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QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 12, 2012 -> 09:26 PM) That was not at all what he was saying. Powers East: Bulls, Heat West: Thunder Second Tier Contenders (Could beat powers) East: Celtics (built for playoffs) West: Lakers, Spurs, Trail Blazers, Nuggets, Clippers, Mavericks Spurs only if Manu comes back ready to gun. Third Tier Contenders (Massive upset if they beat power) East: Magic, Knicks, Pacers, 76ers, Hawks West: Grizzlies Can't contend, but can make playoffs/.500 record East: West: Jazz, Suns Bad East: Nets, Raptors, Cavaliers, Bucks, Pistons, Bobcats, Wizards West: Timberwolves, Kings, Warriors, Rockets, Hornets Timberwolves could move up a spot. I agree that the West is stronger than the East overall ONLY because there are a lot of dwellers in the East. But the logic you presented is very subjective and highly debatable. I have said it before and I will say it again, the Thunder will not beat the Bulls or Heat in a playoff series, the only reason the teams you mentioned, Lakers, Spurs, Trail Blazers, Nuggets, Clippers, Mavericks could beat the Thunder in the playoffs is because the Thunder isn't the Bulls or Heat. Put the Bulls and Heat as the "power" of the West, do you think, those teams (outside of the Lakers) stand a chance against the Bulls, let alone the Heat in a playoff series? I don't think so. First of all, how are the Nuggets and Blazers better than the Magic? Both teams are young and unproven, they don't have any superstars, and 1 Allstar combined. For the record, the Magic are off to a great start, and they still have the core players of the team that went to the Finals 3 years ago. Better yet, the Magic just beat the Blazers at Rose Garden. So I don't know how you could say the Nuggets and Blazers are decisively better than the Magic. I would place the Nuggets and Sixers on par because the talent level of both teams are the same, and both teams lack a true superstar or an Allstar. Then we have the Clippers and the Knicks. How are the Clippers decisively better than the Knicks and Magic? Yes, they have Billups, CP3 and Blake, but VDN is a garbage coach, and they are miserable at running half court offense. It's either lob or die for them. Until they hire a new coach, I think picking them as a favorite or even a second tire team in the West is unacceptable. On the other hand, the Knicks have Melo, Amare, Chandler, and pretty soon they will have Baron Davis back. I think that starting 5 alone will beat a lot of teams out in the West. Lastly, the Mavs. At this stage of his career, Dirk rebounds more like a small forward than anything, and without a strong interior defender and rebounder in Chandler, this team has a serious flaw. Also, I would like to mention that Kidd and Dirk has regressed tremendously from last season. Last year, they were the Cinderella, but this year, without Chandler and with an older Dirk and Kidd, they don't stand a chance. I agree with you on the top and bottom tiers teams, but your second tier teams are interpreted loosely and are highly subjective.

QUOTE (Pale Sox @ Jan 12, 2012 -> 02:01 AM) Rogers was perhaps Silverio's biggest supporter prior to the whole Wilder scandal stuff. At least from what I can remember. He's probably just happy that the guy finally had a passable season, so he can save face a little bit. And the whole future lineups thing is just an exercise in futility. It's meaningless. There were rumors floating around that he might even be a few years older, so I am not a fan of Silverio at all. The future lineup projection is a meaningless exercise, but it also shows how thin our farm system's depth is in some of these positions. We have been stockpiling on pitching so far this off season, along with a few international signing of pitchers, but it's frightening that we don't have any 1B, 2B, or 3B prospects in our very weak top 20 prospect list. And our OF prospects are really long term, high risk high reward prospects.

