2012/2013 NBA season thread

[Senator Clay Davis]

Bosh isn't as good as Wade or LeBron but is paid more which makes him seem like a lesser player than he is. I'd say at this point he's more valuable than Wade, Wade was pretty mediocre in the playoffs last year. The Lakers bench is still mediocre and again the West is no joke. I'm not sure they're better than OKC, San Antonio or even the Clippers. They obviously could be, but they are mostly in decline except Dwight. Saying Kobe was the 2nd leading scorer doesn't matter because if he's that again this year they're in trouble because the other guys are not helping much. For the Lakers to best succeed Kobe would be best averaging around 20 points and playing fewer minutes.

[PeteLFan]

Originally Posted by TitovFTW

Bosh Spice? I like making fun of Chris Bosh as much as everyone, but he's proved he's a huge asset to the Heat and a top tier talent. The Heat are still the team to beat and I'd take them over the Lakers any day. Adding Ray Allen makes that team even stronger. But I'm going to start sounding like a Laker fan, which I can't stand. It's not even about the team because every post is followed by how many rings Kobe has. Lakers fans just drink too much kool-aid and talk down to the rest of the league.

Also PPG is an incredibly overrated stat for someone like Jamison and pre-season means nothing for Metta World Piece, nor does it for anyone else in the league.

So the lakers are old, adding bench player who gets 17 points is terrible, but getting old man Allen and his wonky ankles makes the heat stronger. Right.

[Drake]

Very Interesting Article From Adrian Wojnarowski On Insight Into James Harden Being Moved:

Before sitting down a final time with Pelinka, Presti became more serious in his discussions with Morey. Houston wanted Harden badly, believed he would evolve into a transcendent franchise star for a championship-caliber team and planned to award him a five-year maximum contract worth nearly $80 million. So, Presti laid out what he wanted for Harden and the original price was steep: Kevin Martin, Chandler Parsons, Jeremy Lamb and three first-round picks, including Houston's own in 2013.

Across 72 hours and culminating on Friday night, the deal became this: Martin, Lamb and two first-round picks, including a guaranteed plumb lottery pick via Toronto. Before Presti sat down with Pelinka on Saturday morning to make his final offer of $54 million over four years, the Rockets were made to understand: If Harden turns it down, your long-awaited star is on his way to Texas.

The impact on the Thunder locker room won't have the dark fallout some fear. When word reached Russell Westbrook late on Friday, he was disappointed Harden was gone – loved him as person, a teammate – but he wasn't devastated over the deal. Privately, Westbrook loved how Presti had strengthened the back of the Thunder roster with two rookies, Perry Jones and Lamb. He always admired how Martin had scored on the Thunder.

Center Kendrick Perkins also had privately told people he believed a trade was inevitable, too. To a man, none of the key Thunder players were surprised this happened, and none are conceding championship aspirations. In some ways, they can all breathe out now: This is the team, and now they go forward.

Harden struggled in the NBA Finals, tried too hard and slowly, surely unraveled over the course of the series. When the rest of the Thunder were celebrating a Game 1 victory over Miami in the locker room, Harden could be heard grumbling over too few shots (five), and too few minutes (22).

Veterans Derek Fisher and Perkins laid into Harden, telling him essentially: We just won an NBA Finals game and the last thing in the world that ought to worry you are your individual statistics. Harden apologized, but it was clear his mindset wasn't right. He never found his way back into a proper rhythm in the Finals.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--in...-28301609.html

[TitovFTW]

Originally Posted by PeteLFan

So the lakers are old, adding bench player who gets 17 points is terrible, but getting old man Allen and his wonky ankles makes the heat stronger. Right.

Ray Allen won't need to do much but hit 3's for that team and with how much room he'll have, he's going to get an insane amount of open looks. Points per game is a stat that I have no use for anymore, it means almost nothing and gives us no insight into how much value a player has, especially one known for throwing the ball up as much as Jamison. And right now it's not even a competition between who you'd rather have between Lebron and Kobe. Sure if you wanted someone for a last second shot in the playoffs, you could choose Kobe, but over 82 games Lebron is still so much younger and more athletic, coming off one of the greatest strings of games put together in playoff history. There's a big difference between who will have a better legacy and who is the better player by a mile right now.

