The OaO 2003-2004 NBA Season Thread!

[The Electrifyer 0]

Hearing Doc River's voice makes my throat feel sore but hearing Chuck Sworsky makes my head explode.

[Guest Redhawk]

In Saturday's Orlando Sentinel, Tyronn Lue does an interview where he flat-out says he should not be a starting point guard in the NBA. When asked what the team needed next year, among other things, he said, "A new starting point guard." He also said that he thought he was ready to be the starter at the beginning of this season, and so did the team, but it hasn't worked out. He said he's better as an off-the-bench, change-of-pace guy. "I'm not embarrassed to say that. I'm just being honest." That's just odd to hear a pro ballplayer be self-deprecating.

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

Tyronn actually puts up pretty decent numbers for the Magic but yeah, he's not really a pure point guard which that team needs. My God, a basketball player who is able to take an honest unbiased look at his own skills. Someone buy Tyronn a drink.

[NoCalMike 0]

well the Kings decide to play defense for an entire game for the first time this season. Wow.

[Guest Redhawk]

But how much of that was the Kings' defense and how much of it was Kobe giving the finger to Phil Jackson?

[Vern Gagne 0]

Remaining schedules and tie breakers for playoff spots. West only. Please note overall record determines seedings after the first round.

 

Minnesota-56-24 vs Utah, at Memphis

Sacramento 55-25 at Denver, at Golden St.

San Antonio 55-25 at Portland, vs Denver

Los Angeles 54-26 vs Golden St, at Portland

 

For the 5th seed.

 

Memphis 50-30 at Dallas, vs Minnesota

Dallas 50-30 vs Memphis, at Houston

 

For the 8th seed

 

Utah 42-38 at Minnesota, vs Phoenix

Denver 42-38 vs Sacramento, at San Antonio

Portland 41-39 vs San Antonio, vs LAL

 

Two-Team Tiebreaker

1. Better record in head-to-head games

2. Higher winning percentage in conference games

3. Higher winning percentage within division (if teams are in the same division)

4. Higher winning percentage against playoff teams in own conference

5. Higher winning percentage against playoff teams in opposite conference

6. Higher point differential between points scored and points allowed

 

Three-Team Tiebreaker

1. Best head-to-head winning percentage among all teams tied

2. Highest winning percentage in conference games

3. Highest winning percentage within division (if teams are in the same division)

4. Highest winning percentage against playoff teams in own conference

5. Highest point differential between points scored and points allowed

[alfdogg 0]

Utah & Denver I think also have tiebreak on Houston for #7.

[alfdogg 0]

Kobe pulled a Gilbert Arenas last night, refusing to shoot after being criticized for shooting too much.

 

I just don't know what to say here...I'm obviously not taking away from Sac, but this may well have cost LA the division, and Phil Jackson will likely do nothing about it. Guys like Kobe, AI, Carmelo can get away with murder (or rape...ba-dum bum) should they choose because they know the front office has their back. It's ridiculous.

 

The more I try to respect guys like Kobe/T-Mac, the more they piss me off with their constant whining about the criticism they receive. I gained a ton of respect for Tyronn Lue, who is willing to be honest about where he feels he should be in his career. I still feel the Wizards made a mistake letting him walk. If I'm Grunfield, I keep him and say fuck Arenas, as I know Lue is putting team first. And it makes me hate Tracy McBaby that much more, knowing while Lue is doing wht he's doing, McBaby will push blame on everyone BUT himself, despite the first few games into the season him saying "fuck the playoffs, I'm going for the scoring title."

 

Another guy I've gained a ton of respect for is Paul Pierce. Here's a guy who, at any time, could have turned on that organization for what he was put through this season, but kept his head up, and, unlike McBaby, was willing to accept the pressure of being his team's "only All-Star", as McB likes to say, and as a result they're in the playoffs once again, despite, while Welsch flourished and became a great role player, having less around him than the 19-61 Magic, IMO. Right now, IMO, Paul Pierce is the best SG in the NBA.

[alfdogg 0]

Read~

 

I don't understand the Andre Miller hate. At all. If he isn't a "pure point guard", then how do you explain his leading the league in assists (for the CAVS no less) in '02? He is no less responsible for Denver's success than Anthony. I'm not saying trade Carmelo, obviously, but Dre can't be blamed for the Nuggets' misfortunes, which seems to be what is happening.

