2004-05 NBA thread

[Ted Cikowski]

I am not sure who I hate more, Kobe or Carmelo. Carmelo is such a piece of crap. His comments, his gestures on the court and his crappy play are all reasons I have really come to dislike this guy. The Denver offense has absolutely no flow to it at all. It is stand around watch someone go one on one and miss a jumper. Melo sucks!

this is true but people will argue with you because fanboys always ignore facts (see the iverson thread) and defend their favorites. Melo's own teamates called him a cancer last year, last night he had a 3 on 1 break and didn't pass - he missed a layup. Larry Brown called him out on the USA team. He refused to go into a game last year when his coach questioned his shot selection, he had a 3 for 20 game and a 1 for 16 game last year and 2 nights ago he was somthing like 3 for 14 - at one point last season Melo was shooting a very Iverson like 38%. Chauncy Billups said he was glad the Pistons didn't take Melo, and he is right. Melo would disrupt the chemistry of the team. If you want to know who is better between Lebron and Carmelo Anthony it isn't even close, Lebron James is about 10 times better.

When the Nuggets are in the lottery again this year the Melo hype will be gone and he will have a very mediocre career. Lebron James will be a legend.

[Megatron]

I was at the Bulls-Suns game last night and as a Bulls fan, I was disappointed. I finally have completely given up on both Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler. They both stink! Going up a supposedly smaller lineup against the Suns, Curry had 3 points and 5 boards. Chandler had maybe 7 points total and 5 boards. These two are worthless. As a long time fan of the Bulls, I am tired of hearing, "be patient, they will come around" talk. I am here to burst the bubbles of those that think that. Such things will not happen with these two players. These guys were so brutal that the entire Bulls offense now revolves around guards just shooting jump shots. The only bright spot is Luol Deng. He is aggressive and while he does take some ill advised shots at times, he at least looks comfortable out there like he is in the game to play, not just pick up a pay check like Curry. For a team trying to build around these two giraffes, it is unfortunately time to pull the plug on this failed experiment and start fresh. I hope they can trade Curry to a gullible suitor before the trade deadline.
Interesting to note that although the Bulls lost their first two games,once Curry came back it seem like they revert to the lazy Bulls of last year.I agree trade them,Curry's never gonna come around but will demand an extension just because he's in shape,and Chandler is as brittle as a pencil.Ron Artest retiring?What a nutcase.

[afgrijselijkheid]

I was at the Bulls-Suns game last night and as a Bulls fan, I was disappointed. I finally have completely given up on both Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler. They both stink! Going up a supposedly smaller lineup against the Suns, Curry had 3 points and 5 boards. Chandler had maybe 7 points total and 5 boards. These two are worthless. As a long time fan of the Bulls, I am tired of hearing, "be patient, they will come around" talk. I am here to burst the bubbles of those that think that. Such things will not happen with these two players. These guys were so brutal that the entire Bulls offense now revolves around guards just shooting jump shots. The only bright spot is Luol Deng. He is aggressive and while he does take some ill advised shots at times, he at least looks comfortable out there like he is in the game to play, not just pick up a pay check like Curry. For a team trying to build around these two giraffes, it is unfortunately time to pull the plug on this failed experiment and start fresh. I hope they can trade Curry to a gullible suitor before the trade deadline.


could you give us some views on how the SUNS looked? thanks

[therealronaldo7]

could you give us some views on how the SUNS looked? thanks
The Suns looked tough. I have seen all four of their games, as I am a loser and watch hoops and soccer all the time, and I would say this game and the Philly game were not their best games, but it was enough to beat the Sixers and Bulls. The thing I was most impressed with the Suns is their athleticism around the basket. While they do not have a lot of size, they are able to get offensive rebounds with their quickness and positioning. In addition, Steve Nash is just something else. While he did not have an amazing game, he is constantly finding the open man on the break or in the half court set. Joe Johnson is a straight up baller. The kid can shoot lights out. Stoudamire made Chandler and Curry look like snow to an oncoming snow plow. The only thing that worries me about the Suns is the fact that they do not have much depth. They Barbosa at point, Voskuhl and Lampe on the inside, and Jacobson on the perimeter. Not bad players, but last night the Bulls would crawl back to within shouting distance (12-14pts) and then the first team would come back in the for the Suns and any kind of run the Bulls were having would be over. This could be their achilles heel, but all in all a very improved and solid team that I think will cause problems throughout the season and the playoffs for a lot of teams.

