Real Deal

Four game-winners in the playoffs.

While LeBron has been a better overall player this season, you aren't considering Kobe's teammates being terrible three-point shooters, Bryant being ran off the ball constantly in the fourth quarter (doubled before he even gets across the three), and he's also had three rebounders in Gasol, Odom and Bynum, more scoring options, and EVERYONE in the triangle offense is required to pass the ball (it's a pass-first offense, five able-bodied passers). That would be like me giving you Kevin Martin's stats from a few years back, his time in Sacramento, and comparing them to a better player. Kobe is still the better clutch player. LeBron has been the better overall player this season, even though I relate SOME of that to Kobe's injuries throughout the entire season.

Maya Moore is an amazing player. That jumper is very nice. UConn is struggling a bit, though. And Griner is a monster.

Reputation should be used for solid posts that contain a lot of information and are structured very well. And yes, people are abusing it. I'm probably going to get rid of it and clear all rep points.

I'll be home Sunday night, and I'll start it up ASAP.

Probably not, but that's not the point. The Lakers can't keep giving him one-year contracts until he retires, either, so he's well-deserving of the big payday.

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I thought Wade was there, but he's been too inconsistent, despite being healthy. His late-game performances aren't stellar, to me. And that's just an opinion. Look at Nash right now, and Kidd...both are all-stars. Kidd is 37, Nash is 36. It's not a reach.

He would've earned more than that had he not been paid under $4 million until the 1996-97 season. By his second retirement, I would not have been surprised to see him at $36-39 million. Shaq is 38 years old, and he's still making $20 million...was up to over $27 million with the Heat in 2004-05. Kobe isn't overpaid for what he's still doing as an MVP candidate. Him and LeBron are on another planet from every other player in the league right now, and if maximum contracts didn't exist, both should be earning $30 million. Bryant will be putting out 24-30 PPG for another 3-4 years, possibly more (Jordan did it at 40), so I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss his abilities as a player in the future. Shaq gave Phoenix 18/8 at 37 years old, and Jordan averaged 20 PPG for Washington at 40. It's not a reach to say Kobe can do it at 36.

Jordan hit $33 million when he was 35 years old, putting up 29/6/4 on 46.5% FG. Kobe has been making under $25 million his entire career. He's due for $28-29 million a year ($86 million contract).

Kobe and Ron were very good for us on defense, but Gasol and Odom were amazing the entire game, both sides of the ball.

SUPER. Thanks. I'll take a look.

Smitty is going to wait a bit, so he can figure the program out. It's most important that he does. We can't have the simmer quitting in the middle of the league, fellas. I'm going to run a quick mock, if any of you are interested. It's very simple, and I'll even code the trade checker before we start. It'll get you guys prepared for the league, if you want to look at it that way. Sign-ups are in the announcements.

Yeah, please, for the love of the game, get the two seed. I'd rather not have to watch my Lakers get destroyed by the pick and roll.

I'm inclined to believe that Bosh would be more enthusiastic about the season if Hedo wasn't such a loser on both ends of the court.

Cleveland didn't get Amare because Phoenix never really had any intention of trading him in the first place. Plus, if he was being dealt, he was going to be traded to Miami, because that was his first option destination as a free agent, and Kerr and Amare had an understanding that he put a lot into his time at Phoenix, and he deserved to dictate the trade. The rumors that teams were talking to Kerr and the Suns were true, but Phoenix was just sticking him out there to get a projected estimate on his value for this summer.

Yeah, I figured that would make things much easier on the bottom 10 in the first round, giving them a possible all-star and a borderline all-star, while the superstars go to the other teams.

Cool, thanks. I would've checked myself, but Terry has my PS3, and he's about an hour away from me. Gotta get it back this weekend, haha.

This should be a gimme for the Heat. They win tonight, and Milwaukee loses, and Miami takes the 5th seed and gets closer to avoiding the Magic and the 7th seed. But, Granger may change that plan, especially at home.

Any bets that Phoenix will hang 140 on the Pistons?

If OKC and San Antonio lose the rest of their games, and Memphis wins their remaining eight, the Grizzlies are in the playoffs. Fat chance, so neither team is really playing for anything here. I'll take New Orleans, even though they beat good teams and lose to bad ones. The Grizz are in the middle, so maybe it's a coin flip.

Rooting against the Magic, for once. They are catching us, and we need to maintain home court against the other 14 playoff teams we haven't lost it to yet.

Boston has the top four seed locked, but I'm not too sure they want to play the Heat in the first round. Might as well lose this game so can they play an inexperienced Bucks team, despite how hot they are.

Rose wants to make the playoffs, so they better win this one. They need two wins to catch up to Toronto.

Go Lakers!