Let's talk NBA

[Miramonti]

It's great to see Eddie Curry playing again.

This about sums up his game tho, circa 2003:

media: what could eddie do to become a better rebounder?
scott skiles: jump

 

[dougp]

It's great to see Eddie Curry playing again.

This about sums up his game tho, circa 2003:

media: what could eddie do to become a better rebounder?
scott skiles: jump

He spent the preseason with the Spurs, and a lot of fans were surprised when he was released. The Spurs really needed another big man.

 

[Miramonti]

He spent the preseason with the Spurs, and a lot of fans were surprised when he was released. The Spurs really needed another big man.

I didn't see him play but assumed he was waived because of the spurs' high expectations and his lumbering defense and/or rotations etc. He can be a monster with the ball in the paint tho, atleast back in the day...

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

He spent the preseason with the Spurs, and a lot of fans were surprised when he was released. The Spurs really needed another big man.

Yeah bad move by the spurs. I have been shocked at his play in the one preseason game and tonight. For a halfway big man to just get cut like that is unheard of.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

In one half of basketball the Mavs have really exposed the Lakers weaknesses. They are old and slow. They will not win a ring. I take back my prediction that they would win a ring.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

The Heat looked great. The Celtics looked pretty good as well. The Lakers-Mavs game? Ugly, ugly basketball. Just unpleasant to watch.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

The Heat looked great. The Celtics looked pretty good as well. The Lakers-Mavs game? Ugly, ugly basketball. Just unpleasant to watch.

Lakers fan huh? Looks great here from my seat.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I hate what Mike Brown just said. "We're just gonna keep trying this rotation for now".

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Lakers fan huh? Looks great here from my seat.

Not hardly. I'm a Blazers fan, and we have no love for the Lakers. It was just ugly basketball through the first half. I will say that I was really impressed with Dallas in the late third and early fourth quarter; good team basketball, much smoother than what was going on in the early part of the game.

The Lakers might want to invest in someone who can teach people how to shoot a free throw.

 

[UncleWai]

Nash deferred too much and killed his shot rhythm

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Nash deferred too much and killed his shot rhythm

Nash was abused tonight. He's always been bad defensively but at damn near 40 he's a candidate for worst defensive player in the NBA.

 

[Miramonti]

Yeah bad move by the spurs. I have been shocked at his play in the one preseason game and tonight. For a halfway big man to just get cut like that is unheard of.

He wasn't even Dallas' biggest steal...that would go to Elton Brand. I was shocked no one else big higher for him off waivers. I think Indiana's going to regret letting Collison, another great pickup for the mavs.

 

[Capt Caveman]

The Heat looked great. The Celtics looked pretty good as well. The Lakers-Mavs game? Ugly, ugly basketball. Just unpleasant to watch.

The Heat are a better team than last year. Allen looked good last night.

The Celtics are very improved team with the rebuilding of their bench. They'll need some time to get all of the new players gel'd together. And when Avery Bradley comes back, they'll be one of the top teams in the East.

I didn't see the Lakers/Mavs game. Were the Lakers as bad as everyone is talking about? With OKC possibly being a weaker team after trading Harden, looks like the Heat possibly again this year.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I didn't see the Lakers/Mavs game. Were the Lakers as bad as everyone is talking about? With OKC possibly being a weaker team after trading Harden, looks like the Heat possibly again this year.

The Lakers had poor spacing, didn't use Nash effectively and shot the ball very, very poorly (23% on 3s, 19 missed free throws). There was absolutely no offensive rhythm. It seemed like they were all still getting used to playing with each other, which is to be expected, but they're going to have to figure something out quick with regards to Nash playing with the ball and Howard shooting better than 21% from the free throw line.

Given how good the Heat looked straight out the gate, I'd say that they were fairly overwhelming favorites to repeat.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

The Lakers had poor spacing, didn't use Nash effectively and shot the ball very, very poorly (23% on 3s, 19 missed free throws). There was absolutely no offensive rhythm. It seemed like they were all still getting used to playing with each other, which is to be expected, but they're going to have to figure something out quick with regards to Nash playing with the ball and Howard shooting better than 21% from the free throw line.

Given how good the Heat looked straight out the gate, I'd say that they were fairly overwhelming favorites to repeat.

Im not too worried.. yet. When the Heat first came together, their first half of the season was miserable until they figured out how to work together. The Lakers have an entire new offense and basically almost all new players. Im more understanding, the LA fan base isnt though. LA is championship or nothing.

 

[pelov]

With OKC possibly being a weaker team after trading Harden

During the regular season maybe, but Harden played poorly in the playoffs and the finals in particular. He's certainly not worth the money that was being asked.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

During the regular season maybe, but Harden played poorly in the playoffs and the finals in particular. He's certainly not worth the money that was being asked.

Harden played well in the playoffs; he played poorly in the Finals. Not everyone plays well in their first trip to the Finals; that doesn't mean they can't improve. And team chemistry is almost always overlooked. On paper, the Spurs might barely crack the top ten in terms of raw talent, but they play together better than probably any other team in the league. The Thunder were only able to overcome the Spurs in the playoffs last year thanks to great team play. That's something that comes from playing with the same people for a number of years. It's going to be difficult to recapture in one season.

