New Album & The Beginning of Basketball Season

[Steve Williams]

I watched the Lakers play (and beat) the Magic last night and I have to say that the Lakers looked like a half decent team without Kobe. Julius Randle and and Russell looked terrific. Going forward they seem to have the nidus of a good team

 

[WLVCA]

I watched the Lakers play (and beat) the Magic last night and I have to say that the Lakers looked like a half decent team without Kobe. Julius Randle and and Russell looked terrific. Going forward they seem to have the nidus of a good team

The NBA is better when the historically great franchises do well. Celtics are headed in the right direction and the Lakers do have outstanding young talent.

In other new, The Clippers visit OKC tonight to take on the Thunder. Clippers won the last game these two teams played so the Thender will be motivated to protect their home court. Should be a good game.

 

[WLVCA]

Thunder win, blowing it open in the 4th.

 

[jadis]

The NBA is better when the historically great franchises do well. Celtics are headed in the right direction and the Lakers do have outstanding young talent.

There's nothing quite like a Celtics Lakers title game. Much like Yankees Dodgers perhaps. Lakers are closing in on the total banners, but we C's hold a big edge in head to head combat.

 

[WLVCA]

Switching to baseball for a moment, my wife is a devoted, lifelong Chicago Cubs fan. Yesterday we drove up to Mesa, AZ to watch one of their spring training games at their Sloan Park stadium. Very nice ball park that opened last year and the weather was perfect - sunny and 77 degrees.

Cubs are actually favored to win the World Series this year and I hope they reward their many long suffering fans.

I do have to say that I liked spring training in the old days better - more relaxed, more casual and easier on the wallet . I can remember paying just a couple dollars to go to games in the early 80's. Not any more. Some tickets are over $60 now - for a practice game! With some players from the minors on the field!

The players would talk to you and sign autographs back then, too. Times have changed !!

We also went to the Tempe outpost of Portillo's, a Windy City institution, for Chicago style hot dogs before the game. That was a treat.

 

[rblnr]

I don't begrudge Kobe for hanging around. I don't think its money, rather he just loves the game and competition -- tough to walk away from that. I'm sure he had more money than he knew what to do with some years ago. He's still an effective player, and as for a shadow of himself, sure, but can anyone imagine 18 years of NBA pounding? He's held up remarkably well.

Let's see how the Lakers build around Randle and Russell. Haven't seen them play much this yr. but will make a point to do so as I want to see how the feel for the game shown by Russell in college has translated. Was a Randle fan too at UK.

And BTW (again), the more I watch, the more I think the 3 point line needs to be moved. Dumbs down the game and devalues the multitude of skills that goes into the mid-range game, great drives, etc. And should be a reward for great, not merely good shooters.

 

[Steve Williams]

I watched the Spurs Thunder game tonight and the Spurs also win again at home and have been undefeated at home since March 15/2015. They are a polished and well coached team. The Warriors might not escape so easily this year if they face the Spurs in the Conference Finals

 

[WLVCA]

I watched the Spurs Thunder game tonight and the Spurs also win again at home and have been undefeated at home since March 15/2015. They are a polished and well coached team. The Warriors might not escape so easily this year if they face the Spurs in the Conference Finals

Golden State has soaked up most of the headlines this year with their incredible 59 - 6 record.

The Spurs must have the least appreciated outstanding performance in the history of the NBA @ 56 - 10.

The Clippers play the Cavaliers today and the game is on ABC at 3:30 ET.

Looks like Blake Griffin may be out until the end of March. Doesn't give him much time to get playoff ready.

 

[Steve Williams]

Injury ends ref Crawford's farewell season early

Love him or hate him IMO he's one of the most colorful refs in the game today. You don't mess with him as a player or coach

http://www.nba.com/2016/news/featur...due-to-knee-injury/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpts

 

[WLVCA]

Cavs are creaming the Clips in LA today. Cleveland has the hot hand - can't seem to miss a shot.

On the other hand, the Clips are so cold the temp doesn't even register.

Missed the first half because I forgot we are now on LA time since CA went off Daylight Savings. Worked out well, less torture for me.

Went to see Hail, Caesar today. Not the best Cohen Brothers movie but it was an entertaining comedic romp thru Hollywood in the early '50's.

 

[Steve Williams]

Unbelievable game and what a finish at Staples Center as Lakers rally from a 16 point deficit to take a 5 point lead only to lose it with a 3 point shot by Calderon to win the game 90-87

 

[Steve Williams]

Epic game tonight in San Antonio vs the Warriors with the Spurs 43 home game unbeaten streak on the line. Here is an interesting article...


By Brian Martin

In the final game before their historic showdown with the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, the San Antonio Spurs made some history of their own on Thursday night.

The Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers 118-110 to improve to 34-0 at home on the season, extending their regular season home winning streak to 43 games (the third longest streak all-time). That home streak will be put to the ultimate test in two days. But before we look ahead let's appreciate what the Spurs just accomplished.

With Thursday's win over Portland, the Spurs now lead the all-time series with the Blazers 80-79, giving them a winning all-time record over EVERY NBA team.

Let that sink in for a moment. The Spurs have been in the NBA since 1976; that's 40 years of basketball and no active team has a winning record against the Spurs. That's incredible.

Check out the numbers below.

San Antonio's All-Time Record vs. All Teams
OPPONENT ALL-TIME RECORD WIN PCT THIS SEASON
ATLANTA HAWKS 51-36 0.586 2-0
BOSTON CELTICS 49-38 0.563 2-0
BROOKLYN NETS 66-21 0.759 2-0
CHARLOTTE HORNETS 37-14 0.725 1-0
CHICAGO BULLS 51-32 0.614 1-1
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 58-31 0.652 1-1
DALLAS MAVERICKS 101-66 0.605 3-0
DENVER NUGGETS 111-64 0.634 3-0
DETROIT PISTONS 53-33 0.616 2-0
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 103-54 0.656 0-1
HOUSTON ROCKETS 103-82 0.557 3-1
INDIANA PACERS 51-36 0.586 1-1
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 123-36 0.774 2-1
LOS ANGELES LAKERS 83-77 0.519 4-0
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 61-20 0.753 2-0
MIAMI HEAT 38-18 0.679 1-0
MILWAUKEE BUCKS 47-36 0.566 2-0
MINNESOTA WOLVES 80-28 0.741 3-0
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS 38-13 0.745 2-1
NEW YORK KNICKS 49-38 0.563 2-0
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 87-71 0.551 1-1
ORLANDO MAGIC 40-15 0.727 2-0
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 55-34 0.618 2-0
PHOENIX SUNS 87-75 0.537 4-0
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS 80-79 0.503 3-0
SACRAMENTO KINGS 112-55 0.671 3-0
TORONTO RAPTORS 28-11 0.718 0-1
UTAH JAZZ 100-76 0.568 3-0
WASHINGTON WIZARDS 55-32 0.632 1-1
The Spurs have been the model of consistency over the past two decades. They have the longest active streak of playoff appearance with 19 straight (starting in 1997-98); they have won at least 50 games in 17 straight seasons (starting in 1999-2000); they have won five NBA championships and made six Finals appearances (starting in 1998-99).

And the Spurs show no signs of slowing down. With Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker nearing the end of their respective careers, the Spurs are now centered around Kawhi Leonard and newcomer LaMarcus Aldridge, who had a team-high 22 points against his former team on Thursday.

The crazy thing about this year's Spurs is despite owning a 58-10 record (a mark matched by only five teams in league history through 68 games), an undefeated record at home and an NBA-best win margin of 12.3, they are somehow still under the radar as the spotlight has shined on the 61-6 Golden State Warriors all season long.

On Saturday, the Warriors and that spotlight head to AT&T Center, where the teams will square off for the second time this season. The Warriors (1-0) are one of two teams (Toronto being the other) to own a winning record over San Antonio this season.

Of course, the Spurs own the all-time winning record over the Warriors ... as they do with EVERY team in the league.

 

[WLVCA]

Spurs vs Warriors - I will be watching this evening.....unless I get instruction otherwise from my wife.

 

[jadis]

what a game! close all throughout. spurs defense frustrating the Warriors shooters.

 

[Steve Williams]

Fabulous game. Spurs prevail at the end (1/11 from behind the arc). Steph was off all night. Spurs Dee was superb

 

[WLVCA]

Excellent defense by the Spurs. Finally, Curry was shut down.

The Lamarcus Alrdridge signing paid off for the Spurs as he had 26 points and 13 rebounds.

Tim Duncan only played 8 minutes in the game.

...and the Clippers lost to Memphis. Clippers looked worn down.

 

[Steve Williams]

Good game in New Orleans where the Clippers down by 14 in the 4th erase 13 of those points only to lose 109-105

Tough loss with the Pelicans playing their second string due to injuries

 

[WLVCA]

I was watching the game.

That's two pathetic performances in a row for the Clippers. Both losses were against opponents decimated by injuries.

Not looking good in Clipper Nation.

 

[WLVCA]

Clippers vs Warriors tonight in Oakland - game on ESPN.

I am rooting for the Clippers but not hopeful given their recent performance.

 

[jadis]

Clippers vs Warriors tonight in Oakland - game on ESPN.

I am rooting for the Clippers but not hopeful given their recent performance.

12 games left for GS and to break the all time record, they can only lose 2 of those 12 to end with 9 losses and break the Bulls' record. And, 2 of those remaining games, I read, will be against the Spurs.