Multi-Billionaire

He is the Anakin Skywalker of this forum... bright but has a darkside. And he needs to join the darkside (banned)... Real Deal is Obi Wan

Congrats to Karl... In 1990s, Karl's Sonics were one of the teams I feared... they had this cockiness and confidence about them... and Karl was still fiery then. I actually didn't like him then. My feelings have been mixed about him since he's been the Nuggets coach... I thought he was disinterested in his 2nd-3rd year here, and wanted him fired but found he's always been a good leader (apparent how different the team turned when he had to step down to illness last season). I'd rather see Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich, Pat Riley, or even Doc Rivers coaching the Nuggets... but Karl is pretty damn good.

Dude... whatever... New York area is New York area. I know the Nets are moving to Brooklyn, but New York city is pretty damn close to Brooklyn itself. If you weigh the pros and cons... and have the choice, any athlete would prefer to play for a bigger franchise like the Knicks than the Nets... especially now the Knicks are actually good (12-1 in the last 13 games) and Nets are still struggling. Dude the reason why I said Melo would not sign with the Nets in the offseason is that he HAS A CHOICE to sign with the Knicks. In other words, this would be more about "signing with the Knicks", than it is more about "not signing with the Nets". A lot more. This is not to say the Nets are an absolute crap team Melo won't agree to play for... the reason why he won't sign with Nets (as a free agent in the summer... if it happens) is because he would be able to sign with the Knicks. For the same money. Simple as that. But if you take out the Knicks out of equation, e.g. suppose they don't have cap to sign him. And he becomes a FA in the summer, the Nets would clearly be on top of Melo's list... at least if the decision is based on: - Proximity to his hometown - Talent wise... they're not bad especially if they keep Lopez, Harris, Favors, Williams - Solid ownership and coaching We've certainly seen LeBron bolt his own hometown for a bigger market... it really depends on Melo... how big of importance "hometown" is to him. BUT... If you trade him, it's all a different story. Like I said, he doesn't have a choice or say in any trade, except for "I'm not resigning" threats. I certainly am not Carmelo Anthony... so I don't know what is in his mind. But it really takes simple logic. If the Nets trade him regardless of his "threat"... the fact would be Carmelo Anthony is a New Jersey Net. Pretend you're Carmelo, would you really say no to the extension offer from the Nets (as much as $22 mil per season under CURRENT CBA) then opt out in the summer to be a free agent and then sign with the Knicks (reporetedly about as much as 35% paycut, which is about $15 mil per season under NEXT CBA). Why the heck would you (if you're Carmelo) take a $7 mil paycut per season for the next 4 years just to move from New Jersey/ Brooklyn to New York (15-20 mins drive)? This is not "sacrificing $7 mil per season for the sake of moving from Colorado area to New York area"... which would be understandable for a rich athlete. We're talking about "sacrificing $7 mil per season for the sake of moving from New York area to New York area"... which is madness, even for a rich athlete. Dude... you can't judge. When you make millions, $100 million may sound like "you don't need any more money in your life". But that's because you're speaking from a middle class perspective with middle class mentality, not $100 mil rich perspective mentality. But I guarantee, if you somehow have that much money in your bank account someday, your lifestyle (expenses) also shoot up... Antoine Walker had $110+ mil, thought he's good for life, and it's all gone now... It's not only the fear of bankruptcy (as different people have different financial IQs), but money also represents "status". When discussing $100 mil, you can't say it with a "middle class" mentality and say "If I have $100 mil, I won't need any more money" because I GUARANTEE if you have $100 mil, your language will also change. If you are financially smart, you'll also quickly realize your lifestyle expenses also change (sometimes scary change like Eddy Curry's) and it's gonna catch up with your wealth if you don't "game-plan" it. But say if you have $100 mil, it becomes a "status". There's guys with $100 mil fortune... there's guys with $500 mil fortune (Kobe/ LeBron)... then there's guys with $1 bil fortune (Tiger Woods). Money itself is not important to them, but it is important to measure where you are status-wise. Sure, some guys are generous like Gilbert Arenas not taking max contract in his prime, so the Wiz can sign more players... or Ron Artest signing MLE with Lakers when he could have easily got a $7-8 mil contract elsewhere. But different people have different mindset. Just because a few do it, doesn't mean that's how "it should be" with everyone who's wealthy. You said it. I'm just saying for a guy whose networth is $150 mil now (plus endorsement), an educated guess is Melo is aiming to get closer to those guys' status as at least "half Billion" guy. But here it is, I don't care if you have a high financial IQ like Magic Johnson (arguably a better businessman than he was as a player... turning his era low salary by today's standards to hundreds of millions of dollars)... or if you have a low financial IQ like Antoine Walker who saw his money go up in smoke, doesn't matter if you're Carmelo Anthony or not, it doesn't matter if you're $150 mil rich or $1 billion rich or middle class, it doesn't matter if money means nothing or everything, if you take a $7 mil pay cut annually just because you want to move from New Jersey to New York, you're a bloody idiot (financially). I doubt anyone can dispute that. Basic common sense.

