[STOPPER19]

Haven't seen a good NBA thread/ranking thread in a while - did a search but couldn't find anything. What's everyone's thoughts so far as we approach the All Star break? What's surprised you?

After a 9-8 start, the Heat have gone 28-6 since.
The Cav's loss to the Mavericks today was their record 25th straight.
I think the Spurs have surprised everyone by the way they have been playing all season.
Interesting mid-season MVP race thus far (D. Rose, Nowitzki, Amare, Blake????)

What do you think of your team so far? what needs to change?

Sixers are an enigma to me. They started soo bad and since have gone 20-11 or something close to that since their 3-13 start. They've been in so many close games but don't have a go-to guy to get the last shot that they need. Everyone talks about the Knicks resurgence this year, but the Sixers have had a similar resurgence as well (finish 2 GB behind Knicks at end of last year, 3 behind Knicks now). This team is obviously mediocre but when the right lineup is on the floor, they are dangerous (Jrue, Meeks, Iggy, Thad, Brand is statistically the best lineup in the NBA lol true story).

oh and obv Blake Griffin highlights:

[TwistedAAcity16]

Lakers 2011 Nba Champs

[marinersheep This is stupid.]

 

Originally Posted by STOPPER19

Interesting mid-season MVP race thus far (D. Rose, Nowitzki, Amare, Blake????)

1. LeBron James
2. Derrick Rose
3. Dwight Howard
4. Kevin Durant
5. Dirk Nowitzki

[AMARTIN1181]

DURANT for MVP, gonna wreck the 2nd half

I actually wanted to make an NBA thread too but this one sucks so much I'm not even going to bother

[Lord Supremo actually a tuvalu lord (sigh)]

My thoughts:
Celtics been winnin.
Celtics gonna keep winnin.
Good times.

[marinersheep This is stupid.]

 

Originally Posted by Lord Supremo

My thoughts:
Celtics been winnin.
Celtics gonna keep winnin.
Good times.

better hope they don't have to play Charlotte in round one, apparently.

[STOPPER19]

lol completely forgot about the thunder durrrrr

durant's been lights out

[AMARTIN1181]

 

Originally Posted by marinersheep

better hope they don't have to play Charlotte in round one, apparently.

wrong. Would love to play Charlotte round 1. We are just awful on the 2nd day of back to backs cuz we old as hell and have like 5 players injured. The teams I'm most concerned about are the Bulls and Miami. I'm hoping the east standing fall in a way so that the celts play Orlando/Atlanta round 2 and then play the winner of Miami Chicago in the ECF. BEating both Chicago and Miami would be a tall task for our squad. Chicago matches up insanely well with the C's and have Thibodeaux calling the shots now. I wonder if luckpete still wants him fired...

I see this as one of the best NBA season since I've been alive. People who talk shit about the NBA are out of control. So many great players and quality teams in the league right now. For all the shit I talked about Lebron going to Miami, it is great to watch him and WAde play together. I'm not overly impressed by Bosh, however, and think they would have been better off with some1 "bigger" in both stature and style on the court. He is a good piece and a great offensive player, but he's not the type of player Miami needs. They need a guy like Garnett to fuck people up and play D. I think Miami is clearly the best regular season team in the nba and will end up with a better record than Boston, but come playoff time I'm confident the celtics still have enough to beat them in a 7 game series. The playoffs are going to be even better than last year, and last year's playoffs were epic.

I could literally rant about how great it is to watch Durant/Westbrook and some of the other great players in the league right now, but some1 would prolly come in here and tell me how NCAA is better than NBA and how the NBA sucks. Other than the bullshit the refs have been pulling lately, the quality of play is higher than its been in quite some time. tune in ppls before I have to write a book about it











Edited By: AMARTIN1181 Feb 8th, 2011 at 07:04 AM

[marinersheep This is stupid.]

Whoa.

I was just joking because they lost to Charlotte tonight, lol.

[Lord Supremo actually a tuvalu lord (sigh)]

 

Originally Posted by marinersheep

better hope they don't have to play Charlotte in round one, apparently.

har har har.

Agree with AMARTIN on like all the points...gotta hope we don't slip to 2 and that neither MIA or CHI slip to 4. The Celtics have shown that they can beat tough opponents in consecutive playoff series, and I think this Celtics team is the best of the Big 4 era, but MIA and CHI are much stronger than the CHI/ORL/CLE teams of past years and the only one of the top 3 Western teams I'd be particularly comfortable about seeing in the Finals are the Lakers. So yeah, I'd much prefer letting one of MIA/CHI beat the other than have us have to beat both incl. at least one series without home court.

