NBA Season 2011-2012

Michael Jordan's mansion for sale. Man that court looks sweet.

Really hate Kobe Bryant right now. Like, really.

BS foul call that seals the game and also hurts the Wolves' prized rookie point man. Great.

With all the talents they have, the Huskies look like they should have a higher standing. I like watching and rooting for that team, but I just can't understand why it's not doing better.

I must be a jinx. The moment I start paying attention to the Jeremy Lin story New York seems to lose all momentum...

Pretendbeard wrote:

I must be a jinx. The moment I start paying attention to the Jeremy Lin story New York seems to lose all momentum... :(

Yep. I just got NBA 2K12 as part for the combo deal deal with MLB 2K12, and the excitement is already done. Man, I wish the NBA was as fun to watch as it is to play in a video game. And even then, if there was an NCAA basketball game, I wouldn't even play the NBA version.

Pretendbeard wrote:

I must be a jinx. The moment I start paying attention to the Jeremy Lin story New York seems to lose all momentum... :(

You're not the Jinx. Melo is.

And the wheels are falling off...

What a difference a year makes. Carmelo Anthony's discontent with the Knicks organization became so severe after Monday night's loss to the Bulls, he told a confidant he preferred to be traded before Thursday's trade deadline, The Post has learned. According to a person familiar with his thinking, Anthony's disillusionment stems most from a belief coach Mike D'Antoni and interim GM Glen Grunwald do not trust him. He is surprised that after all the Knicks gave up to trade for him, he has not been asked for more input on personnel decisions, as Deron Williams has with the Nets. "The organization makes believe his opinions don't matter," the source said.

New York Post

NY Times about Carmelo's horrid +/-

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/sp...

Edit: D'Antoni has resigned. maybe Mike Woodson can teach these guys to play D now and then.

and now begins the Phil Jackson rumors!

What a mess. With 24 hours to go before the trade deadline. Interesting times in the association.

Stele wrote:

What a mess. With 24 hours to go before the trade deadline. Interesting times in the association.

Wow. What a mess indeed. Syracuse aside, teams don't win with Melo unless they're built completely around Melo. Shouldn't this matter? I don't care if he's the second coming of Alex English or Adrian Dantley. There's a lesson there. The Pistons traded Dantley because they knew it was addition by subtraction. They found someone who was a better fit (Aguire) and won the title twice.

Lin isn't the savior but Melo is most definitely the problem. That article hits it on the head. You have an entire team that basically can't play with 1 player. So scrap the whole team or find a better fit in exchange for Melo?

I think D'Antoni wanted Carmelo traded and management/ownership didn't, at least that is what I get out of the comments. His system worked for pretty much everyone else on the team except Carmelo. It is too bad because I like his system, it was fun to watch, I wonder how much Woodson will change and if he has the confidence/backing to stand up to Anthony. I also wonder what message this sends to the rest of the team who are rumored to be pretty fed up with Anthony since he came back.

LeapingGnome wrote:

I think D'Antoni wanted Carmelo traded and management/ownership didn't, at least that is what I get out of the comments. His system worked for pretty much everyone else on the team except Carmelo. It is too bad because I like his system, it was fun to watch, I wonder how much Woodson will change and if he has the confidence/backing to stand up to Anthony. I also wonder what message this sends to the rest of the team who are rumored to be pretty fed up with Anthony since he came back.

When Woodson coached the Hawks his end of game offense was for Joe Johnson to dribble the ball at the top of the key. I think you can expect to see that.

LeapingGnome wrote:

I think D'Antoni wanted Carmelo traded and management/ownership didn't, at least that is what I get out of the comments. His system worked for pretty much everyone else on the team except Carmelo. It is too bad because I like his system, it was fun to watch, I wonder how much Woodson will change and if he has the confidence/backing to stand up to Anthony. I also wonder what message this sends to the rest of the team who are rumored to be pretty fed up with Anthony since he came back.

Anthony for Daron Williams is the latest rumor...though I have no idea why the Nets would have ever agreed to that.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.c...

There can't be much a market for Anthony any more...no one really wants a guy who believes his sole purpose is to shoot regardless of the situation.

Edit: and whose teams play better without him

They have Lin and Baron, neither are real all stars but they are serviceable. I guess Williams would be an upgrade, maybe it was more just to do something to get Carmelo out. I was thinking it would be fun to trade Carmelo for Howard. Imagine the Knicks with Chandler, Howard and Stoudemire up front.

LeapingGnome wrote:

They have Lin and Baron, neither are real all stars but they are serviceable. I guess Williams would be an upgrade, maybe it was more just to do something to get Carmelo out. I was thinking it would be fun to trade Carmelo for Howard. Imagine the Knicks with Chandler, Howard and Stoudemire up front.

Yeah. Someone will overpay for Melo. Especially someone with a star leaving soon. If I'm the Knicks I'm on the phone with Otis Smith trying to rent Dwight Howard and I'm on the phone with Phil Jackson. A Phil Jackson offense with a dominating center... tends to work out well.

DSGamer wrote:
LeapingGnome wrote:

They have Lin and Baron, neither are real all stars but they are serviceable. I guess Williams would be an upgrade, maybe it was more just to do something to get Carmelo out. I was thinking it would be fun to trade Carmelo for Howard. Imagine the Knicks with Chandler, Howard and Stoudemire up front.

Yeah. Someone will overpay for Melo. Especially someone with a star leaving soon. If I'm the Knicks I'm on the phone with Otis Smith trying to rent Dwight Howard and I'm on the phone with Phil Jackson. A Phil Jackson offense with a dominating center... tends to work out well.

