2019-20 Around the NBA Thread

Kizz Fastfists · Post #121 » by **Kizz Fastfists** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 12:29 am

ThunderBolt wrote:Morey is so gone.

He's been gone since he was told he had to trade for Russ. He's just collecting his paycheck until their new owner fires him and turns Houston in the southern version of the Knicks.

Post #122 » by **ThunderBolt** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 12:45 pm

Read on Twitter

Post #123 » by **ThunderBolt** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 12:59 pm

I didn't think it would work in Houston because of Russ declining. Now Russ is finally playing well consistently and not shooting threes but Harden has fallen off a cliff. Neither one of these guys are my ideal player but Harden only making three shots is ridiculous. I didn't watch their game last night but I'm guessing Harden's insane early start has taken a toll on him physically. They need to just rest him for a couple of games.

Post #124 » by **ThunderBolt** » Sun Jan 26, 2020 8:09 pm

Man, so sad about Kobe. Pull up ESPN to see what time the rockets nuggets start and see that headline. Sickening.

spearsy23 · Post #125 » by **spearsy23** » Sun Jan 26, 2020 8:20 pm

I haven't been in this much shock/disbelief over any celebrity ever. I've never been a big Kobe guy, but those early 2000 Lakers teams were my first favorites and what got me into basketball. Kobe was bigger than the game, he was going to be that dude for another 30 years.

wco81 · Post #126 » by **wco81** » Sun Jan 26, 2020 8:34 pm

He was a great player, who put together natural ability with a maniacal drive to be the best.

I appreciated his skills but I hated to watch him play, he was so miserable when he didn't get his calls. Not a fan of his style of play.

But more importantly, he seemed like a horrible human being. That episode with the sexual assault trial was ugly, with the alleged victim being bullied and threatened. This was before social media was widespread.

Maybe becoming a father made him better or maybe he would have turned it around, sort of like how Kareem became a thoughtful elder statesman beyond just sports.

I'm sure there will be a lot of praise and retrospectives at his career and life the next couple of weeks. But outside of Lakers Nation, it's head-scratching that so many people are gutted.

Post #127 » by **ThunderBolt** » Sun Jan 26, 2020 8:47 pm

wco81 wrote:He was a great player, who put together natural ability with a maniacal drive to be the best.

I appreciated his skills but I hated to watch him play, he was so miserable when he didn't get his calls. Not a fan of his style of play.

But more importantly, he seemed like a horrible human being. That episode with the sexual assault trial was ugly, with the alleged victim being bullied and threatened. This was before social media was widespread.

Maybe becoming a father made him better or maybe he would have turned it around, sort of like how Kareem became a thoughtful elder statesman beyond just sports.

I'm sure there will be a lot of praise and retrospectives at his career and life the next couple of weeks. But outside of Lakers Nation, it's head-scratching that so many people are gutted.

Even if someone made horrible mistakes when alive, it’s ok to feel somber when they die, especially under these circumstances. There have been plenty of days to discuss his past mistakes and actions. Today feels like a good day to not focus on that.

spearsy23 · Post #128 » by **spearsy23** » Sun Jan 26, 2020 9:02 pm

Oh ****, one of his daughters to?

Pillendreher · Post #129 » by **Pillendreher** » Sun Jan 26, 2020 9:23 pm

spearsy23 wrote:I haven't been in this much shock/disbelief over any celebrity ever. I've never been a big Kobe guy, but those early 2000 Lakers teams were my first favorites and what got me into basketball. Kobe was bigger than the game, he was going to be that dude for another 30 years.

Same. He was more than "just an individual". He was a symbol. larger than the game of basketball.

****.

Galloisdaman · Post #130 » by **Galloisdaman** » Sun Jan 26, 2020 9:47 pm

wco81 wrote:He was a great player, who put together natural ability with a maniacal drive to be the best.

I appreciated his skills but I hated to watch him play, he was so miserable when he didn't get his calls. Not a fan of his style of play.

But more importantly, he seemed like a horrible human being. That episode with the sexual assault trial was ugly, with the alleged victim being bullied and threatened. This was before social media was widespread.

Maybe becoming a father made him better or maybe he would have turned it around, sort of like how Kareem became a thoughtful elder statesman beyond just sports.

I'm sure there will be a lot of praise and retrospectives at his career and life the next couple of weeks. But outside of Lakers Nation, it's head-scratching that so many people are gutted.

