LAL- I would fire Brown now because I don't like him, I think he has an ego problem ... but, to be fair, the Lakers are 1 and 3 now...Looking at their Nov. schedule, they should be no worse than 10 and 5 by Dec 1st, but if they are less than .500 at that time...Definately give Brown the Axe.
NBA '12/'13 Thread.
- Thread starter STDiva
- Start date
- Status
My favorite team, Knicks, are looking real good right now. They are three ball machines right now! Good wins over the Heat and 76ers.
My fav player, Nash, is injured already and the Lakers are looking turrable (said like Charles Barkley). They did win last night but they should have won every game so far.
Looking forward to the whole season. Here are just some thoughts.
Harden is looking like a beast.
Clippers are going to be dangerous this year.
Mavs adding Mayo was a great move.
The TWolves, Rockets, Blazers, Grizzlies and Nuggets are going to make the bottom seeds in the west very interesting.
Love watching Lebron play even if I'm rooting against him, he is just an amazing baller.
Thunder will regret letting Harden go.
Rondo will be an MVP contender.
Season looks like a good one!
- - - Updated - - -
Kobe and Nash with Dantoni!!! Kobe loves him from his time in Italy and Nash was the best player in the league under Mike.
My fav player, Nash, is injured already and the Lakers are looking turrable (said like Charles Barkley). They did win last night but they should have won every game so far.
Looking forward to the whole season. Here are just some thoughts.
Harden is looking like a beast.
Clippers are going to be dangerous this year.
Mavs adding Mayo was a great move.
The TWolves, Rockets, Blazers, Grizzlies and Nuggets are going to make the bottom seeds in the west very interesting.
Love watching Lebron play even if I'm rooting against him, he is just an amazing baller.
Thunder will regret letting Harden go.
Rondo will be an MVP contender.
Season looks like a good one!
- - - Updated - - -
That Raptors Wolves game put me to...Wake me up when Rubio and Love get back...I agree Lowry was a good pick up for Toronto tho...Knicks looking good but its still very early ...
LAL- Fire Brown NOW, bring in Shaw or Lambeer or ANYBODY that will let the talent freely play ball, coach defense, and not handcuff a group of Superstar players with some bullshit offensive system.
Kobe and Nash with Dantoni!!! Kobe loves him from his time in Italy and Nash was the best player in the league under Mike.
Time (a little late) for my predictions:
Eastern Conference:
1. Miami Heat (Southeast Division winners)
2. Indiana Pacers (Central Division winners)
3. Boston Celtics (Atlantic Division winners)
4. Atlanta Hawks
5. Chicago Bulls
6. Philadelphia 76ers
7. New York Knicks
8. Brooklyn Nets
9. Orlando Magic
10. Toronto Raptors
11. Milwaukee Bucks (could be a dark horse, but I'm leaving them outside the playoff picture in my predictions)
12. Cleveland Cavaliers
13. Washington Wizards
14. Detroit Pistons
15. Charlotte Bobcats
Western Conference:
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (Northwest Division winners) (although I think that losing James Harden (even while gaining Kevin Martin) makes them inferior to last season)
2. Los Angeles Lakers (Pacific Division winners) (seriously, they're four games into the season, this team will be dominant, there is no doubt)
3. San Antonio Spurs (Southwest Division winners) (they continue to age, so I don't think they'll be as good as last season)
4. Los Angeles Clippers (which would mean home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs for the first time in their shameful history (and I'm talking one of the most shameful franchises in sports history here))
5. Utah Jazz
6. Dallas Mavericks
7. Denver Nuggets
8. Portland Trailblazers (could surprise a lot of people)
9. Houston Rockets
10. Memphis Grizzlies (they were excellent last season, but I don't think that they will be as good this season)
11. New Orleans Hornets (another dark horse here)
12. Phoenix Suns
13. Minnesota Timberwolves (if they were healthy I would have them a lot higher than this)
14. Golden State Warriors
15. Sacramento Kings
Playoffs:
Eastern Conference:
Miami Heat over Brooklyn Nets
Indiana Pacers over New York Knicks
Philadelphia 76ers over Boston Celtics (upset)
Chicago Bulls over Atlanta Hawks
