Discussing Other NBA Games 2.0

[Nivek]

Why are you posting that here? Put it on your blog! Email it to Ted! Email it to Stern!

What a festering crater of suck that dunk contest was.

The gist of that went up on my blog yesterday. Thanks for keeping up.

[tontoz]

Here's the real problem with All-Star weekend -- the players don't give a **** about it.

Watching Kyrie Irvings lackadaisical attempt at the skills challenge was a pretty big turnoff, especially since he was playing for a scholarship for a kid.

Didn't watch the dunk contest. I did watch the 3 point shootout though. I think the players really do care about that. I think they get a little tired though. It doesn't take much fatigue to throw off your shot.

[Zonkerbl]

Yeah, 3 pt contest was good.

[tontoz]

The Lakers play the Heat on sunday. I wouldn't be surprised of Artest knocks the crap out of Wade. If Artest got suspended the Lakers wouldn't care anyway.

[BarnabyJones]

The Lakers play the Heat on sunday. I wouldn't be surprised of Artest knocks the crap out of Wade. If Artest got suspended the Lakers wouldn't care anyway.

[FAH1223]

Wade apologized to Kobe today. I don't think he wanted to injure him. But yeah, kudos to Kobe for playing through it like he always does.

[closg00]

Wlliams and Beasley totally beasted last night.
http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=320228012

[Nivek]

I respect the hell out of Kobe. I think he's a terrific player and I admire his toughness.

I also think he's significantly overrated and I can't stand his butt-boy fans.

[tontoz]

I respect the hell out of Kobe. I think he's a terrific player and I admire his toughness.

I also think he's significantly overrated and I can't stand his butt-boy fans.

I always felt like he settles for long, contested jumpers too often, especialy after they eliminated the hand check.

Out of curiosity how would you rank him all time relative to other 2s? I know a lot of his fan boys rate him as >= Jordan which is obviously ridiculous.

[Nivek]

Kobe's fans (and by "fans" I'm including much of the media) would tell you he's among the top 5 players ever, which is ridiculous. There's no justification for arguing he's as good or better than Jordan. He'd make my Rushmore of SGs -- Jordan, West, Kobe and Drexler. Wade could knock Drexler off the mountain, so to speak.

[tontoz]

Kobe's fans (and by "fans" I'm including much of the media) would tell you he's among the top 5 players ever, which is ridiculous. There's no justification for arguing he's as good or better than Jordan. He'd make my Rushmore of SGs -- Jordan, West, Kobe and Drexler. Wade could knock Drexler off the mountain, so to speak.

Really? Wow i hadn't noticed that. I have seen his fanboys a lot on message boards (Insidehoops especially). I just avoid them.

Drexler was a great player with a glaring flaw, always going right dribbling with his head down. Wade's lack of a shot definitely hurts him otherwise he would be a clear choice over Clyde. I hate his flopping though.

[queridiculo]

Wade apologized to Kobe today. I don't think he wanted to injure him. But yeah, kudos to Kobe for playing through it like he always does.

Am I the only one that's shaking his head every time you hear somebody say that they didn't intend to injure? Of course you didn't, but that's not really the point.

What Wade should have apologized for is being a complete dick in that situation. It's essentially an exhibition game and you don't have the slightest chance to make a play on the ball. Why even attempt such foolishness?

[tontoz]

Rubio just had back to back 1-8 games. On the season he is averaging 11 pts shooting 36%. Pretty weak.

[TGW]

Good news: Demarcus Cousins has 23 points and 11 rebounds vs. the Clippers.

Bad news: He's posting a +/- of -26 and his team is down 20.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Good news: Demarcus Cousins has 23 points and 11 rebounds vs. the Clippers.

Bad news: He's posting a +/- of -26 and his team is down 20.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore?gid=2012030123

Tyreke Evans 7-21 FG shooting might have had something to do with it. Also, Isaiah Thomas had 6 turnovers before he had 4 assists or 6 points. Chris Paul destroyed him.

Most of the scoring by the Clippers was done by guards and small forwards, particularly 3-point shooters. Former Wizard Bobby Simmons hit some big threes early off the bench. He and another former Wizard, Randy Foye, had 3 each. (Caron had one--all guys whose shooting the current Wizards could use, BTW.)

DeAndre Jordan scored 2. Blake Griffin scored 14. Cousins shot 9-17 FG and had 3 blocked shots. I don't think those are bad numbers for him. If you want to laugh about that, go ahead, TGW.

I think it is sad that you're obsessed with trying to prove some point about Cousins but don't know how.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2012030123

Mo Williams made all four of his 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to finish with 18 points, helping the Clippers build a 19-point lead and begin a stretch of four games in five nights with a victory. Los Angeles plays at Phoenix on Friday night.

