NBA Season 2015-16

[pk500]

All true, Rod. But your posts read like you're championing Winslow due to his inexplicably low draft position.

Winslow's performance should surprise no one. Anyone with half a basketball brain knows it was criminal that Winslow fell to 10th in the draft. Only Towns and Okafor rivaled Winslow for being NBA-ready immediately, IMO.

[Rodster]

No sir, i'm championing the fact that Winslow was a gift given to Riley because he sucks at the draft. Even he couldn't screw up the Winslow pick.

[pk500]

[Diablo25]

All true, Rod. But your posts read like you're championing Winslow due to his inexplicably low draft position.

Winslow's performance should surprise no one. Anyone with half a basketball brain knows it was criminal that Winslow fell to 10th in the draft. Only Towns and Okafor rivaled Winslow for being NBA-ready immediately, IMO.

Absolutely. I watched him in about 3 summer league games and was totally impressed with him. He just looks like an NBA player the way he carries himself.

[Rodster]

Yup Porzingis sucks

[pk500]

I'll be happy to admit I was wrong about Porzingis. Let's see how he's playing in February, when the grind of the long NBA season starts to take its toll.

[Rodster]

I hated to see Rio Chalmers get traded but this is one of the reasons why he was expendable.

[Rodster]

NBA Rookie Power Rankings: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-bas ... -the-ranks

1. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
2. Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks
3. Justise Winslow, Miami Heat
4. Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia 76ers
5. Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver Nuggets
6. Stanley Johnson, Detroit Pistons
7. T.J. McConnell, Philadelphia Sixers
8. D'Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers
9. Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic
10. Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers
11. Willie Cauley-Stein, Sacramento Kings
12. Nemanja Bjelica, Minnesota Timberwolves
13. Jerian Grant, New York Knicks
14. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
15. Bobby Portis, Chicago Bulls

[Diablo25]

NBA Rookie Power Rankings: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-bas ... -the-ranks

1. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
2. Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks
3. Justise Winslow, Miami Heat
4. Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia 76ers
5. Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver Nuggets
6. Stanley Johnson, Detroit Pistons
7. T.J. McConnell, Philadelphia Sixers
8. D'Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers
9. Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic
10. Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers
11. Willie Cauley-Stein, Sacramento Kings
12. Nemanja Bjelica, Minnesota Timberwolves
13. Jerian Grant, New York Knicks
14. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
15. Bobby Portis, Chicago Bulls

No way would I put Porzingas ahead of Okafor. Okafor has been a polished beast in the paint. Winslow and Towns I can deal with but not Porzingas. Okafor is currently destroying Toronto on the block.

[pk500]

NBA Rookie Power Rankings: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-bas ... -the-ranks

1. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
2. Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks
3. Justise Winslow, Miami Heat
4. Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia 76ers
5. Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver Nuggets
6. Stanley Johnson, Detroit Pistons
7. T.J. McConnell, Philadelphia Sixers
8. D'Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers
9. Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic
10. Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers
11. Willie Cauley-Stein, Sacramento Kings
12. Nemanja Bjelica, Minnesota Timberwolves
13. Jerian Grant, New York Knicks
14. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
15. Bobby Portis, Chicago Bulls

No way would I put Porzingas ahead of Okafor. Okafor has been a polished beast in the paint. Winslow and Towns I can deal with but not Porzingas. Okafor is currently destroying Toronto on the block.

Agree. Porzingis is better than I thought, but he's getting a ton of credibility and respect for putback dunks that fill air time on "Sports Center."

[Rodster]

Agree. Porzingis is better than I thought, but he's getting a ton of credibility and respect for putback dunks that fill air time on "Sports Center."

No putbacks here. This kid is Prime Time and just what NY needed. He could have got robbed by a 3 point game winning call.

[pk500]

That was close. One of the closest buzzer decisions I've seen. But I think he was a sliver late. Very fun to watch that live with my youngest son. We were jumping up and down, celebrating, for about a minute.

Yes, Kristaps Fever has arrived at our house. He's good. But he's not yet in the same category as Towns or Okafor. Those are MEN. But Porzingis shows more swagger and has a less robotic style than most Euro big men, which will help him a lot.

Clyde Frazier is right during his Knicks' commentary, as usual: He said Porzingis needs to get stronger, and he needs to develop some more post moves. Defenders aren't respecting his moves in the high post or the near wings, as he usually passes or pulls up for a jumper instead of driving to the hoop or backing someone down.

The Knicks are far more enjoyable to watch this season than last year. At least they have an NBA roster, unlike last season. The team plays hard every game, and Fisher seems to be a little more competent. Melo also appears to have bought in on Porzingis, a refreshing change from draft night when he -- and nearly every Knicks' fan, said, "WHO?"

