Opening Night Is Here!

[RhymesayersDU]

FINALLY, The Wait Is Over!

Just A Couple NBA Games As We Kick Off A New Season:

MIL @ PHI
DEN @ SAS 6:00 pm TNT
SAC @ NOK
DAL @ PHX 8:30 pm TNT

All times mountain.

This is so weak, I have class until 7:20 tonight. I may need to be leaving that early. It's opening night for Christ's sake.

[Master___Pain]

FINALLY, The Wait Is Over!

Just A Couple NBA Games As We Kick Off A New Season:

MIL @ PHI
DEN @ SAS 6:00 pm TNT
SAC @ NOK
DAL @ PHX 8:30 pm TNT

All times mountain.

This is so weak, I have class until 7:20 tonight. I may need to be leaving that early. It's opening night for Christ's sake.

Let's go nuggets!! Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!!!!

[Nuggets4]

THANK MERCIFUL GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just landed tickets to this Friday's game too. Pumped about that.

[BroncoMatt]

I have to work tonight but I am off tomorrow and looking forward to watching the game vs. LA, rep to all the Nugs fans on this thread

[Jens1893]

i get the dallas game ... lets go dirk!

[Clockwork Orange]

Time to light this candle. Go Nuggets!!

[Jori]

Ahhhhhhhhh....I can't wait...gonna put my K-Mart jersey on!!!!!!

[epicSocialism4tw]

i get the dallas game ... lets go dirk!

Dallas is poised for a good year. Nothing but encouraging news coming out of Dallas (outside of Stack's inflamed knee).

DeSagana Diop had an unbelievable preseason. Marquis Daniels looks better than he ever has. Devin Harris had a great preseason. Howard is poised for an all-star type of season and has improved his handling and jumper. Christie has improved the bball IQ, the passing, and the perimeter D so far. Damp is healthy (for now). Terry is coming off of a monster playoffs and is moved off of the ball sometimes now on offense. The Van Horn/Dirk offensive combo is unguardable and Keith has had a good preseason. Stack is as fiery and dependable as ever. Dirk just won Euro MVP and is coming off of an MVP season.

Things are good in Dallas and Dirk is ready. Lets get it started!

[epicSocialism4tw]

i get the dallas game ... lets go dirk!

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Jens again.

[Jens1893]

Dirk just won Euro MVP and is coming off of an MVP season.

thanks for the rundown.

havent really watched much nba recently except for the odd game, but i might watch some more of my boy dirk this season. however, i really enjoyed the european championships. we got spanked in the finals against the greeks, but dirk was heads and shoulders above anyone else in that tournament. just hope the trouble with his agent doesnt affect him too much. he threatened to pull out of the euros because of that. dirk is one of the stars of the "nike pro" campaign in europe, btw.

[[Warning] Nimrod in town]

I will be watching the Nuggets game tonight and they better win.

[Meck77]

Almost gametime! Getting ready to throw the Mello jersey on!

Go Nugs!

[eddie mac]

Almost gametime! Getting ready to throw the Mello jersey on!

Go Nugs!

OMG, It would be Denver's bad luck to lose another player (long-term) on opening night. Nene has damaged his right knee. Possible ligament damage.
Unbloody believable.

[[Warning] Nimrod in town]

OMG, It would be Denver's bad luck to lose another player (long-term) on opening night. Nene has damaged his right knee. Possible ligament damage.
Unbloody believable.
NENE better not be hurt that much. This is A nugget team who is capable of winning the title this year.

[Jori]

OMG, It would be Denver's bad luck to lose another player (long-term) on opening night. Nene has damaged his right knee. Possible ligament damage.
Unbloody believable.
Lets hope its just a sprain :pray:

[[Warning] Nimrod in town]

The Nuggets played horribly in the 4th quarter. Hopefully they can come out tomorrow and crush the Lakers like they deserve.

[MajikMan7]

Bucks 117 76ers 108

Bogut: 13 pts 9 rebs 3 bs
Ford: 16 pts 14 asts 9 rebs
Simmions: 22 pts 12 rebs
Redd: 30 pts 4 rebs
Bell: 9 pts 4 rebs

What a game. Redd hit a 3 about a foot and a half behind the arc with 1.2 secs left to tie the game and send it into over time. Overall I'm impressed how the Bucks handled themselves. Magloire looked horrible offensively every single time he touched the ball in the first half he lost it, but thats ok, he needs time to get confortable with the team. TJ Ford is what makes this team go, he played incredable, it was funny watching him give Iverson a taste of his own game.

