: LINK
Silver wants to increase All-Star roster size: LINK
Architect behind Hawks a mystery man: LINKS
Strong rumors Thibs will leave the Bulls at the end of the year: LINK
Robin Lopez is undefeated versus mascots: LINK

here's how i would fix the draft PLUS the playoff system:

-the bottom 16 teams in the league all get equal shot at 1st - 2nd -3rd pick of the draft.

if we apply that to the current nba standings in 2015, the teams that would qualify are

NY, PHI, ORL, IND, BOS, DET, BROOKLYN, MINNY, LAL, UTAH, SAC, DEN, MIA, CHA, OKC, NOH

- to prevent the 6th seed of both EAST and WEST form tanking, i'd make the 1st vs 8th and the 2nd vs 7th a best of 6 series, with the 1st seed and 2nd seed of each conf only needing to win three times, while the 7th and 8th seed FOUR times. The format for the top seed is HOME-HOME-AWAY-AWAY-HOME-HOME. the top seed gets four home games and the 7th/8th seed only gets two home games.

[Indy]

He prob will goto Lakers if he leaves Cleveland but if the Suns didn't have such a horrible ower with a bad rep we might have a shot. I feel like this is no longer a destination in the post Colangelo world. Sarver is like a troll on Reddit but less interesting.

I really don't get that feeling anymore.