He would win with a jack and a blue card from Uno. Anyway, back to the topic. I want the Bulls to win the series, so we could shut them the **** up. I'm sure players want Nets (and I don't blame them too, considering we beat them by average of like 20ppg) but as a fan who supports his team, I want to beat the Bulls because their fans talk too much (and before FinO jumps in, wheter you agree with trash talk or not, it HAS been warranted, any fan base wuld talk **** in our position), and quite frankly, i want the hardest road to the finals possible. Again, as a fan, it's easy to say - I'm sure players won't agree. With that being said, I think both Bulls and Knicks close out their series tomorrow. I think the Warriors close out at home (but it won't surprise me if it goes 7, I still like Warriors tho) and I think that Clips win their series as well. Oh, and I still think that OKC is the team that gets out of West.
Man I don't see OKC getting past SA or Memphis...that's a team that couldn't afford to lose their secondary scorer. And by the way, you won't have a hard road to the finals. With many teams depleted with injuries or at the tail end of their run...the Heat are like 80's Mike Tyson. No real competition. Sad but true.
I think OKC is done once the sledding gets tougher. Too little scoring behind Duncan when they face teams with a defense
I see the point you are making, and you are very well might end up being right (same with you, Tree) but I think scoring won't be as huge of a blow as people make it out to be, simply because (as Sect mentioned) KD will engage full Mello mode and just start racking up points. I don't think it's the same situation as New York's (not saying that you said that it was) where there's Mello, JR and that's it, I think between KD and the rest of the team, they can generate enough O to get by. It will be tough to defend Parker without Russ, but I don't think Grizz won't pose as much of a challenge as Clippers, because who would defend CP3? I think this OKC team has enough experience to get over this IMO. I'm assuming you mean Westbrook, but yeah, I see what you're saying. Again, I know i'm not saying that isn't out there already, but other than to the the Spurs, I don't them loosing. We'll see.
I think either the Grizzlies or Clippers take them now. They are hamstrung, Houston just doesn't play D
OKC biggest problem is NOW they don't have enough offense to beat Memphis, enough defense to stop LAC. And the Spurs?? Not likely. Dark horse? If GS beats Denver, the beat SA IMO.
That's the next team "up" so to speak. Herb Kohl is old and there is no arena plan. However, Kohl, who until last eyar was a US Senator from wisconsin has said that he's not selling to anybody who will move the team. Since Hanssen and Ballmer have been honest about their intentions, that means they're out. Unless they're willing to put up a similarly ludicrous overvaluation and go through this process again. Problem for the Seattle group is that it seems like the NBA is going to give all these cities a chance to get their acts together once the Seattle offer comes in. Guys that are as rich and successful as Hanssen and Ballmer don't get fooled twice. Reading some Seattle blogs it seems like they're going to fight to get the Kings (for whom they already have a deal, have paid the Maloof's $30 million in a non-refundable deposit, and have 100% of the remaining purchase price in escrow) or finagle an expansion team out of this. If neither works, they're out and Seattle is probably dead as an NBA market, maybe forever. As of last night, the seattle group filed their permits for the new arena and the city council advised that they will approve approximately $150 million in temporary renovations to Key Arena to make it usable for both hockey and basketball while the new arena is being built. Unfortunately, the deal falls apart if no team is acquired within 5 years, when the permits and the Memorandum of Use expire. It's now or never for seattle. The Bucks just aren't a realistic option and there are no other obvious candidates.
Seattle is easily a top 5 NBA market. They will get a team. Just a matter of time. Int he end..it's about money, and you can't pretend that a great NBA market doesn't exist. All you got to do is watch whoever's attendance is slipping. That is next up for the vultures.
