Around the NBA (non-Wolves talk)

[Lipoli390]

Albrines was a nice a nice 2nd round pick by OKC in 2013. But how about Paul George? He's raining threes down on the Jazz. What we're seeing from Paul George is what we should see from Wiggins. Wiggins has the length and lift to get off quality threes nearly any time and from any place on the floor. He needs to make them.

[thedoper]

Rubios horrible one on one D is getting exposed. Russ is too much for most defenders but he's just getting anywhere he wants. Especially with those Adams screens.

[kekgeek]

The fear of Ricky Rubio coming alive in Game 1.

RW is playing off him letting him shoot. He took the 2nd most shots on the team 18 and only made 27.8% of them. Ricky really killed the Jazz tonight.

Not saying this will continue but this was the fear some of us had with Ricky.

[thedoper]

The fear of Ricky Rubio coming alive in Game 1.

RW is playing off him letting him shoot. He took the 2nd most shots on the team 18 and only made 27.8% of them. Ricky really killed the Jazz tonight.

Not saying this will continue but this was the fear some of us had with Ricky.

Yeah if Mitchell is hurt bad they're as good as done.

[Wolvesfan21]

OKC has a very good defense, so if Rubio can't score. They don't have any other guys besides Mitchell who really can. They have no chance unless Ricky can put it down like he did on us. :0

[Lipoli390]

It's amazing the Jazz are even in the playoffs this season. Even more amazing that they ended up in 5th place with a 48-34 record, especially with all the games Gobert missed and the major late-season trade.

OKC will win the series. But if Mitchell is OK physically, I still think the Jazz will win a couple games at home and push this series to 6 games. The Jazz lost by 8 points on the road tonight with Paul George on fire from behind the arc and OKC making every single free throw.

This game wasn't early as fun to watch as the Pelicans-Blazers game or the Celtics-Bucks game. Even the Pacers-Cavs games was more fun because it was a kick watching the Pacers manhandle the Cavs in Cleveland.

[Lipoli390]

Hard not to root for the Spurs against the Warriors. It's amazing what the Spurs have done this season in the face of such adversity.

The officials make it impossible to guard Durant. Two foul calls in a row when the replays showed clearly that the ball was swiped clean with no contact. But I guess it just goes back to the star system. Meanwhile, our allstar KAT can't even get fair treatment much less anything approaching star treatment.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Hard not to root for the Spurs against the Warriors. It's amazing what the Spurs have done this season in the face of such adversity.

The officials make it impossible to guard Durant. Two foul calls in a row when the replays showed clearly that the ball was swiped clean with no contact. But I guess it just goes back to the star system. Meanwhile, our allstar KAT can't even get fair treatment much less anything approaching star treatment.

Heck, he doesn't even get fair treatment from his own team mates! Tyus Jones might be the only one. Must feed the KAT!

[MikkeMan]

But are Saric and Simmons innately great defenders or did Brown coach them up? I remember Simmons was damn near indifferent as a defender in college. And Saric hardly strikes the fear of God into opposing offenses.

The bottom line is Brown gets his guys to play hard and has made defense something they all value. Embiid and Covington are the only two inherently great defenders on that team in my opinion. The others have been coached up.

Also Amir Johnson is great defender in that Philly team. He has been ranked top 25 in DRPM already in three consecutive seasons and he is main reason why Philly has been respectable in defense even in games that Embiid has missed.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

But are Saric and Simmons innately great defenders or did Brown coach them up? I remember Simmons was damn near indifferent as a defender in college. And Saric hardly strikes the fear of God into opposing offenses.

The bottom line is Brown gets his guys to play hard and has made defense something they all value. Embiid and Covington are the only two inherently great defenders on that team in my opinion. The others have been coached up.

Also Amir Johnson is great defender in that Philly team. He has been ranked top 25 in DRPM already in three consecutive seasons and he is main reason why Philly has been respectable in defense even in games that Embiid has missed.

But he doesn't even play half the game generally. And Boston certainly hasn't missed his defense, as they have become the #1 defense in the NBA without him.

I watched a good chunk of that game last night. Both coaches have their guys playing extremely hard on both ends of the court (with the exception of Whiteside, who looks downright indifferent at times).