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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2019 12:55:58 GMT
Doh! Dennis Johnson. I'll go to the back of the class. It's more fun there, anyway. At least I got the right era.
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Post by connors on Jul 28, 2019 19:01:18 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2019 19:24:38 GMT
I don't disagree, but how many come back from Europe?
I can only offer him a shed
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Post by r33 on Jul 29, 2019 7:56:05 GMT
He’ll be 31 next month, it might be time to take that CSKA bag (which was reportedly on offer for over $2m). He’d live in a luxury apartment, travel on a team charter plane, it’s as close to the NBA life as you can get in Europe.
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Post by connors on Jul 29, 2019 9:06:47 GMT
I’m not thinking he comes back from playing abroad but just maximises his remain8 g playing days.
He strikes me as being a good guy who would flourish in FIBA basketball.
He still is a “name” and I think that would attract the top teams who pay the big money and play in the big competitions.
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Post by youngrocks on Jul 29, 2019 11:50:22 GMT
Linsanity was the best thing in the nba for a number of years. The fsct he got on sports illustrated was pretty cool. He is obviously a clever guy if he went to Harvard but i feel his nba time is at an end. Cska or wherever would maybe be a move that will see him be the guy that maybe he has to be.
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Post by SamH on Aug 2, 2019 20:34:37 GMT
How bad have the Knicks got? They've been dropped from the Christmas schedule! The Knicks, who always play Christmas...but not this year! It's actually a cracking lineup:
Clippers-Lakers
Rockets-Warriors
Nuggets-Pelicans
Bucks-76ers
Celtics-Raptors
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Post by r33 on Aug 3, 2019 7:57:41 GMT
Well, CSKA signed another fringe Knicks guard in Ron Baker, so no Linsanity in Moscow.
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Post by SamH on Aug 6, 2019 17:59:15 GMT
www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27329223/source-carter-42-play-final-season-hawksThis is unbelievable, especially considering all the injuries he's had over his career. He was a freak of nature when he was half man, half amazing and now he's a freak of nature for being the first guy to ever play 22 seasons! Though from memory Robert Parish has the record for being the oldest to play in the league at 43.
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Post by connors on Aug 19, 2019 11:21:47 GMT
I see that now even relatively unproven players are dropping out of the USA team. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27407670/kings-fox-leaves-team-usa-prior-australia-tripCould the USA actually not bother playing the FIBA world cup and just play the Olympics? I presume so. Makes you wonder if that might be on the horizon. Or maybe back to college players (would be exceptionally tricky though in the one and done era....). To be fair its not just the US team that are missing top NBA players. They have so much at stake financially that the benefits of representing ones country clearly don't stack up for many players. It is a shame because with the overall improvement in depth outside the USA the standard of basketball could be fantastic to watch if each nations best competed. Yes the US would win but generally its the "other" games that prove the most entertaining. |
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Post by Richyyy on Aug 21, 2019 17:07:48 GMT
Moving the calendar so that the World Cup and Olympics are only 12 months apart was also always going to lead to an even worse USA team at the Worlds. Top players were always going to think that if they're giving up a summer, they'd much rather do it for the Olympics, and that two years in a row was too much. The scary thing for the US is that the next tier of guys couldn't be arsed either.
Unfortunately, given the players that are going and the general disinteret, no one in the US is going to give a **** even if they lose repeatedly and finish 10th. It's a shame, really.
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Post by connors on Aug 22, 2019 6:20:22 GMT
www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27431996/blackballed-melo-left-hanging-lebronInteresting take on the situation. Clearly Melo is better than Dudley but as Dudley himself says its all about the team. One of them is unlikely to have unrealistic expectations about playing time, shots, cause much of a fuss in the dressing room and nor be under any media scrutiny should he DNP or not play well. The other is Melo. Clearly word gets around in the NBA and teams are not liking what they hear. Again another player that might benefit from a year overseas to demonstrate what teams are missing out on........possibly!
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Post by r33 on Aug 22, 2019 8:02:35 GMT
Dudley sets screens, calls out defensive switches, makes the extra pass and mentors young players on how to be an NBA pro. Melo only ever did one thing well (score) and he doesn’t even do that amazingly well anymore. It’s really not that hard to work out why one has a job right now and the other doesn’t.
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Post by SamH on Aug 24, 2019 18:12:16 GMT
However, all that hasn't stopped the Lakers from signing Dwight Howard! Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it...and that isn't just the Lakers history with him. Howard is very much like Melo and while he has said all the right things this time, I don't think he knows how to be a team player or accept a reduced role. At least the Lakers made it a non guaranteed contract, but could they really not find another big man with a bit more willingness and heart than D12?I think Pau Gasol is still available for example, an ex Laker who actually delivered the 2010 chip (should have been finals MVP for carrying Kobe in game 7). Why not bring him back in?
