NBA Season '03/'04 Discussion Thread

[pawpaw]

Originally posted by Darkness

-The Bulls' Cartwright is the second coach to be fired this year...

and several players already complaining about scott skiles beeing " tough" on them now rose, marshall and baxter ( 2 of the 3 were among the complainers ) were shipped out. i expect more, any team as bad as them over the last 3 years or so has got some serious dead weight ( pippen for one, brought in to be a mentor, he misses practices, doesn't huddle in timeouts and doggs on the coaches in the papers--good rolemodel)

rumor mill; bulls can't get free agents or good trades because this is pay back for the campionship years when the bulls players,management and owners were very uppity towards others and made fun of everyone else! should of remembered no one is on top forever!!!

 

[Alone]

Looks like Indiana lead the NBA race for now, fellowed by Lakers on West. Tonight I think is thers match in LA. It will be very interesting, who will be on Reggie Miller, Bryant? Payton? I would like that Indiana win in this match but I doubt it. This is a big chalenge for this team were they can see how much they seriously worth in this moment or theres first place at the moment is only play of coincidence. btw Lary Bird was in Belgrade last weekend to watch some games here and speak with some people from Serbian basketball.

On our TV tonight is the game Nets vs Kings, thats first oportunity for me in this season to see Peja Stojakovic. As I heared he start season in good shape.

 

[Alone]

Well as I expect Lakers swaped Pacers 99 : 77 ! blaah..

At the end of November here is a standings:

EAST
1 Indiana 15-3
2 Philadelphia 9-9
3 Detroit 13-6
4 New Orleans 11-6
5 Toronto 8-8
6 Milwaukee 8-9
7 New Jersey 7-10
8 Boston 7-10
.........

WEST
1 LAL 14-3
2 Dallas 11-6
3 Sacramento 12-4
4 Utah 10-6
5 Denver 10-6
6 Houston 9-7
7 Seattle 8-6
8 Minnesota 9-8
.........

It would be quit interesting play-off in this moment..

And I'm glad to see that Stojakovic is player of the month in Western conferece. Congratulation Pedja!!!

 

[Drewcifer]

I haven't given up on the Wolves yet. Half of their top six has been injured so far this season. More importantly two of the injuries are to Wally Szczerbaik and Troy Hudson, the two players left beside KG and Gary Trent who understand Flip's system. Flip Saunders runs the most complicated playbook in the NBA. It usually takes a new player at least half a season to understand it. The fact that KG and Gary Trent are the only players on the floor right now from last year explains much of what has happened. When Szczerbiak and Hudson return, Olawakandi heals and the rest of the players start to grasp the playbook and learn each others spots on the floor I think you will see a different team; at least I hope so. They have yet to put the whole team on the floor. Generally the Wolves have been a better second half of the season team under Saunders. If it doesn't happen there will be a lot of explaining to do. I wouldn't be suprised to see Troy Hudson starting at point when he is healthy, there is no reason why Cassel can't pick up 30 minutes per game off the bench in the backcourt to good advantage. Saunders' system is hardest to learn for point guards and it is obvious that Cassel is not ready to be the starting PG yet (due to the learning curve, he has the skills). When Wally and Troy return I think you will see the Wolves go on 8-10 game style winning streaks. Their presence will spread the defence even if they don't score most of the points themselves. I thought that the loss of Marc Jackson as backup Center would be the biggest blow from all of their Summer moves and so far I think I have been right, the loss of a borderline starter as backup Center is a profound one even if that player would have never been a star. They have been forced to play KG at Center due to Olawakandi's injury and Ervin Johnson's lack of ability and it is hurting them, KG is best on defence when he can roam. You put Marc Jackson back on this team and ignore his stats I think you have five more wins. Right now the league looks to be wide open which is all that can be hoped for. NBA stats don't mean anything until late Winter.

Peja is a great shooter and player, I think he will always start in great shape (and finish too).

 

[Alone]

O yeah, the Season just start. Everything is posibile. Thats what happened to TWolfs could happened to any of a leader in further season. Even if play of is right now I'm not sure that LAL could win the title couse I know that regular season an' PlayOff is two completly diferent issue!

Look like MinTW need good nr.5 quickly to disburden Kevin, maybe to engage some free agent who's unemploied, I think that'll be a good solution if it's posibile. Latter they could have unwilling consequence (about starting position in PlayO).

