NBA Discussion

[GTA3Rockstar]

Good stuff mark. Yeah, Ray fell on hard times post-retirement, then his illness made things worse. He & Michael Ray Richardson were fun to watch back then.

 

As for Miami, even if they match or break the '71-'72 Lakers win streak, LA's was more impressive. 18 of their wins were on consecutive nights, and they played FOUR back-to-back-to-backs. Incredible.

I think just winning more than 20 consecutive games is impressive, let alone almost 30.

[mark-2007]

Yeah, hugely impressive. It's a shame they came up short, I would've loved to have witnessed some NBA history but it's still a fantastic achievement either way. I'm not a Heat fan, but my opinion of LeBron, and the opinions of most people from what I gather, has changed dramatically since the Decision/2011 Finals period. I was never a hater but his move to Miami - which he had every right to make - was handled all wrong, but he seems to have matured - both on and off the court - since then and now.

 

Read this neat article on Grantland about his changing game.

 

Also, I've been reading a bit about future NBA prospects. Haven't heard anything brilliant about this upcoming draft class. Shabazz Muhammad from UCLA was hyped but I read an article (here) that makes it seem more like his father (former college player) has been cultivating PR hype around his son - including changing his birthdate so that he was listed as 19 rather than 20 and thus stood out more in high school/college. Could well be proven wrong, but he doesn't seem all that - I think UCLA got knocked out of the NCAA thing (I don't have a clue how that tournament works) by some underdogs.

 

The most interesting guy seems to be Andrew Wiggins, some Canadian kid (whose father aso played basketball, on the Rockets in the mid-late-'80s) who's a high school senior and will enter college next year, possibly declaring for the 2014 NBA draft. Could be too early to tell but he looks like he'd be fun to watch on the big stage.

 

 

 

EDIT: Then again, there's been a number of players who've been much-hyped in high school/college and failed to really live up to it if/when they made the NBA - Sebastian Telfair and, at the moment, James McAdoo, who I heard a lot about a couple years ago but looks like he's dropped to a mid-late 1st rounder (still no mean feat) in the 2013 draft.

Edited March 30, 2013 by mark-2007

[Funktipus]

I'm so sick of the Lebron hate - it's getting beyond ridiculous. He did what every American has the right to do - work wherever he wants. All this traitor talk is BS. You can criticise him for the circus he created, but that's it.

 

I think a lot of hate comes from fans jealous Lebron spurned their team, like some of my fellow, clueless Knick fans. One of my homies tried comparing Carmelo Anthony with Lebron. I had to shut him down before he embarrassed himself further. Anthony is a great scorer, not a great all-around player like James.

 

Guess that's why 'fan' is short for 'fanatic'

[mark-2007]

Yeah, the only thing that was a bit out of order was the media circus around "The Decision" - it did seem to rub fans the wrong way, both Cavs fans and fans of teams LeBron turned down. However, I read about a bit on it and it apparently raised around $3 million for charity so fair play to him!

 

Other than that, he seems awesome. Of course, his play on the court goes without saying, and it's difficult (perhaps pointless) to try and judge a celebrity's personality but he does seem to be a well-rounded and professional and fun guy. More Than A Game is a pretty good documentary on his high school years for anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

 

Also, click for some Cavs rookie hazing of Dion Waiters!

[Capricornus]

I'm so sick of the Lebron hate - it's getting beyond ridiculous. He did what every American has the right to do - work wherever he wants. All this traitor talk is BS. You can criticise him for the circus he created, but that's it.

 

I think a lot of hate comes from fans jealous Lebron spurned their team, like some of my fellow, clueless Knick fans. One of my homies tried comparing Carmelo Anthony with Lebron. I had to shut him down before he embarrassed himself further. Anthony is a great scorer, not a great all-around player like James.

 

Guess that's why 'fan' is short for 'fanatic'

I've always felt that the LeBron hate was stupid being that it carried on the way that it did for as long as it did. I have always liked and respected LeBron as a person and player and he's definitely one of my favorites in the league. The whole "The Decision" thing was a bit immature but the man was in Cleavland for 9 years, and as great as he is, the job could not get done. I saw no problem with him enhancing his winning chances. I am sure he felt that he was too great of a player at that time to NOT have a ring. He gets the correct help, and now he has that ring and may be getting another one this year.

 

Anyone else here notice how The Heat are the New England Patriots of the NBA? They are both the villain teams in the league, primarily because they have an absurd amount of talent.

