*NBA THREAD* Abe will be missed (2 Viewers)

[Joe Summer]

Portland trades Jerryd Bayless to New Orleans for 1st round pick:

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ss...jerryd_bay.html

Bayless is a combo guard who never fit in with what Portland needed. He couldn't score well enough to be a 2, and he couldn't pass well enough to be a 1. (But at the same time, it's not like Portland had better options for backup point guard.) The Hornets are pretty thin at guard so Bayless could get a lot of playing time for them.

 

[Daywalker]

Iverson signed 2-year deal with Turkish team.

He really is broke. Nuts.

 

[Sammy3469]

This whole situation with Melo makes me wonder why he is rolling with the agent he is. I'm not sure if anybody has brought this up, but there should be some talk of this...Melo's people royally ####ed him. Melo could have taken the same extension Bosh, Lebron and Wade took four years ago or whatever it was, and he could have been a Knick coming into this season. There was no reason for Melo, from his standpoint, to take the extra year from the Nuggets when he signed his extension. It was no secret that the CBA was expiring this year, and with an expiring CBA often comes drama. To allow something like this to happen to Melo, his agent (Leon Rose?) should have been fired this offseason after Melo saw what Bosh, Wade and Lebron got.Maybe if he was a free agent this last offseason we would have been talking about the big 4 in Miami....

Well, to be fair, Bosh, Wade, and Lebron didn't sign for the max and Melo is currently making more than any of them this year. Melo's still going to end up signing the 3 year extension with someone too.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Portland trades Jerryd Bayless to New Orleans for 1st round pick:

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ss...jerryd_bay.html

Bayless is a combo guard who never fit in with what Portland needed. He couldn't score well enough to be a 2, and he couldn't pass well enough to be a 1. (But at the same time, it's not like Portland had better options for backup point guard.) The Hornets are pretty thin at guard so Bayless could get a lot of playing time for them.

Positioning themselves to trade Paul?

 

[No. 16]

What's the consensus? Are we going to stay with this thread for the regular season or jump in the thread that JMON created?

 

[saintfool]

Portland trades Jerryd Bayless to New Orleans for 1st round pick:

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ss...jerryd_bay.html

Bayless is a combo guard who never fit in with what Portland needed. He couldn't score well enough to be a 2, and he couldn't pass well enough to be a 1. (But at the same time, it's not like Portland had better options for backup point guard.) The Hornets are pretty thin at guard so Bayless could get a lot of playing time for them.

Positioning themselves to trade Paul?

that's a weird move. they have belnelli and thornton at SG.

 

[Mr. PadresLakers]

The Miami Heat have named two captains and Lebron James is not one of them.

Scottie Pippen

 

[No. 16]

For those of you who play fantasy and with iPhones. Download...

Monster Fantasy Basketball PRO (2.99) and Lite (FREE)

This is a must for those in multiple Fantasy Basketball Leagues and sites. This app allows you manage fantasy teams for BOTH Yahoo! and ESPN right on your iPhone. The Pro version also allows you to make transactions.

I was worried I wouldn't be able to keep up with my fantasy teams, but with this APP I should have no problem at all this season. I know for a fact on the PRO version you can do basically ever website function through the app.

 

[TommyGilmore]

Portland trades Jerryd Bayless to New Orleans for 1st round pick:

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ss...jerryd_bay.html

Bayless is a combo guard who never fit in with what Portland needed. He couldn't score well enough to be a 2, and he couldn't pass well enough to be a 1. (But at the same time, it's not like Portland had better options for backup point guard.) The Hornets are pretty thin at guard so Bayless could get a lot of playing time for them.

Positioning themselves to trade Paul?

Not unless they get another PG in return, because Bayless is not the answer there.

 

[Bobcat10]

The Miami Heat have named two captains and Lebron James is not one of them.

Scottie Pippen

Wade and ?

 

[saintfool]

The Miami Heat have named two captains and Lebron James is not one of them.

Scottie Pippen

Wade and ?

bosh would be my guess.

 

[gruecd]

The Miami Heat have named two captains and Lebron James is not one of them.

Scottie Pippen

Wade and ?

bosh would be my guess.

I'd guess Haslem. "Glue guy."

 

[Bobcat10]

The Miami Heat have named two captains and Lebron James is not one of them.

Scottie Pippen

Wade and ?

bosh would be my guess.

I'd guess Haslem. "Glue guy."

If Lebron's not, I think that rules out Bosh. I'd guess Haslem too.

 

[saintfool]

I'd guess Haslem. "Glue guy."

wade can't be a glue guy? he's the link between past and future after all. bosh is a good guy by most accounts.

 

[Bobcat10]

It's Wade and Haslem.

http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/heatzone/20...captains-named/

Wade and Udonis Haslem were named co-captains. Haslem spoke to the team at the end of today’s meeting, and told them that all of them were invited to speak up and lead. Except for one guy, of course.

