2018-19 NBA Season

[Deceptive Speed]

Here's a little quide for anybody wanting to watch the NBA play-offs. I've Ranked the play-off teams from whitest to darkest, and theres a good amount to choose from. (Starters in Bold):

(A-) Jazz- PG Ricky Rubio, SF/PG Joe Ingles, SG Kyle Korver, PG Raul Neto, SG Grayson Allen, PF Tyler Cavanaugh

2 white starters and now 3 part of the rotation witb Grayson Allens emergence.

(B+) Blazers- C Enes Kanter, SF Jake Layman (in and out), C/PF Zach Collins, C Meyers Leonard, (Inj) C Jusuf Nurkic

2 starters and top 2 off the bench, makes you wonder how good they would be with Nurkic right now??

(B) Celtics- C Aaron Baynes, SF Gordan Hayward (in and out the starting lineup but gets starter mins), PF/C Daniel Theis

With the NBA's most underrated defender in Baynes, and Hayward I count because it blows my mind why he's not. To too it off Theis is pretty much another Horford.

(B-) Spurs- C Jakob Poetl, SF Davis Bertans, SG Marco Belinelli, C Drew Eubanks, PF/C Donantas Montiejunas

Only 1 starter but have some of the best depth in the league, with all seeing some PT sooner or later.

(C+) Clippers- SF/PF Danilo Gallinari, C Ivica Zubac

Should be rated lower but with Galinari playing so good I give it to them. Galinari should have made the all-star team this year too.

(C+) Nets- SG Joe Harris, SF/PF Rodions Kurucs, SF Dzanan Musa

2 starters is nice but thats it since Dzanan Musa pretty much on a RS season.


(C+) Denver- C Nikola Jokic, C/PF Mason Plumlee, SF Juan Hernangomez, PF Tyler Lydon

Jokic is a future MVP, while his front-court partner C Mason Plumlee p
Shadows his game to an extent. Hernangomez has lost all the extra mins he earned early this season.

C Pistons- SG Luke Kennard, PF Jon Leur, C Zaza Pachulia, PG Jose Calderon, SG Svi Mykhaliuk

Kennard starting finallygives Detroit a better look, with scrub Bruce Brown avg 4 ppg moves to the bench. Besides Kennard Jon Leur sees a healthy amt of mins in the rotation (when healthy), and Pachulia is usually back-up C. Svi Mykhaliuk is one to watch but not for this year, while Calderon is retiring at the end of year.

(D+) Golden State- C Andrew Bogut (beat-out Cousins as starting C), PF Jonas Jerebko

In a shocking late-season move GS signed 34 y/o C Andrew Bogut on a 1 yr deal, who was playing in the Australian basketball league likely to retire at seasons end. Bogut is now the starting C. Posting 8 pts, 14 rbs, and 5 assts last night. Jonas Jerebko has a role for them but its a small one.

(D) Thunder- C Steven Adams

OKC start and play only 1 white and even he's questionable. Adams who's a poly/white mix is still supportable for me, because the media and players treat him as if he's just white guy from New Zealand.

(F) Rockets- C/PF Isaiah Hartenstein

C Isaiah Hartenstein doesnt even play unless its a blowout.

 

[white lightning]

We should have made an nba playoffs thread but since there isn't I will just post this here.

The Denver Nuggets won their first playoff series since 2009 beating the Spurs in a hard fought
game 7 tonight. Nikola Jokic their all star did everything with 21 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists
for yet another triple double. The Nuggest will now play the Portland Trailblazers and the series starts
on monday night. The Blazers have several players who we like here. It's a win/win from our persective
no mattter who wins this next series.

 

[Riggins44]

We should have made an nba playoffs thread but since there isn't I will just post this here.

The Denver Nuggets won their first playoff series since 2009 beating the Spurs in a hard fought
game 7 tonight. Nikola Jokic their all star did everything with 21 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists
for yet another triple double. The Nuggest will now play the Portland Trailblazers and the series starts
on monday night. The Blazers have several players who we like here. It's a win/win from our persective
no mattter who wins this next series.

