OT: NBA 2005-2006 Season Discussion

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 3:30 pm

I don't care about looking up to them.

Just that in this case, Kobe is able to sell shoes and jerseys again. But OJ isn't running through airports (although his endosement days were over before the incident and trial).

However, they did show clips from some midnight event where his new shoe started to be sold and there were definitely adoring fans.

Is the prowess on the court the only way these guys should be evaluated or do you completely ignore the rest of their lives? Well if they want to sell things, they have to at least avoid adverse publicity but also probably do some charitable work. Even non-stars give of their time, for PR reasons if nothing else.

reeche · Post by **reeche** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 3:51 pm

wco81 wrote:I don't care about looking up to them.

Just that in this case, Kobe is able to sell shoes and jerseys again. But OJ isn't running through airports (although his endosement days were over before the incident and trial).

However, they did show clips from some midnight event where his new shoe started to be sold and there were definitely adoring fans.

Is the prowess on the court the only way these guys should be evaluated or do you completely ignore the rest of their lives? Well if they want to sell things, they have to at least avoid adverse publicity but also probably do some charitable work. Even non-stars give of their time, for PR reasons if nothing else.

Sports Star should be viewed in the same manner as we view circus freaks and I mean that in the best possible manner. No insult to circus freaks.

They have an amazing ability to perform a particular skill well and that's great. Within and only within that context should they be praised unless they specfically do something worthy to merit it. As far as the PR and advertising side of it, I don't really care about that. If people are dumb enough to buy anything from a celebrity then thats their business. I don't see the difference in Kobe selling things from Paris Hilton selling things. Once we stop putting them on the sports pedastal all that side stuff goes away. Of course the sports pedastal thing will never go away.

Hate to keep going back to Barkley but he had my favorite advertising pitch I've ever seen for any product which sums up what's wrong with the whole "Just do it" era that Jordan ushered in. (Even though he was pitching for the same company)

These are my new shoes. They're good shoes. They won't make you rich like me, they won't make you rebound like me, they definitely won't make you handsome like me. They'll only make you have shoes like me. That's it.
Charles Barkley

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 3:03 pm

Bryan Colangelo is expected to leave the Suns and join Toronto as the new President and GM.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 3:49 pm

10spro wrote:Bryan Colangelo is expected to leave the Suns and join Toronto as the new President and GM.

Do you ever read the rest of the thread? We've already talked about this only a page back. It's been assumed for a long time he'd leave since Sarver wants his own guys in there.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:48 pm

Right DB, I guess I obviously missed it and didn't want to bother in which of the 11 pages, the Colangelo move was mentioned. But thanks for the reminder.

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 5:28 pm

Anyone else kind of disturbed by the continuing trend of NBA players and their hostile behavior towards the fans? I don't care how upset you are at a ref, why would KG throw a ball blindly into a sea of people?

I know that all sports have moments in history of bad player/fan interactions, but the NBA is really standing out as of late.

And Wallace's flagrant elbow to Ilgauskas's head isn't much for PR, either.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 5:35 pm

KG can expect a lawsuit...that's all there is to it.

And this just in, Suns GM resigns. The Raptor fans here (are there any in the world besides Dskrizzy?) rejoice.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 5:53 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:KG can expect a lawsuit...that's all there is to it.

If nothing else, he'll get sued for embarassing the guy. Just a very bizarre reaction by KG, though, but I'd hardly lump this in with hostile behavior towards fans though. He really didn't throw the ball hard like someone on the Sonics did a little while back.

I think KG is mentally exhausted and it is starting to show more and more. He's almost playing like a shell of his 2003-04 self.

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 6:10 pm

Maybe you can argue that it's not hostile, but why don't we say that a concern for people's well-being was very low on his list of priorities when he threw the ball into a sea of fans; the same group of people who are the reason why his grandkids won't even ever have to worry about money.

