Around the League: Week 10 12/29-1/4

[carey]

Nationally televised games this week.

This is a really weird week because of the holidays and I guess, football, there are only a few nationally televised games and they are all on NBATv.

Monday: Milwaukee @ Charlotte 7:00 EST NBATv
Tuesday: Cleveland @ Atlanta 7:30 EST
Wednesday: None.
Thursday: None.
Friday: Dallas @ Boston 7:30 EST ESPN
Saturday: None.
Sunday: None.

NBA News.

The Pistons drubbed the Cavs by 23, but they were missing Irving. Still, that's pretty gnarly.

This is hilarious, how long till Waiters is traded you think? LINK

Tobias Harris told LeBron to stop flopping so the King destroyed him: LINK

Shabazz Muhammad is a thing? Yes it is. LINK

If you watch the video he's posting up a lot and working on the block against other SFs. Kind of like Marcus, no?

[youtube][/youtube]

His unusual game has been remarkably effective, as Muhammad currently sits 10th in points per 36 minutes, comfortably ensconced between Carmelo Anthony and Klay Thompson. He's carrying a 26% usage rate while posting an efg% well above league average.

File under: Weird? The Bucks drafted Parker based in part on the recommendation of a "face reader." LINK!

Divide exists between Blatt and Cavs: LINK (That didn't take long, I knew he'd get less rope than Spoelstra did when he took over the Heat, but that was fast.)

[INFORMER]

If you watch the video he's posting up a lot and working on the block against other SFs. Kind of like Marcus, no?

Shabazz Muhammad > Marcus Morris

[INFORMER]

Total badass quote by LeBron: "I was actually in chill mode tonight but chill mode was deactivated after that."

Yeah, his team is underachieving, he's covertly pointing the finger at his coach, but he's going to play a game in "chill mode." Yeah, real bad*ss, King.

I love that LeBron destroying someone is finishing with 29 points. When Kobe or MJ were destroying people, it was to the tune of 40-50 points.

[Mori Chu]

I have always enjoyed it when Lebron failed or looked stupid, and that quote is yet another small example.

[Shabazz]

If you watch the video he's posting up a lot and working on the block against other SFs. Kind of like Marcus, no?

Shabazz Muhammad > Marcus Morris

The Dieng+Shabazz for Trey Burke trade was a pillaging.

[carey]

If you watch the video he's posting up a lot and working on the block against other SFs. Kind of like Marcus, no?

Shabazz Muhammad > Marcus Morris

Well duh, dude.

[INFORMER]

If you watch the video he's posting up a lot and working on the block against other SFs. Kind of like Marcus, no?

Shabazz Muhammad > Marcus Morris

The Dieng+Shabazz for Trey Burke trade was a pillaging.

Indeed.

GMs are going to start to get savvy that they should be very wary of these diminutive scoring, point guards coming out of college. With the exception of Isaiah Thomas, many of them can't hit shots consistently at the NBA level. Burke's shooting has been atrocious. And Kemba Walker isn't even shooting 40% from the field (that contract extension looked bad the moment it was signed).

[SDC]

if the suns lose gerald green, a good affordable replacement for him is nick young.

[INFORMER]

Gross.

[INFORMER]

Corey Brewer has been tremendous so far for the Rockets; conversely, Josh Smith looks like garbage.

[INFORMER]

Things around the league appear to be normalizing. After a torrid start, there are now only 4 teams in the West playing .700 ball or better, a number the Eastern Conference is now matching.

The Suns, current owners of the 8th seed, are currently on pace to win 46 games.

[LazarusLong]

Corey Brewer has been tremendous so far for the Rockets; conversely, Josh Smith looks like garbage.

I thought the trade for Brewer was a good move for them.

They didn't need Smith, though, as the Rockets have plenty of big talent up front with Dorsey and Montiejunas, plus Terrence Jones, who is injured. And they also have Papanikolau, who can see some time at 4. And there's Capela, who has seen little time.

Maybe the Rockets got Smith to keep him away from other teams who needed him more ...

[Mori Chu]

GMs are going to start to get savvy that they should be very wary of these diminutive scoring, point guards coming out of college. With the exception of Isaiah Thomas, many of them can't hit shots consistently at the NBA level. Burke's shooting has been atrocious. And Kemba Walker isn't even shooting 40% from the field (that contract extension looked bad the moment it was signed).

Just in general I hate picking up players who can't shoot, especially at the 1-3 positions. There's just no excuse for it any more. We know so much about shooting form, about training and fitness, there are so many places and opportunities to work on one's game in good facilities, ... Players should come into the NBA knowing how to shoot. And signing a PG, SG, SF who can't shoot is just going to give you pain later. Even PFs and Cs are being expected to hit shots quite a lot nowadays. If you look at almost all of the contending teams, you'll find that they have shooting at 4 or 5 of their starting positions. (That, and a willingness to share the damn ball.)

[TOO]

Gross.

Well said.

[carey]

Trivia time, and don't cheat by googling ya bastards!

Everyone knows Kyle Korver is an amazing 3 point shooter, early this month he was at 57%!? Right now he's normalized a bit and is leading the league at 51.5%.... which is still ridonkulous. (Note: Tony Parker is actually hitting 62% of his 3's but has only shot 29 of them so isn't eligible at this time.)

Who... is number 2?

[TOO]

Uhhhh... Anthony Tolliver?

[Cap]

Luke Babbitt, of tonight's opponent (the Pelicans), is 32-64 (.500). Is that good enough for #2?

[Mori Chu]

Kendrick Perkins is my guess.

[carey]

It's Rasual Butler!

[Mori Chu]

Hey are you guys following this rumor/story? People on NBA Reddit are saying that at the end of the Cavs/Heat game on Christmas day, Lebron hugged Wade and said something like, "If we don't get better this year, let's join up again" etc. Super juicy rumor and fun to listen to the audio and try to discern what he said. Check it out: