Real Deal

TIME: 9:00 PM ET TV: ABC

IF the 2012 team win the game, it would be because LeBron, Durant, and Kobe went off...and I don't see that happening against Pippen, Jordan, and Bird on the court, helped by legitimate defensive anchors (and some of the best defensive big men ever) in Ewing, Robinson, and Malone. As pointed out already, the biggest advantage is coming from the Dream Team, and it's their size. If you think Chandler and the Mavericks shut down the paint against LeBron and the Heat last year (and they did), imagine what the Dream Team's trio of defensive-minded bigs would do, plus the addition of two of the greatest perimeter defenders in the 90's. Also, as big of a Kobe guy I am...it's 2012 Kobe, not 2004. If there was one guard that could hang with prime Mike, it would be prime Kobe, the one that had all 10 fingers and two good knees, that could play 48 minutes and never get tired. I could only imagine what Magic would do to the 2012 PG's in the post, by the way. It would be hell.

Mutual interest here. I'm assuming he realizes we don't have any big money to offer, lol. We have the partial MLE, and minimum contracts. I would do it.

Yeah, it would have to be Jennings/Monta or a future first included, because aside from those two, the Bucks really don't have anyone that would draw enough interest. I wouldn't be opposed to trading Jennings, though...kind of depends on how high the pick is. You know Washington isn't going to bite. Charlotte supposedly wants to deal their pick, but I would think they'd rather do that for a frontcourt player (who really knows what's running through their mind, though). Portland needs a PG...but at what point do you start declining offers, if you're the Bucks? The Blazers have the 6th.

That's absolutely correct. I don't remember who brought this up before, but I do recall that they learned it was true from Adam Silver. I almost want to say it was Ric Bucher...but with the Finals format, you have three plane flights (max) instead of the potential five you would have in a non-Finals seven-game series, and that's significant for both the media and the players.

Oh, no, I completely agree. It reminds me of what Magic said out loud when he, Jordan and Bird were taking their pictures together for the Dream Team, to be honest (and I don't even need to repeat it, since almost all of us either saw it when we watched the documentary, or we saw it in the previews). If I recall correctly (watch out, I'm old and forgetting my memory), you can argue one of the two you pointed out...but the one that made me post right after it happened, I seriously jumped up in the air and nearly hit my head on the ceiling, I was so pissed/shocked/whatever. It wasn't even that I was expecting the superstar to get his way...I was expecting absolutely nothing to be called, even if it was [expletive]ing Chucky Atkins out there. To me, if the referees are going to call it that way, they better start nailing LeBron for the contact on both ends of the court and the plethora of travels. I don't expect the Thunder to rack up charges against him (it's NEVER called, I have no idea why anyone tries to take a charge in front of LBJ), but two things: 1) He is hitting a lot of shooters and slashers on their arms. I have busted Games 2 and 3 down by rewinding them so many times (and eventually catching back up during commercials), it's hilarious...but what's not is the contact he's getting away with. 2) The "one step, pro-hop, then elevate" that he's using...the league has to look at it, or something. As he gathers, he takes one step, then a massive hop with two steps (three total) with a lot of elevation, then back up. His OTHER trick is the high dribble gather, when he can take up to a couple of steps before putting completing the gather and taking the final two steps before elevating, but that's never called, either. I'll be completely honest when I say this: in all my years of watching basketball, I have never seen any other player get away with that many travels. Kobe has had his share of them, but they were very questionable, because almost all of Bryant's travels (well, that you could argue) were out of two-step post moves, where he would establish a pivot and end up moving it on a gather and shoot (usually due to a spin). These little things don't bother me, usually, but this is the NBA Finals. Yeah, I really don't want LeBron to win a championship...but I'm not going to sit here and say he won't win at least one, ever...and the way he's playing NOW, he deserves it. He's doing what he should be doing all along: carrying his team when they need him to. He's also not dancing around and being a cocky SOB, like he was doing in his last days with the Cavaliers and his first season with Miami. But, everything aside, I want the referees to do one of two things: call it like you have all season (for both of these teams, who were almost always shooting free throws), or let them play through a lot of the BS that's being called. They called Mike Miller for a blocking foul that I thought didn't change anyone's shot (don't remember who went to the line, maybe KD). They aren't calling the tons of illegal screens being set by both teams. They didn't call the foul on LeBron at the end of Game 2. However, you give Durant a foul for barely hitting Haslem's hand on a rebound (and that put Durant in foul trouble), yet ignore LeBron taking Westbrook's arm out on a crucial board to end Game 2? In the Finals, those little things will make or break any team, doesn't matter how good you are, because both superstars in this series can turn a game around in five minutes, in the blink of an eye, when the other isn't out there...and they usually do. ---------- Not that I'm saying the Thunder would be up 3-0 in this series, either...because, really, I'm thinking Brooks is getting outcoached (which is kind of funny, if you think about it), but Durant's foul trouble in the two losses are killer. If Westbrook was a facilitating PG, it would probably change things up a bit, but he's not, and with Durant off the floor, the Thunder are so much easier to defend.

