NBA Offseason News and Moves

[Guest GreatOne]

Shaq HAS gone to the NBA Finals without Kobe before, and was the only one (after the Bulls started winning titles) that beat Jordan in the playoffs.

 

True Thomas, Jordan, and Magic all either jumped after their soph year or were ready to (Dean Smith said Jordan was NBA-ready, he came back as a junior anyway), we're also talking HOFers.

 

I think ultimately David Stern's gonna have to take a look at the fact that the NBA's mean averages are around 93-95 a game and around 43-44% shooting unless he wants to wait however long for the "old-schoolers" to lose interest, by which time Gary Bettman will be back as the new commissioner. Hell the best COLLEGE teams used to average well beyond both--since 93 in the pros translates to about 52 in college once you figure in the shorter game and longer shotclock, and I'm using the 35 second clock--it'd be worse with the old 45 sec clock. Actually you could make the argument that college is a better game right now than the pros based on that alone.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I think ultimately David Stern's gonna have to take a look at the fact that the NBA's mean averages are around 93-95 a game and around 43-44% shooting unless he wants to wait however long for the "old-schoolers" to lose interest, by which time Gary Bettman will be back as the new commissioner. Hell the best COLLEGE teams used to average well beyond both--since 93 in the pros translates to about 52 in college once you figure in the shorter game and longer shotclock, and I'm using the 35 second clock--it'd be worse with the old 45 sec clock. Actually you could make the argument that college is a better game right now than the pros based on that alone.

 

High scoring is not the only indicator of the quality of play. Are the scores low because of poor offense, or good defense? It is hard to say. Theoretically, the better play becomes, the more scores drift southward, as it becomes harder to score points. Whether game scores are close is a better indicator of game quality.

[Guest GreatOne]

I don't think when a guy misses a 15-footer with nobody around him (that back in 1988 Kevin McHale and even freakin Randy Wittman knocked down with regularity) that you can use good defense as an argument.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

That's a subjective argument. Alot of people reminisce about the great play of the 1980s, but was it really that great. There was sloppy play in those days, and I'd wager there were more silly turnovers. I think time has created warm, fuzzy memories of the 80s.

[alfdogg 0]

I gotta disagree with that the Celtics are nowhere near being a playoff team right now.

I think they have pretty much the same team, save for Hunter who wasn't playing much anyway. They had a decent draft, plus they'll be getting LaFrentz back, too. I think that should be enough in the East.

 

Also, the Hornets signed MoPete to an offer sheet.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

Shooting percentage is way down, and its not all defense. Its guys like Iverson, Pierce, Kobe, etc chucking the ball up 40 times a game and making 10 shots if they're lucky.

 

The concept of easy scoring by driving to the post has been replaced by flashy players that just want to make a name for themself.

[alfdogg 0]

I thought it was funny when Rick Carlisle said they should increase the size of the rim in order to improve shooting...and even funnier when I realized he was serious.

[King Kamala 0]

Looking over my list. Boston SHOULD be good enough for an 8 seed, but hopefully they won't be the worst playoff team of all time ala last year. Not only did they get swept, they got humiliated. The Pacers were on cruise control for pretty much the entire series and still the Celtics couldn't get within four or five points of them.

[Steviekick 0]

Does anyone think that moving the three point line back has hurt scoring?

[MrRant 0]

It may have hurt scoring in the fact that PFs aren't shooting 3's a lot like they were when it was moved in for awhile.

[alfdogg 0]

I think the three-point line in general hurts scoring. If you get rid of it, a lot of guys would probably take higher percentage shots.

[Just John 0]

Well, it looks like Derek Fisher signed with Golden State. Should've gone to Houston, though. There, he would actually make the playoffs.

[razazteca 0]

I think the three-point line in general hurts scoring. If you get rid of it, a lot of guys would probably take higher percentage shots.

The problem is that so many players are now spot shooters and forget to go after the offensive rebounds.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Why are you guys jumping to defend Kobe after he forced out your hall of fame center, hall of fame coach, and almost ditched your team for the fucking Clippers?

 

1. Kobe is the future of the franchise, whereas Shaq is 32-33 and aging, and Jackson has been pondering retirement for quite some time. Kobe hasn't even hit his prime yet, he's barely older than many of the guys coming out of college and has already solidified himself as one of the best players in the league and has 3 rings. He's perhaps the best perimeter player in the game right now, as well as the key for the Detroit Pistons stopping the Lakers in the Finals. Double and triple up on Kobe and let Shaq get his points, and they were easy to beat because Shaq is far past the part of his career when he can carry a team by himself.

 

2. Regarding 'hall of fame coach'- It's iffy if Zenmaster Phil will even coach with another team, and so I guess, out with the old, in with the new.

