New Album & The Beginning of Basketball Season

[jadis]

I really hate the Rockets but they were truly robbed.........

NBA officially denies Rockets' protest

Official release

NEW YORK – The NBA announced today that Commissioner Adam Silver has denied the Houston Rockets protest of their 135-133 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 3, 2019, following receipt by the league office of submissions from both teams and the completion of its investigation.
In the protest, the Rockets argued that the officials misapplied the playing rules by failing to grant a Coach’s Challenge in connection with James Harden’s fourth quarter dunk, and that this error had a clear impact on the outcome of the game by depriving the team of two points. While agreeing that the referees misapplied the rules, Commissioner Silver determined that the Rockets had sufficient time to overcome the error during the remainder of the fourth quarter and two subsequent overtime periods and thus the extraordinary remedy of granting a game protest was not warranted.

In addition, the league announced today that it has disciplined all three referees from the game for misapplying the Coach’s Challenge rule.
With 7:50 remaining in the fourth quarter and the score 102-89 in favor of Houston, Harden stole the ball and converted an uncontested dunk. The ball was dunked with such force that, as it cleared the net, the ball was propelled around the basket and upward, creating an initial appearance that it was not a successful field goal. Houston then called a timeout, and the officiating crew conferenced to discuss the play.
After deliberation, the crew informed the Houston coaching staff that a basket interference violation had been called on Harden, and Houston asked for a Coach’s Challenge. This request was denied by the officials because more than 30 seconds had elapsed from the start of the timeout. But the 30-second time limit for Coach’s Challenges only applies when the challenge arises during a mandatory timeout or a timeout called by the opposing team. Because Houston called the timeout in this case, it was entitled to challenge the basket interference call upon being informed of it by the game officials.

If the Coach’s Challenge requested by Houston had been properly granted, instant replay would have shown that Harden’s dunk was a successful field goal.

As a follow-up to the NBA’s investigation of this matter, the NBA will work with the Competition Committee to develop additional procedures to help prevent the situation with Harden’s made basket from occurring again.

Basket interference by Harden? The guy must have some magical force to have this called a BI.

 

[jadis]

Good to see Hayward back for the C's after missing 4 weeks. The guy loves to play and just this season I see his excellent play-making skills.

 

[steve williams]

Well the chest pumping has begun...."who is the better team, Lakers or Bucks" (notice they aint talking Clippers because they're 4 games back as a result of Load Management )

Lakers have a plan B, Bucks don't........it's interesting because I have always said that Harden isn't enough to win the Rockets a championship as the have no plan B. Could this be the same with Giannis and the Bucks'

Best read of the day was this...

https://www.nba.com/video/2019/12/09/20191209-gametime-bucks-or-lakers?collection=news

 

[steve williams]

Having just said the above, I just read this........

NBA Power Rankings Week 8: Lakers have most wins, but Bucks' blowouts keep them No. 1

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...k-8-lakers-most-wins-bucks-blowouts-keep-no-1

 

[jadis]

Having just said the above, I just read this........

NBA Power Rankings Week 8: Lakers have most wins, but Bucks' blowouts keep them No. 1

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...k-8-lakers-most-wins-bucks-blowouts-keep-no-1

Well, Steve, I'm a bit surprised the Celtics were ranked 3rd. And now that Hayward is back, and hopefully no more injuries, C's will have 4 players who could do 15-20 points a game. Their weakness is still at the PF spot, where height+speed and a 2 way player is needed. Ainge has until Feb. next year to fix this. Btw, I am beginning to get worried about Smart's chest, abdomen and oblique areas if he continues to be a human shock absorber of charging fouls.

 

[WLVCA]

Not really. That's standard protocol to award the player his ring when he plays his former team on their home court

I'll revise my post then....

In an ordinary and common way, the Raptors will present Kawai Leonard a championship ring after he left Toronto high and dry. No hard feelings as the best player on a championship team frequently leaves after winning the title. No surprise there.

 

[steve williams]

My take on the Clipps and Kawhi is that they feel that giving him 20% of the scheduled games off they still have a great enough team to win without him during the regular schedule such that when the playoffs begin he will be in great shape to take them the rest of the way. I hope that doesn't backfire on them. I also think that Kawhi has a shrewd and sharp agent who can negotiate a mega contract as he did and have a clause that he sits out 20% of the games

Watching 35 yo LeBron doing what he does every night I can't imagine he'll have much left in him for the playoffs which leaves my biggest fear that AD will jump in the off season if the Lakers don't perform as AD won't want to rely on a 36 yo player next year to try one more time

 

[WLVCA]

I'm not too crazy about Kawhi sitting out so many games but if it leads to a champiosnship all is forgiven.

