Nitro

I'll say what I said on KTT... She apparently wrote this as a response to someone criticizing Jigga through a tweet, and the title of the article is titled "Nas Lost" also with some gay equation stating that all his albums besides Illmatic sucked. Obviously an agenda. Why did it take nearly 5 years for this to come out? In the article, it only says, "Jay (Electronica) called me and said he was ghostwriting for Nas." This could mean only one line, the entire album, or anything inbetween. I believe he maybe helped him with some choruses or concepts, but not on the verses aside from maybe a line here or there. Kanye had that kind of part in Common's Be album, and I believe he's even credited as a writer on many of those songs. Nas' flow, rhyme schemes, delivery and flow on Untitled is very consistent to everything he did prior to that album, besides Illmatic in which he didn't have the same spoken-word flow that he had after. Therefor, I am inclined to believe that he didn't have his verses ghostwritten. Considering the circumstances of this revelation, and the facts at hand, I tend to believe it isn't what this author is trying to make it out to be.

Nas stays killin' it this year with his features, god damn. And anyone who didn't look at my topic with the Khaled/Nas/Scarface song should get a .22 to the dome.

^Why did this being close surprise you? We almost lost to Spain in 2008, and IMO our team that year was better than the team this year.

*In 2pac's Ether style voice* [expletive] L.A!!!!

The key to beating this Lakers team will be to blitz the pick and roll, force Kobe and Artest to take long jumpers off the pass, overwhelm them with athleticism, and make them an iso team. With Howard, this is a lot harder to accomplish than when they had Bynum, because he can single-handedly make up for whatever defensive issues the rest of the team has, and he is more willing to pass when defenses collapse on him. The biggest key for the Lakers will be Dwight's health. Last I heard a few weeks ago, he really wasn't even running yet, let alone participating in any basketball activities. Since his game is largely based off strength and athleticism, as well as endurance, this could really limit his effectiveness. Also, when it comes to the back, injuries tend to re-occur, due to the nature of that area as well as over-compensating with legs (the latter I feel is what ultimately ended T-Mac's career as a star).

Everything is starting to sink in for me...and this Laker team is probably the most stacked, well-balanced team I've seen ever. If the title isn't to go to them this year, Miami will need to sign Darko as a backup to Bosh, and pray Wade gets back to his level of play from a few years ago. Even then, this LA team is just so damn skilled and well-balanced.

Wow...the Magic are [expletive]ing stupid. No Pau? Damn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YC_PJzKHFg What 3 Kings could/should have been. Nas and Scarface go way in on this track lyrically, good lord. Gotta love a DJ premiering a DJ's song featuring another DJ...lol.

Actually, I love this deal for every team but the Magic. Lakers get Dwight, and get a stretch 4 who will get a TON of open looks in LA, and whose defense will be covered up by Dwight like Rashard Lewis' was. Maybe not a permanent answer at the 4, but a very nice replacement. With Turner on the come up in Philly, a Bynum for Iguodala swap is a nice deal for them with some strong potential for the future. Denver gets Iguodala, who will fit nicely into their system and give their perimeter some defense. For the Magic...eh. Gasol is on the wrong side of 30 and not a franchise player, and while Afflalo is a nice player he is also not a guy you build around, and won't really give the team a new dimension to build on. Possibly the best, most balanced Dwight trade I've seen, though.

ESPN's ratings that summer would have taken a big hit. What if T-Mac never left the Magic?

POTY so far. I applaud you.

Kobe can get by people, it's finishing at the rim against the help that's an issue, and it's the same in the NBA. In the NBA it's a little less noticable because a) he's more likely to get calls, and b) there is less spacing in FIBA, and I believe no defensive 3 2nd rule, so it's at times harder to fully get to the rim and finish. He has to adapt, especially since next season he'll be playing with Nash and getting a LOT more spot-up opportunities. LeBron had to adapt big time with Miami, and did it. Kobe will have to the same now and next season.