I have not really watched the NBA in a few years, since the Mavericks were contending with Dirk as their leader.

Now that the Jokic-led Nuggets are playing semi-white friendly Portland, I really need to watch at least one game of that series. Jokic is outstanding.

 

[Riggins44]

Jokic scored 37 points last night as Denver won.

 

[white lightning]

Jokic scored 37 points last night as Denver won.

Jokic is an all star and he deserves it. He could even be a fringe mvp contender. He is that valueable to the Nuggets. Jokic
was even 9th in the nba in assists! This is a center who can throw down a triple double on alot of nights he steps on the court.

I love watching Plumlee play too. Plumlee is as athletic as they come and whether it's dunking, blocking shots or rebounds he is
fun to watch. Let's go Denver!

 

[Shadowlight]

Jokic has ballet like coordination for such a bulky type. The downside is he is ripe for stereotypes and the media zones in on it. Snickering along the way. He is not a run/jump athlete of any sort but he is smart, strong, nimble, versatile and effective.

Mason Plumlee, like Jokic, is a great passing big man but Mason is athletically explosive. Liked him since his Duke days though he never developed a go to move down low and he doesn't have a soft touch like Jokic.

Too bad Jake Layman of Portland has been the forgotten man. Things were going so well for him much of the year but he is in the doghouse somehow. Portland does have big man Enes Kanter and off the bench C Zach Collins who is very athletic but can't get steady playing time. Meyers Leonard is another big man bench player see above list by Deceptive Speed.

The most exciting series for me is the Bucks-Celtics. Gordon Hayward, before he got injured two plus years ago was the best white player on the planet and he is steadily getting back to that status but isn't quite there yet but he does so serious flashes. When he is on his game he is unstoppable.

The Bucks bring in off the bench the three man snow patrol.

Nikola Mirotic who can score like crazy when he gets hot.

Ersan Ilyasova is a versatile all around player.

Pat Connaughton is the hustler with great athleticism and huge hops. He nabbed 11 rebounds last night from the guard spot off the bench no less.

One of those things where if the Bucks win I hope the snow patrol plays a big role. If the Celtics win I hope Hayward does big things.

 

[white lightning]

 

[Deceptive Speed]

Jokic has ballet like coordination for such a bulky type. The downside is he is ripe for stereotypes and the media zones in on it. Snickering along the way. He is not a run/jump athlete of any sort but he is smart, strong, nimble, versatile and effective.

Mason Plumlee, like Jokic, is a great passing big man but Mason is athletically explosive. Liked him since his Duke days though he never developed a go to move down low and he doesn't have a soft touch like Jokic.

Too bad Jake Layman of Portland has been the forgotten man. Things were going so well for him much of the year but he is in the doghouse somehow. Portland does have big man Enes Kanter and off the bench C Zach Collins who is very athletic but can't get steady playing time. Meyers Leonard is another big man bench player see above list by Deceptive Speed.

The most exciting series for me is the Bucks-Celtics. Gordon Hayward, before he got injured two plus years ago was the best white player on the planet and he is steadily getting back to that status but isn't quite there yet but he does so serious flashes. When he is on his game he is unstoppable.

The Bucks bring in off the bench the three man snow patrol.

Nikola Mirotic who can score like crazy when he gets hot.

Ersan Ilyasova is a versatile all around player.

Pat Connaughton is the hustler with great athleticism and huge hops. He nabbed 11 rebounds last night from the guard spot off the bench no less.

One of those things where if the Bucks win I hope the snow patrol plays a big role. If the Celtics win I hope Hayward does big things.

I agree the Celtics-Bucks series is so far my favorite, as the Celtics start defensive big Aaron Baynes with Jordan Hayward serving as the 2nd units main scorer. German PF Daniel Theis makes the most of his 10-15 mins a night, and really can produce similiar numbers to AL Horford when called on.

For the Bucks PF Nikola Mirotic has made a long overdue move into the starting 5, with F Ersan Ilyasova playing a similiar role spelling him. One of my favorite players Pat Connaughton has picked up his play late in the season as a uber-athletic 2 guard that makes high energy plays and likes to dunk a lot. Rookie SG Donte Divencenso played a few mins last game and could get involved more going forward.

