The Perpetual NBA Thread

[ssaloon]

to starbury: STFU too!

[tsupermario]

here's something interesting :D

Shaq or Duncan?

Who is the best player of the last decade? I can only think of two players that merit the debate: Shaquile O’Neal and Tim Duncan. But who is better and why? Each player has their favorable traits, assets and abilities that make them stand out. Both are dominant and with Duncan’s championship this year each has four rings. The MVPs, the All Star selections, the individual accolades and the team success are all there for both players… So who’s the choice?

A few years ago Shaq would have been everybody’s answer. In the post-Jordan era, he has clearly been one of the league’s most colorful characters and personalities as well as one of the most dominant, if not the most dominant player in the league. His size and skill set is enormous. Shaq is in the Wilt Chamberlain and Moses Malone mold – straight power. There is no finesse about his game. He anchored the Lakers teams that won three championships. Everything was run through him and he could explode for 40 points and 20 rebounds whenever he put his mind to it. He won his fourth championship with the Heat in 2006, but clearly he played second fiddle to Dwyane Wade. His star is still bright, but it’s fading. The wear and tear to his massive frame is showing. Shaq can’t even make it through a season anymore. Can he win another title, or more likely is he through?

Tim Duncan on the other hand seems to still be in his prime, although his individual explosions never met the heights of Shaq’s. His steadiness year in and year out has matched it. Duncan is the silent assassin. The best power forward to ever play the game. He is more of a finesse player than Shaq. More Kareem to Shaq’s Wilt. More McHale to Shaq’s Malone. But is he better? Is he the more dominant player of the last decade?

Their supporting casts have to be looked at too and both have played with a multitude of prime-time players and superstars. Shaq with Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Robert Horry and Wade and Duncan with David Robinson, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Could the 2007 Spurs beat the champion Heat from a year ago? I believe so. Could the 2007 Spurs beat the Shaq/Kobe Lakers? I’m not so sure about that, but probably.

So when it comes down to it, we have to look at the body of work. Shaq was more explosive and his star shined brighter for a shorter period of time, but Duncan’s steady burn keeps going and going and going. Can we see a fifth and sixth ring for Duncan? If the Big Three of the Spurs stay healthy, they obviously can accomplish that.

What about Shaq? I don’t think he will see another ring with the Heat, but can he attach himself to some other potential champion like Dallas? Who knows? But as it looks right now if we are talking about a player of the decade and that decade is the first of the third millenuim, I’d have to give the nod to Tim Duncan.

me i'd pick shaq. the diesel in his prime is hard to stop

[mazdamazda]

Rumor:

Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff, 5th draft pick = KG

if that happens, ganda ng starting line-up ng Celtics:

Delonte/Allen, Pierce, Wally, KG, Perkins

:clap:

[Isuzoom]

i will wait for the 5th pick.

[empy]

Rumor:

Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff, 5th draft pick = KG

if that happens, ganda ng starting line-up ng Celtics:

Delonte/Allen, Pierce, Wally, KG, Perkins

:clap:

so that means KG will lose fantasy value, hehe.

time for the KG owners in keeper leagues to trade him! :innocent:

[ssaloon]

Kobe keeps pressuring Lakers to trade him
By JOHN NADEL, AP Sports Writer
June 19, 2007

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Intentional or not, Kobe Bryant seems to be doing everything he can to pressure the Los Angeles Lakers into trading him.

So far, it doesn't appear to be working.

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The latest twist in the Bryant saga involves an amateur video of the nine-time All-Star denouncing general manager Mitch Kupchak and teammate Andrew Bynum.

Lakers spokesman John Black said the team was contacted about the video before Bryant first requested to be traded on May 30.

"It doesn't change our stance at all," Black said a day after saying essentially the same thing -- that the team has no plans to trade the two-time defending NBA scoring champion.

"These people called us about a month ago, they told us they wanted to sell it, we told them we had no interest in buying it," Black said. "That's the end of the story. There's been no further contact between them and us."

Kupchak declined further comment, saying, "I think enough has been said."

A spokesman for the men trying to peddle the video to media outlets told the New York Times they were talking with Bryant when one decided to take a photograph and some video, but they didn't believe Bryant was aware they were filming.

According to the Times, the video lasts 24 seconds -- an interesting coincidence since Bryant wears No. 24 and his personal web site is www.kb24.com.

The Lakers passed up a possible opportunity to acquire star guard Jason Kidd from the New Jersey Nets at the trade deadline in February because they didn't want to part with the 19-year-old Bynum -- a 7-footer taken with the 10th overall pick in the draft two years ago.

"Are you kidding me?" Bryant says in the video before using several profanities in adding that the Lakers should "ship out" Bynum.

Bryant also spoke in negative tones about Kupchak. Bryant called the Lakers' front office "a mess" in a radio interview the day before first making public his desire to be traded.

The Times said the video's owners turned down an offer from a Lakers fan to buy it and keep it private. Instead, the newspaper said, they plan to make it public by the end of the week provided enough money can be raised through Web donations, then charge $1.99 through their Web site.

Lakers owner Jerry Buss spoke with Bryant by telephone a day after the trade request and issued a statement saying: "We will continue to pursue every avenue possible to improve our team with (Bryant) as the cornerstone."

Owner and player met face-to-face last Friday in Barcelona, and while Black declined to reveal details, the Los Angeles Times and Riverside Press-Enterprise quoted sources as saying Bryant still wanted out.

On the day he made his initial trade request, Bryant backed off somewhat after speaking with Lakers coach Phil Jackson, although that turned out to be a temporary stance.

Jackson told the Los Angeles Times he believes Bryant will remain with the team.

"He's made a decision that he feels justified to hold -- one that I've questioned -- that he has reasons to leave the Lakers," Jackson wrote in an e-mail published Tuesday. "However, it's my unshakable feeling that Kobe will be a Laker next October -- when training camp opens."

The 61-year-old Jackson has one year left on his $30 million, three-year contract. Kupchak said he has had talks with Jackson regarding an extension since the season ended.

"It was discussed again, it's really up to Phil," Kupchak said. "We'd like to extend his existing arrangement."

Jackson spent three hours in the office Tuesday, a week after surgery on his left hip. He had right hip replacement surgery last October.

"I think he'll be fine," Kupchak said. "It's unusual to have two, that's a little bit of a concern. He should be in much better shape this year than a year ago."

Bryant has a no-trade clause in his contract, meaning he would have a say in where he goes should the Lakers ultimately make such a decision.

Several messages left for Bryant's agent, Rob Pelinka, haven't been returned. Pelinka told ESPN.com late last week that his client's position "remains unchanged. Kobe would like to be moved."

Bryant, who turns 29 in August, has four years remaining on his contract worth $88.6 million, although he can terminate the deal in two years.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

and the drama goes on...

[mikaztro]

Kobe to Chicago? Hmmmmmm...

[theveed]

Dang, sana nga KG will join Paul, hehe babalik akong Boston lintek para lang mapanood hehehe.

[empy]

Kobe for a package of nice-but-will-never-be-superstar players like Deng, Hinrich and Nocioni is absolutely ridiculous. with any combo of those guys, Odom, etc. you have a nice collection of solid players and role players.

in other words, you have last year's Bulls (without Ben Wallace). tell me that team will get anywhere in the West.

but then again you have Mitch Kupchak signing the deals in LA, so i guess it could happen. he's traded the best player in the league for a collection of decent-not-great players before and then traded one of those players for a bust before he exploded :twak:

[empy]

if the only options are Dallas, Phoenix and Chicago...ain't no way i would trade Kobe unless i got either Amare or Dirk back if i were LA