2005-06 NBA Season Discussion Thread

[a6m5]

Yeah i can see what you mean, but that's also not very fair, because [i imagine] you're comparing him now to him in his prime. Although he may have lost some of the strength from his golden years he is still an amazing force to be reckoned with when he gets his mind set. And about the fouls, you need to understand that it's hard to tell when Shaq fouls or doesn't because of how big he is and how his defenders react to what he does on the block.

Sometimes, yes, it is hard to make the right call due to Shaq's enormous size. In the game I saw though, it was blatant. I think it was Rashweed Wallace. He had a clear position to get a defensive rebound. Shaq comes from behind, instead of "over the back" foul, he climbs on Rashweed's back so hard, Rashweed is knocked out of bounds, almost to the post of the basket! There were at least couple of fouls that obvious within few minutes. NBA officiating is as reliable as Yugo. It is a absolute joke. Either start making the calls or don't make them at all. Sorry about the rant here.

the future is bright for the blazers, you guys have allen






paul allen $$$ probably the sonics will only get a new life when they start calling themselves Las Vegas Supersonics...

Actually, he isn't doing that good financially. Yes, he still is a billionare many times over, but with his business ventures failing pretty badly over the last decade, and him running another proffesional sports team(Seattle Seahawks), he's been making serious cut backs. Rose Garden is the Blazers arena. It's one of the few stadiums that doesn't have corporate sponsor's name on it. That was because Paul Allen(Co-Founder of Microsoft) actually owned the darn building. In the dispute with the bank over the loan details, his company which owned and ran the Rose Garden declared bankrupcy. Paul Allen could have afforded to run the place, but he ditched it, just because it wasn't profittable to do so. This wouldn't have happened 5 years ago.

 

[fasj6418]

Sometimes, yes, it is hard to make the right call due to Shaq's enormous size. In the game I saw though, it was blatant. I think it was Rashweed Wallace. He had a clear position to get a defensive rebound. Shaq comes from behind, instead of "over the back" foul, he climbs on Rashweed's back so hard, Rashweed is knocked out of bounds, almost to the post of the basket! There were at least couple of fouls that obvious within few minutes. NBA officiating is as reliable as Yugo. It is a absolute joke. Either start making the calls or don't make them at all. Sorry about the rant here.


Actually, he isn't doing that good financially. Yes, he still is a billionare many times over, but with his business ventures failing pretty badly over the last decade, and him running another proffesional sports team(Seattle Seahawks), he's been making serious cut backs. Rose Garden is the Blazers arena. It's one of the few stadiums that doesn't have corporate sponsor's name on it. That was because Paul Allen(Co-Founder of Microsoft) actually owned the darn building. In the dispute with the bank over the loan details, his company which owned and ran the Rose Garden declared bankrupcy. Paul Allen could have afforded to run the place, but he ditched it, just because it wasn't profittable to do so. This wouldn't have happened 5 years ago.

that´s why, say whatever you want, but i would love to have a commited owner like mark cuban, and a GM/coach like popovich... even if your team loses, you know they care, that they are doing the best for you beloved team... i just don´t feel like schultz and his buddies are commited to that...

fans react to that by just... ignoring the team, which is kind of happening in seattle right now... empty seats and low sales in merchandising is the right aswer for that.

as for the all star, i couldn´t watch anything, so i´m hating more and more my country

stupid ESPN was airing world series of poker and winter x games, so i missed all events... for the second straight year...

so everytime you guys turn on your directv´s with league pass, be thankfull for that, because i´m willing to pay to see but i can´t:tdown:

btw, nate robbed??? i didn´t saw all the dunks, but i read iguodala was robbed...

 

[JFM92_GTRacer]

GO EAST!!!! Congrats to LBJ. 👍
Well that's all i wanna say. Also my sixers are in playoff contention still!

 

[a6m5]

GO EAST!!!! Congrats to LBJ. 👍
Well that's all i wanna say. Also my sixers are in playoff contention still!

Dude! Everytime I check out the scores, Sixers have lost. I have a lot of respect for their coach, Cheeks. I hope they can turn it around......

 

[fasj6418]

only 2 days left to make trades...

i hope seattle gets rid of their bad players...

the knicks will make a move, it will be fun...

i hope the lakers bring in some help, like carlos boozer or something... it will be fun to watch kobe and phil in the playoffs...

i´m just very curious too see what will be this year version of that "trade-that-nobody-knows-but-ends-up-happening"

 

[fasj6418]

nothing yet.

i´m starting to doubt that the sonics, knicks, nuggets, magic and others will make a move.

i don´t know how to stay focused with so many trade talk... if i were francis i would be very concerned... 0% stability....

or maybe i´m reading too much of insidehoops and hoopshype...

if i was a millionare, i would put togheter a team with paul pierce, KG and AI. 3 superstars crying for a good team. maybe togheter they can make something happen...

and what about your blazers a6m5? they are ready to give away darius miles for nothing???

