The 2005-2006 NBA Season Discussion Thread

I jumped into the Suns-Nets game in the third quarter. I almost couldn't believe what I was seeing. The score almost didn't make sense.

Steve Nash was scoreless on 0-5 shooting. Amare was scoreless on 0-6 shooting.

I personally don't like the Nets, but yeah, they are playing great basketball right now.

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Game of the night: Dallas at Detroit. Right now it's 24-23 Dallas, end of the first quarter.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by bishop743

heh, I wonder why... lol :P

Haha, Vince does have something to do with that.

But I never liked Jason Kidd either. I lost all respect for him after the incident back in 2001 when he hit Joumana.

And then there's Richard Jefferson. I simply can't stand his face, and that expression he makes when he's playing basketball. It creeps me out.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by bishop743

His face?! WTF, T-Wolf? lol... I don't really pay much attention to his face but I don't pay much attention to his game either. He was injured most of last season and I figured the team would be mediocre this year, so I haven't been keeping up. But man, his face, haha...

I mean, this could scare small children.



I was speaking idiomatically.

And that is literally his face whenever he gets bumped or fouled.

I will use spoiler tags next time for something like that.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

So, I've been hearing some whispers of MVP for Nowitzki lately.

I think he'll get some votes.


Edit: Looks like that's it for Amare: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...are/index.html

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Ryuu

O_O

What the hell was that!? Was that real? 'Cause I think that's a technical...lol.

Yeah, that's real. Bowen's dirty like that.

Originally Posted by bishop743

yo T-Wolf, sup with your boy: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2387812

Looks like the constant losing and disappointments are finally starting to get to him. Like I said earlier in this thread, KG is loyal as hell... but he wants to win too.

KG is sick of losing. He wants to win, but he still wants to win in Minnesota if possible. He will only demand a trade if he feels that management isn't trying to get him the necessary pieces to compete for a championship.

The media has long been trying to get words out of KG, so they can write their stories.

One article I came across the other day interpreted KG's

Quote:

I've always said that I think I'm worth not only being listened to but I think I'm definitely in a position where I [should] have a team and ... a chance to win a ring. So I think, at the end of the day, they should at least give me that.

as him saying he deserves to be traded to a team that has a chance to win a ring.

I don't think that's what KG's saying.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by bishop743

Maybe, maybe not. I hope he does stay in Minnesota. It'd be great if he could finish his career there. But, at this rate, it's very hard to say whether that will come to fruition. KG, as well as AI, deserve to be on a contender. They've given their blood, sweat, tears and bodies to their respective teams. It might be time for a fresh start for each of them.

KG does deserve a lot better than the team McHale has put out there. You feel bad for KG because brings it every year, and gives it his all. His stats are still brilliant, and he still leads the league in efficiency rating.

His field goal percentage is the highest it's ever been, and he will once again win the rebounding crown. His assists are down because the Timberwolves now lack spot up shooters (Wally, Hudson, Hoiberg, Cassell, Sprewell). When Garnett kicks the ball out during double-teams, players like Ricky Davis and Marcus Banks end up slashing or dribbling some more, and thus nullifying the assist.

And so, KG's streak of 20-10-5 will end this year. But still, averaging 20-10-5 for six straight years is amazing. No one in the history of the league has ever done that. Larry Bird was the closest at five straight. KG is in a league of his own.

Originally Posted by bishop743

In other news, LeBron James added two more milestones to his resume last night in a dominating win over the Mavericks. He eclipsed Kobe Bryant to become the youngest player to reach 6,000 points. Also, with that win, the Cavs have clinched a playoff berth. Depending on how the seedings shake out, they might even get out of the first round. But, I don't see them going beyond that.

Cavaliers clinched a Playoff berth! I didn't realize it until I saw your post. That's great. It'll be fun to finally see Lebron James in the Playoffs, when it counts. I'd love to see how he handles the pressure and the stakes.



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And I'm watching the Spurs-Lakers game right now. What will Bowen pull this time.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by bishop743

KG's game is straight out of NBA Live. The guy can do things that players his size should not be able to do. He's the best all-around player in the game. There really isn't a single weak spot in his game. But, when it comes down to it, individual stats don't mean a whole lot in a team concept. It's about winning championships for him. He wants to win and be successful on a team level more than anything else. He made that clear during his MVP-wnning season a couple years back.

Definitely, individual stats don't mean a thing to KG. He just wants to win.

But for fans like us, it's still great to be able to look at his numbers and appreciate the brilliance of his individual career. His play has been consistently brilliant, and brilliantly consistent. Eleven years of this, and he's not slowing down.