and if I had to rank them: Best NBA markets: 1) LA 2) NY 3) CHI 4) San Francisco (getting Warriors next year) 5) MIA No OKC..because of prices. Heat vs. Thunder Finals tickets this year? Average OF $550 Vs. Clippers? $875
Since the Heat has been idle I've spent some time reading about this issue and the Seattle media/blogs don't seem to think there are any other realistic options within the five year time frame they have to get this done per the MOU and permits that Hannsen/Ballmer obtained. Also, one of the leading Mayoral candidates out there is an arena opponent, so if he wins, the MOU is unlikely to be extended, which is obviously Seattle's problem and not the NBA's but it's a factor. The main issue with the Bucks, beyond Kohl's unwillingness to sell to carpetbaggers who want to move the team, is the their lease runs out in 2017, right at the edge of Seattle's time frame to secure the etam and get approval to move, which after this experience, nobody is convinced will go their way. Other potentials are Minnesota, Atlanta and the Pacers but all those teams are locked into long term elases and occupy reasonably desirable markets for the NBD despite attendance problems (Atlanta is the main culprit on that end). Sacramento was the perfect storm. A team with deadbeat, desparate owners, bottom five attendance for 5 staright years, a public refferendum on an arena vote that took place 4 years ago failed with over 60% of the vote against, an a "we can take it or leave it" size market. Yet, the NBA, or at least David Stern, moved heaven and Earth to help them cobble together a bid that is barely competetive with the seattle offer. If the NBA was willing to do that for Sacrament, which nobody really cares about, I imagine they'd do the same for Indiana or Atlanta, or even Milwaukee. Like I said yesterday, the Seattle bid's biggest problem is that it's almost too fair. Private funds are set to pay for more than half the arena cost and obviously most other owners don't like that.
Watching some of the playoff games, and seeing the attendance, makes me incredulous that Heat fans take such crap. Before the OKC/Houston game the other night, the lower bowl was empty until mid way through the 1st quarter. Per Darren Rovell you could get tickets for $3 bucks. For Game 5 of an entertaining, competetive playoff series. And Mike fratello commented numerous times during the game how quiet it was.
Schmoolit beat me to the punch on ATL. Their attendance is absolutely abysmal and for whatever reason they can't put people in the stands despite being a playoff team year in year out. I have a hard time imagining ATL without a team, though. In reality, I think a team like the Clippers *should* be a prime candidate for relocation simply because there are 2 teams in that market. However, it is arguably the best NBA market too so there is that.
Atlanta just isn't a good sports market. For all the crap we take, Atlanta is far worse. But it's huge media market, whcih is why the NBA would likely never approve a team leaving and why hockey tried and failed twice there (and is likely to try a thrid time before the next decade is up) Having two teams in LA isn't really a problem for the league as both teams are supported and have their fanbases. Clippers are more the blue collar team. Regular people can actually afford Clippers tickets, unlike the Lakers. But why the NBA is protecting Sacramento at all costs is baffling, unless it's solely about majority public money being used.
Meh the hawks are the equivalent of the dolphins in terms of nba teams. They only make the playoffs because they play in the east and 8 teams make it. They haven't had a legit shot a title the whole time they have been making the playoffs. They're consistently mediocre so lets not act like there putting out a contender and fans don't show up. Honestly I would assume its hard for nba teams to fill there stands since a 7 game series pretty much leaves at max 6 teams a year with any kind of title hopes.
If the stadium deal falls through, then the Miami Dolphins will convert into an NBA team led by Dion Jordan and Dion Sims. They will then be moved to Seattle.
Awful shooting by the knicks...especially JR Smith. He's a streak shooter. If he can't make a bucket with his first 4 shots, you bench him. he's 0-10 now.
They are evoking the baseball gods of 2004. Fin-O you guys are in a wee bit of trouble I will reckon. Seriously this can't happen right?
We played flat... What should be a surprise to no one considering we are jump shooting team that when we are off we're going to lose. can't penetrate can't get easy shots if they're shooting well will win if not they will lose pretty simple Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
who the **** shows up to a game acting like its a funeral for the other team this is being beyond full of yourself
Knicks are taking a lot of criticism for going from up 3-0 to up 3-2...Melo especially. And while it is warranted you don't hear much about OKC who has a similar scenario. And Durant had an even worse game than Melo. Spread the hate y'all. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
Felton is having a hell of a series right now. The Knicks need to get him going early. Also, where the heck is Chris Copeland? I know he cant play D but when youre struggling for offense like the Knicks were hes certainly a viable offensive option. Gotta question Woddy on that the last 2 games. Best lineup right now is Felton/Shump/Copeland/Melo/Tyson. Need to draw some attention away from Melo with guys who can hit open shots and get Iman more involved in the offense. Also, Id stick him on Pierce the whole game. Pierce couldnt dribble with Iman on him. Make him strictly a jumpshooter for the next game.
Melo scored 22 points on 33% shooting to go along with 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Durant scored 36 on 47% shooting with 7 rebounds and 7 assists. "Worse."
Not even close. First of all..Durant played twice as good as Melo in every game. Second of all, Houston is a MUCH better team than Boston. Third, Westbrook is a top 5 to 7 NBA player. He is hurt. If he were there, they would have swept.
