Official 2012-2013 NBA Thread

[Al Bundy]

Looks like James Harden has been To the Rockets for Jeremey Lamb, Kevin Martin and future picks. Plus... this is a general NBA thread.

[Hootie]

my friend was better at Halo 3 than me...doesn't mean I wasn't still a 50

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Your post at #1181 said that Lebron was a better and more willing passer. I agree Lebron is a more willing passer but better? Kobe could pass as well as Lebron evidenced by the last 2 games. He just doesn't do it very often because he has been a ball hog.

Kobe has been in the triangle over 80% of his career. In that offense, there's a reason there's not a traditional PG.

LeBron is a fantastic passer. I'm not disputing that.

However, Kobe's court vision is supremely underrated. We'll see if this adjusted game keeps up, but this is how the Lakers have to operate to even have a prayer in this aborted season.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Peyton's Princess

remarkable game

they beat the best team in the West and he took 12 shots

Definite adjustment.

However, let's be real here. The last few years who was he passing off to? Gasol, yes. Bynum? Meh. They had no PG to share.

I think Kobe adjusting to the talent around him can turn this around.

I'm not disagreeing with you that he has to stop the iso bullshit and become more of a facilitator. When he's doing that, this offense is 1000x smoother. Nash off the ball in those situations is great because of his ability to hit open shots.

[Hootie]

pretty much what I said

in D'antoni's system the only way they have a shot with this team is to make Nash the shooter and Kobe the facilitator

Artest jacking 3's? Yack.

they really need to add another shooter

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

The mental part. That is the part where I continue to say LeBron will never come close to touching MJ.

LeBron only has a killer instinct when he chooses to. We can knock on Kobe all we want for not always hitting the big shot. But the fact is, Kobe always wants the ball when it matters. LeBron too often looks mentally overwhelmed to handle the big moments.

Nonsense. You don't dominate playoff road games and be one of the best playoff performers of all time like he has for his entire career without a "killer instinct."

[okcchief]

They are now 14-10 at home. The 5-15 road record is what they have to fix. If they continue to share the ball, and stay healthy they will get in the playoffs.

This is the best Kobe has played against the Thunder, and the best Pau has played against us since 2010. A ray of hope these last few games for Lakers fans, but they still need to find a way to win on the road.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Peyton's Princess

pretty much what I said

in D'antoni's system the only way they have a shot with this team is to make Nash the shooter and Kobe the facilitator

Artest jacking 3's? Yack.

they really need to add another shooter

He's been great on corner 3's this year.

They have to use Meeks more. He was huge at the start of the 4th.

Earl Clark has been really outstanding doing a ton of the little things.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I'm talking about small potatoes as in calling for a front office guy's head for a move you don't like, and ignoring the multiple tremendous moves he made prior to that. Especially when those moves led to two championship berths and a championship title.

When the Chiefs were getting older, I didn't like at all that we waited so long to blow up the roster. That led to 5 years of painful rebuilds. So no, I don't blame Ainge at all if he wants maybe a smoother rebuild. Winning with superstars isn't the only way to win. Miami Heat aside, you win with superstars surrounded by a deep, talented supporting cast. The way I see it, the Celtics seem to have a pretty good young supporting cast. The superstars will come, either if the Celtics can finally find themselves again in a lottery situation and when Pierce and Garnett's contracts go away and free up a buttload of money, which can be spent on new superstars. Again, I don't know if Ainge's moves will work, but think it's way too soon to get upset about them. In the Perkins trade, you got a few young guys in exchange for a guy who was leaving anyway. In not replacing Shaq, you didn't tie yourself to a worthless contract, like when the Cavs signed Jamieson as a last ditch effort to get LeBron some guys.

Granted he brought the Big 4 together and won a championship. His other moves really haven't worked out though outside of drafting Sullinger.

As other astute NBA fans and experts have stated you only win championships in this league with max contract players. There is only about 10-12 true max contract players in the NBA so they either have to blow up the team and get a lottery pick and hope he becomes one, sign one or trade for one.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Your post at #1181 said that Lebron was a better and more willing passer. I agree Lebron is a more willing passer but better? Kobe could pass as well as Lebron evidenced by the last 2 games. He just doesn't do it very often because he has been a ball hog.

Yes, LeBron is a better passer. That doesn't = Kobe is a bad passer as you suggested earlier. You're trying very hard to mix up the messages.

Kobe is capable of doing everything on a basketball court. He chooses to be a scorer, only occasionally deciding to be a facilitator.

