The Official NBA/Basketball Thread

[Nik]

Man, that small ball line-up of Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Durant and Green will be something to watch.

Then of course there's the subtext. Does Durant signing indicate he may have talked to Westbrook and concluded their partnership wasn't going to last past the year anyway? Is Russ going to be a Laker next year?

Still crazy to think the Thunder had Durant, Westbrook, Harden and Ibaka and couldn't figure out a way to win a title.

[L K]

Rumours going around that Duncan is going to retire.  He looked done in the postseason but it would have been nice for him to get a bit of a sendoff.

[L K]

There are also rumors that Wade is meeting with the Cavaliers now.  The NBA is really a joke.

[TimKerr]

There are also rumors that Wade is meeting with the Cavaliers now.  The NBA is really a joke.

May I ask why you think that? Having 'superteams' is what makes the NBA so fascinating. Ratings have never been higher. The fans love having these stacked teams compete against each other.
 
What is the NHL's biggest problem attracting new fans? I would argue it is parity. The teams are all interchangeable every year. There is no superteam to cheer for (or against). Parity hurts, not benefits, the league. The NBA knows its biggest product is its superstars and they make sure they are always featured in the playoffs and finals every year.

[Nik]

Crazy off-season just gets crazier. Dwyane Wade now going to join the Bulls who, to clear cap space for him, trade Calderon to LA and Mike Dunleavy to Cavs.

Don't worry though. The Raps have a new back-up C.

[Nik]

The NBA, who objects to North Carolina's law regarding Transgender people, has decided to move their all-star game from Charlotte this year. Toronto again? Everyone liked it.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/17120170/nba-moving-all-star-game-charlotte-north-carolina-bill

For serious, sucks for the people of Charlotte who didn't have much to do with the law(in fact it was their citywide anti-discrimination that the state law repealed) but it's nice to see a big deal sports league show some social conscience.

[Coco-puffs]

The NBA, who objects to North Carolina's law regarding Transgender people, has decided to move their all-star game from Charlotte this year. Toronto again? Everyone liked it.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/17120170/nba-moving-all-star-game-charlotte-north-carolina-bill

For serious, sucks for the people of Charlotte who didn't have much to do with the law(in fact it was their citywide anti-discrimination that the state law repealed) but it's nice to see a big deal sports league show some social conscience.

And yet their sister organization, the WNBA, gets it wrong (IMO): 

http://thinkprogress.org/sports/2016/07/21/3800577/wnba-fines-players-black-lives-matter/

That said, I completely agree with the NBA's move here.  Definitely glad to see it.

[hockeyfan1]

Rest in Peace, John Saunders...


http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/sports-world-pays-tribute-canadian-born-broadcaster-john-saunders/

[hockeyfan1]

MVP Finalists.  No LeBron?

http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/westbrook-harden-leonard-named-mvp-finalists-lebron-left/

[hockeyfan1]

Cleveland Cavs LeBron James' home in L.A. vandalized:

"My family is safe. At the end of the day, they're safe and that's the most important," the Cleveland Cavaliers forward said during a news conference ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

"But it just goes to show that racism will always be a part of the world, a part of America," he added. "And hate in America, especially for African-Americans, is living every day."

Story:
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/lebron-james-los-angeles-home-vandalized-n-word-graffiti-n766651

[hockeyfan1]

Knicks fire Phil Jackson; reportedly after the Raptors' Ujiri as replacement...


https://www.thestar.com/sports/basketball/2017/06/28/knicks-fire-phil-jackson-amid-feud-with-porzingis-anthony.html

[hockeyfan1]

Foe the 2017-2018 season, as announced back in April of this year, NBA teams will be allowed to have sponsor logos on their jerseys.  Also, there will be no 'official' home or away jersey.  Teams will have options between three to four alternate jerseys to choose to wear.

The NBA is on new course of "experimental" change beginning with Nike replacing Adidas and allowing teams a sponsorship patch opposite the Nike logo.   Retail jerseys will not be affected (as they will not be sold with the patch), though teams will have  the choice of making them available to retailers if requested or in demand.

No, the NBA is not going the route of MLS or even international soccer with jersey sponsor advertisements.  It'll be done in a more conservative approach which the league hopes it will generate revenue in excess of $100M/yr.

As for the Toronto Raptors, the new jerseys & alternates have yet to be inveiled but the red one which they wore last year is a mainstay.  Check out Raptor draftee OG Anunoby's red jersey below with what would be the sponsor patch (Sun Life):




http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/og-anunoby-spotted-wearing-raptors-new-jersey-sun-life-patch/

[hockeyfan1]

NBA considering changes to draft lottery with primary emphasis to prevent tankings:

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/20621318/reform-nba-draft-lottery-voted-17-18-season

[hockeyfan1]

The Houston Rockets' James Harden had 60 points ad a triple double in Houston's 114-107 win over the Orlando Magic Monday, becoming the first player in NBA history to claim this achievement.


http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22270063/houston-rockets-james-harden-becomes-first-player-nba-history-score-60-points-triple-double-effort

[hockeyfan1]

Not easy to watch:  (Graphic video)

WARNING: Suns guard Isaiah Canaan suffered a horrible injury driving to the rim...

(via @clippittv) pic.twitter.com/ezKJj5Kcb0

— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) February 1, 2018

http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/suns-isaiah-canaan-stretchered-off-gruesome-left-ankle-injury/