Boston Sports Chat

[MeatMan]

They better make NBA more exciting or else.

Celtics Vs Lakers, Obviously!. Nuggets Vs Heat, a ratings disaster!. Come ooooooon, sweet baby Jeezus!.

[Nrlmus]

According to analytics, teams that are good at perimeter shooting win more games compared to teams of a more traditional style of play. All players have to do is hit a third of their 3's to make the shot as viable as a 2-point FG made at a rate of 50 percent. The league average for 3's is about 35 percent, meaning that the added benefit of the extra point outweighs the drop off in the percentage that are made. This is the reason that the mid-range game has been in decline as well. 3's aside, there has been a tendency to go for layups, dunks, turnarounds, or trying to get a foul call so they can go to the free throw line. All of those are high percentage shots. Driving to the basket to get a layup counts the same as a 20 foot jumper, but the layup is made at a much higher percentage. Stepping back a few feet and shooting the 3 just makes more sense.

I agree that the game isn't as exciting as it was in previous decades, but coaches and GMs care more about winning than being exciting.

Who cares about what GMs or coaches think. The league cares about its Nielsen ratings than anything else. Owners are not out there for charitable purposes only. The sports are already suffering due to excessive politicization since. They better make NBA more exciting or else.

[Von1995]

Am I the only one watching the NBA that thinks that 3-point line should be pushed out some? I think way too many players are getting way too good with a 3, and would rather shoot a 3 than go to the basket. If I wanted to see a shooting contest I'd watch biathlon or something.

I also feel that raising the basket a bit might not hurt either. But that's secondary. That 3-point line is way too close to the basket for modern game imho.

According to analytics, teams that are good at perimeter shooting win more games compared to teams of a more traditional style of play. All players have to do is hit a third of their 3's to make the shot as viable as a 2-point FG made at a rate of 50 percent. The league average for 3's is about 35 percent, meaning that the added benefit of the extra point outweighs the drop off in the percentage that are made. This is the reason that the mid-range game has been in decline as well. 3's aside, there has been a tendency to go for layups, dunks, turnarounds, or trying to get a foul call so they can go to the free throw line. All of those are high percentage shots. Driving to the basket to get a layup counts the same as a 20 foot jumper, but the layup is made at a much higher percentage. Stepping back a few feet and shooting the 3 just makes more sense.

I agree that the game isn't as exciting as it was in previous decades, but coaches and GMs care more about winning than being exciting.

[Nrlmus]

Teddy over Cam, that's nonsense! Just cause someone has ego and show it does not mean they canot play. Let Cam Newton be Cam Newton. He is not Danger Russ, he is not Brady, he is Cam Newton. I think he played pretty well and if he can continue delivering, that's all that matters.

Oh Cam played well alright but playing like he's playing he won't be playing for long and we sure don't want Hoyer taking Cam's place, don't we now.

[Jaristas]

Great game but I still so much wished they had Cam and we had Russell. So much more mind so much less less flamboyance. The only time Cam slid legs first it felt so unnatural for him. The guy can't last with his heroics (RGIII hello! I think Teddy Bridgewater would've shined under Belichick. You have to control Cam and force him to go against his natural tendencies which is always a tall order with anybody, let alone with someone with overly healthy ego and suspect emotional equilibrium. Teddy with his calm more calculating demeanor would've fit right in here.

Also didn't understand the last play. Even Russell in his post-game interview said that "we knew it was going to be Cam". I know it's Monday morning QBing but I still think they should've passed.

Harry's got to go! Meyers is ok as the 3rd (4th, 5th?) option but Harry is totally useless if not an outright liability. You can't expect Edelman and Izzo (what?) and maybe James White to be Cam's only options. Edelman as the best deep threat that we have? Come on!

Teddy over Cam, that's nonsense! Just cause someone has ego and show it does not mean they canot play. Let Cam Newton be Cam Newton. He is not Danger Russ, he is not Brady, he is Cam Newton. I think he played pretty well and if he can continue delivering, that's all that matters.

