The 2004/2005 *NBA Talk* thread

[Jirig]

Two words: Beno Udrih.

He's the nail in the coffin for the Spurs. Just wait and watch. ;p

[vonkaar]

Let's see how little respect ESPN gives us when the new power rankings come out in a couple hours...

sitting at #5 right now...

I bet we'll not move at all. Assholes...

[vonkaar]

#2... alright, I'll buy that...

Can we bump San Antonio off the top though?

[Tacks]

Read my sig (again I must point this out)

[vonkaar]

They have 2 more wins and then they are done.

[vonkaar]

"It’s up there. It’s not up to me to decide. I can’t sit here and say who’s MVP. As of right now, it depends on what you define MVP as and how you define it."

He really IS as stupid as he looks!

[vonkaar]

Dirk Nowitzki prefers blending in with the wallpaper, but after being named Western Conference player of the month for the second time this season, he won't fly under the radar much longer.

Sooner rather than later, he will be a candidate for the NBA's most valuable player award.

Nowitzki had a glittering February, averaging 27.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists as the Mavericks went 10-3. Those numbers reflect his season totals, but Nowitzki would rather nobody notice.

"I kind of like not being mentioned in that category yet," Nowitzki said Tuesday before the Mavericks departed to Los Angeles for games against the Clippers and Lakers. "I like getting it done quietly.

"Maybe someday, I'll shoot right through there and be among the [MVP] candidates."

That someday is now, although coach Don Nelson decried such talk. "I don't think he's got a chance to be MVP," he said. "I think it'll be a guy on one of the turnaround teams like Phoenix or Miami."

Indeed, the Suns' Steve Nash and the Heat's Shaquille O'Neal are prime candidates. But Nowitzki measures up, averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists and minutes this season. And the Mavericks are on pace to win 56 games.

He also won player of the month in December. He's the first Maverick to win it twice in the same season. Of course, the Mavericks had only one monthly winner, Mark Aguirre in January, 1984, in the first 22 years of the franchise's existence.


<table width=500>
<tr height=30 >
<td height=30 width=85 >Player</td>
<td width=85 >Record</td>
<td width=85 >Points</td>
<td width=85 >Rebounds</td>
<td width=85 >Assists</td>
<td width=85 >Minutes</td>
<td width=85 >FG%</td>
</tr>
<tr height=45 >
<td height=45 width=85 >Tim
Duncan, S.A.</td>
<td width=85 >43-13</td>
<td width=85 >21.4</td>
<td width=85 >11.8</td>
<td width=85 >2.7</td>
<td width=85 >35</td>
<td width=85 >49.6</td>
</tr>
<tr height=45 >
<td height=45 width=85 >Allen
Iverson, Phi.</td>
<td width=85 >26-29</td>
<td width=85 >29.7</td>
<td width=85 >4</td>
<td width=85 >7.8</td>
<td width=85 >42.2</td>
<td width=85 >41.4</td>
</tr>
<tr height=45 >
<td height=45 width=85 >LeBron
James, Cle.</td>
<td width=85 >31-24</td>
<td width=85 >25.3</td>
<td width=85 >7.1</td>
<td width=85 >7.7</td>
<td width=85 >41.5</td>
<td width=85 >48.2</td>
</tr>
<tr height=45 >
<td height=45 width=85 >Steve
Nash, Pho.</td>
<td width=85 >43-14</td>
<td width=85 >16.4</td>
<td width=85 >3.2</td>
<td width=85 >11.5</td>
<td width=85 >34.7</td>
<td width=85 >51.1</td>
</tr>
<tr height=45 >
<td height=45 width=85 >Dirk
Nowitzki, Dal.</td>
<td width=85 >38-17</td>
<td width=85 >27</td>
<td width=85 >10.1</td>
<td width=85 >3.1</td>
<td width=85 >39.7</td>
<td width=85 >45.4</td>
</tr>
<tr height=45 >
<td height=45 width=85 >Shaquille
O'Neal, Mia.</td>
<td width=85 >42-16</td>
<td width=85 >22.7</td>
<td width=85 >10.4</td>
<td width=85 >2.9</td>
<td width=85 >34.5</td>
<td width=85 >59.9</td>
</tr>
<tr height=0 >
<td width=85 ></td>
<td width=85 ></td>
<td width=85 ></td>
<td width=85 ></td>
<td width=85 ></td>
<td width=85 ></td>
<td width=85 ></td>
</tr>
</table>

tables own me, oh well... the point stands... Dirk owns.

[Malluas]

who does everyone think is gonna be rookie of the year....

all i have heard is its between

Emeka
Deng
Gordon
Howard

I would have it this way

Emeka (only one averaging a double double and the only one you HAVE to guard on his team)
Gordon
Howard
Deng

[vonkaar]

Well... I would say Emeka also, but Gordon turned his team around... he's a stud.

