NBA Thread 2011-12

[gunnar hendershow]

This is the guy who managed to ruin his marriage to Eva Longoria.

[The Buscher]

The unpredictability is what makes me love NFL, MLB, and NHL so much more than the NBA. Sure there will always be some perennial powerhouses and some teams that suck - but come playoff time, it's anybody's game. I love it, and it makes each game seem that much more important.

In the NBA, not only does over half the league make the playoffs - but you know that only 3-4 of those teams can actually win it. Anything before the Conference Finals is a formality unless you get a big injury taking place in an earlier round, like Rose. Some NBA fans love that aspect of the game and look down on other sports for allowing supposedly lesser teams to win the title...but I personally find the nature of the NBA predictable and boring when you can't even suspend your disbelief to think your team might have a chance. Just my opinion. As fun as the Knicks were to watch at times this year - what's really the motivation for next year? To get to the 2nd round of the playoffs? Thrilling.

[Benjamin]

...You Americans are weird.

[Maxx]

No we're not. We like leagues in which most of the teams have a shot at winning the title, or can get there with a few good moves. That's not the case in the NBA, it's starting to take the worst aspects of MLB, having rich teams get all the good players, and making it worse. At least in MLB, a team like the Rangers can get a new owner with deep pockets and start competing. If the Pirates owners wanted to spend $100 million on payroll, they could contend too. In the NBA, all the teams have the same amount of money to work with, so star players are going to go to big media markets, and there's not too many of those.

There's no point in being a fan in Charlotte, the team will likely never succeed and even if it does, the success will not continue. If there was a promotion/relegation system like in European soccer, this wouldn't be as big of a deal.

[Quom]

I'm a fan of Minnesota and next year we are making the play-offs. They would have got the job done against Miami.

Edit. Gotten is a word now? Time for sleepy times.

[Mofoticon]

I'm a fan of Minnesota and next year we are making the play-offs. They would have got the job done against Miami.

Edit. Gotten is a word now? Time for sleepy times.

You do realize Kevin Love's time is limited in Minnesota, right? 2-3 years max before he leaves for a better market. Better be real good in those 2-3 years.

[naiwf]

No we're not. We like leagues in which most of the teams have a shot at winning the title, or can get there with a few good moves. That's not the case in the NBA, it's starting to take the worst aspects of MLB, having rich teams get all the good players, and making it worse. At least in MLB, a team like the Rangers can get a new owner with deep pockets and start competing. If the Pirates owners wanted to spend $100 million on payroll, they could contend too. In the NBA, all the teams have the same amount of money to work with, so star players are going to go to big media markets, and there's not too many of those.

There's no point in being a fan in Charlotte, the team will likely never succeed and even if it does, the success will not continue. If there was a promotion/relegation system like in European soccer, this wouldn't be as big of a deal.

The other problem is that small markets are the ones that lose their teams to other small markets. The Clippers were the worst run franchise in the sport and still made money every year because they were in LA. The Knicks were an utter embarrassment for much of the last decade, haven't won a title in almost 40 years and at times had the highest value of any NBA franchise. A team like the Spurs better milk every last drop out of this Duncan run since that place will be a ghost town in a few years. And then we have teams like Boston and the Lakers who just reload every few years because people want to play in the markets with the most tradition.

Like I said earlier, the new Heat came about in the midst of destroying two franchises that won't rebound, because no one will ever willingly sign to go play in Cleveland or Toronto. If the Cavs still couldn't get free agents when LeBron was in his prime, that franchise is basically dead in the water and just taking up space.

[thatshortguy]

Hey, cool, the Hawks have a new GM. Means they're probably not gonna sell the team...

...it's Danny Ferry?

KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNN!

[Colossus]

No we're not. We like leagues in which most of the teams have a shot at winning the title, or can get there with a few good moves. That's not the case in the NBA, it's starting to take the worst aspects of MLB, having rich teams get all the good players, and making it worse. At least in MLB, a team like the Rangers can get a new owner with deep pockets and start competing. If the Pirates owners wanted to spend $100 million on payroll, they could contend too. In the NBA, all the teams have the same amount of money to work with, so star players are going to go to big media markets, and there's not too many of those.

There's no point in being a fan in Charlotte, the team will likely never succeed and even if it does, the success will not continue. If there was a promotion/relegation system like in European soccer, this wouldn't be as big of a deal.

The other problem is that small markets are the ones that lose their teams to other small markets. The Clippers were the worst run franchise in the sport and still made money every year because they were in LA. The Knicks were an utter embarrassment for much of the last decade, haven't won a title in almost 40 years and at times had the highest value of any NBA franchise. A team like the Spurs better milk every last drop out of this Duncan run since that place will be a ghost town in a few years. And then we have teams like Boston and the Lakers who just reload every few years because people want to play in the markets with the most tradition.