Originally Posted by bishop743

Now that he has gotten his team into the playoffs, he is officially a franchise player now. He still has a long way to go to catch up to 'Melo though. 'Melo has been to the playoffs for 2 straight years in what was once a loaded Western Conference. It'll be good to see what LeBron can do when it's "Win or Go Home".

Melo had the benefit of being on better teams than Lebron in the two Nugget's Playoff appearances. Lebron's team is finally playing a lot better. And to think they're doing this without Larry Hughes.

The Cavaliers were SO close to making the Playoffs in each of the last two seasons. They were like one game out of a Playoff berth. Last year was especially disappointing because after a solid start, they collapsed the second half of the season. I'm glad that they made it this year.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

The Lakers will likely finish .500, as I'm looking at their schedule. Three of their next four games are against quality opponents (Denver, Phoenix, LA Clips).

Then after two pushover opponents (Golden State, Portland), they finish the season with Phoenix and New Orleans/Oklahoma City.

It'll be a fight to the finish for those teams clustered around 7th to 10th place.


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What's up with New Jersey. Eleven straight wins.

What's up with Dallas. Three straight losses. They basically just played themselves out of battling the Spurs for that top seed.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Okay, this is ridiculous:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2390599


(And no, this is not an April Fools thing. At least, I doubt it.)

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Big win for the Pistons. Chauncey was terrific. Will those MVP whispers start up again.

I'm still buggin' out over Lebron James' 47 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals performance in that win over the Heat. He took only 25 shots, compared to Wade's 36, which was Wade's career-high in shot attempts.

Lebron James is just incredible. He's so strong and so athletic. When he dunks, his head is rim-level. That kind of elevation is sick. It almost looks like he is floating, as he is often still rising when he stuffs the ball through.


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Okay, this is funny.



One. Two. Three. The Fourth one got him.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by bishop743

LOL! I got 4 words for you: HIL-A-RI-OUS!! Oh man, that is classic.

I like how Korver could barely get up.

Originally Posted by bishop743

wtf @ the Nets! They totally dismantled the Heat yesterday for their 12th straight win. I was thinking that the Eastern Conference was just a 2-team race, but it looks like I was wrong.

Every year, the Nets seem to always have that one great run of consecutive wins. Then they cool off. They won't get past the second round of the Playoffs.

Originally Posted by bishop743

Lastly, both Charles Barkley and Dominique Wilkins will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I'm really glad to hear this. Both were exceptional players during their time. Yeah, neither of them won any championships, but they each brought and contributed a great deal to the game. Congrats to both of them.

'Nique!! Finally. I still can't believe he was left off that 50 Greatest Players of All-Time list.

Originally Posted by Ryuu

So yeah, congrats to them...when is Jordan eligible for the HOF?

A player needs to be retired for a full five years before being eligible for the HoF. Then in that sixth year of retirement, he can be inducted.

So for Mike, the earliest is 2009.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Joe Dumars too eh -- nice. I remember MJ always saying how Dumars guarded him really well.

Originally Posted by nazpyro

What do you mean "Korver couldn't get up"? Were they laughing their asses off or something too? That would be hilarious.

I meant he barely jumped high enough to attempt that block.

FELIPE NO

Oh, Melo essentially cost the Nuggets the game by punching the ball into the stands out of frustration -- after he was fouled, and was going to the line for two freethrows with the Nuggets down by two with 1:11 left in the game.

Clutch. Yes.

Child. Yes.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Damn, New Jersey. They even clinched the Atlantic Division.

The rest of their schedule is relatively easy, too, with their toughest opponent being Cleveland.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by bishop743

Speaking of the Sixers, they have a big game tonight against the Bulls. It's a dogfight between those two teams for that 8th and final playoff spot. I think the Bulls might find a way to pull this game out and inevitably get that 8th spot. You wanna talk about money, clutch fourth quarter players, there isn't a better one right now than Ben Gordon. Outside of Carmelo maybe, Gordon has been playing the best ball in the 4th quarter.

The Bulls now have that eighth seed, after beating the Sixers. Sixers will have their work cut out for them if they want to make the Playoffs.

Dammit, Atlanta beat the Timberwolves at the buzzer. It looked like the Timberwolves were expecting a timeout, but the Hawks just inbounded and outlet the ball, and drove all the way to the bucket.

Hornets win on OT. Here's the line on Chris Paul: 17 points, 11 rebounds, 16 assists, 6 steals.

Give him the ROY trophy right now.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Yeah, Chris Paul for MVP might be stretching it a bit. But he's been extremely valuable to his team, and is a big reason why the Hornets are successful this year.


