NBA '07-'08 season

[jpfrasier]

As a Mavericks fan, I can only hope and pray that the Spurs age is finally getting to them. The Mavs seem to do a good job of taking care of business against the Spurs in the regular season and playoffs, at least the last two regular seasons and playoffs before last season. But they are still the Spurs and you never want to face them when they are hot. I can think of another team in the NBA that has had as long of a current run of being good(i.e. making the playoffs most seasons in the last 10-12 years) than the Spurs. Detroit has been consistently good, the Lakers to a lesser degree...

Of course after last season I should be more concerned with Golden State sneaking into the playoffs again

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by jpfrasier

Of course after last season I should be more concerned with Golden State sneaking into the playoffs again

Yeah, what was THAT all about?

I think it's time that Dirk sheds the monkey. If the Lakers don't win it, then I really hope Dallas does. I'm getting tired of feeling sorry for their underachieving in the playoffs.

[drbrosco]

This LA/Miami game is making me so mad! Every time you get a good look at the seats you see all of those great seats empty . I know the Heat has sucked this year, but it is a nice Sunday afternoon & they are playing a very good Laker team with a superstar like Kobe to go see, plus they have a new star Marion to go with Wade so I just don't get it.

What makes me soooo mad is we would love to have an NBA team here in Cincinnati to be able to go watch play the Lakers. Heck I would love to see a Cincy NBA team play anybody. I know we got our old NBA team stripped from us about 40 years ago & I have no idea why, because my brothers who were teenagers in the late 60's have told me about our dad taking them to see the Cincinnati Royals play & how great it was to see Oscar Robertson & all those old time players as they went alot, I wasn't born till 68' so I got left out . And so many people in this area talk about how they would love an NBA team here, they even put articles in the paper about it sometimes.

The best we can do is a 2.5-3 hour drive to Indy to see the Pacers or about a 5 hour drive to see the Cavs play.

We have the NFL's worst franchise ever with the Bengals & they pack the stadium every game.
We have the Reds who haven'e been to the playoffs since the mid 90's, but if you don't know some season ticket holder, your sitting in the nosebleed section at best usually.
So if those two do so well I think an NBA team would do awesome here. We don't even get mentioned when you hear about a team like the Sonics or others moving & I don't think it is fair. But you gotta have a buyer...Oh Well

You guys that have an NBA team in your area to go see when you want are very, very lucky!

BTW; looks like the Heat are doing well with marion they are only down 4 at the half & have looked good.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by drbrosco

This LA/Miami game is making me so mad! Every time you get a good look at the seats you see all of those great seats empty . I know the Heat has sucked this year, but it is a nice Sunday afternoon & they are playing a very good Laker team with a superstar like Kobe to go see, plus they have a new star Marion to go with Wade so I just don't get it.

What makes me soooo mad is we would love to have an NBA team here in Cincinnati to be able to go watch play the Lakers. Heck I would love to see a Cincy NBA team play anybody. I know we got our old NBA team stripped from us about 40 years ago & I have no idea why, because my brothers who were teenagers in the late 60's have told me about our dad taking them to see the Cincinnati Royals play & how great it was to see Oscar Robertson & all those old time players as they went alot, I wasn't born till 68' so I got left out . And so many people in this area talk about how they would love an NBA team here, they even put articles in the paper about it sometimes.

The best we can do is a 2.5-3 hour drive to Indy to see the Pacers or about a 5 hour drive to see the Cavs play.

We have the NFL's worst franchise ever with the Bengals & they pack the stadium every game.
We have the Reds who haven'e been to the playoffs since the mid 90's, but if you don't know some season ticket holder, your sitting in the nosebleed section at best usually.
So if those two do so well I think an NBA team would do awesome here. We don't even get mentioned when you hear about a team like the Sonics or others moving & I don't think it is fair. But you gotta have a buyer...Oh Well

You guys that have an NBA team in your area to go see when you want are very, very lucky!

