I'll edit the paper before I turn in the final draft, professor.
Nba 2011-2012
- Thread starter ha_rooney
- Start date
I'll edit the paper before I turn in the final draft, professor.
I wasn't really suggesting a conclusion, other than it seems harder to build a champion around a SF because only the Celtics have done it, once, since the first finals I remember.
I'm certainly not saying you HAVE to build around one of the other 4 positions, I don't know enough about basketball to make that sort of claim. Jordan was considered to be bucking the trend when he won, people didn't think you could build a winner around a SG, especially without a dominant big man.
Do you not find it a bit surprising that Pierce is the only SF centerpiece to lead a team to a NBA title in 26 years?
All I know is that the Kings are trying to build a team without a small forward altogether and it's not really working.
Let me keep the debate objective and clear.
You enter the draft, and there are three players, with all-star potential, up for grabs. A center, a point guard, and a small forward. You have the top two picks, which two will you pick??
You enter the draft, and there are three players, with all-star potential, up for grabs. A center, a point guard, and a small forward. You have the top two picks, which two will you pick??
Miami loses to Rose-less Bulls. Not a good sign. The surprise factor may be?
By the way, what's up with that out-of-this-world offensive rebounding for Chicago?! They are winning games ONLY because of it! They don't even have exactly "big" guys! Do they train extra for it? Whatever it is, Miami needs to find a way to deal with it if they want to go to the finals again..
By the way, what's up with that out-of-this-world offensive rebounding for Chicago?! They are winning games ONLY because of it! They don't even have exactly "big" guys! Do they train extra for it? Whatever it is, Miami needs to find a way to deal with it if they want to go to the finals again..
It's insane. I've never seen so much hustle instilled into a team.
That being said, the Heat look a bit jaded.
That being said, the Heat look a bit jaded.
Howard looks like staying and he will apparently opt-in with the Magic next season.
Lakers could end up getting Beasley in a 3 team trade with us losing Blake. Not sure how weakening the PG position further helps this team
Lakers could end up getting Beasley in a 3 team trade with us losing Blake. Not sure how weakening the PG position further helps this team
Not particularly. Because if you increase that number to 27, Bird is in the mix. If you increase that number farther, Dr. J's 76ers come into the picture. Meanwhile, back in the present, you have Lebron's Heat and Durant's Thunder as title contenders. There's no inherent weakness in having an SF leading your team. That it hasn't been done a lot is a matter of chance.
Well, basketball has changed a lot in the last 26 years as well, perhaps that has something to do with the trend.
Looking at the 82-83 Sixers, Moses Malone had better stats than Dr. J, 24.5 pts and 15.3 boards to Dr. J's 21.4 and 6.8. And again we see it takes a Hall of Fame big man to get that SF a championship, something Melo likely won't get. Bird required 2 Hall of Fame bigs, though again Melo dreams of being Larry Bird.
Look at Drexler, never able to win with Portland where he was the first option, only won with the Rockets as a second option.
And look at LeBron, hasn't been able to win it yet, though he does have Wade and could emulate the SG-SF combination of the Bulls, potentially.
Durant is amazing, but he hasn't won anything yet, and I have serious doubt about that team's toughness in the playoffs. I think part of this problem with building your team around small players that aren't Michael Jordan is that when things get tough the best thing to do is get the ball in to your big and let him hammer away, PF's and centers always shoot a higher % than the other positions.
I'm not trying to say it's not possible, but I'd rather recreate a winner than reinvent one.
Looking at the 82-83 Sixers, Moses Malone had better stats than Dr. J, 24.5 pts and 15.3 boards to Dr. J's 21.4 and 6.8. And again we see it takes a Hall of Fame big man to get that SF a championship, something Melo likely won't get. Bird required 2 Hall of Fame bigs, though again Melo dreams of being Larry Bird.
Look at Drexler, never able to win with Portland where he was the first option, only won with the Rockets as a second option.
And look at LeBron, hasn't been able to win it yet, though he does have Wade and could emulate the SG-SF combination of the Bulls, potentially.
Durant is amazing, but he hasn't won anything yet, and I have serious doubt about that team's toughness in the playoffs. I think part of this problem with building your team around small players that aren't Michael Jordan is that when things get tough the best thing to do is get the ball in to your big and let him hammer away, PF's and centers always shoot a higher % than the other positions.
