2005-2006 NBA thread

Of the Remaining teams, who will win the NBA TITLE?

  • Mavericks

  • Lakers

  • Clippers

  • Spurs

  • Pistons

  • Heat

  • Nets

  • Cavs

  • Wizards

  • Kings

  • Suns


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ok... I sorta read the rumors for KG.. and initially I wasn't sure I wanted it because Marbury's name was thrown in... but I read a new rumor that would have Minny getting Penny and AD's expiring contracts for KG and Wally...

If that somehow works out.... holy christ... a starting line up of Curry, KG, Q, JC, Steph

With Wally, Frye, Lee, Nate, Mo Taylor Ariza coming off the bench.

I don't wanna think about it too much but damn....
 
stop giving me false hope

garnet yea right.. in my wet dreams :(
 
More imporantly, the KG rumors of him going to Detroit for Sheed, Darko, and someone else... If that happens, give us the rings now. Its over.
 
2005-06 Power Rankings: Week 4
RANK (LAST WK) TEAM REC. COMMENT
1 (1) Pistons 10-2 By the standards of their start, Pistons should have swept the week. That said, they still beat two teams (Nuggets, Bucks) in pretty good form and still belong up here.
2 (3) Mavericks 9-3 As deep as they are, even Mavs are going to be hurting if Howard and Stack are unavailable. Staying up here, then, obviously becomes even more of a challenge.
3 (2) Spurs 10-3 Never thought I'd see these Spurs, after a pretty focused start, losing at home to Chicago or dropping this low. Not without a catastrophic injury.
4 (6) Grizzlies 9-5 OK, granted, No. 4 might be tough to justify. But this has become the toughest slot to fill each week, thanks to the struggles of various would-be elite teams, and Grizz just went to Dallas and won by 20 without two regulars (Miller and Cardinal).
5 (7) Pacers 8-4 Artest's absence almost makes the Atlanta loss understandable. Almost. Routing Cavs and a road win over Clips couldn't hush the ongoing maturity debate in Indy.
6 (11) Nuggets 8-6 Furious George, remember, told us two weeks ago that ''we're not that far away from being a good team.'' This subsequent 5-1 run is more like it ... as long as Camby, fresh off receiving our praise, was really out for only one game.
7 (4) Clippers 9-4 Dunleavy himself warned Clips not to get carried away, noting their comfy schedule so far. In other words, No. 4 might have been a touch too high.
8 (14) Suns 7-5 When they needed it most, Suns presented with three foes in worse funks than theirs: Raps, Rockets and Nets. It looks like they've restored a bit of confidence.
9 (5) Cavaliers 9-4 LBJ scoring 30-plus is becoming routine -- seven times already -- but the real key might be Hughes' passing. When Larry leads them in assists, Cavs are 6-0.
10 (12) Warriors 9-6 Only four teams thus far have managed to avoid losing two games in a row. And Warriors are one of them, joining Pistons, Mavs and Spurs.
11 (16) Timberwolves 7-5 Let's see if winning in Cleveland gets Wolves going, because they were 0-4 on the road before that breakthrough and play four of the next five away.
12 (8) Wizards 6-7 After spanking Spurs and thinking they've arrived, Wiz lost five straight. Then Wiz got routed by Charlotte after winning at Detroit, making me wonder if they've learned yet that the season isn't over after you've beaten a powerhouse.
13 (9) Bucks 6-6 Heartwarming as Ford's comeback is, all the glowing coverage he's getting doesn't mean Bucks can get away with the defense they've been playing. Only four teams are giving up more than Milwaukee's 99.7 ppg allowed.
14 (10) 76ers 7-7 Eighty-five Iverson points in Sixers' last two games netted zero victories. It's no mystery why, either: Philly's porous D, which doesn't seem to be getting any better, surrendered 213 points in the two defeats.
15 (20) Bulls 6-5 Team O' The Week, for sure. Bulls not only stunned Spurs in SA; they also turned an 0-3 start into a more-than-respectable 3-3 finish on the dreaded ''circus'' trip.
16 (13) Heat 7-6 The one thing I liked about Miami's roster composition is the idea that all these big names could carry Heat through Shaq's absence. But even that's not happening now.
17 (19) Hornets 6-6 Maybe these Hornets are even more than pesky. If ROY favorite Paul keeps getting this much help from David West, it's not impossible.
18 (24) Magic 6-6 Brian Hill's Princeton offense hasn't quite been embraced, but the consolation for the new coach is three straight Ws and the NBA's stingiest defense (88.5 ppg allowed).
19 (21) Kings 6-7 Peja has missed a few games and no King is collecting more rebounds than Bonzi's 8.5 per game, but there is some good news amid the tension: Bibby, at 25 ppg in his past six outings, is starting to warm up.
20 (15) Nets 6-7 Our buddy Sanford, ace ESPN researcher and World's Biggest Nets Fan, says the biggest problem is actually the new play-by-play guy. He concedes that Marv is a legend, but Sanford says no one can replace ''a true Net'' like Ian Eagle.
21 (28) Jazz 6-8 I'd like to think that last week's steep demotion was just the spark injury-hit Utah needed. I suppose, however, that Kirilenko's earlier-than-expected return this week will probably have a bigger impact.
22 (18) Celtics 5-7 The math is a bit gruesome, as our man Peter May wrote Sunday. Celts' five wins have come against teams with a combined record of 22-46. They're also 0-4 on the road and 0-6 in both ends of their three back-to-backs sets.
23 (26) Trail Blazers 5-7 The whole Patterson flap dredges up tiresome images of chaos, but sitting at 2-3 on a seven-game trip ain't bad for a team still waiting for its first 100-point night.
24 (27) Bobcats 5-9 Bobcats have had nine different leading scorers in 13 games, but there's no question Wallace's surprising start (18.5 ppg, .576 shooting, 2.63 spg) is the highlight so far.
25 (23) Lakers 5-7 Sunday night's thriller vs. Nets aside, Lakers have been hard on the eyes. Kobe needs 29 shots a game to average 34.1 ppg, and no other Laker averages 15 ppg.
26 (17) SuperSonics 5-8 This wasn't as bad as the week Supes lost three straight roadies by a combined 93 points. But with three more Ls and Rashard talking about free agency, it was close.
27 (25) Knicks 4-8 We interrupt our regularly scheduled Larry vs. Steph update to point out a slightly more upbeat development: In spite of Larry's legendary reluctance to play rookies, Frye has scored at least 20 points in four of his past five games.
28 (30) Hawks 2-10 Can't explain how the last winless team suddenly wins two in a row. Also can't explain why the Boston win, Hawks' 10th game, was their first game against an East foe.
29 (22) Rockets 3-11 Problems, indeed. T-Mac's out, Houston hasn't won a home game since Opening Night, no one has a longer losing streak (seven) and only Toronto has more losses.
30 (29) Raptors 1-13 I'm guessing none of my Canadian friends will be terribly surprised to read here about Pape Sow's 40 -- yes, FORTY -- points in an NBDL game Sunday. I'm guessing some Raps fans out there won't even mind.
 
