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NBA discussion thread
- Thread starter Scofield
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I agree with the rest, but that bolded part isn't an excuse my friend. Shaq is not what he was to the Lakers, or even the Heat. He is nothing more then a big-name role player at this point in time. That and the fact that Lopez pretty much did everything (they should seriously start him!) Shaq would normally do and more with Shaq's minutes means that his absence really didn't contribute to their demise.
On another note, how well is Spencer Hawes playing this season? I probably notice more then most because he's in my fantasy team and ranked 7th overall, but he is starting to play like Andrew Bynum pre-injury (get back to your best dude, us Laker fans miss the Bynum of old!), even with Brad Miller stealing his minutes yesterday he still managed to have a better stat-line them him. The Kings may not have an amazing team, but with the development of Hawes, the emergence of Salmons and guys like Martin continuing to play their heart out, I wouldn't be suprised if they are dark-horses for the playoffs.
Also hands up if anyone expected the Hawks to be undefeated after four matches? Anyone at all?
Being a die-hard hawks fan (ask anyone in fluo), I expect them to be the 6th seed in the playoffs at least. They've shown that they can beat stellar teams (they are 4-0 against Philly, Orlando, Toronto, and New Orleans), and that their bench is solid. New addition Flip Murray is doing an excellent job, Horford is showing he can play offense, J-Smooth is spectacular (he's injured, but w/e), and Joe Johnson better be an all-star. Acie Law is maturing into a great point guard, Zaza is proving he's reliable,etc
Everyone on the team is showing that they are doing better than last year, in which we forced Boston to 7 games in the playoffs. They just aren't 4-0, they are 4-0 against playoff contenders.
So uhh, once again, It's be a major letdown if they didn't get atleast the 7th or 6th seed, let alone not make the playoffs. I see them making it past the first round maybe. :)
Anyway, what is happening to the spurs? It seems that age may finally be catching up.
ps: pookar, the bobcats suck
Everyone on the team is showing that they are doing better than last year, in which we forced Boston to 7 games in the playoffs. They just aren't 4-0, they are 4-0 against playoff contenders.
So uhh, once again, It's be a major letdown if they didn't get atleast the 7th or 6th seed, let alone not make the playoffs. I see them making it past the first round maybe. :)
Anyway, what is happening to the spurs? It seems that age may finally be catching up.
ps: pookar, the bobcats suck
I hate the Spurs, but I see this as absolute bullshit. How on earth can you expect a team to play when you are missing two of your best three players, your two best guards. Take Boston for example, lets take their two best "perimeter players" in Ray Allen and Paul Pierce (and leave their big guy Garnett, just like the Spurs have Duncan) out of their lineup. They would still be better then the current Spurs granted, but they'd struggle (and probably fail) to make the playoffs, just as KG's teams did in Minnesota.
So yeah, its ignorant comments like that which frustrate me, its only early days and you aren't justified in making that comment. Remember, the Clippers started 4-0 last season and look where they ended up? Early games mean nothing, and the Spurs are chock full of injuries. As much as I hate to say it, come playoff time, they'll be there.
woahwoahwoah
Parker was injured in the recent game with the heat, so i'll exclude that
the fact that losing ginobli for a stretch of games will cause the spurs to start losing is an indicator, atleast for me, that the spurs are starting to fall. during the preseason, I just put it away, thinking, will, "it's the preseason".
the season started and they lose to Phoenix, Portland, and Dallas. Granted, they did lose only by 1 in the Portland game. the suns game was just terrible though, and the dallas game was equally embarrasing. The west continues to rise in talent, as each team is getting better, but it seems that the spurs aren't improving that much at all. They'll probably make the playoffs, sure, but with Denver, Phoenix, Portland and others all getting better, I really don't think they'll ever reach the success they once had.
and the age comment was pretty dumb tbh, but it is true. Duncan is 32, tony is around the 26-27 age mark, bowen is 37, ginobli 31, finley is also in his 30s. They are all getting pretty old, and the spurs need to start preparing for the future. the signing of Salim looked promising, but all of the spurs younger talent isn't really impressing me at all. within a few years, the spurs could end up being one of the teams headed for the lottery.
ps: http://www.nba.com/hawks/schedule/
looking at that, the hawks will most likely be 14-2 by the end of november.
