[Tournament] The 2006-2007 NBA Season Discussion Thread

So is DerMarr Johnson going to give up his #3 jersey.

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

Sorry I've been away, guys.

Me and bishop were sharing some stuff, and I figure I can post the links here for you guys as well.




Livingston dislocates knee: http://www.sendspace.com/file/gvb4lr (this one has sound ... you can hear him screaming in pain)

Dwight Howard's Sticker Dunk: http://www.sendspace.com/file/omtgkm

2007 Slam Dunk Contest: http://www.sendspace.com/file/s1619l (play with VLC player if WMP doesn't work)

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

Originally Posted by The Dopefish

The announcer and color-commentator's comments on the slow-motion are great:

"...if you are a little squeamish, you might not want to see all this..." "...gotta be when he lands...ooh, right there." "Oh, yeah, OH, OH DEAR ME, oh, yes...oh dear...not only, uh...and there's no kneecap there, if you notice..."

Yeah, I was doing the dishes while keeping an eye on the game on TV. And I turn around and all of a sudden saw Livingston on the ground. So I went to get a closer look -- then they showed the replays, and I felt kind of sick.

He's never had a injury-free year, and you feel bad for the kid. He's got so much potential (he was just coming off a career-high 14 assist game), and yet he's so prone to injuries. I don't see the longevity in his career.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I guess nobody knew how serious it was until they realized he was still writhing in pain.

The expression on everyone's faces -- including the Bobcats -- was just one of shock, horror, and empathy. It's so disturbing because no one collided with him ... he simply landed after a layup.


It's estimated that he'll be out 8-12 months, and may very well miss all of next season: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by bishop743

Jesus H. Christ, that is horrific. I've seen it once and there's no way I'm gonna look at it again. I don't think I've ever seen anything that bad before. Forget this season, he might not play next year either, after something like that. I just hope the guy can come back from this. It's going to take a hell of a lot of work and rehab, though.

Also, thanks T-Wolf for those two dunk contest uploads. I appreciate that.

You know, I don't even know why I downloaded that video this morning. I saw it live last night, and didn't think I would ever want to see it again. It makes my legs feel weak each time... like I need to sit down and not jump ever again.





Something happy... ok.

Here are my thoughts on the Dwight Howard dunk, which he got robbed on in the scoring department. I think the judges should be allowed (or required) to view replays of a dunk right after it's executed, before handing out scores.

When all is said and done, Dwight Howard's Sticker Oop is still the most memorable dunk from this year's contest. Catching an alley-oop with the right hand while simultaneously slapping a sticker near the top of the backboard with the left hand -- that is absolutely sick. And to fully appreciate the creativity and execution, you have to understand that a lot of work and pre-planning went into it.

After the league denied his request to raise the rim to 12 feet, Dwight and his teammates came up with the sticker idea. But to make it work, they actually got help from the Orlando Magic's Creative Services Department. Read the Orlando Sentinel article HERE.

Quote:

Teammates gave him the idea, but Rusty Morris and Melissa Miller from the Magic's Creative Services Department made it, uh, stick.

On Tuesday, they snapped photos of Howard for an all-star logo and found the materials for the sticker. Then they had to help Dwight figure out a way to slap the sticker on the glass backboard. "We had to find a material that wouldn't get stuck to the backboard like a label after he dunked," said Morris, who turned to Oscar Gonzalez of C & S Press.

Gonzalez came up with a compound and special laminate for the sticker, which had "double-sided sticky tape," Morris said.

They then had Dwight wrap the sticker around the ring finger on his left hand. With the sticker concealed in his huge hand, Howard practiced the dunk with 30 stickers.

TNT showed footage today of Dwight practicing the dunk with Jameer Nelson, slapping the sticker while alley-ooping. You see how much thought went into that one dunk -- and he was also saving his Kiss-The-Rim dunk for the final round. But unfortunately he got robbed Saturday night, and in turn so did the fans.

Some people -- including Dwight's camp -- seem to think that maybe the dunk would have generated a better reaction had he let the crowd and judges know what he was doing.

I disagree.

The reason why Dwight didn't just reveal what he was about to do was simple: Surprise factor. You appreciate the subtleties of it so much more when you suddenly realize that there's a sticker with his face on it up high on the backboard. Indeed, the dunk generated quiet a buzz throughout the Thomas & Mack Center Saturday night, once the crowd realized what he had done.

Too bad the judges made up their minds prematurely and took the dunk at face value -- and likely didn't even see the motion of Dwight's left hand -- without the benefit of replays.

At the Legends Brunch on All-Star Sunday, Dr. J introduced Cheryl Miller, who was being honored. The first thing Cheryl did when she got to the podium was call out Dr. J on scoring the Dwight Howard dunk.


PICTURES!









FELIPE NO

It must be the new haircut.

Or not.




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

Originally Posted by bishop743

And speaking of Kobe, what's up with him and his flailing arm of doom? That's definitely not a normal shooting motion. I don't know what the hell Phil Jackson is talking about.

He was trying to make it look like there was more contact than there actually was. Each time, he was stuffed cleanly, but he just flailed his arms to make it look like he got fouled.

Too much time spent in Hollywood, probably.



(But that 65 point game, followed by that 50 point game ... those were something)

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Kobe scores 60 again.

He now has four 60+ games in his career, tying MJ for second place all-time.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I don't like Kobe as a person, but he's very entertaining as a basketball player. He is in an incredible offensive rhythm right now -- the basket must seem like a giant bucket to him these days.



And how about those Raptors, wow. They spanked the Nuggets last night. It was Chuck Swirsky Bobblehead Night at the Air Canada Centre.

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

I do agree with the article that some people refuse to acknowledge the greatness of Kobe (the player) simply because they don't like him (the person). But some of the assertions the articles makes, they're certainly... interesting.

She claims that the NBA is "tougher" now, but fails to acknowledge that the game today is officiated differently. Wing players like Kobe have a much easier time getting to the basket in the modern NBA. You lay an arm on them and it's a whistle. MJ was routinely hacked on the way to the basket (Pistons and Knicks specifically).

Quote:

Yesterday's NBA player certainly was more fundamentally sound, but there's no question that today's player is bigger, stronger and faster. When Jordan played, he was a singular force that could not be equaled. Jordan was guarded by the likes of John Starks and Joe Dumars, who were fine players but weren't nearly as skilled or physically imposing as LeBron, D-Wade, Tracy McGrady or even Vince Carter.

I don't know what she's trying to prove here -- the fact remains that Joe Dumars was still a better defensive player than Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter combined. Physical gifts and athleticism only get you so far.

Quote:

Phoenix, Dallas and San Antonio are all better than the Utah, Portland and the Charles Barkley-led Phoenix team that Michael met in the NBA Finals.

This is very debatable. How can she even make such comparisons without backing them up with valid arguments.

Quote:

Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson and Patrick Ewing will be among the best centers ever, but none of them affected the league the way Shaq and Tim Duncan have.

This statement just reeks of a lack of sense of history. David Robinson perhaps, but Hakeem never affected the league the way Shaq and Duncan have?? She can't be serious.

Quote:

There are two two-time MVPs in Kobe's own conference (Duncan, Nash), which is a problem Jordan never faced during his championship runs. Seven-footers weren't launching 3s back then. Magic Johnson and the Lakers were on a downward spiral, and the Pistons were on their last legs. It was Michael and everyone else. That's not the case for Kobe.

Michael and everyone else?

Everyone else as in Charles Barkley? Karl Malone & John Stockton? Patrick Ewing? Shawn Kemp & Gary Payton? Shaq & Penny?

It was "Michael and everyone else" because Michael was head and shoulders above all the other hall-of-famers of his day.








In other news -- did everyone see Rasheed Wallace's 62-foot heave to force overtime yesterday? I watched the entire game, and I almost jumped out of my chair when it happened.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by bishop743

You wouldn't happen to have a video of that shot, would you, T-Wolf?