Miami Heat over Chicago Bulls (although this could be really close should Derrick Rose return in time and in good form)
Indiana Pacers over Philadelphia 76ers
Indiana Pacers over Miami Heat
Western Conference:
Oklahoma City Thunder over Portland Trailblazers (although I could see a shocking upset here)
Los Angeles Lakers over Denver Nuggets
San Antonio Spurs over Dallas Mavericks
Utah Jazz over Los Angeles Clippers
Oklahoma City Thunder over Utah Jazz
Los Angeles Lakers over San Antonio Spurs (this would be a great series)
Los Angeles Lakers over Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA Finals:
Los Angeles Lakers over Indiana Pacers
NBA Finals MVP: Steve Nash
Awards:
MVP: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland)
Defensive Player of the Year: Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City)
Rookie of the Year: Damian Lillard (Portland)
Sixth Man of the Year: Kevin Martin (Oklahoma City)
Most Improved Player: Nicolas Batum (Portland)
Coach of the Year: Frank Vogel (Indiana)
All-NBA First Team:
C: Dwight Howard (Los Angeles Lakers)
F: LeBron James (Miami)
F: Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City)
G: Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers)
G: Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City)
All-NBA Second Team:
C: Marcin Gortat (Phoenix)
F: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland)
F: Josh Smith (Atlanta)
G: Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
G: Deron Williams (Brooklyn)
All-NBA Third Team:
C: Al Jefferson (Utah)
F: Carmelo Anthony (New York)
F: Pau Gasol (Los Angeles Lakers)
G: Rajon Rondo (Boston)
G: Steve Nash (Los Angeles Lakers)
All-Defensive First Team:
C: Dwight Howard (Los Angeles Lakers)
F: LeBron James (Miami)
F: Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City)
G: Rajon Rondo (Boston)
G: Tony Allen (Memphis)
All-Defensive Second Team:
C: Roy Hibbert (Indiana)
F: Nicolas Batum (Portland)
F: Luol Deng (Chicago)
G: Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers)
G: Andre Iguodala (Denver)
All-Rookie First Team:
Anthony Davis (New Orleans)
Damian Lillard (Portland)
Bradley Beal (Washington)
Dion Waiters (Cleveland)
Harrison Barnes (Golden State)
All-Rookie Second Team:
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Charlotte)
Terrence Jones (Houston)
Jonas Valunciunas (Toronto)
Thomas Robinson (Sacramento)
Kendall Marshall (Phoenix)
As always, I would like to see the Trailblazers and Raptors in the Finals...
Eastern Conference:
1. Miami Heat (Southeast Division winners)
2. Indiana Pacers (Central Division winners)
3. Boston Celtics (Atlantic Division winners)
4. Atlanta Hawks
5. Chicago Bulls
6. Philadelphia 76ers
7. New York Knicks
8. Brooklyn Nets
9. Orlando Magic
10. Toronto Raptors
11. Milwaukee Bucks (could be a dark horse, but I'm leaving them outside the playoff picture in my predictions)
12. Cleveland Cavaliers
13. Washington Wizards
14. Detroit Pistons
15. Charlotte Bobcats
Western Conference:
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (Northwest Division winners) (although I think that losing James Harden (even while gaining Kevin Martin) makes them inferior to last season)
2. Los Angeles Lakers (Pacific Division winners) (seriously, they're four games into the season, this team will be dominant, there is no doubt)
3. San Antonio Spurs (Southwest Division winners) (they continue to age, so I don't think they'll be as good as last season)
4. Los Angeles Clippers (which would mean home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs for the first time in their shameful history (and I'm talking one of the most shameful franchises in sports history here))
5. Utah Jazz
6. Dallas Mavericks
7. Denver Nuggets
8. Portland Trailblazers (could surprise a lot of people)
9. Houston Rockets
10. Memphis Grizzlies (they were excellent last season, but I don't think that they will be as good this season)
11. New Orleans Hornets (another dark horse here)
12. Phoenix Suns
13. Minnesota Timberwolves (if they were healthy I would have them a lot higher than this)
14. Golden State Warriors
15. Sacramento Kings
Playoffs:
Eastern Conference:
Miami Heat over Brooklyn Nets
Indiana Pacers over New York Knicks
Philadelphia 76ers over Boston Celtics (upset)
Chicago Bulls over Atlanta Hawks
Miami Heat over Chicago Bulls (although this could be really close should Derrick Rose return in time and in good form)
