NBA: 2012-2013 Season

[JohnBM01]

Today's/Tonight's games:

* Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
* New York Knicks at Los Angeles Lakers
* Oklahoma City Thunder at Miami Heat
* Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls
* Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Clippers

Of course, I'll see how my Rockets will do in Chicago. It's the JohnBM01 (Rockets) vs. sumbrownkid (Bulls) Christmas special.


When I did the Standings report, I began to wonder. I began to wonder when was the last time the Lakers missed the playoffs. The ultimate wet dream for any Clippers fan is for the Clippers to win the NBA Championship with or without the Lakers even making the playoffs. Imagine the CLIPPERS being the best team in Los Angeles as opposed to the Lakers. Basically, Lakers vs. Clippers is an NBA version of almost any game in the USCal vs. UCLA rivalry. Could the basketball monopoly be over in Los Angeles if the Clippers somehow become NBA champs?


Right now... Celtics at Nets is coming up. Merry Christmas and enjoy some NBA basketball!

 

[sumbrownkid]

I won't be surprised one bit if James Harden scores over 30.

 

[a6m5]

This has got to be the Durant highlight this Christmas.



Really? He looks fine to you?

Edit: Wow, NBA hasn't changed much. OKC players' been running into defenders, then throw their arms up, flail, automatic defensive foul call. LeBron James just did what OKC's been doing all night, no call. Keep it up, Stern. 👍

 

[Stavingo]

^^ That is a good commericial

 

[a6m5]

Mom had those dreamy look in her eyes, total letdown.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Looks like my Bulls are gonna go through a small losing streak...

Edit: John, I hope Santa gives coal to all of Houston.

That's two games in a row we get blown out. Luol Deng now has an ankle injury to go with that shoulder injury. The entire team as a whole hasn't been on the same page, the effort, quite frankly, is pathetic.

 

[JohnBM01]

It was a happy back-to-back for the Rockets. We [sadly] smashed sumbrownkid's Chicago Bulls 120-97 on Christmas night followed by surviving 87-84 at the Minnesota Timberwolves. The win in Chicago- as I'm told- was Chicago's first-ever home loss on Christmas. The Rockets trailed by maybe 10 or 15 points but managed to come back. Rockets have now won five straight. If the Rockets want to continue their winning ways, they'd better get through another back-to-back. We go to San Antonio to face the Spurs on Friday night (no easy task) followed by hosting Oklahoma City on Saturday night. The final game of 2012 for Houston will be on New Year's Eve hosting the Atlanta Hawks.

Speaking of the Bulls, their game at the Indiana Pacers was postponed thanks to a very bad Winter storm.


Congratulations to all other teams who won up to and beyond the time of this post.

 

[JohnBM01]

Final Thursday Night of 2012! Here are the games slated for tonight:

* Dallas Mavericks at Oklahoma City Thunder
* Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Clippers

Enjoy some Thursday night hoops!


I want to end this post with a little non-related stuff. Most of you basketball fans are usually familiar with players getting double-doubles and such. You did pretty good if you got yourself a double-double. Even better if you can notch up a triple-double. However, what if you did the unprecedented- a quadruple-double? Quadruple-doubles are pretty rare in basketball. It's almost the basketball equivalent (in terms of difficulty) of pitching a no-hitter or hitting for the cycle. One such player to do the quadruple-double was David Robinson, who notched up 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 blocks. This feat happened on February 17, 1994. According to what I've read online, only three other NBA players besides David Robinson have recorded a quadruple-double: Nate Thurmond (Oct. 18, 1974; 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocks), Alvin Robertson (Feb. 18, 1986; 20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 steals), and Hakeem
Olajuwon (March 29, 1990; 18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 blocks, and 10 assists).

Do you think we may see someone record a quadruple-double in today's NBA?

 

[sumbrownkid]

It's bound to happen again sometime, And it will probably be either Lebron who gets it done or some other superstar in the future.

Edit: So the Nets fired Avery Johnson after stumbing the last 13 games. A bit quick on the trigger in my opinion.

 

[Stavingo]

Well Lebron actually almost recorded one except he had 9 turnovers

 

[Villain]

With LeBron's style of play, he's really the only guy in the NBA right now who I think could get a quadruple-double. He is simply all over the court and his hands are all over the ball.

 

[sumbrownkid]

But he just said that it's not his job to be the leading scorer or whatever NBA players like to do these days.

