The 2010/2011 NBA Season Thread

[LongGoneDay]

If I can start a team with player today, but in their prime? I'm starting with KG.
He is the ultimate team player, and is not going to let his teammates get away with giving anything less than 100%.
You know you've got a defensive minded team with him on board.

Actually, gotta take that back, he's #2 behind the big fundamental, for the same reasons, except Duncan was better in his prime.

Durant is still young, and has already proven he can score easier than anyone in the league. I think he may shoot a little too much, but he's not the slouch Melo is on D. He's better than Melo is almost every aspect of the game, and incredibly hasn't reached his full potential. He's already a freak, and is going to continue to get better.

Lebron is great, but he just doesn't scare me in close games, and that is a big negative. He came into this league with the respect of Michael Jordan. He didn't have to earn a thing. He was getting superstar calls from the refs from day one. Calls that to this day, Paul Pierce still does not receive. That said, he is probably the best all around player, but I really look at him as a #2 because of his inability to hit the big shot, and to make the right decision in crunch time.

Kobe is a great player, who has had the luxury of playing on great teams.

Paul Pierce, easily the most underrated player in the NBA would be in the discussion for me. I know I probably sound like a homer, but the guy is an absolute freak. Good at all aspects of the game. He may not make it look pretty, but he does it all well. No one got to the rim better than him in his prime. Idiots would talk about him being soft, even though he has been closer to an ironman over his career. The guy was stabbed 13 times and played that season. He doesn't need to jack up 30 shots a game like Kobe to get his points, much more efficient player today. Has become a defensive stopper since KG arrived. He's slowing down opposing teams best players while being the C's go to scorer. Only Celtic who can create his own shot, but doesn't have to be the guy to take the last shot. How many times has he assisted Ray Ray for the win?

[D]

im being a fanatic but I'd still take Dirk. This guy, like Pierce will never be fully appreciated. U always hear how Dirk is soft,cant play D etc and that simply isn't true. When you have played your entire career with Shawn Bradley and Eric Dampier, it makes u look worse defensively cause you don't have someone backing u up. Pierce can play defense now cause he has KG and others getting his back if he gets beat, so he can play more aggressive. With Dirk, he carries Dallas, so sometimes he plays shit D cause he can't afford to get in foul trouble. What they won't tell u is how Dirk had a key block on Nick Batum last night that helped keep Dallas in the lead down the stretch and allowed them to stretch the lead.

U have to remember also, Dirk fell victim to Nellie Ball early in his career. He was on an offensive team that wasn't taught defense. so he developed it slower than he would've had he been on a different team etc.

Problem i do have wit hWade and Lebron is, their games are predicated on speed and athleticism. as they get older ,they are going to decline fast whereas Dirk can play at a high level for probably 5-6 more years cause he plays below the rim.

[D]

I use to take a beating on sports forums for my dislike of KG. So i def wouldn't take him. remember minnesota? KG is the perfect Robin. the perfect superstar do everything guy but he can't carry a team offensively. he needs that scoring guard to be batman and he be allowed to put up his 18-10 and play great D.

[LongGoneDay]

I use to take a beating on sports forums for my dislike of KG. So i def wouldn't take him. remember minnesota? KG is the perfect Robin. the perfect superstar do everything guy but he can't carry a team offensively. he needs that scoring guard to be batman and he be allowed to put up his 18-10 and play great D.

That's exactly why I'd start and build around him. I don't think it's that he can't, he simply doesn't want to. In fact I know he can score pretty much at will, because sometimes he's been called upon to do it. Overall though, he wants to keep the ball moving and get his teammates involved, because the more touches players get, the more focused they will be on both sides of the floor. He has understood that for a long time, which is impressive in this league. Their are seasoned veterans that still haven't figured this out. Nobody in the NBA is as intense as KG. You know you're gonna get everything he has day, in day out. He's the vocal leader on the team, who's gonna make the coach's life a lot easier.

I hear you on Dirk. He's never had a great supporting cast. Pierce was always a good defender, but it took KG coming to town to convince everyone they had to be fully committed. It's a beautiful thing to watch! I'm going to miss it when it's gone, which is probably too soon. Defense isn't real popular in the NBA, which in turn is probably why the NBA isn't half as popular as it could be.

[D]

Dirk has outplayed Kobe two straight.

he is making me look good

 I do remember 2006 though, so i am in no way celebrating just yet.

[LongGoneDay]

Well the C's Spurs Finals I was hoping for got shot to shit. C's and Lakers have some work to do.
At least if the C's and Lakers don't rebound, the West has size that could give the Heat trouble, should they make it that far.
Wade is a beast, but tough for me to root for him now that he plays with prima donna James..