[Clockwork Orange]

On the bright side, Carmelo was outstanding. I was screaming for them to get him the f'n ball more. Jerry Schemmel was right when he said during the preaseason that Carmelo looked quicker than ever. 23 points (on 10 of 17 shooting), 8 boards and 4 assists. Excellent game considering the fact that he usually struggles against San Antonio.

Tough draw on opening night, but what can you do? The Spurs aren't champs for no reason. Time to move on to tomorrow night and kick the ever lovin' **** out of the Lakers.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Did anyone watch Dirk hit those 3 threes in a row to cap a run bringing the Mavs from down 17? That's some manly basketball right there. I guess he wanted to show up the MVP so that he could get out of the blocks early in the MVP race :) .

What a game and what a start to the NBA season.

[epicSocialism4tw]

OKC Hornets, Baby! They really squashed the Kings.

They are going to have the best home court in the league this season:


``With that loud crowd out there, I think we're going to have one of the loudest crowds in the NBA, if not the loudest,'' New Orleans forward Rasual Butler (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3650/) said.
Before the game, Hornets owner George Shinn admitted he was a bit leery when NBA commissioner David Stern recommended Oklahoma City for a temporary home. He was beaming afterward, predicting that if the level of support continues, ``they're going to see a lot more wins than anyone expected.'' ``It was electric. It was absolutely electric. It was as good I've seen it,'' Shinn said

I grew up there and those people are great sports fans. OU is all they really have. It's time for OKC to get a sports franchise.

[RhymesayersDU]

Did anyone watch Dirk hit those 3 threes in a row to cap a run bringing the Mavs from down 17? That's some manly basketball right there. I guess he wanted to show up the MVP so that he could get out of the blocks early in the MVP race :) .

What a game and what a start to the NBA season.
Dirk reminded me why I drafted him #1 in my Fantasy BBall, he had another outstanding game. Even though I'm not a Mavs fan by any means, and hell, they're a Western Conference foe, but I love watching him play so good.

And my God, what a great game, double OT to start kick off the season? They don't get much better than that.

In other news, I missed the first half of the Nugs game, so I don't know what happened to Nene, but it just proves my theory that he's a bitch.

[epicSocialism4tw]

In other news, I missed the first half of the Nugs game, so I don't know what happened to Nene, but it just proves my theory that he's a b****.


He drove the lane and ran into Duncan, planted his foot and turned his knee a little. It sounds bad. He couldnt get up by himself. At the least you are looking at sprained ligaments in the knee. At the most (and more probable) you are looking at torn ligaments including the ACL and/or MCL. Its a bad injury.

[RhymesayersDU]

He drove the lane and ran into Duncan, planted his foot and turned his knee a little. It sounds bad. He couldnt get up by himself. At the least you are looking at sprained ligaments in the knee. At the most (and more probable) you are looking at torn ligaments including the ACL and/or MCL. Its a bad injury.
Oh.. well then I retract my previous statement. The way you put it makes it sound pretty serious, and I had gotten a different story earlier. I don't like Nene much, but to have another player go down on opening day for the whole season is so friggin weak. I mean, Voshon goes down on our opener last season, and now Nene goes down on game 1 this season?

[epicSocialism4tw]

[QUOTE=RhymesayersDU]Dirk reminded me why I drafted him #1 in my Fantasy BBall, he had another outstanding game. Even though I'm not a Mavs fan by any means, and hell, they're a Western Conference foe, but I love watching him play so good.
QUOTE]

There are times in players' careers where you think: "wow. This guy is doing something special right now." One of those moments for Dirk came tonight.

The PHX crowd was roaring with the Suns up 12 and the game seemingly in the bag. Dirk gets a couple of points, the Mavs get a stop. Game is under 10 and the crowd begins to get uneasy. Dirk comes down the floor with the ball, looks like he is ready to pass into the post and spots up hitting a high arching bomb. Game on. The crowd groans in disgust. The Mavs get another stop, bring the ball upcourt and then Dirk spots up and nails another one from the extended elbow. The crowd becomes silent and the inevitable hangs over the place like the death of the fun & gun. On the next trip down the floor, the crowd cheers for a stop now that the game is within striking distance for Dallas. Dirk is open in the corner and spots up for three off of the draw and kick. He nails it right in front of the PHX bench. Ice cold. Mavs take the lead on the next trip down the floor.

Dirk had a monster game tonight. A Hall of Fame game. Legendary. Not a bad way to open the season.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Oh.. well then I retract my previous statement. The way you put it makes it sound pretty serious, and I had gotten a different story earlier. I don't like Nene much, but to have another player go down on opening day for the whole season is so friggin weak. I mean, Voshon goes down on our opener last season, and now Nene goes down on game 1 this season?

