March 2014 Basketball Wiretap

Bryan Colangelo Admits Trying To Tank During Tenure With Raptors

Feb 28, 2014 4:55 PM

During a panel at the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, Bryan Colangelo admitted that the Toronto Raptors were attempting to tank during his tenure.

"Admittedly, I will say I tried to tank a few years ago," said Colangelo.

The Raptors finished the 10-11 season with a 22-60 record (.268 winning percentage) and a 23-43 record in 11-12 (.348 winning percentage).

The Raptors drafted Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross with the picks that came as a result of their record.

Colangelo added that during those seasons he was also trying to develop young players.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA CBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Sloan: Morey, Karl Discuss Why Teams Must Play Fast

Feb 28, 2014 1:35 PM

George Karl and Daryl Morey agreed that you cannot play a slow pace in today's NBA in a panel at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. Defenses are just too good, they said, with Morey citing Tom Thibodeau's ability to smother teams deep in the shot clock. The data show clearly that early scores are vital. 

Morey discussed the different use of Dwight Howard by the Houston Rockets. Stan Van Gundy ran set plays for Howard when he was with the Orlando Magic, but he is getting the ball with the Rockets in unpredictable situations and scoring efficiently.

A quick-hitting, fast-thinking attack wins.

Morey recalled reports the Rockets use to run on the effectiveness of different plays called by then-head coach Jeff Van Gundy was with Houston. Above all the set plays was a play categorized as Random, when a play call broke down and a random screen was set to free up a scorer. This was the most effective play.

Karl thought back to the time after the Denver Nuggets acquired Raymond Felton. Karl said he thought Felton was perhaps his best guard at the time but Lawson had the starting job. So to improve Denver's ability to make fast decisions, Karl played them together. Karl believes this may have started a trend in the league of a two-point guard offense. 

The panel discussed fouling up three in the closing seconds. Even though the numbers support taking the foul, it's not done widely. Karl cited a lack of devoted practice time to making sure teams can execute a two-shot foul. 

Morey said you should win the game almost always either way, but cited coaches wanting to show confidence in their defense to stop the three, or just the embarrassment factor of not wanting to give up the three-point foul.  Kobe Bryant was named as one of the best at anticipating the intentional foul and getting off an attempt from behind the arc as the contact is made.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Scout: Bosh Remains Same Guy He Was With Raptors, Except Better Shooter

Feb 27, 2014 12:45 PM

The value of Chris Bosh often gets lost for the Miami Heat with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade receiving so much more attention.

Erik Spoelstra has often emphasized how critical Bosh's role is to the Heat.

"One night when LeBron was out, he scored 37 against Portland," said one unnamed Western Conference scout. "He looked like the same guy he was in Toronto, except he's become a better shooter. He's really worked at it. He can really shoot the ball from 17, 18 feet. I think people working in the league recognize how valuable he is to that team, but to the public, it'll always be about LeBron and Dwyane Wade. It always will be and that's fine. But they might be able to advance further without Wade than if they were without Bosh. Without Bosh, they don't win the East. They just wouldn't be big enough. As good as LeBron is, they wouldn't have any post presence at all. Bosh is really their second guy behind LeBron now because of Wade's injuries. Everybody around the league knows it."

Chris Broussard/ESPN

Tags: Chris Bosh, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Scout Compares Kyrie Irving To Marbury

Feb 27, 2014 12:40 PM

An unnamed Western Conference scout offered Kyrie Irving as a player he has deemed to be overrated by the NBA community.

"I think Kyrie is overrated because he's the anointed one; he was the first pick in the draft, and his team doesn't win," said the scout.

"I think Kyrie is Stephon Marbury. Marbury was a great talent, too, but he never won. Steph was a pain in the butt, and Kyrie's not like that. He's not malicious. He's smart, he's more polished than Marbury. He's got the commercials and he's an engaging personality, but engaging only takes you so far. I really think he's just a scorer, and that's what Steph was. Kyrie can do whatever he wants to. He's got the ball on a string, he can get in the lane whenever he wants, but so far, he's chosen just to be a scorer rather than getting other guys involved. Guys say he doesn't trust his teammates, but you're talking about Luol Deng and Tristan Thompson. Those are good players. I'm just not buying into Kyrie."

