Author Topic: The NBA thread (Read 1519476 times)

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13800 on:** October 16, 2014, 02:51:14 AM »

He's been done for awhile now. He's only hanging in to get that final big paycheck.

Which is what any normal human being would do.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13801 on:** October 16, 2014, 11:31:08 AM »

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13802 on:** October 16, 2014, 04:25:21 PM »

Quote

Josh Smith and Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy had a good talk during the weekend.

The discussion was about what the forward does well, and both came up with the same general answers.

One thing not on the list is three-pointers. He doesn't need to shoot many this season.

"I think Josh has a very good understanding of the shots he needs to shoot that are not only best for him, but best for our team,'' Van Gundy said. "He's one of the elite guys in the league around the basket. Last year, stuff inside, right at the rim, in two straight years, he has been 71% and 77%. There's very few guys at that level. So he needs to get more of those. He knows that. He also understands he really doesn't need to shoot threes for this team.

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2014/10/15/detroit-pistons-josh-smith/17303577/

Brehvolution · « **Reply #13803 on:** October 17, 2014, 08:17:39 AM »

Speaking of Detroit:

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13804 on:** October 17, 2014, 08:18:45 AM »

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #13805 on:** October 17, 2014, 10:30:14 AM »

I'm sure Moe Cheeks had convos with Smith about that too, as did the previous coach. I just hope Smith gets benched if he reverts back to the bullshit.

T-Short · « **Reply #13806 on:** October 17, 2014, 01:12:28 PM »

What the fuck. Will Bynum traded to Celtics for Joel Anthony? I guess Aaron Gray's heart condition necessitated this, but it makes this article a bit funny

http://pistonpowered.com/2014/10/16/fresh-start-will-bynum/

edit: also, does this now make Jonas Jerebko the guy with the longest tenure on the current Pistons?

benjipwns · « **Reply #13807 on:** October 17, 2014, 07:52:54 PM »

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13808 on:** October 18, 2014, 12:41:40 AM »

Quote

Bill Oram
‏@bill_oram
Scott says teams tend to be built to live and die by 3-pointers. "I don't believe it wins championships. Gets you to the playoffs."

This Lakers season is going to be hilarious.

benjipwns · « **Reply #13809 on:** October 18, 2014, 12:54:02 AM »

I don't really get how he keeps getting work. This is a guy who had two contenders' star players basically demand he get fired and then Mike Brown rolled in and did more with the Cavs then he ever had, including getting them to play some defense.

Also, is he forgetting one of his roles on the Showtime team? It was bombing threes along with Coop! Even in the playoffs!

Your Stalker · « **Reply #13810 on:** October 18, 2014, 07:12:07 PM »

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13811 on:** October 18, 2014, 09:41:43 PM »

Quote

It’s the kind of question Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, on any other day, would greet with an exasperated smirk.

And he definitely did that Saturday at the AT&T Center when asked about Phoenix owner Robert Sarver grabbing the mic late in Thursday’s exhibition blowout to apologize for the lackluster game and offer credit to ticketed attendees after the Hall of Fame coach and five Spurs players missed the game. But Popovich also had plenty to say.

“As I said, the silliness begins,” he said. “Most wise individuals would check facts before they made statements. Unless you’re interested in putting on a show. In that case, the facts get in your way, as in this case.

“We had five guys we didn’t send. Patty Mills had a shoulder operation over the summer. Tiago Splitter (calf) has been out the whole preseason. Kawhi Leonard (eye infection) was out and is still out for 10 more days. The other two, Duncan and Ginobili, are two of the oldest guys in the league who just came back from a 13-day European trip.

“The only thing that surprises me is that he didn’t say it in a chicken suit. I’ll just leave it at that.”

