Ken talks to himself about the NBA
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hacksterbator
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funniest topic name ever. i don't follow the NBA very much, because i'm a short white kid who lives in the praries and it's -40 during the basketball season. all i really know about the NBA is that Todd McCullagh lived a few blocks away from me and went to the high school that is just down the street.
A.G.
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slapdash21
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brian relly
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Not counting the blogs, I highly doubt it. I think that`s pretty funny though.slapdash21 wrote:seriously, has there ever been another thread with one person posting so much and everyone posting...so little?
Yet at the same time... 
Some more thoughts:
The Bulls resurgence - after starting the season 0-9... they`re over .500 now? Shit, that`s incredible. They haven`t been above .500 this late in the season since Jordan won his last championship! Gotta say I`m real happy for Chicago fans... they`ve had such a raw deal these last few years. I mean, everybody knew they`d get worse after Jordan left, but look at all the talent they`ve traded away since, usually in exchange for nothing: Elton Brand, Ron Artest, Brad Miller, Jamal Crawford, Hoiberg and Hassell... shit, that`s a decent starting team right there!
Suns Welcome back Steve Nash. But I kinda wonder... now that the entire NBA knows how much you mean to the Suns success, maybe they will play you harder on defense? Jason Kidd said he thinks Nash is the best pg in the league now... but I disagree. I still think Jason Kidd is the best, but I will say that Steve Nash is the most important-to-his-team`s- success point guard in the league now, and the fact that the Suns are a contender, means that Nash is the most key pg in the league. Speaking of Jason Kidd...
Nets It`s good to see Jason Kidd healthy again, nearly averaging a triple double these days. It`s also really great to see Vince Carter playing happy these days. He just seemed so miserable for so long while in Toronto.
Wolves Is this really the same team as last year? I`m getting worried for them. Tempted to send some sushi to Spree`s family, if that`ll help get the team back on track. Gotta say I`m happy for Eddie Griffin though.
LeBron James I`m not really surprised that he became the youngest person to get a triple double in the NBA. What surprised me was that he got his second career triple double... in the same week!
That`s seriously impressive. To put it in perspective: Vince Carter has been playing in the league since 98, and only has one triple double. Point guards I`m real glad Jason Kidd and Steve Nash are getting some respect these days. I grew up watching John Stockton play, and just kind of took it for granted that there was a position where your job was to get the ball to your team-mates. I took the John Stocktons and Michael Adams` of the league for granted. These days its really rare to see true point guards doing their job (pushing the ball upcourt, getting people involved, getting steals and assists, and keeping their turnovers down). Did you know Stockton led the league in assists for NINE straight seasons? NINE! He also owns the two best ever season averages for assists, which were like 14 and 16. That`s nuts!
Non-NBA basketball thought: I was watching `Where the Ripwalk Ends` last weekend at a friend`s house, and thought that Chad`s basketball section was pretty cool. I always thought it would be really cool if at worlds, other tournaments/games were held where footbaggers could play together. Sometimes chess games pop up, but there`s never anything that organized. Or this year in Montreal, a bunch of us competed at Street Fighter, but nothing organized. But how cool would it be if there was a basketball game with nothing but footbaggers in it? I know that Adrian Dick used to be pretty keen on basketball, and can dunk. And that Allan Haggett used to also be pretty into basketball. I`m sure there are enough people that we could get a game. Personally, I`d want Bob Riefer on my team. That guy played Division III college ball, which is pretty impressive. Just a thought.
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slapdash21
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and man, dont think im bein down on you. you seem to know a helluva lot more about basketball than i do...or possibly you know more about basketball than i know about anythingquote:
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Originally posted by slapdash21 seriously, has there ever been another thread with one person posting so much and everyone posting...so little?
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Not counting the blogs, I highly doubt it. I think that`s pretty funny though. Yet at the same time...
but anyway, its cool 'nuff indeedPete Bowler
B$C
keeps it offah da ground.
617 FOR LIFE
B$C
keeps it offah da ground.
617 FOR LIFE
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carl winslow
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Phil Jackson...
Here are my thoughts:
The Haters claim Phil Jackson isn`t a great coach, and has only won all those rings because he got to coach MJ-Pippen, and then Kobe-Shaq. The haters point out that he wasn`t even able to win the last 2 years, even with Kobe and Shaq.
Supporters of Phil Jackson say that it isn`t his fault that he coached some of the best players of all time, and besides: other coaches coached the same players, yet were never able to win championships with them.
Why do I bring up these 2 opinions of Phil Jackson? Because his decision to return to coaching, as well as where, as well as his success; all these things will help decide which opinion of him becomes his legacy.
The Knicks are a bad team right now. They set real low expectations for the season (be around a .500 team, maybe win the Atlantic division) and they aren`t on pace to meet them. They`ve been rebuilding for 4 years, and have sucked for most of that period. Now, if Phil Jackson accepts a coaching spot in NYC and has success, the haters will be forced to admit they were wrong. If Phil Jackson can take the current team, or a similarly built Knicks team to the Eastern Conference finals, and not get swept in the EC finals, then I think he will really solidify his reputation as one of the great coaches of all time. If Phil Jackson doesn`t accept the Knicks job, I can hardly blame him, but it would give more ammo to the Haters: Phil won`t coach a team unless it has the most dominant players in the league.
Right now, the 2 best NBA coaches who aren`t currently coaching are Phil Jackson and George Karl. Jeff Byzdelik is out there as well, but I don`t think its that likely that he will coach the Knicks. I`m definitely going to keep an interested eye on where Phil Jackson goes next.
On the topic of the Knicks, I thought this would be a good opportunity to comment about Stephon Marbury.
If you recall, a few posts back I mentioned how Stephon Marbury had proclaimed himself to be the best point guard in the NBA. Even though he got player of the week honors for that week, most people still scoffed at his declaration. Even if it was true, what`s the point in making that kind of declaration? Shaq commented at the time that he thought Starbury was probably the best scoring PG in the league, but not the best pure pg. He reserved that distinction for Steve Nash. Last week, in an NBA players poll, 55% of NBA players said they thought Steve Nash was the best point guard in the NBA. Percent of players who thought Starbury was #1? 4% The Knicks record since Starbury`s declaration? 1-11. Ouch.