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Post by connors on Aug 27, 2019 6:05:23 GMT
I was surprised at this too.
I would have thought a player like Gasol who has a good history with LA, can play reasonable D and rebound still (plus block the odd shot) whilst making those jump shots with Lebron and co kick it out would be a far better option.
It is quite amazing to see how both Howard and Anthony have become surplus afterthoughts in todays NBA. Broadly speaking all of their own doing....
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Post by SamH on Sept 21, 2019 9:54:56 GMT
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Post by connors on Sept 22, 2019 18:34:59 GMT
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Post by SamH on Sept 22, 2019 19:11:55 GMT
First ballot hall of famer for sure. One of the highlights of last season for me was his dunk right at the buzzer of a game that gave him 25000 career points. It was perfect to do it on a dunk.
He only actually needs to play the first game in January to set that record so should be fine. What I like is that he's actually still contributing on the court, his stats last season were quite respectable. Most guys still playing at 40+ really don't get in much and are just locker room leaders really, but Vince can still play!
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Post by connors on Oct 1, 2019 6:16:00 GMT
www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27698894/ranking-nba-best-players-giannis-kawhi-very-topNBA Season starts 22nd October 2019 and ESPN have already released their thoughts on the best 100 players in this coming season. Obviously one notable absentee due to injury (KD) but I think the top 2 is quite interesting. Personally I would probably put Leonard ahead of Giannis but its highly subjective. I also would have Steph Curry ahead of AD. I'm looking forward to the season and hoping all the change of players leads to a little more pre-Xmas intensity than we usually get. Certainly some intriguing new combinations. I'm still not sure how Leonard and George will jell but Harden Westbrook is the most unusual match up. They are obviously convinced it can work!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2019 8:30:13 GMT
Klay #49?
Unicorn #34?
Draymond #38?
Hmmmm
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Post by DefyingGravity on Oct 1, 2019 9:14:55 GMT
Leonard over Giannis for me as well
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2019 9:19:18 GMT
It's weird LeBron not really in the conversation about #1
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Post by connors on Oct 1, 2019 9:45:50 GMT
In a parallel universe where players are all fully fit, refreshed, engaged and playing at the best they can manage at their current age then I think Lebron is definitely in the conversation for best in the business still. I think I might still take Leonard!
Klay for me is the biggest mystery. They clearly feel his absence and then the period of time when he comes back will limit his effectiveness next season. Unicorn is also a little bit of an unknown entity after his injury history. Draymond is a polarising player but he certainly has been valuable to the Warriors during their championship years.
Dallas are going to be great to watch with their young stars!
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Post by SamH on Oct 4, 2019 14:37:45 GMT
Definitely looking forward to the season, even though OKC aren’t going to go anywhere this time round. Just really excited about the competition (compared to say, 2017 or 2018 where there really wasn’t any apart from 1 or 2 teams that may have been able to upset GS). Bit disappointed PG13 isn’t able to play in the opener Clippers/Lakers game but that should still be a cracker. Also Zion starting his career off against the defending champs. Lets see what Nick Nurse has in store to try and give him a rough welcome to the league!
No one is talking about the East but the Bucks and Sixers are bringing pretty consistent rosters in (apart from Philly losing Jimmy Buckets) and Boston should be hot again, with Walker a much less volatile but just as talented point guard as Kyrie and most of the others back. When Oladipo gets back from injury that could put the Pacers back in the mix too.
Hard to believe LeBron is entering his 17th season – and still seemingly as great as he ever was. I think he averaged 27, 8 and 8 last season? Most guys are well out of the league by now, or by this age are certainly slowing down. Make the most of him because when old father time does hit him, I think it will be a rapid decline. Is he still the best player in the league? Not for me – but still top 5 and I put a lot of that down to his conditioning work ethic and his basketball IQ. The only other person I can think of who was still performing at a high level after this long was Karl Malone, and look how good his conditioning was. That said you still have to be lucky not to get say, an Achilles tear or something like that which could happen to anyone with this kind of mileage on them.
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Post by connors on Oct 5, 2019 14:40:55 GMT
I presume you mean after that many seasons? Jordan was still playing very well in his mid 30s I’d say.........but granted he had a season and a half off and also went to Uni so not straight from high school.
Seem to recall a big bald dude with goggles being pretty decent around about that age too.......
Lebron is amazing. I’m not sure he will decline quickly physically..... but he may well make a quick decision to call it a day if he feels his powers waning.
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