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Community Shootaround: 2016 NBA Finals

June 1st, 2016 at 11:14am CST by Luke Adams

The 2016 NBA Finals are set to get underway on Thursday, and despite some drama in recent weeks, particularly in the Western Conference, this year’s matchup is a repeat of last year’s NBA Finals, with the Warriors looking to defeat the Cavaliers for a second consecutive championship.

After setting an NBA regular-season record with 73 wins, the Warriors are the odds-on favorites to win the title. FiveThirtyEight.com currently gives Golden State a 69% chance to take the series, and those odds are about in line with those provided by Las Vegas line-makers (Twitter link), who have installed the Cavaliers as about 2-to-1 underdogs.

The Warriors are led by Stephen Curry, unanimously voted this season’s MVP, and Klay Thompson, who has looked like one of the league’s top players during the postseason, racking up an incredible 77 three-pointers so far (J.R. Smith is second, with 49). After eliminating the Rockets and Trail Blazers without Curry at full health, the Warriors stormed back from a 3-1 deficit against a very talented Oklahoma City team, and certainly look poised to repeat as champs.

Still, this Cavaliers team isn’t the same one Golden State dispatched in the 2015 Finals. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are fully healthy this time around, and outside of a brief hiccup in Toronto during the Eastern Conference Finals, Cleveland has looked unstoppable so far in the playoffs. The Pistons, Hawks, and Raptors aren’t exactly a murderer’s row of postseason opponents, but the Cavs did what they were supposed to in those series, winning 12 of 14 games, and could be peaking at the right time.

“We’re better built to start the Finals than we were last year,” LeBron James said on Tuesday, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com. “Doesn’t matter who it’s against. I mean, that’s not a headline. It’s obvious.”

Today’s topic is pretty straightforward: Who will win the NBA Finals? Does this version of the Cavaliers have a legit chance to pull off the upset, or are the Warriors simply too talented to let their record-setting season end with a loss in the Finals?

Cast your vote in our poll, and weigh in below in the comments section to share your predictions for the series!

(direct link to poll)

Community Shootaround: Three-Point Barrage

May 30th, 2016 at 6:42pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Klay Thompson made a playoff-record 11 3-pointers to lead the Warriors’ comeback victory over the Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals on Saturday night. The way these playoffs have unfolded, Thompson’s record might not last this postseason.

The 3-point shot has been around since the 1979-80 season but in the last few years, it’s become much more prevalent. During this postseason, long-range shots have been fired up at a record pace.

The Cavaliers stormed into the Finals not so much on LeBron James‘ brute strength and versatility but on 3-point flurries. They are averaging 14.4 made 3-pointers in the postseason and hitting them at a 43.4% rate. Nearly 41% of their field-goal attempts have come from beyond the arc.

Not surprising, the Warriors are second on the list with an average of 12.2 made threes while shooting 39.9% from long range. A handful of teams in this postseason have averaged at least 30 3-point attempts per game and six more averaged at least 21 per contest.

It’s a stark contrast to what we saw just a few years ago. During the 2012 postseason, for example, the Heat won the championship with 3-point averages of 6.8 makes and 19.7 attempts with a 34.7% success rate. The Western Conference champion Thunder averaged 6.8 makes and 19.2 attempts with a 35.5% success rate.

Meanwhile, mid-range shooting and low-post play has been lost in the process. Most of the top teams lack a dominant post presence and when someone does post up, it’s usually to set up a kickout for another 3-point attempt.

The NBA Finals this season might resemble the 3-point shooting contest during All-Star weekend.

This leads us to our question of the day: Should the league make rule changes such as extending the 3-point line or widening the lane in order to de-emphasize the 3-point shot?

Please take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.

Community Shootarond: Bismack Biyombo

May 28th, 2016 at 6:42pm CST by Arthur Hill

Since the playoffs began back in mid-April, no player has done more to help himself in free agency than Raptors center Bismack Biyombo.

Stuck in a back-up role behind Jonas Valanciunas, Biyombo averaged 5.5 points and 8.0 rebounds during the regular season. But Valanciunas’ badly sprained ankle and Biyombo’s huge performance in his place have made the 6’9″ native of the Congo one of this summer’s most talked-about free agents.

