The Perpetual NBA Thread

**theveed** · October 15th, 2007 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by empy

si veed gumaganti sa paninira ko sa Celtics :hihihi:

i wouldn't necessarily call the Heat championship a fluke - but it was certainly built with a win-now mentality, and without a good continuity plan. a bunch of aging vets and talented-but-flawed players that Pat Riley was able to get for discounts, and motivate enough to cover up their flaws...and D-Wade both stayed healthy and kind of caught everyone by surprise with how good he is. that won't happen again, and now the team is stuck with old guys and bad contracts.

but it was worth it to get the championship - if you have a great chance to win now, you go for it and worry about the future after you take delivery of your jewel-encrusted rings. exactly what the Celtics are doing now and the Lakers did in the early 00's.

i hope Miami can make a move to get younger and get draft picks or young talent. Daequan Cook is a talented but inconsistent scorer, who knows how to feed off a dynamic PG and a dominant C (he was Conley and Oden's teammate at OSU), and Riley is a great judge of draft talent, so i'm cautiously optimistic there. Dorell Wright has all the tools but it's frustrating how long it's taking him to develop.

the rest of the youngsters belong in the D-league :bwahaha:

FLUKE! hehehehe peace bro

**Eismann** · October 15th, 2007 11:24 AM

If the celts end up as champs, they'll probably get the same treatment...he-he

**theveed** · October 15th, 2007 02:09 PM

Jackson questions Garnett's opinion

Lakers coach says the forward who the team unsuccessfully pursued over the summer is wrong in his assessment of the front office.
By Steve Springer
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

October 14, 2007

Putting on the purple and gold, playing under championship banners, standing shoulder to shoulder with superstars was once considered a dream role around the NBA.

Didn't everybody want to be a Laker?

Not Kevin Garnett. Last week, he told The Times that, despite the fact he has a home in Malibu, he didn't want to depend on a Lakers front office he saw as ineffective.

Is his a lone voice, or is the perception of a dysfunctional organization, fueled by an off-season of finger-pointing and a failure to make a meaningful move, more widespread, perhaps discouraging other big names from seeking a Lakers roster spot?

Comparing the Lakers to his former team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, who weren't able to provide him with sufficient help, Garnett, now a Boston Celtic, said, "I knew I didn't want to deal with that. I didn't want to duplicate that. I didn't want to mimic that."

After practice Saturday , Lakers Coach Phil Jackson was asked if he thought Garnett's criticism was an isolated case.

Jackson said it wasn't even a solid case.

"Where did he get his information from?" Jackson said. "What does [his] statement mean? Does he even know our organization?. . . . I don't think anybody has a better winning record as an owner than Jerry Buss. . . . He doesn't want to win? I just kind of brush that off as not understanding the situation."

The situation was inflammatory over the summer, especially with Kobe Bryant's trade demands. The situation cooled but was inflamed again last week when Buss said trade prospects involving Bryant have been explored and remain a possibility.

How are the other Lakers handling such distractions?

Asked about it Saturday, forward Lamar Odom, standing on the Lakers' practice court, pointed upward to the windows looking down on the floor, windows into the front office.

"We don't work in those offices up there," he said. "Our job is down here. This is where we get things done. This is where our togetherness takes place. We still have a job to do. We can't let that affect how we play. Sometimes how you think can affect how you play."

So the players don't even discuss it?

"Not at all," he said. "It would be wasted energy."

**theveed** · October 15th, 2007 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by Eismann

If the celts end up as champs, they'll probably get the same treatment...he-he

Fine with me hehe.

**empy** · October 16th, 2007 10:21 AM

^exactly. anytime you can win a championship you take it and not give a f**k what anyone else says or thinks :bwahaha:

re: theveed's article - Phil is up to his mind games again :evillaugh

**theveed** · October 16th, 2007 11:14 AM

Empy: Hehe, just feel bad for a guy like Wade, seems like he got the short end of the stick hehe.... Wasted talent after the oldies hang em up.