[El Dildo]

Anyone else here notice how The Heat are the New England Patriots of the NBA? They are both the villain teams in the league, primarily because they have an absurd amount of talent.

oh yeah, all of the major pro sports have "that team."

and we all know "that team."

 

it's the team that everyone loves to hate because they're the best (generally speaking).

 

baseball = Yankees

football = Pats

hockey = Canadiens

basketball = Heat

 

I guess it used to be the Lakers until recently.

and before that the Celtics had the honor.

[mark-2007]

I don't particularly like the idea of the hoarding of talent in recent seasons. As a football fan over here in Britain it's become commonplace in the English Premier League by rich teams and it doesn't make for great competition. The salary cap in the NBA works well though in that it means a team has to have a shrewd GM pulling the strings. And besides, Wade and LeBron on the fast break are f*cking fun to watch.

 

Caught the very end of the NCAA game between Duke and Louisiana (not sure if this is the thread for it), Louisiana won it in the end. Kevin Ware from Louisiana suffered a pretty horrific leg break - makes me queasy watching it, so be warned for watching the video.

 

My question is: how come this doesn't happen more? Again, I'm a football fan and you see a fair amount of these horrible breaks in nasty sliding challenges. Even with basketball being non-contact (to a degree), I'd have thought that leg breaks would still occur from awkward landings, particularly from hard fouls whilst driving in the lane. And another question: what's the likelihood that Ware makes a full recovery and plays again? All the best to him for his recovery.

[gta_player5]

 

Caught the very end of the NCAA game between Duke and Louisiana (not sure if this is the thread for it), Louisiana won it in the end. Kevin Ware from Louisiana suffered a pretty horrific leg break - makes me queasy watching it, so be warned for watching the video.

 

My question is: how come this doesn't happen more? Again, I'm a football fan and you see a fair amount of these horrible breaks in nasty sliding challenges. Even with basketball being non-contact (to a degree), I'd have thought that leg breaks would still occur from awkward landings, particularly from hard fouls whilst driving in the lane. And another question: what's the likelihood that Ware makes a full recovery and plays again? All the best to him for his recovery.

He plays for the Louisville Cardinals. Regardless of who he plays for, I think he could recover and play again. We have seen players suffer terrible ligament injuries and return to play professionally. Ligament tears are obviously different than the injury Kevin Ware sustained today, but we won't know the severity of it (aside from just watching it on TV) for a few days. Joe Theismann suffered a compound leg fracture that forced him into retirement in the '80s, but I hope technology and medicine have developed enough where Ware can recover and play basketball again. Will he have made the NBA had he not gotten injured? I don't know, but that's not the point. I wish him a speedy recovery and I hope to see him back on the court as soon as possible.

 

Why don't we see injuries like this more often in basketball? How many sports do we really see gruesome bone fractures? I think basketball players are more likely to suffer ligament injuries than bone fractures because of their knees twisting and contorting. Your body is made to handle jumping and landing. I think the awkward landings are more likely to cause ligament damage than bone fractures. This was a freak injury. I don't remember the last time I saw someone break a bone like that. Basketball is more contact than most give it credit for, but there's no tackling, slide tackles, etc. Non-contact ligament tears are, unfortunately, fairly common.

[Stryfaar]

Same thing happened with 'Sid Vicious' from WCW Nitro back at '01. Could be out for a year, yeah, but he'll be competing again.

[GTA3Rockstar]

oh yeah, all of the major pro sports have "that team."

and we all know "that team."

 

it's the team that everyone loves to hate because they're the best (generally speaking).

 

baseball = Yankees

football = Pats

hockey = Canadiens

basketball = Heat

 

I guess it used to be the Lakers until recently.

and before that the Celtics had the honor.

Yankees only won one championship in the last 10+ years, the Patriots haven't won a championship since 2004. Canadiens haven't won a championship in 20 years, so don't even go about saying the Heat is "that team" when the Lakers still won more championships since 2000 than any other team.

[El Dildo]

 

Yankees only won one championship in the last 10+ years, the Patriots haven't won a championship since 2004. Canadiens haven't won a championship in 20 years, so don't even go about saying the Heat is "that team" when the Lakers still won more championships since 2000 than any other team.

slow down there, partner.

 

"that team" isn't necessarily the best statistically.

it's about public perception. whether they're the best at the moment or the best of the previous decade, it's just that team who everyone points to and wants to take down. it seems like most people just want them to fail whether they have a good reason or not.

 

Yanks. Heat. Pats. Montreal. ok maybe Boston Bruins or Pitt Penguins recently.

but those are the teams that fall into the category.

