NBA thread
 

ah, my search button never works so,

Isaiah Thomas, what's with this guy?
Can anyone stop the C's?
If they beat the Bulls record of 72 wins, I won't really consider them a better team. They'll have to 3peat. I hope they do. I've always liked Ray Allen, and Garnett is still a young man. Allen's actually older, and look how many years Reggie Miller sat out on the arc draining threes.
That's my realistic side talking, I would really want The Rockets or the Cavs to win this year, but honestly I don't think McGrady even likes winning, and the Cavs probably don't have enough answers for the Celtics.
I'm real impressed with Kobe, and I even had a suspicion last year he was talking all that crunk about his teammates just to light a fire under them. I really disliked Kobe when he came in the league, but he's got a strong mind and strong heart to deal with the rape trial, and a great NBA coach writing a book about how selfish you are. He just kept plugging along, and now he's poised to be one of the best ever. Props, Kobe

I've lost interest in the cavs season

pissin me off

yes, but as soon as football season ends the NBA always ratchets it up a few notches, they realize, it's the months between football and that other sport Americans used to love, and the NBA, and NHL realize it's their time to shine. sad but true. That is, I wish basketball was more watched than football.
I always laugh when I hear idiot radio DJ's furthering their stupid agenda's that football is man's sport. They always make jokes about the criminals and thugs that run up and down the 90 foot hardwood these days, but it's so plainly obvious the NFL has players with much worse character. The last time I remember an NBA player being in a lot of controversy was Sprewell strangling his coach 10 years ago. (petty drug arrests notwithstanding) There have been several worse cases than that in the NFL within the last year. Let's not even get into baseball.

I agree, Portland will be a contender: I'll say somewhere in the 50-win range. A team needs to be full of savvy veterans before they can think of winning 70.
The Warriors should have never traded JRich, but I think they'll make the playoffs.

i turned on basketball a few times and i've seen nothing. i've also not heard anything by the Sonics on the news lately. that and i dont really watch the news.

Sonics are doing horrible. Young team..Durant has proven himself an amazing player this year though.

yeah. thats probably the reason i havent been hearing much good news about em. i wish they were as popular as they were years ago when they actually had some good moments. but they're old news...

Bulls are playing like **** this year, but the Heat are playing even worse.


So I guess the latter makes up for the former.

Portland is the next San Antonio...5 years from now...

Miami has an excuse...either Shaq or Wade..or both have been injured for the majority of the season.

And Shaq fouls out of every other game...D-Wade is quietly having his best season ever. Not statistically, but just look how he breaks down the constant double teams thrown at him because no one bothers to cover Dorell ****ing Wright or whatever 8th man they happen to be starting.

Lakers get Pau Gasol.

I don't know if they're the team to beat out West.
I still think the Spurs are better.
I have a hard time seeing him in Laker's jersey.
It seems like he could really shine out there, and be 20 ppg scorer.
Someone said the Lakers now have the best talent in the league.
Lakers talent > Celtics talent. I lawled

Both Odom and Gasol are very smart posts. I really look forward to seeing them play together as well as the ever improving Bynum.

Gasol will have a huge leap in scoring.

Shaq goes to Suns for Marion and Banks. I know this is now old news...but I thought I'd keep the thread updates. I hate Marion..he wanted to leave because he couldn't stand not being the #1 go to guy on the team. I also dont think Wade and him will have much chemistry.

What the f....?
I had no idea. Well, most basketball insiders think Shawn Marion is the most underrated player in the league, and I think he's pretty good. I wouldn't say I particularly care for him that much (or that 1st grade looking, volleyball-setting, push the ball up from your chest jump shot of his), but I think he makes them a lot better team. I definitely predict the Heat are back in the playoffs next year. As for the Suns, I don't know why they'd want a slow, old man on their team with their hyper-up tempo style of play, but not like the Suns are ever going to win anything anyway.

Shawn Marion wanted to leave...why would you keep someone with that attitude. Shaq has really never had a REAL power forward to play with...I think we'll see some interesting stuff from him and Stode.

That's true. I would actually give them a better chance next year.
Shaq off season rehab, then make one last finals push, then I think he still has one more year on his contract after that. I think the trade actually benefited both teams.
Kind of like that Boston/Minnesota trade :P

Fast breaks almost always are with the 1, 2, and 3 spots, the center almost never is in on it.

Dwight Howard won the dunk contest........
I don't even know who won the all-star game, or care
I guess DH didn't even make his final dunk, and won it anyway, that reminds me of that year that Nate Robinson won it, and made the dunk on, like, his 1,000th attempt.
Gerald Green did a dunk where he went up and blew out a candle in a cupcake on the rim, now that takes hops. I haven't seen it, but he would have had to have his head above the rim..........I would have like to seen that one win it.
They ought to be bring Josh Smith back, btw, who is a legitimate candidate for Defensive POY.