The bluff is also meant to (besides scare the Nets) make the Nuggets think Knicks are the only trade partner. That's the whole point of the bluff, for the Nuggets to say, "alright we'll trade with the Knicks since Nets back off". Gallinari, Randolph, Chandler? No thanks. But according to Marc Stein (NBA #1 source), there's some teams (Dallas and Houston among them) willing to trade for him without getting his extension assurances. These teams are said to be confident in their ability to convince Melo to stay and sign extension with their teams. If this is true, the Nuggets just get considerably more leverage.

He wants New York because: 1.) it's his hometown, 2.) it's a huge market that will see his endorsements and his wife's TV career shoot up Then maybe you can list "playing with his buds" 3rd on that list. Amare is friends with Melo, but Melo has many "good" friends around the L... this is no Steve Francis - Cuttino Mobley BBF thing. Two ways Melo leaves Denver: 1.) via free agency 2.) via trade Let's explore each in-depth: 1.) via free agency By not signing extension, and opting out of his current contract, he becomes an unrestricted free agent. He can choose any team (that has cap) to sign... who do you think he will choose? Knicks or Nets? Remember he has a choice. Remember also, Knicks and Nets offer the same money. Hint: it's not the Nets. 2.) via trade Most likely what will happen, since the Nuggets are 100% FULLY AWARE that Melo will leave them for New York via free agency if they do not trade him before February deadline. So they WILL trade him, rather than lose him for nothing. Thing is, Melo KNOWS the Nuggets will trade him because of the fact above. So, his hope of signing with the Knicks in the summer as a free agent is slim to none. And he KNOWS it. Now, if he's traded, he CANNOT CONTROL where he gets traded to, as opposed to having the choice as a free agent. Melo KNOWS this, and also KNOWS the Nets offer the best package so far and he's likely to be dealt there. So pretty much, the day as a Net is pretty soon. But here it is: trade HAS NOT happened yet, so he will BLUFF the best way he can (while he's not traded yet) such as: "who says I want to play for the Nets?" "I will not sign extension if I get traded to Nets" in an attempt to scare Nets (from bidding) and if the Nets are scared trade will not happen. But suppose the Nuggets do trade him to the Nets ANYWAY, in spite of his warnings of not signing extension... Once he is in New Jersey, everything changes. Now he has been traded to New Jersey, do you think he will really say, "watch as I opt out this summer and sign with the Knicks." If he signs extension with the Nets, he will do it under CURRENT CBA which should be (for him) around $22 mil per season. If he signs a contract with Knicks this summer, he will be signed under NEXT CBA which should be around $15 mil per season. That's about $7 mil contract difference. Now taking a $7 mil paycut in his prime age where he's supposed to cash in as many max contracts as he can (while he can) because: He wants to move from New Jersey to New York... really? When New Jersey is already pretty damn close to New York itself, and the fact that the Nets are relocating to Brooklyn... Don't you think it's a [expletive]ed up reason? I can understand taking a $7 mil paycut because he moves from Denver to New York... because Denver is cold, it's high altitude, it's a small market. But New Jersey is a different city than Denver, and from there his playing cards will be considerably different. --- Summary: - If Melo is traded to Nets, he will sign an extension there - If Nuggets don't trade him after the Feb deadline, he will leave Nuggets for Knicks in the summer. - THE ONLY WAY for Nets to land Melo is via trade, taking the bluff risk that "he will not sign there" with fingers crossed. In other words, the Nets canNOT be scared of Melo's threat of not signing extension if they want ANY HOPE of landing him. But once Melo is in New Jersey, I bet my money on his changing his language of the whole situation, meaning he will change his stance from "I'm not signing extension" to "give me the pen, I'll sign extension... Screw it, New Jersey is just across the river of New York... and the Nets will relocate to Brooklyn anyway... I ain't losing $7 mil per just for playing for the Knicks when I'm already in New Jersey.". If you don't understand, I give up.