[microbrew]

Mark Cuban, at it again (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=ratto_ray&id=1919188). At least he has something to gripe about now, considering his reality show was canceled.

Teams playing the best basketball to watch: Phoenix, Utah, Dallas

Who'd think Dallas would have a rookie and a second year player as starters?

Carmelo Anthony let the Olympics get to his head... or is it his ego? Detroit's decision of Tayshaun Prince over Anthony looks better and better.

Kobe Bryant needs to figure out that basketball is a team game.


Luckily, I had class yesterday, so I didn't see the Nets game. Should Ratner just blow up the team, and let Rod Thorn and Lawrence Frank rebuild (see Phoenix? They can: 1) get the Princeton offense running like a well oiled machine (the new crackdown on impeding players on defense should help) 2) develop Zoran Planinic, Nenad Kristic and maybe Darius Rice and

[therealronaldo7]

Luckily, I had class yesterday, so I didn't see the Nets game. Should Ratner just blow up the team, and let Rod Thorn and Lawrence Frank rebuild (see Phoenix? They can: 1) get the Princeton offense running like a well oiled machine (the new crackdown on impeding players on defense should help) 2) develop Zoran Planinic, Nenad Kristic and maybe Darius Rice and
The Nets stink like my Bulls. They should trade Kidd and get some draft picks or something. I heard Kidd for Abdur-Rahim, but in my book, that would not be worth it. When it comes to being overrated, there is a picture of Shareef in the dictionary next to the word overrated.

[Ted Cikowski]

Detroit is 3-1 but they are on the west coast and Ben Wallace is going to miss the next 2 games (his brother died of brain cancer) and Larry Brown is not with the team (hip surgery).

Damn, Detroit might be 3-3 coming back from their west coast trip. YES I am making excuses but that's alot to overcome.

I still say Detroit and San Antonio in the finals but Indiana starting hot and Detroit having some problems early could spell a number 4 seed for Detroit if they aren't careful. Come playoff time though the Pistons should be alright.


Carmelo Anthony let the Olympics get to his head... or is it his ego? Detroit's decision of Tayshaun Prince over Anthony looks better and better.

Tayshaun Prince is one of the most popular atheletes in Metro Detroit. He is also one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. ANyone see his behind the back dribble and dunk against the sixers? It made saturdays top ten plays on Sportscenter.

[Ted Cikowski]

ESPN NBA 2k5 or NBA Live 2005?

The ESPN NBA 2k5 game is very very realistic and the players look so much like they do in real life that it's ridiculous. I give the edge to Sega again this year but the dunk contest in NBA live is cool and I have to take points away from ESPN NBA 2k5 for having Bill Walton as an announcer.

[Ted Cikowski]

The Jazz beat Denver again last night, not by as much but it was still pretty much smooth sailing. I am biased as a life-long Jazz fan but if you haven't seen these guys play, try to catch a game whenever they are on TV, they are so much fun to watch. Kirilenko is everywhere, I don't know how he does it. So you NBA forum regulars tell me: Are my Jazz for real? I mean I know they are good enough to get into the playoffs but are they as good as they've seemed the last few days? Will they compete with Minn and SanAn for the Western conference crown?

Kirilenko is one of the ten best players in the NBA right now, I'm not kidding. He is certainly one of the 5 best defenders and he has been throwing down some nice dunks too. Jerry Stackhouse said that Kirilenko is the one player he hates to guard the most in the NBA because he has so many moves and tricks.

