Legacy

First time taking an online class. It's just like this site, lol. It's basically a forum except the layout is hideous.

I was going to say Miami easily, but I'm not sure. The West doesn't look all that great. Unless the Lakers make a move, I don't think they can take OKC. The Spurs will be getting older, again. Dallas doesn't look like they will go anywhere either. I'm not sold on the Clippers either. I think it's an equal chance for both teams and we can easily see a rematch.

Sounds dope. I'm in.

Why so defensive, Stern?

LeBron was 2-6 in the fourth and seemed like he was shying away from the ball at times. He needs to get that killer mentality and take over and show Wade that he is the second option. I can see him getting bashed pretty hard already for his performance in the fourth, but he finally did score over 25 in a Finals game. I think the Heat will take game two, but knowing that Harden didn't play all that well is pretty scary to consider for a Miami fan.

Imagine if Duncan and Garnett were both in their primes, God damn lol. Why would they sign him though? Makes no sense.

Don't overreact just yet. It's not even for sure that this site will shut down, so I think it's disrespectful to start talking about new forums ALREADY. Still some time left. Instead of bickering at each other in this thread (showing why Brandon would want to shut it down) and discussing new forums so soon, just work on the activity and raise the maturity level. We all talk about how we're older and don't have the time to be on as much anymore, well if we are all older, shouldn't maturity come along with that rather than just shots at each other? I left S2 and JBB because of how horribly things were run, even though they had tons of members at the time. While OTR does not have the same amount of members, the ownership has been beyond amazing. As said before, Brandon puts in so much effort on this site that goes unnoticed. From graphics to team rosters to paying for the site, etc. Show some respect to him. Like most of you, I haven't been on much lately either. But I still love to read the news and posts on this site from my phone. If Brandon (or Kyle) want to get less fancy with the banners and skin and just focus on the discussion part, I'll be 110 percent down for that.

The owners have extremely big expectations for this. They want the new arena to not only be the best in the Bay Area, but in the whole country. Thee story parking garage, sports bars, and all this other stuff inside of the arena to make it an all around experience. Hopefully moving to SF makes it more attractive to free agents who get to play in a bigger market.

Very rusty article, wrote this one right before my final today. http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/225/040/144266625_crop_650x440.jpg?1337020593 It's been a while since the Los Angeles Lakers have actually been considered the "underdog" in a playoff series, but this year, that is exactly what they are against the young Oklahoma City Thunder. Kevin Durant, one of the best players in the league, will not be the only concern of the Lakers. They also have to deal with the explosive Russell Westbrook, the finesse sixth man James Harden and even the tough interior presence of Kendrick Perkins. A shorter season also favors the younger team, which the Thunder are against an older Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. This, however, does not mean they will lose. Here are five reasons why the Lakers can pull off an upset against the Thunder. 5. Momentum Sure, the Nuggets gave the Lakers a run for their money by making the series go all the way. But winning Game 7 means a lot to Los Angeles. This gives them not only an emotional win, but a strong one to advance to the next round. They currently have a lot of momentum riding into Game 1 tonight in OKC. The Thunder, on the other hand, swept the defending champs. They have had over 10 days of rest, but sometimes too much rest is not a good thing. They will start off the series rusty, while the Lakers have the advantage of playing 48 hours ago, going with the flow and using their momentum to their advantage. 4. X-Factors Metta World Peace is back. He shut down Danilo Gallinari in the pivotal Game 7 versus Denver and looks to do the same against the Thunder. Getting a harsh suspension from the league after the elbow to Harden will motivate the defensive star. Unlike Barnes, World Peace will take the open three and be more aggressive with it, resulting in more opportunities for him to prove himself on the offensive end. Steve Blake played well for the Lakers in the last series and is looking solid for them of off the bench. If he keeps up his stellar play, and if Ramon Sessions shows a little bit more experience, the Lakers' "X" factors will also help them upset the Thunder. 3. Experience The Lakers lost Derek Fisher to the same Thunder that they will be facing, but they still have much more experience. Kobe Bryant has five championship rings and over hundreds of playoff game experience. Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum have a couple of rings of their own. Although he is no Phil Jackson, Mike Brown coached the Cleveland Cavaliers deep into the Eastern Conference playoffs and even into the finals. Matt Barnes has been in the playoffs several times, along with other players on the Lakers roster. The Thunder are still relatively new to the postseason, though, and they will likely show their lack of experience at times, which will hurt them. 2. Kobe Bryant Yes, Kobe Bryant is still one of the best players in the NBA today. Having him on your team alone gives you a fighting chance. This man single-handedly almost beat the Phoenix Suns in the playoffs when his starters included Smush Parker and Kwame Brown. He showed in Game 7 against Denver that he did not need to score for the Lakers to win, and he can go into his play-making mode to help the team win. On defense, Bryant can guard either Durant, Westbrook or Harden. Watch for any of those possible matchups. When needed, Bryant can score at will and hit clutch shots. OKC will have to be on their top defensive game to make Kobe struggle. 1. Size Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol are the best frontcourt in the NBA when they want to be. If and when both are motivated and playing at their best, the Lakers are virtually unbeatable. In the crucial Game 7 against Denver, they combined for 20 offensive rebounds and 10 blocks, and they each added over 15 points. They can handle the paint. While Perkins has held his own against Bynum in the past, he looks like another type of player this season when he plays to his full potential. Serge Ibaka will have a tough time guarding Gasol when he gets down low in the paint. Defensively, Bynum and Gasol should have no problem guarding Perkins and Ibaka with their non-factor offensive games. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1182951-5-reasons-why-the-la-lakers-can-upset-the-oklahoma-city-thunder

bumpp haha

Break ups are so [expletive]ing tough man, especially being in a long distance relationship.

