2009-2010 NBA Thread

[Yankees13]

Cavs close on Amare. That would be a deal with enormous repercussions.

I'm surprised people aren't making a bigger deal out of it. If it happens, it could change the league for the next decade. You have to assume Cleveland does whatever it takes to re-sign both of them, and then you have a duo that should win championship after championship. You can also kiss any chance of LeBron coming to Knicks goodbye unfortunately.

[kan_t]

I'm surprised people aren't making a bigger deal out of it. If it happens, it could change the league for the next decade. You have to assume Cleveland does whatever it takes to re-sign both of them, and then you have a duo that should win championship after championship. You can also kiss any chance of LeBron coming to Knicks goodbye unfortunately.

I may be wrong. I don't think the Cavs can resign both of them due to cap issue.

[Joba-Walkee]

I may be wrong. I don't think the Cavs can resign both of them due to cap issue.

They can. They have the bird rights to both.

[Snatch Catch]

Nate to the Cs is heating up again.

[S2]

Well, they are struggling (early) against the Kings right now, so perhaps it's time to make a deal. Just read on CelticsBlog that the Knicks would only be interested in expiring deals and Scalabrine, Eddie House and Tony Allen fit the mold.

It would be an interesting move for sure.

[RYMASTER or Ryan_Yankees]

Nate can block any trade, right?

[YanksFan1992]

Nate to the Cs is heating up again.

I would not be the least bit happy about this.

[Snatch Catch]

Nate can block any trade, right?

Yeah, but he's said to be very open to going to Boston.

[RYMASTER or Ryan_Yankees]

George Karl has neck, throat cancer

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/35431516/ns/sports-nba/

[Joba-Walkee]

Cleveland gets Jamison. Perfect compliment to LeBron.

I think the Cavs should go with Jamison and Varejao starting.

[b_joseph]

Cleveland go all in..I tell ya, if Miami can get Amare. The East playoffs will be epic.

[Joba-Walkee]

The Bulls just traded John Salmons to the Bucks for expirings.
That team is going to be really attractive next season.

[YanksFan1992]

The Bulls just traded John Salmons to the Bucks for expirings.
That team is going to be really attractive next season.

Hopefully this means that the Knicks can get McGrady.

[S2]

Great trade for the Cavs. I like the Jamison one for them a lot more than I did the Amare one. I thought Amare might cause some problems in regards to fitting in with an already very strong team, but Jamison probably doesn't present those same problems. I don't what it does for LeBron's future, which all of this is leading up to anyway.

[Joba-Walkee]

Great trade for the Cavs. I like the Jamison one for them a lot more than I did the Amare one. I thought Amare might cause some problems in regards to fitting in with an already very strong team, but Jamison probably doesn't present those same problems. I don't what it does for LeBron's future, which all of this is leading up to anyway.

Amare is definitely the better fit, the pick and roll with him and LeBron would be shades of Stockton/Malone, plus Amare is younger. But Jamison is also a very good offensive player.

[dabomb2045]

James finally gets a legit offensive option/scorer to work with. Watch out NBA.

[chanman7483]

Cleveland go all in..I tell ya, if Miami can get Amare. The East playoffs will be epic.

Agreed. As a bball fan, this makes them the team to beat. Guy can score on his own and can pop it from distance if needed, LBJ should be happy.

As a knicks fan, I just cried a little bit.

[b_joseph]

James finally gets a legit offensive option/scorer to work with. Watch out NBA.

Mo Williams numbers the past few years would tell me that he now has 2 of them...along with some very very good defensive big men ( he had those last season also though ). No excuses.

^Dont cry. Right now, I really dont think that his success or lack of success this year will dictate where he wants to go next season.

[chanman7483]

James finally gets a legit offensive option/scorer to work with. Watch out NBA.

Fantastic start from Jamison - 0-12, 0-4 on 3's, 2 points, blocked 5 times

[kan_t]

Brandon Jennings' FG%

Oct .516
Nov .420
Dec .376
Jan .324
Feb .284

[dabomb2045]

Fantastic start from Jamison - 0-12, 0-4 on 3's, 2 points, blocked 5 times

Well it can only get better from that

Btw the NBA has to do something about this loophole regarding getting back players you just traded. I mean they just traded Big Z to the Wizards as a part of the Jamison deal....the Wiz are gonna buy him out and release him. In 30 days, the Cavs will sign him again. The Celtics did the same thing w/Payton a few years back. This just shouldnt be allowed. It feels like cheating to me. Essentially the Cavs acquired Jamison for nothing assuming Big Z does re-sign w/them.

[Snatch Catch]

Brandon Jennings' FG%

Oct .516
Nov .420
Dec .376
Jan .324
Feb .284

At least the majority of his value isn't tied to his ability to score.

