NBA season 2008-09

[Geggy]

NBA preseason has started last night. The celtics and the lakers will be dominating the NBA once again this season. The spurs will go downhill due to old age. Watch for the trailblazers and the hornets to rise. Lebron james will continue to put on a show. Seattle supersonics have moved to oklahoma city and I wonder how shawn kemp feels about it. The nuggets will score 200 points in a single game. Celtics have resigned the 38-year-old sam "the alien" cassell for another season. Anyone want to add anything?

[pac-man]

I miss the Sonics already. The Celts, of course, will be a juggernaut in the East again. The Rockets overachieved last season, the addition of Ron Artest and a healthy Yao make them a legit contender. I don't think the Spurs slide will be very dramatic, if at all noticeable. They'll get Manu back after the break, and they'll secure a nice slot in playoffs. The Lake Show will be better than they were last year, and if Andrew Bynum stays healthy and continues to develop they will be much more intimidating down the stretch and into the playoffs.

[Pentegarn]

Lebron james will continue to put on a show.

And that show will be called "The Lebron keeps dropping obvious hints he is going to play for the Knicks show" :lol

[glowbelly]

lebron james is my boyfriend

[Geggy]

We will steal him from you like we stole your manny as soon as garnett, pierce and ray allen all have retired within 2 or 3 years, providing that james decides not to play in europe next year. I can already imagine rondo setting up an alley-oop for james. That would be sweeeet.

I'm gonna call danny ainge and make that suggestion right now.

[glowbelly]

oh i fully expect him to be stolen, but he'll still be my boyfriend. :D

[Pentegarn]

Check this shit out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysv3v7uXblw

I gotta say though, he took it like a man and was a class aact about it :)

[WhiteRat]

It's a set-up!

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2008/10/15/devin-harris-explains-that-street-ball-video/

[Pentegarn]

It's a set-up!

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2008/10/15/devin-harris-explains-that-street-ball-video/

I don't buy that "special olympics" excuse. He didn't look like a special olympics kid on the video to me.

[WhiteRat]

Dude, they lied to him before hand.

[Pentegarn]

The NBA thinks it's the NHL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkjWnoM7WD0

[Pentegarn]

More pros getting schooled on youtube (and this one is HUGE)

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Video-CEO-John-Rogers-beats-Jordan-one-on-one-?urn=nba,121987

Just the youtube video by itself

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B7U74Dg04k

[Pentegarn]

Lebron James and the Cavs fans have a hurt relationship, and it got worse when this happened

http://sportsbybrooks.com/lebron-has-a-fourth-meal-cavs-fans-can-eat-20963

Funniest thing I heard said about it though was a text message on Jim Rome

"Dear Cavs fan,

If you boo Lebron James for a Chalupa, what would you boo for a Klondike bar?":lol

[WhiteRat]

So who thinks the Timberwolves will win 20 games? I don't.:(

[WhiteRat]

lebron james is my boyfriend

Chocolate Poles in White Holes 7

[glowbelly]

we're waiting for marriage >:

[Colonel Flagg]

PJ gets canned again. How does this guy keep getting hired?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3718961

[WhiteRat]

You'd think that after getting choked he'd get the point and gallop off into obscurity.

[glowbelly]

so how 'bout them cavs?

[Colonel Flagg]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3766766

It was only a matter of time, I guess. He doesn't deserve all the "credit" for the Sixers slow start, but the icing on the cake was Iguodala's interview where he says, in part, "We didn't have the mental toughness down the stretch. We kind of gave in." How does this not reflect on the coaching?

They beat the Wizards last night. Woo. One of the few teams currently playing worse than we are.

[Geggy]

so how 'bout them cavs?

They could be the celtic's biggest threat in all of nba including the lakers even though the c's beat the freakin' cavs in the season opener. But since then the freakin' cavs have developed into an amazing team. They lost to the lowly regarded kings recently only because they missed the big Z who was out with a sprained ankle.

The celtics on other hand are having a spectacular season so far. In each and every game, they have played either beautifully executed celtics basketball or they have hustled their way for a win. They don't have a really big scorer on the team because they're a well balanced team with a good bench. I hope people realize by now that they're more than just the big three.