Here are my thoughts:
The Haters claim Phil Jackson isn`t a great coach, and has only won all those rings because he got to coach MJ-Pippen, and then Kobe-Shaq. The haters point out that he wasn`t even able to win the last 2 years, even with Kobe and Shaq.
Supporters of Phil Jackson say that it isn`t his fault that he coached some of the best players of all time, and besides: other coaches coached the same players, yet were never able to win championships with them.
Why do I bring up these 2 opinions of Phil Jackson? Because his decision to return to coaching, as well as where, as well as his success; all these things will help decide which opinion of him becomes his legacy.
The Knicks are a bad team right now. They set real low expectations for the season (be around a .500 team, maybe win the Atlantic division) and they aren`t on pace to meet them. They`ve been rebuilding for 4 years, and have sucked for most of that period. Now, if Phil Jackson accepts a coaching spot in NYC and has success, the haters will be forced to admit they were wrong. If Phil Jackson can take the current team, or a similarly built Knicks team to the Eastern Conference finals, and not get swept in the EC finals, then I think he will really solidify his reputation as one of the great coaches of all time. If Phil Jackson doesn`t accept the Knicks job, I can hardly blame him, but it would give more ammo to the Haters: Phil won`t coach a team unless it has the most dominant players in the league.
Right now, the 2 best NBA coaches who aren`t currently coaching are Phil Jackson and George Karl. Jeff Byzdelik is out there as well, but I don`t think its that likely that he will coach the Knicks. I`m definitely going to keep an interested eye on where Phil Jackson goes next.
On the topic of the Knicks, I thought this would be a good opportunity to comment about Stephon Marbury.
If you recall, a few posts back I mentioned how Stephon Marbury had proclaimed himself to be the best point guard in the NBA. Even though he got player of the week honors for that week, most people still scoffed at his declaration. Even if it was true, what`s the point in making that kind of declaration? Shaq commented at the time that he thought Starbury was probably the best scoring PG in the league, but not the best pure pg. He reserved that distinction for Steve Nash. Last week, in an NBA players poll, 55% of NBA players said they thought Steve Nash was the best point guard in the NBA. Percent of players who thought Starbury was #1? 4% The Knicks record since Starbury`s declaration? 1-11. Ouch.
Knicks coaching position OK, well George Karl became the coach of the Nuggets literally the day after I made my last post, so he`s no longer an option. According to the NYTimes, Phil Jackson does have some legit interest in becoming coach. But I think most intriguing is Larry Brown publicly commenting that he was interested in that position. I know the Pistons have underachieved this year, but that`s shocking. Anyway, the Knicks are doing so bad lately (dropped like 12 of the last 14) that I don`t think anybody wants to coach them.
Marine`s Teamwork Play of the Day. So, the NBA games on TNT are sponsored by the Marines, amongst others. What this means is that on top of seein recruting ads for the marines during commercials, there is also a little segment called `Maines teamwork play of the day,` where they replay a highlight from that nights game which features: you guessed it, teamwork. I was watching a game of the Celtics vs. the Blazers, and it blew my mind that the `teamwork` play they selected was this:
Tony Allen steals the ball, drives the lane, behind the back dribble to himself, then an off-balance layup high off the glass!`
Um, unless that was a play to highlight the shoddy teamwork of bad transition defense... where was the teamwork? That was sort of funny in a WTF kind of way.
Carmelo Anthony While I`m on the topic of WTF stupid shit from TNT NBA broadcasts; `hey Ken, what do you think of Carmelo Anthony`s Jumpman 23 commercials?`
Glad you asked, Ken. For those who aren`t familiar with these commercials, they consist of Carmelo acting very humble and polite (patiently signing autographs after games, playing video games in his hotel room while drinking milk, politely fielding endless, inane interview questions, etc) while a guy who is observing him comments how polite and kind he is, and how it`s weird/amazing that he isn`t misbehaving like the overpaid athlete that he is. If Carmelo Anthony were a model citizen, I`d still be annoyed by these commercials. They`re so self-righteous, and miss being funny. Also, Carmelo has been famous for what, 2 years now? Its not like he has that long of a record to run on. Tim Duncan could pull something like that off, since he`s remained humble for years, even despite winning 2 champs and 2 MVPs.
Thing is, Carmelo isn`t squeaky clean. He started the season with the possesion of Marijuana problems, and then like a month ago he appeared on a DVD whose message was: `if you cooperate with the police, you`re a snitch.` Seriously, you`re record isn`t all that clean, so what`s the deal with these commercials where you praise yourself for how well-behaved you are? Get a clue. LeBron would have been a much better candidate for those commercials, because unlike you, he actually does have a clean record, with no PR media disasters. Oh yeah, and LeBron is actually playing well enough to deserve to make commercials, unlike yourself and your sophomore slump. End of hater transmission.
Final note: I finally did get to see T-Mac`s game where he scored 13 points in 35 seconds, to beat the Spurs at the buzzer. The Spurs were up 10 points in the final minute, and T-Mac beat them. That shit was ridiculous. F* that, it was re-goddamn-diculous. Like, I saw it and I couldn`t stop laughing. That kind of thing just doesn`t happen. I will say though that the Spurs could have executed better at the end. Did T-Mac win the game, or did Devin Brown lose it? I`d say its more on the T-Mac side, but it wasn`t like he did it against a flawless Spurs. The only thing which upstaged the actual finish of the game, was when TNT analyst Craig Sager later asked Spurs head coach Greg Poppovich: `how did T-Mac get so hot?` Popp actually responded: `How did he get so hot? How the hell do I know?!` Not only was his response beautiful, but when the next reporter asked him a question, he paused to look back at Sager, and give him this dirty `thats the stupidest question I have ever heard` look. Oh man, I was weeping.
