OT: The Lone NBA 2008-2009 Thread...(4 people unite)

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:11 pm

How much of an impact do coaches have in the NBA (or for that matter in other sports)?

http://www.slate.com/id/2204834/

Talent is certainly the most important factor. But players do not arrive in the NBA as finished products, as the author claims.

Plenty of examples of players improving different facets of their game over the course of their careers and for that, the assistant coaches, various clinics and even trainers may deserve credit.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 12:22 pm

Holy crap, they are going to talk about LeBron to the Knicks for the next two years.

Everyday we are going to have a report from Madison Square Garden. Rachel Nichols counting down the days until LeBron becomes a free agent.

I can see David Stern at midcourt at MSG with LeBron in 2010 shaking his hand just after LeBron signs a contract with the Knicks, posing for pictures, Spike Lee in the background. Basketball in NY is back!

Already I am sick of it. I am sure the Cavs, their players, their fans are just about puking right now. Just let him sign now and get it over with.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 1:14 pm

Pete wrote:Just let him sign now and get it over with.

WHOA... not so fast there, buddy... he's gotta win us a championship first!

But you're right, all that talk is really getting out of hand. It's only going to get worse, too.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 1:35 pm

Very telling that LB brought up the example of Duncan taking short, less than max deals so that the Spurs could sign talent.

So he was asked if he'd be willing to do the same and he said something like "I didn't say that."

Well his NBA contract pales in comparison to his Nike deal, doesn't it? So a few million a year shouldn't matter. But then Nike is offering him even more money if he goes to a big market team.

Even if he won a championship in Cleveland, looks like he's set to move on.

His goal appears more to be to sell sneakers, not win championships.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:18 am

Lebron was in freak mode tonight. Just watch Sportscenter...jeeze. The best dunk of the bunch:

It's like he isn't even trying.

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:54 am

LBJ pays tribute to the Mailman on Sloan's 20th coaching anniversary. And they say the young players don't know their history.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:23 am

Yeah, big night for the Cavs last night. LeBron became the all-time Cavs steals leader, Z became the all-time Cavs rebounding leader and the Cavs set the NBA record for most wins in a row by 12 pts or more (9).

Heck, LeBron sets a record of some sort every other game it seems, but it was a really nice moment for Z when he got his record-setting rebound, Mike Brown called timeout so they could announce it to the crowd.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:21 pm

Sounds like Lebron's mind is set on moving to the big market. Heard that he really wants to be a billionaire.

Shouldn't be surprising, given how Kobe worked to land in LA and how Shaq left Orlando for LA.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:56 pm

There it is!

Geeze, we had a record streak going there, THREE whole posts in a row about LeBron without 2010 coming up.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 5:08 pm

Why the hell are the Suns trading Bell, Diaw and Singletary to Charlotte for Richardson & Dudley? Seems like a lateral move to me.

Oh yeah...and this hasn't been announced yet.

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:35 pm

Richardson can create for himself. None of the guys they're trading can. Since the pace has slowed, having someone besides Nash who can create their own shot should help.

It won't help with Amare - sorry, Amar'e - and his issues with touches and focus, but I don't know what is going to make him happy.

Q: who is going to guard anyone with Bell gone? Richardson is a matador if I ever saw one.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:57 pm

No idea who is going to play defense. My guess...the Suns will be the first NBA team to use a zone defense primarily. I'm joking...kinda.

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:27 pm

"I'm joking...kinda" defense and "Seven seconds or so, sometimes" offense.

Welcome the Kerr/Porter era!

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 7:15 pm

Zach Randolph has been a nice addition for the clips. I haven't had the chance to watch him play yet but from what I'm reading things are looking a bit better since the trade. Three consecutive wins! Bring on Boston!

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 11:21 pm

Tough loss by my Hawks against the Celts on ESPN tonite.
Joe Johnson makes that 2nd foul shot and we're going to overtime.

At least my boys from the ATL made me proud on Nat'l TV tonite.
Was a real nail biter righ to the end. Atlanta is no joke anymore around
the NBA and can hang with the best of em.

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 11:34 pm

JackB1 wrote:Tough loss by my Hawks against the Celts on ESPN tonite.
Joe Johnson makes that 2nd foul shot and we're going to overtime.

At least my boys from the ATL made me proud on Nat'l TV tonite.
Was a real nail biter righ to the end. Atlanta is no joke anymore around
the NBA and can hang with the best of em.

That was great game. Shame the hawks couldn't end Boston's streak in front of their fans but they definitely played hard.

jLp vAkEr0 · Post by **jLp vAkEr0** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 9:44 am

JackB1 wrote:Tough loss by my Hawks against the Celts on ESPN tonite.
Joe Johnson makes that 2nd foul shot and we're going to overtime.

At least my boys from the ATL made me proud on Nat'l TV tonite.
Was a real nail biter righ to the end. Atlanta is no joke anymore around
the NBA and can hang with the best of em.

Very true.

I'm loving these Hawks-Celts games.

Lots of intensity.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 9:57 am

Are the Celtics EVER going to lose? Geeze. I was hoping last night would be the night.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:14 pm

There may be at least 3 teams which win 60 games this year, which may be unprecedented.

Two of them may win 70 games.

Lakers on Christmas day will obviously be the Celtics biggest test and vice versa.

KG will have to play out of his mind to put Gasol and Bynum in foul trouble.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 10:04 pm

EAT THE HEAD!!!

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xbnMJocBNOk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed>

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 12:19 am

That's a great commercial.

In Timberwolves land...the team sucks. Again. They probably aren't worth more words than that.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 1:13 am

Dave wrote:

That's a great commercial.

In Timberwolves land...the team sucks. Again. They probably aren't worth more words than that.

We've been to 1 game so far this year. My wife works across the street from the Target Center in The Butler Building. Someone in her office gave her courtside seats when the Mavericks came to town last month. It was fun. The team is young and has a very long way to go.

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:35 am

It's time to resurrect the NBA thread and celebrate! The Clippers just broke their 12 game losing skid!

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:38 am

macsomjrr wrote:It's time to resurrect the NBA thread and celebrate! The Clippers just broke their 12 game losing skid!

Ha, I have a friend with 'pretty good seat' season tickets. When he can't go, he gets around $11 a ticket on ebay. Dark time for clip fans...

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 11:01 am

I am not a huge NBA fan anymore but I still follow my my Sixers and they just won their 6th straight. They are playing great under Tony Dileo and they get Elton Brand back soon...maybe tomorrow for the MLK game. Alot of talk around Philly that Brand is the reason for the slow start (they can't run when he is in the lineup) and when he comes back they will go back to their losing ways - comical. Dileo has done a great job and Brand will do what it takes to get their half court offense going...which they will need if the Sixers expect to do anything against the big boys in the playoffs.