The NBA 08-09 Thread

[Halx]

11-1

I am going to post as often as I feel like it. I looked at the upcoming schedule and I have to say that the Lakers don't face any competition for a long while. They'll be 27-1 before they run into New Orleans again. Then right after that it is.. dun dun dun.. Boston. Two tough games in a row. The Lakers might be unstoppable if the following stretch doesn't snap their streak.

I am glad to see the Knicks dumping their roster. I don't like the Knicks, but I don't hate them. What I hate is when a team with so many resources flounders and fails so badly year after year. I mean, you can argue that there are too many teams in the league and that a few unsuccessful small market teams should be removed, but you can't do anything about the Knicks.

With that said, I don't think LeBron will find the Knicks attractive. I think the Nets have a better young core (but that's not saying a lot) and they'll be moving to Brooklyn soon. LeBron will be on the Nets in 2010.

[dlish]

halx..if the lakers take out the championship, ill pay for the full month it takes for you to run TFP.

there i said it.

[Halx]

TFP, July is on dlish.

[Halx]

Where are we at, 12-1?

Tonight is Dallas, which has been playing well behind Jason Terry. They're not playing well enough to beat the Lakers, but they might have one thing go their way. Andrew Bynum is day-to-day with a loose bone spur. This could present problems for the interior defense. Bynum is having a pretty effective start to the year, but his impact is not fully shown in the box score. If he's out, I'd expect Terry to be attacking the lane. Still, once the bench comes out, the game is over.

[Speed_Gibson]

I just realised that the new XM/Sirius service carries the play-by-play for NBA games. I looked back when it was just XM and they just had pointless (strictly IMO, limited sports interest) NHL, College sports, nascar, and whatever else non-NBA on there.
Not planning on paying time warner for their NBA package.

[Ilow]

Celtics winning percentage= .900. and it looks like they're getting better, especially the play of Rondo and Powe, not to mention Perkins.

[Cross-Over]

The Celtics had an impressive blowout win against a good Portland team on Friday, and they haven't appeared to miss Posey yet. I still think his absence will be sorely missed come playoff time. Powe is a legitimate low post threat, and scores at the basket even better than Garnett. Rondo's all around game has progressed well, and he is a top tier point guard in the east.

The Lakers blew a big lead against an below average Indiana team and almost blew a big lead against a poor Wizards team. They still are one of the deepest teams in the league and playing exceptionally well overall. Ariza's defense has been outstanding, and it will be a shame if he continues that effort and gets snubbed when it comes time for the all NBA Defensive teams. I think Jackson would be smart to continue to give minutes to Ariza over Walton. Maybe Walton can get some minutes back from Radmanovic, but it will be difficult since Radmanovic has been shooting the three ball well this year.

[Halx]

17-2

Should be 18-1... damn Pacers. Tonight is the measly Sacramento Kings. This game will be a test of motivation. The Lakers have been getting out to big leads and then blowing them with impatient play and lack of focus. I guess there is such thing as too much talent. There have been many articles written in the last 2 days about this little issue. Now the bench is under the gun to produce results. I hope to see some results tonight.

[powerclown]

Boston looks unbeatable at the moment. Ray Allen is shooting the ball like magic again, keeping Boston winning games easily. Detroit is dead in the water without a good point guard, instead we get spoiled, selfish, defensively challenged malcontent Allen Iverson destroying any remaining team chemistry once Billups left. Basically the same thing he did in Denver after they traded him for another solid point guard in Andre Miller which was a mistake the Nuggets seemed intent on fixing ever since and now have. Mr. Microsoft's Portland Trailblazers a very very good team, they have so much young talent it is ridiculous, just need to fine tune their defense and they are top 5 in the league. I like this Rudy Fernandez guy, he is a wizard with and without the ball, very creative passer, can drive to the hoop and dunk with authority. Aldridge and Roy are playing Allstar caliber basketball and Greg Oden is coming along fine. They lost by 1 point to Orlando last night in an extremely high quality game, both teams were hitting shots and making great plays all over the court. Orlando has so much firepower, 2 experienced snipers and Superman in the middle make them dangerous every night. Took them long enough! Devin Harris in New Jersey has been getting rave reviews this year, his scoring average is up 10 points/game. New Jersey v NYK tonight in Jersey.

[powerclown]

Allstar voting has started.

WEST
Forward: LaMarcus Aldridge
Forward: Carmelo Anthony
Guard: Chauncey Billups
Guard: Chris Paul
Center: Mehmet Okur

EAST
Forward: Tayshaun Prince
Forward: Paul Pierce
Guard: Ray Allen
Guard: Joe Johnson
Center: Dwight Howard

I think its time Tayshaun Prince get a nod for allstar. His low key demeanor hides one of the most versatile players in the game.