Two months ago, the Raptors were hoping Biyombo would waive his player option and accept a $2.94MM contract for next season. But he demolished any chance of that with a 26-rebound, four-block performance in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. On the heels of a 17-point, 16-rebound effort in Game 7 against Miami, it established Biyombo as a dominant paint presence who was at his best when the games mattered most.

After Toronto’s season ended Friday, Biyombo announced his intention to opt out, a decision that could earn him more than five times the salary that he leaves behind. With a rising cap and a shortage of quality big men, it won’t be surprising if a team offers him a deal that starts at more than $16MM per year.

The situation was unthinkable when Biyombo signed with Toronto last summer. He was close to being a bust during his four seasons in Charlotte, averaging more than 27 minutes per game just once and topping 5 points per game only in his rookie season. That’s why the Raptors were able to get him cheaply, giving him about $3MM for this season, plus next year’s player option.

Biyombo’s sudden good fortune has put Toronto in a bind. Because his contract was so short, the Raptors don’t own Biyombo’s Bird rights, which means whatever money they offer him has to come out of cap room. Assuming DeMar DeRozan opts out, Toronto will have a little more than $70MM in salary for next season against an estimated $92MM cap. Unless they renounce DeRozan or gut the roster through trades, it’s hard to see how the Raptors get close to a $16MM offer.

Earlier today, Biyombo said he prefers to stay with in Toronto, but that might change once he studies the economic realities of the situation. No matter what personal feelings Biyombo may have for the city and the organization, he’s likely to end up with the highest bidder.

That brings us to tonight’s question, which is a two-parter: Where do you expect to see Biyombo playing next season and will he be able to live up to a giant contract? No matter how much the NBA moves to smaller lineups and 3-point shooting, there will always be a demand for rebounders and shot blockers. And with the cap soaring this summer, almost every team will have the money to offer at least one max contract.

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the topic. We look forward to what you have to say.

Community Shootaround: Joakim Noah

May 25th, 2016 at 7:52pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Bulls big man Joakim Noah is eligible for free agency this summer, and one teammate told Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times that Noah has been saying recently that he’s done with the organization once free agency begins, with the big man also adding that he “has no trust in the front office getting this in the right direction.” Noah, who has spent all of his nine NBA seasons in Chicago, won’t officially hit the open market until July, so if the Bulls want to re-sign him, there’s time to change the player’s mind. Chicago reportedly wants to retain Noah, with an April report indicating that the team may favor keeping Noah on a short-term deal rather than making a strong effort to re-sign Pau Gasol.

Noah underwent surgery on his separated left shoulder back in January, and while he should be ready to go for the 2016/17 campaign, he hasn’t played a game since that procedure. In 2015/16, he appeared in just 29 games, averaging 4.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 21.9 minutes per contest. The center also brings with him a number of intangibles that don’t show up in the box score on a nightly basis, which increases his overall value, but age and injury concerns may hamper Noah in landing a long-term deal this summer.

This brings me to the topic for today: Where will Joakim Noah be playing next season?

Will Noah be wearing a Bulls jersey in 2016/17 or do you see him heading elsewhere? What team is the best fit for the big man and what sort of contract will he land this offseason. Take to the comments section to share your thoughts, opinions and predictions on the matter. We look forward to what you have to say.

Community Shootaround: Sixers’ Offseason

May 23rd, 2016 at 10:51pm CST by ChrisCrouse

After several years of tanking, the Sixers finally landed the No.1 overall pick during last Tuesday’s draft lottery. Now, they are faced with a critical decision that will shape the franchise for years to come. Coach Brett Brown said the team isn’t leaning toward any particular player, but the decision will likely come down to Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram, whom Dana Gauruder of Hoops Rumors profiled earlier today. Many believe Simmons will be the pick and although he has the ball handling skills to play in the backcourt, he’s likely best suited at the power forward position.