JKidd is dealt to the Mavs.........from what I've heard. Goes back to town he started in, only this time they're good. I would actually like to see him play with Nowitzki, the Mavs are pretty up tempo. I'm impressed by Kidd's longevity, seems like he's still near All-Star playing level. Pretty impressive for 14th year guy.

how about the Cleveland boys both winning All Star MVP's

LeBron (of course) and Boobie Gibson

shame everyone else on the roster except AV and Big Z suck right now

How about mah boi Jason Kapono winning the 3 point again.

former Cavalier

Yes, but you're forgetting, aside from the fast breaks off of steals and missed shots, the Suns also like to semi-fast break off of made baskets by the other team.
That's where Stoudemire gets a lot of his dunks from.

Cavs just picked up Ben Wallace. Man, I hope he can regain his Pistons form. Unlike Gooden, he doesn't need to make shots to get involved in the game. I'm not sure if this makes them a big contender.
I can see the Cavs going to 2nd or 3rd round of the playoffs every year, until they get James a legitimate 2nd scorer. They need a good running big man, like a Dirk Nowitzki type.

with the expiring contracts Cleveland has after this season.

they will have over $17m to throw at Gilbert Arenas or Elton brand

I would far rather be on the Chicago side of this trade. Ben Wallace's body is breakin down...hes just not the same quick big man that he used to be. Larry Hughes is a legit point guard. His shooting in the past years has made him a real threat.

plus, Hughes is a good defender.......
my Rockets picked up Gerald Green, but they lost Bonzi Wells.........
Here's a question for some of you NBA fans,
Remember when Steve Francis used to be good? Is there some kind of injury I don't know about? because Rafter Alston is ahead of him on the depth chart.
Francis used to be a perennial All-Star.

Do you also ever think about how the Knicks can be so bad with so many talented players who just dont ever shine. Minus Crawford who is an up and coming.

And Hughes..is a GREAT defender.

Shaq's the inbounder...And he helps them get more fast breaks off of missed shots.

Here are some playoff picks.

I like either the Celtics or the Pistons to win it all, because they both might sweep their first 2 series, and the West is so stacked, that I think all the teams will be worn out by the time they reach the Conference Finals.
I mean Dallas is a #7 seed, Dallas.
They have Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, and Jason Kidd
I'm really proud of Houston, they made a lot of progress this year, but without Yao, this just isn't their year. It could be anyone from the West. I'll take whoever wins that San Antonio/Phoenix Suns series.
Utah-still too young, New Orleans-still too young, Denver-too young/old, Lakers-no Bynum, no ring, Dallas-had their shot 2 years ago, Orlando-still too young, Washington-can't believe they made in, great perimeter play, need better bigs, Cleveland-M.J. knows you can't do it all alone, Philadelphia-like the coach, not their year, Toronto-still too young, Atlanta-f*cking East, they've got some talent, but it's not happening.

I'll take the Celtics, look for some great play by old time pointguards:
Derek Fisher
Sam Cassell-he might be their difference maker
Mike Bibby

yea, I agree with most of your picks. Cleveland will once again beat Washington again. I'd love to see the Raps beat out Orlando and make the second round at least. But yea, the heavy weights are as always San Antonio, Phoenix, Detroit, and this year Boston. And yea, out of the west..I say San Antonio. But could you imagine a Laker - Sun Conference finals series. I think that would be off the chain.

I think the whole Western Conference will be off the chains from start to finish this year. I really believe anybody's capable of beating anybody out there. Too bad, I won't get to see much of it, but at least I'll hear the games on radio.

I'm picking a Lakers-Celtics finals. The Lakers front line os one of the best in the NBA without Bynum...The Celtics have too much defense to not rip through the East.

you think they have one of the best front court players in the NBA without Bynum?

Odom and Gasol? Hell yes. Not the best, mind you, but certainly up there.

And only imagine them WITH Bynum..a natural center.

They have the best front-line with Bynum...One of the best without.

yah man i got lakers-celtics too
lakers are in the side of the western bracket with denver, houston, and utah. Gonna have alot of momentum.
and Bynum could always be ready by then.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1 BOSTON CELTICS vs. 8 ATLANTA HAWKS
2 DETROIT PISTONS vs. 7 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
3 ORLANDO MAGIC vs. 6 TORONTO RAPTORS
4 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS vs. 5 WASHINGTON WIZARDS

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1 LOS ANGELES LAKERS vs. 8 DENVER NUGGETS
2 NEW ORLEANS HORNETS vs. 7 DALLAS MAVERICKS
3 SAN ANTONIO SPURS vs. 6 PHOENIX SUNS
4 UTAH JAZZ vs. 5 HOUSTON ROCKETS

San Antonio to once again take it home. Especially if Ginobili comes out like he did the last couple years in the playoffs.

celtics funna win it all.