NBA Offseason Stuff

[Precious Roy 0]

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[Ripper 0]

I COMPLETELY forgot about Dan Dikau, which I should hang my head about. But yea, he is a good point, but not a phil jackson point. He ain't big enough.

[Spicy McHaggis 0]

Yao with conditioning could be a 30+ points per game guy.  He is completely unstoppable when he isn't winded.  Problem is, the guy still has no conditioning.  I still say that if he actually got the summer off for once, he would be a much more dominant force.  He has been playing non stop for like 4 years now.

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I completely agree... but do you think it's just game-playing fatigue or could Yao improve his training regimen?

 

Off they ball the free up their shooters.

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Then why have shooting percentages declined? You've had the luxury of watching the best offensive team in the league play ball. And everybody knows a healthy Joe Johnson would've completely changed the conf. finals. Most of the league sucks at shooting. As far as I'm concerned, we should expect 50% from the field, 45% from 3, and 80% from the line. Most teams aren't close to that.

 

Again, NBA players are better. But I say it's because they're bigger, faster, and more athletic. Not because of basketball skill.

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But you are going off the assumption that the players are open. If you looked at a "wide open" stat, I guarentee the percentages are alot better than those you just mentioned. They DEFEND in the NBA. Wide open shots are few and far between. Like when People look at Horry's shot in the finals, they talk about how he was wide open, when in actuallity, there was someone in his face right at the release. THAT is NBA open. As defenders get better, putting the ball in the basket is going to be harder. and those numbers you just quoted...what team has ever shot 45% from the 3 point line? There are teams dancing with the 50% from the field, but once again, against a good defensive team, they SHOULDN'T be shooting that. In college, with the zone, if you swing the ball enough you get a shot that is TRUELY wide open. And they still don't put up the numbers you just mentioned.

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Okay, I checked the all-time stats... my 3-point expectation is wrong, b/c the 96-97 Hornets shot the high of 42.8%. I'd say my FG & FT expectations are fair... the 84-85 Lakers shot 54.5% from the field and the 89-90 Celtics shot 83.2% from the line. These are stats for the season.

 

Lakers should be shooting for Marko Jaric, Juan Dixon or Steve Blake.  All are quality guards IMO, though Jaric would REALLY fit in with the Lakers.

 

Think about it.  A 6'7 point guard, a 6'7"- 6'8" two guard, a 6'10"-6'11" small forward a 7 foot power forward and a 7 foot center.

 

That would be sick to have to guard.

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And those heights would be perfect for Phil.

[Ripper 0]

I completely agree... but do you think it's just game-playing fatigue or could Yao improve his training regimen?

 

I think he could improve his training, as when you are playing ball ALL the time, you don't get to do the things to improve your endurance. Yao comes from NBA camp, to chinese national team, back to NBA camp for years in a row, his body is just running down honestly. He NEEDS to be able to take alot of days in the weight room and running/excercise biking to build some endurance. And all of that still gives the body rest from the rigors of constant professional basketball.

 

Okay, I checked the all-time stats... my 3-point expectation is wrong, b/c the 96-97 Hornets shot the high of 42.8%. I'd say my FG & FT expectations are fair... the 84-85 Lakers shot 54.5% from the field and the 89-90 Celtics shot 83.2% from the line. These are stats for the season.

 

But you are talking historically incredible teams that between them had roughly 7-9 hall of Famers on them. While I agree that field goal percentages could be better, I say the field goal percentages are pretty much where they should be considering the size and defensive quickness of players today.

[Ripper 0]

and what was everyone smoking in Philly to sign Willie green to that contract. And I mean it was stupid for Green and for the Sixers.

[Rendclaw 0]

Just as Larry Brown is shown the door, Flip Saunders has just been named head coach of the Pistons.... big surprise, right?

 

This could either work out very well, or the Pistons can take a step back... all I know is that LB and his agent have done one hell of a job spinning this situation to make them look like the victims... which of course they are not.

[Guest news_gimmick]

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[bobobrazil1984 0]

Just as Larry Brown is shown the door, Flip Saunders has just been named head coach of the Pistons.... big surprise, right?

 

This could either work out very well, or the Pistons can take a step back... all I know is that LB and his agent have done one hell of a job spinning this situation to make them look like the victims... which of course they are not.