Does the new CBA come in effect as of now? If so, I think we need to credit the new CBA's requirement for international spending more than the Sox actively seeking a different philosophy.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 11, 2012 -> 07:52 PM) You really think Martinez and Marinez are better prospects? Silverio is still fairly young (turns 21 in April), has a nice set of physical tools, and is coming off a pretty decent season with the bat. He's obviously a huge long-shot and may not even have a true position (he was beyond terrible at 3B last year), but at least he has some upside if he puts everything together. Moreso than a lot of players in our system. Maybe he shouldn't be in the top 10, but he deserves to be ranked ahead of Martinez and Marinez at least. Silverio was an intriguing prospect a few years back when he was still a SS. But he's nothing special as a 3B, he's got a strong arm, but he doesn't have great range, and his throw is not accurate. I think he would move to LF eventually. His offense is a bigger suspect, as he couldn't hit for power, his plate discipline is terrible, and he is not a good base runner. Add that up, you got a sub .700 OPS player with no speed and average defense. He will be lucky if he can make it to the majors as a utility player.

Our 2015 lineup looks worse than a Triple A lineup.

I think losing the 20 pounds in the off season has prompt Boozer to become more of a mid range shooter than a low post player, and it helped a bit on the defensive end also. At least he's giving more effort. If you look at it, the guy has really short hands, he could never challenge shots or block shots like Gibson can, even though they are both 6'9"

The Warriors look beat both the Heat and the Bulls at home. Pretty impressive for a 3-6 team.

QUOTE (Felix @ Jan 10, 2012 -> 08:18 PM) I believe he had like four or five seconds on the shot clock where he could have at least tried to get a better shot than a defended three-pointer or potentially drawn a foul. Again, we are talking about half court heaves here. lol

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jan 10, 2012 -> 08:10 PM) It doesn't hurt to try. There might be a 1% chance Rose makes that shot, but there's a 0 percent chance if he doesn't shoot it. Well it sucks that he's on my fantasy team

There was no movement off the ball during that run for the Bulls. Everyone just stopped and watched, and settle for jumpers at the end of shot clock. I wish Rose would stop heaving the ball, that shot will never go in.

QUOTE (SOXOBAMA @ Jan 10, 2012 -> 11:37 AM) Theo is bringing in many players to the Cubs for this season as well as for the future of that crappy organzation, So why can't KW do the same. Besides Reed & Stewart, I don't see any people who can help us this season that is our minor leagues. So apparently you are losing patience because Theo is moves and KW isn't. Even on a rebuilding team, you cannot just trade away everyone with value on the team because this is not a video game, and that is not how you run a franchise. We cannot just field a team with Triple A players this season, we still need to take attendance into consideration, that is why a guy like Paulie has not been involved in trade discussions throughout. Unless you are in an arm race between your buddies or neighbors who are Cub fans, I suggest you be patient and grab popcorn and watch the show, this thing will not be finished over night.

QUOTE (SOXOBAMA @ Jan 10, 2012 -> 11:19 AM) I'd rather have the Sox trade many players for great prospects but if KW isn't going to do that than go for it all.. Instead of a season where we might finished in last place and with NO prospects for the future. This organzation needs direction of where to go.. Right now our minor league system is a laughing stock and our major league team is in shambles Why can't people accept the fact that the Sox aren't going to compete this year. I personally would prefer the Sox rebuild their farm, get the big contracts off the books, then sign impact free agents and build around those prospects in a couple of years. Simply put, there is no impact free agent out there who could put the Sox higher than a 2nd place finish in the division. Unless you are signing free agents to a 1 year deal, if you keep signing veterans who we have no use for this upcoming season, it will take forever for us to get their contracts off the books. We do not need to go out and sign 3-4 bullpen arms and and extra outfielder. There is a reason why we are trading away Frasior, Santos, and potentially Thorton and Crain, because we need to save on salary, and we also have plenty of bullpen arms knocking on the door. If we go out and sign bullpen arms or an OF again, wouldn't undo the work we have done this off season?

