2008-09 NBA General Discussion Thread

[Habib]

It's the team who loses that's always crying about the degree of efficiency and inaccuracy of the officials -- I really hate this about the NBA, if you lost, just go home and try harder next time, stop giving stupid excuses!

I watched the Lakers vs. Celtics game 100% the whole thing, and in the final second, Ray Allen tried to shoot a 3 pointer and Pau Gasol blocked the guy! OK haha, Ray Allen just fell to the ground (for no reason obviously) and refused to stand up for about 10 seconds LoL. That was some funny shit, he wanted everyone to think that he was fouled, when clearly he was blocked instead and couldn't stand the embarrassment that the so called "softies" (according to the C's) gave him.

Anyway, even if I were a Laker hater (which obviously I'm NOT) I'll admit that the Lakers are DEFINITELY contenders for the championship...If without Bynum they were able to sweep a 6 game road trip, I think it's gonna escalate even further when he's back playoff time.

Providing they don't relax and continue playing with this level of consistency, I think they have laid an extraordinarily good foundation en route to the '08-'09 season championship.

Oh, and the All Star game, I can't wait for that, ESPECIALLY the 3 point contest...I don't care much for the dunkers...

Talk to me y'all!

[darklighter1]

Well personally I think Allen was fouled on that last shot but whatever it was just a regular season game. We'll see if the Lakers can keep up the physicality over a 7 game series. But yeah of course they're a serious contender for the title...number one for now. Every team goes through ebbs and flows so it's great they won the 6 road games I'm also not going to discount them when they lose three in a row at the end of the season.

I think as they're presently constituted they have a great shot at the whole thing but I wouldn't be counting on much from Bynum. The guy is a notorious under performer when it comes to getting himself in shape. With this injury which is pretty serious and the long layoff IF he comes back he may be more of a hindrance to the team than a benefit. :twisted:

PS I notice everytime I write something disparaging about the Lakers I can't get back on the forum for three days! Coincidence? I think not! Ube is punishing me! ;)

[darklighter1]

Is this the first time the same guy has been traded for two different guys with the same last name?

Heat swap Shawn Marion for Jermaine O’Neal

MIAMI (AP)—Shawn Marion’s most memorable play with the Miami Heat was his last.

Hours after Marion’s last-second dunk lifted the Heat past the Chicago Bulls, he was traded Friday to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Jermaine O’Neal, ending a weeks-long saga involving the expected deal.

NBA officials approved the swap Friday afternoon by conference call, the Heat said.

Toronto also gets guard Marcus Banks and cash considerations, while Miami will receive forward Jamario Moon and a future first-round draft pick, to come sometime between 2010 and 2015. It’s lottery-protected, essentially meaning the first time the Raptors make the playoffs after this season, their first-rounder goes to Miami.

If Miami does not get that first-round pick in 2010, it will get an additional second-round pick that year.

Miami and Toronto discussed the deal for weeks and, with the trade deadline looming Wednesday, decided to move forward. Miami also was linked to trade talk with several other teams, including Phoenix and Sacramento, and perhaps was able to coax the draft pick out of Toronto by waiting so long to make the deal.

All players involved will likely have to pass physicals, which can be waived by agreement.

Marion—whom Miami acquired just over a year ago from Phoenix for Shaquille O’Neal—was referred to by both Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and president Pat Riley in recent weeks as the team’s “second-best player” behind Dwyane Wade.

He took a bounce pass from Wade and dunked with 1.1 seconds left Thursday night, lifting Miami to a 95-93 win and sparking the sort of on-court, chest-bumping celebration that’s rarely seen in the regular season.

It was his last hurrah, though, with Miami.

Marion was a key part of Miami’s 28-24 start to this season, averaging 12 points (third on the team behind Wade and Michael Beasley, who now could replace him in the starting lineup at small forward) and a team-best 8.7 rebounds.

But he wanted a long-term contract, something Miami was not willing to provide.