 

3. In reference to said hall-of-fame center, I've always considered Shaq one of the most overrated players ever. Yes he may be a great player and all, but the reason for his upside (size/strength) is also the reason for his downside. Not to mention he is a lazy out-of-shape player, but as I said, he's not at the point in his career anymore where he can carry a team by himself. Look at the 38 point performance in the Finals. Still lost. Look at most of the playoffs and you'll see it was Kobe's team, not Shaq's and it has slowly been going in that direction after the Lakers won the last of the threepeat.

 

Also, an interesting statistic: Kobe led the team in assists in the playoffs with 121, followed by Payton with 116, and was second behind Payton on the team during regular season for the same thing. He may shoot the ball more, but that's because he can make those shots, and is only getting better every year.

 

I think an interesting thing to watch next year is going to be seeing Shaq and Kobe try to lead their teams to outdo each other. Both of them are going to want to prove the other was wrong.

[Steviekick 0]

I knew that Kobe was second in assts behind Payton on the Lakers, but that was more due to double teams and stuff. Kobe is a great player, but he doesn't make players on his team better.

[MrRant 0]

It seems Vince Carter wants out of Toronto. Period.

 

"He wants out and he needs to go," a league source, told the Toronto Globe and Mail in Saturday's editions. "He is very, very firm on that. He needs to go. They're supposed to be working on something right now. It might have to involve a third team, or they may have to acquire someone and pass him through."

 

The source added that Carter wants to be traded to an Eastern Conference team, ideally the New York Knicks.

 

Knicks president Isiah Thomas "has lots of interest," the source said. "He'd give up anyone on his roster outside Stephon [Marbury]."

 

The paper reported that neither new Raptors general manager Rob Babcock nor Carter's agent, Mark Steinberg of IMG, had any comment Friday on Carter's future.

 

Earlier in the week, Babcock shot down rumors of a potential four-team trade that would land his disgruntled star in Dallas.

 

"There is no truth to [them] at all," Babcock told the Toronto Sun in Thursday's editions. "We've been getting inquiries about Vince and we're always discussing trades, but there is nothing really active going on. He is a crucial, and very valuable player, on this team and we are not actively trying to trade Vince."

 

"Babcock is spinning this thing," the source told the Globe and Mail on Saturday. "He can say whatever he wants, but it's been made abundantly clear to him that [Carter] wants out."

 

Thursday's Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that the Raptors were talking to the Dallas Mavericks and that the Knicks or the Golden State Warriors also could be involved.

 

According to the report, the Mavericks were looking to send Antoine Walker to New York and the Knicks would send a combination of players to the Raptors, with Shandon Anderson, Dikembe Mutombo and Kurt Thomas being mentioned. Golden State also was mentioned as a possible participant, with Erick Dampier as the main component.

 

Earlier Wednesday, Babcock told The Associated Press that he would like Carter to stay in Toronto. He just isn't sure if Carter wants to.

 

"It certainly would be nicer if I knew he definitely wanted to be here, but I can't control Vince.

 

"My preference is to have Vince here, but that's up to Vince more than it is up to us," he said.

 

Babcock, hired in early June, spoke at a news conference to introduce free agent point guard Rafer Alston, who signed a five-year, $28 million deal. Babcock, however, answered more questions about Carter.

 

Babcock has already met with Carter twice and has also spoken to his agent, Mark Steinberg. Last month, the GM was vague when asked if Steinberg requested a trade. Carter is said to be unhappy that the Raptors didn't involve him in their search for a new general manager.

 

New coach Sam Mitchell and Babcock hope to meet with Carter before his charity game in Toronto on July 30.

 

"We think that once Vince has the opportunity to get to know Sam and the coaching staff, and myself, and what our philosophy is, and what we're trying to do here, I think he'll love it here," Babcock said.

 

Carter remains one of the NBA's most popular players because of his highlight-reel dunks, but he has lost some of his explosiveness over the last four years because of knee injuries. He averaged 22.5 points last season.

 

ESPN.com

[nogoodnick 0]

Look at most of the playoffs and you'll see it was Kobe's team, not Shaq's and it has slowly been going in that direction after the Lakers won the last of the threepeat.

And Shaqs team won 3 titles. Kobes team has won ZERO. While he may not have been in good shape Shaq isn't past his prime. He had a career low 22 ppg because he had a career low 15 shots per game. If Kobe would pass the ball Shaq's numbers would have been the same as the past. When Shaq's getting the ball, it frees up open jumpers. When Kobe has the ball it doesnt and hes gonna shoot it anyways. Kobe wasn't making the likes of Horry, Fisher, and Fox better the last few years. That was Shaq.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

why does everyone think they can just pick up and go to the Knicks? Are players completly unaware of things like "salary cap" and "luxury tax"?

