Real Deal

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20120121_SAC@MEM

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20120121_OKC@NJ

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20120121_CHA@CHI

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20120121_DAL@NO

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20120121_POR@DET

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20120121_CLE@ATL

You obviously don't watch the Lakers. I really hope you got to see their last televised game, against the Magic. Selfishness? SMH.

I'm starting to get a little pissed off, because just the other day, I did a scan for URL's through the PM system, and it brought back a LOT of results. I also got word a month ago that, when I put up the mock sign-ups, and I required everyone to have an AIM (to post it), there was one guy who went in and took those AIM addresses, and got in touch with members who are not exactly dedicated OTR posters, to lure them elsewhere. The one thing I don't like is a site feeding off of another...sites that do everything others do, rip the look, the idea, and most importantly, the members...because no matter what, newer sites will ALWAYS have an advantage, as they can find ways to offer what the older sites do, PLUS it's a bit more exciting because, well, it's a new site. Some hand out things like writer and forum mod positions, just to bring you in (and keep you there), some remind you that you can be their best poster (and more notorious) if you leave the older site...and all of that is spamming. So, I really don't know. Yeah, we were hacked in 2009, and I lost maybe 1/3 of our fanbase from it (that I counted...that was just among the more active posters). I have no idea who said what, but the hack was not due to the board software, or any openings in any roster or player pages I coded...it was in a file provided by our host, which is why that host lost almost every customer I knew. The lockout wasn't that big of a deal. Members returned. Pre-lockout, we were already struggling, due to the factors above. The other thing I know is...members who are banned from here (for legitimate reasons) run elsewhere and completely trash OTR, and it's allowed for a while, just long enough to let it soak in among their entire community...and then, to keep a positive reputation in the eyes of outsiders, it's wiped away. I've been doing this since January 2005, for seven years. I know how it all works. I've PUT UP sites that, eventually, stabbed us in the back. I've skinned sites that have done it as well...free skins. I'm just glad to say that, whatever happens with OTR in the future, I never had to buy anyone out, merge with anyone, do anyone dirty, or take a shortcut to create and maintain what I have had for years. OTR's structure comes from our very own posters, who were never forced to register here. That, and having the smartest basketball community around, means more to me than having 300 active posters who rack up 2,000 posts per day with nothing to show for it, aside from their board statistics.

The Lakers were not the title favorites, lol. Kobe was playing on a destroyed knee that he had to have surgery for, and that automatically turns them away from contending. Dallas had a mediocre regular season? Their 57 wins was mediocre? Oh God...I hope you weren't serious with those two posts. Obviously, you don't value defense. Those Rockets were the second best defensive team in the NBA, and the 2003 Spurs team was top three defensively, and there are reasons for that, not just Duncan and Hakeem. Yikes...yeah, it's all about the star players with you, I guess. Dirk had a ton of help. Dallas was one of the most complete teams in the league in years, and that's how they won despite Dirk missing a lot of shots and being almost irrelevant on the defensive end.

Damn.

I wouldn't even say the Clippers. Fun to watch, but I doubt they'll be able to stop the Thunder in the playoffs. I'd say Dallas, if Dirk's knee will be okay by then, because I still like Marion defending Durant. Although, I think OKC wins that series this time around. The Lakers aren't doing a damn thing at this point, unless they make major adjustments to the offense, because it's obvious we can't run through Bynum.

Dirk shot around 41.6% against the Heat in that series. Three of those six games, he shot under 39% from the floor. One 30-point game, had a terrible Game 6. He destroyed them? Dirk had two other 15+ PPG scorers that shot 45% or better last season (although Caron was injured, eventually), and the Mavericks were one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, and we all know that wasn't because of Dirk. Five players (that were vital in their record and championship) shot better than 36% from three. Peja, Stevenson and Terry are three, and all three shot more threes per game than Dirk. You remove what Marion, Kidd and Chandler did on defense, stopping LeBron, and the Mavericks get swept by 15+ points a night. You're a Mavericks fan?

No need to be an ass when you're posting. You won't last here. Stop the baiting. I sense there's a reason why you have 18 different IP addresses. Behind a proxy?

Same person that didn't put Kobe in his top ten list... He also thinks Caron Butler is better than Kobe in his All-LA teams... The last person that should be pointing out the uneducated fans.

Recovery was pretty good...On Fire, Cinderella Man, 25 to Life, Almost Famous...songs that a lot of guys overlooked. I'm not sure why people didn't like that album, really...and it sure beat the hell out of Relapse, which in my opinion, is the worst he's ever put out...by far. MMLP is probably on top, although SSLP and Show have classics on them. Encore was okay...probably second to last on my list, though. I'll stick Infinite in the middle...incredible, lyrically, but a lot of his other songs were easier to listen to, hard for me to explain.

Detroit has lost 10 of 11, and now you know why Brandon Knight looked like someone killed his family the second he found out he was headed to Detroit to play for the Pistons.

When the hell will Washington find a way to get rid of Blatche? Even for a second-rounder? This dude is like the anti-winner.

I'll counter this with: The Cavaliers allowed 114 points with Derrick Rose on the bench for Chicago. Horrible loss.

That has to hurt.

Duncan is declining fast. The dude didn't play in the fourth quarter of this game, until the very last play (Green's miss).

Stupid cable was screwing up near the end of the game, but I'm pretty sure that ball hit off of George Hill's foot. I think the Warriors would've actually won this game if Curry wasn't so aggressive. The Pacers didn't shoot the ball that well, and Hill really didn't do anything against Monta most of the game (just came up clutch at the end)...I don't know.

Puzzling just how easy it was for Love to get open. Oh wait, it's the Clippers. Awesome shot. I'm late on this, but I was too busy celebrating in my living room.

All is forgiven!

RUBIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I made some diagrams, helping explain just how great we are. http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/3950/drewinside.jpg Result: Drew shoots or turns the ball over. http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/5300/kobeisolation.jpg Result: Kobe shoots or turns the ball over. http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/5700/lakersfastbreak.jpg Result: good conversation on one end of the court. http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/6387/lakersdefense.jpg Result: raining threes. Don't worry, these are accurate.