[Tournament] The 2006-2007 NBA Season Discussion Thread

I like how last season's thread was essentially a three-way conversation. bishop743, nazpyro, and I had more than 75% of the posts. But the thread was started in March, so maybe this new one will draw more people as training camp begins in October.

Maybe more photos and stuff will catch some eyes. Here are some from those USA practices:








And Steve Nash has a new hair cut:



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Originally Posted by bishop743

I really think this team the US has put together has a excellent shot of bringing back the credibility we lost at the last World Championships and at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Team USA has taken a different approach this time around. Instead of just throwing together a bunch of superstars, they've actually went and put a real TEAM together this time. I mean, you could get away with the old concept when you had the players that were on the original Dream Team, but with the guys we have out there today, that formula is not going to be successful. It's true that the international scene has gotten much better and much more talented, but I think with the team we have, we can bring the gold medal back to the US.

It's a good squad. They have a few superstar players who are clearly the centerpieces of the team: Lebron, Wade, and Melo -- and to some extent Chris Bosh. Everyone else will find their roles just fine.

I think Larry Brown did a poor job in 2004 with Team USA in the Olympics. He's well-known for his dislike of young players. Lebron and Melo rode the bench practically the entire time.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by bishop743

Also... I dunno man, I don't think I'm feelin' this new look for Steve Nash. I guess it'll take getting used to.

I think everyone's gotten used to his long hair that swishes around when he runs down the court, and that he often licks his fingers and tucks those hair behind his ears.

Is it NBA Live 07 or NBA 2K7 that will be implementing that special finger-licking animation? (I just checked -- it is 2K7) They're gonna have to take it out...





I came across this PSA Yao Ming did for WildAid, swatting bullets away to save elephants.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKj3nRYPRgQ

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

Originally Posted by nazpyro

Why would they have to pull out the finger-licking? I thought he just does that before free throws and various other times throughout the game, not necessarily touching his hair when he does it... or am I wrong? I just can't remember what his mannerism was :/.

Doesn't Nash lick both his fingers and brush his hair back? Maybe you're right.

Originally Posted by bishop743

I greatly prefer the NBA 2K series over the Live series. I haven't bought a Live game since...like... '99 or so.

But have you played a Live game since '99? The series has gone through some changes for the better. Ever since Live 2003, the series has been pretty solid ... though admittedly it's hitting that point again where they're getting a little stale. There are still problems that EA sorely needs to address, such as the ultra-annoying tendency (probably 85% of the time) of players stopping dead in their track to catch passes, effectively ruining the fastbreak.

I have NBA Live 2005, and NBA 2K6 -- both for the PS2. Being more used to Live, I was intrigued by what the 2K series brought to the table. I love the pace of the 2K series, it feels like an actual NBA game.

NBA Live's pacing, at its default factory setting -- is awful. I had to go online and find customs sliders provided by other people, i.e., those who prefer a more realistically-paced game. But when you turn down the speed, the players run very, very slowly (even with the turbo held). And it bugged the hell out of me that a trailing defender inexplicably always managed to catch up and get in front of me, even when I was playing as Iverson.

Gameplay wise, it took me a while to get used to the 2K series, since I was so used to Live. I really like the shot stick in 2K6, but I miss having the right analog stick as my dribble-moves. Also, passing is terrific in 2K6 -- I love the lead pass. Fastbreaking is fun in 2K6. The same thing can't be said for Live, you can't run a break properly unless you're miles ahead of the defense.

Graphically speaking, the 2K series is awesome. But Live has much better animation, in my opinion. Live's 10-men motion capture is dope, and the nuances in animation are so good. Live also has better dunk animations. I can't stand the dunks in the 2K series -- not only are they limited in variety, most of them also look awkward and weak.

(Keep in mind that all my comparison is done for the PS2 versions)




Random funny video. Shawn Marion almost dunks at the wrong basket:

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

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

Originally Posted by bishop743

Talk about a team mis-managing their salary cap! Is it their goal to overpay every single one of their players? Highest payroll in the league....2nd worst record in the legaue.... the hell is that?! It doesn't make any sense at all.

The Knicks have made one puzzling move after another. Jared Jeffries $30 million? I don't get it. There is also a rumor going around that Isiah Thomas wants to trade for Darius Miles.



Okay, a little late, but some photos from the Puerto Rico game:



















I was speaking idiomatically.

Oops.

No gold. Again.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

The only person who shouldn't be giving lessons about chemistry:

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



Plus, he's wrong. The USA team didn't lose because of a lack of chemistry.

FELIPE NO

Here's what Shaq had to say about the new ball (video included): http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2610976

And here's another one: http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6026976

Quote:

Both O'Neal and Dwyane Wade griped about the ball's slick grip when wet, and two-time reigning MVP Steve Nash said the ball has a tacky feel that's making shooting and certain types of passes tricky.