Btw did anyone see glenn "big baby" davis bust out few tears after getting yelled at by kevin garnett during a timeout? I'm sure you'll find it on youtube.

[WhiteRat]

Just you wait. Garnett will sucker punch him in practice. Just...you...wait.

[Colonel Flagg]

Sixers lose Elton Brand for 4-6 weeks with a shoulder separation. Life just isn't fair. :(

[pac-man]

Maybe they can be more uptempo, maybe? Just trying to give you some silver lining, Colonel.

[Colonel Flagg]

Thanks. We'll see what the MRI reveals and how the team responds over the next few games.

Lou Williams was a beast last night against the Bucks, though.

[Geggy]

Just you wait. Garnett will sucker punch him in practice. Just...you...wait.

Haha just as long he lets garnett win in practice, he should be safe.

http://usss.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/wally-szczerbiak-kevin-garnett-photofile-photograph-c10109204.jpg

Best friends 4ever.

[WhiteRat]

I was referencing this:

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/rick313.jpg

At an informal workout the other day at Target Center, after Timberwolves rookie Rick Rickert made a nifty move to slip past his boyhood idol, Kevin Garnett (http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/tags.php?tag=kevin+garnett) of the Wolves, to score a basket, Garnett responded, without warning, by punching Rickert in the jaw.

A cut required seven stitches to close, and Rickert also suffered a chipped tooth. The astonished 6-10 Rickert didn't retaliate against the 7-foot NBA most valuable player, who also had unkind words for the former Gophers player. Apparently, the rookie wasn't supposed to score on the MVP. Rickert received his stitches at University of Minnesota Hospital.

Because the incident involved the Wolves' franchise player, the incident seemingly will make it even more difficult for Rickert to make the Wolves' final roster.

[WhiteRat]

One day after beating the Mighty Grizzlies, the god damn shit for brains Timberwolves are beating the Mavericks, in Dallas, by TWENTY-NINE god damn points.

Take a wild guess at who ended up winning this game...

[Colonel Flagg]

Damn. I thought I had it rough with the Sixers. That sucks monkey balls.

[WhiteRat]

The same team that gave up a 29 point lead to the Mavericks has now won 5 games in a row!

:eek

Al Jefferson with his 22.5ppg 10.4rpg and 1.7apg needs more credit. The guy is an absolute beast and if he played on a better team people would actually be talking about him.

Nice to see the Celtics grounded back to reality, even if for only a few games or so.

[Colonel Flagg]

And the Sixers have won 4 in a row. :hypno

They still suck, though. :\

[glowbelly]

how about 19-0 at home?

[Colonel Flagg]

I can't top the Cavs home record, but the 76ers just won their 6th in a row, to climb back to within a game of .500 - this is a big deal to Philly fans, I assure you. When Elton Brand comes back later next week, they might actually be decent. Woo.

[WhiteRat]

how about 19-0 at home?

The Colonel and I are celebrating our inept teams' success and you have to come in and one up us?

RUDE

[Pentegarn]

I can't top the Cavs home record, but the 76ers just won their 6th in a row, to climb back to within a game of .500 - this is a big deal to Philly fans, I assure you. When Elton Brand comes back later next week, they might actually be decent. Woo.

Well, the way Philadelphia sports have been going for the last year, this may be to The City of Brotherly Love what sports was to Boston recently, maybe the 76ers will be a team of destiny out of nowhere. I would find that amusing, since I don't really have a favorite NBA team.

[glowbelly]

hey, i live in CLEVELAND. i have the right to brag about any single type of success that any pro sports team has in my city. i mean, seriously. give me a break.

oh and btw: 20-0 at home.

also, philly is my second favorite sports place so i'll be rooting for the eagles today. yes, i know this is the basketball thread, but I'M JUST SAYIN.

[WhiteRat]

But you have the Browns! They're just as good as...uh...nevermind.

[Colonel Flagg]

And the Sixers have now won 7 games in a row, just to get back to mediocrity.

Too early for a parade? :lol

[WhiteRat]

The Timberwolves beat the Bucks tonight, bringing their January record to 10-2, which happens to be the BEST record for the month in the NBA.

My world, it has been turned upside down!:hypno

Oh, and Al Jefferson has scored 62 points and pulled down 19 rebounds in the past two games alone, and he might not even make the All-Star Game!