Parker was injured in the recent game with the heat, so i'll exclude that
the fact that losing ginobli for a stretch of games will cause the spurs to start losing is an indicator, atleast for me, that the spurs are starting to fall. during the preseason, I just put it away, thinking, will, "it's the preseason".
the season started and they lose to Phoenix, Portland, and Dallas. Granted, they did lose only by 1 in the Portland game. the suns game was just terrible though, and the dallas game was equally embarrasing. The west continues to rise in talent, as each team is getting better, but it seems that the spurs aren't improving that much at all. They'll probably make the playoffs, sure, but with Denver, Phoenix, Portland and others all getting better, I really don't think they'll ever reach the success they once had.
and the age comment was pretty dumb tbh, but it is true. Duncan is 32, tony is around the 26-27 age mark, bowen is 37, ginobli 31, finley is also in his 30s. They are all getting pretty old, and the spurs need to start preparing for the future. the signing of Salim looked promising, but all of the spurs younger talent isn't really impressing me at all. within a few years, the spurs could end up being one of the teams headed for the lottery.
ps: http://www.nba.com/hawks/schedule/
looking at that, the hawks will most likely be 14-2 by the end of november.
dont get ahead of yourself or anything. I give props to the hawks, they're playing great basketball and doing well against some good teams. Predicting a team will go 8-2 in the next 10 games is just wrong and crazy imo though. Thats like me saying the celts will win every game this month just because we can, but its not very likely.
Celts playing their nba best lockdown defense, holding teams to 38% Field Goals. They are playing very nice team basketball. However their biggest weakness from last year is still haunting them, they are 2nd to last in the league in TOs. That will have to improve on that for them to repeat as champions.
San Antonio looks done, but i'd put money on them still making the playoffs, and hell probably the WCF, they never die, they really dont.
Im looking foward to seeing iverson in detroit tommorow vs my celts.
LBJ > Chicago, and he's proved it twice in what...4 days? 82 pts...
Houston vs LAL tommorow, that game is gunna be brutal, yao will need to be aggressive for houston to win.
Brandon Roy is CLUUUUUUUUTCH!!!!!!
yeah some random thoughts that stood out for me so far
While I agree he's not as great as he was with the Lakers (obviously), he's easily better than he was with Miami, especially in the years following their unexpected championship win, when he pretty much was a dead weight with injuries. Look at tonight's game: 29 points and 11 rebounds is great, even if it was VS Milwaukee. Even against the Spurs, Shaq had a good game going, with the hack-a-Shaqs and all. The guy's still got some fuel left. Nice to see you eating your words :P
Lopez is decent, but he's still a rookie and probably needs quite a bit more time before seeing anything like starter minutes. Though in the event of a Shaq breakdown, at least we're not down to using Stoudamire as Center.
Tell me about it. Nash is my favorite player. Hilarious when Shaq just shoved everyone to the ground.
While the Pistons have a average record at the moment (7-3), I am quite pleased.
First of all, the trade with Chauncey for Iverson basically left them without a true Point Guard barring Rodney Stuckey for two games. Despite winning both of these, they were against pretty mediocre teams.
Also, Stuckey getting "dizzy" left Iverson getting clobbered with minutes. This also didn't allow Michael Curry the opportunity to dial in his line-up. I haven't been extremely impressed with Stuckey as of late, but once he can hit the jumper, I think he'll be a deadly Point Guard. He is known for driving to the rim, so a outside touch would make the defense think twice. It would also help in situations to avoid the collision with Shaq the otherday against the Suns.
In addition to all of that, they have barely had any practices together. With almost all of their games being away and back to back, it has been hard for them to gell.
I don't see Curry making final adjustments till around late December. I think Iverson was a great trade, and once we get Mcdeyes back, our interior defense will also benifit. (Something we have had trouble with)
The last issue is Rip Hamilton. He has had a huge shooting slump, but as of late, he has shooten lights out. I think he will be a deadly force alongside Iverson once he and the rest of the team for that matter, figure out where to be when Iverson penitrates and needs to kick the basketball out.
