NBA Lockout

Off Topic
241

Character. It’s one of the reasons some people don’t like the NBA, often times adding “anymore.”

Players have always played for the most money they could get. The only difference between now and ‘then,’ when some think professional sports was more pure (it wasn’t) is that the internet and the 24/7 media cycle (sports media, blogs, gossip, etc) has made it all more transparent to the public. 10 to 15 years ago we would have been even more confused about what the fuck was going on during the lockout. The fans had to tune into ESPN or read the sports section of the paper if they wanted to know the latest moves in free agency. Nowadays you can get up to the minute updates by the click of a mouse and a Twitter update.

I can’t blame or immediately build a bad perception of Tyson Chandler but I can admire players like Dirk that much more.

242

Vince Carter is joining the Mavs.

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[quote]Gettnitdone wrote:
Character. It’s one of the reasons some people don’t like the NBA, often times adding “anymore.”

Players have always played for the most money they could get. The only difference between now and ‘then,’ when some think professional sports was more pure (it wasn’t) is that the internet and the 24/7 media cycle (sports media, blogs, gossip, etc) has made it all more transparent to the public. 10 to 15 years ago we would have been even more confused about what the fuck was going on during the lockout. The fans had to tune into ESPN or read the sports section of the paper if they wanted to know the latest moves in free agency. Nowadays you can get up to the minute updates by the click of a mouse and a Twitter update.

I can’t blame or immediately build a bad perception of Tyson Chandler but I can admire players like Dirk that much more.[/quote]

Just to clarify: I PERSONALLY have no problem with free agents taking the highest dollar. If four companies gave me offers for the same job, I’d do the same.

I’m just saying from Dirk’s standpoint, wonder if it irks him to sacrifice but not have others do the same. Of course he’ll still be awesome regardless.

244

[quote]therajraj wrote:
Also Magic just traded Brandon Bass for Big Baby.[/quote]

Also hearing the Celts are closing in on a sign-and-trade for David West.

245

[quote]scj119 wrote:

[quote]therajraj wrote:
Also Magic just traded Brandon Bass for Big Baby.[/quote]

Also hearing the Celts are closing in on a sign-and-trade for David West.[/quote]

Those are two really solid moves, though I’m trying to figure where West fits in. He’s in no way a center, but I don’t see him being cool with coming off the bench behind Garnett. That’s why they got Bass. And, Garnett can’t play the 5 for extended stretches as he gives up too much down low. I’m assuming they’ve got it figured out or are on the verge of making other moves.

246

[quote]overstand wrote:

[quote]TheBodyGuard wrote:

[quote]Gettnitdone wrote:

[quote]yvanehtnioj wrote:
What does everyone think about Battier to the Heat? I think it’s a solid move[/quote]

The Heat are just getting better and better. They have the best team on paper bar-none. [/quote]

LOL they were the “best team on paper” last year too. Too bad there isn’t a “Best Team On Paper” Trophy. Maybe they’ll make one in their honor this year. [/quote]

They still made it to the Finals their first year as a team. Took Jordan’s Bulls 3 seasons, same with Shaq/Kobe Lakers.

Battier just made the best/one of the best defensive teams significantly better on defense. They need a serviceable big man though, Dampier and Joel Anthony aren’t going to cut it.

Also just read an article about D. Howard. Apparently he met with the Nets russian owner and the President, and now Orlando is thinking about filing tampering charges (which would block the trade, and probably cost them draft picks).[/quote]

Did you really just compare Jordan’s bulls teams to LeBron, Wade and ET? LOL c’mon seriously? And before you tell me about Pippen, Jordan made him the best second fiddle in the game. LeBron, Wade and ET are/were all first fiddle players.

Anyway, no trophy for 2nd place. No trophy for getting to finals first year.

Other teams are making moves too. And you still have to play the game, share the ball, be cohesive and deal with match up problems. It’s not an All Star game.

247

[quote]BPCorso wrote:

[quote]therajraj wrote:
Do you guys see someone picking up Gilbert Arenas since the Magic waived him?

Also Magic just traded Brandon Bass for Big Baby.[/quote]

Gilbert blows and I wouldn’t even pay him a 1 year minimum contract if I were a GM. He is a headcase and not worth having on a roster. Maybe a strong veteran team who needs a 4th or 5th guard. I wouldn’t want that cancer around any young or developing players. The guy is delusional and his fall from grace has really fucked with his mental health.[/quote]

I agree that he’s a shell of his former self, but unless he’s such an ass that people can’t stand to be around him SOMEONE will pick him up. Pro sports are riddled with headcases, but as long as you can produce you’ll have work, for the most part.

248

If CP lands in LA with the proposed pieces moving, what exactly is left to get Dwight Howard?

