Real Deal

I'm not sure if that was the direction he was going (maybe so)...but that wasn't my argument in that last post, either. Most wear #23 because they idolize Jordan, and/or they want to be like him or someday match his legacy. I'm sure that was LeBron's excuse as well...but the way he worded it, you can still wonder if he really wants to do it out of respect, or if he's also doing it for other reasons (the ones I mentioned in the other post). I mean, if this was someone else saying, "If I can't wear it, nobody should be able to," this would be a big deal, and that player's game would be criticized left and right. How about just saying something along the lines of, "Nobody in the league should wear the number 23, and I should have never picked it to begin with," staying humble about the entire thing? Again, I think he meant to say something along those lines, but LeBron's actions over the last year have been enough for people to question what he REALLY wants by asking to retire Jordan's number, no?

The bigger concern would be the end result after the 82-game season. Don't worry...these questions after individual games mean little to nothing, although they are getting annoying with LeBron, Wade, Bosh, etc.

There's a criteria concerning the number of years before you can start respecting a player? That was his point. You can't compare the two (HOF inauguration criteria and the number of seasons it took for LeBron to realize he shouldn't wear Jordan's number anymore). If I were James' best friend, I'd ask him how he would feel if John Wall came into the league with #23, dominated, and became known as the next Jordan (pretending like he's a two-guard for a moment, not a Derrick Rose comparison). Would he be upset about that? Probably so. In a way, this is LeBron's chance to be the last to really make an impact on the league while wearing that number, and ALSO be the one that claimed it should be retired league-wide. But in my opinion, I don't really care...just putting that out there.

Longest losing streak to start a season is 17, by none other than the Clippers.

His two best choices are Charlotte and New York, although I'm not sure if he'd be able to start for the Cats after they traded to bring in S-Jax. New York could use him, though...and he'd be featured in D'Antoni's offense, no doubt about it. The only problem is that the Knicks have no idea how to play defense, so you're looking at a team that would rather match you point-for-point, rather than getting stops...and I'm not sure how much success they will find in doing that (not much so far, as you can see). Orlando needs a point guard, but Nelson isn't out for the season. I can't imagine them starting Nelson and Iverson in the backcourt together, either, with Vince at the three and Shard at the four...but who knows. Wouldn't it be weird to see Jennings and Iverson in the backcourt for the Bucks? Old Iverson and baby Iverson. Cleveland might as well take him in and put him at the two. Other than LeBron, you really don't have a consistent scoring threat. If he wanted a bench role, I would definitely welcome him to the Lakers. Bench role, not in the triangle (because our triangle is ditched once the second unit comes in). We have Farmar, who is the anti-triangle player, so we might as well get Iverson and put him in the second unit with Odom and Shannon Brown (but I don't see that going down).

Well, Stuckey was 0-5 from beyond the arc, and it was Villanova who had the hot hand, 2-3 from three before that shot. The play was probably ran for him to pull up and take that three, quickly, then foul (being down four). I understand why he did it. Gordon was cold most of the night, even though if I were coaching, I'd probably have him shoot it versus Charlie.

Not sure, to be honest. It'll be a tough game without Jameer. Rondo will simply pick apart J-Will (who is playing on bad knees, doesn't have that quickness or lift he used to have). If I were to put money on it, with it being in Boston, I'd take the Celtics. I think that Sheed will find a way to draw fouls on Howard, and when you remove him, it's all up to Carter and Lewis to beat a very deep Boston team. Carter needs to go right after Ray Allen from the start, get him into foul trouble, wear him down and take away that three-point threat to begin with. With Pietrus giving Pierce fits (cross your fingers and hope he keeps him from that accurate elbow jumper), it forces Rondo and Garnett into a two-man game against the Magic, who will start launching threes to put Boston to sleep, as their perimeter defense isn't as solid as the interior defense they'll pull from their hat. So...while Boston could take it, I really wouldn't be surprised if Orlando pulls out with a win. They just need to contain Pierce and get Allen out of the game.

CDR is a good player. I know there isn't much going on in the offense for the Nets with Harris out, so you're probably seeing inflated stats on a bad team, but it's still something to be excited about. Teams are looking to stop him and Lopez, both tough to do...and the problem is that nobody else is really stepping up to help, and the Nets are playing zero defense, help or man-to-man...perfect recipe for a winless season at this point. The record for most losses to start the season would be 17, by the Clippers. I'm sure New Jersey will find a way to avoid that. How long is Harris out?

I was sort of pissed because they didn't show this game on our local channel (they usually do despite it being a road game, not sure why they skipped it now). I expected the Magic to take it, though...and it was a beating after three, with Orlando up 30, haha. They just took that comfortable lead and decided to coast through the fourth. Looks like they didn't limit Howard very well in the 18-19 minutes he played (still put up 11/10), and the Magic did end up hitting 13/31 threes (which is a good 41% from downtown). Harden had a great game, but all five starters shot a combined 14-46 from the floor (30.4%) and none of them shot over 39%.