The Thunder won't win this series if their best player is sitting the bench in foul trouble. That's all that needs to be said.

Wow. Not a foul. At all.

Uh, OKC should have 39 points. It was 36-38 and KD hit a three.

I'm sure everyone wanted a major skin change, but I've ran into an issue: the new board software is much different (as far as coding AND looks go). However, I'm not sure if I actually want to update yet, because the new software takes away certain features I'd like to keep (for example, they merge your profile picture with your avatar, and there are a few restrictions on avatars that I don't necessarily like right now). I'm hoping some of that changes when they release the final version of the board software (before they merge it with everything else IPB...long story short, IPB will become a suite of products, instead of a message board with add-ons). Keep in mind that I still have a few things to edit, like those group icons (I didn't forget, lol), but that will come within the next couple of days, whenever I can find spare time. I'll change those up a bit. I wanted to have a third main banner, for the rooks, but Anthony Davis is ugly as hell. --------------- Also, our GFX team created DiscussHoops signatures: http://www.discusshoops.com/forums/topic/29311-discusshoops-signatures If you post elsewhere, and they allow them on their forums, please use them over there (and if possible, add a link under your siggy, could even use that referral link you see in the sidebar). It'll help us recruit.

#57 I realize the Nets are basically screwed in this upcoming draft, losing their pick to Portland...but instead of discussing what impact player they will get at #57 (lol), do you think the Nets will make an attempt to land a lottery pick, or a mid-first, hoping to satisfy D-Will? Could they deal Brook Lopez for a lotto pick, or do you think teams will shrug that idea off?

The general idea is that Carmelo and Amare aren't fit for each other. Phil Jackson has stated it, Stephen A. Smith just let everyone know it's true...and other personalities (Skip Bayless, Kurt Rambis, Tim Legler and Magic Johnson) have all made similar statements. So, let's assume you're going to trade one. 1) Which are you trading this summer? And... 2) What are you wanting in return, as far as specific player(s) OR position(s) on the floor?

Wait to make the decision once the 11th pick in the draft is on the board. If you have Marshall or Lillard available, take one and go find you a center through trade or free agency. I would trust in both players' abilities to start at PG, despite them being rookies.

Drexler was a baller, and Chris Mullin didn't have a problem shooting in the face of anyone. As BFT pointed out, Clyde was just overlooked because of Mike. I can't imagine what Portland would have been like if they had selected Jordan over Bowie. A Jordan/Drexler duo would have been very interesting, Drexler playing the three.

Phil spoke of how his career ended with the Lakers, mentioning the way they acted when they lost (specifically, Bynum) and you could tell he hated going out like that. So, closing his career the way he wants to...that's probably his focus right now, and to say he doesn't want to come back and coach the team he played for (knowing he wants one more run) is him just staying in the headlines, and basically keeping his name out there for other teams to contact him (because, of course, others will be interested). Whether or not that means he will coach another team...I mean, I'm not really sure of his intentions. Maybe he's hoping the Knicks have a change of heart, if indeed other teams show interest and try to swoop in and land him. Would Dolan jump on it if the Heat started talking to Phil? It's really hard to figure out Phil Jackson's way of thinking, sometimes. You can sense he wants to coach, but the way he goes about things...just complicated, yet, effective.

I think his ceiling is an all-star level player, but that's really only because there's a lack of all-star centers to vote from. The 18/11 he puts up could eventually get him in, no matter what his shooting percentage is, as long as the Kings start winning games...but in my opinion, they won't win games if he's the primary scoring option. If he were to start playing on the low block every possession, as a back-to-the-basket big man who can pass out of the post...then it's a bit different. He's a better passer than Bynum, but the rest of that isn't his game. Eventually, he's going to land on a team where he can be a solid second or third option, and his numbers will get him all-star consideration. To me, that's a given. Will he become that all-star player, though? He's going to need a lesser role, as he's not going to be a franchise center you can build a team around UNLESS he changes his game.