“Except for Pittman,” Haslem said. “The rookie can’t say nothing.”

More to come, including a column about the team meeting, and Haslem’s emotional plea.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

It's Wade and Haslem.

http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/heatzone/20...captains-named/

Wade and Udonis Haslem were named co-captains. Haslem spoke to the team at the end of today’s meeting, and told them that all of them were invited to speak up and lead. Except for one guy, of course.

“Except for Pittman,” Haslem said. “The rookie can’t say nothing.”

More to come, including a column about the team meeting, and Haslem’s emotional plea.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Any team gutting their roster to build around Melo will not win a Championship unless he miraculously reaches a new level of play. He's the SF version of Amare.

I thought he rated higher than LeBron in clutchness?

 

[No. 16]

Any team gutting their roster to build around Melo will not win a Championship unless he miraculously reaches a new level of play. He's the SF version of Amare.

I thought he rated higher than LeBron in clutchness?

He does, but the rest of his game has not improved. LBJ knows he's not clutch so he teamed up with Wade.

 

[Bobcat10]

Good work, Cliff.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Any team gutting their roster to build around Melo will not win a Championship unless he miraculously reaches a new level of play. He's the SF version of Amare.

I thought he rated higher than LeBron in clutchness?

He does, but the rest of his game has not improved. LBJ knows he's not clutch so he teamed up with Wade.

so Amare is also clutch?

 

[GOB]

Prediction: Heat over lakers in five.

Durant run away MVP.

Wall ROY.

 

[Abraham]

Prediction: Heat over lakers in five. Durant run away MVP.Wall ROY.

Celtics over LakersDurant with easeGriffin

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Good work, Cliff.

 

[Wooderson]

GO KINGS

Evans & Cousins GET SOME

 

[No. 16]

Any team gutting their roster to build around Melo will not win a Championship unless he miraculously reaches a new level of play. He's the SF version of Amare.

I thought he rated higher than LeBron in clutchness?

He does, but the rest of his game has not improved. LBJ knows he's not clutch so he teamed up with Wade.

so Amare is also clutch?

Can't really tell. Most times Nash is the one that takes the last shot. However, what I meant by saying Carmelo = Amare is that people think these two players are franchise players because they can score with the best of them. They are still very good players and would help most teams, but they're on the same tier as Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, and Boozer. They are not centerpieces for a championship team like Wade, Howard, Lebron, Durant, Kobe/Gasol, CP3, and Deron. Their SCORING is the only way the players impact the game since they are black holes on offense, adequate defenders at best, and decent rebounders. Melo and Amare could be a championship team's best OFFENSIVE player (few are better), but they would never be the team's best all around player. They're 2nd bananas and most teams are paying them/giving away assets to be their top dog. Just insert Joe Johnson into any of the Carmelo trades and see if that changes your mind on those trades.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

East

1) Heat

2) Magic

3) Celtics

4) Bulls

5) Bucks

6) Hawks

7) Bobcats

8) Pacers

West

1) Thunder

2) Lakers

3) Dallas

4) Clippers

5) Spurs

6) Jazz

7) Nuggets

8) Rockets

MVP: Durant

ROY: Griffin

COY: Sloan

Heat over Mavericks

 

[TobiasFunke]

A great read to kill time while you're waiting for the season to tip off, courtesy of the Free Darko guys.

Jordan, the Early Years

 

[JMon348]

Good work, Cliff.

You trying to embarrass me?

 

[timschochet]

I noticed that the TNT guys are very high on the Jazz with Al Jefferson added. Barkley went so far as to predict that Utah, not Oklahoma City, will be the biggest challenge to the Lakers.

 

[Shtaym Syek]

Say what you want about James, but as a casual fan, this is the first regular season game I've watched in about 20 years.

 

[JMon348]

I noticed that the TNT guys are very high on the Jazz with Al Jefferson added. Barkley went so far as to predict that Utah, not Oklahoma City, will be the biggest challenge to the Lakers.

He's better than Boozer and Millsap is better than Okur, so they got better.

 

[Don't Noonan]

Portland finishes atop the Northwest division, Utah second, Thunder 3rd

 

[Green94]

Durant = the goods

Rose elevates himself to a top 3 PG and puts himself in the conversation of the best in the league.

Lakers win another title, Miami doesn't.

 

[Kev4029]

Durant = the goodsRose elevates himself to a top 3 PG and puts himself in the conversation of the best in the league.Lakers win another title, Miami doesn't.

I really don't get how people think Rose is as good as he is. He is excellent at getting to the hoop, nearly as good as anybody in the league, and has a respectable mid range jumper but otherwise is below average in every aspect of the game. The fact that he can get to the hoop as well as he does makes him a good player but top 3 PG is ridiculous.