The issue with Kobe is he can't get to the rim and finish well anymore, and doesn't pick the passing lanes much, so he's stuck playing the way he does in the NBA...iso's from midrange with a bad shot here and there. Same thing in 2008. What resulted then and what will probably happen now is a shooting percentage roughly about what he has in the NBA, as opposed to a guy like Wade who was shooting like 65% in that Olympics (and Melo historically is a lot more efficient when it comes to FIBA as well). Much happier with the team's play today, however their defense is a HUGE issue. Constantly getting lost defensively and not knowing when to be aggressive, so they are getting picked apart with many opposing players being wide open constantly. The team has to pick either the 3pt line or the middle to lock down, and make the other team beat them the other way. I'd lock down the 3pt line because international teams have greater shooting advantages over Team USA, while they are less athletic than us. Therefor, I think it is better to force teams into the paint, because our team has length and athleticism to bother them on their drives to the rim. However, if we pack the paint and leave the 3pt line open, we are gonna keep getting burned with easy 3 pointers, and it's a lot harder to force turnovers against teams that are always making easy passes to open shooters.

If Team USA don't give a better effort than their last game, I'm moving to Canada.

Absolutely not with Blatche. Yes to Darko. By far the best center they can get on a small deal.

First page.

I said it before and I'll say it again...this team desperately misses Dwyane Wade. They aren't pressuring the ball and forcing turnovers like they did in '08, where they basically destroyed every team besides Spain by overwhelming them on defense. Besides Wade, what is also hurting this team is not having Howard and Bosh. So many times I see this team can beat off the dribble with no help at the rim, and the bigs aren't defending the PnR like they did in '08. Howard and Bosh would alleviate many of these problems. Offensively, I see far too much iso and quick spot-ups from 3. Guys like Williams and Kobe aren't spot-up shooters, and they are being force into these roles with the way the team is playing. There needs to be more post-ups, and more off-ball cuts going to the rim. That play where I think LeBron or Paul found Melo, then Melo found Westbrook for the and-1 is a model of how this team should run in halfcourt sets. There is no reason for forced iso's when you have 3-4 superstars as teammates. That doesn't mean there should be iso plays, because some of these guys are elite 1-on-1 players who flourish in those situations, but you can't overdose on it. LeBron needs to take control of this team like he did in the final 2-3min of the game. He can literally do whatever he wants against anyone whenever he wants, both offensively and defensively...much like with the Heat, it's just a matter of him putting the foot on the pedal. If he is aggressive, everyone else will fall into place.

You do understand Rose will be out, Watson is gone, Hinrich is a combo guard, they lost Asik (their defensive anchor of the 2nd unit, and only true backup C), and they lost Korver and Brewer...right? Last year without Rose they got by on depth and defense, both of which they took a big hit on this offseason.

But opinions have reasoning behind them, and I was questioning what his reasoning could be. I could understand if he said like Lil Wayne or something, because he actually has a discography. 2 Chainz has NO SOLO ALBUM and like 1 Playa Circle album that no one knows besides that song with Wayne. The only reason to put 2 Chainz on any list is because he rides around and he gets it, and if it's his, he spends it.

Jean Grae is easily the best. [expletive]in ill lyrically. After that, Lauryn Hill, Foxy Brown, Eve, Queen Latifah. Lil Kim had Biggie as a ghostwriter for all her best verse.

1) It takes like 7 months to get to Mars. 2) Why do you keep assuming they need Mars' environment to create food? I am sure they will be bringing wayyyyy more than enough food to last them when they take the trip out there. And besides, I am not certain, but I am assuming they will be building this structure that these people will colonize in before the "settlers" even get there, that will be equipped with whatever they need for survival. 3) People spend months and years at space stations already and don't resort in cannibalism. I am sure this thing on Mars will be the same.

Why do you assume there will be no food? They won't be doing this project just to have the colony eat each other lol. It is meant to kickstart a colony on Mars, and they will be adding people every year or so (I'm sure each shuttle providing plenty of food for the people already there).

Not half as funny as this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj9jUBA3xkw "You can prevent forest fires." hahaha

I wouldn't do it. There's a reason there is no humans currently there...it's uninhabitable for us, so we'd be stuck in a space-mall the rest of our lives. Still, cool idea, and hopefully in 30-40 years there will be more cost-effective ways to go there and back.