I hope his MRI is negative for his sake, but it didnt look or sound good.

You guys are unlucky.

[Nuggets4]

On the bright side, Carmelo was outstanding. I was screaming for them to get him the f'n ball more. Jerry Schemmel was right when he said during the preaseason that Carmelo looked quicker than ever. 23 points (on 10 of 17 shooting), 8 boards and 4 assists. Excellent game considering the fact that he usually struggles against San Antonio.

Tough draw on opening night, but what can you do? The Spurs aren't champs for no reason. Time to move on to tomorrow night and kick the ever lovin' **** out of the Lakers.

Once again, CO bringing the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Almost any other team, we win tonight. Any other team in the Western Conference, we win tonight. The Spurs are teh defending champs, it was their home opener, and they just got their rings (and Brent Barry got to make out with the Commish).

Earl Boykins is, once again, going to cause me to have numerous seizures this season. I know Karl isn't going to play Watson much (and Brooks was just doing the same), but I don't understand why. Boykins should NEVER be the point man out there. He's great in the full court offense, but as soon as it goes to half court, Earl usually does one of the following:

* Shoot wildly
* Drive down the side of the court, under the basket and then back out
* Dribble around until the shot clock is down to 3 and fires up a wild shot

I mean, look at our SG situation. Did Greg Buckner really deserve to play in the first half? You mean to tell me that his defense is that much better than Watson's (it's not). If we're playing Buck for his shooting potential, we need to evaluate some coaching staff members' heads.

Brooks was in a little over his head I think. We had no rhyme or reason to our substitutions. That's to be expected though. I thought he did a decent job other than that. Once we get Karl back however, it will be a whole new ballgame.

I'm really impressed with what I saw from the team last night. We need to keep Nene healthy though. Hopefully it's just a strain, but considering the Nugs curse of opening night, I'm expecting the worst. We now HAVE to win tonight. Our opening schedule is brutal and we need all of the guaranteed wins we can get.

[Montaq]

Did anyone watch Dirk hit those 3 threes in a row to cap a run bringing the Mavs from down 17? That's some manly basketball right there. I guess he wanted to show up the MVP so that he could get out of the blocks early in the MVP race :) .

What a game and what a start to the NBA season.

I can't believe they came back. Dirk Rules!!

[Montaq]

I hear Finley had a good game last night. I guess I'm happy for him. I hope he doesn't do well on Sat. I'll be at the game.

[Jens1893]

terry had some trouble from the line, but overall i think he had a pretty good game. just watched it on tape delay. dirk´s 3 straight threes were unbelievable

[epicSocialism4tw]

terry had some trouble from the line, but overall i think he had a pretty good game. just watched it on tape delay. dirk´s 3 straight threes were unbelievable

Dirk took over that game in the fourth and willed the Mavs to victory. The dude is cold blooded. Not a bad way to open the season :) !

I bet the US press totally ignores this one. Dirk is too "soft" and "euro" to take over a game. Yeah right! Tell that to Shawn Marion and Kurt Thomas...Go Mavs!

[Clockwork Orange]

Brooks was in a little over his head I think. We had no rhyme or reason to our substitutions. That's to be expected though. I thought he did a decent job other than that. Once we get Karl back however, it will be a whole new ballgame.

What I don't get is why Earl Watson was chained to the bench when it was obvious (especially in the 4th quarter) that no one out there could guard Tony Parker. He's easily the best defender of the three point guards the Nuggets are carrying, they gave him our entire mid-level exception and then don't play him? I'll bet Karl was steaming just a bit watching this game.

[Montaq]

Dirk took over that game in the fourth and willed the Mavs to victory. The dude is cold blooded. Not a bad way to open the season :) !

I bet the US press totally ignores this one. Dirk is too "soft" and "euro" to take over a game. Yeah right! Tell that to Shawn Marion and Kurt Thomas...Go Mavs!

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to angryllama again.

Granted, Amare isn't playing but I think the Suns made a huge mistake by letting Richardson AND Johnson go.

[RhymesayersDU]

Question To Mavs Fans -- Are you guys concerned with how close last night's game was?

Now, this isn't supposed to be Mavs smack, or anything... However, before the game I thought you guys would crush a Suns team without Amare, JJ, and Q. Is this something to be concerned about, or was it just opening night on the road?

