The Official General NBA Thread ... (BroncoBuff Approved)

[thumpc]

Oooh they are looking very good! They could peak by the first round and beat anybody in a series.

[Los Broncos]

They are coming together at the right time. Going to be tought tho, the spurs play pretty good d in playoffs along with the mavs, but adding Iverson will go a long way. Camby is a monster on the boards.

[ludo21]

nice win Nuggs!!!

2.5 in front now right?

Cant wait till we play the Lakers on Friday, i hate them soooo baddd.... ;D

[ludo21]

i want the Nuggs to get the 6th seed...

i dont wanna play them, if they click, which they are kinda doing now.. they can be scary...

[watermock]

Shut up Bobo. Kansas City doesn't even have a team. They left. Hey, what about them Royal losers in MLB?

Iverson and Melo are starting to get their esp and mojo going finally. Camby had 22 boards tonight. More people here are watching them than you know. If you asked an "expert" who is potentially the most dangerous team in the playoffs, most would say Denver.

They just need to learn to bring confidence to the road. It's a pretty damn good team with a damn good coach.

We might go one and out against a western conference loaded with talent. Denver would win the east IMO.

Denver can push the tempo or play half court. We are on a six game streak and moved past LA, also holding the tie breaker.

[maven]

Don't want to see the Nugs play the Spurs. Would rather see the Nuggets play the Suns.

[watermock]

So what...it's more important to come together and gain confidence than tank into 7. That makes no sense. They have to battle thru the big three one way or another.

[FantomForce]

Won't get past the first round and then the AI Melo meltdown will soon begin

[theAPAOps5]

I don't see how you can say a meltdown will begin when there isn't any signs of one. Thats like saying something so you can say see I told you.

They way they are playing right now they might actually win a few games. Then all of a sudden they are in it and then you never know. The reality, yeah they will probably get bounced, but they are really coming to gether. And Nene and Melo are giving them that low post threat that finally allows them to compete in a half court type game. Plus teams can't pull a Clippers of last year and Double/Triple the heck out of Melo knowing there is no other threat. They have AI, Nene, and now Linus and JR who can hit their fair share. I like the chances better this year than the last few.

Also please do not feed the troll Mock. The only think that should be thrown his way is that he is a big fat, insestual WELCHER

[thumpc]

Hey Meck, watch the next Nuggets game, or watch the replay going on right now against LA. Watch the fourth quarter where they lose the lead and still win, just like the last several games they've played.
AI is not a meltdown kind of guy. After the years in Philly, he might be the least melty, considering.

[BroncoBuff]

I started that "General NBA Thread" as a Nuggets vs. Sonics game thread - the 2nd game with AI and Melo together. Since then, the mods have changed the thread title 2 or 3 times Uhh ::)


Take my name off that train-wreck! :~ohyah!:

[BroncoBuff]

nice win Nuggs!!!

2.5 in front now right?

Cant wait till we play the Lakers on Friday, i hate them soooo baddd.... ;D

Just win, baby .... then sweep 'em 4-zip in Round 1 :yayaya:

[theAPAOps5]

ApaOps ... speaking of "road play" ... what do we do about ending the season IN San Antonio? The playoffs start Friday night - so then presumably just 40 hours later - the same 2 teams on the same court.

Do we just stay there ?

I don't know its that tweener time. They basically have a days rest. I say Bus them to another city where they can be shielded from the rabbid San Antonio fans and game plan and practice. The flight time home and back will kill any worthwhile rest on the day off, plus they have to game plan. I say hide them up in Austin and go from there.

[watermock]

Meltdown? That's a total assumtion...maybe AI was tired of crap around him.

BTW, "King James" is pathetic in the 4th quarter. Carmello keeps improving and is now a better overall player IMO. Just as I predicted after the draft.

This is just more misguided nut licking we have seen from the media about Vick as well. James can't close out a game to save his life. He's a choker.

[BroncoBuff]

I never say no to Austin. Helluva town!



HEY! 500 posts just since that Nugs-Sonics game two months ago .... somethin's up...

[BroncoBuff]

Won't get past the first round and then the AI Melo meltdown will soon begin

OUCH! .... thanks, Captain Bringdown.

[BroncoBuff]

Nugget 115, Lakers 111
DENVER(AP) Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points, including three free throws in the final 9 seconds Monday night to help the Denver Nuggets hold off the fading Los Angeles Lakers 115-111 for their season-high sixth straight win. Kobe Bryant scored 23 points, nine below his league-leading average, and missed 21 of his 30 shots, including a 3-pointer that would have tied it with 2.7 seconds left.

Kobe is 2.4 ppg ahead of Carmelo before tonight ^^ so maybe 2.1 now? Remember, Melo's average fluctuates more easily because he missed all that time. Think we might have one of those 70+ point games, or is it over? .... and did Kobe's wild scoring spurts a couple weeks ago cost the Lakers the 6 seed? I know they lost a couple of those games ...

Anybody have a scoring title race update .... could Melo conceivably catch Kobe?

[Cool Breeze]

Mediocre team. One and done.

Kind of like the Chorfs?:rofl:

[BroncoBuff]

Anybody have a scoring title race update .... could Melo conceivably catch Kobe?
Good question Buff, here's the dope: To increase his scoring average by 2.1 ppg, Melo needs 2.1 extra points for every game he's played this year (over and above his current avg), while Kobe would have to stay the same or decrease.


Melo will play 64 total games this year

64 x 2.1 = 134.

134 divided by the 4 games left = 35 extra each game.



So - if Kobe stays the same - Melo needs to score 35 + 29 = 64 in each of the last 4 games to catch him. Is this correct, or am I high?

[SureShot]

Maybe both.?

[ludo21]

GOOO GOLDEN STATE!!!!!

MAn I hope they get that 8th seed.

They give Dallas a tough tough time... its awesome. I want them to have a tough series before we play them..

[Paladin]

If the Suns get there, you mean?.......

[rubaiyat]

Also, the Warriors are about to be in the playoffs... Who woulda thought?


Apparently not Don Nelson.


Should be a good series with Dallas (at least as good as an 1 vs 8 seed can be with a 7 game series).

[Los Broncos]

Bobcats' Morrison fined $25,000 for obscene gesture

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Charlotte Bobcats forward Adam Morrison was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Tuesday for making an obscene gesture to a fan during a game in Miami.

Morrison made the gesture while sitting on the bench late in overtime during Charlotte's 111-103 win over the Heat on Sunday. Morrison did not play in the game because of a sprained knee, the first game he missed this season.

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Morrison said he was being heckled throughout the game.

"I've got to learn to take it, I guess, but I think the guy went over the edge a little bit, calling me 'white trash' over and over again," said Morrison, who also sat out Tuesday's game against Miami. "I reacted naturally and I made a mistake. I hurt the organization and the team. I'm sorry about it and it will never happen again."

Morrison, the No. 3 overall pick in last year's draft, is averaging 11.9 points and is shooting 38 percent from the field this season. Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff said he's still learning how to react to hostile crowds.

"Adam has those sonar ears, like a bat," Bickerstaff said. "That's another thing a rookie has to learn. ... When you move to this level, you've got fans, they're as good at what they as the players on the court."


Talk about racial slurs.

[Clockwork Orange]

Bobcats' Morrison fined $25,000 for obscene gesture

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Charlotte Bobcats forward Adam Morrison was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Tuesday for making an obscene gesture to a fan during a game in Miami.

Morrison made the gesture while sitting on the bench late in overtime during Charlotte's 111-103 win over the Heat on Sunday. Morrison did not play in the game because of a sprained knee, the first game he missed this season.

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Morrison said he was being heckled throughout the game.

"I've got to learn to take it, I guess, but I think the guy went over the edge a little bit, calling me 'white trash' over and over again," said Morrison, who also sat out Tuesday's game against Miami. "I reacted naturally and I made a mistake. I hurt the organization and the team. I'm sorry about it and it will never happen again."

Morrison, the No. 3 overall pick in last year's draft, is averaging 11.9 points and is shooting 38 percent from the field this season. Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff said he's still learning how to react to hostile crowds.

"Adam has those sonar ears, like a bat," Bickerstaff said. "That's another thing a rookie has to learn. ... When you move to this level, you've got fans, they're as good at what they as the players on the court."


Talk about racial slurs.

Hopefully next time Morrison will just have the guy removed rather than react in this fashion. Alert security that some drunken idiot is tossing racial slurs around, let them do their jobs and toss him out.

[Nuggets4]

Hopefully next time Morrison will just have the guy removed rather than react in this fashion. Alert security that some drunken idiot is tossing racial slurs around, let them do their jobs and toss him out.

Man, CO, you'd suck as an NBA player. Everyone knows that you send your posse after the guy.

[Tredici]

Iverson and Anthony


Maurice Brooks' My NBA Profile

High-fives for everyone: It may have taken a while, but the dynamic duo is clicking.

SECAUCUS, N.J., April 10, 2007 -- Oh, so this is what the Denver front office had in mind when it paired Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson.
The two All-Stars are both playing their best basketball of the season and, as expected, the Nuggets are rolling.

When Iverson was traded from Philadelphia in December, the meshing of Melo and A.I. was seen as some type of wild experiment by mad scientists.

And the cynics couldn't wait to weigh in.

"They both dominate the ball, this will never work."

"They will be fighting over who gets to take the shots at crunch time."

"Neither one of them is going to be willing to accept a lesser role."

As it turns out, none of the concerns voiced through the media have been a problem.

Anthony and Iverson have both put up their numbers and, equally as important, they get along both on and off the court.

Further proof that head coach George Karl and Co. knew exactly what they were doing is the fact that Denver currently has a league-best six-game winning streak.

The Nuggets (41-36), who have won seven of their past 10, have passed the Lakers for the sixth spot in the Western Conference.


In a season where they have struggled because of suspensions, trades and injuries, the Nuggets are building confidence at the right time.

Anthony is scoring 29 points per game while Iverson is averaging 26.6. They are the highest scoring duo in the NBA and capable of giving a scare to, but not beat, the Suns or Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.

Their best showing of the season was March 17 when they blew out the Suns, 131-107. In that contest, Iverson had 44 points and 15 assists, while Anthony scored 29.

The two biggest reasons why the Anthony-Iverson combination has worked is becoming more and more clear.

For starters, Denver is playing better defense now than it has all season.

Secondly, despite the scoring titles, despite averaging more points per game besides everyone in NBA history except Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan and despite being the league MVP in 2001, Iverson has been willing to defer slightly to Anthony.

The former Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Star Game MVP is scoring a little less and allowing Melo to attempt the big shots.

And right now, it is working.

[Master___Pain]

I hope the Nuggs can keep it up and pound the Jazz tonight. The Jazz have been playing pretty bad of late and obviously the Nuggs have been on a roll. I hope the trend continues tonight and the Nuggs can get a win somewhere where they never win. They have done that a lot this season, picking up wins in arenas that they have had long droughts in.

[Master___Pain]

A few more interesting things surrounding tonights Nuggs game

Adrian Dantley is getting his number retired tonight in Salt Lake. About damn time is all I can say. Malone and Stockton had there numbers retired basically the day they retired, but it's taken 15+ years to get AD in their rafters.

The Nuggs win tonight and they have clinched a playoff birth. I'd say that alone should be enough motivation for them. The Jazz are playing for home court advantage against the Rockets. They are currently one game behind the Rockets record wise. This late season collapse of the Jazz reminds me of the Nuggs last year when they wrapped the division up with a couple of weeks to go and played like dogs going into the Clippers series. I really hope the same holds true for the Jazz this post season.

[Clockwork Orange]

Man, CO, you'd suck as an NBA player. Everyone knows that you send your posse after the guy.

Yeah *blink blink* *twitch* gotta keep it real *blink* knowwutimsayin?

[RhymesayersDU]

The Jazz are playing for home court advantage against the Rockets. They are currently one game behind the Rockets record wise.

Uh, don't they get home court guaranteed based on winning the Northwest? As I understand it, a division winner can't be lower than 4th seed, and they would have homecourt in round 1.

[Los Broncos]

Hopefully next time Morrison will just have the guy removed rather than react in this fashion. Alert security that some drunken idiot is tossing racial slurs around, let them do their jobs and toss him out.

Agreed

[RhymesayersDU]

From the "Ya don't say?" files: The Knicks are claiming that the Bulls ran up the score on them last night.

I guess Isiah thought twice about sending out the goons considering you don't want to **** with Big Ben Wallace.

[Master___Pain]

Uh, don't they get home court guaranteed based on winning the Northwest? As I understand it, a division winner can't be lower than 4th seed, and they would have homecourt in round 1.


From ESPN

Current Playoff Matchups

These potential first-round playoff matchups are based on the current NBA standings.

The three division winners and the second-place team with the best record compete for the top four seeds in a conference, based on win-loss record and tiebreakers (see tiebreakers below).

The next four teams in the conference standings are seeded No. 5 to No. 8.

Home-court advantage in all playoff series is determined by win-loss record, not seeding.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/matchups

[RhymesayersDU]

From ESPN

Current Playoff Matchups

These potential first-round playoff matchups are based on the current NBA standings.

The three division winners and the second-place team with the best record compete for the top four seeds in a conference, based on win-loss record and tiebreakers (see tiebreakers below).

The next four teams in the conference standings are seeded No. 5 to No. 8.

Home-court advantage in all playoff series is determined by win-loss record, not seeding.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/matchups

Interesting... But then what is the point of giving the division winners a guaranteed top-4 seeding?

[Tredici]

From the "Ya don't say?" files: The Knicks are claiming that the Bulls ran up the score on them last night.

I guess Isiah thought twice about sending out the goons considering you don't want to **** with Big Ben Wallace.

