Real Deal

Yeah, the refs blew it at the end of the game, when they didn't add the extra 0.3 to the clock. However, I don't think it would've mattered. Amare didn't even have his arm extended when the clock ran out. By NBA rule, 0.3 allows for a tip...which means very, very little contact AND very quickly, at that. So assuming you add 0.3 seconds (a tip) to the point where Amare was about to extend his arm on the shot...I don't think he would've gotten it off. I mean...hell, this one wasn't even close. I didn't even have to see the replay to know he didn't beat the clock. The true dagger came when Raymond Felton landed hard, laid there, and allowed the Celtics to rush up the court, 4 on 5, and get Ray Allen WIDE OPEN in the corner for the three. While Gallinari matched it back down the court after a good acting job, it really didn't matter because it put the ball in Boston's hands, with the game on the line, and everyone knew Pierce was going to take that jumper right when they got the switch (Felton on Pierce). The second switch was even worse, Amare on him, because it allowed Pierce to fake the drive and take the fadeaway from his little sweet spot. Amare should've played the shot all the way through, no drive, because there wasn't enough time for Pierce to hesitate and restart the drive to the rim. Stoudemire dropped that 39, but he is such a defensive wreck, it's hard to watch. Because of that, the rest of the team has to help him down low. They just stand there and watch (everyone but Fields, anyway). With an injured Rondo, and not having both Shaq or Jermaine, it was actually an impressive win by the Celtics. They had all of that to deal with, were on the road, and were playing a streaking Knicks team. Go figure they would win it, though. Hate Boston.

Haha, alright. 2010: Orlando Magic (nope) 2009: Cleveland Cavaliers (nope) 2008: Boston Celtics (yay) 2007: San Antonio Spurs (yay) 2006: San Antonio Spurs (nope) 2005: San Antonio Spurs (yay) 2004: San Antonio Spurs (nope) 2003: Dallas Mavericks (nope) 2002: Sacramento Kings (nope) 2001: San Antonio Spurs (nope) 2000: Los Angeles Lakers (yay) 36% of the time since 2000. Two championships in six seasons wouldn't surprise me. Great accomplishment, nonetheless.

If you're going to go that route, you might as well consider Drew 100% healthy, Kobe and Gasol healed up from their current injuries, and admit that the Lakers are the best team in the NBA. And don't ever give me an SRS stat, ever again. The Lakers were 5th in SRS last year. Boston was 10th. It's worthless. If you're going to go THAT route, go check out Miami's RPI (9th). http://espn.go.com/nba/stats/rpi

Well, I've been right about the last two Lakers championships, so you should!

...okay. Like I said, Cuban says a lot of things he doesn't mean, just to piss off the elite West teams. I'm pretty sure he thinks saying the Heat are the best team in the league would stir up emotions. But, cool, Cuban thinks the Heat are the best (or, says he thinks). How many people thought the Cavaliers were the best over the last two seasons? I really doubt anyone cares what Cuban thinks, unless they are living in Miami or rooting for the Heat.

Haha, I seriously didn't want you to answer the question. I could've just typed all of that for you.

LOL, so he speaks for all of the elite teams?

Alright, so...wait. For the Lakers, it's... Lakers send: Sasha Vujacic, 2011 1st Rounder Lakers receive: Joe Smith, GSW 2nd Rounder (2011), CHI 2nd Rounder (2012), rights to Sergei Lishouk I like the picks. I'm glad we pick up two in this deal, even if they are 2nd rounders (not guaranteed money).

I could care less who disagrees with me. Before I make a post, I make sure I'm right. I don't put [expletive] down in a post if I think I'm incorrect. Serious question for you: when did you start thinking the Heat were the best team in the NBA? Was it last week, during their streak, or July? Just kidding, not a serious question. I already know.

LMAO, if he stated the Heat were just a top eight team in the East, and there was no way they were going to get past Boston, Orlando or Chicago in the playoffs, you guys would call for his head. Cuban says a lot of things he doesn't believe, as long as it downgrades anyone out West. Do you think he's going to say the Spurs are the best team in the NBA? If it means calling another team that, he will. He stated he wants them to lose every game of the season. He hates the franchise. Saying the Heat are the best team in the league... Wow...forget it. If you can't figure that one out...lol. You guys can listen to Cuban all you want. Call him up and maybe he'll tell you to get your friends and family NBA Snuggies for Christmas, as long as they aren't the Spurs or Lakers Snuggies.

