(2011)-2012 NBA Season

[gblews]

Rondo had a very good game, but he did it at a day when Deron Williams scored 57 so he has to share the spotlight a bit.

Now this is the guy I'de love to have. He's not going to get you a bunch of rebounds and an outrageous number of assists, but he is steady and has great all around skill on the offensive end. Unlike Rondo, you can't just back off of Deron and throw his offense off.

 

[pork3]

Rondo had a very good game, but he did it at a day when Deron Williams scored 57 so he has to share the spotlight a bit.

Now this is the guy I'de love to have. He's not going to get you a bunch of rebounds and an outrageous number of assists, but he is steady and has great all around skill on the offensive end. Unlike Rondo, you can't just back off of Deron and throw his offense off.

There's a reason why Williams was held to 12 points 2 days ago against the Celtics, and that's something that's rather undervalued, persistent defensive effort from the likes of players such as Rondo.

-Jamman

 

[Neroon]

I'll take Rondo over Williams though, because of that all around game and less of that me first mentality. Any one of those individual stats Rondo put up are good to great by themselves. But all 3 together? They take on another dimension... which is why only two of the all-time greatest players in the sport have done as well or better.

 

[Thestral]

...share the spotlight with Wilt Chamberlain (especially since the anniversary of the 100 point game is coming up shortly).

Last week actually. I'd never heard of it before so it was a pretty awesome story, especially with it happening in Hershey of all places.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Yeah, there's about 40,000 people claiming they all saw Wilt Chamberlain score his 100 point game in either Philadelphia or at Madison Square Garden. The real miracle of that game is that he hit most of his free throws. Otherwise, he averaged 50 a game that season anyway.

Apparently, it was an ugly game. The last few minutes dragged out forever because the Warriors were fouling to get the ball back to give to Wilt and the Knicks were fouling anyone not named Wilt so he couldn't score.

 

[tomalak301]

I think I know why I hate the NBA as much as I do. The Golden State Warriors have always been the modern example of mediocrity at it's worst and they showed it again last night. How can you be up by so much only to lose it in the second half and lose to the friggin' toronto raptors. They still they they're a playoff team? Yeah right. What's worse is in the Bay Area it seems they are the only team that get's a free pass. I honestly don't understand it, and in the 90s I was a warrior fan quite a bit. I've been soured on them ever since, other than getting into the fun that was the We Believe year. I'm not sure if the coach is the problem even though he is inexperienced. Actually, I don't know what the problem is.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Bulls & Pacers in a close one right now. Both teams have 6 game winning streaks going in.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

That's my Thunder. Finding ways to win. I'll take it, happily.

 

[gblews]

I'll take Rondo over Williams though, because of that all around game and less of that me first mentality. Any one of those individual stats Rondo put up are good to great by themselves. But all 3 together? They take on another dimension... which is why only two of the all-time greatest players in the sport have done as well or better.

Yeah, this is the reason I refer to him as an enigma. If Rondo had an outside shot, if he could shoot free throws, do you think his name would ever be mentioned in trade rumors? Hell, he'd be an MVP candidate. The reason we hear his name bandied about prior to the trade deadline every year is because he plays like a tweener. He has the game of a power forward but in a guard's body. He is like a really small running back who loves to run over people. He is like Allen Iverson, a 2 guard in a point guard's body.

Players like this, as great as they may appear to be, tend to get traded, mainly because there is always someone who can use a rebounding point guard who can also assist. I'm not saying he sucks or anything, just looking at him realistically. I think he'd be better coming off a different team's bench -- like a specialist.

For the Lakers (or any team needing a traditional point guard) Rondo is not the answer. He lacks two of the most basic modern point guard skills. One of the reasons he is so unselfish is because, like Shaq, who used to try and get rid of the ball before he got fouled late in games, Rondo tries to get rid of the ball before the shot clock runs down and he has to shoot it.

Other than all this, I think he is a pretty good player.

 

[SmoothieX]

You're referring to the Knicks, right? Hard to remember back that far. They certainly weren't a young team back then. The Spurs were young but that '98-'99 team was the start of a mini-dynasty. I'm not sure what affect, if any, a shortened season has on the eventual Finals participants, although I keep reading that it favors young teams. Sixty-six games is less than eighty-two so that says to me the older teams are helped more by a shortened season. The other thing is that the playoffs still require 16 wins to get a championship. That is also not affected by a shortened season.

The common feeling is that it's not the shortened season, but rather how condensed it is. 3 road games in three nights, that sort of thing, that will fatigue older teams.

I think Miami will advance to the Finals against San Antonio. Seems like they've got enough left in the tank for one last run.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Sweet Jesus, what happened to the Lakers??? They let the Wizards overcome a 21 point deficit in the 4th quarter to come back and beat them??????

 

[SmoothieX]

Age, downgrade at coach, constant trade talk, things like that.

 

[Borgminister]

"Selfishness"

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Well that was a crap effort by the Thunder. Hopefully this humiliating home loss will get them out of the malaise they've been in since the All Star Break. Yes, they've had a winning record, but they've had to come from behind in all their games. You cannot live by the 3 pointer in the 4th quarter. Eventually you go cold and boy was Durant cold tonight. The team didn't make a single 3 pointer in the entire second half. Durant and everybody was missing free throws and they allowed the Cavaliers to stick around. Not enough hustle for loose balls by anyone except Perkins....then Durant promptly threw it away.

Inexcusable. Terrible effort by all involved. Came out flat and remained flat. Terrible game by Durant. Back to the drawing board. As embarrassing as it is, I'm glad it happened. Hopefully they'll snap out of it.

 

[gblews]

"Selfishness"

...or nargles. Makes about as much sense as what you wrote.

 

[gblews]

Age, downgrade at coach, constant trade talk, things like that.

The "downgrade at coach" is much more significant than the other two problems. With the recent comments from Kobe and Bynum, it sounds like Brown could in the beginning stages of losing this team. The playoffs will tell all.

The Lakers are also going through a change in how they operate. Trading Lamar, passing (so far) on a trade with Cleavland that would have netted Ramon Sessions for the trade exception they have and one of their 2 first round picks, is an indication of that change. The new CBA has the Lakers being more frugal in their spending. So all those people who felt the Lakers "bought" their recent championships and that their teams could win championships too if the financial playing field was more even, will get a chance to see if their respective teams can take advantage.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Ouch. I knew Oklahoma City would take it out on poor hapless Charlotte tonight, but 122-95? Someone sure lit Harden's jersey on fire. 33 points, outscoring both Westbrook and Durant.

 

[Neroon]

Man, that sucks about Rubio's injury. The kid was really having a great season, and the Bucks were making a serious run at the playoffs. Not that it's all over for certain, but wow.......

 

[Dorian Thompson]

With Rubio's ACL torn, I'd say it's over for them. Odds are overwhelmingly not in their favor now.

 

[Borgminister]

"Selfishness"

...or nargles. Makes about as much sense as what you wrote.

Not according to Gasol, anyway.