NBA Talk v3.0

[vonkaar]

Alright, so... the new rumor mill shows Chris Webber considering his second knee surgery, while Peja hasn't backed down from his trade demands. Is it too early to pull Sac from the #3 spot in the west? Vlade leaves, Peeler leaves... Peja traded, Webber sidelined until March? Could it be too good to be true? Maybe Bibby will fall off a cliff and die on impact!

Meanwhile, Dallas finally did something RIGHT this off season and received the #1 Center in the West for a box of cookies and 13 beaded necklaces. Certain analytical writers have said for years that Dirk Nowitzki has the potential to be a scoring champion AND offensive rebounding champion, something we haven't seen since the Stilt. All he needs is another big man in the middle. We have this now. We have a great guard setup, a good small-forward lineup and more centers than the other 2 Texas teams combined. If Dallas gets a decent backup power-forward to back Dirk, we are golden.

Next year's free agency looks to be another crazy one... Ray Allen, Tracy MacGrady, Michael Redd, Shareef Abdul-Rahim, Theo Ratliff... all free-agents in the Summer of 2005. Three exciting off-seasons in a row, what more could we ask for?

[Lyion]

Alright, so... the new rumor mill shows Chris Webber considering his second knee surgery, while Peja hasn't backed down from his trade demands. Is it too early to pull Sac from the #3 spot in the west? Vlade leaves, Peeler leaves... Peja traded, Webber sidelined until March? Could it be too good to be true? Maybe Bibby will fall off a cliff and die on impact!

Meanwhile, Dallas finally did something RIGHT this off season and received the #1 Center in the West for a box of cookies and 13 beaded necklaces. Certain analytical writers have said for years that Dirk Nowitzki has the potential to be a scoring champion AND offensive rebounding champion, something we haven't seen since the Stilt. All he needs is another big man in the middle. We have this now. We have a great guard setup, a good small-forward lineup and more centers than the other 2 Texas teams combined. If Dallas gets a decent backup power-forward to back Dirk, we are golden.

Next year's free agency looks to be another crazy one... Ray Allen, Tracy MacGrady, Michael Redd, Shareef Abdul-Rahim, Theo Ratliff... all free-agents in the Summer of 2005. Three exciting off-seasons in a row, what more could we ask for?

I think Sac will do better than people think, especially with the Shaqless Lakers. They still have talent, but they didn't make the moves they needed to make this offseason.

How well Dallas does depends on how much the changes effect their team. They've done a LOT better than I thought they would this off season,

I'm curious how San Antonio will do next year.. I was really disappointed they underachieved in the playoffs this year.

I think the bigger excitement next year will be in the East, and the flurry of deals.

Whatever happened to the Payton to the Celtics deal? Is he still going to retire?

Oh, and dai for moving my NFL Troll post

[Zanchief]

Rockets traded their entire team for T-mac, imagine he left after one year?

[Lyion]

Rockets traded their entire team for T-mac, imagine he left after one year?

If you were T-Mac would you stay?

[vonkaar]

I split it, fool.

I guarantee that Payton will not be wearing green and white this year.

San Antonio enters the season, once again, as the favorites to win it all. I think that they have one of the strongest teams in recent memory.

Dallas only RECENTLY redeemed themselves... I'm still not sure that we came out ahead, but Dampier definitely helps ease that load... I mean, look at it this way... "Nash, Jamison, Antoine Walker and, if you want to include him for his inspired hustle, Najera are gone. They are replaced by Terry, Harris, Stackhouse and Dampier." On paper, that's hardly an improvement. However, in reality, I think that it WILL be a better team than last year.

[Zanchief]

Will Terry be starting 1?

[vonkaar]

Yes.

It's freaking weird man... last year, we needed a good backup point-guard (before we realized what we had in Daniels) and a freaking center. We had a clusterfuck of forwards. Now, we have a slew of point-guards, a plethora of centers... and are hurting for forwards! What's going on???

edit: details:

2003 Forwards: Antawn Jamison, Antoine Walker, Edward Najera, Michael Finley, Josh Howard, Dirk Nowitzki... oh, and Tariq Abdul-Wahad, althogh he counts as much as our water-boys.