I'm not trying to say it's not possible, but I'd rather recreate a winner than reinvent one.
Stephen Jackson from Warriors to Spurs for Richard Jefferson
Ramon Session from Cavs to Lakers for Luke Walton
Jordan Hill to from Rockets to Lakers for Derrick Fisher
Leandro Barbosa from Raptors to Pacers for 2nd round pick
Marcus Camby to Rockets from Blazers for Jonny Flynn and Hasheem Thabeet
Howard agrees to waive right to leave in summer, will stay for start of next season.
Ramon Session from Cavs to Lakers for Luke Walton
Jordan Hill to from Rockets to Lakers for Derrick Fisher
Leandro Barbosa from Raptors to Pacers for 2nd round pick
Marcus Camby to Rockets from Blazers for Jonny Flynn and Hasheem Thabeet
Howard agrees to waive right to leave in summer, will stay for start of next season.
Fish got traded! Very surprised by that as he was a leader of the team.
Good for Orlando Howard is staying.
Good for Orlando Howard is staying.
I like the move by San Antonio. Jefferson's been skidding lately. I think they lose a little shooting with Jackson, but gain at least a moderate upgrade to their D, and the pluses certainly outweigh the minuses. I think SA has a real shot at the Western Conference this year, though I think Heat/Bulls will be the real finals.
The Spurs usually do well to keep head cases off the team. But then Jackson began his career with the Spurs, so maybe Pop thinks he can get him in line. Should give them more scoring punch if it works out. Jefferson had definitely fallen off as the season progressed.
Wizards trade Nick Young and JaVale McGee - pick up Nene.
A fit Nene is an asset for anyone, but he has become so injury prone...whatever. This team now belongs to John Wall...just about every 'old' piece is gone.
Oh and just one little thing, about the Fisher trade....Loyalty works both ways. Fans go mental when players don't show it, well this is why they don't show it. Clubs almost NEVER show it, and no one ever pulls them up for it. The excuses run a mile long, but when the situation is turned around, all we hear is
Greedy f-ing motherfecker
no loyalty
etc etc.
I say feck loyalty - go get paid.
A fit Nene is an asset for anyone, but he has become so injury prone...whatever. This team now belongs to John Wall...just about every 'old' piece is gone.
Oh and just one little thing, about the Fisher trade....Loyalty works both ways. Fans go mental when players don't show it, well this is why they don't show it. Clubs almost NEVER show it, and no one ever pulls them up for it. The excuses run a mile long, but when the situation is turned around, all we hear is
Greedy f-ing motherfecker
no loyalty
etc etc.
I say feck loyalty - go get paid.
I think Fisher felt he wanted to play for a few more years, and he wasn't going to get that game time at the Lakers, not if they want to be contenders.
I think neither club nor player felt that blind loyalty was the way to go right now.
Don't get me wrong - this move is the right move...it makes perfect sense. But like the Lakers said...Fish was given no heads up from the front office that he was on his way out(other than what he picked up from media rumors) and once the transaction was completed, neither the GM or Jerry Buss called him personally to let him know.
Just professionals being professionals - the way it should be, so we should understand when players do the same.
Just professionals being professionals - the way it should be, so we should understand when players do the same.
I suppose they could have traded Steve Blake instead, let Fish be the backup. Lakers fans love that guy, he's all heart.
That's what I was expecting to happen. For them not to even have discussed or told him about it is disgraceful given what he has done for the team. He may be past it and may not have the best numbers but you could count on him to do something special in the playoffs. Wonder how Kobe feels about this.
The Lakers have suffered since Jerry Buss took a back season to his son, whose first name escapes me. You'd think Jerry would be savvy enough to have a discussion with Fish, he certainly deserves at least that much. Strange that such a big organization would seem to fail to do something small and easy like that.
The loss of D'Antoni looks like the death of Linsanity. I haven't seen the games, but the word is that everything is going through Anthony and Amare, Lin's stats have been about half what they were.
This will create a dilemma from a marketing perspective. Lin will be worth so much from the extra viewers who want to see him play a central roll, if his agent is at all ruthless he won't let him pass up this opportunity to become a star in the league.