WTF? What is the deal with this whine anyway? Don't you think they should be more concerned with why they CAN'T score as opposed to thinking the other team shouldn't be allowed to make baskets. What is the point of the game anyway?

Loser mentality. Maybe part of the problem is the coaching....

[Clockwork Orange]

From the "Ya don't say?" files: The Knicks are claiming that the Bulls ran up the score on them last night.

I guess Isiah thought twice about sending out the goons considering you don't want to **** with Big Ben Wallace.

What a surprise. The Knicks get their asses kicked and Isiah looks to deflect attention away from his ****ty coaching of his ****ty team by accusing the opposition of running up the score. What a loser.

[RhymesayersDU]

Wow, big win tonight. Playoffs clinched. Plus it's in Utah. Those don't come easy.

[Clockwork Orange]

Nuggets win their 7th straight, clinch a playoff spot and set a new franchise record with their 20th road win of the season.

[ludo21]

Congrats Nuggs!!

Get that 6th seed and oust the Spurs for us ;D

Beating the hapless Sonics right now.. Barbosa as usual is lighting it up, and Marion has had a few sick dunks!!

[maven]

Unfortunately, the NUGGETS have to play SA. Not the best matchup possible. Would've been better facing the Suns in the 1st round...

[rubaiyat]

Nuggets win their 7th straight, clinch a playoff spot and set a new franchise record with their 20th road win of the season.

Have a decent shot to havea winning away record...not too shabby for the drama of the year.

[Master___Pain]

The Nuggets are are play some good b-ball in this 7 game win streak. It's not like they been beating the weaklings of the western conference, they've beat the Lakers twice, the Mavs, and the Jazz. They are getting hot at the right time and everyone is getting involved on both ends of the court.

[Clockwork Orange]

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/6f/fullj.getty-71797254mm032_nuggets_jazz_12_20_41_am.jpg

Fisher tells Iverson to turn his head and cough.

[Los Broncos]

Im hoping my Pacers can make it, we are only 1 out behind the magic and we own the tie breaker in case of a tie.

[PoliticallyIncorrect]

The Nuggets are are play some good b-ball in this 7 game win streak. It's not like they been beating the weaklings of the western conference, they've beat the Lakers twice, the Mavs, and the Jazz. They are getting hot at the right time and everyone is getting involved on both ends of the court.

Mavs beat themselves in that game. How many times are you going to score 75 against Dallas and win...even if the game was only 3 quarters long.

[Clockwork Orange]

Mavs beat themselves in that game. How many times are you going to score 75 against Dallas and win...even if the game was only 3 quarters long.

Yawn. The tired "we beat ourselves" or "they didn't win that game, we lost it" line. This is becoming about as lame as when people swear that every loss was due to poor officiating/injuries/circumstances.

Tp answer your question, the Nuggets will win every time they score 75 and hold the opposition to 71.

[Master___Pain]

Mavs beat themselves in that game. How many times are you going to score 75 against Dallas and win...even if the game was only 3 quarters long.

That BS and you know it. The Mavs beat them selves huh? What a joke. CO said it best, the nuggs will beat the mavs every time they hold them to 71 and score more point than they did.

[Tredici]

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/6f/fullj.getty-71797254mm032_nuggets_jazz_12_20_41_am.jpg

Fisher tells Iverson to turn his head and cough.

The BASKETball, Fisher. Get the BASKETball.

[RhymesayersDU]

The BASKETball, Fisher. Get the BASKETball.

"Not that there's anything wrong with that."
-Reggie Evans

[Jens1893]

The Nuggets are are play some good b-ball in this 7 game win streak. It's not like they been beating the weaklings of the western conference, they've beat the Lakers twice, the Mavs, and the Jazz. They are getting hot at the right time and everyone is getting involved on both ends of the court.

Weren´t the Nuggets really hot going into the Playoffs against San Antonio 2 years ago also?

[RhymesayersDU]

Weren´t the Nuggets really hot going into the Playoffs against San Antonio 2 years ago also?

Indeed. They even took Game 1 in San Antonio.

I can't speak for anybody else, but I at least expect the series to be competitive, for whoever the Nuggets play. Chances are they don't get out of the first, but I do expect them to take a game or 2, and for them to put up a fight.

[Clockwork Orange]

I can't speak for anybody else, but I at least expect the series to be competitive, for whoever the Nuggets play. Chances are they don't get out of the first, but I do expect them to take a game or 2, and for them to put up a fight.

I absolutely agree. They'd have to play near flawless basketball to pull a 1st round upset against either of the teams they're likely to play, which isn't a very probable scenario. I do expect them to make a series of it, though.

[Nuggets4]

Indeed. They even took Game 1 in San Antonio.

I can't speak for anybody else, but I at least expect the series to be competitive, for whoever the Nuggets play. Chances are they don't get out of the first, but I do expect them to take a game or 2, and for them to put up a fight.

I remember Karl saying afterwards the worst thing that could have happened was us winning game 1. We awoke a sleeping giant.

Got my playoff tix today. Good seats, so I'm happy. Just not looking forward to paying for them.

[RhymesayersDU]

I so wish I still lived in Denver. The playoffs are so electric.

[Nuggets4]

I so wish I still lived in Denver. The playoffs are so electric.

The loudest event I've ever been to was the Nugs-Wolves playoff game three years ago (game 3 that we won in blowout fashion). I was in my seat almost an hour before the game, and with 30 minutes left before tipoff my entire section was almost full. Unbelievable cheering, followed with the greatest post-game moment ever for the Nugs. As people were waiting for the stairs and escelators down, the chant of "Let's go Nuggets! *clap clap clapclapclap*" came up from the crowd and spread throughout the Pepsi Center. Unbelievable.

Honestly, the game against the Mavs a week ago was probably the second loudest I've ever heard the PC for a Nugs game.

[RhymesayersDU]

The loudest event I've ever been to was the Nugs-Wolves playoff game three years ago (game 3 that we won in blowout fashion).

I was at that game, and yeah it was pure awesomeness.

[Clockwork Orange]

Loudest one I was ever at was game 3 against the Spurs a couple of years ago.

I'm going to the game on Monday night. It's going to seem awfully tame after seeing what a madhouse it was for the aforementioned game.

[RhymesayersDU]

Lakers choke one away, and lose me some money in the process.

Even though, I can't help but laugh at the thought of them dropping out of the playoffs. They've got the Suns tomorrow, while the Clips play Portland and the Warriors play Sacto.

[ludo21]

Go Warriors!! And Nuggs!! ;D

Nuggs match up well with both Spurs and Suns actually..... they have a decent shot against the Suns in a shootout, although they arent near the offensive horse we are..

And in SA, they have enough big bodies to throw at Tim Duncan, and that leaves Parker to have to play lights out which is like 1 out of 5 games..

I just cant wait till tommorow, i love playing the lake show, its always a big Laker hater fest when I watch with buddies, we hate them. :)

[Nuggets4]

Loudest one I was ever at was game 3 against the Spurs a couple of years ago.

I'm going to the game on Monday night. It's going to seem awfully tame after seeing what a madhouse it was for the aforementioned game.

Serious? You able to meet up either before or after the game? I'll be in section 323. Drop me a PM if you get a chance.

[PoliticallyIncorrect]

That BS and you know it. The Mavs beat them selves huh? What a joke. CO said it best, the nuggs will beat the mavs every time they hold them to 71 and score more point than they did.

Insanity. Denver gives up 103 points per game and Dallas scores over 100 per game and I'm suppose to beleive a 75-71 win was a great defensive game plan by Denver. Give me a break.

[bendog]

Hornets leave OK City to return to New Orleans. I'm sort of surprised they don't stay.

[Boobs McGee]

There's still a chance we might get the Suns first round.

All the spurs have to do is win a few, suns have to lose a few. Both teams are on 3+ game winning streaks....it's POSSIBLE.

I would love to see your team in the first round Ludo, MUCH more than I'd like to see the spurs.

Tim Duncan is a scary scary man.

Btw, why isn't leinus (sp?) the menace drivin the rack anymore? He's lookin kinda stagnant, just outside poppin threes. Don't get me wrong, his D is still some of the best on our team, but I'd like to see him draw a few doubles to open up melo or AI like he was for a while.

Kudos to stevey blake havin a huge game.

Marcus Camby better win that Defensive MVP...50+ rebounds and 15 blocks in THREE ****ING GAMES!!!! CAMBYMAN IS A STUD!!!!!

I'm gettin some pretty good feelings about our team here everybody, finally starting to look like the team our front office put together.

LETS GO NUGGS.

and Melo, please oh PLEASE don't play anymore D with your hands behind your back. wtf.

[RhymesayersDU]

Nice second quarter from the Nugs.

Playoff tix go on sale tomorrow. Of course, they still say "Date TBA" ... I wonder if I should buy tickets to game 4 hoping it'll be next friday?

[RhymesayersDU]

Also:

Nuggets Sign Carter, Wafer for Remainder of the Season

DENVER, Apr. 13 -- The Denver Nuggets have signed G Anthony Carter and G Von Wafer for the remainder of the season, team Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today.

“Anthony is a solid, veteran point guard who gives us depth at the position as we head into the postseason,” said Warkentien. “Von is a very talented young player who had a tremendous season in the D-League. We feel he has a bright future in the NBA.”

Carter, 6-2, 195, attended training camp with Denver last fall before being waived on Oct. 25. He appeared in four preseason games with the Nuggets, averaging 4.0 ppg and 1.8 apg before spending the rest of the 2006-07 season in Italy with Legea Scafati Basket. In seven NBA seasons, he has averaged 4.7 ppg, 3.7 apg and 2.0 rpg in 362 games with Miami, San Antonio and Minnesota.

Wafer, 6-5, 210, ranked second in the D-League in both scoring (21.0 ppg) and three-point field goal percentage (.453/120-265) this past season with the Colorado 14ers. He is the 22nd Gatorade Call-up this season. Drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers 39th overall in the 2005 NBA Draft, Wafer spent the 2005-06 season with the Lakers averaging 1.3 ppg in 16 games. He was also called up and signed to a 10-day contract by the L.A. Clippers on Feb. 21, 2007 where he played one minute in one game before being waived on Feb. 28.

Both will join the Nuggets in Oklahoma City where they will take on the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets tonight at 6:00 p.m. MDT.

[RhymesayersDU]

Hey, here's an off-the-wall question. Do they give the teams 2 day rest when traveling? Game 4 may be a go if so.

[Clockwork Orange]

No idea. The scheduling tends to get pretty funky in the playoffs.

Nuggets win their 8th in a row and clinch the 6th seed.

[RhymesayersDU]

Wow... Games are a lot more fun when the Nuggets are pulling out these close games, coming from behind, etc.

Exciting finish tonight.

[RhymesayersDU]

No idea. The scheduling tends to get pretty funky in the playoffs.

Nuggets win their 8th in a row and clinch the 6th seed.

This is true, which is why I'm thinking it might be do-able. They want all the games televised in prime time, so especially in the playoffs, sometimes you get more time off during the first round because so many teams are playing.

[SpringStein]

AI and Melo get the headlines, but the difference maker during this run has been Camby.

[Boobs McGee]

HELLUVA team effort tonight, that was some amazing D at the end. How bout Steve Blake with the clutch layup? HA!

Marcus Camby and Melo were shuttin that team down in the last stretch. I think he must have read my last comment, cause he was all up in that bitch grabbin boards and gettin hands up.

NICE GAME GUYS!

[Boobs McGee]

Rhymes, did you finally bight the bullet and buy NBA all access or what?

[spdirty]

Man I think this team is ready for the playoffs! Now beat Memphis and get a winning road record for the first time ever guys!

[Clockwork Orange]

Man I think this team is ready for the playoffs! Now beat Memphis and get a winning road record for the first time ever guys!

They've already clinched a winning road record. They're 21-18 with two road games left.

[RhymesayersDU]

AI and Melo get the headlines, but the difference maker during this run has been Camby.

1 block away from a triple double tonight! He's been turning it on.

It was laughable watching Chris Paul stop in the lane and try to get a shot over Camby there at the end. If you're going to do that, you gotta beat him with speed. When he stopped and pump faked, it was over.

[Clockwork Orange]

1 block away from a triple double tonight! He's been turning it on.

It was laughable watching Chris Paul stop in the lane and try to get a shot over Camby there at the end. If you're going to do that, you gotta beat him with speed. When he stopped and pump faked, it was over.

The Camby for DPOY talk is gaining some steam. Reggie Miller picked him to win the award last night on TNT.

Of course Barkley can't help but be the clown and picked the San Antonio Spurs as his DPOY. ::)

[theAPAOps5]

The last 4 minutes of this game was just awesome to watch. The look on the Hornets bench and all the fans after they blew the lead and lost was just downright hilarious. Now they know what its like to be a nuggets fan. This team is peaking at the right time. Lets hope it carries over!

[spdirty]

They've already clinched a winning road record. They're 21-18 with two road games left.

21-20, 41 road games, 41 home games = 82. oh yeah.

k, beat the crap out of Memphis, beat the crap out of Minnesota, and rest Melo, AI, Camby, JR, Nene, and Blake against SA.

[RhymesayersDU]

Rhymes, did you finally bight the bullet and buy NBA all access or what?

Didn't have to! The reason why I held off is because I knew we were going to be switching to DirecTV, which meant getting Altitude. It happened a little later than we had hoped, but I've had Altitude for the past couple weeks. It's glorious.

[Man-Goblin]

The Camby for DPOY talk is gaining some steam. Reggie Miller picked him to win the award last night on TNT.

Of course Barkley can't help but be the clown and picked the San Antonio Spurs as his DPOY. ::)

Camby would be a tough sell, especially since Denver is widely considered one of, if not the, worst defensive teams in the league. And that is even with the recent surge.

