NSR: Basketball is back, NBA, NCAA, FIBA etc

Westbrook and Durant are where its at

 

And the team we're fielding isnt even close to our A team. Only Durant and Rose would probably be on the team.

 

Well, you have to think 2 years into the future (our next A squad will be the 2012 Olympics). You have to think at least Westbrook sneaks onto that roster by then.

 

The "A" squad will be celebrating their second consecutive NBA title around that time...

 

Who knows. But, seriously, could you point me to an example of three (or two-and-a-half, if you'd like) dominant players on the same NOT winning a title?

 

As Z pointed out, its not the starters that will be trouble in Miami, its the fact they won't have anything resembling a title winning bench.

 

Don't they have Udonis Hasslem and Chalmers return from last season's roster? Both are at least average. I would also consider Mike Miller, Jamaal Magloire, Joel Anthony, and Eddie House at least average. I am actually surprised how Riles managed to surround his three jewels with a serviceable roster.

Clearly, it is loaded with veterans who want to retire with a ring, like Juwon Howard and Zudrunas Ilgauskas (yes, Loko, we got him). This roster is built to win NOW. Next seasons we will concern ourselves with later.

 

Hasleem was already a starter on a title winning team (I think). Anyway he is good.

Mike Miller is good too. Mike Miller is perfect for the team. He could be a 6th man/starting shooter for any top team and contribute. I mean, Lebron rode Daniel Gibson to the NBA finals.

An example of 2 1/2-3 dominant players not winning the title are the 2009 celtics

 

I don't know about you guys but this is the most excited I've bene for an upcoming NBA season since the Jordan years.

 

Thunder are my darkhorse favorite, although I don't think they are darkhorse anymore.

Or they probably are because the media is so idiotic.

 

Damn Greeks threw the game and now we have no chance of getting past the QF.

 

You know, the size and strength of Russia finally told. Kiwis did not have the big bodies to protect the defensive rebound and, while Russia got second chances, Kiwis rarely did.

Perhaps, USA would have favored Kiwis, because the tall blacks can not stop the American offense, the Russians will certainly present a challenge. US should win by about 12-15 points but it will be a war down there for the duration of the match.

i do like the effort by Mozgov.

 

I do not know about the Big 10 refs (I do not watch NCAA b-ball) but NBA refs call every ticky-tack foul. I like the FIBA refereeing much better. Yes, they let the players get away with much more but, it looks, they appear to be pretty fair. Can not ask much more.

 

Didn't they call an unsportsmanlike on a Russian player in a melee? Oftentimes, it is harder to call these fouls on FIBA players as fighting is not usually their intent. It was by far easier to call things similar to the Mourning - Johnson confrontation (the famous one with one of the Van Gundies attached to a combatant's foot) where fists are flying (however ineffectively)

 

About to watch the Serbia highlights right now, huge win