Real Deal

I hope they fire Spo tonight, so Riley takes over the team and starts taking in the blame for all of the losses. That would be exciting to see, even though I actually like Pat.

Sadly (for the Heat), Udonis was their best defensive big, and the Heat were already struggling with points allowed in the paint.

Yes, you bench Brett because he's injured OR he's too old. It's one or the other. Last year, Vick looked like the perfect backup. Now he's arguably the MVP of this league. It wasn't too long ago that Brady was connecting with Moss for 23 TDs in a season (2007 season?). Had 13 TDs last season, 83 receptions for over 1200 yards. Now he seems to be irrelevant for every team he plays on just one year later, and that's without injury. Let me ask you this: will the Vikings have any chance at the playoffs this year? A realistic chance? Because if you don't think so, you play Jackson now. Everyone wants to see Favre continue the streak and retire with it, but Favre has enough talent around him to win games. He has the receivers (Harvin, Moss at one time, Shiancoe, Berrian, Rice yesterday) and the back to take focus away from the throwing game (Peterson), yet he's only able to put up three total points against the Packers? His QB rating is a 70, from 107 last season? He has 17 picks (most his fault) from just seven last season? That's 22 turnovers altogether for Brett, 71 points for the other team over 10 games. He's playing like he did when he was with the Jets...ironically, the season he was playing injured...and he actually put up better numbers when he was with them. Before the Green Bay game, the Vikings reached the end zone just 12 of 29 times while in the red zone, which is pathetic. They are in the bottom five or six in red zone touchdowns. Seeing what guys like Brady and Manning have done with what most feel are "no-name receivers" this season, you have to wonder why Favre can't dump the ball into the end zone without throwing a pick or incompletions. Childress and Favre are the problems. Childress is gone. Run next week's game with Favre, and if he doesn't lead the Vikings to victory over the depleted Redskins, it's time to sit him.

Because Harrison Barnes has been hyped to be as big of an impact, or bigger, than Kevin Durant was in Texas. Rodney Williams locked him up in that game against Minny. Jeff Taylor played good defense on him in that game against Vandy. UNC isn't defending well, but when the defense isn't performing, it's players like Harrison Barnes that are needed to step up and excel on at least one end of the court. He's supposed to be one of the most NBA-ready talents out there, but it's looking like he's still trying to adjust to college ball.

...lol. I'd say something, but I better not.

I know exactly what Shaq did. The point was, he didn't average 30 a game (ever), didn't lead the league in board or blocks (ever). Has one MVP. Things like that...you go back and ask if he was even as dominant as everyone says. However, he is. Robbed of an MVP, whatever...if the MVP award was given out to the best players in the NBA, like it should be (instead of the best teams), Bryant has many more than just one. Either way, maybe Jordan was robbed of one when Bird got one of his, or maybe someone else...that's not what you were arguing. I don't care how those guys got their 50% FG. That's 35+ guards that did it in that era. Some slashed, some shot the ball. They all did it differently. Conclusion? It must have been easier to shoot 50%, for guards, in the Jordan era, than it is in today's game or back in the late 90's and last decade of basketball. Can you prove to me that Bryant wouldn't have had 50% FG seasons back in the 80s and early 90s? If 35 others can, I don't know. Because it's within the flow of the offense. Off-ball play means nothing if you don't get the pass. You just run around all game long. No screens? No pass? You don't look so dominant out there anymore. Richard Hamilton, Ray Allen...two of the top three greatest off-ball players in the history of the game (throw Reggie in there with them, even though he's retired)...you don't hear anything about their dominance. In fact, among all active players, you won't hear their names mentioned for a LONG time down the list. By the way, the thing with McHale, when I stated his assists and scoring went up when the Celtics started playing through him and dishing it out to Bird on the perimeter...it was a fact. They did go up, coincidently, with Bird's shooting. Larry took more threes because McHale was getting him open. Plus, we talk about Bird's shooting (and everyone else's, for that matter)...what about coaches running more three-point plays for Kobe than they did Bird? That also has a lot to do with field goal percentages. The overall FG% includes threes, as you know. Why are we even amazed at Bird's three-point percentage when he didn't even have one season where he took over three per game (give or take a few tenths of a percentage). http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/arenagi01.html Gilbert Arenas has taken up to eight per game in a season. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/allenra02.html Ray Allen over eight. Before you start talking about threes not being smart shots, they actually win games, and coaches are the ones calling for them, for the most part (as you noted). More shots, lesser efficiency? You can relate them in a way. Jordan's first run (before his first retirement), he shot under 50% twice. Both of those were the only two times that he shot 25+ FGA per game. Before the first retirement, Jordan never exceeded 3.0 3PTA per game. Once he did (during the second), his overall FG% never reached 50% again, yet he was still playing at an MVP level. Just more reason for me to believe that anyone's FG% from the 80s and early 90s should never be compared to those over the last decade or so, just like when you say Wilt's numbers shouldn't be compared to Jordan's, despite the fact that there were a few talented bigs that were defending him over the years (just not in his 100-point game). You simply put their stats and accomplishments on the board, gave your opinion, and you were done with it. All I'm saying is...it's the wrong way to go if you've watched both players. There are too many factors to consider.