[Colonel Flagg]

Jefferson is indeed a monster. 34/11 against the Celts in a losing cause.

No shame, not many teams can beat Boston at home, or at all, even.

[WhiteRat]

Naturally, a player of his caliber gets left off the All-Star team.

[Geggy]

Detroit pistons have won 3 straight without allen iverson in the line up due to back injury. They had lost 7 straight previous games. Looking forward to seeing him bitch and moan about playing less minutes as soon as he returns.

I just hope the celtics won't get the same result with marbury :rolleyes

[Colonel Flagg]

The Schizos can now depart on their west coast swing on a 3 game winning streak, courtesy of a 9 point fourth quarter by the Miami Heat.

Seriously, the Heat had this game won, and just folded.

Hey, we're 2 games over .500. Woot.

[Geggy]

Holy crap

http://m.espn.go.com/nba/gamecast?gameId=290315009&autoRefresh=0&action=summary

Defense just doesn't exist in the western conference.

[Colonel Flagg]

The Sixers finish a 5 game West Coast road trip at 3-2. Not world-beating, but about 3 games better than they historically have done. Holy shit, they may be - dare I say it? - making a playoff run.

[singing] Sixers got it Jumpin' .... :)

[Colonel Flagg]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4025741

Not that I condone his behavior, but what a refreshing change from the megacorporahomunculi that currently own most major sports franchises - an owner that actually speaks his mind, regardless of what it might do to his team's merchandise sales. :eek

Seriously, $25K ... Does the NBA really think this will make him stop? :rolleyes

[Colonel Flagg]

Time to get it "Jumpin'" again; Playoffs begin this weekend.

And the Sixers are trying their best to get Cleveland in the first round.

All they have to do is lose 2 more games.

Yes, that's the plan. :\

[Geggy]

Most excellent news for y'all celtics-haters

http://m.espn.go.com/nba/story?storyId=4073024&top

[Colonel Flagg]

The "smart money" has to be on a Cleveland/LA finals this year. I hope Cleveland wins. :\

[Colonel Flagg]

Color me "shocked and awed". The Sixers actually win on the road against a team they failed to beat all season. After being down 18 as well. What do y'all suppose this does to Orlando's team psyche?

Philly 1; Orlando 0

Probably the only moment I'll savor this entire playoffs. :|

[Pentegarn]

The "smart money" has to be on a Cleveland/LA finals this year. I hope Cleveland wins. :\

I have to wonder (strictly by the numbers mind you with each teams home game performance) why we should even bother with the playoffs. Just skip to the finals says I. It's going to be a Lakers/Cavs series most likely (barring injury anyway)

As someone who studied Cleveland sports history for my entire life though, I wouldn't bother hoping too hard for the Cavs to win said finals though. They are after all a Cleveland team :\

EDIT: Of course, if I am wrong, I will double celebrate. 1) because the Cleveland Sports Curse will finally be broken and 2) Shaq will drop another one of these http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtbilFAG7ac

[Geggy]

More good news for y'all celtics-haters, leon powe is out for the postseason with a torn ACL. I would be very, very surprised if the celts make it to the finals. I don't care who wins the finals as long as its not the lakers for several reasons, one of them being phil jackson inching closer to red auerbach's most title wins for a coach.

[Colonel Flagg]

I'm not a hater - I wouldn't wish a torn ACL on anyone. I'd actually prefer the Celtics whole and healthy when they get trounced in the playoffs by any other team. :)

[Colonel Flagg]

Geg, you have to be impressed with the C's tenacity. Even though they lost tonight, being 2 men down and putting up that kind of fight should be kind of inspiring.

Then again, it's the BULLS for Christ's sake! :eek

[Colonel Flagg]

Is anyone else watching the NBA playoffs? :(

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4112203

Dwight Howard deserves the suspension - he clocks Dalembert in the left eye with a flagrant elbow. It looked like an opportunity presented itself, and in the spur of the moment he took it.

With two players down, and the Sixers at home, look for the Magic to close out the series tonight. :(

[Colonel Flagg]

Called it. Magic in a blowout victory. >:

[WhiteRat]

Is anyone else watching the NBA playoffs? :(


I just can't get into the NBA like I used to, although I did notice that the Celtics lost the Bulls in 3OT, so that was nice.

