This week in the NBA

[Guest Vitamin X]

Exactly. Or Ben and Shaq could just improve their fucking free throw shooting. Well, maybe not Shaq because he's cross-eyed, but still.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

Wow, here's a cool story, which unfortunatly is gonna take like 6 years to be finished according to the article:

 

http://news.com.com/NBA+to+create+huge+dig...89364&subj=news

 

 

The only thing I want to see is Wilt Chamberlain's 100 point game and footage of it doesn't exist

[jwpeer 0]

Someone's just gonna have to go for 100 again.

Course they'll prolly be an illegal cyborg 80 years from now with bionic legs, but hey, how do we know Wilt wasn't a cyborg from the future either ;p

[Dangerous A 0]

Exactly. Or Ben and Shaq could just improve their fucking free throw shooting. Well, maybe not Shaq because he's cross-eyed, but still.

 

 

Actually, Shaq's shooting wrist can't bend back that far from when he broke it as a kid. The way it healed left the wrist so he can only cock it back a quarter inch or so and he can't get the full extention on his shot. Kareem Abdul-Jabaar tried to work with him when he first joined the Lakers and this is one of the reasons he is not good with the free throws. Now, Shaq could develop a different and more effective way to shoot freee throws, but just saying that he is limited in this capacity. I just figure it's God's way of evening things out because if Shaq could hit free throws at 80% clip, he'd average at least 40 ppg or more when he was in his prime.

[alfdogg 0]

Couldn't he just learn to shoot them left-handed?

[Dangerous A 0]

Depends. Do you think you could master hitting free throws at a decent percentage with 3-4 months (off season) of practice with your bad hand? Some people are more ambidextrous than others in those regards. I do think Shaq could've learned another technique in his career that was more effective, but I'm just saying it's a little more complicated for him because he doesn't have the same mechanics as the rest of us.

[Rendclaw 0]

Not to mention that Shaq is what, 33 now? Its a bit late for him to start doing something like that. People had been screaming at him to shoot underhanded freethrows a la Bob Cousy for years, but no... personally, I would be doing anything I could to improve my freethrow shooting if it sucked that badly and other teams were exploiting it.

 

Speaking of that, jwpeer, you're right. The problem with Ben Wallace is that he has always been limited offensively, because the two teams he played for (Orlando and Detroit) coveted his defense and rebounding so much that it didn;t matter as much to them. I love the man as a player, but the truth is the truth. That still doesn;t excuse Dunleavy from choosing the quick and easy path to try and win. It may not be illegal, but he still deserves to be criticized for it.

 

I love how people in Detroit are nitpicking the Pistons because they lost last night. That was a team that was cruising along, up by 13, then they just ran out of gas and Utah came back on them. They were tired physically and mentally because both Chauncey and Rip got technicals, and they hardly ever get teed up. I am not making excuses, but people seem to think that the Pistons are screwing up somehow, when that was a night when they got tired near the end of the game and to their credit, Utah kept plugging away and got the win. It happens, with the NBA schedule being as wacky as it is. A west coast roadie, travel pretty much every night, *and* a back to back at the end of it? I would have been more surprised if the Pistons won last night, because it was obvious that they were a tired basketball team that night.

 

But back to the point I was trying to make before I got off on that tangent, they are 15-3. That's an .833 winning percentage, and the season is barely even 1/4 done. I'll take that all day long, and then some. They are not the new incarnation of the 1996 Bulls, and are going to go 73-9. Its just not going to happen. 60-65 wins? Sure, if they keep going the way they are. Relax, Piston fan. Relax.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

^ meh, all good teams lose lose to a crappy team sometime, ie the Hawks beating S.A. the other night. Road back to backs can be tough, tiredness coupled with lots of winning leads to a letdown. SA was on the tail end of a back to back also with the hawks too i think.

 

for the record I do think the Pistons have a few deficiencies that are being overlooked because of their winning, but it was stuff that I thought back when they were winning and not out of nowhere cuz they lost. For instance, they do get outrebounded fairly regularly, which is a bit alarming. the only other thing I see is that the starters need more rest (Ben Wallace especially), which means getting the bench to a better consistency.

[Rendclaw 0]

Agreed, and thats what was all over Detroit sports talk radio this morning, to my consternation. But when its broken down, all of the starters with the exception of Tayshaun are playing less minutes. McDyess is in a slump, Delfino isn't consistent, and Darko has had a setback, because Flip buried him on the bench, and people are sniping because of it. Winning does tend to silence a lot of the critics, but as soon as that one loss comes up, start up the bitch-fest. I will start being concerned by the end of January if at least some of these things aren't addressed, but I m not concerned right now. 15-3 is 15-3.

