This week in the NBA

[jwpeer 0]

...But part of the GM's job description IS the financial management of the team. That's a huge reason why he sucks at his job.

 

Will you be calling him a good GM when the Bulls are sitting with a chance to get the first overall pick that NYK would have gotten this year?

 

And is Robinson/Frye/Lee/Curry/Crawford/Ariza/Marbury really something to look forward to? Why didn't you bring up all the mistakes he's made:

 

Jerome James?!?!?!

 

Antonio Daniels?!?!

 

how's Quentin Richardson working out. (Which you owe a 1st round pick for also at some point)

 

Malik Rose for Nazr Mohammed?!?! (Really got back the better player here)

 

Penny Hardaway?!?

 

 

Not to mention Marbury and Crawford are HORRIBLY inconsistent, Curry could die on the court any day (Not to mention they have two uninsurable contracts which means they pay up even if the players go down)

 

That leaves Robinson/Frye/Lee/Ariza as your 'solid consistent core'

 

Except they're all rookies and second-year players that aren't that consistent (Robinson is an undersized 2-guard or a bad 1-guard, Frye's slumped off of late but he does have good potential, Lee/Ariza aren't really going to ever be more than role players...)

 

 

You're WAY too positive about your team.

Isaiah is decent at draft talent evaluation, but NONE of the other things he does really show any kind of a cohesive plan as to how he wants to develop the team. He changes his goalsd every 3 months, and it makes him look like a fool.

[Failed Bridge 0]

Hur-fucking-ray

 

Link

 

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- According to two league sources, a deal that would send Mark Blount to Minnesota or Memphis could be completed soon. One source described a deal as ''imminent

[bobobrazil1984 0]

Great win for the Lakers tonight. Also nice to see Shaq and Kobe being amiable tonight and ending whatever retarded feud they had going on.

 

ESPN is too busy fellating the Pistons, anyways.

 

This is a hilarious statement in many ways.... the first of which it almost seems like you're suggesting that the Kobe/Shaq pointless drama should be getting more coverage from ESPN while the Pistons should be getting less...

 

ooh let us count the times they ignored each other! the times they hugged! the times they gave a half hearted bump! and from different angles! picture in picture!

[Brett Favre 0]

...But part of the GM's job description IS the financial management of the team. That's a huge reason why he sucks at his job.

 

Will you be calling him a good GM when the Bulls are sitting with a chance to get the first overall pick that NYK would have gotten this year?

 

And is Robinson/Frye/Lee/Curry/Crawford/Ariza/Marbury really something to look forward to? Why didn't you bring up all the mistakes he's made:

 

Jerome James?!?!?!

 

Antonio Daniels?!?!

 

how's Quentin Richardson working out. (Which you owe a 1st round pick for also at some point)

 

Malik Rose for Nazr Mohammed?!?! (Really got back the better player here)

 

Penny Hardaway?!?

 

 

Not to mention Marbury and Crawford are HORRIBLY inconsistent, Curry could die on the court any day (Not to mention they have two uninsurable contracts which means they pay up even if the players go down)

 

That leaves Robinson/Frye/Lee/Ariza as your 'solid consistent core'

 

Except they're all rookies and second-year players that aren't that consistent (Robinson is an undersized 2-guard or a bad 1-guard, Frye's slumped off of late but he does have good potential, Lee/Ariza aren't really going to ever be more than role players...)

 

 

You're WAY too positive about your team.

Isaiah is decent at draft talent evaluation, but NONE of the other things he does really show any kind of a cohesive plan as to how he wants to develop the team. He changes his goalsd every 3 months, and it makes him look like a fool.

 

You've been listening to the media WAY too much.

 

I watch every single game, and if you did, you'd know Marbury is one of the more consistent players in the NBA. Jamal Crawford is the top candidate for sixth man of the year, having like 10 20 point games off the bench, and Eddy Curry has shown no signs of heart problems on the court (and is contract is insured. If something happens to him, heart related, we don't pay the rest of his contract. Get your facts straight please). Nate Robinson was drafted at number 21, and David Lee at number 30. There's no way in hell they go that low after watching them play this season.

 

I don't know where you got Antonio Daniels, but Antonio Davis, sure, he's an expiring contract, so it doesn't matter. He's also helping out the team with his leadership, so I really don't mind swapping him for Tim Thomas at all. Penny Hardaway, another expiring contract. We don't owe shit for Q-Rich, who we got with Nate. And we basically traded Nazr Mohammed for David Lee and whoever we draft this year, and i'd do that 100 times over, even if it means taking Malik Rose. I agree with Jerome James, it was a horrible signing, but at the time we needed size badly.