 

[a6m5]

Last I heard, Lakers wanted Steve Francis. Should be interesting. My local "'Blazers" station is having an "trade deadline special", thursday night, so I'll be listening to that. Edit: oops, never mind. Looks like Steve Francis got traded to the Knicks for Penny Hardaway and Trevor Ariza. Two of the Knick players the Blazers wanted.

if i was a millionare, i would put togheter a team with paul pierce, KG and AI. 3 superstars crying for a good team. maybe togheter they can make something happen...

I want KG, SO BAD!

and what about your blazers a6m5? they are ready to give away darius miles for nothing???

Yeah, we want Miles gone. Theo Ratliff is another possibility. We need cap room to resign our center, Joel Pryzibilla.

 

[fasj6418]

earl almost the pearl watson and chris wilcox. plus mike wilks. so finallt the sonics got 3 w´s

not so bad, please welcome the ukranian train a6m5

well, the knicks are in so much trouble its even a disaster... so my team with KG, pierce and AI is still not formed oh well...

 

[a6m5]

Knicks with Francis should be interesting. I wonder how it will affect them......

Sounds like Sonics upgraded, but Blazers are in a serious trouble now. Trading Ruben Patterson was a downgrade for sure(it was $$$ move). Yesterday, team announced that they are projected to lose $100 million over next three years. They want funding from they city(will not happen), or sell the team, or move the team(over my dead body).

 

[rollazn]

Steve Francis took Nate Robinsons spot. Knicks have too many gaurds. Haha.

Knicks got Francis for Penny and Ariza... What a trade.

 

[a6m5]

Steve Francis took Nate Robinsons spot. Knicks have too many gaurds. Haha.

Their roster is a mess. As far as I'm concerned, Isiah Thomas is one of the worst GMs in the NBA, if not the worst, but I never hear people complain about him. Oh, well. I don't like the Knicks, so I don't really care.

Francis trade was a good deal for the Knicks, but Francis is now considered a serious cancer on any team. He is a hell of a player, so I hope he will swallow his (silly)pride and just focus on basketball.

 

[a6m5]

I went to the Blazers-Lakers game tonight, and the Blazers actually won! It wasn't great to see so many Laker fans in the arena, but it was fun seeing them leaving the game with their heads down. I didn't see the total on Kobe, but he already had 30 points in the 4th quarter. He makes it look so easy, Kobe's amazing. 👍

 

[Saleen Man]

Dude, it must be wicked to see as many NBA games as you do. I would love to see Kobe play live, that'd be something else.

As far as the Francis trade goes, what a deal for the Knicks. If Francis can focus on basketball, that could be one of the most lop-sided trades in a long time. I guess we'll have to wait and see how Ariza develops though.

 

[fasj6418]

denver with patterson and evans are really good...

ronald murray getting the green light in cleveland... interesting to see if he can complement lebron...

darko just score 12 points! i was a darko pessimist all the way, but at least he can be a sub, if he can mantain this kind of play

 

[a6m5]

Dude, it must be wicked to see as many NBA games as you do. I would love to see Kobe play live, that'd be something else.

I'm so glad to see you are still alive, buddy! I was going to go see the Lakers game in the nosebleed section(because they were giving away Zach Randolph bobblehead), but one of my coworkers actually landed the tickets, dinner, parking package, so I didn't have to pay for anything and got to sit in good seats. You should go check out the Raptors. I don't know about Toronto, but in Portland, it's like $10 for a nosebleed section(you can move in closer to a better seats too). If you buy the tickets at the game, there is no service charge.

As far as the Francis trade goes, what a deal for the Knicks. If Francis can focus on basketball, that could be one of the most lop-sided trades in a long time. I guess we'll have to wait and see how Ariza develops though.

I know that Blazers wanted Ariza. Must have shown a lot of potential, lately.

denver with patterson and evans are really good...

Ruben Patterson is one of the most underrated players in NBA, if not the most. Way that guy sparks the team is just unreal....

 

[fasj6418]

did you guys think iverson was a lock for the USA team?

i don´t know if he would fit, but luke ridnour ?

its another competition, and again, the US does not have their top team in place... no duncan, no KG, no shaq... (so far...)

but kobe is in, i´m curious to see how he will fare in this type of competition...

in other news, the lakers might get out of the playoffs... sacramento is really playing like a team that wants to get swept by the spurs

anyone knows whem jermaine o´neal comes back? i really can´t understand how they´re able to maintain their playoff run with all that has happened...

