NBA Thread (2009-10)

[xfearbefore]

Not sure I'd pick Denver for the Finals this year, simply because I just don't see them getting past the Lakers in the playoffs, especially if LA has home court advantage. Call me a homer, but I see the Celtics making another Finals appearance this year, so long as we stay healthy. Yep, another LA-Boston finals, which is either going to make you excited as hell, or groan.

I firmly believe the only reason the Celtics didn't face LA in the finals last year was because of KG's injury, with the additions of Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels, our team has only gotten better. Knowing the Celtics they'll make a few pickups midway through the season as well, add a few veterans, they usually do.

Great game tonight on ESPN between Boston and the Bulls, definitely looking forward to that one. It'll probably be the only break from horror films I watch in the next 72 hours.

[Nev]

I know I'm late but I'm just going to say things are looking good for Boston this year after watching the season opener.

Though a clear evident problem with the Celtics is that they love to hand over leads. After they play solid and had a dominant lead into the Cavs game, it looks as if they were going to give their traditional "since I'm ahead by 15+ points, lets force up 3 pointers for no reason" as it played out most recently during Boston-Chicago series last year. They're lucky the Cavs (with the exception of LBJ) had no gunslinger mentality that night. Also smart on Doc Rivers calling the timeout when they had the lead, when the Celtics almost looked to collapse even though they were ahead by 10. Not a lot of coaches have that awareness as most would call it after the lead is gone and the crowd gets into the game. Very wise.

Boston also had a dominating defensive performance the other night. They are clearly the Eastern Conference Champions if they keep up their play like this.

While the high-scoring Magic can light it up on mediocre teams, their defense didn't look all that great against the 76ers. They can't shoot that many 3's in a game, it gives too much of an oppurtunity for the other opponent seeing how they miss over 50% of their 3 shots most of the time.

Cleveland remains to have an identity crisis. As if they are playing two different offenses. Laughable really. Hopefully things come around for them.

As for me, I'm a Knicks fan.The only thing optimistic I can think about is that we are going through these rough, re-building years so that one day karma gives us a dynasty. I can only hope (sigh).

[jmt225]

Well, the Cavs are lucky with the schedule they ended up with. They really, really needed two easy teams after their first two losses to get their confidence back up. Sure, they beat terrible teams, but 2-2 is much better than 1-3 or 0-4. Next they have Washington and Chicago, and it'll be interesting to see how they hang against those guys. Both teams are on the verge of being really good (I mean, Chicago convincingly defeats San Antonio and then gets killed by Boston, and Washington easily beat Dallas, only to lose to Atlanta), and I'm very interested to see how Cleveland plays against them.

Speaking of Atlanta... they looked great in their first two games against Indiana and Washington. Their real test comes tomorrow, however, against the LA Lakers, and I'm looking more forward to that game than anything else this Sunday, including the NFL games (granted, the Saints don't play, but still). That should be a very fun up and down game, and I think it'll show just how much Atlanta has improved, as they have had some terrible games against the Lakers these past couple of years.

Speaking of the Lakers.... they looked awful against Dallas, while Dallas looked much better than they did a couple of nights before against Washington. Dallas has always been an inconsistent team, but if they can ever get some chemistry down on that squad and become more consistent... then man, you have to put them up there with the Lakers, Nuggets, and Spurts as the contenders of the West. But also, going back to the Lakers, with Pau Gasol's absence, it's showing just how vital he is to that team. I think people highly underestimate just how good he is and how much the Lakers need him.

The Hornets suck right now. Poor Chris Paul. He's by far the best Point Guard in the league, and it's such a shame to see him play with such a worthless team. Peja just can't stay healthy to save his life, and nobody on the team will step up. I think the Hornets need to start making a couple of trades and liven up that squad a bit. Also, Marcus Thornton should get some more playing time, as he could end up being one of the best scorers in the league off the bench (think of Ben Gordon when he was in Chicago).

And lastly... how 'bout them Celtics? What'd you think about that game against Chicago, BS? That's a good team, and the Celtics destroyed them. Did anyone see the box score? Man, if the Celtics play like that all year.... they will be pretty much impossible to defeat.

[Big Beck-ah Roethlisberger]

Allen Iverson is one game into his season and he is already bitching about playing time. He's saying he isn't a sixth man. Well you fucking tool, go out there and earn your starting spot. Which isn't going to happen when Mayo is better and years younger than you. Allen Iverson is a fucking tool, and nothing about him is going to change. I said signing him was a bad idea and one game in to the season it looks like I am going to be right....

[xfearbefore]

So the Celtics have looked fantastic so far to start the season off, 4-0 and we've defeated every one of our opponents relatively easily. We're going to be one hell of a tough team to beat this year if we stay healthy. Resigning Rondo was wonderful news, he's quickly emerged as one of the best point guards in the game and he's still extremely young, and now under team control for the next 5 years. Great move there.

I heard Chris Paul whining about Rondo talking some trash to him on the court. I love CP3, but come the fuck on dude, grow a set of balls, this is basketball, trash talk is a part of the game, you should have heard the shit guys like MJ or Magic used to say.

Gonna be a fun season this year.

[jmt225]

Originally Posted by xfearbefore

So the Celtics have looked fantastic so far to start the season off, 4-0 and we've defeated every one of our opponents relatively easily. We're going to be one hell of a tough team to beat this year if we stay healthy.

I completely agree. They're currently beating Philly by double digits, and that's no easy task. Like I said earlier... Boston is the most stacked team in the NBA, and could perhaps be the most stacked team we've seen since Chicago in the mid-to-late nineties. They're that good, imo.

