NBA Season 2010-11

[Lancer]

Well, not sure if you guys kept up with the LAKERS SOAP OPERA rumors, but take it for what it's worth, rumors, but the tabloids had reported that before the playoffs started, Gasol broke up with his long time GF (this is fact), because AkNoOTbeHER player was hitting on or sleeping with his now ex gf. Or another report says that it was the wife of this player that ended their relationship. And Gasol was so messed up with this, he totally broke down on the court. This may have been the 'trust' issues Bynum was talking about earlier.

It's another chapter of AS THE LAKERS TURN , hehe.

http://www.nesn.com/2011/05/under-fire- ... -cast.html

[Lancer]

more credible article here from the latimes - guess they were more than rumors....

http://www.latimes.com/sports/columnist ... ull.column

Perhaps more than anything, the notion that Pau Gasol can be this team's next great leader was swept away. His sudden and odd postseason disappearance was the most obvious reason for the Lakers' troubles, his fall completed Sunday when he scored 10 points while being pushed around by everyone but his coach, who thankfully refrained from hitting him for a second consecutive game.

"I have to learn from this," Gasol said. ''I have to learn that when something happens off the court, you have to keep it off the court."

He was referring to the report that he stopped talking to Bryant during the postseason because Bryant's wife, Vanessa, had contributed to the breakup of Gasol and his longtime girlfriend. Lakers fans will remember that Karl Malone once publicly accused Vanessa of interfering with his personal life in a similar fashion.

Whatever was happening, Bryant and Gasol haven't connected on the court in a month, and the Lakers have been lost without the strength of their fusion.

"We just never got a rhythm, ever," said Odom.

Also swept aside was the idea that Odom can win a championship while being Mr. Hollywood. You say that the "Khloe & Lamar" show didn't hurt his postseason? I say he had 10 points and two rebounds Sunday while being ordered off the court after a cheap fourth-quarter shoving knockdown of Dirk Nowitzki.

f***in Kobe and his wife, did the same s*** w/ Shaq in 04. Now they think they're going to get D.Howard next year, ya right.

[greggsand]

As a big lakes fan, this a was a sad disaster. Phil deserved better. They say the hardest thing to do is win "back 2 back". This is a whole realm of trying to do back 2 back 2 back. More of a social experiment than sports experiment..

[JackB1]

Who care about Kobe and Co. The Hawks are flying high baby! Knotted up at 2-2 and going back to Chitown.

Be afraid Chicago...be very afraid. If Josh Smith realizes the Hawks win if he plays close to the basket (And thats
a BIG if), the Hawks win the series.

[RobVarak]

Be afraid Chicago...be very afraid. If Josh Smith realizes the Hawks win if he plays close to the basket (And thats
a BIG if), the Hawks win the series.

I can't speak for all of Chicago, but I'm not even remotely afraid. The Hawks managed one win when Johnson and Crawford were unconscious and one where Rose couldn't hit water from a boat. I'm not alarmed that either of those events will recur over the next 3 games, and certainly not 2 of the 3. Better team almost always wins over 7 NBA games, and the Bulls are better.

That said, the playoffs have been a nice distillation process to bring the Bulls' shortcomings into sharper focus. They play such blinding defense that they are often able to compensate for Rose's inefficiency as a scorer, but that's not sustainable in the playoffs. As I said last week in this here thread, they desperately need a consistent source of scoring...not this amoeba of bodies that everyone hopes will yield points.

Barkley and Chris Webber had a great argument about Rose in the post-game, but it was essentially an academic one. Whether or not Rose should be hoisting 25-30spg in this environment is a different question than whether he should be on a team with genuine offensive balance. Until he's got a real Robin to his Batman, he's Plan A-C unfortunately.

Getting back to the Hawks, it's Teague who's been the revelation. How did Drew let this kid rot on the bench?

[JackB1]

Be afraid Chicago...be very afraid. If Josh Smith realizes the Hawks win if he plays close to the basket (And thats
a BIG if), the Hawks win the series.

I can't speak for all of Chicago, but I'm not even remotely afraid. The Hawks managed one win when Johnson and Crawford were unconscious and one where Rose couldn't hit water from a boat. I'm not alarmed that either of those events will recur over the next 3 games, and certainly not 2 of the 3. Better team almost always wins over 7 NBA games, and the Bulls are better.

That said, the playoffs have been a nice distillation process to bring the Bulls' shortcomings into sharper focus. They play such blinding defense that they are often able to compensate for Rose's inefficiency as a scorer, but that's not sustainable in the playoffs. As I said last week in this here thread, they desperately need a consistent source of scoring...not this amoeba of bodies that everyone hopes will yield points.

Barkley and Chris Webber had a great argument about Rose in the post-game, but it was essentially an academic one. Whether or not Rose should be hoisting 25-30spg in this environment is a different question than whether he should be on a team with genuine offensive balance. Until he's got a real Robin to his Batman, he's Plan A-C unfortunately.

Getting back to the Hawks, it's Teague who's been the revelation. How did Drew let this kid rot on the bench?

Hey Rob...

I understand why you wouldn't be afraid of losing the series, but the Hawks rose to the occasion for 2 out of 4 games. Now they need to do it for 2 more.
Being a Hawks fan, I know better than anyone that you never know what to expect from this team...but if they can somehow manage a win Tues in Chicago,
then Phillips arena on Thurs will give them a huge energy boost that will make it hard for Chi to win.