Yeah, that'd be fun to watch.

mindset.threat wrote:
DSGamer wrote:
LeapingGnome wrote:

They have Lin and Baron, neither are real all stars but they are serviceable. I guess Williams would be an upgrade, maybe it was more just to do something to get Carmelo out. I was thinking it would be fun to trade Carmelo for Howard. Imagine the Knicks with Chandler, Howard and Stoudemire up front.

Yeah. Someone will overpay for Melo. Especially someone with a star leaving soon. If I'm the Knicks I'm on the phone with Otis Smith trying to rent Dwight Howard and I'm on the phone with Phil Jackson. A Phil Jackson offense with a dominating center... tends to work out well.

Yeah, that'd be fun to watch.

Also Phil Jackson turns mortal role players into playoff legends. It's the only answer if you're going down this road. There are only so many elite coaches in the NBA.

I can barely believe my eyes. The Pacers are on ESPN!!!

Seriously, I think it's our first national regular season broadcast (ESPN/TNT) in 6 years or so. About time the 3rd/4th team in the East this year gets some damn respect.

Thoughts on the Bucks-Warriors trade?

Seemed like a weird, spinny-wheel move for both teams. I can see the intent, but I don't think it makes either team much better than they were. I'm sold on the idea that GS did this to tank the season, grab a decent pick in a pretty good draft, and hope Bogut and Curry stay healthy starting next year.

Blind_Evil wrote:

Thoughts on the Bucks-Warriors trade?

Seemed like a weird, spinny-wheel move for both teams. I can see the intent, but I don't think it makes either team much better than they were. I'm sold on the idea that GS did this to tank the season, grab a decent pick in a pretty good draft, and hope Bogut and Curry stay healthy starting next year.

It doesn't make any sense to me, honestly. Unless they're trying to tank. If I'm trading Monta Ellis I'm pretty sure I can do better than Bogut.

Blind_Evil wrote:

I'm sold on the idea that GS did this to tank the season, grab a decent pick in a pretty good draft, and hope Bogut and Curry stay healthy starting next year.

Especially if they do shut down Curry.

DSGamer wrote:
Blind_Evil wrote:

Thoughts on the Bucks-Warriors trade?

Seemed like a weird, spinny-wheel move for both teams. I can see the intent, but I don't think it makes either team much better than they were. I'm sold on the idea that GS did this to tank the season, grab a decent pick in a pretty good draft, and hope Bogut and Curry stay healthy starting next year.

It doesn't make any sense to me, honestly. Unless they're trying to tank. If I'm trading Monta Ellis I'm pretty sure I can do better than Bogut.

How else can you explain this?

Howard waives his right to opt-out next season

I don't get it, this is just prolonging his situation. Next season he will be right back in the will-he/won't-he stay and trade talks. If he wanted to stay with Orlando why didn't he just sign an extension? If he wants to leave just wait and opt out. Now he has another 1.5 seasons on his current contract, will have all these trade games again next year, no long term max contract and a chance to get hurt before he signs another deal. I really don't know what he is trying to accomplish, seems like an immature move just to get people off his back temporarily.

LeapingGnome wrote:

Howard waives his right to opt-out next season

I don't get it, this is just prolonging his situation. Next season he will be right back in the will-he/won't-he stay and trade talks. If he wanted to stay with Orlando why didn't he just sign an extension? If he wants to leave just wait and opt out. Now he has another 1.5 seasons on his current contract, will have all these trade games again next year, no long term max contract and a chance to get hurt before he signs another deal. I really don't know what he is trying to accomplish, seems like an immature move just to get people off his back temporarily.

Hmm, I think you're being a little harsh on him. I can see some good reasons why he'd just play out his current contract.

He seems genuinely enamored with the fans in Orlando, and he likely wants to see if the organization can build a winning team around him. He's giving them an extra 12 months to do so, but is unwilling to sign for his entire prime if they continue to fall short. Makes total sense to me. I don't like their chances honestly, they have a lot of mediocre guys signed to long/expensive deals, but alas.

The conspiracy theorist in me says that he and Deron Williams are still in cahoots, and have realized that Dallas can't get into the financial situation to give them both max contracts until the end of the 2013 season.

I truly do not understand the Wizards' part in that trade that went down sending JaVale McGee to Denver, Nene to Washington, and Nick Young to the Clippers.

Blind_Evil wrote:

I truly do not understand the Wizards' part in that trade that went down sending JaVale McGee to Denver, Nene to Washington, and Nick Young to the Clippers.

mmm going to say its they assume they got the 'best player' for 2 very expendable guys. Downside they eat his salary? They can now amnesty Blatche and wait out Lewis's contract and be ready to sign anyone in 2013/14 as they will only have Nene and Wall under contract?

edit: and at 13m Nene isn't the best contract but not in the top 30 contracts in the NBA so far from crippling. About what teams end up over paying for bigmen anyways. Steal compared to Stoudemire right now.

Eh, I get that he's the best guy in the trade but he'll be 34 or 35 at the end of that bloated deal, probably a role player at best. I don't really think Wall has done much to entice anyone to come to a traditionally terrible team via free agency.

I guess they took a sh*tty situation and made it less so, but I don't think taking on a bunch of money for a guy that will be too old to play with whatever young core you manage to cobble together is the answer there.

Also, the fact that Nene was so strongly pursued in the offseason only to be traded half a season later throws up some red flags IMO.

So... The Blazers. A buddy of mine compared today to the end of the Godfather. Also, Oden or Durant?

DSGamer wrote:

Also, Oden or Durant?

Never draft an 18/19 year old that looks 45.

iaintgotnopants wrote:
DSGamer wrote:

Also, Oden or Durant?

Never draft an 18/19 year old that looks 45.

I had to laugh at this