*NBA THREAD* Abe will be missed (5 Viewers)

[Long Ball Larry]

Everyone figured that they would be super conservative with his rehab, especially since they don't care about winning games. It is a surprise that they would officially shut him down, especially since Andrews is saying good things. Tank mode is really in full effect.

Sixers' open at home against the defending champions and Allen Iverson is likely to be on-hand to announce his retirement, and they still have to have a ticket deal through Living Social. This year is going to be an epic suck-fest.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Everyone figured that they would be super conservative with his rehab, especially since they don't care about winning games. It is a surprise that they would officially shut him down, especially since Andrews is saying good things. Tank mode is really in full effect.

In 2-3 years it might look brilliant. You have to feel bad for current season ticket holders though.

 

[Abraham]

I am very excited for this season. As a rockets fan, I think we have a real chance to win it all. Bit more than that, for some reason, I want to see Derrick Rose again. I think if he's healthy this bulls team can win it all as well.

 

[boubucarow]

I am very excited for this season. As a rockets fan, I think we have a real chance to win it all. Bit more than that, for some reason, I want to see Derrick Rose again. I think if he's healthy this bulls team can win it all as well.

He is as explosive and fearless as ever and it appears to me that his jumper from deep has much smoother repeated mechanics. The only possible worry is the typical soreness with the knee and how long it takes his body to push through that in back to backs.

Last year was a bit of a drag with all the big injuries. Hopefully, we get a full season of Love and Rubio and a playoff with all the key players. As it looks now the Conference Semis will be tremendous.

 

[Premier]

Olodipo showing the ability to score. Verrrrrrry excited for him.

 

[hxperson]

The Favors deal makes me feel better about the Cousins deal.

Cousins is the better talent, but I would rather have Favors for equivalent money.

$12M/yr for a starting center is probably pretty close to the going rate. That's McGee/Pekovic/Nene money. Cousins at $15M is more like Gasol/Chandler/Lopez money.

Not saying Favors is overpaid. We live in a world where McGee makes 10m. But would rather pay a slight premium for franchise player upside, even if he's nuts.

Boogie's the more highlight reel friendly talent, but for a franchise I hoped would contend one day, I'd prefer Favors for everything except moving merchandise.

If Favors hits his ceiling, he's a nightly 20/10 threat who also becomes one of the premiere paint lockdown guys in the NBA, against 4's or 5's. If Boogie hits his, he's a nightly 20/10 threat with occasional 30+ outbursts who's useless on D. I'd rather have the guy who has the potential to play at an allstar level both ways, and Favors is already the only one who does it pretty much every night on at least one end of the court.

Cousins' ceiling is significantly higher. That's not a slight to Favors, as there are only a few player in the league whose ceiling is higher than Boogie's.

I agree.

There is a lot of hate out there for Boogie given how poorly he played last year and how inefficient he was, but the guy has and extremely rare blend of abilities for a big man at 23 years old. He has great foot work and agility, soft hands, steady jumper, solid FT shot, decent post moves, and good quickness. And he's a true big body in the paint at 6'11", 270 lbs.

On the flip side, his biggest deficiencies - poor shot selection, bad defensive awareness, lack of effort on defense, below average passer, bad attitude/demeanor - are all things that are conceivably fixable. If he ever gets his head on straight, I believe he's in the discussion for top 3 C's in the league. But he's been such a knucklehead that that is a big "if". Hopefully this new coaching staff (we've said that before) and the addition of a true point guard will help him with his efficiency this year, but we will see.

 

[Timmay]

Im excited for a lot of things this season:

-Rose's comeback-hopefully dethrone the Heat in the East.

-How Dwight meshes with Harden and the rest of the Rockets.

-Nets and Clippers looking stacked on paper, how will they pan out.

-How Igoudala pans out in Golden State, can Curry, Lee and Bogut stay healthy.

-Cleveland and if their picks and signings pan out with Bynum, Bennett, Clark, and Jack-could be a dangerous team if they can stay healthy.

-Is this the year the Spurs are "too old" to compete

 

[boubucarow]

One thing I am seriously looking forward to is that Rose and Irving have never played each other.

 

[rodg12]

Things I'm looking forward to, in no particular order...

1. The Nets. Can they knock off the Heat?

2. Kyrie Irving

3. Stephen Curry

4. John Wall

5. Is Lebron going to improve something again this year? Is it even possible?

6. WTH is going to happen with the Lakers?

7. Will Philly win 10 games?

8. Kevin Durant

9. Rubio, Love and Pek playing together (fingers-crossed)

10. Victor Oladipo

11. Will Dwight run the pick and roll with Harden as much as he should?

12. Derrick Rose

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Finals going to 2-2-1-1-1

 

[Ghost Rider]

Finals going to 2-2-1-1-1

It's about damn time. The 2-3-2 format sucks, any time any sport uses it. MLB needs to wise up now.

