Real Deal

Point was, Chicago didn't have Noah the entire time. A starting five of Kurt Thomas, Taj Gibson, Luol Deng, Keith Bogans and Derrick Rose should've never been the second best defensive team in the NBA, especially when they are bringing Korver, Asik and Watson off the bench, and even Brewer's defense hasn't been as good as it was supposed to be. All of the players are buying into the team defense concept, and Rose is a huge part of that. He's also playing better on-ball defense, and he has improved his jumper, and is also more aggressive. All of his improvements, and him being the more aggressive scorer, are a huge part of their success.

Wow, I can't believe that's real. Underprivileged?

People are going to look at the Bulls and wonder how the hell they are so good, especially with Boozer and Noah out for so long. Rose had Deng, and that's about it. Howard is a defensive anchor, and of course, he's the main reason why the Magic are a top 5-6 team on defense...but they have a lot of firepower back on offense, guys that prevent Howard from being doubled every second he has the ball in his hands. Richardson, Nelson, Hedo, Arenas, Redick...they are 20 feet away from Howard most of the time, and it's perfect for Dwight. Howard is probably my second candidate, but I can't ignore what Rose is doing. Everything has improved with him, and the Bulls are a contender. I'm not sure the Magic are, though.

Boston wants anyone and everyone.

The Warriors need to stick their chest out and start trading away their bigger pieces. They need to deal Monta and Lee, and try to stick Biedrins in those deals as well. I like Ellis as a scorer, but he's got this Iverson mentality...gambles a lot on the defensive end, doesn't know when to get anyone involved, and if you're going to use him, you have to build around him...nothing less. Just like Iverson, in that sense. I don't think AI could've survived in an offense with a PG that needed the ball. The Iverson in Denver had trouble here and there, because Melo wanted it quite a bit. A 2001 Iverson would've shut Melo out of the offense even more. Problem is, you can't build around Ellis because he's not as good as AI was. Do what you can to find an offensive post player, and a defensive anchor...do it by dealing Ellis, Lee and Biedrins, and whatever else it takes. Keep Curry, so he can do his job with the ball in his hands (run the offense), and figure out the rest in 2-3 years, as the team develops chemistry together.

I agree with Erick on a couple of things, not on everything. The Knicks made the right move getting Carmelo. I think you take the chance if you're presented with it. However, the new CBA could ruin everything for New York, and they may find out it's going to be hell trying to bring in players that will contribute to a contending team. Put 82 games under their belt, and they are a top four team in the East. However, that won't translate into an ECF berth, because they are still a wreck on defense (one game doesn't mean shit), and Amare needs to be playing at the four (and Turiaf is a mess). If salary restrictions, reductions, and signing restrictions are put into play, the importance of role players (starting and bench) becomes magnified. New York would have to look to the draft to bring in the talent they need to build a championship team with, and that's going to be difficult to do when your team is a 50-win squad every season...enough wins to make the playoffs and have HCA for the first round or so, not enough losses to get into the lottery.

Take the better spot-up shooter (Bibby), because the Heat aren't going to be putting the ball into a true PGs hands to begin with, especially at the end of games. LeBron and Wade aren't going to play off the ball much...the only time they do that is when they are running the break, and most of the time, one of them has the ball and the other is sniffing for a lob. The Heat are a top three team in the East. There's no reason to bring in a true point guard, trying to put the ball in his hands, and change it all up. Today, LeBron runs the show, and the rest are sidekicks or spectators.

The one I use is IPB's app...you'll have to do a search for it, and it should still be free. Just search for "IPB" and find the one that's created by Invision Power Services.

Duncan sprained his ankle in the first or second quarter. I caught the highlight earlier. He came down on it, rolled it (left ankle, if I recall correctly).

Just watched half of this game...and wow, Przybilla is scared to death of Dwight, or something. Kwame Brown was doing a much better job, but he has always been underrated as a post defender (everyone looks at him as a bust because he was supposed to be a Garnett coming out of high school).

Tanking and rebuilding are two different things. You're rebuilding by trading away what you have to acquire draft picks and cap space, and young talent that has the potential to be good, not taking into consideration how your team will do in its first season together. The team may play as hard as they can every night...but they aren't tanking, they just aren't good enough. You tank when your players are asked to deliberately lose games, no matter the talent level. Or, in the Spurs' case, your best player sitting out most of the season (same concept).

That would be shocking. The Thunder are going to have to start swinging for that third, because they just lost their third-consecutive game, and won't be getting Perkins for a while. Of course, Kobe or Dirk could break a kneecap, but I'd rather not think about that.

