NBA thread

[debaserr]

I could do without Kenny but I'm a huge fan of Ernie. He always calls out Barkley's BS.

Magic is terrible and so are most of the ESPN analysts. They have better play by play too but Kerr and Albert are great.

[Dirty]

Originally Posted by eric generic

I could do without Kenny but I'm a huge fan of Ernie. He always calls out Barkley's BS.

Magic is terrible and so are most of the ESPN analysts. They have better play by play too but Kerr and Albert are great.

I liked the crew of Breen, Mark jackson, and Van Gundy. Sometimes their unrelated babble though annoyed me. I like how van Gundy calls out flops but sometimes he just won't shut up and starts talking about dumb rules he would have if he was commissioner. Pretty much as long as Hubie Brown isn't announcing the game I am somewhat happy. I hate that old bastard as an announcer

[debaserr]

Speaking of that crew, I'm so amazingly glad that Jackson is gone. He did nothing but spew superlatives and cliches. I wonder who will replace him.

[Dirty]

Originally Posted by eric generic

Speaking of that crew, I'm so amazingly glad that Jackson is gone. He did nothing but spew superlatives and cliches. I wonder who will replace him.

"Mama there goes that man again"

"Hand down...MAN DOWN"

"Thats a grown man move"

Classic Mark Jackson quotes. Yeah I was wondering who will replace him. Hopefully someone who actually gives some analyzing.

[debaserr]

Maybe Doris Burke. I like her, she does games now and then.

[Dirty]

Originally Posted by eric generic

Maybe Doris Burke. I like her, she does games now and then.

I like Doris but I think she's by far the best sideline reporter. I see her better suited to keep doing that. I'm not sure how she'd be as a commentator but I do think she really knows the game. Probably the most knowledgable female about NBA.

Yao Ming retires

Yao has called it quits. I feel bad for the guy, I think he would have been awesome if he entered the league 10 years earlier. The evolution of the athletic big man kinda doomed him. He wasn't exactly Kevin garnett in the way he defended pick and rolls but was always a good post defender. Considering his size I think he was incredibly skilled with his footwork and shot. Sad his feet gave out on him because of his size. He did put up some good numbers through his career when he was healthy and his biggest contribution was probably his reach into the chinese market. It seems like forever ago since he played last, but I always liked Yao even though I didn't think a team could ever win a ring with him (couldnt defend on perimeter, too big for his own good).

[debaserr]

I contemplated Yao's career after he got injured against the Lakers a few years back. You're right, he was too big and not athletic enough. However, he never had anyone good to play with. When T-Mac is your Robin you got problems. He probably could've been the best player on a championship team if the team was kinda stacked, but he wasn't carrying anyone there.

Speaking of big men, Dwight free agency looms large. The Lakers could probably make a package for him. Here are some fun scenarios to think about:

Dwight goes to:

OKC for Westbrook and misc parts. With Perk / Dwight / Ibaka that's pretty formidable. Dwight entering his prime while Durant continues to blossom.

Lakers for Odom / Bynum / misc. If Kobe can maintain somewhere near he has been(maybe just reduce usage and improve efficiency) while Dwight becomes dominant on the block under Pau's tutelage, wow.

Chicago for Noah / Deng / misc(Taj?). I'm sure people would be lining up to play with Rose / Dwight.

I doubt the Heat or Knicks have the pieces to pull off a trade. As cool as Blake / Dwight could be, big time players never choose to go to the Clips.

[Dirty]

Originally Posted by eric generic

I contemplated Yao's career after he got injured against the Lakers a few years back. You're right, he was too big and not athletic enough. However, he never had anyone good to play with. When T-Mac is your Robin you got problems. He probably could've been the best player on a championship team if the team was kinda stacked, but he wasn't carrying anyone there.

Speaking of big men, Dwight free agency looms large. The Lakers could probably make a package for him. Here are some fun scenarios to think about:

Dwight goes to:

OKC for Westbrook and misc parts. With Perk / Dwight / Ibaka that's pretty formidable. Dwight entering his prime while Durant continues to blossom.

Lakers for Odom / Bynum / misc. If Kobe can maintain somewhere near he has been(maybe just reduce usage and improve efficiency) while Dwight becomes dominant on the block under Pau's tutelage, wow.

Chicago for Noah / Deng / misc(Taj?). I'm sure people would be lining up to play with Rose / Dwight.

I doubt the Heat or Knicks have the pieces to pull off a trade. As cool as Blake / Dwight could be, big time players never choose to go to the Clips.

That's a good point about Yao. T-Mac was ALWAYS over rated in my opinion. I thought of him as a poor man's Vince Carter. Guy played no defense either and was nothing but a scorer. He didn't make anyone better.

Oh man the Dwight scenarios are fun to think about. I don't think OKC would ever happen. i think that would give them too much size. You'd have KD at the 2 spot if all 3 of them were in at once, and if they rotated you'd have Perkins as a pretty expensive backup center.

I think LA is probably most likely. They are never really concerned with rebuilding and it's just a matter of if they are willing to sacrifice their romance with Bynum. Dwight is the one stud who might make them pull the trigger. Kobe is still gonna go in the post and shoot his fadeaways, that will never change. But Dwight and gasol in the post would be ungodly lethal.

Bulls would be the most fun fit though. I have visions of Rose to Howard transition alley-oops and a ton of steals/blocks leading to fast breaks. They are already the best defensive team and this would make them easily the best. If they could pull off a trade without giving up Deng, they'd be management gods but I don't know if that could happen. I think Deng is a really under rated guy because he can slash and play versatile defense.

[debaserr]

I meant those 3 as your 4/5 rotation.

As a Lakers fan I pray for a trade to work out.

Slashing is overrated =P

[Dirty]

Originally Posted by eric generic

I meant those 3 as your 4/5 rotation.

As a Lakers fan I pray for a trade to work out.

Slashing is overrated =P

Oh well yeah that would be a sick rotation. I don't really think Perkins is that good to be honest. I think they signed him to a hefty extension post-trade. As much as Dwight and Ibaka foul though depth could be a great thing for them.

I still see Lakers getting him, what do you think of Sheldon brown? My brother is a huge Mich St fan so I've been watching him for years and I liked what I saw at times this year. He seemed more confident in taking shots and being aggressive. Freak athlete, I didn't pay attention to his defense much but Lakers could sure use some guys to push the tempo once in awhile. They need to figure out what they are gonna do at point guard though for next year. I think them losing the way they did for the Mavs helps their chances at getting Howard. Even though he wouldn't have solved the problem, I think they want to shake things up and get some new blood in there.

Not sure if you're being sarcastic about slashing, but yeah it is a little over rated just because so many guys cna do it. Seems like everyone has a 6 foot 7 to 6 foot 9 slasher. But I think Deng is one of the better defensive 3-men in the league and the Bulls pride themselves on defense under Thibodeau.