***2012-13 NBA THREAD!!! New Season/New Thread - LET'S GO!!!!!***

[authentic]

If he wants fundamentally sound b-ball, the WNBA could use an extra fan.

yeah even better.

[Destino]

he doesnt want to be there. He signed a contract sheet with Phoenix, iirc and the Hornets matched it.

here is an article where he talks about it
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports...76a_story.html

According to what I've read he seemed to be fine when he went to Phoenix and worked out for them and he's been cutting and jumping just fine in practice this season. If he's really just faking a knee injury while making that much money he better pray the media never gets something verifiable allowing them to run with it. It's doubtful they will ever get a piece of evidence like that however so he'll probably get away with it. I hope they trade him to Charlotte.

[AsiaticSkinsFan]

Only if Lamb and PGIII became great players really really fast.

You are not going to beat Miami when they go small ball with Kevin Martin on the floor.

im not talking about this year, my post was pointed towards the future as your post was.

and I believe both PJ3 and Lamb can become big time contributors to that team. And of course they still do have Durant and Russy.


if anything, poor coaching will hold them back, not talent

---------- Post added November-2nd-2012 at 01:03 PM ----------

Wow. ESPN is "SOOOO" in love with the NBA. It's like nothing else matters to them. It's like they've given their NFL and MLB second rate time.

Gee, never would have thought their opening night would have included the "Heat" or the "Lakers." I mean, you watch Sportscenter and 2/3rds of the telecast is about the NBA.

What in the hell is so great about it? Is it the same 6 teams that keep winning the championship every year? Is it David Stern's haircut? Refs turning a blind eye to everything? Did I mention the same teams winning all the time? I just don't get it. It's basketball and not even the right kind of basketball. Most players aren't even fundamentally sound. Watching a 2 man game, clearout, ragtag running around is not entertainment. I don't get it.

this post equates to trolling, imo

[MLSKINS]

im not talking about this year, my post was pointed towards the future as your post was.

and I believe both PJ3 and Lamb can become big time contributors to that team. And of course they still do have Durant and Russy.


if anything, poor coaching will hold them back, not talent

---------- Post added November-2nd-2012 at 01:03 PM ----------


this post equates to trolling, imo

Poor coaching. I wonder if this is the reason Westbrook can't get it together. You would think Scott Brooks (a decent PG in his own right from what I heard) would be able to get a PG to facilitate more.

Or maybe Westbrook isn't listening. If that is the case, then maybe they did trade the wrong dude...

I don't think trading Harden and not resigning him was the wrong move. The Thunder were in a can't lose situation. No matter which way they went, they would have came out good...

[Destino]

Most players aren't even fundamentally sound. Watching a 2 man game, clearout, ragtag running around is not entertainment. I don't get it.

If you like or ever have liked the game of basketball give the NBA another shot. It's a great time to jump back in now that the league is flush with talent, interesting story lines, and entertaining teams to follow. If fundamental ball is your think embrace the Spurs and you'll like what you see.

[Destino]

a BLACK kid with handles and can jump out of the gym isn't fundamentally sound.

Are you implying that people felt White Chocolate Williams was fundamentally sound?

[AsiaticSkinsFan]

Poor coaching. I wonder if this is the reason Westbrook can't get it together. You would think Scott Brooks (a decent PG in his own right from what I heard) would be able to get a PG to facilitate more.

Or maybe Westbrook isn't listening. If that is the case, then maybe they did trade the wrong dude...

I don't think trading Harden and not resigning him was the wrong move. The Thunder were in a can't lose situation. No matter which way they went, they would have came out good...

they win when Russy is aggressive, and Durant isnt really the most assertive star either. (and he can get punked physically and doesnt have the best handles)

Brooks is a bad coach because of his rotations and lineups. THat finals series ended earlier than it should have because of him not playing Collison enough and overplaying Fisher.

[Hersh]

I have no doubt that the Wizards could have offered something better than what the Rockets did. A core of Nene, Harden, Wall could (at the minimum) have competed for no less than the 5 seed this year.

Maybe they tried to make an offer and were unsuccessful...I just don't know. As of now, I'll chalk it up as a HUGE opportunity missed to make this franchise relevant.

What could we have offered that was better? Beal and ??? For the record, I was on record as trading the #3 pick for Harden. The most hilarious part is what SM said about Harden when we all talked about the getting Harden for the #3 pick. SM opinion about Harden sure changed in 4 months. SM in his own words:
http://www.extremeskins.com/showthre...Thread/page889

That's crazy talk. The guy who can't go right is as good a ball handler as one of the absolute best in the business? You've lost perspective on Harden RA. You aren't seeing his flaws.