I know the Pistons have underachieved this year, but that`s shocking. Anyway, the Knicks are doing so bad lately (dropped like 12 of the last 14) that I don`t think anybody wants to coach them. Marine`s Teamwork Play of the Day. So, the NBA games on TNT are sponsored by the Marines, amongst others. What this means is that on top of seein recruting ads for the marines during commercials, there is also a little segment called `Maines teamwork play of the day,` where they replay a highlight from that nights game which features: you guessed it, teamwork. I was watching a game of the Celtics vs. the Blazers, and it blew my mind that the `teamwork` play they selected was this:
Tony Allen steals the ball, drives the lane, behind the back dribble to himself, then an off-balance layup high off the glass!`
Um, unless that was a play to highlight the shoddy teamwork of bad transition defense... where was the teamwork? That was sort of funny in a WTF kind of way. Carmelo Anthony While I`m on the topic of WTF stupid shit from TNT NBA broadcasts; `hey Ken, what do you think of Carmelo Anthony`s Jumpman 23 commercials?`
Glad you asked, Ken. For those who aren`t familiar with these commercials, they consist of Carmelo acting very humble and polite (patiently signing autographs after games, playing video games in his hotel room while drinking milk, politely fielding endless, inane interview questions, etc) while a guy who is observing him comments how polite and kind he is, and how it`s weird/amazing that he isn`t misbehaving like the overpaid athlete that he is. If Carmelo Anthony were a model citizen, I`d still be annoyed by these commercials. They`re so self-righteous, and miss being funny. Also, Carmelo has been famous for what, 2 years now? Its not like he has that long of a record to run on. Tim Duncan could pull something like that off, since he`s remained humble for years, even despite winning 2 champs and 2 MVPs.
Thing is, Carmelo isn`t squeaky clean. He started the season with the possesion of Marijuana problems, and then like a month ago he appeared on a DVD whose message was: `if you cooperate with the police, you`re a snitch.`
Seriously, you`re record isn`t all that clean, so what`s the deal with these commercials where you praise yourself for how well-behaved you are? Get a clue. LeBron would have been a much better candidate for those commercials, because unlike you, he actually does have a clean record, with no PR media disasters. Oh yeah, and LeBron is actually playing well enough to deserve to make commercials, unlike yourself and your sophomore slump. End of hater transmission.Final note: I finally did get to see T-Mac`s game where he scored 13 points in 35 seconds, to beat the Spurs at the buzzer. The Spurs were up 10 points in the final minute, and T-Mac beat them. That shit was ridiculous. F* that, it was re-goddamn-diculous. Like, I saw it and I couldn`t stop laughing. That kind of thing just doesn`t happen. I will say though that the Spurs could have executed better at the end. Did T-Mac win the game, or did Devin Brown lose it? I`d say its more on the T-Mac side, but it wasn`t like he did it against a flawless Spurs. The only thing which upstaged the actual finish of the game, was when TNT analyst Craig Sager later asked Spurs head coach Greg Poppovich: `how did T-Mac get so hot?`
Popp actually responded: `How did he get so hot? How the hell do I know?!` Not only was his response beautiful, but when the next reporter asked him a question, he paused to look back at Sager, and give him this dirty `thats the stupidest question I have ever heard` look. Oh man, I was weeping.All-star game
Starters and reserves for the All-Star game have been announced:
http://www.nba.com/allstar2005/allstar_ ... 50208.html
My thoughts on it will come later, but on the whole I think it`s a very good list.
Edit: my thoughts.
The All-Star Game as a concept
I really like the idea of an all-star game in theory. Most teams have 1 or 2 fantastically good players, and in rare occasions, a team will have 2 all-star caliber players on a team. So the idea of having all the best players from every position play in a game together is very appealing.
Unfortunately, the All-star game is often a bit of a letdown for me. Most people complain that the problem is there is no real incentive for them to compete. The winners get $50,000 a piece, and I think the losers get like $20,000. That`s big to you and me, but not to NBA all-star players. But yeah, because it isn`t a playoff game, the players often don`t try as hard as they normally do.
I don`t think that`s the main problem with the All-Star game however. I think the problem is that in today`s league, too many All-Star players make their impact by dominating the ball. Kobe Bryant, Steve Francis, Stephon Marbury, Allen Iverson, etc need the ball in their hands 90% of the time to affect a game. In some cases, its understandable. If everybody on your team sucks except for you, you may think the only way to win is by taking over by yourself. Unfortunately, basketball is a team sport. When basketball is played right, everybody is involved. But a player who sacrifices his own touches to make his teammates better doesn`t often make Sportscenter highlights. It`s not as glamorous. But it`s necessary. This usually means that the All-star game is made up mostly of All-stars who are used to having the ball all the time, which hurts the flow of the game.
If this year`s All-Star game is interesting, it will be because of Lebron James and Steve Nash. The All-star game needs people who will pass the ball and involve their team-mates, and of all the people listed, these 2 are likely to be the best at it. Then again, last year AI made a conscious decision to involve everybody, so that could happen. But yeah, the ASG needs more team-players and less ball-hogs.
Voting by position
Most all star voting is done by position. The fans vote for players based on position, and the coaches also vote for everybody by position, plus 2 players regardless of position. This has lots of flaws. Last year, Jamaal Magliore was an all-star, just because there were no good, healthy centers in the East. Lebron didn`t make the team, but Jamaal Magliore did? Just because of positions. That`s kinda silly. Going back to my previous point, I think another problem with the `vote by position` system, is that point guards and shooting guards are considered in the same category: guards. This is also dumb, since shooting guard and pg are such different positions. This has led to a trend in recent years for very few true point guards to make it to the ASG, which slows the flow of the game. Shooting guards are meant to shoot, so its no wonder they pass so little.
People I`m glad are not in the ASG Carmelo didn`t deserve it, didn`t make it. Marbury, you`re here too. You just plain don`t make your teammates better, and your team has been awful this season. Jason Kidd, I love you, you`re awesome when healthy, but you missed too much of this season, and your team still has a losing record. Steve Francis, same boat. Kirilenko also doesn`t deserve to be there, since he missed so much of the season, and his team still hasn`t recovered.
People in the ASG who don`t belong there Vince Carter. He`s been awesome recently, but not so for most of the season. Doesn`t deserve to be there. I`d also argue that Yao doesn`t deserve to be there. Brad Miller and Amare have had better seasons at the Center position. Paul Pierce? Questionable.
6 first time All stars All very deserving imo. Congrats!