Marbury was one of the best point guards in the NBA before his career dropped off under Larry Brown with the New York Knicks.

Chris Broussard/ESPN

Tags: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Paul, Rivers Improving Communication

Feb 26, 2014 10:59 AM

Chris Paul and Doc Rivers automatically share a kinship with their point guard mentalities.

"We obviously are starting to get a better feel for each other, and our communication," Paul said after Monday night's game in New Orleans. "We're two point guards always talking like that. At times we bump heads. But I think the thing that I love and I appreciate about Doc is that he is as involved in the game as I am. He wants to win just as bad as I do."

Rivers has allowed Paul the freedom to call the plays.

"I don't have to get up to call a play because he knows the play that I'm about to call," Rivers said. "He's already calling the set and we're into our sets with 23 and 22 seconds [left on the 24-second shot clock]. There's no turning around to see what I want and we're getting into the set with 16 seconds left. That's a big difference."

Broderick Turner/Los Angeles Times

Tags: Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Shaw: I Don't Hate Nuggets' Roster

Feb 26, 2014 10:56 AM

The Denver Nuggets have a 5-12 record since Jan. 17 as the season has begun to spiral out of Brian Shaw's control.

Shaw insists that he doesn't hate the Nuggets' roster.

“I can’t remember who it was that asked me yesterday; he said ‘Would you have taken this job with the roster, if it was just the guys who are healthy and playing right now would you have taken this job?’” Shaw said. “I said, after interviewing for head coaching jobs as many times as I did, 11 times prior to this interview, and not getting a job, I said ‘Yeah, I most likely would have taken it.’ But the expectation and everything else would have been different, knowing if there wasn’t going to be Gallo, JaVale (McGee), Nate (Robinson) for half the season and the situation be what it is.

“So, no, I don’t hate the roster. What I hate is having to beg guys to play. That simple. That shouldn’t be a part of what coaching should be. And circumstances are what they are. None of us asked for it.”

Injuries have plagued the Nuggets this season with Ty Lawson, JaVale McGee and Danilo Gallinari missing significant time.

Chris Dempsey/Denver Post

Tags: Denver Nuggets, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Pau Gasol Believes Lakers Are Lacking Discipline, Playing Too Much One-On-One

Feb 26, 2014 1:07 AM

Pau Gasol discussed the Los Angeles Lakers' poor play after the team's blowout loss to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night and was adamant players are going one-on-one too much and lack discipline.

Eleven of the Lakers' 15 players are under the final season of their contracts, and Gasol believes that plays a role in individual basketball.

"Probably. That's part of it," Gasol said. "But that's why you have to be disciplined and implement discipline. That's how you kind of make that better or make that not a factor. I don't think there's a lot of discipline right now."

Gasol suggested it is Mike D'Antoni's job to do so without actually naming the coach. Gasol also questioned the Lakers' small lineup against the Pacers, which matched up Wesley Johnson and David West.

"I wouldn't put that responsibility on [Kobe Bryant]. He's frustrated with his situation and his injuries," Gasol said. "I don't think he has to be the one implementing the discipline."

Mike Bresnahan/Los Angeles Times

Tags: Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Rockets Believe Defensive Rebounding Preventing Defense From Being Elite

Feb 25, 2014 4:18 PM

The Houston Rockets have given up 14.7 second chance points per game this season, which ranks second-worst in the NBA behind the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Rockets have given up just 7.3 per game during their three-game road trip and believe shoring up defensive rebound is the area is the only issue holding back the defense.

“That’s the only thing stopping our defense from being elite,” Chandler Parsons said. “You have to have understanding of time and place. You have to understand when to go (on a fast break) and when not to go.