The best white player in this years play-offs so far tho (besides Jokic) has been the oft-injured F Danilo Gallinari! He avg 20 ppg in the regular season and replicated that in the playoffs too. He didn't get his team past the 1st rd mainly because hes literally the only reliable player they got, but he shouldve been an all-star this and it Will be interested where he goes this off season.

 

[Shadowlight]

The announcers which include Hubie Brown had a lot of nice things to say about Pat Connaughton who had a superb 14 point 7 rebound game off the bench in their win to go up 2-1 on the Celtics. PC is a divine leaper.

The Denver -Portland marathon lasted 4 overtimes but I was safely in bed shortly after half time. Despite a huge 33 point 14 assist effort from Jokic, Portland pulled it out. The inside duo of Enes Kanter and Zach Collins have been really solid. This is another series that could go down to the wire.

 

[Shadowlight]

Celtics great 6'5" swingman John Havlicek recently passed away. Here was a speedy tireless up and down the court star who was a pivotal NBA player for years. I pretty much saw Hondo towards the tail end of his career and he was past his prime. Had difficulty hitting jump shots with consistency at that stage.

But I think of Jerry West and other greats like Havlicek and think to myself what white swingmen, shooting guards or point guards today have a chance of making the HOF? West was what 6'2" and Hondo was 6'5". Where are their white future counterparts? Nowhere.

I can't come up with any today that has a chance of making the hall Of Fame. JJ Redick, despite his late career awakening, won't make the HOF. Goran Dragic is an unlikely candidate unless he goes on a tear for the next five years which I don't envision give his age. Gordon Hayward? As of now it doesn't look like it.

The slow fade of the non big men white NBA stars has long been set in stone and it is beyond depressing. Is it any wonder why so many here at CF are turned off by the NBA? For most white backcourt players to be considered stars they would have to shoot the rock as often as their black counterparts. And that is not happening. Black stars can chuck up 25-30 shots a night. No current white NBA back court player comes close to those numbers.

The NBA has been perfectly segregated where the white guards are marginalized as "helpers" but not stars. Heck even the recent past there were star PGs like John Stockton, Mark Price and Steve Nash. Youngster Luka Doncic is a promising youngster but he is what 6'8".
Much like the NFL (WR, RB, DB) and to a certain extent MLB ( CF and SS) the smaller white skill position players are being systematically removed from the professional levels to be replaced by non whites.

The NBA today features white players as anything but focal points on their teams. With a few exceptions they are either bench scrubs or even worse, bucket boys. Some have graduated to second teams "fill up some time while the starters rest" status. A few play more significant second team roles but the truth is most white players under 6'8" are now on the periphery of the NBA which is in sharp contrast with the past where there were several star white players 6'7" or shorter. Like Jerry West (the Michael Jordan of his day) and John Havlicek ( a whirlwind athlete).

A quick glance at the starters of the remaining playoff teams gives you a feel of what has happened. The only starting guard is JJ Reddick and he is now considered old by NBA standards.

Apart form Gordon Hayward and Pat Connaughton, who both come off the bench, that is all folks when it comes to white guards. PG TJ McConnell has been reduced to mop up duty. Hell I don't even think the Rockets or Toronto have any white players on their entire rosters.

 

[white lightning]

Very good points Shadowlight. There might be hope in the near future. Tyler Hero is in the draft a few months from now. Next year we will have Matt McClung in the lottery too. I like you am also looking for the next big thing. One guy you forgot to mention is Ricky Rubio. He starts and is a good player. Grayson Allen should be starting or at least coming off the bench there. He has star potential. Let's hope we see alot more of these kids in the pipeline in the near future. Don't ever give up guys. Things can and will change but it takes time. I refuse to ever give up hope.

 

[white lightning]

Nikola Jokic tied the playoff series with the Blazers last might putting up 21, 12 and 11 for yet another triple double. It was a must win for the Nuggets after losing a triple overtime heartbreaker on Friday night. This team may be the youngest team in the playoffs but they are tough and will fight for every game win or lose. So glad to see Jokic getting the respect he deserves. He is the superstar of that team and a great leader!