BTW; looks like the Heat are doing well with marion they are only down 4 at the half & have looked good.

Definitely Miami came out the winner of that trade. With 2 stars who can stay on the floor, Miami will be winning some games now. Meanwhile in Phoenix, even a healthy Shaq won't make up for Marion's departure. I look for the Suns and Miami to gravitate towards mediocrity.

Lakers are missing a lot of gimmes, I hope they fall in the 2nd half because it would suck to lose to this team.

[bruceames]

Kobe Bryant voted Most Intimidating NBA Player. I guess Lebron doesn't strike much fear yet among his peers.

SI Players NBA Poll

Which opposing player scares you the most to play against?

Kobe Bryant, Lakers G...... 35%
Shaquille O'Neal, Suns C...... 12%
Kevin Garnett, Celtics F...... 6%
LeBron James, Cavs F...... 4%
Dwight Howard, Magic C...... 4%
Allen Iverson, Nuggets G...... 4%
Tim Duncan, Spurs F...... 4%
Steve Nash, Suns G...... 4%
Tracy McGrady, Rockets G...... 2%
Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks F...... 4%

[Based on a survey of 242 NBA Players]

[rbinck]

You get the feeling the players were not answering the question asked? Kobe scares them the most? That makes no sense to me. Now if the question had be just which player you rather not play against, I'd say it made sense. I guess I equate scary and intemidating as a physical thing and Shaq or Howard would be high on that list.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by rbinck

You get the feeling the players were not answering the question asked? Kobe scares them the most? That makes no sense to me. Now if the question had be just which player you rather not play against, I'd say it made sense. I guess I equate scary and intemidating as a physical thing and Shaq or Howard would be high on that list.

I think that's how the question was interpreted. I doubt anybody took 'scares' in the first definition sense. Nobody really wants to guard Kobe, that's for sure.

[BiggNewt]

And that poll is the sole reason he is the best, it is what made MJ the best, when every player fears going up against you on the court, you are the best.

[drbrosco]

man o man...Kidd goin to Dallas (also another way of Cleveland slapping Lebron in the face, he wanted Kidd & we could have a great chance to win it all with Kidd, oh well guess Lebron will be playing elsewhere soon)

The west is getting better by the day seems like. I would have to make the Mavs my favorite to win the west now followed by Pheonix, LA, San Antonio.
But all 4 of them are tuff. Can't wait for the playoffs!

[drock912001]

The Cavs got bad contracts.Sac took 4 players for Bibby.3 of the 4 contracts expire at the end of the season and Sheldon Williams expires next year.Danny Ferry evidently didn't learn much from Popovich.Cleveland overpaid for Verejo,Damon Jones & Eric Snow and now their stuck with bad contracts and the possibility of loosing LeBron because they show no commitment to improvement.

[drbrosco]

Well that Lakers & Suns game imo just shows me we are gonna have to watch a whole lot of playoff games just to see every series go to a game 7. As even the bottom 4 teams that make the playoffs in the west will beat the top 4 at home. Wich is what the NBA wants, but it just makes me wish they would shorten the regular season by a few weeks. I know the NBA doesn't want any playoffs in March as they would hardly have any viewers when the college tourney was being played, but the season is toooo long. At least go back to a best of 5 first round & maybe even the second round.

Mike & Mike In The Morning made a good point on their show the other day. Greeny asked Golic...is it a tuff accomplishment to make the MLB playoffs? Golic says YES...greeny asks the same question about making the NFL playoffs, Golic says YES, same about the NBA & Golic says NO...wich is what Greeny believed & I think anyone who watches sports agrees that the NBA playoffs are a joke as far as getting into it. You dont even have to be good to make he NBA playoffs. Greeny suggests they cut the # of teams & I totally agree. I would go top 4 each league & then the regular season wouldn't be soooo boring for the regular fan as the games would mean so much more.

