2011/2012 NBA Thread: Greatness & Awesomeness

[Darthphere]

Jazz could be a really good team. They're just missing that one piece. I don't know, someone like Deron Williams.

 

[lordofthenerds]

As unexciting as they are, I can see the Spurs going to the finals this year especially with the Thunder's recent struggles.

 

[runawayboulder]

Again Doc, if the refs let them play, I expect a different series. The ticky tac fouls and charges really were a killer and don't think I'm saying this because I'm a Knicks fan. I live in the NYC area and there are a lot of Knick haters and they will tell you that game was bs. Sad thing is NOONE on ESPN is talking about the refs. It's all being swept under the rug. Even on Twitter, People like Bayless, Steven A, and Jamelle, they are saying how great Lebron was, never mind he won the MVP and a Oscar in the same season but whatever. It's over and I'm ready for game 2.

The MSG post-game guys said the officiating was crap too but said it only started the momentum swing. They still blamed the Knicks turnovers for the blowout.

Besides, we all know ESPN is on LeBron's d**k anyway. ESPN sucks.

 

[lordofthenerds]

Jazz could be a really good team. They're just missing that one piece. I don't know, someone like Deron Williams.

Didn't they want to keep him though? I thought he was the one who opted out.

 

[Docker2.0]

The MSG post-game guys said the officiating was crap too but said it only started the momentum swing. They still blamed the Knicks turnovers for the blowout.

Besides, we all know ESPN is on LeBron's d**k anyway. ESPN sucks.

That's what I don't understand. They took the Knicks team out with the calls, which made them turn the ball over. I don't know why that isn't so obvious.

Didn't they want to keep him though? I thought he was the one who opted out.

Yeah the Jazz handled the superstar business the best. They asked if he would resign, he said no and they traded him. He was stunned when it happened but they did the right thing. You would think Orlando would have learned that by now.

 

[runawayboulder]

That's what I don't understand. They took the Knicks team out with the calls, which made them turn the ball over. I don't know why that isn't so obvious.

If you wanna win you have to have some composure and rise above some of the boo-s**t.

 

[Docker2.0]

If you wanna win you have to have some composure and rise above some of the boo-s**t.

I think the Knicks showed great composure. I've seen Kobe call a ref everything but a child of God, but yet no tech. If there was ever time to curse a ref out, yesterday was the day.

 

[Hound55]

There's more to composure than just not cursing out refs...

They disintegrated. And what's worse, they disintegrated in the worst possible faculty for the team they were playing against.

Yes the refs sucked balls, but you've been making excuses for them which the team can't make themselves.

 

[L.A.]

My gawd, the ladies of the NBA commentating today! Doris Burke and Lisa Salters!! One is built like a man and the other sounds like a man. If they are going to use women to comment on games, at least make them good to look at.

With that being said, I'd smash them both!

they need to bring back Michelle tofoya!

 

[runawayboulder]

Did Michelle do commentary or was she only ever just a sideline reporter?

 

[Immortalfire]

I just don't know how lebron survived such a brutal hit

They need to add an Acting Ability on the NBA video games.

 

[Poeman]

Really hope Lebron never wins a ring in his lifetime.

 

[runawayboulder]

I hope the Heat face the Thunder and OKC thumps them good.

 

[Doc Samson]

Two encouraging things I've seen today that I didn't all season from the Lakers:

1) Perimeter players hit the open jump shots

2) A sustained effort

All year, when the defense collapsed into the paint and the kick out happened, guys were blowing wide open jumpers. If they can hit consistently, I like their chances.

On top of that, I've seen the effort for the full game. Customarily, they let people back into games when up by 15, and they may very well do it here in the last few minutes, but overall, I've seen an intensity I haven't seen since Game 7 against Boston two years ago.

And finally Bynum stayed interested on the defensive end, even without shooting a whole lot, which is the mark of a true defender. I'm sick and tired of people saying the bigs need to "feel involved" in order to defend. That's ridiculous, and this game illustrates what they need from Bynum. Not points necessarily, but rebounding and blocks.

 

[Scrandy Randy]

Two encouraging things I've seen today that I didn't all season from the Lakers:

1) Perimeter players hit the open jump shots

2) A sustained effort

All year, when the defense collapsed into the paint and the kick out happened, guys were blowing wide open jumpers. If they can hit consistently, I like their chances.

On top of that, I've seen the effort for the full game. Customarily, they let people back into games when up by 15, and they may very well do it here in the last few minutes, but overall, I've seen an intensity I haven't seen since Game 7 against Boston two years ago.

And finally Bynum stayed interested on the defensive end, even without shooting a whole lot, which is the mark of a true defender. I'm sick and tired of people saying the bigs need to "feel involved" in order to defend. That's ridiculous, and this game illustrates what they need from Bynum. Not points necessarily, but rebounding and blocks.

This is the most important thing for me. All season whenever a team would go on a run late on or any time for that matter you knew it wasn't going to stop till the lead was down to two or three. The Lakers lost control a couple times but quickly regained it and built up the lead they lost.

Also, Bynum=best center in the NBA.

 

[L.A.]

