Nitro

They shoulda just changed his outfit... http://www.nerve.com/files/archive/modernmaterialist/2009/03/pinkranger.jpg Seriously though, that's a pretty sweet job. I don't care wtf people are calling me if I'm on the set of a popular show/movie. They can laugh all they want because in 10-15 years they'll either be sucking [expletive] for crack or pumping gas.

Ummm...not as dominant, sure. But they had the #1 seed that year in the West in 2007 before Bynum went down. As for Gasol vs. Bosh, I might give the slight edge to Gasol, but it's very close. The only reason Pau is so widely acclaimed is because he is on the Lakers. He got a bt better and tougher, but he has the same damn skills as when he was with the Grizzles. Bosh is a better rebounder, more versatile scorer and has the speed to defend the more athletic PF's out there (see- Olympics). Don't get me wrong, I'd probably take Gasol for his elite post game and passing skills as well (along with his sligttly overrated defense). I just think Gasol has been a tad bit overrated since coming to the Lakers. As for the list, Dirk HAS to be at the top of the list. I don't quite understand how he isn't, and I've argued how Dirk is better than Gasol to death with Erick Blasco so I won't go any further into it. But regardless, he should be #1 without a doubt.

Wonderful. I'll throw the names and make up each member's number thay way. It'll start in an hour when I have the topics up. Same rules as last time where the lower seeds begin first. Also this time there'll be a 3 day limit to post your rap instead of 2.. Best of luck!

Even better... http://www.youtube.com/user/mamba9381 Watching this Lakers-Nets game from the 2002 Finals is really making me reminisce. Dominant Shaq, young Kobe, a Laker team who knows how to run the triangle offense consistently, J-Kidd before microfracture (my favorite Net ever, saw him so many times in person have spectacular games), crazy and athletic K-Mart, and a pretty wild Continental Airlines Arena!

Today is Kobe Bryant's 32nd birthday, and NBATV is running many of his classic games all day. Right now it's Lakers vs Nets from the 2002 Finals, and starting at 2pm is his 81pt game :glasses:

D'Antoni would bust in his pants if he got Smith. Seriously. He'd fit in perfect in that system.

Happy birthday Guru and Swish! Hope you guys have a good one.

I wouldn't say he's overrated as most people don't really even know what he brings to the court. He's not a good jumpshooter (although not horrible), but he's a pretty good defender, very good around the rim and he's overall a quality role player. He's still only 23 years old and has been steadily improving (his increased FG% was a major plus for him last season), so I think he's a valuable trade asset. Definitely not a centerpiece to acquire Melo, though. As for what the Knicks have to offer, is Anthony Randolph eligible to be traded yet? If so, I'd build a package around him, Gallo, Curry's expiring and whatever picks and other financial relief the team can offer. It's not what a few other teams can offer, but it'd still be a quality package.

I think it has more to do with how Rafer left that "other" Florida team last season Rafer is the man, though. As for Eddie House, he's definitely one of the most liked players in the league among fans and teammates. Every single team he's been on he's been an amazing locker room guy.