"I certainly won't have to lick my fingers. The ball sticks to your hand. It's a big transition. It's extremely sticky," Nash said Tuesday in a conference call from the Phoenix Suns' training camp in Italy.

...

Of seven Heat players interviewed about the new ball at the team's media day Monday and after practice Tuesday, not one preferred it to the old leather model. Certainly not Shaq, who took a spinning jump hook in the lane, about six feet from the basket. But the ball slipped in his hand and went straight up in the air - without moving toward the hoop at all.

It was one of three times Shaq lost the handle in a span of about 15 minutes.

"I'm right with him," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "I think it's horrible. ... It really does feel like an indoor-outdoor ball. We'll see how it works. Maybe they'll learn to love it, I don't know."

I take the players' feelings about the new ball over the league's any day.

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

Best dunk from opening week belongs to...



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I didn't think Lebron was going to make it, but he just kept rising and extending. The impact knocked Duncan down backwards.

I'm sure everyone watched the highlights several times

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Read up on some NBA news and articles today ... this one is funny:

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...117199,00.html

Quote:

Mark Cuban: "Now I have new aspirations beyond winning the title in the NBA, and that’s to fit in and be like everybody else. They’re smarter, they’re better, they’re prettier, in better shape, they have nicer teeth."

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

I, too, am enjoying the season immensely. The field this year seems wide open, as neither Dallas or Mami seem to be a lock as conference champions. Dallas is winless (0-2) as of right now, and Miami got their rear ends spanked on opening night by a dangersous Chicago Bulls team.

As far as the Dunk Contest goes, I don't think we'll be seeing Lebron any time soon. A player of his stature nowadays doesn't seem to want to have anything to do with competing in such an event, which -- if he doesn't win -- can only hurt his image and standing in the public eye. I'm sure as far as Lebron's concerned, he's got nothing to gain and everything to lose in a Dunk Contest.

It's too bad, since it would be such a great thing for the fans. I would be so happy and amped to watch a Dunk Contest between the likes of Lebron, Vince, Kobe, T-Mac, and Dwyane. But it would be even more exciting if they threw in other lesser-known players-but-nontheless-great-dunkers, like Gerald Wallace, Desmond Mason, Andre Iguodala, Josh Smith, and Jason Richardson. And then make the prize money $1 million dollars.

That would make the Dunk Contest intensely competitive.

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

Originally Posted by bishop743

What does the winner of the Dunk Contest get now, besides a trophy? I know they get some sort of cash prize, but it's probably an amount that most ballers wipe their ass with. Some guys may have incentives in their contract if they win stuff like that too.

But yeah, 1 million bones would probably get more guys interested.

Last year's winner (Nate Robinson) received $35,000. Second place contestant (Iggy) took home $22,500. Third place and fourth place contestants each received $16,125.

That's a lot of money for us regular people. But for NBA players, it's ... well, I think you said it best

I was speaking idiomatically.

Just finished watching the Rockets-Hornets game. Chris Paul dished out 16 assists, tying his career high.

And there's something about Tracy McGrady that seems off. Three games into the season, his jumper appears broken -- even though he still elevates very well on them. Through three games, he's struggling with his shot -- shooting just 34.0% from the field, 12.5% from beyond the arc, and 57.1% from the foul line. He seems not as sure of himself as in years past, passing up open shots to teammates.

It's still early, but the Rockets need him snap out of the funk to stay competitive.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Yeah, he played in only 47 games last year, bothered by his bad back. It's been a chronic problem, and I recall McGrady admitting that he likely only has a few more years left of playing at an elite level.

Supposedly, he's healthy and pain-free right now. But there's an alarming amount of rust on his jumpshot. I've gotten so used to seeing him simply elevate over defenders and drain shot after shot -- the sight of him missing everything is shocking.

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Cuban sure makes an interesting read and soundbite.

And speaking of headlines and such, Lang Whitaker does an annual piece for SI.com where he gathers the most interesting-but-often-falls-under-the-radar news bits. A lot of it is pretty funny.

Here's the 2005-2006 edition: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ies/index.html

And here's the 2004-2005 edition: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...nks/index.html

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

Originally Posted by bishop743

And man, Philly is the only team left undefeated in the East. Whodathunkit? Last year they were a horrible mess.

Well, no longer ... they were soundly beaten by the Pacers tonight. I watched the entire game, and they just didn't bring it. Iverson himself had just 20 points and 3 assists.

I also watched the end of the Cleveland-Atlanta game. What a finish. Lebron missed a crucial freethrow near the end of regulation, allowing Lue to make the desperate game-tying layup to force Overtime. And Joe Johnson took over in OT, and the Hawks won. Cleveland had the game in the bag, but missed freethrows by them down the stretch essentially cost them the win.

