Real Deal

I don't know, man. I don't think Vince Carter is an above-average defensive player, and I'm not sure if he and Barnes replace the hole left by a playmaking Turkoglu and the defensive workhorse in Courtney Lee. I've never seen a rookie take it to Kobe like Lee did, even though he wasn't that successful in doing so...and I'm almost positive Kobe will have it easier with Vince Carter on the floor. But on the other hand, having Jameer back is certainly an upgrade over Alston, even though Rafer played better than I had expected. If I were a betting man, I see Orlando and Cleveland fighting in the second round, and I really can't tell you who will win that series. That's tough. LeBron will eat Vince Carter's children, and the defensive attention Howard will have to give O'Neal will allow James to get to the rack with ease. Assuming Orlando does take out the Cavaliers, they will fall to a superior Boston team. I would be shocked if they didn't. As much as I hate the Celtics, they will be back in the Finals. Excellent preview. Gotta go check out everyone else's now. I'm falling behind.

I'm not going to re-answer the same thing you've said twenty times already, which was that entire post, except for this part... Shy? The Clippers, Bobcats, Rockets, Grizzlies, Heat, and the Wolves were all involved in Iverson rumors this summer, all that I have read. When Kobe was wanting out of Los Angeles, it was only the Bulls and the Clippers, with a small hint that the Mavericks and Knicks were interested. What's your point? You're putting Allen Iverson in the same category as one would put Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis. I'm going to pounce on this when he proves you wrong.

Weed doesn't mess you up? So you're telling me you've smoked mass amounts to know this? Because I've been around people I can't even talk to that have lit up right in front of me.

I hope you're talking about Moses from the Bible.

Two Al Jeffersons don't even equal what Garnett was contributing to the Wolves. They could've done much better in a trade. Hell, they could've just traded him for a top five draft pick in 2008, end up crashing and burning, picking Derrick Rose with their pick (for being the worst team) and using the pick they received from Garnett to bring in Brook Lopez. There were plenty of teams wanting Garnett. I would say 80% of the teams in the league were interested and really wanted to push for a trade. Al Jefferson is an all-star, but he's also a backup all-star, and that's probably all he'll ever be. I actually like him, but the truth is, Minnesota is going to have to pray that Ricky Rubio becomes their franchise player, because Jefferson isn't going to replace what Garnett once was, and while Rubio won't either, he'll complete the duo (or trio) that can.

So Magic is the second greatest player ever? Over Wilt and Kareem?

Because it's a lovely feminine color.

He was spamming. Check his other posts. I clicked the edit button, and for some reason, there's an image link in all of his posts, and his email address is on IPB's spam list.

I never said Kobe played better defense than Michael, I said he plays better defense than Magic, by far. In fact, I never said Kobe was better than MJ. What are you reading?

Do you guys like the pretty pink banned icon? I needed to test it out.

It was the Clippers until the last two drafts (Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin). I don't think the Gasol trade was as bad as advertised. It gave them the other Gasol, who is a better defensive player than his brother, younger, cheaper, and can still give you 12/8 or so (don't wanna go check his stats right now). If Rubio comes to the Wolves, then sticks with the franchise, that'll make up for the Love/Mayo trade, which I really don't fault them for, because Love isn't that bad of a player at all. Trading Garnett was a Celtic faithful move. McHale did Minnesota dirty. If the Bucks don't match for Sessions, they will have dumped their franchise into the toilet even further...so I'm going with the Bucks, who will probably be relocated very soon, anyways.

1) Chicago Bulls - Derrick Rose 2) Miami Heat - OJ Mayo 3) Minnesota Timberwolves - Brook Lopez 4) Oklahoma City Thunder - Russell Westbrook 5) Memphis Grizzlies - Michael Beasley 6) New York Knicks - Anthony Randolph 7) Los Angeles Clippers - Eric Gordon 8) Milwaukee Bucks - Kevin Love 9) Charlotte Bobcats - ? Who would you pick if you're the Cats?

We aren't the only ones that think he looks like a dinosaur. http://www.joelkimmel.com/uploaded_images/chris_bosh-747580.jpg http://farm1.static.flickr.com/162/376608693_9fa545b309.jpg http://lookliker.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/chris-bosh-velociraptor.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2182/2197980207_3ef3b7feb4_o.jpg http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1146/1491258997_9522f75dee_o.jpg http://farm1.static.flickr.com/115/304222587_d448def734_o.png http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2348/2177871909_aa7793f451.jpg http://www.yaysports.com/nba/wp-content/uploads/chris-bosh.jpg http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/7039/chrisbosh.jpg

Well, it's obvious that nothing actually MAKES you try other things. It's in your brain, no matter what. Cigarettes aren't a gateway to chewing nicotine, and vice-versa, if you're saying that it FORCES you to do so...but because you're addicted to nicotine, you could make that decision to chew. People that smoke weed love the feeling. In fact, it helps with pain. If someone doesn't have weed, there's a bigger chance of them trying hydros than there is of me doing it, true? Therefore, it's a gateway drug, if it increases the chances of the user taking other alternative drugs, even the slightest bit. Simple question: who's more likely to pop pills: me (not a single cigarette or drink in my life) or a 10-year weed smoker? If we're being technical about it all, nothing ever forces you into anything else. It's always in your head. That's more of a psychological manipulation.

