Real Deal

The Grizzlies would disagree, and Marc Gasol would be pretty upset to read that as well.

http://i43.tinypic.com/so6zaq.jpg The small height forced it to be just 324 pixels in width. http://i40.tinypic.com/2jv6za.png

Give me a minute.

Couldn't say, but it was obvious by the way they were turning their game on and off, especially at the end of the season, when they wanted to avoid setting the record for most losses. I realize Harris was injured, but his attitude was just bad from the start, even when he was producing. The team didn't have an identity. They let certain guys do what they wanted throughout the game, see how well each could do in particular situations, then there were times they would sit those guys for the majority of the night (CDR is a great example of this). It seemed that the Nets (coaches, players, front office) designated the 2009-10 season as their practice, to re-evaluate their roster, get the worst record in the NBA while avoiding the worst in NBA history, and prepare for a new coach, new GM, a high pick and LeBron.

Well, in that case, same to you. I'm not the one that created a topic as to why LeBron will stay in Cleveland.

Dislike Shaq...but I have to disagree with a few things being said about him, sort of. Is he a liability? Yes, on the defensive end. Offensively, he's still going to give a team 12/6 on a very high field goal percentage, and that's in 25 minutes of play. The biggest problem is the limited minutes and the massive exposure to the pick and roll, but he still commands a double every once in a while, and the fact that he lost weight and wasn't in that bad of shape coming back from that injury...that's telling other GM's that he's still able to produce a double-double here and there, depending on his playing time. At the end of the night, coaches will still have to tell their players to force him away from the rim, and their point guards will still be reluctant to drive hard, in fear of getting TJ Floored.

Lots of things could fall in place for New Jersey over the summer, and it would be the greatest turnaround of all-time, to be honest. A new coach, new owner, a chance to land LeBron and an additional chance to snag John Wall? If you guys don't think the Nets were tanking this year, you're insane. This season had T-A-N-K written all over it.

Minnesota won't take Aldrich over Wall or Turner, and possibly a few others (Favors, Johnson, Cousins). Likely scenario, though, would be to trade the pick and snag a 6-10, and see if he falls there. Good chance he goes to the Pistons or Sixers around that time (can't think of what picks they have off the top of my head, though). I'd be amazed to see Cole drop to the 14th pick. Motiejunas would most likely fall to Houston before Aldrich, pending bad workouts.

He's a taller Peja Stojakovic that needs a very good post presence, or point guard, to draw his defenders away and create shots for him 20 feet out. Franchise players, and superstars (two different things, by the way) do not heavily depend on their teammates...usually, it's the other way around.

I THINK I remember reading something about your last paragraph, which would explain everything. Wasn't he in a situation similar to Rubio's? I saw a few clips of him already, and I'm not sure if he's really NBA material. He would have to learn a lot from Duncan...but then again, you can't really judge a player based on clips, just get a general idea. Being drafted by the Spurs, though, you'd think he could make a big impact in the league. Look at everyone else they draft.

New rules for round two: 1) 16 lines max. 2) At least one of those lines must be about a single player on your opponent's favorite basketball team (Wolves for s.t.a.t. and Warriors for Legacy). 3) One line has to end with your opponent's display name on OTR. You can exclude numbers. 4) Cussing will be censored if you decide to use it. Don't bypass the censor with asterisks or other symbols. 5) If you say Dick Vitale's first name, please censor it yourself by typing [expletive]. In the manner it would be used in this contest, it should be filtered out. NOBODY ELSE POST IN THIS TOPIC UNTIL THE SECOND RAP IS ADDED. After both competitors are finished, members can place their vote. Please explain your vote. Both competitors are going to be asked to send their rap to me via PM, and they have three days to do so. Good luck, fellas. Run yo mouth!