[Colonel Flagg]

Yeah, they've already almost played 7 games, counting 7 5 minute OT's. One more OT, and this will be the first 8 game series in the recent history of the NBA.

[Geggy]

I only have the chance to watch the celtics-bulls series. This is a classic, old school style of the nba playoff series with a lot of blood and hatred that the two teams have for each other. I read that there have been 106 lead changes in this series so far. I always thought that the bulls are a better team than their regular season record indicates. They're a young team with plenty of potentional and ugliness. Its also vinny del negro's first season as a head coach. If it wasn't for the celtics' deplorable defense in which the bulls have been exploiting, it wouldn't have been as exciting and intense.

[glowbelly]

i was pullin for a 30 point win tonight. i was actually pissed that they didn't take a final 3-point shot.

go cavs :D

[Geggy]

BORING.

I don't see how it is possible for any team to be able to beat the cavs. They have everything that they need to win a championship. If they are to meet the celtics in the next round, I sure hope daniel stern and dan aykroyd pay lebron james a visit.

https://eu.movieposter.com/posters/archive/main/25/A70-12932

[Pentegarn]

Hey remember when I said...

I have to wonder (strictly by the numbers mind you with each teams home game performance) why we should even bother with the playoffs. Just skip to the finals says I. It's going to be a Lakers/Cavs series most likely (barring injury anyway.


Forget I said it, especially since the Lakers aren't taking this seriously and the Rockets clearly are.

[Pentegarn]

Wasn't sure if I should post this in the NBA thread or make a thread for it in Loveline :P

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Rafer-Alston-kisses-referee-s-bald-head?urn=nba,163604

[Colonel Flagg]

I would have started in the NBA thread myself, tons going on in basketball right now.

Yes, Cleveland fans must be mighty pleased right about now, with the last second heroics of Mr. James. Remind me, who was that other guy who used to wear #23? For the Bulls, right?

[Pentegarn]

You know James picked 23 on purpose too. That was a deliberate message to 45 *oops* I mean the other 23

[glowbelly]

it's rough going here in c-town, but it's fun to watch. i just hope we can pull this off.

[Geggy]

JOlWo6fBNlg

X10dlU5cU0A&NR

xm5YJFkfEHE&NR

[Geggy]

oh please i want the cavs to lose to the magic. it would be so awesome.

[Geggy]

Rick carlisle, coach for the dallas mavericks: http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/sportatorium/Rick%20Carlisle%20-%20Mad.jpg

Jim carrey: http://cm1.theinsider.com/media/0/119/80/Jim_Carrey.0.0.0x0.289x412.jpeg

Kevin Garnett: http://warmsounds.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/kevin-garnett.jpg

Venom: http://comicsmedia.ign.com/comics/image/article/755/755091/venom-20070112104115050-000.jpg

[Geggy]

Wowza. Magic and lakers in the finals. Who knew?

Magic in 6 games.

[Colonel Flagg]

One can only hope. :|

[Pentegarn]

Lebron James deserves better than Cleveland is giving him

He has come into the NBA and by all rights should have been overwhelmed by the fame and money he has. Yet, he flawlessly maintains a clean-cut, team first image. How does the Cavs team management thank him? They fail to surround him with what he needs to win it all. They do it year after year. Now, Lebron will be a free agent and I want to see him become part of whatever team gives him the best chance at a title. He deserves it because nobody works harder than he does in the NBA (other than arguably Kobe) and nobody has been a better team mate than Lebron.

[Geggy]

Oh well, there will always be other teams who have the equally strong desire to win. Michael jordan didn't win a championship until he was into his 7th season, time will come for lebron james if he would man it up and stick with the team like paul pierce had done for 10 years instead of running out of the building like a whiney little bitch.

If the magic have kncoked off the heavily favored cavs, they're most definitely capable of handling the lakers, after all the magic did beat them both times during the regular season. Although that was before jamaar nelson who made the biggest contribution in those two wins went down with the shoulder injury, his replacement rafer alston has certainly filled the void. I think it will be a good series.

[Pentegarn]

If the magic have kncoked off the heavily favored cavs, they're most definitely capable of handling the lakers, after all the magic did beat them both times during the regular season. Although that was before jamaar nelson who made the biggest contribution in those two wins went down with the shoulder injury, his replacement rafer alston has certainly filled the void. I think it will be a good series.