Bynum, World Peace (why would anyone want him at this point), picks?

I don’t think LAL has really anything to offer.

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[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:

[quote]BPCorso wrote:

[quote]therajraj wrote:
Do you guys see someone picking up Gilbert Arenas since the Magic waived him?

Also Magic just traded Brandon Bass for Big Baby.[/quote]

Gilbert blows and I wouldn’t even pay him a 1 year minimum contract if I were a GM. He is a headcase and not worth having on a roster. Maybe a strong veteran team who needs a 4th or 5th guard. I wouldn’t want that cancer around any young or developing players. The guy is delusional and his fall from grace has really fucked with his mental health.[/quote]

I agree that he’s a shell of his former self, but unless he’s such an ass that people can’t stand to be around him SOMEONE will pick him up. Pro sports are riddled with headcases, but as long as you can produce you’ll have work, for the most part.[/quote]

You’re right, he probably does get work, but as a 4th or 5th guard on a short-term and small contract. I DO think he’s an ass at this point and his ability to produce is in question (just look at how his PER has changed through the years). He excelled as a high usage player, and he is not that anymore. I should admit that I am a Wizards fan and that alters my opinion of him.

250

[quote]therajraj wrote:
On the topic of Tyson Chandler:

It seems like the Mavericks FINALLY found a big man to fit their system and they don’t resign him. I don’t get it.

With all these super teams being built, the only likable contender is turning out to be the Mavericks & Thunder.[/quote]

Cuban is thinking long-term. They should have space for a max contract next year if they amnesty Haywood. He wants to preserve cap space and make a run for Deron Williams or other big time free agent next year. If Howard doesn’t go to the Nets due to tampering charges, Mavs could make a run at him as well.

251

[quote]TheBodyGuard wrote:

[quote]overstand wrote:

[quote]TheBodyGuard wrote:

[quote]Gettnitdone wrote:

[quote]yvanehtnioj wrote:
What does everyone think about Battier to the Heat? I think it’s a solid move[/quote]

The Heat are just getting better and better. They have the best team on paper bar-none. [/quote]

LOL they were the “best team on paper” last year too. Too bad there isn’t a “Best Team On Paper” Trophy. Maybe they’ll make one in their honor this year. [/quote]

They still made it to the Finals their first year as a team. Took Jordan’s Bulls 3 seasons, same with Shaq/Kobe Lakers.

Battier just made the best/one of the best defensive teams significantly better on defense. They need a serviceable big man though, Dampier and Joel Anthony aren’t going to cut it.

Also just read an article about D. Howard. Apparently he met with the Nets russian owner and the President, and now Orlando is thinking about filing tampering charges (which would block the trade, and probably cost them draft picks).[/quote]

Did you really just compare Jordan’s bulls teams to LeBron, Wade and ET? LOL c’mon seriously? And before you tell me about Pippen, Jordan made him the best second fiddle in the game. LeBron, Wade and ET are/were all first fiddle players.

Anyway, no trophy for 2nd place. No trophy for getting to finals first year.

Other teams are making moves too. And you still have to play the game, share the ball, be cohesive and deal with match up problems. It’s not an All Star game.
[/quote]

My point was even the greatest teams in NBA history needed some time to gel. I don’t fault them for losing in the Finals their first season as a team, I think it’s scary how quickly they were able to get their stuff together despite having 3 first option guys. With a Finals run under their belt and a few new pieces, Heat are looking filthy good and are setting a better pace than Jordan’s Bulls or the Kobe/Shaq Lakers.

252

[quote]BPCorso wrote:

[quote]therajraj wrote:
On the topic of Tyson Chandler:

It seems like the Mavericks FINALLY found a big man to fit their system and they don’t resign him. I don’t get it.

With all these super teams being built, the only likable contender is turning out to be the Mavericks & Thunder.[/quote]

Cuban is thinking long-term. They should have space for a max contract next year if they amnesty Haywood. He wants to preserve cap space and make a run for Deron Williams or other big time free agent next year. If Howard doesn’t go to the Nets due to tampering charges, Mavs could make a run at him as well. [/quote]

I understand what he’s trying to do, I just don’t know if he’ll be able to lure the big name guys here. I live here, so it’s hard to get a good perspective, but when you guys hear Dallas, Texas, what do you think of? I know we’re up there with the big markets in population and money, but Dallas really doesn’t have the glamor/allure of a New York City, Los Angeles or Chicago.

Dirk/Howard/Deron would be a scary big 3 though, I hope Cuban is smart enough to get it done. I read a rumor earlier today that the Mavs were working on a 3 team deal with Atlanta and Orlando that would send Josh Smith to the Magic, Roddy B and Haywood to Atlanta and Howard to Dallas (Mavs were one of the 3 teams the Magic gave Howard permission to speak with). Works for Atlanta because they want a real C to move Horford to the 4 spot, Josh Smith is more attractive than Brook Lopez to the Magic and everybody wants to deny LA the chance to assemble CP3/Dwight/Kobe.

