2004-05 NBA thread

[skipshady]

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.
I believe the Knicks have the Suns' first round pick from the Nazr Mohammed trade. I don't think they have a third.

[dark knight]

Really classy move by the Pistons owner who flew Duncan to SA on his private jet.

[Metros Striker10]

I believe the Knicks have the Suns' first round pick from the Nazr Mohammed trade. I don't think they have a third.

The Knicks have three first round picks next year. They have their pick, the pick from the Malik Rose trade, and the one from the trade with Houston that brought them Mo Taylor.

Big win by NY. TD was out, but so was Kurt Thomas, Penny, and Houston from NY. The firing of Salias only makes the Knick's playoff chance better.

[ibreak4coffee]

I believe the Knicks have the Suns' first round pick from the Nazr Mohammed trade. I don't think they have a third.

Isiah will have a hard time drafting I think... the college ranks and Europe are just not that full of guys with 7 year, 110 million dollar contracts... :rolleyes:

[skipshady]

The Knicks have three first round picks next year. They have their pick, the pick from the Malik Rose trade, and the one from the trade with Houston that brought them Mo Taylor.Are you sure? Everything I've read says the Knicks gave away their own 2nd round pick (2006) for Mo Tay. But yes, they do have the Suns' 2005 #1 and the Spurs' 2006 #1.
Here's nbadraft.net's mock draft updated 3/21 (subject to change in standings and the lottery, of course): http://nbadraft.net/

Also, the Cavs are struggling but I don't think they'll fall far enough to affect the Knicks. They're fighting Toronto, Philly, New Jersey and Orlando for the last spot. At worst, the Cavs will be a 7 seed.
Isiah will have a hard time drafting I think... the college ranks and Europe are just not that full of guys with 7 year, 110 million dollar contracts... :rolleyes:Ah, but he can always pick an undersized big man (I'm thinking Wayne Simien, Ike Diogu, Sean May).

[Metros Striker10]

Isiah will have a hard time drafting I think... the college ranks and Europe are just not that full of guys with 7 year, 110 million dollar contracts... :rolleyes:

Aw, what a funny little joke. Especially since it was Scott Layden who gave Allan Houston that contract, right after having an All-Star season. The media won't tell you that. Had Layden done the right thing, and kept Ewing for another year, and replaced him with a decent center, the media wouldn't even bother with that contract, because there's a good chance that the Knicks would have been a better team. They also won't tell you that they lost Larry Johnson, a vital piece of that team at the same time. Until last season, Houston was one of the NBA's Iron Men. It wasn't like they gave Penny Hardaway or Chris Webber that contract when they were free agents. Isiah did add some big contracts. But in NY, you play to win. None of that lottery talk that goes around with the Clippers, Hawks, Bulls, etc. because it doesn't get you anywhere. They FINALLY have a full roster to play with, and their post-trade deadline record proves how meaningful that has been. They were 16-13 before the long line of injuries. Seriously, how hard is it for you guys to see this? Just because the media says something, doesn't mean it's 100% correct. They won't tell you about those injuries, nor will they tell you that Allan Houston came back a week or two too soon and became a starter a couple of weeks later, right after he nailed a three pointer late with seconds left agaisnt Philly that sent them to overtime, because Jamal Crawford had a foot injury. Plus, Isiah has drafted guys like McGrady, Tinsley, and Ariza. I can't possibly understand why you doubt him so much.

Skip, they traded Brewer, Baker, and a 2nd round pick for Mo and a 1st round pick. That's why I liked that trade so much. Baker has nothing left and Brewer isn't that good. Mo gives you a player who is used to the Western teams, which is plus when they'll have to go on that road trip out West soon.

[skipshady]

Skip, they traded Brewer, Baker, and a 2nd round pick for Mo and a 1st round pick. That's why I liked that trade so much. Baker has nothing left and Brewer isn't that good. Mo gives you a player who is used to the Western teams, which is plus when they'll have to go on that road trip out West soon.Okay, I looked around a little more. A quote from Isiah on the official Knicks site:
“Today we acquired Malik Rose, Maurice Taylor, and two first round draft-picks for Nazr Mohammed, Moochie Norris, Jamison Brewer, and Vin Baker,” a delighted (but obviously exhausted) Knicks President, Basketball Operations Isiah Thomas announced...

I think there were rumors about a first round pick coming from Houston, but as I said before, everything I've read says that Knicks only the two extra first rounders from the Mohammed-Rose trade.

BTW, Norris went to Houston with Baker, not Brewer, who went to San Antonio.

[Metros Striker10]

Skip, you are right on both cases.

http://www.nba.com/knicks/news/taylor_050224.html

[Garcia]

Nobody mentions the coaching change in Cleveland?
In the 5th spot, new owners and now the change?

Silas was cool.