[Clockwork Orange]

Camby would be a tough sell, especially since Denver is widely considered one of, if not the, worst defensive teams in the league. And that is even with the recent surge.

Leading the league in blocked shots doesn't hurt his cause. His play down the stretch has been nothing short of phenomenal. During this 8 game winning streak, he's averaged a shade over 5 blocks per game.

Whether he wins it or not doesn't really matter to me. I'm just glad that he's getting his game cranked up for the playoffs.

[Clockwork Orange]

Hey Boston, we all know you're tanking it for more lottery ping pong balls, but could you maybe not be so obvious about it?

First Doc Rivers refusing to put his starters back in a game as his reserves blew a double digit 4th quarter lead a while back and now this.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2007041302

Ryan Gomes had 13 through three quarters, but watched from the bench in the fourth as Boston clinched the worst record in the Eastern Conference and second worst in the league.

"I probably (would have played), but since we were in the hunt for a high draft pick, of course things are different," Gomes said. "I understand that. Hopefully things get better. Now that we clinched at least having the second-most balls in the lottery, the last three games we'll see what happens. We'll see if we can go out and finish some games."

Reeeeeeeeal subtle there, Ryan. I'm sure Doc & Danny think your honesty is just swell.

[ludo21]

LOL

i cant believe he said that ;D

Another win over the lakers!!

GLORIOUS!!! Just a mere showing of whats going to happen in the playoffs!! :D

[theAPAOps5]

LOL

i cant believe he said that ;D

Another win over the lakers!!

GLORIOUS!!! Just a mere showing of whats going to happen in the playoffs!! :D

And Black Mamba was held to under 20 I believe and was resorting to just jacking up prayers in the end. It was awesome.

[RhymesayersDU]

Well, playoff tickets just went on sale.

I snagged 2 in the upper level from game 4 (home game 2) so hopefully I'll be able to make it out.

I want to put out this little flier right now, for people to keep in mind: I'm buying these tickets on faith that I'll be able to go. If I can't, I will sell them to somebody for what I paid (96.35) and I will cover any shipping costs (express, 2 day if needed, whatever) to make sure you get them.

[Boobs McGee]

Well, playoff tickets just went on sale.

I snagged 2 in the upper level from game 4 (home game 2) so hopefully I'll be able to make it out.

I want to put out this little flier right now, for people to keep in mind: I'm buying these tickets on faith that I'll be able to go. If I can't, I will sell them to somebody for what I paid (96.35) and I will cover any shipping costs (express, 2 day if needed, whatever) to make sure you get them.

In the unfortunate event you CANT make it out here, I'll buy those tix from ya. Just let me know when you figure it out

[Clockwork Orange]

Nuggets are playing this game in Memphis like it's a pick up game. They locked themselves into their spot last night and now look completely unfocused. I haven't seen them play this sloppy all year and that's saying something.

So much for keeping the momentum going towards the playoffs.

[RhymesayersDU]

Eh, 2nd night of a back to back, on the road.

As long as they kill the Pups on Monday, it's all good.

[Clockwork Orange]

Eh, 2nd night of a back to back, on the road.

As long as they kill the Pups on Monday, it's all good.

**** that. They've got an 8 game winning streak on the line, they're playing the worst team in the NBA and they look completely disinterested. Last week they won 4 games in 5 nights against much better teams than the Grizzlies, who've been playing for ping pong balls for the last three months.

It's just pretty disturbing to me how quickly this team can lose the focus and killer instinct they appeared to have. You'd think there'd be some pride out there in wanting to keep their winning streak going, but they look like a team that doesn't give a ****. I'm one who doesn't believe that teams can just turn it on and off at will, especially a team that's been as wildly inconsistent as this one.

They basically shut it down last year after clinching the division and limped into the playoffs playing some of their worst basketball of the season. We all know how that turned out.

[RhymesayersDU]

While I can't disagree with that, I do think that this team right now, even with losing this game right now, is like night and day from the team last year that just turned it off.

We'll see. They were losing last night too.

[Rascal]

Tied at the end of three despite playing like crap in the first half. They should pull away in the fourth.

[Clockwork Orange]

They tied it up because they started hitting threes.

It was 95-95 after three quarters. You'll see more defense in the All-Star game than this one.

[Clockwork Orange]

Quite simply a pathetic effort from the Nuggets. They should be ashamed of themselves for this abomination of a game tonight. They mailed it in.

[eddie mac]

Quite simply a pathetic effort from the Nuggets. They should be ashamed of themselves for this abomination of a game tonight. They mailed it in.

They want to give the Spurs a false sense of security.ROFL!

[rubaiyat]

Leading the league in blocked shots doesn't hurt his cause. His play down the stretch has been nothing short of phenomenal. During this 8 game winning streak, he's averaged a shade over 5 blocks per game.

Whether he wins it or not doesn't really matter to me. I'm just glad that he's getting his game cranked up for the playoffs.

Also 2nd in rebounds, and top 20 in steals.

And despite the numbers Denver's defensive efficiency is not bad...it's just there are so many more posessions that up the total points allowed.

[Paladin]

I agree that the effort seemedacking, but I also saw a couple of home calls. Not that the refs do anything like that you know....

[RhymesayersDU]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070413&sportCat=nba&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos2

From Celtic pride to Celtic shame
By Bill Simmons
Page 2

If the rumors are true and Doc Rivers gets a contract extension soon, I just hope the Celtics tell the truth in the ensuing news conference. Don't feed us lines like "Thanks to Doc, our young players made major strides this season," or "We would have made the playoffs if we didn't have so many injuries." That's a load of crap. Maybe those aren't lies, but they seem like fibs along the lines of "I don't think those jeans make you look fat at all, they're just the wrong size" and "I wasn't checking her out, I thought I recognized her."

Hell, they might actually believe all that. Or maybe they're just giving Doc a bonus for helping Boston clinch the No. 2 spot at the May 22 lottery. Look, every Celtics fan saw what happened. We lost 18 straight games this winter without Rivers getting himself tossed from a game, kicking over a chair or bitching to reporters about lost Celtics pride. Over the past few weeks, Rivers routinely played his worst defensive players (Sebastian Telfair, Allan Ray and Gerald Green) any time we needed the opposing team to make a run. In fact, I insist that Telfair and Ray are invited when we retire the jerseys of Oden or Durant in 20 years. We couldn't have done it without them.

Am I complaining? Hell, no. You couldn't have asked for a better leader for an undercover tanking mission; this was like hiring Eddie Griffin to wreck your arch-enemy's Ferrari. So why not admit this at the news conference? And if you're not admitting it, have some fun and hand out a "Top 10 Reasons Why We're Extending Doc Rivers That Have Nothing To Do with The Fact That He Successfully Executed His Tanking Mission" list.

Reason No. 1: It's not every day you can lock up a coach with a career record of 272-298.

Reason No. 2: We appreciate how Doc made the best of an impossible situation, inspiring this season's team to the second-worst record in basketball. Just think of what would have happened if he hadn't been there. We would have, um ... lost MORE games.

Reason No. 3: As Rivers told reporters this week, "Every time I've had a decent team we've won. Just think about it. I'd never been under .500 in my career until these last two years. I've never been a big winner either, and one day I want to be that." Any time someone coaches for seven years without winning a playoff series and has the balls to make a statement like that, you have to bring him back. Seriously.

Reason No. 4: Doc gets credit for keeping a young team playing hard after Paul Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak went down. You know, because it's so hard to convince a team of ALL GOOD GUYS to keep playing hard every night. That's a chore. There isn't a bad apple on this team. We don't know how he did it.

(Note: Last year's excuse was that Marcus Banks and Mark Blount infected the locker room and screwed up team chemistry, so we traded those cancerous bums for Wally, a better guy who makes $12 million a year and walks with a limp. This year, the excuse was that we were "destroyed by injuries," even though we were 5-13 on Dec. 8 with a relatively healthy team that had just finished the easiest stretch of its schedule. No Boston media members mention this crap because the beat writers love Rivers for making their day-to-day jobs easier, and the mainstream columnists are too busy filming segments for TV shows, playing golf and calling in to radio shows. Besides, all anyone in Boston cares about are the Sox and Pats. So what's the point?)

Reason No. 5: During the 2004-05 season, Rivers waited 40 games too long to start playing Delonte West. During the 2005-06 season, he waited 40 games too long to start playing Ryan Gomes. During the 2006-07 season, he waited 40 games too long to start playing Rajon Rondo. Like everyone else, we're excited to see the streak continue in 2007-08 with Young Player To Be Named Who Should Have Been Playing 40 Games Earlier.

CELTIC YOUNG GUNS

Who are these "young guys who have really improved under Doc Rivers"?

• Al Jefferson, definitely. He's been the big success story.

• Tony Allen was making major strides until he blew out his knee while executing a flying one-handed slam four seconds after the whistle blew. Can't count him.

• Rondo looked exceptionally good in the preseason, then was inexplicably buried behind inferior players for the next four months. Did he "improve" or did Rivers just start playing him? I'm going with the latter. Can't count him.

• Gomes and West are up and down; their per-minute numbers are no different than last season's. Same for Kendrick Perkins. They are better only because of an extra year's experience; that's it. Can't count them.

• Gerald Green still runs around like a chicken with its head cut off. I don't blame Doc here because Green's hoops IQ almost can't be calculated; there's a decent chance he arrived in this country three years ago in a UFO. Can't count him.

• Leon Powe is headed for a distinguished 12-year career in Italy. Can't count him.

• Over the past six months, Telfair's career free-falled to the degree that "AND 1" sent scouts to the last 10 Celtics games. Can't count him.

• As far as I can tell, we have no other young players.

Reason No. 6: The young guys have really improved under Doc. Please trust us on this and don't take the time to look up any statistical information that will easily refute this point. Thank you.

(Note: Please check the sidebar to the right. I implore you.)

Reason No. 7: Look, everyone in the NBA knows that you can't have a coach entering the final year of his contract without an extension. The team might quit on him. We could lose 18 straight games or something.

(Note: Out of everything, this BS explanation drives me the craziest. Since when did everyone decide that NBA players won't try as hard if they're playing for a lame duck coach? Is there empirical evidence to support this? If this is true, why did the Raptors play well for lame duck Sam Mitchell this season? And in Boston's case, why would a team of ALL GOOD GUYS ever say, "You know what? Let's stop playing as hard as we could, Coach ain't gonna be here next year, anyway?" Really? That's a realistic scenario, especially with someone as competitive as Paul Pierce involved?)

Reason No. 8: If we get Kevin Durant, he'll feel right at home with Doc since he spent the last season playing for Rick Barnes.

Reason No. 9: You can't blame us for forgetting Doc's three weaknesses as a coach: He blows too many close games, he can't juggle a rotation and his teams can't defend a high screen to save their lives. See, we just spent the past 50 games reaping the benefits of these three things. We're a little confused.

(Note: Take healthy players like Rondo, Telfair, West, Gomes, Green, Jefferson and Perkins, then add Pierce, Allen, Wally and our lottery pick to the mix next October. Barring a trade or injuries, we're looking at 11 guys expecting significant minutes next season from a coach who can't successfully juggle minutes to save his life. I mean, he's proven this. Maybe the owners are curious to watch Doc juggle 11 guys. Like, they have a morbid curiosity to see how it will play out. And frankly, I don't blame them. I'm just as intrigued.)

Reason No. 10: Nobody handles the media better than Rivers. Nobody.

On this last note: I wholeheartedly concur. The Celtics would be creamed if they fired Doc after the season, considering he absorbed one of Tony Soprano's hollow-point bullets for the greater good. The radio guys love him, the print guys love him, the TV guys love him, the announcers love him, and as long as those people are happy, who cares what the fans think? Keep the press happy and they'll distract your fan base from the bottom line, no matter how disturbing that bottom line might be. You know, like your franchise dipping from division champ to 23 wins within two seasons. Or how you're crying about injuries when your team didn't get nailed any harder by injuries than half the league. Or how you should have sold high on Pierce last summer and didn't because he happened to be the owner's favorite player. Or how they gave away the seventh pick (and a chance for Brandon Roy) in last year's draft to save $25-30 million. Or how they're legitimately screwed without Oden or Durant because you can only bottom out on your fan base once (and only once).

Just know that I have selfish reasons for writing this column: The extension hasn't been announced yet, giving us a slim chance someone could still realize we need a new coach, if only for three reasons:

A. A number of proven guys could become available this summer, including Scott Skiles, Rick Carlisle and Jeff Van Gundy.

(Note: Carlisle gets special mention for depantsing Doc in the 2005 playoffs. I don't even know if "depantsing" is a word, but that's what happened.)

B. The guy running the team (career coaching record: 136-90) is a better coach than the guy coaching the team (career record: 272-298).

C. I can't accept that any coach could ever be extended after winning 45 games, 33 games and 23 games in the first three seasons of a four-year deal.

On the other hand, my opinion doesn't really matter. As Bob Ryan mentioned on local Boston TV a few months ago, I'm just some yahoo who lives 3,000 miles away and can't possibly understand what's happening with this team. I haven't ventured into the clubhouse. I'm not sitting at a press table typing deadline game stories and ignoring the game that's happening right in front of me. I haven't had the distinct pleasure of spending time with Doc after a tough loss and being wowed by his winning charm and humor. I haven't been spun the same BS excuses that everyone else back home has been spun, and my lips aren't covered with green Kool-Aid stains.