Okur is very talented but lazy.

The Jazz should get at least 50 wins this season.

[TheSlipperyOne]

I don't know why I haven't dropped in on this thread yet so this could be a long catch up.


Interesting Rumor

"Word within the NBA is that the Timberwolves haven't given up on trying to trade for Jason Kidd, even though the New Jersey Nets point guard's injured knee isn't expected to heal until late next month. The Wolves' contract controversies with Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell could hasten a deal."

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/10074201.htm

Healthy Kidd would be awesome with Garnett :D


I don't have a link but I do know the Nuggets are also looking at getting Kidd (It was talked about on NBA Tonight a couple of nights ago also). The possible offer is Nene (developing force; would be killer in the East and is cheap), Andre Miller and Tskitashvili (expiring contract) for Kidd.


Charles Barkley actually brought up a good point yesterday about the Nuggets,he mentioned that they have 3 players(Nene,Camby,K-Mart) who are all good but play the same position.


Barkley can come up with good stuff sometimes, but reading that I see that he apparently doesn't know much about the Nuggets. Camby plays center for the Nuggets. He has for a couple of years now. Nene is a PF as is K-Mart, but Nene is young, still learning the game a good back-up to K-Mart and is injured right now anyways.

What's so bad about having Melo and K-Mart as your starting forwards with Camby as your center and having Nene off the bench to play PF or C if need be?


I agree I just don't see what all the hype about the Nuggets is all about,but I'll guess we'll wait and see.


The hype is 2 years ago they were 17-65 and last year made the playoffs and were 43-39. And prior to last season the Nuggets hadn't had a winning season since 93-94. Then they added an All-Star PF to that group. Pretty simple to see why people would have high expectations for them.


I like the Jazz. I like 'em a lot. And did I read this correctly? Andrei Kirilenko had eight blocks against the Lakers?


Yeah, he now has 26 on the year. Without an injury and with the amount of steals he gets he should easily win DPOTY.

If the Jazz play all season the way they've started out and AK47 averages a double double plus keeps racking up blocks and steals the way he does he could be a possibility for MVP.


- Do you think the Nuggets are as overrated as I do?


Nope. They have a bad coach who is at odds with the GM. They also have some injuries (Voshon & Nene) and Melo is still learning to play with K-Mart while at the same time trying to put the team on his shoulders.


- Do you think the Suns are as underrated as I do?


Nope. Marion, Amare and Johnson is a good base. When they got Nash and Q in the off-season I knew they would be a great team. Then add in their good bench players and you have a very competitive team.

I don't know why so many people underrated them in the pre-season and beginning of the season.


-The Suns oh I'm sorry I thought that said Spurs! No the Suns are fine just where they are,the Spurs are underrated though.


The Spurs are my team and I believe they are overrated. They are still a great team, but Parker and Manu are still not good consistent outside shooters and bringing in Barry, while helping the team, won't fix the problem. Once he gets more into the Spurs flow then they will start showing how they should be rated but they aren't there yet. Sidenote: If Rose gets more PT and back to the way he played 2 seasons ago the Spurs could really start to dominate.


- Luol Deng is gonna be one of the top rookies this season. His offense, his defense and his aggressiveness are unbelieveable.


He is great. I liked his game in college and I like what I've seen so far in the NBA.

I don't know if the Bulls will keep Chandler and Curry after this season, but Hinrich, Deng and Nocioni is a great nucleus to build around for the future. If Chandler could stay healthy then I would add him to that core.


The Denver offense has absolutely no flow to it at all. It is stand around watch someone go one on one and miss a jumper.


Once again I put most of this blame on the coach. The Nuggets have a team of players that wants to get out and run but a coach who doesn't want that. With Voshon out for the season and Melo struggling with his jump shot there are no other shooters on the team. When you throw in a slow down PG like Miller there isn't much else they're going to do. When Boykins gets in the play of the team changes immensely. In fact he started the last game with Miller at SG and I think we could see more of that.