Or that's what ESPN wants me to believe?

The only way I can see Lebron getting a quad dub is if the entire front court is out due to injury and he's playing a scrub team.

 

[JohnBM01]

Did you see that awkward shot Dallas hit last night to force Overtime in Oklahoma City? Dallas didn't win, but it goes to show how insane basketball can be. What about the Clippers? Well... the Celtics, let's say... got a good spanking last night.


Final weekend of 2012. My Rockets are in San Antonio tonight followed by a Saturday night home game against Oklahoma City. This will NOT be an easy back-to-back if the Rockets want to extend their win streak. Whomever plays and wherever they play, good luck to all of your teams. Go enjoy some NBA basketball on this final weekend of 2012.

 

[Stavingo]

Oh man, my hornets go up against Paulie's raptors, this will be interesting

 

[a6m5]

Hornets versus the Raptors.......

Only on gtplanet.

 

[JohnBM01]

Five-game winning streak over. Rockets red were covered in a blanket of black and silver as we failed 122-116. It's the Spurs' 8th straight win at home and their 7th straight win against my Rockets. Oklahoma City at home tomorrow night is next for Houston. I only followed bits and pieces of the second half. According to what I've heard over the radio, it just seemed (as usual) that the refs were making some bad calls. God (or some other deity) must not want the Rockets to ever beat San Antonio, Utah, or the Los Angeles Lakers- even at their home arenas. We just have some terrible luck against some teams.

 

[Stavingo]

And the Hornets drop one in OT

1st Draft Pick of 2013 here we come

 

[a6m5]

Blazers are getting blown out by the Lakers right now. Let's see if Lakers can duplicate that kind effort against the elites like the OKC & the Clippers. I somehow doubt it. I still think they need a trade(for a bench) before the deadline, and starters also need more time to gel.

 

[Stavingo]

Blazers are getting blown out by the Lakers right now. Let's see if Lakers can duplicate that kind effort against the elites like the OKC & the Clippers. I somehow doubt it. I still think they need a trade(for a bench) before the deadline, and starters also need more time to gel.

Well there was the possibility of signing Delonte West, but he's sorta known as a poison in the lockers and also the question arises of whether he could gel with Kobe and etc.

 

[Paulie]

Exciting game of the Raptors vs Hornets today, I was really disapointed when Terrence Ross posterised Ryan Anderson but the refs decided they'd call same non-existent offensive foul on Amir Johnson to waive the dunk. Glad to have Lowry back, the Raptors are idiots for not starting him over Calderon. I was also not amused that Fields didn't play, wth is with that? I think Toronto wants their players to be unhappy and pissed off with the organisation.

 

[JohnBM01]

Even historically bad teams can emerge and become beasts. That is what the 2012 L.A. Clippers is teaching us, as they won a close one last night at Utah. 16 straight wins now for LAC. My Rockets once ripped 22 straight. How many will LAC win before falling?

More hoops tonight. Enjoy!

 

[Villain]

Everything seemed to be lined up for a Clippers loss last night. Travel to Utah (a very hard place to win as a visitor) with a game the night before, the attention and radar growing on the win streak, down by ten points at half time with the bench looking hapless (I think at one time Barnes had a -19 +/- in the third quarter).

Amazing win, great test. There is a lot of good that can be taken from a game like that.

 

[a6m5]

Well there was the possibility of signing Delonte West, but he's sorta known as a poison in the lockers and also the question arises of whether he could gel with Kobe and etc.

Or Kobe's mom.

Exciting game of the Raptors vs Hornets today, I was really disapointed when Terrence Ross posterised Ryan Anderson but the refs decided they'd call same non-existent offensive foul on Amir Johnson to waive the dunk. Glad to have Lowry back, the Raptors are idiots for not starting him over Calderon. I was also not amused that Fields didn't play, wth is with that? I think Toronto wants their players to be unhappy and pissed off with the organisation.

Sometime it's hard to predict what the coach is thinking. Often, it's not even the coach. It's the GM/President playing strange rotations.

Hint: Trade Deadline

Even historically bad teams can emerge and become beasts.

Chris. Paul.

I've always said that he could be the true MVP. He's just one man, but we saw what he did with the New Orleans. That team didn't have any pieces outside West.

 

[Stavingo]

Or Kobe's mom.