Should it matter if Doc happens to be a good person and a swell dinner companion? Sure, if he's a friend or family member. But what if he's coaching your favorite team and you don't know him from a hole in the wall? What then? Should it bother you that the team won half as many games as it did two seasons ago? Or that we haven't been able to defend a high screen since Eric Williams was still alive? Or that we're consistently sloppy on both ends of the court? Or that opponents routinely shoot 50 percent or better no matter who's out there?

As recently as four months ago, the Doc Saga was destined for an Isiah-Dolan outcome in which the Boston owners forced Danny to "cook his own groceries," so to speak and coach the team himself. (That wouldn't have been a bad thing: Danny was a very good coach in Phoenix until he bailed to spend more time with his family.) Once the Celtics started out 5-13, lost the Iverson Sweepstakes and lost Pierce to a mid-December injury, a not-so-subtle, high-stakes poker game with Rivers commenced: The coach wouldn't walk away from six million bucks, the Celtics were too cheap to eat the rest of his contract, and the two sides kept staring each other down while the Celtics lost and kept losing. That's how Rivers became the first Celtics coach to lose 18 straight and keep his job.

And then fate intervened: Once Durant started lighting it up for Texas, everyone realized that the draft featured two franchise players and, better yet, nobody could decide which one was better. Suddenly Celtics fans didn't care about losing as much, as long as they could watch likable kids who played hard and squandered every close game. (Yes, the bar for the greatest basketball franchise ever had been lowered that much.) Meanwhile, Danny sprung into action publicly with the whole, "Say what you want about Doc, but the young guys are really coming along!" routine. Why? BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO COACH AGAIN!!! Eventually, the media bought this crap, some of the fans bought it, and apparently, the owners bought it if they're extending Doc's deal. Personally, I think Danny gave us a clinic in self-preservation; not only did he shimmy out of cooking his groceries, but if next season's team struggles, Doc Rivers will be the one taking the first wave of bullets, not Danny Ainge.

AINGE ON THE CLOCK

The good and the bad of the Danny Ainge Era:

The good: Made good value picks with Jefferson, West, Allen, Perkins and Gomes ... turned Jiri Welsch into Rondo ... resisted a panic trade involving either Pierce or Jefferson ... finagled a No. 1 pick from Minnesota in the Szezcerbiak-Davis trade.

The bad: Gave away Walker for Raef LaFrentz's contracts (one of the worst of the decade), then used the No. 7 pick in 2006 to extricate himself from Raef's deal ... spent $37 million on Mark Blount and included a no-trade kicker, making the contract nearly impossible to move if Blount stopped giving a crap (which is exactly what happened) ... traded two character guys (Eric Williams and Tony Battie) for a shaky character guy (Ricky Davis) ... traded for Wally's mammoth contract hoping Wally's knees were OK (and they weren't) ... hired Rivers ... signed Brian Scalabrine ($15 million) and Dan Dickau ($7.5 million).

So why hasn't Ainge taken more heat for lording over the second-worst team in Celtics history? Considering its long-term future when Ainge took over in 2003 (two good players, no cap room, no quality young players under 25 years-old, no chips to trade other than future first-rounders), he deserves credit for building the foundation of something. Then again, he unveiled five different game plans in four seasons: 2003-04 (acquire as many assets as possible), 2004-05 (let's make a playoff push and ride Gary Payton and Antoine Walker), 2005-06 (let's build around Pierce and the young guys and build a high-character team), 2006-07 (let's keep Pierce, give up two No. 1's for Rondo and Telfair and build a faster team like the Suns, then trade for a veteran during the season), and the past few months (let's tank the last four months and go for Oden or Durant).

Ideally, NBA executives should have an eye for talent AND a long-term strategy; just look at Bryan Colangelo in Toronto. Danny has a knack for finding talent, but he can't stick to a definitive plan. Each move has no correlation to the last one; it's like watching the guy from "Memento" play chess. The team's future looks brighter lately only because of Jefferson's inspired play and a 40 percent chance of landing Oden or Durant. What if Andrew Bogut or Andrea Bargnani was waiting at the end of the rainbow? Would we be feeling as chipper about everything?

(Hold on, I hate even bringing this up, it makes me feel sick...)

(Deep breath ... )

(All right ... )

But really ... what happens if May 22 goes horribly wrong?

What then? More rebuilding? Everyone believes they'd move a non-Oden/Durant pick for a veteran, but which veteran? Who's out there? Have you scanned the rosters and determined which quality veterans could be realistically obtained? Good luck finding a name. And that's before delving into the dangers of bringing back a frustrated Pierce (who could sabotage his own trade value like Iverson did) or giving Jefferson a max contract extension (when he's struggled with weight/injury/intensity issues over the past three years). If anything, winning a top-two pick gives the owners, the front office and the coach a cushy "Get Out of Jail Free" card for the next two seasons. It's like having your business manager blow a $100,000 investment, immediately fly you to Vegas, slap down another $100,000 on a blackjack hand, get a blackjack on that same hand, then hand you the $150,000 profit and tell you, "See, I told you everything would be OK, now you're up for the year!"

Call me crazy, but I don't see how that's fair. When evaluating the performances of Rivers and Ainge, only two questions should matter: Regardless of what happens on May 22, do you trust Ainge to make the right moves this summer, and do you trust Rivers to effectively coach the 2007-08 Boston Celtics? From what I've seen, the answer is "f--- no."

Then again, what do I know? I'm just some yahoo writer who lives 3,000 miles away. And since I'm not moving back home any time soon, I hope the Celtics find time to mail me some of that green Kool-Aid. It would go great with the turd sandwich I've been chewing for the past two years.

One final thought: Just last weekend, NBA TV showed John Havlicek's final game, the one during which Boston fans gave Hondo an 8½-minute standing ovation before the opening tip. Think about how long 8½ minutes is. That's two music videos. That's an entire segment of "Lost." That's a par-5 at the Masters. I can't imagine anything like that happening with the Celtics again, regardless of the player involved, and I think that's been the saddest thing about the past few seasons: Not the losing itself, but that the Celtics don't matter like they once did. They're just another NBA franchise in a league with too many of them.
Doc Rivers
Mitchell Layton/NBAE via Getty Images
The DVD for the 2007 Celtics should be called "Everyone Loves Doc."

Anyway, there's a moment during that Hondo game when Randy Smith gets kicked out for arguing a call. He grabs a towel and heads underneath the mid-court tunnel to leave the old Garden and, lo and behold, you can see a little kid clapping as Smith walks by. You know who that was?

Me.

I'm the fidgety kid wearing glasses and sitting on his father's lap. You can see us for about five seconds. The whole sequence delighted me for some reason, not just that it came out of nowhere, but that a wave of fuzzy memories was unleashed: Dave Cowens and Hondo grimly banging out 40 minutes a night on a nonplayoff team, Kermit Washington arriving after the Rudy Tomjanovich suspension ended and grabbing every rebound in sight, local hero Ernie DiGregorio failing to turn things around near the end, a herky-jerky rookie named Cedric "Cornbread" Maxwell emerging as one of our few bright spots, and, yes, everyone cheering and cheering during Hondo's final game. I don't remember any talk of tanking and certainly don't remember rooting against them. We won only 32 games, but that was OK -- we still had Red Auerbach pulling the strings. As long as Red was around, and as long as the Garden was around, we'd be OK. Things would work out. That's how everyone felt. After all, these were the Boston Celtics.

By the time the 2006-07 season was falling apart, that confidence was long gone. I mean, LONG gone. I rooted for us to keep losing because it was the simplest way to improve; others couldn't stomach the thought of turning on their favorite team. I refused to exonerate a coach who couldn't win, a GM who couldn't stick to a plan, and the owner who hired both of them, while others continue to make excuses for all three. Wherever you stand, every Celtics fan has one thing in common: Our hopes and prayers are inexorably tied to 250 Ping-Pong balls next month. Get the first or second pick and everything's OK. Get the third pick and everything's not.

Either way, it's the franchise's first significant moment in six decades that doesn't involve Red Auerbach. After that 1977-78 season ended, Red used a first-rounder to select a junior-eligible named Larry Bird, then had the foresight to wait an entire season for him. Even though we weren't yielding an immediate reward from that pick, the kid with the oversized glasses trusted Red completely. So did everyone. And watching that tiny version of myself on TV ... I couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

[maven]

Nuggets will play the Spurs.

Get ready for flopping, crying, and complaining to the refs. It would be great to knock the Spurs out.

Manu predictions: 15 flops, 20 crybaby moments, and 8 complaints

Duncan predictions: 0 flop, 12 crybaby moments, and 40 complaints.

[maven]

And don't forget Parker and Bowen.

Parker predictions: 8 flops, 14 crybaby moments, and 18 complaints.

Bowen predictions: 19 flops, 26 crybaby moments, and 22 complaints.

[Paladin]

Nuggets will play the Spurs.

Get ready for flopping, crying, and complaining to the refs. It would be great to knock the Spurs out.

Manu predictions: 15 flops, 20 crybaby moments, and 8 complaints

Duncan predictions: 0 flop, 12 crybaby moments, and 40 complaints.

You are purposely trying to make the Spurts look good? Or do you underestimate out of some sense of pity?

[Paladin]

And what do you think of the second game?

[Clockwork Orange]

The flopping is annoying, but what I really don't like is Bowen's nasty habit of undercutting opponents when they're shooting jump shots. It's a dangerous, dirty play which is supposed to be a foul, but he seems to get away with it practically every time he does it.

The Spurs are a tough, experienced, well-coached team. I don't believe the Nuggets have much of a shot at winning the series, but I'd like to see them push it as far as possible.

[RhymesayersDU]

I wonder if people will be selling those "Spurs Suck" shirts outside Pepsi again. Even though the Spurs will beat us, I want one of those shirts.

[ludo21]

Go Nuggs!!

That will be a tough series, they are a very good team. But the Nuggs have enough firepower and big guys to throw at Duncan that they have a decent shot to push it to 7 games...

Im bidding on tix for Tues last home game, wish me luck!!

[maven]

You are purposely trying to make the Spurts look good? Or do you underestimate out of some sense of pity?

They weren't series predictions. They were each game predictions.:pimp:

[Clockwork Orange]

I've been saying for years that Joey Crawford should not be an NBA referee due to the fact that he's got ridiculously thin skin, the worst case of rabbit ears ever and the shortest fuse you'll ever see. This is a guy who just loses it at players, coaches and even broadcasters when he doesn't like what they say to or about him.

Today he went too far, even for him.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=270415006

Crawford hit Duncan with two technical fouls just 1:16 apart late in the third quarter of San Antonio's 91-86 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. The second came while he was laughing on the bench and meant an automatic ejection, just the second of his nine-year career.

"He looked at me and said, 'Do you want to fight? Do you want to fight?"' Duncan said. "If he wants to fight, we can fight. I don't have any problem with him, but we can do it if he wants to. I have no reason why in the middle of a game he would yell at me, 'Do you want to fight?"'
--------------

Now I know that officials are usually bulletproof when it comes to any sanctions from the league, but this is just off the page. You can't have referees challenging players to fights, you just can't.

David Stern seems to have been in a punishing mood all season, it's time for him to take care of the problem that is Joey Crawford. He went way out of line this time.

[Pendejo]

I've been saying for years that Joey Crawford should not be an NBA referee due to the fact that he's got ridiculously thin skin, the worst case of rabbit ears ever and the shortest fuse you'll ever see. This is a guy who just loses it at players, coaches and even broadcasters when he doesn't like what they say to or about him.

Today he went too far, even for him.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=270415006

Crawford hit Duncan with two technical fouls just 1:16 apart late in the third quarter of San Antonio's 91-86 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. The second came while he was laughing on the bench and meant an automatic ejection, just the second of his nine-year career.

"He looked at me and said, 'Do you want to fight? Do you want to fight?"' Duncan said. "If he wants to fight, we can fight. I don't have any problem with him, but we can do it if he wants to. I have no reason why in the middle of a game he would yell at me, 'Do you want to fight?"'
--------------

Now I know that officials are usually bulletproof when it comes to any sanctions from the league, but this is just off the page. You can't have referees challenging players to fights, you just can't.

David Stern seems to have been in a punishing mood all season, it's time for him to take care of the problem that is Joey Crawford. He went way out of line this time.

I tuned into the game right when that stuff was going down. At one point after the ejection they showed Duncan sitting on the bench after he got the first technical...he didn't say a thing unless he's a kick ass ventriloquist.

It's not good for anyone when officials in any sport are confrontational. (See some MLB umpires.)

[Clockwork Orange]

I tuned into the game right when that stuff was going down. At one point after the ejection they showed Duncan sitting on the bench after he got the first technical...he didn't say a thing unless he's a kick ass ventriloquist.

It's not good for anyone when officials in any sport are confrontational. (See some MLB umpires.)

Crawford probably didn't like the way Duncan looked at him and decided that was worthy of a second technical.

I remember a Nuggets game within the last couple of years in which Crawford stopped and yelled at Nuggets broadcaster Scott Hastings while play was going on because Hastings said something critical about a call he had made. Dude has got the worst case of rabbit ears in recorded history.

He's got no business being an NBA referee.

[RhymesayersDU]

Crawford is indeed a douche.

[Clockwork Orange]

After checking out the video & audio that were aired, Crawford looks like even more of a dick (if that's possible). Duncan got the second technical for laughing. Didn't say a word to Crawford, he was sitting on the bench laughing and ol' Joey decided that was crossing the line.

Unreal.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Crawford probably didn't like the way Duncan looked at him and decided that was worthy of a second technical.


Crawford literally ejected Don Nelson for looking at him once when he coached Dallas. No joke.

[ludo21]

Going to Suns last home game tommorow WOOOO!!!

Ill try and get some playoff tix, but not likely...

Go Golden State, get that 8th seed!