Harden is a third option sixth man on a good team coming off a year where he averaged 17 PPG. What screams max contract about that to you? You are wildly overrating him.

The only time a team signs a player to a max type deal and doesn't almost immediately regret it is when that player is a Superstar wing or a perennial All Star scoring big. Harden is neither of those things and never will be. Sign a guy to a max deal who isn't worth it and it ruins your franchise for years.

Speaking of Joe Johnson, there isn't a chance in hell I'm taking JJ over Harden right now. One is on the decline, and the other is on the upswing. Also, I'd be willing to revisit this when Harden reaches his prime....but, I have ZERO doubt that he'll be 10x the better player than JJ when comparing careers.
Harden has a very long way to go before he reaches JJ's level. JJ is a six time All Star, has been the go to guy on his team, has had multiple 20+ PPG seasons and has been a hair away from multiple 20/5/5 seasons, and is a high quality defender against every perimeter position.

Harden's upside isn't as high as you think RA. He's a below average athlete for his position, which limits him. He'll become a better defender and probably become a better ball handler in time, but other than that, he's not going to get a whole lot better than he is now. And one thing is for sure, he'll never be in a better position than he is right now, playing third fiddle to two great young offensive players in OKC.

[authentic]

Are you implying that people felt White Chocolate Williams was fundamentally sound?

He was white? ... i always thought he was high yellow..

[Destino]

they win when Russy is aggressive, and Durant isnt really the most assertive star either. (and he can get punked physically and doesnt have the best handles)

Brooks is a bad coach because of his rotations and lineups. THat finals series ended earlier than it should have because of him not playing Collison enough and overplaying Fisher.

Now that they have two stars their lack of fundamental basketball (yeah I said it) is going to hurt them much more than it did in the past. Ibaka taking long range jump shots (he even spotted up for a three the other night) is entirely the wrong direction for them. You could almost see the spurs defense dictating who would shoot the ball for the Thunder last night.

[RonArtest15]

What could we have offered that was better? Beal and ??? For the record, I was on record as trading the #3 pick for Harden. The most hilarious part is what SM said about Harden when we all talked about the getting Harden for the #3 pick. SM opinion about Harden sure changed in 4 months. SM in his own words:
http://www.extremeskins.com/showthre...Thread/page889

#3 overall
(asset - Seraphin, ves, etc)
top-5 protected pick in 2013

[Hersh]

#3 overall
(asset - Seraphin, ves, etc)
top-5 protected pick in 2013

Reading the Wiz thread, both you and I were two people really wanting to trade for Harden. I thought you meant what could we give them now? They were looking for a 6th man type player now along with Beal and whomever else.

[nuposse87]

#3 overall
(asset - Seraphin, ves, etc)
top-5 protected pick in 2013

So you'd trade all that for a secondary option? His playmaking would be severely hampered when he has nobody to pass to. I would have given Beal, Vesly, Okafor/Ariza+ a lottery protected pick and not a penny more. Harden is good but he will never lead a team anywhere being option 1.

[RonArtest15]

Reading the Wiz thread, both you and I were two people really wanting to trade for Harden. I thought you meant what could we give them now? They were looking for a 6th man type player now along with Beal and whomever else.

My bad...I thought we were talking about leading up to the draft. In that regard, the Okafor/Ariza trade really complicates things to put together a scenario right now that would have seemed enticing for the THunder.

So you'd trade all that for a secondary option? His playmaking would be severely hampered when he has nobody to pass to. I would have given Beal, Vesly, Okafor/Ariza+ a lottery protected pick and not a penny more. Harden is good but he will never lead a team anywhere being option 1.

Even though a case can be made for him CURRENTLY being the best 2-guard in the NBA, he's still a second option?

And your trade proposal has WAY more pieces than mine...so you'd trade all of that (Beal, Ves, Oak/Ariza, & a lottery pick) for a "secondary option?"

*FWIW, this secondary option label for Harden is crazy. Look at who was option #1 in OKC!!

[Shabby]

they win when Russy is aggressive.

Its actually the opposite. They win when he knows to pass the ball to durant. they lose when russy believes hes the best player on the team and starts jacking up shots and driving to the basket out of control. Sadly i dont think hell ever figure it out that hes not the alpha dog on the team. If he was the go to guy, playing for a different team, he would be great