[Jonesizzle]

Does anyone else find it a joke that Britney Griner should enter the NBA draft? She is a 6'8'' 220 lb. Center. She moves like Shaq in Cleveland, and has the athleticism of a sloth compared to other 6'8'' 220 lb small forwards or shooting guards. There is no way she would last two seasons in the NBA. Now, I'm not saying any women wouldn't make the NBA, and the only position I see a women transitioning well in the NBA is a point guard. I just don't see Griner having the toughness to guard men like Jeff Green, Serge Ibaka or Paul Milsap in the paint, and those aren't even the best post forward players.

[UrbanTheEmcee]

Does anyone else find it a joke that Britney Griner should enter the NBA draft? She is a 6'8'' 220 lb. Center. She moves like Shaq in Cleveland, and has the athleticism of a sloth compared to other 6'8'' 220 lb small forwards or shooting guards. There is no way she would last two seasons in the NBA. Now, I'm not saying any women wouldn't make the NBA, and the only position I see a women transitioning well in the NBA is a point guard. I just don't see Griner having the toughness to guard men like Jeff Green, Serge Ibaka or Paul Milsap in the paint, and those aren't even the best post forward players.

Yeah, that sh*t is absurd.

 

Anyway, Pacers-Thunder tonight. Money on my Pacers.

[gta_player5]

 

Does anyone else find it a joke that Britney Griner should enter the NBA draft? She is a 6'8'' 220 lb. Center. She moves like Shaq in Cleveland, and has the athleticism of a sloth compared to other 6'8'' 220 lb small forwards or shooting guards. There is no way she would last two seasons in the NBA. Now, I'm not saying any women wouldn't make the NBA, and the only position I see a women transitioning well in the NBA is a point guard. I just don't see Griner having the toughness to guard men like Jeff Green, Serge Ibaka or Paul Milsap in the paint, and those aren't even the best post forward players.

I've seen her listed weight as either 175 lbs or 207 lbs. I'm more inclined to believe the latter number. Either way, though, she is a great player, but she plays center in women's college basketball. Her height in women's hoops is what makes her so dominant, but 6'8" in the NBA is nothing unique. Magic Johnson was a 6'9" point guard, Kobe Bryant is a 6'7" shooting guard, LeBron James, the freakish athlete he is, 6'8" 250 lbs small forward. She could not play center in men's basketball because of that, and, like you said, she doesn't have the athleticism to play positions where the players are more her height, like small forward or power forward.

[Funktipus]

11 wins in a row for the Knicks, and Carmelo is on fire. Big matchup tomorrow in OKC. It's imperative NY gets that #2 seed.

[GTA3Rockstar]

Yankees only won one championship in the last 10+ years, the Patriots haven't won a championship since 2004. Canadiens haven't won a championship in 20 years, so don't even go about saying the Heat is "that team" when the Lakers still won more championships since 2000 than any other team.

slow down there, partner.

 

"that team" isn't necessarily the best statistically.

it's about public perception. whether they're the best at the moment or the best of the previous decade, it's just that team who everyone points to and wants to take down. it seems like most people just want them to fail whether they have a good reason or not.

 

Yanks. Heat. Pats. Montreal. ok maybe Boston Bruins or Pitt Penguins recently.

but those are the teams that fall into the category.

Winning is everything anyways.

 

 

 

Gallinari is out for season with torn ACL, might damper our chances a bit.

[Funktipus]

Congratulations to Bernard King for making the HOF, one of my favorite Knicks of all time. It's long overdue.

[mark-2007]

 

Caught the very end of the NCAA game between Duke and Louisiana (not sure if this is the thread for it), Louisiana won it in the end. Kevin Ware from Louisiana suffered a pretty horrific leg break - makes me queasy watching it, so be warned for watching the video.

 

My question is: how come this doesn't happen more? Again, I'm a football fan and you see a fair amount of these horrible breaks in nasty sliding challenges. Even with basketball being non-contact (to a degree), I'd have thought that leg breaks would still occur from awkward landings, particularly from hard fouls whilst driving in the lane. And another question: what's the likelihood that Ware makes a full recovery and plays again? All the best to him for his recovery.

He plays for the Louisville Cardinals. Regardless of who he plays for, I think he could recover and play again.

Oops, my bad. I see they've made the NCAA final though, they play Michigan tomorrow (I think?).

 

As for the NBA, Lakers have a half game lead over the Jazz. The Jazz have 5 games left, all against Western teams, three of which are above .500 teams, whilst the Lakers have 6 games left, also all against Western teams, with four being above .500 teams - looks like it'll go down to the wire.