[RhymesayersDU]

If the Nuggets ever sign a halfway decent Greek player, I am soooo copying all those Linas Kleiza fans. That is awesome.

[Rascal]

What's up with JR still being on the bench till just recently?

I figured he was banged up or something till he just went in. Is he in the doghouse or something?

[Man-Goblin]

Spurs are resting their 'big three'.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2839897

[RhymesayersDU]

I totally should have bet the Grizzlies tonight.

I wonder who plays for us on Wednesday? I know everybody is leary of last year's late season collapse going into the playoffs, but I still wonder if Melo or AI will play. Hell, Camby didn't play tonight.

[Tredici]

If the Nuggets ever sign a halfway decent Greek player, I am soooo copying all those Linas Kleiza fans. That is awesome.

When Aebischer was in net for the Avs at least once a year a Swiss contingent would show up and do the same thing. Its heartwarming to watch for some reason.

And I don't know who gets the most improved award. Right now I'm undecided between Kleiza and NeNe.

It was also cool to see Champ and Dre hanging out there. And both of them referring to the Nuggets as "we".

[Clockwork Orange]

If the Nuggets ever sign a halfway decent Greek player, I am soooo copying all those Linas Kleiza fans. That is awesome.

I was directly across the aisle from the Lithuanian fans. They were awesome. They went nuts whenever Kleiza did anything. :)

[Clockwork Orange]

When Aebischer was in net for the Avs at least once a year a Swiss contingent would show up and do the same thing. Its heartwarming to watch for some reason.

My buddy Zac, who's an usher at Pepsi Center, still has a scarf he bought from the Aebischer fan club that's decorated with the Swiss flag and the phrase, "Who Let the Swiss Out?" on it.

Those guys were serious die hards. They made the treks to see Aebi play going all the way back to his days in Hershey.

[RhymesayersDU]

I was directly across the aisle from the Lithuanian fans. They were awesome. They went nuts whenever Kleiza did anything. :)

Dude, you should have heard the telecast. Marlowe & Hastings were gushing over them during the whole second half. At one point in the 3rd, they just said on the fly "Hey, why don't we get Julie up there for an interview?"

The camera was on them like every 5 seconds. I thought it was awesome. Of course, it didn't hurt that Linas was playing real well.

[maven]

Hey, don't forget Coach Pop!

Predictions: 22 dumb and awkward looks, 10 yacking attempts at the refs, 14 explanations by the refs, 0.5 ejections.

It's going to be a fun series to watch vs the Spurs...

[Clockwork Orange]

Dude, you should have heard the telecast. Marlowe & Hastings were gushing over them during the whole second half. At one point in the 3rd, they just said on the fly "Hey, why don't we get Julie up there for an interview?"

The camera was on them like every 5 seconds. I thought it was awesome. Of course, it didn't hurt that Linas was playing real well.

They were raucous. I mean they went nuts if he so much as sank a free throw. The game was meaningless, so the atmosphere was pretty subdued......except for them. They had a blast and it was infectuous.

I have to admit, I snuck a few glances over at them after a few Kleiza baskets because it did not suck to see some of those Lithuanian ladies jump up and down. :~ohyah!:

[Pendejo]

My buddy Zac, who's an usher at Pepsi Center, still has a scarf he bought from the Aebischer fan club that's decorated with the Swiss flag and the phrase, "Who Let the Swiss Out?" on it.

Those guys were serious die hards. They made the treks to see Aebi play going all the way back to his days in Hershey.

That's sweet.

Aebi's fanclub got a lot of air time whenever they were in attendance and the Avs were on ESPN.

[ludo21]

o well, I guess we wont be getting our Franchise record wins this year.....

Ill be there tommorow tho for the season closer, i am pumped!!! :strong:

[Nuggets4]

They were raucous. I mean they went nuts if he so much as sank a free throw. The game was meaningless, so the atmosphere was pretty subdued......except for them. They had a blast and it was infectuous.

I have to admit, I snuck a few glances over at them after a few Kleiza baskets because it did not suck to see some of those Lithuanian ladies jump up and down. :~ohyah!:

Ditto. Plus the comedy of the one guy copping a feel as the girls would jump up and down was pretty great.

[BroncoBuff]

Nice win ... Camby rests, good 3rd quarter blast to seal it, Kleiza played well. Anybody have YouTube of the Lithuanian fans?

And as far as the Spurs resting .... they did that two years ago and we smacked them in Game 1.

[Rohirrim]

Basketball sucks. :pfbbt:

:nyahdevil

[Clockwork Orange]

Ditto. Plus the comedy of the one guy copping a feel as the girls would jump up and down was pretty great.

You noticed that, too? That was hysterical, but she didn't seem to mind.

Perhaps Lithuanians are just very affectionate people. :)

[epicSocialism4tw]

Are you guys getting ready for Palms-Up 2007?

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000501/2696_f7.gif

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/andrewlazor/duncan.jpg

http://www.mistilynn.com/rh04-25.jpg


http://www.sportsblabbers.com/postimages/manucomplains

http://www.mysanantonio.com/multimedia/slideshows/show_584/SPURS-SONICS-D--JL-4.jpg

http://theassociation.blogs.com/the_association/200610121050_2.jpg

[ludo21]

wth?

u mean the Spurs whining all playoffs?

Llama, how do you feel with the Warriors possibly getting the 8th spot. They give you guys a tough time, Im hoping they get it!

[epicSocialism4tw]

wth?
u mean the Spurs whining all playoffs?
Llama, how do you feel with the Warriors possibly getting the 8th spot. They give you guys a tough time, Im hoping they get it!


The Warriors have not seen a motivated Mavs team. I'm not worried by them at all. I've seen enough Nellieball to know that it will not beat a team like Dallas in the playoffs.

[bendog]

The Ok City Supersonics?

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-supersonicsarena&prov=ap&type=lgns

[BroncoBuff]

The Ok City Supersonics?

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-supersonicsarena&prov=ap&type=lgns

Yeah ... yesterday was the deadline here for a new arena, and the failed the test.

I must admit that Key Arena is pretty poor. It would be adequate- just adequate - for a college. Stark contrast to Qwest Field - the best football stadium I've ever been in.

[Nuggets4]

You noticed that, too? That was hysterical, but she didn't seem to mind.

Perhaps Lithuanians are just very affectionate people. :)

I told Amy we needed to move to Lithuania. She hit me.

BTW, I'm enjoying a MAVS fan criticizing another team for whining to the refs.

[RhymesayersDU]

The Ok City Supersonics?

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-supersonicsarena&prov=ap&type=lgns

OK City was put in a very unique position, being able to try out an NBA franchise for two years. Cities don't get that chance, you either take one on for years or you don't. But OK City loved those Hornets. Every game I saw of theirs, the fans were loving it. I can see why any owner (and the NBA itself) would want to have a franchise there.

It kinda stinks, because I grew up with Payton, Kemp, etc. Seattle and the Sonics went together. But business is business, and as I understand it, the legitimately need a new arena, and aren't getting it.

If it happens, OK City would be a good home for them, I think... Unless the people have already gotten an attachment to the Hornets, and would rather follow them on TV.

[epicSocialism4tw]

BTW, I'm enjoying a MAVS fan criticizing another team for whining to the refs.


What do you mean by that? Be specific, please.

[Nuggets4]

What do you mean by that? Be specific, please.

I mean you guys whine more than anyone else in the league. No need to be specific. Watch ANY game.

[azbroncfan]

What do you mean by that? Be specific, please.

NBA conspiracy wanted the Heat to win, Heat didn't win series we gave it away, refs multiple times cuban fined, Crawford had vendetta against mavs...

[epicSocialism4tw]

I mean you guys whine more than anyone else in the league. No need to be specific. Watch ANY game.

In other words, "I've got nothing."

[epicSocialism4tw]

NBA conspiracy wanted the Heat to win, Heat didn't win series we gave it away, refs multiple times cuban fined, Crawford had vendetta against mavs...

Crawford never had a vendetta against Dallas.

[Man-Goblin]

I mean you guys whine more than anyone else in the league. No need to be specific. Watch ANY game.

Nuggets, I love your posts, and I hate to disagree, but I do. There is no way the Mavs whine more than the Spurs. The Spurs almost put the 90's Jazz to shame with their whining. I honestly believe that pseudo rule the NBA put in for the first 3 weeks of this season was all about the Spurs.

Too bad they didn't keep it.

[Tredici]

Whining isn't anything new. I remember I used to cringe whenever a foul was called on Magic Johnson. I kept thinking here is one of the greatest basketball players in the world and he can't just raise his hand and get on with it.

[Clockwork Orange]

Whining isn't anything new. I remember I used to cringe whenever a foul was called on Magic Johnson. I kept thinking here is one of the greatest basketball players in the world and he can't just raise his hand and get on with it.

No joke. Michael Jordan spent every stoppage yapping at the referees, including timeouts in which he'd spend more time lobbying for calls than he would in the huddle.

[epicSocialism4tw]

No joke. Michael Jordan spent every stoppage yapping at the referees, including timeouts in which he'd spend more time lobbying for calls than he would in the huddle.

Thats what kills me about the Spurs as well. Pop will call a timeout and will walk onto the court to spend the entire timeout yapping at the head official.

I have the feeling that if the players and coaches knew what the heck to expect from the officials from game to game, that you would see a little bit more respectable behavior from the worst lobbyists in the game. Duncan just happens to be the absolute worst.

Officiating in the NBA is subjective right now, and there is zero consistency. It's really a joke, and it is influenced by mandates from the commish himself concerning certain players. The whole thing stinks. You cant look at NBA officiating and honestly say that there is any sort of respectable design or framework to it. It is loose enough that it can be changed to suit the needs of whoever or whatever would want to influence it, and it's discipline (or lack thereof) is held entirely in secrecy. NBA reffing is a farce. The players and coaches know it.

[Clockwork Orange]

It's nothing new. Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing travelled practically everytime they caught the ball in the post (a fun game back in the day was to count how many times Olajuwon changed his pivot foot on each possession). Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller got into a scrum during a game that saw Jordan grab Miller by the face and shove him backwards. Miller got ejected, Jordan didn't. Shaq, one of the largest men in the NBA, has spent his career lowering his shoulder into opponents and knocking them over. He then accuses them all of flopping and gets the benefit of the doubt from officials.

Same old same old.

[epicSocialism4tw]

It's nothing new. Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing travelled practically everytime they caught the ball in the post (a fun game back in the day was to count how many times Olajuwon changed his pivot foot on each possession). Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller got into a scrum during a game that saw Jordan grab Miller by the face and shove him backwards. Miller got ejected, Jordan didn't. Shaq, one of the largest men in the NBA, has spent his career lowering his shoulder into opponents and knocking them over. He then accuses them all of flopping and gets the benefit of the doubt from officials.

Same old same old.


You forgot Malone's elbows.

David Stern's tenure has seen the same officiating garbage from year to year. I've gotten to the point where I abhor the NBA, but I enjoy the Mavs. I guess that many fans carry similar opinions regarding the NBA. It's a Chuck E. Cheese league. Right down to the smiling, fluffy robotic characters they have dancing on the stage.

[Clockwork Orange]

You forgot Malone's elbows.

David Stern's tenure has seen the same officiating garbage from year to year. I've gotten to the point where I abhor the NBA, but I enjoy the Mavs. I guess that many fans carry similar opinions regarding the NBA. It's a Chuck E. Cheese league. Right down to the smiling, fluffy robotic characters they have dancing on the stage.

I'll just say the same thing I say about the NHL & MLB. No matter how poorly run the league is, I'll always love the game.

[epicSocialism4tw]

I'll just say the same thing I say about the NHL & MLB. No matter how poorly run the league is, I'll always love the game.

Sure.

Here's a rant that I have while were on the subject (warning...if you dont like my takes on basketball you should probably skip the rest of this)...

Mark Cuban is an annoying personality. We all understand that. He can be nauseatingly obtuse. But, at the same time, I think that the potential is there for him to revolutionize the NBA. If the way he has made the Mavs bloom is any indication, there is quite a bit of potential there.

Cuban entered NBA ownership somewhat naive. He was a long-time Mavs season ticket holder who was tired of watching his favorite team lose all the time, so he bought the team and devoted his time to it. The first major organizational problem that Cuban encountered was the officiating. He made this known. He did not subject himself to the NBA's hush-hush good 'ol boy framework, and he got punished for it. Cuban recognized that the NBA sent down mandates to emphasize certain rules for certain players, and he recognized that there were other inconsistencies that the NBA would not address. So Mark decided to inundate the league office with notices about the problem. What did the league do? Use their media contacts to try to marginalize Cuban.

I'm not saying that Cuban is always right about everything, but he has always been right about the officiating.

He's a superfan with inside knowledge about the way the league relates to its players through the officiating.

In fact, Cuban admitted to nearly selling the team this summer because of some specific information he had learned about the league officiating mandates during the finals. You may have heard a little about his attendance at "David Stern University" over the summer? He subtly indicates general things that the league does under the table. He was going to sell the team and write a book about the league.

He spent some time with Nowtizki this summer and Nowitzki convinced him to stay on for this season. All bets are off this summer though.

A tell-all book from Cuban would be quite a read. It could kill the league in reality.

[Master___Pain]

So....Marcus Camby for DPOY? Seems like he should win that thing finally

[Tredici]

Duncan Hopes Refs Treat Spurs Fairly
By ELIZABETH WHITE, Associated Press Writer
28 minutes ago

SAN ANTONIO - Spurs star Tim Duncan said he hopes he and his teammates "get a fair shake" from officials in the wake of NBA referee Joey Crawford's suspension.

NBA commissioner David Stern suspended Crawford, who has worked more postseason games than any active ref, indefinitely on Tuesday for his conduct toward Duncan during a game Sunday. His suspension will last at least through the NBA finals.