[Malluas]

yea he is pretty good..

i just go by stats.. and primacy... when you play the bulls.. you wouldn't key in on gordon like you would with Hinrich.

With the bobcats.. you have to shut down emeka to win.. he is the only consitant threat on that team.

[vonkaar]

Here you go Zan:

Bosh's strides all for the best

Lincoln-ex has drive to be better than LJ and anyone else from Dallas
04:58 AM CST on Monday, March 7, 2005




Now that Vince Carter has pouted and sulked his way to temporary happiness in New Jersey, it won't be long until Chris Bosh is known as the best player on Canadian soil.

Five to six years from now, I think there's a good chance Bosh will be known as something else: the best player to come out of Dallas.

Granted, it's not as prestigious a title as All-Star or All-NBA. But Bosh has the talent to achieve those goals as well.

This isn't a bouquet tossed because Bosh and the Toronto Raptors are at American Airlines Center tonight to play the Mavericks. He has the game. He has the temperament. And he knows the player he must pass to be regarded as the best to come out of this area.

"Larry Johnson, he's a tough guy," Bosh said. "He will be a pretty tough guy to top.

"But I hope in the long run, when all is said and done, I'll be known as the best player out of Dallas."

He's off to a good start. Bosh is a more accomplished player at a younger age than Johnson was. Or Kenyon Martin. Or Kurt Thomas, the player he works out with during the summer in Dallas.

Bosh averages 16.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and shoots 47.7 percent from the field. The Lincoln graduate is a stronger player than he was as a rookie and much more aggressive in the low post. Instead of trying to fake his defender to get the advantage, he now powers to the basket. Bosh already has attempted 394 free throws this season to rank 15th in the league.

"Coach [Sam] Mitchell sat me down and told me to make one quick move and just go by the guy," Bosh said. "Read how their movement is and go to where they're vulnerable. So far, it's worked real well for me."

The Raptors are 14-4 this season when Bosh scores 20 or more points. He's coming off a career-high 33 points in Sunday night's win against New Orleans.

Jalen Rose has picked up most of the offensive slack for Toronto since the Carter trade. But Bosh's responsibilities on that end of the court also have increased.

Part of the justification for the trade – a trade in which the Raptors got too little in return – is that Carter needed to go because the organization was concerned that the All-Star's poor practice habits would taint Bosh's development.

"I'm smart enough that even if that was the case, if he wasn't working hard every day, I wouldn't say, 'Well, I don't have to do that either,' " Bosh said.

"I'll be honest. I'm not a good player when I don't work. If I don't get extra shots, my shooting stinks. So, it's something I have to do."

Johnson and Bosh haven't spoken much. But when they have, the Skyline-ex tells him the same thing: keep working hard.

Bosh doesn't have a choice. There is more elite talent at power forward than any position in the league.

The youngster, who turns 21 later this month, knows he can compete with those players. But he's not about to put himself on the same level as San Antonio's Tim Duncan, Minnesota's Kevin Garnett, Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal or the Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki.

"Until I make my team better," Bosh said, "I have a long way to go."

True. But he has the talent to get there.

And a mentality that refuses to set limits.

"No," Bosh said. "Never. If you limit yourself, you start to level off and stop at a certain area.

"I want to keep going, keep expanding."

It's a journey that should one day take him past Larry Johnson

[Zanchief]

You gonn watch the game?

[vonkaar]

Damp, Finley and Dirk out...

Daniels is at 80%
Stackhouse is at 75%

Van Horn is still new to the system.

Ya'll should beat us =p. But yes... I'm watching it.

[Zanchief]

Well since we can't hit a shot tonight, you guys have a chance.

[vonkaar]

Nowitzki gets 'Punk'd' on MTV


07:00 AM CST on Tuesday, March 8, 2005


By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News



Dirk Nowitzki is getting Punk'd, but not by somebody dunking on him in an NBA game.

The Mavericks' star will be featured on an episode of the MTV series Punk'd, which debuted its new season Sunday night.

Details are being kept under wraps about Nowitzki's show, but teammate Michael Finley has a role in the skit. The show features set-up gags that catch celebrities in situations that show how they handle themselves in aggravating or embarrassing situations.

Nowitzki's scene was filmed in Los Angeles in January, and, according to Mavericks staffers who were involved in the taping, the episode is full of laughs.

[Malluas]

vonk WTF does that have to do with the NBA...

should i post all the Mike Bibby news articles about him going to the local jewelry store? hehe

but i think your postingit cause you the kno the mavs won't do jack in the playoffs

[vonkaar]

I posted it because it's funny? Dirk and Fin are basketball players and people might want to watch the show? If I didn't know about it and Lyion posted it... I'd be grateful. If I know that Mop is a huge Duncan fan and I find an obscure mention that he's going to make a cameo on SNL, I'd post it... here... because this is the 'general' NBA talk. Better that than make a whole new post where people would say, "neat."