**empy** · October 16th, 2007 11:50 AM

i wished that we just tanked the season after Wade and Shaq both went out. in the lottery anything can happen

could have at least hoped to get Al Thornton

**Eismann** · October 16th, 2007 04:09 PM

INJURY REPORT

Atlanta Hawks - 5 Injured Players
10/15/2007 Speedy Claxton Knee (Day-to-Day)
10/14/2007 Acie Law Wrist (Day-to-Day)
10/11/2007 Josh Childress Arm (Day-to-Day)
10/05/2007 Shelden Williams Hamstring (Day-to-Day)
10/03/2007 Tyronn Lue Knee (Start of Season)

Boston Celtics - 2 Injured Players
10/05/2007 Tony Allen Knee (Start of Season)
10/04/2007 Scot Pollard Ankle (Day-to-Day)

Charlotte Bobcats - 4 Injured Players
10/13/2007 Jared Dudley Toe (Day-to-Day)
10/10/2007 Sean May Knee (Out for the Season)
10/04/2007 Primoz Brezec (Day-to-Day)
10/01/2007 Othella Harrington Knee (Start of Season)

Chicago Bulls - 4 Injured Players
10/15/2007 Ben Gordon Ankle (Day-to-Day)
10/15/2007 Joe Smith Knee (Day-to-Day)
10/13/2007 Thabo Sefolosha Hamstring (Day-to-Day)
10/02/2007 Joakim Noah Shoulder (Start of Season)

Cleveland Cavaliers - 3 Injured Players
10/13/2007 LeBron James Shoulder (Day-to-Day)
10/12/2007 Cedric Simmons Ankle (Out Indefinitely)
10/03/2007 Eric Snow Knee (Mid-November)

Dallas Mavericks - 4 Injured Players
10/14/2007 Eddie Jones Hamstring (Day-to-Day)
10/13/2007 Erick Dampier Shoulder (Late December)
10/07/2007 Jamal Sampson Ankle (Day-to-Day)
10/05/2007 Devean George Foot (One Month)

Denver Nuggets - 7 Injured Players
10/15/2007 Nene Hilario Knee (Day-to-Day)
10/15/2007 Kenyon Martin Knee (Day-to-Day)
10/15/2007 Chucky Atkins Groin (Day-to-Day)
10/15/2007 Allen Iverson Elbow (Day-to-Day)
10/08/2007 Anthony Carter Hand (One Month)
10/07/2007 Eduardo Najera Back (Day-to-Day)
10/04/2007 J.R. Smith Shoulder (Start of Season)

Detroit Pistons - 3 Injured Players
10/15/2007 Richard Hamilton Ankle (Day-to-Day)
10/13/2007 Nazr Mohammed Leg (Day-to-Day)
10/12/2007 Amir Johnson Ankle (Day-to-Day)

Golden State Warriors - 6 Injured Players
10/14/2007 Andris Biedrins Toe (Day-to-Day)
10/14/2007 Monta Ellis Neck (Day-to-Day)
10/12/2007 Mickael Pietrus Back (Day-to-Day)
10/10/2007 Austin Croshere Back (Day-to-Day)
10/05/2007 Matt Barnes Foot (Day-to-Day)
09/13/2007 Marco Belinelli Ankle (Day-to-Day)

Houston Rockets - 2 Injured Players
10/12/2007 Tracy McGrady Quadriceps (Day-to-Day)
10/08/2007 Bonzi Wells Groin (Week to 10 Days)

Indiana Pacers - 5 Injured Players
10/15/2007 Marquis Daniels Knee (Day-to-Day)
10/14/2007 Jamaal Tinsley Shoulder (Day-to-Day)
10/14/2007 Kareem Rush Ankle (Day-to-Day)
10/12/2007 David Harrison Ankle (Out Indefinitely)
10/11/2007 Jermaine O'Neal Knee (Day-to-Day)

Los Angeles Lakers - 5 Injured Players
10/15/2007 Kobe Bryant Knee (Day-to-Day)
10/12/2007 Chris Mihm Ankle (Day-to-Day)
10/10/2007 Lamar Odom Shoulder (Day-to-Day)
10/09/2007 Luke Walton Hamstring (Day-to-Day)
10/05/2007 Kwame Brown Shoulder (Day-to-Day)

Los Angeles Clippers - 7 Injured Players
10/13/2007 Corey Maggette Quadriceps (Day-to-Day)
10/13/2007 Chris Kaman Back (Day-to-Day)
10/13/2007 Cuttino Mobley Lower Leg (Day-to-Day)
10/09/2007 Ruben Patterson Hip (Day-to-Day)
10/09/2007 Sam Cassell Knee (Day-to-Day)
10/05/2007 Shaun Livingston Knee (Mid-February)
09/18/2007 Elton Brand Ankle (After All-Star Break)

