NBA thread

~~Dirty~~ · 12-08-2010, 05:08 AM

Well it has always baffled me why Shaq can't make more than around 50% of his foul shots. I don't understand how any NBA player could shoot under around 70% to be honest. Shaq has taken a million foul shots by now. But then again I kinda understand, shaq has probably never actually shot a basketball in his life outside of 5 feet from the rim. His incredible size and strength allows him basically to camp out under the rim and wait for dunks. I just think the hack a Shaq is cheap. I understand fouling him when he has the ball, but they would put bench warmers in the game to immediately foul him as soon as the ball was imbounded. Just cheap. But to Shaq's credit, he did make a lot more foul shots when they counted and when teams would do the hack-A-Shaq

debaserr · 12-18-2010, 04:17 PM

holy crap the magic made some trades today:

R. Lewis for G. Arenas

V. Carter, M. Gortat, and M. Pietrus for H. Turkoglu, J. Richardson, and E. Clark.

possible starting 5:

Howard
Bass
Turkoglu
Richardson
Nelson/Arenas

looks pretty damn good. I'm excited to see them play. I'm guessing they will use Arenas as a 6th man scorer type, but he could surely start. maybe they will dump nelson for a big man or something.

clarksided · 12-25-2010, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirty

Well it has always baffled me why Shaq can't make more than around 50% of his foul shots.

It's like your or I shooting with an orange, that's why.

~~Dirty~~ · 12-28-2010, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric generic

holy crap the magic made some trades today:

R. Lewis for G. Arenas

V. Carter, M. Gortat, and M. Pietrus for H. Turkoglu, J. Richardson, and E. Clark.

possible starting 5:

Howard
Bass
Turkoglu
Richardson
Nelson/Arenas

looks pretty damn good. I'm excited to see them play. I'm guessing they will use Arenas as a 6th man scorer type, but he could surely start. maybe they will dump nelson for a big man or something.

Wow what a huge day for the Magic... I love the Lewis for Arenas trade. Both have huge, undeserved contracts but Arenas brings more to the table. Lewis is 6'10" but the only thing he can do is shoot 3s. Arenas can handle the ball, run pick and rolls, and run in transition. Love that move... Arenas is gonna be great off the bench for Orlando and give them some quick scoring when guys need a breather. And he can score in bunches.

Love the other trade too. Vince has definitely lost a step. I've watched a few games this year where Vince's guy just blows right by him, and he isn't the marquee scorer he used to be. Good job of getting him out of town before he really declines. I like Pietrus as a small forward off the bench, and I think Gortat was probably the single most valuable backup in the league. But Richardson is under rated, he shoots the 3 and is great at the rim, and Turkoglu was terrible at his stops in Toronto and Phoenix but he was great for the Magic before and really understands that offense. I watched him play the other night and it was like he never left.

I like the trade for the Suns and Wizards too. Wiz get rid of Arenas who has been a cancer in that city ever since he signed that gigantic contract a few years ago. And Gilbert goofing around and hogging the ball isn't great for John Wall's progression either. Suns got some solid pieces and Turkoglu wasn't doing anything in that offense either and they got a 1st round pick. So it's a win-win for everyone in my book. But the Magic are DEFINITELY not finished trading. They NEED a backup big man for when Dwight inevitably gets in foul trouble. They are crazy if they think they are beating Boston in a 7 game series with the crazy depth the Celts have at big man. I just wonder who is really available that they could get?? Not many big men come to mind. If they could land a guy like Biedrins for Golden State I think someone like that would be a great pickup.

Anyone watch the Christmas day games? Particularly the Lakers-Heat game? Wow, I was really impressed with Miami and for the first time in years I am worried about the Lakers. They haven't played a tough schedule and are already a handful of games behind the Spurs and Mavs for home court. They better right the ship fast. For the Heat to go into LA and manhandle the Lakers like that showed me a lot. Ever since Miami thrashed the Cavs in Cleveland they have been a totally different team. You can throw there slow start out the window cause this is the team right now that we all thought they'd be. They are rolling.

~~Dirty~~ · 12-30-2010, 07:07 PM

Just gotta comment on what the Spurs are doing... After demolishing the Lakers the other night, I have to acknowledge how great San Antonio is playing this season, despite my hate for them (though my hate has lessened now that Horry and Bowen are gone). Duncan deserves a ton of credit. Not many super stars would be comfortable altering their game like he has. He can still score if he isn't doubled in the post, but they have really brought along their young guys and they are a running transition team now. Ginobili and Parker are still two of the toughest guys to guard in the league and they have a lot of firepower from the outside. Just really, really impressed with what they are doing right now.

debaserr · 12-30-2010, 07:18 PM

I think it's more about the lakers just playing poorly. At the end of the year I still bet LA comes out of the west. It's been painful watching kobe run so many isolations.

the spurs are an outstanding passing team, better than any others I've seen this year. having said that...