"I didn't do anything to invoke the reaction that he gave to me and what he did, so I had nothing to do with that," Duncan said after practice Wednesday. "So hopefully they take that into consideration and we get a fair shake from everybody."

Duncan's comments Wednesday were his first since Crawford's suspension.

Crawford ejected Duncan from San Antonio's loss to Dallas on Sunday after calling a second technical foul on the Spurs star while he was laughing on the bench.

"He looked at me and said, 'Do you want to fight? Do you want to fight?'" Duncan said after the incident. "If he wants to fight, we can fight. I don't have any problem with him, but we can do it if he wants to. I have no reason why in the middle of a game he would yell at me, 'Do you want to fight?'"

Crawford was cited for "improper conduct" and "inappropriate comments made to Duncan during the game." Stern said Crawford's actions "failed to meet the standards of professionalism and game management we expect of NBA referees."

"Especially in light of similar prior acts by this official, a significant suspension is warranted," Stern said in a statement. "Although Joey is consistently rated as one of our top referees, he must be held accountable for his actions on the floor, and we will have further discussions with him following the season to be sure he understands his responsibilities."

Duncan said Wednesday that his part of the incident was "absolutely minimal."

The NBA fined Duncan $25,000 for verbal abuse of an official. Crawford said Duncan referred to him with an expletive.

"I thought my reaction was mild for what happened," Duncan said. "But I understand why the fine was made."

Asked if he was surprised at the length of Crawford's suspension, Duncan said he didn't know what to expect, but "I didn't know it was going to be that much."

"They thought that's what fit the crime," he said.

Duncan repeatedly stressed that he had nothing to do with the NBA's decision.

"The whole thing is an unfortunate situation," he said. "I didn't want to be a part of it in the first place."


I think one of the Nuggets needs a rebuttal. Hope Denver can give a fair shake when the NBA is done bending over backwards to compensate Tim Duncan....

[Rock Chalk]

I think one of the Nuggets needs a rebuttal. Hope Denver can give a fair shake when the NBA is done bending over backwards to compensate Tim Duncan....

Bending over backwards to compensate Tim Duncan....thats why they levied a 25 thousand dollar fine for an expletive towards him.

To put that in perspective, thas about 2/3rds the average annual salary of an American. For a bad word.

You sound like a homer Nugget fan Deb. You know I love you but that prick deserved to be suspended and Duncan was handed a much heavier fine than warranted IMO.

And dont get it twisted, when I watch the NBA (generally the playoffs only) I root for the Rockets and no other team. I cant stand the Mavs or the Spurs so its not like Im taking Duncan's side for homer reasons.

[rubaiyat]

So....Marcus Camby for DPOY? Seems like he should win that thing finally

I think the sentimental fave will be Bowen unfortunately.

[Tredici]

Bending over backwards to compensate Tim Duncan....thats why they levied a 25 thousand dollar fine for an expletive towards him.

To put that in perspective, thas about 2/3rds the average annual salary of an American. For a bad word.

You sound like a homer Nugget fan Deb. You know I love you but that prick deserved to be suspended and Duncan was handed a much heavier fine than warranted IMO.

And dont get it twisted, when I watch the NBA (generally the playoffs only) I root for the Rockets and no other team. I cant stand the Mavs or the Spurs so its not like Im taking Duncan's side for homer reasons.

Let's not get carried away. That was more a slam intended towards the god awful officiating. If you watched a few more Nuggets games and realized how seldom they get any calls, you'd probably understand a bit better. And you have a strange perspective. Doesn't mean beans for what 25K means to the average American. It's pocket change for Duncan.

I don't like any team having to resort to the media in regards to the officiating. Except when Dan Issel did it against the Sonics....;)

[Clockwork Orange]

The Spurs would be foolish not to try and parlay this whole situation into any kind of advantage they can get from it. This is where someone from the Nuggets needs to just drop an offhand comment or two about how they hope the officiating will be fair and balanced.

It's the playoffs, let the gamesmanship begin.

[epicSocialism4tw]

The Spurs would be foolish not to try and parlay this whole situation into any kind of advantage they can get from it. This is where someone from the Nuggets needs to just drop an offhand comment or two about how they hope the officiating will be fair and balanced.

It's the playoffs, let the gamesmanship begin.

No doubt.

Phil Jackson is a master at this referee baiting.

The Spurs are the league's absolute worst whiners. There is no competition for first place. They win by a country mile.

[Clockwork Orange]

Scoreboard watching right now to see who gets Phoenix and who gets Dallas.

The Warriors are up 18 at the half against the Blazers, so it looks like they're in. The Lakers are losing at halftime to the Kings.

If the Lakers win, they're the #7 seed and will play the Suns regardless of what Golden State does. If Golden State wins and the Lakers lose, the Warriors will play the Suns and the Lakers get the Mavs.

[Clockwork Orange]

Just a side note. With the standings basically completed, the 76ers will officially receive the 21st pick (Denver's) and the 30th pick (Dallas') from the Allen Iverson trade.

[RhymesayersDU]

Well, Nugs finish with 45 wins.

Jesus, what could have been. 15 games without Carmelo. Those early season home losses to Memphis and New York really sting too. Utah had a fantastic season, but man, we could have at least made it interesting.

Gotta love playing the what if game.

[ludo21]

Lakers winning by 10...

I hope they hold on, I really want GS to get that 8th spot and give the MAvs a tough fun series to watch.

[azbroncfan]

When does the playoff schedule come out?

[Clockwork Orange]

When does the playoff schedule come out?

I would think either tonight or tomorrow.

[Clockwork Orange]

Matchups are set.

Eastern Conference
1. Detroit vs. 8. Orlando
2. Cleveland vs. 7. Washington
3. Toronto vs. 6. New Jersey
4. Miami vs. 5. Chicago

Western Conference
1. Dallas vs. 8. Golden State
2. Phoenix vs. 7. L.A. Lakers
3. San Antonio vs. 6. Denver
4. Houston vs. 5. Utah

[RhymesayersDU]

I think Toronto is going to really surprise some people here.

[Clockwork Orange]

Cleveland basically gets a first round bye going up against the Wizards with no Arenas or Butler.

[RhymesayersDU]

Indeed they do. Can't believe Chicago laid such an egg tonight with that on the line. Now they have to deal with Shaq & Wade.

[Clockwork Orange]

I think Toronto is going to really surprise some people here.

The real intriguing thing about the Raptors/Nets matchup is going to be the Toronto fans & media absolutely crushing Vince Carter.

I'm not sure hate is a strong enough word to describe how they feel about him up north and for good reason.

[Clockwork Orange]

Indeed they do. Can't believe Chicago laid such an egg tonight with that on the line. Now they have to deal with Shaq & Wade.

Chicago does have one thing to smile about. The Knicks finished with the 6th worst record in the NBA and the Bulls have the right to swap 1st rounders with New York. If the lottery holds true to form, they'll get the 6th pick in the draft. Of course, there's always the possibility that the Knicks number could come up and land in the top 3.

Either way, the Eddy Curry trade continues to haunt New York. :laugh:

Speaking of teams smiling, the Suns own Atlanta's 1st rounder this year so long as it's not in the top 3 (Joe Johnson trade). The Hawks had the 4th worst record in the league, so if the lottery holds true to form, Phoenix will be picking 4th in the coming draft.

[epicSocialism4tw]

The real intriguing thing about the Raptors/Nets matchup is going to be the Toronto fans & media absolutely crushing Vince Carter.

I'm not sure hate is a strong enough word to describe how they feel about him up north and for good reason.


Vince Carter is everything that's wrong with the NBA. Not to say that he's necessarily a bad guy, but he quit on that franchise. The management, coaches, and fans all put their trust in him to come through. He crapped all over them.

Carter will be remembered only because the highlight gimps at ESPiN rode him like a wet horse. He's a garbage player.

[Clockwork Orange]

The management, coaches, and fans all put their trust in him to come through. He crapped all over them.

They also put about $15 million per season into him and he repayed them by dogging it on the court because he wanted to be traded. Even worse was him admitting that he dogged it after he was dealt.

He's gonna get booed, heckled and ridiculed the entire time he's up there and he deserves every bit of it.

[epicSocialism4tw]

I think Toronto is going to really surprise some people here.

Toronto is very good. In fact, I think that they have a solid chance to end up in the conference finals. It depends on how LeBron James plays and how the officials call the games, but I like Toronto's chances against Cleveland. Toronto has legit post scoring and defense in Bosh, and Bargnani is going to be a great player. He's Nowitzki Jr. Bosh has a better offensive game than Garnett, but imagine Nowitzki and Garnett growing together through the playoffs...that's what we could be seeing in Toronto.

They have solid guards, and role players who can make a difference.

Toronto is as legit as anyone not named Detroit.

[Clockwork Orange]

First round schedule is out.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2007/news/story?id=2842572

Saturday, April 21
Orlando at Detroit, 7 p.m.
New Jersey at Toronto, 12:30 p.m.
Utah at Houston, 9:30 p.m.
Miami at Chicago, 3 p.m.

Sunday, April 22
Denver at San Antonio, 7 p.m.
Washington at Cleveland, 12:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, 3 p.m.
Golden State at Dallas, 9:30 p.m.

Monday, April 23
Orlando at Detroit, 7 p.m.
Utah at Houston, 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 24
L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m.
Miami at Chicago, 8 p.m.
New Jersey at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, April 25
Washington at Cleveland, 8 p.m.
Denver at San Antonio, 7 p.m.
Golden State at Dallas, 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 26
Detroit at Orlando, 8 p.m.
Houston at Utah, 9 p.m.
Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.

Friday, April 27
Dallas at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Chicago at Miami, 8 p.m.
Toronto at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 28
Detroit at Orlando, 3 p.m.
Cleveland at Washington, 5:30 p.m.
Houston at Utah, 10:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Denver, 8 p.m.

Sunday, April 29
Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, 3:30p.m.
Dallas at Golden State, 10 p.m.
Chicago at Miami, 1 p.m.
Toronto at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.

Monday, April 30
Cleveland at Washington, TBD
Utah at Houston, TBD, if necessary
San Antonio at Denver, TBD

Tuesday, May 1
Orlando at Detroit, TBD, if necessary
Golden State at Dallas, TBD, if necessary
Miami at Chicago, TBD, if necessary
New Jersey at Toronto, TBD, if necessary

Wednesday, May 2
L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, TBD, if necessary
Washington at Cleveland, TBD, if necessary
Denver at San Antonio, TBD, if necessary

Thursday, May 3
Dallas at Golden State, TBD, if necessary
Detroit at Orlando, TBD, if necessary
Houston at Utah, TBD, if necessary
Chicago at Miami, TBD, if necessary

Friday, May 4
Cleveland at Washington, TBD, if necessary
San Antonio at Denver, TBD, if necessary
Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, TBD, if necessary
Toronto at New Jersey, TBD, if necessary

Saturday, May 5
Orlando at Detroit, TBD, if necessary
Utah at Houston, TBD, if necessary
Golden State at Dallas, TBD, if necessary
Miami at Chicago, TBD, if necessary

Sunday, May 6
Denver at San Antonio, TBD, if necessary
Washington at Cleveland, TBD, if necessary
L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, TBD, if necessary
New Jersey at Toronto, TBD, if necessary

[TheChamp24]

I just want to know why Cleveland is #2 and Chicago #5. How does that work out? I know Cleveland had the 2nd most wins, but Chicago had the 3rd most. NBA playoff seeding is confusing now...

[epicSocialism4tw]

I just want to know why Cleveland is #2 and Chicago #5. How does that work out? I know Cleveland had the 2nd most wins, but Chicago had the 3rd most. NBA playoff seeding is confusing now...

The team with the better record will have home court in Rd. 1.

Chicago will have home court vs. Miami.

[TheChamp24]

The team with the better record will have home court in Rd. 1.

Chicago will have home court vs. Miami.

But why is Cleveland the 2nd seed? Shouldn't that be Toronto, then Miami, then Cleveland?

[RhymesayersDU]

First round schedule is out.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2007/news/story?id=2842572

Saturday, April 21
Orlando at Detroit, 7 p.m.
New Jersey at Toronto, 12:30 p.m.
Utah at Houston, 9:30 p.m.
Miami at Chicago, 3 p.m.

Sunday, April 22
Denver at San Antonio, 7 p.m.
Washington at Cleveland, 12:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, 3 p.m.
Golden State at Dallas, 9:30 p.m.

Monday, April 23
Orlando at Detroit, 7 p.m.
Utah at Houston, 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 24
L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m.
Miami at Chicago, 8 p.m.
New Jersey at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, April 25
Washington at Cleveland, 8 p.m.
Denver at San Antonio, 7 p.m.
Golden State at Dallas, 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 26
Detroit at Orlando, 8 p.m.
Houston at Utah, 9 p.m.
Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.

Friday, April 27
Dallas at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
Chicago at Miami, 8 p.m.
Toronto at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 28
Detroit at Orlando, 3 p.m.
Cleveland at Washington, 5:30 p.m.
Houston at Utah, 10:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Denver, 8 p.m.

Sunday, April 29
Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, 3:30p.m.
Dallas at Golden State, 10 p.m.
Chicago at Miami, 1 p.m.
Toronto at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.