I saw that argument about Rose and I understand that "ideally" your PG should be the playmaker, but Rose is the playmaker and the finnisher all in one.
When his teammates aren't hitting he HAS to become the scorer and with his talents, how could u blame him? IMO, the Bulls have decent 2nd and 3rd
options and Rose could become more of a setup guy. But it is risky when a team has most of their eggs in one basket. Rose better watch that delicate ankle
of his

Jeff Teague has been unreal. Coach Drew has only given him spotty playing time all year and he has shown talent, but was never really able to do it consistently.
Probably was a confidence issue. He never got enough regular playing time to get into any kind of a groove all season and was always behind Bibby (before the trade)
and then Hinrich and also Crawford in the pecking order. In short, he was never developed correctly as a rookie should be. Hinrich's injury may have turned out to be
a blessing in disguise for the Hawks, as this kid has been terrific. He is lightning fast and very hard to stop on a drive to the hoop.

[Lancer]

I think both the Bulls and Hawks need one more star to get to the next level. I compare these Bulls to those MJ teams in the early years where they needed to get one more star to put them over the hump, Pippen.

I don't think either of these teams in a playoff atmosphere can beat Boston or Miami.

[Lancer]

5 min left, heat up 1, should be a great finish.

none of these teams can hit 3's tonight, weird to see after what the Mavs did yesterday.

[Rodster]

This has always struck me as a game 7 series. I think the series will be tied 2-2 by tonight. The Mavs are playing some scary ball right now.

[Lancer]

rondo blows an easy layup for the lead, lebron gets the next basket

buzzer beater coming, exciting!

[Lancer]

OT!

PP wasn't quite ready to shoot that last shot.

[Lancer]

wow, the heat quietly are the fav's now to go to the finals in the East.

[jLp vAkEr0]

A nice Era for the Celtics about to end.

Should have won at least another title though.

Injuries just kept getting in the way year after year.

[Lancer]

2OT in the griz/okc game. Amazing buzzer beaters in this game. NBA hasn't been this good in years.

[fanatic]

A nice Era for the Celtics about to end.

Should have won at least another title though.

Injuries just kept getting in the way year after year.

Definitely feels like the end of an era. You could see it in the crowd for sure...

To me, having incredible athletic abilities in tense playoff moments (i.e. LeBron, Wade), has led to a lot of success........vs. Boston, who needs everything to be clicking (i.e. movement, picks, etc..) in order to run their offense. On top of that, add Miami's swarming D, and you have a real tough match up.

[wco81]

Celtics should have kept Tony Allen and maybe even add another long athletic defender (who can shoot) than get both the O'Neals.

That would have helped them more against Miami against LBJ and Wade.

I wouldn't rule out any of these "old" teams in the next couple of years. All they need is a couple of quicker players for the perimeter in the case of the Lakers and Celtics and more front-court help in the case of the Spurs.

But if there is a lockout and they lose next season, then these old teams will have lost a precious season from their older core players.

[Rodster]

The Mavs have an incredible D as well.

[Rodster]

Bynum gets a 5 game suspension and $25K fine. If it were me i'd suspend that doucebag for 3 months without pay. What a thug.

[wco81]

Apparently he's done similar things in the past.

Being a repeat offender apparently doesn't matter.

[Lancer]

Bynum thinks he's shaq in his prime. I'm not joking. He thinks he can go to another team and dominate. He would be a nobody if he didnt have the supporting cast over the last 3 years.

[greggsand]

Bynum thinks he's shaq in his prime. I'm not joking. He thinks he can go to another team and dominate. He would be a nobody if he didnt have the supporting cast over the last 3 years.

Uh well, he's 23 years old. So yeah, he's benefitted from a good cast of characters. Not sure when he ever said he could go somewhere and "dominate", but he was THE best player on the lakers in 2nd half of the season including the playoffs. He's a 7 footer that's coming into his own a 'defense first' big man. If you don't think 1/3 of the league won't be salivating to sign or trade for him over the next 2 years, think again. His shot on JJ was weak, but the league has a short memory. If he can stay healthy, he's legit. He's not a scorer (like shaquille), and has admitted as such.

[wco81]

Hmm, those 5 games are going to cost him $700k.

Of course, he'll make millions more for the games he plays but that's still an expensive lesson.

[ScoopBrady]

Jack, I can't help but notice you only come in and gloat when the Hawks win. Where's the bravado about the Hawks beating the Bulls today? Where was it after games 2 and 3?

[JackB1]

Jack, I can't help but notice you only come in and gloat when the Hawks win. Where's the bravado about the Hawks beating the Bulls today? Where was it after games 2 and 3?

Not true. I rarely post here anymore in general. I still think the Bulls are the better "TEAM", but the Hawks have more offensive weapons then the Bulls. THe Bulls
play great defense and that keeps them in games all the time. I think that game last night was winnable for ATL, but the Hawks kind of died out in the 4th. They looked
fatigued and beaten up from the physicality of Chicago all game. I have to say, the refs let a awful lot of contact go without calling fouls and the majority was in favor
of the home team.

I think this one is going 7 and the Hawks will have to play a near perfect game to win in Chicago.

[Lancer]

Why are the Heat celebrating like they won the Finals?