Indiana Pacers over Philadelphia 76ers
Indiana Pacers over Miami Heat
Western Conference:
Oklahoma City Thunder over Portland Trailblazers (although I could see a shocking upset here)
Los Angeles Lakers over Denver Nuggets
San Antonio Spurs over Dallas Mavericks
Utah Jazz over Los Angeles Clippers
Oklahoma City Thunder over Utah Jazz
Los Angeles Lakers over San Antonio Spurs (this would be a great series)
Los Angeles Lakers over Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA Finals:
Los Angeles Lakers over Indiana Pacers
NBA Finals MVP: Steve Nash
Awards:
MVP: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland)
Defensive Player of the Year: Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City)
Rookie of the Year: Damian Lillard (Portland)
Sixth Man of the Year: Kevin Martin (Oklahoma City)
Most Improved Player: Nicolas Batum (Portland)
Coach of the Year: Frank Vogel (Indiana)
All-NBA First Team:
C: Dwight Howard (Los Angeles Lakers)
F: LeBron James (Miami)
F: Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City)
G: Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers)
G: Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City)
All-NBA Second Team:
C: Marcin Gortat (Phoenix)
F: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland)
F: Josh Smith (Atlanta)
G: Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
G: Deron Williams (Brooklyn)
All-NBA Third Team:
C: Al Jefferson (Utah)
F: Carmelo Anthony (New York)
F: Pau Gasol (Los Angeles Lakers)
G: Rajon Rondo (Boston)
G: Steve Nash (Los Angeles Lakers)
All-Defensive First Team:
C: Dwight Howard (Los Angeles Lakers)
F: LeBron James (Miami)
F: Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City)
G: Rajon Rondo (Boston)
G: Tony Allen (Memphis)
All-Defensive Second Team:
C: Roy Hibbert (Indiana)
F: Nicolas Batum (Portland)
F: Luol Deng (Chicago)
G: Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers)
G: Andre Iguodala (Denver)
All-Rookie First Team:
Anthony Davis (New Orleans)
Damian Lillard (Portland)
Bradley Beal (Washington)
Dion Waiters (Cleveland)
Harrison Barnes (Golden State)
All-Rookie Second Team:
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Charlotte)
Terrence Jones (Houston)
Jonas Valunciunas (Toronto)
Thomas Robinson (Sacramento)
Kendall Marshall (Phoenix)
As always, I would like to see the Trailblazers and Raptors in the Finals...
That's an interesting option, esp. because of his prior connections with Kobie and Nash...I think it could definately work...The problem I had with some of the more established coaches like Sloan and Dantoni is that they basically got fired because of issues that they had with talent on their team (Sloan with Darren Williams/ Dantoni with several players on the Knicks ), which to me indicates an ego problem. Which is the same problem I have with Brown.
Esp. A team of Superstars doesn't need a dictator, or a guy who has a bigger ego than the talent...Also Dantoni wasn't much of a defensive coach, which is the Lakers biggest problem right now...But who knows, if the Lakers do decide to change coaches, I think Dantoni would definately be an option.
Right now the Lakers are showing some signs of life with the beatdown they put on Detroit even without Nash, if they show up like this consistantly, especially against some higher quality teams, Brown's job may be safe for now....but he is still definately on the hot seat.
and this was against an ailing TWolves team missing their key players. Brooklyn should be better than that.
alexpnz
Lord Dipstick
Mike Brown told to hit the bricks by Kob...err....The Lakers.
http://nba.si.com/2012/11/09/lakers-fire-mike-brown-coach/
http://nba.si.com/2012/11/09/lakers-fire-mike-brown-coach/
Hate to quote myself, but aside from bringing back Phil, who is living in southern California at this point and is allegedly "interested," I have to stand by my previous statement:
BAYAMONXXX
Land Of The Snakes
Kobe and the Lakers LOL
- Shaquille O'Neal
- Shaquille O'Neal
Bernie Bickerstaff 
!?!?! That's like basically making Kobie Player/Coach ! If you're going to have an interim it should definately be Shaw or Lambeer, somebody who can build for the future...Shaw should have got the job in the first place instead of Brown, and Lambeer is WAY overdue for a shot in the NBA...let one of those guys see if they can turn the team around while you go for top resume' guys like Jackson...