 

I don't mind that a team gets outrebounded as long as they have more points at the end of the game. Utah is a really good rebounding team, especially on the offensive end, and that was what killed the Pistons aside from their fatigue. It did bother me that Mehmet Okur got as many open looks as he did, because he was notorious for doing that when he was a Piston.

 

And as an aside, Andrei Kirilenko is very underrated. If he ever gets a consistent jumper going, look the hell out.

[Ripper 0]

Suns lost to NO, but I think they are the team that will continue to get these suprising wins out of nowhere against teams they shouldn't beat. They are very athletic and talented so I wasn't shocked.

 

Artest wants to get traded. New York needs a SF. Indiana needs more consistant point guard play.

 

Artest....Marbury. I wouldn't be suprised if it happend. I know everyone says that Marbury isn't a winner or what the fuck ever, but I dare anyone to point to a team that Marbury was on that should have won a playoff series. One team....just one.

[jwpeer 0]

I still don't understand WHY Detroit let Okur go, he didn't get THAT fat of a contract, and they sure could use his offensive rebounding and consistent midrange offense right now.

 

Kirilenko is a beast, and my favorite player just from the way he plays. If it wasn't for his nagging injuries this year Utah could be doing something (Especially with Deron williams showing off what a great pick he was). They need to jettison boozer while he's still worth SOMETHING and continue to build around AK-47, D-Will and Oku

[bobobrazil1984 0]

I still don't understand WHY Detroit let Okur go, he didn't get THAT fat of a contract, and they sure could use his offensive rebounding and consistent midrange offense right now.

 

As I understand, it essentially came down to having to choose between either him or Rasheed Wallace. They were both FAs that summer (the one right after the title). Well they could have had both if Okur had taken *considerably* less than Utah was offering. Also I believe Okur wasn't happy with his minutes under LB as a reserve, 'specially after Rasheed Wallace came to town.

I suppose they could have gone way over the cap to get em both, but there'd still be the minutes issue, and also the larger goal was keeping enough money/cap room handy to sign Tayshaun (done now), and especially Ben Wallace this summer. A lot of $$ moves over the past 2-3 years have been done specifically for "ben wallace money", they've even said so publicly in detroit papers.

Edited December 14, 2005 by metr0man

[mike546 0]

Suns lost to NO, but I think they are the team that will continue to get these suprising wins out of nowhere against teams they shouldn't beat. They are very athletic and talented so I wasn't shocked.

 

Artest wants to get traded. New York needs a SF. Indiana needs more consistant point guard play.

 

Artest....Marbury. I wouldn't be suprised if it happend. I know everyone says that Marbury isn't a winner or what the fuck ever, but I dare anyone to point to a team that Marbury was on that should have won a playoff series. One team....just one.

 

And let Nate Robinson be our starting point guard? No.

[Precious Roy 0]

I feel bad for the Pacers fans, but y'all ain't getting anything close to equal talent back for Artest. I mean, talent-wise he's absolutely one of the top guys in the league, but his baggage is going to make him very unattractive. Not only is he a dangerous headcase, but there's a good chance he alienates his teammates, plus with the public demand/placing him on the inactive list they have no leverage.

 

Someone mentioned Odom, lmao, there is NO way that would happen. No fucking way. Phil Jackson loves Lamar, he hits the board hard on a team that's weak inside, It makes absolutely no sense for the Lakers. Someone mentioned the Grizzlies. Ok, lets say Bird would jump on a straight up deal for Battier (he would), there's absolutely no fucking way that would happen. You might be able to get Mike Miller and a draft pick. Richard Jefferson?!?!?!??!?!?!?!!??!?!?!?!?! You can't be serious....

 

Really, this is going to end up being addition by subtraction. I'm thinking Artest will pull a few role players, a few picks, or a crapshoot on a guy with talent who hasn't put it all together and isn't a good fit on his current team. A trade for Peja IMO is the best you can hope for.

 

Unless of course Isiah Thomas makes one of his brilliant moves and trades Marbury for him, but I really don't see that happening. LB is not confident enough in a Robinson/Crawford duo, two scorers, to run his offense. If they could get Artest for something like Ariza/Q-Rich/draft picks they'd do it.

 

Guys like Jackson, Jones, Granger and Jasikevicius are going to have to step up and replace Artest's production, because nobody who can come close to doing what he does on both ends is coming back. I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, just being realistic, anyone with Odom/Jefferson expectations is going to be really disapointed.

