Official NBA thread

[moonslav59]

Jordan was gushed over, I think, and Bird and Magic before him. What they all have in common is the "c" word-charisma.

 

Lebron doesn't have it as much, nor did Kobe or Tim Duncan.

 

That's a very off-the-cuff assessment!

 

Both Jordan and Curry have that sparkle in their eye and a likeable smile. That, and being great.

[notin]

Jordan was gushed over, I think, and Bird and Magic before him. What they all have in common is the "c" word-charisma.

 

Lebron doesn't have it as much, nor did Kobe or Tim Duncan.

 

That's a very off-the-cuff assessment!

 

Did you just say Larry Bird is more charismatic than LeBron?

[notin]

Both Jordan and Curry have that sparkle in their eye and a likeable smile. That, and being great.

 

Steph Curry, unlike any other NBA superstar with the exception of Charles Barkley, is actually extremely funny.

 

He’s the executive producer of an extreme mini-golf show on NBC (called Holey Moley), and they give him plenty of camera time in which he does some prepared material, and it’s absolutely hilarious…

[Bellhorn04]

Did you just say Larry Bird is more charismatic than LeBron?

 

I think Larry was universally well liked. LeBron is not.

[notin]

I think Larry was universally well liked. LeBron is not.

 

By who? Larry kept out of the limelight, so he didn’t have LeBron’s non-basketball career. So it’s really tough to make this claim within a different, much smaller circle.

 

In this respect, Bird was much closer to Tim Duncan than LeBron…

[Bellhorn04]

By who? Larry kept out of the limelight, so he didn’t have LeBron’s non-basketball career. So it’s really tough to make this claim within a different, much smaller circle.

 

In this respect, Bird was much closer to Tim Duncan than LeBron…

 

As I said, it was off-the-cuff.

 

I disagree about Bird and Duncan though. Bird had the image of being Mr. Cool and Mr. Clutch, a guy you did not want to have the last shot against you. And he was the best 3 point shooter in the game for a while there.

[notin]

As I said, it was off-the-cuff.

 

I disagree about Bird and Duncan though. Bird had the image of being Mr. Cool and Mr. Clutch, a guy you did not want to have the last shot against you. And he was the best 3 point shooter in the game for a while there.

 

 

Duncan may not have had that rep, but he certainly was not the guy defenders wanted with the ball in his hands and the clock winding down. His big problem was his lack of excitement and highlight reel plays, which is why Shaq referred to him as The Big Fundamental.

 

But LeBron has transcended the NBA. He’s made movies. He’s hosted SNL. He’s written a children’s book. He’s invested in other basketball leagues and promoted the sport. Larry Bird played NBA basketball, then moved on to other NBA jobs. He’s never left that world. And I don’t think anyone wanted him to…

[Bellhorn04]

Duncan may not have had that rep, but he certainly was not the guy defenders wanted with the ball in his hands and the clock winding down. His big problem was his lack of excitement and highlight reel plays, which is why Shaq referred to him as The Big Fundamental.

 

But LeBron has transcended the NBA. He’s made movies. He’s hosted SNL. He’s written a children’s book. He’s invested in other basketball leagues and promoted the sport. Larry Bird played NBA basketball, then moved on to other NBA jobs. He’s never left that world. And I don’t think anyone wanted him to…

 

This tangent started with moon asking why Curry gets gushed over.

 

LeBron is a huge star and one of the best ever to play. But I think his image has been tarnished in recent years by all his team-jumping and a pretty bad case of foot in mouth disease.

[moonslav59]

This tangent started with moon asking why Curry gets gushed over.

 

LeBron is a huge star and one of the best ever to play. But I think his image has been tarnished in recent years by all his team-jumping and a pretty bad case of foot in mouth disease.

 

I wasn't really asking "why." The guy has been great and outstanding, and he's charismatic.

 

I was just saying, personally, I'm sick of it all. I think it's gone overboard, but I understand, fully, why it has.

 

[moonslav59]

NBA Draft is tonight.

 

I used to get excited, but with basically all Freshmen and foreign players taking up most of the slots, it's hard to keep track of who is who, anymore.

[Old Red]

Rest In Peace Big Bill the biggest winner in NBA history. From college to the Olympics to the NBA no one had a portfolio like his, and never will. Edited July 31, 2022 by Old Red

[Jasonbay44]

Pretty big Sports moment seeing Lebron break the all time scoring record tonight. With the level Lebron is playing at, I'm not sure this record will ever be broken.

[moonslav59]

Pretty big Sports moment seeing Lebron break the all time scoring record tonight. With the level Lebron is playing at, I'm not sure this record will ever be broken.

 

To think he's 4th all time, in assists, too is amazing.

 

He also gets his fair share of rebounds.

[moonslav59]

Big trades going down!

 

Durant to Phoenix. Nets get 4 first rounders, Crowder, Bridges & Cam Johnson.