As a Clipper fan I appreciate Paul George more than Kawhi at this point.

Regarding Lebron, it does seem like he's going all out early in the season. The guy has proven to have super human stamina in the past so maybe he can pull it off.

If LeBron wins a championship in LA I am certain Laker fans will overlook his faults and cheer him on. I like AD better than Lebron at this point though.

Sometimes it pays to be the second banana. Too easy to shoot at the top dog.

 

[steve williams]

As a Clipper fan I appreciate Paul George more than Kawhi at this point.

. I like AD better than Lebron at this point though.

I agree on both points. PG for me is the one to watch as is AD

I am feeling (just a little bit) that Kawhi has an ego that needs to be stroked and in his mind he is the league's head honcho. To se him in civvies on the sidelines laughing and joking about everything except what is going on on the court kind of bothers me as he is laughing all the way to the bank. In spite of that if the Clipps plan work, Doc and Ballmer will be smiling all the way into next season

 

[WLVCA]

I agree on both points. PG for me is the one to watch as is AD

I am feeling (just a little bit) that Kawhi has an ego that needs to be stroked and in his mind he is the league's head honcho. To se him in civvies on the sidelines laughing and joking about everything except what is going on on the court kind of bothers me as he is laughing all the way to the bank. In spite of that if the Clipps plan work, Doc and Ballmer will be smiling all the way into next season

No doubt that Kawhi's quiet demeanor does NOT reflect the size of his ego. He walked out on what was considered the best organization in basketball, the Spurs. That takes a massive ego and a very large set of balls.

 

[steve williams]

No doubt that Kawhi's quiet demeanor does NOT reflect the size of his ego. He walked out on what was considered the best organization in basketball, the Spurs. That takes a massive ego and a very large set of balls.

I totally agree

He marches to the beat of a different drum and I'm not so sure how bright he really is and he seems motivated merely by his athletic prowess

 

[WLVCA]

Kawai got away with it because he won the championship in Toronto. If he doesn't win one for the Clippers he could wear out his welcome.

At first I was concerned he only signed for 2 years.....that could be a blessing in disguise if things don't go the right way.

 

[steve williams]

I feel the same. Perhaps he wants to win rings with many different teams

 

[steve williams]

t howLooking at the standings in the West, the Mavs are now in 3rd place

Having watched them decimate the Lakers as well as other top teams I feel the Mavs can finish 2nd and be spoilers for whoever might think they will finish first. I was staggered by how good Doncic is and Porzingis

 

[jadis]

My take on the Clipps and Kawhi is that they feel that giving him 20% of the scheduled games off they still have a great enough team to win without him during the regular schedule such that when the playoffs begin he will be in great shape to take them the rest of the way. I hope that doesn't backfire on them. I also think that Kawhi has a shrewd and sharp agent who can negotiate a mega contract as he did and have a clause that he sits out 20% of the games

Watching 35 yo LeBron doing what he does every night I can't imagine he'll have much left in him for the playoffs which leaves my biggest fear that AD will jump in the off season if the Lakers don't perform as AD won't want to rely on a 36 yo player next year to try one more time

+1 on that Steve.

And I cannot erase the fact that Jerry West sits on top of all basketball operations of the Clippers as a 'consultant' or whatever term they use. And much like what happened to his role with the Warriors, the Clippers are banking on the same thing to happen with them, which is to land a title or titles.

As for LeBron, I can sense he is playing to prove the media wrong from last year's early Lakers exit. As Christine Leahy's dad said in the interview with Cowherd, 'it's all about him'. He has started this media blitz even before the season started - training with Wade, getting to be better than before, etc. Gotta hand one thing to him, he is the king of the media blitz, and what better city to be in for such purpose. Well right now, the Western teams are falling, Warriors, Blazers, Rockets, Spurs, and even the Nuggets suddenly are losing games. So LeBron and his cohort will have an easy time, and into the showdown and escape from LA battle with the Clippers.

 

[steve williams]

As for LeBron, I can sense he is playing to prove the media wrong from last year's early Lakers exit

I completely agree Phil

Next LA showdown is Christmas day

 

[christoph]

I feel the same. Perhaps he wants to win rings with many different teams

A new cathegory where the self declared travelling King could be high up

 

[steve williams]

I like this idea about Jason Kidd........

Would hiring Kidd help the Knicks land Giannis?

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=28266748

 

[jadis]

I like this idea about Jason Kidd........

Would hiring Kidd help the Knicks land Giannis?

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=28266748

But Kidd is LeBron's insurance policy.

 

[steve williams]

But Kidd is LeBron's insurance policy.

Then maybe a package deal and LeBron to the Kncks