LeBron is a better and more willing passer. Part of being a "better" passer is consistently doing just that. He makes great passes game in and game out. I'd be shocked if you found anyone in the game that wouldn't agree that LeBron is a better passer than Kobe.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Peyton's Princess

it took Kobe 42 games to realize the Lakers are a lot better when he doesn't jack up 30 shots a game

Kobe was doing this earlier in the season, but problem is ****ing Duhon was in there instead of Nash. Duhon is complete ass. You can cheat a bit more with Duhon at the 1. Now with Nash at the one, there is no way you cheat or he WILl hit that 3. It changes everythign for the Lakers. It gives the Lakers much much more space. they have scrapped D'Antoni's offense for the most part it looks like.

Steve Blake will be back in a few days which is even better he's a solid back up and we never ever have to see Duhon in the game unless its a blow out in the 4th. lol

[KevB]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

He's been great on corner 3's this year.

They have to use Meeks more. He was huge at the start of the 4th.

Earl Clark has been really outstanding doing a ton of the little things.

This where D'Antoni has to make his money. The Lakers have pieces now that everyone is mostly healthy. He has to put them together, all the while dealing with the odd personalities on this team. I'd hope Nash becomes a more vocal leader. He's even-keeled, well respected and supremely unselfish.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Nonsense. You don't dominate playoff road games and be one of the best playoff performers of all time like he has for his entire career without a "killer instinct."

His entire playoff career can be defined as being a killer in the first 3 and a half quarters, but being spotty in the last half of the 4th. A few brilliant games, but too many games where he either disappears, misses too many free throws, or misses any shot other than a layup or a dunk.

We're not comparing him to a guy like Malone or Barkley. We're comparing him to legends, and when you compare him to legends, his performance late in games in the playoffs is not good. And last year's run provided surprisingly limited evidence that with a close game late in the 4th, that he can be a guy who consistently can take a game over.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Granted he brought the Big 4 together and won a championship. His other moves really haven't worked out though outside of drafting Sullinger.

As other astute NBA fans and experts have stated you only win championships in this league with max contract players. There is only about 10-12 true max contract players in the NBA so they either have to blow up the team and get a lottery pick and hope he becomes one, sign one or trade for one.

True, but again, keep this in context. When you put a Big 4 together, it's not easy to bring other guys into contract and it's hard to get terrific guys with low draft picks. Especially in the NBA.

The Celtics will finally have chances in the top half of the draft (once they commit to blowing the team up). And losing the Big 4 frees up a shitload of money for a team that isn't afraid to spend and is an attractive place to play. Unlike the NFL, a rebuild isn't nearly as painful, and there's nothing yet that leads us to believe that Green or Melo can't be good core players even if not superstars. In the meanwhile, you still have solid support guys in Barbosa, Bass, and Bradley, all who will probably be there in 5 years. Maybe the Celtics fall on their face. But again, think it's worth seeing how these guys develop, how Ainge does with better picks, and how he spends on money he finally has again to spend.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

His entire playoff career can be defined as being a killer in the first 3 and a half quarters, but being spotty in the last half of the 4th. A few brilliant games, but too many games where he either disappears, misses too many free throws, or misses any shot other than a layup or a dunk.

We're not comparing him to a guy like Malone or Barkley. We're comparing him to legends, and when you compare him to legends, his performance late in games in the playoffs is not good. And last year's run provided surprisingly limited evidence that with a close game late in the 4th, that he can be a guy who consistently can take a game over.

Instead of repeating the same bullshit narrative that you usually do about how LeBron is some kind of choker, would you care to show us some kind of evidence of this effect? Because while I know you can't, I can actually provide evidence to the contrary:

http://www.82games.com/CSORT11.HTM
http://www.82games.com/1011/CSORT11.HTM
http://www.82games.com/0910/CSORT11.HTM
http://www.82games.com/0809/CSORT11.HTM

Check out where LeBron's close and late scoring rate, assist rate, rebound rate, and percentages comes in compared to the rest of the league with regularity. He plays no differently than this in the playoffs and in fact often exceeds these totals from his normal performance (see NBA Finals).

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by KevB

Yes, LeBron is a better passer. That doesn't = Kobe is a bad passer as you suggested earlier. You're trying very hard to mix up the messages.

Kobe is capable of doing everything on a basketball court. He chooses to be a scorer, only occasionally deciding to be a facilitator.

LeBron is a better and more willing passer. Part of being a "better" passer is consistently doing just that. He makes great passes game in and game out. I'd be shocked if you found anyone in the game that wouldn't agree that LeBron is a better passer than Kobe.

I get what you are saying. Don't know if I totally agree with it...