[DaSh 1s]

Pop can never moan about the Gasol trade after this.

Lakers gave up two first rounders?

[b_joseph]

Lakers gave up two first rounders?

Yep..2008 and 2010.

Plus Cap relief..plus Marc Gasol who is averaging 15 and 9 this season. They got a good deal.

[Joba-Walkee]

Plus it let them absorb Zach Randolph, who's been a fantastic team player this year.

[bingo4]

Knicks is suck! they lost again and again and again.......

[RYMASTER or Ryan_Yankees]

Knicks is suck! indeed.

[chanman7483]

Knicks is suck! they lost again and again and again.......

Love it... first post, too

[dabomb2045]

The Magic really give the Cavs a ton of trouble. Cleveland better hope they dont see them in the playoffs again.

[kan_t]

The Magic really give the Cavs a ton of trouble. Cleveland better hope they dont see them in the playoffs again.

The Celtics also give them lots of trouble. The Hawks too. The Eastern conference is a 4 teams race. The standing actually is not that important. All four teams can beat other three and they will meet each other in play-off.

[dabomb2045]

The Celtics also give them lots of trouble. The Hawks too. The Eastern conference is a 4 teams race. The standing actually is not that important. All four teams can beat other three and they will meet each other in play-off.

Eh, Im not very high on Boston right now. Atlanta is good--I dont think they can beat the Cavs 4 out of 7. IMO, Orlando is the one team in the East that can take out the Cavs....just like last season. They just present alot of bad matchups for them.

[Brick Tamland]

Eh, Im not very high on Boston right now. Atlanta is good--I dont think they can beat the Cavs 4 out of 7. IMO, Orlando is the one team in the East that can take out the Cavs....just like last season. They just present alot of bad matchups for them.

Isn't this the first time the Cavs lost to the Magic this season? I know it's only been 3 games but still...

[S2]

Eh, Im not very high on Boston right now. Atlanta is good--I dont think they can beat the Cavs 4 out of 7. IMO, Orlando is the one team in the East that can take out the Cavs....just like last season. They just present alot of bad matchups for them.

Boston is 27-10 (.730) when their starting five is Rondo/Allen/Pierce/Garnett/Perkins (8-9 otherwise). Garnett is slowly starting to get healthy and Pierce is still not 100% yet. I think the playoff schedule is something that could benefit them. No back-to-backs, tons of days off, focusing on just one team, etc. They are still number one in the league in points allowed.

[dabomb2045]

Boston is 27-10 (.730) when their starting five is Rondo/Allen/Pierce/Garnett/Perkins (8-9 otherwise). Garnett is slowly starting to get healthy and Pierce is still not 100% yet. I think the playoff schedule is something that could benefit them. No back-to-backs, tons of days off, focusing on just one team, etc. They are still number one in the league in points allowed.

I still think Orlando and Cleveland are better. Just my opinion. I think the Allen-KG-Pierce trio has seen its best days.

[kan_t]

I still think Orlando and Cleveland are better. Just my opinion. I think the Allen-KG-Pierce trio has seen its best days.

You're probably right about the GAP point. But in the past they didn't have Wallace. And the most important thing is that now they have a much improved Rondo.

[b_joseph]

Another game winner for #24. Doesnt play for 18 days, comes back and drops a cool 32 points and a game winner with 4 seconds remaining.

[S2]

I'm not naming names, but there was a time when 58.62% of voters here thought picking Greg Oden over Kevin Durant was the way to go. As one of those in the Oden camp, I apologize to Mr. Durant.

[b_joseph]

Still too early.

Got to give Oden a little more time to get lucky with injuries. If he stays healthy for a 2-3 year stretch, he'll be a dominant defensive force at a position that is most likely to lead a team to the promise land.

[dabomb2045]

Still too early.

Got to give Oden a little more time to get lucky with injuries. If he stays healthy for a 2-3 year stretch, he'll be a dominant defensive force at a position that is most likely to lead a team to the promise land.

At this point....unless Oden ends up on the level of a Hakeem-Ewing-Robinson-Shaq etc. it wont matter. Durant's averaging 30 pts/7.5 boards/1.6 steals. He's only scratching the surface. Just to give you an idea.....LeBron averaged 31.3/7 boards/1.6 steals at Durant's age. He might not be far away from having annual 50-40-90 seasons (fg pct, 3-pt pct, ft pct). He's only 21 and he's got that Thunder franchise on its way to greatness.

This argument is done right now IMO.

[RYMASTER or Ryan_Yankees]

I almost feel bad for Portland. They took Sam Bowie over MJ, and now Greg Oden over Kevin Durant.

