Official Not So Random Thoughts Thread Version 2.2

[Scabs304]

True or False: prime Gilbert Arenas was a better player than Derrick Rose was this season.

I've got to go with prime Gil.

I'm a huge gilbert arenas homer myself, but not even close. Only thing that Arenas did better than Rose did this year is shoot and well I'm sorry Rose did EVERYTHING else better. Defense, running the offense, even finishing around the rim..... Rose was an MVP this season and I get tired of people saying it was a weak MVP season. Rose would of beat out Nash in 2 of 3 of his MVP seasons IMO.

Defense - yes Rose has the advantage but it's not like Rose is an above average defender.

Finishing at the rim - without looking at any data I would say Gilbert was as good as Rose is at finishing at the rim. Gilbert Arenas was incredible at getting to the rim.

Running the offense - Gilbert was a very good passer. I would say Gilbert has an advantage here.

So, to me, there is one mild advantage for Rose (defense) one mild advantage for Gilbert (passing) and one substantial advantage for Gilbert (shooting). That's why I've got to go with Gil.

The issue is Gilbert was a very good passer, but he never did it at the right time. I'm pretty sure the numbers would prove the same, but I'm lazy and have to get going to work, but if you look at the numbers they probally will prove the point of Rose being a better passer than Gilbert (also take into consideration Jamison and Caron were better players than what Rose has around him IMO).

[MF23]

Everywhere I went today I saw gas for 3.83. What did it mean!? If DC lottery raffles those numbers today or somebody numbered 3 hits 8 3's than we know God has spoken. C'mon Dwayne Wade!

Why is everyone talking about basketball here? Slippage.

[pineappleheadindc]

.
(This is gonna get cross-posted on RealGM's Chicago Bears board.)

NFL rookie takes disabled teen to dance

MORGANTOWN, W.VA.
Chicago Bears rookie linebacker J.T. Thomas became the inspirational story of the lockout-dominated NFL offseason Monday, a few days after escorting a wheelchair-bound teen to her middle school dance.

The former West Virginia standout last month met 14-year-old Joslyn Levell, who uses a wheelchair. During that meeting, she told him that all of the boys she had asked to the dance turned her down.

Levell, who attends Suncrest Middle School in Morgantown — where the university is located — has spina bifida, a condition that prevents the spinal cord from developing properly.

"I hugged her and signed a few things and we talked for awhile and she cried a bit," Thomas told NFL.com about meeting Levell. "I gave her a hug and told her everything would work itself out."

Shortly after the meeting, Thomas' stepmother called the school and Levell's parents to make sure it would be OK for her hulking stepson to pop the question

Read the rest by clicking here.

I don't know if it's available, but I'm gonna check nfl.com and see if there is a J.T. Thomas jersey for sale. And I'm buying one.

Respect to him for being a force of good.

Pine

[Wizards2Lottery]

I hate this **** weather!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cramer]

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(This is gonna get cross-posted on RealGM's Chicago Bears board.)

NFL rookie takes disabled teen to dance

MORGANTOWN, W.VA.
Chicago Bears rookie linebacker J.T. Thomas became the inspirational story of the lockout-dominated NFL offseason Monday, a few days after escorting a wheelchair-bound teen to her middle school dance.

The former West Virginia standout last month met 14-year-old Joslyn Levell, who uses a wheelchair. During that meeting, she told him that all of the boys she had asked to the dance turned her down.

Levell, who attends Suncrest Middle School in Morgantown — where the university is located — has spina bifida, a condition that prevents the spinal cord from developing properly.

"I hugged her and signed a few things and we talked for awhile and she cried a bit," Thomas told NFL.com about meeting Levell. "I gave her a hug and told her everything would work itself out."

Shortly after the meeting, Thomas' stepmother called the school and Levell's parents to make sure it would be OK for her hulking stepson to pop the question

Read the rest by clicking here.

I don't know if it's available, but I'm gonna check nfl.com and see if there is a J.T. Thomas jersey for sale. And I'm buying one.

Respect to him for being a force of good.

Pine

A class act.......

[Rafael122]

Just loving the 105 heat index right about now.

[pancakes3]

twitter is a really weird site. not bad, just weird. i just exchanged a few words with some guy named George at the Cato institute, read all about Arenas's date - with pictures (and got bold enough to re-tweet him to ask if he wanted to go clubhopping in downtown disney on friday), and "reconnected" with a bunch of people from high school.

if you're bored on a random night and can't fall asleep? burn a few minutes on twitter.

[pineappleheadindc]

twitter is a really weird site. not bad, just weird. i just exchanged a few words with some guy named George at the Cato institute, read all about Arenas's date - with pictures (and got bold enough to re-tweet him to ask if he wanted to go clubhopping in downtown disney on friday), and "reconnected" with a bunch of people from high school.

if you're bored on a random night and can't fall asleep? burn a few minutes on twitter.

I like Twitter.

You should follow Rafael (yes, our board's Rafael) on Twitter. I do. It's paid off.

TRUE STORY: During the season, the Wizards frequently hold twitter trivia contests for free tickets. Usually, I have to ignore them as I have kid duty at night. But one night, my wife had arranged to take our daughter to dinner and some event. So, following the Wiz on Twitter, I anxiously awaited the question in hopes of being one of the first 10 correct.

The question came and I wasn't sure of the answer. No sweat, I just searched @WashWizards and kept hitting refresh to see what people were giving as answers. Then, there popped up Rafael's answer. So I just copy/pasted it and posted it as my own answer.

Bingo -- free tix. Just by stealing Rafael's answer.

---------------

Me = @Hawaiiexpat

Pine

[Rafael122]

LOL, thanks for the plug Pine.

