Real Deal

I removed the buttons from the sidebars...didn't look right to me. There wasn't anything to add over there, though (even NBA.com just has scheduled games), so I added a picture of one of the better players on each team. Haven't done much with them yet, since I had to insert the remaining schedules this morning, but now I'm back to working on the pages, and I finished up Boston. http://www.discusshoops.com/celtics/schedule.php

May have to redo the Hawks, Pacers and Jazz (text is kind of dark, did these on a different computer earlier, not on mine).

I know these aren't a big deal, but we did have them a LONG time ago, so I figured I'd bring them back. Similar design to the last ones, since everyone seemed to like them...but I updated all logos and replaced "OTRBasketball" in each. Edit Profile > Profile Tab > Change Avatar Scroll to the bottom, to the "Pre-installed avatars" section, and select "Team Avatars" from the drop-down menu.

http://www.discusshoops.com/images/jerseys/gamerguy.jpg http://www.discusshoops.com/forums/user/4-gamerguy GamerGuy, Kyle, Kairu, GamerCry...it's whatever. Kyle jumped into the mix three weeks after OTR was put up, and it didn't take long for me to realize he would be a great addition to our staff. At one point, Kyle became the "good guy" administrator, especially after Aaron's departure. It makes a lot of sense, because every now and then, I questioned whether or not Kyle knew how to be mean to someone. To this day, he has no idea that, when I called him GamerCry, I really meant it. The Chris Mullin of OTR (not just speaking in regards to his Mullin haircut), Kyle racked up offense throughout the forums...yet, unlike Mullin, he was found contributing for more than one team. His ability to dive into discussions and heated debates about any team or player, among any group of fans, made him an asset to our staff. The evidence was deleted by the hack, but once upon a time, Kyle did confess his love for ALCS, using his display name. I wonder if he still has that picture of me, with a picture of a rainbow in the background. Congrats, GamerGuy. You're finally in our Hall of Fame!

Defensively, especially up front, they are going to be pretty bad...but I believe a team with D-Will, Johnson, Wallace, Lopez and Brook can be a solid offensive team, good enough to snag a 4th seed in a weak conference. I can't stick them above the top two defensive teams in that conference (which should be Miami and Indiana) or a team that will launch threes like the Knicks, but we've seen teams run through the regular season with pretty decent records based on their offense. Phoenix used to do it quite a bit, and granted they had Nash and a perfect system for him (one of the better offenses we've seen in a decade), they were able to win 60's without having a defense ranked in the top half of the league. I won't put money on a 60-win season for the Nets, but 48-49 wins could get them there (Boston's 4th seed and .591 record, from last season, was basically a 49-win season). I wouldn't be shocked if they reached it.

Maybe, but I don't think Josh Smith will play the way everyone expects him to. It would be a bit different if he thinks he's going to stay until the summer, but I believe that, in the back of his mind, he knows Atlanta would like to trade him by February. Players with that mindset don't really give a damn until the trade goes down, and then, they play out of their minds. But, really, that's what I'm banking on. Otherwise, yes...the Hawks are easily a playoff team. I can't say top four, though...not over Miami, Indiana, New York and Brooklyn.

If a player (like Garnett) is playing center, then stick him on the center ballot. There's no point in eliminating the position altogether. Duncan has been playing center for years. There's no confusion there. This kind of screws over guys like Roy Hibbert (just an example, if he blows up this season), because if Andrew Bynum doesn't get voted in by the fans (because a PF takes his place), more than likely, he'll be selected as the backup big man, and Hibbert will be left out.

Those jobs are paying that low because illegals are willing to do them. But, with that considered (and everything else I've ever said), I absolutely hate illegal immigration. However, it would be nice if they could make the process MUCH easier. There's no point in trying to become a citizen if you're put through a shitty process that takes forever, and you've got kids that need food.

Miami Indiana New York Brooklyn Boston Chicago Atlanta Milwaukee Toronto Philadelphia I guess it's not a stretch, but for me, it kind of depends on how well Jonas plays + how well Lowry and the team can mesh together (which means Lowry will have to enter the season like he did last year, and not slide off the map and start playing like a backup again). I know what to expect from Bargs and DeRozan, and Fields is going to be irrelevant if his play is carried over from New York (he can be a decent defender, but back on the other side of the ball, he won't matter much)...so there's a gray area to consider. I've only seen the Raptors play one game so far, and it's hard to wrap a prediction around one preseason game, so the way they execute their offense remains to be seen, at least from my perspective. I'm sure you Raptors fans have a better idea of how things will go, as long as Lowry fits the mold. Probably a battle between Philly and Toronto to be that bubble team, but that's assuming Bynum comes back after the All-Star Weekend, which I won't bet on because he's the scum of the Earth and will sit out as long as he can (sorry Philly fans).