2003 Centers: Shawn Bradley (ick), Danny Fortson (doesn't fit in with Dallas), Scott Williams (too old, great guy though). Obviously, we were hurting here.

2003 Point Guards: Steve Nash (God), Travis Best (too slow for Dallas, good guy though), Tony Delk (great backup PG, not for Nash tho). Where was the Nick Van Excel we had in 2002?

NOW... we have,
2003 Forwards: Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley, Josh Howard, Tariq Abdul-Wahad, Alan Henderson. HELP!!!!!

2003 Point Guards: Jason Terry, Devin Harris, Dan Dickau, Avery Johnson. We are good to go here.

2003 Centers: Oh lord... Erick Dampier (YAY!), Evan Eschmeyer (NONONONO, NOT ANOTHER BRADLEY), Calvin Booth (trade makes less sense now), DJ Mbenga & Pavel Podkolzin(both young players, good potential), Shawn Bradley. HOLY SHIT, DUMP SOME OF THESE FUCKERS.

[Zanchief]

Washington trade is the one that confuses me.

And I would sign with Houston if I was T-Mac.

[Malluas]

Well if the Chris Rumors were anything close to true the Sacramento Bee would be printing 60 page stories everyday

If they trade peja for Artest i would say they are up there with san antonio (not in talent but just as #2 to SA). I would even take Ray allen. At least he can create his own shot

If they don't trade peja he will be a pussy and go into a shell. Like he always does.

if Dallas finds a PG they are gonna move up. But nash is a HUGE loss. He was what made that team go. Not sure Terry is what you want. He is more of a scorer.

lol Evan isn't even as good as shawn bradley, which is bad for him hehe

TARIQ, when are you guys gonna get rid of him heh

[Ouchyfish]

Will Miami be as strong as some are saying just because of the addition of Shaq? If so, I might just need to get back into basketball. :D

[vonkaar]

If they trade peja for Artest i would say they are up there with san antonio (not in talent but just as #2 to SA). I would even take Ray allen. At least he can create his own shot

If they don't trade peja he will be a pussy and go into a shell. Like he always does.

if Dallas finds a PG they are gonna move up. But nash is a HUGE loss. He was what made that team go. Not sure Terry is what you want. He is more of a scorer.

lol Evan isn't even as good as shawn bradley, which is bad for him hehe

TARIQ, when are you guys gonna get rid of him heh

Artest would keep Sac a "good" team, but you'd lose more than you would gain. The defensive combo of Christie and Artest would be great, but you would have lost SO much offense in Peeler and Peja that the added defense (on a previously offense-mided team) would mean little. You would be a worse team than the year before. Ray Allen would be a much better choice IMO. He's just as much of an offensive weapon as Peja... is in the last year of his contract... shoots the 3 better... it would be a good deal.

Dallas is fine on point-guards. We aren't even worried at this point. Jason Kidd still looks like a possibility. Fear us if that happens ^_^.

Evan fucking sucks. That's what the Golden State fans are happiest about this trade, dumping him back on us.

Tariq? You tell me, ya'll drafted him =p.

[Malluas]

And tariq isn't on the kings anymore is he? hehe. in his rookie year he had a couple games that he showed what he could do. But he was never a hard worker. Yea it was one of Petrie's FEW mistakes

Well one of our rookies looks pretty damn good as a scorer. I do wish we resigned Peeler tho.

I agree as a fit for the Kings offense, Ray is perfect. BUT Artest and christie would be unreal. Artest can score but not like Peja, but just means Bibby needs to score more. Or Brad or Chris etc. But with chris hobbled maybe going to a slower type style would work better. Bibby is pretty good in the half court same with brad and chris now.