 

And also, Eddy Curry will be better than anyone that comes out of the draft this year, so I could really care less. I also don't think Chicago will get the first pick with ours, so if they pick someone like Josh Boone or Taj Gray with our pick, I won't lose any sleep over it.

 

Isiah had to keep the team somewhat watchable while rebuilding, so he had to take back some bad contracts. Ironically, the only contracts he took that are longer than Allan Houston's, that we really don't want, are Malik Rose's and Q's (who we got David Lee, and Nate out of, as well as this upcoming years late first rounder). Basically, it really wouldn't have mattered what he did with the cap with Houston on the payroll.

 

Now you're telling me that a core of a 23 year old center, a 22 year old power forward, a 22 year old pg/sg, a 25 year old sg, a 22 year old sf/pf, and a 21 year old sf isn't any good? What the fuck kind of core has no question marks? It's part of rebuilding, you see what you have. I like its potential however, and if you watched games, and actually looked at their numbers instead of saying what some jackass like Ric Bucher said, you'd realize it as well.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Great win for the Lakers tonight. Also nice to see Shaq and Kobe being amiable tonight and ending whatever retarded feud they had going on.

 

ESPN is too busy fellating the Pistons, anyways.

 

This is a hilarious statement in many ways.... the first of which it almost seems like you're suggesting that the Kobe/Shaq pointless drama should be getting more coverage from ESPN while the Pistons should be getting less...

 

ooh let us count the times they ignored each other! the times they hugged! the times they gave a half hearted bump! and from different angles! picture in picture!

 

Not at all. I should have been more clear with my ESPN statement, that it was in response to the posts above it talking about "Well what will ESPN have to blab about now?" to which I responded, "The Pistons."

 

The Kobe/Shaq feud was almost entirely a result of media provocation, anyways. Without all the focus on that, maybe there wouldn't have been as much of a problem, or at least a perception of one.

[jwpeer 0]

You've been listening to the media WAY too much.

 

I watch every single game, and if you did, you'd know Marbury is one of the more consistent players in the NBA. Jamal Crawford is the top candidate for sixth man of the year, having like 10 20 point games off the bench, and Eddy Curry has shown no signs of heart problems on the court (and is contract is insured. If something happens to him, heart related, we don't pay the rest of his contract. Get your facts straight please). Nate Robinson was drafted at number 21, and David Lee at number 30. There's no way in hell they go that low after watching them play this season.

 

I don't know where you got Antonio Daniels, but Antonio Davis, sure, he's an expiring contract, so it doesn't matter. He's also helping out the team with his leadership, so I really don't mind swapping him for Tim Thomas at all. Penny Hardaway, another expiring contract. We don't owe shit for Q-Rich, who we got with Nate. And we basically traded Nazr Mohammed for David Lee and whoever we draft this year, and i'd do that 100 times over, even if it means taking Malik Rose. I agree with Jerome James, it was a horrible signing, but at the time we needed size badly.

 

And also, Eddy Curry will be better than anyone that comes out of the draft this year, so I could really care less. I also don't think Chicago will get the first pick with ours, so if they pick someone like Josh Boone or Taj Gray with our pick, I won't lose any sleep over it.

 

Isiah had to keep the team somewhat watchable while rebuilding, so he had to take back some bad contracts. Ironically, the only contracts he took that are longer than Allan Houston's, that we really don't want, are Malik Rose's and Q's (who we got David Lee, and Nate out of, as well as this upcoming years late first rounder). Basically, it really wouldn't have mattered what he did with the cap with Houston on the payroll.

 

Now you're telling me that a core of a 23 year old center, a 22 year old power forward, a 22 year old pg/sg, a 25 year old sg, a 22 year old sf/pf, and a 21 year old sf isn't any good? What the fuck kind of core has no question marks? It's part of rebuilding, you see what you have. I like its potential however, and if you watched games, and actually looked at their numbers instead of saying what some jackass like Ric Bucher said, you'd realize it as well.

 

You're way too much of a homer to ever look at this from an objective and/or even negative standpoint. You're just like all the homerStillers fans that permeate this city that can never see any wrong with their home team. You've not acknowledged a SINGLE mistake of his, a single negative to this team, everything you said was positive...you have an 'answer' to every issue...and you know if you looked at it from the outside you'd realize that team is a mess.

 

Do you -honestly- feel the Knicks will contend for the championship within the next 5 years?