Finally saw the replay of the game on ESPN2. Some thoughts... -Ricky Rubio impressed me, but he still has some work to do before he could be an elite PG on the NBA level. First off, let me start out with the positives; he has an incredible ability to make any pass on the court with both the right and left hand. He has tremendous court awareness and timing which allows him to see plays before they happen like Kidd and Nash do. His defense surprised me the most as with his long arms and agggressiveness he reminds me of a Rondo-type defender, which is a good thing. Now, my biggest concern with him is also partially what makes him such a good passing PG...he's unselfish to a fault. I don't know if he just doesn't have a scorer's confidence yet, but more than once I saw him pass up easy shots for teammates (with at least one of those passes being swatted out of bounds). He should really take notes on how Steve Nash runs the Phoenix Suns, because as unselfish as he is, he WILL take the clean shot when it presents itself. At the NBA level, an elite PG HAS to be able to call his own number if it's in the best interest of the team. I also question if he's strong and athletic enough to finish at the rim consistently against NBA competition, and his jumper still seems rushed and a bit unpolished (albeit much improved). Overall though, I was really impressed. -Kevin Durant was awesome today. If the US is to go anywhere, they NEED him to be selfish at times and be comfortable as the #1 option. He was playing like the KD that came 2nd in MVP voting last year. Finishing on the break, hitting some long-range jumpers, had that sweet step-back going, etc... One thing that surprised me that I REALLY hope carries over into the next NBA season was his playmaking for other players. He made a few nice passes that got his teammates some open looks. Right now his playmaking is the ONLY thing keeping him out of the top 5 players in the league IMO, and if he uses these games to improve that then all the more power to him. -Lamar Odom should be getting more minutes at Center than I originally presumed Seriously, in FIBA Chandler is a liability offensively and doesn't make nearly enough of an impact on defense as in the NBA. Odom made some great plays today (along with a few horrible jumpers). His rebounding is absolutely key, but I love his versatility on offense at the C position. That play where he took it coast-to-coast off his own rebound is a perfect example. -Our guard play has me a bit worried. Besides that last few minutes of the ball game, Derrick Rose was HORRIBLE. He just doesn't have great pure-PG instincts, his defense was underwhelming and he's not getting to the basket like he should. He really needs to watch video of Dwyane Wade from 2008 and pattern his game off that. Don't over-dribble, make quick decisions and get to the rim at will like he showed he can in the final few minutes against Spain. Curry and Westbrook both have better PG skills, but still not what this team needs. That was blatantly obvious when Rubio was on the floor and running Spain's offense. I really, really wish Rondo would have seen some game-time today because I think he can be that guy. I know he doesn't have a jumper and is prone to making some bad decisions, but he is by far the best playmaker on the team. Hopefully he gets that chance in the next few games. -Andre Iguodala should never, ever should the ball from beyond 5ft from the basket unless there is no one within 10ft of him. He and Odom had some of the most downright ugly misses on jumpers that I've seen in quite awhile. The thing that drives me (and I'm sure Sixers fans) nuts is that he's so good off the dribble because he gets a high percentage shot or collapses the defense and makes the proper pass. He's the LeBron James of this year's squad, a swiss army knife of sorts, but he has to play to his strengths as he can get whatever he wants around the paint. -The defensive intensity needs to stay on high the ENTIRE game. Much like the 2008 team, this squad's biggest strength and advantage is athleticism and length. Sometimes they go on stretches where they just overwhelm the other team with these advantages on the defensive end, just like the 2008 team did. The difference is that the 2008 team (besides being even more gifted) dominated teams with their defense on every single possession. Many times in the Olympics teams couldn't even get the ball past half court before one of the guards picked the pass off. This team needs to have the same tenacity. As good as teams like Spain and Greece are, we can still win the game on the defensive side. We show flashes, but just don't give that defensive effort for the full 40min. If we do this, no team will beat us.

It's not a rumor when the info is coming straight from his own mouth. And you're right, he may be posturing. However, it's definitely very much a possibility because many other foreign players have gone the same route.

Fun fact that's kinda non-related but we could make a topic of: During the last 43 games of the 2003-2004 Pistons run (including post-season) they gave up over 95pts only THREE times!!! That included the insane 5 games streak of not allowing 70pts, which NJ broke on the last shot of a blowout to get their point total to 71pts. In fact, I remember them acting like they just won the championship when they broke the 70pt mark

When you got a tweener, there's always give and take. David Lee is a natural PF, but his speed and athleticism at C really gave him an advantage on offense last season. On defense? It killed him. Dwyane Wade was played at PG his rookie season and still gets spot minutes there, but he's a true SG. The only issue with him at SG is he's a tad short, and often times you will see a guy like Kobe have no issue getting the look he wants over him (to be fair, Wade does have a freakishly long wingspan). My point is that you just have to live with the fact that Smith has a bit of trouble with good, post-up PF's. I'd rather give that up (especially since it's a skill that Smith could improve without having to grow any inches) than give up some of his rebounding and shot-blocking. If the Hawks feel what he gives up at PF is more than what Horford gives up at PF, maybe they should consider a trade. But all I know is you can't have a guy who plays major minutes not hit A SINGLE THREE an entire season play at SF. It just won't work. You gotta fix what you can fix. They gave $JJ a whole lotta money, which really restricts what they can do financially. Although I do think Atlanta is one of those teams that can make a pretty lucrative offer for CP3. If they could get Paul, $JJ's problems being an elite 1st option wouldn't be much of a big deal at all.

Then sign up :glasses:

How is it with the new recipe? Haven't tried the new pizza yet. Anyway, I'm just chilling watching a Criminal Minds marathon tonight. Kinda boring, but it's my favorite drama on TV.

Gordon is a better shooter from both mid-range and long-range. More importantly he's outplayed Granger so far in the exhibitions.

That'd be a big mistake. Cut Granger. At least Curry has been knocking down 3's, Granger has done nothing.

That's a ball-breaker for the Suns. Hope he stays, I enjoy watching him very much.

I think it's really their only chance at doing anything in the next few years. They've had the same team for each of the last 3 post-seasons, and good coaching to make it all fit will only get them so far. Because Smith and Horford are so talented and young they could get some very nice value in return.

Then maybe you should join the tournament :glasses: And as for the suggestion, not everyone has access to a microphone or recording device. I agree it'd be sweet because flow doesn't always translate when you're just reading the text, but I don't know how recording it would work out.

Check my list, I had Lost Boyz. And Children of the Corn is pretty damn similar to D.I.T.C (including Big L).

Gordon's a better shooter statistically than Granger, though. He's also played much, much better basketball so far this summer than Granger.

Yeah bro, awesome work as usual. Still not taking the place on my computer of the last D-Wade piece you made, though :glasses: