The 2005-2006 NBA Season Discussion Thread

Some random thoughts about the season so far:

- The Pistons are very, very scary

- Steve Nash is having a better season than last year, when he won MVP

- Those Cleveland fans who booed Lebron James last week don't deserve him

- Iggy got robbed in the Dunk Contest

- Josh Smith: You can't put tape there, and jump from somewhere else

- Players that should be in every Dunk Contest: Lebron James, Vince Carter, Desmond Mason, Jason Richardson, Andre Iguodala

- Kobe Bryant. Meet Lamar Odom. He is your talented teammate

- Allen Iverson is the greatest 6-feet-and-under player in league history

- Melo is more clutch than Lebron, at this point in their careers

- The Air Jordans XXI is dope; the TV spot is genius

- Kobe Bryant. Meet Kwame Brown. He is your ... uhh never mind

- Chris Bosh will be an all-star for years to come

- Ernie, Chuck, and Kenny are too funny

- Kevin Garnett is a better player than Tim Duncan

- Coach of the year so far: Flip Saunders

- MVP so far: Chauncey Billups

- Most impressive player this season: Lebron James (near 31-7-7)

- Most dominant player this season: Kobe Bryant

- Most surprising team this season: NO/Oklahoma City Hornets

- Someone please explain to me what the Knicks management has been doing

- What I want to see: The Timberwolves making the Playoffs

How ya doing, buddy?

I guess the KG vs. Duncan debate is always an interesting one.

With the exception of the 2003-2004 season, Duncan's teams have always been better than Garnett's. This year, Parker has been a beast. The Spurs success this year can be attributed just as much to Parker as it can to Duncan, who's currently averaging a career-low 19.0 points to Parker's 19.4. Then there's always the ever-reliable Ginobili, Horry, Finley, and Bowen.

KG has Ricky Davis ... and Marcus Banks, Rashad McCants, and Mark Blount.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by RockgamerXIII

And on a totally unrelated note, have you heard Tony Parker rapping? If you haven't, trust me, you probably don't want to. I won't be looking forward to Tony P.'s (yes, that's his rap name) new album this fall.

Haha, really? He really oughtta stick to basketball.

What would Eva think.

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

Originally Posted by nazpyro

-That commercial is currently the most awe-inspiring commercial in my opinion. Perhaps it is the best commercial ever, but that may be biased.

The entire Air Jordans XXI campaign is just so wonderfully crafted. The print ads themselves are beautiful -- with the red laces forming XXI and looking eerily like DNA strands, which fits perfectly with the whole "Second Generation" and "heritage" motifs.

And the TV spot ... it's just amazing. Everything from the music and pacing, to the different ethnicities of the young players, to showcasing both genders, and to faithfully mirroring some of MJ's greatest moves and moments -- it's just brilliantly made.

I spent a good two hours on the Nike Jumpman site last week, just looking at the content and checking out the entire XXI campaign.

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

It's funny how Rasheed has a ring now. It's clear that the Blazers's problems didn't stem from Rasheed. That entire organization is in a ditch, with a really negative vibe.

At least they don't have a payroll like the Knicks. And oh, I just noticed the other week, that Eddy Curry averages 0.3 assists per game.

I didn't know that was possible.

Curry also averages 2.76 turnovers per game. Which means he is NINE times more likely to cough up the ball than to make an assist.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I've never owned a pair of Air Jordans before. They were always too out of my spending comfort zone.

But the AJ XXI is really lookin' good. I love the red version.

I probably still won't be able to afford a pair. I'll do what I normally do, go to stores and gawk at them.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Just watched the Sixers lose to the Nuggets. The Sixers have dropped three straight close games, and are now under .500 for the first time since mid-February.

Iggy needs to get more touches and be more involved/integrated in the offense. The guy is really, really talented. We all saw what he did in the Rookie Challenge during All-Star weekend.

And Iverson -- this guy is just a pure joy to watch. Sure, he doesn't get up as high as he used to -- I mean, the little guy used to dunk on people -- but he doesn't seem to have lost a step at all. Jerry Colangelo has made a big mistake not inviting AI to tryout for the USA Team.

There's still nobody better at creating his own shot in the league than AI. Iverson in the open court at full sprint is just ill. And I never get tired of watching him break down defenders. He just pitbulls and crosses them to death.

*Sizes up defender*
*Changes pace of dribble*
*Forces defender to retreat*
*Gives defender a little cross*
*Gives slight hesitation*
*Gives defender a hard cross*
*WIDE OPEN*

FELIPE NO

Anyone see the Penny Hardaway interview last night on TNT? I feel for him, and I hope he comes back. When I first started following basketball -- during the mid-90's when I was like eleven -- Penny and Shaq were my favourite players. And the Orlando Magic was my team.

I loved Penny's game. His game was so clean and polished. His court vision and understanding of the game were almost Magic (Johnson)-like. Great passer, terrific post-up game, clutch shooter, smart player. He was athletic, unselfish, clean-cut, marketable, and simply fun to watch. There's a reason why Penny was one of the most popular, well-liked players in the mid-90's.

Sadly, all the injuries, rehab, and the ensuing negative press had taken so much away from Penny's game. I'm still a Penny Hardaway fan, though.

And I hope to see him in uniform next season.


... Back to this Colangelo-Iverson thing:

I wonder what Colangelo's thought process was. Was he thinking that Iverson isn't enough of a team player to be on team, and that Iverson is a ball dominator? Well, Kobe's on the team. How would Colangelo explain that.

Was he thinking that Iverson will be 33 when the 2008 Beijing Games begin, and thus too old? Well, Shaq still has an open invitation to join the team, and he'll be 36 in 2008. Explain that, Colangelo.

Was he thinking that he already has enough scorers? Wait a minute -- Gilbert Arenas, but not Allen Iverson? Uh, right.

Was he thinking that he already has enough point guards? Wait a minute -- Chris Paul and Luke Ridnour, but not Allen Iverson? Riiiiight.

Just look at this roster:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ter/index.html

Is Colangelo actually saying there's no room for Allen Iverson on this roster. That he'd rather have Luke Ridnour?

I hope this USA Team implodes when Kobe Bryant, out of a bogus attempt to get his USA teammates involved, tries to pass the ball and hits Lamar Odom at the back of the head.

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

Oh definitely, Chris Paul is a terrific young talent. I didn't mean to knock his game. I was just saying, given the choice of Chris Paul or Allen Iverson -- I'd pick AI ten times out of ten

Young Chris Paul has got ROY locked up, though. They may as well hand him the trophy now.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

That roster is the list of 23 players invited to tryout for the team.

They will cut that number down to 12 for the Beijing Games in 2008. (But they'll probably have a larger roster for the World Championships later this year.)

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...3/10/team.usa/

It's almost certain that the likes of Luke Ridnour will be cut.

But poor AI...

Never mind the fact that Allen Iverson had actually wanted to play for Team USA. Never mind what Allen Iverson brings to any backcourt (unparalled speed and quickness, court vision, veteran leadership, heart and passion, speed and quickness, pitbull defense, pitbull offense, drawing of double-teams, speed and quickness). Never mind the fact that Allen Iverson would invariably boost the TV ratings, popularity, and exposure for this USA squad.

Never mind all that. ...What really upsets a lot of people is that Allen Iverson wasn't even invited to tryout.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

If I could pick any twelve (U.S.-native) players to play for the 2008 USA squad...

Starters:
C-Tim Duncan
PF-Kevin Garnett
SF-Lebron James
SG-Dwyane Wade
PG-Allen Iverson

Bench:
C- Amare Stoudamire (only if he's healthy; if not, Dwight Howard)
PF- Shawn Marion
SF- Carmelo Anthony
SG- Ray Allen
PG- Chauncey Billups
C- Ben Wallace
F- Tayshaun Prince


It's a nice blend of players.

You've got low-post reliability: Duncan Amare, KG
You've got athleticism: Marion, Lebron, KG, AI
You've got 3-point shooters: Ray, Chauncey, Lebron
You've got scorers: AI, Lebron, Melo, Wade
You've got speed: AI, Lebron, Wade, KG
You've got size: KG, Duncan, Amare
You've got guys who can play more than two positions: KG, Lebron, Melo
You've got power: Amare, Big Ben, Lebron
You've got rebounders: KG, Big Ben, Duncan
You've got shotblockers: Big Ben, Amare, Duncan, KG
You've got shutdown kings: Prince, KG, Big Ben
You've got clutch players: Duncan, Melo, Wade
You've got youth: Lebron, Melo, Wade, Amare
You've got veteran leadership: KG, Duncan, AI, Ray
You've got guys who can excel without the ball: Prince, Big Ben, KG, Marion
You've got unselfish players: EVERYONE


This team would win gold. Easy.


bishop743, if you could put together a team for 2008, who would you roll with?


Edit: Just in case anyone's wondering, the reason I didn't include T-Mac is this:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/3715925.html

You can only wonder what his back will be like in 2008.

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

Hahaha yeah ... they should save themselves the trouble and just send the Pistons

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

This has just been a unfortunate season for Rockets fans. I don't know how many years Tracy McGrady has left in him ... his back is just so bad. I wonder how much longer he can hold on.

I remember watching the Rockets-Nuggets game on January 8th, where T-Mac went up for a jumper -- just his standard, regular jumpshot -- and came down normally. But his back just spasmed, and he collapsed to the floor. He was wheeled out on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.

Carmelo Anthony hit the game-winner in that game.

I love T-Mac's game. When he's back is fine, his game is insane. But with the health of his back in question, he may have trouble playing past 30. He'll be 27 in May.

Most amazing jew boots

Originally Posted by nazpyro

I don't really like Carmelo (not Kobe for that matter), but I suppose since they want to play, and they're good.

Melo is having a superb year. While he is still a ball dominator, and he needs to get his assists average up, but he's been really clutch this season. I think he's hit like, three or four game-winners this season.


On another note, Allen Iverson's sprined ankle yesterday was unfortunate. No, he didn't come down on awkwardly on his own. No, he didn't land on another player's foot.

He landed on a floor crew employee, after landing out of bounds on a final jumper to end the half.

Some of those guys sitting courtside and baseline, they sit way TOO close and packed. Especially those baseline photographers and floor crew members. Players have no room to stop their momentum, and they have to crash into them.

Allen Iverson had to carried off the floor by his teammtes. There's no reason why AI should ever have to get injured like that. He gets beat up enough on the court. Why is he getting beat up out of bounds too.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I guess there's not much the league could do about it. After all, those photographers take good photos.

Like this one: Gerald Wallace!





Hey look, two Lakers trying out for the USA Team.



Lamar: Maybe he'll pass to me in the Olympics. I am a pretty good player.
Kobe: I'm not passing to anyone in the Olympics. I am da man.
Lamar: Those international teams play the right way.
Kobe: Just wait. 81 points ain't no thang.
Lamar: Maybe Lebron will pass to me.
Kobe: Maybe I can dunk on Lebron.
Lamar: There's a chance, come 2008, I won't make the 12-man roster.
Kobe: Why does he have the same number as me.

FELIPE NO

Gerald Wallce plays that hard-nosed, tough-tough defense. The first I heard of him was when he appeared in SLAM magazine as a high-schooler.

If he keeps working hard, he's gonna be a star in this league. Especially with the sick athleticism and mad hops he's got.

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

I also think Amare should just sit out this season. Like you said, the Suns are playing really well. Trying to integrate Amare into their offensive and defensive sets would disrupt their current chemistry.

