2004-05 NBA thread

[dark knight]

Question for Ian and other Pistons fans -- I took a look at their box score from last nite - and I was pretty surprised at how little impact and how few minutes the bench played. All 5 starters were in the 40s for minutes (granted it was an OT game), but the question is -- wasn't the team decently deep last year? Are people hurt? Will this be an issue during the playoffs?

[Garcia]

It seems likely that the teams that will face Miami in the playoffs are 4/5 and 8 seeds (Cleveland/Washington and Indiana). Would Cleveland or Washington drop to 6 to face Boston?

I think a month ago, teams may have thought about it, but the Celtics aren't going to be an easy out, and if NY or Sixers take the Atlantic, they'll be on a hot streak and tough to beat anyway.

I think this is going to be the most fun postseason in a while. They only gimme series is Miami vs East #8. And over on the West, I think most experts expect Lakers to drop in the next couple of months and Denver will take #8.
Is Miami this good?
They are right up there with the best records in the whole NBA, but I am not sold. Shaq is one of the few guys with any playoff experience and could see some trouble if they get to a 7th game or two.

Heck, I am not sold on the Celtics or the 76ers.

True on the Lakers, Skip. They play tougher teams down the stretch. I hope Kobe misses the playoffs, but will this cause Phil Jackson to come back?

[biggyv]

If you take a look at the Knicks payroll:

http://www.hoopshype.com/salaries/new_york.htm

You'll see that they're on the hook for $109M next year and $85M in '06-'07. The team they have just isn't capable of making a run in the near future. Sweetney and Ariza are nice young players, but I wouldn't consider them future stars. Crawford shoots too much, and not well enough (39%). Marbury is the type of player who will put up great stats, but not help his team win games. And I wasn't a huge fan of Mohammed, but they have no inside presence whatsoever. Taking on contracts like those of Rose and Taylor will only slow the rebuilding process.

[skipshady]

Question for Ian and other Pistons fans -- I took a look at their box score from last nite - and I was pretty surprised at how little impact and how few minutes the bench played. All 5 starters were in the 40s for minutes (granted it was an OT game), but the question is -- wasn't the team decently deep last year? Are people hurt? Will this be an issue during the playoffs?
I'm not a Pistons fan, but they miss Mike James a lot.

Last year, their bench was Williamson, James, Campbell, Hunter and sometimes Ham. From that group, they lost Williamson and James and added Arroyo, Coleman, McDyess and Delfino.

Coleman didn't work out and got cut, and as nice as Arroyo is, he doesn't do the same things James does. Delfino hasn't played since December. Campbell hasn't played since coming back from Jersey. McDyess is the only one who's really earning his paycheck off the bench.

[Metros Striker10]

If you take a look at the Knicks payroll:

http://www.hoopshype.com/salaries/new_york.htm

You'll see that they're on the hook for $109M next year and $85M in '06-'07. The team they have just isn't capable of making a run in the near future. Sweetney and Ariza are nice young players, but I wouldn't consider them future stars. Crawford shoots too much, and not well enough (39%). Marbury is the type of player who will put up great stats, but not help his team win games. And I wasn't a huge fan of Mohammed, but they have no inside presence whatsoever. Taking on contracts like those of Rose and Taylor will only slow the rebuilding process.

True, but as you can see, those trades made the team better. We should have beaten Seattle and Miami. Kurt Thomas is a good center. He's small, but he's effective. SF is where the team needs to improve. Timmy has done well lately, but for how much longer? Penny is a nice player to have, but not at his contract size. Sweetney owns the paint whenever he plays. He draws fouls and wins many offensive rebounds. Ariza is only 19 and is learning. I like how he adds energy and is always playing above the rim. Crawford is definately learning. He had at least 12 assists tonight against Miami.

[dark knight]

I'm not a Pistons fan, but they miss Mike James a lot.

Last year, their bench was Williamson, James, Campbell, Hunter and sometimes Ham. From that group, they lost Williamson and James and added Arroyo, Coleman, McDyess and Delfino.