Throw the efficiency discussion out the window, because the Jordan era allowed 35+ guards to shoot 50% and average 15+ PPG while doing it. Not impressed, guys...sorry. In a 12-season career, so 33% of his time in the league. Jordan did it for 12 consecutive seasons (including one season in Washington), but nobody seems to care. As far as the 50/40/90 goes, Nash has done that 4-5 consecutive times. Other players that have accomplished it? Steve Kerr, Dirk Nowitzki, Jose Calderon, Mark Price, Reggie Miller, and Shannon Brown is on pace this season. Amazing three-point shooting by Bird for a few years. In four of his first five seasons, though, he shot under 29% from three. Bryant is greater in the clutch. He may not shoot the better clutch percentage, but nobody has never defended Bird or Jordan (or Reggie, or anyone) the way they defend Bryant on last-second shots. He has hit them over two defenders multiple times. I've seen every game-winner that Jordan has ever put up, and those guys didn't defend Jordan the same way, not at all, for the fear of having to commit to the double and leaving a shooter open. At the end of the day, Bird didn't even last but 11 1/2 seasons. He slipped back down to 33% from three in 1989-90, his 10th full season. Bryant averaged his 35.4 PPG in his 10th season 4-5 years ago.

They all are. It all goes back to that point I made in another topic. In this Golden Era, with Jordan, 35+ guards shot 50% or better from the floor, minimum 15 PPG. Why? Out of almost all of them on that list...I doubt the casual NBA fans even know them if I had pictures, and some wouldn't even know them by name. You can give me all the numbers you want, but there's nothing that will ever convince me that Bird can dominate a defender (or a double, or a zone) better than Kobe. The point was made. If you are going to start picking dominant players out of the bunch based on their numbers, accomplishments and individual awards, you might leave Shaq on the bench. I'm selecting Jordan, Shaq and Kobe as the only three I'd never want to defend. Bird was a very good post player (most don't know that), but he had a lot of wide-open shots. A ton. He struggled with his three for years until Boston started throwing the ball into the post much more. McHale's assists probably went up, and so did his points, around the same time Bird was shooting his 40% threes (if I'm wrong, I'm only off by a season), and Bird was launching those open shots. Kobe and Shaq didn't create shots for each other as much as people say. Shaq was creating for others. Kobe would only create for O'Neal when he drove the lane and dished through penetration. No need for it because both Bryant and O'Neal could break down a double better than anyone in the NBA. Better passer? I can't say it's Bird. Bryant has thrown impressive passes throughout his career. Assist numbers don't tell who's the better passer, or else you'll have to explain why Iverson is a better passer than Bryant and McGrady, and why Rondo is currently on pace to becoming a top three greatest passer in league history. Bird was better off the ball because he's played that way much, much more than Bryant ever has, which only helps my argument. The only way to evaluate something like this, between two players of different eras, is to just watch them. You can convince me that Jordan was better than Bryant, even though I think it's close, but Bird is not more dominant than Kobe. Locked in, Kobe shuts down most anyone on defense, and if Phil Jackson asks Bryant to score 60, he would find a way to do it. That's dominance.