 

[rollazn]

Allen Iverson was screwed out of the Olympic team for some reason... He is without a doubt the best point gaurd in the league (that's if you consider him a point... some think he is more of a shooting gaurd). Luke Ridnour - are you kidding me? I'd choose Iverson over Ridnour anyday.

As for the 8th seed in the western conference... it's going to be a dog fight. There will be many people looking to take away the Laker's 8th seed. The Kings, The Jazz, The Timberwovles, and The Rockets.

I see it as this... Any of those team that gets the 8th spot has to meet up with the Spurs - or the Mavericks. They will just end up getting swept...

I'm still hoping for the Rockets - although I see it less likely to happen - they are at a horrible 27-33. They might be without Tracy McGrady again - because TMAC has suffered some back pains and might be out for some games. We'll see. If only TMAC had the heart of Allen Iverson - that would be great. Allen Iverson is without a doubt one of the toughest guy in the NBA pound for pound.

Anyways... Lets talk about the rookies of the NBA. Chris Paul (CP3) has been doing great as a rookie... He can only improve. Charlie Villanueva has amazes me. This guy is doing great and is proving to people that he can be really good some day. And Channing Frye has been doing great for the Knicks - although they are still losing...

 

[Giancarlo]

8 game winning streak for the Heat.

 

[a6m5]

Talent-wise, you can't even begin to compare Iverson and Ridnour. However, I can totally see why the committee or the coaching staff would choose Ridnour over Iverson. I LOVE Iverson's passion and effort out on the court. I respect him. But, 1) He is a thug. 2) He is NOT a team player.

Again, I LOVE Iverson's game, but is he someone I would pick to represent my country(though I'm not really an American )? My answer is "no". Sorry, A.I.!

Wait, another reason! Remember the huge tournament(World Championships?), right before the last Olympics? I think the two PGs they used were Andre Miller and Baron Davis. I was just stunned by those (shooting)point guards' inability to involve their teammates. It was like they were playing "Michael Jordan". A.I. is same type of player. "(Shooting)Point Guard". There you go. Yet, another reason why Iverson might not be a good fit in the Team USA.

Edit:

8 game winning streak for the Heat.

Oh, god. I'm getting sick of this guy, really fast. j/k

 

[fasj6418]

finally i was able to watch a game friday...

lakers and spurs... on ESPN here... great game... kobe only had 29 but they were huge... they beat that boring spurs team...

i remember last year thinking: "mu god a finals with spurs and pistons is just too boring please don´t let that happen"

it did

but again, i hope its heat versus phoenix... that should be fun...

speaking of the suns... they lost to the blazers... how did that happen?

a6m5, did you saw the game?

 

[a6m5]

finally i was able to watch a game friday...

lakers and spurs... on ESPN here... great game... kobe only had 29 but they were huge... they beat that boring spurs team...

i remember last year thinking: "mu god a finals with spurs and pistons is just too boring please don´t let that happen"

I was hoping for the Spurs vs. Pistons Final.

speaking of the suns... they lost to the blazers... how did that happen?

a6m5, did you saw the game?

No. My buddy went to the game though(he's a Nash fan). Blazers usually play better against league leading teams. Non-playoff teams like the Blazers often "get up" against big teams, but they sleep walk through games against poorer teams, because they are not playing for the post season.

 

[Saleen Man]

a6m5 - I disagree with what you said about Iverson and why you can see him not being chosen. Not only is he easily the best PG in the league, but I'd put him in the top 3 players in the league, hands down. If the USA wanted to win, they would've chosen Iverson. Your best players will win you games. I wouldn't even think of selecting Luke Ridnour. Like really. He's so far down the list it's ridiculous. This just goes to show that the USA really doesn't care if they win or not.

 

[a6m5]

a6m5 - I disagree with what you said about Iverson and why you can see him not being chosen. Not only is he easily the best PG in the league, but I'd put him in the top 3 players in the league, hands down. If the USA wanted to win, they would've chosen Iverson. Your best players will win you games. I wouldn't even think of selecting Luke Ridnour. Like really. He's so far down the list it's ridiculous. This just goes to show that the USA really doesn't care if they win or not.