Like I said, I just think, especially w/o Amare, that Dallas should have killed them. I don't know if this speaks to some defensive problems that Dallas has had in year's past, or what.

[Nuggets4]

What I don't get is why Earl Watson was chained to the bench when it was obvious (especially in the 4th quarter) that no one out there could guard Tony Parker. He's easily the best defender of the three point guards the Nuggets are carrying, they gave him our entire mid-level exception and then don't play him? I'll bet Karl was steaming just a bit watching this game.

Not so sure about Karl. From a poster I really respect at another Nugs board:

Earl Watson fans, get over it. George wouldn't have played him, either. In fact George said on Irv and Joe's radio show Monday that Watson isn't going to play any real minutes in the foreseeable future. Watson's contract is inexplicable except in the context of the Pierce trade, which certainly won't happen now.

I'm a big Watson fan. I am not a big Boykins fan. Both of those have been documented. I just don't understand why he's allowed to run the point. He is great as a sparkplug, but eventually we're going to run a half court offense when he's in there and he just can't do it.

[Montaq]

Question To Mavs Fans -- Are you guys concerned with how close last night's game was?

Now, this isn't supposed to be Mavs smack, or anything... However, before the game I thought you guys would crush a Suns team without Amare, JJ, and Q. Is this something to be concerned about, or was it just opening night on the road?

Like I said, I just think, especially w/o Amare, that Dallas should have killed them. I don't know if this speaks to some defensive problems that Dallas has had in year's past, or what.

Defensively, we held them to 90 points thru regulation. It took Dirk a while to get going last night but once he did, it was lights out.

This teams will go as Dirk goes and when he struggles, they will too.

[RhymesayersDU]

Defensively, we held them to 90 points thru regulation. It took Dirk a while to get going last night but once he did, it was lights out.

This teams will go as Dirk goes and when he struggles, they will too.
Good points. Had they been firing on all cylanders all game long, it would have been a convincing Mavs win.

[Clockwork Orange]

Not so sure about Karl. From a poster I really respect at another Nugs board:

I'm a big Watson fan. I am not a big Boykins fan. Both of those have been documented. I just don't understand why he's allowed to run the point. He is great as a sparkplug, but eventually we're going to run a half court offense when he's in there and he just can't do it.

If Watson isn't going to play, Kiki screwed the pooch royally by giving him our entire mid-level exception. If he did it with the idea of making the deal for Pierce, he should have been 1000% sure that the deal was going to happen before Watson was signed.

If an MRI shows that Nene has a torn ACL (keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't) then any package deal the Nuggets may have been thinking about making is officially dead.

[Nuggets4]

If an MRI shows that Nene has a torn ACL (keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't) then any package deal the Nuggets may have been thinking about making is officially dead.

And THAT is why I was cursing last night. We'll miss Nene's play if he can get it together, but his biggest value to the team is as trade bait.

[RhymesayersDU]

And THAT is why I was cursing last night. We'll miss Nene's play if he can get it together, but his biggest value to the team is as trade bait.
On the brightside, we may not have to pay him now.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Question To Mavs Fans -- Are you guys concerned with how close last night's game was?

Now, this isn't supposed to be Mavs smack, or anything... However, before the game I thought you guys would crush a Suns team without Amare, JJ, and Q. Is this something to be concerned about, or was it just opening night on the road?

Like I said, I just think, especially w/o Amare, that Dallas should have killed them. I don't know if this speaks to some defensive problems that Dallas has had in year's past, or what.


I dont think that the problem was defensive, as you see the Suns' shooting percentage wasnt outstanding and Dallas had their fair share of blocks and boards.

Oddly enough, the problem was offensive. The ball movement was poor, spacing was bad, shot selection was poor, and confidence was down. Avery said that they hadnt worked on it as much as they did defense in preseason and it showed. That offense was horrid through 3 1/2 quarters.

The most positive thing about the game in my mind was that once Dirk said "enough with this", he changed the game nearly on his own and the rest of the team followed suit. He got a nice block and a steal in the fourth to go along with his 11 pts. When Dirk stepped up, Terry and Daniels stepped up too. That's a good sign.