QUOTE (Felix @ Jan 10, 2012 -> 10:50 AM) This certainly adds another thing to consider, and it is interesting to see the difference in his overall percentage when factoring his buzzer beaters/heaves in. However, I'm not completely sold that you can just discount them without a second thought. I feel like you'd have to look at the tape for each of them to really decide how it applies, as I'm sure there were instances of him getting the ball with 10 on the clock and just settling for a three instead of attempting to drive. I'd also be interested in seeing the league numbers on those shots. He did say those 32 shots were half court heaves, and I can't count the number of times last year where he have to take a three point shot at the end of shot clock to bail his team out.

QUOTE (sircaffey @ Jan 10, 2012 -> 10:57 AM) No, you shouldn't be expecting that. The lane itself isn't opening up. What his 3 PT shot does is allow him to beat HIS man. That doesn't change the fact that there are 7 footers manning the paint. The point is he's getting an increased number of higher percentage shotsbecause of his 3 PT shot. Derrick has always had the ability to get to the lane, even when he was a rookie with no three point shot. It's all on his athleticism. He is averaging about 1 more attempt from that area because he's taking more shots in general, and he is converting at a lower percentage than he did in 2009.

QUOTE (Felix @ Jan 10, 2012 -> 10:45 AM) He's getting more shots, but he hasn't been making a higher percentage of those shots, which you would expect if the lane was opening up. Add in the fact that there are players like Dwayne Wade, who takes a token three pointer here and there to keep the defense honest, but still gets to the rim/paint at ease, and I'm not buying the argument that taking 5 threes a game at a low clip will positively impact your game. That is an excellent stat you brought up Felix. He's getting more shots from short distance, but the frequency of his attempts from those area has actually fallen because he's taking more shots in general since his rookie season. So adding the three point shot to his arsenal has not prompt to take a higher percentage of his shots in the paint, nor has it help him convert those shots at a higher percentage. Serious, Derrick has been a very efficient player this season outside of his erratic three point shots and turnovers (he will always have a high rate). He is shooting 51% in 2 point field goals, 90% from the line, and he's getting 0.59 FT attempts per 2 point FG attempt. Those are career highs for him. He needs to take the shot for people to respect him, but 2 or 3 a game would be suffice. It has been either three pointers or drives to basket this season, with nothing in between. He needs to accept the fact that he will never be a great three point shooter, and work on his mid range game, which looks pretty good so far this season.

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ Jan 9, 2012 -> 09:11 PM) Im not sure it was running out of gas as much as it was failing to hold leads and lacking the mental makeup to win a huge playoff series. But yea, that was on Thibs and his rotations... OK. Oh and if Rose wasn't OK to play I'm sure he wouldnt have played. Rose probably wants to be out there to keep his stats up a little bit (back to back MVP hopes n stuff). I don't think this post serves any justice to Rose. Rose was actually quote the other day that even if he is still feeling a lot of pain in his elbow, he would tell people is fine so he could go out there and play. He is the type of character that would go out help his team win even if he is on crutches. I would say keeping up the stats is the last thing on his mind right now. If he really wants to repeat as MVP, he would do everything to could to pad his stats, but he is actually taking 5 shots less than he averages per game last season. Great example is he always throw up 75 foot three pointers at the end of quarters, like the one he threw up at end of first quarter tonight. Being someone who cares about stat line, I would hate to see him do that. And I can tell you that there are players who are obsessed with their stat line that wouldn't take that shot. Nonetheless, he continues struggle mightily with that three point shot. I think it's time for him to cut back on it and focus on the mid range game. I noticed that for him nowadays is either drive to the basket or taking a bunch of threes. When the other team has strong interior defense like Atlanta, they could effectively take away his drives to basket or floaters, leaving him with just perimeter shots, which basically takes him out of his game. Going forward, I would definitely like him to work on his mid range game.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 7, 2012 -> 07:01 PM) What the f*** happened to the real Joakim Noah? Rose is -28 in the first half, can you get any worse than that?