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Frankly it seems to me Larry was stringing this along so as to get a buyout and not have to actually resign and give up the money. If he really wanted to stay that much all he had to do was give a strong committment to coach the entire season, no Gar heard fiascos, especially after a Finals where home court coulda won a championshiop. and lets not even start with all the speculation, which each time, he could have quelled with an early forceful statement. "I am not going to coach the Knicks. I am not going to Cleveland next year, period." That's really what pissed off Bill Davidson.

 

Asked whether Brown's actions angered him, Davidson said: "I think a better word is peeved. You're certainly not happy when something like that happens."

 

Parting ways with Brown "was kind of easy," Davidson said. "There was too much Larry Brown and not enough Pistons. I wasn't happy with that. You've got to understand that whoever coaches the Pistons represents me. And I'm not going to give [the team and their fans] somebody that's not a good person."

 

A bit harsh though, no? man doesn't pull his punches.

 

Anyways, I like his coaching and wish he'd stayed, and i think flip is a step down, but i blame him more than I blame the Pistons. anyways, i hope he rests and doesn't go running to the knicks immediatly. FOr his own reputation he should wait till the following season to take that job anyways.

[alfdogg 0]

Welp whoever said Flip Saunders to the Pistons wins a cookie. I just don't see him fitting in there as coach really, but whatever. Should be interesting if anything.

 

Tom

I for one thought Danny Ainge was a shoo-in. Look at how much success he brought them in 2004.

[alfdogg 0]

Cavs to sign Euroleague star Jasikevicius

 

Link~

[alfdogg 0]

Also, for any Wizards fans who may be lurking, the Pacers have apparently contacted Juan Dixon. Could I get some insight from one of you on this?

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Cavs to sign Euroleague star Jasikevicius

 

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Jasikevicius, Hughes, LBJ, Marshall and Z as a starting line-up sounds damn good to me. They still have Snow, Luke and Gooden coming off the bench. I smell playoffs.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Yeah that almost looks ridiculous if they're not able to get at least a #3 or #4 seed. Anyone remember midseason last year when Cleveland was #2 in the East?

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Yeah that almost looks ridiculous if they're not able to get at least a #3 or #4 seed. Anyone remember midseason last year when Cleveland was #2 in the East?

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Depending on how the Pacers adjust to having everyone back together, its not inconceivable that the Cavs grab the #2 seed this year.

[Precious Roy 0]

I'll chip in to bring Brown to the Knicks. I love Herb Williams and everything, but he's the wrong coach for a Dolan/Thomas run team right now. I know Herb is a humble guy, and it would be amazing if he'd take a backseat and be Brown's head assistant, but he'll be a great head coach someday regardless. I hope if they do get Brown though, that they can keep him on board somehow.

[Fökai 0]

I just don't see Donyell Marshall as the big, brusing defender the Cavaliers needed to provide support to Gooden and Ilgauskas. He brings a good veteran presence to the team, but they could've easily traded Gooden to get that solid defender, whether it was an expiring contract (Knicks and JYD) or a sign-and-trade (Bulls with Chandler, Bucks with Pachulia, Heat with Haslem, Hawks with Harrington, Kings and Skinner or Kenny Thomas, Sonics with Evans), although I don't know if the Cavs had the pieces to make those moves.

 

All of the other moves are great for the team - the Cavaliers should be able to score 100+ points a night standing on their head.

[alfdogg 0]

Looks like the "mortatorium" has been pushed back. Yippee.

 

NEW YORK -- With the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement still not finalized, the league's free agent signing period was delayed indefinitely Wednesday.

 

The league sent a memo to its 30 teams saying they will not be able to sign free agents on Friday, which was the original target date established by the league and the players' union for getting the new six-year labor deal into writing.

 

NBA official Tim Frank said no new target date was set, but a spokesman for the union said he expected the agreement to be finalized and free agents to begin signing by the middle of next week.

 

"We continue to make progress going through the issues. The goal is to have everything agreed to by July 22, then to draft the documents," union spokesman Dan Wasserman said.

 

Teams have been negotiating with free agents for nearly three weeks, and many of the most prominent players have already reached tentative agreements on new contracts. Among them are sharpshooters Ray Allen and Michael Redd agreeing to stay in Seattle and Milwaukee, forward Udonis Haslem staying in Miami and center Zydrunas Ilgauskas remaining in Cleveland.