 

[Gr00vus]

Watched the Lakers/Jazz last night and the refs were really strict calling illegal screens and touching the ball after it came through the net. I wonder if they'll ease up in the regular season. The T's for touching violations after the first warning kinda disrupted the game flow.

Also: Official game notes of the New Orleans Pelicans already referring to team as "the birds." http://t.co/wCKfmSfM95 Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr

 

[Jayrod]

Teams I'm interested to see how they pan out:

1) Nets

2) Houston

3) Clippers

Players I'm interested in seeing how things pan out:

1) Rose

2) Howard

3) Kobe (just to see how well he handles not making the playoffs)

 

[Moe.]

I'm interested to see how the Thunder continue to justify playing Kendrick Perkins.

 

[tommyGunZ]

Moe - you're in the weeds in OKC. What are you hearign about Westbrook and a timetable?

 

[Abraham]

I'm interested to see how the Thunder continue to justify playing Kendrick Perkins.

I think Adams will have that job very very soon.

 

[tommyGunZ]

Things I'm looking forward to:

- Can the Brow make the leap?

- Can LeBron 3-peat? If so, does he take 2014 off and play in the NFL for 1 season?

- Is Kyrie ready to step into elite (top 5 overall) territory?

- Does Paul George continue to grow, or does Granger's return slow his role?

- Does Dirk have 1 more monster season in him?

- Is Serge a legit 2nd option?

- John Wall make the leap? Is Beal for real?
- Rubio + Love healthy = FUN

- Drummond coming into his own.

- Kanter & Favors getting major run in Utah

- Clippers win the West

- Boogie's growth (or regression)

 

[Moe.]

I'm interested to see how the Thunder continue to justify playing Kendrick Perkins.

I think Adams will have that job very very soon.

Just from watching preseason Adams is clearly better than Perkins. He should start from day one but you never know with Brooks. Veteran leadership and all.

 

[Moe.]

Moe - you're in the weeds in OKC. What are you hearign about Westbrook and a timetable?

Most people expect him to be back right around Christmas, maybe a little before. He was a "partial participant" in practice yesterday, and Reggie Jackson was raving about his hops afterwards.

 

[tommyGunZ]

Moe - you're in the weeds in OKC. What are you hearign about Westbrook and a timetable?

Most people expect him to be back right around Christmas, maybe a little before. He was a "partial participant" in practice yesterday, and Reggie Jackson was raving about his hops afterwards.

Thx moe.

Fantasy draft coming up Sunday night; I'll probably reach for Westbrook.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Can we have a year free of saying "Boogie?" Can't we just say Cousins? Please.

Warriors topped out on the Simmons/Lowe League Pass rankings, so there's that I guess.

 

[Daywalker]

Rose's return.

Pelicans and Davis' development.

Brooklyn.

Was Howard hurt last year or have we seen the best of him.

Curry and GS with Iguodala.

Rivers effect on the Clips.

Can Kobe defy father-time?

Seeing if Lebron will get even better by playing down-low more.

 

[the moops]

Finals going to 2-2-1-1-1

It's about damn time. The 2-3-2 format sucks, any time any sport uses it. MLB needs to wise up now.

Meh, I like the 2-3-2 much better in baseball cause it only results in 2 days off.

 

[Eephus]

Royce White released. The 76ers will be less entertaining on and off the court because of it.

 

[Instinctive]

Moe - you're in the weeds in OKC. What are you hearign about Westbrook and a timetable?

Most people expect him to be back right around Christmas, maybe a little before. He was a "partial participant" in practice yesterday, and Reggie Jackson was raving about his hops afterwards.

They're saying he's dunking all over and such.

 

[Abraham]

Royce White released. The 76ers will be less entertaining on and off the court because of it.

 

[Abraham]

Moe - you're in the weeds in OKC. What are you hearign about Westbrook and a timetable?

Most people expect him to be back right around Christmas, maybe a little before. He was a "partial participant" in practice yesterday, and Reggie Jackson was raving about his hops afterwards.

They're saying he's dunking all over and such.

Everything I've seen says missing 4 weeks of the season. That's well before the new year.

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

This cracked me up:

A. Crabbe DND - Gastroenteritis

 

[Good Posting Judge]

This cracked me up:

A. Crabbe DND - Gastroenteritis

That sounds like a Doc McStuffins diagnosis.

 

[Abraham]

Love doc mctuffins.

 

[tommyGunZ]

Rose/Simmons NBA previews on GLand are ridiculously good. That pic of 18 yr old Jalen with a 40 OZ in his hand in the Nets preview was hilarious.

 

[Juxtatarot]

Rose/Simmons NBA previews on GLand are ridiculously good. That pic of 18 yr old Jalen with a 40 OZ in his hand in the Nets preview was hilarious.

Simmons eating a spoonful of cinnamon was also hilarious. (I forgot which team that was.)

 

[tommyGunZ]

Rose/Simmons NBA previews on GLand are ridiculously good. That pic of 18 yr old Jalen with a 40 OZ in his hand in the Nets preview was hilarious.