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Jan 7, 2012 -> 08:41 AM) If he had Rondo's brain, that team would be even more deadly. He'll flash his superior athleticism, good vision, etc. but his overall decision making with the ball/basketball I.Q. is below average for a guy with his tools. Raymond Felton had harsher words a couple days ago.. This is really interesting, and I think it's right on about Westbrook. He wasn't a big time prospect out of high school, and didn't get a scholarship to play college ball anywhere except from UCLA, and he was a very limited backup in his Freshmen year. He basically was an underdog everywhere he went and wants to prove to people that he is better than they see him as. You can definitely see his competitiveness and aggressiveness when play against Derrick, because he wants to be Derrick. That is also why I think the Bulls are a better team than the Thunder. Yes, J4L, the Thunder more talented and athletic than the Bulls, but the Bulls got great chemistry and is coached by one of the best coach and defensive geniuses in the league. They all know who their man is, and succeeds in late game and clutch situations, where the Thunder had imploded in late games in the past.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jan 7, 2012 -> 12:04 AM) And the Bulls haven't seen anything remotely close to the Thunder's talent level and athleticism so far. Durant is a 2-time scoring champion and top 5 player in basketball overall. He'll get his whenever and however he wants. Just like Rose will pretty much do the same. Those two cancel each other out. Westbrook's shooting has been off so far. It's not gonna last. He's a legitimate all-star and a top 5 PG in the game overall. You mention the Bulls' "shotblockers" and don't say a thing about Ibaka? C'mon now. Then you've got arguably the best non-starter and a true game-changer in basketball in James Harden. Again, I'm not saying one team is better than the other. They both went to the conference finals last year when they weren't predicted to. They both come back intact this season. They're both really good. I am not saying you were wrong, Thunder is certainly up there with the Heat in terms of individual talent. I am just pointing out if Bulls and Thunder meet in a Final, I like the Bulls chances, because what the Bulls have is suffocating defense, and timely offense. Defense wins championships, we know that, and Heat and the Bulls are 1 and 1a in that category. Thunder was mediocre in defense last year, and near the bottom so far this season. I don't want to start a KD vs Lebron debate, but the scoring title is alway Lebron's if he so choose to, he pointed that out last year. Durant is not the same player Lebron is on offense and defense. Lebron commands double team due to size advantage and explosive athleticism. He also creates so much more for his teammates, unlike Durant. I may be bold in saying this, but Lebron is the only player who can shut down Rose on offense and beat the Bulls elite defense, Durant can't. In a Finals matchup, Durant will have a very tough time scoring against this defense, and Rose will "will" the team to a championship. The season is young but Harden is playing at a very high level, if he continues to score with that efficiency and be a playmaker off the bench, THEN I would say the Thunder has a legit chance in beating the Bulls.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jan 6, 2012 -> 11:36 PM) I meant the long-range shots. Of course he's still getting field goals by getting to the rim and is still money from the line. His jumper is gradually coming back. So you are saying his long range shots (I am guessing long 2s and 3s) are off this season (which I said in the original post), but it's coming back or at least would come along? (Which I don't see, based on last season and so far this season)