The next question...did LeBron force this change?

[skipshady]

Skip, you are right on both cases.

http://www.nba.com/knicks/news/taylor_050224.html
The Knicks did pretty well last night, didn't they? The Celts were 11-1 since the deadline before coming to MSG.

I'm kinda divided on whether Isiah is a genius or an idiot. 70% of me still thinks he's still an idiot, but there's a little doubt creeping in. See, I thought Ainge was crazy for making all those trades last year - Walker to Dallas, Ricky Davis from Cleveland, gifting Rasheed Wallace and Mike James to Detroit - but it's worked out pretty well.

Maybe Isiah does have a plan, because a lot of the bad contracts come off the books in '06 and '07 and it could be that he's keeping the Knicks afloat until then. Who knows.
Nobody mentions the coaching change in Cleveland?
In the 5th spot, new owners and now the change?

Silas was cool.

The next question...did LeBron force this change?Garcia - speaking on Silas, here's a piece on black coaches getting the hook quicker (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/22/sports/basketball/22coaches.html?) than white coaches. It's an interesting read.

I like Silas too but it seems like he doesn't relate all that well with younger players.

[Metros Striker10]

Yeah, it was there largest victory margin of the season so far (25pts).

I think Isiah is a great GM. He has brought in some good players...the problem is that they all got hurt at the same time. Crawford is taking better shots and passing more, Tim Thomas is finally posting up and using his height, and Kurt is doing a great job of replacing Nazr, who wasn't that great.

[skipshady]

"If the season ended today" playoff scenarios: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/matchups

Which is kinda stupid, since, and trust me on this, there ain't no way the season is ending today. <rimshot>

[ibreak4coffee]

"If the season ended today" playoff scenarios: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/matchups

Which is kinda stupid, since, and trust me on this, there ain't no way the season is ending today. <rimshot>

You gotta like the possibility of Indiana-Detroit though...

[skipshady]

You gotta like the possibility of Indiana-Detroit though...
Oh man, playing as many as 4 games in the Palace? If the series goes seven, can you imagine how high the tension would get?

Oh, and isn't Artest supposed to be eligible for postseason? I thought his suspension was to the end of regular season.

[ibreak4coffee]

Oh man, playing as many as 4 games in the Palace? If the series goes seven, can you imagine how high the tension would get?

Oh, and isn't Artest supposed to be eligible for postseason? I thought his suspension was to the end of regular season.

No. Stern said I think last week there was no chance we'd see Artest play again this year.

[hangthadj]

I want the Pacers vs the Pistons so badly in the first round. I would love that.

After living in Indy for 6 years, for the first time in my life I am conflicted on what would happen if the Pacers played the Sixers in the playoffs. It's a very weird feeling.

[DevilDave]

When Chris Webber came back to Sacramento tonight, he received standing ovations when he was introduced and when he came out of the game. He deserved it - he's part of the reason the Kings franchise turned around from lottery mediocrity to playoff contender. Kings fans will never forget what his contributions were in this town - and they definitely showed their appreciation for the memories he left.

But once you get past the hype and you crunch the game stats - as well as the season stats for each player involved in the trade since the deal happened - it's pretty clear who got the better deal.

Tonight:

76ers:
Chris Webber - 20 pts. (8-26), 3 ast., 10 rebs., 1 blk.
(Matt Barnes & Michael Bradley not in Obie's 12-man rotation)

Kings:
Kenny Thomas - 20 pts. (9-20), 4 ast., 15 rebs.
Brian Skinner - 13 pts. (6-11), 5 ast., 19 rebs., 3 blk.
Corliss Williamson - DNP, migraine

Since the trade:

Webber - PPG: 15.7, FG%: .400, RPG: 7.8, APG: 3.2, BPG: 0.71
(Do I even need to mention Barnes & Bradley?)

Thomas - PPG: 14.3, FG%: .472, RPG: 8.3, APG: 2.8, BPG: 0.64
Skinner - PPG: 8.7, FG%: .562, RPG: 8.7, APG: 1.3, BPG: 2.13
Williamson - PPG: 7.9, FG%: .442, RPG: 2.9, APG: 1.4, BPG: 0.07

[hangthadj]

Right, no doubt about it from the stats, and it makes me sick. But under Obie, Skinner and Thomas especially were never gonna get those numbers. Obie hated Thomas.

[dark knight]

I'm a little sad that the Lakers are going to crash out of the playoffs. It would be really fun to see them get whooped on by Phoenix or SA.

Nets still look like a little bit of a long shot, but I'd most like to see a NJ Miami first round. Too bad there are no 5 game series anymore.

[afgrijselijkheid]

may i present (with 11 games to play), you 2005 pacific division champions

http://www.millerhouseofsports.com/PhoenixSuns/images/Phoenix%20Suns%20BE516.JPG