[jwpeer 0]

As I understand, it essentially came down to having to choose between either him or Rasheed Wallace. They were both FAs that summer (the one right after the title). Well they could have had both if Okur had taken *considerably* less than Utah was offering. Also I believe Okur wasn't happy with his minutes under LB as a reserve, 'specially after Rasheed Wallace came to town.

I suppose they could have gone way over the cap to get em both, but there'd still be the minutes issue, and also the larger goal was keeping enough money/cap room handy to sign Tayshaun (done now), and especially Ben Wallace this summer. A lot of $$ moves over the past 2-3 years have been done specifically for "ben wallace money", they've even said so publicly in detroit papers.

 

Well we know they aren't re-signing Darko, so they're gonna have plenty of money for Ben...but is it going to be worth it to give him all of it. Especially when by the middle/tail end of the contract he's gonna want, his performance his gonna be declining. He's a GREAT player, but when he ever loses a step he's gonna be in real trouble.

[Guest]

Someone mentioned the Grizzlies. Ok, lets say Bird would jump on a straight up deal for Battier (he would), there's absolutely no fucking way that would happen. You might be able to get Mike Miller and a draft pick. Richard Jefferson?!?!?!??!?!?!?!!??!?!?!?!?! You can't be serious....

Mike Miller and a pick would probably be ideal for Indiana, and I said that Richard Jefferson could be involved in a 3 way deal, Krstic going to Indiana, Jefferson going to the 3rd team.

[Human Fly 0]

What about Wally Szczerbiak for Artest? Garnett and Artest could be a scary combo.

 

I know Artest said he would like to play for New York but that is not happening unless Larry feels like he owes Isaiah a favor from the '92 Dream Team snub and takes Q or Jamal Crawford for Artest.

 

I could see Cleveland but only if the Cavs give up Larry Hughes.

[Fökai 0]

What about Wally Szczerbiak for Artest? Garnett and Artest could be a scary combo.

 

Indiana would have to trade someone like Anthony Johnson to get the contracts on the same plane.

 

Even Pacer fans who hate Ron Artest wouldn't make that trade.

[Brett Favre 0]

The Knicks will probably give up Q, Lee and Ariza. They can give up Antonio Davis too if they want to get rid of Croshere's contract, and that's pretty much what Walsh is looking for. Future players and financial flexibility. They get that in Lee and Ariza, and with the expiring in Davis. They also get a decent player back in Q.

[Sass 0]

Artest to NY?

 

So much for all that talk about the Pacers going to the NBA Finals...

 

Ron Artest, Eddie Curry, and Jamal Crawford could be the set of triplets Larry Brown could mold and coach to greatness (Lakers vs, Knicks in '08, baybee~!).

[mike546 0]

Jamal Crawford is never going to be molded into a good player. He just doesn't get it.

[Guest tony manero]

The Lakers and Nuggets are the top two teams in the running for Artest.

 

Nuggets are offering Nene and Lenard; Lakers are offering Kwame OR Mihm and Cook/George. The Lakers are also willing to take back a bad contract like Croshere's.

[Guest]

Kwame or Mihm + Cook/George? THAT'S IT? HAHAHAHA.

 

Also, they can send Croshere our way. That makes the Lakers a hell of a lot better.

[Precious Roy 0]

I just went to basketballboards.net and the delusional Pacer fans think they're getting Odom and Bynum

[Guest]

At this point, I don't think the Laker organization would give up Bynum unless they got a superstar in return.

[Adam 0]

Why the hell would we trade for an injured Nene and Voshon Lenard? Are Denver insane? Two second-string guys for a bonafide starter, scorer and defender? Come on. At least throw Tinsley into the mix and get a good guard.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Kwame or Mihm + Cook/George? THAT'S IT? HAHAHAHA.

 

Also, they can send Croshere our way. That makes the Lakers a hell of a lot better.

 

Hell yes! I'd say no trading Brian Cook, PLEASE. Give the Pacers Mihm and George or Kwame. Artest/Odom/Kobe would REALLY start looking a lot like the poor man's version of the 90's Bulls. Obviously you know who the comparisons would be.

[Adam 0]

All you'd need is to trade for Bogut and grab J Will from Miami and you're set.

[Fökai 0]

You know, by the time the Pacers' deadline on trading Artest comes to pass (ten days), every team in the league will be throwing players at Indiana.

[Adam 0]

I'm hoping the Pacers wait a few days just to see what offers come their way. Don't jump into anything, for the love of god.