New rules for round two: 1) 16 lines max. 2) At least one of those lines must be about your opponent's favorite basketball team. Yeah, that means both of you have to bash the Orlando Magic in this one, haha. 3) One line has to end with your opponent's display name on OTR. You can exclude numbers. 4) Cussing will be censored if you decide to use it. Don't bypass the censor with asterisks or other symbols. 5) If you say Dick Vitale's first name, please censor it yourself by typing [expletive]. In the manner it would be used in this contest, it should be filtered out. NOBODY ELSE POST IN THIS TOPIC UNTIL THE SECOND RAP IS ADDED. After both competitors are finished, members can place their vote. Please explain your vote. Both competitors are going to be asked to send their rap to me via PM, and they have three days to do so. I will post both entries, and voting will begin. Good luck, fellas. Run yo mouth!

Semifinals... #1 Swish vs. #4 Riot #2 s.t.a.t. vs. #3 Legacy

Riot gets the win.

His reaction is funny as hell, but he shouldn't have reacted that way. Just a simple, "Haha, thanks," would suffice.

Sure he can. He can talk about LeBron up until next May, if he wants...but if he somehow sees him in the playoffs, he'll regret every bit of it.

Mind games, nothing more. Phil doesn't seem to worry about ANYTHING, which is weird. But as far as Fisher getting stuck in the post with Richardson or Hill, not a problem. Fisher is really one of the worst PG's to post up against, along with Billups. Both are a little too strong. If you want to eat Fisher alive, you stick Barbosa in the game with Nash still out there, and force Derek to defend one. Won't happen, though...because Bynum and Odom will be out on Nash, and Fisher will be stuck with Amare, on those PNR switches. LA has a counter, though, and it rings to the tune of two guys capable of scoring 30 a night on them, and if Bynum was healthy, he and Odom would be two others dropping 15-20 with effort.

LeBron won't be signing with any team for less than the max. Not a chance that will ever, ever happen. Plus, he wouldn't have to. What would I do if I were James? I would ask Cleveland to trade me to Los Angeles, and ask O'Neal to join for one final title run. Who knows...they would be able to rack in Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom. Honestly, a good deal for Cleveland, and a fantastic deal for the Lakers. C - Andrew Bynum PF - Lamar Odom SF - Antawn Jamison SG - Anthony Parker PG - Mo Williams That team won't win 60, but they can snag a 4th seed in the playoffs. C - Shaquille O'Neal PF - Pau Gasol SF - LeBron James SG - Kobe Bryant PG - Derek Fisher BENCH - Ron Artest That team wins 60+ and a title. Obviously, this is a pipe dream and probably a homer pick, but if you were LeBron and Cleveland would only trade you to the Western Conference...what team would you ask for? Aside from LA, it would be Phoenix, to run with Nash and Amare...but I think the Suns would have to give up STAT. If I'm looking at just walking, I'd consider the Nets, if they get the top pick. C - Brook Lopez PF - Yi Jianlian SF - LeBron James SG - Devin Harris PG - John Wall That team is scary good.

I thought this was a joke when I first opened it up...and then I played it and realized it wasn't. Wow.

I removed the "both" option because the topic actually asks which are you looking forward to the most, so basically, the answer has to be one or the other. As far as my answer goes...it would be Orlando and Boston. I want to see if Orlando's first two dominating blowouts were flukes, and I want to see if Boston can defend a team that plays completely different than the Cavaliers, playing out of the post far more and having more 20-point scoring threats.

The one reason why he would leave? Because he has unfinished business. And that business will stay unfinished if he returns to Cleveland for another 5-6 years.

So you don't think LeBron, Griffin, Gordon and Kaman can contend? Gordon is a better player than ANYONE LeBron has in Cleveland right now.

Let's get the official word before we discuss it. It was reported as done, and now Cleveland is denying it...so who knows right now. If it happens, and I'm not around, just create a new topic for it...and I'll open this back up and merge the two.

If LeBron was so concerned about giving back to Cleveland AND being on a good team, he would just stay there. The team he has now is better than the team he would have in Denver, not to mention the fact that he would be in a tougher conference as well. If this trade was even remotely possible, you might as well consider a LeBron/Bynum swap, because it would give back to Cleveland AND put LeBron on an 80-win team. Both are highly unlikely.

The $120 fine won't be the problem. You'll see the biggest hit on your insurance.