Memphis Grizzlies - 3 Injured Players
10/10/2007 Pau Gasol Groin (Day-to-Day)
10/06/2007 Stromile Swift Knee (Day-to-Day)
10/05/2007 Kyle Lowry Ankle (Day-to-Day)

Miami Heat - 6 Injured Players
10/14/2007 Shaquille O'Neal Quadriceps (Day-to-Day)
10/13/2007 Dwyane Wade Shoulder (Late November)
10/13/2007 Anfernee Hardaway Quadriceps (Day-to-Day)
10/11/2007 Antoine Walker Ankle (Day-to-Day)
10/05/2007 Alonzo Mourning Quadriceps (Day-to-Day)
10/05/2007 Wayne Simien Knee (Day-to-Day)

Milwaukee Bucks - 1 Injured Player
10/12/2007 Maurice Williams Shoulder (Day-to-Day)

Minnesota Timberwolves - 8 Injured Players
10/15/2007 Ryan Gomes Foot (Day-to-Day)
10/15/2007 Randy Foye Knee (Day-to-Day)
10/15/2007 Sebastian Telfair Ankle (Day-to-Day)
10/10/2007 Al Jefferson Ankle (Day-to-Day)
10/07/2007 Mark Madsen Shoulder (Late November)
10/06/2007 Theo Ratliff Back (Day-to-Day)
10/06/2007 Rashad McCants Hamstring (Day-to-Day)
10/05/2007 Craig Smith Ankle (Day-to-Day)

New Jersey Nets - 8 Injured Players
10/15/2007 Jason Kidd Back (Day-to-Day)
10/15/2007 Darrell Armstrong Foot (Day-to-Day)
10/15/2007 Antoine Wright Ankle (Day-to-Day)
10/12/2007 Nenad Krstic Knee (Start of Season)
10/10/2007 Jason Collins Hip (Day-to-Day)
10/08/2007 Bernard Robinson Knee (Out Indefinitely)
10/06/2007 Jamaal Magloire Ankle (Day-to-Day)
10/03/2007 Marcus Williams Foot (Mid-November)

New Orleans Hornets - 0 Injured Players

New York Knicks - 2 Injured Players
10/14/2007 Jerome James Knee (Out Indefinitely)
10/14/2007 Eddy Curry Shoulder (Start of Season)

Orlando Magic - 4 Injured Players
10/13/2007 Trevor Ariza Foot (Day-to-Day)
10/13/2007 Keyon Dooling Hip (Day-to-Day)
10/12/2007 Rashard Lewis Ankle (Day-to-Day)
10/03/2007 Tony Battie Shoulder (Out for the Season)

Philadelphia 76ers - 8 Injured Players
10/14/2007 Samuel Dalembert Foot (Day-to-Day)
10/13/2007 Shavlik Randolph Ankle (Day-to-Day)
10/13/2007 Kyle Korver Groin (Day-to-Day)
10/09/2007 Kevin Ollie Groin (Day-to-Day)
10/08/2007 Louis Williams Eye (Day-to-Day)
10/06/2007 Reggie Evans Thumb (Day-to-Day)
10/05/2007 Derrick Byars Back (Day-to-Day)
10/03/2007 Thaddeus Young Ankle (Day-to-Day)

Phoenix Suns - 2 Injured Players
10/14/2007 Brian Skinner Knee (Day-to-Day)
10/14/2007 Amare Stoudemire Knee (Two Weeks)

Portland Trail Blazers - 4 Injured Players
10/13/2007 James Jones Knee (Start of Season)
10/10/2007 Brandon Roy Heel (Start of Season)
10/04/2007 Josh McRoberts Ankle (Week to 10 Days)
09/13/2007 Greg Oden Knee (Out for the Season)

Sacramento Kings - 5 Injured Players
10/15/2007 Shareef Abdur-Rahim Knee (Three Weeks)
10/10/2007 Spencer Hawes Knee (Mid-November)
10/09/2007 Ron Artest Knee (Day-to-Day)
10/09/2007 Francisco Garcia Ankle (Day-to-Day)
10/07/2007 Kenny Thomas Hamstring (Day-to-Day)

San Antonio Spurs - 4 Injured Players
10/13/2007 Jacque Vaughn Lower Leg (Day-to-Day)
10/13/2007 Tony Parker Ankle (Day-to-Day)
10/05/2007 Beno Udrih Finger (Start of Season)
10/04/2007 Francisco Elson Eye (Day-to-Day)