Haha, it was a nice shot. I wasn't watching, but I caught a replay of it. I saw about 10 minutes of this game, figured it was going to be a blow-out. I guess it wasn't too bad...but from what I saw, Monta doesn't seem to be too interested in Golden State anymore. He was sort of letting Maggette just do it all on offense, while he stood around. He DID score when he had the ball, but by the looks of the statsheet, he had trouble shooting. Boston avoided the three-gamer. That's a good thing.

I was referring to pissed-off Heat fans (if there were any).

Say what you want (I see you're posting). I won't look at the topic again.

Nope, because he's a terrible defender and a one-dimensional offensive player, picks up a lot of stupid fouls and doesn't know how to make a good pass. They need to trade him.

For one, you are the one that misunderstood my post, buddy. You took the first shot, as always. I have backed off of Gilbert lately, haven't said anything bad in a while other than what I said about his fiance (who was a cheater, so she deserved it), but it's you who whines and moans about a damn comment that YOU took out of context, just trying to find a reason to point fingers at someone for hating on your underachieving Wizards. You also have this funny habit of acting like an OTR admin, telling me what belongs in topics and what doesn't. You just had that shoved back in your face with the Gilbert comment you dished out, so that's now a topic left for yet another day. And finally, if you really want me to hate on your team, you'll probably leave the site. I have plenty to hate about, trust me. I have tons of comments to bring up about 50-win season predictions (great start so far!), staying healthy (sure looks like it), about Gilbert's contributions (he's shooting under 41% before tonight's game, 4.4 turnovers), Caron's contributions (he's under 40% before tonight), how Stevenson would play well for them off the bench (and that's so inaccurate, it's amazing), how Young could be a pivotal bench player (LOL), among other things. I suggest you find a way to tell the difference between a person hating on your team, and one giving them credit for playing good defense and scoring without much effort on offense.

His real name was Jonathan. I actually don't remember his display name.

Just toying with you, but you might want to form a habit of not telling me what to post.

Let me put it in layman's terms, so you understand it better: I was rooting for your lame team. I don't want Cleveland to win more games than my Lakers. If they do, they get home court against us when they beat the Wizards in the playoffs on their way to a possible NBA Finals berth. Is that too difficult to understand? Also, the pick and roll is a simple basketball play/move. So is a cut. Washington was beating the Cavaliers to the punch. How? Butler penetrated, found Blatche cutting to the rim, and he dished it off for an easy dunk. Basic basketball play. Boykins had a pick set for him, he came off it and hit a jumper. Basic basketball play. If I need to make it any clearer, I'll have to draw the diagram for you. Your whining about my hate for Gilbert Arenas isn't necessary in a topic discussing a basketball game where I didn't bash him at all, so take your own advice for a change. I'll learn to never root for this team again. Maybe you'll see me pound the Earth with them every single game they play, so you can truly see me hating on them. Maybe that's what you need to experience.

That doesn't mean they were all standing there, wide open, not able to get a shot off because they all have Tourette Syndrome, it means the Wizards were playing good defense. And I said the Wizards were scoring with basic high school plays. They were using simple cuts to the basket. They were using simple pick and roll play (just like the Suns do, one of the best teams in the league right now). Your Wizards aren't that important to me to sit here and hate on them.

Word is that the Bills are now looking at Shanahan. I ran across a Bills fan, and she is saying all of her friends are begging for Cowher to come out of retirement, lol.

Always hating.

Ah, right...because no real NBA team runs basic basketball plays, only Washington. You know, like the pick and roll, and a simple cut to the basket and penetration and kick-out... Nobody is hating on the Wizards. If I was hating, I'd say that they got lucky, it was a fluke win against a contender, and they'll never be able to play like that against them in a seven-game series. Which do you prefer? I also gave Washington credit for their defense. If I hate on a team, I hate on very good teams that are a threat to the Lakers. Washington sure the hell isn't one of them.

Dude, you're gone. All you do on OTR is bait Magic fans and talk trash on McGrady and Bosh. Don't re-register, or I'll redirect your IP to another site of my choice.

Yeah, he was probably the youngest to do it (despite the stat limit hitting 1986). But I do know that Kareem had 51 points as a rookie for the Bucks, and I believe Wilt had 58 when he was a rook, Earl Monroe with 56 as a rookie (which makes Jennings third on the all-time list for rookie scoring, individual games). Just for kicks...he's only the third player in Bucks history to have a 50-point game, and he recorded the 13th 50-point game in Bucks history.

LOL, yeah...he must have read your post. Sadly, it's because he's a soft player. He'd take that jumper 90 times out of 100.

I'm switching back and forth. Yeah, there's no effort, but even if there was, Bargnani is not a good defensive player...that's my point. But yes, it would be nice to at least contest a jumper, or try and box out for a rebound. All players should do that. But to defend his lack of effort (and I usually don't ever do this), maybe the Raptors could get him more involved in the offense. It does work with some players. When you're moving around and not touching the ball, you start getting bored and angry, and it shows back on defense.