NBA Basketball

Interesting NBA game today. Golden State Warriors @ San Antonio Spurs

If The Golden State Warriors win then it remains possible that they'll break the record for most wins in a season. The record is currently held by the Jordan era Chicago Bulls who went 72-10 in the 95-96 season. FiveThirtyEight puts the chances of the Warriors achieving this at 22.6% (they give the chance that they'll tie the Bulls at 81.3%)

On the other side of the coin, the San Antonio Spurs are currently 39-0 at home. No team has ever gone undefeated at home in a season before. The current record is held by the Bird era Boston Celtics who went 40-1 in the 85-86 season.

Only one of these teams can break a record this season. We'll find out later today who.

Don't follow the NBA much, but I love fivethirtyeight. I won $540 on my march madness pool this year without having watched any college basketball, just picked solid looking upsets using the %#* predictions model.

Brilliant. I mainly follow fivethirtyeight for their politics enjoy their sports coverage as well.

Anyway, the Warriors won yesterday. Fivethirtyeight have upgraded their chances of breaking the record at 93%. Just need to beat the Memphis Grizzlies at home on Thursday.

Do you listen to their podcasts? There one for the US elections is really good.

I'll have to give them a shot.

Kiwi Alert. Steven Adams (youngest of 18 siblings, brother of Valerie Adams) of the Oklahoma City Thunder had a pretty great game today -- 16 points and 12 rebounds. His +/- of +19 was more than double anyone else.

He helped his team beat the Golden State Warriors 108-102 to take the first game of the Western Conference Final. The Warriors were strong favourites to take this game but this result has definitely shaken things up.

FiveThirtyEight has adjusted their predictions to name the Thunder as their new favourite (by a very slim margin).

Out of interest, have you ever seen someone on the street wearing an OKC singlet?

I've seen a few in Auckland: all with Kevin Durant's name on it.

Seen a couple of Adams ones down here in Wellington.

The average height of an Adams male is like 6 foot 8 inches? Hard to miss.

Bren wrote:The average height of an Adams male is like 6 foot 8 inches? Hard to miss.

Yes but only 6'2 when huddled over leaning into the the wind!

Elsteveo wrote:

Bren wrote:The average height of an Adams male is like 6 foot 8 inches? Hard to miss.

Yes but only 6'2 when huddled over leaning into the the wind!

We don't huddle...we do lean though...

Stunning day in the Capital no huddling or leaning required.
Cant wait for tip off should be 1pm NZ time.
Thunder Up!

Game 4 about to start. Thunder are up 2-1 in the series.

Should be a good game.

Hopefully no one kicks Steven Adams in the nuts today.

I'm guessing Cleveland are hot favourites to win the whole thing?

FiveThirtyEight has the Thunder as the favourite (54% chance vs 32% chance for Cleveland vs 12% chance for Golden State)

TAB has Cleveland as favourites. ($1.90 for Cleveland vs $2.60 for the Thunder vs $4.00 for the Warriors)

With the action moving back to Oakland, the Golden State Warriors grabbed a win over the Thunder and force a game 6 which will happen Sunday @ 1pm New Zealand time.

I cheekily streamed some of the game at work. Good game, both teams playing well.

Bonus: my favourite TV moment involving Oakland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS_aZbtDeoQ

The New Zealand Thunder (I'm claiming them as our own for now -- we outnumber the state of Oklahoma so I think we're good) play the Golden State Warriors today in Game 6. Tipoff at 1pm.

If the Thunder win, they'll face the Lebron James Cavaliers in the NBA finals. If the Warriors win, then they'll need to play a Game 7 back in Oakland.

Streaming live now in my man cave! Haven't watched any of the games so far but the hype has got me interested.

Ironically thunderstorms have just begun down in the bay of plenty

Adams, Fuck yeah..