[Sounds]

Great game but I still so much wished they had Cam and we had Russell. So much more mind so much less less flamboyance. The only time Cam slid legs first it felt so unnatural for him. The guy can't last with his heroics (RGIII hello! I think Teddy Bridgewater would've shined under Belichick. You have to control Cam and force him to go against his natural tendencies which is always a tall order with anybody, let alone with someone with overly healthy ego and suspect emotional equilibrium. Teddy with his calm more calculating demeanor would've fit right in here.

Also didn't understand the last play. Even Russell in his post-game interview said that "we knew it was going to be Cam". I know it's Monday morning QBing but I still think they should've passed.

Harry's got to go! Meyers is ok as the 3rd (4th, 5th?) option but Harry is totally useless if not an outright liability. You can't expect Edelman and Izzo (what?) and maybe James White to be Cam's only options. Edelman as the best deep threat that we have? Come on!

Agree about the last play. Was just a straight run. Do some misdirection. Even fake the run and pass. But yeah, they were expecting Cam to take it and it showed.

Other than the last play, the final drive impressed me. Shows we can still get down the field in crunch time.

Hopefully things will come more together in time as well. Edelman let a game winning TD throw go through his hands. No preseason games and not enough practice reps in a messed up off season. At least they will be competitive this year. Not like they were blown out by Seattle.

Definitely could use a receiver, but who is available?

[Nrlmus]

Great game but I still so much wished they had Cam and we had Russell. So much more mind so much less less flamboyance. The only time Cam slid legs first it felt so unnatural for him. The guy can't last with his heroics (RGIII hello! I think Teddy Bridgewater would've shined under Belichick. You have to control Cam and force him to go against his natural tendencies which is always a tall order with anybody, let alone with someone with overly healthy ego and suspect emotional equilibrium. Teddy with his calm more calculating demeanor would've fit right in here.

Also didn't understand the last play. Even Russell in his post-game interview said that "we knew it was going to be Cam". I know it's Monday morning QBing but I still think they should've passed.

Harry's got to go! Meyers is ok as the 3rd (4th, 5th?) option but Harry is totally useless if not an outright liability. You can't expect Edelman and Izzo (what?) and maybe James White to be Cam's only options. Edelman as the best deep threat that we have? Come on!

[Nrlmus]

Asides from the Celtics losing last night and me quoting "Larry Legend" The Celtics last night played like girls!. However, I am glad the TEAM addressed the issues, emotions and tempers were let out so they can come back fresh and focus on the task at hand. The Heat are a damn good team but, they can be outclassed if the Celtics didn't rely so much on the 3-Pointers and get back to the fundamentals. Regarding the 3-point line, I do recall Mark Cuban talking about this. Quoted:

""I don't think the number of shots would decline. But I think it would reward skill, and at the same time, it opens up the court for more drives, more mid-range game," Cuban said, per Sefko. "It would open it up so guys with different skill sets could play. Guys with mid-range games would be rewarded. "- Mark Cuban.

I'm all for it.

It's not only Celtics. I thought Miami shot way too many 3s too, so did Toronto. I thought Denver beat the Clippers largely because of shooting 3s.

I also think it's time to put the basket higher. They're getting too tall. Make the dunk count for something other than just flare.

[MeatMan]

Am I the only one watching the NBA that thinks that 3-point line should be pushed out some? I think way too many players are getting way too good with a 3, and would rather shoot a 3 than go to the basket. If I wanted to see a shooting contest I'd watch biathlon or something.

I also feel that raising the basket a bit might not hurt either. But that's secondary. That 3-point line is way too close to the basket for modern game imho.

Asides from the Celtics losing last night and me quoting "Larry Legend" The Celtics last night played like girls!. However, I am glad the TEAM addressed the issues, emotions and tempers were let out so they can come back fresh and focus on the task at hand. The Heat are a damn good team but, they can be outclassed if the Celtics didn't rely so much on the 3-Pointers and get back to the fundamentals. Regarding the 3-point line, I do recall Mark Cuban talking about this. Quoted:

""I don't think the number of shots would decline. But I think it would reward skill, and at the same time, it opens up the court for more drives, more mid-range game," Cuban said, per Sefko. "It would open it up so guys with different skill sets could play. Guys with mid-range games would be rewarded. "- Mark Cuban.