Drafting Simmons would add to an already full frontcourt. The team expects to have Joel Embiid healthy and ready to play by the beginning of the 2016/17 season and it will likely have Dario Saric coming stateside to play his rookie season in Philadelphia. Despite all the turmoil Jahlil Okafor endured this season, he’s looks to be the team’s best player. Okafor clearly needs to play the center position, as does Nerlens Noel, who will be eligible for a rookie extension this offseason. Finding minutes for everyone may prove to be a chore next season. So that leads us to tonight’s topic: How would you handle the team’s situation? Should the Sixers draft Simmons or Ingram with the No. 1 overall pick? Would you trade away one of the team’s big men and if so, which one and for what?

Let us know what you would do if you were sitting in GM Bryan Colangelo’s chair (likely the ergonomic office chair that Sam Hinkie left behind). Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the topic. We look forward to what you have to say.

Community Shootaround: Next Rockets Coach

May 22nd, 2016 at 7:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

In the 1970s, Mike D’Antoni used to compete against Paul Silas on the court. Now he’s competing against Silas’ son for the Rockets’ head coaching job.

Hornets assistant Stephen Silas is receving serious consideration for the position, according to a report Friday by Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Silas impressed GM Daryl Morey and owner Leslie Alexander in a pair of interviews and is now rivaling D’Antoni, who was once thought to be the clear favorite.

Silas is among the youngest 16-year veterans ever in the coaching profession, having started his career with the original Charlotte Hornets at age 27. He is also very much in demand. Silas has an interview scheduled Monday with Warriors coach Steve Kerr about becoming his lead assistant, and the Trail Blazers have been granted permission to talk with Silas about becoming Terry Stotts’ top assistant.

Although D’Antoni and Silas are co-front runners in Houston, the Rockets haven’t stopped the interview process. They will talk to Spurs assistant James Borrego on Monday, and plan to bring in Magic assistant Adrian Griffin as well. Former Cavs coach David Blatt, Raptors assistant Rex Kalamian‎, Grizzlies assistant Jeff Bzdelik, Spurs assistant Ettore Messina, Clippers assistant Sam Cassell and current Rockets assistant Chris Finch were among the others interviewed. TNT analyst Kenny Smith and former Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy are no longer considered candidates for the position.

That brings us to tonight’s question: Who should the Rockets hire as their next coach? Should they take a veteran like D’Antoni, whose free-flowing offense paved the way for much of what Houston does now? Should it be Silas, who seems ready for the opportunity after more than a decade and a half as an assistant? Will Borrego or Griffin shake up the status quo, or is there someone else who should be considered?

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the topic. We look forward to what you have to say.

Community Shootaround: Frank Vogel

May 19th, 2016 at 7:56pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Magic hired Frank Vogel to be their head coach earlier today. Vogel will receive roughly $22MM over the next four seasons and the team is hoping he can develop its young core. The coach will inherit a team that won 35 games and has some nice pieces in place, but the current roster likely won’t yield one All-Star over the next few seasons.

Vogel compiled a record of 250-181 as the head coach of the Pacers. He also made back-to-back conference finals appearances in 2013 and 2014. He was able to interview for the Knicks vacancy before they offered the job to Jeff Hornacek and had he waited until next season to coach, he certainly would have garner interest among teams looking for a new head coach.

So that leads us to tonight’s question: Are the Magic a good fit for Frank Vogel or should he have waited for a better head coaching gig? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the topic. We look forward to what you have to say.

Community Shootaround: No. 3 Pick

May 18th, 2016 at 9:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

If LSU’s Ben Simmons and Duke’s Brandon Ingram are clearly the best two prospects in this year’s draft, then the Sixers and Lakers were the big winners at Tuesday’s lottery. Mock drafts may be split over whether Simmons or Ingram will be the better pro, but they virtually all agree that those will be the top two picks — in one order or the other.

So where does that leave the Celtics?