I believe Melo's card now (as far as location is concerned) is: - New York: #1 choice - New Jersey: #2 choice (they're close to New York, they're relocating to Brooklyn soon, too)... pretty damn good destination. But he's trying to bluff that he is not interested in the Nets because... why? Because he wants to go to New York. It's his #1 choice. Why settle for #2 choice when you can possibly bluff your way to get your #1 choice?? He's hoping we will trade him this season to the Knicks, he will agree to an extension before the trade is finalized. BUT IF YOU TRADE HIM TO THE NETS, his option of going to New York in the summer as a free agent is considerably different in New Jersey as a Net, than it is in Denver as a Nugget. I cannot imagine someone/ anyone taking a $7 mil pay cut PER SEASON just to move from New Jersey to New York. "I WANT TO PLAY IN NEW YORK SO BADLY, I'LL TAKE A $7 MIL PAYCUT TO MOVE THERE FROM... NEW JERSEY (A TEAM THAT IS SOON RELOCATING TO NEW YORK ITSELF)." I can see him taking a $7 mil pay cut PER SEASON to move from Denver to New York. From New Jersey to New York? New Jersey/ Brooklyn ain't New York city but that's just financially retardish.

Well, if he has the option of going to Knicks or Nets... he will definitely choose the Knicks, being the franchise already in New York, his preferred destination, and especially now that the Knicks are playing great with Amare and Felton. Melo has NOT ruled out signing extension with the Nets. If he gets traded to Nets this season... Nets being in New Jersey (and the fact that they are soon relocating to Brooklyn) are pretty much in New York area. I'm saying, if he gets traded to Nets this season, I can't see him opt out and sign with the Knicks for A LOT LESS just because the Knicks are "legitimately" in New York. It's ridiculous. We'd be talking about taking a HUGE paycut just to move from New Jersey to New York? If he signs extension with Nets it's $22mil per season... if he opts out his contract will be (as rumored) around $15 mil per season. In short: - If from Denver, I can see Melo taking a huge paycut just to move to New York. - But if from New Jersey (if he gets traded there this season), I cannot see Melo taking a huge paycut just to move to New York. It doesn't make sense. New Jersey (soon relocating to Brooklyn) is already pretty damn close to New York. If he gets traded to New Jersey, I would have my money on him signing extension.

You'd be actually lucky to trade two starters in exchange for a super-star(ter). There's no way in hell Melo signs with Nets in the summer when he can sign with the Knicks (already in New York btw), especially for the same money. If I was Denver GM, I'd be asking for your trouble kid T-Will too... and I'm pretty sure the Nets would oblige if it means landing Carmelo Anthony, even if it might be against Avery's wishes. The thought of not only playoffs, but a superstar putting seats and merchandise sales, competing night in night out would be too much to pass up.

I think he does not want Melo because of "how much" Nets have to give up to get him. Which is... stupid, honestly. Melo alone with bunch of craps can lead that franchise into the playoffs. In Melo's second season (2004-05), he led us to the playoffs while our team: - playing without a shooting guard/ 3 pt shooter for the whole year (Voshon Lenard injured on opening night and out for season). - going 17-25 in our first 42 games under coach Jeff Bzdelik and Michael Cooper Melo and Lopez would be quite devastating. He would make Lopez a winner. Melo is one of the few sure tickets for any team to the playoffs year in, year out. And I'm not even a Melo fan. It's the truth.

15 Dec is almost here

We closed each quarter terribly and for each quarter in second half, they started strong. Chauncey is increasingly irritating... he plays as if he doesn't care about anything and is not in shape mentally. His body language has been as poor as ever...