Like I said earlier, the new Heat came about in the midst of destroying two franchises that won't rebound, because no one will ever willingly sign to go play in Cleveland or Toronto. If the Cavs still couldn't get free agents when LeBron was in his prime, that franchise is basically dead in the water and just taking up space.

I wouldn't say that the Celtics just reload every few years. From 1992 until 2007, they were pretty crap

[naiwf]

I wouldn't say that the Celtics just reload every few years. From 1992 until 2007, they were pretty crap

In '92 they went to the EC Semis, and had a 51 win season. They made the playoffs two of the next three years. They tanked hard to get TIMMAY!~ and failed. Then it took them a few years to get back to the playoffs, which they did 4 years in a row, including the EC Finals. Two more terrible years and then they won a title and came a Kendrick Perkins injury away from 2 rings in 3 years. If your definition of "pretty crap" is 6 playoff berths and a division title in 15 years, then I guess that's a really tough grading scale. Keep in mind that the majority of that drought was during Jordan's prime and it wouldn't have really mattered if they were great anyway.

2006-07 NBA Boston Celtics 24 58 .293 5 -3.71 103.2 106.9 D. Rivers (24-58)

2005-06 NBA Boston Celtics 33 49 .402 3 -1.59 105.2 106.9 D. Rivers (33-49)

2004-05 NBA Boston Celtics* 45 37 .549 1 0.34 107.5 106.6 Lost Eastern Conference First Round D. Rivers (45-37)

2003-04 NBA Boston Celtics* 36 46 .439 4 -1.99 102.1 103.7 Lost Eastern Conference First Round J. O'Brien (22-24), J. Carroll (14-22)

2002-03 NBA Boston Celtics* 44 38 .537 3 -0.75 101.2 101.6 Lost Eastern Conference Semifinals J. O'Brien (44-38)

2001-02 NBA Boston Celtics* 49 33 .598 2 1.75 103.4 101.0 Lost Eastern Conference Finals J. O'Brien (49-33)

2000-01 NBA Boston Celtics 36 46 .439 5 -2.40 101.4 103.7 R. Pitino (12-22), J. O'Brien (24-24)

1999-00 NBA Boston Celtics 35 47 .427 5 -1.00 104.8 105.6 R. Pitino (35-47)

1998-99 NBA Boston Celtics 19 31 .380 5 -1.75 100.4 102.4 R. Pitino (19-31)

1997-98 NBA Boston Celtics 36 46 .439 6 -1.96 102.6 105.4 R. Pitino (36-46)

1996-97 NBA Boston Celtics 15 67 .183 7 -6.62 103.9 111.4 M. Carr (15-67)

1995-96 NBA Boston Celtics 33 49 .402 5 -3.37 106.4 109.9 M. Carr (33-49)

1994-95 NBA Boston Celtics* 35 47 .427 3 -1.92 108.6 110.6 Lost Eastern Conference First Round C. Ford (35-47)

1993-94 NBA Boston Celtics 32 50 .390 5 -4.28 104.2 108.7 C. Ford (32-50)

1992-93 NBA Boston Celtics* 48 34 .585 2 0.93 108.7 107.8 Lost Eastern Conference First Round C. Ford (48-34)

Edited June 26, 2012 by naiwf

[Pizza]

4 seasons in 15 years with 40+ wins and none with 50+. Elite.

[rocksta]

Speaking of the Celtics there are some reports drifting about concerning Ray Allen joining The Heat next year.

[naiwf]

4 seasons in 15 years with 40+ wins and none with 50+. Elite.

That's their worst stretch in the history of the franchise. It can't all be Bill Russell winning you a title every year for a decade more or less. If they had hit the Duncan lottery, those douches would have even more titles. There are some teams that would gladly trade for the Celtics' version of sloppy seconds.

[Benjamin]

Oh my.

[Meacon Keaton]

He wasn't a member of the Fab Five of dancing, that's fo' sho'.

[gunnar hendershow]

Speaking of the Celtics there are some reports drifting about concerning Ray Allen joining The Heat next year.

He and Nash are probably doing apartment shopping down in Miami together right now.

Oh my.

Mark Madsen had better dance moves.

[VerbalPuke]

The Pistons have traded Ben Gorden and a lottery protected future first rounder to Charlotte for Corey Maggette (an expiring contract). Good, Gordon was not working here, glad to have his bad contract gone and Magette can offer some cap relief. The Pistons have a few nice young players to build with, hopefully Joe can bring in another good player in this years draft, he's done well with Greg Monro, Brandon Knight, and Jonas Jerebko.

[Maxx]

Well there's Ben Gordon getting what he deserves for his shitty attitude in recent years.

[Panni]

It's shocking to me that Cory Maggette still has a job. He's been floating around in the league for seemingly over a decade now while never being considered that good. Maybe I just don't know too much about him, but I just don't understand why teams are cosntantly trading for/signing this guy.

[VerbalPuke]

We got him just for his expiring deal. He's been a decent scorer at times, but yeah he's mostly been mediocre.