And you know we all get on here & talk about how great the Lakers & Celtics are but what about New Orleans????? This team has really suprised me. I think they could beat the Lakers, Spurs, or any west team in a playoff & would have a great chance against the celtics. As much as I like Rondo since he came from UK, I say he couldn't stick Chris Paul on his best nite, probably nobody could & David West would give Garnett fits in a 7 game series. Who knows, but i definitely think all the talk about the best west teams being the Spurs, Lakers, Suns & Mavs must definitely include the Hornets now.

[drock912001]

Cleveland finally made a trade,but Ben Wallace best days are behind him.As far as shortening the NBA season or the teams for the playoffs it wont happen.It's a money grab,more games mean more money,when the NBA extended the 1st round players and coaches expressed their displeasure.Just like MLB added and additional division and a wildcard team.It's all about the money that's why MLB and the NBA keep expanding.
P.S.The Bengals didn't start selling out every game until Marvin turned them around.I know for sure a lot of their games where getting blackout with the exception of Cleveland,Pittsburgh and whatever opponet fairweather Ohio fans would pay to see.Just a year or so ago WKRC was buying up unsold tickets just so the games would be televised locally.And their 1st home game televised by the NFL network was blackedout.

[drbrosco]

Well I am completely torn on the Cleveland deals. I wanted them to do something so bad BUT Wallace & Wally Z...I just don't know
I have always hated Ben Wallace as a player, but probably because he played for the Pistons so long is mainly why.
And of course I love Wally Z as he played for Miami U, wich is 15 minutes from my house & led them farther than they have ever been in the NCAA. But he may get a spark in his play again since he will be playing with Lebron.
Wallace & Wally are a not the "stars" I was hoping Lebron would get...BUT...Lebron being the best player doesn't need alot of help so those two could propel Cleveland to a Championship if they both play well.
Definitely a wait & see deal imo.

[drock912001]

They got lucky last year and had a lot of help from the refs.But Lebron want see another championship appearance until he leaves Cleveland when his contract is up.Wally can't guard and let's face it....In the East at the 3 Boston has Pierce,Detroit Tayshaun,Orlando Rashard Lewis or Hedo,Atlanta Josh Smith and Marvin Williams and Washington Caron Butler.He can't guard or slow any of them down.

[drbrosco]

Originally Posted by drock912001

They got lucky last year and had a lot of help from the refs.But Lebron want see another championship appearance until he leaves Cleveland when his contract is up.Wally can't guard and let's face it....In the East at the 3 Boston has Pierce,Detroit Tayshaun,Orlando Rashard Lewis or Hedo,Atlanta Josh Smith and Marvin Williams and Washington Caron Butler.He can't guard or slow any of them down.

Oh I agree I am doing some wishful thinking, but when you have Lebron, You have a chance. & Wally is nothing but a shooter, always has been even in college.
And I still say nobody east or west could beat Boston 4 outta 7 games when they are healthy. But like I said on the Cavs moves it is gonna be a wait & see thing, as I am not thrilled with the players they got, but sometimes guys find their "A" game when they get traded.
And sadly you are probably right Lebron is gonna have to go somewhere that has $$$$$ to win his titles. I'm a Lebron fan, more than a Cavs fan & when he goes I go as far as what team I root for.

I would like to see him go to a big city team like the Knicks where they have very deep pockets as he would probably win 5+ titles there easily I think as long as they get some new leadership also.

I couldn't disagree with you more about the Cavs being "lucky" & "getting help from the refs" as that is simply not the case at all. What happened was you had the best player in the NBA in Lebron elevate his game to another level & it put a spark in all those average players around him who stepped it up also. ANY other team from the west & the Cavs would have won it all. But the Spurs were just way too much with Duncan playing extremely well, also a team this year who sems to be forgot about with all this Lakers & Suns & Mavs talk, I say the Spurs may beat them all this year to in the west, as they are one of those teams that can "flip the switch" about mid March & go on a big run. It will all be interesting though & I look forward to it.