Originally Posted by xfearbefore

Resigning Rondo was wonderful news, he's quickly emerged as one of the best point guards in the game and he's still extremely young, and now under team control for the next 5 years. Great move there.

Definitely a good move, but honestly... Boston is so strong right now, that if they would have lost Rondo, it wouldn't have been that big of a deal. Marquis Daniels is a phenomenal basketball players and brings everything to the table Rondo has to bring, AND he's a much better scorer.

But still... resigning Rondo was great insurance, so to speak.

Originally Posted by xfearbefore

I heard Chris Paul whining about Rondo talking some trash to him on the court. I love CP3, but come the fuck on dude, grow a set of balls, this is basketball, trash talk is a part of the game, you should have heard the shit guys like MJ or Magic used to say.

He didn't whine, he just wanted to confront him, lol. It's not like he went crying to reporters about the situation; he just felt disrespected and it leaked that after the game he wanted to see Rondo, IF that is true to begin with.

But I think CP3 is just frustrated about everything. He's the best point in the league, on one sorry ass team.

The Hornets need to start making some moves. It's just too risky to wait for the off-season to come and pray you're able to sign a couple of big names.

[Big Sexy]

My Pistons won their first game, but an injury to Rip Hamilton hurt them and they dropped their next two. When you add a lot of new pieces like they did it's important to have everyone healthy for chemistry purposes. An injury doesn't help at all, especially when the injury is to your best player.

With all that said the Pistons looked great tonight even without Rip and Tayshaun Prince (who had a 496 consecutive games streak end). Without arguably their two best players Detroit defeated the defending East Champion Orlando Magic. At one point the Pistons had a line up on the floor that consisted of Chucky Atkins, Will Bynum, Austin Daye, Chris Wilcox, and Kwame Brown. Once Rip and Tayshaun come back healthy I expect the Pistons to really take off. As long as everyone accepts their roles Detroit should be able to compete for a spot in the 4-6 seed range for the playoffs.

Btw Ben Wallace is looking great in Detroit. He's averaging 10.3 boards, 1.3 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game. He was bad in Chicago and Cleveland, but now that he is back home in the D he seems rejuvenated.

[I Am Phenom]

I just don't get the Pistons. They have been losing to garbage teams this season and without Prince and Hamilton, they beat Orlando?

They always beat Orlando though. They just have Orlando's number I guess.

I got to see my man AI perform and above me here there is a guy who says that AI is bitching about his playing time. I would like proof of this. Yes I read the article on NBA.com, but what I gathered from it was, that Iverson is saying it is only a big deal because the media makes it so and that he intends on competeing for the starting role. Conley said himself that he is more focused than ever with Iverson over his shoulder. I think things look good. From what I seen out of him on the court and while he was on the bench (Took OJ Mayo and Conley aside and gave them pointers) he seemed ok. Not to mention the 11 points he put up in a matter of minutes. To be honest, I hope he continues to come off the bench. I guarantee you all that if he does come off the bench for the entire season, he will be sixth man of the year.

Suns are back to form aren't they? They have looked great since returning to running and gunning. Who says Nash can't do it anymore? 20 asissts in one game and the unbelievable scoring that he has been doing.

I'm just going to say this again, for the record, Celtics stay healthy=NBA Championship.

Is it just me or does it look like Melo is on a damn mission? He is averaging nearly 40 a game right now. I know that we are only a week in, but man. He has definitely made that jump into the elite players of the league proving that Wade, Bryant, and LBJ are not in a class by themselves. Melo will be a MVP candidate this year. All I can say, it's about time.

[Hip2bsquare]

On the AI situation I was just going to say a leopard never changes its spots. But it has only been one game since he has been back so I may leave it a while and see how it goes for Iverson in Memphis. Perhaps he gets more minutes off the bench as he returns from his injury.

I read that article to Undertaker. While yes he does mention that its the media mentions it a lot he also says:

"If I'm a reserve, yeah I'll be disappointed," Iverson said. "I'm not a reserve basketball player. I've never been a reserve all my life and I'm not going to start looking at myself as a reserve

But to answer your question, no, I'm not a bench player. I'm not a sixth man. Go look at my resume and that'll show you that I'm not a sixth man."

Now there is no question that AI has been a great player and could still start in the NBA and do a good job. However currently his best rol in Memphis is coming off the bench behind Conley and Mayo. As well as adding scoring punch to the second team. If AI can accept his role on the team he will be a good asset. But can he accept that role? Thats the big question. Coming out like this after one game is not a good sign.

If AI does come off the bench and accepts his role he would be a good candidate for the 6th man. However he will have some competition from guys like Manu, Odom (when Gasol comes back) Terry etc.

I agree, it may only be a week into the season, but if the Celtics stay fit its very hard to see them not winning or at least making it to the finals. However we must remember Gasol must still come back for the Lakers which will improve their team incredibly.

After the first game I have been impressed with the Mavericks. Especially as they are missing Josh Howard. Dirk went crazy in the last quarter today helping them pull out the win.

[Big Sexy]

Originally Posted by Undertaker's#1fan

I just don't get the Pistons. They have been losing to garbage teams this season and without Prince and Hamilton, they beat Orlando?

It's hard to be consistent when you added as many new pieces as the Pistons did. The injury to Rip in the opening game didn't help chemistry wise.

To be honest, I hope he continues to come off the bench. I guarantee you all that if he does come off the bench for the entire season, he will be sixth man of the year.

I guarantee he will not win the 6th man award. Manu Ginobili, Ben Gordon, Lamar Odom, Rasheed Wallace, Leandro Barbosa, and Jason Terry all have a better shot.

I'm just going to say this again, for the record, Celtics stay healthy=NBA Championship.

The Lakers and Nuggets may have something to say about that.