I agree that parker is extremely difficult to defend.

a sound defender should be able to corral ginobili. so much of his game is reliant on making defenders pay for making the wrong play. someone that doesn't jump for his up-fakes etc would do fine(kobe, allen, wade).

other than parker, they don't really have that many people that can create their own shot. something that will be key come playoff time(ditto for the mavs).

~~Dirty~~ · 12-30-2010, 07:39 PM

Lakers are playing terrible right now. I think they are trying to figure out how to work Bynum back into the mix, and Gasol and Odom have been playing a ton of minutes while Bynum was out. I really think Bynum could eventually be a force in the post. He's still really young and he has a great body for a big man. Pretty thick and has a big wingspan too. Lakers just look old to me. Teams are just running them out of the gym, they can't get out in transition and run. I still think they are coming out of the west too, but right now I definetly don't see them getting the 1 seed at this point. They are already like 6 games back of the Spurs for home court. Kobe is trying to do too much, he's taking a lot of tough shots right now. I think he needs to throw the ball down to Gasol more, I love his post game and he's a great passing big man.

Good defenders have been trying to guard Manu for years. Lefties are always tough it seems. He is shooting lights out right now though, I don't think anyone can guard him right now. Parker is tricky cause he doesn't shoot the long ball, but he is so sneaky at getting points in the paint. and when he drives he has guys like Hill, Bonner, and Neal hanging around the 3 point line waiting for a kick out.

KG went down the other night. I guess it isn't serious, but Boston has had a ton of injuries this year. A lot of pressure on Pierce right now to hold the fort down. Good thing they stocked up on depth in the post or else they'd be really screwed. I love watching Boston play when they are healthy, it's just beautiful on both ends of the court.

debaserr · 12-30-2010, 08:51 PM

it's not about chemistry with bynum, he's been in and out of the lineup for years. they just aren't moving the ball well.

bynum has been a force for years, he just has to split touches with three other excellent offensive weapons(kobe, pau, odom). his biggest problem isn't his skill level. he's injury prone.

it's too early to talk about seeding. but they certainly have dug themselves a hole.

~~Dirty~~ · 01-02-2011, 10:55 PM

Well as I am typing this, Lakers are getting their asses kicked by the Grizzlies... at home. It probably is too early to talk about seeding, but the Lakers are digging themselves a huge hole right now, losing to teams like Memphis at home, while the Spurs are crushing teams like the Thunder.

The bad teams keep getting worse. Clippers, Wizards, and Kings are all making a run at the #1 draft pick again... If either of those teams gets the first pick though, they could be really serious contenders in a few years. Imagine adding a #1 overall pick beside a John Wall or Blake Griffin. Or beside Tyreke Evans and Cousins.

debaserr · 01-02-2011, 11:25 PM

seems like the lakers may be suffering from the disease of more(TM Bill Simmons). PS, have you read:

I highly recommend it for any NBA fan.

I feel like Wall and Griffin are destined for greatness. they are absolute studs with chips on their shoulders. Cousins has the skill to, but I'm not sure how long it will take for him to figure his shit out(his post moves are better than 80% of the big men in this league already).

I don't think Evans has the drive to be great. he's one of those kids that was treated as if his shit didn't stink from an early age, and I doubt he had many people telling him how stuff really was. he won ROY because he was used so much(they finished with 25 wins, not that he had much help). he is a very good young player. I just don't think he has what it takes to be a hall of famer type.

12-18-2010, 04:17 PM	#822 (permalink)
debaserr eat the masters Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5,470	holy crap the magic made some trades today: R. Lewis for G. Arenas V. Carter, M. Gortat, and M. Pietrus for H. Turkoglu, J. Richardson, and E. Clark. possible starting 5: Howard Bass Turkoglu Richardson Nelson/Arenas looks pretty damn good. I'm excited to see them play. I'm guessing they will use Arenas as a 6th man scorer type, but he could surely start. maybe they will dump nelson for a big man or something. __________________ Last.FM

12-30-2010, 07:18 PM	#826 (permalink)
debaserr eat the masters Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5,470	I think it's more about the lakers just playing poorly. At the end of the year I still bet LA comes out of the west. It's been painful watching kobe run so many isolations. the spurs are an outstanding passing team, better than any others I've seen this year. having said that... I agree that parker is extremely difficult to defend. a sound defender should be able to corral ginobili. so much of his game is reliant on making defenders pay for making the wrong play. someone that doesn't jump for his up-fakes etc would do fine(kobe, allen, wade). other than parker, they don't really have that many people that can create their own shot. something that will be key come playoff time(ditto for the mavs). __________________ Last.FM