[Bodhi]

Dirk has outplayed Kobe two straight.

he is making me look good

 I do remember 2006 though, so i am in no way celebrating just yet.

very impressive so far.  I'm really pulling for Dallas to win the whole thing.  They deserve it.  Cuban is a great owner.

[LongGoneDay]

Dirk has outplayed Kobe two straight.

he is making me look good

 I do remember 2006 though, so i am in no way celebrating just yet.

very impressive so far.  I'm really pulling for Dallas to win the whole thing.  They deserve it.  Cuban is a great owner.

If my C's don't recover, I'm jumping on the Dallas bandwagon!

[D]

Ive had my heart broke a many years guys

so I fully wouldn't rule out beating LA and losing to memphis or some shit LOL!

[Eazy E]

Another W for Dallas.... maybe we are on the road to a 2006 finals rematch.......

[faldor]

Great win for the Celtics last night to get back into the series.  However, they are all sorts of banged up.  Rondo had what looked like a major injury last night, a dislocated left elbow.  He returned and played with basically one hand.  They thrived off the emotion and cruised to victory, but I'm not sure they can carry that over into game 4.  Shaq returned for 8 minutes and didn't get hurt.  That's a plus.

[gnr-4-ever]

The Lakers are down by 24 at half time so I guess it's safe to say:

Thank you, Dallas Mavericks!

[cotis]

Thankfully the Mavs guard JJ Barea is okay - but that was one of the biggest cheap shots ever by Andrew Bynum.

[faldor]

Didn't catch any of the game today, but apparently the Lakers just didn't show up at all?  I mean, seriously.  That's all you've got in an elimination game?  I didn't expect that from a championship team.  Though I will say, I never bought into them being the team to beat out West.  People kept tabbing them as that all season long, despite them never playing like the best team in the West.  They figured they could just flip the switch at any time.  Well, it never happened.

A lot of people have said the same thing about the Celtics, and I hope they don't suffer the same fate as the Lakers.  People have said that Miami can't get it done this year because they're not experienced enough in year one, and that the Bulls are too young.  Unfortunately the C's are extremely banged up right now, or at least it seems that way.  We'll see how they respond tomorrow, after a pretty dominant game 3 performance, especially from KG.  Been waiting for that.  He needs to dominate Chris Bosh, and he should.  Bosh is SO very overrated, yet he cancelled KG out the first two games.  Game 3 was a total mismatch though, the way it should be.

Congrats D on the Mavs moving on.  Not done yet, but a Dirk/Durant showdown just might be in order.

[D]

I cant put into words how proud i am right now. Dallas proving they are different and not the same mavs. Admit it, everyone on here rolled their eyes and laughed when i  said Dirk would outplay Kobe. Guess what? HE DID in all 4 games.

OKC may not get past memphis. They are in a fight.

Dallas have to reach NBA finals, I mean u can't sweep LA and then lose to Memphis or OKC.

Something bad is going on internally in LA. i personally think they are sick of Kobe's ego. notice when LA struggle how Kobe always places the blame on his team and never himself. I think shit wore thin.

[D]

Magic Johnson the hypocrite.

chastised Lakers for their cheap play but check out what he did to Isiah Thomas down 17 in 4th quarter back in 88


http://youtu.be/rbJjAejlef4

[faldor]

Not looking too good for the Celtics.  Rondo was obviously not as effective tonight.  Though I have to say, he wasn't all that effective even before D-Wade took him down and almost broke his arm.  And Kevin Garnett followed up his great performance in game 3 with an equally as awful performance tonight.  For all the crap I gave Bosh, he played great tonight, despite a slow start.

And Lebron played the best I've seen him play in a big game.  He played like the superstar he is, especially when it mattered most.

[Eazy E]

Well, the Heat are up 3-1... I think they say only 7 or 8 teams have come back from being down 3-1, with two home games left I think they've got it wrapped up.  Looks like that late push for playoff position has worked out.

Awesome game tonight in Memphis, Dallas must love watching these two play a full extra 15 minutes and locking in a sixth game.

[LongGoneDay]

Celts blew an opportunity to make this a series. Lebron tried to give it away down the stretch(falling down and letting the ball sail out of bounds, somehow losing control of the ball at the top of the key etc) , but C's didn't capitalize on them. Someone missed an assignment at the end of regulation, because that's not Pierce's shot.
Lebron showed up in OT and C's didn't. C's can't afford to have miserable games from both KG and Ray. PP didn't get much help.
West stepped up, but JO took a step back. Shaq didn't exactly make his presence known, though in his defense, it's pretty much automatic that LBJ and Wade are going to get a whistle 9 out of every 10 times they put the ball on the floor. He had two cheap fouls called right off the bat. Pretty good game overall. C's are in trouble, but series ain't over yet.

[D]

Mavs heat would be best final

worst would be Memphis Atlanta or even Chicago and memphis would be pretty terrible.