 

[Blackjack200]

Im not too worried.. yet. When the Heat first came together, their first half of the season was miserable until they figured out how to work together. The Lakers have an entire new offense and basically almost all new players. Im more understanding, the LA fan base isnt though. LA is championship or nothing.

Totally agree. With Bryant, Howard, Nash, and MWP, they will be good. I don't know if they will be good enough to win a championship, but they will be one of the top teams in the league by the end of the season.

 

[dbk]

Nash needs the ball! So weird to watch him playing off the ball so much..

 

[vi edit]

Nash needs the ball! So weird to watch him playing off the ball so much..

They played him more like a 2 guard. Just felt like such a waste of skill.

 

[Miramonti]

The debate is over...

Harden gets 5 years $80 million

The Houston Rockets agreed with guard James Harden on a five-year, $80 million contract Wednesday, league sources told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard.

The deal comes four days after the Rockets pulled off a stunning trade to acquire Harden from the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Houston sent shooting guard Kevin Martin and 2012 first-round draft pick Jeremy Lamb to Oklahoma City, along with future draft choices.

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey called Harden a "foundational player" on Monday, stating that the reigning Sixth Man of the Year is "a player we can build around."

The Rockets, who also signed point guard Jeremy Lin this offseason, visit the Detroit Pistons in their regular-season opener Wednesday.

Afaic, great move by Harden, great trade by OKC...but Houston?...lol.

 

[tygeezy]

I'm shocked by the basketball knowledge on this thread! I am a huge NBA fan and a kings/cavs fan. It's pretty torturous being fans of those clubs Kyrie Irving though looks to be taking the next step. I fully expect him to be the best point guard in the nba in a couple of years. The kings...ugh I hate the magoofs and they need to make some trades.

 

[Miramonti]

Former 6th MOTY award winners

Season Player Position Team
1982–83 Bobby Jones Forward Philadelphia 76ers
1983–84 Kevin McHale Forward/Center Boston Celtics
1984–85 Kevin McHale Forward/Center Boston Celtics
1985–86 Bill Walton Center Boston Celtics
1986–87 Ricky Pierce Guard Milwaukee Bucks
1987–88 Roy Tarpley Forward/Center Dallas Mavericks
1988–89 Eddie Johnson Forward Phoenix Suns
1989–90 Ricky Pierce Guard Milwaukee Bucks
1990–91 Detlef Schrempf Forward Indiana Pacers
1991–92 Detlef Schrempf Forward Indiana Pacers
1992–93 Cliff Robinson Forward/Center Portland Trail Blazers
1993–94 Dell Curry Guard/Forward Charlotte Hornets
1994–95 Anthony Mason Forward New York Knicks
1995–96 Toni Kukoč Forward Chicago Bulls
1996–97 John Starks Guard New York Knicks
1997–98 Danny Manning Forward Phoenix Suns
1998–99 Darrell Armstrong Guard Orlando Magic
1999–00 Rodney Rogers Forward Phoenix Suns
2000–01 Aaron McKie Guard Philadelphia 76ers
2001–02 Corliss Williamson Forward Detroit Pistons
2002–03 Bobby Jackson Guard Sacramento Kings
2003–04 Antawn Jamison Forward Dallas Mavericks
2004–05 Ben Gordon Guard Chicago Bulls
2005–06 Mike Miller Forward/Guard Memphis Grizzlies
2006–07 Leandro Barbosa Guard Phoenix Suns
2007–08 Manu Ginóbili Guard San Antonio Spurs
2008–09 Jason Terry Guard Dallas Mavericks
2009–10 Jamal Crawford Guard Atlanta Hawks
2010–11 Lamar Odom Forward Los Angeles Lakers
2011–12 James Harden Guard Oklahoma City Thunder


Some excellent players that were important to their teams' success, but neither were worthy franchise cornerstones after their awards.

 

[Miramonti]

I'm shocked by the basketball knowledge on this thread! I am a huge NBA fan and a kings/cavs fan. It's pretty torturous being fans of those clubs Kyrie Irving though looks to be taking the next step. I fully expect him to be the best point guard in the nba in a couple of years. The kings...ugh I hate the magoofs and they need to make some trades.

Colangelo self-pleasured himself while watching Irving against team usa in las vegas this summer. He has high hopes for him, which says a lot.

 

[Red Storm]

Lakers played terribly last night, but honestly their offense looked fine in the first half. Had they made half their free throws (not a very high expectation) it would be a different game. The problem is the defense is anchored on Dwight Howard's shoulders and he's still getting back into rhythm, and the guys need time to adjust to playing with each other so I expect to see more of these types of games (losses) in the first half of the season.

Good for Harden getting that extension. He was already sacrificing minutes, shots, etc. and for OKC (who have been making quite the profit the last few years) to play the money card was just disrespectful to their fans. Sam Presti has done an amazing job thus far, but this was a bad move.

Some excellent players that were important to their teams' success, but neither were worthy franchise cornerstones after their awards.

However, there is an important distinction to make. Harden didn't come off the bench because he was the team's 6th best player. He was their third best, they brought him off the bench by design. I wonder how many of those guys on that list were their team's clear third best player (after two top 20 players)?