NBA Offseason News and Moves

[The Czech Republic 0]

I'm a better role model than Kobe.

[The Electrifyer 0]

Over the offseason, it seems that Booker T has joined the Cavs and noone even noticed:

 

 

(Sorry I couldn't get rid of the pic of Jason William in that)

[The Czech Republic 0]

Oh don't worry. It makes the picture even better. Booker T-David Flair are going at it again...on the COURT!

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

Here is something interesting

 

Today in the LA Times Phil Jackson reveals that he wanted to trade Kobe for Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion during the 1999-2000 season. But of course Buss and West said no.

[Brett Favre 0]

Kidd, Marion, and O'Neal sound a shitload better than Kobe and O'Neal, IMO.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Kobe, Kidd, and Marion sound even better.

 

Fuck Shaq.

[Brett Favre 0]

Just think about it for a second. You have the best PG in the league, the best C in the league, and arguably the best SF in the league. That covers inside and out, while with Kobe, you'd have two swingmen, and really unless you count Marions tip ins, no interior game.

 

Kidd, Marion, Shaq > Kobe, Kidd, Marion

[Guest Vitamin X]

True, but the way the game's evolving you don't really need a dominant center as much anymore.

 

I apologize, I thought your post was more of the same "KOBE SUX" statements.

[Brett Favre 0]

Don't worry. I will never forget the day that a Sprewell for Kobe Bryant trade was mentioned. Back when Kobe was still developing.

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

Kidd, Marion and Shaq would be far more succesful than the other option of Kobe and those 2.

 

Unless Michael Jordan is on your team, then yeah, you still need a big man in this day and age. Detroit had 2, The Lakers had Shaq, The Spurs have Duncan and formerly Robinson, The Rockets had Hakeem and so on.

 

Not trying to knock Kobe's game, but you just really can't replecate what a 7'2 330 pound man can do. Kobe can't be replaced as far as overall skill goes, but Marion is a better rebounder, shot blocker and at times defender and a 20 point a night scorer to boot. The passing and shot creation you might lose is made up with by Kidd who'd be setting up guys left and right for easy baskets.

 

That's a seriously well put together team if it had happened, I really woulda been curious to see how that all woulda worked out.

[Dangerous A 0]

Not to go all Fuck Kobe, but...

 

 

Kobe, Marion, Kidd < Shaq, Marion, Kidd

 

 

Shaq would open things up more for the other two like he does with just about every team he's with. Plus the ball would get better distribution with the offense going thru Shaq as opposed to Kobe. Kobe needs to shoot the ball to be most effective whereas Shaq just needs to be in the post. The threat of the ball going into Shaq is more than it is with Kobe plus if the offense starts to go away from Shaq he is more ample to handle being a cleanup guy for the other two i.e. getting offensive rebounds and staying close to the basket for lobs if others are doubled. Kobe is more of a give me the rock and let's see where this goes type.

[Steviekick 0]

Kidd/Marion/Shaq would have freaking OWNED.

 

Switch that with Shaq, and I would see Kidd and Kobe continually arguing as to who would bring the ball up the court.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Unless Michael Jordan is on your team, then yeah, you still need a big man in this day and age. Detroit had 2, The Lakers had Shaq, The Spurs have Duncan and formerly Robinson, The Rockets had Hakeem and so on.

 

Who in the hell were these 2 supposed "big men" on the Pistons? I recall Wallace being the big man on that team at 6'8" (though he does play a hell of a lot bigger than his height might indicate).

 

In other news, Lakers played their first exhibition game yesterday..

 

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Kobe Bryant scored 35 points in his first game since Shaquille O'Neal left Los Angeles, but the Seattle SuperSonics erased a 14-point third-quarter deficit and beat the revamped Lakers 87-80 Tuesday night in the preseason opener for both teams.

 

Ray Allen scored 25 points for the Sonics, whose 37-45 record last season was their worst in 18 seasons.

 

Trailing 52-38 after Bryant's 3-pointer with 8:58 left in the third, Seattle went on a 22-5 run and took a 60-57 lead with 1:13 to go in the quarter. The Sonics opened the fourth period with an 18-7 spurt and never looked back.

 

The Lakers, who lost to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals, played their first game under head coach Rudy Tomjanovich after five seasons and three championships with Phil Jackson.

