Around the League: Week 16 2/6 - 2/12

[Mori Chu]

Another busy week in the NBA.

- Melo/Knicks drama is still sizzling. The latest:
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/1862 ... ng-my-will
https://sports.yahoo.com/m/1e1694b8-7c2 ... about.html

- Paul Pierce plays his last game in Boston, this time as an aged LA Clipper. They even let him shoot an open 3, which he made, and the crowd went absolutely bonkers (2nd link):
https://sports.yahoo.com/news/celtics-g ... --nba.html


- Heat release Derrick Williams. Should the Suns sign the local college star to a 10-day?
https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/828644541037178884 - Steph Curry says he now plans to play in the next basketball World Cup and 2020 Olympics:
http://www.fiba.com/basketballworldcup/ ... ins-strong

- An interesting thread on Reddit /r/nba. They discuss, is Ty Lue a good NBA coach? (I'd vote "nah.")


- Bleacher Report lists their All - "You should still be in school" team (one -former- Sun is on there):


DIS · CUSS

[Mori Chu]

Weekly power rankings:

CBS SportsLine (Suns at #27): http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-p ... -new-no-1/

ESPN (Suns at #29): http://www.nba.com/2016-17-power-rankings-week-16

[Cap]

Wow, that stat about the Suns having only two "non-clutch" wins all season is remarkable.

[Indy]

Wow, that stat about the Suns having only two "non-clutch" wins all season is remarkable.

Even when we did have a lead, we lost it in the last few minutes. We are the proverbial "they'll let you back in no matter how far ahead they are" team. I would normally chalk that up to having such a young team. But we play our vets a LOT, and it doesn't help. We need to give it up and turn the kids loose, and let them take their lumps. Playing the vets isn't helping us not be a young/dumb team.

[Superbone]

Wow, that stat about the Suns having only two "non-clutch" wins all season is remarkable.

It is. It does feel like we're always playing from behind though. Probably because we are. This team can't hold a lead to save their lives.

[Superbone]

Wow, that stat about the Suns having only two "non-clutch" wins all season is remarkable.

Even when we did have a lead, we lost it in the last few minutes. We are the proverbial "they'll let you back in no matter how far ahead they are" team. I would normally chalk that up to having such a young team. But we play our vets a LOT, and it doesn't help. We need to give it up and turn the kids loose, and let them take their lumps. Playing the vets isn't helping us not be a young/dumb team.

It's the mixture of vets and young 'uns that's doing it. Either way, it's a learning experience for them. Yeah, if you want the most ping pong balls, dump the veterans. But there is something to be said from learning from experience and seeing it on the court along side you.

[carey]

https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/828729987242946560

[carey]

https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/828725132617195521

[In2ition]

Is NO looking to move AD to PF?

[Sunsfan4life]

Not sure of the protection (I would say definitely lottery for nxt two years), but Philly getting a 1st for okafor when teams know they are desperately trying to trade him would be a nice get for Bryan. Heard he's trying to get Jrue holiday in the deal as well. I'm not an okafor fan btw, he is such a liability on D..

[Sunsfan4life]

I live in Philly so I've seen it first hand. He's become a punching bag of sorts around here

[carey]

I don't think there's any way Pelicans should get away with full lotto protection if they dump Ajinca or Asik in the deal to get Okafor.

[Split T]

Davis can cover up a lot of Okafors defensive issues. Not sure how it will work out, but new Orleans needs to do something. It seems to make sense in theory, we'll see how it works on the court

[Gladiator]

https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/828771623800954880 https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/828772112072482816

[Mori Chu]

Okafor seems to me like another Al Jefferson, an offense-only paint-planted big man. Such guys sometimes have value, but in today's NBA it seems like they are the odd men out in most of the uptempo offenses. And guys who can't defend are always a liability to some degree. Not a big Okafor fan except in the vague sense that he's an "asset."

[Gladiator]

Dragic is having himself a game against the T-Wolves. He has 21 points at 1/2 time (8/9FG, 5/5 3pts) and Miami's put up 71(!) in the half

[Gladiator]

Crazy finish to regulation in the Cavs/Wizards game. Lebron blatantly travelled on a drive to the hoop (no call of course) but somehow blew the open layup. But then with 0.3 on the clock he hit a ridiculous fadeaway 3-pointed to send the game into OT. It's been a high quality entertaining game

[Gladiator]

Lebron then fouls out early in OT. Crazy stuff

[Indy]

I am still completely amazed that Westbrook is averaging a triple double half-way through the season, while also keeping OKC in the playoff hunt without anyone else on his team.

[carey]

Is NO looking to move AD to PF?

They've been trying to keep him at PF. They gave Asik a fairly big deal and even signed Ajinca to make sure he doesn't have to play C. Gentry is starting him with Jones and Hill in the front court right now though so he's playing C anyway.