LOL, I've given you a LIST of guys (all-stars, borderline all-stars, leaving out many others) who have signed with teams not named the Lakers, Knicks, Heat, or Clippers...and your reason for all of it is money. Haha...really? So, either they go to a big-market team, or they go towards the money? The team's contention (or even potential contention) has nothing to do with it? You're delusional, dude. Nash was an all-star, he showed NO signs of slowing down (common sense is wrong?), it doesn't change the fact that Nash went to Phoenix as an all-star, and if I started listing every single free agent over the last 10 years who has avoided those big-market teams, you'd be even more screwed and giving me the same excuse over and over again. But I've listed enough, right off the top of my head. I don't feel like doing any research on the topic because everyone can see that I've dropped my elbow over and over again on what is now a dead horse. No contraction necessary, teams build through drafts and trades, free agents are attracted to BOTH big markets and small market teams that build smart and are run by competent owners/GMs. History proves it, it's all there in black and white, and my end of the discussion is complete.

The only people that like LeBron are those in Miami, and even that will change once he completes his Miami takeover, and leaves Wade looking like Gary Payton when he was in Miami.

He was an all-star in Dallas. Stop avoiding the inevitable (you admitting you're wrong).

LeBron is more clutch than Gasol, but not even close to Fisher.

Excuses once again. Nash, a two-time MVP, isn't a big-enough name for you? Billups, a Finals MVP? Hell, David Lee was an all-star last season. In other words, you're talking about just the examples from this season, because otherwise, you really have no legs to stand on. The fact is, those big-name free agents you're speaking of (basically just the three in Miami and the two in NY, of course)...the Miami three just wanted to be on the same team, and going to Miami (with Riley, and Wade's home that he won a ring in) was the biggest factor. All three could've went to New York (no place better if you want the spotlight), but they didn't. Amare went to NY for the market, so did Melo. Two examples. Not sure what else to say about it. It's all right there. Small markets compete for free agents when they make themselves relevant through drafts and trades (and that's the main reason they contend). Big markets do the same...and throughout history, it's rare that a BAD big market team picks up the best free agents, because the truth is, few top-level free agents would rather be the man on a winning team, and that's what comes to mind first. LeBron had a chance to leave Cleveland a long time ago, but he signed his extension. Melo could've left Denver, but he signed an extension. Bosh and Toronto. All of those players signed an extension. Same with Chris Paul in New Orleans. Kevin Durant signed an extension to stay in Oklahoma City. If those big-market teams were so important, these guys (who were already superstars before they signed those extensions) would've been free agents, packing their bags and heading to New York, or New Jersey, or Miami and LA. But they didn't. You have it all wrong.

The Knicks would get swept against almost any playoff team with a higher seed if they are starting Jeffries at the center position. He's not Chuck Hayes. It would be different if Amare were starting at the five, Jeffries at the four...but, still, Jeffries is not a capable starter. C - Amare | Turiaf PF - Williams | Jeffries SF - Melo | Walker SG - Landry | Douglas PG - Billups | Spike Lee

Range, facilitating, health. Wade wins, though.

They attract free agents once they become good teams. Is that too hard to understand? I gave you a couple from a year ago, and you decided to find excuses as to why it happened. Billups went to Detroit. David Lee went to Golden State (trade, but only so the Knicks could get something in return, just like LeBron and Bosh did). Carlos Boozer signed with Chicago. Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis signed with Orlando. Elton Brand signed with Philly. Steve Nash signed with Phoenix. Andre Miller signed with Denver in 2003, then signed with Portland in 2009. I'll find many more examples.

I clearly stated the last seven Finals teams, but okay. And it was a mistake. Obviously, I know Shaq signed as a free agent. That was in 1996, one week after the Lakers traded Divac for Kobe in the draft. I don't need a history lesson. Miami had free agent acquisitions? How many? 2010: Lakers (Kobe, Gasol, Drew, Odom all traded for or drafted) Celtics (Pierce, Allen, Garnett, Rondo, Perkins all traded for or drafted) 2009: Lakers (see above) Magic (Howard, Nelson drafted...Hedo, Lewis FA's) 2008: Lakers (see above) Celtics (see above) 2007: Spurs (Duncan, Parker, Ginobili all drafted) Cavaliers (LeBron, Ilgauskas drafted, Varejao traded for, Hughes FA) 2006: Heat (Wade drafted, Shaq, J-Will, Posey, Walker traded for, Payton FA) Mavericks (Dirk, Howard drafted, Terry and Harris traded for) 2005: Spurs (see above) Pistons (Hamilton, Sheed, Big Ben traded for, Prince drafted, Billups FA) 2004: Lakers (Kobe drafted, Shaq FA) Pistons (see above) 2003: Spurs (already mentioned) Nets (Kidd traded for, K-Mart drafted, Jefferson draft-day trade) Not really sure why I would have to continue doing this...it's obvious that these teams have built their teams with drafts and trades more than they have with free agency.

Last seven Finals teams...Shaq was on the Heat via trade. That's what I meant. EDIT: LOL, I meant Bynum in that particular post. But, of course, Bynum = Shaq.

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