Phoenix Suns Steve Nash, Stoudamire, and Marion all in the ASG? Awesome. This alone should give an advantage to the West team, just because these 3 have so much experience playing together.
Who will win? I think this year will be pretty interesting, moreso than past years. The fact that Shaq is in the East balances things out somewhat. Duncan vs. Shaq won`t be as hyped as Kobe vs. Shaq, but it will be the matchup that matters the most. On paper I say the West should win, since it has the only true Point God in the game, and he works so well with 2 of his teammates. Also, I think the West has better shooters. Should be entertaining either way though.
http://www.nba.com/allstar2005/allstar_ ... 50208.html
My thoughts on it will come later, but on the whole I think it`s a very good list.
Edit: my thoughts.
The All-Star Game as a concept
I really like the idea of an all-star game in theory. Most teams have 1 or 2 fantastically good players, and in rare occasions, a team will have 2 all-star caliber players on a team. So the idea of having all the best players from every position play in a game together is very appealing.
Unfortunately, the All-star game is often a bit of a letdown for me. Most people complain that the problem is there is no real incentive for them to compete. The winners get $50,000 a piece, and I think the losers get like $20,000. That`s big to you and me, but not to NBA all-star players. But yeah, because it isn`t a playoff game, the players often don`t try as hard as they normally do.
I don`t think that`s the main problem with the All-Star game however. I think the problem is that in today`s league, too many All-Star players make their impact by dominating the ball. Kobe Bryant, Steve Francis, Stephon Marbury, Allen Iverson, etc need the ball in their hands 90% of the time to affect a game. In some cases, its understandable. If everybody on your team sucks except for you, you may think the only way to win is by taking over by yourself. Unfortunately, basketball is a team sport. When basketball is played right, everybody is involved. But a player who sacrifices his own touches to make his teammates better doesn`t often make Sportscenter highlights. It`s not as glamorous. But it`s necessary. This usually means that the All-star game is made up mostly of All-stars who are used to having the ball all the time, which hurts the flow of the game.
If this year`s All-Star game is interesting, it will be because of Lebron James and Steve Nash. The All-star game needs people who will pass the ball and involve their team-mates, and of all the people listed, these 2 are likely to be the best at it. Then again, last year AI made a conscious decision to involve everybody, so that could happen. But yeah, the ASG needs more team-players and less ball-hogs.
Voting by position
Most all star voting is done by position. The fans vote for players based on position, and the coaches also vote for everybody by position, plus 2 players regardless of position. This has lots of flaws. Last year, Jamaal Magliore was an all-star, just because there were no good, healthy centers in the East. Lebron didn`t make the team, but Jamaal Magliore did? Just because of positions. That`s kinda silly. Going back to my previous point, I think another problem with the `vote by position` system, is that point guards and shooting guards are considered in the same category: guards. This is also dumb, since shooting guard and pg are such different positions. This has led to a trend in recent years for very few true point guards to make it to the ASG, which slows the flow of the game. Shooting guards are meant to shoot, so its no wonder they pass so little.
People I`m glad are not in the ASG Carmelo didn`t deserve it, didn`t make it. Marbury, you`re here too. You just plain don`t make your teammates better, and your team has been awful this season. Jason Kidd, I love you, you`re awesome when healthy, but you missed too much of this season, and your team still has a losing record. Steve Francis, same boat. Kirilenko also doesn`t deserve to be there, since he missed so much of the season, and his team still hasn`t recovered.
People in the ASG who don`t belong there Vince Carter. He`s been awesome recently, but not so for most of the season. Doesn`t deserve to be there. I`d also argue that Yao doesn`t deserve to be there. Brad Miller and Amare have had better seasons at the Center position. Paul Pierce? Questionable.
6 first time All stars All very deserving imo. Congrats!
Phoenix Suns Steve Nash, Stoudamire, and Marion all in the ASG? Awesome. This alone should give an advantage to the West team, just because these 3 have so much experience playing together.
Who will win? I think this year will be pretty interesting, moreso than past years. The fact that Shaq is in the East balances things out somewhat. Duncan vs. Shaq won`t be as hyped as Kobe vs. Shaq, but it will be the matchup that matters the most. On paper I say the West should win, since it has the only true Point God in the game, and he works so well with 2 of his teammates. Also, I think the West has better shooters. Should be entertaining either way though.
No love for Nash!On an ASG related note, I really hope Kobe is still injured during ASG, so Steve Nash can get the start. He deserves it more than anybody else, definitely more than T-Mac or Kobe. Tonight he scored 33 points and had 17, yes, 17 assists in a win over the Kings at Arco Arena. Come on! I rest my case...
Question What`s up with the TWolves this year? Seriously?
Question What`s up with the TWolves this year? Seriously?
some mo quickies
Boston Celtics I remember a couple years ago when the Boston Celtics were Paul Pierce, Antoine Walker, and a couple hard working role players who toughed their way to the East Finals, then got swept by Jason Kidd and the Nets. Kidd averaged a triple double during that playoff series. Anyway, a couple years ago Danny Ainge traded `Toine to Dallas in exchange for.... wait for it... Raef LaFrentz! 
That still hurts. Anyway, the Celtics looked mired in mediocrity for a while, and I still predict they won`t make it far in the playoffs. They have a decent shot at making the playoffs just because they`re in the Atlantic Division. Anyway, the point of this post is: I think their future looks pretty good. Unlike the Knicks or Golden State, their roster is young, they don`t have a lot of money tied up in mediocre players, and I can easily see them getting good again in the next few years. I think that the rookies Tony Allen and Al Jefferson are particularly promising, and will blossom nicely in the next few years. It is also nice to see Gary Payton back in a system where he can run. His reputation really took a hit after how he played with the Lakers, but I think he still has value, and is showing that in Boston.
Triple Doubles I`m really not that impressed with scoring averages. There, I said it. It`s flashy, and yeah, scoring lots of points can help your team win, but I really feel that assists and rebounds are very underrated. That`s why I`m so impressed by people who can get triple doubles in the NBA. They really make their teammates better, and that gives their teams the best chance at winning. Big props to Chris Webber for getting triple doubles in consecutive games this week, and to Jason Kidd for achieving the same feat. That`s pretty incredible, 2 triple doubles in a row. Neither of them will be at the ASG this year though.
