NBA Thread 2011-12

[gunnar hendershow]

I'm reading that the deal has been submitted and the possible stumbling block is LA giving up Blesdoe or not.

This might look like a massive sell off for one guy, but with Paul and Griffin they likely could attract some other players to come to town. If both their knees stay together this a big era for the Clips.

[Maxx]

Twitter murmurs are that the deal is getting strained now, because the NBA is asking for too much. It seemed impossible they'd get a better deal then what the Lakers/Houston trade would have gotten them, and yet, they did. Now they're going to fuck it up by asking for even more. Good luck selling the team without Chris Paul or a suitable replacement or any extra draft picks.

[DYSI]

Seems like the Hornets got a pretty good haul considering the first deal they had wasn't half bad IMO. Now where the fuck are the Nets with Dwight already?

[Maxx]

Clippers-Hornets deal is dead.

[DYSI]

Well that was fast.

[Maxx]

David Stern is a terrible GM.

[Fait Accompli]

After what happened at the end of last week, I'm not shocked that the deal's dead.

[gunnar hendershow]

Fuck this league.

[naiwf]

So it's Howard to the Lakers for Bynum, Durant and Westbrook to the Celtics for Rondo and a championship banner and CP3 to the Knicks in the offseason then right?

[gunnar hendershow]

Yeah that sounds fair.

[Maxx]

I don't know what you're talking about naiwf, Chris Paul is not allowed to leave New Orleans. He will sign long term or he will mysteriously disappear.

[naiwf]

I don't know what you're talking about naiwf, Chris Paul is not allowed to leave New Orleans. He will sign long term or he will mysteriously disappear.

He's only allowed to go to a big market team that hasn't been booked to win a championship in the Stern Era. So that leaves the Knicks and . . . well I guess that just leaves the Knicks.

[phatman]

T-Wolves have signed J.J Barea to a 4-year, $19 Million deal...

I just don't understand Minnesota's thinking signing another Point Guard... Just horrible in my opinion...

[bolleje]

As a European it's really 'strange' to read that people are getting mad that the bigger markets get all the best players. In European soccer this situation is just accepted. In England only Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool ever win the competition. In Spain it's Real or Barcelona (or occassionaly a surprise as Valencia did twice). Nobody really complains. People here think it's the rule of the 'free market'.

In the United States (or North-America at least)... a whole different game is played. Somehow the league has all kind of rules to make the 'bad teams' better. Salary caps, salary limits and especially the draft (something that is not existing in Europe and really strange to people that don't know American sports).

I kind of prefer the American way here (it has its merits obviously as any team can win a championship) so I agree with some points made here that it would be a shame if all the good players ended up in the big markets. However... I don't think the situation is that bad. There are a lot of very good teams: Heat, Lakers, Mavs, Thunder, Bulls, Knicks, Celtics, Clippers (if they can get Paul and keep Griffin/Gordon), Grizzlies, Spurs, ... can all get very far. One player going to the Lakers or Knicks won't change that...

What I do find funny however is that in the traditionally more left-wing Europe the sports is very 'free market'. In the United States (the right-wing part of the world) the sport rules are well... socialist. "Equal chances for everyone". I think that's ironic for a country that has a phobia for socialism...

[naiwf]

As a European it's really 'strange' to read that people are getting mad that the bigger markets get all the best players. In European soccer this situation is just accepted. In England only Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool ever win the competition. In Spain it's Real or Barcelona (or occassionaly a surprise as Valencia did twice). Nobody really complains. People here think it's the rule of the 'free market'.

In the United States (or North-America at least)... a whole different game is played. Somehow the league has all kind of rules to make the 'bad teams' better. Salary caps, salary limits and especially the draft (something that is not existing in Europe and really strange to people that don't know American sports).

I kind of prefer the American way here (it has its merits obviously as any team can win a championship) so I agree with some points made here that it would be a shame if all the good players ended up in the big markets. However... I don't think the situation is that bad. There are a lot of very good teams: Heat, Lakers, Mavs, Thunder, Bulls, Knicks, Celtics, Clippers (if they can get Paul and keep Griffin/Gordon), Grizzlies, Spurs, ... can all get very far. One player going to the Lakers or Knicks won't change that...

What I do find funny however is that in the traditionally more left-wing Europe the sports is very 'free market'. In the United States (the right-wing part of the world) the sport rules are well... socialist. "Equal chances for everyone". I think that's ironic for a country that has a phobia for socialism...

The difference is that American fans are INCREDIBLY fickle. Most sports markets won't support losing teams, and some markets (read: Miami and Tampa Bay) don't even support title contenders or even champions at times. My take is that Europeans are much more loyal to their teams and that's why it's accepted that certain teams will always win and yet the other teams still have fanbases that put money into the team.

[phatman]

Anyone think the Pacers might actually be worth a look at next season? Granted I don't think they'll come close to winning the championship for anything...

But signing David West and trading for O.J Mayo are two very good deals I think... I think they probably overpaid for West but it's only a two year deal... And they didn't give up too much for Mayo, just McRoberts and Rush, was a good trade I think...

[Maxx]

Clippers grabbed Billips off waivers. So either they're walking away from the Paul deal entirely, or they'll revist now and happily add in Eric Bledsoe.

[naiwf]

They may as well leave the team together now.

[Maxx]

Hey everybody, Clippers-Hornets trade talks are back on.

In other news, the Mavericks signed Delonte West. So, a team with great chemistry adds Lamar Odom, Vince Carter and Delonte West, this will be interesting.

[JStarr]

Hey everybody, Clippers-Hornets trade talks are back on.

In other news, the Mavericks signed Delonte West. So, a team with great chemistry adds Lamar Odom, Vince Carter and Delonte West, this will be interesting.

You know it's an odd group when a Kardashian spouse is well-adjusted by comparison.