 

Westbrook to his 5th team in 5 years (Utah). (Lakers get D'Angelo Russell +, MN gets Mike Conley)

 

Kyrie Irving traded, again- this time to Dallas.

[Bellhorn04]

Big trades going down!

 

Durant to Phoenix. Nets get 4 first rounders, Crowder, Bridges & Cam Johnson.

 

Westbrook to his 5th team in 5 years (Utah). (Lakers get D'Angelo Russell +, MN gets Mike Conley)

 

Kyrie Irving traded, again- this time to Dallas.

 

These guys have so much baggage, but somebody always wants 'em!

[moonslav59]

These guys have so much baggage, but somebody always wants 'em!

 

The "Big three" from the Nets played 16 games, together, and all requested a trade.

 

It amazes me how many good players are such malcontents and end up demanding to be traded multiple times.

 

Yup, and other teams keep wanting them.

[Jasonbay44]

That has to be the most absurd trade dead line in any sport ever.

[moonslav59]

That has to be the most absurd trade dead line in any sport ever.

 

There must have been 2 dozen second round picks traded away.

[Jasonbay44]

There must have been 2 dozen second round picks traded away.

 

Which was really weird, because less than 10% of 2nd round picks have a career longer than 3 years.

[moonslav59]

Which was really weird, because less than 10% of 2nd round picks have a career longer than 3 years.

 

I think a couple teams traded 5 second rounder. My Bucks were one of them, and only because they have no first rounders for 5 years.

[moonslav59]

6 or 7 games left for most teams and only 4 teams are eliminated from the playoffs:

16-59 Detroit

18-58 Houston

19-56 San Antonio

26-51 Charlotte

 

Only 2 teams are within one game of being eliminated.

32-44 Orlando

32-43 Portland

 

10 Western teams are still on the playoff bubble, and 3 have clinched slots.

8 Easterns teams are on the bubble, while 5 have clinched.

 

10 teams from each conference make the playoffs.

[moonslav59]

Parity is here...

 

30 Teams

11 teams within 4 wins or losses of .500

14 teams with 6

15 within 8

 

5-6 games left to the season:

5 teams have clinched a playoff slot

4 teams are eliminated and 26 games are in it or within range.

 

Only 1 team is one loss from elimination.

 

 

[moonslav59]

Season ended today and here are the seeds:

 

East

1. MIL v play-in

2. BOS v play-in

3. PHI v 6. BKN

4. NYK v 5. CLE

Play-in: 7. MIA v 8. ATL (winner plays Celtics and Loser plays winner of 9. TOR v 10 CHI and goes on to play MIL.)

 

West

1. DEN v play-in

2. MEM v play-in

3. SAC v 6. GSW

4. PHX v 5. LAC

Play-in: 7. LAL v 8. MIN (winner plays MEM and loser plays the winner of 9. NOP v 10 OKC and the winner goes on to play DEN.)

 

Best Records:

58-24 MIL

57-25 BOS

54-28 PHI

53-29 DEN

51-31 CLE

51-31 MEM

[Jasonbay44]

These playoffs have been absurd. Jimmy Butler has proven he’s a true superstar

[moonslav59]

These playoffs have been absurd. Jimmy Butler has proven he’s a true superstar

 

Only when it counts.

[moonslav59]

Sound the bugles.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

 

This team is softer than the 2011 Red Sox. All the principal players except Tatum can go, and I'm right on the edge with Tatum; he's shown that he can really carry with his scoring. I'm hoping he's just in his early-00s Dirk Nowitzki phase where he just needs to mentally toughen up a bit and he'll be good to go once he does. But Smart is past his prime and getting by on reputation, Brown is one of those Ricky Davis/Michael Finley tier guys (i.e. not a star and definitely not a guy you max), obufscated his scoring numbers, which only seem superior because of the higher pace of the game nowadays (Pierce would easily average over 30ppg if his prime occurred today). Robert Williams is damaged goods and probably never getting back to pre-injury form, Grant Williams is a no-skill hockey enforcer in an era where even hockey doesn't have enforcers anymore. It's been six seasons now at pretty much the same level. There's no breakthrough coming without a serious retool.

[Jasonbay44]

I don’t think he’s actually going to retire, but Lebron just hinted at it after putting up 40/10/9 and getting eliminated. I know his foot is in pretty bad shape and he’s going to require surgery, but with the level he’s still playing at, it would be hard to see him end his career on that.

 

Also, Nikola Jokic has to be one of the most talented players I’ve ever watched. He legit is unstoppable offensively and makes everyone better

[moonslav59]

LeBron still has the fire, but he certainly doesn't need to keep playing for the money.

 

I think he will only comeback, if he thinks the team can win. Maybe, if the lakers can find a way to add another really good player, that would tip the balance.

 

The Nuggets sure look like a championship team. I doubt Jimmy Butler's magic show can top them, but it should be a fun series.

 

And, yes, I'm writing off the Celtics.

 

Is Tatum the next James Harden?

[Bellhorn04]

The abuse being heaped on the Celtics in the Globe is off the charts.