The Basketball Thread

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Ask and you shall receive...

I don't really follow basketball too much anymore, it's just too much work and I find it boring to be honest, but I'm hoping for a Pistons/Lakers finals rematch from a couple years back. Could be a promising series. Anything but another Spurs final and I'm happy. :p

Come on Spurs are awesome. Fundamentals.

At the beginning of the playoffs, I would have put big money on a Celtics-Lakers Finals, but after the way the Celtics have been playing I am not as confident.

[Ghostface]

Come on Spurs are awesome. Fundamentals.

At the beginning of the playoffs, I would have put big money on a Celtics-Lakers Finals, but after the way the Celtics have been playing I am not as confident.

Great team for sure, but no offense, just can't bare to watch them :p

Celtics can't win away from home, but technically they won't need to. Either way, they are not playing like they were in the regular season.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Great team for sure, but no offense, just can't bare to watch them :p

Celtics can't win away from home, but technically they won't need to. Either way, they are not playing like they were in the regular season.

No offense taken, all my friends say the same thing.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Well I am pissed!!!!!!!!! :(

We blew a 20 point lead. Duncan had a stellar game, Parker had a good game, while Manu Ginobli sucked.

Ginobli not only managed to suck the entire game, but he also managed to get outscored by the offensive powerhouse known as Bruce Bowen. He threw the ball away and forced bad shots countless of times, and missed open shots a handful of times. Then on top of all of that suckiness, the Spurs somehow decided it was a good idea for him to take the last shot of the game, a forced shot that was not even close to going in! ********!!!!

20 point lead away from home, 20 points!!! Thats just a momentum/spirit killer when you lose a game like this.

[Twenty26Six]

It seems to me that EVERYTIME I watch the Celts, they suck ass.

Horrible decisions on the offensive end. Arrggh!

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

It seems to me that EVERYTIME I watch the Celts, they suck ass.

Horrible decisions on the offensive end. Arrggh!

Well that's what happens when you have KG throwing up fade aways! He's seven feet tall, I don't care if he's a great veteran player and that he makes the shot quite often. Your seven feet tall KG, very few people can guard you.

Also, Doc Rivers is top five worst coaches in the NBA. Seriously, I could coach the Celtics into the NBA Finals. Meanwhile Doc is having a hard time coaching his team out of a paper bag, the Celts were really close to having a ten point first quarter. My dad is Doc Rivers fan cause he lived on the same dorm floor at Marquette.

My Spurs won yesterday which made me quite happy. Manu came out of his slump, and Duncan had a very Duncan-esque game. If they can win tomorrow night I will be absolutely ecstatic.

[el-capitano]

ANDREW Bogut is the basketball superstar trying to fast-track $80million contract negotiations in the NBA so he can start training with the Australian Olympic squad for $125 a day.

But emphasising his passion for national duty, Bogut told The Sunday Telegraph that "there's nothing better than playing for Australia''.

Bogut is just weeks away from negotiating the deal of a lifetime, with the 23-year-old thought to be closing in on a six-year, $80million contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks.

It's the kind of cash that would slam-dunk the salaries of Australian sporting stars Harry Kewell, Mark Webber, Adam Scott or Lleyton Hewitt.

The giant sum could cover the entire NRL salary cap for a season, with enough change to fund the NBL's annual player payments as well.

But until the deal is finalised, in early to mid-July, Bogut cannot risk injury and must therefore sit out Olympic training with the Boomers.

Bogut said he was excited about Milwaukee's prospects next season, despite a poor 26-56 record this year. The Bucks have a new general manager and have appointed former Chicago Bulls coach Scott Skiles.

"He only coaches one way - that's if you're not playing hard, you're not playing,'' Bogut said. ``I think he's going to demand the best from everybody, which is something we definitely need, and as an individual, I love coaches like that.

"I definitely want to be part of the Milwaukee Bucks organisation in the future, I've had a great time there off the floor. Obviously some more wins could help, but I want to be part of the rebuilding process.''




http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23751493-5001023,00.html

[Twenty26Six]

Would you stop it with the Bogut shit!

Lurch! Lurch! Lurch! Lurch! Lurch! Lurch!

[el-capitano]

I'll stop it with the Bogut shit when there's more than one Aussie in it! :D

[el-capitano]

We might have Patrick Mills and Nathan Jawai soon! ;)

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23115134-5001023,00.html

http://www.theage.com.au/news/basketball/jawai-shapes-as-an-nba-firstround-draft-pick/2008/05/21/1211182897063.html

[el-capitano]

Jawai becomes 10th Aussie drafted to NBA (http://au.sports.yahoo.com/news/article/-/4778873/jawai-10th-aussie-drafted-nba)

Australian basketballer Nathan Jawai has officially been traded to the Toronto Raptors as part of a blockbuster deal including NBA superstar Jermaine O'Neal.

