437 replies to this topic

[BLU-RAY]

Wade for Chandler would actually be a bad deal for the Knicks also.  Just because you have three guys on your team who all averaged 25-30 points per game on their original teams doesn't mean they'll do that now: there simply aren't enough possessions in a game for all three of Amar'e, 'Melo, and Wade to maximize their potential.  I think it would actually turn into a worse version of the current Heat squad, because at least Chalmers is a replacement-level PG who isn't a scorer first (last night notwithstanding); if the Knicks started Lin/Wade/Melo/Amar'e/Jorts or something, they would be a mess.

More iso players isn't the solution for the Knicks, and Wade is a guy who needs to have the ball.

[Commodore]

The new CBA makes it extremely difficult to win a title with 3 max players because the rest of your team is scrubs (unless you have players on rookie contracts or have an amazing scouting department that can find cheap contributors ala the Spurs). Miami and LAL are finding this out.

OKC will find it out next summer when Harden and Ebaka's contracts are up.

It's impossible for Miami to add anyone to the big 3 in free agency, and no one wants their other players. They have to trade one of the big 3. And not for another max player, then you still have the same problem of no supporting cast. You need to cash in Wade or Bosh for multiple 2nd tier players.

[Commodore]

this Kyrie Irving commercial is awesome

[Triskele]

Commodore, on 18 May 2012 - 07:51 PM, said:

this Kyrie Irving commercial is awesome

That was pretty cool, but there is a compressed version for TV I assume?

[Howdyphillip]

Commodore, on 18 May 2012 - 07:51 PM, said:

this Kyrie Irving commercial is awesome

That falls firmly in the camp of awesome. I like Irving a lot

[Calibandar]

Artest had a bad moment again last night. I was hoping the Lakers would lose the third game as well but they just pulled it off.

I hope OKC can win tonight and go back home with a 3-1 lead, they look the better side and they're the only team I give any chance at all against the Spurs anyway ( and I'm not particularly keen on the Spurs).

[Gold Storm]

Stern will pull his hair out if it is a Spurs Pacers final.

[Minaku]

Jeremy Lin becomes a restricted free agent on July 1st and the news says that contrary to Woodson's comments, he shouldn't expect an easy negotiation.  It's hard to see how Lin can work with the current gravity wells longterm so I am not hopeful.  I really want a Lin-Chandler duo but it looks like that'll be in my dreams.  Those same dreams where he can go left and shoot pullup jumpers.

[Maithanet]

Gold Storm, on 19 May 2012 - 05:30 PM, said:

Stern will pull his hair out if it is a Spurs Pacers final.

We'll see if the Pacers can make a better showing than they did on Sunday.  I thought the decision to keep Hibbert on the bench until 6 minutes left in the 4th quarter just because he picked up his third foul in the third quarter was very stupid.  If he fouls out then you can't put him in, so you keep him out to make sure that doesn't happen?  When Hibbert+West are on the floor, the Pacers are too big for the Heat on both ends.  But once Hibbert came off, the whole defense fell apart.  

Who knows who's coming out of the East.  Are the Celtics really the best team left?  The same Celtics that look only marginally better than the mediocre Sixers and Hawks?  That would be disappointing, because the finals would be a joke.

Spurs-Thunder is going to be a good one.  San Antonio is crushing everyone, but the Thunder have too many weapons to be dominated.  Russell Westbrook is rapidly becoming my favorite NBA player; that guy can ball.  I want the Thunder's youth and enthusiasm to win out, but my head says Spurs in seven.

[Morpheus]

Minaku, on 22 May 2012 - 08:24 AM, said:

Jeremy Lin becomes a restricted free agent on July 1st and the news says that contrary to Woodson's comments, he shouldn't expect an easy negotiation. It's hard to see how Lin can work with the current gravity wells longterm so I am not hopeful. I really want a Lin-Chandler duo but it looks like that'll be in my dreams. Those same dreams where he can go left and shoot pullup jumpers.

I am not completely sold on Lin yet as a starter, he showed some good and some absolutely horrendous game. It is unclear why he was out for so long, the surgery he had was not major, there were rumors about Woodson not wanting to use Lin but he denied those, and I can't think he preffered a hobbled Davis or a used up Bibby. It would have been good to see Lin under the pressure of late season and post season games to see how he held up and if he is worth keeping long term.

