Real Deal

Hahaha, that's what I'm laughing about. I banned a total of three people on their birthdays last year, at TLN.

Not to mention every single player, on every single team, knows he's going to take the shot. "Run at Kobe, don't let him shoot. Jump in his face, 2-3 guys, whatever it takes."

LOL.

Haha, sorry for not having this topic, guys. For some reason, it just didn't get created. Simple mistake.

He does play the point, but the majority of his minutes come at the two (Udrih is the point guard).

Yeah, he wrote some obscene stuff on OTR's Facebook page, also, so I had to ban him from that. He's kind of an odd little guy. Anyway, back to reality.

Joke account. Remember this guy, fellas? http://www.otrbasketball.com/forums/topic/9745-im-here Yeah...it's the virgin.

I thought about Vince, but he's had some horrific games this year.

Sure, but if he were playing another position, his numbers may not be the same, so you have to consider where he's at right now. If Lee were at the four, he'd probably have a tougher time. Being a center, he is a huge mismatch for many teams, as he gets up and down the court quicker, and he's also faster and more athletic than most centers.

I would've, but he hasn't played enough games at that position just yet. It wasn't like that until Curry started playing solid basketball, and it made everyone realize Ellis needed traded.

http://cdn.bleacherreport.com/images_root/images/photos/000/836/891/kbryant_feature.jpg?1268348568 Since the great Michael Jordan represented the number 23 on his Chicago Bulls jersey, the shooting guard position has arguably been the most exciting spot on the floor in the NBA. Also known as two-guards, these players can do anything from shooting mid-range jumpers and slashing to the rim, to running the offense and making their teammates noticeably better on the court. Today, the typical shooting guard is ball-dominant, although you do tend to run into those who are excellent playing without the ball in their hands, such as Detroit’s Richard Hamilton and Boston’s Ray Allen. Two-guards love a good screen, and the elite players welcome the defensive attention, not only to draw defenders away from their opponents, but to increase the chances of drawing a foul as well. The following five shooting guards are all-stars, franchise players, and most of the time, the key component to their teams’ success in both the regular season and the playoffs. 1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (27.8 PPG on .459 FG, 5.3 RPG, 4.8 APG) Bryant is the complete NBA player and, without a doubt, the best overall player to grace the game since Jordan. This season, despite injuries to three fingers on his shooting hand, an ankle, and back spasms, Kobe is leading the Lakers to a possible third-consecutive trip to the NBA Finals, holding on to the second best record in the NBA. A top three candidate for the 2010 MVP award, Bryant has hit six game-winning shots this season, is a pest on defense, and is averaging over 27 points for the seventh time in his 14-year career. Topping this list may not be enough for Kobe Bryant; many will state that he is still the best player in the NBA. 2. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat (26.4 PPG on .465 FG, 4.7 RPG, 6.6 APG) The Heat may be clinging to that final spot in the weaker Eastern Conference, but Wade is the most consistent player on the team, and his contributions on offense and defense do not go unnoticed. It’s a known fact that numerous teams will be gunning for Wade this summer, as he headlines a free agent class packed with superstars and all-stars, and there is nobody more deserving of a max contract than he is. Nicknamed Flash by his teammates, his ability to get to the rim is unmatched by most players in the league, and even though his numbers are somewhat down from last year’s, he is still one of the most effective and dangerous guards in the East. 3. Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers (21.9 PPG on .472 FG, 4.5 RPG, 4.8 APG) Roy is a versatile combo guard that can play three spots on the floor, and his ability to create for his teammates has been beneficial to Portland’s success this season. Considering the amount of times he does handle the basketball, his turnovers are low (2.2 per game). Unfortunately, like Wade, most of his numbers have taken a hit due to injuries, but not enough to effect the Blazers in a negative manner. The most intriguing part of Roy’s game is not his offensive game, but his defense. Roy has had plenty of success defending elite scorers in the league, including Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, both of which you will find ahead of him, but his overall body of work sits him at third in the rankings. 4. Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks (21.5 PPG on .458 FG, 4.7 RPG, 4.7 APG) Similar numbers, but less defense–that’s why Joe Johnson sits below Brandon Roy on the Fab Five list. There are similarities between the two. Both can run the point for their respective teams, both can shoot the rock, and neither shy away from contact on the drive, but Johnson’s defensive game isn’t as polished. Fortunately, his Hawks are the superior team, and with all due respect to Josh Smith and Jamal Crawford, Johnson is the clear-cut leader and the player sitting in the driver’s seat in Atlanta. Similar to Roy, Johnson turns the ball over just twice per game, just below his career average and 1.3 less than his career high, which also occurred as a Hawk. 5. Stephen Jackson, Charlotte Bobcats (20.7 PPG on .427 FG, 5.0 RPG, 3.8 APG) He may not score as much as Monta Ellis, or shoot 45 percent from the floor, but Stephen Jackson is a top defensive player at the two-guard position. The Bobcats are 29-25 with him in the lineup, 3-6 to start the season without him. The record may not sway many fans’ decisions until they glance at Charlotte’s struggles last season: 35-47 in the standings, ninth in opponents’ points per game. This season, Charlotte is a top three defensive team in the NBA, ranked first in opponents’ points per game, holding those teams to under 45 percent shooting. Jackson not only leads the team in steals, but also in points, providing relief for Gerald Wallace at both ends of the hardwood. That Other Five (in no particular order): Monta Ellis, Golden State Warriors (25.7 PPG on .453 FG, 4.2 RPG, 5.3 APG) Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings (20.3 PPG on .462 FG, 5.0 RPG, 5.5 APG) O.J. Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies (17.5 PPG on .456 FG, 3.8 RPG, 3.1 APG) Jamal Crawford, Atlanta Hawks (17.3 PPG on .446 FG, 2.6 RPG, 2.9 APG) Ray Allen, Boston Celtics (16.2 PPG on .467 FG, 3.4 RPG, 2.6 APG) http://bleacherreport.com/articles/361172-nbas-fab-five-shooting-guards