One of Miami’s primary areas of concentration, just like every other team in the NBA, is keeping cap space clear for the summer of 2010, when the likes of Wade, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Amare Stoudemire and Chris Bosh can become free agents.

And this trade clears another $4.8 million in cap room for that summer; that’s what Banks, who had fallen out of the rotation in Miami, would have been owed in the 2010-11 season.

Plus, it gets Miami a true center in Jermaine O’Neal. The 30-year-old averaged 13.5 points and seven rebounds for Toronto, but has been slowed by injuries. He’s owed nearly $23 million next season, but that money won’t affect Miami’s free-agent plans for 2010.

Miami has played an array of players at center this season, including Jamaal Magloire, Joel Anthony, Mark Blount and even Udonis Haslem, a forward who gives up several inches in height and at least 20 pounds to every other true center in the NBA.

Banks averaged 2.6 points in 16 games with Miami this year. Moon averaged 7.3 points in 54 games with Toronto, and becomes a free agent after this season.

With Banks gone, Miami has only two true point guards on the roster: Mario Chalmers and Chris Quinn. The Heat do have room to sign another player, so it’s likely Riley will pursue either picking up a guard through free agency or making another trade.

[Habib]

It was so heartwarming to see Kobe and Shaq together again man yesterday @ the All Star game -- haha and they won co-MVPs. Has that ever happened before?

It was funny how they playfully fought over the trophy :)

[darklighter1]

Yeah I could hardly keep the tears of joy from flowing.. :?

[Habib]

Who saw the Celtics game against the Jazz? That was a big win wow, they fought them endlessly throughout the whole game...

[AYHJA]

As much as I think the C's are overrated, I don't think the Jazz win that game w/KG still in the game...He's what makes that team go...

[erokero85]

Daym, sorry DL, looks like KG might be on the shelf for awhile.

At least it's not like Amare being out for the rest of the seaon. :( :disappoint:

[darklighter1]

As much as I think the C's are overrated, I don't think the Jazz win that game w/KG still in the game...He's what makes that team go...

HAHAHA it's funny how that Celtic/Laker hate goes so deep. I think the Lakers are totally overrated and Ube thinks that of the Celts. But I appreciate the condolences fellas. I really think Boston is the most talented team when healthy and hungry but I don't see either this year. They look like a team going through the motions most nights and KG looks like he was Brady-ized last night so I guess I have to just wait'll next year. I still think Cleveland is going to win it all now but I thought that even before KG went down. :sick:

[Habib]

...I still think Cleveland is going to win it all now...

darklighter1 please may I/we know what's the basis of that conclusion? At least support it with something, stats or whatever...haha what's with the Laker hate, like seriously?

Even if I hate the Celtics, I enjoy watching them -- I admit they are super entertaining with the drama and swagger they bring to every game (especially KG bumping his head like a beast on some surface), and most importantly, the physicality that they exhibit every game...Haha Celtics is almost the only team in the NBA where the starting lineup is ALL black people haha :D I don't know why :P

Their weak points are starting to be revealed though -- when any other team decides to match up that physicality they present and go muscle-to-muscle with them, they are just like any other team man...and I'm not just saying this; the fact that the Lakers have swept the season series with them can prove this...Lakers have guys like Pau Gasol, Luke Walton & Jordan Farmar that they Celtics thought they could call "softies," but when everyone decided to play physical, they can't seem to jinx the battle.

AYHJA is right about KG keeping the Celtics alive...even personally, I don't think Rajon Rondo can't perform as impressively if those "Big 3" weren't around him...put him on another team and let's see how that guy performs...

I'm not gonna "state" it that the Lakers are "going to win it all now," but I'm sorry Laker hater(s) (lol), it seems to be heading in that direction considering how they are playing right now...at least if you have to pick a #1 right now it'll be the Lakers, the record is speaking for itself...

Playoff time is the main time to predict though, it's still too early to say anything...But NO, I doubt that the Clevaland are gonna take it...they're still a young team that aren't "ripe" yet, they lack the playoff experience aggregately...