Poe

I guess it goes to show you than anybody can beat anybody in the NBA

I wasn't worried to begin with BTW Heat Road Record: 18-18 Hawks Road Record: 17-19 And remember the schedule? The Heat could have a 23-18 road record to finish the year, while the Hawks face tougher teams (Cleveland, Charlotte, Detroit, Washington, Milwaukee). So while the Hawks have a dominating home record, they have a losing record on the road (which can define the team's overall toughness), and the Heat have been the better road team AND have blown them out on their home court in the playoffs before

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FTdfjzf670o/SbXotGV5-qI/AAAAAAAABow/G910uRwvRrA/s400/wade_el_heat.jpg "THIS IS MY HOUSE!!"

The reality for the Heat is this. Either the Heat get a "big time" FA (LeBron, Bosh, Amar'e, or Johnson), or the Heat lose Wade. Recognizing that Wade has said multiple times that he wants to stay in Miami, and free agents like Boozer and Amar'e have both expressed interest in joining the Heat, I think the most likely thing to happen is that Wade stays... which also means what? You fill in the blank.

I think the Raptors are about to get on a hot/win streak. I could tell from the game against the Heat.

Separation FTW! - Like you said, DeRozan still has hope to become a big time asset. For his rookie year, per 36 minutes he's averaging 14 points and 5 boards, and considering the fact that he's the 5th option behind Bosh, Bargs, Turk, and Calderon, and maybe even Jack, he's doing more than a solid job. Also consider the fact that he's shooting a very solid 48%, and has yet to develop the 3 ball. Looking at his game-log, he appears to improve with each month. Once he puts the pieces together, you may have your next all star wing player right there in front of you. - Bargnani was a first pick and can still potentially develop into a first option-type player, definitely much more than an 'average' player. He's still relatively young, and considering his length, athleticism, and shooting ability, his ceiling is still high. Unfortunately, achievement and potential are two different things. It all depends on his commitment. His rebounding numbers are very low in comparison to the minutes he plays and his positioning, and his defense is widely known to be among the worst in the NBA. Whether it's from lack of desire or ability, I'm not sure. If Bargs ever develops the work ethic to correct these weaknesses, he may become a 24 and 8 type of player as a first option. The fact that the potential is still there should leave some hope left on this team. - Sonny and Amir won't become all stars, I think we all understood that from the beginning, but they can at least become solid back ups as pieces to create a deeper bench. Two guys that will bring energy and hustle, while having a decent enough skill set on the offensive end to hold their own. It's important to have a good bench to bring a spark as the starters begin to tire, and to keep minutes strong for all 48. Just look at the Bucks who managed to develop bench players like Ilyasova, Bell, and Ridnour. These guys have been a huge piece to the Bucks' success this year. Maybe from the perspective of an organization, I could see what you are saying. As a fan, I couldn't disagree more. 4 years is a long time. Heck, if the Heat were to do that, they won't be any good until I'm 22! I already had to deal with 1 year for a tank job (occasionally the starting line up got as bad as Quinn - Cook - Davis - Barron - Blount... it hurts just thinking about it, lol). I don't think I could deal with 4 straight years of that. From an organization's standpoint, it depends how you handle it, and what players you manage to grab. Really, the results can range anywhere from the Thunder, who have great pieces to make a playoff run for years, to the Clippers, who make strong draft choices but haven't made much noise with them. I think the best option is in between. A solid mix of veterans and young prospects. A good core with youth to eventually take their place. Kind of like what the Raptors have, actually. I don't understand this at all, honestly. First of all, Bosh is an established star. He's got a tremendous skill-set, a great work-ethic, and on top of that, he flat out wants to win. A 24 and 11 by average big man who is arguably the 2nd best power forward in the league right behind Dirk Nowitzki. Second of all, the idea to intentionally rid the team of Bosh for the goal of a high draft pick is a huge risk. Your envisioned plan sounds like something along the lines of letting Bosh walk, tank the following year, and hope to land a big time draft pick to be your franchise player. What if this pick turns out to be a bust, or a player with less potential than Bosh's current value? Remember, Bargnani is a first pick, and who's better, him or Bosh? Third, it sounds like you are looking to get rid of a franchise player for a potential franchise player. Are you saying that Bosh, the 2nd best PF in the league, isn't fit