Fixed.

Nets, easily. Check this out, LeBron (if you're reading, and I know you are): C - Brook Lopez PF - Yi Jianlian SF - LeBron James SG - Devin Harris PG - John Wall Not even fair.

Kobe's game-winners are lucky? So he hits 29-30 of them, and they are lucky? WTF is he talking about? I have always liked Charles as a player, one of my favorite players of all-time, but he's an idiot.

...he already had a suspended license?

Makes sense. I think Chicago needs this win more than Miami needs Orlando to win, lol. The Bulls have to regain that confidence they had a month ago. They are 4-6 in their last 10, five straight losses, and are now sitting ninth in the playoff race.

I used to blast "Here We Come" by Nelly, driving around the high school about 4-5 times before I went home everyday. Had a ton of Eminem flying out of my speakers, also, haha.

Back in November, the Warriors won by 14. Portland was healthy (even had Oden), but it was Roy that struggled, and Monta Ellis went ballistic. That was in Oakland. Things changed in Portland. Roy hit 37 points, and the Blazers won by 16. Not sure what will happen tonight, but it could get interesting, with an improved Curry, and the game being in Oakland once again. The Blazers are 17-15 on the road this season.

Without Noah, this should be an easy win for the Magic. Back in January, Chicago took out the Magic, and Howard had a tough time with Noah on him. Carter also struggled, shooting 3-15 from the floor. Shard shot 2-9, and Nelson was 5-13. Of course, that was a Bulls team with John Salmons and Tyrus Thomas, though...but Rose did notch 30.

Alright, here's mine... 1) Dirk Nowitzki He's a superstar, probably the toughest power forward to defend in the league, and he's super versatile (which explains why it's so tough to defend him). 2) Chris Bosh Not much of a defensive player either, but his offensive game has improved quite a bit. Basically, he's added a couple more post moves, better footwork, and he's stronger. 3) Pau Gasol Pau is putting up nearly the same numbers as Duncan, better rebounder and if he wasn't injured (hamstring problems since November), he'd be shooting a higher percentage from the floor. 4) Tim Duncan He's struggling to shoot 50% from the floor, and has been for the past three seasons. His defense has dropped off a bit, but he's still putting up a solid 19/11, exceptional leadership. 5) Carlos Boozer He's a much better rebounder than Amare, shooting just as well from the floor, and he's stronger in the post. Amare may be a product of the system he plays in, so Boozer takes #5. By the way, David Lee is a center.

I won't argue against it. Other than Cleveland, they are the team that I think can beat the Lakers if they have HCA.

Kidd is playing out of his mind right now. He's shooting amazing from three (42%), he's averaging 10/6/9 with two steals per game, and his defense has been much better this season (versus last year). Dallas has choked in the playoffs in recent memory because they haven't had a defensive-minded big that isn't a liability on offense. Brendan Haywood fills that hole, and he's a much better defender than DeSagana Diop, Erick Dampier, or any center they've had in the last decade or two. The Mavericks can play fast, they can play a half court game, they have four players who can drop 15-20+ on any given night (Dirk, Terry, Butler and Kidd). They have defensive players (Kidd, Marion, Haywood, Stevenson). They are currently on a win streak that probably won't stop until they snag the top seed in the West (just take a look at their remaining schedule). Dallas shoots a higher percentage than we do, a higher 3PT percentage, the only team above 80% free throw shooting, second in assists, third in steals, and they are beating us in all of those (and probably more, too lazy and worried to check). If we beat Dallas, it'll be because of our defense, nothing more...and to tell you the truth, their strength at the PF and the PG positions are where our weaknesses lie in our defense. If you say you aren't worried, you better open your eyes to a Dallas Mavericks team that is quite possibly the most complete team we've ever seen out of Dallas.

Riot gets the win. On to the next one.

Rules: 1) 16 lines max. 2) At least two of those lines must be about your opponent's favorite sports team (basketball, football, etc). 3) Cussing will be censored if you decide to use it. Don't bypass the censor with asterisks or other symbols. 4) 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. Votes are only valid with an explanation containing three or more sentences, no exceptions. The lower seeds (in terms of position) go first. Based on this match-up, Swish will be asked to post his, followed by Legacy. You have two days to post. Good luck, fellas. Run yo mouth!

Hoopshype again. I see they flipped the switch back in May of last year. Thanks for the update.