Unthinkable said:
More imporantly, the KG rumors of him going to Detroit for Sheed, Darko, and someone else... If that happens, give us the rings now. Its over.

first of all... let me take a moment to bask in the greatnesss in being in a basketball forum again ..... basking... basking...... aaaaahhhh..

okay, as much as it would intrigue me, i really don't think that would happen, at least not the way things are right now. Both Joe Dumars and Kevin Mchale have baboshed that rumor, so i have doubts that would happen. Plus i think it would take something bad for Joe to breakup the Pistons starting 5. As much as having Garnette would seem nice, we don't know how that would affect the chemistry.

But what we do know is how it would affect the salery cap. Garnette has a gargantuan contract, that frankly inhibbits getting and keeping good tallent. The pistons Pride them selves on having very well managed contracts.

Now, if at the end of the season goin into the playoffs, the Pistons somehow see themselves blown out in an early round, then maybe all bets are off, but unless something like that happens, don't bet on any Garnette to Detroit happening.
 
2005-06 Power Rankings: Week 5
RANK (LAST WK) TEAM REC. COMMENT
1 (1) Pistons 13-2 Remember last week when we wrote that Pistons rated the first 18 games to be the toughest portion of their schedule? If they're right, then everyone else in the East can only hope that they start getting bored.
2 (3) Spurs 13-3 Manu, in Pop's words, was ''just starting to play great.'' But they're better off bringing him back slowly, because Spurs have the depth to do so now ... and because they have to have a healthy Manu in the springtime.
3 (4) Grizzlies 12-5 No one seems to think they can stay up here. Of course, if Grizz keep holding foes to 85.5 points per game -- easily tops in the league -- we might have to reevaluate.
4 (2) Mavericks 11-5 If teams weren't focusing on him already, this will do it: Nowitzki is averaging 27.8 ppg in Mavs' 11 victories and just 17.8 ppg in the five losses.
5 (5) Pacers 10-6 After an impressive, business-like start to their long road trip, Pacers no-showed at Phoenix and finished ragged at Seattle. The good news? Foster is finally back.
6 (7) Clippers 11-5 Clips haven't reached double figures in victories this fast since 1977-78, when the franchise broke my heart by making that the final season in Buffalo. I moved to SoCal with 'em, but the relationship ended at the Aud.
7 (8) Suns 10-5 The schedule has been undeniably kind lately, but Suns aren't getting enough credit for their recent stingy D (a mere 90.5 ppg allowed in this 7-1 stretch) and the help Nash and Matrix are getting from a slew of newcomers.
8 (13) Bucks 9-6 Folks have been excited about Bucks' depth ever since the Magloire deal, but the focus was on the frontcourt. They seem even deeper than expected now that Mo Williams keeps tossing in game-winners.
9 (10) Warriors 12-6 The level of competition, granted, hasn't been the toughest. And they do shoot way too many 3s. Warriors, though, absolutely had to start well to maintain the momentum from last season's finish. Credit them for doing so.
10 (11) Timberwolves 9-6 Wolves are quietly building some confidence and swear they should be more than three games over .500. Maybe they're right, given the close nature of several losses -- back-to-back roadies in OT early and a rough loss in OKC, for instance.
11 (9) Cavaliers 10-6 Ten wins in November tied a franchise record, but it'd be easier to get excited about Cavs' start if they weren't mandhandled by Spurs, Pacers and Clips, too.
12 (16) Heat 10-7 Maybe it's just me, Heat faithful. But even with Shaq out, I expect more than three road wins so far. Before this week, Miami hadn't won away since Opening Night.