“We knew defensive rebounding was a problem so we focused, watched film and fixed it.”

Jonathan Feigen/Houston Chronicle

Tags: Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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GM: Draft Picks Have Become More Valuable Due To Cheap Contracts, Four-Year Control

Feb 24, 2014 1:09 PM

Other than a truly elite player such as LeBron James or Kevin Durant, draft picks have become the NBA's most valued commodity.

Teams were reluctant to even trade second round picks at the deadline due to their increased value. Not only do picks represent an opportunity for teams to improve with young talent, but they also give teams the ability to do so on a cheap salary.

"Firsts are so valuable with the new rules and tax," an Eastern Conference GM texted Sunday. "For the better teams who are picking late as well as teams close to the tax, they are so valuable because you can get players on cheap contracts and control them for four years."

David Aldridge/NBA.com

Tags: NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA CBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Hinkie: 76ers' Approach In Rebuilding Could Be Viewed As Contrarian

Feb 24, 2014 12:56 PM

The Philadelphia 76ers are taking a somewhat radical approach in rebuilding their roster under Sam Hinkie, stripping the team down while accumulating as many draft assets as possible.

"We spend a lot of time with everybody in the organization making sure we are all focused on a singular purpose: to build something special for Philadelphia," Hinkie said by phone Sunday night. "That takes a willingness to look at things differently. It requires, at times, a contrarian approach, by definition. It requires it. And my role is to play the role of the steward, to focus on doing the best we know how with something that doesn't belong to me -- if anything, it belongs to the owner and it belongs to the fans. And I take that job very, very seriously. And it's very likely that we'll be unwavering."

The 76ers could have six of the top 40 or so picks and nine overall in the June draft.

David Aldridge/NBA.com

Tags: Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Popovich Believes Strategic Rest Extends Careers

Gary Washburn/Boston Globe

Wolves In Top-10 On Offense, Defense But 1-15 In Close Games

Steve McPherson/A Wolf Among Wolves

Thorn: Form Of Tanking 'Definitely A Strategy' For Front Offices

Henry Abbott/ESPN

Irving: Cavs Will Come Out Of Break With 'Higher Focus Level'

Mary Schmitt Boyer/The Plain Dealer

Chris Bosh At Peace With Being Complementary Star

Sam Amick/USA Today

Harrison Barnes: Coming Off Bench Has 'Been A Challenge'

Marcus Thompson II/San Jose Mercury News

Woodson: Injuries 'Main Thing' To Explain Record

Chris Herring/Wall Street Journal

Anthony Bennett May Have Fallen Out Of Top-10 If Not Picked By Cavaliers

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Warriors Hopeful Of Using Traded Player Exception To Upgrade Bench

Sam Amick/USA Today

Harden: It's Scary How Good Rockets Can Be

Jonathan Feigen/Houston Chronicle

Rivers 'Genuinely Sees Traits Of Russell' In DeAndre Jordan

Scott Howard-Cooper/NBA.com

Isaiah Thomas Learning To Find Balance Between Scoring, Distributing

Jason Jones/Sacramento Bee

Turner: I'm Having Career-Year And People Are Still Complaining

Gary Washburn/Boston Globe

Griffin: Cavs Have Compelling Talent

Bob Finnan/News Herald

Pelicans Sought Deep Roster With Players Difficult To Guard

Kevin Arnovitz/ESPN

Marcin Gortat Adjusts To Sacrificing Touches For Defensive Role On Wizards

Michael Lee/Washington Post

Kings Thought Rudy Gay Would Return To Form Playing With Strong Low Post Scorers

Matt Kawahara/Sacramento Bee

Doc Rivers: Clippers Must Become Consistent Defensively To Reach Elite Level

Dan Woike/Orange County Register

LeBron On Pace For Best Ever Season Shooting Percentage In Restricted Area

Couper Moorhead/NBA.com

Billy King: We've Found Our Personality With Smaller Lineups

Zach Lowe/Grantland