It's really hard to say, because it all depends on if we're going to shop Drew as well. A lot of people are speculating that both bigs will be on the block, although Drew will be there for a limited amount of time AND for a specific player or two (I don't need to say who...everyone already knows). But, assuming we keep Drew (or get Howard)...I'd like to see us try and get a true PG out of Gasol, although Iguodala sounds pretty nice, also. I know people keep saying there's no way we can rake in Deron Williams, but that's what they were saying about Chris Paul, also...and, yet, for one day, we had Kobe, Drew and CP3 on a team together. The last time I checked, the NBA doesn't own any teams going into this offseason. If we could work a three-way to send Gasol to Minnesota, Houston or Boston (the three teams that were talking to LA in December), and bring Deron to LA, I would be jumping for joy. I'm not going to sit here and say it's impossible, and I won't say it's going to happen...but you have to consider the need for a big man, and Gasol is best playing the center position. At that point, we can fill out the team with minimums and using our TPE. The TPE can be used to bring in a PF to play in front of Jordan Hill. Sessions can be our sixth man, a slashing PG that can create out of penetrations (as long as he's not shooting jumpers, he is very productive for us). A true PG that has at least all-star level play...that takes the ball out of Kobe's hands a little more, gives him more energy to score and defend, rather than to create for everyone else, and if that PG can get into the teeth of the opposing defense, he can feed Drew and our shooters (one of the biggest things we have to look into getting this summer, even the cheap shooters that do nothing BUT hit shots). If we weren't the Lakers, I'd have a hard time believing we can pull all of that off...but something deep down tells me we can.

Phil is playing mind games again. But, I will say this much: I wouldn't want to coach the Knicks. Not with Melo and Amare together. And if I'm the Knicks, I'm disappointed I didn't land Jackson, putting aside what he's saying right now.

I'll admit, Harden is a scary player. He's just like Manu Ginobili, a guy that can just go off at any point and has that all-star factor in him. Plus, he's a bit underrated on the defensive end...not THAT great, but I've heard a few people say he's a horrible defender, and that's not true at all. It's sad (probably not for you, but for a neutral fan) that he only took two shots in the second half of Game 2, after basically carrying the team in the first half.

Thought it was crystal clear, given the question Flash asked. You can figure it out.

Right, but my point is, what player has a "stable job" in the NBA? You can argue Kobe (no-trade clause) and superstars like Durant and LeBron, who probably won't be included in any trade...but someone like Nelson? If he got a three-year extension from Orlando, he could be dealt by February 2013. The extension would be given to him to assure whatever team he'll be going to that he won't be leaving them through free agency in the summer of 2013. Assuming he were to test free agency this summer, well...he could get himself a nice contract, and STILL be traded by the February 2013 trade deadline. So, really, no matter what he does...he's not going to be 100% sure that he won't be relocating, unless he gets a no-trade clause, which will never happen for him.

Anything you buy from any company (whether it's Apple or Acer) is obviously going to come from someone deeper in wealth than you are. Did you make your computer from the dirt, trees and grass in the backyard of the house that you built yourself (with wood you cut on your own)?

I thought it was kind of funny. Screw progress...who wants that, right?

What, exactly? What did he do when he tried that against the Spurs in 2007, or the Mavs in 2011? That was two teams who had a defensive anchor resting in the paint. Hell, Mike Brown admitted that LeBron had the green light many times throughout his career with Cleveland. Why didn't he average 35 then? If you shut down the paint, keeping LeBron out of it, he's not going to do what Durant does. That's the major difference between Bron and Durant...one is a reckless slasher that is unstoppable going to the rim, and the other can do whatever he wants from any spot on the floor. At one point, Kobe was the only guy I knew that could drop 40-50 points with few free throws, doing a lot of it with jumpers. Durant is now that guy, and that's what makes him scary. Right now, Durant may have talent around him, but he's also playing without a true PG and nobody to get him his shots. In fact, he's playing alongside someone that wants to take shots away from him, actually shooting more in the most important games of their careers. That is about as big of a problem (possibly worse) than not having all-star teammates. I want to be sure I have an assassin, just in case I'm not the best GM in the league. It's just as important if I have a guy who is not afraid of failure. Durant will take the last shot, take the final five if needed, miss them, and move on immediately. LeBron won't do that, or he'll miss and decide to pass up on those shots later on. Wade is already showing signs of his age, and his inability to hit jumpshots (and his unwillingness to redefine and/or polish his game over the years) has hurt him more than anything. Now, he's losing athleticism, and people are actually questioning whether or not he's better than Westbrook in this series. Really? I mean, in December, we were still talking about how Wade is a top three player...but maybe it was us desperately trying to convince people he's just tired, or injured. What's going to happen when LeBron starts feeling it? What happened with Iverson? LeBron may be the best player in the NBA right now, but that doesn't necessarily mean I want him over Durant, if I'm looking to build a dynasty.

I can't remember. Maybe he was during the hack. Far too long ago for me, lol.