View Full Version : 2004-05 NBA thread
Metros Striker10
27 Jan 2005, 05:31 PM
Just watch, if the Sixers draw the Bulls in the first round, the Bulls playoff experience this season will last about 4 games.
Will the Sixers get the Atlantic Division seed? The Knicks are only out by a couple of games or so, and have two games agaisnt Philly yet. Right now, the Knicks need Penny back because having Moochie Norris coming in isn't a good idea. Penny could play PG, SG, and SF whenever needed. Houston might be done for the year so Penny should get the playing time he wants. I know the Knicks are in a HUGE slump, but they were 16-13 at one point. No reason why they can't return to that level. If Herb can teach these guys some defense, which I think he can given his quotes lately and his history as a Knick, anything is possible.
ibreak4coffee
27 Jan 2005, 07:33 PM
Will the Sixers get the Atlantic Division seed? The Knicks are only out by a couple of games or so, and have two games agaisnt Philly yet. Right now, the Knicks need Penny back because having Moochie Norris coming in isn't a good idea. Penny could play PG, SG, and SF whenever needed. Houston might be done for the year so Penny should get the playing time he wants. I know the Knicks are in a HUGE slump, but they were 16-13 at one point. No reason why they can't return to that level. If Herb can teach these guys some defense, which I think he can given his quotes lately and his history as a Knick, anything is possible.
Any team can win the Atlantic. It will depend on what injuries the team's suffer, what trades are made (especially with the Celtics and Raptors) and schedule. As it stands, Philly has the easiest schedule moving forward, and Toronto also has a relatively mild schedule. New York looks like toast, but Boston is the wildcard. I think they have the best mix of talent and experience... unless Ainge blows the team up. I'll go out on a limb and pick the Sixers to win it.
skipshady
27 Jan 2005, 10:03 PM
I think both the Knicks and the Celtics are one player away from being very scary. They have talent, but their stars - Pierce and Marbury - I don't know what it is, but I just don't see them carrying their teams on their shoulders or sparking a fire under their teammates. They're incredibly talented, but they don't seem to make their teammates better.
I don't know who that player is, but they're both missing that certain something.
Metros Striker10
27 Jan 2005, 11:42 PM
I think both the Knicks and the Celtics are one player away from being very scary. They have talent, but their stars - Pierce and Marbury - I don't know what it is, but I just don't see them carrying their teams on their shoulders or sparking a fire under their teammates. They're incredibly talented, but they don't seem to make their teammates better.
I don't know who that player is, but they're both missing that certain something.
From the games I've watched, it seemed to me that they have to major problems: they can't defend and the offense isn't planned out. Now, this was with Wilkens as the coach. Herb right now wants to teach these guys how to defend. I think the Knicks have the players already to go far. Not a championship, but at least second round. Nazr Mohammed and Kurt Thomas can each grab at least 10 boards every night. The problem is that they haven't had any consistancy at SF and SG. Ariza is a their new SF. If he can continue with his growth, he will be great SF next year. At SG, Houston's been out all year and Crawford is coming back from an injury. With Crawford as their SG and Penny coming back, I think they can return to the fastbreak system that they were trying to use earlier which could lead to good things. I think the half court game could work well too, but whenever they did that, they would try to be selfish at the post and turn the ball over.
On Marbury...I don't know. He's one of those guys that will play 58 minutes in a double over time game if it's needed. Can he lead? I think so. I think the Knicks need to stop listening to the media and simply let Marbury be Marbury. Let him score 20 points. He'll get the nine dishes...those should go to Crawford or Ariza...there's at least 18 points right there for somebody to get.
Microwave
28 Jan 2005, 08:59 PM
Well I went to the Hoops City Pistons bar and Grille, which is a new Pistons themed restauraunt in Metro Detroit. It sounded like a cheesy sports bar at first but it's not, not at all.
The place is really nice and they have monster hi def tv's with NBA TV playing when pistons games aren't on.
There is some great Pistons photo's all over done in an artistic way. Definately the best place to watch NBA games in my area.
more info on this awesome establishment:
http://www.nba.com/pistons/hcg.html
Carlos Arroyo is awesome and Mcdyess is really coming on. I think Detroit is ready to make a run. They played a hellish january schedule and they have a very light february schedule - only 10 games all month.
DevilDave
30 Jan 2005, 06:07 PM
If any Sacramento Kings fans had any doubts about the Doug Christie-Cuttino Mobley trade before today... those doubts are gone. Sactown is 9-2 with the Cat in the backcourt. (The two losses, both against the Spurs, loom large - but I digress.)
Without Chris Webber, without Peja Stojakovic, the Kings marched into Minnesota this afternoon and ended the T-Wolves' five-game winning streak. Big shots hit all day by Mobley, Bibby and Miller. The effort was there for the Kings, while the Wolves mailed it in on both ends of the court.
The much-maligned Sacramento defense was stifling. Spree was a complete non-factor. KG was good, not great.
dark knight
30 Jan 2005, 10:10 PM
The Nets could use any stiff with some height.
And Elden is signed by the Nets.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1978240
ibreak4coffee
31 Jan 2005, 10:40 AM
Well Rafer Alston has gone balistic again, walking out on practice and has suspended for two games with no pay...
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1979884
What a difference a year makes. In Miami he was normal and playing well. This year he's shown true flashes of becoming a great point guard in the NBA, but... and just when you thought the Raptors might win a couple of games... the fire sale, specifically the Donyell Marshall watch, shall commence shortly :)
Garcia
31 Jan 2005, 10:36 PM
And Elden is signed by the Nets.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1978240
That's why you are a super-mod!