And yeah, I've always cared about the NBA the least of the 4 major sports (NCAAF is the 4th not the NHL ldo) but this season has been awesome to follow.

[SteveSparks]

 

Originally Posted by AMARTIN1181

DURANT for MVP, gonna wreck the 2nd half

I actually wanted to make an NBA thread too but this one sucks so much I'm not even going to bother

^^^^^^^^^^LOL. I'm loving this NBA season as well and Amartin1181 in his 2nd post was spot on. I think Durant for MVP as well with the darkhorse to Derrick Rose. No way they give it to Lebron this year. I would love to see the Lakers rot in hell and lose to either Oklahoma City, San Antonio, or Dallas but realistically the Lakers will get their shit together and at least make it to the conference finals and prob beat the spurs in 6 and we get a rematch of Boston/LA which will be epic. Boston will have the best record in NBA and beat Miami this year, but i see a changing of the guard after this year.

Boston will meet LA in the finals again and win this time cause they have home court advantage and that will be the difference. The Lakers this year are doing exactly what Boston did last year in dealing with injuries and not expending too much energy in the reg. season. The playoffs should be fantastic, Im hoping Oklahoma city can upseat the Lakers but i think their a year away like Miami. Next year should be even better when Melo goes to the Knicks(he might get traded this year but i don't see Denver just giving him away for nothin, and i don't see the knicks offering anything close to value for Melo since they can just sign him as a free agent). Too bad there will be a lockout for next season and we'll prob get some bullshit like the 98 season all over again but whatever.

[marinersheep This is stupid.]

The East is going to be tough I think. It's a terrible conference from top to bottom, but 1-5 are all going to be tough playoff outs.

Orlando still has time to find a groove. If they can start knocking down threes with the way Howard has been playing (he's been out of his mind the past month or so), they're going to end up being really dangerous. I wouldn't count them out.

I also wouldn't count Atlanta out. I thought they would fold this year. I thought they had been together for too long and that their time as a legitimate team in the East was over. That said, I've seen them play some really good games. Everyone is sleeping on them, but with their chemistry and experience, they could potentially upset one of the top teams.

I think Boston is the cream of the crop, and I'm not going to elaborate on Chicago and Miami. I just wanted to point out that Orlando and Atlanta shouldn't be slept on. Orlando could end up being really dangerous if they can find a rhythm. Dwight Howard is a legitimate MVP candidate this year.

[AMARTIN1181]

I disagree with you about Orlando. unless Arenas somehow becomes the player he used to be they literally have no chance as currently constructed.

I am EXTREMELY nervous about Miami and Chicago, Don't think Boston is the favorite by any sort of wide margin. Both those teams will be very strong come playoff time.

As for the west, I think San Antonio, OKC if they make a move and Dallas all could beat the Lakers in a 7 game series the way they are currently playing. If they step it up a notch though, LA is still better than all these teams. Edited By: AMARTIN1181 Feb 8th, 2011 at 07:44 AM

[sobizzle21 Scammer]

dont forget the bulls havnt even been completly healthy all year, gonna be an awesome east finally once it gets to boston/miami/chicago/orlando....idk atlanta has proven in the past their shit in the post seaso and dont expect that to change...west is gonna be more competitive this year it seems and i really have no idea whos going to come out of there...overall though id have to say that boston is the favorites to win it all as long as they stay healthy

[Lord Supremo actually a tuvalu lord (sigh)]

 

Originally Posted by SteveSparks

Boston will meet LA in the finals again and win this time cause they have their starting center and that will be the difference.

fyp

but I don't think LAL make the Finals this year so that's a moot point.

[marinersheep This is stupid.]

When it comes down to it, I think the big bodies that Boston and Los Angeles have will enable them to prevail.

I like the Lakers out of the West, although I think the Spurs could really give them a run for their money.

I really like the Celtics in the East. Kendrick Perkins is so huge for them. To me, they're the clear favorite to win it all.

I like Miami and love the way they play defense, but I just don't think they have the interior presence to compete with Boston. I like Chicago's chances the second most, and I could see them coming out of the East. I just love the way they're assembled, and Tom Thibodeau knows the Celtics well.