Even though Steve Nash would surely find a way to get him settled, there will always be that adjustment period for the whole team. Plus, Amare has GOT to be out of shape. Five-on-five team practice is no simulation for a real NBA game.

Even if he does come back this year, there's no way the organization is gonna play him 40 minutes a night. So he's looking at likely 20 minutes -- maybe even 10-15 to ease him back. That's just a disruption to the team.

Health-wise, Amare should be very careful. There's been a lot of players who had the same surgery, and were never the same again. But Amare is still young. He should make sure he's 100%, and in shape before he attempts to come back.

But if he's already at 100% right now and ready to go -- (which is unlikely) -- the Suns should bring him back right now. This gives him about 20 games to get in shape and into the flow of things before the Playoffs start.


It'd be funny if, in a weird twist of events, the Suns win the championship without Amare. Then what.

Not that they will. Just sayin'.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Yeah, they definitely won't win the West.

But even if for some bizarre reason they did make it out -- which they surely won't -- the Pistons would slaughter them.

But ... is anyone looking at Steve Nash as a likely MVP winner? Just look at the entire Suns squad flop when Nash sits out a game. He's also having a better year than last season, when he did win MVP. I hope the media won't hold it against him and vote for other players simply because Nash already won it last year.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Actually, the MVP voting is done by the media. A panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the U.S. and Canada submit their votes.

10 points are awarded for each first-place vote
7 points are awarded for each second-place vote
5 points are awarded for each third-place vote
3 points are awarded for each fourth-place vote
1 point is awarded for each fifth-place vote


David Stern has no say in who gets MVP.

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

What do you guys think the chances are for guys like Chauncey Billups and Dirk Nowitzki to win it?

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

But what if Dallas finishes with the number one record in the West?

They have an identical record (50-14) with San Antonio right now.

How ya doing, buddy?

I agree. Take away Dirk, and you would still have a decent Dallas team. Take away Chauncey, and you still have Big Ben, Rasheed, Prince, and RIP.

Take away Nash, and Phoenix collapses.

I think Dirk will get some votes from the media, though (Mark Cuban is probably cooking something up). Duncan will also get a lot of votes (though Tony Parker has arguably been more valuable to the Spurs this season).

Speaking of Melo ... it's unbelievable this kid didn't even make the All-Star team this season. For me, Melo was the biggest All-Star snub this year.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

And right on cue, Melo hits yet another game-winner last night in Indiana.

Clutch.

Kid's got ice-water in his veins.


As for Elton Brand, he's always been a 20-10 guy. This season, his scoring is way up at 25.3 per game, and is a career-year for him. But I also attribute the Clippers success this season to the new additions: Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley.

It's easy to see who came out on top in that Cassell-Jaric trade. What was Minnesota thinking.

Yuu don't trade Sam Cassell during a contract year, when everybody knows Sammy will be playing his butt off for that next contract.

FELIPE NO

Yeah, it does seem like we're the only three posting here

Who's out first -- Steph or Larry.

I'd say Steph.

Marbury is an undeniable talent, but he's a cancer to every team he's been on. He can't make anybody better. As a point guard, how can you not.

When he and Jason Kidd were swapped, Kidd instantly put New Jersey on the map (two consecutive Finals appearances). Steph couldn't much with his Phoenix team, despite having both Marion and Amare to work with.

Then he was traded to New York. And Phoenix got Nash during the summer. And Phoenix tore it up.

And New York ... well, Jerome Williams retired.

Marbury can't adapt his game to the talents and role players around him. He just doesn't get it.

I mean, Kevin Garnett blossomed even more after Marbury forced his way out of Minnesota. In that sense, I'm glad Marbury left because it benefited KG's individual career (though certainly not his championship aspirations).

Marbury is wearing out his welcome in his hometown New York.

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

Perhaps Larry Brown isn't all that better.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ant/index.html


If the Knicks have been turd, then...

Quote:

In his first season in New York, Brown has flushed the Knicks straight down the NBA toilet.

How ya doing, buddy?