Melo sucks!


:rolleyes:


Melo's own teamates called him a cancer last year...


Link please.


When the Nuggets are in the lottery again this year the Melo hype will be gone and he will have a very mediocre career.


You are absolutely right. And by "absolutely right" I mean :rolleyes:

- Who was it saying Grant Hill shouldn't have been trying to come back again this year?

[Ted Cikowski]

Link please.



You are absolutely right. And by "absolutely right" I mean :rolleyes:

uh, you don't remember Andre Miller and Camby ripping Anthony publicly last year? If you think Melo is so great you might want to let the guys on NBA Fast Break know, they ripped his selfishness tonight on the pregame before Lebron (an actual good player) put up 39 on the Suns.

Meanwhile the fabulous Carmelo Anthony has lead his team to a great start while shooting a high field goal percentage and not turning the ball over....ever.

www.denverpost.com

"Mom's the ticket for kid Carmelo

By Mark Kiszla
Denver Post Sports Columnist

The problem with having it all at age 20? Sometimes, it is all too much.

"Nobody likes me. But that's OK," forward Carmelo Anthony sang quietly to himself while toweling off in the Nuggets' dressing room Tuesday night after a humiliating 108-88 loss to Seattle.


At least he knows that no one likes him.

http://insidedenver.com/drmn/nuggets/article/0,1299,DRMN_20_3313047,00.html

Martin also took time to speak with Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, telling him "to relax" after a 3-for-20 shooting night. Anthony was benched to start the second half after shooting 2-for-13, many of the misses coming on quick, outside shots with plenty of time on the shot clock.

"Carmelo has not introduced himself to a shot he doesn't like," -Altitude analyst Scott Hastings said on the air.

Anthony is shooting 17-for-67 (.254) while averaging 15.3 points. In the past two games, he has shot 8-for-45 (.178).

[hangthadj]

Ron Artest is gonna drive me nuts this season. **************!

I'll tell ya what though, Jackson was a helluva pickup for the Pacers. This is a damn good team right now.


********. Worse home loss in team history. To the Clippers. What the hell was that? Anyone? Oh well. Foster is still out. Reggie is still out. Oh and yeah O'Neal leaves teh game after tweaking his already injured foot. Great stuff. I am quite pleased.

Oh you want more?

Ron Artest. Definately the early leader for Douchebag of the Year. You see the list of injuries above. You know Ron Artest was benched for compromising the integrity of the team. But do you know what it really means? It's a doozy. MC Ron repoertedly asked for time off to rest his body and mind because he overextended himself in his day job combined with promoting his rap album due out Nov 23. What the ********. I've been on this guys side for a long time, but can they just trade this ********er now?

[therealronaldo7]

Nope. They have a bad coach who is at odds with the GM. They also have some injuries (Voshon & Nene) and Melo is still learning to play with K-Mart while at the same time trying to put the team on his shoulders.

Once again I put most of this blame on the coach. The Nuggets have a team of players that wants to get out and run but a coach who doesn't want that. With Voshon out for the season and Melo struggling with his jump shot there are no other shooters on the team. When you throw in a slow down PG like Miller there isn't much else they're going to do. When Boykins gets in the play of the team changes immensely. In fact he started the last game with Miller at SG and I think we could see more of that.

So, you are one of those that believes the coach is at fault for everything huh? Ineresting. Player still need to play and the Nuggets simply stink. You cannot argue their record. Bzdelik may not be the best coach in the world, but he cannot be blamed for all the problems. Melo is a baby and needs to grow up and shoulder some responsibility. Just because I do not like my boss here at work does not mean I will not do my best here at work. NBA players are grown men for the most part and they are getting paid a lot to play. To say it is all a coaches fault is just plain dumb. It sounds like you are scraping the bottom of the barrel looking for an excuse to help the NUgz.