Jawai was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 41st pick in the 2008 NBA Draft in a prearranged deal.

In exchange Indiana have received guard TJ Ford, centre Rasho Nesterovic, forward Maceo Baston and the draft rights to centre Roy Hibbert.

Although the deal was as good as done between the two teams, under NBA rules the trade could not be announced until Thursday.

[Twenty26Six]

Jawai becomes 10th Aussie drafted to NBA (http://au.sports.yahoo.com/news/article/-/4778873/jawai-10th-aussie-drafted-nba)

That's 10 too many... :p

[el-capitano]

And just to rile up 26....... ;)

The Olympics may be over but the American basketball fraternity is still going gah-gah over Australian point guard Patrick Mills.

Mills was the undisputed bright spark for the Australian Boomers in their mixed campaign in Beijing, topping off an eye-catching tournament by putting 20 points on the Americans in the quarter final.

The St Mary's College sophomore used his nimble footwork and blinding speed to flash past defenders, impressing NBA scouts, Team USA superstars like Kobe Bryant and American coach Mike Krzyzewski among others.

Mills will resume his college career at St Mary's but looks destined for the NBA draft, with his cause helped by the fact many analysts believe this year's rookie crop to be thin on talent.

Leading draft analyst, ESPN.com's Chad Ford, believes the skills Mills unveiled in China, including his torment of the Team USA guards Chris Paul and Deron Williams, will have him on course for a mid first-round entry into the NBA.

"Mills played for the Australian national team in the Olympics and gave Team USA fits with his quickness," Ford wrote.

"Chris Paul and Deron Williams both had a difficult time guarding him. Mills ended up leading Australia with 20 points in its quarterfinal loss to Team USA. His performance was enough for scouts to start buzzing about his potential to be a mid-first-round pick."

Mills, 20, was born in Canberra and is a product of the same Australian Institute of Sport program that helped fashion Andrew Bogut and Lauren Jackson.



http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/basketball/mills-still-on-nba-radar/2008/09/23/1221935602548.html

[AussieLFCfan]

Anyone watch all star saturday?

3 Point shootout was probably the worst I've ever seen! Aren't they supoosed to actually be good at hitting 3's lol.

And the dunk comp is rigged. Seriously. Howard's first dunks sucked and he got 50???

The Spainish dude's (Fernandez?) dunk with Gasol although it took for ever was imo the best dunk of the night except maybe for Nate Robinsons jam over Howard......and he only got a 42????

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Anyone watch all star saturday?

3 Point shootout was probably the worst I've ever seen! Aren't they supoosed to actually be good at hitting 3's lol.

And the dunk comp is rigged. Seriously. Howard's first dunks sucked and he got 50???

The Spainish dude's (Fernandez?) dunk with Gasol although it took for ever was imo the best dunk of the night except maybe for Nate Robinsons jam over Howard......and he only got a 42????

Yeah. I agree about Fernandez' dunk. Howard's dunk on the 12 foot rim was awesome as well.

The dunk contest needs to have some changes.

Next year, I would like to see them bring an adjustable hoop again, and just see who is the best jumper in the NBA. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw someone dunk on a 13 of 14 foot rim.

[bassboi]

lol at shaq just meged dwight howard!

[AussieLFCfan]

Yeah. I agree about Fernandez' dunk. Howard's dunk on the 12 foot rim was awesome as well.

The dunk contest needs to have some changes.

Next year, I would like to see them bring an adjustable hoop again, and just see who is the best jumper in the NBA. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw someone dunk on a 13 of 14 foot rim.

I think it only looked about 11ft even though they were saying 12....

Howard would dunk 14 easy. He is a freak.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

I think it only looked about 11ft even though they were saying 12....

Howard would dunk 14 easy. He is a freak.

I am pumped that Lebron is going to be in the dunk contest next year.

I hope that spurs some of the other superstars into the dunk contest fray.

I personally enjoy the Friday and Saturday night festivities more than the Sunday All-Star Game.

Also. Watch out for my boy, Gerald Henderson, from Duke. Once he goes pro, he will be in the dunk contest and he can jump out of the gym.

Watch Play #1

Duke v. G-Town Top 5

[AussieLFCfan]

Watch out for my boy, Gerald Henderson, from Duke. Once he goes pro, he will be in the dunk contest and he can jump out of the gym.

Watch Play #1

Duke v. G-Town Top 5 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LM6XIb9b4Y)

Nice... what year is he? When will he enter the draft?

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Nice... what year is he? When will he enter the draft?

He's a 3rd year player. Probably going to get drafted this summer, he is projected as a lottery pick.