Simmons eating a spoonful of cinnamon was also hilarious. (I forgot which team that was.)

Nuggets, IIRC. That was great.

 

[Eephus]

Bill Sharman, who was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame twice, first as a sharpshooting guard who helped establish the Boston Celtics dynasty in the 1950s and then as the coach who led the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers to a record 33-game winning streak and the N.B.A. title, died on Friday at his home in Redondo Beach, Calif. He was 87.

A perfectionist as both player and coach, Sharman is also credited with introducing what is now a fixture of the pro and college games: the morning shoot-around, a light game-day workout to loosen up, set strategy and prepare for the evening’s contest

He coached in the NBA, the ABA and Abe Saperstein's short-lived ABL.

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

Gortat to Wizards. Good deal for both teams. Even if I'm not the biggest Len fan, I like what the Suns are doing. To get a first round pick for a year of Gortat is nothing short of a miracle. Dude was outplayed by Jermaine O'neal much of last season & would have been replaced if not on a completely rebuilding team.

Wizards pick should be amongst the playoff teams, but it's hardly a shoe in considering none of their top guys can stay healthy.

The Suns will trade Marcin Gortat, Shannon Brown, Malcolm Lee and Kendall Marshall to the Wizards for Emeka Okafor and a 2014 first-round pick, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.
The Suns keep dealing and Gortat was expected to be traded throughout this season. Gortat has looked healthy this preseason after a foot injury derailed his 2012-13 campaign, but hasn't produced much statistically. He should lose value on draft boards with Nene now sliding over to play more power forward. This news also hurts the values of Kevin Seraphin and Trevor Booker. As for the Suns, Alex Len has a clear runway to minutes while Miles Plumlee is also a big winner from this deal and is on the deep-league radar.

 

[Daywalker]

Tell me the pick is top 5 protected?

 

[Daywalker]

I see it's top 12 protected. Good deal for Washington.

 

[Eephus]

Not exactly a vote of confidence on the health of Nene

 

[Don Quixote]

Not exactly a vote of confidence on the health of Nene

I could be wrong, but I don't think it had much to do with that. PF was weak with Nene at C with Okafor out. Now they can play Nene at PF.

 

[Instinctive]

ESPN says they'll waive all the guards. I might try and see what Kendall Marshall can do as a 5 mpg guy...

 

[tommyGunZ]

Shannon Brown is welcome back in LA.

 

[Abraham]

Marshall getting waived? Wow.

 

[Courtjester]

If the Nugs trade Faried as is supposedly being bantered around, then I am done with this team and I have been a lifetime fan.

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

Kendall Marshall is bad. Can't shoot, can't defend, can't run. Athletically not cut up in the NBA. Someone that'll probably spend most of his career overseas. Maybe gets an NBA invite down the road. Intriguing size means nothing if you can't use it to your advantage for anything.

I like the job Suns new GM Ryan McDonough has done so far on the whole. Got Bledsoe for next to nothing. I personally like the Bledsoe/Dragic duo in the backcourt. Either can point / either can play off the ball. Multiple picks next year in a good draft and cap space in the future. Rid themselves of Beasley. The team needs a star more than probably any team in the league & I'm sure he recognizes it. Best way to get it right now is through the draft.

 

[Eephus]

GSW sign Bogut to a 3/$36M extension. It can grow to $42M if he plays 65 games in all three seasons.

 

[Gr00vus]

GSW sign Bogut to a 3/$36M extension. It can grow to $42M if he plays 65 games in all three seasons.

Well then, he may as well start spending that $42M right now.

 

[scoobus]

Kendall Marshall is bad. Can't shoot, can't defend, can't run. Athletically not cut up in the NBA. Someone that'll probably spend most of his career overseas. Maybe gets an NBA invite down the road. Intriguing size means nothing if you can't use it to your advantage for anything.

I like the job Suns new GM Ryan McDonough has done so far on the whole. Got Bledsoe for next to nothing. I personally like the Bledsoe/Dragic duo in the backcourt. Either can point / either can play off the ball. Multiple picks next year in a good draft and cap space in the future. Rid themselves of Beasley. The team needs a star more than probably any team in the league & I'm sure he recognizes it. Best way to get it right now is through the draft.

Rumor is Dragic might be next to go.

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

Wouldn't surprise me if it happened down the road if a contender needs/loses a PG. McDonough realized coming in house cleaning needed to be done.

 

[Kev4029]

If the Nugs trade Faried as is supposedly being bantered around, then I am done with this team and I have been a lifetime fan.

And if the Nuggets never traded Nene for McGee, this wouldn't even be an issue. They would have likely beat GS, Karl wouldn't have been fired, Ujiri would still be around, and we would be talking about the Nuggets with San Antonio, LAC and OKC. Kroenke is trashing the entire franchise for JaVale McGee, its an embarrassment.

 

[Daywalker]

I like the Gortat deal for Washington. If things come together perhaps a playoffs appearance. If not you have a valuable big with an expiring contract at the trade deadline.