13 (6) Nuggets 9-9 Nuggets have more losses through 18 games than Furious George suffered in 40 games last season. And, yes, even the four losses under poor Scotty Brooks -- the only UC Irvine guy I've ever been able to tolerate -- do count on Karl's record.
14 (15) Bulls 8-7 It hasn't hurt them badly yet, but Bulls are shooting seven fewer free throws per game than the opposition. We bring it up, though, because chances are it'll be hard to keep winning that way.
15 (17) Hornets 8-8 Hornets have already matched last December's win total, at 1-1 this month compared to 1-14 in December 2004. Plus they've already been over .500 twice this season -- 1-0 and 8-7 -- which never happened last season.
16 (12) Wizards 7-8 Wiz have already blown their gift opportunity to gain some early Southeast ground on Shaq-less Miami. And they know it. ''Hopefully this will be our worst month of the season,'' Coach Jordan said of a 7-7 November.
17 (26) SuperSonics 8-8 Supes gave up a lot of points in the process, as always, but back-to-back wins against visitors from the mighty Central Division (Cavs and Pacers) represent the first glimpse of last season's Sonics.
18 (14) 76ers 8-10 Only once in this 2-7 skid has Iverson been held under 30 points. Strangely, though, it happened in one of the two games Philly won.
19 (18) Magic 7-9 Not exactly a news flash: Take Francis away from a team already without Grant Hill and Magic probably won't win much no matter what their manchild D-Howard does.
20 (19) Kings 7-10 The story is unchanged in Sacto. When Kings score, they win: 110.1 ppg in seven victories. In the 10 losses? Just 89.7 ppg.
21 (22) Celtics 7-9 Celts have tortured my man Simmons with that 6-8 showing in November, especially with 10 of those 14 games at home. But here's, well, something: Boston is 4-0 against fellow Titanic Division opposition.
22 (21) Jazz 7-10 Can't decide what's more shocking: Utah getting jobbed on a late call at home ... or Utah, even with all the injuries, sporting a 2-6 record at the Delta Center.
23 (20) Nets 7-9 Best thing you can say about Jersey is that Houston still has a longer list of problems. Otherwise Nets would be the league's most disappointing team.
24 (25) Lakers 7-9 Weird week. Lakers blew a game they should have won (vs. Minny) and stole two they should have lost (at Utah, vs. Charlotte). L.A.'s next six games, meanwhile, are all roadies, which makes me think Kobe isn't going to stop shooting.
25 (29) Rockets 4-12 Rockets are only 4-4 when T-Mac plays, but there's no disputing what he does for his center. Yao is shooting 60.4 percent from the field when T-Mac is out there and a disconcerting 40.6 percent when he's not.
26 (27) Knicks 5-11 Larry probably deserves a grace period that lasts longer than a month. By week's end, Knicks will have played just six of 20 games at home.
27 (23) Trail Blazers 5-11 Dare we say it's time for NBA TV to stop running that commercial in which Patterson and Nate are joking around in practice. That has to be training camp footage.
28 (24) Bobcats 5-13 No team in the league has played more road games than Charlotte's 11. And no team, sadly, has fewer road wins than Bobcats' one.
29 (30) Raptors 3-15 Had they held a late lead vs. Dallas, Raps might have been Team O' The Week. But Raps did go from a five-win pace to a 14-win pace by winning at Hawks and Nets.
30 (29) Hawks 2-14 If there's any short-term silver lining for Joe Johnson, it's this: At least he got the Phoenix game out of the way early. Imagine how uncomfortable it would have been going back in January or February with a much uglier record than 2-13.
 
