Real Deal

Had it not been for Magic's bout with HIV, we would not have gone more than 3-4 seasons, since 1979-80, without contending. You can base it all off of that, or just say that there will be free agents lining up to play in Los Angeles, as long as we have the money to pay them (and, eventually, we will). If Dwight doesn't stay in Orlando, his primary target is LA, and everyone knows that. You're acting like the Lakers sucked before Gasol. In the 2007-08 season, pre-Gasol, we actually had one of the top spots in the West. We were 25-11 (.694) when Bynum fell to injury (which led us to trade for Pau), and we finished the season 57-25 (.695).

Kobe listens to Fish more than he does Shaw. I just fear that, soon, Luke Walton will be on the sidelines, clipboard in hand, trying to coach this team. EDIT: Nevermind, Walton already does that.

So I talked to Jess, and she told me about how, if they were to reconfigure tenure, it should be based on something similar to NBA contracts (this is me making the comparison, by the way...she went into a lot of detail, but it compares to the NBA contracts). She knows a few teachers over at her school that actually agree. Basically, she stated that the first three years are for teachers to build up enough credibility to acquire a five-year deal. The five years is guaranteed money. After the five years is up, if the teacher renews, it's for ten years, which eventually becomes the max "contract" a teacher can earn AFTER the initial three (three one-year evaluations) and the first five-year "contract" they earn.

Lkr would've called you a bitch anyway, for you calling him a tool. Did you forget your last post already? No, their salary doesn't fit the amount of time they put in. Sorry. And no, they don't have all of the free time you claim they do. That's the only reason why I started replying in this topic, and I'm pretty sure that's why Lkr is replying. I don't care if your cousin, from NY, is a teacher. I live with one. You can say you know. I'm pretty sure I know better, both the financial situation AND the time put into it. Done talking. Nobody deserves respect if they don't know how to give it.

You have to understand the mindset, you know? The less you do, the more you get in this country. Join the army, go fight a war, and bring home $25k a year (like my friend). Be a teacher in this area (where I live) and rake in $30k a year (my girlfriend). Fix computers and design websites and do it with inconsistent work, unless you'd rather work for a company that'll only pay you $12 an hour AFTER you earn all of your certificates and become senior technician. Even worse, go to work at a production factory, and have to dump five-gallon buckets of sand for eight hours a day, $10/hour (my uncle). Or, go hire people to answer your phone, set up your appointments, work your negotiations, drive your vehicles, clean your office, and run your company, and you'll never have to worry for the rest of your life (another uncle of mine). This country absolutely sucks for that very reason, and because there are complete fools in office that spend more time worrying about the upcoming election, and what they "need to say" in order to win it, than actually doing what's best for this country, working with the other party, and getting shit done. I'll speak on things I know. I don't assume anything just to throw middle and lower-class people and jobs under the bus. I wasn't brainwashed to do that.

Nobody is asking you to feel bad for them. People are asking you to stop being a bitch and acting like you know what a teacher has to go through these days. Grading papers and writing tests is a tip of the iceberg, but obviously, you would know more because you are a teacher, or you live with one... Why don't you tell me how easy it is to sit on my ass and fix computers and design websites all day long? I'd like to know, since I'm numb to what I do for a living, and it only makes sense to ask someone who has no idea.

I already stated why. Schools will fire to save money. They have in the past, firing teachers right before they have a chance at tenure, and that is not good, no matter how you swing the discussion. Very good student teachers go through 4-5 years of absolute hell to get their teaching license, only to be thrown out three years into their teaching career. Schools would lust over the option to toss them 10 years into their career...just a bigger window to use up teachers until they find cheaper replacements. Is there a chance that someone will come up with some sort of a system? Probably not. This stuff happens at jobs all over the place, also, but education is far, far more important than a job at Blockbuster, or even at a large company, such as Amazon (which has their main offices and production plant in Coffeyville).

You wouldn't, even if we were at three. You'll be seeing #4, which will be the Thunder.

