Real Deal

LMAO, Cousins can't grab anything off the glass when Reggie Evans is hunting for rebounds. It's hilarious.

LOL, you stuck Haslem in that five (replacing Zach), then say they are automatically a playoff team in the West? Korver shoots the ball just like Mayo does...no point in having two spot-up shooters on the bench when you don't have Nash, Paul, Deron or someone like LeBron. Mayo off the bench? Memphis has no reason to do that. OJ is the most talented player on their roster today...he doesn't belong on their bench. That team would lose Mayo through free agency, probably lose Gasol, and would be stuck with Gay, an old Haslem that can't score, Conley and a super-bust in Thabeet. Similar to what the Raptors dealt with because they figured they could build around someone that was not a legit primary scoring option. But, okay.

Ha...Riley took Magloire. I doubt many would be surprised to see him bring in Curry. Six more fouls.

Of course, easier said than done, but that should be the blueprint.

Haha, I've only done this two other times before, and I finished both of them a handful of games under .500 (and both had spreads as well). I think I'd be far, far better just choosing the winners, lol.

Because they aren't Allen, Pierce and Garnett. You're basically asking them to get new coaches and bring in new faces to replace anyone important minus those three. I'm saying just get a scorer that will actually lead the team. If he's a two-guard, stick Mayo at the point and tell him how he's going to play. If it's a scoring four, make sure the team plays through him in the post. The Grizzlies would deal Gay and Zach for Melo, quickly. They aren't stupid. Melo, Mayo and Gasol would be a contender. They can dangle Conley out there for someone like Varejao, start Tony Allen at the two and Mayo at the point, and become a defensive-minded team (Varejao, Gasol, Allen) with a primary scorer (Anthony) and a second option shooter (Mayo). Very similar make-up for contenders. Sign a couple of bench players (people would want to play on a team with a five like that). They contend with a five of Gasol, Varejao, Melo, Allen and Mayo, and all of a sudden, Memphis doesn't end up losing their team due to a league contraction.

All contending primary options draw double teams at least a few times throughout a game. Kobe Brant Dwyane Wade Kevin Durant Dirk Nowitzki Carmelo Anthony Dwight Howard (highest PPG, they play through him as well) It was the same way with Pierce a couple of years back. Adding to that list, non-contenders... Joe Johnson Derrick Rose Monta Ellis Danny Granger And the list goes on...and Rudy Gay is not on that level. Memphis committed to him? Good. That doesn't mean they have to commit to him as a primary scoring option. They can go out and get one, if Mayo isn't going to do it, by any means necessary. Gay can go out and focus on his defense and second option scoring. This team, with Gay as the primary option, will not go deep into the playoffs. Ever. They aren't Boston...they can't stack 15-18 PPG scorers and play some of the best defense in the last 20 years. The goal is to just make the playoffs? I don't see why that has to be the goal. Sounds like what the Raptors had in mind last season. One exceptional scorer, and suddenly, you can contend. Gay, Mayo, Gasol...all three guys you want to throw around an all-star level (or superstar level) player. You'll need to trade someone to get someone, of course, but you don't have to flip the ship, either. Memphis' attendance is pathetic. They need an all-star or a superstar, a real leader. Gay and Mayo aren't going to do that for them.

The goal is to finish with a .500 record. I've never done this good on a football pick'em.

Haha, now they are saying he was never officially waived, that Childress may have acted on his own and told the players Moss is no longer with the team. WTF.

The fanbase lost a lot of fans after Shaq left, actually, and it didn't help that we had a 34-win season that first year without him. And, yeah, it's funny you mention that. Over at TLN, I have no idea how many times I've raked people in the eyes for not seeing the talent among the other 29 teams in the league, and I've stated over and over again I'm a fan of the NBA over the Lakers...and because of that, it means I'm not a true fan, according to many. I absolutely love the team, but I was watching the NBA before I was a Lakers fan. I wasn't born in Los Angeles, and my family (except for my cousin) didn't care about basketball, so it wasn't like my dad was telling me who to root for. LA was a 53-win team when they traded for Bryant, didn't even have Shaq yet, and I chose them as my team. Most Lakers fans have a problem with that. If the Lakers were wiped from the league today, I'd still be watching the NBA tomorrow.

...why?

They aren't going to be the 2004 Pistons or the dynasty Spurs. If they want to contend, they need a true offensive threat, a second option (like Gay), a legit post that plays defense (Gasol) and solid role players. Otherwise, they are going to need to start defending. Last season, they were 24th in opponent FG% and in the middle of the league in opponent 3PT%, 19th defensive rating, 13th offensive rating. Second to last in assists, by the way, despite having six guys throwing up 12+ PPG, four with more than 10 FGA a game. They also turned the ball over more than 26 other teams in the league, threw a turnover every 1.2 assists. Having a legit primary scoring option will spread the floor and open up passing lanes, drawing more doubles and making passing easier. More assists out of penetrations, better offense makes up for lackluster defense. One or the other.