http://www.otrbasketball.com/forums/topic/28760-charles-jenkins-is-golden-for-the-warriors/ It's posted!

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/07/56/20/2024511/3/628x471.jpg Entering the NBA is difficult as it is; however, there is one thing that makes it even more of a challenge once you do enter the league: being selected in the second round. You play with a chip on your shoulder, looking to prove that you are worth being in the Association. Golden State Warriors guard Charles Jenkins stands 6'3" on an NBA court, an atmosphere where he belongs. Attending school for a full four years is rare for many players in the modern day era of the NBA, but Jenkins did just that at Hofstra. In doing so, he is now the leading scorer in school history. In fact, Jenkins is second in the whole Colonial Athletic Association in scoring behind a Hall of Famer by the name of David Robinson. After an impressive four years at Hofstra, Jenkins was selected as the 44th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. The Warriors were in need of a solid point guard to back up Stephen Curry on the roster. Jenkins hoped to learn from the older, more experienced players on the Warriors squad when he was drafted. "I expected to come in and learn from a lot of the veterans. It's always different when you come into a new situation as far as basketball. I was expecting to come in and work hard and learn as much as I can and carry it onto the court," Jenkins said. With Monta Ellis on the team for most of the season, it was rare that Jenkins received the minutes he needed on the court to showcase his talents. Once the Ellis trade went down, however, Jenkins' minutes and production increased on the court. He posted a career-high 27 points to go along with his six assists shortly after the swap that brought Andrew Bogut to California. A few games after that, Jenkins recorded a career-high 12 assists, making a case for the team's best playmaker. Jenkins shoots a solid 45 percent from the field, which can be tough to do not only for a guard, but for a rookie. At times, a fan can forget Jenkins is a rookie, considering the high-level basketball IQ with which he plays. Asked what his favorite part of playing in the NBA is, Jenkins stated, "The competition. Everyone can play. Everybody works hard. You're playing against guys that are labeled as some of the best guys in the world," Jenkins explained. Whether it's on a court during a game, or even in practice, Jenkins loves to work hard and compete, sometimes even being the last man to leave the floor. With Curry being healthy next year, Jenkins will play a crucial role for the Warriors and be someone that they have not had for a while: a reliable backup point guard. Jenkins brings energy into the game when he comes off the bench. Being a rookie, though, he has room to improve and with a full season on its way in a few months. He has expectations to fulfill this summer and will continue to work hard and be what the Warriors need him to be. "[i just need] to continue to get better and take this year as a learning process. Going into the summer, knowing what I have to get better at, and watching a lot of film just to prepare myself for when the next season comes," Jenkins said. Playing in an area where Warrior fans are very passionate, a lot can be expected of Jenkins when the team is at full strength next year. He will still be young, a sophomore in the league. "I won't be labeled as a rookie anymore, but rather a guy that goes into games knowing what to expect and ready to play." In a tough season for the Warriors, there have only been so many bright spots. Jenkins, the humble point guard out of Hofstra, has been one of them. BR Link

Went to a Warriors practice today. Went a bit early before the rest of the media was there and I was sitting in the hallway when Jerry West walked right past me. He said "good morning kid" and I was so starstruck haha. I couldn't ask for an autograph or a pic because it would look unprofessional of me but damn. What a moment.

I wonder how many of them were tripping out.

It was sickkkkk. Surprised the crowd wasn't louder though.

Keep it or get rid of it? I'm doing my English research paper on this and want to hear some opinions, haha.

I went to a Warriors practice today to interview Charles Jenkins. I got to it on behalf of OTR, so when everyone was there repping a major newspaper of television network, I was there repping the best forum on the net. This is where I need your guys help. I'm going to write an article on the interview with Jenkins and post it halfway on Bleacher Report, and link the rest on OTR. I'm also going to tweet the OTR article a few different times and if you guys can help me when I do, I would appreciate it. Follow me at Yama_Hazheer on Twitter. If you guys can also comment on the thread when I post the article in a few days, I would be thankful for that too. The Warriors PR guy will read this article and Jenkins most likely will also. This can get us some exposure on the net and help us grow even more. Hoopsworld and RealGM are big because of the things like this that helps them grow. It's time for OTR to be in the same shadow and even higher. I will post the article link in this thread when I finish, hopefully by the weekend. I'm just giving you guys a heads up. Thanks in advance!