The [expletive]? My girlfriend would fly off the handle reading this. Teaching sucks. She goes in at 7:00, stays until around 3:30-4:00. She gets home, and straight to grading papers and writing up these dreadful lesson plans, then come up with ideas for the next class day (for example, she set up a "fun" three-step system for multiplication facts just last week). She came home with a new way of multiplying three-digit numbers, something I've never heard of in my life (same for her), and she had to learn it just to teach it to the students. One of the most confusing things I've seen. That took up a weekend. Jess is always doing something for school. It's quite annoying, honestly, and she knows it. As far as holidays go, the only thing she gets off is Christmas. During the other breaks, she's still having to go to the school. I'm not sure how it is everywhere else, but that's the case here. Here's what I don't like about people, on television or wherever, talking as if they know how shit really goes down: they don't know. They don't work that job (most don't). Tenure is good because it provides students with more legit teachers than bad ones, and instead of new ones that have no idea what they are doing. Long-tenured teachers should have job security. Schools will fire their ass to save money, otherwise. When my old HS fell to a 4A class, they dropped about four different teachers that were in their third year, and everyone in town knew it was to save money, because two of those teachers were exceptional in the classroom, and the other two were very good football coaches and decent teachers. What they need to do is evaluate the teachers much better from the start, so they can avoid having bad ones complete the short-term process and move into tenure. If they want to implement a system that can be used to drop those bad teachers, despite tenure, they need to develop SOMETHING...but getting rid of tenure would be a mistake. The excellent pack of teachers don't deserve that, but more importantly, neither do the kids.

Sorry guys, there's no way LeBron is a better defender than Deng, and to be honest with you, I would also stick Ron Ron over him as well...but we all know that will never happen.

We do the mock draft competition every year. BFT won, and I completely forgot to give him his prize. I may ship it to him someday.

Hollinger is strictly stats. It means nothing to me. Dirk is not one of the better defensive PF's in the NBA, for example. He should try considering the fact that Chandler prevents Dirk's man from getting to the rim quite often...because that's what defensive anchors do. Hollinger's statistical ratings have been a joke for years.

Doesn't matter, but I'd rather avoid Portland, just so we have the potential for a sweep. I doubt we sweep them.

More questions and time, participants must select the next one up only from those who asked questions, probably will consider relocating the forum OR making it more noticeable.

The bad thing about the Press Conferences is that members who are "less popular" on the board will get bumped down, and that's for certain. Also, the peak is reached too early. Once the forum is created, people will dive in and create topics. There will be a lot of hype for a few days, maybe weeks, but suddenly, it's gone. The ability to ask multiple questions, to multiple people, all at once...it means you'll run out of questions faster.

The Lakers will always contend, and teams like the Heat and Thunder will be there as well. The Knicks could be better if they bring in a defensive-minded center, and possibly a decent player at the one or two (Billups isn't going to be around for long). Chicago is impressive, but not jaw-dropping. The Spurs failed to win two consecutive titles, and they have been one of the greatest franchises since getting Duncan. The Celtics and their big four couldn't get it done more than once. The East will only get better, and I doubt the West changes that much. Chicago won't three-peat, and I doubt they will win two consecutive titles.

I'm looking into changing KIR a bit, making it easier for members to interact with others in it, and just a better feel overall. The Press Conference idea is actually pretty cool, but it's been used over and over again. About four years ago, there was a basketball site put up that used the idea...not sure if that's where it originated from, but I've seen it pop up multiple times ever since.

I know that. He doesn't play like Pistol. Everyone knows that Maravich could shoot the ball better (notably in traffic), and was a far, far better scorer than Rubio will ever be. In fact, Rubio would probably average more assists because he's not a scoring guard.

Well, even FOXNews has repeated the fact that Hawaii has confirmed it. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/28/hawaii-declares-obama-birth-certificate-real/?test=latestnews Maybe he's hiding his birth certificate to avoid identity theft? Maybe it reads that his religion is Islam? When he's first born, he doesn't have a say...his parents do. Also, I've yet to run into a credible news site that proves he spent $2 million to protect that information.

The fans found out that Westbrook was a big part of their success, but that shouldn't matter. I don't need to list the superstars with all-star teammates. He's not the MVP of the league, but regardless, the award is a joke. I hope this is the first time, and the last, that he ever talks about it.

So you are...believing he's a US citizen, or you aren't believing it?