Will be interesting to see how it develops. Lin seems like such a nice guy he may well play it cool and take a back seat until his contract is up and quietly go to a team that will play through him.
This will create a dilemma from a marketing perspective. Lin will be worth so much from the extra viewers who want to see him play a central roll, if his agent is at all ruthless he won't let him pass up this opportunity to become a star in the league.
Will be interesting to see how it develops. Lin seems like such a nice guy he may well play it cool and take a back seat until his contract is up and quietly go to a team that will play through him.
they've sucked since anthony came back. he gets d'antoni out and now many of the players are pissed at him. someone's going to have realize he's a cancer. i'll bet his career ends up being a collection of trades and no championships.
Is anyone here following March Madness this year?
^ Sure am....
My bracket is done and dusted, but it's all worth it, Duke is out...HAHAHAH.
My bracket is done and dusted, but it's all worth it, Duke is out...HAHAHAH.
Of course. One of my brackets is in the bottom 3% on espn, very impressive.
Fish bought out his contract from the Rockets. It would be interesting if he ended up in Miami, his game would not suit their style of play but his leadership qualities could be valued in that team and he'd be more clutch than LeChoke.
He won't be taking last second shots at Miami, nor will he get many minutes (probably) behind both Chalmers and Cole, but as you said, he could act as a mentor for the two young guards, and provide some wisdom and leadership at crunch times..
EDIT: My prediction: He won't go to Miami. Miami are working on team chemistry right now, and they will only take a center if they had the chance..
EDIT: My prediction: He won't go to Miami. Miami are working on team chemistry right now, and they will only take a center if they had the chance..
Fish is one of the most determined and fit players I've ever seen, so if anyone can keep playing at his age then he can. At this point he might be best off playing as a back-up at a smaller team. The Wolves could use another PG with Rubio out, or maybe as a mentor for Brandon Jennings or John Wall.
Lakers lose despite scoring 40pts in the first quarter and having a big lead in the final five minutes of the game.
Gasol had an effective game, however he needs to shoot more. Got to watch Sessions for the first time, impressive player who can actually shoot the ball and offers something at PG.
Fish could be joining OKC, good move for him and makes him more likely to get #6 before Kobe does.
Gasol had an effective game, however he needs to shoot more. Got to watch Sessions for the first time, impressive player who can actually shoot the ball and offers something at PG.
Fish could be joining OKC, good move for him and makes him more likely to get #6 before Kobe does.
As expected. Looks like Fisher will join OKC, while Miami are looking for something else, as they are about to sign Ronny Turiaf.
He can certainly teach Westbrook a thing or two, sounds like a decent match.
Would be hilarious if he won a ring there and Kobe was stuck on 5. 'Stuck on 5', as if that's something people hate. Man, those 5 championships, like crazy glue on my jeans!
Would be hilarious if he won a ring there and Kobe was stuck on 5. 'Stuck on 5', as if that's something people hate. Man, those 5 championships, like crazy glue on my jeans!
LOL. Have you seen Bryant's ego? If you have then you'd realize that he IS stuck on 5!
Terrific win for LA in Dallas. Gasol was exceptional shooting tonight, Sessions was again very impressive.
When I was in LA I had a friend who lived by the Stapes Center, and every time I went there you'd see this gigantic poster of Kobe covering a 30 story building that was facing the stadium. And this was when Shaq was unquestionably the better player. But everyone liked Kobe better, so he got all the promo stuff.
And even this wasn't good enough and he had to drive Shaq out. The man is batty. He's just lucky that he didn't leave and Agent West was able to get us Pau Gasol. But it's just made him crazier.
On a side note, from a statistical point of view, Kawhi Leonard is already better than George Hill. Never accept a trade offer from the Spurs! Goddamn geniuses.
Lakers got a really strong team now.
2 All-Stars, one ex-All-Star, one really good point guard and one Kobe Bryant
2 All-Stars, one ex-All-Star, one really good point guard and one Kobe Bryant
^ 
Its definitely gif worthy and I can also see why the guy hit him with the ball in the first place.
Epic game between OKC and Timberwolves, OKC winning 149-140 in double-OT. Love is a monster player, very consistent despite playing in a very average team.