[Guest Vitamin X]

Look at most of the playoffs and you'll see it was Kobe's team, not Shaq's and it has slowly been going in that direction after the Lakers won the last of the threepeat.

And Shaqs team won 3 titles. Kobes team has won ZERO. While he may not have been in good shape Shaq isn't past his prime. He had a career low 22 ppg because he had a career low 15 shots per game. If Kobe would pass the ball Shaq's numbers would have been the same as the past. When Shaq's getting the ball, it frees up open jumpers. When Kobe has the ball it doesnt and hes gonna shoot it anyways. Kobe wasn't making the likes of Horry, Fisher, and Fox better the last few years. That was Shaq.

Even though this has been progressing towards BECOMING Kobe's team it hasn't really become his quite yet. Jackson wanted to keep feeding Shaq the ball, and that just wasn't cutting it whether in the playoffs or regular season. NOW it's Kobe's team, and I think the Eastern Conference as well as a few teams out West have shown that you can get by without having a dominant man inside on offense, as long as you've got defense, hustle, and shooting ability. And good coaching, which is what they've lacked the past couple of years. I personally think the threepeat, hindsight being 20/20 and all, was a product of the triangle getting the ball inside to the most dominant center when he was in his prime, and didn't work afterwards because he stuck with what worked in the past and not adjusting to the challenges in front of him. This sticks out in 2004 Finals especially, as everyone has seen and found out.

 

The reason why the team gets better when Shaq is there is because the entire gameplan revolved around getting the ball to him, and when he wasn't there everyone kept shots to themselves. This is an entirely different scheme they will probably start playing now as Dangerous A said, more off of fastbreaks than the half-court style they've been playing under the Zenmaster.

 

Kobe has shown he can lead a team in games. Stats may or may not show it (and I don't particularly care to research them right now anyways, but if anyone wants to, feel free), but Kobe typically picks up the team and energizes them to play harder when he's there. Now he REALLY has to lead, and lead by example, and play team ball if he wants to prove he was better than Shaq.

 

I knew that Kobe was second in assts behind Payton on the Lakers, but that was more due to double teams and stuff. Kobe is a great player, but he doesn't make players on his team better.

 

Using that same reasoning, Payton must have been getting teamed up on like nuts. It still doesn't discount the fact that he did try to help.

[Steviekick 0]

I know what you mean, but most of Kobe's assists were off of double teams. It's not like he really helps others get shots.

[razazteca 0]

The Lakers are not going to amount to much until they get those important bench players and go 9 deep in games. Luke Walton and Kareem Rush are the only guys on the bench that I can think of at the moment. Who is going to backup the Power Forward and Center positions? It can't be SLAVA MEDIVENKO.

[Steviekick 0]

They have Horace Grant, but he's getting up there.

[Dangerous A 0]

Horace Grant retired after the Finals.

[Steviekick 0]

Horace Grant retired after the Finals.

I wasn't aware of that. There was too much other crazy things going on in Lalaland, so it was just a non issue.

[Dangerous A 0]

Horace Grant retired after the Finals.

I wasn't aware of that. There was too much other crazy things going on in Lalaland, so it was just a non issue.

True. Horace Grant is a non issue.

 

 

The Lakers will look to run more and they will make more highlight reels, but success depends on defense and all 3 people that came to LA from the Heat are no great shakes defensively. That is where the concern should lie.

[Steviekick 0]

The Lakers will be very weak on defense. Rudy T has a hell of a task ahead of him.

[Guest Vitamin X]

The Lakers are not going to amount to much until they get those important bench players and go 9 deep in games. Luke Walton and Kareem Rush are the only guys on the bench that I can think of at the moment. Who is going to backup the Power Forward and Center positions? It can't be SLAVA MEDIVENKO.

 

Slava's a free agent, and most likely gone. Thank god. And while they may not have been all that deep, they sure were at least deep enough to beat the Spurs 4 times in a row in the playoffs.

[razazteca 0]

I wanted to trade Tony Parker for Jason Kidd after that series.

[Brett Favre 0]

I wanted to trade Tony Parker for Jason Kidd after that series.

Who knows. With the way Jason Kidd reacted after Kenyon Martin left, that still may be possible.

[Dangerous A 0]

I'm not all that impressed with Kidd lately. IMO, he's dropped out of the top 5 player category everyone had associated with him the last 3 seasons. My problem is Kidd seems to be almost strictly a fastbreak point guard to be effective. Even though the Nets made it to the Finals 2 years in a row before this season, they still couldn't execute in the halfcourt very well. Some of that is Kidd's teammates, but some of it is him too. Before he was with the Nets, he was mediocre with the Suns. I am not saying he's garbage, but I think he's definitely fallen off some in the last year alone.