Yup, I do Here you go, off NBA.com: http://www.sendspace.com/file/hd01id

Originally Posted by bishop743

Lastly, the Mavs won their 60th game last night in a win over the Bucks. They're the 3rd fatest team to reach 60 wins, only behind the 95-96 and 96-97 Chicago Bulls teams.

To say they've been on a tear this season is an understatement.

They are very impressive. I'm sure they're still motivated by blowing an 0-2 lead last year in the Finals against the Heat.

Do you think they'll win 70 games? That requires them to go 10-1 (or 11-0 to finish 71-11) in their final 11 games.

Looking at the remaining schedule, they still play against Phoenix, Denver, San Antonio, and Utah.

It's gonna be close, I think.

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Raptors Playoff tickets went on sale (for the general public) today at noon through Ticketmaster.

I got mine. I'm going to Game 2 of the first round. The Raptors may end up playing New Jersey, which will be a hot-blooded series.

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Originally Posted by Fiddlegoof

Damn you're a lucky guy! If I lived closer to Toronto, I'd definitely spend the money.

It will be extremely exciting to watch them play the Nets. Vince Carter will either be hot and kobe-like, or a complete discrace. There'll certainly be a few boo's though

Enjoy the game, Timberwolf! Try to take some pics that you can share.

My ticket is on the low end, as I can't afford anything too pricey right now. So my seat it pretty hight up. The main thing is that I just want to be there in person.

The great thing about the ACC is that the arena is designed very well, and you can see the action clearly no matter where you're sitting.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by bishop743

Man, that's really cool, T-Wolf. I hope you have a good time and enjoy the game. And, as Fiddlegoof mentioned, please bring back some pics to share with us.

I will

I hope whatever photos I take will turn out decent, considering where I'll be sitting. This is the least expensive ticket I've never purchased (I believe it's in the section called The Sprite Zone), so I'm really hoping the view won't be too bad.

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

Originally Posted by bishop743

Man, the Wizards are getting the tar beat out of them by the Bulls today. It really sucks to see this. They had such great promise this season. Hopefully, Arenas and Butler will come back even better next season.

The Spurs-Mavs game coming up should be a good watch though.

Wizards finally won one tonight, avoiding a first round match-up with Detroit. They will play Cleveland -- but without Agent Zero and Butler, things don't look good.

Chicago blew a big game tonight against New Jersey, knocking them all the way down to the fifth seed. Their road to the Eastern Conference Finals looks very tough (they would have to go through Miami and likely Detroit).

The East match-ups are in:


Detroit (1) vs. Orlando (8)
Chicago (4) vs. Miami (5)

Cleveland (2) vs. Washington (7)
Toronto (3) vs. New Jersey (6)



Now we wait for another two hours to find out what happens in the West.

I'll have my predictions and brackets tomorrow.



EDIT: I made a mistake last night, Chicago is the 5th seed and Miami is the 4th -- not the other way around. (But Chicago will still have homecourt since they have the better record.)

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Fiddlegoof

You should hold a big sign saying "Onions baby, Onions from GFF", so we can spot you out in the crowd if the camera ever falls on you.

I'm excited to see New Jersey play Toronto. With Carter there, it'll be just like old times. My bet is that he gets hurt in the first game, third quarter, and Toronto completely owns the series.

Haha. One thing for sure -- there's gonna be signs everywhere at the ACC, and half of them will have Chuck Swirsky sayings.

It will be an exciting, heated series. Vince Carter may even play hard.

Analysts and talking heads are already saying that if there's a likely upset in the first round, it would be New Jersey over Toronto. They go on to talk about the Raptors' inexperience, and how much experience New Jersey has.

I don't really buy it. A good team's a good team. And the Raptors are a good team.

Give me a good, young team that plays hard and executes over an experienced team that thinks it can turn it on or off whenever they want. Anyday.


