Hoops - NBA/Basketball Talk

[the AntiPusher]

The Lost Angeles Lakers are now last in the West. Who could imagine that? uzzled

On other hand the Kings are a much better team than what their position suggests. If they keep Gay and Cousins healthy then they are a good team. The coach is doing a good job there.

I am a Kobe fan, I am ok with that the Lakers and the Bulls are starting to sputter downward.. Sometimes you need to be a lottery team to get the type of players that an organization can rebuild around especailly the Lakers. 2or 3 years tops for Kobe and the Bulls just can't have everything banking on Drose's fragile knees

 

[DarthFed]

The Bulls aren't tanking AP. In the weak East they are definitely making the playoffs and unless Rose comes back near 100% they are not going to be true contenders anytime soon. I think overall Carmelo would be a positive but he doesn't fit great with that team's philosophy of defense first.

The Lakers are done. Too old and we will see if Kobe can come back to being anywhere near what he was before the injury. Even if he comes back great this is still a team that at best would barely sneak into the playoffs. I don't think Melo and Kobe would co-exist that well either. Only thing turning that team around is if Lebron takes his talents and broken nose to the West Coast.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Da Bulls have been very impressive in the last 10 games or so. There is no quitting in that team.
My Raps are chugging along nicely, and they are learning to win ugly too, which has not happened in ages. Anyone can win when everything goes well.

 

[kskate2]

Bron's mask is scary. He looks like Batman.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I think Granger adds some more depth to the Clips. Not a bad move.

 

[kskate2]

I agree Murat. Better choice than the Heat.

 

[the AntiPusher]

The Bulls aren't tanking AP. In the weak East they are definitely making the playoffs and unless Rose comes back near 100% they are not going to be true contenders anytime soon. I think overall Carmelo would be a positive but he doesn't fit great with that team's philosophy of defense first.

The Lakers are done. Too old and we will see if Kobe can come back to being anywhere near what he was before the injury. Even if he comes back great this is still a team that at best would barely sneak into the playoffs. I don't think Melo and Kobe would co-exist that well either. Only thing turning that team around is if Lebron takes his talents and broken nose to the West Coast.

Melo would be a great fit there but Coach Tib stresses Defense 1st which is a very difficult sell to someone who has a shooter's mentality. Darth Fed, Here is the deal.. John Pax and the Bull's management is a dumbass organization. The only opportunity the Bulls have is to be a lottery team.

As for the Lakers, it is what it is. Noone is going to feel sorry for Kobe and the Lakers, I know that, heck it is still a large percentage of basketball fans still think that it was Kobe's fault that Shaq left. Shaq was getting old and lazy. Shaq decided his last few years as a Laker to become a magician, the ball would get toss to the low post and it would never reappear, the late great Dr. Buess made the right deicision. Most of us Kobe \Laker fans feels that they buried the wrong J Buess, it should have been the son instead of his genius of a father.

I told you before, its is gonna be a three peat by the Heat.

 

[DarthFed]

The Bulls aren't tanking AP. In the weak East they are definitely making the playoffs and unless Rose comes back near 100% they are not going to be true contenders anytime soon. I think overall Carmelo would be a positive but he doesn't fit great with that team's philosophy of defense first.

The Lakers are done. Too old and we will see if Kobe can come back to being anywhere near what he was before the injury. Even if he comes back great this is still a team that at best would barely sneak into the playoffs. I don't think Melo and Kobe would co-exist that well either. Only thing turning that team around is if Lebron takes his talents and broken nose to the West Coast.

Melo would be a great fit there but Coach Tib stresses Defense 1st which is a very difficult sell to someone who has a shooter's mentality. Darth Fed, Here is the deal.. John Pax and the Bull's management is a dumbass organization. The only opportunity the Bulls have is to be a lottery team.

As for the Lakers, it is what it is. Noone is going to feel sorry for Kobe and the Lakers, I know that, heck it is still a large percentage of basketball fans still think that it was Kobe's fault that Shaq left. Shaq was getting old and lazy. Shaq decided his last few years as a Laker to become a magician, the ball would get toss to the low post and it would never reappear, the late great Dr. Buess made the right deicision. Most of us Kobe \Laker fans feels that they buried the wrong J Buess, it should have been the son instead of his genius of a father.