Peja (Pedja or Predrag) is nice guy, I like him also becouse he is one of three players who came to NBA originaly from my favorite club from Serbia: RedStar Belgrade! The other two are Radmanovic in Seattle and the one who didn't play a lot (more he was a guest on the banch of TWolfs) Igor Rakocevic (Who is right now again the member of RS Belgrade (back to roots he-he).
One more about Peja, at the days he was young player here and in Greece he was well known by asistence and great dunkin not by 3points (surpricely), but that was of course in completly diferent surounding and in much less serious competition!

 

[Drewcifer]

Originally posted by Alone
Igor Rakocevic (Who is right now again the member of RS Belgrade (back to roots he-he).

In the long run letting him go is a mistake the Wolves will regret. Though not as much as the one they made when the let Bobby Jackson go so they could keep Will Averey (Kevin McKale what were you thinking !!! I think it was a few to many Jameson whiskey 2 for 1's at the Loon Cafe).

 

[Alone]

Bobby Jackson (I forgot that he was a member of Minnesota).

Well they must start to serve only Orange juce

 

[Darkness]

Well, both the Raptors and the Grizzlies have gone on nice winning streaks after their trades... Vince Carter must be the happiest camper on Toronto's roster. He finally got some real scoring help.

 

[pawpaw]

Originally posted by Drewcifer
Though not as much as the one they made when the let Bobby Jackson go so they could keep Will Averey (Kevin McKale what were you thinking !!!

william avery would be a star in the nba IF he had stayed in school, he simplely wasn't ready and got steamrolled

 

[Archbob]

I still cheering for the Rockets, Pacers, and Sixers. Allen Iverson is amazing.

 

[Inter4]

Impressive.

The Mavs yesterday beat the Lakers in L.A.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=231212013

 

[JonathanValjean]

Originally posted by Inter32
The Mavs yesterday beat the Lakers in L.A.

Yes, and I heard the sportscaster say it was the first time in some 15 years that the Mavs beat the Lakers on their home court (L.A.'s)! Go Mavs!

 

[Inter4]

Correction: 13 years (27 games) ..wich is still A LOT

 

[pawpaw]

Originally posted by Inter32
Impressive.

The Mavs yesterday beat the Lakers in L.A.

and they lost to portland last nite--their weakness my be these back to back games ( they are an older team ) however, no back to backs in the playoffs

 

[pawpaw]

cleveland--ricky davis, chris milm and micheal stewart to boston--e. williams, t. battie and k. brown.


i think this is a good deal for cleveland, davis is a ball hog gunner--on a team of gunners--davis, miles, wagner and james. they need to dump at least two--and we know it ain't going to be l. james they have a good inside game with ilquanskas ( 16 pts and 7 reb) and boozer (13 pts and 10 reb ) getting rid of davis means more inside shots for them which leads to easier shots for the outside guys like james.

 

[Archbob]

I would love it if the NBA final were:

Chicago Bulls vs. L.A. Clippers

That would be one for the ages.

 

[willemvanoranje]

or Golden State...

 

[Darkness]

How about Memphis?

 

[pawpaw]

a look into ricky davis's mind this is a quote out of boston after he was traded "i felt it was supposed to be a 1-2 punch in cleveland. i established myself with the team last year and i thought lebron was just going to be another addition to the team helping me score" they brought lebron in to be his side kick

 

[Alone]

MidJanuary standing for POplace:
EAST
1.Indiana
2New Jersey
3Detroit
4New Orleans
5Toronto
6Milwaukee
7Boston
8Philadelphia
WEST
1.Sacramento
2San Antonio
3Minnesota
4LA Lakers
5Denver
6Dallas
7Houston
8Seatle

From 2 months earlier only Indiana got the same position. Other conclusion is that Atlantic division is the East of the East so many bad teams there this season.
In West luckily Stojakovic's Kings going realy strong but Popovic-Duncan breaths so closely. Minnesota pushing hard up: well done Kevin, and I'm glad that Lakers stagnate, but they will be probably better than forth..or maybe not. I think you ad Indiana in the west and pronance the East as a 2nd division and West premiere leauge. Why is like that? Money? Or there is more?