And then I watched the Timberwolves-Lakers game. That kid Andrew Bynum ... he did very well (to get on the nerve of Timberwolves fans everywhere). He could be a force in this league. And I think it's time Randy Foye gets more minutes for the Timberwolves. For a rookie, he's very steady with the ball, and plays under control. He's also a good slasher, very aggressive to the rim.

Foye is ready to contribute big time -- the Timberwolves don't have time to wait around. I don't have much more patience with watching the Timberwolves lose because of Eddie Griffin jacking up stupid shots, or Marko Jaric coughing up the ball, or Troy Hudson always being way too trigger-happy. I can't stand how so often when Kevin Garnett goes to the bench for a breather, the Timberwolves fall to pieces.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

WOW, what a great night of NBA basketball last night -- FOUR game winners: Chris Bosh hit a long three over Chris Webber, Jamal Crawford hit a three off a scramble, Hedo Turkoglu hit a turnaround three with Rashard Lewis right on him, and Delonte West hit a long two at the buzzer.

Two supposedly powerhouse teams are surprisingly winless: Denver and Dallas. Let me post a picture of Mark Cuban from last night's 18-point loss against the Clippers -- he looks like he's about to kill someone:

Spoiler:

And Phoenix is also struggling at 1-4, with Amare being inconsistent. At times he looks very hesitant and not very explosive. He had some nice dunks last night in his first start of the season against San Antonio, but he was wide open for those dunks thanks to Steve Nash. The Suns play the Mavericks tonight -- both teams should be hungry for a win.

Originally Posted by bishop743

I saw that game too. Everyone seems to want to compare LeBron to MJ but that's not the case. With the game on the line, Jordan would not have missed that free throw. As great as James is, he still has a LONG way to go before he can even think about approaching that level.

I do recall MJ missing a freethrow or two during his career with a chance to seal the win. But once in overtime, MJ would always redeem himself and put the other team away with his killer instinct. You're right ... Lebron has a long way to go.

Originally Posted by bishop743

The New Orleans Hornets are 4-0, and only one of two undefeated teams left in the Association (Utah Jazz). They've put together a great mix of young and veteran players. Chris Paul is just out of his mind right now. The guy's only in his sophmore year but he is already the unquestioned leader of that team. They can definitely make some noise in the West.

Well, the Horntes are the only undefeated team now Good for them. I'm happy for Chris Paul and company.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by bishop743

Yeah, a couple times during his ENTIRE career. LeBron is only in his 3rd season and I can think of about a handful of times where he has let this happen. He's a young guy, but still...

You're right ... Lebron is still developing. He's got the stats, but now he needs to prove that he's a winner. Last season, he showed us that he can be clutch. But missing key freethrows (he missed two last night in the final minute of regulation, and another one on overtime) just leaves a bad taste in fans' mouths.

Originally Posted by bishop743

A lot of people are making a big deal about him walking off the court last night with 10 seconds to go against ATL. I don't think it's a big deal and it's not the same thing as Randy Moss walking off the field that time when he was with the Vikings. I mean, it was wrong to do but unlike Moss, LeBron has been a standup guy who has class and sportsmanship. I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt on this one.

What, I didn't know he walked off! Did he just quietly slip away, or did he storm out? I'm guessing he was just upset at himself because he essentially cost his team the game.

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

Thanks for the article, bishop743

Originally Posted by nazpyro

And remember when T-mac did 13 points in 33 seconds? Legendary.

When healthy, Tracy McGrady is top 5 in this league. But he probably isn't even top 10 now, and he's admitting this in a stunningly candid article: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...nba/index.html

It is the rarest thing for a 27-year-old superstar to admit that he's no longer the elite player he once was. That's the kind of thing no player would even want to admit to himself, because you'd start believing it in. The article also makes an interesting point:

Quote:

McGrady is an interesting test case for the NBA. Personnel people are studying him, Kevin Garnett and other teenaged draft picks in hope of recalibrating the standard graph for NBA longevity. The traditional thinking has been that NBA players are at their peak between 28 to their early 30s, but that traditional model was based on rookies who used to enter the league in their early 20s after three or more years of college.

McGrady was drafted as a 17-year-old in 1997. When Larry Bird had played as many NBA games as McGrady -- 617 -- Bird was a 30-year-old whose body was already starting to break down, leading to his retirement five years later.

Of course, every player is different. T-Mac is a unique case in that he has a chronic back ailment. You look at Kobe and KG -- the latter has already logged on more minutes than the Celtic great who drafted him, Kevin McHale -- and they are still going strong despite nagging injuries that have piled up. But it does make you wonder, just how what Lebron's game and health will be like at age 30, which will be during his 12th NBA season.

As for T-Mac's 13 points in 35 seconds, it was one of the most amazing things in basketball I had ever seen. I remember watching the game while slumped in my couch -- thinking the game was essentially over -- with headphones on soft enough so that I could still hear Steve Kerr and Marv Albert call the game.

