Real Deal

Wow...I haven't seen a Denver team play this kind of defense in a long, long time.

Motivated teams have no problem beating the Heat, it seems, and the problem is...the Heat should be more motivated than anyone else in the NBA. That's the reason why they all came together...the motivation to win it all. Once the playoffs roll around, those opponents will want it even more than they do right now. LeBron and Wade will need to get right. Their second half (or fourth quarter) struggles aren't going to fly in a seven-game series, especially when one (or both) are forced to defend another superstar/all-star player, as you saw tonight with LeBron getting lit up by Durant.

That's weird. If it wasn't opening in the incognito window, it would be much easier to figure out. It just gives me this feel that it's more about the cookies/cache settings, but I still don't get it. I'll look into it, instead of throwing out these random ideas.

Hmm...could be a YouTube problem? Try watching a bunch of different vids. See if there are any you can actually watch. Can you hear audio?

That sounds more like it's based on your personal preference, though. You aren't as excited about basketball. You just watched the old Knicks/Bulls series. Your favorite decade was the 90s. It all makes sense because the Knicks were one of the dominant teams of the 90s...so I'm not really sure what to say. New York basketball was irrelevant for quite some time after Ewing retired. The only decades I don't consider when trying to figure out the greatest would probably be anything before the mid-70s, due to the lack of teams and players in the NBA, lack of size and athleticism. Of course, we'll never know the true GOAT because these guys can't play each other. We'll never see a prime Jordan defending a prime Kobe, or Shaq and Jabbar going at it. However, looking at it that way, there's really no point to ever debate anything, because stats never tell the whole story (too many other factors surrounding them) and most everything else is based solely on opinion. All I'm saying is that I've seen Jordan and Kobe play, more than any other basketball players since I started watching the game, and Kobe looks to have a more complete offensive game...the footwork is better, the jumper is better despite the tight contests, he's a more accurate passer (and more flashy), and given the circumstances (being with Shaq the first eight years, and Phil most of his career), I think Kobe's scoring and FG% could be much higher than it is already. None of that opinion is based on what anyone else says. I don't listen to Mark Jackson talking about how Kobe is the GOAT. I don't listen to Scottie trying to say Jordan can average 40 today. All of that means little to me because the opinion is formed with my own eyes, and what I've seen over time. Can I include Magic in this discussion? I'm sure I could argue for him, but it's well-known that he's not the defender Kobe and Jordan are, and he's also not the scorer. It's about taking the most complete players, and I don't think there are any others in that realm over the last three decades.

Go to Tools > Extensions and list them in here.

Is it an updated version of Chrome?

Clear cookies and cache, see what happens.

The funny part is, many were calling Jordan a loser and a stat-padder before he was winning rings, saying that Magic and Bird elevated their teams to championships early in their careers, and Jordan couldn't get it done because he was selfish. Then, with the teammates, he wins six. Now, people are falling back on what he did before the rings, talking about the 37 PPG and how he could average 40, score 100 in a game, etc. If Kobe never had a Shaq, and had the green light to step on the gas and go all out, he would've had a career average of 30+ PPG as well, a few 70-point games (EASILY, as we all saw Phil pull him from three different games where he could've done it), the 81-point game, and many other record-breaking performances. Had that happened, and I brought up what he did, I'd be hearing, "Yeah, but he didn't win a ring, so he's in the same boat as Barkley." It's the same story, over and over again. Nothing matters. People were trashing him for his 81-point game, and the "Kobe 62, Mavs 61" performance...among many others. It's ridiculous. It's a damn shame Jordan didn't get a taste of prime Kobe.

An ad-blocker will ruin it for you these days. Some YouTube vids won't play if you're blocking their ads (same with NFL.com's videos).

What a beast. He's right, though. I still think the documentary was good, but those guys are just bitter. They hate Duke, and it's nobody's fault but their own. The only thing I didn't like about the IDEA of having this on television? It really, really forces people to believe that the Fab Five was the big thing for the black community and college basketball, but some of us know that all originated in Georgetown. People know. Ewing's team won it all, also...and was in the championship game three of those four years. John Thompson and the crew worked their asses off to win games, and they did it without the circus act. They didn't talk trash every 30 seconds, didn't taunt...they just got the job done, and were one of the most intimidating basketball teams in the history of college bball.