I thought this was an intersting article about the Joe Johnson trade:

Three years from now, who will be the best player in the notorious Joe Johnson trade? Will it be Johnson, who will have developed his fine talents in the obscurity of Atlanta? Will it be one of the two first-round draft picks -- lottery picks, no doubt -- the Suns received from the Hawks? Or will it be Boris Diaw, the player the Hawks handed the Suns to seal the deal?

The surprising answer is becoming clearer during every Suns game. As Diaw, the drive-and-dish specialist with the Mensa-level basketball I.Q., continues to grow in confidence, he is showing a very rare set of skills that have us searching for the right comparison.

Or, to put it another way: Maybe it's just me, but if I'm running the worst team in basketball, I don't give away an athletic, 23-year-old, 6-8 guy who can do a reasonable impersonation of Magic Johnson.

Is Boris Diaw really another Magic? Of course not. Not yet, anyway.

For one thing, there is no one else like Magic Johnson. For another, Magic had the ball in his hands all the time, as the point guard for one of the greatest teams ever. And, perhaps most significant, Diaw's personality is passive and Kareem-style cool, whereas Magic was an effervescent leader who had the same effect on the staid Lakers of the late '70s that Steve Nash did on the Suns in 2004-05.

But, then again, how many guys can even be in the sentence with Magic?

In Atlanta, Diaw had a big problem. He could get into the lane at will, but he wouldn't or couldn't finish at the basket -- he preferred to look for a teammate on almost every drive. He had, as John Hollinger noted, an "inability to score," largely because he was "almost comically unselfish."

The Hawks, as dumb teams do, focused on what he couldn't do. The Suns, as smart teams do, saw what he could do.

So, in a genius move that probably only Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni would try, they took the point guard and made him a center. (This is where the Magic comparisons start to make a little more sense, if you recall Magic playing the post in the 1980 Finals or during his 1996 comeback.)

Diaw's got some work to do to reach his peak. His shot is flat, which costs him a potential weapon in the Suns' run-and-gun offense.

Also, he needs to finish stronger. He can drive past almost anyone, with his long, smooth strides. (It's not his first step that gets you, it's his third, when he turns the corner and swoops in for a layup or draws the help defender and makes the dish.) But he tends to still look to pass or flip the ball up instead of dunking it when he approaches the rim.

Sunday night, the Suns started to see signs that he's getting it, and fast. He tried a power slam on a drive in the first quarter, drawing a foul. In the second quarter, he followed a Suns miss with an Amare-like one-hand rebound jam, and in the third, he rolled to the basket for a convincing two-hand throwdown. If that's what Diaw's finishes of the future look like, watch out.