[Rodster]

So I gotta ask to put on your GM cap and imagine you are Pat Riley. Would you look at the situation playing out in Sac-Town and trade Cousins for Whiteside, Deng and a filler? Because that scenario was brought up today in the Ft Lauderdale online sports section.

Now before you say no way, keep in mind that Cousins is locked into a contract for 2-3 years and Whiteside is not a guarantee to stay in Miami because he will want to get paid more than Cousins who's making between $17-18 million per year.

[Rodster]

Yes, Kristaps Fever has arrived at our house. He's good. But he's not yet in the same category as Towns or Okafor. Those are MEN. But Porzingis shows more swagger and has a less robotic style than most Euro big men, which will help him a lot.

Clyde Frazier is right during his Knicks' commentary, as usual: He said Porzingis needs to get stronger, and he needs to develop some more post moves. Defenders aren't respecting his moves in the high post or the near wings, as he usually passes or pulls up for a jumper instead of driving to the hoop or backing someone down.

The Knicks are far more enjoyable to watch this season than last year. At least they have an NBA roster, unlike last season. The team plays hard every game, and Fisher seems to be a little more competent. Melo also appears to have bought in on Porzingis, a refreshing change from draft night when he -- and nearly every Knicks' fan, said, "WHO?"

The thing I see differently about Porzingas is that he's a Euro player adapting to be NBA, while playing for one of the worst Sports Cities for the media spotlight and pressure cooker. The kid in 8 games has outperformed what all the critics said he wouldn't or couldn't do. As far as build that can be worked on. Hassan Whiteside was a skinny kid last year and he's bulked up going into this season.

[dbdynsty25]

So I gotta ask to put on your GM cap and imagine you are Pat Riley. Would you look at the situation playing out in Sac-Town and trade Cousins for Whiteside, Deng and a filler? Because that scenario was brought up today in the Ft Lauderdale online sports section.

Now before you say no way, keep in mind that Cousins is locked into a contract for 2-3 years and Whiteside is not a guarantee to stay in Miami because he will want to get paid more than Cousins who's making between $17-18 million per year.

Um, in a half second, but it's going to take a ton more than Deng/Whiteside/Filler to pry Cousins out of Sac. I'd love for the Suns to do it, somehow, someway, but it's going to take a significant haul to do it.

[wco81]

Cousins will demand a max contract, north of $30 million a year, when his contract runs out.

[dbdynsty25]

Cousins will demand a max contract, north of $30 million a year, when his contract runs out.

Given the landscape of the CBA and the salary cap going up, he's worth it. And thanks for the heads up...I mean a top 10 player wanting max money? Breaking news!!!

[wco81]

No the $17 million a year he's making now is meaningless, unless Miami would trade him and not extend him.

Besides, all these owners are rich so who cares about saving money for the team. Fans are going to start seeing most or all winning teams pay the luxury tax and then demand why their team isn't doing it.

[Rodster]

Looks like the Knicks have a pretty competitive team this year. At least they are fun to watch and the Knicks crowd chanting Porzingis. I wonder how many of those chanting were booing on Draft night?

The rook dropped 29 and had a double double and stayed out of foul trouble as well.

[pk500]

Looks like the Knicks have a pretty competitive team this year. At least they are fun to watch and the Knicks crowd chanting Porzingis. I wonder how many of those chanting were booing on Draft night?

The rook dropped 29 and had a double double and stayed out of foul trouble as well.

As I told my son tonight while we watched the game, I'm starting to believe in the Big Kid.

[Pete1210]

I went to the Knicks game this evening. First game this season I watched from start to finish. Knicks bench could not score in the first half. Second half Gallaway hit a few big 3s. Was impressed with Carmelo hustling and diving for loose balls. On Hornets, Kemba Walker was fun to watch. Ewing got a nice ovation.

With Porzingas and Melo both on the bench, Knicks really struggle to score. Lopez looked weak. Maybe they get in the playoffs as 7 or 8 seed, followed by early first round exit.

[Inuyasha]

This warriors team may be the first team to have a realistic shot at the Bulls 72 win record season.

[dbdynsty25]

This warriors team may be the first team to have a realistic shot at the Bulls 72 win record season.

They will break it, barring injuries. The rest of the west is just going to beat the sh*t out of each other nightly and then the cakewalks in the East outside of the top 3-4 teams...it's ripe for the taking. They are in the ultimate F U mode right now because everyone called them lucky last year because all of the other west powers and the cavs had so many injuries. So they aren't going to take their foot off the gas anytime soon.

[Rodster]

Heat gave up way too many points in the 4th and you'll lose when your bench doesn't contribute. They should have beat the Timberwolves last night even with Towns, Wiggins and Rubio. Giving up 41 in the 4th is a dagger.

Whiteside had a monster game, a triple double with 10 block shots. He should easily beat Zoe's block shot record. But Whiteside needs to work on his FT game because teams are treating him like Clank-Shaq.

[DivotMaker]

That didn't take long.....

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14160 ... vin-mchale