In any event, I'm sure the Laker's will play better, but they are still very thin after the starters esp at PG (which may keep Jackson from signing on, but I hope not)...that's going to plague them all year unless they can make a couple of astute trades because, like too many teams, their scouts are horrible, and their ability to develop talent from within the organization is basically non-existant.
- I still like The Knicks and the Clippers in the finals...they're good but obviously aren't the favorites, but I tend to like underdogs.
-Celtics are my team, but I have never liked Rondo, and Danny Ainge should have been fired years ago. (Perkins for Green/ Drafting Harangoody, who is not in the league, with the #5 pick, instead of Vasquez who is currently No5 in the league in Assists with NO/ Darko Milicic)...The current Roster is mediocre at best, plus they've missed out on virtually every big name solid free agent over the past 5 years...no wonder Ray Allen finally left.
-Houston- Harden still leading the league in scoring, but has come back to earth scoring wise, and seems like he is fucking up team chemistry by forcing the action too much by not playing a balanced floor game, and trying to score 30 every night . Team is currently last in a tough Southwest Division behind NO...Ouch !
Nice to see Brooklyn bounce back a little bit, I expect them to make the Playoffs...
-Minnesota is No.1 in Northwest Division above OKC at 4-1 without Rubio, Love, Barrea, and Roy, and with no top #5 statistical leaders in any Offensive or Defensive categories ! .... :wtf:
Overall some great basketball this year so far...I think it will only continue to get better especially when guys like D. Rose get back in the mix !
!?!?! That's like basically making Kobie Player/Coach ! If you're going to have an interim it should definately be Shaw or Lambeer, somebody who can build for the future...Shaw should have got the job in the first place instead of Brown, and Lambeer is WAY overdue for a shot in the NBA...let one of those guys see if they can turn the team around while you go for top resume' guys like Jackson...In any event, I'm sure the Laker's will play better, but they are still very thin after the starters esp at PG (which may keep Jackson from signing on, but I hope not)...that's going to plague them all year unless they can make a couple of astute trades because, like too many teams, their scouts are horrible, and their ability to develop talent from within the organization is basically non-existant.
- I still like The Knicks and the Clippers in the finals...they're good but obviously aren't the favorites, but I tend to like underdogs.
-Celtics are my team, but I have never liked Rondo, and Danny Ainge should have been fired years ago. (Perkins for Green/ Drafting Harangoody, who is not in the league, with the #5 pick, instead of Vasquez who is currently No5 in the league in Assists with NO/ Darko Milicic)...The current Roster is mediocre at best, plus they've missed out on virtually every big name solid free agent over the past 5 years...no wonder Ray Allen finally left.
-Houston- Harden still leading the league in scoring, but has come back to earth scoring wise, and seems like he is fucking up team chemistry by forcing the action too much by not playing a balanced floor game, and trying to score 30 every night . Team is currently last in a tough Southwest Division behind NO...Ouch !
Nice to see Brooklyn bounce back a little bit, I expect them to make the Playoffs...
-Minnesota is No.1 in Northwest Division above OKC at 4-1 without Rubio, Love, Barrea, and Roy, and with no top #5 statistical leaders in any Offensive or Defensive categories ! .... :wtf:
Overall some great basketball this year so far...I think it will only continue to get better especially when guys like D. Rose get back in the mix !
I wonder if Jeanie is trying to talk Phil into it.
I think you're right on the mark with D'Antoni. Hell be cheaper and I have doubts Phil actually wants back in. We don't have the shooters for D's system though.
Snaqs mad because nobody gives a shit about him anymore.
NBA Finals MVP: Steve Nash
Awards:
MVP: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland)
Defensive Player of the Year: Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City)
Rookie of the Year: Damian Lillard (Portland)
Sixth Man of the Year: Kevin Martin (Oklahoma City)
Most Improved Player: Nicolas Batum (Portland)
Coach of the Year: Frank Vogel (Indiana)
Just started analyzing your picks...Indiana hasn't really made me a believer in general, but although it's still really early, I like Lillard for ROY....Great pick !
