2013-2014 NBA season thread

[OILFAN #81]

I was laughing at that Pacer fan who was heckling Paul George (the audio caught it during the game). He was saying something along the lines of way to go, you are on the verge of losing to Atlanta.....Atlanta in the 1st round, how do you feel about that? You're supposed to be an all-star! lol

I guess this is what he said word for word: “Hey George, why don’t you start playing some basketball and stop traveling? I guess you’re ready to go home in the first round,” the heckler yelled. “You’re ready to go home in the first round against Atlanta. You’re supposed to be an All-Star. Start playing ball and stop traveling.”

[FlamingLonghorn]

Atlanta could have beaten anyone with the game they just played. It's hard to beat anyone who is shooting 57% from 3 point land. The Pacers could have played better D, but how do you figure Mike Scott and Shelvin Mack are going to light it up.

Also, in the press conference Paul George complained that Millsap was getting more free throws than David West. Couldn't tell if that was a jab at the refs and Millsap or a jab at West.

[darklord700]

Hibbert is painful to watch. You would think a rebound will somehow fall onto a 7 footer's hands and he can score a put back or two. Finishing with 0 pts and 0 rebound is un-freaking-belivable. Miami is lucky to get the higher seeded Bobcats instead of the 8th seeder Hawks. They probably won't sweep the Hawks like they did with the Bobcats.

Does NBA reseed after the first round? Right now it looks like Wizards(5) and Hawks(8), and Heat(2) and Raps(3) or Nets(6) in the 2nd round.

[Language]

Interesting to see what the fallout will be regarding Donald Sterling's comments. Commish Adam Silver will be holding a press conference at noon.

As deplorable and racist as his comments were, you almost get a feeling that he was being set up by being recorded. We've all said things in private that shouldn't be aired in a public setting. No excuse for being such a bigot in this day and age, but at the end of the day, he did pay for the Clippers team, and it his team. Curious to see what the league will do, all eyes are on Silver and the power he can exert. It seems he's got the backing of the owners and players to come down hard on Sterling.

[Senator Clay Davis]

NBA does not re-seed. So its locked in, Wizards-Hawks (in the 2nd round?????) and Heat-Raptors/Nets. So obviously the Heat's next series is pretty much the Eastern Conference Finals. Meanwhile the West is absolute war in 3 series and Houston-Portland has been an even matchup with 3OT games. East is just the JV conference.

[darklord700]

Poor Paul George, his house was robbed during game 5. That's is after being robbed by Hibbert's effort on the court.

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2014...rs-robbed-game

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by Language

As deplorable and racist as his comments were, you almost get a feeling that he was being set up by being recorded. We've all said things in private that shouldn't be aired in a public setting.

Except for this. Not necessarily the most reliable source but it appears that he has asked to be recorded.

[darklord700]

I agreed with Mark Cuban that it is a slippery slope to punish someone for saying something privately. I say fine Sterling 1M dollars, ban him from attending any NBA games for a year and then maybe take away some draft picks.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Wizards should be able to handle the Hawks. The Hawks were a good matchup against the Pacers (although Vogel's inability to adjust is mind-boggling) because Teague was too quick for George Hill so Paul George had to cover him meaning Hill was covering a much bigger player. Wall can cover Teague. There really aren't any matchup issues there and the Wizards have more talent. Only way Hawks win is if they shoot it lights out from 3.

[DiracSpike]

Originally Posted by Language

Interesting to see what the fallout will be regarding Donald Sterling's comments. Commish Adam Silver will be holding a press conference at noon.

As deplorable and racist as his comments were, you almost get a feeling that he was being set up by being recorded. We've all said things in private that shouldn't be aired in a public setting. No excuse for being such a bigot in this day and age, but at the end of the day, he did pay for the Clippers team, and it his team. Curious to see what the league will do, all eyes are on Silver and the power he can exert. It seems he's got the backing of the owners and players to come down hard on Sterling.

Totally agree. Sterlings a POS but that shouldn't be news to anyone he's been notorious in the NBA for decades. Honestly, hearing all the backlash before I heard what he said I thought it would be a lot worse. Im not sure why people needed an illegally taped conversation between him and a person he was in an intimate relationship with to just now declare him a racist and try to get rid of him. Forcing someone to sell their assets because they're a c--t would result in a lot billionaires losing their businesses, it's just completely ludicrous to force him out on those grounds.