First of all, the trade with Chauncey for Iverson basically left them without a true Point Guard barring Rodney Stuckey for two games. Despite winning both of these, they were against pretty mediocre teams.
Also, Stuckey getting "dizzy" left Iverson getting clobbered with minutes. This also didn't allow Michael Curry the opportunity to dial in his line-up. I haven't been extremely impressed with Stuckey as of late, but once he can hit the jumper, I think he'll be a deadly Point Guard. He is known for driving to the rim, so a outside touch would make the defense think twice. It would also help in situations to avoid the collision with Shaq the otherday against the Suns.
In addition to all of that, they have barely had any practices together. With almost all of their games being away and back to back, it has been hard for them to gell.
I don't see Curry making final adjustments till around late December. I think Iverson was a great trade, and once we get Mcdeyes back, our interior defense will also benifit. (Something we have had trouble with)
The last issue is Rip Hamilton. He has had a huge shooting slump, but as of late, he has shooten lights out. I think he will be a deadly force alongside Iverson once he and the rest of the team for that matter, figure out where to be when Iverson penitrates and needs to kick the basketball out.
I wanted to see Yao and Shaq go at it...though I think we all know what the outcome of that would be, lol.
Yeah...The ref would come and completely bloody up both of them. "Yao, Shaq, I've been taking your crap for the last time!"
Anyone else remember Earl Boykins (unintentionally, probably) hitting Yao in the stomach?
Classic David and Goliath.
Coming off of a home win over Cleveland, Detroit is going to be enduring a back to back against the Boston Celtics.
This game should really measure up Detroit, for the time being at least.
While the Pistons are in a good position, they still have a lot to improve on.
Should be a great game!
This game should really measure up Detroit, for the time being at least.
While the Pistons are in a good position, they still have a lot to improve on.
Should be a great game!
So yeah, Eddie Jordan is the worst coach in the NBA. Grunfield isn't much better. We should have let Arenas/Jamison walk. (though we can trade them for expirings + picks). Hopefully we can land Blake Griffin.
(i hate d.c. sports)
(i hate d.c. sports)
Holy Crap!
Crawford, Randolph, and Collins for Mobley, Harrington, and Tim Thomas.
This is to free up the salary cap to try to get Lebron in 2010.
Not a bad move considering Cat Mobely, Al Harrington, and Tim Thomas are pretty good players.
Knicks are looking better and better.
I have to give a lot of credit to Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni.
First season here, and things are getting better much quicker than I previously thought.
Crawford, Randolph, and Collins for Mobley, Harrington, and Tim Thomas.
This is to free up the salary cap to try to get Lebron in 2010.
Not a bad move considering Cat Mobely, Al Harrington, and Tim Thomas are pretty good players.
Knicks are looking better and better.
I have to give a lot of credit to Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni.
First season here, and things are getting better much quicker than I previously thought.
Technically it's not about the NBA, but I don't want to start a whole new thread about it, so I'll ask it here.
When dribbling, are you allowed to lift both feet? I sometimes see guards in the NBA do this, they're doing these crossover dribbles, and when doing it between the legs, there feet hop to quickly switch positions. It happens rather quickly, and it's only maybe half an inch or so off the ground, so I was wondering if this is technically allowed, or is it just hard for the refs to see it?
And kudos to Larry Hughes for putting in that last second shot to win against Utah.
When dribbling, are you allowed to lift both feet? I sometimes see guards in the NBA do this, they're doing these crossover dribbles, and when doing it between the legs, there feet hop to quickly switch positions. It happens rather quickly, and it's only maybe half an inch or so off the ground, so I was wondering if this is technically allowed, or is it just hard for the refs to see it?
And kudos to Larry Hughes for putting in that last second shot to win against Utah.
I'm pretty sure you can. I play regularly, and I don't really see people do it (to avoid a steal I think?).
you can even keep jumping up and down while you dribble, it's perfectly fine. well as long as you dont end up like palming or carrying or double dribbling but yeah.
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