Can't discuss illegal downloading on the site, fellas...sorry.

Can't discuss illegal downloading or streams on the site. Sorry fellas.

The Pats are going to have to wait and hope none of those bottom-feeders (or, well, every other team in the league) doesn't pick him up off waivers first. Don't forget, waiver order goes from worst record to best before Moss becomes an unrestricted FA.

It lasts until November 2nd, so lucky you.

Nah, he won't put up those numbers, but that's where Mayo comes into play. It's about time for OJ to step up. Losing Randolph means the Grizzlies will need an offensive threat to take over the games, and Mayo's phone is ringing off the hook. Whether he does that or not, who knows...but he's got the talent.

:o

If they want to play less defense, they'll deal him.

Priority #1 is Gasol. Randolph getting $17 million? If the Grizzlies go back to that, they deserve to rebuild. Plus, who knows how that will end up...the new CBA could ruin it for him. With the way Arthur is playing (and it's only three games, but still), I wouldn't be too worried about Randolph at this point. Marc is the guy that needs to stay in Memphis.

Beasley is an excellent leader on and off the court.

He's lying. You can tell mostly on his lateral quickness (and Bryant hasn't had much of that over the last few seasons to begin with, but it's very evident this year) and a really flat shot due to not getting that extra lift (as mentioned already).

LOL, I get as mad as every non-Lakers fan gets with our fanbase.

The better he gets in the post, the more the Pacers want to run that offense through him. He needs to tell himself, "I'm going to do everything possible to model my game after Hakeem Olajuwon." He's definitely not going to touch what Hakeem accomplished, skill-wise, but he can be versatile enough (at the five) to be great for his team on both ends of the floor.

1) 2000-2002 Lakers Dynasty This includes the 2001 Playoffs, when we went 15-1, and the 2000 19-game win streak that the Lakers ran off that was ALMOST a 31-game win streak (credit to the Wizards for screwing that up). Personally, I think Kobe and Shaq are, hands down, the greatest duo in the history of the game (Chicago had a bit more help outside of Jordan and Pip), and had it not been for Bryant missing those 16 games in 2000, the 67-win team would've hit 70+ wins on the season. 2) Kobe's 81 This was the first NBA game I listened to on the radio, believe it or not. I got a call from a friend who was watching it on a local station in LA, and he told me I needed to find it, somehow, because Bryant was in rage mode (lol...that's what we called his scoring outbursts that season). I didn't have LP that year, couldn't find a link to watch it, so I went to NBA.com and picked it up with an audio stream. It absolutely sucked not seeing it, but it was crazy hearing it go down, and I got to see the replay of it the next day. Not only did he drop 81, but he won the game after being down by a significant margin (20+). 3) 1995-1996 Bulls' 72-wins I don't have to go into detail about it. 4) Kobe's scoring streaks, game-winners and 35 PPG average If it wasn't four-consecutive 50+ point games (two of those being 60+), it was the 13-consecutive 35s, or the nine-consecutive 40s. The playoff run last season, 11 of 12 games at 30+ points after he was so bad for 4-5 games against the Thunder (because of the knee), just stunning. Averaging 40 in multiple months, putting up a 10+ PPG average in fourth quarters for an entire season. Averaging 35 PPG in a season, setting the record with 12 threes in a game, scoring 42 points in a half, outscoring Dallas 62-61 after three quarters, scoring nearly 60 in three quarters two other times (against Memphis and Washington), dropping two of the most amazing game-winning shots I've ever seen against Portland on the road, to win the division (this may be a top five moment, to be honest)...just too much to talk about. 5) 2009-2011 Lakers I should include this time frame because Kobe demanding that we bring in a contributing player has led to a potential dynasty, and bringing in Ron Artest has to be part of that high, especially seeing the way he celebrated after winning his ring (and his complete 180 and trying to repair his image). The last two seasons have been packed with memorable moments for me. HM) 1992-1993 Phoenix Suns Barkley's run at a title. Had the ball gone to Barkley at the end of Game 6, I think the Suns would be the 1993 NBA champs. Grant ended up blocking KJ on a drive to the rim, and that was all she wrote. At that age, I was the biggest CB34 fan on the Earth, and him getting that close was amazing (even though, deep down, I knew Chicago was going to rip his heart out).