bmags

He's been dead for a while I can call him crazy again.

People, in general, don't know much about basketball pre 1980 in general. I'm not even sure that's a bad thing. The ones we remember were important culturally, or have stayed around the game long enough that we recognize them from that. I couldn't even tell you what Bob Love looks like. Norm Van Lier is a crazy guy on the post game show. I can't think of a single other team I follow that I know so little about before a certain point. probably hawks pre 60, but I'm not even sure if that's true.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 14, 2011 -> 10:09 PM) Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that Orlando is ending trade talks involving Dwight Howard. No surprise. A steve prediction wins!

QUOTE (Boogua @ Dec 14, 2011 -> 08:46 PM) The Russell argument is always something that interests me. I tend to agree with J4L that he is overrated, although I think a factor is the way basketball is played now. Don't get me wrong Russell dominated his era, but I feel a player of his ability would have a much easier time doing it back then than in the past 30 or so years. He was extremely agile, could run the floor well, and was a very good shot blocker and rebounder. Consider that the era that he played in was played at a very hectic pace where jump shots weren't all that common and people shot low % shots. Wouldn't that make it easier for someone like Russell to have a massive effect on the game? Rebounds were plentiful and blocks weren't all that hard to come by. Elgin baylor, a small forward, had a season where he averaged 20 rebounds per game. So I think Russell's game translates VERY well to the type of basketball played during that era (hence the 11 rings), but I don't think he's a top player if he plays in a different era. I honestly don't think anybody can really make the argument that he would be nearly as successful in today's era. The guy was not very good at offense. He was a career 44% shooter in an era where he should have dominated on offense (Wilt). Fine, but I have a real problem with people 50 years later trying to re-write the story in their vision. In 50 years, don't you think people will look back and say "how the hell did Lebron James NOT win the MVP this year?" But to the people who lived and watched, it was impossible for that man to get that award. And for the people who watched, if you ask them, it would be impossible for them to accept our assertion that, no, no, you see Wilt was actually better!

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 14, 2011 -> 08:28 PM) I think they just practice together in the offseason. I think Rose is his own guy and never felt the need to bring in someone else to help him win. Its been him against the world since his birth in englewood. What about Memphis? Wasn't exactly the place to go if you wanted to be on your own.

who is vanilla ice across town?

I don't think it's awful that Rose can't recruit, but I do think that is preventing us from getting this CURRENT CROP of superstars. Rose isn't a cohort with the players were speaking of now. At some point we may very well get someone that wants to play with Rose b/c they used to ball together. Maybe Evan Turner becomes amazing...I HOPE. He'd come.

Apparently Mitt Romney's used the phrase "Keep America American" on the stump, and that line is also a slogan for the KKK. Shocking!

here we go again.

I'm with ss2k5. We know that rose is very shy, but I think what's harder for him to do is do this in a way that he doesn't feel like he's selling out his teammates. I think he needs noah to be the voice of the team for him, and Rose has to implicitly know that recruiting Howard means losing one of his best friends. Howard, paul, melo, they didn't really have that aspect of a young team all coming up together.

Poor Gerald Wallace.

I can't help but think an army of penguins would be easy as hell to defeat. THEY CAN'T FLY AND WALK SLOW AS s***

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Dec 14, 2011 -> 01:20 AM) And Landry Fields. Averaged more points and assists in a worse situation last year in less minutes. As for Tyson, he's fifth best defensive center, not counting backups like Asik (who is #2). Centers last year with higher D ratings then Chandler: 1. Dwight Howard (93.99) 2. Joakim Noah (96.78) 3. Andrew Bogut (97.31) 4. Marcus Camby (99.84) 5. Tyson Chandler (102) That shows you how valuable Howard is, he's the only one of those that can stay healthy.

QUOTE (Brian @ Dec 14, 2011 -> 12:42 AM) If the Bulls could of gotten someone better than Rip, I'm sure they would have but to say he can't create is own shot is sort of off the mark. He averages double digits every year and will be open a lot when Rose has the ball. Of course he isn't the ideal pick up but for what is available, it is tons better than last year. The Pistons flat out D'd up during there runs a few years ago. I'm guessing he had some part of that. Does Rip need screens to get open? Yes. But a big benefit to Rip over Bogans is Rip is very good at off-the-ball movement. Which is much improved, since bogans would just sit there and watch rose.

Peddling in absurdity, that's the J4L I know.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 13, 2011 -> 10:22 PM) New all-black alternate Heat jersey makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit. He looks like someone at IML

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 13, 2011 -> 09:31 PM) Anyone have a Kindle Fire? The wife wants one for X-Mas, and I want to ensure they aren't piles of trash. I haven't really seen anything positive for it, beside that it does help you shop for amazon products easier.

And will probably be injured for 2/3 of the season. This page is hyperbole central. Rip doesn't serve a single need for us? Really?

Well then this should make you unhappy, as well. http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/21748...andez_From_Mavs edit: Also, I'm willing to give Rip a chance. I thought Shawn Marion was deader than a doornail, and then he re-emerged last year as his scrappy self. Sometimes these players will find their youth on a competitive team.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 13, 2011 -> 09:16 PM) That Crawford deal isn't done, is it? The Bulls would be smart to swoop in and offer 3 years at the MLE ($15 guaranteed, vs $5+$5). He could be our Jason Terry lite. The Bulls had better take the Rip Hamilton blinders off and f***ing make that offer to a player in his prime who greatly matches what we need, vs another guy who needs an entire team to set screens to be effective. It's done, we're getting rip. edit: not officially done, but there's been no other words except assured confidence that rip will sign tomorrow. And no, i don't want crawford for 3/15.

They remind me of the mid decade Bulls. I think at some point they will make a move to get someone. Not tier 1 superstar, but someone to get people excited in indiana.

Pacers having an interesting offseason. SG-Crawford SF Granger PF West C Hibbert Very interesting.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 13, 2011 -> 04:18 PM) If Batman and Bane are having a blowout battle at the Hoover Dam, I will find you and phellate you. My anticipation for this movie hits new heights.

I think those are just lights. There are lights in the hoover dam...

Yep...According to Marc Stein the Clippers get Billups. NO HEAT FOR YOU.