Why do you say the Mavs won't do anything in the playoffs? Everyone else thinks they will...

But I'm sure... once again... it'll be Malluas' opinion vs 200 sportswriters and hard numbers. Dallas *is* the deepest team in the league. We haven't had a single game this entire year with a full roster, yet we are 4th in the toughest conf... 2nd in the toughest division in the league... shrug...

Nobody in Dallas is worried at all. Our fucking bench just beat a pretty good Toronto team. When Damp is healthy, we were unstoppable. He's been out for 2 weeks and we've looked like swiss-cheese. Ah well, so it goes. Take Yao out of Houston and tell me how they'd do. Take Parker or Nash out of their teams... Bibby out of Sac...

We've done this well DESPITE our injuries. I can't WAIT for the playoffs because it *might* be the first time that we have a completely healthy team. Daniels is finally playing near 100% (32/4/4/4/1 last night)... Finley's minutes will be conserved for the playoffs and he'll be healthy by this weekend. Same goes for Dirk. Dampier is back in a week. Stackhouse has another week or so before he's 100%. Hi, that's FIVE fucking starters man. 1 month ago, we were #2 on the NBA / ESPN power rankings. Know why? THREE of those 5 were healthy. THREE. Imagine if we had all 5. It's NEVER HAPPENED.

Predictions: Malluas will mention Dallas getting owned by Houston. Vonk will mention that Damp, Dirk and Finley were all out and Houston played one of their best games ever. Vonk will also mention that Dallas is 2-1 against Houston and the 2 games we beat them were with Damp, in which he completely contained Yao (9/6 and 6/6 in those games). Malluas will bring up Phoenix... which we are 1-2 on... even though both losses were CLOSE and were without Damp, one was without Finley.

You have to know the NBA a little better than OMG, SACBEE DOT COM to talk basketball with me Malluas... let alone knock Dallas.

the funny thing is... I stick up for Sac all the time - they are probably my favorite team outside Texas. But then, I *watch* their games ALL THE TIME.

[xaoshaen]

Nobody in Dallas is worried at all. Our fucking bench just beat a pretty good Toronto team.

Bwahahahahah!

*snort*


Hahahah!

Ok, I think I've regained my composure.

*chuckle*

[vonkaar]

shrug... they've beaten or at least scared some damn good teams this year. They *could* be a good team next year.

regardless... it *was* just our bench...

[Malluas]

houston isn't good enough to beat the Grizz in a 7 game series (when the Grizz are healthy) much less Dallas

btw vonk sac had a good recod with Bibby out of the lineup a couple years ago. (this year they would be dead in the water). Kings havn't been healthy at all this year NEVER have they had then entire roster in the game.

Power rankings at any site mean jack. They are alot of the times wrong.. last year it was Lakers #1 they lost, Kings #1 3 years ago Lost, Spurs #1 before lakers lost... detriot like #4 won the whole thing.

Dallas has been favored in 2 of the 3 series with the kings.. and it took Webber being injured for the Mavs to win and they lost one.

tell me after the first round where they are going?... kings could get to the 2nd round... and they won't be healthy then either


If the kings were healthy in 02 and 03 they would have won championships.. they weren't... Lakers were. spurs were.

Dallas doesn't have enough D to go far into the playoffs. if they did why are they giving up 113 to a kings team with 3 starters out and their best bench player hurt playing with 8 guys.

Vonk you can read your states WE ARE CHAMPs BS.. you can Read some no name and know nothing reporters... but you go to those that really know the game.. do they say Dallas is championship calibur.. NO... even Don Nelson would admit that

[Rzail]

Why all the commotion? We all know that the Knicks are going to go on a hot streak all the way into the Finals where they will whip on whoever is from the Western Conference








P.S. GO GO ESPN 2K5 on rookie!

[Kitao]

I agree.

[Zanchief]

Why all the commotion? We all know that the Knicks are going to go on a hot streak all the way into the Finals where they will whip on whoever is from the Western Conference

The Knicks may be the franchise in the worst situation for the future.

There is no hope for that team short of a horrible plane crash considering the cap and their talent.

[Zanchief]

Nobody in Dallas is worried at all. Our fucking bench just beat a pretty good Toronto team.

Bwahahahahah!

*snort*


Hahahah!

Ok, I think I've regained my composure.

*chuckle*

Bet you haven't seen a single Raptors game this year Xao.

[Lyion]

Why all the commotion? We all know that the Knicks are going to go on a hot streak all the way into the Finals where they will whip on whoever is from the Western Conference

The Knicks may be the franchise in the worst situation for the future.

There is no hope for that team short of a horrible plane crash considering the cap and their talent.

I wonder if there owner is starting to sing 'Sweet Home Alabama' and do the Skynyrd dance.