I disagree. The thing about the Magic dispatching the Cavs so easily is they are custom built to be the antithesis to Cleveland, that is, larger three point shooting dynamos which Clevelands quick but still smaller team is unable to get in the faces of to block effectively. Why do you think Orlando shot so freaking many threes that series? Because it was working. LA will not have the defensive trouble that the Caves had against the Magic however because they have size in the arc that Cleveland lacks.

Lakers in 6, though I wish it otherwise.

[Colonel Flagg]

Hey, now, don't be so sure. 'Meer will be playing a few minutes a game for Orlando - I'm sure that will be the difference in the series. :D

Magic in 7

[Pentegarn]

Well, if last night was indicative of anything it was that I was wrong. It will not be Lakers in 6. It'll probably be Lakers in 5, possibly 4. Orlando had no answer for Kobe Bryant, none at all.

[Colonel Flagg]

Yep. Freaking tragic.

[Tadao]

oops wrong thread.

[Pentegarn]

Looks like Orlando is gonna implode in overtime

[Colonel Flagg]

They needed a split in LA. No hope now. :|

[Pentegarn]

Well it's 2-1 now, not that it will make a difference or anything

[Pentegarn]

Orlando orchestrates yet another choke job in this series.

[Pentegarn]

That's that. A quick end to an anti-climax of a finals

[Colonel Flagg]

Was there basketball going on? I kind of missed it amidst all the hype. :(

[Tadao]

Why the fuck can't the Lakers pay for their own god dam parade?

[Geggy]

they are putting down $1 million for their own goddamn parade.

orlando should've won couple of games (missed alleyoop in game 2, dwight howard missed free-throws in 4). it was a mistake for orlando to bring back jameer nelson after not playing for long period of time. but the fact that lakers killed the magic made celtics' finals victory one year ago even sweeter :)

[Tadao]

Wow, one million. I hope it doesn't hurt them too much. I'm sure all the post office workers with cut hours or no jobs won't mind flipping the rest of the bill.

[Geggy]

none of this would have happened if the fans hadnt spent hundred of thousands on lakers memorabilla, jerseys and tickets to the games. curse on them

[Tadao]

That won't even pay for Kobe's sox.

[Pentegarn]

I think the better question would be, why is the state with the 8th largest world economy so broke they can't pay for a parade? Why aren't the politicians getting fired by the barrel full for spending the 8th largest world economy into bankruptcy?

All the 'foot the bill for the parade' controversy is really doing is shining the spotlight on the incompetence of California politicians in power.

Maybe teams should pay for their own parades, but as long as governments want to have their say in where/how they are ran, they should foot their share of the bill

[Tadao]

I totally agree. If I wasn't a felon I would so vote them out!

[Colonel Flagg]

Bummer, that. :(

[Geggy]

looks like it is gonna be official that shaq will play in cleveland next season

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4285489&campaign=rss&source=twitter&ex_cid=Twitter_espn_4285489

[Pentegarn]

Was about to post that, ya beat me to it!

You know what everyone is going to say? 'Shaq is doing this to have one more ring than Kobe' or 'Looks like Shaq's gonna gravy train another ring'

Forget all that for a second, I am more concerned with Shaq's age.

At age 37, and weighing in at 27 Studebakers, is he going to even make any difference? I had thought they were going to try for Yao, but maybe the Rockets were asking for more than they got Shaq for (Wallace and the 46th pick is a bargain)

[Geggy]

i think shaq still has some years left in him. i thought he was washed up and done for one year ago but came back alive when he joined phoenix. playing alongside with lebron james will revitalize shaq back into being a full force once again. the on-court chemistry between the two will be explosive considering that they have similiar personalities. the pregame intros are entirely different story though :rolleyes

SZxVDEBw8L4

[Geggy]

aw crap.. trevor ariza might be leaving the lakers and guess which team is pushing hard in picking him up..not good for the celts

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4301414&campaign=rss&source=twitter&ex_cid=Twitter_espn_4301414

[Pentegarn]

Here's the shot in the arm the Celtics needed

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ys-wallaceceltics070609&prov=yhoo&type=lgns