NBA fans -- your opinion please

[jczeroman]

What an angel

http://sportsmed.starwave.com/media/...to/a_fox_i.jpg

http://www.codemonkeyx.net/images/monkey_smile.jpg

Actually, none of these guys have SHIT on Popeye Jones.

[sppunk]

Originally posted by Debaser


the way he plays matador defense, no fucking way.

You have a point, but he averages around 12 rebounds a game, 4 assists and 25 points, roughly. His D isn't great, but then again is Duncan's? We've given the MVP to a player who can't step up any more than Scott Peterson leaving a crime scene can.

MVP awards aren't handed out just for defense, obviously, and Dirk knows he has to shape his defense up, so I truly believe he'll become a fairly consistant defender. Plus, the Mavs are throwing defensive specialists at him this summer, whcih can only help matters.

Like Brenden said, the Spurs are going to be on a tear the next two years, but then again, so were the Lakers and see how the self-destructed. I admire Duncan and all, but I loath their fruitcake coach.

Originally posted by Sean Casey
Actually, none of these guys have SHIT on Popeye Jones.

What about Harold Miner?

[dishpan]

Originally posted by sppunk
Dirk knows he has to shape his defense up, so I truly believe he'll become a fairly consistant defender. Plus, the Mavs are throwing defensive specialists at him this summer, whcih can only help matters.

sweet, i didnt know that. thats what i like to hear!

[sppunk]

Originally posted by dishpan

I love you. How come you're such a Mavs fan, didn't you recently say you never resided here in Dallas?

[Debaser]

nobody has mentioned sacramento for next year?
has everybody has already written them off?

[dishpan]

Originally posted by sppunk

I love you. How come you're such a Mavs fan, didn't you recently say you never resided here in Dallas?

my parents live in dallas so i spend a ton of time there. i started going to mavs games with them and my brother two seasons ago, and now whenever i am out there (every holiday). fell in love!

Originally posted by Debaser
nobody has mentioned sacramento for next year?
has everybody has already written them off?

I <3 the Kings. But I live in San Antonio, after all.

If Webber was healthy, they would have schooled Dallas and S.A. True nuff. They'll be hungry like an Auchwitz survivor next year.

[dishpan]

Originally posted by Mr. Rhinoceros
I <3 the Kings.

i went to see both the mavs and the kings school mj and the wizards in dc this season. those were awesome games

[Debaser]

i pray for a healthy webber next year. but christ, evey single damn year he has a severe mobility-limiting ankle sprain.

[sppunk]

Originally posted by Debaser
i pray for a healthy webber next year. but christ, evey single damn year he has a severe mobility-limiting ankle sprain.

I fear of Sac-town, but Weber has a history of plagues. Not to mention his fucking Michigan up the ass. I just think God hates him, which he probably should.

[Buzz Burbank]

lol at mavericks fans thinking their trip to the conference finals wasnt by accident

[Blank]

Originally posted by sppunk


It doesn't matter. He doesn't even play anymore, save for expendable minutes or situations where Nellie has absolutely no choice.

I didn't say that it mattered...merely replying to the post referencing sending Bradley to the camp. Bradley still lead the team in block/game. That is sad, considering he is just a bench warmer.

Originally posted by sppunk
For some reason, it's become 'cool' to bash on the Mavs, Dirk and Cuban. Oh well, no one expected us to get past Sacremento and it happened. No one expected us to win 70 games, it happened. No one expected us to be this close to a Finals appearance, it happened.

No one expected C. Webber to get hurt in the series. I think that plenty of people expected them to win the number of games that they did. People just had the expectation that Dallas would lose to Sacramento.

Originally posted by sppunk

Nelson can coach defense, which is obvious. Dallas' D was not bad this year, in fact ranked (I believe) third or fourth in the Western Conference. He coaches to strenghts and momentum, and that just wasn't a strenght of the Mavs. Improvements were made this season, however, and really nothing tells me that won't continue.

Dallas' D was pretty much middle of the road (pts allowed - 8th in the West). They need that middles presence, or at least more of a physical presence to go along with Dirk. I would like to see them get a defensive player/rebounder (don't ask me who). Just like when the Bulls picked up Rodman (for rebounding), they won three straight titles. That is what Dallas needs.

Originally posted by sppunk
One other thing to ponder is Karl Malone's status. Everyone is riding him off as a sure-to-be-Laker, but he has closer ties to Nelson than many coaches and the Mavs are a deeper team than the Lakers. Plus, who knows if Jackson will be back and if that team will self-combust (one can only pray they will).

Where would you go if you were Malone? Of course he would choose the Lakers. I would put my money on the Lakers in a second if they got Malone. They should draft baby shaq if he comes out.

Originally posted by sppunk

By the way, Dirk will be MVP next season. Archive this shit and bring it out next May.

Noted.

Malone on the Lakers = mistake

They need a YOUNG power forward on that team. Malone might give them one or two good seasons, and then what? They need to think more about the future.