If one of these a**holes threw even a feather at me, I would topple over like I was shot with a 12-gauge. The next person I would speak to would be my lawyer.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 6:21 pm

AJColossal wrote:If one of these a**holes threw even a feather at me, I would topple over like I was shot with a 12-gauge. The next person I would speak to would be my lawyer.

And there you have it...

Why everyone who just happens to come in contact with another person thinks that they are entitled to that other persons money because of an altercation or whatever, is the problem with today's society. That's the reason we can't see a tit on TV, we can't say boob in the company of women in the workplace, and we can't even look crosseyed at another person without fear of termination, a lawsuit or whatever.

Hey at least you admit you're lumped in with the scum of the earth AJ.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 6:32 pm

AJColossal wrote:Maybe you can argue that it's not hostile, but why don't we say that a concern for people's well-being was very low on his list of priorities when he threw the ball into a sea of fans; the same group of people who are the reason why his grandkids won't even ever have to worry about money.

If one of these a**holes threw even a feather at me, I would topple over like I was shot with a 12-gauge. The next person I would speak to would be my lawyer.

Well, he threw it into the crowd at the Target Center, so it was far farom a sea of fans! Sorry, had to take that cheapshot.

As far as your last rant...um, OK. The sense of entitlement is high in this country, no doubt about it.

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:37 pm

There was a tongue-in-cheek element to what I wrote that I think was somewhat lost.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:26 pm

Allen Iverson had 47 points and 12 assists tonight. He had 40 points and 10 assists on Wednesday!

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 1:06 am

Leebo33 wrote:Allen Iverson had 47 points and 12 assists tonight. He had 40 points and 10 assists on Wednesday!

I'll take Marion's last 4 games prior to tonight:

44 points 15 boards
31 points 24 boards
30 points 18 boards
29 points 18 boards

And then tonight, another 24 and 8. All wins of course as the Suns have won 9 in a row and 12 of 13.

And I think Tim Thomas fits in rather well. In his Suns debut...20 points on 5 of 8 from three. Not too bad a pickup for the veterans minimum. He fits in rather nicely with the Suns so far.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 7:57 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:I'll take Marion's last 4 games prior to tonight

Wow, that's awesome.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:31 am

Hellova game today in Dallas today...Suns handling their business like they should. Gotta love it.

jLp vAkEr0 · Post by **jLp vAkEr0** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:32 am

Pierce is playing out of his mind.

8 straight games of 30+ points and 16 of the last 18 games over 30.

Celts are finally looking decent even though they may not make the playoffs this year.

BTW, Ryan Gomes was a 2nd round steal.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 2:48 pm

He's almost back....

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 4:41 pm

What is with those shorts? Was he named a Ronald McDonald All-American?
The shine on them is a bit much.

But seriously, I hope he can return at a level close to where he left. Last night the Suns played with very little interior toughness, and having to pack the paint against Duncan left their perimeter mighty empty. Nash playing wouldn't have helped remedy that particular deficiency, but Amare will.

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 5:01 pm

EZSnappin wrote:What is with those shorts? Was he named a Ronald McDonald All-American?
The shine on them is a bit much.

But seriously, I hope he can return at a level close to where he left. Last night the Suns played with very little interior toughness, and having to pack the paint against Duncan left their perimeter mighty empty. Nash playing wouldn't have helped remedy that particular deficiency, but Amare will.

In all fairness to the Suns, they were also missing Kurt Thomas and Brian Grant, so they literally have no big men to be tough on the interior with. Still, with or without Amare, I don't see them getting by the Spurs. Amare, Nash and Marion were all present last year and the Spurs flushed them down the toilet in 5, *without* home court.

In other news, who lit the fires under the asses of Yao Ming and Paul Pierce?

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 5:35 pm

Kazuya wrote:Still, with or without Amare, I don't see them getting by the Spurs. Amare, Nash and Marion were all present last year and the Spurs flushed them down the toilet in 5, *without* home court.