 

Among players planning to change teams, guard Larry Hughes is moving from Washington to Cleveland, forward Donyell Marshall from the Raptors to the Cavs and center Jerome James from the SuperSonics to the Knicks.

 

Also, former overall No. 1 draft pick Kwame Brown will be dealt from Washington to the Lakers in a sign-and-trade deal for Caron Butler, free agent forward Stromile Swift will move from Memphis to Houston, forward Bobby Simmons will go from the Clippers to the Bucks, and guard Antonio Daniels plans to move from Seattle to Washington.

 

Among the best restricted free agents, whose teams have the right to match any offer, is 76ers center Samuel Dalembert. Philadelphia president Billy King has said the team will match any offer Dalembert receives.

 

Two of the teams with the most available salary cap space, Atlanta and New Orleans, have been unable to lure any prized free agents.

 

There is a chance that two-time All-Star Michael Finley of Dallas will become a free agent before the end of the summer.

 

Under one provision of the new collective bargaining agreement, teams will have a one-time chance ending in October to waive a player under contract and be relieved of any luxury tax liability for that player. Waiving Finley could save the Mavericks at least $51 million in luxury tax payments, and the Mavs would be barred from re-signing him until his contract expires after the 2007-08 season.

 

The Knicks are considering using the so-called "amnesty clause" to rid themselves of injury-plagued guard Allan Houston, who is due to earn about $40 million -- which would be subject to the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax -- over the next two seasons.

 

Among the remaining unrestricted free agents are Minnesota's Latrell Sprewell, Miami's Keyon Dooling, Atlanta's Tyronn Lue, Cleveland's Jeff McInnis, Boston's Gary Payton and Portland's Damon Stoudamire.

 

Also, Shaquille O'Neal is expected to opt out of the remainder of his contract with Miami, forsaking a $30.6 million salary for 2005-06, and sign a new long-term deal with the Heat.

[Rendclaw 0]

For good or for ill, Bill Davidson never holds back when he says what is on his mind.

 

If he does go to the Knicks, understand that Larry Brown is not going to stay long, either because of health reasons or another job comes along that tugs at his fickle-ass heartstrings. He is a great coach yes, but you would think that at the age of 64, he would settle the hell down and coach one team until the end of his career, which is not too far off. I don;t see him staying with the Knicks long enough to make a serious impact. They will get maybe ten more wins through the season.

 

Sure, the Knicks get a dollop of credibility with this hiring, I just can;t see it lasting more than two years before her either retires or wanders off.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

For good or for ill, Bill Davidson never holds back when he says what is on his mind.

 

If he does go to the Knicks, understand that Larry Brown is not going to stay long, either because of health reasons or another job comes along that tugs at his fickle-ass heartstrings. He is a great coach yes, but you would think that at the age of 64, he would settle the hell down and coach one team until the end of his career, which is not too far off. I don;t see him staying with the Knicks long enough to make a serious impact. They will get maybe ten more wins through the season.

 

Sure, the Knicks get a dollop of credibility with this hiring, I just can;t see it lasting more than two years before her either retires or wanders off.

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Not only that but Brown is a terrible coach for a rebuilding team like the Knicks. He abhors playing young guys and has a win now mentality.

[MrRant 0]

FLIP MOTHERFUCKING MURRAY WANTS THE SAME TYPE OF DEAL AS ANTONIO DANIELS?!?!?!?!?

 

Link - http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/soni...046_soni21.html

 

Jesus fucking christ he isn't worth 5/$30 and neither was Daniels.

[Dangerous A 0]

Flip Murray is on rock.

[ant_7000 0]

^Are you talking about the Above the Rim reference? lol Flip is better than Dainels IMO.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

Just some thoughts on the NBA in general...

 

It's very difficult to continue to think of the West as the 'superior conference' anymore. Minnesota and Sacramento have pretty much fallen off the "elite teams" radar. We have no way of knowing if Seattle will be as good with McMillan. San Antonio are the champs and if Phoenix can continue with little dropoff, they are the two top teams in that conference.