[mike546 0]

I might have read your post wrong, but I'd say that Knick fans are the most realistic and smart fans when it comes to being a sports fan in NYC. To me, the Knicks could go either way. If Curry and Frye mature, then this team could get really really good. People can say this team can't win with Marbury, but it's not true. Give Marbury an actual "team" around him, and he'll make it work. Lee and Robinson aren't going to be superstars, but their going to be good role players. If Brown can get Crawford to play a complete game, which hes done somewhat, and all those other things happen, this will be a good team. If Frye and Curry stay average, this team is fucked beyond words with a payroll above the cap until forever, and with no chance at a lottery pick for the next two years. for now, I'll continue to not really care about winning, and just enjoy watching the rookies bring a shitload of energy, and a shitload of hope for the future.

[alfdogg 0]

The game was almost all Nets until the end of the fourth quarter.

If the Nets are as good as I assume you think they are, there's no reason they shouldn't have totally stomped the team the Pacers put on the floor yesterday. Missing three starters, and a fourth who shot 5-16 from the field.

 

And of those three losses, all were on the road, without Jefferson, and the Spurs game was close.

I'll have to concede this one, as I didn't know Jefferson was hurt when I posted this. Although, in my personal opinion, all three of those teams are better than Jersey and I don't think it would have mattered too much.

 

And on that winning streak, they beat such jobbers as Miami, Cleveland, Clippers and Denver.

 

Yea, the NBA really gave them 10 gimmees right there.

Since you brought up the injury excuse, the Clippers are without Maggette and were in the middle of a huge slump themselves. Denver's out of the playoffs right now (albeit barely), and are missing Marcus Camby who is having an all-star season. OK, they beat the Heat and Cavs. So I was wrong, it was only 8 gimmees. Sue me.

[jwpeer 0]

I might have read your post wrong, but I'd say that Knick fans are the most realistic and smart fans when it comes to being a sports fan in NYC. To me, the Knicks could go either way. If Curry and Frye mature, then this team could get really really good. People can say this team can't win with Marbury, but it's not true. Give Marbury an actual "team" around him, and he'll make it work. Lee and Robinson aren't going to be superstars, but their going to be good role players. If Brown can get Crawford to play a complete game, which hes done somewhat, and all those other things happen, this will be a good team. If Frye and Curry stay average, this team is fucked beyond words with a payroll above the cap until forever, and with no chance at a lottery pick for the next two years. for now, I'll continue to not really care about winning, and just enjoy watching the rookies bring a shitload of energy, and a shitload of hope for the future.

 

 

See that's realistic. I was only referring to CW specifically, because he didn't seem to admit any fault/problems with the team. You actually admit there are potential pitfalls while still maintaining hope that it could all end up good.

[bob_barron 0]

If the Nets are as good as I assume you think they are, there's no reason they shouldn't have totally stomped the team the Pacers put on the floor yesterday. Missing three starters, and a fourth who shot 5-16 from the field.

 

It seems like they did kick their ass until they let up in the fourth quarter and let them make it interesting.

 

 

I'll have to concede this one, as I didn't know Jefferson was hurt when I posted this. Although, in my personal opinion, all three of those teams are better than Jersey and I don't think it would have mattered too much.

 

Agreed, although I don't think those losses would've been embarassing if R-Jeff was there. And the Spurs game was 96-91.

 

Since you brought up the injury excuse, the Clippers are without Maggette and were in the middle of a huge slump themselves. Denver's out of the playoffs right now (albeit barely), and are missing Marcus Camby who is having an all-star season. OK, they beat the Heat and Cavs. So I was wrong, it was only 8 gimmees. Sue me.

 

I still don't think any games are "gimmees", especially the way the Nets played pre-streak, where they had that home loss to Charlotte.

 

Denver still fielded a good team that night, as did the Clippers. They beat Golden St. pretty badly as well.

 

I'm not saying this streak makes them world beaters, but brushing it off just because they didn't play a good-great team every night is stupid.

[Precious Roy 0]

The Knicks, realistically, will never be under the cap, so talking about Isiah's financial "mistakes" is irrelevant. Given the mess he inherited from Layden he's done an admirable job. Jerome James is the biggest mistake he's made. Before that it was Tim Thomas, which he flipped into Curry. Overall, the talent and future outlook has improved. I'm not an Isiah guy by any stretch, I've never really liked the guy, but I'm more or less happy with what he's done.

 

The roster as is might be a legit contender if Curry can reach his full potential. I don't think he'll ever be that good, but we're still only a player away. Get a legit dynamic small forward (Artest?) in there and we're golden.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

The Nets are a pretty good team but they're not making it out of the semi-finals until they get a better low-post presence. and by better I mean better than Nenad Kristic or whatever his name is. I would try to deal either RJ or VC for someone. Of course, I dont know if any really good PF/Cs are even available in any sense of the word. If KG ever demands to be traded, the Nets should be all up in that shit.

