Lets talk NBA

[JesusC]

Originally Posted by NAMushrooms

did you see LAL play Phoenix the other night? I think thats going to be the summary of the post season. That was in phoenix and the Lakers were playing without Andrew Bynum.

Only time will tell with Ben Wallace and how much of Gooden's success was because of LeBron.

Yea I watched the game. You have to keep in mind, it was shaqs FIRST game with PHX. He actually played better than I thought he would. Not only that, but the game was close....and oh yea, also happend to get in the 120's. Thats PHX basketball, not LA. LA is going to have to lock it down on defense if they want to make the finals, you cant give up 120 to teams like PHX and expect to win a 7 game series....they will run you out of the gym.

I also happend to catch J. Kidds first game with Dallas, also a loss.

These things take time to come together, you cant just throw a new superstar into the mix and expect instant results. Its a team game, things need to mesh, and after about 15 or 20 games you'll see the impact Shaq and Kidd will have in the West.

There is soo much goddamn talent in the West, its scary. I cant wait for the playoffs.

[NAMushrooms]

I agree. I love how no one is talking about San Antonio at all, even though they are the defending champs and they will still be able to play some ball come playoff time.

Realistically the east is all down the Detriot and Boston, but the west is wide open.

[holyrollers]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the Lakers aren't the dark horse of the West. All the "experts" are picking them to represent the West in the finals.

I personally think that the Spurs will represent the Western Conference in the Finals. The addition of Kurt Thomas is probably the most underrated trade that was made before the deadline. They now have two very, very good big men down low in Thomas and Duncan, and seriously, can their post-season defense get any better with that acquisition? Bowen is a monster, as is Duncan, Ginobili, Thomas.. they're just looking like the could snag the title again. My second pick would be the Lakers, followed by the Hornets.

Out of the East I think that the Pistons will pull it out. I'm a born and raised Celtics fan, but I am really not confident in the Big 3 coming out of the East in the first year, despite their record. I'd pick the C's second, and the Magic third. I think the trade the Cavs made today was horrid.

[holyrollers]

Originally Posted by NAMushrooms

did you see LAL play Phoenix the other night? I think thats going to be the summary of the post season. That was in phoenix and the Lakers were playing without Andrew Bynum.

Only time will tell with Ben Wallace and how much of Gooden's success was because of LeBron.

Gooden's numbers really didn't change too much when he went from the Magic to the Cavs. If I remember correctly, they were just slightly improved. He was still averaging over 10 a game prior to LJ.

[Invictis]

I live in San Antonio but I HATE the spurs, especially bowen, cheap motherfucker. I'm a huge Rockets fan, last night I was at walmart and this guy scanned an item from like 5 feet away and he's like "GINOBLI" and i'm like uhh you mean T-mac don't you, and he's like OH A ROCKETS FAN HUH.

[RattleHead1323]

Originally Posted by Invictis

I live in San Antonio but I HATE the spurs, especially bowen, cheap motherfucker. I'm a huge Rockets fan, last night I was at walmart and this guy scanned an item from like 5 feet away and he's like "GINOBLI" and i'm like uhh you mean T-mac don't you, and he's like OH A ROCKETS FAN HUH.

lol thats funny, I'm hoping the lakers win it all, with gasol,bynum, and bryant come on. i'm seeing lakers/celtics for the finals.

[theshrizzz]

Big Celtics fan here. Lost 3 games in a row...I felt we could have won them all but that's alright. Shit happens in the regular season..they are seeing firsthand how good the West really is, even if they were 16-0 vs. the West going into the All-Star break.

I say Pistons beat the Celtics in 7 games to go to the Finals in the most exciting series since...well Warriors-Mavs last year.

[heated]

OMG this Suns vs Pistons game is pissing me off so much right now they brought it within 4 then started getting flagrants and doing dumb shit like hanging on the rim and now pistons are up like 18. Dammit.

[JesusC]

Wow...


I wonder how long its been since PHX was beat that bad at home?

Detroit is ready...

[chiefMOJOrisin]

I'm a New Jersey fan myself......unfortunately. At least we play in the East! Where a team (like mine) can be 9-10 under .500 and still be in the 7th playoff spot.


To touch on the Shaq trade to Phoenix......I ask people to be patient before passing judgement. The first 3 teams the Suns had to play with Shaq were probably the 3 best teams in the game..... Lakers, Celtics (over-rated), and Detroit.