Going to a Warriors practice on Tuesday to interview Charles Jenkins! Going to post the article here probably next weekend. Would appreciate your guys support. Who knows what can happen to OTR if the article goes viral, even if it is with just one fanbase.

The dude has become a joke. It's sad.

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/images/photos/001/644/755/139596124_crop_650x440.jpg?1333698625 In the past, great players have been criticized. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, two of the greatest to step on the court, have had their fair share of criticism and hate throughout their careers. It’s bound to happen when you’re great, right? However, sometimes even criticism can be unfair. Sometimes it can lead to just pure hatred. Bryant got a ridiculous amount of hate during the prime of his career. He got criticized for being a “ball-hog” and for being “self-centered”, but people took it far enough to call him a rapist. Fans at games made it tough on Bryant when he faced them on the road. Some of the hate was unnecessary, and it got personal with the number of names and jokes that were created for him. The fans have finally hopped off the Kobe hate and have leaned more towards the LeBron James hate and criticism bandwagon. Which makes one wonder, what does James do to warrant the hate? When King James was drafted in 2003, he had a tremendous amount of hype built around him. Jordan did not get the amount of hype James got. Bryant did not, either. Fans were buying his high school jerseys right when he got on the radar. There has never been a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey sold as much as the No. 23 that James rocked so well in Ohio. It was no question that James was extremely popular with the fans before he even stepped foot on an NBA court. After a trip to the NBA finals only to get swept by the San Antonio Spurs, the chirps started of the LeBron criticism. He had a magical series against the Detroit Pistons the series before that will go down in history books. He led the Cavs to the finals, when their second-best player was a young'un by the name of Daniel “Boobie” Gibson. It was a whole other show when he reached the finals. A man who looked like he was determined to finish his career off with the team that loved him stabbed the Cavaliers in the back on national television. In July 2010, James had an hour special on ESPN dedicated to his choice of which team he will play. James selected the Miami Heat, to the surprise of many, including the broken-hearted Cleveland faithful. The moment James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh formed a trio for Miami, the hate for James began. Players from the past were even quoted saying how they would never join with another superstar to try to win. You want to win it by yourself. Jokes were made such as LeBron is the “Batman” to Wade and how he cannot win a championship as the main player on a team. Unsubstantiated rumors circulated around James’ mom and his former teammate, Delonte West having an affair. More jokes started regarding LeBron’s hairline. All these jokes went viral around social networking sites, basketball forums and various other media outlets. People hate on James for personal reasons, but also a few actual basketball reasons. Critics not only said that he cannot lead a team to a championship himself, but that the team still belongs to Wade. With Wade having a ring himself, and Kobe having five of his own, basketball fans hate on James for not having one, despite the fact that he is in the same tier as Bryant and Wade. Miami did reach the NBA finals their first season with the Big Three, but lost in a tough series to Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks. A stat many do not know is that James has not scored over 25 points in an NBA finals game. Many do criticize James for his lack of play in the fourth quarter, but at times, you can blame his attitude for that. James can be a pass-first player more often that Jordan or Bryant ever was. He lacks the killer mentality that they had, which has hurt him in the fourth quarter. He becomes passive at times when he should use his frame to take it to the rim. He is unguardable when he takes it to the rim. It is noticeable that James' defense has also improved every single year he has been in the NBA. When James is focused on the defensive end, it is extremely hard to get past him. He can lock you down on the perimeter, and is fast enough to stop a player with the ball when they try to get to the basket on the drive. If James gets the killer mentality that Bryant and Jordan possess, he will go down as one of the most dominant players of all time. He has the ability to score at will, but prefers to get everyone around him involved. LeBron can go down as the MVP this year, which means he leads the Heat, not Wade. He is the face of the franchise now. The team is his. James is currently the best player in the National Basketball Association. So is all of the hate that James gets fair? Obviously, the personal jokes are uncalled for, but that’s what happens when you are seen as a “villain.” He did Cleveland wrong, but at the same time, the NBA is a business as well. He could have handled the situation better, but it’s over. People have to move on eventually. But is all of the basketball criticism that James gets fair? Bryant won his first three championships playing alongside the most dominant player ever, Shaquille O’Neal. His other two were with Kobe as the main piece of the franchise. Jordan did not get his first NBA championship until he was 28 years old. James does not turn 28 until December. Even if the Heat do not win the championship this season, LeBron James still has until next year to get an NBA finals ring on his finger before all of the criticism becomes reality. And finally fair. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1134739-lebron-james-is-the-criticism-that-he-gets-unfair

If both healthy, how successful can a David Lee and Andrew Bogut frontcourt be for Golden State?

Michael Jordan was probably the best player to every play in the NBA, but when it comes to running a team, you can say he struggles. What would you grade Jordan since he has owned the Bobcats?

Where does Rajon Rondo rank among the top point guards in the league today? Do you think he would be as good as Rose, Paul, or Williams if he had a jump shot?

Horrible win. We should be in full on tank mode.