I don't kno ARtest or allen would be nice. Just no more Peja, unless he gets his act together

[vonkaar]

Artest and Christie wouldn't make up for the rest of the team's disregard for defense. It would be a good combo, especially since both players can pull 42 minutes everyday... but you are still a far cry from a San Antonio, Detroit or Indiana defense. Brad, Doug, Ron IS a great defensive three... don't get me wrong... but each of the ther three have a much more solid core. Hell, Dallas is a better defensive team (on paper) right now than Sacramento. Dampier and Nowitzki will EASILY put Dallas as the #1 rebounding team in the league.

Also... Petrie is hardly a perfect draft-master (hi Nellie)... although it's pissing me off at how Dallas somehow ends up with them...

Dan Dickau - 2002 (THANKS! I HATE YOU)
Gerald Wallace - 2001 (shrug, he's alright)
Hidayet Turkoglu - 2000 (arguable... he's a good bench-player)
Jason Williams - 1998 (His best pick, although he passed up Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce, Bonzi Wells, Radoslav Nesterovic and Al harrington for the pick, hardly worthwhile).
Tariq Abdul-Rahim - 1997 (THANKS! I HATE YOU)
Thus ends Petrie's reign of terror.

[Zanchief]

Will Miami be as strong as some are saying just because of the addition of Shaq? If so, I might just need to get back into basketball. :D

Shaq will be MVP and scoring leader, I have predicted this and it will come true. Vonk has put his money behind Dirk as scoring leader, but he is incorrect.

[Malluas]

Artest and Christie wouldn't make up for the rest of the team's disregard for defense. It would be a good combo, especially since both players can pull 42 minutes everyday... but you are still a far cry from a San Antonio, Detroit or Indiana defense. Brad, Doug, Ron IS a great defensive three... don't get me wrong... but each of the ther three have a much more solid core. Hell, Dallas is a better defensive team (on paper) right now than Sacramento. Dampier and Nowitzki will EASILY put Dallas as the #1 rebounding team in the league.

Also... Petrie is hardly a perfect draft-master (hi Nellie)... although it's pissing me off at how Dallas somehow ends up with them...

Dan Dickau - 2002 (THANKS! I HATE YOU)
Gerald Wallace - 2001 (shrug, he's alright)
Hidayet Turkoglu - 2000 (arguable... he's a good bench-player)
Jason Williams - 1998 (His best pick, although he passed up Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce, Bonzi Wells, Radoslav Nesterovic and Al harrington for the pick, hardly worthwhile).
Tariq Abdul-Rahim - 1997 (THANKS! I HATE YOU)
Thus ends Petrie's reign of terror.

OH i didn't say he was perfect. Brian Grant, Bodaroga, Tariq

But no one knew Dirks skills, pierce fell cause of injury if i remember correctly, wells no one knew about either. Nesterovic isn't that good, and harrington also no one knew about in the sense AUTOMATIC STAR hehe.

He picked Dan cause who else was there and he traded that promptly. So hehe.

You guys are like the raiders and 9ers.

ANyways onto the defense. True Kings still suck on D, but Dampier isn't a great defender, a good rebounder yes. But Chris Webber even with a hurt knee uses him. Your rebounding will probably be near the top if not #1 but you still have Dirk and Finly out there playing OLE!

And brad is a ok defender. He isn't quick enough for the west PFs neither is Chris. But if artest and christie were there, Bibby would be a tad better cause he could make his mistakes he does but christie and artest will make him look better. And its harder to drive the lane with christie and artest swiping at ya.

I think this year is gonna be a race for 2-4 between the Kings Dallas, Nuggets Minnesota and Houston.

Cause as it is now, any of those teams can beat each other in a series. Kings have bobby jackson they beat Minnesota then the Lakers. A couple made shots Dallas beats the kings, Nuggets pushed the Wolves, and HOuston with Tracy now.

should be a fun season.

[vonkaar]

2-4? So... apparently you think as highly of San Antonio as we do.

