2004-05 NBA thread

[Ian McCracken]

BOOM! Down go the Knicks! Down go the Knicks!

Pistons come back from 16 down to pull out a 94-93 thriller at the Garden. The Pistons are certainly not jelling yet, but they have showed an ability to turn up the intensity in big games.

[dark knight]

Weird - trade rumors swirling around Brent Barry who has been surprisingly unproductive this season. Pop has said Nesto was awful the past few weeks also. I hope it's not true because the spurs need some outside shooting especially against the Pistons.

[therealronaldo7]

He was ok in stretches but now he is playing well for the entire game, even making key 4th quarter baskets.

I think you are discounting Lebron's impact on Illgauskas and Gooden. It's not coincidence that they are thriving with James. Lebron makes excellent passes that give his teamates open looks. Lebron James is the next big thing in the NBA and he is has more talent than Kobe. I don't think saying that Lebron will soon be on the Magic Johnson/Michael Jordan level is hyperbole....he really is that good.
Thanks for the backup Vinnie! I am not sure if you are Microwave for something, but I saw microwave and thought of Vinnie Johnson!

[Val1]

Thanks for the backup Vinnie! I am not sure if you are Microwave for something, but I saw microwave and thought of Vinnie Johnson!
Me too.

I was no fan of the Bad Boys, but if you like TEAM sports, you had to like the Pistons, what a wonderfully crafted team. Their depth put the fear of God into the other teams: Salley and a toned-down Rodman, Vinnie off the bench. Team completely changed. I wish I could find a couple of old Pistons tapes and send them to Arsene Wenger, who's weakness seems to be an inability to subsitute well.

[skipshady]

I was no fan of the Bad Boys, but if you like TEAM sports, you had to like the Pistons, what a wonderfully crafted team. Their depth put the fear of God into the other teams: Salley and a toned-down Rodman, Vinnie off the bench. Team completely changed.Not unlike last year's Pistons. One of the Wallaces takes a breather, Elden Campbell comes in and nails a baseline jumper. Corliss Williamson was a matchup nightmare. Lindsey Hunter was a fantastic reserve at both guard positions. They didn't score much, but they played great defense and moved away from the ball on offense.

[skipshady]

The latest from Bill Simmons' Behind The Bench series: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/041216&CMP=OTC-DT9705204233

The part about the Lakers is especially interesting.

[Microwave]

I am from Detroit and I am a huge Piston fan but my username hs nothing to do with Vinnie Johnson.

Comparing the 89/90 pistons to the 04 champions is weird, but I will say one thing - the current pistons are far more popular in metro detroit. When they won in 1990 they had 300,000 at their parade and then they won last year there were 1,000,000 at the parade. The Pistons game 5 TV ratings were the highest locally rated sports show in michigan history, even higher than the 1984 Detroit Tigers winning the world series or the Detroit Lions playoff games or the Red Wings in the stanley cup.


I'll never forget being in Hamtramck, Michigan (a city inside of detroit) last june when Detroit won. Everyone poured into the streets and no cars could move but no one seemed to mind, everyone was so happy. Then I turned on the TV and and there were similar scenes in Detroit, ROyal Oak and Novi, Michigan. I couldn't sleep because people were beeping their horns until about 4 A.M. All the tv stations broke from regular programming and had live reports from the palace until about 2 AM. We have 2 sports stations in Detroit (wxyt and wdfn) and both were 24 hour pistons for about 2 weeks before and after the Finals. I was exhausted after that. TOo bad the Olympics took some of the gloss off of the Pistons win but what can you do.

I hope the Pistons turn it around so we can have all that happen again next june.

[Metros Striker10]

Man, what a horrible game that was last night.

I don't get to watch many Knick games, but I think that game right there probably explains what they have lost 11 games. The trio of Marbury, Houston and Crawford I think can work. It worked in the second quarter when they built a lead of 16 points. The problem was when Kurt Thomas got his fourth foul in the third quarter. The Knicks were doing pretty well under the post, but when Thomas left and the Dawg came in, things just went down hill. Marbury was making stupid drives, runs and passes instead of slowing down the game. It looked like he was out there to prove something. Crawford was doing the same thing.

Right now, the Knicks are good one night, bad on the other. Basically, there's two things to be done. Tim Thomas has to be traded, or switch seats with Vin Baker on the bench. Tim doesn't add a single thing to this team. He's nothing but talk. Second, Lenny has to go. If you watched the second time out with 2.6 seconds left, nothing was discussed. They looked at the dry eraser board and did the same play..the one that failed a minute earlier. Can't really blame Marbury on that play, but it was a bad play. Lenny is telling Crawford to keep shooting. I really like Crawford and really want him to stay. But he needs to control his jump shot. He went 8-19 (6-9 from behind the arc), but his shot selection is horrible. Some say he'll learn from Houston. I think otherwise. I was watching that game and amazed once again by the shots he can take and make them look so easy. This could get Crawford to take some of these shots.

Oh yeah, will any like Kobe ever again?

[ibreak4coffee]

Man, what a horrible game that was last night.

I don't get to watch many Knick games, but I think that game right there probably explains what they have lost 11 games. The trio of Marbury, Houston and Crawford I think can work. It worked in the second quarter when they built a lead of 16 points. The problem was when Kurt Thomas got his fourth foul in the third quarter. The Knicks were doing pretty well under the post, but when Thomas left and the Dawg came in, things just went down hill. Marbury was making stupid drives, runs and passes instead of slowing down the game. It looked like he was out there to prove something. Crawford was doing the same thing.