[Ripper 0]

Read~

 

I don't understand the Andre Miller hate. At all. If he isn't a "pure point guard", then how do you explain his leading the league in assists (for the CAVS no less) in '02? He is no less responsible for Denver's success than Anthony. I'm not saying trade Carmelo, obviously, but Dre can't be blamed for the Nuggets' misfortunes, which seems to be what is happening.

Fuck sports writers. The Nuggets would be scouting draft picks if Miller wasn't there.

 

 

And SERIOUSLY, why don't players realize when they complain about obvious fouls, they will never be able to make a case. Shaq bitching about his OBVIOUS fouls yesterday is just plain pathetic. He elbowed a man in the face, gets a Offensive foul called and complains after the game about the refs taking him out of it.

[Spicy McHaggis 0]

The Lakers were absolutely owned yesterday. Sacramento shut them down completely. Pathetic.

 

I'm thinking of writing an article on the Laker lineup of the future:

 

Kobe, Rush, George, Medvedenko, Emeka Okafor.

[NoCalMike 0]

So I was just watching sportscenter and it was the usual response by the Lakers after a big loss.

 

Phil Jackson said "the refs always fall for Divac's flopping"

 

Shaq, "yesterday's game was predetermined" Reporter, "by whom" Shaq, "I dunno, but it was predetermined"

 

Umm, yah ok Shaq, you mean predetermined like Game 6 in the 2001 Western Conference Finals to get the Lakers to the free throws 22 times in one quarter? That kind of determined!?!

 

Seriously though, I am even willing to admit that the Kings may have benefitted from about 3 calls that could have gone either way, but for the Lakers players to whine about officiating, when in fact they have ALWAYS gotten the bias treatment in the playoffs over the past four years is fucking pathetic.

[razazteca 0]

Shaq, "yesterday's game was predetermined" Reporter, "by whom" Shaq, "I dunno, but it was predetermined"

The league is trying to set up the dream match of Lakers vs Grizzlies with Jerry West returning to get revenge as the angle to sell advertising and get free publicity from sports networks. With it ESPN can have programming worth watching, all of the shows (Sports Writers, Outside the Lines, ATH, PTI, Sportcenter) have something to talk about. And then there are the commentators who just love to hear their voices (Stephen F. Austin, Charles Barkley) debate how the Lakers are the greatest team ever.

[Cuban Linx 0]

Bob Sura puts up his third straight Triple-Double in a win over the Nets, first to do that since Grant Hill in '97. Sura's certainly doing all he can to earn a bigger contract once he's a free agent at the end of the season.

[alfdogg 0]

That last playoff spot could be locked up tonight if Denver hangs on against Sac.

 

Also, should Portland beat SA, that would clinch the #1 seed for the Wolves.

[alfdogg 0]

The MAGIC~ are going to win number 20!

[Cuban Linx 0]

A combined 41 years worth of consecutive playoff appearances have officially gone up in flames, as the Denver Nuggets clinch the 8th and final spot the Western Conference playoffs.

[Gert T 0]

Bob Sura puts up his third straight Triple-Double in a win over the Nets, first to do that since Grant Hill in '97. Sura's certainly doing all he can to earn a bigger contract once he's a free agent at the end of the season.

Amen!

 

My roommate tonight saw that score, and said "Damn 129 points and Sura's 3rd triple-double"

 

Well, with about 8 FA's they better be scoring a lot. I am surprised they are passing that much.

 

And as much as I hate seeing the Jazz out, congrats to Denver for getting into the playoffs by winning games. Hell, they would have clinched a playoff birth in the East last month.

 

I also think people still hate on Andre Miller due to the brief stain of Clipperdom.

[Ripper 0]

I don't think people have noticed the shit kicking the Hawks have been giving people since the trades. I wouldn't be suprised to see the Hawks resign all of those free agents and play this small ball next year.

 

I mean stephen Jackson, Bobby Sura, Jason Terry, and Chris Crawford have been amazing since they moved Abdur Rahim, and others.

[The Electrifyer 0]

Get Carmelo the damn Rookie Of The Year trophy. Now.

[alfdogg 0]

I just thought it was hilarious how he purposely got his own rebound against the Nets after what the Nets did to the Pistons.

[Ripper 0]

I just thought it was hilarious how he purposely got his own rebound against the Nets after what the Nets did to the Pistons.

I was waiting for one of those fuckers to complain.

 

It was even funnier watching the other player try to miss and the shots still going in.

[Guest Redhawk]

Greg Anthony said what Sura and the Hawks did showed a "losing attitude." Which I found funny, since they won the game. To me that's not as bad as the Nets celebrating after scoring 71 against Detroit but still losing by 15.

