2013-2014 NBA Season

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Problem OKC has is that they keep drafting good players and eventually they are going to have to pay them. It isn't really a "problem" per se but the Lakers, Heat, Knicks, Clippers, etc are willing to go over cap to do so and OKC won't. Despite all the changes and tweaks to the cap the big market teams still have a big advantage that a few have traded in by hiring Billy King or letting the wrong family member run the team like Jim Buss (and I'm sure if Dolan has a sister she could do better than him too)

The part about OKC simply isn't true. They are willing to go over the cap, they just aren't going to do it carelessly. I assume you mean the luxury tax threshold, not the cap. I say this because they already were willing to do it to keep Harden. The offer they made would have had them over the number immediately.

They are being careful now not to go over it this year because of the repeater penalties. They know they will go over soon. There really isn't any way to avoid it with the long terms deals of Durant, Westbrook, and Ibaka.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

The part about OKC simply isn't true. They are willing to go over the cap, they just aren't going to do it carelessly. I assume you mean the luxury tax threshold, not the cap. I say this because they already were willing to do it to keep Harden. The offer they made would have had them over the number immediately.

They are being careful now not to go over it this year because of the repeater penalties. They know they will go over soon. There really isn't any way to avoid it with the long terms deals of Durant, Westbrook, and Ibaka.

Right. Going over the cap slightly or once isnt a big deal if you are a contender. But you have other teams that are willing to just pay no mind to the tax, even the repeater tax which small market teams just cant afford to do. The Nets and Knicks are so far over its a joke. Now they are over because they both have a lot of older guys who make far more money than their current skills say they should which shows in their records. But if they actually hired good GM's and let them do their job it would be unfair for them to just keep signing and keeping guys and paying the tax AND winning. No one complains a lot now because the 2 highest payroll teams stink.

[JJP]

Should be a good game tonight in OK-C. 5th game in 7 nights for Portland, not to mention the second of a back to back.

[Duvalier]

Originally Posted by JJP

Should be a good game tonight in OK-C. 5th game in 7 nights for Portland, not to mention the second of a back to back.

And a questionable Batum...

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Duvalier

And a questionable Batum...

I got off my butt so I have time to go tonight. Looking forward to it.

[Duvalier]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

I got off my butt so I have time to go tonight. Looking forward to it.

Batum looks like he'll give it a try...hopefully they play a little bit on the defensive end tonight. I'm sure the Thunder don't forget letting that one slip away three weeks ago. I don't see Durant being held to one point in the 4th quarter tonight.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Right. Going over the cap slightly or once isnt a big deal if you are a contender. But you have other teams that are willing to just pay no mind to the tax, even the repeater tax which small market teams just cant afford to do. The Nets and Knicks are so far over its a joke. Now they are over because they both have a lot of older guys who make far more money than their current skills say they should which shows in their records. But if they actually hired good GM's and let them do their job it would be unfair for them to just keep signing and keeping guys and paying the tax AND winning. No one complains a lot now because the 2 highest payroll teams stink.

We'll see how it plays out when the penalties get severe. Right now, it hasn't really kicked in. It will in the next couple years, and we'll see how long the big market teams continue to pay the tax. I don't think they will be as willing as in the past.

Love or hate Mark Cuban, he is a smart guy and a very rich guy, and he wants no parts of the penalties.

[RockHardTen1985]

Hard to believe Portland can even be competitive tonight with the hard stretch of games they have had.
OKC opens at 3, up to 6.5 and 7 at some places.

[RockHardTen1985]

Durant is playing crazy good basketball right now.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

Hard to believe Portland can even be competitive tonight with the hard stretch of games they have had.
OKC opens at 3, up to 6.5 and 7 at some places.

Amazingly, down 95-90 with 3:45 to go, they covered without an OT.

Durant was once again otherworldly tonight.

[Duvalier]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Amazingly, down 95-90 with 3:45 to go, they covered without an OT.

Durant was once again otherworldly tonight.

When Kendrick Perkins hit's that kind of shot late in the game, that's a killer.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Duvalier

When Kendrick Perkins hit's that kind of shot late in the game, that's a killer.

That is actually a shot he never took before a few weeks ago, but he must have been practicing it because he has taken five or six in that time and made 3 of them.

[JJP]

Tough loss for anybody who bet Portland. Blazers were getting 6 from the Thunder, and led 95-90 with 3:45 to play. Thunder closes out the game with a 15-2 run, capped by a pair of Durant 3 pointers in the final 45 seconds.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Amazingly, down 95-90 with 3:45 to go, they covered without an OT.

Durant was once again otherworldly tonight.

Durant is playing amazing right now. They will be tough with a healthy Westbrook.