Because otherwise he's got the total game. He guards power forwards and centers routinely, shutting down the 'Sheeds and Yaos of the world. He grabs boards and starts the break (though, unlike Magic, he doesn't often lead the break, given that the Suns have Nash). And he has eyes on all sides of his head and the imagination and passing touch to match.

On Sunday, in his return to Phoenix, Joe Johnson played a very respectable game (23 points on 9-for-16 shooting, with an assist and two rebounds), especially considering the boos from the stands and the utter lack of help on the floor from the hapless Hawks. It certainly wasn't his fault the Hawks were blown out, trailing by 36 on the way to a 112-94 loss.

But it was Diaw's nifty play and the efficiency of his stat line -- 5-for-6 FGs, 4-for-5 FTs, nine assists, four boards, four blocks -- that bring us back to the original question: Which team got the best player in the trade?
 
I thought it was hilarious when Shaq was sitting courtside during the Lakers-Bobcats game last night
 
Super_Ludacris said:
I thought it was hilarious when Shaq was sitting courtside during the Lakers-Bobcats game last night
HAHAHAHAHAHA :up: I didnt know that :D
 
Here's the top rookies so far:

1. CHRIS PAUL, G, NEW ORLEANS/OKLAHOMA CITY
16.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 6.8 APG, 2.06 SPG
Last week: 1
Sixteen games into the 2005-06 season, the Hornets have almost half as many victories as they did all of last season. Chris Paul leads the team in points, assists and steals, and he grabbing 5.6 boards per game when he's usually the smallest guy on the court. If you haven't had a chance to see him play yet, get some tickets for when the Hornets are in your town or order yourself League Pass. You won't be disappointed.

2. CHANNING FRYE, C, NEW YORK
15.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 0.80 BPG, .511 FG%
Last week: 2
We're still waiting for Channing Frye to have a bad game. We thought it might come against the formidable Detroit frontline, but he put up 21, getting to the line ten times against the Pistons.

3. DERON WILLIAMS, G, UTAH
13.4 PPG, 4.7 APG, .397 3PT
Last week: 3
Deron Williams played solidly in losses to the Pacers and Lakers this week, but he struggled in a win at Portland on Sunday, enough that Jerry Sloan had him on the bench for the entire fourth quarter.


4. CHARLIE VILLANUEVA, F, TORONTO
12.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 0.78 BPG
Last week: 4
Charlie Villanueva scored the game-winning basket Friday night in Atlanta and played solidly in New Jersey the next night as the Raptors won two straight. From what I can tell, Raptor fans are still waiting for apologies from certain writers and television personalities.

5. SARUNAS JASIKEVICIOUS, G, INDIANA
9.6 PPG, 2.5 APG, .517 FG%, .510 3PT, .935 FT%
Last week: 8
With Jamaal Tinsley out, Sarunas Jasikevicious started the last two games for the Pacers. On Sunday, he scored 16 points, hitting 4-of-5 from downtown while grabbing seven boards and dishing out nine assists. Take your time getting back, Jamaal.

6. JOSÉ CALDERÓN, G, TORONTO
6.6 PPG, 6.1 APG, 3.44 AST/TO
Last week: 10
José Calderón shot the ball much better this week, he had the game-winning assist to Villanueva in Atlanta and he made some key plays down the stretch in New Jersey. He has started the last four games for the Raptors.

7. SALIM STOUDAMIRE, G, ATLANTA
11.1 PPG, 1.6 APG, .426 3PT
Last week: 5
Salim Stoudamire had his first bad shooting week of the season, .375 from the field, including just 4-of-12 from downtown.

8. ANDREW BOGUT, C, MILWAUKEE
7.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG, .485 FG%
Last week: 7
Andrew Bogut preserved the Bucks' two-point overtime win on Tuesday by blocking Jason Terry's shot as time expired. Oh yeah, he put up 19 and 14 in that game.

9. LUTHER HEAD, G, HOUSTON
9.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.3 APG, .459 3PT
Last week: 6
Luther Head, who had replaced an injured Tracy McGrady in the starting lineup last week, was still a starter when McGrady came back this week. Head's shooting has cooled off a bit.

10. SEAN MAY, F, CHARLOTTE
8.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG
Last week: 9
Sean May is still recovering from offseason knee surgery and he sat out a couple of games with lingering soreness.


