Basketball/NBA

[Abaddon]

Well you need a controller cause keyboard does suck, and the patch to fix the glitches, but then it's fine yeh. I believe it's just an emulated version of the Xbox game anyway.

[Wolfe]

I assume you've heard about Pacers-Hornets-Nets-Rockets trade that happened lately. Thoughts ? It seems like Pacers are trying to successfully get back on track, but that definitely is not enough. Nets get a decent shooting PF Troy Murphy to backup Yi and change the post up plans if necessary. Houston gets Lee a nice backup for starter Martin. And finally, Hornets seem to make a move to keep Paul with them. Ariza is certainly someone who Paul would consider a guy who would help the club to earn some prestige and maybe get into fighting for playoffs.

+ T-Mac signed with Pistons which officially and once for all ends the hopes of him actually having a second-youth season.

[Metaphysical]

cristiano ronaldo is only following three people on twitter.

kaka

chad ochocinco

lebron james

birds of a feather, eh?

[Pepe Silvia]

Andrew Bynum limps into camp for the lamest of reasons

By Bill Plaschke
September 23, 2010|7:49 p.m.

The Lakers will walk back into our lives this weekend the same way they walked out last summer, Kobe Bryant strutting, Pau Gasol sprinting, Ron Artest stalking and Andrew Bynum limping.

Wait. Andrew Bynum is still limping?

This is a joke, right? Hasn't the dude already fixed last spring's torn knee? Surgery immediately after the season? Six to eight weeks for recovery?

You figured that of all the Lakers to undergo medical procedures this summer, an injury-prone player who has won two championship rings on the backs of teammates would be the first one at the leaded-glass window. You figured if Bynum didn't want to fix his knee because of the pain, surely he would do it because of the guilt.

As usual in the case of the Lakers' perplexing prodigy, you figured wrong. The season ended June 17, but Bynum didn't have the surgery until July 28. Doctors discovered more damage than expected. The recovery time will be longer than eight weeks. Mitch Kupchak, the Lakers' ever-so-patient general manager, said Thursday he didn't expect Bynum to return at full strength for any part of training camp, which begins Saturday.

All of which makes about as much sense as a contract this year that will pay Bynum nearly the same salary as Artest and Lamar Odom combined.

Full Story Here

[Pepe Silvia]

I'd have to say I'm pretty disappointed at Bynum for this.

[FCBarca]

Barca just pummeled RM in hoops action in the Supercopa ACB, 89-55

[Pepe Silvia]

Great news. Aren't the Lakers supposed to take on Barca in October? I want to watch that one.

[Metaphysical]

I want the magic to trade VC and someone (gortat? bass?) for melo.

melo's ridiculous scoring + dwight's defensive beastlyness = gooooood sauce

[Psychaz]

I want the magic to trade VC and someone (gortat? bass?) for melo.

melo's ridiculous scoring + dwight's defensive beastlyness = gooooood sauce

he's going to the nets is he not?, Denver wants picks also in any deal

[Wolfe]

Boozer broke his hand by tripping over a bag at home.. those injuries are serious yet ridiculous..

He is likely to miss out for 2 months.

[Psychaz]

Boozer broke his hand by tripping over a bag at home.. those injuries are serious yet ridiculous..

He is likely to miss out for 2 months.

Its Boozer, if he says 2 months he's means like 3-4 months

[Psychaz]

awesome game winning shot in the Philly NJ preseason game, Stephen Graham drained a 28ft 3 pointer at the buzzer to win for it NJ lol

[Wolfe]

Barea is so trash, I have no idea why they extended his contract :x

[Abaddon]

Dallas is becoming sort of the Atletico equivalent, both the Mavs and Cowboys. Every year they got a great team and will supposedly be a big contender, every year they fail predictably.

[Wolfe]

They have always been since Cuban got them out of their misery and ranked them up to 'possible contenders' category. However, I must say this season may be all different, only if Carlisle gets his head out of his own arse and stops relying on plonkers such as Barea and Najera (who's gone, luckily). Last seasons, excluding the very last one, have not been that good.
Title race in 2006 was all different to the other seasons, players were motivated to keep going and Avery Johnson got the best out of the average players he had. Oldy Van Horn as a backup for Dirk, Marquis Daniels as a sixth-man, Stackhouse was past himself, J.Howard injured for 20+ games as usual, Finley was gone, Harris discovering his talent, Terry slowly reaching his prime and Dirk delivering as a key player. Probably the lucky season.
After that Mavs needed signings and reinforcements on prone positions, also proved to be a very weak team mentally playing out a good/decent RS and failing badly in playoffs with Dirk being harrassed and not getting the necessary help when he needed it. These reinforcements started with the comeback of the old Kidd who can still deliver when needed to and last season's big trades of Marion, Butler and Haywood. The only link missing right now is the motivation, discipline and supportive bench. Carlisle didn't do well enough and will not until he proves that the team can be solid in big games in RS and deliver in playoffs.

Right now the team looks much more balanced than those after 2006, but is still weak in places.
Dallas has two very solid, constantly putting numbers centers of which one is very injury prone, and another two as a potential back-up. Looks well enough, but Haywood needs more trust from Rick and has to deliver when necessary. Rotation with Chandler looks very promising.
Dirk is starting to reach the seasons when he will only get worse (unless he is the 2nd Ray Allen) and it would be the unfairness of the last decade (and a half) is he, Steve Nash and Jason Kidd did not win the championship. The only thing missing in his career is the ring, which I fear he might not get unless the team backs him up. This season he will be backed up by Brian Cardinal and Steve Novak which can be a solid bench, but fairly scoreless.
Marion is the defensive beast who is supposed get numbers on both ends of the floor and personally I feel it's the coach's fault that he isn't used to his full extent yet, but with Stevenson, Novak and Butler rotating in he can get the chemistry and start to do very well.
SG is the position filled with scoring talent. Butler, Terry, Beaubois (who is unbelievably underrated by Rick) and rookie Jones. Such a strong bench there, but the coach has shown he has no clue how to motivate and manage them. Butler also needs to blend into the squad and I predict he will be fine.
PG is probably the weakest position defensively. Kidd has no stamina to sustain a quarter anymore and Barea is trash/disabled/blind/brainless (pick one). The only hope is that the addition of Dee Brown (looked fairly nice playing alongside D.Wil in his rookie years) will improve it in terms of mentality and consistency.

Big hopes for this year in Dallas. Will see if the team and especially the coach can prove that they are worthy of being one of the best in this business.