Seattle Supersonics - 6 Injured Players
10/15/2007 Chris Wilcox Knee (Day-to-Day)
10/14/2007 Damien Wilkins Ankle (Day-to-Day)
10/14/2007 Delonte West Back (Day-to-Day)
10/12/2007 Robert Swift Knee (Day-to-Day)
10/10/2007 Luke Ridnour Nose (Day-to-Day)
10/05/2007 Kurt Thomas Quadriceps (Day-to-Day)

Toronto Raptors - 3 Injured Players
10/14/2007 Chris Bosh Knee (Day-to-Day)
10/12/2007 Jorge Garbajosa Lower Leg (Day-to-Day)
10/12/2007 Anthony Parker Concussion (Day-to-Day)

Utah Jazz - 3 Injured Players
10/11/2007 Matt Harpring Knee (Start of Season)
10/07/2007 Jarron Collins Quadriceps (Day-to-Day)
10/03/2007 Deron Williams Mouth (Day-to-Day)

Washington Wizards - 3 Injured Players
10/15/2007 Antonio Daniels Ankle (Day-to-Day)
10/10/2007 Etan Thomas Chest (Out Indefinitely)
10/07/2007 Antawn Jamison Ankle (Day-to-Day)

**chain** · October 16th, 2007 04:16 PM

[SIZE="4"]50 Predictions for the New Season[/SIZE]
By: Joel Brigham

At the start of every NBA season, all the basketball fans in the world find their heads laced with tough questions. How well is my team going to play this year? Can my guys stay healthy? Will so-and-so be traded?

Part of the excitement of the season is seeing how all of these questions play out. But waiting for answers requires patience, and that's never really been my strong point. To help satiate our hunger for the official start of the season I'm making 50 bold predictions about the 2007-2008 campaign.

I'm no Nostradamus, but I'm looking forward to seeing which of these guesses receive the most praise, and which send the most angst my way. No matter what the real results of this season, a good debate never hurt anybody.

And so, without further ado, Brigs's 50 Predictions for the 2007-2008 Season:

Records

1. The Boston Celtics will not win 50 games. Why not? Someone in that big three is getting hurt at some point.
2. If I'm guessing, that someone is Kevin Garnett. He's had too clean a bill of health for too long, and with his luck he'd hurt himself during the season in which he's had arguably the best shot at winning a title.
3. The Detroit Pistons will finish third in the Central Division, behind Chicago and Cleveland.
4. The L.A. Clippers will be double-digit games below five-hundred by the time Elton Brand makes it back from his injury.
5. The Philadelphia 76ers will have the worst record in the Eastern Conference.
6. But their record won't be as bad as Portland's, who will own the fewest number of wins in the West, as well as the entire league.
7. The Chicago Bulls will have more wins this season than anybody else in the East, including Boston.
8. However, they still won't surpass the win totals of the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, and Houston Rockets. The state of Texas is going to own the league this season.
9. Toronto will not repeat as champions of the Atlantic Division. The easy pick there is Boston, but I'm also expecting New Jersey to finish with a better record than the Canadian franchise as well. Figure in the Raptors for third there.

Statistics

10. The Chicago Bulls will lead the league in opponents' field goal percentage for the third time in four seasons.
11. LeBron James will lead the league in scoring with over 33 points per game.
12. Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony will average at least 55 collective points per game this season.
13. Tyson Chandler will lead the league in rebounding.
14. Gilbert Arenas will score 60 points at least once this season.
15. So will Kobe Bryant.
16. LeBron James, on the other hand, will not have an individual game in which he cracks 50.
17. Paul Pierce will be the leading scorer of the Boston Celtics' "Big Three."
18. LaMarcus Aldridge will be a 20-point, 8-rebound guy this season for the Blazers.
19. Utah will be an excellent team again this year, but it will be hard to build on last season's success in such a tough conference. Still, Deron Williams will be an All-Star guard this year, and he will average more points than Chris Paul.
20. Chris Paul, meanwhile, will average more assists than Deron Williams.