I'm almost in the same boat, but the problem is, even the best players (especially in college) can be detrimental to their team if they are trying to play through injuries.

How do you know that? I doubt Vince invests so much time into this Rock/Cena feud if he's not going to be around after WM, and the same can be said about The Rock as well.

Nope, just the picks.

Ask LeBron James how well Danny Granger plays defense. When he's not asked to score 30 points for the Pacers, Granger is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, just like he was over at UNM.

You didn't prove anything, just you reading what other people have written over time. You aren't even old enough to watch that era of basketball. What? That's not how it works. This isn't the Chicago Bears. That doesn't make sense. The more a player drives into the defense, the more turnovers they have (given there's less talent around them). Bryant also had the ball much more when Shaq left. That should be obvious, but I'm assuming you never watched the Lakers...ever. Shaq could catch anything. He and Bryant didn't turn the ball over much when they were feeding each other buckets. That's a much different story when you're trying to post Kwame up, in an offense where you are forced to get him involved. A bit tougher to pass out of doubles, also. Without Shaq, teams doubled and tripled Bryant over and over again, from 25 feet out, before and after touching the ball. What happens when you are trapped and trying to make a pass to teammates that have no idea how to move (like Smush and Walton)? You turn the ball over. Because there was no big in the paint. Bryant's blocks were coming from him helping, not face up. It's well-known that a guard will block more shots when there are bigs down low, because they can come over from the weak side (like Jordan did against Starks and Ewing) and swat shots. The ball was in his hands more. Kobe and Shaq were a duo. Kobe worked the perimeter, Shaq worked the post. Do you not get that? Shaq fed shooters, Kobe fed Shaq, and Kobe and Shaq got theirs. Why do you bring those stats in the discussion...without actually understanding them?

You're full of really immature, smartass remarks, huh? Says a lot about the future of our nation? Guess that makes me fear for the future of our nation, because obviously, you're misinterpreting what EVERYONE has said in this topic. Not a single person said he was less guilty. No one. You're stumbling over your own posts, dude. I made it clear as day that the skinny punk got what he deserved, but thank God he wasn't paralyzed and Casey wasn't put away for years. Does that translate to me saying he's less guilty? Nope, in no way, shape or form. But there's something I know. Your way of gaining support in a debate like this is to try and twist that around. People will read your last post and, lazily, fall for the misdirection and believe that I'm supporting the bully. It's bad enough you gave this initial reply: Then you assumed (inaccurately) that, to be paralyzed, you must land directly on your spine. It's really too bad you're going about it that way, and I have a feeling you would feel absolutely no sympathy if "Ritchard" was paralyzed from this incident (almost certain, actually), which would be as low as you could possibly get.

Danny Granger or John Wall, assuming Drew will stay healthy.

The rule is a catch-and-shoot for 0.4 seconds, and a tip-in with 0.3 on the clock. I don't think the refs would've counted it, or even reviewed it, because of the rulebook.

Just heard it from a friend, looking for a link... EDIT: It's true... http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_17622472?source=rss

Phil has been on Kobe's ass about his shooting percentage ever since he started coaching him. According to Phil (because it's all he ever talks about), that's what separates Kobe and MJ. I've stated over and over and over again why percentages are lower since the late 90's. It's a fact that 35-40 guards in Jordan's era shot 50% or better in a season (15+ PPG minimum), while it's rare to see it happen now. It's much, much easier to get to the rim when teams can't play zone defense (yeah, break out your zone defense video on MJ, the few times teams got away with it). It's funny, though. One Phil quote was how Kobe didn't shoot as well as MJ, but everyone knows that Jordan's high FG% came from him getting to the rim, especially when he was younger. You stick Shaq down low, and Jordan's FG% drops. It's common basketball knowledge. Jordan would be forced to shoot the ball a bit more. Also, Bryant attempting twice as many threes has a lot to do with it as well. For a player that shot twice as many threes, and played the first eight years of his career with a 356-pound center taking up the paint, one that has had to play against zone defenses and specialty defensive players, he has a pretty damn good percentage.

SUPER.

Who said the Knicks were going to be a better defensive team? I can't remember if it was an analyst on TV, or someone here. Denver is so happy right now. The Knicks better get their asses in gear. If they fail me in a first-round match-up against the Heat, I'm going to remove their team forum.

Aldridge is a beast. Thanks Blazers.

Dwight, easily.