We Wouldn't Have Won These Last Two Games Last Year.

We had a bunch of kids and less veterans and so winning more close games is kind of expected but as said before the real test is how to close out the 30 games at the end of the season

 

Has Sports media always been kinda bias against us?

 

Yes, even when we won our two championships we were picked to lose almost every playoff series we played in.

Hakeem set the bar pretty high, Dwight and Harden have very large shoes to fill.

 

What happened?

 

Elite might be a wee bit hyperbolic, but I will agree they are very consistent on the defensive end when it comes to playing Dwight. He never seems to be able to get much going offensively against this trio (although when the refs FINALLY started calling fouls on them in favor of DH he did what he does best and sucked a phat one at the FT line so...). They certainly seemed like they blocked virtually every shot that anyone put up in the paint tonight. I don't think I have ever seen Howard have that many shots blocked in a single game.

 

When will people understand? The NBA will never again allow a physically dominant center to exist ever again after what Shaq did to the NBA.

The NBA made new rules to specifically screw the dominant center. They reversed the zone defense rule, point one. Zone defense use to be illegal, now its not. They then instituted the stupid 3 second rules on offensive and defensive possession. Centers can no longer clog the paint anymore or dominate ball possession. The NBA and Mr. Fuknugget Stern made it abruptly clear that they do not want to see another dominant center in this league, ever again. They slanted the rules to favor wing players such as Kobe and Lebron James, because they have been desperately trying to create the next Jordan/Magic/Bird ever since those guys left the league.

Traveling and palming is no longer called, even though it happens about 100x a game now. Defensive wing players can no longer use hand touching to stop opposing wing progress like they could 15 years ago. You name it, the NBA has done it. All in the name of progress, right?

 

Zone defense in the NBA is not the same as college, because NBA has the defensive, 3 second rule, too.

The offensive three second rule has always been a rule at all levels of basketball. Offensive players have never been allowed to camp out in the lane. You're talking about the 3 second rule for defensive players. This is why zone defense in NBA is different than the NCAA. You can't camp out in the lane unless you are guarding someone. This was a compromise to removing illegal zone. Effectively, there is still an illegal zone area within the lane. You must be guarding your own man, or double teaming someone *with the ball*.

And they didn't remove illegal zone because of Shaq (double teaming is always allowed). They removed it because of the wing attacks like AI and Steve Francis exploiting it, where it was nearly impossible to double team a ISO clear out.

 

I thought you could double team off the ball, as long as you are close enough to the man being double teamed.

 

Whoopdeedoo. Rockets barely beat a team with Reggie Jackson as its best player

 

happens all the time in an 82 game season bro'

 

last year the garbage sixers beat playoff teams:
Miami (2 times)
Houston
Portland
Charlotte
Nets

its happens

 

Yes, you're right. You can double team off ball when in the lane. Thanks for the correction, WinkFan.

In practice, we rarely see it since you have to come all the way through the lane when the bigs get their normal spots, and that breaks down the weakside defense.

My point is in college you just camp in the lane with zones, everything is allowed. Zones in college have significant more freedom than NBA.

Off ball doubling down low (which is not playing zone) is risky business and rarely done. Most teams just wait for the pass.

 

My understanding (although not 100% sure) is that you have to do a HARD double. Meaning, you cannot just pretend to do it then go back to your man.

 

I thought teams sort of soft-doubled Yao off ball quite frequently. People say that Yao could be easily neutralized by fronting, which I think is only partially right. Teams fronted him AND put a weak side help on the other side of the lane to prevent the lop.

 

Winning with 69 points only happened once before.

We are 9-1, but tonight is really the real first test for this team where we play a good opponent on the road wear neither team is missing their stars.

So far, our one loss and our wins haven't really said much about us. I thought it did from the margin of victory but the last two games have not been impressive.

 

I love Morey thinks it's all about the outcomes and percentages. Does he ever wonder why our offense struggles?

 

Morey just looks at stats and sits comfortably back. He knows there will be ups and downs throughout the season, but is confident with the personnel and the offensive and defensive systems he has had installed.

 

Yes, we would. Uphappiest 9-1 record ever.

 

I think I'm derailing the thread. My intention was merely to comment about how the Defensive 3 Second rule appeared misunderstood by the person to whom I was responding.

People mention zones a lot, as if they are like college. College doesn't have the defensive 3 sec rule, which prevents many of the zones used to stop big men (by camping in the lane on defense)

 

This is wrong.