Sorry. There's nothing that would make anyone BUT YOU think that.

It wouldn't hurt to play him more. It's not like the Pistons are looking to dominate this post-season. I'm shocked that he's playing better, though. Early in the season, he looked like he was 45 years old.

While Duncan has almost always been the MVP of the Spurs, it seems like Manu has always been that x-factor (with the exception of this season, where I agree that he's their MVP). In the past, when Manu struggles or is injured, it always seemed like the Spurs were doomed in a series. He just generates too much attention on the offensive end, takes the load off of Duncan (very evident this year, with Duncan averaging 13 PPG) and does a lot of dirty work that many two-guards aren't expected to attempt.

Exactly...so, the Nets won't do it until the extension is agreed upon.

Yep, looks like they are rebuilding.

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&id=5919781

New Jersey didn't want it unless he committed. Three different guys on Twitter (Woj, Stein and Aldridge) all put it out there, if I recall correctly (not sure if it was Aldridge or someone else, actually). As I said in another topic, I remember hearing that Houston and Golden State were interested in a Melo trade, extension agreed upon or not, and those were the only two teams that would work a trade despite that one condition. New Jersey and New York both wanted Melo to commit, and so did the Kings, Clippers and Sixers.

I remember hearing that Houston and Golden State were interested in a Melo trade, extension agreed upon or not, and those were the only two teams that would work a trade despite that one condition. New Jersey and New York both wanted Melo to commit, and so did the Kings, Clippers and Sixers.

That may change if they do get Melo. I'm sure Lopez will feed off of him every chance he gets, and he'll become a more productive center because of it.

Darko sets a career-high, points scored! That means it's no longer against the Lakers! Sorry Yama. And Williams just made up his mind and figured it was best to start playing like a superstar tonight, right? Haha.

Wait...so, Guru, why did you seem disappointed when you heard the news?

If he agrees to sign the extension and goes to New Jersey, my opinion will change slightly because the trade will give Denver exactly what they want for him. But he still handled the situation poorly from the start.

But, yeah, I'll listen to Mark Cuban, because his Mavericks have won multiple championships, like he says they will do every year.

Denver gets picks and Favors, and Murphy isn't a scrub. It works for the Nets, for sure. Denver will now need to consider trading Billups (or at least give him the opportunity to speak his mind about where he wants to go with the rest of his career in a rebuilding situation), look 3-5 years down the road, and move on. I think this is a better move by Melo, assuming he does agree to sign the extension. Just makes it easier (even a little bit) on the Nuggets.

He doesn't have the right yet. That's just it. Until he's a free agent, he's on Denver's payroll. You guys keep saying that he can sign wherever he wants, go wherever...and that's true, after July 1st. The only right Carmelo has, today, is the right to refuse the extension offer made by the Denver Nuggets. I don't have a problem with him doing that. What I DO have a problem with, though, is him practically saying he's not going to be in Denver after this season, and that he wants to go to New York and nowhere else...and doing all of this while he's still under contract with the Nuggets. That means that the Knicks can put out half the offer they thought they would need, and if the Nuggets don't accept it by the February deadline, they are screwed and will lose Melo to free agency. Melo isn't thinking, though, because if that happens, the Nuggets can turn right around and just let him walk in July, not going with a sign-and-trade, and that knocks off one year of his contract automatically. Plus, if the new CBA cuts only CURRENT player salaries and doesn't take away from past salaries (which is possible), Melo loses 25-30% of what he can make in a year PLUS loses yet another year of the contract. If it's true that the Nets are another team that Melo will consider, it does give the Nuggets one more to deal with (and the potential of bringing in Favors), but that doesn't dismiss the fact that he has handled all of this poorly with what seems to be a nasty ending for the Nuggets, if not for both. Had all of this stayed behind closed doors, which Melo obviously didn't want, Denver could've actually gotten a better deal from the Knicks or Nets (given that they would think many other teams would be involved)...but, hey, why would Melo want that, when all it does is remove potential teammates from his future team? He's disrespecting Denver with no intentions of giving back to them, no intentions of staying, and it's nothing I can say I'll stand by 100%.