Here are my predictions for Round 1:




EAST

Detroit (1) vs. Orlando (8): Detroit in 4
Miami (4) vs. Chicago (5): Miami in 7

Cleveland (2) vs. Washington (7): Cleveland in 5
Toronto (3) vs. New Jersey (6): Toronto in 6


WEST

Dallas (1) vs. Golden State (8): Dallas in 6
Utah (4) vs. Houston (5): Houston in 7

Phoenix (2) vs. LA Lakers (7): Phoenix in 6
San Antonio (3) vs. Denver (6): San Antonio in 7



There's nowhere I can't reach.

Wow, Golden State.

Mark Cuban looked maaaaaad.

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

Game 2 between the Raptors-Nets was SO good.

Not only was I attending my first Playoff game, it was also the first time I was there to root for the Raptors. All the other games I went to in the past, I was there to see the visiting team (Penny, KG, MJ, Iverson).

So this was new. I even wore red.

I'll try to upload some of my photos for y'all tomorrow. I just gotta say, it was a lot of fun, being part of the crowd, cheering for the Raptors and booing Vince. I'm very glad the Raptors came away with the win.


And I came home with an Anthony Parker jersey.

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

I finally found my way back...

I didn't even know GFF was back, until I checked one of my lesser used email accounts and saw Miles' notice.

And then I couldn't find The Back Pages...



Well, good to be back at last.




How ya doing, buddy?

Man, this is not good for basketball.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

It's all over. Even though the past two games went down to the wire, it hasn't exactly been an exciting series.

I believe that had the Pistons won the East, they would've matched-up much better against San Antonio. But give Cleveland credit, for beating Detroit and winning the East. Despite getting thoroughly out-played and out-executed by the Spurs in the Finals, it's been a successful season for the Cavs.

It annoys me that no one in the media ever says anything when Duncan has underwhelming performances. It's like, if the Spurs win despite Duncan's subpar play, the media looks the other way and instead talks about how great the Spurs team is. But if the Spurs win and Duncan puts up numbers, the media gushes about his greatness.

These are the same people who say that Tim Duncan is the greatest player since Jordan. Or that he's the greatest power forward of all time.

As far as I'm concerned, he's just one of the greatest power forwards of all time, and who happens to have been fortunate enough to play on a stable team with quality personnel and coaching. Just because he has four rings, doesn't automatically make him a better player than Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, or even Kevin Garnett.

FELIPE NO

Should be a great Draft too.

Thursday night, 7pm.



As wonderful as it must be for Portland to own the first pick, it's gotta be tough deciding between Oden and Durant. I think if I were a GM or management in this year's draft, I would rather have the second pick than the first pick.

Because you can't go wrong with the second pick. It's easy -- just take the player that Portland passed on.

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

Originally Posted by bishop743

Nah, I think I gotta disagree with you on this one. The choice is plainly clear here. I'm sure the Blazer's brass will say they are reviewing all their options but they know they are taking Oden, and that's what they should do. Durant is a great player and might be a great pro but great wingmen are a lot easier to come by than a big man. How many true great centers are in the league right now? Shaq? Yao? Howard?

Oden will pay immediate dividends with his defensive presence alone, it'll probably take Durant some time to reach that same potential. Plus, the Blazers have a lot of good, young players. As a team, they are right on the cusp. Oden could be that piece that gets them over the hump.

Well actually, I do agree that taking Oden is a no-brainer for Portland. But I'm just thinking in terms of maybe 7-10 years down the line... what if maybe Durant's potential is actually greater than Oden's, and Durant's able to maximize all of it. What if maybe Oden turns out to be an Olajuwon, and Durant turns out to be a... Mike. If that happens, Portland won't necessarily be kicking themselves, but they would still wonder "What if..."

But for Seattle, the pick is SOOOO easy. No matter what -- even if Oden has a better career than Durant -- they won't be kicking or second guessing themselves. Because essentially Portland did the choosing for them.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Draft is about to start.

Who else is watching.

There's nowhere I can't reach.