 

[Bucky]

Pat Connaughton having another nice game! Just had a blocked shot leading to a breakaway thunderous dunk!

 

[Shadowlight]

The PC story has some odd twists. Let go from Portland after three unremarkable years there he signed a two year deal with the Bucks but Donte D was supposed to be the emerging story. At first it seemed like PC would have to go back to baseball to pitch for the Orioles the team that drafted him. But Donte got banged up and PC started to become a rotation player off the bench.

Fast forward to the playoffs and he is playing the best basketball in his 4 year NBA career. To go along with 9 points he nabbed another 10 rebounds last night. Impressive numbers for a 6'5" guard.

During the first half of the season or so I commented on the fact that Portland's Jake Layman (6'8") was finally hitting his stride and PC looked dead in the water. Now like a tale of two cities Jake Layman languishes on the Portland bench while PC is playing 20 plus minutes a night and making a huge difference.

At 26 perhaps PC is finally hitting his stride and bigger things could be ahead. But I thought the same way about Layman and look where he has ended up. Moral of the story is one can't get their hopes up too high in this modern very black oriented NBA.

I remember PC in college at ND and liked his all around play. He recorded a 44 inch vertical leap at the 2015 NBA combine but the media kept complaining that the number was somehow off. Rest assured the number was challenged solely because PC is white. Irish Catholic to be precise.

But when you watch him leap there is no doubt he is one of the highest leapers in all of the NBA. The Greek Freak gets all the athleticism headlines but he is ultra long. PC jumps higher off the ground which is how many feet off the ground. Not talking about apex of fingers while leaping. Obviously the Greek Freak being much taller and longer would have a higher backboard touching measurement. Don't tell that to Mike Greenberg, the sniveling snake who mans the ESPN morning show and passed over PC's terrific block, steal and dunk mentioned above ( see below) as a mere nuisance before extolling his school girl crush on the Greek Freak.

https://www.nba.com/bucks/video/wsc/teams/f256aa36-16c4-38cc-96db-71204d4f1d7f

 

[Shadowlight]

The media spin on the Celtics has been that both Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward screwed up the chemistry of a team that went to the conference final last season. The take is they inhibited the rising young black stars on the Celtics. Everyone in the media feels this way.

Wrong Wrong Wrong!!!

First of all the three young studs the media keeps referring to, Brown, Rozier and Tatum were awful last night. And none of them were all that great in this series. These so called future superstars looked anything but that this season. They have talent for sure, although I am not sold on Rozier in the least,, but they were over hyped going into the season.

Irving has a stall ball effect on an offense because he is the classic ball hog. His shooting percentage in this series was dreadful but it didn't stop him from hoisting over 20 shots a game.

Hayward took a while to get his feet wet this season after his devastating injury but it was well documented how well his game picked up as the season went on. In fact he had his best games when Irving was out of the line up and guess what? The Celtics won nearly all of those games.

For the Celtics they need interior play and must get rid of overrated ball hog Irving. Then perhaps they can get back to ball movement and proper team play. Something Hayward excels at.

I am rooting for the Bucks because of the snow patrol. PC grabbed another 11 rebounds last night to tie for the team lead with Mirotic who is starting now. And Ilyasova had an efficient 10 points and 6 rebounds last night as well. They all averaged about 28 minutes last night so they aren't just spot fill in types.

PC though is the main attraction here with his wondrous athletic ability and soaring leaping ability. He is easily one of the best pure athletes in the NBA. And his skill set is improving. His hustle of course is top notch.

 

[Shadowlight]

If high flying Bucks sub PC is the most exciting CF favorite player in the East then we should keep an eye out for budding Portland sub C Zach Collins in the West.

Denver's Jokic is proving to be possibly the best big man in the game. Most would agree he is the most versatile big man. Kind of plays point C because of his passing abilities.