I am watching the Lakers-Nuggets game. Melo versus Kobe.


EDIT EDIT EDIT:

Melo is sick. Can someone send him a get-well card.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Quote of the week: Andrei Kirilenko, on making the Playoffs this year.

Quote:

We don't have a good chance, it's a bad chance. But we have a chance, which is good. We have to win a lot of games.

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Originally Posted by nazpyro

I remember earlier in the season when he got injured, he said something along the lines of, "It feels not good. It feels bad. I don't like feeling bad. That's not good."

Ahahaha, that's gold.


Oh yeah! New Jersey's winning streak just got snapped. Way to go, Lebron: 37 points, with 18 of those in the final quarter.

Did anyone see the Lakers-Suns game last night? I went to bed early, because I was exhausted from having just an hour of sleep the night before. Did Kobe hit 50 again.

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I'm looking at the boxscores now. Wow, Kobe regularly takes more than 30 shots a game. He jacked up 33 shots last night.

To compare, Kevin Garnett has only taken 33 shots once in his entire career.

Oh, Kobe Bryant needs two more technicals this season to receive an automatic suspension. He has 14 on the season now.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by nazpyro

With only a few more weeks left, he can't possibly outdo it, with the enusing suspensions following each.

It's one suspension for every additional two techs, if I remember correctly.

'Sheed has been a relatively good citizen ever since he went to Detroit.

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Originally Posted by bishop743

Guys like Kobe and AI are scorers. They'll jack up as many shots as possible regarldess of the situation, how many defenders are on them or even if they have open teammates sometimes. KG is a shooter. He doesn't take as many shots, but 90% of his shots are quality ones. For a scorer, it's all about FGAs... for a shooter, it's about FG %. That's how I think about it.

At some point, the best type you can be is not a "scorer" or a "shooter" -- but simply a basketball player.

If a player is double or triple-teamed, the logical basketball move/deicison is to pass the ball. Kevin Garnett does that. He is a basketball player.

Lebron James is a basketball player. Steve Nash is a basketball player.

Kobe is a one-man team.

The difference between Kobe and Iverson is that Kobe takes needlessly difficult shots, with people draped all over him. Most of Iverson's shots are either drives or open jumpshots that he earns by shaking people. AI attempts a lot shots, but at least he's usually open.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by bishop743

Nah man, you got what I was saying all wrong. Calling someone a "basketball player" really has nothing to do with how they shoot the ball. People call them that because they don't fit at one specific position. KG can play several positions seamlessly, hence why he is a basketball player. Same thing with LeBron. He can play SG, SF, PG. Being a "basketball player" means you are versatile and can wear more than one hat. Steve Nash doesn't really fit that mold to me, so I don't know if I'd call him a "basketball player", per say. He's a PG, always had been.

AI and Kobe are different in the sense that, yeah, AI tries to involve his teammates more, but that's not what I was saying. Just because AI can break a double team, or shake a defender up to get a shot, doesn't always mean it's a "good shot". When two, three people are coming at you, you know what that means, there is someone on your team open. :P

If you're talking about being an all-around great player, knowing the fundamentals and such, then yeah guys like Steve Nash, Tim Duncan and others are definitely in that mix. But you won't see Nash playing PF, and you won't see Duncan playing SG or PG. That's what a "basketball player" is. That intells way more than just shooting or scoring.

Basically what I'm saying is that being a basketball player or a shooter/scorer are two different things.

Ah I see. But I wasn't disagreeing with what you were saying. I was just throwing my two cents in there regarding the subject, and taking shots at Kobe . What I was trying to say with the "basketball player" thing, is that players like KG, Lebron, and Nash make sound basketball decisions. Not necessarily about being versatile or all-around players.

But I think I know what you mean now Yeah, in that case, you're right: Being a "basketball player" has nothing to do with a player's being in a category of shooter/scorer.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

So the Sixers and the Bulls play again tonight.

Philly really needs this one. If they lose tonight, they lose the season series 1-3 to Chicago, and thus lose the head-to-head tie-breaker.

But Chicago has won four straight games, while Philly has lost three straight.

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The Sixers ended up winning that game. Both teams now have identical records, with the Bull holding the tie-breaker.

Looking at the standings, the Pacers have dropped two straight, and the Bucks have dropped four straight. The Sixers may have a decent shot after all.

San Antonio and Dallas are still in that fight for the first spot. The Spurs just narrowed beat the Grizzlies last night to avoid their third straight loss.

New Jersey is trying to catch Miami to grab that number 2 seed. I don't think they'll do it.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.