This Week's Show
Brian and Dre are back to talk the playoffs, Steph Curry's MVP, and Blake Griffin's assists.
Hosts
- Andres Alvarez(@nerdnumbers)
- Produced by Brian Foster(@boxscorebrian)
Sources
Please subscribe to Channel NerdNumbers on YouTube and like us on iTunes!
Video Show
This Week's Poll
Show Notes
Floyd Mayweather
Floyd Mayweather has a history of domestic abuse. It turns out many people misunderstand the relationship between an abuser and their victim. This is a subject Patrick and Brian talked in depth on last week's show.
We make some of our usual comparisons to wrestling including Chris Benoit.
Brian points out that Steven A. Smith has said unacceptable things. However, it's similar to a coach in pro-sports. Namely, if he left ESPN tomorrow, there'd be another talking head with similar points propped up by ESPN in a week.
The issue with a lot of popular sports and activities (like Wrestling) is they are not divorced from glorifying violence. And many of them also have issues with brain damage that has many consequences, including aggression and abuse.
The reality is there's a lot of cognitive dissonance in being a sports fan.
The specific problem many sports fans have is called "The Halo Effect." When we like someone for one thing, we like to assume they're good in all aspects. Obviously this is not the case.
Playoffs
People often forget the blemishes in the past when it comes to sports. It's always amusing to see people act outraged about a recent athlete's transgressions, e.g. Alex Rodriguez.
Bonds 762* Aaron 755* Ruth 714* Mays 660* ARod 660* The asterisks are for PED's, amphetamines, & only playing against white people
— Dan Hirsch (@DanHirsch) May 2, 2015
Reminder, Steph Curry is one of the greatest NBA teams in history.
We want to believe old eras were better. We also want to believe older greats, e.g. Michael Jordan, were much better than modern era players. That's not exactly the case.
Steph Curry just had the greatest three-point shooting season in the history of the NBA.
Reminder, Steph Curry's per-minute performance this season was better than every one of Michael Jordan's seasons except 1988-1989.
Stephen J. Gould talks about peak performance and how players get closer to each other in skill over time.
That said, the short supply of tall people in the NBA makes me think that stars from eras could still dominate with modern training, medicine, etc.
A reason people defend players like Michael Jordan is their postseason success. So much of this is out of the players control. Tracy McGrady for instance put up big games in deciding playoff games. Sadly, his teams still lost.
Also, postseason success can be rough given your era. The last decade in the West has been filled with some fantastic squads. The rules say all of them couldn't win a title every year.
@SmoothsHoops In the West though. I mean come on - Dirk-Mavs, Nash-Suns, Duncan-Spurs, Kobe-Lakers. It's like Attitude Era of Western Conf.
— Andrés Alvarez (@NerdNumbers) May 3, 2015
Blake Griffin's age curve would have indicated a jump was coming this season. He pulled a Vince Carter and plateaued.
However, is Blake Griffin pulling a Shaq for the playoffs? His performance so far has been absurdly good.
Injuries matter a ton. Mike Conley being out matters. Anyone that says otherwise is selling you something.
Despite what Brian says, Kawhi had a very strong series against the Clippers. He did have a few weak games though.
If the NBA playoffs were seeded by point differential, then the Spurs and Clippers would be the #2 and #3 if we adjust for strength of schedule.
We talk a bit why I'm more ok with Blake Griffin as a "stretch four" as compared to say LaMarcus Aldridge.
It can be rough to assess players that are played "out of position", like Dirk Nowitzki.
I tried to compare MVP and title teams to movies that won "Best Picture." Except, it turns out this is a pretty stupid award that doesn't seem to line up with what we remember as good movies.
Shout Outs
Patrick's first shout out is to Jim Park. The reason should be obvious.
My bold prediction for the Warriors this season: Top 5 O & D, Top team in the West, Curry gets 50/40/90 and the league's MVP.
— Jim Park (@SheridanBlog) October 16, 2014
I shout out Christopher Long for the following hilarious tweet.
Hack-a-Shaq is the name that would have kept Radio Shack in business.
— Christopher D. Long (@octonion) May 3, 2015
Brian shouts out the unflappable Tony Allen