The chicken suit reference, in case you're not familiar, goes all the way back to 2005 when Sarver, early in his ownership days back then, was miffed that Pop rested Duncan and Ginobili in a late-season game at Phoenix and made wing-flapping "chicken" gestures over at the Spurs bench, accusing them of being afraid of the Steve Nash-Amar'e Stoudemire-Mike D'Antonio Suns. Phoenix ended up winning 107-101 that night and did indeed earn the top seed in the playoffs, but the Spurs wound up beating them in five games in the Western Conference Finals on their way to their third championship.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13812 on:** October 19, 2014, 01:28:44 PM »

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13813 on:** October 20, 2014, 01:08:40 PM »

http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/11717596/is-kobe-bryant-reason-los-angeles-lakers-downfall

Quote

REMEMBER RAMON SESSIONS? In the spring of 2012, after a trade from Cleveland, the pick-and-roll specialist was briefly the toast of LA, widely hailed as the post-Fisher point guard needed to steady the Lakers' ship. Sessions filled the role admirably, for a stretch, before a poor playoff performance. If you haven't heard his name in a while it's because when faced with the option of returning to the Lakers, quite possibly as a starter, he declined.

The deal Sessions signed instead was longer, and therefore came with more job security. But it was to back up Kemba Walker on the Bobcats, who were coming off literally the worst season in league history. Sessions has been somewhat evasive as to why, but he has been quoted as saying it was "definitely different" playing with Bryant. Internally, the Lakers were rattled by his departure and came to believe that Kobe was the key. It meant little as a transaction but everything as a sign of how players with options view this team.

"Peek behind the banners," says one longtime NBA agent, "and it's rotten."

"Kobe is like the big rock in their front yard," says an agent who has had a Lakers client in recent years. "You can't mow over it, so you just have to mow around it."

Another agent with current Lakers clients was asked whether Bryant undermined the team's rebuilding by alienating would-be free agent recruits. "Well, duh," he replied. "Isn't that obvious?"

IF ONE COMMON denominator has persisted throughout Bryant's tenure with the Lakers, it is this: The blame lands elsewhere, and usually with teammates. O'Neal -- at times a mentor to Bryant, at other times freestyle-rapping to a packed club in Manhattan, "Yo, Kobe, tell me how my ass taste" -- is one in a long line of Bryant's teammates who've struggled to stick to a single script in describing the singular man. Bynum, Gasol and Howard have each been at turns coy, reticent, warm or biting. And, in turn, each has taken massive doses of blame in the media without Bryant meaningfully coming to their rescue.

"I've had a lot of clients in the last five years, good players, who didn't want to play with Kobe," says an agent who has had numerous NBA stars. "They see that his teammates become the chronic public whipping boys. Anyone who could possibly challenge Kobe for the spotlight ends up becoming a pincushion for the media. Even Shaq."

Steve Contra · « **Reply #13814 on:** October 20, 2014, 01:18:39 PM »

Kobe's farewell tour is going to be the reverse Jeter, where people will remember he was worse than he actually was. it's going to be glorious

Am_I_Anonymous · « **Reply #13815 on:** October 20, 2014, 01:21:31 PM »

Kobe sucked MJ's balls so hard he decided to act like him every day. Only difference is one changed the game and the other simply shoots 30 times a game.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13816 on:** October 20, 2014, 01:23:36 PM »

Kobe was a great player and a smart guy but always a bit of a dick who was very eager to throw teammates under the bus. You could always tell the end of his career would end up messy like this when his talent level could no longer support the rest of the baggage.

He was the last and most successful of the nearly endless Jordan clones who eagerly emulated that Jordan model of its okay to be an asshole if you are winning. But times change. And people don't look the other way anymore like they did with Jordan.

Am_I_Anonymous · « **Reply #13817 on:** October 20, 2014, 01:33:20 PM »

Quote from: Stoney Mason on October 20, 2014, 01:23:36 PM

Kobe was a great player and a smart guy but always a bit of a dick who was very eager to throw teammates under the bus. You could always tell the end of his career would end up messy like this when his talent level could no longer support the rest of the baggage.