Monday, April 30
Cleveland at Washington, TBD
Utah at Houston, TBD, if necessary
San Antonio at Denver, TBD

Tuesday, May 1
Orlando at Detroit, TBD, if necessary
Golden State at Dallas, TBD, if necessary
Miami at Chicago, TBD, if necessary
New Jersey at Toronto, TBD, if necessary

Wednesday, May 2
L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, TBD, if necessary
Washington at Cleveland, TBD, if necessary
Denver at San Antonio, TBD, if necessary

Thursday, May 3
Dallas at Golden State, TBD, if necessary
Detroit at Orlando, TBD, if necessary
Houston at Utah, TBD, if necessary
Chicago at Miami, TBD, if necessary

Friday, May 4
Cleveland at Washington, TBD, if necessary
San Antonio at Denver, TBD, if necessary
Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, TBD, if necessary
Toronto at New Jersey, TBD, if necessary

Saturday, May 5
Orlando at Detroit, TBD, if necessary
Utah at Houston, TBD, if necessary
Golden State at Dallas, TBD, if necessary
Miami at Chicago, TBD, if necessary

Sunday, May 6
Denver at San Antonio, TBD, if necessary
Washington at Cleveland, TBD, if necessary
L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, TBD, if necessary
New Jersey at Toronto, TBD, if necessary

****. The NBA hosed me with scheduling.

Now I need to scramble for tickets for game 3.

[epicSocialism4tw]

But why is Cleveland the 2nd seed? Shouldn't that be Toronto, then Miami, then Cleveland?

The seeding rules are unneccesarily complicated.

It works like this:

The top four seeds are awarded to the 3 division winners + the non-division winning team with the best record.

Then those top four are sorted according to record. It was implemented to keep a situation like last years Mavs/Spurs tilt from happening in the second round again, but rather in the conference Finals. Dallas had the second-best record in the conference last season and played the Spurs, the only team with a better record, in the second round.

[ludo21]

Got the Lake showww...

man i hate them... ;D

if we rebound like we have the past 2 games, its going to be a very tough series...

Cant wait tho, Noon game will be sweeeeettt!!

Bring on the playoffs!! Good luck Nuggs, take out those nasty Spurs!!
And lets hope for a 7 game series in Dallas :)

[Inkana7]

Cavs are gonna turn it on and take it all, baby.

[Paladin]

Go Lakers......

[Master___Pain]

Well, Nugs finish with 45 wins.

Jesus, what could have been. 15 games without Carmelo. Those early season home losses to Memphis and New York really sting too. Utah had a fantastic season, but man, we could have at least made it interesting.

Gotta love playing the what if game.

The what if game is fun....you also left off the fact that Nene was out for 15+ games, JR missed 10 for the suspension and another 10 for the knee injury, Earl Boykins started a bunch of games, K-Mart, as worthless as he's been was playing decent early on before the latest surgery, coaches kid is going through cancer treatment yet again and so on. The fact that Nuggs won 45 games is very impressive to me. Hopefully they can ride the recent hot streak into the playoffs, but the Spurs are a brutal match up for them. This team is so much better than the 2005 team that played the Spurs however.

[epicSocialism4tw]

It looks like Nowitzki is probably going to pick up his first MVP award.



"Dirk Nowitzki is going to be the MVP sometime in the next month.

Over the last couple of weeks, a straw poll of MVP voters from around the country revealed that more than 75 percent of those contacted said they were voting Nowitzki No. 1 on the MVP ballot.

Nowitzki was either first or second on every ballot.
So for what it's worth, our sampling shows Nowitzki should pocket the first MVP trophy in Mavericks history. "
http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/nwsltr/sports/mavs/stories/041907dnspomavsletter.2717ba7.html

http://www.interbasket.net/players/nowitzki4.jpg

[Clockwork Orange]

It's rigged. They're just trying to sell more Dirk jerseys in the hood. ;D

[Clockwork Orange]

Carmelo Anthony named Western Conference Playey of the Month for April.

http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/anthony_POM_041907.html

[ludo21]

he doesnt deserve it. He has a great team around him ;D

[epicSocialism4tw]

It's rigged. They're just trying to sell more Dirk jerseys in the hood.

Dirk should have won the award last season, and could have very well been working on his third. Dirk doesnt have a PR group working for him.

The people that have been voting for Dirk have been the regular market beat writers. They are the guys that cover the NBA, and who see Dirk play when he comes to town.

The early poll doesnt mean much more than that the sample they ended up with showed lean toward Dirk, but its encouraging.

[epicSocialism4tw]

http://img.slate.com/media/1/123125/123037/2133425/2142799/060607_SN_sunsMavsEX.jpg
http://cache.deadspin.com/assets/resources/2007/01/dirk!.jpg
http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/9a5080ed-4136-4dca-a2be-623a3827fb9d/nowitzki061006.jpg
http://www.unt.edu/northtexan/winter06ntmavericks/p7hg_img_1/fullsize/11scrimmage283_sm_fs.jpg

[Clockwork Orange]

I was just busting your chops a little. I didn't realize that my lighthearted remark was not only going to inspire a "Dirk's the people's champ" speech, but a Dirk photo montage as well.

Lighten up, dude. Your boy looks like he's going to win the MVP award you so badly covet.

[ludo21]

Whats funny is whenever someone says so and so should win it, llama goes crazy that it doesnt matter and all that matters is the title... and then goes into Dirk mode later ;D

[Master___Pain]

I was just busting your chops a little. I didn't realize that my lighthearted remark was not only going to inspire a "Dirk's the people's champ" speech, but a Dirk photo montage as well.

Um, CO, this is exactly what I envisioned after your tongue in cheek remark. It was as predictable as the Sun setting in the west.

[epicSocialism4tw]

I was just busting your chops a little. I didn't realize that my lighthearted remark was not only going to inspire a "Dirk's the people's champ" speech, but a Dirk photo montage as well.
Lighten up, dude. Your boy looks like he's going to win the MVP award you so badly covet.

I was just venting a bit. Not at you, but in general.

Dirk isnt the people's champ, that's for sure. Dirk just left very little doubt.

It's hard to vote against the fourth-best record of all time. Especially in a league where "superstars" usually have benchmarks like the one Dirk just made that separate their careers from other players'.

[Clockwork Orange]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04192007/sports/knicks/knicks_finish_in_style_knicks_marc_berman.htm

Thomas said he believes the Knicks are the best 33-49 team ever assembled.

LOL :rofl: :laugh: Hilarious! Ha! ROFL!

That is ****ing priceless.

[Tredici]

I was just busting your chops a little. I didn't realize that my lighthearted remark was not only going to inspire a "Dirk's the people's champ" speech, but a Dirk photo montage as well.

Lighten up, dude. Your boy looks like he's going to win the MVP award you so badly covet.


What did you do? Find a snapshot of Dirk choking in the clutch?
;D

[SoCalBronco]

Got the Lake showww...

man i hate them... ;D

if we rebound like we have the past 2 games, its going to be a very tough series...

Cant wait tho, Noon game will be sweeeeettt!!

Bring on the playoffs!! Good luck Nuggs, take out those nasty Spurs!!
And lets hope for a 7 game series in Dallas :)

Humiliate the Lakers, please.

[epicSocialism4tw]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04192007/sports/knicks/knicks_finish_in_style_knicks_marc_berman.htm

Thomas said he believes the Knicks are the best 33-49 team ever assembled.

LOL :rofl: :laugh: Hilarious! Ha! ROFL!

That is ****ing priceless.


Wow.

[ludo21]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04192007/sports/knicks/knicks_finish_in_style_knicks_marc_berman.htm

Thomas said he believes the Knicks are the best 33-49 team ever assembled.

LOL :rofl: :laugh: Hilarious! Ha! ROFL!

That is ****ing priceless.



to be fair they were on their way to the playoffs late March, but as it said, they got a little banged up and dropped...

Why am I defending the Knicks??? ;D

[maven]

to be fair they were on their way to the playoffs late March, but as it said, they got a little banged up and dropped...

Why am I defending the Knicks??? ;D

I'm not sure why because teams get injuries, yet somehow manage to make the playoffs.ROFL!

I'm thoroughly happy Thomas contract was extended.Ha!

[Clockwork Orange]

I'm thoroughly happy Thomas contract was extended.Ha!

I'm even happier that they went something like 4-14 after he signed that extension. :~ohyah!:

[ludo21]

I bet the Knicks get that ball for Oden...... ;D

Sounds like something the league would do....

:)

[Man-Goblin]

I bet the Knicks get that ball for Oden...... ;D

Sounds like something the league would do....

:)

Anyone else read Simmons' blog today? Verrrrrrrrrrry interesting.

I have breaking news: After 22 years of jokes, we now have indisputable video evidence that something fishy happened with the 1985 NBA Lottery. David Stern thought all videotapes of the event had been destroyed ... but no!!!!!!!!!!!! You can find the entire 10-minute lottery on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TgJE7C5wiU

Just in case they pull down the clip between the time we post this blog and the time you read this, here's what happens: when an accountant from Ernst & Whinney throws the seven envelopes into the glass drum, he bangs the fourth one against the side of the drum to create a creased corner (we'll explain why this is relevant in a second). Then he pulls a handle and turns the drum around a couple of times to "mix" the envelopes up. At the 5:23 mark of the clip, Stern heads over to the drum, unlocks it and awkwardly reaches inside for the first envelope (the No. 1 pick). He grabs three envelopes that are bunched together, pretends not to look (although he does) and flips the three envelopes so the one on the bottom ends up in his hand. Then he pulls that envelope out at the 5:32 mark ... and, of course, it's the Knicks envelope.

Now ...

A reader named Greg K. from Fair Lawn, N.J. (I'd give you his whole name, but I don't want him to be randomly found dead in his bathtub tonight), pointed this out to me: If you look closely right at the 5:31 mark, right as the commish yanks that Knicks envelope out, there's a noticeable crease in the corner of the envelope. You can see it for a split-second -- as he pulls the envelope up, it's on the corner that's pointing toward the bottom of the jar.

There's a giant crease! It's right there! The same one the accountant created as he was throwing the envelopes into the drum!

So you're telling me that, out of the seven envelopes in that glass drum, during a lottery when the NBA desperately needed the most ballyhooed college center in 15 years to save the league's marquee franchise, the commissioner coincidentally pulled out the envelope with a giant crease in the corner that happened to have the Knicks logo in it? This is the Zapruder film of sports tapes, isn't it? Where's Oliver Stone? Can we pull him out of the editing room for the "Alexander: The Really, REALLY Long Director's Cut" DVD?

Three other things kill me about this tape: First, the host was Pat O'Brien, who's now relegated to stories like "Are Paris and Nicole feuding again? We'll have the story next!" Second, as Pat is pumping up Ewing's pro potential, he passes along a quote from a scouting director who said, "'We've had the Mikan era, the Russell era, the Kareem era ... now we'll have the Ewing era,' and he added, he doesn't see another era on the horizon." Good call, scouting director! And third, as the envelopes get counted down, it's legitimately exciting -- you could even call it the most exciting random sports moment ever. At least until May 22, 2007.

[Clockwork Orange]

I bet the Knicks get that ball for Oden...... ;D

Sounds like something the league would do....

:)

It'd be hilarious if they did. Chicago has the right to swap 1st rounders with New York because of the Eddy Curry trade (the same one that got the Bulls the Knicks 1st rounder last year that ended up being used for Tyrus Thomas).

If the Knicks win the lottery, Greg Oden will be a Bull. I would love it because it'd make Isiah look like an even bigger tool. :D

[Clockwork Orange]

Anyone else read Simmons' blog today? Verrrrrrrrrrry interesting.

I have breaking news: After 22 years of jokes, we now have indisputable video evidence that something fishy happened with the 1985 NBA Lottery. David Stern thought all videotapes of the event had been destroyed ... but no!!!!!!!!!!!! You can find the entire 10-minute lottery on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TgJE7C5wiU

For years, everyone thought that they kept the Knicks envelope in a freezer so that Stern would know which one to pull. Now it turns out that they actually did it right in front of everyone's face. Wow.

This is what the lottery was designed to do, though. I know, the original explanation for it was that it would keep teams from tanking games for draft position (and we all see how well that worked).

It's only fair to mention that I'm very bitter when it comes to the lottery due to the fact that my team got ****ed by it year in and year out for about a decade.

[Tredici]

I don't know what all the drama is supposed to benefit anyway. Give the crappiest team the pick and move along. Unless, of course the crappiest team is the best 33-49 team ever assembled. Obviously they don't need help.

[Clockwork Orange]

If you really think about it, the Toronto Raptors have been screwed pretty hard by some of David Stern's rules, too.

First there was the ridiculous "expansion teams can't have the #1 pick their first year" rule, thus the Raptors were designated the #2 pick. The 1st pick went to the 76ers who used on a youngster from Georgetown named Allen Iverson.

Then there was Stern's recent age limit for players entering the draft. This prevents players from jumping straight from high school to the pros. This rule was implemented last year and guess who gets the 1st pick? Yep, Toronto. If Stern doesn't put that rule in place, Greg Oden would be a Raptor right now.

[-Slap-]

It's only fair to mention that I'm very bitter when it comes to the lottery due to the fact that my team got ****ed by it year in and year out for about a decade.

Getting screwed in the lottery sucks. Using lottery picks on Tony Battie or Chauncey Billups then trading him, sucks worse.

[Clockwork Orange]

Getting screwed in the lottery sucks. Using lottery picks on Tony Battie or Chauncey Billups then trading him, sucks worse.

:moody:

First of all, the Nuggets never drafted Chauncey Billups (they acquired him in a trade and then dealt him away for the legend known as Tariq Abdul Wahad). That would have actually been a good pick and they didn't do things like that back then. They did draft losers like Stif Lafrentz and Efthimios Rentzias (who Bernie Bickerstaff later admitted he'd never even seen), though.