Its funny seeing all the new noobs here now

 

[Doc Samson]

This is the most important thing for me. All season whenever a team would go on a run late on or any time for that matter you knew it wasn't going to stop till the lead was down to two or three. The Lakers lost control a couple times but quickly regained it and built up the lead they lost.

Also, Bynum=best center in the NBA.

Agreed, it'll be interesting to see what type of intensity they bring in the next game after a blowout. One thing I can say for Mike Brown is that he's probably beaten defensive accountability into their head way more than Phil would. We'll see if they've finally heard him for the long haul.

I'm still not sure about your second point though, he'll have to keep this type of play up before I can concede that. He's done way too many boneheaded things for me to forget, in just the last two months alone. But he's on his way...

 

[Hound55]

No, no, no. You heard the man. Best centre in the league. No need to go after Dwight Howard in the off-season... You've already got something better.

Just be leaving him on the table there...

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Bynum, SMASH!!!

 

[Doc Samson]

No, no, no. You heard the man. Best centre in the league. No need to go after Dwight Howard in the off-season... You've already got something better.

Just be leaving him on the table there...

I didn't say they needed Dwight, but let's not act like Bynum has done this for his whole career. This is one season, and it's not finished. Unlike alot of guys, I tend to wait before passing judgement, either positive or negative. I've seen almost every Laker game, as I usually do, and there's plenty of examples of Bynum not being able to handle double teams, petulant behavior, and not playing hard, which he admits to himself whenever he feels. Those aren't great qualities, and he needs to play the way he did today for the rest of these playoffs.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I didn't say they needed Dwight, but let's not act like Bynum has done this for his whole career. This is one season, and it's not finished. Unlike alot of guys, I tend to wait before passing judgement, either positive or negative.

Bynum's temperament and injury record do not make him anything near a sure thing, but in terms of potential and when he is at his best? He is beyond Howard. He can be a true offensive force and you can't play hack-a-Shaq with him.

 

[Doc Samson]

Bynum's temperament and injury record do not make him anything near a sure thing, but in terms of potential and when he is at his best? He is beyond Howard. He can be a true offensive force and you can't play hack-a-Shaq with him.

I just can't say that yet. Dwight's been DOP three times already, that's nothing to just sneeze at. Howard, athletically, isn't the same liability Bynum can be in transition, I've already seen him steal a ball from D-wade, miss a shot, then chase Lebron down from behind and catch him before he got to the opposite foul line, all in the same sequence. That's just something Bynum can't do. The way Bynum altered the game defensively today is what Howard does ALL THE TIME. I could care less about a 7 footer who can score, they already have one of those, I'm interested in one that can defend, and wants to defend. That's something he hasn't shown a consistent interest in doing.

But like I said, if Drew keeps playing defense like he did today, then he can be that eventually. But I can't just wipe away a guy's previous 4-5 seasons based on one, that's the type of crazy talk that got people believing into some of the nonsense of this past year, things I'd rather not get into right now...

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I just can't say that yet. Dwight's been DOP three times already, that's nothing to just sneeze at. Howard, athletically, isn't the same liability Bynum can be in transition, I've already seen him steal a ball from D-wade, miss a shot, then chase Lebron down from behind and catch him before he got to the opposite foul line, all in the same sequence. That's just something Bynum can't do. The way Bynum altered the game defensively today is what Howard does ALL THE TIME. I could care less about a 7 footer who can score, they already have one of those, I'm interested in one that can defend, and wants to defend. That's something he hasn't shown a consistent interest in doing.

But like I said, if Drew keeps playing defense like he did today, then he can be that eventually. But I can't just wipe away a guy's previous 4-5 seasons based on one, that's the type of crazy talk that got people believing into some of the nonsense of this past year, things I'd rather not get into right now...

You don't care about someone who can own the offensive glass and is pretty much automatic offense in crunch time?

I agree with most of your points and I don't trust Bynum, but I also know what he is capable of.

 

[Doc Samson]

You don't care about someone who can own the offensive glass and is pretty much automatic offense in crunch time?

I agree with most of your points and I don't trust Bynum, but I also know what he is capable of.

Rebounding and blocks are what I'm interested in, rebounding would include offensive and defensive.

The thing about Bynum is he isn't automatic offense in the slightest when he gets hit with double teams, like he was today, which is part of the reason he stopped trying to post and just hung around the rim for putbacks, like he should. That's going to be the next evolution of his game, and something people conveniently overlook when comparing him to Dwight.

Howard makes that team go by accepting the double and getting rid of the ball for the open shots, Bynum struggles with that immensely. It's kind of a necessary skill if you want to be a big man who scores, being that the center position is the easiest to double on the floor, and the smart ones try to stay surrounded with high level perimeter help just for that reason. It's no mystery Shaq has never played on a team without a superstar perimeter player his whole entire career. Dwight never really has, Bynum always has, and it makes a difference...

 

[JaD]

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Duhon Roll:

Yes! Thank you!!!! I saw this and was waiting for someone to .gif it! That straight up clown!!! HIlarious but I'm sure he got more than a dozen middle fingers for that.