Around The League News And Rumors (Non-Hawks)

Post #301 » by **HMFFL** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 3:47 am

ATL Boy wrote:Hornets win 93 - 67 against the Magic, this also snaps NO's 9 game losing streak, I think we all agree that the Hawks really are better than the Magic even without Al, the only teams Orlando beat this season have been garbage lotto teams because of a favorable early part of the schedual.

Orlando only attempted 67 shots and New Orleans attempted 81. The chemistry in the Orlando locker room has to be at an all time low after the comments Dwight made about the team the other day.

Post #302 » by **HMFFL** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 6:22 am

Dwight Howard told team at halftime of Hornets debacle, different than Boston debacle, "Play hard or stay in lockeroom." MagicInsider

Dwight Howard questions teammates’ desire

Magic star Dwight Howard says if his teammates should stay home or in the lockeroom if they don’t want to play hard.
Howard was frustrated and disgusted with his team’s play after a 93-67 loss to the hapless New Orleans Hornets on Friday night, the Magic’s third loss in four games.

“Looked like guys didn’t want to play,” he said. “I told them at halftime, if you don’t want to play, just stay in the lockerroom. It doesn’t make sense for a teams we should beat to just demolish us.
“You bring everything down,” Howard said, referring to a player who isn’t playing with heart and soul.

“It hurts me to get out there and play your hardest. I expect everybody to play the same. I’m not calling anybody out by no means because we all have to get better … but if you don’t want to be out there, don’t dress up.

“If you don’t want to play, stay home. People work too hard. I want to win a championship. I work too hard every night for anybody to not want to go out there and play hard. … None of the — whatever, trade stuff — none of that stuff matters. Play basketball. That’s why we all get paid to do this, because we love the game and it’s basketball, so why not give it your all.”

He wasn’t done yet. He said Thursday night’s loss to the Celtis after blowing a 27-point lead had nothing to do with the loss to the Hornets.

“The team we played tonight, they’ve been playing hard all season. They just haven’t won. And then they played hard tonight and they killed us. They killed us because they just played hard and they wanted it. Everybody on that team wanted to win tonight. That’s the only thing that matters,” he said.

“We are winning. You can’t just go out every night and expect a team to just fold because you’re winning, because you’re having a good record.”

Ruhiel · Post #303 » by **Ruhiel** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 4:06 pm

Jarrett Jack & Chris Duhon With there 102yr old Great Grandfather

Ruhiel · Post #304 » by **Ruhiel** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:04 pm

Gregg Popovich discussing the NBA's hectic schedule this season with a reporter.

"Are you married? How does your wife put up with you? She has to. She has no choice for now. It's the same thing here. You've got no choice. Quit your crying and just deal with it. Just deal with it and shut up. That's the best way."

Post #305 » by **ATL Boy** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:06 am

This is a thread to discuss every other game (no hawks games) going on around the league, all season. I'll get us started: the Cavs are beating Boston at the half by 1 and the Magic are losing to the Pacers by 2, also the Heat beat the Bulls earlier today on ABC.

Post #306 » by **ATL Boy** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:46 am

Indiana up by 15 now vs the Magic, a blowout here would just crush the Magic, well that's what I'm hoping for.

Post #307 » by **HMFFL** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:47 am

Lebron James supposedly "had" to ride his bike to the arena today. A marathon supposedly was blocking the path that he drives and the ride was 3 miles.

Even if he just did it so it gets talked about, I think it's good exposure for his bike-a-thon, because people instantly talked about it.

Post #308 » by **HMFFL** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:49 am

Orlando is an emotionally fragile team at the moment. Dwight Howard is to blame for causing so many distractions with the trade rumors and now speaking out about his teammates. Southeast division rival or not, I feel bad for owner Rick DeVos, because all he wants to do is win, and he is 85 years old.

Post #309 » by **ATL Boy** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 1:02 am

HMFFL wrote:Orlando is an emotionally fragile team at the moment. Dwight Howard is to blame for causing so many distractions with the trade rumors and now speaking out about his teammates. Southeast division rival or not, I feel bad for owner Rick DeVos, because all he wants to do is win, and he is 85 years old.

I also feel bad for DeVos but certainly not for the Magic as a team, there's no love lost in this rivalry and I'm sure the Magic and their fans would feel the same way if the Hawks were in that position.

DirtybirdGA · Post #310 » by **DirtybirdGA** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 5:57 pm

I see where one of their fans called him Whoreward!