Collins on the other hand is still a raw colt just two years removed from college and still only 21. His skill levels are still being developed because he never had a chance to refine them in college because he left after one year. He lacks Jokic's superb court awareness and hasn't learned how to pass the ball effectively.

But Collins shows flashes of talent and in the not too distant future could become one of the better centers in the NBA.

But like PC his season was teetering on the brink. He was the odd man out once Portland acquired rugged rebounder Enes Kanter late in the season. But starting center Jusuf Nurkic suffered a season ending injury thus paving the way for Collins to become a top reserve.

And he has not disappointed. The well built athletic Collins is slowly showing his sky high potential. Last night he scored 14 points but it was his intimidating presence in the middle that stood out most. He is a terrific rim protector and last night registered 5 blocks. His offensive skills are developing but very promising and he can hit three pointers.

He is still too young, foul prone and needs maturity of mind and body but all the necessary raw materials are there for Collins to become not only a starter in the not too distant future but a possible star as well.

Game 7 is Sunday and the outcome could depend on how Collins plays on the road. The key for him is to stay out of foul trouble.

 

[Bucky]

Appreciate the insight Shadowlight! Good to see PC shine in the playoffs. Averaging 8.4ppg and 7.9rpg!

Also nice to see Collins find his groove. Admittedly haven't watched much of Western Playoffs, but will make an effort to watch him play!

 

[Bucky]

Good post I'll share that I came Across on Gab.

"The NBA is just like the Democratic Party.
Filled with blacks and owned by Jews."

 

[Shadowlight]

If you can weather the well written but long winded piece this ESPN writer Zach Lowe thinks a lot of Zach Collins and his immense upside. See below. I have seen Lowe on morning talk shows. Doesn't seem to be a typical caste hound.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/pag...-raises-portland-hopes-game-7-brighter-future



Zach Collins is a mere puppy at 21. If he plays well tonight Portland will probably win. That is a big if.

One other off subject point. they mentioned last night that Michael Jordan won his first of six titles at 28. And that includes a missed year due to his baseball folly. The Pistons thwarted his Bulls for a few years there. But for players like Pat Connaughton who is 26,there is room to grow and excel for a good five to seven years.

 

[Old Scratch]

If the Blazers win I'd be sad. Nuggets should have won that 4 OT game several times over despite the ref interference, game 6 they came out cruising but the NBA forced a 7 game series for the $$$. Jokic is a basketball savant.

 

[Old Scratch]

Nuggets had a huge lead in this game. The refs got the instruction to start manipulating it, suddenly they started calling every ticky tack thing on the Nuggets and didn't blow the whistle against the Blazers until the Nugget's lead evaporated. Blazers went on a natural run in the middle of it. Completely demoralized the Nuggets and they couldn't hit the broadside of a barn. Nuggets should have closed it out in 5 games if not for rigged officiating.

 

[Riggins44]

Nuggets had a huge lead in this game. The refs got the instruction to start manipulating it, suddenly they started calling every ticky tack thing on the Nuggets and didn't blow the whistle against the Blazers until the Nugget's lead evaporated. Blazers went on a natural run in the middle of it. Completely demoralized the Nuggets and they couldn't hit the broadside of a barn. Nuggets should have closed it out in 5 games if not for rigged officiating.

I didn't see the second half but I believe it. Happens all the time. That is bullshi$; I was looking forward to watching Denver for another series. I despise rigged shi$ like this.

 

[Shadowlight]

A Portland-Milwaukee final would be pretty swell if you ask me. Toronto has Paul Gasol in the middle but this team plays ugly. I simply can't warm up to them.

I and I am sure most here disdain Golden State including their HC Kerr who was one of the most caste announcers before he became a coach. Literally can't stand them.

For Portland athletic swing man Jake Layman has been shelved. Perhaps he will make an appearance due to injuries but so far he has been MIA. Quite a shame. Layman is an excellent leaper.

C Meyers Leonard is strictly a scrub off the bench. That leaves rugged rebounder starter Enes Kanter and Zach Collins who comes off the bench.

Whispers are growing that Collins at the tender age of 21 has future star potential. A truly athletic big man oozing with potential he has swiftly become a very important player. No time like the present to announce yourself to the basketball world at large.