to be your franchise guy in the first place? Last, there are other ways to tank than by getting rid of your best player. The Heat managed to do it, I'm sure the Raptors could if they wanted as well. Even then, tanking doesn't actually seem like the best option to me to begin with. Like I said above, the Raptors actually have a core. Bosh, Calderon, Turkoglu, and Jack are their vets and Bargnani, DeRozan, Weems, and Johnson is their youth. Sure, you can say the glass is half empty and look at all the holes in the line up, but with good coaching to maximize all these players abilities, it could turn into something successful. It completely depends on what the shape of your team is. If your team lacks a franchise player or a good core of players to build around, looking for a high draft pick would be the best option... if the team even has a choice, since they probably wouldn't be good enough to win too many games anyway. I think if a team is good enough to make the playoffs, you go for it. Putting a team in playoff position gives a team a base to improve on heading into the next year. It not only builds chemistry and confidence within the team, but it also helps create an identity, and as the players start to understand it, that in itself can help eventually create a contender as pieces are brought in year by year. Just look at the Hawks, for example. Year by year they've been a borderline playoff team. As they improved their youth (Williams, Smith, Horford), and mixed them with their veterans (Bibby, Johnson, Evans), and brought in a piece or two after each year (Crawford, Joe Smith). Over time, they built confidence as their playoff success grew. They developed an identity, strengthened it through each passing year, and gradually turned from a borderline playoff team into what's looking like a 50+ win team this year. Next year, if Joe Johnson stays, they may even become championship contenders, if they aren't already right now. It's best to fight for the highest position possible every year and develop an identity than to blow up the team whenever it doesn't have the utmost success. As bad as things seem right now with the way the Raptors have played recently, the core isn't as bad as you make it seem, at least in my opinion. What they have: - If resigned, the Raptors have the second best power forward in the league in Chris Bosh, and simply a tremendous all around player. A guy you can't ask much more of for his position. - One of the best offensive point guards in the league in Jose Calderon. A great shooter, passer, and all around decision maker on offense. His defense leaves much to be desired, though from what I've seen, he appears to give some effort. - One of the best back up guards in the league in Jarret Jack who could probably start for many other teams. Though he's a couple steps behind Calderon in terms of passing and shooting, he's a better slasher and defender. - A point-forward in Hedo Turkoglu that can create mismatches due to his size, ability to drive and shoot, and overall playmaking ability. He lacks defense, but if utilized properly on offense, his capabilities on that end would make up for it. - A talented center in Andrea Bargnani who creates mismatches due to his athleticism and shooting ability. If he put more desire and energy into his defense, or possibly better coached if that is actually the real issue, he would be ideal as a franchise C. - DeMar DeRozan, who is a promising athletic young wing with a decent skillset and seems to be improving over time. He has potential all star capabilities, and is also one of the better defensive players on the team who could eventually become relied to guard the best opposing perimeter player. - A back up defensive big in Reggie Evens, who is widely known to be underrated among NBA players due to the intangibles he brings. - A young wing and young power forward that can develop into solid back ups. Sonny Weems is a slasher and decent defender, and Amir Johnson rebounds well and brings energy defensively. There are plenty of holes in it, of course, which is obviously why they aren't contenders thus far, but those can be fixed over time. For now, you have to embrace what you have and maximize the talent that you commit to. Turkoglu is obviously a big question mark, and can either be a long-term problem, or a positive asset if he gave more commitment and the organization put more commitment into making the most out of Turk's abilities. As for the rest of the guys, they really aren't bad pieces at all. Really, they are one of the best offensive teams in the league as-is, and maybe with the right tweaks this summer and the next, they could eventually become contenders. First thing is first, though. It is imperative to keep Bosh. My mistake. Scratch the idea.

I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but Wade > Johnson no matter what. Only go after JJ if LeBron, Bosh, Wade, and maybe even Amar'e are no longer available. Wade won't be available, anyway. He WILL stay in Miami.