[habernac]

BANNED. Nice work, commish.

[bubbsy]

really like the league's strong response. Could have gone a variety of ways, but chose a strong response, which bodes well for the future of the league after such an incident.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Sterling will fight this as long as hard as possible. He's paid millions in the past to be a racist, this will be no different. And Sterling will do whatever it takes given his past.

[Julio]

Originally Posted by DiracSpike

Totally agree. Sterlings a POS but that shouldn't be news to anyone he's been notorious in the NBA for decades. Honestly, hearing all the backlash before I heard what he said I thought it would be a lot worse. Im not sure why people needed an illegally taped conversation between him and a person he was in an intimate relationship with to just now declare him a racist and try to get rid of him. Forcing someone to sell their assets because they're a c--t would result in a lot billionaires losing their businesses, it's just completely ludicrous to force him out on those grounds.

Sadly, I think the league's actions (which, as somebody who actually followed the Clippers before they got good I totally agree with) is what they were forced to do.
The players were revolting, sponsors were pulling out. By November the Clippers might have been a franchise in the league, but would have no players not now under contract (and those might have either had a league mandated out or just gone overseas), no sponsors and no fans.

[Street Pharmacist]

Can't believe there isnt an actual thread for this controversy (I don't like starting threads)

First time I'm aware that any owner is named for life from expressing their views.

The reaction from the players is interesting. There's rumours that some will not report and wish to become be free agents after this season.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by habernac

BANNED. Nice work, commish.

I'm surprised. Pleasantly so. I'm okay with that.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by DiracSpike

Totally agree. Sterlings a POS but that shouldn't be news to anyone he's been notorious in the NBA for decades. Honestly, hearing all the backlash before I heard what he said I thought it would be a lot worse. Im not sure why people needed an illegally taped conversation between him and a person he was in an intimate relationship with to just now declare him a racist and try to get rid of him. Forcing someone to sell their assets because they're a c--t would result in a lot billionaires losing their businesses, it's just completely ludicrous to force him out on those grounds.

Disagree. If someone shares deplorable views (racism, Nazism, etc) that can hurt the economic viability of the league, then the other owners must have the right to disavow him from their cartel/franchise. That same legal route exists in virtually all franchises for just such circumstances.

[DiracSpike]

Originally Posted by Julio

Sadly, I think the league's actions (which, as somebody who actually followed the Clippers before they got good I totally agree with) is what they were forced to do.
The players were revolting, sponsors were pulling out. By November the Clippers might have been a franchise in the league, but would have no players not now under contract (and those might have either had a league mandated out or just gone overseas), no sponsors and no fans.

Undoubtedly the best thing for the Clippers will be getting rid of him, their renaissance this year was in spite of his ownership and not because of it. They have so much going for them this year and if they get a good respectable owner who's not cheap they could challenge the lakers for LA loyalty. Professional sports will be better without this clown.

[DiracSpike]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Disagree. If someone shares deplorable views (racism, Nazism, etc) that can hurt the economic viability of the league, then the other owners must have the right to disavow him from their cartel/franchise. That same legal route exists in virtually all franchises for just such circumstances.

Of course they should want to get rid of him, my doubts were whether they could. Not sure where federal law and nba bylaw intersect on the issue but straight up forcing someone to sell sounds illegal. The punishment silver dished out seems to be a proxy for making him sell by frustrating him, which hopefully works. This guys crustiness level is through the roof though so I don't see him going out without a fight.

[darklord700]

Sterling might as well sell the team with this kind of punishment. And no players in their right mind will sign with the Clips anymore. What's the point for him to keep the team? He can fight but so will 29 other deep pocket owners. Some say the team Sterling paid 12M in the 80s is now worth close to a billion.

I would pocket that billion and enjoy my golden year else where. But I'm not him and rich people only want things money cannot buy.

The most valuable asset of any sports league is the goodwill. Without it, it's just a bunch a guys chasing a ball for few hours on end. Sterling's punishment is harsh but the NBA simply cannot let this go unpunished for the greater good of the league and not the fairness to the crime.