I emailed the proxy server's admin...has nothing to do with IPB. Been doing it for six years plus here, so it's very unlikely I slip up.

Nothing to do with him? He's one of the bigger problems. It's not mind-blowing to see a coach flop after a good season. Favre is struggling. It was a near-MVP season for Brett last year. When your QB is struggling with injuries, you take him out. Childress doesn't know how to run the team, and that's why the players give up on him, get into verbal altercations, slam him in pressers, and why his job has been in jeopardy since a month or two ago.

The proxy server's administration.

http://www.otrbasketball.com/forums/forum/131-member-march-madness Right below the OTR lounge section.

Whoever it was, he/she didn't have an IP that matched anyone else here. The IP itself traces to a proxy server in LA, but I found out it was pulled from someone in Chicago (or in that area, I can't tell exactly where).

Gonzaga by 400. Please make it happen, Warren.

Dude, if you're going to give me all of his numbers, stick Oscar and Wilt on top of your list. We've been over this numerous times already. You can't sit there and seriously tell me you believe Larry Bird would dominate Pippen (just picking someone here) more than Kobe would in a one-on-one situation. I know you watched Bird. I know he's dominant (didn't say he wasn't), but come on. Shaq is considered the most dominant player ever, but he never averaged 30 PPG, never led the league in blocks per game, never led the league in rebounds per game. He only has one season MVP. Almost looks like Magic and Bird were both more dominant, not even discussing guys like Wilt, Kareem, Oscar, and Jordan.

You (in my post) = Heat fans, not necessarily you. I'm assuming there are going to be Heat fans who would love to have Nash.

As Alex said, big man first. Chalmers, when healthy, still plays defense better than anyone else they can run at point other than Wade (so...Arroyo, haha), and he can make open shots. It's not like he's going to be expected to shoot, anyway, especially when Mike Miller gets back. Jump for joy if you bring Nash in, but it's just another player who will need the ball. Will LeBron AND Wade agree to let Nash run the system he wants? It would be odd seeing the Heat's two best players pulling a 180 and turning into Ray Allen...and unless you run the pick and roll with LeBron and Wade, sending them to the rim, Nash will turn them into spot-up shooters and waste the talent they have. Nash should be out of the question, anyway. The Heat don't have the goods to offer, unless they decide to trade Bosh. Miami won't be doing that anytime soon, though, because Nash is playing limited minutes and on his way to his permanent vacation home from the NBA. Jarrett Jack would've worked. He defends, can shoot open jumpers, and just needs a new place to play (and he got it, of course). Steve Blake would've been ideal. They really don't have to be true point guards, either...a two-guard, who can defend the point, would work (not necessarily a combo guard, either). But, first priority, a big that can defend true bigs, one that doesn't have to have touches in the post back on the offensive end to maintain his confidence. Good luck finding one, though, because Dampier is about as healthy and in shape as Chris Mihm.

Second consecutive loss tonight, Barnes couldn't get it going. What to do, what to do...

Or a Shawn Bradley Dream Shake, but yeah.

Well, among non-centers. Not much to argue if we're talking Shaq.

He's been there before, and won, during his senior year (McDonald's dunk contest). Might as well.

Nine points so far this week...gotta get that 10 again.

Wade. He's almost #2. CP3 gets the nod at four. Wade is just a better overall player. He defends better than Paul, and if I need someone to drop 40, I know which player (of the two) I'm going with.

How the hell is this possible? Gasol just put up a 20/5/5 game (with 28/9/5) with 10-10 shooting, 8-8 from the free throw line. :o Fourth player in 25 years to do it.

The reason why the Raptors, and even the Cavaliers (and the Thunder without Durant) can win games like this...it's because these very good defensive teams are built to stop the superstar. When a team doesn't exactly base their offense around a certain player, they have trouble defending certain spots on the floor and knowing who will produce on any given night. Good win by the Raptors. No Rondo for Boston, but no excuses, either.