Boston is beginning to reap the harvest of a nine-player trade with Brooklyn in 2013 that saw the Nets give away a parcel of draft picks for aging veterans Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry. It was a short-sighted deal by Brooklyn GM Billy King that eventually cost him his job as the franchise deteriorated. Boston will get unprotected first-round picks from the Nets this year and in 2018, along with the opportunity — which now seems like a certainty — to swap first-rounders next season. Brooklyn stumbled to a 21-61 record this year, the third-worst mark in the league, and the Celtics hung on to the third pick Tuesday after all the ping-pong balls dropped.

What should their next move be?

ESPN’s Chad Ford has Boston grabbing Kentucky combo guard Jamal Murray at No. 3 in his latest mock draft, calling it a tough choice between him, Kris Dunn of Providence and Buddy Hield of Oklahoma. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress has Dragan Bender, a power forward out of Bosnia, rated third overall, but hasn’t updated his mock draft to include the lottery results or to consider team needs.

It’s generally agreed that apart from diminutive All-Star Isaiah Thomas, Boston has a roster filled with average to good players but very little star power. With Thomas, Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley on hand and the possible return of Evan Turner, any rookie guard will have to fight for playing time in the Celtics’ backcourt.

That brings us to tonight’s question: What should the Celtics do with their pick? Is Murray the best answer? Is Dunn, Hield or Bender? Or if you think a trade is a better option, who should they target and what would it take to get a deal done?

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the topic. We look forward to what you have to say.

Community Shootaround: Phil Jackson

May 17th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Knicks’ hiring of Phil Jackson as team president in March of 2014 was met with much initial excitement because of his Hall-of-Fame credentials as a coach. But there was some skepticism regarding how well he would fare as an executive, a role in which he had no prior experience. Team owner James Dolan certainly went all-in on the Zen Master, inking Jackson to a five-year, $60MM contract, a record salary for an executive.

New York has gone 49-115 under Jackson’s watch, and the fanbase, as well as star forward Carmelo Anthony, are growing increasingly restless. Jackson has often appeared aloof and on occasion, disinterested, which calls into question his commitment to the franchise. The executive didn’t help matters last week by failing to attend the annual college scouting combine last week in Chicago, though he may have done so in order to interview head coaching candidate Frank Vogel in Los Angeles.

Despite the Knicks not owning a pick in this year’s draft, the team could potentially purchase or acquire one via trade. By not attending the combine, Jackson may have missed an important opportunity to observe first-hand some of the talent that may be available. Even if the team is unable to snag a pick this June, Jackson declining to travel to Chicago — whatever the reason, doesn’t inspire confidence from the team’s fans, nor prospective free agents, many of whom will make their decisions based on what organization will give them the best opportunity to win.

This brings me to today’s topic: Should James Dolan, regardless of the money still owed Phil Jackson, part ways with the team president?

This offseason will be a defining one for Jackson as an executive. If he fails to make some significant additions to the roster this summer, it could usher in a complete rebuild of the team, as well as make it all the likelier that Jackson will opt out of his deal after the 2016/17 campaign. But should Dolan entrust such a critical task to Jackson, or should the owner step in and find someone new to lead the team into the future? If you believe Jackson should go, who should the team target to replace him. Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.

Community Shootaround: Miami Heat

May 16th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Heat will head into the offseason after losing Game 7 to the Raptors on Sunday. Considering all the injuries the team endured, one can argue that winning 48 games and advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals qualifies as a successful season. The team will head into the offseason with several question marks and some big decisions to make.

Should the team offer Hassan Whiteside a max contract? There’s reportedly considerable debate within the organization over that question. Yet, Miami is rightfully waiting to see if Kevin Durant is interested in joining the team before making any decision. The Heat have to wonder if they will need another starting power forward, as they fear Chris Bosh won’t ever be medically cleared. Bosh has slightly under $76MM left on his deal over the next three seasons and should he be forced to retire, the team won’t see any cap relief until at least February 2017.

Miami has other decisions to make this offseason. Can the backcourt of Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic produce a championship contender? Should the franchise prioritize re-signing Joe Johnson? What about Luol Deng? What kind of contracts should each receive? Tonight’s shootaround is all about the Heat. Let us know what you would do if you were sitting in Pat Riley’s chair.

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the topic. We look forward to what you have to say!