The Official NBA Media Thread pt IX

2ThouTeninator · Post #1861 » by **2ThouTeninator** » Fri Jul 22, 2016 8:38 pm

The latter half of July through September has the reputation of being the dead time of year for the major, well-informed NBA fans, many of whom roam in their natural habitat on this site's forums.

Dead time of year maybe. But it is also the most hopeful. A yearly renewal of vows. A pleasant respite more than a funeral march.

In just a few short weeks, as the outside air cools, so will perceptions of the wisdom of many of the contracts just signed and trades just made, almost all with the best of intentions.

As always, as ever, today's clinking of glass is tomorrow's speed dial to accept pennies on the dollar for a dump, the ritual exchanging of undesirable deals to make each 15% less undesirable, and the crafting of picks, protections and young assets to get someone the hell off your roster ASAMFP.

For now, Al Horford can play the 4 or 5 equally well, and is just what a young and deep but star-light Boston roster needed not just to get over the hump (whatever that actually translates to, which is usually nothing much) but ascend heights greater than the Green Monster.

Serge Ibaka has just not had the proper situations and chances -- burdened by a febrile point guard and frontrunner small forward as teammates -- to really explore the outer edges and varied aspects of his offensive repertoire. A subtlety easily missed, don't you see.

Has Derrick Rose found himself poetically planted in Garden soil so fertile it can regenerate new roots? Actually no. Not to Knicks fans. Regrow what now?

Theirs is a preseason thinking that mixes the metaphor: Derrick is still the rocket-legged superstar who can and almost certainly will relaunch the Knicks. He is in what used to be called (back in the 80s) his walk year, so here's where deprivation-induced figments and the necessary evils of reality may just caress, or do a little heavy petting.

Similarly, Dwyane Wade didn't come for the money and a slightly melancholy last act, a refugee from the failed policies and misleading rhetoric of Patrick J. Riley. He came because he's still the elite D-Wade whose final goal is to deliver a championship to his hometown.

Are the Bulls twin decision-makers true believers in this regard or just pragmatic chess players? Trade Rose & dangle Jimmy Butler, sign Rajon Rondo & Wade. Tank-on, tank-off.

That's not as much of an indictment as it sounds, and certainly not as much as most smart, clear-plan-insistent fans might say. Your plan should accommodate conditions on the ground and adjust on the absolute fly if need be. Just hopefully that reality is not the bad P.R. of dropping Rose and Joakim Noah to the Knicks, and having that story sort of rub them a little rawer than they might have imagined.

There is at least one quasi-exception to this fountain of good feeling: Most Lakers fans are not pinching each other's cheeks at a lot of money invested in guys who used to be very solid or had a season or two, okay maybe one, that was somewhat promising. Plugging holes with adequate journeymen does not a purple-and-gold fantasy make. Now is the mid-to-late-summer-to-early-fall of their discontent, which is becoming another yearly tradition, too.

Hindenburg · Post #1862 » by **Hindenburg** » Sat Jul 30, 2016 1:05 am

Wade looks good in Bulls uni

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Sonne · Post #1863 » by **Sonne** » Sun Jul 31, 2016 6:06 am

wade looks fat

XtotheDeezy · Post #1864 » by **XtotheDeezy** » Sun Jul 31, 2016 9:07 am

Sonne wrote:wade looks fat

He looks like he would be Wade's brother who didn't play basketball.

Sonne · Post #1865 » by **Sonne** » Sun Jul 31, 2016 10:39 am

XtotheDeezy wrote:
Sonne wrote:wade looks fat

He looks like he would be Wade's brother who didn't play basketball.

lmao so true :lol:

BMatt07 · Post #1866 » by **BMatt07** » Mon Aug 1, 2016 4:33 pm

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Heat_team02 · Post #1867 » by **Heat_team02** » Wed Aug 3, 2016 8:24 pm

Miami Heat Team Workouts today with music

Link to Video

http://www.hothothoops.com/2016/8/3/12367080/in-depth-look-miami-heat-offseason-workouts-nba-tyler-johnson

Heat_team02 · Post #1868 » by **Heat_team02** » Thu Aug 4, 2016 1:07 am

Sonne wrote:wade looks fat

Looks like he put down the weights and picked up the hoagies for the 1st time in his career.

Hindenburg · Post #1869 » by **Hindenburg** » Thu Aug 4, 2016 3:25 am

Wiggins casually tries a 720 dunk

Post #1870 » by **Marcus** » Thu Aug 4, 2016 4:07 pm

Hindenburg wrote:Wiggins casually tries a 720 dunk

have it mastered just in time for the pre-season.

Heat_team02 · Post #1871 » by **Heat_team02** » Thu Aug 4, 2016 11:50 pm

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Heat_team02 · Post #1872 » by **Heat_team02** » Fri Aug 5, 2016 11:44 am

Whiteside staying active playing in the Drew League

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Hindenburg · Post #1873 » by **Hindenburg** » Wed Aug 10, 2016 2:17 am

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PerkinsFor3 · Post #1874 » by **PerkinsFor3** » Wed Aug 10, 2016 11:40 am

Been a decade and I still can't get used to Horace's face without glasses.

And Michelle is fine.

Hawk · Post #1875 » by **Hawk** » Wed Aug 10, 2016 4:48 pm

Hindenburg wrote:

Watch on YouTube

"Hey you think you can introduce me to...."

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA

Post #1876 » by **jwise44** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 5:58 pm

Hindenburg wrote:

Watch on YouTube

Honestly didn't recognize Horace until he put the goggles on

Heat_team02 · Post #1877 » by **Heat_team02** » Fri Aug 12, 2016 3:22 pm

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Hindenburg · Post #1878 » by **Hindenburg** » Sat Aug 20, 2016 6:38 pm

Heat_team02 · Post #1879 » by **Heat_team02** » Mon Aug 22, 2016 8:10 pm

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Hindenburg · Post #1880 » by **Hindenburg** » Wed Aug 24, 2016 10:58 pm