Then it happened. It unfolded shot by shot, and by the end I fell out of my couch. And my jaw was on the floor.

Okay, you know what -- I am going to upload this game for you guys. Y'all wait for it

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

I'm upping the game as we speak. I'll have it ready for you guys either later tonight or tomorrow.


And uh, Mark Cuban was in Phoenix last night for the Mavericks' first win. He's is a big fan of David Stern -- as he constantly makes reference to the "David Stern University." And that shirt is priceless:

Spoiler:

EDIT:

Alright -- T-Mac's legendary 13 points in 35 seconds performance. Here is the entire game, broken into three .rar files. You'll need all three parts to extract.

Houston Rockets (8-11) vs. San Antonio Spurs (16-4) -- Thursday, December 9th, 2004 (Boxscore)

Part 1: http://www.sendspace.com/file/epjg4s
Part 2: http://www.sendspace.com/file/avf0e6
Part 3: http://www.sendspace.com/file/l9xkzu

I was speaking idiomatically.

No problem -- enjoy the game

Yeah, the Lakers played poorly last night. Kobe had only 2 points entering the fourth quarter, and that's when he finally got aggressive. I don't understand how he thinks. So far, the players who are playing very well are Luke Walton and Andrew Bynum -- which doesn't say much about this team. Lamar Odom has essentially ducked back into his shell since Kobe's return. You also get the sense that if Jordan Farmar weren't a rookie, Phil Jackson would've already yanked Smush Parker from the starting lineup.

And how about those Atlanta Hawks! The youngest team in the NBA leading the East at 4-1.

And it's without a doubt now: Yao Ming is the best center in the NBA. He put up 35 points, 17 rebounds, 2 assists, 7 blocks, and 1 steal last night in a win. For the season, he's averaging 26.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 2.3 blocks, while shooting 59.6% from the field and 86.7% from the line. Looks like T-Mac doesn't have to shoulder as much load as he did before. This might even extend his career.

As for Wade ... I too hope he doesn't get worn out. You're right -- playing basketball non-stop for 13 months will drain your body. Good thing he's a young guy.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Goubot

I would've just liked the last quarter or something, if I recall, the game wasn't much until then (Houston was getting killed until McGrady's outburst). But yeah, the comeback was one of the most amazing things I've seen.

For me personally, the shock value of the McGrady sequence can be appreciated fully when watched in context of the entire game. You get the full effect of what he accomplished when you watch the whole thing

Plus, I just like to have the entire game, rather than the last minute off Youtube or something.

Originally Posted by Goubot

Dunno if it's been said, but the Blazers are 4-2 and it's mostly been Zach Randolph, who's been tearing the league up so far. He's averaging 28.5 and 11.7 , and he's shouldered the load when they were down by 27 yesterday. I'm not a fan of his personality or anything, but his on court play has just been great. Now, to be fair, the Blazers have been winning by pretty slim margins, so I don't think this will keep up, but Randolph deserves some props.

Man, the Blazers are a suprise at this point. Randolph is definitely playing amazing ball. They need him to continue what he's doing with Roy out, and Darius Miles needing another surgery.

I don't see the Blazers doing much this year, though.

FELIPE NO

Wow, he missed the three?! He missed the one that would get him 60 and the win?!

That's gotta hurt so bad.

I'm checking the boxscore... 18 for 32 on field goal ... 15 for 17 on freethrows ... 25 points in the fourth quarter alone ... new franchise record (2 more than Kareem) ... awesome personal performance


Here's the photo of Redd hitting the three that gave him 57 points, and tying the game at 111 before Harpring scored the game winner:

Spoiler:

Originally Posted by bishop743

Also, LeBron and Friends overcame a 25-point defecit to beat the Celtics tonight, 94-93. The Cavs needed every single one of Bron-Bron's 38 points to pull that one out.

I watched this game on TV. Lebron made another mistake in the end that nearly cost them the game. Up 94-93 with 1.2 seconds left, he was fouled and went to the line for two freethrows.

He missed the first... which was bad enough.

Then he meant to intentionally miss the second, since the Celtics had no more timeouts -- and thus any rebound would quickly run out the remaining 1.2 seconds on the clock. Well, he did purposely miss the second foul shot, but he DIDN'T hit the rim. Which meant the Celtics could inbound the ball with the 1.2 seconds that was remaining.

The Celtics inbound lob was a long one, and Paul Pierce caught it. He launched a three-pointer that ALMOST went in...

How ya doing, buddy?

Yao shines in yet another dominant performance -- this time against Shaq -- leading the Rockets to a blowout win with 34 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists. He shot 12-13 from the line.

T-Mac is really taking a backseat at this point. He's getting his shots, but he's just not making them. He'll find his groove, sooner or later.

Jam it back in, in the dark.