253

[quote]overstand wrote:

[quote]TheBodyGuard wrote:

[quote]overstand wrote:

[quote]TheBodyGuard wrote:

[quote]Gettnitdone wrote:

[quote]yvanehtnioj wrote:
What does everyone think about Battier to the Heat? I think it’s a solid move[/quote]

The Heat are just getting better and better. They have the best team on paper bar-none. [/quote]

LOL they were the “best team on paper” last year too. Too bad there isn’t a “Best Team On Paper” Trophy. Maybe they’ll make one in their honor this year. [/quote]

They still made it to the Finals their first year as a team. Took Jordan’s Bulls 3 seasons, same with Shaq/Kobe Lakers.

Battier just made the best/one of the best defensive teams significantly better on defense. They need a serviceable big man though, Dampier and Joel Anthony aren’t going to cut it.

Also just read an article about D. Howard. Apparently he met with the Nets russian owner and the President, and now Orlando is thinking about filing tampering charges (which would block the trade, and probably cost them draft picks).[/quote]

Did you really just compare Jordan’s bulls teams to LeBron, Wade and ET? LOL c’mon seriously? And before you tell me about Pippen, Jordan made him the best second fiddle in the game. LeBron, Wade and ET are/were all first fiddle players.

Anyway, no trophy for 2nd place. No trophy for getting to finals first year.

Other teams are making moves too. And you still have to play the game, share the ball, be cohesive and deal with match up problems. It’s not an All Star game.
[/quote]

My point was even the greatest teams in NBA history needed some time to gel. I don’t fault them for losing in the Finals their first season as a team, I think it’s scary how quickly they were able to get their stuff together despite having 3 first option guys. With a Finals run under their belt and a few new pieces, Heat are looking filthy good and are setting a better pace than Jordan’s Bulls or the Kobe/Shaq Lakers. [/quote]

You’re comparing them to the “greatest teams”. My point is no such comparison, implied or otherwise, is yet warranted or earned. And surely we’re going to have to start putting an asterisk next to these teams where players are colluding to play with each other, because that certainly didn’t occur before. Karl Malone didn’t collude with Jordan to leave Utah so he could cherry pick a championship.

254

Lakers pull out of CP3 trade talks, Odom to the Mavs, Bulls getting in on the Dwight sweepstakes. What the actual fuck is going on??

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[quote]overstand wrote:
Lakers pull out of CP3 trade talks, Odom to the Mavs, Bulls getting in on the Dwight sweepstakes. What the actual fuck is going on??[/quote]

You don’t fuck with David Stern.

The only reason I can see the Lakers trading away Odom for a draft pick (which will definitely in the 20-30 pick range) was to clear space for Dwight Howard.

256

[quote]therajraj wrote:

[quote]overstand wrote:
Lakers pull out of CP3 trade talks, Odom to the Mavs, Bulls getting in on the Dwight sweepstakes. What the actual fuck is going on??[/quote]

You don’t fuck with David Stern.

The only reason I can see the Lakers trading away Odom for a draft pick (which will definitely in the 20-30 pick range) was to clear space for Dwight Howard.[/quote]

Still can’t think of anything like this happening before. To borrow a line from the most recent article posted, Stern’s drunk on power. Shit like this lends credence to the “pro sports are rigged” line of thinking. Like SCJ said, this isn’t a fantasy league. Nothing about this whole situation adds up or makes sense.

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[quote]overstand wrote:
Lakers pull out of CP3 trade talks, Bulls getting in on the Dwight sweepstakes[/quote]

I don’t think CP3 would have been a good fit with the Lakers anyways given how Kobe plays and the other pieces that are already there, and they would’ve had to overpay trade-wise to get him.

Whoever can land Howard is going to be the one to watch. If it’s the Lakers or Bulls, wow, just wow.

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I like Lamar Odom a lot - outside of his actual game, he appears to have a very laid back personality off the court.

That being said, his game has a lot of duplication of talent with Dirk.

With Chandler, you had the one guy who didn’t give a shit whether he ever took a shot but played locked down defense. Dirk demands the ball, is a big man with range, plays okay defense and rebounds a little. That same dynamic really isn’t there with Odom-Nowitzki.

I’m not sure how it will work out

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On the other side - I can see an Amare-Chandler combo wreaking havoc.

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Also anyone here who doesn’t have twitter - you really should get it.

Stories break on twitter sometimes HOURS before they hit sports news sites. Fastest source for breaking news out there. I recently started using it during the MLB season.