The NBA Thread

[Mr. Spacely]

NBA players liking the Sunbelt and/or NYC is not a new phenomenon. It's just in this age of social media and around the clock sports reporting, we hear about all the tiniest musings from players and their entourages and we get to watch "the sausage being made" in slow motion.

[Gilly]

That's true but not to this extent. Take a look at the Dream Team. Malone and Stockton played for Utah, Drexler played for Portland, Jordan and Pippen Chicago, Barkley- Phoenix, Olajuwon- Houston, David Robinson- San Antonio. Out of all of those guys, only Malone tried to find a ring at the end of his career in LA. I can name at least 10-15 more stars from the last truly cutthroat competitive era of basketball.

Jordan and Barkley have both said that friendships that exist because of connections all the way back through teen years playing AAU ball have ruined the competitive nature of the sport. Where's the pride in making pacts with other elite players to win a championship in a major city once their tenure with their drafted team is complete? I still love this league, but the players need to start putting some pride in their ability to carry a team and humble themselves when they aren't able to carry a team far enough.

[nec13]

So-called "super teams" seem to be a phenomenon exclusive to the NBA. You rarely, if ever, see great players in other sports attempt to coalesce on one particular team. But I think that's because basketball, more so than any other sport, is reliant on individual talent. You can assemble a team with just two or three great players and be successful (see: the 90's Bulls). The same can't be said for Major League Baseball or the NFL. So of course players will use their enormous leverage for all it's worth.

[fonpr]

So-called "super teams" seem to be a phenomenon exclusive to the NBA.

This may be related to the size of the teams on the field/court.  Two out of five would have a greater influence than two out of nine or twenty two.

[Gilly]

Yes, it's easier to create a superteam in the NBA but it's always been that way, roster sizes haven't changed. Players in the past just chose not to since they had a competitive spirit. They wanted to beat each other, not join forces to beat up mediocre teams. That said, the 90's were a time where the league wasn't very strong overall, but at least the stars were spread out across the league.

[buffcoat]

So-called "super teams" seem to be a phenomenon exclusive to the NBA.

This may be related to the size of the teams on the field/court.  Two out of five would have a greater influence than two out of nine or twenty two.

We're not talking about cricket or jai alai, Florida-dude.

[Greggulator]

Don't ever change, Knicks.

[fonpr]

We're not talking about cricket or jai alai, Florida-dude.

Oh, sorry.

I like crickets.

[gravy boat]

Don't ever change, Knicks.

I hate to say this, but I am with the Knicks on this.  Lin has not proven he's good enough to demand that kind of money.  Plus if you read how it went down--NY Post had a good article on it (again, I hate to say that)--Lin and the Rockets were getting a little too cute.  http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/source_knicks_won_match_lin_offer_IaFOfENCk85407zzt3ynxK

[Greggulator]

Don't ever change, Knicks.

I hate to say this, but I am with the Knicks on this.  Lin has not proven he's good enough to demand that kind of money.  Plus if you read how it went down--NY Post had a good article on it (again, I hate to say that)--Lin and the Rockets were getting a little too cute.  http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/source_knicks_won_match_lin_offer_IaFOfENCk85407zzt3ynxK

It's less Jeremy Lin and more trading for Raymond Felton Part 2.

The thing in this article -- they're saying how they're worried about Lin in an isolation offense. True Hoop broke down his stats and Lin is ridiculously awesome at isolation plays. If the Knicks don't realize that, shame on them.

[Gilly]

Summer league basketball is the worst. I had it on in the background all last week and tried actually watching the Wolves games. I don't get why they even play these games. You can't really tell if a player is good or not because they're surrounded by a bunch of players who are going to be D-League lifers who don't move the ball around and players who are supposed to be good end up looking like D-Leaguers themselves... which they very well could be, but to me it's impossible to tell because they aren't playing anything that resembles NBA basketball.

[Pregnant Pause]

Kwame Brown will be the 7th number 1 overall pick to play for the Sixers since the 2003-2004 season (Weber, Glenn Robinson, Coleman, Joe Smith, Iverson, Brand).  The team's record over that time is 333-389.   I can't think of any other stat that better sums up being a fan of the team for the past 10 years. 

[jbissell]

This is the least excited I've been for a Bulls season since Rose's rookie year.

[Greggulator]

Let's talk Olympics!

After the Brazil game, I thought the US was going to get smoked at some point. Brazil has some size and decent enough guards but don't have one guy who would make the US team and almost took them.

I didn't see the Spain game but, after reading up on it, I'm really certain we'll have the gold. Spain's a really good team with really great size w/ the Gasols and Serge Ibaka. But their guards are iffy, especially since Ricky Rubio's not playing.

The one guy who really stands out in the games I've watched is Russell Westbrook. He's the best athlete on that team. Oh dear lord.

[nec13]

Discuss.