In the East, The Pistons are still as good as anyone (assuming the LB to Flip transfer goes smoothly), Miami is also as good, really anything could have happened between SA, Det, and Miami in those last two rounds, all were so close. Indiana having all their guns back were one of the best teams in the leagues. The jury's still out on teams like Cleveland and Chicago, but the "gap" has narrowed considerably. Barring a big breakdown or big surprise ascension, the East is fielding 3 legitimate title contenders (rather than just "Finals contenders")

[bobobrazil1984 0]

double post

[alfdogg 0]

WCC player of the year's pro career in jeopardy

 

Ronny Turiaf, the West Coast Conference player of the year at Gonzaga and a second-round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers, has an enlarged heart and will need open-heart surgery, possibly ending his career before it ever starts in the NBA.

 

Turiaf's agent, Bouna Ndiaye, confirmed to ESPN.com Thursday night that the condition was discovered during extensive medical testing in Los Angeles.

 

Lakers spokesperson John Black said Turiaf would have open-heart surgery in 4-6 weeks. Black said Turiaf would meet with the media at 10 a.m. PT Friday in Los Angeles.

 

The Lakers selected the 6-foot-10 Turiaf, who was originally from France, with the 37th pick overall in the June 28th draft. Los Angeles signed Turiaf to a two-year guaranteed contract on July 14. He played for the Lakers in a Summer Pro League and was averaging 14 points and 4.7 rebounds in 21.9 minutes a game. But Turiaf, 22, was held out of the final four games of the summer league.

 

Ndiaye said Turiaf would remain in Los Angeles to meet with more doctors Friday before determining when and where to have surgery.

 

"His aorta is too large for his heart," Ndiaye said. "This is open-heart surgery. He could come back if everything goes OK and he works hard."

 

Ndiaye said the contract would be voided but Lakers owner Jerry Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak would "take care of the medical costs and told us they would keep his rights."

 

"They are showing us the good human part," Ndiaye said. "Ronny is down. He's a winner and he's determined to get back one day."

 

Black said the contract Turiaf signed was conditional on passing the physical and once he didn't the contract becomes void. But Black said the league lawyers might not agree with that interpretation. Black said the Lakers want to pay the medical costs, but once again this is up to the league's interpretation of his contract.

 

Gonzaga coach Mark Few, who spoke with Turiaf on Thursday night, said Turiaf was in the best condition he had seen him in when he visited Turiaf at the Chicago predraft camp in June.

 

"We're in a state of shock," Few said. "We're going to be by Ronny's side during this entire ordeal. Our staff, our players and the entire community of Spokane are behind him. He's meant so much to all of us. We're going to see him through this and get him back healthy. There will be a lot of thoughts and prayers coming out of Spokane."

 

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.

Damn. Well, here's hoping he's able to recover.

[Guest Vitamin X]

God damn it. Kid has too much heart.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Just some thoughts on the NBA in general...

 

It's very difficult to continue to think of the West as the 'superior conference' anymore. Minnesota and Sacramento have pretty much fallen off the "elite teams" radar. We have no way of knowing if Seattle will be as good with McMillan. San Antonio are the champs and if Phoenix can continue with little dropoff, they are the two top teams in that conference.

In the East, The Pistons are still as good as anyone (assuming the LB to Flip transfer goes smoothly), Miami is also as good, really anything could have happened between SA, Det, and Miami in those last two rounds, all were so close. Indiana having all their guns back were one of the best teams in the leagues. The jury's still out on teams like Cleveland and Chicago, but the "gap" has narrowed considerably. Barring a big breakdown or big surprise ascension, the East is fielding 3 legitimate title contenders (rather than just "Finals contenders")

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I would at least toss New Jersey into that title contenders mix as well.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

^ as serious title contenders? I wouldn't, not until really getting a chance to see what they can do. Has their team changed significantly since last year (i havent been keeping track of them), they couldn't even take one game against Miami.

I think they need a good low-post presence before they can be taken seriously with detroit, miami, and indy.

 

edit: oh wait, they added abdur-rahim didnt they? well, we'll see how they gel.

[Dangerous A 0]

God damn it. Kid has too much heart.

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Even though this is pretty serious, that was funny.

[alfdogg 0]

Nikoloz Tskitishvili to Minnesota

 

Link~