Right now, the Knicks are good one night, bad on the other. Basically, there's two things to be done. Tim Thomas has to be traded, or switch seats with Vin Baker on the bench. Tim doesn't add a single thing to this team. He's nothing but talk. Second, Lenny has to go. If you watched the second time out with 2.6 seconds left, nothing was discussed. They looked at the dry eraser board and did the same play..the one that failed a minute earlier. Can't really blame Marbury on that play, but it was a bad play. Lenny is telling Crawford to keep shooting. I really like Crawford and really want him to stay. But he needs to control his jump shot. He went 8-19 (6-9 from behind the arc), but his shot selection is horrible. Some say he'll learn from Houston. I think otherwise. I was watching that game and amazed once again by the shots he can take and make them look so easy. This could get Crawford to take some of these shots.

Oh yeah, will any like Kobe ever again?


Welcome to the world of Lenny Wilkins...

[skipshady]

Eric Snow and Paul Silas have an on-court hissy fit and Snow storms off/is ordered to leave.

I think Bill Simmons mentioned this in an earlier column, but it seems like Silas doesn't really connect with the players. I liked Silas when he was coaching the Hornets, but he doesn't seem fit for this job, which is basically build and nurture a team around Lebron.

Still, on a team with Jeff McInnis and Dajuan Wagner, I didn't expect Snow to be the one to get into a very public argument with Silas.

[ibreak4coffee]

On a lighter note, this is what the Raptors should do with Vince "E.R." Carter :)

http://www.sperts.net/article.php?page=298

[Fulhamfc3]

Vince is now with the Nets. The Nets really did well with this trade. They get an all-star and now have 3 all-stars(Jefferson,Kidd,Carter). They still need a Center but, this was a step in the right direction.

[TheSlipperyOne]

Vince is now with the Nets. The Nets really did well with this trade. They get an all-star and now have 3 all-stars(Jefferson,Kidd,Carter). They still need a Center but, this was a step in the right direction.

It's a ridiculous trade for the Nets unless they have something else planned.

Now on the frontline they have Jason Collins, Kaniel Dickens, Nenad Krstic and Brian Scalabrine.

Jefferson, Kidd and Carter looks nice but when the rest of the team is shite it isn't going to make a difference.

[TheSlipperyOne]

I think you are discounting Lebron's impact on Illgauskas...


Ilgauskas has always been good when he's been healthy. Now he's remaining healthy and thus his impact on the games is greater. It's not as if Lebron is some amazing orthopedist.

[Fulhamfc3]

This is the Eastern Conference. With that team you should be able to get to 4th-6th in the East.I mean the Knicks lead the Atlantic with a what 1 game over 500. or right at 500.

[NonStop4]

It's a ridiculous trade for the Nets unless they have something else planned.

Now on the frontline they have Jason Collins, Kaniel Dickens, Nenad Krstic and Brian Scalabrine.

Jefferson, Kidd and Carter looks nice but when the rest of the team is shite it isn't going to make a difference.

Collin can defend, Dickens I believe can shoot(didn't see him properly), Nenad is still young and developing, Scalabrine..well...He can shoot 3s :D
I'm also hoping Nets get Karl Malone as well.

I really think it can make differences if Carter goes back to his old form...or even if he doesn't, I can see him averaging at least 15~20 pts.

I can't see how this is ricibulous trade when Zo(who will prolly retire after this season.), Eric Williams(He does good one night, then bad the next day.) and Aaron Williams..(yeah, he was useful....) and Draft Pick we got for trading K-mart.

I can't wait to see Kidd leading the break with Jefferson and Carter.
And Yes, Fulham is right, its east. Knicks is leading our division :rolleyes:

[Metros Striker10]

This is the Eastern Conference. With that team you should be able to get to 4th-6th in the East.I mean the Knicks lead the Atlantic with a what 1 game over 500. or right at 500.
I wouldn't claim that the Knicks are terrible just yet. They finally got Allan Houston, who is playing very well right now. If Lenny Wilkens wakes up and realizes that Allan Houston at SF is a much better scenario than Tim Thomas playing SF, they could have a nice gap between wins and loses. I've seen the trio working in the past two games, and I think they've done a good job. This team definatly isn't a ball hogging team. Marbury is passing the ball before shooting. Last year he took a million shots. This year, he's entering the half with like 4 points and coming up big when it matters.

The trade? I posted my opinion in the other thread. Basically, it was bad for Jersey. Big guys for a guy who can't play 75 games anymore. Not good.

[afgrijselijkheid]

can a brother get some love for the SUNS?

down 7 with 3 to play at seattle, and they win to go 20-3

[therealronaldo7]

can a brother get some love for the SUNS?

down 7 with 3 to play at seattle, and they win to go 20-3
The Suns are amazing. I think they are a hell of a team and I hope they "burn some Nuggests" tonight. I hope the lack of a true center does not hurt them. I have really liked what I have seen out of this team. The starting five is unbelievable. They clearly lack depth, but if no one gets hurt, you never know what will happen.

[KDdidit]

I wouldn't call Curry a "cancer," because I don't think anybody else on the Bulls cares about him. He's just not that good and he doesn't care. You'd think he'd be embarrased getting schooled by Chris Mihm, but 9 times out of ten he gets outplayed by supposedly worse centers. And you know what? He doesn't play any better or any harder the next time out. Chandler looked really good last year before his back took him out, but unfortunately I haven't seen that same athleticism this year...we'll see. I will also say Deng is far and away our best player. Mad props to Paxson for trading for him, almost covers up the questionable selection of Ben Gordon. Athough I sure hope that draft pick to Phoenix is lottery protected :(
Man 5 wins in a row later and just beating the defending champs on the road...things look different. Still not sold on Curry as he and Chandler have had "breakouts" before. Ben Gordon has been stepping up too while Deng has kinda stepped back but overall I'll just enjoy the wins before I start thinking too much about what's still wrong with them.