Dampier is a better defender than you are giving him credit for.. he's one of the only centers that can average so many rebounds AND blocks... Ben Wallace... that's about.

[Rotj]

The Kings need Peja more than he needs them. He knows that..as he opens up the offense when he's on the floor. If they trade him for Artest they are fucked, imo. While Artest can shoot the 3 (albeit inconsitently) and defend like a madman..he requires far too much baggage. And with Webber on cranky knees, the Kings need a reliable scorer more than anything. Although with Peja wanting a trade..drama might not be so far, after all.

vonkaar, you may hate me for this..but I believe the ranking is now..

#1 - San Antonio.
#2 - Minnesota.
#3 - Houston.
#4 - Denver.
#5 - Mavs.
#6 - Kings.

Then again, what the fuck do I know. My fav team..Orlando has had it's anus ripped apart by some Hockey dude.

[Malluas]

prob with houston is Yao still won't get the ball as much which for Houston to win he needs it.

Its been proved tracy can't do it himself eventho he tries to do it himself ALL the time.

Yea i wouldn't mind Ray allen. I would take either Ray or Artest, and in the Kings system artest would score more than he did in indiana. Kings need to get either one of those 2 or they can't trade peja.

We will see how long it takes for Peja to wilt and conform or be a rebel and get traded.

And btw, who was a REAL scorer on the Pistons? No one was a consistant scorer other than Hamilton and only this year. Kings have bibby, jackson, Webber, Miller. thats plenty there Artest still gives ya 19 and the defense

[Malluas]

denver still isn't ready tho for the most part. Carmelo has an attitude problem. nene is startin to fade away from his rookie year. They have a chance

And i doubt HOuston will be much better. Still don't have a PG and tracy isn't as good as a regular PG is.


yea vonk, they got brent barry which gives them some scoring off the bench. They needed the scoring and shooting. And a good FT shooter so...

[Rotj]

Welp, you got me there with Detroit and their lack of a consistent scorer apart from Hamilton.

I still think Denver has a chance to sneak in. While..I was doubtful about K-Mart's signing in the other thread..I have this feeling they'll be in the running for the top 4. If they hadn't sign K-Mart, I, personally think this would have been Nene's breakout season.

Yao will get the ball this season. If Tracy's watching the Olympics..(while it is not much of an indicator of the NBA game), I think he'll realise how much damage.. Yao can do with the ball. He might start getting lax during the later ends of the season, but I think he will conform to JVG's pleading for Yao to get it. I also like the signing of Bob Sura..so I have semi-high hopes.

[Ouchyfish]

Will Miami be as strong as some are saying just because of the addition of Shaq? If so, I might just need to get back into basketball. :D

Shaq will be MVP and scoring leader, I have predicted this and it will come true. Vonk has put his money behind Dirk as scoring leader, but he is incorrect.

Thanks!

[vonkaar]

Detroit didn't need any scoring. When you are keeping your opponents below 80 EVERY game, you only have to score 81... divided by your 5 starters, that's only 16 ppg. Dallas and Sac had so many high scoring players because they fucking score 120 points every game... divided by 5 starters, that's freaking 24 ppg.

Kobe will be the scoring champ. MVP will go back to Tim Duncan. Ben Wallace will get defensive man of the year again. Devin Harris will get co-rookie of the year with Dwight Howard. Sixth man will go to Brent Barry.

[Zanchief]

And i doubt HOuston will be much better. Still don't have a PG and tracy isn't as good as a regular PG is.

They signed Charlie Ward, he's a good pure PG.

[vonkaar]

Albeit a slow one, which is fine for Houston.

I still would be hard pressed to put Houston in the top 4.

[Zanchief]

Aside from Detroit and San Antonio, the entire LEAGUE is a crapshoot.

Spots 2 to last in both conferences are a toss up to me. Denver could do well, so could houston, dallas, miami, indiana, New york, toronto(bleh). Who knows, thats whats so great about the new season.