If the playoffs started today... When the season is real young, you hear this expression a lot. I think it`s pretty worthless until at least the halfway point of the season. But yeah, we`re at teh halfway point of the season, so.... if the playoffs started today:
-Chicago would have the 7th seed in the East, and be playing in the post-season for the first time since that guy who wore 23 was on the team in 1997.
-Indiana would be in the playoffs... barely. They`d have the fun task of facing Shaq and Miami in the first round.
-The Timberwolves would go on a fishing trip. I`m serious, they wouldn`t be in the playoffs! This from the team with the reigning MVP, the team which went to the Western Finals last year!
- Dallas and Sacramento would play each other.... again.
Anyway, a couple years ago Danny Ainge traded `Toine to Dallas in exchange for.... wait for it... Raef LaFrentz! That still hurts. Anyway, the Celtics looked mired in mediocrity for a while, and I still predict they won`t make it far in the playoffs. They have a decent shot at making the playoffs just because they`re in the Atlantic Division. Anyway, the point of this post is: I think their future looks pretty good. Unlike the Knicks or Golden State, their roster is young, they don`t have a lot of money tied up in mediocre players, and I can easily see them getting good again in the next few years. I think that the rookies Tony Allen and Al Jefferson are particularly promising, and will blossom nicely in the next few years. It is also nice to see Gary Payton back in a system where he can run. His reputation really took a hit after how he played with the Lakers, but I think he still has value, and is showing that in Boston.Triple Doubles I`m really not that impressed with scoring averages. There, I said it. It`s flashy, and yeah, scoring lots of points can help your team win, but I really feel that assists and rebounds are very underrated. That`s why I`m so impressed by people who can get triple doubles in the NBA. They really make their teammates better, and that gives their teams the best chance at winning. Big props to Chris Webber for getting triple doubles in consecutive games this week, and to Jason Kidd for achieving the same feat. That`s pretty incredible, 2 triple doubles in a row. Neither of them will be at the ASG this year though.
If the playoffs started today... When the season is real young, you hear this expression a lot. I think it`s pretty worthless until at least the halfway point of the season. But yeah, we`re at teh halfway point of the season, so.... if the playoffs started today:
-Chicago would have the 7th seed in the East, and be playing in the post-season for the first time since that guy who wore 23 was on the team in 1997.
-Indiana would be in the playoffs... barely. They`d have the fun task of facing Shaq and Miami in the first round.
-The Timberwolves would go on a fishing trip. I`m serious, they wouldn`t be in the playoffs! This from the team with the reigning MVP, the team which went to the Western Finals last year!
- Dallas and Sacramento would play each other.... again.
busy weekend!
So this past weekend in Japan was a long weekend, no work on Friday. Because of this, I was excited to check out all the NBA news I missed when I came into work today. Looks like a lot of major stuff went down!
In no particular order, here`s some of the biggies, and my impressions:
Karl Malone announces he`s retiring. OK, so this one wasn`t much of a surprise. When the Lakers dealt Shaq to Miami, I knew it was a matter of time before Malone tried to get traded to San Antnio or Miami, or would retire. After playing this long, Malone`s only real reasons to continue playing would be to :
1. win a championship.
or
2. score like 1,500 more points to become the NBA`s all time leading scorer.
Frankly, after Shaq left L.A., option 1 wasn`t going to happen unless Malone got traded. And option 2 I guess didn`t appeal to him that much.
I never was a big Malone fan, but I always thought he played hard and was really good, and I remember watching him play since I was a kid, so it`s kinda sad to see him finally retire. He never won a championship.
Reggie Miller announces this is his last season. OK, this one also didn`t surprise me that much. I figured it would happen this year or next... 18 seasons. Wow. I gotta say that this one did make me kinda sad. As mentioned in my first post in this monologue, I mean, thread, I have always rooted against the Knicks. So naturally, I always held a special place in my heart for Reggie, since no other single man is more responsible for making the Knicks miserable than him (yes, I considered MJ, but I think Reggie beats him out). I`m not a fan of the Pacers, but if they did somehow manage to win the championship (pretty unlikely, imo), I`d be happy for Reggie.
Flip Saunders fired! And replaced by Kevin McHale! OK, for all the `Flip who?` people out there, Flip Saunders was the coach of the TimberWolves for the last 9 years or so, which made him the 2nd longest tenured coach in the NBA behind Jerry Sloan, who will die on the Jazz bench before getting fired. Most NBA coaches don`t last very long, usually a few years tops, so Flip Saunders was this cool aberration. But yeah, we`re at the midpoint of the NBA season now, and the Wolves have lost more games than they did during all of last season. We`ll see if the coaching change produces any results.
Iverson scores 60 points in win It`s very rare for a player to score 60 points in a game, especially these days. Very few players have the ability to do so. Iverson has had a bunch of 50+ and 40+ games, but 60 is his career high, and also an NBA season high. I haven`t talked much about Iverson in this thread, which is weird cause he is one of my favorite players. At the moment he`s leading the league in scoring, and I personally hope he wins it, just so Kobe doesn`t get it. AI is putting up his best numbers since he got MVP a few years back. I`m always inspired to see athletes who are in their late 20s who can still be amongst the best in their sport. As an aging footbagger, it gives me hope.
In no particular order, here`s some of the biggies, and my impressions:
Karl Malone announces he`s retiring. OK, so this one wasn`t much of a surprise. When the Lakers dealt Shaq to Miami, I knew it was a matter of time before Malone tried to get traded to San Antnio or Miami, or would retire. After playing this long, Malone`s only real reasons to continue playing would be to :
1. win a championship.
or
2. score like 1,500 more points to become the NBA`s all time leading scorer.
Frankly, after Shaq left L.A., option 1 wasn`t going to happen unless Malone got traded. And option 2 I guess didn`t appeal to him that much.
I never was a big Malone fan, but I always thought he played hard and was really good, and I remember watching him play since I was a kid, so it`s kinda sad to see him finally retire. He never won a championship.