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jan 6, 2012 -> 11:35 PM) Thunder I don't see the Thunder beating the Bulls if they meet in the Final. The Bulls defense has been too good, especially at the perimeter. I don't see anyone beating the Bulls defense other than an athletic freak like Lebron James. The Bulls has the perimeter defenders that match up nicely against Durant. (albeit two games, but he shot only 38% last year vs Bulls) Derrick Rose and the Bulls shot blockers will take Westbrook (who hasn't been the same player so far) out of the game. I think the only way to beat this Bulls team is to completely shut down Derrick Rose on offense, which Lebron James has once shown he could do, and a player who can dissect the Bulls defense. I don't think the Thunder can do either.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Jan 6, 2012 -> 03:31 PM) What has he done? He is paying Chris Volstad $18M. He let all of the free agents walk. He traded for a guy that hit lower than Adam Dunn, granted in a small sample size that may be blocked by another prospect. If he is going to rebuild, move the almighty Marmol and leave Cashner to close which is what SD is going to do with him. They traded a decent prospect for a below average 3B that struggles to hit in Coors sans one year. He traded a very good set up man for a potential #5 starter and a smaller Ryan Theriot. I actually think KW has done a better job at rebuilding than Theo has which I know on this site is blasphemy. The cubs could be epically bad this year if they move Garza. I think some of the statement in this post had been heavily skewed to make Theo seem like a bad executive. Not a big fan of him, but he has build a dynasty if not a series of successful teams in Boston, and their farm system is among the best in baseball while he was there. If I have to choose a GM to run my team, Theo would get the pick over KW 15 times out of 10. He is very clear in what he wants to do. He wants to tear the team down and rebuild, and that's what he's doing so far. He is paying Volstad $15.5 million in fact, but at least he traded away a team cancer who doesn't fit in the direction the team is going. If you are rebuilding the team, would you want a competitive, crazed, immature nut head like Zambrano on your team? Theo mentioned that he doesn't trust Zambrano being a good citizen while the team is rebuilding. He let all his free agents walk, but would you bring back Aramis and Pena at the cost that they are worth given the team is not going to compete the next couple of years? It's clear that the team won't compete with these two. Been there, done that. I like how used Rizzo's stats from a brief stint at the majors to discredit what seems to be a heck of a steal for the Cubs. Rizzo was actually the number one prospect in the Padres farm a couple months ago by Baseball America. He projects to be a middle of the order hitter and the Cubs got him for an often injured reliever. I will be fair and say that the Rockies trade wasn't a good value one for the Cubs at the moment. But Casey Weathers is a project for them, and he was the 8th overall pick in the 07 draft with a plus fastball and recovering from a TJ. He still has the stuff to pan out as their closer. He did trade a very good reliever for a, mind you, mid rotation pitcher. Wood had a bad year, but he was very good in this first year, and his minor league track record suggests he will be good mid rotation pitcher. And Sappelt has been a heck of a contact hitter in his minor league career. If we can trade Matt Thorton for a mid rotation pitcher and a solid hitting CF prospect with no strikeout issues (something we been striking out on), then I am all for it. Theo and Jed has been making some not spectacular but solid moves to rebuild the team. They and their fans are very clear in what direction the team is going. It wouldn't be too long until the Cubs are relevant again.

So much for Boozer being the inside presence we thought we would get when we signed him. In Utah, he didn't played in the post exclusively, but he had some nice post moves, and fadeaway jumpers from the post, and was also a very effective pick and roll player. Now, I know Thibs doesn't run as much pick and rolls as Jerry Sloan does, but it seems Boozer has forgotten how to play in the paint already. It seems every one of his shots are fadeaway jumpers, or camping outside for that 18 foot jumper. Every time he gets the ball inthat area, it's so obvious what he would do, triple threat then shoot a bad shot. He never ever puts the ball on the floor anymore. The only bright spot was he actually played some good defense on Dwight Howard tonight.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 6, 2012 -> 09:19 AM) Someone can tell me if I'm wrong though, but I'm 95% sure that the new CBA says it can't work that way...Howard can't sign an extension until this summer, he can't sign immediately upon being traded like Melo did, so the Bulls can't make an offer that is contingent upon Howard being extended next motnh. Orlando could say that Howard is willing to sign an extension and he could leave anyway (Carlos Boozer says hi to Cleveland again) Extension-and-trades are permitted, but the maximum length of any extended contract is three years and the annual increase is limited to 4.5%. If a player signs an extension that exceeds this amount, the team may not trade that player for six months. If a team acquires a player via trade, they may not sign the player to an extension for six months, and when they do sign him the extension may not exceed the contract term or dollar amount than what was permitted under the extension-and-trade clause.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jan 6, 2012 -> 12:01 AM) Rose hasn't been shooting well in general at all this year. Not just threes. Take off the three point shots, and he's shooting 51.4% from the field and 89% from the free throw line.