This week in the NBA

[The Electrifyer 0]

Let me just say, Ricky Davis' afro is the worst afro I've ever seen.

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

Friends comments a few games back: Man the Bulls look really good, looks like your dedication is paying off. Even Curry looks good.

 

Friends comments today: You're so fucking stupid the Bulls suck and Eddy Curry is a fat piece of shit.

 

Ah the pain.

 

On the Knicks, they've looked a lot better without Jamal Crawford in the line up so far. Marbury can completely dominate the ball now and it's working so far. And I'm still shocked at how well Nazr Mohammed is playing, but he's been arguably their most consistent part up to this point.

[Brett Favre 0]

And don't look now, but even TT is playing better. Sweetney and Ariza are getting more time, and the team is actually playing like a *gasp* TEAM. Hopefully Crawford is taking notes. Beating Orlando and Minnesota is a step in the right direction in terms of beating good teams.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Who'd ever thought we'd mention Orlando as a good team at this point?

 

And that Orlando benefitted more from gaining Steve Francis than losing T-Mac?

[The Electrifyer 0]

I think it was a combination of things that have attributed to Orlando's success. They got the number 1 pick in the NBA draft, signed Turkoglu and just in the nick of time, they got Grant Hill back. All those along with the Rockets trade have benefitted Orlando greatly.

[Damaramu 0]

So what's wrong with Lebron James? He has like a facial fracture?

Does this mean he's going to go all Rip Hamilton on us?

Or will he sit on the bench and ESPN can finally shut the hell up anytime his name is even mentioned.

[The Czech Republic 0]

16,905 was the paid attendance for last night's game. I would guess that many of those are season ticket holders, who are counted towards attendance even if they don't show up. They're ok for this year, but come the offseason we'll see what happens.

That's crazy. The last month, all the highlights on Sportscenter that are from the New Orleans Arena all have the lower deck facing the camera completely empty. You can see the neat pattern of colored seats, the sort of alternate between teal, blue, and white, I think. I remember the Minnesota North Stars having random seat colours too.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Speaking of Rip Hamilton, is there a reason he's still using the face shield? Preventative, or is it still a necessity?

[Precious Roy 0]

I think it's superstition

[The Czech Republic 0]

Lebron James's facemask should have an interesting design. I suggest this:

 

 

Then put a cyclone fence behind the court for Lebron to scale, then he can dunk it off the fence...with a metal claw!

 

Yo-laca-way-hoo!

[Brett Favre 0]

I'm Rip James, bitch.

[nogoodnick 0]

Dwayne Wade with a triple double tonight. Glad hes on my fantasy team.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Fuck, Wade isn't just making a case for All Star, he's even (and this might be a bit out there this early in the season) making a case for MVP, at least so far. Without Wade, the Heat would be like the 98-99 Lakers, except that Jones and O'Neal are much older now.

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

Speaking of Rip Hamilton, is there a reason he's still using the face shield? Preventative, or is it still a necessity?

He's going to use it to do a diving headbutt off the scorer's table onto Ron Artest. He saw D'Lo's chest protector back in the day and figured "What the hell? It might work."

[Ripper 0]

Who'd ever thought we'd mention Orlando as a good team at this point?

 

And that Orlando benefitted more from gaining Steve Francis than losing T-Mac?

Um... I KNEW!

 

I think people purposely just don't listen to me.

 

The Magic obviously got the better part of the deal. At the end of the day, they just added Yao Ming to the Orlando team that won, what, 19 games last year. They traded so many players that that is what basically happend. Orlando got 2 very good players for on very good player they gave up, plus the first pick in the draft, plus my undying confidence that Grant Hill was coming back, plus signed Hedo Turk....I knew they would be better than Houston. I didn't believe that Houston would make the playoffs and still pretty much don't.

[Precious Roy 0]

Eh, switch conferences and it's a completely different story.....

[Ripper 0]

Eh, switch conferences and it's a completely different story.....

Well, yeah, that supports my statment even more. This isn't just last years Magic + Yao Ming. Its last years Magic IN THE WEST + Yao Ming.