He was the last and most successful of the nearly endless Jordan clones who eagerly emulated that Jordan model of its okay to be an asshole if you are winning. But times change. And people don't look the other way anymore like they did with Jordan.

kobe owes shaq a thank you card for those first 3 titles, period. Dude is totally anti-social and borderline psychotic.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #13818 on:** October 20, 2014, 04:39:42 PM »

don't see how anyone can respect Kobe after he threw Shaq under the bus during the rape investigation. His man card was revoked on that day.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13819 on:** October 20, 2014, 04:44:38 PM »

The Karl Malone thing was also hugely weird and embarrassing. Which is not to say that Karl Malone is some kind of saint, but who goes to the media and says that stuff.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13820 on:** October 20, 2014, 05:10:16 PM »

Bulls versus Heat tonight on NBA TV. Should be at least an interesting first half as Love, Lebron, and Kyrie actually will play together which hasn't really happened much at all this preseason.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13821 on:** October 20, 2014, 10:36:02 PM »

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13822 on:** October 21, 2014, 10:56:51 AM »

Watched some of that game last night. Offensively they are better along than that first heat team, mainly because the parts fit better together and the heat have already set the template for how this thing should kind of work. It will of course be the defense that is the issue like here.

I mean Kyrie tries and expends effort on defense unlike say Harden, but he just isn't very good at it. And Lebron picks his spots more than ever to expend energy on the defensive end.

Am_I_Anonymous · « **Reply #13823 on:** October 21, 2014, 10:58:10 AM »

Well to be fair Rose looks real fucking good right now. If he plays like that all season nobody is going to be able to guard him.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13824 on:** October 21, 2014, 12:24:40 PM »

Was very good last night and was hitting his jumpers but Kyrie's fundamentals on d just get him in trouble so much even though he means well.

Thought this was a fun clip.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13825 on:** October 22, 2014, 10:38:54 AM »

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13826 on:** October 22, 2014, 12:56:37 PM »

Quote

An effort to reform the NBA's draft lottery process failed to get enough votes to pass at the league's board of governors meeting Wednesday, sources told ESPN.

While the final vote was 17-13 in favor of the reform, according to Grantland's Zach Lowe, that falls short of the required 23 votes needed to push the change through.

Sources had said the reform had been expected to pass ahead of Wednesday's vote.

The crux of the reform plan was to discourage the idea of tanking -- or losing on purpose -- to increase a team's ability to get a better spot in the draft lottery.

The reforms would have given the league's four worst teams identical odds (around 11 percent) of winning the top pick, with the fifth team having about a 10 percent chance and the rest of the teams with declining odds. Under the current system, the team with the worst record has a 25 percent chance at the No. 1 pick and the second-worst team has a 19.9 percent chance, with each subsequent team's odds declining slightly.

Since the league's weighted lottery system was adopted for the 1985 draft, only four teams with the worst or tied-for-worst record have earned the top overall pick. The 2004 Orlando Magic are the most recent team to finish with the NBA's worst record and land the No. 1 overall pick, which they used to select Dwight Howard.

Kinda interesting since people assumed this would pass. Must have been a revolt among the lower tier teams.

TakingBackSunday · « **Reply #13827 on:** October 22, 2014, 01:47:34 PM »

no more grantland previews

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13828 on:** October 22, 2014, 02:20:10 PM »

edit:ignore

edit 2: hadn't got around to watching the Pacers one yet. Skipped to the ending to see what Brandnew was talking about. Yep. The suspension killed the preview series looks like. Unfortunate.

I apologize for the slightly snarky response BrandNew as I was in the wrong.

Am_I_Anonymous · « **Reply #13829 on:** October 22, 2014, 02:21:10 PM »

Quote from: Stoney Mason on October 22, 2014, 02:20:10 PM

Just skip em if you don't like em. I post em every year. If it bothers you that much I'll stick them in the existing posts I would make anyway but not everything has to be for everybody.

I'm pretty sure he means the Billy ain't doing anymore after today. I believe.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13830 on:** October 22, 2014, 02:22:24 PM »

Quote from: Am_I_Anonymous on October 22, 2014, 02:21:10 PM

Quote from: Stoney Mason on October 22, 2014, 02:20:10 PM
Just skip em if you don't like em. I post em every year. If it bothers you that much I'll stick them in the existing posts I would make anyway but not everything has to be for everybody.