Trades

21. Jermaine O'Neal will not, any point over the course of the season, be traded. As much as the Pacers need to ship him out, they can't afford to let him go. It's the nastiest of Catch 22's.
22. Kobe Bryant will spend the next two seasons playing out his contract in L.A. That means he's not going to Chicago or Dallas this season. A trade for Mamba means giving up half of your team's quality guys, and no one's going to find that worth it, no matter how great Bryant may be.
23. But that doesn't mean that Kobe's done complaining. There will be several more headlines between now and season's end that adamantly voice his displeasure with L.A.'s lack of success. If (or perhaps more likely—when) the Lakers miss the playoffs, he'll push harder than ever for a trade out of Tinseltown.
24. Ricky Davis will demand a trade from Minnesota sometime before the deadline, and he'll probably get it. Put a stamp on that one.
25. Juwan Howard, despite already having voiced displeasure with his position in Minnesota, will still spend the year with the Wolves because of the size of his contract. He's got a player option in his deal for 2008-2009 worth well over $7 million, and a guy of Howard's age and deteriorating skill set isn't giving that up, so he can't even be moved as an expiring salary. He's staying put whether he likes it or not.
26. Shawn Marion won't be traded, but that won't stop the media from suggesting that he will be at least 700,000 times.
27. Ron Artest is going to look mousy this season compared to the frustration that Mike Bibby is about to voice. Few players have more of a chance to be dealt by February than him.

Rookies

28. Kevin Durant won't win Rookie of the Year. Predictions about who actually will come later, but it won't be him.
29. Yi Jianlian is not going to have a very fruitful season. The league is too strong physically, and he'll have a hard time keeping up until he bulks up.
30. Al Horford will lead all rookies in rebounds.
31. Luis Scola will be the resounding new international stud from the rookie class of 2007. More so than Yi Jianlian, Marco Belinelli, or Kyrylo Fesenko.
32. Just taking a stab in the dark here—the Minnesota Timberwolves will win the next draft lottery.

Individual Performances

33. Jason Richardson will struggle in Charlotte. He's still upset about the trade from Golden State, and I can see him throwing an occasional tizzy about the relative inexperience of his new squad.
34. Jamaal Tinsley will not be cited for any illegal activities over the course of the 2007-2008 season. He may have things to wrap up from past mistakes, but at least for this year, his nose stays clean.
35. Darko Milicic will not average double figures for points or rebounds this season.
36. By the end of the year Mike Conley will have established himself as the clear starter at point guard for Memphis. Despite the optimism surrounding Kyle Lowry and Juan Carlos Navarro—who both should prove outstanding talents—Conley will beat them out and earn the spot clearly and competitively.
37. Despite the hype, Penny Hardaway will be a non-factor in Miami this season.
38. Same goes for Allan Houston in New York.
39. Shaq will have a Brett Favre-esque season this year, rejuvenating himself and making a lot of people believe he's about ten years younger than he actually is. Consider this the year of "Comebaq Shaq."
40. By late March, there will be rumblings of Darrell Armstrong coaching the New Jersey Nets next season.
41. Despite whatever jeers he might get at Madison Square Garden this year, Isiah Thomas won't be fired by the New York Knicks, as coach or as general manager.
42. Rashard Lewis, through massive criticism over the size of his contract, will be an All-Star for the Orlando Magic.
43. Chicago's Luol Deng also will be in New Orleans for this year's big midseason weekend as well, making him the first Bulls All-Star since Michael Jordan.
44. Robert Swift is going to surprise some people up there in Washington. He'll be the winner of the unofficial "Where'd This Guy Come From?" award.
45. The All-Star weekend in New Orleans this season will not result in the law-breaking nightmares that were associated with the Las Vegas excursion last season. Louisiana will prove an affable host for this event.

Playoffs

46. Atlanta's new uniforms (and new rookies) will help fuel them to their first playoff berth since 1999.
47. The Cleveland Cavaliers will not be the Eastern Conference representative in the Finals this season. In fact, they won't even make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.
48. In much the same way that people get sleepy after a huge rush of adrenaline, the Golden State Warriors will take a step backwards this year instead of building on last year's progress. They will not make the playoffs.
49. If Peja Stojakovic is healthy for at least 70 games, the Hornets are a playoff team in the Western Conference.
50. Phoenix will have a down year and therefore won't have home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs this year. The other non-Texan Western Conference team rounding out the top four? The Denver Nuggets.

So which of these predictions are spot-on and which are utter malarkey? We'll all find out soon enough, as we certainly will revisit these at season's end. Here's one last bold prediction before I open the floodgates on my email account for massive debates with passionate NBA fans:

I'll get at least 35 of these right. That means I'd be shooting 70% from the field, batting .700, completing 70% of my passes for touchdowns. Not bad, eh?