 

Take a team that wins 19 games and add Yao Ming...that doesn't make a playoff contender in my eyes. ESPECIALLY in the west.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Houston is actually 9-7 against Western Conference teams. They're 5-8 versus the East.

[Precious Roy 0]

Last years Magic was T-Mac alone? It was a one man team? I'm not sure what point you're trying to make here. How is it "last year's magic" when they only have one guy from that team, a different coach etc. etc.

 

The actual trade, it was pretty even, edge probably goes to the Magic in the short-term, but Orlando has the additional benefit of Hill, Howard and Turkoglu, which has absolutely nothing to do with the trade.

 

Even so, put this years Rocket team in the East and they're a playoff team. Put this years Magic team in the west and they're probably not. That's my point.

[Ripper 0]

Last years Magic was T-Mac alone? It was a one man team? I'm not sure what point you're trying to make here. How is it "last year's magic" when they only have one guy from that team, a different coach etc. etc.

 

The actual trade, it was pretty even, edge probably goes to the Magic in the short-term, but Orlando has the additional benefit of Hill, Howard and Turkoglu, which has absolutely nothing to do with the trade.

 

Even so, put this years Rocket team in the East and they're a playoff team. Put this years Magic team in the west and they're probably not. That's my point.

They traded T-mac, Juwan howard, Tyrone Lue and Reece Gaines.

 

They basically traded 3 of their starters (and top three scorers) So basically the starting lineup for the Rockets at the start of the season was last years Orlando Magic plus Yao Ming(and jim jackson).

 

 

It wasn't just T-MAC, they traded the top three players and minute getters on a team that won 19 freakin games. Everyone else on the team were nothing more than role players (well...so was Lue, but still 3rd leading scorer on the team) and they are practically interchangeable.

[Precious Roy 0]

Juwan Howard doesn't even get run and they turned around and traded Lue to ATL. Everyone the Magic got was considered an important piece, not so for Houston.

 

Put T-Mac back on the Magic w/ the addition of a healthy Hill, Dwight Howard, Turkoglu and Jameer Nelson (who would get time w/o Francis/Mobley there) and you've got an Eastern conference contender, they wouldn't even need Lue and Juwan.

[Guest Crazy Dan]

Well I am just going to add a little props to my team, the Warriors who have won four in a row, one of them ending a big losing streak in Sacto. I am totally realistic about the Warriors, but I do think this team will get better as the year goes on and I am liking Pietrus more and more. Do any teams want a over picked white boy who was the third best player on a Duke team? But anytime my team goes on a streak, I am happy.

 

Also, I think it is safe to say that the Spurs are the best team in the West right now, as they exposed the Suns main weakness, a lack of a true Center.

 

Still waiting for Football season to end to really pay attention to the NBA.

[Steviekick 0]

At least your team is showing signs. My team, the Jazz, is going to hell in a handbag.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Another terrific effort by the Wolves. Blowing a 15 point lead against the Grizzlies.

[mike546 0]

My god, the Knicks are the mosts inconsistent team ever.

 

I even bet my dad they'd lose tonight, because I knew they'd come out flat.

 

P.S- Houston needs to retire.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

I never could understand why the Knicks gave Houston that huge contract. That made him untradable just because he had a nice jumpshot for a couple of years.

[Steviekick 0]

I never could understand why the Knicks gave Houston that huge contract. That made him untradable just because he had a nice jumpshot for a couple of years.

At the time it made sense. For a guy with a big contract, he never stepped up.

[Precious Roy 0]

Nah, it never really made sense from the NYK standpoint. That summer the Knicks were looking to make moves so they overpaid for both Houston and Chris Childs. Decent signings in principal but they gave them too much money and/or years. Plus they had 3 1st rd picks that year, and they grabbed John Wallace, Walter McCarty, and Dahnte Jones......yea.

[Precious Roy 0]

Nah, it never really made sense from the NYK standpoint. That summer the Knicks were looking to make moves so they overpaid for both Houston and Chris Childs. Decent signings in principal but they gave them too much money and/or years. Plus they had 3 1st rd picks that year, and they grabbed John Wallace, Walter McCarty, and Dahnte Jones......yea.