FearM9
01 Feb 2005, 04:01 PM
ESPN Radio is reporting that Rudy T is stepping down after tonight's Laker game due to health reasons and unhappiness with the team.
dark knight
01 Feb 2005, 04:19 PM
ESPN Radio is reporting that Rudy T is stepping down after tonight's Laker game due to health reasons and unhappiness with the team.
Wow - amazing. I thought he was doing a pretty impressive job all things considered. Damage + joy = schadenfreude.
Microwave
02 Feb 2005, 05:09 AM
And Elden is signed by the Nets.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1978240
The consensus is that the Nets signed him merely to spite Detroit. There is a alot of bad blood and Rod Thorn blames Chauncy Billups for ruining their season (Billups undercut Jefferson to end his season). The Pistons use Elden soley to guard Shaq and the Nets have no use for Elden whatsoever, he only played 2 minutes in his Nets debut. The Pistons wanted Elden back and he wanted to return to the Pistons, thanks Rod Thorn you jackass.
Still it is nice that Detroit is in first place, they're defending NBA champions, their schedule is easier than most of the east from here on out and meanwhile the Nets never won a thing, are scraping the bottom of their weak ass division and no one in New Jersey even cares about them.
skipshady
02 Feb 2005, 09:34 AM
The consensus is that the Nets signed him merely to spite Detroit. There is a alot of bad blood and Rod Thorn blames Chauncy Billups for ruining their season (Billups undercut Jefferson to end his season). The Pistons use Elden soley to guard Shaq and the Nets have no use for Elden whatsoever, he only played 2 minutes in his Nets debut. The Pistons wanted Elden back and he wanted to return to the Pistons, thanks Rod Thorn you jackass.
Still it is nice that Detroit is in first place, they're defending NBA champions, their schedule is easier than most of the east from here on out and meanwhile the Nets never won a thing, are scraping the bottom of their weak ass division and no one in New Jersey even cares about them.Now, I can believe the bad blood between the Nets and the Pistons, but don't believe everything your local sports columnists write.
Did you seriously expect Campbell to log heavy minutes in his first game after he hadn't been playing a whole lot? Are you seriously trying to tell me that the Nets didn't desperately need a big body?
And if the Pistons really wanted to keep Campbell that much, they shouldn't have traded him to Utah - this is how the waiver system works, you know. And if Campbell is so dead set against playing for NJ, he could've just gone on the suspended list. Yet he showed up.
You're right about one thing though - they are in a weak ass division and now they have a chance to climb back into the playoff hunt.
skipshady
02 Feb 2005, 09:57 AM
Wow - amazing. I thought he was doing a pretty impressive job all things considered. Damage + joy = schadenfreude.
I feel bad for Rudy T, but considering all his health problems, the last thing he needs is a high-stress job. Coaching in the NBA is hard enough without being in LA and having to manage Kobe.
But yeah, my schadenfreude goes out to Kobe.
Microwave
02 Feb 2005, 10:22 AM
Now, I can believe the bad blood between the Nets and the Pistons, but don't believe everything your local sports columnists write.
Did you seriously expect Campbell to log heavy minutes in his first game after he hadn't been playing a whole lot? Are you seriously trying to tell me that the Nets didn't desperately need a big body?
And if the Pistons really wanted to keep Campbell that much, they shouldn't have traded him to Utah - this is how the waiver system works, you know. And if Campbell is so dead set against playing for NJ, he could've just gone on the suspended list. Yet he showed up.
You're right about one thing though - they are in a weak ass division and now they have a chance to climb back into the playoff hunt.
Actually the local sports writers usually get it right and the national guys talk out of their asses. This particular story seems to be prevalant in both NJ and Detroit though. IF Elden averages 5 minutes per game or less then NJ is either stupid to pay that kind of money for him or they really do hate the Pistons. It's too soon to say with any certainty.
DevilDave
02 Feb 2005, 12:45 PM
ESPN Radio is reporting that Rudy T is stepping down after tonight's Laker game due to health reasons and unhappiness with the team.
Sacramento Kings fans had no love at all for Rudy T's predecessor in L.A., but Tomjanovich is a class guy. To Rudy, we express our sympathy and best wishes.
Meanwhile, here in Sactown, Rick Adelman just got a five-year extension on his contract.
skipshady
02 Feb 2005, 12:55 PM
Actually the local sports writers usually get it right and the national guys talk out of their asses. This particular story seems to be prevalant in both NJ and Detroit though. IF Elden averages 5 minutes per game or less then NJ is either stupid to pay that kind of money for him or they really do hate the Pistons. It's too soon to say with any certainty.Yeah, let's at least wait a couple of weeks to see if this move was a sham.
I said this previously, but no Atlantic team is out of it and it only takes one good move to catch up or break away from the pack (remember how something so minor as Lawrence Frank's hiring started a winning streak?).
I understand what the writers are saying, that Campbell doesn't fit into the Nets' uptempo style and Thron waited until nearly the deadline to claim him off waivers. But he can still be valuable off the bench - he can play the role Zo was supposed to. And my understanding is Thorn spoke to Campbell's agent to make sure that he had some interest in playing for the Nets.
TheSlipperyOne
02 Feb 2005, 02:10 PM
After beating the Knicks by 20 last night the Denver Nuggets are 3-0 under George Karl.
dark knight
02 Feb 2005, 02:13 PM
Sham, Shmam, the Nets need any stiff with some height. Surely he'll get more PT with the Nets than he would have at Detroit, no?
Ian McCracken
02 Feb 2005, 10:39 PM
Don't look now but there appears to be someone making a run in the Eastern Conference. Who is that freight train coming? Why it's none other than the defending NBA Champion Detroit Pistons. The Heat better not look in the rear view mirror lest they get spooked.