NOTEWORTHY
Travis Diener (ORL) made the most of his chance to play in his hometown of Milwaukee Saturday night. Diener made five of his six shots, including 4-of-4 from downtown, scoring 14 points in a loss to the Bucks.
Jarrett Jack (POR) had a nice game in a loss to the Pacers on Friday, shooting 6-for-7 from the field for 15 points.
With more injuries to the Denver frontline, Linas Kleiza (DEN) got a start Wednesday against the Hornets. Kleiza could be a real solid contributor in the future for the Nuggets.
Nate Robinson (NYK) started two games for the Knicks this week. It looks like Larry Brown is giving him a chance. He and Joey Graham (TOR) are both on the outside of the Top 10 looking in, but can get there with a little more consistency.
Marvin Williams (ATL) has maybe been the most inconsistent rookie so far this season, but he recorded career highs in points and rebounds on Sunday with 17 and 11 in Phoenix.
The two top picks are each blogging on their teams' sites: Marvin Williams diary | Andrew Bogut journal
 
Close game against the knicks and clips with the clips winning! :cool: Brand For MVP!!! :mad:
 
Larry Brown should just wake up and put Channing in the starting line up with Curry. Doesn't he realize their games compliment each other? You can't double team either one and opens up the floor for Nate, Steph and JC.
 
I cant believe we lost that game last night. :mad:

Channing needs to start everygame now (Rookie of the year dammit!)

I think last night was LB's shortest rotation of the season
 
I agree.. Channing should start every game... his numbers for a rookie are amazing... 15 points a game, 50% FG, 85% FT. Over 5 rebounds.
 
Yep and the more he plays the better he gets.

Curry, Frye, Q, JC, Steph that would be my starting five.

Man you gotta feel bad for Q this is the second brother he's lost, both died from gun shots :(
 
The thing about this team is I know they're young but I'm loving how better and better Nate gets. Now all we need to do is get David Lee to play more consistantly.

yeah I know... I wish Q the best.... I was shocked when I heard about it. It's sad both his brothers were murdered.
 
Equint77 said:
Larry Brown should just wake up and put Channing in the starting line up with Curry. Doesn't he realize their games compliment each other? You can't double team either one and opens up the floor for Nate, Steph and JC.
Yes, because your obviously a better coach than Larry Brown :down
 
NOFX said:
Yes, because your obviously a better coach than Larry Brown :down

I know one thing.. I would shorten the rotation..

NOT START PEOPLE WHO WERE BORN IN THE CITY THE PLAY IN...

That's STUPID...

And start Channing Frye... he's proven himself.
 
Equint77 said:
I know one thing.. I would shorten the rotation..

NOT START PEOPLE WHO WERE BORN IN THE CITY THE PLAY IN...

That's STUPID...

And start Channing Frye... he's proven himself.
I've only seen Frye from last night and nothing impressed me from what I've seen.
 
NOFX said:
I've only seen Frye from last night and nothing impressed me from what I've seen.

LOL.. one game.. the NBA named him rookie of the month... they must be wrong too.
 
Equint77 said:
LOL.. one game.. the NBA named him rookie of the month... they must be wrong too.
IMO Chris Paul is going to be Rookie of the year!!! The big difference his team is actually winning!!! :cool:
 
NOFX said:
IMO Chris Paul is going to be Rookie of the year!!! The big difference his team is actually winning!!! :cool:

were you always this mouthy when the clippers were hovering at the bottom? I forgot.. your team is one of the standard franchises in the league.

My fault.
 
Equint77 said:
were you always this mouthy when the clippers were hovering at the bottom? I forgot.. your team is one of the standard franchises in the league.

My fault.
Well I am a Laker fan as well and one of those 2 franchises has always been on top of the League! :cool: BTW here's a summary of the game:

Knicks drop to 0-7 vs. Clips at Staples Center
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Los Angeles Clippers turned up the defense in the fourth quarter and kept the New York Knicks 0-for-Staples Center against them.

Elton Brand had 24 points and 11 rebounds, Cuttino Mobley scored eight of his 24 points in the final 2 minutes and the Clippers beat the Knicks 84-79 on Wednesday night.