Reggie Miller announces this is his last season. OK, this one also didn`t surprise me that much. I figured it would happen this year or next... 18 seasons. Wow. I gotta say that this one did make me kinda sad. As mentioned in my first post in this monologue, I mean, thread, I have always rooted against the Knicks. So naturally, I always held a special place in my heart for Reggie, since no other single man is more responsible for making the Knicks miserable than him (yes, I considered MJ, but I think Reggie beats him out). I`m not a fan of the Pacers, but if they did somehow manage to win the championship (pretty unlikely, imo), I`d be happy for Reggie.
Flip Saunders fired! And replaced by Kevin McHale!
OK, for all the `Flip who?` people out there, Flip Saunders was the coach of the TimberWolves for the last 9 years or so, which made him the 2nd longest tenured coach in the NBA behind Jerry Sloan, who will die on the Jazz bench before getting fired. Most NBA coaches don`t last very long, usually a few years tops, so Flip Saunders was this cool aberration. But yeah, we`re at the midpoint of the NBA season now, and the Wolves have lost more games than they did during all of last season. We`ll see if the coaching change produces any results.Iverson scores 60 points in win It`s very rare for a player to score 60 points in a game, especially these days. Very few players have the ability to do so. Iverson has had a bunch of 50+ and 40+ games, but 60 is his career high, and also an NBA season high. I haven`t talked much about Iverson in this thread, which is weird cause he is one of my favorite players. At the moment he`s leading the league in scoring, and I personally hope he wins it, just so Kobe doesn`t get it. AI is putting up his best numbers since he got MVP a few years back. I`m always inspired to see athletes who are in their late 20s who can still be amongst the best in their sport. As an aging footbagger, it gives me hope.
Heading into the All-Star Break
Some more random thoughts and observations.
Mavericks on fire on the road The last few years Dallas had the reputation of being a ridiculously strong home team. Last year they had the fewest home losses, having lost only 5 times at home during the season. Five! But yeah, Nash left, lots of chemistry changed, and this year they haven`t been nearly as dominant at home. But check this out: they`re on a 6 game road trip now, and so far they`ve won the first 4 games of the trip. But look who they`ve beat: The Spurs, the Sonics, and Phoenix! That`s 3 of the 4 best teams in the league (record wise... and otherwise as well). I`m impressed. I also have to say that Dirk really has impressed me with how he has become a more complete player. He`s getting to the foul line like 30x more than last year, and he`s playing more defense. No longer shall I refer to him as irk.
Steve Nash I feel like I talk about this guy every post, but when a guy is having an MVP season, it happens. Anyway, the reason I`m mentioning him here: 11 straight games with 11 or more assists in each game. His average is at 11.5 assists per game! That`s approaching Stockton numbers! I still think Jason Kidd is the more complete point guard, but I think Nash is the most valuable PG to his team.
AI`s numbers In my last post I mentioned that Iverson is putting up his best numbers since his MVP campaign, but I didn`t really go into detail. I`m still not going to go into lots of detail. But I wanted to point out that while his ppg average is a couple points lower than his MVP season (31.1 to 29.8 ), his assists are way up (4.6 to 7.8!). Most of his stats are slightly down or slightly up, but most are only by small percentage points. But 4.6 assists compared to 7.8? That`s massive. Nobody has really pointed this fact out, but I think its huge.
Stop comparing Lebron to Jordan I think the only comparison between them which was even close to being justified, was when somebody was talking about the marketing impact Lebron could have on the league. But other than marketing appeal, I don`t really think the LBJ-MJ comparisons are very good. If you want to talk from a gameplay standpoint, LeBron is way closer to Magic Johnson than to Jordan. Other than that one ridiculous season when Jordan averaged like 33, 8, and 8 (I`ll check the numbers... I think it was in 1988), Jordan was always more of a scorer and not so much a passer. I like that Lebron resembles Magic. The hope is that one day he will resemble Oscar Robertson.
Yao hate There`s definitely been a lot of hating on Yao. I read somebody try to defend Yao by listing his numbers, saying its dumb to hate on somebody who averages 18.5 pts and 8.5 rebounds. But I think the reason there is so much disappointment surrounding Yao relates more to the fact that he has so much potential, but hasn`t fulfilled it yet. 18.5 and 8.5 are nice numbers, but I think a lot of people know he can do much better than that. But yeah, he`s still real young, so I think people should give him some time. Dirk Nowitzki took a while to blossom into an All-Star, and it wasn`t til this year that he really became one of the League`s best. I think Yao will become a better player when he learns to use his strengths more. He`s faster than most centers and has a good shooting touch, but it seems like lately all he does is try to bang in the post (which he isn`t strong enough to try) which gets him in early foul trouble.
Lockout back in 99 the season was shortened to just 50 games due to a lockout. This better never happen again. I`ve been reading in the papers how there will be no hockey this year, and I know that the NBA is entering discussions regarding new terms with the players league. I hope they work something out, cause lockouts only really hurt the fans.
Who will win the Atlantic Division? Not the most thrilling question, but one of some interest and importance. With the new realignment of divisions this season, the Atlantic is easily the weakest division. For most of the season, all of the teams in the AD were under .500. Now, division leading Boston is slightly over .500. But still, Philly is right behind them, and I wouldn`t be completely surprised if the Nets made a run and snuck into the playoffs with the 8th seed. But yeah, the way the playoffs system works, whoever wins the Atlantic Division automatically gets seeded 3rd in the Eastern race. This seems kinda retarded, but this is how its set up.
Mavericks on fire on the road The last few years Dallas had the reputation of being a ridiculously strong home team. Last year they had the fewest home losses, having lost only 5 times at home during the season. Five!
But yeah, Nash left, lots of chemistry changed, and this year they haven`t been nearly as dominant at home. But check this out: they`re on a 6 game road trip now, and so far they`ve won the first 4 games of the trip. But look who they`ve beat: The Spurs, the Sonics, and Phoenix! That`s 3 of the 4 best teams in the league (record wise... and otherwise as well). I`m impressed. I also have to say that Dirk really has impressed me with how he has become a more complete player. He`s getting to the foul line like 30x more than last year, and he`s playing more defense. No longer shall I refer to him as irk. Steve Nash I feel like I talk about this guy every post, but when a guy is having an MVP season, it happens. Anyway, the reason I`m mentioning him here: 11 straight games with 11 or more assists in each game. His average is at 11.5 assists per game! That`s approaching Stockton numbers! I still think Jason Kidd is the more complete point guard, but I think Nash is the most valuable PG to his team.