Coleman didn't work out and got cut, and as nice as Arroyo is, he doesn't do the same things James does. Delfino hasn't played since December. Campbell hasn't played since coming back from Jersey. McDyess is the only one who's really earning his paycheck off the bench.

Weird - I watched the Conference and NBA finals and I have no idea who the heck Mike James is. Okur and Williamson and Hunter I remember at least.

I'm getting more bullish on the Heat coming out of the East -- with the difficulties of repeating and their coach's health struggles and apparent lack of depth, I'll be surprised if Detroit can repeat.

[skipshady]

Weird - I watched the Conference and NBA finals and I have no idea who the heck Mike James is. Okur and Williamson and Hunter I remember at least.

I'm getting more bullish on the Heat coming out of the East -- with the difficulties of repeating and their coach's health struggles and apparent lack of depth, I'll be surprised if Detroit can repeat.
I went back and checked the Finals stats (http://www.nba.com/pistons/stats/2003/nba_finals_stats.html) and I see he only got 4.4 min/g in the Finals, though he did average nearly 20 mins per game in the regular season for the Pistons.
And I forgot about Okur, but then again, so did Larry Brown.

Also, Dwyane Wade, Dwyane Wade, Dwyane Wade.

Finally, what's the big deal with picking up Zo and Steve Smith? They both got DNPs against the Knicks and aren't adding a whole lot to the bench. Are they just a couple more guys to sit in the locker room and say "Look kids, I've been in the playoffs and let me tell you, these games are really, really, really really big."? Why not bring back Timmy Hardaway and Anthony Mason while we're at it?

[needs]

Finally, what's the big deal with picking up Zo and Steve Smith? They both got DNPs against the Knicks and aren't adding a whole lot to the bench. Are they just a couple more guys to sit in the locker room and say "Look kids, I've been in the playoffs and let me tell you, these games are really, really, really really big."? Why not bring back Timmy Hardaway and Anthony Mason while we're at it?

Hell, if they want someone to be a bench presence, why not bring back M. L. Carr? No one could wave a towel like him.

[Ian McCracken]

Question for Ian and other Pistons fans -- I took a look at their box score from last nite - and I was pretty surprised at how little impact and how few minutes the bench played. All 5 starters were in the 40s for minutes (granted it was an OT game), but the question is -- wasn't the team decently deep last year? Are people hurt? Will this be an issue during the playoffs?

Starters minutes has been a concern for me all year with the Pistons. The five starters have been logging heavy minutes all year and fatigue may turn out to be a factor in the playoffs. Delfino was expected to provide 10-20 minutes a game but has been hurt for several months and may not play again this season (there is some question about his willingness to play with pain). Arroyo doesn't play good enough defense at this point to replace James' contributions last season. McDyess has been a stud pickup but there is always the question about his knees holding up so I think Brown is going somewhat soft on his time. Campbell is expected to log 5-12 minutes in the playoffs, especially if a meeting with Miami takes shape. Lindsey Hunter is getting up there in minutes so I think Brown is saving him, too. So, in short, the bench is not quite as strong as last season and the starters are playing longer minutes than I would hope for. I still think nobody in the East can beat the Pistons in a seven game series, though.

[Metros Striker10]

Finally, what's the big deal with picking up Zo and Steve Smith? They both got DNPs against the Knicks and aren't adding a whole lot to the bench. Are they just a couple more guys to sit in the locker room and say "Look kids, I've been in the playoffs and let me tell you, these games are really, really, really really big."? Why not bring back Timmy Hardaway and Anthony Mason while we're at it?

That would be awesome. If the Knicks make the playoffs, you could have those guys with Miami, LJ and Ewing on the Knicks and Rik Smits, Reggie and Mark Jackson on Indiana.

[dark knight]

Don't the Knicks have to win like 15 out of 20 just to hit 500? I'm going to go out on limb and say that the Knicks are not going to make the playoffs.

[Val1]

Is Miami this good?
They are right up there with the best records in the whole NBA, but I am not sold. Shaq is one of the few guys with any playoff experience and could see some trouble if they get to a 7th game or two.