But CP3 is an absolute beast 👍

 

[a6m5]

Chris Paul's one of those players that totally motivates the teammates he's on the court with him, making them better. When you are playing, it is an absolute pleasure to play with a point like that.

Chris Paul was the player I wanted in the Blazers jersey more than anyone else in the league. His only question mark is his knee. If there is such thing as karma, CP3 will be down because of the Clippers sucky history(ie Donald Sterling). Besides, he should've been a Laker in the first place, if it wasn't for Stern nixing the trade. 👎 IMO, he had no right to shut that trade down. Maybe he feared the "Super-Friends" trend, but Lakers & the Hornets got screwed in that deal.

 

[McLaren]

Chris. Paul.

I've always said that he could be the true MVP. He's just one man, but we saw what he did with the New Orleans. That team didn't have any pieces outside West.

I know I will absolutely catch all kinds of flack for this, but you could apply this to James as well after he joined Miami (and of course, got over the immature hype he created around himself). I mean, he did take the Cavaliers to the Finals on his own & that was with Brown as the head coach. Granted, they got swept by Tony Parker & the Spurs, but he still led them there.

I think Kidd qualifies as another one of those players who just needed a good team & solid pieces with him to help get the job done.

Would love to say the same about "Ms." Nash, but even with that 5-game win streak they had some days ago, they've a long way to go.

Other news, how is this even an option?
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--b...setback-following-knee-surgery-195014930.html

The $63 million plus the $10 million owed by the T-Wolves could easily lead to a healthy retirement. Then again, with Love, Kirilenko, Rubio, & Barea as teammates, Roy managing a return could lead this team far if only he can stay healthy for more than 10 games.

 

[a6m5]

I know I will absolutely catch all kinds of flack for this, but you could apply this to James as well after he joined Miami (and of course, got over the immature hype he created around himself). I mean, he did take the Cavaliers to the Finals on his own & that was with Brown as the head coach. Granted, they got swept by Tony Parker & the Spurs, but he still led them there.

I think you are right on the money. When I think of Chris Paul, LeBron is right there. To me, difference is that she ran.

I think Kidd qualifies as another one of those players who just needed a good team & solid pieces with him to help get the job done.

No effing way. Kidd might be reasonable now, because he's been past his prime for nearly a decade, but he used to be serious headcase. Everywhere he went, he caused people getting fired(or traded). At least he didn't flash his handgun at the people he worked with. He saved that for home.

Other news, how is this even an option?
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--b...setback-following-knee-surgery-195014930.html

The $63 million plus the $10 million owed by the T-Wolves could easily lead to a healthy retirement. Then again, with Love, Kirilenko, Rubio, & Barea as teammates, Roy managing a return could lead this team far if only he can stay healthy for more than 10 games.

You know how I feel about that. I love Roy. He's a good man, and great competitor. He needs to walk away. Nobody doubts the competitor & player that he is. Walk away.

 

[Villain]

One thing I love about Chris Paul is that he doesn't have a massive ego. They were showing an interview with him and they were talking about how good the guys coming off the bench for the Clippers are. He said something along the lines of (paraphrasing):

"It's crazy because I'll head to the bench knowing that the guy replacing me on the floor could be as good or maybe even better than I am."

No one in their right mind is going to suggest that Eric Bledsoe is better than Chris Paul, but instead of complaining about how many times he's sat out the 4th quarter this year, he's embracing the team and cheering on the rest of the guys. The leadership factor is huge with him. Chauncey Billups, too, even if he is forgotten while he's looking dapper in a suit on the bench. Billups is on his feet at every time out, getting in someone's ear.



And I agree completely with you guys on LeBron James.

 

[a6m5]

maybe even better than I am.

Nice guy? I think he is full of it.

 

[JohnBM01]

Rockets got roughed up by Oklahoma City last night. It was 124-94 mafia hit as my Rockets got whacked. Final game of 2012 will be on New Year's Eve against the Atlanta Hawks here in Houston. At least a win for the Rockets will set themselves up for something positive to look on for 2013. However, we'll be on the road a whole lot for January 2013. We'll play 17 games in January 2013, and only five of those 17 games will be in Houston. After this coming Wednesday (vs. the New Orleans Hornets) the Rockets will be on five straight back-to-backs. So this young team is going to be tested severely in January 2013.

For now, though, we should just worry about trying to beat the Hawks on New Year's Eve.