AI`s numbers In my last post I mentioned that Iverson is putting up his best numbers since his MVP campaign, but I didn`t really go into detail. I`m still not going to go into lots of detail. But I wanted to point out that while his ppg average is a couple points lower than his MVP season (31.1 to 29.8 ), his assists are way up (4.6 to 7.8!). Most of his stats are slightly down or slightly up, but most are only by small percentage points. But 4.6 assists compared to 7.8? That`s massive. Nobody has really pointed this fact out, but I think its huge.
Stop comparing Lebron to Jordan I think the only comparison between them which was even close to being justified, was when somebody was talking about the marketing impact Lebron could have on the league. But other than marketing appeal, I don`t really think the LBJ-MJ comparisons are very good. If you want to talk from a gameplay standpoint, LeBron is way closer to Magic Johnson than to Jordan. Other than that one ridiculous season when Jordan averaged like 33, 8, and 8 (I`ll check the numbers... I think it was in 1988), Jordan was always more of a scorer and not so much a passer. I like that Lebron resembles Magic. The hope is that one day he will resemble Oscar Robertson.
Yao hate There`s definitely been a lot of hating on Yao. I read somebody try to defend Yao by listing his numbers, saying its dumb to hate on somebody who averages 18.5 pts and 8.5 rebounds. But I think the reason there is so much disappointment surrounding Yao relates more to the fact that he has so much potential, but hasn`t fulfilled it yet. 18.5 and 8.5 are nice numbers, but I think a lot of people know he can do much better than that. But yeah, he`s still real young, so I think people should give him some time. Dirk Nowitzki took a while to blossom into an All-Star, and it wasn`t til this year that he really became one of the League`s best. I think Yao will become a better player when he learns to use his strengths more. He`s faster than most centers and has a good shooting touch, but it seems like lately all he does is try to bang in the post (which he isn`t strong enough to try) which gets him in early foul trouble.
Lockout back in 99 the season was shortened to just 50 games due to a lockout. This better never happen again. I`ve been reading in the papers how there will be no hockey this year, and I know that the NBA is entering discussions regarding new terms with the players league. I hope they work something out, cause lockouts only really hurt the fans.
Who will win the Atlantic Division? Not the most thrilling question, but one of some interest and importance. With the new realignment of divisions this season, the Atlantic is easily the weakest division. For most of the season, all of the teams in the AD were under .500. Now, division leading Boston is slightly over .500. But still, Philly is right behind them, and I wouldn`t be completely surprised if the Nets made a run and snuck into the playoffs with the 8th seed. But yeah, the way the playoffs system works, whoever wins the Atlantic Division automatically gets seeded 3rd in the Eastern race. This seems kinda retarded, but this is how its set up.
C-Fan wrote: I think Josh Smith has the best chance. Just wanted to have that written down before the contest happens.
Oh yeah, I called that. So the main game is over, the East won and AI got MVP. Haven`t seen the game yet, but it sounds like it was a goodie. I`m just stoked that the guy with the most assists in the game got MVP. That`s what basketball should be about.
Word. I saw the highlights, Vince and McGrady both did off the backboard to themselves dunks. That's all I really remember from ESPN.C-Fan wrote:C-Fan wrote: I think Josh Smith has the best chance. Just wanted to have that written down before the contest happens.
So the main game is over, the East won and AI got MVP. Haven`t seen the game yet, but it sounds like it was a goodie. I`m just stoked that the guy with the most assists in the game got MVP. That`s what basketball should be about.
-connor campbell
prosers-pros of the posers-
I like my sugar with coffee and cream.
prosers-pros of the posers-
I like my sugar with coffee and cream.
Holy crap!
Chris Webber got traded to the Sixers! The trade deadline is tomorrow, but I didn`t expect the Sixers or the Kings to make major moves. I was completely expecting the Knicks and the Raptors to move players. And when I first read that Webber was traded to the Sixers, I assumed it had to either be Webber and first round picks for Iverson (unlikely, but possible) or Webber for Dalembert+ a couple first round picks (possible due to Webbers knee, and Dalemberts youth). But when I read the details of the trade, it made no sense at all! Webber plus a couple throw ins got traded for like 3 role players, the best being Corliss Williamson. This trade seems totally skewed in favor of the 76ers. I`m still in shock... Before this trade I was rooting for the Sixers to make the playoffs, just cause I like Iverson and the way he`s played this year. But before, they were battling for the 8th spot in the East, whereas now they have a good shot at winning the division and getting the 3rd spot in the East! This is big news...more later.
The trade deadline is tomorrow, but I didn`t expect the Sixers or the Kings to make major moves. I was completely expecting the Knicks and the Raptors to move players. And when I first read that Webber was traded to the Sixers, I assumed it had to either be Webber and first round picks for Iverson (unlikely, but possible) or Webber for Dalembert+ a couple first round picks (possible due to Webbers knee, and Dalemberts youth). But when I read the details of the trade, it made no sense at all! Webber plus a couple throw ins got traded for like 3 role players, the best being Corliss Williamson. This trade seems totally skewed in favor of the 76ers. I`m still in shock... Before this trade I was rooting for the Sixers to make the playoffs, just cause I like Iverson and the way he`s played this year. But before, they were battling for the 8th spot in the East, whereas now they have a good shot at winning the division and getting the 3rd spot in the East! This is big news...more later.It should be interesting to see how the Sixers do now that Iverson has someone to play with.
Blazers management
wow...3 contracts expiring at the conclusion of this year: SAR, NVE, and Damon, and no trades were done. Wow, just wow...
Baron in Golden State? Him and Richardson is another interesting duo I'm going to be watching to see how that works out.
'Toin back to the Celtics. I think it's funny that Ainge trading him soon after he was hired, and said something along the lines of changes need to be made, and now he brings him back. Stephen A. Smith of ESPN was saying that it makes the Celtics "formidable".
I don't know about that, but the addition of Walker to the Celtics, and Webber to the Sixers may make it not TOO much of a one horse race for 1st in the East. Woo Heat! (got Steve Smith btw).