[kan_t]

I almost feel bad for Portland. They took Sam Bowie over MJ, and now Greg Oden over Kevin Durant.

They are cursed. When have they had a healthy center since........before Bill Walton?

[b_joseph]

At this point....unless Oden ends up on the level of a Hakeem-Ewing-Robinson-Shaq etc. it wont matter. Durant's averaging 30 pts/7.5 boards/1.6 steals. He's only scratching the surface. Just to give you an idea.....LeBron averaged 31.3/7 boards/1.6 steals at Durant's age. He might not be far away from having annual 50-40-90 seasons (fg pct, 3-pt pct, ft pct). He's only 21 and he's got that Thunder franchise on its way to greatness.

This argument is done right now IMO.

But thats the thing. The vast majority thought that Oden would end up like those kind of big men and thats why he was drafted with the #1 selection.

The Sam Bowie situation was a disgrace..people who were around at that time were shocked about it. But this one is just a massive case of bad luck, if Oden doesnt get healthy enough to reach his full potential.

If Dwight Howard and D-Wade were in the same draft...which one would you slelect and why? I know Oden isnt at that level but like I said, if he stays healthy, he'll be right there with the likes of Howard and Bynum.

[kan_t]

If Dwight Howard and D-Wade were in the same draft...which one would you slelect and why? I know Oden isnt at that level but like I said, if he stays healthy, he'll be right there with the likes of Howard and Bynum.

I think people can make an argument that Oden is already in the Bynum's level. Bynum's offense is much better than Oden but Oden's defense is much better than Bynum.

[dabomb2045]

But thats the thing. The vast majority thought that Oden would end up like those kind of big men and thats why he was drafted with the #1 selection.

The Sam Bowie situation was a disgrace..people who were around at that time were shocked about it. But this one is just a massive case of bad luck, if Oden doesnt get healthy enough to reach his full potential.

If Dwight Howard and D-Wade were in the same draft...which one would you slelect and why? I know Oden isnt at that level but like I said, if he stays healthy, he'll be right there with the likes of Howard and Bynum.

Oden's never gonna be big offensive player on this level. He doesnt have those skills from what I've seen from him.

Wade over Howard? I take Wade. A center can only do so much....and Howard doesnt exactly have the offensive abilities that Hakeem, Ewing, Robinson etc. had. He is basically scores all his points within 4-5 feet of the basket. Lets see him develop a game between 5-17/18 feet and then we'll talk. A great 2 guard or small forward can carry a team all the way assuming he's surrounded by some solid talent (as Wade did in 06).

Look at it this way....as great as Hakeem was on those 94-95 Rockets winning teams....would they have beaten the Bulls if MJ didnt take a few years off? Not a chance.

[Snatch Catch]

I was a big Oden backer for the #1 spot in that draft, and while he was actually one of the best centers in the league this year before the injury, Durant has still clearly outshined him even assuming both were healthy.

[b_joseph]

Kan_t - Thats fair. Bynum on defense is still a work in progress...not helped by having awful defenders are the point guard position but thats a rant for another day.

Bomb - Hmm, I'd go with Howard because in the history of the league, the easiest way to the Finals is by riding with a dominant big man. There are exceptions but in most cases the better teams have that big man who can take over games on both ends or specially on one end.
Even Wade had the benefit of a 2-man rotation at the Center position that all teams would envy.

Snatch - He has outshined him..I dunno, I just cant write off what Oden could have been if he was healthy. I mean we are talking about the Lebron James of Centers in terms of what he was as a physical specimen. I think he would have been the best Center in the league by now.


Time will tell, I guess.

[Snatch Catch]

I'm not ready to write Oden either - not even close. I'm just saying Even if they both were healthy, Durant has shown that he's one of those 3-5 guys in the league that is built to carry a team regardless of who is around him. I don't think we've seen that from Oden.

[dabomb2045]

Oden would have to be one of the best 3 centers in the league right now to be as valuable as Durant is.

He'd have to be averaging something like 25 pts/14 boards/3 blocks a game or something. Durant is easily a Top 5 player already IMO. When Kobe is gone....this league is gonna be owned by James and Durant.

[Snatch Catch]

Oden would have to be one of the best 3 centers in the league right now to be as valuable as Durant is.

He'd have to be averaging something like 25 pts/14 boards/3 blocks a game or something. Durant is easily a Top 5 player already IMO. When Kobe is gone....this league is gonna be owned by James and Durant.

Oden was there. He's third in the NBA amongst centers in PER this year, behind only Duncan and Howard, and was improving continually as he got more and more minutes.

[S2]

I know it's horribly cliched and all that, but if you could choose one player to build your franchise around - right now - Durant is my 2nd choice behind LeBron and it's closer than you think.