NBA Week 1

[Fökai]

Gee, the Heat really coulda used a 3 point specialist in that final minute. Like, I don't know, one of the good triple shooters who were traded/left because of the Heat roster explosion.

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If they have the means, they would use a combination of Shaq, Simien and Haslem to free up Antoine on the wing. Shaq being injured hurts any possibility of it being successful, though.

[Guest Vitamin X]

He's still a rapist!

 

And never mind that he turned down the Clippers deal.

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Ah. You should probably be happy he did, it worked out better for both L.A. teams. Kobe wouldn't have been a good fit with the Clippers. Also, not many people in their right minds would take a deal from the Clippers over the Lakers. No offense.

 

In others news, I <3 Smush Parker.

[Guest Leelee]

Why not? They play in the same arena! Kobe could take 100 shots a game, and nobody would give a damn!

[Guest Vitamin X]

What are you talking about? He already does, and noone still cares.

 

And the Clips really shouldn't play in Staples, let alone in L.A. at all. Buffalo and San Diego were better options, at least they'd be more welcome there than in Lakertown.

[alfdogg]

Shaq just rolled his ankle tonight...I doubt it's something that will make him miss time, though you never know with him.

 

However, *I* can keep playing after rolling my ankle, so it would look really bad if he does miss time.

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Yeah, but you probably don't weigh 400 pounds, like Shaq does...

[alfdogg]

If you believe NBA.com, Shaq weighs 325 (and yes, I know 400 was sarcasm), which is only about 40 pounds on me. And despite what's said about him, he's still in considerably better shape than I am.

[Guest Leelee]

Justin, I pictured you being a 6'10 buff young chap in perfect condition. I'm surprised.

 

And there's no way Buffalo could properly support an NBA team now.

[Precious Roy]

Smush is great and all, lot's of talent, but if he doesn't learn how to play *real* defense he's gonna be coming off the bench soon. Nash had like 16 assists or something, and almost half of them were a direct result of Smush being out of position or misplaying a switch

[The Czech Republic]

I love how everyone and their mother are picking the Spurs to run away with the title though, though a few came around and picked the Pistons after they destroyed the Sixers.

I love how people are picking the champion like four days into the season. Who picked the Pistons this early in 2003?

[The Electrifyer]

Smush is great and all, lot's of talent, but if he doesn't learn how to play *real* defense he's gonna be coming off the bench soon.  Nash had like 16 assists or something, and almost half of them were a direct result of Smush being out of position or misplaying a switch

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No kidding, when playing against the Nuggets, he guarded Andre Miller from like 2 feet away, allowing him to lob the ball to anyone near the rim who could jump.

[Ripper]

Yes, nevermind the fact he was acquitted.

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no he wasn't.

[Cartman]

Ripper: Bringing the FACT since 2/12/02

[bobobrazil1984]

Bill Simmons' nba preview articles on espn are pretty funny. There's a nice little Kamen-HulkHogan riff on part 2, and a few other tiny wrestling references.

 

1 - http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...=simmons/051102

2 - http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...=simmons/051103

[bobobrazil1984]

Also, SHaq is out for 2 to 4 weeks. That's gotta hurt them in the home-court race against Indy and Detroit.

Personally I'm still, and have been, of the belief that this new mishmash miami team isnt as good as Indy/Detroit, so this cant help that much.

[Guest Leelee]

I love how people are picking the champion like four days into the season. Who picked the Pistons this early in 2003?

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Clippers undefeated!

 

CHAMPIONS!!!

 

They're just like the White Sox!!

[Dangerous A]

I think tonight will be a test for the new look Cavaliers facing an elite defensive team like the Spurs. With Shaq out for a month or so, the Cavs probrably see this as an oppurtunity to put some distance between themselves and another Eastern conference rival.

[Adam]

We only get two games a week here, I'm pumped that we get Cavs-Spurs. I've been a big fan of the Cavs off-season moves, and I think this could be a clear indication of where they are at, or at least where they have to go in the next few months.

[Precious Roy]

I don't think the Cavs as a team are ready to beat the Spurs yet, it looks like Hughes will need a couple weeks to find a comfortable role, but LeBron can always have an MJ night and drop 55 on em.

 

Bowen/Finley on LeBron should be real good, and the Big Z/Duncan matchup

[The Czech Republic]

I love how people are picking the champion like four days into the season. Who picked the Pistons this early in 2003?

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Clippers undefeated!

 

CHAMPIONS!!!

 

They're just like the White Sox!!

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"A Clippers fan was arrested last night for slapping Kobe Bryant's wife, and another for attacking the assistant coach of the Lakers"

[Damaramu]

Could today's Spurs beat Jordan's Bulls?

[mike546]

Knicks lose agan after another pitiful defensive performance.

[Precious Roy]

I popped a little wood on that Rip Hamilton curl-->pop

[Precious Roy]

Could today's Spurs beat Jordan's Bulls?

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In a series....no way

[bobobrazil1984]

I popped a little wood on that Rip Hamilton curl-->pop

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THat was awesome, 0.8 secs, but I coudln't believe boston didn't defend better on that though because the Rip's curl-off-screen-pop is literally his bread and butter, he does that like 10 times a game.

[Fökai]

Could today's Spurs beat Jordan's Bulls?

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After Bowen attempts to slide under Jordan or Pippen in order to injure them, then get stabbed in retaliation by Rodman?

 

Ginobili might be the only one able to stop Jordan, but he'd get flustered after missing shot after shot early in the game or series - if Manu loses his intensity, the Spurs are swept convincingly.

[alfdogg]

I think the Spurs are deeper, and while they not have anyone who can stop Jordan or even Pippen, who stops Duncan? Rodman isn't big enough, and Duncan would eat any of their centers alive.

 

I still think the Bulls would win in a series, but it's a lot closer than most people probably think.

[Precious Roy]

Bulls in 6, Bulls in 7...it doesn't matter...Duncan isn't Jordan enough to carry them to win that....and depending on which Bulls team we're talking about they had various capable big bodies (BISON DELE~!) to throw at him. Plus, I think Rodman would frustrate the hell out of TD

 

To be fair, Spurs could probably beat one of the early Bulls teams, 91 or 92. 2nd 3peat? No way, Jordan-Pippen-Kukoc would eat them alive

[Precious Roy]

While the Knicks obviously suck at the moment (which is to be expected with a new coach, 3/5ths fresh starting 5 and 3 rookies), the important news is that CHANNING FRYE PLAYED! HALLELUJAH!!! LARRY "GENIUS" BROWN SAVED HIM FOR MSG!!!!!!!!!!! HOW AMAZINGLY AWESOME!!!!!

 

Brown has already expressed frustration with Curry's basketball acumen, saying last week, "I have been surprised by the fact that there are a lot of things that we've been talking about that I think he hadn't heard before."

 

Skiles, who guided the Bulls into the playoffs despite a 0-9 start last season, took Brown's assessment as an insult to Chicago's coaching staff.

 

"I'm pretty sure Larry invented the game," Skiles said sarcastically. "I'm pretty sure about that."

 

:D

 

I didn't see the game because I'm too poor to pay for the MSG network (and I was too lazy to hook up the tinfoil bodysuit to pull in WFAN), but Frye had 9 boards (4 on offense) in 18 minutes. I like the sound of that. Antonio Davis had FOURTEEN boards, and was 1-9 from the floor. I'm still trying to figure out why in the hell Matt Barnes is starting. Can someone who watched the game tell me which unit looked the best?

[Precious Roy]

Holy shit, Shane Battier ROCKED the Muta scale!