[The Electrifyer 0]

Sura's triple double was taken away from him: http://www.nba.com/news/sura_040413.html

[Spicy McHaggis 0]

He elbowed a man in the face, gets a Offensive foul called and complains after the game about the refs taking him out of it.

That was a foul, 100%. But that's not what Shaq was complaining about. His other offensive foul came on a Vlade flop, immediately after the previous Kings' possession in which a Laker player flopped on Webber's move to the basket and there was no call. That no-call sends a message that the game is going to be officiated a certain way. So on the very following play, Shaq makes a similar move, Vlade flops and the whistle blows. That is inconsistency and that is pathetic.

 

Shaq also has a legit beef on his 3rd foul. He was completely out of position on Peeler's drive, he reached, and he deserved to be called for the foul. But it was a touch foul and if the game is going to be called that way, then Shaq should be on the line at least 22 times a quarter.

[Spicy McHaggis 0]

Sura's triple double was taken away from him: http://www.nba.com/news/sura_040413.html

What a crock. This combined with the officials taking a shit on Denver's big win...

 

[Ripper 0]

He elbowed a man in the face, gets a Offensive foul called and complains after the game about the refs taking him out of it.

That was a foul, 100%. But that's not what Shaq was complaining about. His other offensive foul came on a Vlade flop, immediately after the previous Kings' possession in which a Laker player flopped on Webber's move to the basket and there was no call. That no-call sends a message that the game is going to be officiated a certain way. So on the very following play, Shaq makes a similar move, Vlade flops and the whistle blows. That is inconsistency and that is pathetic.

 

Shaq also has a legit beef on his 3rd foul. He was completely out of position on Peeler's drive, he reached, and he deserved to be called for the foul. But it was a touch foul and if the game is going to be called that way, then Shaq should be on the line at least 22 times a quarter.

Vlade Flopped but it WAS a offensive foul, the one on webber wasn't. They made the right calls. Whats even funnier, Shaq didn't argue that call at all. He didn't argue until he got his third and then it was "That foul back then was bullshit".

 

That is the biggest complaint people have about Shaq, that he should go to the line everytime, and it is even more pathetic when you hear professional annoucncers say that bullshit.

 

Face-up defense and post defense adhere to two completely different rules and regulations. A reach in a cross the body is definately a foul if faced up. Contact is PART of the post game.

 

HE IS TOUCHING HIM AND PUSHING HIM. SO. You can't extend your arm. As long as you keep that elbow bent, its legal. You can't get two hands on the guy, just a forearm. And that is what the opposing defenses do. Contact doesn't necessarily equal foul. It all is about what type of reach, contact it is.

 

Using Shaq fans require ments, there should be a foul called on shaq everytime he is on the defensive end too. He does the same thing. Its called playing defense.

[Spicy McHaggis 0]

Vlade Flopped but it WAS a offensive foul, the one on webber wasn't.

Bullshit.

 

HE IS TOUCHING HIM AND PUSHING HIM.  SO.  You can't extend your arm. As long as you keep that elbow bent, its legal.

Absolutely correct. I'm complaining specifically about arm-extension (happens all the time), as well as defenders bringing their arms down on Shaq's head and body or holding his arms on shot attempts.

 

You can't get two hands on the guy, just a forearm.

Happens all the time.

 

Using Shaq fans requirements, there should be a foul called on shaq everytime he is on the defensive end too.  He does the same thing.

You're right. I would have no problem with that if it was called on both ends.

 

An aside: I'm fed up with Shaq's laziness and think he should be traded for Emeka Okafor. But I still want the game called consistently.

[Guest Redhawk]

How could they say Sura wasn't attempting a shot? Okay, I know he missed on purpose, but does it not count as a missed free throw when guys intentionally miss FTs at the end of a game? The NBA just wanted to send a message that Sura and Ricky Davis' actions won't be accepted. Personally, I don't see the big deal. It's not like Sura is going to challenging the Big O for the triple-double crown.

 

Here's Rashard Lewis in The Seattle Times, lamenting a possible trade this offseason: "I have a gut feeling that they are going to try and make some type of move because of the fact this is the same result we had last year. And looking at everybody on the roster, in order for this team to get somebody that they would like, the only people capable of doing that is me and Ray (Allen)."

 

Nice. So Lewis is basically saying "Everyone on this team sucks except for me and Ray."

[The Czech Republic 0]

So now that Carmelo has taken his cellar-swelling team from the bottom to the postseason and Lebron has not, with close individual stats, why should Lebron get ROTY over Carmelo?