Saleen, you know I respect your opinions on NBA anything, but are any of the stuff I said about A.I. not true? Let me lay this down again:

1) Talent level of A.I. and Ridnour is not even close.
2) A.I. is a thug.... as in illegally gun carrying, threatening people(at least once w/ a gun), busted with pot, etc.
3) A.I. is not a team player. Butted heads with so many coaches. Ignores team rules.... no. Team rules does not exist to A.I.
4)In the last World Championships, "shooting PGs" could not and did not involve rest of the team. Last thing we need is a point guard who's going to "win" it for us. I'm assuming this team is like an All-Star, right? IMO, we need a point guard, who will help distribute the ball, help move the ball, not take all the shots(i.e. Iverson).

I'm not doubting Iverson's talent here. He is one of the best I've seen, and while I sound like I talk a lot of crap about him, I do have a lot of respect for his game and competitiveness.

Edit: My team is just unbelievable. They are playing the Nets(Saleen knows about my love for Jason Kidd). Blazers are up by three, going into the 4th quarter. Both teams start out slow in the 4th, no problem. Pretty soon, Nets are up by 1, then 3. Next thing I know, the Blazers announcer Brian Wheeler is going "Seven minutes have gone by, and Blazers still do not have a field goal." At this point, I'm swearing. Blazers had 66 points in the entire game last night. Just when you think it can not possibly get worse(don't ever think that, it usually does, at least for me), tonight, Blazers somehow finds a way to score just 65.

 

[Saleen Man]

Saleen, you know I respect your opinions on NBA anything, but are any of the stuff I said about A.I. not true? Let me lay this down again:

1) Talent level of A.I. and Ridnour is not even close.
2) A.I. is a thug.... as in illegally gun carrying, threatening people(at least once w/ a gun), busted with pot, etc.
3) A.I. is not a team player. Butted heads with so many coaches. Ignores team rules.... no. Team rules does not exist to A.I.
4)In the last World Championships, "shooting PGs" could not and did not involve rest of the team. Last thing we need is a point guard who's going to "win" it for us. I'm assuming this team is like an All-Star, right? IMO, we need a point guard, who will help distribute the ball, help move the ball, not take all the shots(i.e. Iverson).

OK, I see all of your points for not wanting Iverson on that team. But surely there's got to be a better choice out there than Luke Ridnour? From Iverson to Ridnour, that seems like such a ridiculous downgrade (word?).

And yes, my Nets are awesome. Unless the Sixers make a push at the end here, looks like they'll have that 3rd seed going into the playoffs.

 

[Giancarlo]

Has anyone seen the ESPN Insider article on Wade? It says that he should be MVP this year because he is the most efficient player in the short list.

 

[a6m5]

OK, I see all of your points for not wanting Iverson on that team. But surely there's got to be a better choice out there than Luke Ridnour? From Iverson to Ridnour, that seems like such a ridiculous downgrade (word?).

Yeah, I don't know about Ridnour either, but he will be willing to utilize the great players who'll be on his team. I just think it will be a major mistake to select a shoot-first(I call it, "me-first" ) point guard for team with that much talent(ego ). If we were building a 3-on-3 team, Iverson will be hard to beat.

Has anyone seen the ESPN Insider article on Wade? It says that he should be MVP this year because he is the most efficient player in the short list.

I've liked him since his rookie season. I think he does deserve to be on the short list of MVP candidates. Amazing player. 👍

 

[Saleen Man]

How about the thrashing my Nets laid on the Suns last night? A very un-Phoenix like performance. Steve Nash was held scoreless for the first time all season. New Jersey is playing really well right now, hopefully they can carry that into the playoffs.

On another note, did anyone see Charlie Villanueva's 48 point game the other night? I haven't really been paying much attention to his rookie season, but I sure hope that's a sign of things to come.

 

[a6m5]

How about the thrashing my Nets laid on the Suns last night? A very un-Phoenix like performance. Steve Nash was held scoreless for the first time all season. New Jersey is playing really well right now, hopefully they can carry that into the playoffs.

Didn't they beat Detroit at home, a game before that? Then they hold Nash scoreless, beating the Suns by something like 38 points. Pretty impressive.

On another note, did anyone see Charlie Villanueva's 48 point game the other night? I haven't really been paying much attention to his rookie season, but I sure hope that's a sign of things to come.

I noticed. As only scorer we have on the Blazers is Randolph, I was starting to wonder what his season average is so far, and if he was available.....

 

[a6m5]

This says it all:

I can't believe it's come to this. Idiocy and greed by the people involved. Fans are the very last of their priorities.

 

[Giancarlo]

I can't believe it's come to this. Idiocy and greed by the people involved. Fans are the very last of their priorities.

Damn that sucks man, i hope they don't sell your favorite team.