[Precious Roy 0]

The Nets are a pretty good team but they're not making it out of the semi-finals until they get a better low-post presence. and by better I mean better than Nenad Kristic or whatever his name is. I would try to deal either RJ or VC for someone. Of course, I dont know if any really good PF/Cs are even available in any sense of the word. If KG ever demands to be traded, the Nets should be all up in that shit.

 

Jerome James is available....

[alfdogg 0]

I stand corrected again, Denver *is* in the playoffs right now, they're tied for the 8th seed with Utah.

[alfdogg 0]

Some more on Marc Blount

 

According to ESPN, the most likely deal is Blount to Minnesota for Olowokandi straight up.

 

Another trade rumored is Blount and Marcus Banks to Cleveland for Drew Gooden and Damon Jones (which would be a pretty awful trade for the Cavs, IMO).

 

The original trade for Memphis was for Lorenzen Wright, but the Grizzlies wanted to do a larger deal and acquire a PG, and I guess that was a deal-breaker.

[Guest]

I think that trade with the Cavs would allow Cleveland to be able to have the cap room to try to get another player. I think they are resigned to the fact that they won't be keeping Drew Gooden.

[mike546 0]

Ben Gordon beats the Knicks for the 3rd time in less than two years. Dammnit.

[The Electrifyer 0]

Eh... you guys got a comeback win at MSG, this was payback.

[mike546 0]

Oh, and if Antonio Davis gets beaten by the media for what he did, it's bullshit. He didn't touch anyone, and was trying to protect his family.

[Guest]

He's probably going to get suspended for a few games, but he had to do what he did.

[alfdogg 0]

LeBron clanks a free throw with six-tenths of a second, Cavs lose by one in Denver. Pacers move into second in the Central as a result.

[alfdogg 0]

And I don't understand why Antonio Davis becomes so hated after he leaves a team. This wouldn't have happened in Indiana.

[Guest]

LeBron is a few steps away from being an "elite" guy. He has a really hard time shooting free throws in the clutch.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

that last 40 seconds or whatever wasw a complete and total trainwreck for the Cavs.

[Precious Roy 0]

I haven't seen any clips or got a good description, what exactly happened with AD's wife where he felt compelled to bust into the stands? All I got was Larry Brown saying that she "fell back" or something like that....were the Chicago fans fucking with her?

[bobobrazil1984 0]

I heard something about how maybe it looked like somebody was takin a swing at her or something, hence her "falling back", though the scene when he got there didn't seem like a punch had been thrown.

 

i'll give him some credit for not charging in there like a madman throwing people out of the way, he did so in a pretty calm way and no fans got rattled or anything by it.

[Kismet 0]

An eye-witness(sideline reporter? I didn't catch her name) on Cold Pizza this morning said that she saw the thing develop. Seems that the fan was complaining that the player's wife kept standing up in front of him and he was complaining. A second fan said something apparently, and she was the aggressor of the argument(got in his face). The first fan had already called security to complain, so they were already there. Seems the wife was most of the problem.

That said, even if a woman starts it, a man's place is to defend her, so I hope he gets little to no punishment. He was reasonably calm and cool about it, and did what had to be done without going overboard. Oh and as stated by Czech I think, I've already heard and seen about 5 references to "Malice at the Palace" already.

*Edit, second witness(though some random fan from the crowd on the phone, so take it with a grain of salt)said it was a little more of a mutual arguement and by his word security wasn't there as quick as the other person said. Still alot of hand-wringing for nothing by ESPN, but that's what I get for watching them.

[Precious Roy 0]

well, Davis is definitely looking at a suspension...

[Damaramu 0]

Man I can't believe the home court advantage that OKC gives the Hornets.

They still aren't a good team(they're only at .500) but they've already matched last seasons win total.

And apparently a sports writer at the game was telling a buddy of mine that was covering the game that opposing teams are shocked when they come to OKC and see the home court advantage. He said that most teams are expecting a quiet, small crowd that doesn't care.

I wish they could stay. We're so much better for them than New Orleans.

[Guest]

Don't you think that Chris Paul and Desmond Mason have something to do with them winning these games? Their play sure as hell can't be attributed to the crowd, they are just a hell of a lot better than they were last year. It's not like college basketball where it's a bunch of kids, these guys are grown men and they've seen it all. A crowd in the NBA can't win you a game singlehandedly.