DeMarcus Cousins had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Tyreke Evans scored 18 points for the Kings, who had won two straight.

[Zonkerbl]

Faried with the double double!

He's kind of a smaller Ben Wallace.

[TGW]

Good news: Demarcus Cousins has 23 points and 11 rebounds vs. the Clippers.

Bad news: He's posting a +/- of -26 and his team is down 20.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore?gid=2012030123

Tyreke Evans 7-21 FG shooting might have had something to do with it. Also, Isaiah Thomas had 6 turnovers before he had 4 assists or 6 points. Chris Paul destroyed him.

Most of the scoring by the Clippers was done by guards and small forwards, particularly 3-point shooters. Former Wizard Bobby Simmons hit some big threes early off the bench. He and another former Wizard, Randy Foye, had 3 each. (Caron had one--all guys whose shooting the current Wizards could use, BTW.)

DeAndre Jordan scored 2. Blake Griffin scored 14. Cousins shot 9-17 FG and had 3 blocked shots. I don't think those are bad numbers for him. If you want to laugh about that, go ahead, TGW.

I think it is sad that you're obsessed with trying to prove some point about Cousins but don't know how.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2012030123

Mo Williams made all four of his 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to finish with 18 points, helping the Clippers build a 19-point lead and begin a stretch of four games in five nights with a victory. Los Angeles plays at Phoenix on Friday night.

DeMarcus Cousins had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Tyreke Evans scored 18 points for the Kings, who had won two straight.

A +/- over 23, which was BY FAR the worst on the team. They were better off sitting him and possibly playing a quicker lineup like they did against the Wizards..

His numbers were stat padding at it's finest.

[closg00]

Faried with the double double!

He's kind of a smaller Ben Wallace.

*Sigh* Nightly double-doubles pretty-much, and we have a guy taken 12 spots higher who's forte is zero or minimal anything....but lots of "Hustle"

Wall + Faried, a match made in heaven that will never be.

[hands11]

I think it is safe to say Faried will be a productive player in the league.

The Wizards really need to get some sense of a core in place so it is easier to know the right pieces to add.

They have Wall. Check. Now they need another stud that he can work with. Personally, I say that comes in the form of a SG or SF or better yet a SG/SF with experience. I dont believe they are going to get their by trying to do this via the draft. It will take way to long and may never work.

Funny to think back at the Iggy conversations and how many really were not that impressed with him. But he is the glue that makes that Philly machine run. They just needed the right players around him to make that more clear. Now I am not taking anything away from Brand because he has a lot to do with why that team is winning but having front court players is not a substitute for an all around ball handling player. Even D Howard can't get it done without that kind of player. I know there is a lot of wow there with a D Howard but I would pay Wade more 7 days a week.

As for Brand, he went through two other teams before landing in Philly. Chicago traded him after only two years for T Chandler and Brand was the #1 picks. It does happen. #1s get traded. Philly eventually got him on the open market not via the draft.

There are no mega star level players on the Philly team but it all adds up and Iggy is that one player that combines a little of everything that every great team needs like Manu does for SA, Kobe does for LA, Wade and Lebron do for Miami. PP does for the Cs. Iggy is strong, can jump, dunk, dribble, rebound, post up, pass and shoot. Not great at everything but he is the type of player that would totally change a Wizards team. This is the type of player they need to find first. Wall needs his Iggy. Or Granger or Batum.

With this in place, you can be patient with a Thad Young and you can go get your Nikola Vucevic. You don't need a bunch of top 3 picks to grow a team.

And Sweet Lou - 2nd Rnd, 15th by PHI
Jrue Holiday - 1st Rnd, 17th by PHI
Thaddeus Young - 1st Rnd, 12th by PHI
Iggy - 1st Rnd, 9th by PHI
Brand #1

Well, we already have out #1. It is Wall.

As important as Duncan, D Howard, Amare, etc are to a team, they are not primary ball handlers and they will never win on a team that does have that SG/SF player. Now Dallas last year is some what unique in that Dirk is some weird freak that is 7-0 and nail 3s and can shot from anywhere. But Shawn Marion was the unsung hero of that team. His size and skills filled in to take the pressure of of Dirk when it was needed most. Where was he drafted ? - 1st Rnd, 9th by PHX. And he was acquired.

Building via the top 3 draft picks that you picked is a more popular idea then it deserves. So is tanking for several years to get those top picks. Give me picks in the 9th - 20th range every year and you can get the pieces you need to fill in. You can acquire the star talent you need. Hell, where did Gil come from. We didnt draft him or trade for him.

[pancakes3]

yeah. fahied is pretty much a taller blair with knee tendons. he was a pretty safe bet coming out of last year's draft to be good. i don't think he'll ever be a genuine top 15 at his position though.