I told you before, its is gonna be a three peat by the Heat.

They got rid of Shaq a few years too early and it was mostly about Kobe. The two never got along and Kobe knew for his legacy that he would eventually have to be "the man" on championship teams. There was no way he could ever rise above everyone historically, including MJ, if Shaq was there to get a lot of the credit. Kobe fell well short of MJ and many other players IMO. He will still play another couple years but I don't see the Lakers being competitive.

The Heat are looking pretty good and it figures to be only 2-3 teams that could beat them. Indy, OKC and San Antonio. Indy has the best shot IMO especially if they get homecourt.

 

[the AntiPusher]

The Bulls aren't tanking AP. In the weak East they are definitely making the playoffs and unless Rose comes back near 100% they are not going to be true contenders anytime soon. I think overall Carmelo would be a positive but he doesn't fit great with that team's philosophy of defense first.

The Lakers are done. Too old and we will see if Kobe can come back to being anywhere near what he was before the injury. Even if he comes back great this is still a team that at best would barely sneak into the playoffs. I don't think Melo and Kobe would co-exist that well either. Only thing turning that team around is if Lebron takes his talents and broken nose to the West Coast.

Melo would be a great fit there but Coach Tib stresses Defense 1st which is a very difficult sell to someone who has a shooter's mentality. Darth Fed, Here is the deal.. John Pax and the Bull's management is a dumbass organization. The only opportunity the Bulls have is to be a lottery team.

As for the Lakers, it is what it is. Noone is going to feel sorry for Kobe and the Lakers, I know that, heck it is still a large percentage of basketball fans still think that it was Kobe's fault that Shaq left. Shaq was getting old and lazy. Shaq decided his last few years as a Laker to become a magician, the ball would get toss to the low post and it would never reappear, the late great Dr. Buess made the right deicision. Most of us Kobe \Laker fans feels that they buried the wrong J Buess, it should have been the son instead of his genius of a father.

I told you before, its is gonna be a three peat by the Heat.

They got rid of Shaq a few years too early and it was mostly about Kobe. The two never got along and Kobe knew for his legacy that he would eventually have to be "the man" on championship teams. There was no way he could ever rise above everyone historically, including MJ, if Shaq was there to get a lot of the credit. Kobe fell well short of MJ and many other players IMO. He will still play another couple years but I don't see the Lakers being competitive.

The Heat are looking pretty good and it figures to be only 2-3 teams that could beat them. Indy, OKC and San Antonio. Indy has the best shot IMO especially if they get homecourt.

Darth, this is the typically reply I get from the majority of fans who sided with Shaq instead of Kobe. I am not gonna go there because I have endured this same anti Kobe sentiment at least 50 times over the past 7 years. Here is the gospel from the big Chief Triangle himself(PJ).

http://www.bing.com/news/search?q=Phil%20Jackson%20On%20Cause%20Of%20Shaq-Kobe%20Rift&filters=&FORM=NWRFSH&mkt=en-US

Its funny how Phil and I are on the same page with this.

As for Kobe comparison to MJ. MJ has stated on numerous times that Kobe's basketball skill set and IQ is very close to his.

 

[DarthFed]

The Bulls aren't tanking AP. In the weak East they are definitely making the playoffs and unless Rose comes back near 100% they are not going to be true contenders anytime soon. I think overall Carmelo would be a positive but he doesn't fit great with that team's philosophy of defense first.

The Lakers are done. Too old and we will see if Kobe can come back to being anywhere near what he was before the injury. Even if he comes back great this is still a team that at best would barely sneak into the playoffs. I don't think Melo and Kobe would co-exist that well either. Only thing turning that team around is if Lebron takes his talents and broken nose to the West Coast.

Melo would be a great fit there but Coach Tib stresses Defense 1st which is a very difficult sell to someone who has a shooter's mentality. Darth Fed, Here is the deal.. John Pax and the Bull's management is a dumbass organization. The only opportunity the Bulls have is to be a lottery team.