Ruhiel · Post #311 » by **Ruhiel** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 10:40 pm

“In order for us to become champs in this league we are all going to have to step our game up at some point,” Joe Johnson said. “We can’t blame it on ‘what we need.’ We can get it done with this group that we’ve got. We just have to believe it.”
- Training Camp Day 4

http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/2011/12/12/a ... ort-day-4/

RG: The last couple of playoff appearances have been disappointments, with the way things are shaping up in the East and the good mix of youth and veteran leadership on this team what is your outlook?

JS: We’re good, our goals never change. We want to get to the championship and if you don’t believe in making that far then there’s no reason for you to be playing. I think last year was probably a notch to that next step. We took Chicago to six games, I feel like we could’ve been a bit little more competitive. I was a little banged up but that’s not an excuse I’m going to make. But it definitely put a lot of fuel into our bellies to be able to take that next step.

some random site: Does sound like other Smith interviews though...
http://thestartingfive.net/2012/01/25/j ... -security/

Seems like "the next step" is our code word for win that damn title/become champs.

evildallas · Post #312 » by **evildallas** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:38 am

Orlando lost again and although the final score was only 74-69, it wasn't that close. They were down 69-51 with just over 2 minutes left and scored a lot of garbage baskets including a 3 at the buzzer.

I know Dwight undermined this season, but I lay a lot of blame on Otis Smith the GM for this dysfunctional lineup. Not quite sure what was the last move he made that worked out. Beyond that he's been on the outs with Howard for some time. I've seen quotes where Howard has indicated that the GM never listened to any of his free agent personnel suggestions. I understand not letting your star player dictate all your front office moves, but when he is the entire franchise I think you can afford to throw him a bone by signing at least 1 player he lobbies for to make him feel respected/listened to. Back in the 90s teams that had Dennis Rodman often committed a roster spot to a bench warmer/friend/babysitter for Rodman (normally Jack Haley). What would frustrate me most about Otis Smith is the 180 degree shifts in roster direction. I don't want to break down the history of the Magic but to put it kindly they are going in circles.

Post #313 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Feb 1, 2012 3:17 am

The minute a GM starts making moves dictated (suggested) by the team's superstar, THAT's the moment when his power and leadership has been undermined and there is NO going back from that.

You keep your superstar aware of personnel developments, but you don't let them dictate personnel decisions.

BTW, Howard is willing to go to a last place NJ team or a terrible NYK team. He seems to care less about winning and more about the chance to big a big fish in a big city pond.

If ORL trades him to the Knicks for Amare and Ty Chandler...MAN Orlando will pull a Denver Nuggets and be a top 3 team in the conference while the superstar struggles on very bad Knicks team with no depth and no cap space.

Ruhiel · Post #314 » by **Ruhiel** » Wed Feb 1, 2012 2:24 pm

i just hope we don't pull a New York knicks move for Howard. Gut the team, that is.

I'd give up Horford and Hinrich for Howard and Anderson. Anything else is unreasonable seeing as giving up more in a Dwight trade would undermine the team's capacity to win. emphasis on team

Ruhiel · Post #315 » by **Ruhiel** » Wed Feb 1, 2012 9:02 pm

http://blogs.thescore.com/tbj/2012/02/0 ... n-johnson/

Post #316 » by **HMFFL** » Thu Feb 2, 2012 3:19 am

Milwaukee is helping us out tonight against Miami. The Heat started out with a big lead but Jennings has his team up with 2 minutes left.

Washington come close to beating Orlando.

parson · Post #317 » by **parson** » Thu Feb 2, 2012 3:40 am

Another reason I dislike David Stern: tonight's Thunder/Mavericks game.

I am really beginning to believe that OKC cannot play defense without the help of the refs. This game is a joke -- and I'm not close to being a DAL fan. I thought Carlisle getting himself thrown out of the game might wake up the refs but, apparently, this is conscious on their part. I do not understand how I can love this game so much in the face of such obvious one-sided calls. Mugging on one end? NO! Good defense by the Thunder. Touch foul on the other end? YES! It's a foul, after all.

Jonny Blaze · Post #318 » by **Jonny Blaze** » Thu Feb 2, 2012 5:00 am

When was the last season that the East beat the West?

in regular season wins against eash other?

Will the Eastern Conference ever catch up to the West....and when do you predict it will happen?

Post #319 » by **HMFFL** » Thu Feb 2, 2012 11:35 pm

I hope both decline.

Heat Extend Offers To Przybilla, Martin

MaceCase · Post #320 » by **MaceCase** » Fri Feb 3, 2012 4:13 pm

Knicks Defense Too Predictable
http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/21 ... redictable

“They switch on just about every play, and it creates a lot of favorable mismatches for opponents,” a member of the Bucks disclosed before his team broke the schneid with a 100-86 win Jan. 20. “Check out how many times Tyson Chandler wound up having to guard Steve Nash.”

I died