the official 2008-09 NBA thread vers. omg celtics/cavs/lakers

[axl blaze]

another NBA season is well underway, and yet another year goes by where I can't practice my abstinence of pro basketball until the end of the NFL season. pro-basketball is just getting that much more entertaining to watch, with its unprecedented plethora of superstars that wax poetic via their moves on the hardwood. America isn't holstering the only NBA obsession, as basketball's popularity is spreading overseas where there is much more untouched, virgin money involved. we could see these implications rather soon.

looks like the Big Three this year isn't just Garnett, Pierce, and Allen as a the Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavs, and the L. A. Lakers alter that definition to include their dominating franchises.

is there a shifting of superiority from West to the East Coast? the Celtics and the Cavs, who have won something like 14 and 11 games uninterrupted, certainly hold a case. however, Kobe and his Lakers look even more polished than last season with a healthy Bynum.

who are your teams and how do see them doing this season?

 

[justinw]

Celtics all the way, I'm from Boston(though haven't lived in MA for years). I definitely think we'll make it to the finals again, and hopefully win.

 

[johanneschimpo]

Before I say anything NBA related, I just want to note that we were a quarter of the way into the season before anyone started a thread, so props to you Axl. I was going to start a thread titled "why doesn't anyone here like basketball?" around the time the upgrade/reset was going on, but I didn't because I knew the thread would be lost, but its been on my mind for a long time. For now I don't have time to comment, but when I get a minute I'll unload.

 

[wArEhOuSePuNk]

Bulls= i expect them to be less crappy than last year.....but only because of Jaylen Rose

 

[Nickatina]

^ pretty sure you mean Derrick Rose ... Jalen's ship sailed a while ago

I still think the West has the better conference because of their depth. East has got Boston and Cleveland, but there's a pretty significant drop after that.

And as far as Europe stealing our players, I think that before that happens - or maybe after it starts to happen - we will see the ridiculous salary restrictions waived. The only reason the owners were able to get that installed with such a quick lockout was because they had a monopoly on the basketball market. No longer.

 

[wArEhOuSePuNk]

^ pretty sure you mean Derrick Rose ... Jalen's ship sailed a while ago

^ yeah Derrick Rose. dont know y the fuck i typed Jalen Rose.

Other than him the Bulls are becoming a fucking lost cause

 

[Nickatina]

Yeah and it's a shame because they got a lot of talent too. Tyrus Thomas never developed into his potential, Heinrich lost his mojo, and Noah was just a big mistake if you ask me.

 

[axl blaze]

I really thought this would be Chicago's year. oh well, give a couple to help get Derrick Rose underway and I am sure they can figure something out.

what does everyone think about this controversial Lebron going to the New York Knickerbockers or the Brooklyn Nets (word up Carter)? do you all not really care because you are not a Cleveland fan or LBJ fan in the first place? I care, because I am a fan of them both, and I think there is more of a possibility of Bron Bron staying in Thieveland than people think. he wants to win championships, and the Cavs right now are running the table in the East (albeit staying in a shadow behind the Boston Celtics, but they will be old in a year or three).

LBJ wants to win championships, and it seems that staying in Cleveland might be his best chance for that after the 2012 MONSTER class of free agents (anybody seen that list btw?!) I am not one of those idealists who say "well, he will stay in Cleveland because he is from there." he is going to stay where he can win - and the only reason I seem him leaving is if a team clears enough space out to get him and D-Wade.

 

[wArEhOuSePuNk]

Yeah and it's a shame because they got a lot of talent too. Tyrus Thomas never developed into his potential, Heinrich lost his mojo, and Noah was just a big mistake if you ask me.

^ yeah i agree. The team HAS potential but Heinrich & Ben Wallace have both gone down hill. Tyrus Thomas i never really had any faith in to begin with. I cringe every time he gets the ball.

& Joaquim Noah i never considered to be a wise decision.

i mean who really stands out on the bulls? Drew Gooden? no. Heinrich or Wallace? no.

The only person who does stands out is a fuckin rookie

 

[Nickatina]

LBJ wants to win championships, and it seems that staying in Cleveland might be his best chance for that

Personally I think even more than that he wants to maximize his market potential, and what better place to do that than New York? I think this is the case because look at all of the high-profile people he is associated with, like Jay-Z. In New York he would be in the headlines much more often and I think he knows and wants this.

 

[axl blaze]

warehouse punk - it would be hard for Ben Wallace to stand out in the Bulls because he no longer plays for them. he now plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

interesting Nickatina, you think that LBJ cares more about maximizing his market potential than championships? that really is the school of thought most NBA players have, for some reason I just think LBJ cares more about the Finals than anything.

I suppose we will see in 2012. Nickatina, have you seen that crazy good free agent list they got going on for that year?

 

[Nickatina]

No and I looked for it, if you could link me up that would be awesome.

 

[axl blaze]

typo, meant to say the 2009-10 season. here is the list.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=FreeAgents-09-10

 

[Max Power]

Lebron is way overrated.

He's a great player, one of the top in the league . . . . and STILL waaaaaaay overrated.

Oh wait, should I have called him "King James" instead? 8)

 

[Nickatina]

Yeah 2010 is going to be insane. LBJ, Wade, Bosh, Novitski, Pierce, the list goes on and on ... the NBA might have a whole new look by the time that offseason is done.

 

[johanneschimpo]

Yar, there be some good games tonight.

On ESPN we have:

Lakers @ Heat
Cavaliers @ Nuggers

I don't know if its the same schedule for everyone in the US, or if thats just what they play in my region. Either way, I like how they only broadcast good teams, or at the very least, mediocre teams with a huge superstar. They're never going to play a Grizzlies/Bobcats game on national TV - unless you live in Memphis or Charlotte, you're not seeing that game. Otherwise, you watch the Lakers and Boston and Cleveland (and so on).

Anyway, I'm geared up for two good games tonight. The other night was nice too, and the Hornets' past few games have been entertaining. CP3 for MVP.

 

[axl blaze]

Chris Paul looks as amazing as ever this year. could very well be MVP material.

 

[johanneschimpo]

Christmas basketball > Thanksgiving football


There. I said it.

 

[axl blaze]

fuck yeah man. Thanksgiving football has just been atrocious. it was so nice to sit around literally ALL DAY and watch pro basketball.

how about them Lakers? like I was thinking - the addition of Bynum truly brings a more physical presence to their team. they are soft no longer, specially with Pau Pau Gasol finishing like he did.

and SNAPS - my Cleve-o Cavs almost lost their first home game to a lowly Washington Wizards team sans Agent Zero. they were playing with pure hatred, because the Cavs have ousted them out of the playoffs the last three years.

one good thing Wizards fans, is that you probably will not even make the playoffs this year.

 

[deeCee]

woo hoo! NBA thread! Yeah I know I'm a bit late..

FUCKING UTAH! Awesome start even without D-Will and to a less extent Korver, straight to top of the Division. Then AK47 bombs out, Boozer Bombs out, AK comes back. Okur goes back to Turkey. Boozer to undergo arthroscope. Even Millsap goes down. Utah falls back to 3rd in the Division. I think there was only a hand full of games were we had our top four players in the starting line up. Only shining light has been Millsap, when on the court without boozer and Brewer stepping up to the plate, I spose CJ Miles can get a mention seeing though he basically came back from his NBA career almost being over. Koufos looks like he could hav something in him for next season.

As for the next free agency year. I wouldn't go buying an jerseys, cause you know they wont be playing for them next season. I just can't see too many players signing on with their team. eg. Boozer, I dont think he is going to be around next season (thank god for Millsap)