As for the Lakers, it is what it is. Noone is going to feel sorry for Kobe and the Lakers, I know that, heck it is still a large percentage of basketball fans still think that it was Kobe's fault that Shaq left. Shaq was getting old and lazy. Shaq decided his last few years as a Laker to become a magician, the ball would get toss to the low post and it would never reappear, the late great Dr. Buess made the right deicision. Most of us Kobe \Laker fans feels that they buried the wrong J Buess, it should have been the son instead of his genius of a father.

I told you before, its is gonna be a three peat by the Heat.

They got rid of Shaq a few years too early and it was mostly about Kobe. The two never got along and Kobe knew for his legacy that he would eventually have to be "the man" on championship teams. There was no way he could ever rise above everyone historically, including MJ, if Shaq was there to get a lot of the credit. Kobe fell well short of MJ and many other players IMO. He will still play another couple years but I don't see the Lakers being competitive.

The Heat are looking pretty good and it figures to be only 2-3 teams that could beat them. Indy, OKC and San Antonio. Indy has the best shot IMO especially if they get homecourt.

Darth, this is the typically reply I get from the majority of fans who sided with Shaq instead of Kobe. I am not gonna go there because I have endured this same anti Kobe sentiment at least 50 times over the past 7 years. Here is the gospel from the big Chief Triangle himself(PJ).

http://www.bing.com/news/search?q=Phil%20Jackson%20On%20Cause%20Of%20Shaq-Kobe%20Rift&filters=&FORM=NWRFSH&mkt=en-US

Its funny how Phil and I are on the same page with this.

As for Kobe comparison to MJ. MJ has stated on numerous times that Kobe's basketball skill set and IQ is very close to his.

Who is at fault for the problems is not the issue. The fact of the matter is Shaq was still a big asset to have on a team until about 2007 or so and the Lakers would've been better off with him. Kobe didn't want him around and I think there was more to it than the fact they didn't get along that well. Kobe knew he was looked at as a sidekick for those 3 rings while Shaq was in LA and he didn't want that role ever let alone for many years ahead.

I think Kobe is MJ-lite. You go down the board and he is just a little bit below MJ in every way except 3-point shooting/range. MJ was more athletic, better defender, more clutch, better mid-range game, an even fiercer competitor, etc. But the sum of the parts...a lot of small advantages makes someone much better overall. And for career greatness it is also not a competition...5 MVP's, 6 rings as "the man", 6 Finals MVP's, DPOY, etc.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Bron went for 61 last night. Impressive . Every now and then I like seeing him be selfish.

Shane Battier is a very smart , funny and class guy . He tweeted something like " Anytime Bron and I combine for 63 points , it is going to be a good night" Hilarious.

 

[shawnbm]

I guess Shane should don a plastic mask and perhaps they can combine for even more! Seriously, King James was an animal last night. All kidding aside, he might get superstitious and wear this thing for the rest of the season.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

So Phil Jackson is rumored to be the new President of basketball operations for the Knicks. What is he going to bring to the table?

 

[DarthFed]

President for now but don't be surprised if he is coaching next year.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

President for now but don't be surprised if he is coaching next year.

You may be right.

By the way, Brooklyn is 5-0 against the Heat this year (two preseason games)

 

[DarthFed]

Yea Brooklyn is looking dangerous after all. It will be interesting to see if your Raps can hold down the #3 seed. With all due respect both the Heat and Pacers would much rather see Toronto instead of Brooklyn or Chicago. So if Toronto does hold the #3 seed that gives the #2 seed an easier path to the ECF

 

[kskate2]

Indy/Heat vol 3 on ESPN right now.

 

[DarthFed]

Was following it a little while Federer played last night and then saw the very end of the game. With that win it seems that Indy will definitely be the East's #1 seed and I think it's going to be the year Miami doesn't make the finals.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Was following it a little while Federer played last night and then saw the very end of the game. With that win it seems that Indy will definitely be the East's #1 seed and I think it's going to be the year Miami doesn't make the finals.

I hope so.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

By the way, the umps in the Heat-Pacers game were as bad as the linesmen in Miami. They called a 3 by Wade off because he stepped on the side-line, except he did not. Heat lost by 1.