The NBA Thread

[TheeChrisDee]

The Jazz are positioning themselves really well for life with the new CBA.  Watch them come out of the lockout with one of the best teams in the NBA for good long run.

[buffcoat]

Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon are never going to get to stop talking about these two trades.

[Greggulator]

I bought my brother a pair of random Knicks tickets for Christmas. Turns out they were for last nights game.

The crowd was indeed electric. They had a really awesome video of a quote Melo made at some point talking about how he wanted to be Bernard King as a kid. That was awesome.

Making it better, it was also legends night at the Garden. They had a half-time ceremony for Earl Monroe, Mark Jackson, John Starks, and Allan Houston.

They apparently allowed John Starks to pick three songs to play before the game last night. They were: "Rumpshaker" by Wrexx-in-Effex, "Motwon Philly" by Boyz 2 Men and "Remember the Time" by Michael Jackson. DJ Clue was also spinning tracks during timeouts and was surrounded by fly girls.

They also have a thing where if you send in a text message to the Garden they might show yours on the scoreboard. My submission of "Carmelo Anthony taught me never to report a crime" didn't make it.

Louis CK and Chris Rock were put on the big screen separately.

As far as the team -- I know it's the first game, but I will never be sold on Melo as a Top 10 player in the league. He's a total black hole if he gets the ball in the spot where he likes to post from. He's awesome when he gets to the rim (he'll finish or get fouled) but there are so many times when he tries jump shots which he's not good at. D'Antoni's offense works when the ball is moving and is heavy on pick'n'roll -- hence why Amare gets MVP chants. Melo is not good at either.

But Chauncey Billups.... I think NY's going to love him. The phrase "basketball IQ" was invented to define his game.

[TheeChrisDee]

Adrian Wojnarowski was on The Morning Jones this morning and made a comment inferring that the new CBA might force the Heat to give up one of their "Big 3".  That doesn't bode well for the Knicks putting a quality team around Amare and Melo in the future.

[Greggulator]

Baron Davis to the Cavs for Mo Williams. I think this might be my favorite trade since the Suns sent Tom Chambers to the Sixers for that Croatian dude who could dunk over a car and then Chambers promptly retired.

Baron Davis is going to be so awesome on the Cavs. He might not even bother to show up and not tell anyone his whereabouts.

I hope the Cavs bring Ricky Davis out of the woodwork next.

[TheeChrisDee]

Can the Cavs sign Darius Miles to a 10 day contract, or would David Stern still nullify it?

[jbissell]

I think the Cavs should sign the Eddy Curry and then he and Baron can just hang out and eat all day.

[Gilly]

As far as the team -- I know it's the first game, but I will never be sold on Melo as a Top 10 player in the league. He's a total black hole if he gets the ball in the spot where he likes to post from. He's awesome when he gets to the rim (he'll finish or get fouled) but there are so many times when he tries jump shots which he's not good at. D'Antoni's offense works when the ball is moving and is heavy on pick'n'roll -- hence why Amare gets MVP chants. Melo is not good at either.

But Chauncey Billups.... I think NY's going to love him. The phrase "basketball IQ" was invented to define his game.

Yeah Carmelo is a little overrated. He's labeled as a superstar but I'd say he's just a really great scorer who has a knack for getting the foul called. But, every team needs somebody like that so he is a valuable asset as long as you aren't building a team around him. Denver built the team around him, and NY doesn't have to do that now. Great fit for NY.

[Wes]

I think this might be my favorite trade since the Suns sent Tom Chambers to the Sixers for that Croatian dude who could dunk over a car and then Chambers promptly retired.

Marko Milic! Show him some respect, jerk.

[Terry From Cleveland]

I really, really, hope someone had a camera on Baron Davis when he heard about this trade. I'm excited to see how a historically pouty player reacts to being traded from one of the top 5 cities for attractive women, nightlife, things to do if you are rich, and warm weather to Cleveland in February (I'm from here and love it, but even I would be a little PO-ed). Even more excited to see how the same guy reacts being a point guard traded from the team with the best dunker in the league to a team with like 2 guys who aren't too feeble to jump at the hoop. I think Davis is probably just going to play for the other team when he gets put in, so the Cavs have to play 4 on 6. This was a good move by the Cavs, nonetheless. We haven't had a bearded prima donna in town since Braylon Edwards.

[nec13]

I really, really, hope someone had a camera on Baron Davis when he heard about this trade. I'm excited to see how a historically pouty player reacts to being traded from one of the top 5 cities for attractive women, nightlife, things to do if you are rich, and warm weather to Cleveland in February (I'm from here and love it, but even I would be a little PO-ed). Even more excited to see how the same guy reacts being a point guard traded from the team with the best dunker in the league to a team with like 2 guys who aren't too feeble to jump at the hoop. I think Davis is probably just going to play for the other team when he gets put in, so the Cavs have to play 4 on 6. This was a good move by the Cavs, nonetheless. We haven't had a bearded prima donna in town since Braylon Edwards.

I love it!

[Terry From Cleveland]

And then lastly race. I get so mad when a couple of punches are thrown on the court and it becomes the top story on Sportscenter and makes local news when it's not even local. Meanwhile over at the hockey arena across the street people are cheering on two goons dropping gloves on the ice. Or, a brawl erupts at the baseball stadium and barely anybody flinches. That's directly related to race issues and that's where you get a lot of people who haven't come back to the NBA the chance to say, "They're thugs." No, they are pro athletes in a competitive enviroment. If you don't like it, don't watch sports. But, at least be consistent.

Not to totally discount the involvement of racism in this phenomenon, but I think basketball gets more coverage when that happens because the fans are so close to the action. There's no netting, wall, or plexiglass separating large angry men (of any race) from spectators at a basketball game, which makes it a whole lot more newsworthy, in my opinion.

[Terry From Cleveland]

On a lighter note,

[jbissell]

So many trades. I'm most excited about Boston trading Perk, because most Celtic fans seem to be (justifiably in my opinion), upset by it.

[Terry From Cleveland]

We just got two white guys!

Dan Gilbert is salting the earth.