We don't exactly know why Brown was fired, so I don't see the point in debating it. We DO know why Van Gundy was let go, though.

As long as the Pacers stick with Danny Granger as their primary option, they aren't going to beat a team like Miami. The Heat would have swept the Pacers if Bosh was playing in that series. In the good win that they had against Miami (which was nearly 20 points), the Heat had to start Dexter Pittman, and for some reason (don't remember why), played Haslem for seven minutes or so. James Jones played for 15 minutes, and he was horrific. Joel Anthony logged 27 minutes. The Bosh, James, Battier, Wade and Chalmers five, with their typical rotation, all healthy (Wade was actually playing hurt, too), would have rocked Indiana. Now, same can be said for Boston...but not to that extent. Boston would have won at least one or two games, but I can't say it would have went seven. No Bosh, and LeBron had to deal with Garnett at the rim, and that was a big deal. However, Ray Allen was one of the worst players out on the court because of his injury, and Avery Bradley (who would be defending Wade) was out for the rest of the season. A reloaded and healthy Boston squad, replacing an injured Ray with Jason Terry...and having Bradley back (arguably the best perimeter defender in the league, surprisingly), Courtney Lee, and Leandro Barbosa...and not only that, but Jeff Green is back, with new additions off the bench (Sullinger and Melo)...that team is actually deeper, and healthier, than last year's squad.

I think Boston can make it to the Finals, honestly. It depends on who the Heat run into before they get to the ECF's. Chicago, with a healthy Rose, could wear them down pretty good...and meanwhile, if Boston can avoid Miami and the Bulls, I think they are a lock to get into the ECF's. I don't see the Pacers taking them out.

Added the URL, for convenience.

I know people bust Stern's ass all the time, especially the Lakers fans after that veto...but I'm going to look past that incident and say that he has done a pretty damn good job. You don't have to agree with everything the man has done, but just look at what baseball and football has gone through over the years (massive steroid scandal, bounty, etc). And he's been at the helm since 1984, which is crazy.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--sources--david-stern-stepping-down-feb--1--2014-25361209.html

Wellllllll, time for my appointment. Doctors suck.

"hey i have an amazon kindle fire that i got 2 months ago and never used, it works great no problems and i will include ebooks that i bought if you would like to trade" How many of those have you received?

http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2012/10/25/tweet-of-the-night-demar-derozan Do you think he should be mad at the 33-49 prediction?

Public poll...let's see what you got. :glasses:

I can't say the Lakers will be THAT great off the bench. It kind of depends on who is out there with them, though...but we're going to need to pull Gasol a bit early, insert Jamison, and then have Gasol out there with the bench, so he can create for them in the post (playing the five). That, or Howard comes out early, Gasol moves to the five, Hill comes in...then Howard subs in with Jamison and the bench. There are a lot of options, of course, but we have to be careful...because our bench, alone, doesn't have a legitimate PG to create for them OR anyone in the post to draw doubles and kick it out.

I'll agree with you about Melo, because for me, the jury is still out...but Dwight carried his Orlando team to the NBA Finals, has basically been the ONLY reason they have ranked in the top 5-10 defensively, and he was the best player (and it wasn't even CLOSE) on a team that racked up four-consecutive 50+ win seasons (two 59's) with just him, SVG (who was needed, because Brian Hill had no idea how to funnel players to Dwight on the defensive end), and a bunch of players who refused to defend and were inconsistent offensive players if they weren't catching and shooting. They ran the "four out, one in" just for Dwight. Superstars and franchise players aren't even the same thing, in my book. You can be a franchise player (like Melo), who can lead a team into the playoffs...but a superstar has the ability to take them to the big stage. Dwight can do that.

A little more uncertainty (it seems). http://www.phillyburbs.com/sports/sixers/sixers-holding-bynum-out-until-he-s-pain-free/article_9f0121d4-6fb1-5274-b48f-b58834c28c86.html

Probably Dwight, since he kind of got SVG fired (I could argue otherwise, but I won't bother...looks clear to me). Although, the Decision was the dumbest thing I've ever seen a free agent do.

Odom isn't going to matter much now, anyway, after I saw him in pictures. The dude looks like he forgot what a weight room is, and he's taking that candy obsession we all used to joke about in LA a little too seriously.

LOL, I think it's funny. You see coaches do this all the time when they're pissed off. I actually watched that series, and had a referee said something about it, I would be remembering it today...but I don't remember ever noticing it.