After reading your post I started thinking how do I really feel about this aside from the shock. Basketball stuff like calls I could not care less about. After thinking about it I'm definitely sorry for his friends and family. I'm also sorry for Kobe if he was innocent of what he was accused of years ago but if he was guilty of what he was accused of then I just shrug.

Post #131 » by **slick_watts** » Sun Jan 26, 2020 11:24 pm

i wasn't alive when roberto clemente died in a plane crash, but he was my father's favorite non-yankee baseball player and described his death in terms i never really understood. this feels similar, perhaps compounded by the fact that kobe's daughter was on board with him. no human is perfect but kobe had an indelible impact on millions, and did seem to have some momentum towards contributing positively to the world for the next few decades. very sad.

Post #132 » by **ThunderBolt** » Sun Jan 26, 2020 11:35 pm

I still remember watching the news after the Oklahoma state basketball team plane crash. It was surreal and this feels similar. I was at the first game after the crash when osu played Missouri. Ok state wasn’t that good that year but they could have beat any nba team that night. The energy inside G-iba that night was the best for any sporting event I’ve ever attended. I suspect that this lakers season takes on a much deeper meaning. Seeing them win it all could make for a great story.

wco81 · Post #133 » by **wco81** » Sun Jan 26, 2020 11:54 pm

Bill Simmons is doing an emergency pod and he compares it to finding out Magic had AIDS.

At the time Magic announced it, people didn't know that AIDS could be managed for decades with expensive drugs so it was virtually a death sentence.

But it was shocking to NBA fans and others in general. His public persona was positive, always seen smiling.

Maybe to younger fans, especially those who hadn't seen a lot of Magic or Jordan, Kobe is their generation's superstar.

Pillendreher · Post #134 » by **Pillendreher** » Mon Jan 27, 2020 12:03 am

To me this feels similar to when German national team goalkeeper Robert Enke died after taking his own life back in 2009. I didn't have any connection to him fanwise, but it completely floored me. It's something you don't expect at all, which is (in part) why it suddenly makes you realize that your own existence is indeed a very fragile thing. All it takes is one stupid accident/mistake and it's all over.

Post #135 » by **slick_watts** » Mon Jan 27, 2020 12:25 am

wco81 wrote:Bill Simmons is doing an emergency pod and he compares it to finding out Magic had AIDS.

At the time Magic announced it, people didn't know that AIDS could be managed for decades with expensive drugs so it was virtually a death sentence.

But it was shocking to NBA fans and others in general. His public persona was positive, always seen smiling.

Maybe to younger fans, especially those who hadn't seen a lot of Magic or Jordan, Kobe is their generation's superstar.

magic never had aids. he has hiv.

maybe in terms of shock value it was similar. but magic played in the all star game and olympics after. it was pretty clear after the dust settled he wasn't dead.

Old Man Game · Post #136 » by **Old Man Game** » Mon Jan 27, 2020 3:12 am

This news with Kobe today just reminded me once again of just how cruel and crushing the randomness of loss can be in this world. There's no reason for stuff like this often other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And that answer for why you have to lose someone you love is completely inadequate, but its all we've got.

My thoughts go out to this wife and surviving children and the rest of the Bryant family and the families of the other individuals killed in the crash. Everything I've learned about grief is that you'll never truly get over this but you'll hopefully just learn to cope so you can have something resembling a normal life again.

spearsy23 · Post #137 » by **spearsy23** » Mon Jan 27, 2020 3:19 am

I don't know if it's because his daughter was with him or what, but this hurts a lot more than I would've expected it to. Can't stop wondering what those final moments were like, as a dad I just can't imagine holding my child knowing what was coming.

wco81 · Post #138 » by **wco81** » Mon Jan 27, 2020 3:40 am

I read on another forum that the pilot may have gotten lost in the fog.

The copter of course crashed into the side of a mountain so maybe they didn't have a lot of time to see it coming.

Sea2003 · Post #139 » by **Sea2003** » Mon Jan 27, 2020 3:46 am

Hope for the best for his Wife and kids

WestbrookGOATed · Post #140 » by **WestbrookGOATed** » Mon Jan 27, 2020 4:53 am

This is a very sad day.. I hated Kobe as a basketball player but he seemed like he was a great human being. To those bringing up the rape accusations, you should really be ashamed of yourselves. There is no proof that he ever assaulted anyone, yet you want to bring that up on a tragic day like this when he lost his life? Unbelievable.

Rest in Peace Kobe, Gianna and all of the other people that lost their lives today. I hope that their families can eventually heal.