[PeteLFan]

Originally Posted by TitovFTW

Ray Allen won't need to do much but hit 3's for that team and with how much room he'll have, he's going to get an insane amount of open looks. Points per game is a stat that I have no use for anymore, it means almost nothing and gives us no insight into how much value a player has, especially one known for throwing the ball up as much as Jamison. And right now it's not even a competition between who you'd rather have between Lebron and Kobe. Sure if you wanted someone for a last second shot in the playoffs, you could choose Kobe, but over 82 games Lebron is still so much younger and more athletic, coming off one of the greatest strings of games put together in playoff history. There's a big difference between who will have a better legacy and who is the better player by a mile right now.

Yup and its easily Kobe Bryant. Not even a question and everyone knows it!

[TitovFTW]

Originally Posted by PeteLFan

Yup and its easily Kobe Bryant. Not even a question and everyone knows it!

And for 99% of us, nobody could care who can win the bar argument of who has a better legacy, especially with Lebron still so young.

[Drake]

Holy, I forget how much I hate LA Laker fans. The majority of them are nothing but massive d-bags who are only on the damn bandwagon because of a certain player.

Now thinking about it I don't think I have ever met an LA Laker fan I didn't want to punch in the face.

[TitovFTW]

I'll never understand the NBA and the disregard and ignroance people talk about when comparing players.I have no horse in this race, I actually have really liked Kobe and the player/leader he's turned into. He was very valuable in their championshp wins, but had Lebron came into the league with those Laker teams, I think he'd have multiple rings as well. In my min Lebron making that Cavs team that good, is just as impressive as Kobe winning some of his early rings with the Lakers.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Am I missing something? When the hell did Artest change his name to Metta World Peace?!

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Am I missing something? When the hell did Artest change his name to Metta World Peace?!

Haha i just found this out months ago. Apparently he did it in during the NBA lockout last year. I'm still trying to figure out why he decided to change it to a name like that.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Haha i just found this out months ago. Apparently he did it in during the NBA lockout last year. I'm still trying to figure out why he decided to change it to a name like that.

To be deep? To shed the image of a hardcore guy from the streets? No idea haha.

Also, the NBA adopted that "amnesty clause" in their new CBA. I wonder if the NHL will do the same?

[moon]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Haha i just found this out months ago. Apparently he did it in during the NBA lockout last year. I'm still trying to figure out why he decided to change it to a name like that.

Because he is a moron.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by moon

Because he is a moron.

That's probably the best explanation. Maybe he's trying to compete with Chad Ochocinco for stupidest name change.

[Senator Clay Davis]

He's not a moron...he's insane. Also the Lakers suck and will miss the playoffs /absurdly premature

[moon]

Good to see the Lakers dominating like Pete L. promised.

Sure the Mavs are down from past years but with Dirk in the line-up he can make-up for the other garbage they have.

Oh wait.....

[Hockey_Ninja]

It's the first game of the season, no big need for them to panic yet. They did look pretty brutal for the majority of the game. The Mavs bench ate them alive. I'm sure the Lakers will get it together eventually. Looking forward to the Raptors game tomorrow!

[Wise Gamble]

Not surprised ....play Portland tomorrow would not be shocked if Portland wins.

[D to the iddy]

Each Laker starter played 34+ minutes each. I feel there's no way they can continue that for over 100 games. It'll be a big rollercoaster season for the Laker fans this year.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Wise Gamble

Not surprised ....play Portland tomorrow would not be shocked if Portland wins.

As a Portland fan, I really really hope so.

Excited to see how Lillard does in his first game. I want to see what all the hype is about.

[socalwingfan]

Hope I don't get punched in the face for this I know it's only 1game, but there is no way Mike Brown is coaching the Lakers in February. He has NO clue on how to run an offense