I'm all for it.

[Nrlmus]

Am I the only one watching the NBA that thinks that 3-point line should be pushed out some? I think way too many players are getting way too good with a 3, and would rather shoot a 3 than go to the basket. If I wanted to see a shooting contest I'd watch biathlon or something.

I also feel that raising the basket a bit might not hurt either. But that's secondary. That 3-point line is way too close to the basket for modern game imho.

[Nrlmus]

Your right on as Newton will get killed running around like that. The rest of the team sucked playing a shitty team. I think it might be a long season for them but Iv'e said that in other years and they have proved me wrong. I think Brady will be fine as there is to much talent on that team to falter.

It's on to the real team and really great QB for the Pats next. See Russell teach Cam the howtos.

[ArchersTarget]

Good game for the Pats. I'm still down on Cam though. Despite of Belichick having an obvious (positive) effect on him I still think he's still largely a one man army and he won't last health-wise. 2nd touchdown he should've avoided the hit, stepped out of bounds before scoring; much more than likely his team would've easily scored on subsequent downs but it might've been not him scoring. His unprofessional behavior following the game is also alarming. The effing chain. Reminds me of how Italian player succeeded in get Zinedine Zidane to act up during 2006 FIFA World Cup final by talking about fucking Zidane's sister which probably caused France the World Cup.

Tom lost the game for the Bucks. Period. When your only successful long passes are DPIs you won't beat a team like the Saints. The rest of Bucks had a good outing imo

Your right on as Newton will get killed running around like that. The rest of the team sucked playing a shitty team. I think it might be a long season for them but Iv'e said that in other years and they have proved me wrong. I think Brady will be fine as there is to much talent on that team to falter.

[Nrlmus]

Good game for the Pats. I'm still down on Cam though. Despite of Belichick having an obvious (positive) effect on him I still think he's still largely a one man army and he won't last health-wise. 2nd touchdown he should've avoided the hit, stepped out of bounds before scoring; much more than likely his team would've easily scored on subsequent downs but it might've been not him scoring. His unprofessional behavior following the game is also alarming. The effing chain. Reminds me of how Italian player succeeded in get Zinedine Zidane to act up during 2006 FIFA World Cup final by talking about fucking Zidane's sister which probably caused France the World Cup.

Tom lost the game for the Bucks. Period. When your only successful long passes are DPIs you won't beat a team like the Saints. The rest of Bucks had a good outing imo

[MeatMan]

First, what a game!.

That has to feel good for the Celtics. Smart and others who were on that 2018 team that lost to the Cavaliers in 7 games that year, that Game 7 was brutal. But boy, they stepped up this time and got a big win over the defending champs!. I think this will be a big moment especially as they continue to improve and progress with their careers.

And unlike that game, they actually played superb defense late and also actually seemed to attack the basket a bit more and didn't settle for 3's all the time in the 4th quarter. And it led to a win tonight and a trip to the ECF. Also, imagine how Kemba must be feeling. The guy won 3 playoff games in his entire 8-year Hornets career. Now in his first year in Boston, he has 8 playoff wins and is appearing in an ECF for his first time. I know he struggled most of the last two games, but he did make some big plays in the 2nd half today to help secure a win. I'm happy for him, and hope he hangs around.

[ArchersTarget]

First hell of a game for the Celtics but, that game last night was wonky as hell. The higher ups needs to look into those flagrant foul calls, they are ridiculous. One call really turned everything around last night, placing refs into spotlight again.

I really believe that coach Stevens also made bad decisions during the game. So many minutes for the starters, especially when Grant Williams and Timelord had solid production.

Tatum as a ballhandler is always a risk. His dribbling is not good enough to get him out of double team, so he's making a lot of to's as a result, and gets his energy drastically drained. He's lot more useful when he's getting off screens, attacking the rim.

Kemba needs to take more shots. JB and Smart were great, Smart for me is a best player in this postseason, heart and soul of this team!. Anybody recovering from that game?. Holy hell.

We had that game more than once and we let it get away. I'm a little worried now. Yes the refs sucked last night. I hate three pointers as I'm an old timer and think it ruins the game. LOL.