Dwight Howard was manhandled by Drew earlier in the season (one of the games we played Orlando). Drew was getting everything he wanted, and could've dropped 30 if he was a primary option. It really doesn't mean much. When a player catches fire, and he's also an offensive juggernaut, there isn't much you can do about it, no matter who you are.

Without Drew in the game, the Lakers go this route: http://i54.tinypic.com/14smse0.jpg Same concept with the two guard positions, but Ron is relocated, and Odom is on an island. http://i56.tinypic.com/2njzxon.jpg End result forms the triangle to the right, with a shooter (Ron) and a shooter and reset man (Odom) to the left. ---------- To establish Bryant in the post, LA can go with this... http://i56.tinypic.com/55mpz5.jpg Fish gets the ball to Odom, and heads to the corner (typical PG move in the triangle). Ron gives Fisher space by moving to the ball. http://i51.tinypic.com/33thsif.jpg Gasol gives Kobe the nice screen for him to get free and establish post. Odom puts 12-15 feet between him and Ron. http://i54.tinypic.com/2vmhlig.jpg Kobe completes the triangle to the left, in the post. Odom looks for the three, two-man between him and Gasol as an option, could involved him driving and finding a trailing Gasol for a dunk.

Gasol doesn't get into position enough to capitalize on his touches. There are too many times where he's at a guard position in the triangle offense (where Bryant or Fish need to be), or he takes the high post in a second triangle variation, which disallows his low post presence. Warning: my court sucks. I'm in a hurry creating the images, sorry. One variation of the triangle that takes our two bigs into the post (when both are in the game, and Kobe isn't showing post with just Drew or Gasol in)... http://i55.tinypic.com/20kc3dl.jpg The spots show where they start (Gasol gets up the court faster than Drew, Kobe and Ron are interchangeable and Fisher has already dished the ball off at this point). In fact, both guards and Ron can be interchangeable, you can ignore their positioning as long as you establish Kobe getting the ball. Fisher to Ron, and then Ron passes to Bryant and cuts to and through the corner. Drew slides down to the post, Gasol over to his post, Fisher at the top of the key. http://i54.tinypic.com/zl6elg.jpg Notice the two triangles formed, and the spacing. Kobe now has many options, and this places him as the facilitator. He can make the post entry pass to Gasol. He can also drive to the rim, then kick out to Ron. He can take the shot himself. While this is happening, Fisher has the option to create more space between him and Bryant, if he feels Bryant will drive and create. The more space Fisher creates, the bigger chance his man loses him and closes in on a post or Kobe. Of course, Gasol and Drew can change out, depending on the match-ups. In a reset, the triangle can be re-formed on the same side, opposite side, Gasol can take the high post, or it can be ditched altogether and become a two-man P&R between Kobe and a big, Ron and Fish take the corners and spot up for threes in a penetration situation. --------- Now, to my point. Gasol has never attempted 15 FGA per game in a season. Not even with Memphis, as a primary option. The reason is because he has trouble positioning himself on the court. He is a high IQ player that is very indecisive. He holds the ball too long when down low OR up high, waits for shooters to move when the offense isn't set up that way, and he doesn't wait for the double to actually stick to him long enough to matter, and it's hurting both his FGA and his aggressiveness and effectiveness during games, forcing others to take shots late in the clock and making it much easier for opposing defenses to defend five players on the court. This has been a problem for years, guys. It was a huge problem when Odom needed to become a post player pre-Gasol, and we had to rely on Kwame and Mihm, who were terrible at keeping space because they both wanted shot opportunities and didn't accept their roles correctly, to the point where Phil was starting Walton and hoping to post him up. It's not about lack of touches, it's about lack of effective positioning. You can see it every game. Unfortunately, when Gasol does get that position, he's not as aggressive as Bynum is, and that's why more and more are starting to value Drew's presence down low...because he's playing the role he's asked to, and he's more physical and willing to put the ball in the hoop. I shouldn't have to create images and explain the triangle, though. We've been watching the same offense since Shaq was here. Difference is, we never had that post presence that Shaq gave us, not even with Drew (because he's not a willing passer, although he's improving on it slowly), and if we were looking at Gasol to be that low post presence, we were sadly mistaken, and all we needed to do was look back on his play in Memphis to confirm that.