His youth plays against him as foul trouble continues to hinder him but name me a low post man left in these playoffs who is as intimidating as Collins?

The Bucks have the snow patrol. Ilyasova is an all around very good veteran and Nikola Mirotic can score in a hurry. Both have a decent amount of ranginess. In other words neither are white stiffs who just stand around waiting for the ball to be passed to them.

But the biggest attraction is Pat Connaughton. I wish he was a tad younger than 26 but at 6'5" he along with Mario Hezonja, who is 24, are the most athletic white players in the NBA if you were to quiz me.

PC is a true caste buster so if he plays well and the Bucks advance this could go a long way in undermining the caste brigade.

While I would like to include Jake Layman into this conversation but I can't since he hasn't been playing, to me the most important white players left in the playoffs are Zach Collins and high flying Pat Connaughton. They both register very high on the anti caste meter. Nothing wrong with that. The downside is both come off the bench but they get pretty hefty minutes for bench players.

And at their best both PC and Collins are exhilarating to watch!!

 

[Riggins44]

A Portland-Milwaukee final would be pretty swell if you ask me. Toronto has Paul Gasol in the middle but this team plays ugly. I simply can't warm up to them.

I and I am sure most here disdain Golden State including their HC Kerr who was one of the most caste announcers before he became a coach. Literally can't stand them.

For Portland athletic swing man Jake Layman has been shelved. Perhaps he will make an appearance due to injuries but so far he has been MIA. Quite a shame. Layman is an excellent leaper.

C Meyers Leonard is strictly a scrub off the bench. That leaves rugged rebounder starter Enes Kanter and Zach Collins who comes off the bench.

Whispers are growing that Collins at the tender age of 21 has future star potential. A truly athletic big man oozing with potential he has swiftly become a very important player. No time like the present to announce yourself to the basketball world at large.

His youth plays against him as foul trouble continues to hinder him but name me a low post man left in these playoffs who is as intimidating as Collins?

The Bucks have the snow patrol. Ilyasova is an all around very good veteran and Nikola Mirotic can score in a hurry. Both have a decent amount of ranginess. In other words neither are white stiffs who just stand around waiting for the ball to be passed to them.

But the biggest attraction is Pat Connaughton. I wish he was a tad younger than 26 but at 6'5" he along with Mario Hezonja, who is 24, are the most athletic white players in the NBA if you were to quiz me.

PC is a true caste buster so if he plays well and the Bucks advance this could go a long way in undermining the caste brigade.

While I would like to include Jake Layman into this conversation but I can't since he hasn't been playing, to me the most important white players left in the playoffs are Zach Collins and high flying Pat Connaughton. They both register very high on the anti caste meter. Nothing wrong with that. The downside is both come off the bench but they get pretty hefty minutes for bench players.

And at their best both PC and Collins are exhilarating to watch!!

I agree. Connaughton has been a compelling player to watch since he was at Notre Dame. Incredible leaper, good shooter, fantastic rebounder for a guard. And Collins has excellent mobility and leaping ability for a seven-footer, as well as being a good outside shooter and shot blocker. Those two would make a Milwaukee -Portland final semi-watchable.

 

[Deceptive Speed]

Game 1 of the Portland vs Golden State series was tonight as GS won 116 to 94 . The Blazers still showed positive signs tonight as C Enes Kanter played did a good Nurkic impression (12 pts, 16 rbs), while 2nd yr PF Zach Collins emerged as a defensive anchor with (8 pts, 5 rbs, 2 blks). Collins proofed to be the x-factor late in the series vs Jokic and co, with a dominate defensive game 6 (14 pts, 5 rbs, and 4 blks!) and game 7 (8 pts, 6 rbs, and 5 blks)!!!

The Warriors played 2 whites over stretches tonight, with Defensive C Andrew Bogut 7'1 260 starting and doing a little bit of everything (4 pts, 4 rbs, 2 stls, and 1 blk). The other pale face PF Jonas Jerebko seems to have worked his way back into the rotation playing 16 mins for (9 pts, 5 rbs).