Not just one of the best records, the best, by 5 games(!)

The question is, is Dwayne Wade that good? And the answer is yes. And, how important is it to have the best big man in the league. I love Tim Duncan. He is absolutely fabulous. But when it comes down to it, the best center is always more important than the best big forward. Even when you compare a somewhat lackadaisical Shaq to the ultra-professional Duncan.

Now, as to who wins the playoffs, I don't know. It is a different season. But for the regular season, Miami is easily the best team in the league.

[Microwave]

Not just one of the best records, the best, by 5 games(!)

The question is, is Dwayne Wade that good? And the answer is yes. And, how important is it to have the best big man in the league. I love Tim Duncan. He is absolutely fabulous. But when it comes down to it, the best center is always more important than the best big forward. Even when you compare a somewhat lackadaisical Shaq to the ultra-professional Duncan.

Now, as to who wins the playoffs, I don't know. It is a different season. But for the regular season, Miami is easily the best team in the league.



Best team in the league? The Spurs are better.

Hell, the Heat are 0-2 against the Sonics.

The Heat are 1-1 with Detroit.

Actually doesn't Detroit have a better record against the top teams than Miami? I thought I read that somewhere. Judging by regular season then it's 1. Spurs 2. Suns and 3. heat and in the playoffs Detroit can take Miami.

[biggyv]

True, but as you can see, those trades made the team better. We should have beaten Seattle and Miami.

They turned the team from terrible to merely mediocre. Tying your salary cap up for years to come just become a .500 team is not the way to run a franchise.

Kurt Thomas is a good center. He's small, but he's effective.

He's a pretty good PF forced to play center.
Timmy has done well lately, but for how much longer?
Be glad he only has another year on his contract.
Penny is a nice player to have, but not at his contract size.
Ditto.
Sweetney owns the paint whenever he plays. He draws fouls and wins many offensive rebounds.

He's a nice player, but lacks the offensive skills and post moves to become an inside force.
Ariza is only 19 and is learning. I like how he adds energy and is always playing above the rim.
He's going to be a nice player.
Crawford is definately learning. He had at least 12 assists tonight against Miami.
Is he a PG though? Shoots WAY too often, it seems he's learning from Marbury, which is not a good thing.

They have a couple of decent young players, but no stars. You need a couple to contend in the NBA. The Knicks' cap situation guarantees that in order to do so, they'll have to do it through the draft. And they haven't shown they can draft well enough to do so.

[dark knight]

Remember when we were wondering who got the better of the T-Mac trade? The Magic are crashing out of the playoffs and Francis is suspended indefinitely for kicking a camera man.

Conference table for easier tracking of the playoff picture:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/standings?season=2005&group=conference&column=gamesBehind&order=null&seasontype=2

[skipshady]

A couple of intriguing matchups there, if things stay the same:
Miami vs Philly - Shaq, the former Laker vs Webber, the former Queen. Also, AI vs Wade.
Detroit vs Indy - Yup yup. And it's amazing the pacers are in 7th place despite the nightmare season they're having.

How happy are the Spurs to be looking at the Nuggets in the first round again? Not very, I presume.

[Ian McCracken]

Preview of the 2005 NBA Championship on ABC-TV today (3:30pm EST): Spurs at Pistons.

[Metros Striker10]

They have a couple of decent young players, but no stars. You need a couple to contend in the NBA. The Knicks' cap situation guarantees that in order to do so, they'll have to do it through the draft. And they haven't shown they can draft well enough to do so.

True, but Isiah did pick up Ariza in the second round. He has 3 picks this year in the first round. He has the chance to fix it up this summer.

[dark knight]

Phew - x-rays negative on Duncan. Severe ankle sprain - he rolled his ankle. ********ing Olympics.

[Val1]

True, but Isiah did pick up Ariza in the second round. He has 3 picks this year in the first round. He has the chance to fix it up this summer.

Where's Isaiah getting three first round picks? Every draft order I just looked up suggest just one, and that will be a lottery pick.