I wasn't being sarcastic. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough, maybe it was the grinnin' smiley? The smiley was part of the compliment. Let me rephrase to help you out... Go make some stock picks, because clearly you are highly accurate in your predictions about the outcome of upcoming NBA games. I think you can translate your skill at prognosticating into another field, like, for example, investment banking or similar Wall Street forecasting role. And I think you'll make some or even quite a bit of cash.
random thoughts: I wonder if it means anything that the Suns beat the Spurs, could it mean the Suns have improved since last year and the Spurs have declined a bit - or does it mean absolutely nothing since it's an early regular season game. Also odd to see that Detroit had no problems beating the Suns, Spurs and Heat but can't find a way to beat the.....Jazz? Surely a fluke but twice? The Clippers are apparently looking at possibly bringing in Latrell Sprewell. I am not sure if that would be a wise move. Golden State might be the front runner in trying to acquire Ron Artest according to ESPN. The Nets are the hottest team in the league and Vince owned his former team the other night. McGrady's back is hurting again, I wonder if the Rockets can make the playoffs this season.
The first game the Jazz got them at the end of a long road trip, the second game the Jazz just played very well and got an unexpected win. The Jazz are actually a very hot team right now. They've won 7 of their last 8 and are now on top of their division (albeit a weak division). But basically, with Andrei Kirelenko healthy the Jazz are maybe a top 5 team. I can't remember their record exactly w/ AK47, but it's something like 14-5. And their leading scorer from last year, Carlos Boozer, hasn't played a game yet. When he gets back (within the next few weeks most likely) and gets in form, they'll be a very tough team. They've already shown they are capable of beating good teams like Detroit, Dallas, Memphis, and Golden State. With AK47, Boozer, and Okur, they've probaby got the best front line in the league. They've dug enough of a hole that they won't catch the top teams in the west in the regular season, especially since it will take Boozer a while to get going. But when the playoffs come around, the Jazz will be the most dreaded first round opponent.
The Jazz are doing two things that make a team consistently tought to beat: rebound and assits. They nearly always beat their oppenent in both categories. I know Boozer will add to the rebounding, but I worry a bit about his passing.
the pistons are the best defensive team I've ever seen and Chauncey Billups is amazing. the spurs looked like chumps tonight. this second game looks good too, kobe and lebron. as for the jazz, Okur has been on fire lately.
Umm Tony Parker is #1 in field goal percentage?!? Amazing, I wonder when the last time a 6 foot guard was #1. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/statistics?stat=nbafgpct&league=nba&sort=fg%&season=2006
..that's only because he gets in the lane-either he gets a lay-up or he gets fouled...What a player he has turned out to be...
Of course he has a crappy shooting night after I posted this and dropped to #2 behind Shaq. Spurs now have a record even with Dallas - have to remind myself that Pop always starts slow and finishes strong as he lets everything come together. If the playoffs started now, the Spurs would probably get swept by the Pistons.
Right now, I guess they are closer than I would like to admit, but no way could Dallas beat the Spurs in a playoff series.
Are you originally from Texas or something? I am suprised no one mentioned the wild 152-149 game the other night between the Sonics and Suns, where Ray Allen hit that crazy three pointer to win it.
Why the fvck should they rebuild!!?? They have so much depth and talent, all they need to do is get Artest to another team.... Edit: Done and Done, They should start doing better...
That and Kobe putting up 80-frickin'-1 against the Raptors. Yeah, I know everybody hates him...I hate him too and I'm a Laker fan. But that was a remarkable feat. I didn't think any player would come that close to Chamberlain's 100 point night in my lifetime. Let's take a look at the Lakers portion of the box score: PLAYER POS MIN FGM-A 3GM-A FTM-A RO RD RT AST PF ST TO BS PTS K. Brown F 32:17 1-5 0-0 1-2 4 6 10 1 3 0 2 2 3 L. Odom F 42:53 1-7 1-2 5-6 0 10 10 7 3 0 4 2 8 C. Mihm C 29:55 5-8 0-0 2-3 5 3 8 2 2 0 1 2 12 S. Parker G 34:35 5-11 1-5 2-2 1 1 2 4 5 3 3 0 13 K. Bryant G 41:56 28-46 7-13 18-20 2 4 6 2 1 3 3 1 81 D. George 22:18 0-4 0-0 0-0 2 5 7 1 5 2 0 0 0 S. Vujacic 13:47 1-5 1-3 0-0 1 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 3 L. Walton 14:21 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 2 3 0 2 0 0 2 0 B. Cook 07:54 1-1 0-0 0-0 2 1 3 1 1 0 1 0 2 D. Green 00:04 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 V. Wafer DNP A. Bynum DNP What's depressingly hilarious about the box score is that even with Bryant pouring in all those points, no other Laker had a remotely notable assist total for the game. So, Kobe just took the ball, held the ball and shot the ball...as usual.