Thanks for dropping in to twist that knife a little more, pal. :cuss:

[GSRelyea]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/nuggets/2007-04-19-playoffs-nene_N.htm

By Vicki Michaelis, USA TODAY
DENVER — For the Denver Nuggets' Nene, less is definitely proving to be more.
Nene, who has lost nearly 40 pounds since January, enters the Nuggets' first-round playoff series against San Antonio on a tear that has teammate Marcus Camby calling him "one of the best big men that we have in this league today."

The Nuggets have seen the best of their Brazilian forward-center in recent weeks, as he's set career highs in points (28 vs. Sacramento on April 4) and rebounds (17 vs. Detroit on March 26).


MORE ON THE NUGGETS: Denver team report

Such productivity against the Spurs would help open up the perimeter for league top-10 scorers Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson. The three, along with a much improved defensive effort led by Camby, made the Nuggets one of the NBA's hottest teams.

FIND MORE STORIES IN: NBA | Denver | San Antonio | Nuggets | Brazilian | Denver Nuggets | Marcus Camby
The Nuggets won 10 of 11 to close the regular season, including a 100-77 victory at San Antonio in a matchup of bench players on Wednesday. As the playoffs begin, Denver is looking to end its one-and-out postseason streak of the past three years.

"When Nene gives us that third piece and Marcus gives us a defensive piece, I like who we are when that happens," said Nuggets coach George Karl.

The Nuggets gave Nene a six-year, $60 million contract last summer even though he was a restricted free agent coming off a major knee injury. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the 2005-06 opener and missed the remainder of the season.

Nene, who describes himself as "very, very religious," said he prayed for a contract comparable to his game.

After struggling through the first three months of the season — even sitting out 12 games with a right knee bruise — he can claim they are on par.

"Now people know who I am because a lot of people say before, 'You're not going to come back the same.' Now I surprise everybody," he said.

In January, Nuggets strength and conditioning coach Steve Hess added more cardiovascular components to Nene's workouts and sold Nene on a diet with less fat, sugar and salt but more total calories.

A chef working with Hess prepares five meals per day for Nene, putting them in a cooler for road games. The meals include lean meats and vegetables, many prepared Brazilian-style, with beans and rice.

"I've seen a turnaround in him in his performance, everywhere, the way he lifts," Hess said. "It's the most amazing thing I've ever seen."

The 6-11 Nene went from a high of 278 pounds to around 240 now. An NBA all-rookie first-teamer in 2003, he re-entered the Nuggets starting lineup in early February. He has averaged 14.9 points on better than 60% shooting in the 38 games since.

"A lot of people were writing him off in the beginning of the year," Camby said, "saying he was too heavy, he was fat … but he just kept working on his game and working on his body to the point where he's getting the last laugh right now."


Posted 18h 26m ago

[Tredici]

It's only fair to mention that I'm very bitter when it comes to the lottery due to the fact that my team got ****ed by it year in and year out for about a decade.

Could've been worse. If Detroit hadn't stepped up and said "Darko Milosovich".

:~ohyah!:

[Clockwork Orange]

Could've been worse. If Detroit hadn't stepped up and said "Darko Milosovich".

:~ohyah!:

The really sick thing is that Kiki wanted to draft Darko real, real bad.

Had that happened, we'd be waiting for May 22nd for our latest lottery screw job right now.

[Man-Goblin]

Could've been worse. If Detroit hadn't stepped up and said "Darko Milosovich".

:~ohyah!:

Not funny.

[Clockwork Orange]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2007/news/story?id=2844252

Oden, Connelly & Cook all declare for the NBA draft.

[TheChamp24]

Oh man, I would've cried if we ended up with the #2 pick that year. Another decade of lottery picks...
Remember Shivtsivilli? Man, lol, I couldn't believe that. #5 overall pick for a guy who was a freakin backup in Europe! At least that pick enabled the Nugz to select Melo the next year.
But god, I remember that Rentzias pick. I think everyone was like "What the hell are the Nuggets doing?"
The team was ran sooooo horrible. Trade the best PF the Nuggets had in a looong time for future draft picks, then get him back, then trade him again. And trading away Chauncey was freakin horrible. Good lord.
I remember the starting 5 one year was Mark Jackson, Bryant Stith, Laphonso Ellis, Ervin Johnson and some scrub SF. Man, its a miracle that team won 11 games to be honest. Whats more amazing though is the Nuggets got the freakin 4th pick that year with that horrible of a record. Was that the year Tim Duncan was in the draft?
Really, from 1995-2002, the Nuggets were nonexistent to me.

[Master___Pain]

Oh man, I would've cried if we ended up with the #2 pick that year. Another decade of lottery picks...
Remember Shivtsivilli? Man, lol, I couldn't believe that. #5 overall pick for a guy who was a freakin backup in Europe! At least that pick enabled the Nugz to select Melo the next year.
But god, I remember that Rentzias pick. I think everyone was like "What the hell are the Nuggets doing?"
The team was ran sooooo horrible. Trade the best PF the Nuggets had in a looong time for future draft picks, then get him back, then trade him again. And trading away Chauncey was freakin horrible. Good lord.
I remember the starting 5 one year was Mark Jackson, Bryant Stith, Laphonso Ellis, Ervin Johnson and some scrub SF. Man, its a miracle that team won 11 games to be honest. Whats more amazing though is the Nuggets got the freakin 4th pick that year with that horrible of a record. Was that the year Tim Duncan was in the draft?
Really, from 1995-2002, the Nuggets were nonexistent to me.
I agree with everything in your post except the bold. That trade landed the Nuggs Nene and Camby. I was and still am a HUGE McDunk fan, hell I still rock the navy #24 jersey, but that trade has been huge for the Nuggs. If you take Nene out of the deal, I still like it.

[Clockwork Orange]

Oh man, I would've cried if we ended up with the #2 pick that year. Another decade of lottery picks...
Remember Shivtsivilli? Man, lol, I couldn't believe that. #5 overall pick for a guy who was a freakin backup in Europe! At least that pick enabled the Nugz to select Melo the next year.
But god, I remember that Rentzias pick. I think everyone was like "What the hell are the Nuggets doing?"
The team was ran sooooo horrible. Trade the best PF the Nuggets had in a looong time for future draft picks, then get him back, then trade him again. And trading away Chauncey was freakin horrible. Good lord.
I remember the starting 5 one year was Mark Jackson, Bryant Stith, Laphonso Ellis, Ervin Johnson and some scrub SF. Man, its a miracle that team won 11 games to be honest. Whats more amazing though is the Nuggets got the freakin 4th pick that year with that horrible of a record. Was that the year Tim Duncan was in the draft?
Really, from 1995-2002, the Nuggets were nonexistent to me.

It all started with Bickerstaff not even bothering to try and keep Mutombo. Then LaPhonso Ellis' knees went south. Mahmoud wouldn't stand during The Star Spangled Banner and was run out of town. Jalen Rose was traded and suddenly became a pretty good basketball player. Just about the same for Bobby Jackson & Rodney Rogers. Issel decided to try and build a team around that miserable little prick Nick Van Exel (you know, because everything Van Exel had done to that point in his career just screamed "franchise player"). Priest Lauderdale was on the roster at one point.

I have to stop now. I'm at work and remembering all of this is making me want to drink.

[Master___Pain]

I have to stop now. I'm at work and remembering all of this is making me want to drink.

Me too. What's your poison?:griese:

[Clockwork Orange]

Kings fire Eric Musselman.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2844275

[rubaiyat]

to be fair they were on their way to the playoffs late March, but as it said, they got a little banged up and dropped...

Why am I defending the Knicks??? ;D

I'm happy cause of all the ridiculous fans (as opposed to reasonable ones) that were crowing how it was all Larry Brown's fault and that the Knicks were actually good, or at least decent.

This also happened when the West's lower seeds were sucking it up...some had the gall to say how the Knicks (by record) would have competed even out West so why the hate?

Nevermind their record at the time was against Eastern (specifically Atlantic) competition. I personally am loving the fact they ended up not only not coming close in the West, they didn't in the East

[rubaiyat]

:moody:

First of all, the Nuggets never drafted Chauncey Billups (they acquired him in a trade and then dealt him away for the legend known as Tariq Abdul Wahad). That would have actually been a good pick and they didn't do things like that back then. They did draft losers like Stif Lafrentz and Efthimios Rentzias (who Bernie Bickerstaff later admitted he'd never even seen), though.

Thanks for dropping in to twist that knife a little more, pal. :cuss:

To be fair, Raef COULD have been alright. It wasn't a stretch...his knees just couldn't hold up.

[rubaiyat]

The really sick thing is that Kiki wanted to draft Darko real, real bad.

Had that happened, we'd be waiting for May 22nd for our latest lottery screw job right now.

Well it's a good thing we got screwed in the draft then.

Had we drafted 2nd (like we should have, as LBJ was going to the Cavs without a doubt)...we would have had Darko...

[epicSocialism4tw]

To be fair, Raef COULD have been alright. It wasn't a stretch...his knees just couldn't hold up.

He would have been a better player if he played like he wasnt scared of the ball.

[Clockwork Orange]

He would have been a better player if he played like he wasnt scared of the ball.

Or like he wasn't scared to go to the basket. Or like he wasn't scared to rebound. Or like he wasn't scared to post up.

It doesn't help you much when you draft a guy to play PF/C and all he wants to do is hang out on the perimeter.

For some reason this label only gets thrown on Europeans, but LaFrentz was easily one of the softest players I've ever seen.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Or like he wasn't scared to go to the basket. Or like he wasn't scared to rebound. Or like he wasn't scared to post up.
It doesn't help you much when you draft a guy to play PF/C and all he wants to do is hang out on the perimeter.
For some reason this label only gets thrown on Europeans, but LaFrentz was easily one of the softest players I've ever seen.

The NBA is fraught with "soft" players.

Just to name a few...Vince Carter (possibly the biggest waste of natural talent in NBA history), Shawn Marion, Tim Thomas, Steve Francis, Tracy McGrady, Jamaal Magliore, Baron Davis, among others...those are just some of the big names.

The Euro label is what the media uses to convince themselves that American basketball hasnt already been left in the dust.

Dirk should win the MVP this season, which will be the third straight year that a foreign player has won the award. If you include Duncan, who was born and raised out of the country as well, several of the last MVP's have been won by non-traditional American nationals.

It's beginning to look like our own American players are the soft ones. They dont play in these international competitions in the summer and in many cases are getting beat and outplayed by the internationals that do.

[Clockwork Orange]

http://www.startribune.com/507/story/1132730.html

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor won't talk about it, nor will Kevin Garnett, but the gossip around the Target Center is that Garnett recently talked to Taylor about a contract extension. Garnett is signed through next season, then becomes a free agent.
--------------------

If Garnett signs an extension with Minnesota, I don't want to hear one more ****ing person talk about "poor KG" and how "he deserves better." The T-Wolves are a friggin' mess, they're capped out, they've got no chemistry about them, they only managed to keep their 1st rounder this year by tanking to ensure it'd stay in the top 10 (which means they likely won't have one next year) and there's not much hope on the horizon.

Get out of there while you can, Kevin.

[epicSocialism4tw]

http://www.startribune.com/507/story/1132730.html

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor won't talk about it, nor will Kevin Garnett, but the gossip around the Target Center is that Garnett recently talked to Taylor about a contract extension. Garnett is signed through next season, then becomes a free agent.
--------------------

If Garnett signs an extension with Minnesota, I don't want to hear one more ****ing person talk about "poor KG" and how "he deserves better." The T-Wolves are a friggin' mess, they're capped out, they've got no chemistry about them, they only managed to keep their 1st rounder this year by tanking to ensure it'd stay in the top 10 (which means they likely won't have one next year) and there's not much hope on the horizon.

Get out of there while you can, Kevin.


Interestingly enough, it leaked out of Dallas that Garnett was almost traded to the Mavs for Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse, and another unnamed player. It went so far that Cuban, Donnie Nelson, and Avery Johnson had extensive internal talks about it. They eventually decided not to interrupt what the Mavs had going by trading two of their major contributors. Howard has become a real asset and has a nice contract for his value to the team.

Anyway, if the Mavs dont complete the job this season, Garnett could definately be a target for the Mavs, who have the salaries and the players to do it.

Personally, I dont like the idea of Garnett coming to Dallas because I've always seen him as overrated, but I have to admit...he would make a real second-banana to Dirk. Dirk has never played with a player of that calibur on the frontline. Obviously, Nash was there and Nash was Dirk's second-banana before he was handed the keys to a ferrari in PHX, but I think that the situation is much different now, as Dirk is quite more accomplished and can do the type of things that Garnett cant do.

[maven]

The NBA is fraught with "soft" players.

Just to name a few...Vince Carter (possibly the biggest waste of natural talent in NBA history), Shawn Marion, Tim Thomas, Steve Francis, Tracy McGrady, Jamaal Magliore, Baron Davis, among others...those are just some of the big names.

The Euro label is what the media uses to convince themselves that American basketball hasnt already been left in the dust.

Dirk should win the MVP this season, which will be the third straight year that a foreign player has won the award. If you include Duncan, who was born and raised out of the country as well, several of the last MVP's have been won by non-traditional American nationals.

It's beginning to look like our own American players are the soft ones. They dont play in these international competitions in the summer and in many cases are getting beat and outplayed by the internationals that do.

I'll agree Vince has wasted the most amazing talent he possese of any player in the past 20+ years.

Now going with Nash? Heck, 3 of the 4 major sports in America have a Canadian team involved. What Nash has accomplished isn't a shocker. Duncan was from the Virgin Isles. Big deal. He was a swimmer and picked up baskeball late. No real SHOCKER here. It's not like the players you've mentioned were total foreigners because clearly they were not.

Dirk would be the true first foreigner if he was to win the MVP. I'm sure he'd dump that award if Dallas won the NBA title...