[powerclown]

Too easy for the Boston Celtics these days. Hall of fame 3-point shooter, Hall of Fame versatile do-it-all 7-foot freak of nature, probable Hall of Fame slasher/penetrator/scorer/scowler. 17 game winning streak is incredible.

[roachboy]

the celtics are playing a beautiful game. they're a pleasure to watch.

[Ilow]

The Celtics have so many ways to win: they blow people out, they win close games, thy come from behind, they do it in the post, they bang from outside, they fast break, they play half court, they give and go, pick and roll, have Garnet score 30, have Pierce score 30, have Perkins score 25, have Rondo dish assists like crazy. They will lose a couple more this seaon, but the current win streak isn't an aberration, or luck, barring any serious injuries, they should continue to win games in chunks. I like the way Rondo is feeding Ray Allen, he is finally healthy and looking like a big time contributor. They are a pleasure to watch.

[dlish]

Lakers beat the celtics 92-83 and stop the 19 game celtics streak.

impressive. lets see if they can do it in the playoffs day in day out.

[powerclown]

Allen Iverson 2ND in allstar voting behind Dwayne Wade for starting guard? Is basketball fixed or something?

[Cross-Over]

Originally Posted by powerclown

Allen Iverson 2ND in allstar voting behind Dwayne Wade for starting guard? Is basketball fixed or something?

It is fan voting, which completely explains it. Iverson has long been a fan favorite. I disagree with it, but I wouldn't say fixed. I take All star/pro bowl voting in all professional sports with a grain of salt, even if it is not entirely fan voting.

[powerclown]

I wonder if the LeBron Rule is considered cheating? (And the Wade rule and the Kobe rule...and the..) Extra steps, palming the ball, and the flopping is out of hand.

Would be nice if Tayshaun Prince got in the allstar game as a sub. If 1 million chinamen on the other side of the world can vote in Yi Jianlian, and thousands of Denver Nugget fans can vote in Iverson (who's done squat this year), Prince should at least get a long look. Guy can play and defend every position on the court.

[dippin]

Am I the only one who cant stand Lebron?

[powerclown]

Originally Posted by dippin

Am I the only one who cant stand Lebron?

What don't you like about him? I like him as a player...great athlete, unselfish, excellent passer. He's now got a solid backcourt for the first time in a long time.

[dippin]

Well, the whole "global icon" thing, the whole "a lebron james team" thing when they are winning, and the whole "i need more help" when losing, and how any time the cavs lose a couple in a row there seems to be a million different "sources" talking about him going to greece, to the knicks, etc which he refuses to deny. Add to that the whole Ira Newble situation.

For such a once in a lifetime set of physical skills, he still has some glaring holes in his game that have really hurt in the playoffs, like shooting and a post up game. If he ever developed a consisted outside shot (about 40% effective FG from jumpshots, 29% 3 pt), he could be deadly. But its been three years in a row that the cavs lost in the playoffs simply because opponents closed the lane and forced him to be a jump shooter.

[powerclown]

They're dropping like flies: Delonte West, Andrew Bynum, Gerald Wallace, Tea Mac, Michael Redd, maybe Chris Paul, Carlos Boozer, Andrei Kirilenko, now Jameer Nelson. This bodes well for a Memphis Grizzlies NBA Championship.

[dippin]

heh, my celts are still all mostly healthy, other than the flu or whatever KG had the other day.

[mgrace]

Originally Posted by dippin

heh, my celts are still all mostly healthy, other than the flu or whatever KG had the other day.

They are healthy alright but they got beaten by undermanned Lakers today. Again stopping their winning streak just like xmas day.

[dippin]

Originally Posted by mgrace

They are healthy alright but they got beaten by undermanned Lakers today. Again stopping their winning streak just like xmas day.

Meh. I have no problems with yesterday's loss. regular season, kobe got hot in the 4th, and the refs bought into every laker flop, giving them every 50-50 call, and the game could still have gone either way.
-----Added 6/2/2009 at 02 : 09 : 39-----
not to mention Doc's bone headed rotations. Powe and House playing great and he keeps them off the court down the stretch.

[Cross-Over]

Originally Posted by Halx

I'm calling it now.. 73-9 season for Lakers

73-9 has been an afterthought, as has 72-10 (the benchmark set by the G.O.A.T.'s Chicago Bulls ). After tonight, they are officially out of the running for 70 wins. Losing Bynum hurt their cause. Lets be realistic though, had they not acquired a multiple all star in Gasol for peanuts, they never would have been close to 70 wins anytime soon.

[MacGuyver]

C's are hurting man. Only 10 players will be available to play this coming game. KG, Rondo, Big Baby, Scal, and TA are down for the count. Time for Steph to get the plays down. He says he only knows about 3 plays.