 

Tomjanovich coached his first NBA game since March 2003, when he was forced to leave the Houston Rockets' bench after being diagnosed with bladder cancer. Tomjanovich, 55, spent last season as a consultant for the Rockets, whom he guided to NBA championships in 1994 and 1995.

 

This is Bryant's first season without O'Neal as a teammate -- the two bickered for years in the media. Bryant tested free agency before signing a seven-year, $136.4 million contract.

 

O'Neal, who demanded to be traded because he felt disrespected by owner Jerry Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak, got his wish and was dealt to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and Caron Butler.

 

Shaq also lost in his preseason debut, 85-75 to Houston on Sunday.

 

The Lakers' roster was severely overhauled, leaving only six players from last season's team. Derek Fisher signed with Golden State as a free agent. Gary Payton was traded to Boston along with Rick Fox, who announced his retirement less than two months later. Free agent Karl Malone, No. 2 on the NBA's career scoring list, had surgery on his right knee at the end of June. His status for this season remains uncertain at age 41.

 

Vlade Divac, who returned to the Lakers as a free agent after eight seasons with the Charlotte Hornets and Sacramento Kings, is sidelined indefinitely because of a herniated disc in his lower back but expects to be ready for the season opener.

 

Second-year forward Luke Walton sat out because of a sprained left ankle, Grant did likewise with a sore neck, and Butler was unavailable because of a bruised right thigh. Devean George is out until December after having ankle surgery.

 

Seattle guard Flip Murray, who played in all 82 games last season, sat out because of a strained left quadriceps.

 

Yeah, they'll be alright. They still need to learn how to play defense, though.

[Ripper 0]

Well rasheed is 6 11 with the wingspan of a 7'2 guy, so I guess he counts as a big man.

[Krankor 0]

Who in the hell were these 2 supposed "big men" on the Pistons? I recall Wallace being the big man on that team at 6'8" (though he does play a hell of a lot bigger than his height might indicate).

 

Ben Wallace is 6'9 and had over 1000 rebounds last year. Only 1 other person had more in the league last year. (KG) Ben also had 246 blocks last year. Again only 1 other person had more blocks in the league. (Theo Ratliff)

Rasheed Wallace is 6'11 and averaged 20 points a game.

 

They are fairly impressive together...

[alfdogg 0]

Kobe has blown off Phil's comments as "he just wants to sell more books."

[Guest Vitamin X]

Possibly true.

[Guest Crazy Dan]

Some of the greatest rebounders were not the tallest players. Charles Barkley is about 6'4 and he used to rebound everything and led the league in boards. The best rebounder in the NBA I have watched play, Dennis Rodman, was about 6'9 or smaller. It is a matter of positioning, strength and hours of studying tape to be able to predict where the ball goes when Player A shoots threes and when he shoots a mid range. Ben Wallace is not the tallest, but he is one of the strongest players in the NBA. I think he spends many hours studying tape as well, you have to. A player who gets position, will more than likely get the board on defense or get a call for his man going over his back. Ben is very athletic as well and I have feeling that once the ball is in his hands, it ain't going anywhere.

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

Well my point was that yes, even Detroit had a big inside presence and 2 of them at that. The current Lakers crop or the fantasized about Kidd/Marion/Kobe group does not. And in the west, with the Kevin Garnetts, Tim Duncans and other giants the Lakers woulda gotten killed. Throw on top of that the amount of slashers who instead of seeing Shaq will see Briant Grant or Vlade Divac and you see why having a presence is necessary.

 

The only exception to the rule has been Michael Jordan teams and even they had rebounding monsters on both teams in Rodman and a young Horace Grant.

[The Electrifyer 0]

Charles Barkley is about 6'4

Charles is most definately NOT 6'4.

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

I've seen Barkley listed at everywhere from 6'6 to 6'4 to 6'1. Ah the world of basketball cards and their incorrect heights.

 

I'd assume he was in the 6'2 area for whatever reason.

[razazteca 0]

Basketball has kayfabe?

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

Most sports seem to for some idiotic reason, even my high school basketball team tacked like 3 inches on to me for no reason. I was the shortest 6'6 to every exist.

[Steviekick 0]

The Spurs have put that Tim Duncan is 6'11 in this years media guide...every other year he's a 7 footer.

[Brett Favre 0]

Charles Barkley is about 6'4

Charles is most definately NOT 6'4.

He's listed as 6'4 in most places. 6'6 at most in some.