Nba 08/09

[Tiger Hawk]

Meh, if I had your offensive arsenal I wouldn't be complaining!! As long as you can score more than the other team....

Early tip for Most Improved - Trevor Ariza. He's always been a good slasher type and defensive player, but he's starting to hit that outside jumper a bit more consistently and really giving a boost off the bench. You could really go with a massive lineup of Bryant & Ariza with Odom, Gasol & Bynum up front. That's one looooooooong team!

 

[Ridders]

I'm not complaining about our offense, more about the lapses in defense we have at times. The way we capitulated against Indiana was embarrasing.

Ariza's been awesome, he is probably one of the main reasons why we probably won't be resigning Odom when he becomes a free agent. With the team we have, this is the year where we have to win the title, don't know whether we will ever have a team this good and deep. I mean i reckon our 2nd team could easily beat the mighty Oklahoma Thunder.

Another reason i like our chances it the limited minutes all our players are playing. I don't think Kobe's played over 40 mins once this season. All our players should be fresh come play off time. Barring injuries, we should be a force come play off time.

 

[BeeeeeRad]

our problem of the last 15 of so years has been we've always been in this middle area of no man's land unable to improve ... we haven't been good - bar 2004 - to live off our current roster and compete and in saying that we haven't been bad enough to get high draft picks ... last year was our highest pick in a long time and we still didn't get a good enough pick to snap up a lebron or a wade or an oden etc... and we've been consistently one of THE worst traders in NBA history ... only the pacers would trade away draft picks for the deepest draft in NBA history

Very true. I really hope that we pick top 5 this year tbh, there is no point in making the playoffs to get knocked out in the first round, or worse not even making it but picking at 14. The only way this team will become great again is getting a few great picks in the next few drafts and a few more off seasons like last. (Larry Bird is looking like a genius after that offseason)

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

we should just tank like the bucks and heat of recent years and get a top 4 draft pick ... it's really our only hope

 

[BeeeeeRad]

Agree. Look at what the Celtics managed to do. Very similar situation to us, 1 good player and only average players around him with some good young prospects. Tanked the season got a high pick and formed the big 3. Not saying we could pull that off but I think that tanking the season gives you good options and usually will help you out more than trying to make the playoffs and failing.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

pumped by the cavs for the third time ... there's something about us and 2nd quarter collapses

 

[McLovin]

Nah, that's just Lebron James...

 

[McLovin]

After following Dallas for the best part of 7 years, I've decided to officially jump on the Sacramento Kings bandwagon (wasn't too hard tbh). I'm in manlove with Jason Thompson...

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Nah, that's just Lebron James...

did you catch his ridiculous dunk? ... they showed it during the half time show of celtics/trail blazers game ... even for lebron it was f**king ridiculous

 

[Ridders]

Salmons has been great for Sac town, never knew he had it in him. He's also shooting over 50% for the season. On another note how good has Devin Harris been this season. Poor Dallas, not alot seems to go right for them.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

Agree. Look at what the Celtics managed to do. Very similar situation to us, 1 good player and only average players around him with some good young prospects. Tanked the season got a high pick and formed the big 3. Not saying we could pull that off but I think that tanking the season gives you good options and usually will help you out more than trying to make the playoffs and failing.

Don't forget though that had the Celtics got a top 2 pick they wouldn't have made those trades. Their rebuilding project would have begun in earnest around either Durant or Oden, as that was the whole reason they had tanked the 06/07 season, not to swing for the fences with those trades. Funny how things work out.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

another pacers game into OT ... i think that's our third of the year already ... 117-122 against the celtics in overtime, for us that ain't a bad loss ... we've beaten them then lost by 8 and now 5 so not bad at all considering the talent gap

geez we can score points though ... looking forward to taking on the might of dallas and oklahoma

 

[BeeeeeRad]

Are you sure they picked at 2? I thought it was 4th or 5th or something. Regardless, I see your point, which is why I said tank the season...

 

[Tiger Hawk]

No, they didn't, that's what I mean, had they got a top two pick they wouldn't have made those trades. It would be Pierce & Oden or Pierce & Durant. Imagine had the lottery balls bounced differently, one of the great what ifs?

Even if the Pacers tank this season, what pieces do they have to offer a trade partner without giving up their talent? Granger (extended yet?) & Ford are the only two players with any trade value and those two are who the Pacers want to keep, I would have thought anyway. Dunleavy & Murphy are hard to move (two more years each after this season), Rasho, Foster & Jones have expiring contracts who could be traded to a contender but you're not getting anything worthwhile back and you're not going to know about the lottery until after the trade deadline. You don't have enough pieces to make a trade work for a big name player IMO, now or next summer. Best bet is trading the expiring contracts for a couple more low picks over the next two drafts and any available young talent.

 

[BeeeeeRad]

Sorry my bad read it wrong.

I agree, no point way we get a big name, unless a team is willing to gamble Dunleavy will return to his great form of last season. Murphy would be appealing to lots of teams if he wasnt on such a ridiculous contract. Marquis Daniels could have some trade value if he continues this form. He has a team option so a team could use him long term or as an expiring contract.

I however do still want us to tank as we need as many good picks as possible over the next 2 years

 

[Tiger Hawk]

I've always liked Daniels, not sure why he's bounced around the league a bit, maybe attitude? Really don't know.

Agreed on Murphy, he's a servicable player but with a terrible contract, IMO a team like the Hornets could really use him, problem is they don't have much to send back to make the salaries match without giving up a key asset. They'd definitely be willing to take back the salary because really they have NO depth after Chandler & West up front and to compete with the Lakers & Spurs they'll need help.

Other option is my Hawks, we're trying to be a team "now" so we need to make a move if we're serious about anything other than a first round exit but we'd insist on someone taking Claxton and his two year retirement cheque.....

 

[Ridders]

http://www.nba.com/2008/news/12/10/sunsbobcats.trade.ap/index.html

Interesting deal between the Suns and Charlotte. Essentially it see's Raja Bell and Diaw traded for J.Rich. Don't know whether i like it or not. Suns end up losing their best back-court defender and a solid guy who can play the 3 or 4. I suppose Kerr again trying to shake things up.

 

[aqua_duck]

Rose' ability to get his shot off in the paint agaisnt anyone, anytime is other-worldly. One out of the box this kid. Id be tempted to take him over any other pg in the league RIGHT NOW.

Not as good as the Chris Pauls or Deron Williams yet, but its scary how he will be in 4 years.

He's got CP3's quickness, and Deron's size. Really is a freak athlete and isn't afraid to take it all the way to the basket

 

[Tiger Hawk]

I like that trade for the Suns, they get younger and more athletic. Clearly they weren't going anywhere so they had to do something. No idea why Charlotte would do that, they must have been able to get more for J-Rich, plus they give up a decent back-up forward and a future pick? For Bell and Diaw? That's a terrible trade, must be looking for another lottery pick.

 

[Ridders]

Jordan working his magic again :crazy:. I'll probably wait a while before deciding if its a good deal. I suppose it helps the Suns in having a good back-court scorer, something they haven't really had since J. Johnson.