Lakers Spurs Mavericks Hornets Jazz Blazers Nuggets One playoff spot open. The Suns will probably get it, assuming they are healthy as a horse...but there's still room. I wonder if Memphis can rack up 40+ wins. It might take 46-47 to get in.

Haha, I don't know. I might put up a couple more.

I don't think I added eight other players in this poll. Kobe doesn't play five on five? Ah, so that's why he facilitated a dynasty, something Magic didn't do? So Magic gets the nod for playing all five positions in one game? Yeah, I'm sure Lamar Odom could do that, also, so he must be better than Kobe. Same with Garnett. Same with a younger Darius Miles. Kobe was just the better scorer? He's also the better defender, and it's not even close. How anyone can disagree with that is beyond me. He's the better slasher and finisher at the rim, he's the better clutch player, better ball-handler, better footwork, better post player (best guard in the post since Jordan, don't bother disagreeing unless you need basketball lessons), more of a killer instinct. Ballhog? Michael Jordan was a ballhog. I guess Magic is better than the true GOAT because Magic was a better team player and not a ballhog. This is exactly what I love doing. I pick out hypocrites. If you're going to say something relating to Bryant's game, you might want to go ahead and stick your knives into Jordan's side as well, and declare Magic Johnson the best player in NBA history. Congrats.

Iverson lost to the dynasty Lakers, with Dikembe Mutombo by his side. Billups beat the troubled Lakers, with Hamilton, both Wallaces and Tayshaun Prince at his side. Another bad comparison. ---- As for comparing Kobe and Billups, I never said you were comparing their games. I said not to compare their shooting percentages, as Kobe gets more defensive attention, 2-3 times as much. It's understandable if Kobe shoots 44-45% from the floor if he's up against teams swarming him with zone defenses.

Good way to completely ignore me crushing Tom Friend's article. But anyways... Personal attack, huh? A personal attack would be me calling you a complete and utter fool, a [expletive] idiot, and a worthless Denver homer for thinking your team was that much more improved from 2008. That's a personal attack. Me bringing up Billups and Denver? It's to prove to you that you're wrong about Iverson, on all levels. You say the team improved by trading him, but that wasn't the case. You say Billups is the better player, but he's not. Bringing up your Nuggets is something you don't want me to do, because the truth is, you supported Iverson until the day he left, and it was because of Iverson you guys even got into the playoffs in 2008 to begin with, and you know it. You don't like Iverson because of his lifestyle and the way he played for Denver, but you sure didn't whine and cry about that until he was traded. And please, next time, don't tell me I'm getting away with personal attacks just because I'm some exception to my own rules. For one, know what a personal attack is before you take that step, and realize that, just as much as I'm taking shots at your favorite team or player, you're taking shots at someone else's favorite player twice as much, if not more (go back and read your own posts). I'm done with you, though. You'll be saying the same thing about Billups soon, similar to when you stabbed Melo in the back after the 2008 Playoffs, and when you did it again after his final four games against the Lakers in the 2009 WCF.

I've always thought Chris Bosh looks like a raptor...seriously. And no, the banners rotate for Memphis, haha...don't worry. Mayo, Gay, Iverson. Thanks for the comments, guys.

I'm talking strictly overall game. Offensive skillset, defensive skills. I don't see how anyone can pick Magic over Kobe. Bryant is much more of a complete scorer, and it's not even close. He's also the better defensive player, help or man-to-man, and it's not even close. It's funny how many people will do and say anything to put Kobe under the bus, yet have no reasoning behind it, or no explanation for their choices.

Billups doesn't get the defensive attention that Bryant does. Don't compare the two, ever. Every team Billups is on gets to the conference finals? Not really. Do you mean just the Pistons and Nuggets? Detroit has had Prince, Hamilton, Ben and Rasheed, and Billups. I'm pretty sure that, in the East, it wasn't that big of a task to get there. But what did Denver, Boston, Toronto and Minnesota do with Billups before he was a Piston? They either lost in the first round, or they didn't even make the playoffs. Iverson's awesome leadership didn't get past the first round? I believe you're wrong. He got out of the first round four times with a depleted Philly team, reaching the Finals once. Denver got better? By four games. Detroit was worse with Iverson? Sure they were, because they lost Flip Saunders and added a first-year coach in Michael Curry, who had no business coaching in the first place. So Denver adds a healthy Nene, Chris Andersen, and has everyone back from their suspensions, adds Billups, and they improve by...four games? I'm glad they reached the WCF. They were almost good enough to do that last year, also, had they not run into the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.

Bryant is the better scorer, by far. He's the better defensive player, by far. He's the better shooter, by far. Magic has him in passing and rebounding. Who is the better overall player?

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/1/41871_945a28f931.jpg LOL.

Deal is done. He's going to Memphis.