The NBA Thread

[jbissell]

The Nuggets could be this year's Memphis. They're hanging in their despite their injuries. Ty Lawson is very, very, very good. I also love Kenneth Faried. He has such a great motor and he's ALWAYS smiling. He's so happy to have the ability to play basketball for his career and it shows. He's going to be a pretty good off-the-bench big man for about the next 10 years. I hope he never loses his personality.

Agreed on the Nuggets; I've watched quite a few Nuggets games this season and I love their style. Faried was probably one of my favorite college basketball players (I only really watch the Tournament) over the past few years and he's actually built on that energetic play in the pros, which doesn't often happen.

I hope Faried continues to get solid minutes, even after Nene comes back because he's also become one of my favorite under the rader young guys.

[Mr. Spacely]

Jesus Christ, Lakers.

I forgot that the first rule of this season is: "If your PG has a pulse, you've got a shot against the Lakers."

[Mr. Spacely]

Oh, my God, it happened again! Kill me.

[senorcorazon]

As a Lakers "fan" I apologize. They deserve to get run out of the first round of the playoffs this year, not to accidentally ACL tear Rubio. If it makes you feel better, they are approaching a dark stretch that will last about 5-6 years, and Bynum is due to blow out his knee again within 6 weeks.

[Gilly]

I did not expect Ellis to end up on an 18-24 team.

Even worse is that the Bucks are an 18-24 team that would be in the playoffs if they started today. Man, I hate the Eastern Conference. Even if they do have the best two teams.

[Gilly]

That said, what a horrible trade for Golden State. They don't really need Bogut with David Lee, Kwame Brown's expiring contract was much more useful to them- trade Ellis for an expiring contract and bring in a top free agent this summer.

P.S.  I think it's kind of funny that I come to the FOT board to talk basketball. Maybe it's Tom's love of the game that it's accepted here, or that everyone here is pretty level headed. But, it usually is the best sports conversation around. Thanks!

[Mr. Spacely]

Monta (or is it Monte? I can never remember and I'm too lazy to double check) is a pretty one-dimensional player and not the best teammate, so I get GS moving him. But, yeah, for Bogut? And with Curry's ankles made of balsa wood?

Still, you gotta think Jerry West knows what he's doing up there.  Right? Right???

What I'm most interested in are the rumors that GS wants to move from Oakland to downtown San Fran (well, technically, by Pac Bell Park).  If you pair that move with a new cable deal, GS would instantly become a financial power. Alas, the CBA blocks teams from buying their way to the top, but still, there's no reason why San Fran should not have a bball team that can serve as some kind of counterweight to the Lakers-Clippers behemoth.

[Gilly]

It makes no sense, when they are a team that can easily persuade a top free agent to sign with them, why they threw that away for a couple marginal players and the chance to keep their lottery pick. They didn't even need that pick- they were one star player away from being a contender and instead they gave up their salary cap flexibility to a team that probably isn't going to be able to persuade a top free agent to sign with them. This is why the good teams stay good teams, and bad teams stay bad....

[Greggulator]

D'Antoni's out as Knicks coach!

I can't fault this. They're back to being dreadful. Linsanity was the NBA's Prague Spring.

Broussard has an article on ESPN.com somewhere (saw it on my phone) where he discusses the internal problems they have. In particular, Melo's attempts to post up are ruining the spacing of D'Antoni's pick'n'roll offense which Lin ran so well. And apparently, D'Antoni has a difficult time confronting his talent and lost the team as a result.
 
I would venture to say that Amare's escaping any blame here for being brutal on offense and the worst defensive player in the NBA.

Now Mike Woodson's running the show! He ran a tight ship as the Hawks coach. By tight ship, I mean "sat idly by and watched Josh Smith shoot half-court shots".

[jbissell]

Still, you gotta think Jerry West knows what he's doing up there.  Right? Right???

Yeah, it seemed bizarre to me that they didn't get any picks in the deal. Apparently GS's 1st rounder this year is only top-7 protected from Utah and they were on pace to likely lose that pick. Now they can shut down Curry and tank in order to keep their first rounder.

I think it's going to be interesting to see how Monta and Skiles mesh.

Now Mike Woodson's running the show!

Not like he's going to get the job after this season anyways. It'll be interesting if Phil or Sloan end up coaching there next year.

[Greggulator]

You'd have to be nuts to work for Dolan and that madhouse right now.

I doubt either Sloan or Phil end up there. Jerry's a country boy. And Phil won't go there since there's no guarantee he'd win a championship.

The Knicks roster is so talented and deep right now. But trying to get all of that to work is the tough part.

[Mr. Spacely]

You'd have to be nuts to work for Dolan and that madhouse right now.

Exactly. Phil's a crazy guy, but with the Lakers he had a huge amount of FO sway and control, thanks to his relationship with Jeanie Buss. Where's Phil's "in" to greater Knick power? It seems to be just a coaching job at the moment. Unless, of course, he gets some kind of Godfather, part-ownership/stock offer.

[Greggulator]

Some thoughts:

1) The OKC/Minnesota game Friday night was amazing. Anyone who could watch that game and not walk away loving basketball will never appreciate basketball. I've been immersed in college basketball the past few weeks (of course) but watching the OKC/Wolves game forever killed any arguments that college basketball was as good as the NBA.

Anyways, this game was just so amazing to watch. It's so absurd to think Russel Westbrook went for 45... and that didn't even come close to stealing the show.

I really can't wait for their inevitable playoff clash next year. Love vs. Durant is going to be a great rivalry.

2) The Clippers turning on VDN could not be more predictable. That team stinks. I think Blake being subjected to awful NBA coaching at the start of his career will be something we'll all regret. He's so great -- if he had a guy like Adelman or Doug Collins guiding him, he'd be even better.

3) The Knicks are so fascinating. I kind of hate watching them play again, though. Linsanity's over.

4) The Grizzlies kind of rule.

5) The Kenneth "Manimal" Fareid and Javale McGee front-court is my favorite duo in basketball. The Nuggets can't be the Nuggets without lunatics.

[Gilly]

I have to disagree on the greatness of Griffin. He's good but he has so many flaws. Inconsistent jumper, mediocre defense, terrible free throw shooting are three that he'll probably always have. I do think he can develop into a great post player both on offense and defense, but I think his jump shot and free throw shooting are going to keep him from being great along with having huge matchup problems with forwards who play outside the post. He doesn't have an intangible to make up for those flaws like Howard does with his size and defensive abilities.

[dave from knoxville]

NBA Ranking Update

   26-Mar
1   Chicago
2   Oklahoma City
3   Miami
4   Orlando
5   San Antonio
6   Phoenix
7   Indiana
8   Philadelphia
9   Boston
10   Memphis
11   LA Lakers
12   LA Clippers
13   Atlanta
14   Utah
15   Houston
16   Portland
17   Dallas
18   Minnesota
19   Denver
20   Sacramento
21   Toronto
22   New York
23   Milwaukee
24   New Jersey
25   Charlotte
26   Golden State
27   New Orleans
28   Cleveland
29   Washington
30   Detroit