Eddy Curry had 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks, who led 50-39 at halftime. They have lost all seven games they have played against the Clippers in their current home, after winning their final five visits to the L.A. Sports Arena. Five of New York's 12 losses this season have been by five points or less.

Sam Cassell added 16 points and 11 assists for the Clippers, who lead the Pacific Division with a 13-5 record.

"That team is playing great, and I don't think it's a fluke," Knicks coach Larry Brown said. "I reminded our guys during our shootaround that this is not the Clippers that we remembered from the past. They're a much different club, and they want to win. And they've got a great opportunity, because the Lakers aren't as dominating as they were.

"This is a great building to play in, and there's a lot of Clipper fans. So I think it's a good thing for the league."

The Knicks shot 36.5 percent for the game and did not make a field goal over the final 3:40. They used their 12th different starting lineup -- four more than all last season.

Stephon Marbury, the only player to start all 18 games for New York, had 12 points and two assists in 42 minutes and finished 3-for-16 from the field after missing his first five shots. He scored a season-low four points the last time he played at Staples Center on Nov. 16 in a five-point loss to the Lakers.

The Clippers, who trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half, took a 72-71 lead when Cassell made one of two free throws with 3:02 remaining. Quinton Ross added an 18-foot jumper from the left of the key and Mobley followed with a 3-pointer for a 77-71 lead with 1:51 to play. Mobley finished 6-for-16 from the field after missing seven of his first eight shots.

"We had this game pretty much the whole time, but we gave it away," Jamal Crawford said. "The guys were trying to get to the hole and put pressure on their defense, but tonight the shots weren't falling for whatever reason and they got every loose ball and every big rebound."

Clippers center Chris Kaman had a tough time defending Curry in the paint during the first three quarters, and missed his first six shots at the other end of the court. But in the fourth quarter, he blocked a layup by the Knicks' center and that led to a layup by Kaman that ended his shooting drought. It also capped a 9-0 run that reduced a 10-point deficit to 63-62 with 9:55 left.

"Eddy Curry was just scoring at will in the first half, and we weren't doing a good job on him -- especially myself," Kaman said. "But we played him a lot better in the second half. We weren't ready in the first half. Some guys come ready. But when the whole team doesn't, it hurts you. And that's what happened. But these guys have the experience and knowledge to know what to do in late situations."

Corey Maggette, the Clippers' second-leading scorer, was sidelined by a sprained left foot. James Singleton, an undrafted free agent, made his first NBA start at Maggette's small forward spot and played 16 minutes without scoring.

Both teams took the court with Knicks forward Quentin Richardson on their minds. Richardson, who spent his first four NBA seasons with the Clippers, missed his second game since the fatal shooting of his brother, 31-year-old Lee Richardson, Jr. on Monday during a robbery outside the family's Chicago home. It was the second such tragedy for Richardson, whose brother Bernard also was gunned down in 1992 at age 23.

"It's a sad situation," Brand said. "We all send our deepest condolences to Quentin. We knew Lee. We met him numerous times. When Quentin played with the Clippers, Lee was at almost every home game and we'd see him after the games. He was a good guy. Something like this makes us all appreciate life and the family and friends we have."

Brown, who spoke to Richardson on the phone Wednesday morning, said the team might try to stop in Chicago on the way home after Friday night's game at Phoenix to attend Saturday's funeral. But those plans weren't finalized.

"This isn't the first tragedy he's faced. Quentin's gone through a lot," Brown said. "It makes games seem kind of insignificant when you go through things like that, but he's doing the best he can. "I just told Quentin to straighten everything out and come back when he thinks he's ready. He wants to get back quickly, but it's up to him."
 
lol... oh ok.. you're a bandwagoner... the lakers win you wear piss yellow..... now the Clips are winning so you've converted there.

LOL.. one of the 2 franchises is on top of the league? Before this year.. when were the Clippers on top.

NOFX.. you're pathetic. Sure the Knicks are losing but damn.... even when the Nets move to Brooklyn.. I'll be damned if I root for those jerk offs. And I live in Brooklyn.
 
Equint77 said:
lol... oh ok.. you're a bandwagoner... the lakers win you wear piss yellow..... now the Clips are winning so you've converted there.
:cool: Now im pissing red :(
 
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