I'm pretty sure he means the Billy ain't doing anymore after today. I believe.

Oh really hadn't heard. I'll look into it. I hadn't even watched the Pacers one yet.

TakingBackSunday · « **Reply #13831 on:** October 22, 2014, 04:33:13 PM »

Sorry, I didn't word that post very well. Those NBA previews are the best

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13832 on:** October 22, 2014, 05:11:08 PM »

I'm sure Bill was pretty pissed about the whole thing. He seems to enjoy doing stuff like the previews more than he does writing at this point.

And whatever I think about Bill and Jalen during those pretty horrible pre-game espn shows, they are much better in a format like this where they can relax and be themselves.

Your Stalker · « **Reply #13833 on:** October 23, 2014, 08:16:35 PM »

Nash is out for the year

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #13834 on:** October 23, 2014, 08:18:07 PM »

Quote from: Your Stalker on October 23, 2014, 08:16:35 PM

Nash is out for the year

Steve Contra · « **Reply #13835 on:** October 23, 2014, 08:37:33 PM »

I guess the Lakers will be worse? Better? Who fucking knows.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13836 on:** October 23, 2014, 10:34:02 PM »

Unfortunate but not unexpected. Dude just can't do it anymore at this level.

Had a great career. Made a lot of money. Seemed to have fun doing it.

Even if things had worked out the Lakers were never a good choice for him to finish his career. Would have been a better situation in Toronto but then the Lakers could afford to overpay.

Just to put things into perspective Nash in 3 seasons played 65 games with the lakers on a contract of 27 million over 3 years. And the Lakers gave up four draft picks -- first rounders in 2013 and 2015 and second rounders in 2013 and 2014 in the original sign and trade deal.

Horrific.

ToxicAdam · « **Reply #13837 on:** October 24, 2014, 03:37:48 AM »

Wow, I had forgotten already. Has to be one of the worst deals ever now.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13838 on:** October 25, 2014, 12:11:27 AM »

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13839 on:** October 27, 2014, 12:36:03 AM »

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13840 on:** October 27, 2014, 03:33:10 PM »

Am_I_Anonymous · « **Reply #13841 on:** October 27, 2014, 03:35:14 PM »

Melo already hit that and Amare straight up in the friendzone. A pic is worth 1000 words.

Also, she's automatically the best point guard they have.

Brehvolution · « **Reply #13842 on:** October 27, 2014, 03:41:42 PM »

Can't wait to hear her song about it.

Am_I_Anonymous · « **Reply #13843 on:** October 27, 2014, 03:43:23 PM »

Quote from: Brehvolution on October 27, 2014, 03:41:42 PM

Can't wait to hear her song about it.

I would call it "Shooting me in the back" and dedicate it to Phil Jackson.

TakingBackSunday · « **Reply #13844 on:** October 27, 2014, 04:01:33 PM »

is she wearing heels? she looks pretty tall there

Your Stalker · « **Reply #13845 on:** October 27, 2014, 08:42:33 PM »

she's like 5'10 or 5'11. pretty tall for a female

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13846 on:** October 27, 2014, 10:01:03 PM »

Quote

he Dallas Mavericks will sign point guard J.J. Barea and cut Gal Mekel, per a source.

lol. Hilarious how Cuban has tried to bring back some of the pieces from that championship team. They just need Jason Terry up in there.

benjipwns · « **Reply #13847 on:** October 27, 2014, 11:43:45 PM »

Didn't everyone in Minnesota come to hate Barea because he'd constantly break the plays and never signal to anyone what he was doing?