Ideally I would have him as the PG off the bench for now, but honestly there is little choice but to sign him. There aren't a lot of good free agent PGs and the Knicks can't afford what is available, Deron Williams is way too expensive and almost a lock for Dallas, and Steve Nash will probably want more than the Knicks have. I don't think Nash is a good option anyway, he is stil playing well, but we need long term durability on this team.

[ROLF]

Ah well, it was a good run.  Lakers have to move one of their bigs, preferably Gasol, this offseason.  I'd like to see them try to get Deron Williams, but I don't think they have the juice to pull that off.

[Jaime L]

The Ghost of Kim Dub Il, on 22 May 2012 - 09:45 AM, said:

Ah well, it was a good run. Lakers have to move one of their bigs, preferably Gasol, this offseason. I'd like to see them try to get Deron Williams, but I don't think they have the juice to pull that off.

It's gonna be a really interesting offseason because there are more marquee players being mentioned as possible trade candidates than I've ever seen: Howard, Wade, Bynum, Deron Williams, Gasol, Bosh. And because you have so many stars in play and so many title contending teams not satisfied with their current makeup (i.e.: Heat, Lakers, Mavericks, Celtics, maybe the Bulls) it's like every decent player in the league could be up on the block.

And the Lakers are really at the center of it all. They're one of the few NBA teams I've ever seen where it makes sense to trade quality (Gasol) for quantity (athletic, non-star type wing players). They'll still have Kobe and Bynum as the requsite stars you need to win a title but they, like Miami, need to become a better team with more complimentary pieces. Deron would be great, but like you I don't see him ending up in LA. They got fucked on the whole Chris Paul deal and now I don't know what they can do to upgrade their PG situation.

And do they move Bynum for Howard straight up?

[Manhole Eunuchsbane]

Looking forward to OKC vs SA. That should be the Finals right there.

[Calibandar]

Quote

Who knows who's coming out of the East. Are the Celtics really the best team left? The same Celtics that look only marginally better than the mediocre Sixers and Hawks? That would be disappointing, because the finals would be a joke

I'm sure the Heat will make it past the Pacers and then past Boston as well. It will not be easy but they thrashed Indiana last night and will probably finish it in game 6.

Which leaves Boston who have not looked overwhelmingly powerful at all. Tough side to beat, very experienced, but Bosh may be back by then for Miami, and even without Bosh I rate them higher than Boston.

As mentioned above, Spurs vs OKC is the real final.

[Greywolf2375]

Šedý vlk2375, on 15 May 2012 - 07:21 AM, said:

Boo hiss. Rondo can be brilliant and he can be a nob. Why did you hold on to the ball, waiving off every better offensive option on the floor, for 19 seconds? Ouch Laketown...very ouch.

Just quoting myself since I have the same feeling about last nights game....Rondo apparently had someplace else he would rather be than on the court, doing his job.

[Calibandar]

Got to say I am hoping for the Sixers to go through, they are a nice side to watch and are making it very hard on Boston.

Enjoyed Bryant's comment after the match against OKC, about how much OKC have improved and how they are "so terribly explosive".

[Maithanet]

Calibandar, on 24 May 2012 - 08:39 AM, said:

Got to say I am hoping for the Sixers to go through, they are a nice side to watch and are making it very hard on Boston.  

Wow, I don't know how you could describe the Sixers as nice to watch.  I mean, I enjoyed watching the defense of the Pistons a few years back when they had Wallace, Billups, etc, but this is ugly.  They defend well, but their offense has no flow, no great 3 point shooters and relatively few fast break points.  This is one of the least impressive playoff series I can remember.

[Greywolf2375]

Maithanet, on 24 May 2012 - 08:47 AM, said:

Wow, I don't know how you could describe the Sixers as nice to watch. I mean, I enjoyed watching the defense of the Pistons a few years back when they had Wallace, Billups, etc, but this is ugly. They defend well, but their offense has no flow, no great 3 point shooters and relatively few fast break points. This is one of the least impressive playoff series I can remember.

yeah, if you had told me the Sixers would end the game with 82ish points, I'm putting some money down the C's have closed out.  The Sixers did less wrong than the C's did so they "earned" the win, but missing 11 free throws, 1-9 from 3?   It's kinda sad that my thought was "Rondo wants it to go back for a game 7 so he can put up a good game."

Then I remembered he probably doesn't care enough to even think that way.   Just hoping no one pees in his Cheerios before the next game, or gives him reason to believe they peed in his Cheerios.