Yeah - Austin. I used to be a Mark Aguirre fan (you Pistons may or may not be able relate) and really liked that Dallas team that had Tarpley and Harper, et al. I liked Adrian Dantley too, but not as much. But since San Antonio is much closer and I could occasionally go to games, I slowly came around to being a Spurs fan. And I was a big Johnny Moore fan from his Texas days.
Aguire helped Detroit win two titles, he was better in Dallas but he still had some big nights for Detroit. Dantly (who detroit traded to get aguirre) was sweet too.
Dantley was my first favorite player. I loved seeing a short man like him post up everybody this side of a 6-10 center. Of course, her really slowed the game down, but he was fun to watch...
Going to see the Pacers vs cavs tonight. And freakin JO is done for 8 weeks. It's gonna suick balls to see the Pacers lose by 80, but at least I will get to see LeBron.
So since it seems as if much, if not all the sports world is thinking that Detroit will probably break the wins record... I have absolutely no offense to any of the Pistons fans at all, cuz the way they're playing this year, they look real good...I see 3 guaranteed All-Stars, possibly a 4th with Rasheed...but I just don't see them breaking the record. Are there any folks out there who actually think like myself and don't think they will do it? Since they won tonight and are 36-5 right now...that leaves them with 41 games left in the season...where do you think the next 6 or more losses will come from? I personally see them losing at home to Dallas (biased opinion of course), possibly on the road against the Lakers, Cleveland, Denver, Miami, Milwaukee. Those are the 6 likely losses I see for them...but there could be more, but I kinda doubt it...but still, I'd take a nice 71-11 record for my Dallas squad. All in all, good luck to Detroit, I hope my Mavs see you in the finals.
They won't lose to Dallas again. In fact, the Pistons will blow away the Mavs, they will be up for revenge in that game. I do think you are correct though, they won't win 70 games, probably closer to 65. They will lose at Miami once, possibly at the Lakers because it is the last game of a road trip and there will be other assorted losses. The Pistons really should be 38-3, their 2 home overtime losses came to lesser teams where the Pistons lost concentration. However they have also won a few games when they should have lost (i.e. Billups bailing them out the last 2 games). Lastly, unfortunately I think they will only have 2 all stars. Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups. Rip deserves it, but he is competing with Gilbert Arenas, Michael Redd, Vince Carter and Billups for a spot on the eastern conference bench. I can't see Carter and Arenas not being picked by the coaches.
Okay. First off, if you get beat by Zilgoonas Ilgoshkiss you have problems. But thats what happened to the Pacers last night. Ridiculous. Lebron had Lebron moments, but I will tell you what. Danny Granger had a helluva game. The kid stuck with Lebron defensively for most the game, and while Lebron had 30 some, during the Pacers comeback and brief flirtation with the lead, Granger was the man on Lebron like a glove. Of course, it didn't matter cause Zilgoonis Ilgoshkiss took over. Unreal. But seriously, watch Granger. With JO's injury, he may be seeing more minutes and he can definately contribute. But, here is the ridiculous thing. I had great seats. Corner right by the Pacers bench. Was able to see the mood of the team during timeouts. Go to the fourth quarter. Timeout called. Carlisle comes over and the team is on the bench, he opens up the floor to the team to say something. Who are the players on the team speaking up. Granger and David Fvckin Harrison. Of course Stephen Jackson is on the end of the bench pouting. And you need to count on Harrison for leadership? WTF? These are your 2005 Indiana Pacers. Ugh.....
I have always thought Stephen Jackson was a "bad apple" since his days with San Antonio when it seemed he thought he should the star of the team and took some wild shots instead of getting the ball into Duncan. Who is David Granger? He was on fire last night from the looks of it. Still Lebron was worth the price of admission alone with his near triple double. Too bad about Oneal because now they might not make the playoffs. But if Peja can help the pacers keep their heads above water like Reggie Miller did last year, then perhaps the Pacers can sneak in there. You're right, Detroit and Indiana should have been the premier rivalry in the NBA and it was brewing for the past 3 or 4 years since Corliss Williamson threw a ball and Jermaine Oneals head and Oneal punching Ben Wallace in the face in 2003. They've had two classic playoff battles in the past 2 years as well. But since the major brawl at the palace, the Pacers have slid into one bad luck scenario after another whereas the Pistons have gone the complete opposite direction and have become one of the top 2 teams in the league. I hated Indiana for the past few seasons but now I actually feel bad for them. Jermaine Oneal seems like a decent guy, but he can't catch a break.