[therealronaldo7]

"Carmelo has not introduced himself to a shot he doesn't like," -Altitude analyst Scott Hastings said on the air.
Hastings is hilarious. I love this quote.

[therealronaldo7]

Big night in the Association last night. Cavs come back in a big way to beat the Suns. LBJ has 38 to lead the way.
Clipps roll, I mean roll the Pacers in Indianapolis. I was shocked and Hang, I have no idea why this happened. I don't think the Clippers are all that good, but you never know.
The Dinosaurs from Toronto beat the Jazz. Seemed like the Jazz were off all night and not quite in sync. They will be okay. Maybe the Raptors are better than we all thought. If Vince stays healthy and on the team, they could be good I guess.

[afgrijselijkheid]

The Suns looked tough. I have seen all four of their games, as I am a loser and watch hoops and soccer all the time, and I would say this game and the Philly game were not their best games, but it was enough to beat the Sixers and Bulls. The thing I was most impressed with the Suns is their athleticism around the basket. While they do not have a lot of size, they are able to get offensive rebounds with their quickness and positioning. In addition, Steve Nash is just something else. While he did not have an amazing game, he is constantly finding the open man on the break or in the half court set. Joe Johnson is a straight up baller. The kid can shoot lights out. Stoudamire made Chandler and Curry look like snow to an oncoming snow plow. The only thing that worries me about the Suns is the fact that they do not have much depth. They Barbosa at point, Voskuhl and Lampe on the inside, and Jacobson on the perimeter. Not bad players, but last night the Bulls would crawl back to within shouting distance (12-14pts) and then the first team would come back in the for the Suns and any kind of run the Bulls were having would be over. This could be their achilles heel, but all in all a very improved and solid team that I think will cause problems throughout the season and the playoffs for a lot of teams.


thanks, yeah we need a bench star type, preferably big, preferably versatile... a malik rose type player with a solid 15 ft jumper

really shoulda won last night, but hey i kinda called it

[Megatron]

If Ron Artest is the douche of the year,then Eddy Curry has to be a close second.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/sports/cst-spt-eddy11.html

The ********ing nerve of this mediocre piece of sh**t,I call for a trade immediately!

[therealronaldo7]

If Ron Artest is the douche of the year,then Eddy Curry has to be a close second.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/sports/cst-spt-eddy11.html

The ********ing nerve of this mediocre piece of sh**t,I call for a trade immediately!
Living in Chicago, I concur Megatron! This guy thinks he is actually worth a crap. He stinks and so does Chandler. Get their asses out of here.

[Ted Cikowski]

Regarding Ron Artest - all I can say is that I can't wait to get his rap album. Anone watch NBA Fast Break last night? Steven A. Smith had some good lines about Artest 'not being all there'.

I think some blame needs to go to Carlisle also for allowing this (c)rap. The Clippers beat the pacers by 34! Not even Reggie Miller in his prime could have stopped the Clippers last night.



As for the Suns, they look good but Lebron James was fantastic last night. I can't believe he is 19 years old. He made every big shot, made every correct pass and even grabbed 10 boards. He is on the verge of becoming a legend.

[hangthadj]

Regarding Ron Artest - all I can say is that I can't wait to get his rap album. Anone watch NBA Fast Break last night? Steven A. Smith had some good lines about Artest 'not being all there'.

I think some blame needs to go to Carlisle also for allowing this (c)rap. The Clippers beat the pacers by 34! Not even Reggie Miller in his prime could have stopped the Clippers last night.


Surely blame must go to Carlisle, but I can't think that Larry Legend can be to pleased in his seat next to Donnie Walsh. I mean, I'm sure Larry will by the album and be blastin it as he drives through the meanest streets of Indy in his Hummer, but at the same time I bet he wishes Artest would get his ******** together and play ball. Why they didn't try to unload him in the offseason is beyond me.