Real Deal

Had to pin this topic so it wouldn't fall to the last page of the forum. Sorry for not having it available. I should've known when I said there were 255 topics posted...with 256 games in the season.

TIME: 1:00 PM ET TV: FOX

Welcome back to the site, dude.

Jesus Christ. It's like we're playing against this team every game: C - Vlade Divac PF - Anderson Varejao SF - Raja Bell SG - Manu Ginobili PG - Derek Fisher

I'm not sure what you guys are getting at. It's a simple question. Do you think the Bulls would've won 78 games if Rodman and Longley were available to them? Any more than 72? I'm not sitting here talking about injury-free teams through every season, every team. It's stellar that they won 72 with Rodman and Longley missing all the games that they did. That's the point. Yeah, teams have injuries every year. Only one team has won over 70 games, and they ALSO did it with injuries.

I don't think they'd hit 70, if Kobe and Shaq couldn't do it. Kobe missed games, but they were 12-4 without him (didn't have that bad of a schedule to begin with). No team has ever won 70 other than the Bulls, and the difference in two wins becomes greater the closer you get to perfection. Scary part is, those Lakers were ranked 1st defensively, 5th offensively. The 1996 Chicago Bulls were ranked 1st in both. Jordan (greatest player ever), Pippen (one of the greatest perimeter defenders ever) and Rodman (greatest defender ever, greatest rebounder since the days of Kareem and Wilt)...they were all on the same team, and had Rodman played those four games he missed, I really do believe we'd be talking about Chicago's 76-win season today.

The 2004 Lakers were lucky that Kobe and Shaq were not injured for the Finals, you know.

11/14/95: CHI @ ORL (LOSS) 94-88 11/26/95: CHI @ SEA (LOSS) 97-92 12/26/95: CHI @ IND (LOSS) 103-97 02/04/96: CHI @ DEN (LOSS) 105-99 02/06/96: CHI @ PHX (LOSS) 106-96 02/23/96: CHI @ MIA (LOSS) 113-104 03/10/96: CHI @ NYK (LOSS) 104-72 03/24/96: CHI @ TOR (LOSS) 109-108 04/08/96: CHA @ CHI (LOSS) 98-97 04/20/96: IND @ CHI (LOSS) 100-99 Eight road losses, two home. Rodman (starting power forward) missed four of those games (ORL, SEA, TOR, CHA). Longley (starting center) missed four (PHX, TOR, CHA, DEN). Harper (starting point) missed one (second IND game). Longley missed 20 total games that season, and Rodman missed 18. Chances that the Bulls could've won 78 or 79? Or, at least four extra, with Rodman missing?

Oh man, another Suns fan. Welcome back, bro.

Yep, for personal reasons...he actually withdrew from the competition, or at least that's how they are putting it. Says he knew he was on the block anyway.

I think the dream dissolves if Yao Ming doesn't return to full health. If he doesn't, and Melo still decides to go to Houston (and assuming the Nuggets actually trade him out West, which is dumb on their part), he would be teaming up with...Aaron Brooks? A scoring point who is reluctant to pass. Kevin Martin? He'll probably be included in the trade, as Denver is looking for a two-guard to replace Smith. Luis Scola and Chase Budinger? I don't see it happening, really.

I wouldn't say Turner and Iggy are that similar. Iggy can adjust and play above the rim. Turner is grounded a bit more, looks like a young Brandon Roy more than he does Iguodala. Iguodala should become a primary slasher, while Turner can handle the ball more than Andre, shoot more jumpers (mid-range) and look to lock up talented two-guards, if his defensive talents translate to the pros. An Iguodala-Turner combo would be tough to play against. Both are smart and exceptional defensive players (again, if Turner's defense looks as good as a pro), and both may be able to drop 20-25 points on any given night. Not a contender, of course, but that Sixers team can make the playoffs in the East, if Turner shows he can play ball and possibly win, or touch, the ROY award.

Vujacic was actually contributing during his contract season: 9 PPG on 45% FG, 44% 3PT, 18 MPG. Contract season is up again, and supposedly, he's healthy now. I expect a better percentage from the floor this time, compared to last season's 40%. Plus, he's an expiring $5 million. If he doesn't play good basketball, we regain a total of $10 million (salary plus luxury tax fees). Perfect for us.

Few were bothered.

Other than DeRozan or Weems, what about Darren Collison? He averaged 12/6, which is actually good for a backup that came in to start 37 games...but his FG% was nearly 48%, and it looks like he can only get better. Can he put up 20/10 or better on a Pacers team with Danny Granger?

Moss and Welker. Three of the four have massive ego and attitude problems (no matter what anyone else says, just agree), but if you're giving them a legit quarterback, it's Moss that comes out of the gates shining. I distinctly remember when everyone was calling for his head before he put on a Patriots jersey, and saying he was done. He then went out and helped Brady destroy teams every night, and it took a miracle play by Manning and a miracle catch by Tyree to put the Pats away.

Well, what I was referring to was over the next couple of seasons, really. I don't see who else they would build around. Maybe in 3-4 years, that will change...but hey, you guys could always bring back Carter before he retires. Bargnani and Carter = Shaq and Kobe? http://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gifhttp://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gifhttp://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gifhttp://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gif http://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gifhttp://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gifhttp://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gifhttp://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gif http://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gifhttp://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gifhttp://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gifhttp://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gif http://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gifhttp://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gifhttp://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gifhttp://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gif http://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gifhttp://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gifhttp://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gifhttp://www.mentaljokes.com/images/a_cootiegrn.gif

Kwame isn't the offensive threat the Bobcats need in the post, but he's a decent defensive player down low. Defensive IQ is a bit low, but he's strong and a legit center with a long wingspan. Larry Brown would approve. Charlotte has a lot of centers, though. Dampier, Diop, Mohammed, and now Brown. One has to wonder if they are setting up a trade.

LOL, because they lost Game 7 without Perkins? They were fortunate to have more offense with Sheed playing more minutes, because with Perkins in there, they would've scored 50 points that night. In the same light, the Boston Celtics have yet to beat our big three of Kobe, Gasol and Drew. They beat a depleted Lakers team in 2008 (no Ariza OR Bynum), and lost to us when Drew was hobbled and ready for surgery in June. What a fool.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5489854

Some on TLN would want to trade Vujacic for him (like Denver would really do that to begin with). But I wouldn't. I'd rather keep Sasha, funny as it sounds. I like JR Smith's ability to shoot 4-5 from downtown one night, but I don't like when he shoots 4-12 whenever he feels like it, and his attitude absolutely sucks.

The plan is to clone Aso and stop the passing game completely, then force Johnson to rush for 300 yards to beat us.

He'll change his mind once he gets a taste of the money Phoenix will offer him. Of course, that DOES depend on his play this upcoming season.

BLAH...I remember all of that. The 2004 Pistons.

I love Smith as a help defender, but I'm not so fond of his on-ball defense, namely in the post area. It's obvious he doesn't have the strength to contain a back to the basket four. I don't know his track record against guys like Garnett, though (I'd look it up, but it's not that important to me), but shooting forwards seem to have more trouble against him, from what I've seen when watching the Hawks. Someone like Duncan? I would think he drools at that match-up, although Duncan's knees/feet have been giving him trouble lately, which doesn't help against an athletic Smith. But trade Smith for a center? That still leaves Joe Johnson as the primary option, correct?