[MajikMan7]

Bogut not Bogus as the Bucks killed the Nets 110-96

"Drew" Bogut: 10 pts 17 rebs 4 ast
Money Mike: 41 pts 6 rebs
TJ built Ford tough: 21 pts 6 ast 4 rebs
Mo Williams: 23 pts 5 ast 4 rebs

Well the Bucks got off to a slow start in the first quarter, they looked very winded after having to play in back to back nights. But they started to get in going in the 2nd and erased a deficite of 16 pts down to 2 with a 3 point by Ford at the end of the half. The Bucks took that momentum and ran with it the whole 2nd half and never looked back. Andrew Bogut, inspired me with his hustle and toughness, I am becoming a believer. Simmons was in foul trouble the whole night and wasn't much of a factor. Magloire stuggle again offensively, but came up big on the boards and with blocks (8 rebs and 4 blks). Redd was on fire the whole 2nd half, nobody could stop him. And just like that the Bucks knock off to potential playoff teams in back to back nights, without a strong performance from Magloire and without Joe Smith. Things are looking good. Shaq and Marquette product D-Wade you're Next!

[epicSocialism4tw]

Bogut not Bogus as the Bucks killed the Nets 110-96

"Drew" Bogut: 10 pts 17 rebs 4 ast
Money Mike: 41 pts 6 rebs
TJ built Ford tough: 21 pts 6 ast 4 rebs
Mo Williams: 23 pts 5 ast 4 rebs

Well the Bucks got off to a slow start in the first quarter, they looked very winded after having to play in back to back nights. But they started to get in going in the 2nd and erased a deficite of 16 pts down to 2 with a 3 point by Ford at the end of the half. The Bucks took that momentum and ran with it the whole 2nd half and never looked back. Andrew Bogut, inspired me with his hustle and toughness, I am becoming a believer. Simmons was in foul trouble the whole night and wasn't much of a factor. Magloire stuggle again offensively, but came up big on the boards and with blocks (8 rebs and 4 blks). Redd was on fire the whole 2nd half, nobody could stop him. And just like that the Bucks knock off to potential playoff teams in back to back nights, without a strong performance from Magloire and without Joe Smith. Things are looking good. Shaq and Marquette product D-Wade you're Next!

Bogut looks like a keeper. I'm jealous! He would have been the perfect compliment to Dirk!

Your Bucks are going to be quite a team this season.

[MajikMan7]

Mike Kahn / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 6 hours ago

Perhaps we've already found our surprise team of the NBA season.


OK, it's only two games, they're very young and we all know life can go south in a hurry, but with wins at Philadelphia and New Jersey, the young and fearless Milwaukee Bucks are getting a certain glow about them.

All-Star Michael Redd has wasted no time proving he was worthy of the six-year, $90 million deal he signed over the summer.

He tied the game Tuesday night against the Sixers with a 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left to force overtime and forged the Bucks' ultimate 117-108 victory with 30 points. Then Wednesday night after falling behind 21-5 to the Nets, the Bucks came storming back and Redd had 33 of his 41 points in the second half Wednesday night in a 110-96 victory.

And this is only the beginning.

"I like our future. I like the potential. It's going to be great," Redd said. "I want to stay humble, continue to work hard at practice ... staying together in tough times and tonight was the test of tough times, and we passed the test tonight."

That was just after the first win, in which the Bucks overcame a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter at Philadelphia. Even more impressive under the circumstances were the numbers compiled by point guard T.J. Ford, returning after missing 18 months due to spinal surgery. Ford, the eighth pick overall in the 2003 draft, averaged 18.5 points, 10.0 assists and 6.5 rebounds in the two games, while Andrew Bogut — the first pick overall in the 2005 draft — averaged 11.5 points and 13.0 rebounds.

"I think I have a lot of room for improvement," Bogut said. "I just got to keep striving to work hard everyday and I think good things will happen. As long as we get the win it doesn't matter what I did."

And that's not to mention Bobby Simmons, their free agent acquisition over the summer, who contributed 22 points and 12 rebounds in the win at Philadelphia. It's clearly a team built for the future that seems to be finding its legs a little prematurely for first-year coach Terry Stotts.

"This is a better team," he said. "Last year there was a lot of pressure on me to put 20 or 30 points every night. This year I'm learning to let the game come to me."


Shots from the perimeter

It was a rough opening game for the Denver Nuggets just like last season, when they lost Voshon Lenard to a torn Achilles tendon in the first half. Tuesday night, it was Nene crashing to the floor with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus cartilage in his right knee — quite possibly..................... To read the rest: http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5049184

[Montaq]

Last nights Mavs game was a big disapointment. :(

[epicSocialism4tw]

Last nights Mavs game was a big disapointment. :(

Yeah...were having some big offensive problems right now. I hope it gets better because that offense isnt taking us anywhere.

That game was a poor measure of the Mavs though. It was within a bucket or two unitl Okur launched a super-lucky turnaround three from 40ft out and banked it in. Ugh!