 

And yeah, GTA3Rockstar, sucks about Gallo, it's gonna hurt Denver but if they play anything like they did last night against Houston then they should be alright. They've had one of the deepest benches all season and it should prove useful come playoff time. You're a Nuggets fan, I assume? They could definitely make a run at the Thunder (or the Spurs if they drop down to 2nd seed) in the conference semis, could push either team to a game seven if they're on form.

 

Also, speaking of the Knicks, Funk, I was reading up on their championship teams, some very interesting characters, and great players too. I think I found my new favourite old player, Walt Frazier...

 

 

Just look at that cape.

Edited April 7, 2013 by mark-2007

[Funktipus]

I saw the Knicks two championships, and Clyde was the epitome of 'cool'. One of the smartest players to ever step on the court.

 

As for today's Knicks, great win today in OKC - their best game of the season. Total team effort - Anthony continued his hot play, JR and Kidd hit some big time shots and Chandler did work inside. Magic number is down to 1.

[ArmedJudas47]

Louisville defeated Michigan... MAN What a great victory for them

[mark-2007]

It's going right down to the wire between the Jazz and Lakers. Failing an absolute collapse from both, the Mavs are out of it. Utah holds the tiebreaker with the Lakers too and has a shorter but slightly easier schedule (home and away at Minnesota, away at Memphis) than the Lakers (at Portland before hosting the Warriors, Spurs and Rockets).

[ArmedJudas47]

I think Lakers will be 9 at the end of the season...3 playoffs team...

[mark-2007]

Kobe out with a probable tear in his Achilles tendon. He's getting on a bit now but with his mindset I can see him coming back, maybe just as strong. Not sure if this spells the end of the Lakers season - with the talent they have, they should still make the playoff, but then again they should have not been in this predicament at this point in the season.

 

All the best to him for his recovery.

[Jriv]

Kobe out with a probable tear in his Achilles tendon. He's getting on a bit now but with his mindset I can see him coming back, maybe just as strong. Not sure if this spells the end of the Lakers season - with the talent they have, they should still make the playoff, but then again they should have not been in this predicament at this point in the season.

 

All the best to him for his recovery.

 

 

It's been said he's out for 6-9 months. This is something I hate to hear. To be honest I don't see him playing much longer

[GTA3Rockstar]

Kobe out with a probable tear in his Achilles tendon. He's getting on a bit now but with his mindset I can see him coming back, maybe just as strong. Not sure if this spells the end of the Lakers season - with the talent they have, they should still make the playoff, but then again they should have not been in this predicament at this point in the season.

 

All the best to him for his recovery. 

 

 

It's been said he's out for 6-9 months. This is something I hate to hear. To be honest I don't see him playing much longer

Yea, I'd give him two more years, IF he comes back healthy.

[Jimmy_Leppard]

If he comes back healthy, I'd say Kobe will play maybe only one season after the comeback. Everything above that, he'd be risking another injury which could easily be even worse for him than this one.

[Funktipus]

Now it's Dwight Howard's turn to step up.

[+ Dragonjack +]

I heard about Kobe Bryant's injury and that sucked real bad, apparently he was actually seen in tears at a press conference after his injury? But that's what I've been hearing about lately. Is it true? I mean, all of that effort he done for his team. Anyways hopefully he'll be back in perfect shape as well.

 

 

[mark-2007]

He looked fairly shook up,

. He also went on Facebook and posted some stuff:

 

 

This is such BS! All the training and sacrifice just flew out the window with one step that I've done millions of times! The frustration is unbearable. The anger is rage. Why the hell did this happen ?!? Makes no damn sense. Now I'm supposed to come back from this and be the same player Or better at 35?!? How in the world am I supposed to do that?" I have NO CLUE. Do I have the consistent will to overcome this thing? Maybe I should break out the rocking chair and reminisce on the career that was. Maybe this is how my book ends. Maybe Father Time has defeated me...Then again maybe not! It's 3:30am, my foot feels like dead weight, my head is spinning from the pain meds and I'm wide awake.

 

Continues on after that. Anyways, he seem - at least judging from his presence on social networking and comments from team mates - to have a fairly positive outlook.

 

---

 

Anyways, playoffs all set and ready to go. I know this topic isn't the mot active, but here's the playoff pic for anyone who wants to fill out their own bracket.

 

[Funktipus]

Anything less than a trip to the conference finals would be a disappointment for the Knicks.