Celtics over Lakers in the Finals is my pick right now. We'll see what I think a little down the road.

I definitely believe that the Celtics are the clear favorite to win the NBA Title right now.

 

Originally Posted by Lord Supremo

fyp

but I don't think LAL make the Finals this year so that's a moot point.

They'll get it together. Size is still a huge advantage for them, and it'll be tough for the other teams in the West to match up with the Lakers bigs. To me, San Antonio has the best shot at taking them down, but I think the Lakers will get it together.

[Lord Supremo actually a tuvalu lord (sigh)]

DAL can't give LA a run for its money?

DAL is playing defense on a high level, is 4-0 vs BOS/MIA, beat LA by 9 in their only game so far, and have Dirk playing at MVP level. Counting them out seems absurd.

[marinersheep This is stupid.]

I don't know what it is about the Mavericks. I just cannot see them as a true contender to reach the finals in the West. It's probably foolish for me to dismiss them; I just don't think they have the interior presence that's needed. Chandler has been really good, but rebounding is a big concern for me.

I can see why Dallas fans and other NBA fans would find it foolish; I may not be right. I just can't wrap my head around the Mavs as they're currently assembled to be a Finals contender.

[donkiman]

MVP Race:

[stupid steve]

Not one Chris Paul mention. WTF? And Amare is not an MVP candidate- the Knicks are on pace for 44 wins in the east- noone has ever ever ever won an mvp on a team that bad. And he's not one of the 10 best players in the NBA. And the Knicks suck. And he hasn't shot this poorly since his second season. And he can't rebound for shit.

As of now I'd say my top 3 is Lebron, Paul, Dirk- not sure what order.

[yjbrewer]

Why is everyone hating on LA. They are only 1 game off pace from championship run last year. I think a midseason move for knock down shooter is in order. I would like to keep Artest but they got some benchwarmers 10-12 roster spots that we could use for a good shooting benchwarmer to play about 6-8 mins a game and is good for crucial 3 point shots.

[tamayo85]

 

Originally Posted by marinersheep

1. LeBron James
2. Derrick Rose
3. Dwight Howard
4. Kevin Durant
5. Dirk Nowitzki

LOL...lebron isn't even the MVP on that team

[Z-Fresh]

MVP Race:

Durant
Wade
Rose
Dirk...even though he could possibly be the softest elite player in the history of the NBA.

Championship Race:
West: Laker
East: Celtics

Winner: Lakers..standard

[DWare94]

Ummm nobody talking about Melo to the Lakers for Bynum? Prolly the best deal Denver is going to get. IF Lakers can work out chemistry issues talk about GG NBA. Almost not fair....

[Futon]

Dude, please let the Lakers move Bynum for Melo. Unless they change the NBA to letting you have two basketballs this would be the best thing ever. The biggest difference in the Lakers championship run versus the Celts last year was their size domination. You take Bynum out of that lineup and the Celtics will destroy the Lakers in the interior. Melo is so overrated.

As far as the East goes, Chicago scares me just as much as Miami does just because I think Chicago matches up better versus Boston (not so much a talent thing)

[krs33]

 

Originally Posted by tamayo85

LOL...lebron isn't even the MVP on that team

Wrong.

[Z-Fresh]

 

Originally Posted by DWare94

Ummm nobody talking about Melo to the Lakers for Bynum? Prolly the best deal Denver is going to get. IF Lakers can work out chemistry issues talk about GG NBA. Almost not fair....

They want Lamar, too. Bynum for Melo is a no brainer but if you throw in Lamar you need to slow your roll a bit. Edited By: Z-Fresh Feb 8th, 2011 at 05:26 PM

[DWare94]

I dont think Melo is overrated but there is no way Kobe can be 100% behind brining Melo to LA, his ego is way too big. It just seems like it would be a terrible fit.

[nasabuzi]

if melo went to the lakers i guess gasol would never see the ball again. if its for bynum and artest I do the deal but not for bynum and lamar. the lakers might be on pace for the same record as last year but everyone else has improved.

[Futon]

 

Originally Posted by DWare94

I dont think Melo is overrated but there is no way Kobe can be 100% behind brining Melo to LA, his ego is way too big. It just seems like it would be a terrible fit.

I just don't see Kobe and Melo meshing in time to win a title this year, and let's face it, this is Boston's best hope for a title this season.