 

[Juxtatarot]

This is a great ring ceremony by the Lakers. Best I've ever seen.

 

[JahVideo_Kilt_Radio_Star]

What says you Ron?

 

[Eephus]

This is a great ring ceremony by the Lakers. Best I've ever seen.

it's certainly the longest

 

[Bobcat10]

Good work, Cliff.

You trying to embarrass me?

No.

 

[Abraham]

ROckets should have won that game but simply could not execute down the stretch. ANd that's the difference between being the "deepest team in the west" and being "the two time defending champion." Between Scola missing layups and everyone forgetting to guard Shannon Brown and Steve Blake, it's a miracle it wasn't even uglier at the end. Good game to LAL. I like the Rockets rotation for the most part, but they need to learn to close out game.s

 

[Major]

ROckets should have won that game but simply could not execute down the stretch. ANd that's the difference between being the "deepest team in the west" and being "the two time defending champion." Between Scola missing layups and everyone forgetting to guard Shannon Brown and Steve Blake, it's a miracle it wasn't even uglier at the end. Good game to LAL. I like the Rockets rotation for the most part, but they need to learn to close out game.s

It was a good start to the season with a rusty Yao. The Rockets were clearly the better team. With guys like Brooks having off nights - only dropping 24/9, they should be in proper form soon and likely get 60 wins this season.

 

[Abraham]

ROckets should have won that game but simply could not execute down the stretch. ANd that's the difference between being the "deepest team in the west" and being "the two time defending champion." Between Scola missing layups and everyone forgetting to guard Shannon Brown and Steve Blake, it's a miracle it wasn't even uglier at the end. Good game to LAL. I like the Rockets rotation for the most part, but they need to learn to close out game.s

It was a good start to the season with a rusty Yao. The Rockets were clearly the better team. With guys like Brooks having off nights - only dropping 24/9, they should be in proper form soon and likely get 60 wins this season.

 

[Gr00vus]

Rockets looked good. Getting Martin looks like a steal - even with his goofy shot release. Has Brooks gotten even quicker? Probably more like the Lakers have gotten even slower.

 

[Bobcat10]

Wouldn't suprise me if the C's get a standing O at the Q tonight.

 

[tommyGunZ]

ROckets should have won that game but simply could not execute down the stretch. ANd that's the difference between being the "deepest team in the west" and being "the two time defending champion." Between Scola missing layups and everyone forgetting to guard Shannon Brown and Steve Blake, it's a miracle it wasn't even uglier at the end. Good game to LAL. I like the Rockets rotation for the most part, but they need to learn to close out game.s

How was Scola getting to the bucket so easily? How many times does he have to quick step Pau before Pau backs up half a step? I know you have to respect Scola's short J, but not at the expense of giving up layups.Lakers got bailed out last night by Brown and Blake's hot long range bombing; both are decent shooting but on a normal night the Rockets get the W.My man love for Chase Budinger is reaching epic proportions. I hope you guys keep his minutes down - he'd be a monster getting 30+ per night. I've always loved Battier and thought he deserves all the run he's gotten, but Chase is a far better player offensively.

 

[Major]

ROckets should have won that game but simply could not execute down the stretch. ANd that's the difference between being the "deepest team in the west" and being "the two time defending champion." Between Scola missing layups and everyone forgetting to guard Shannon Brown and Steve Blake, it's a miracle it wasn't even uglier at the end. Good game to LAL. I like the Rockets rotation for the most part, but they need to learn to close out game.s

It was a good start to the season with a rusty Yao. The Rockets were clearly the better team. With guys like Brooks having off nights - only dropping 24/9, they should be in proper form soon and likely get 60 wins this season.

just a bit of my delirious Rockets' fan schtick

 

[JMon348]

Very happy for Byron Scott and the fans of Cleveland. Great win tonight.

 

[Premier]

Damn, that's awesome for the Cavs.

 

[Kiddnets]

Nice to see the first Nets win before December!

Favors looked great - raw but looked like he has the goods...Morrow and Farmar were steals....Outlaw/Petro look like bums.

 

[Green94]

I really don't get how people think Rose is as good as he is. He is excellent at getting to the hoop, nearly as good as anybody in the league, and has a respectable mid range jumper but otherwise is below average in every aspect of the game. The fact that he can get to the hoop as well as he does makes him a good player but top 3 PG is ridiculous.

His defense will be improved this year, it has nowhere to go but up. He worked on his outside shooting this summer, specifically 3pt shots.He has a decent team around him now which means assist totals will be up this year as well.I think putting him in the top 3 is anything but ridiculous.

 

[Major]

Scola is playing like a man possessed. I don't know if you guys watched the World Championships but this doesn't surprise me. Dude is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. Yes, more underrated than Aaron Brooks.