The Heat have a core and the Knicks don't. Wade and Beasley > Gallinari. Plus, have you seen the Heat commercials with Pat Riley? He's pretty much guaranteeing a "dynasty". If said by anyone else, I would play this off as words with no substance until what's said is done, but he's actually built a championship team before.

I don't think a player himself is ever truly a bust. Maybe a bust by perception, but a player doesn't choose what draft pick is used on him and what expectations people place on him. A pick can be a bust, though. The higher the draft pick, the more value you should gain. If a first or second pick doesn't turn out to be a franchise player, no matter why it didn't happen, the pick is a bust.

So... what about that Durant guy?

What's up with people naming Heat players?

Good read and excellent breakdown. About how far these teams will get in the playoffs? That's difficult. I'm going to make the bold-ish statement that both teams will be first round exits. I don't see the Spurs taking out the Lakers, Nuggets, or Mavericks. The West is a tough conference, but even then, those three teams are simply on another level compared to the rest, and I would be very shocked to see any of them exit early. So in my opinion, the Spurs have to make a push for the 5th seed if they have any hopes of surviving the first round. The Celtics likely opponents will either be the Bucks, Heat, or Bobcats. All three of them are defensive-minded teams that will grind out every game. Though the safe bet would be that the Celtics will play with more sense of urgency and advance, I'll say that whichever one of these teams the Celtics face, they will get knocked out the first round.

Yea no problem.

I gotta say, this is the best skin I've seen here since joining.

Press Apple - minus sign.

It actually fits perfectly on my screen.

Nice. Really liking the banners and the team forum logos are sick, though it makes the other forums look sort of empty in a way. A small detail that sticks out to me, though: http://www.otrbasketball.com/forums/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=active The blue and red speech-bubble symbols next to each topic look kind of odd in comparison to the colors in the rest of the board.

Looks like the Magic knew what they were doing when they got rid of him... It's a shame. I thought he was serious about his goal to become an all star.

Yea, well.. people said the same thing about Jordan.

I don't have much doubt that the Raptors WILL make the playoffs.

I love the tone he sets on this article in the beginning. The "sadness" of Kobe winning his "first ring without Shaq", or in other words "first ring by himself", as if anyone wins a championship on their own in a team sport. It's quite obvious from the get-go that this article was made because this guy simply doesn't like Kobe very much.

Great win against the Raptors. Now, all that's left is: @Detroit @Indiana @Minnesota Philadelphia Detroit @New York @Philadelphia New Jersey Not a single one of these teams has a more than 27 wins or less than 46 losses. Has any team ever had a better looking finishing schedule in NBA history?

Team and individual defense is better than it's ever been, especially added to the fact that help D isn't nearly as restricted as it was before. If LeBron were to go back to the 80s, he'd most likely dominate even more so than he does today. That's the main contradiction in comparing players then and now. You wonder whether a star so many years ago would still be a star had they been born in a different era. Training and coaching, competition, and expanded knowledge as we learn newer things about the game. All of this keeps growing as time goes on. I've made a point about this before, but take a guy like Magic Johnson in his prime state and transport him into today's world. It's possible he may have not fared off better than Shaun Livingston. On the other hand, if you had him start as a child and experience the same training, coaching, and so on that people today have, he may have still developed into a superstar again today like he was in the 80s. Or maybe he would still bust due to the increased level of competition, therefore increased level of play from basketball players as a whole making Magic look less... magical than before, from the growing number of people who play the game. You can argue stats all day, but stats can only tell you so much. There's no true stat for good defense, and the worse the defense is the better an offensive player looks. A player who scored 50 points in the 70s or so on 60% shooting may have trouble scoring just 15 points in 40% in today's game. Team defense is also improved, and is better at clogging passing lanes, so assist numbers may change as well. Rebounding may change due to stronger athletes and improved team rebounding when all 5 guys may put emphasis on rebounding, leaving less available rebounds for an individual player. I could keep going on. Really, the more I think about it, the more unfair it seems to compare players from each era and say who's truly better. Really, being the best in today's NBA could mean the best of all time as well.