12-30-2010, 08:51 PM	#828 (permalink)
debaserr eat the masters Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5,470	it's not about chemistry with bynum, he's been in and out of the lineup for years. they just aren't moving the ball well. bynum has been a force for years, he just has to split touches with three other excellent offensive weapons(kobe, pau, odom). his biggest problem isn't his skill level. he's injury prone. it's too early to talk about seeding. but they certainly have dug themselves a hole. __________________ Last.FM

01-02-2011, 11:25 PM	#830 (permalink)
debaserr eat the masters Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5,470	seems like the lakers may be suffering from the disease of more(TM Bill Simmons). PS, have you read: I highly recommend it for any NBA fan. I feel like Wall and Griffin are destined for greatness. they are absolute studs with chips on their shoulders. Cousins has the skill to, but I'm not sure how long it will take for him to figure his shit out(his post moves are better than 80% of the big men in this league already). I don't think Evans has the drive to be great. he's one of those kids that was treated as if his shit didn't stink from an early age, and I doubt he had many people telling him how stuff really was. he won ROY because he was used so much(they finished with 25 wins, not that he had much help). he is a very good young player. I just don't think he has what it takes to be a hall of famer type. __________________ Last.FM Last edited by debaserr; 01-02-2011 at 11:31 PM.

12-08-2010, 05:08 AM	#821 (permalink)
~~Dirty~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA Posts: 981	Well it has always baffled me why Shaq can't make more than around 50% of his foul shots. I don't understand how any NBA player could shoot under around 70% to be honest. Shaq has taken a million foul shots by now. But then again I kinda understand, shaq has probably never actually shot a basketball in his life outside of 5 feet from the rim. His incredible size and strength allows him basically to camp out under the rim and wait for dunks. I just think the hack a Shaq is cheap. I understand fouling him when he has the ball, but they would put bench warmers in the game to immediately foul him as soon as the ball was imbounded. Just cheap. But to Shaq's credit, he did make a lot more foul shots when they counted and when teams would do the hack-A-Shaq

12-30-2010, 07:07 PM	#825 (permalink)
~~Dirty~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA Posts: 981	Just gotta comment on what the Spurs are doing... After demolishing the Lakers the other night, I have to acknowledge how great San Antonio is playing this season, despite my hate for them (though my hate has lessened now that Horry and Bowen are gone). Duncan deserves a ton of credit. Not many super stars would be comfortable altering their game like he has. He can still score if he isn't doubled in the post, but they have really brought along their young guys and they are a running transition team now. Ginobili and Parker are still two of the toughest guys to guard in the league and they have a lot of firepower from the outside. Just really, really impressed with what they are doing right now.

12-30-2010, 07:39 PM	#827 (permalink)
~~Dirty~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA Posts: 981	Lakers are playing terrible right now. I think they are trying to figure out how to work Bynum back into the mix, and Gasol and Odom have been playing a ton of minutes while Bynum was out. I really think Bynum could eventually be a force in the post. He's still really young and he has a great body for a big man. Pretty thick and has a big wingspan too. Lakers just look old to me. Teams are just running them out of the gym, they can't get out in transition and run. I still think they are coming out of the west too, but right now I definetly don't see them getting the 1 seed at this point. They are already like 6 games back of the Spurs for home court. Kobe is trying to do too much, he's taking a lot of tough shots right now. I think he needs to throw the ball down to Gasol more, I love his post game and he's a great passing big man. Good defenders have been trying to guard Manu for years. Lefties are always tough it seems. He is shooting lights out right now though, I don't think anyone can guard him right now. Parker is tricky cause he doesn't shoot the long ball, but he is so sneaky at getting points in the paint. and when he drives he has guys like Hill, Bonner, and Neal hanging around the 3 point line waiting for a kick out. KG went down the other night. I guess it isn't serious, but Boston has had a ton of injuries this year. A lot of pressure on Pierce right now to hold the fort down. Good thing they stocked up on depth in the post or else they'd be really screwed. I love watching Boston play when they are healthy, it's just beautiful on both ends of the court.

01-02-2011, 10:55 PM	#829 (permalink)
~~Dirty~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA Posts: 981	Well as I am typing this, Lakers are getting their asses kicked by the Grizzlies... at home. It probably is too early to talk about seeding, but the Lakers are digging themselves a huge hole right now, losing to teams like Memphis at home, while the Spurs are crushing teams like the Thunder. The bad teams keep getting worse. Clippers, Wizards, and Kings are all making a run at the #1 draft pick again... If either of those teams gets the first pick though, they could be really serious contenders in a few years. Imagine adding a #1 overall pick beside a John Wall or Blake Griffin. Or beside Tyreke Evans and Cousins.