Twitter is cool. At first I was a bit hesitant on it, but it's not bad. Dat's on there too, @Dat2U.

[pancakes3]

just so you all are fully abreast of the goings on of jersey shore: there is an official UK version now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm8vDlj7jaU

[Ruzious]

For those who complain about Flip not being gentle to his players when talking to the media and think Popovich can do no wrong, this is the real Pop...

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has some interesting comments about Tony Parker’s recent criticism to the French media about the team’s chances of winning a championship with its current roster. Popovich told KMOL-TV sports director Don Harris that he doesn’t think much about Parker’s thoughts about his team’s composition. “You think I care what Tony Parker says?” Popovich told Harris in the snippet from the interview, which is available here. “You think Tony Parker is gonna coach when he quits? Why would I listen to Tony Parker?” San Antonio Express-News

When reminded by Harris that Parker already owns a team in France, Popovich went further. “He can own but he can’t coach,” Popovich said. “Get your –– out there and play, Tony. Tie the score. But talk about basketball, I don’t need Tony for that.” San Antonio Express-News

[miller31time]

I can sort of put myself in Pop's shoes. If you remember way back when, when Parker was a young, inexperienced player who no one really knew, Pop mentored him, kept him on a short leash and was fairly hard on him from what I can recall.

Because of this leadership from Pop (and hard work from Parker), the Spurs found themselves a star point guard who would help them win multiple championships.

But this is one of those "Don't forget where you came from" moments from Pop, in my opinion.

[go'stags]

I have absolutely no problem with that. This is a guy they just gave big money to before the year, and then featured to get to the number 1 seed in the west. Maybe he had this attitude in the playoffs-a reason Conley played much better against them than OKC.

And this isnt some old veteran on his last legs saying this, when honesty would be more appreciated-Parker is in his prime. No reason to say this. Good for Pop.

Why do you have a problem with it, Ruz?

[LyricalRico]

The thing about Popovich IMO, is that I don't think this isn't something he hasn't already said to Parker's face. He gets in everybody's face, regardless of their stature. And in Parker's case, Pop getting in his face when he was a young player is a huge part of why Parker has the stature he has now. So I really don't see it as a big deal from the perspective of Pop's coaching style.

Where it is a big deal IMO, is when it comes to the Spurs willingness to move Parker. If Pop is okay with life without Parker (who was benched in last year's playoffs IIRC), it certainly would make it easier for the organization to make a move if one presented itself.

[Ruzious]

I have absolutely no problem with that. This is a guy they just gave big money to before the year, and then featured to get to the number 1 seed in the west. Maybe he had this attitude in the playoffs-a reason Conley played much better against them than OKC.

And this isnt some old veteran on his last legs saying this, when honesty would be more appreciated-Parker is in his prime. No reason to say this. Good for Pop.

Why do you have a problem with it, Ruz?

I don't really have a problem with it. My point was that Flip has been oft times criticised for being far too harsh on his players for making comments far less inflamatory about far lesser players. Meanwhile, the same folks treat Pop as the ideal of coaching. And Pop does this to a player who's performed exceptionally well for him year after year and who therefore presumably has earned quite a lot of respect.

Btw, I think you're off base on your Conley comments. Conley averaged only 14.3 points and 6.2 assists vs SA, while he averaged 15.9 and 6.6 vs OkC. Not to mention that Parker averaged 19.7 and 5.2 vs Memphis. Parker didn't let anyone down on the court.

[Ruzious]

The thing about Popovich IMO, is that I don't think this isn't something he hasn't already said to Parker's face. He gets in everybody's face, regardless of their stature. And in Parker's case, Pop getting in his face when he was a young player is a huge part of why Parker has the stature he has now. So I really don't see it as a big deal from the perspective of Pop's coaching style.

Where it is a big deal IMO, is when it comes to the Spurs willingness to move Parker. If Pop is okay with life without Parker (who was benched in last year's playoffs IIRC), it certainly would make it easier for the organization to make a move if one presented itself.

Eh.... are you sure about him being benched, because I don't remember him ever being benched, and it would seem awfully strange that they gave him an extension after benching him.

[go'stags]

That's fair. I should have better read what you said.

My only problems with how Flip handle's his players in the media is his constant reference to KG. It's time to move on.

That, a couple times players were confused as to what Flip wanted from them when it was said to the media. Makes you think that maybe he didn't say it to them first, or wasn't clear when he did. Or maybe that our players are pretty dumb. Probably all 3.

[Zonkerbl]

Yeah, I think our players are just dumb as bricks. Blatche definitely, and McGee might not be dumb but has a stubborn streak a mile wide.

[pineappleheadindc]

Is anyone else keeping up with the Gold Cup. Mexico vs Cuba tonight on Univision.

Five Mexican players were sent home after testing positive for a banned substance. I think USA's next gameis Saturday vs Panama.

[NbdyBeatsTheWiz]

If anybody is a jersey fiend like me, this site it phenominal:
http://topnfljerseys.com/

I'll admit the process is a little sketch, essentially you're ordering the jerseys directly from China, which is why these $100 dollar jerseys are $20. Every jersey on the site. And there are hundreds, NFL, NBA, MLB, etc. But literally every jersey on the site is $20. I've ordered twice now from the site (one was Xmas gifts, the other I just went in on with a friend to break up the $30 shipping) and got the order within about a week. (my last order got held up at customs, I didn't get any details but I got them a couple days after the notice)

But these are SICK jerseys. I got a Darrel Green and Walter Peyton jersey last winter, and just got a Durant. Stitched everything. Top of the line. They come with the NBA tags on them and all. I feel like a kid on Christmas each time I get them.
So good I figured I'd share...

Eagerly awaiting the John Wall on the new Uniform. Not sure how long it will take to get on the site though...