[guz]

Originally posted by Sean Casey
Malone on the Lakers = mistake

They need a YOUNG power forward on that team. Malone might give them one or two good seasons, and then what? They need to think more about the future.

Ok, my turn.

You're right for the most part...but there are 2 important things about this. #1, the building for the future should read more like 'building for kobe'. 2-3 years from now, it's his team. Make him happy. #2, I just cannot see the Lakers bringing in a guy who's going after Kareem's career scoring mark. He's going to be looking to get his, and the fans aren't going to appreciate him much either. He's a bad fit for this team.

Look for the Laker's to get Juwan Howard, who has already publicly stated he would consider less money to play for them. Along with Howard, selecting Collison in the draft will be perfect as he'd be able to learn as a back up and not be rushed.

As for Rick Fox, don't expect him to go anywhere. He's injured and under contract. At this point, it's questionable if he'll be back at any point during the 2003-2004 regular season.

Now as for the "strapped for cash, over the cap" talk, enough of that. Many teams are over the cap and pay the penalty. The cap is not a roof, it is a line...pass it and pay extra. I'm expecting the Lakers to actually shell out $$ this go 'round..so we'll see how that goes. Same with the Maverick's, who need to bring in and intimidating force in the middle, as mentioned before. Their weakness on defense isn't that they don't play any, but that they collapse when the ball is down low and never recover. How many 3's did Kerr & Jackson knock down in last night's second half?

Next, the Lakers did not 'self-destruct' this season. They lost in the second round of the playoffs. Sure, they were expecting more..as were many, but self-destructing, no.

Sacramento is in a funny situation (for me) in that Webber pulls out his magic trick every year...and by magic, i'm talking about his disappearing act. Whether it be the end of games and not wanting the ball, or not being able to stay healthy. As much talent is on that team, I think they depend on him a bit too much. They still should have been able to take the Mavs. Their advantage (just like the Spurs) was getting it inside the Mavs perimiter D. Webber has been more of a 16-foot jump shooter while Vlade and Pollard have been taking it to the hole. That was the Kings series, they choked it.

Anyhow, look for the Lakers to go after Howard & Collison. There's talk about Payton signing on for a year, but I don't see a 34 year old who could probably get 3+ years, signing a one year contract. There's talk about Piatkowski from the Clippers signing on w/ the Lakers as well, a solid shooter would definitely help out. Kupchak's going to be in the spotlight this offseason.

[Debaser]

Originally posted by guz

Sacramento is in a funny situation (for me) in that Webber pulls out his magic trick every year...and by magic, i'm talking about his disappearing act. Whether it be the end of games and not wanting the ball, or not being able to stay healthy. As much talent is on that team, I think they depend on him a bit too much. They still should have been able to take the Mavs. Their advantage (just like the Spurs) was getting it inside the Mavs perimiter D. Webber has been more of a 16-foot jump shooter while Vlade and Pollard have been taking it to the hole. That was the Kings series, they choked it.

it sucks how people get an impression of a player and then never let it die no matter what.

webber is not afraid to take the last shot. in fact, ever since last year's media sniping all over him for setting up bibby's game winner in the playoffs (the won the game for chrissakes), webber has been actually forcing the last shot almost to a fault. The last second free throws in minnesota, the last second 3 pointer against the Celtics -- Webber has had a good handful of game winners this year.
And Webber's infatuation with his 16 foot jumper? That's mostly due to his severely strained ankle in January. Before that ankle, he was just a monster taking it inside and just running around everybody, his name was regularly mentioned as a MVP candidate by the national media. Then he injured his ankle and no longer was able to move laterally or jump AT ALL. So he resorts to jumpers. But its not that bad, since he's got a nice jumpshot. And why did you even bring up Pollard? He's been injured for 90% of the whole year, wtf. Yes, it's obvious the Kings depend on Webber--the whole offense starts with him. But how is that different from any other team in the league? How did the lakers do without shaq? How would the Spurs do without Duncan? The would all fall apart.

[Nimrod's Son]

Originally posted by KingJeremy
They won't beat the Spurs next season either. They have nobody to match up with Duncan.

You operate under the erroneus assumption that Duncan wants to resign with the Spurs.

[guz]

Originally posted by Debaser
it sucks how people get an impression of a player and then never let it die no matter what.

[snip]

This year was due to injury, i said either not wanting to take that shot...or going down with an injury. Either way, he hasn't been there when it's mattered.

Originally posted by Debaser
And why did you even bring up Pollard? He's been injured for 90% of the whole year, wtf. Yes, it's obvious the Kings depend on Webber--the whole offense starts with him. But how is that different from any other team in the league? How did the lakers do without shaq? How would the Spurs do without Duncan? The would all fall apart.

I brought up Pollard b/c look at Kevin Willis and Malik Rose, and how they played against the Mav's. Any rough & tough body on the inside has eaten up Dallas all year long, the Kings should have pushed it more on the inside than they did.

Their team is different than others in the league when you look at their bench. I'm not saying they are just as good without Webber, I'm saying they should still have had enough to get by Dallas and went about it the wrong way. Too much run & gun, not enough shoving it down their throats.