If Shaq becomes a cherry picker he would do better. Just stay on the defensive end, gives good outlet passes to Nash, Hill, Barbosa...then be ready for defense when the other team brings it back down the court. I don't remember the stat, but the Suns average shot comes with like 24 seconds left on the shot clock.....thats too fast for Shaq.

Amare is by far the biggest beneficiary of the trade.



I'm glad the Nets got Devin Harris...... we suck this year, and still will probably make the playoffs. Give Harris the rest of the season to get acclimated to the offense, and the playoffs for some good experience....next year (hopefully) we can get things together. I mean, we have some good ass players. Obviosuly Carter and Jefferson are the go-to guys....but Nochbar (however you spell it) and Christic can definately play. How Diop will adapt is still up in the air.



Who do you guys think the best all around NBA player is?? By all-around I mean shooting free-throws/3-pointers/regular field goals, ability to play shut-down defense, ability to pass, court vision, b-ball IQ, rebounding, team leadership, and stamina.

I say Kobe, by far. Besides his freakish ability to create a shot from a pile of shit, his superior court vision and b-ball IQ.....he is an amazing defender. (81 points in a game ain't too shabby either) Much better than a lot of people give him credit for. The NBA knows he can play D..... First team All-Defense 2000, '03, '04, '06, '07....Second team All-Defensive 2001 and 2002.

Being a good defender is one thing. Being first team all-NBA defense in addition to scoring 30 ppg is nuts. To have the stamina to be able to play tenacious D while shutting down (usually) the opposing team's best player...AND to have energy left to score 30 points, grab 6 boards and dish out 4 dimes......thats a feat most don't realize.

Kobe is definately the best all-around player in the NBA. LeBron can't shoot free-throws..... Gilbert Arenas and Iverson don't play defense (not that they can't...they just feel they don't need to)...and Nash is too small to be a great defender.

What do you guys think???

[NAMushrooms]

Even though im a Cavs fan, Id agree that Kobe is the best player in the NBA right now. But then again, Kobe has been playing much longer than LeBron has. LeBron is what, 22 years old and fucking insane.

I hate when people knock him for shooting 75% FT, people seem to forget that behind all his speed and athleticsm he is still a 6'8'', 260lb power forward playing whatever position the Cavs need him to. He's only getting better every season.

On a side note, Wallace had 12 pts, 10 rebounds in his first Cavalier outing, I must say I was more than satisfied.

[chiefMOJOrisin]

Originally Posted by NAMushrooms

On a side note, Wallace had 12 pts, 10 rebounds in his first Cavalier outing, I must say I was more than satisfied.

If Larry Hughes played up to his ability, the Cav's trade would have been bunk.

Cav's fans should just HOPE AND PRAY that the coach takes Wallace out in the 4th quarter of close games...... anyone remember 'Hack a Shaq'??

[LegitBaller]

ima go with the suns and the celts in the finals, if not, ill say the lakers.
i love diesel so im hopin the 'sun will rise in phoenix' haha
lakers are solid though. there playin gr8 ball without there big man.
the west is packed though, ive never seen so many good teams. 1 through 8 can really contend. the west wasnt even this good when shaq n kobe ruled the NBA during the lake shows 3 peat.
btw- hack a shaq doesnt work, he'll usually nail the free throws in crunch time unlike big ben who always throws up bricks.

[Invictis]

NO MOTHER FUCKERS WHAT THE FUCK, ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME.

The rockets have won fucking 12 in a row, and guess what, out of the fucking BLUE yao ming breaks his foot now he's out for the season. we're sooooo fucked, our only other center is dikembe mutombo who is fucking 42(the same age as hakeem fucking olajuwon) and our PFs cant match up with the elite centers in the league, god damnit.

[NAMushrooms]

Originally Posted by chiefMOJOrisin

If Larry Hughes played up to his ability, the Cav's trade would have been bunk.

Cav's fans should just HOPE AND PRAY that the coach takes Wallace out in the 4th quarter of close games...... anyone remember 'Hack a Shaq'??

I have faith in coach Brown. We are pretty deep, I see no reason why we would keep him in in a close game, probably do the good ol' offense/ defense substitutions and bring in Varejo and Z to play down low.