Blazers management
wow...3 contracts expiring at the conclusion of this year: SAR, NVE, and Damon, and no trades were done. Wow, just wow...Baron in Golden State? Him and Richardson is another interesting duo I'm going to be watching to see how that works out.
'Toin back to the Celtics. I think it's funny that Ainge trading him soon after he was hired, and said something along the lines of changes need to be made, and now he brings him back. Stephen A. Smith of ESPN was saying that it makes the Celtics "formidable".
I don't know about that, but the addition of Walker to the Celtics, and Webber to the Sixers may make it not TOO much of a one horse race for 1st in the East. Woo Heat! (got Steve Smith btw).
-connor campbell
prosers-pros of the posers-
I like my sugar with coffee and cream.
prosers-pros of the posers-
I like my sugar with coffee and cream.
I`m almost too overwhelmed by all the trades to put down any thoughts, but I`ll be offline for a bit, so here`s some quickies.
Webber on the Sixers This is easily the biggest trade that went down. I`m with Connor on this one; I`m happy to see AI with somebody else on the team. Keith Van Horn? Big Dog? No offense to either of them, but they were both inconsistent. 3rd string All Stars at best. But Webber... he is still All Star caliber. Frankly, I think he deserved an All-Star berth this year more than Rashard Lewis. How many big men in the league right now have a consistent jump shot? Not many. And I`d say C-Webb has one of the best. On top of that, he`s one of the top 3 passing big men in the game. In the undersized Eastern Conference, Webber can have a HUGE impact. I`m very excited about this. Oh yeah, and guess who C-Webb is playing against in his first game as a Sixer? The Kings. Incredible.
Toine to the Celtics I wonder if this would have happened if not for the Webber trade? Frankly, I think the Webber trade made lots of teams in the Atlantic division panic. I think everybody in the division (excepting the Raptors and maybe the Knicks) thinks they can win the division. So when the Sixers got Webber, the other teams felt the need to buff up. I`m excited to see Walker and Pierce play together again, because I thought they had real good chemistry a few years ago when they made it to the Eastern Finals. But yeah, with Ainge still in charge, how is Toine going to like that? I think the Celtics are better for the trade though, even though losing GP will hurt them, since Marcus Banks isn`t a proven point guard yet.
Van Horn to the Mavs The Mavs main problem had always been that they were thin up front, and this year I thought they had that solved. Now, they`re thin again because of this trade. Do the Mavs need another scorer? And Van Horn? I dunno, this one didn`t look like a good trade to me.
The Knicks If you asked me last week what was wrong with the Knicks, I would have answered without hesitating: 1. Highest payroll in the league + injured players is a bad combo, and 2. No true center. So What does Isaiah Thomas do before the trade deadline? Trades Mohammad (the closest thing they had to a center) and add 30 Million dollars in Payroll by acquiring Malik Rose. Don`t get me wrong, I like Rose a lot... but 30 million dollars? If they got a center, that could be acceptable, but Malik Rose? Then I heard that the Knicks picked up 2 first round draft picks, which made me reconsider my opinion... until I heard which team`s picks they got: the Spurs and Phoenix! Pop quiz: What teams get the best first round picks? If you answered `the teams with the worst records,` then you are correct. Congrats. Pop Quiz #2: what 2 teams have the best records in the NBA? Yep: the Spurs and Phoenix. You do the math... the Knicks are in big trouble. What a crap deal.
Blazers and Raptors As shocking as a lot of the trades that went down were, I was equally if nor more shocked by the fact that both of these teams sat on their hands and contracts.
Webber on the Sixers This is easily the biggest trade that went down. I`m with Connor on this one; I`m happy to see AI with somebody else on the team. Keith Van Horn? Big Dog? No offense to either of them, but they were both inconsistent. 3rd string All Stars at best. But Webber... he is still All Star caliber. Frankly, I think he deserved an All-Star berth this year more than Rashard Lewis. How many big men in the league right now have a consistent jump shot? Not many. And I`d say C-Webb has one of the best. On top of that, he`s one of the top 3 passing big men in the game. In the undersized Eastern Conference, Webber can have a HUGE impact. I`m very excited about this. Oh yeah, and guess who C-Webb is playing against in his first game as a Sixer? The Kings.
Incredible.Toine to the Celtics I wonder if this would have happened if not for the Webber trade? Frankly, I think the Webber trade made lots of teams in the Atlantic division panic. I think everybody in the division (excepting the Raptors and maybe the Knicks) thinks they can win the division. So when the Sixers got Webber, the other teams felt the need to buff up. I`m excited to see Walker and Pierce play together again, because I thought they had real good chemistry a few years ago when they made it to the Eastern Finals. But yeah, with Ainge still in charge, how is Toine going to like that? I think the Celtics are better for the trade though, even though losing GP will hurt them, since Marcus Banks isn`t a proven point guard yet.
Van Horn to the Mavs The Mavs main problem had always been that they were thin up front, and this year I thought they had that solved. Now, they`re thin again because of this trade. Do the Mavs need another scorer? And Van Horn? I dunno, this one didn`t look like a good trade to me.
The Knicks If you asked me last week what was wrong with the Knicks, I would have answered without hesitating: 1. Highest payroll in the league + injured players is a bad combo, and 2. No true center. So What does Isaiah Thomas do before the trade deadline? Trades Mohammad (the closest thing they had to a center) and add 30 Million dollars in Payroll by acquiring Malik Rose. Don`t get me wrong, I like Rose a lot... but 30 million dollars? If they got a center, that could be acceptable, but Malik Rose? Then I heard that the Knicks picked up 2 first round draft picks, which made me reconsider my opinion... until I heard which team`s picks they got: the Spurs and Phoenix!
Pop quiz: What teams get the best first round picks? If you answered `the teams with the worst records,` then you are correct. Congrats. Pop Quiz #2: what 2 teams have the best records in the NBA? Yep: the Spurs and Phoenix. You do the math... the Knicks are in big trouble. What a crap deal.Blazers and Raptors As shocking as a lot of the trades that went down were, I was equally if nor more shocked by the fact that both of these teams sat on their hands and contracts.