Quote from: BrandNew on October 27, 2014, 04:01:33 PM

is she wearing heels? she looks pretty tall there

Like Stalker said she's 5-10/5-11

When she wears heels she's a giant:

Either that or Bruno Mars is actually a midget.

benjipwns · « **Reply #13848 on:** October 27, 2014, 11:46:49 PM »

Quote from: Am_I_Anonymous on October 27, 2014, 03:35:14 PM

Also, she's automatically the best point guard they have.

I'm sorry, but Jose Calderon has one of the best ORtg's of all time. All time.

Am_I_Anonymous · « **Reply #13849 on:** October 28, 2014, 09:37:01 AM »

Am_I_Anonymous · « **Reply #13850 on:** October 28, 2014, 11:35:55 AM »

Mike, dat messiah type GOAT

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13851 on:** October 28, 2014, 12:36:01 PM »

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13852 on:** October 28, 2014, 01:26:54 PM »

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/11775452/los-angeles-lakers-coach-byron-scott-questions-dwight-howard-serious-winning-titles

Bryon Scott is really inserting himself into a lot of shit for somebody who is going to be coaching an awful team.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #13853 on:** October 28, 2014, 01:31:14 PM »

What a boring ass opening night for the NBA, on paper. Will watch for Charles and the gang.

Am_I_Anonymous · « **Reply #13854 on:** October 28, 2014, 01:32:43 PM »

Quote from: Stoney Mason on October 28, 2014, 01:26:54 PM

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/11775452/los-angeles-lakers-coach-byron-scott-questions-dwight-howard-serious-winning-titles

Bryon Scott is really inserting himself into a lot of shit for somebody who is going to be coaching an awful team.

As if the Rockets gonna do something this year, lol.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13855 on:** October 28, 2014, 01:36:27 PM »

Quote from: Am_I_Anonymous on October 28, 2014, 01:32:43 PM

Quote from: Stoney Mason on October 28, 2014, 01:26:54 PM
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/11775452/los-angeles-lakers-coach-byron-scott-questions-dwight-howard-serious-winning-titles

Bryon Scott is really inserting himself into a lot of shit for somebody who is going to be coaching an awful team.

As if the Rockets gonna do something this year, lol.

They'll be a lot more watchable than the Lakers and I'm not sure why Scott is even bringing this up. He's on his 4th team now and pretty much nobody expects this Lakers tenure to end well. I'd be more worried about my situation if I was him than lobbing random grenades at somebody else.

Am_I_Anonymous · « **Reply #13856 on:** October 28, 2014, 01:37:34 PM »

Quote from: Stoney Mason on October 28, 2014, 01:36:27 PM

Quote from: Am_I_Anonymous on October 28, 2014, 01:32:43 PM
Quote from: Stoney Mason on October 28, 2014, 01:26:54 PM
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/11775452/los-angeles-lakers-coach-byron-scott-questions-dwight-howard-serious-winning-titles

Bryon Scott is really inserting himself into a lot of shit for somebody who is going to be coaching an awful team.

As if the Rockets gonna do something this year, lol.

They'll be a lot more watchable than the Lakers and I'm not sure why Scott is even bringing this up. He's on his 4th team now and pretty much nobody expects this Lakers tenure to end well. I'd be more worried about my situation if I was him than lobbing random grenades at somebody else.

Fun to watch? Hardin dribbling for 18 seconds and firing up off balance 22 footers? Nah they ain't even near my top 10.

Am_I_Anonymous · « **Reply #13857 on:** October 28, 2014, 01:38:41 PM »

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2014/10/post_111.html#incart_2box

Good local article on Lebron

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13858 on:** October 28, 2014, 08:09:09 PM »

Looks like grant hill and greg anthony are replacing kerr. I'm not overly a fan of 3 man broadcast teams. Prefer a duo.

Whatever.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #13859 on:** October 28, 2014, 08:32:34 PM »

Quote from: Am_I_Anonymous on October 28, 2014, 01:38:41 PM

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2014/10/post_111.html#incart_2box

Good local article on Lebron

Will read when I get home.

Man I bet local businesses near the Cavs arena are happy LeBron is back.

News:

Author Topic: The NBA thread (Read 1519476 times)