I guess you like to forget Joe Johnson was hurt for a majority of that series AND they had virtually no bench at all. This team is A LOT different. Boris Diaw (what's up Hawk fans) adds so much to this team it's ridiculous. I actually think the Suns can win the Western Conference without Amare...all he'll be is icing on the cake if he comes back anywhere close to 100%. This team is just loaded...everyone can run, shoot, pass...it's all you ask for really. They have a shot this year at least...last year they really didn't as soon as Joe went down. Couple that with Q's missing in action playoff run...and the Suns had 3 players and Jim Jackson. Not exactly a good way to get through the playoffs. This year it's gonna be different. Especially if ,as expected, the Mavs and Spurs beat the sh*t out of each other before they even get to face the Suns (assuming the Suns get that far).

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 6:22 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
Kazuya wrote:Still, with or without Amare, I don't see them getting by the Spurs. Amare, Nash and Marion were all present last year and the Spurs flushed them down the toilet in 5, *without* home court.
I guess you like to forget Joe Johnson was hurt for a majority of that series AND they had virtually no bench at all. This team is A LOT different. Boris Diaw (what's up Hawk fans) adds so much to this team it's ridiculous. I actually think the Suns can win the Western Conference without Amare...all he'll be is icing on the cake if he comes back anywhere close to 100%. This team is just loaded...everyone can run, shoot, pass...it's all you ask for really. They have a shot this year at least...last year they really didn't as soon as Joe went down. Couple that with Q's missing in action playoff run...and the Suns had 3 players and Jim Jackson. Not exactly a good way to get through the playoffs. This year it's gonna be different. Especially if ,as expected, the Mavs and Spurs beat the sh*t out of each other before they even get to face the Suns (assuming the Suns get that far).

I fail to see the difference between Joe Johnson being hurt and being gone altogether. It doesn't matter, they don't need him. Boris Diaw is a nice player, but a 23 year-old kid who is used to watching the playoffs on TV is not going to be the difference against the Spurs, at least in his first time through. They still have the same problems no matter what lineups or roster they throw out there:
- No answer for Duncan
- No answer for Parker
- Bruce "Lee" Bowen makes the Matrix disappear
- vastly inferior bench

I see no realistic shot. However, with or without Amare they are going to be a factor for everyone else.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 6:23 pm

Well...just be sure to pay close attention in the playoffs. Hell, the Mavs will probably beat the Spurs in a 7 gamer...

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 7:38 pm

Chris Ramsey of ESPN.com had a damn good idea for the end of the NBA playoffs. Check this out:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

There's nothing like tournament time. From CYO to high school to AAU to college, the single-elimination tournament is basketball's most exciting format. The do-or-die drama can't be beat. It's time for the NBA to get in on the action and build an NBA Wild-Card Tournament that has some meaning for teams and fans.

The NBA Wild-Card Tournament rewards teams that are playing well at the end of the season. For instance, despite terrible starts, the Rockets, Hawks and Raptors would have legitimate playoff hopes right now. It also rewards teams like the Bucks and Hornets that played well early but might miss the playoffs because of late-season struggles. Fans around the league would stay engaged longer, and losing teams and their games would have more meaning than ever.

The NBA should hold its single-elimination wild-card tournament in April immediately after the end of the regular season. Every team at the bottom of the conference standings is entered. Teams are seeded 8-15. The winner earns the right to play the No. 1 seed in its respective conference in Round 1.

If the NBA Wild-Card Tournament were to be played this season ... the first round would look like this:

Eastern Conference winner plays Detroit in Round 1

East Bracket

8 Bucks
15 Knicks

11 Raptors
12 Magic

10 Celtics
13 Hawks

9 Bulls
14 Bobcats

Western Conference winner plays San Antonio in Round 1

West Bracket

8 Kings
15 Blazers

11 Rockets
12 Wolves

10 Jazz
13 Warriors

9 Hornets
14 Sonics

The higher seed hosts all games. The games would be held on Friday, Saturday and Monday.

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 7:48 pm

Dear Chris Ramsey:
Please tell me again why the NBA plays an 82 game season. TIA.

Personally, I'd rather see the Knicks and Bobcats battling it out to avoid relegation to the NBDL.