Awards:
MVP: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland)
Defensive Player of the Year: Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City)
Rookie of the Year: Damian Lillard (Portland)
Sixth Man of the Year: Kevin Martin (Oklahoma City)
Most Improved Player: Nicolas Batum (Portland)
Coach of the Year: Frank Vogel (Indiana)
Just started analyzing your picks...Indiana hasn't really made me a believer in general, but although it's still really early, I like Lillard for ROY....Great pick !
Good ridance Mike Brown.
The job shouldve been Brian Shaws to begin with, but Mike Brown won out cause hes not Phil Jackson, nor does he have connections to him. I hated the hire from the beginning. He couldnt win when it counted in Cleveland, andthe western conference is infinitely tougher at the middle and bottom than the east where you have only two or three quality teams who are real title contenders. When it comes to it all, Kobe is the king of LA and if hes not happy things will not go well. Mike Brown did not have the Kobe stamp of approval, that was a problem.
The Buss kids need to buzz off and leave all the basketball decisions to those who actually know the games inner workings and stick to business where they are more resourceful.
If Bernie Bickerstaff can at least keep the ship afloat until the new coach comes in, he will have done his job.
The job shouldve been Brian Shaws to begin with, but Mike Brown won out cause hes not Phil Jackson, nor does he have connections to him. I hated the hire from the beginning. He couldnt win when it counted in Cleveland, andthe western conference is infinitely tougher at the middle and bottom than the east where you have only two or three quality teams who are real title contenders. When it comes to it all, Kobe is the king of LA and if hes not happy things will not go well. Mike Brown did not have the Kobe stamp of approval, that was a problem.
The Buss kids need to buzz off and leave all the basketball decisions to those who actually know the games inner workings and stick to business where they are more resourceful.
If Bernie Bickerstaff can at least keep the ship afloat until the new coach comes in, he will have done his job.
Yeah Shaw got the shaft big time...So now since Jim Buss's guy Brown, and his "Princeton Offense" experiment, have flopped miserably, Jacskon is basically holding all the cards in this negotiation to bring him back. But there are still 2 main obstacles.
1) The Buss family still refuses to give up any organizational control, eventhough Phil Jackson is one of the greatest winners in the history of organized sports.
and...
2) The depth on this roster is very thin, so Phil will be reluctant to sign up just for money and no power if incompetant Jim Buss and Kupchek are calling all the personnel shots. Because Phil, above and beyond everything else, expects to win. He only gets involved in winning situations, that's how he built his fame...he has no desire to get into a dysfunctional situation in L.A where The Lakers are losing games because of lack of talent, and Jacksons's legacy and winning percentage are tarnished as a result.
------
So basically something has got to give, I hope they get a deal done though, because Jackson is definately the best, he deserves what Pat Riley has in Miami and then some. I don't think the back-up options being discussed in the media of Dunleavy or Dantoni can get the Lakers back to championship form, esp if Jim Buss is calling all the personnel shots.
If the Buss family continues to try to dominate and control all aspects of the team through spineless yes men, and micro-manage the organization like a Jerry Jones does with the Cowboys, then the result will probably be the same...mediocrity, at best.
"Little Jim isn't making many friends in Lakers Nation. He's the guy who forced out Phil Jackson, hired Mike Brown, shipped out Lamar Odom for a draft pick and trade exception, [wouldn't] trade Andrew Bynum for Dwight Howard, dangled Pau Gasol in every trade scenario, replaced many long time scouts and front office personnel with his brothers and other hacks, and, drumroll please… pissed off Kobe Bryant."
http://redsarmy.com/2012/02/21/lakers-a-steaming-pool-of-nepotism-and-nincompoops/
I'll throw out my early award pics: Nothing too shocking here.
MVP: LeBron James
Finals MVP: LeBron James
Rookier: Damian Lillard
6th Man: Jamal Crawford
Most Improved: Jrue Holiday
Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard
I've got the Heat going all the way again beating the Lakers in the finals.
Would love for my Knicks to make it far into the playoffs and they look strong but it's tough to beat the Heat.
MVP: LeBron James
Finals MVP: LeBron James
Rookier: Damian Lillard
6th Man: Jamal Crawford
Most Improved: Jrue Holiday
Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard
I've got the Heat going all the way again beating the Lakers in the finals.
Would love for my Knicks to make it far into the playoffs and they look strong but it's tough to beat the Heat.
- Status