From owner's perspective, it wouldn't work... If Hornets are valued (for example) at $200 mil, and Clips at $250 mil... then one franchise has to buy out the other to make it work. If (let's say) D. Sterling decides to buy the Hornets for $200 mil, and "move" it to LA as the Clippers, the Clippers would not be worth $450 mil just because of the Hornets merging. From owner's perspective, it doesn't make sense. --- In fact, there's no pros I can think of from combining two franchises into one. But it's definitely a creative mind you have there

Hmmm... I thought one paragraph ago you said... Donald Sterling says hi

Down 21pts in 1st quarter, cut it to 3 now... can't complain.

I do think the Clippers too... it's always been the Lakers town... if they're gone, the small number (at least if you compare to Laker fans) of Clip fans can always become Laker fans, or become other teams' fans if they hate the Lakers that much And yes, they seem to have this unlucky thing and aura about them that spread within the organization and seem to stick and not disappear for decades... with the talent they have, they should be better than their current record, but they're always associated with losing. It's one thing to be unlucky short term, it's another to be unlucky long term. If the franchise folds, it's probably better for everyone in the organization... because "losing culture" can affect anyone especially if they're in the organization long term. You don't want to develop a losing/ victim/ self-pity mentality, no matter if you're a player, a coach, team staff, or owner.

From 14 and 11 to 20 and 15. I would vote for Love. [expletive] everybody else

Loved it, but I like IX and XII better

^lol Bulls are the most dedicated... I remember after 1998-99 season (MJ's 2nd retirement), they still sold out ALL of their home games for about 3-4 seasons when they were missing playoffs, before they "sold out" streak ended... but a solid crowd still turned out... that said something. Most dedicated fanbase, yes. Largest fanbase? No... it belongs to Lakers. lol

Going back to the topic, is about Melo being the best last second shot maker. My argument why this is the case is: 1.) Melo has 14 game winners under his belt and this is his 8th season. Did Kobe (in his 15th season now) have 14 game winners by his 8th season (03-04)? You can look it up, I bet the answer is NO. 2.) It took Kobe 4 seasons until he hit his first game winner against Suns Game 2 in 2000 playoffs... in comparison, it took Melo just 25 games in his rookie year to get one (vs. Sonics). 3.) Melo's 45.5 FG% in clutch situations is the best Is Kobe's clutch percentage in 15 seasons the same/ higher than Melo's? How about his clutch percentage by his 8th season... is it 45.5% or higher? I doubt it.

I'm pretty sure I was here around the same time Jammin was here (Feb 2005).

Yep if he's missing those that he was double teamed, and a large percentage of his game winners were the ones when he was singly-defended, then Kobe is not this super human that "buried game winners while being defended by 2-3 people"... or sometimes according to a normal Laker fan like Lkr, "the ENTIRE team" lol... You represent the majority of Laker fans who say Kobe is the greatest in the clutch because: - He has most game winners than anyone in NBA history (out of gazillion attempts in his career in 15 years... the last three tries against Pacers and Rockets were not successful... but of course people only remember the makes) - He ALWAYS gets double/ triple teamed in ALL those game winners... (myth). I bet not even 30% of his game winners were double/ triple teamed.

I've never really looked into +/- stats... they don't mean anything to me.

^That coach is Jamahl Moshley (spelling may be incorrect)... he had been with the Denver Nuggets for the pasr 3-4 years I believe... and this season he went to Cavs and we actually got his replacement in former Cavs assistant Melvin Hunt. Don't know if there's such thing as assistant coach trade? I do think Hunt is thousand times better than Moshley... Hunt is more engaging with players and knows the game more. Great "trade" for us. --- Anyway, Cleveland, the fans, and the organization are lame. I understand LeBron is a douche, but this victim, we've been wronged mentality is a loser and negative attitude that is contagious and not easily healed. It's on them to put these on themselves... LeBron was a douche yes, but it's their reaction that was lame. If someone angers you, the reaction is usually to be angry. But you always have a choice what you want for your reaction... whether to brush it off, to be unaffected and happy, or to be angry. If you always react, you'll be in emotional roller coaster all your life without being in control of yourself. Cleveland, organization, and fans chose to be pissed off and they've been wronged... it says more about them than it does about LeBron. I watch parts of the game and turned it off at halftime, the negativities displayed by the Cavs were just lame.

I was a hardcore (yep) Kobe fan before so I am not clueless about his game... this double-triple teamed in game winning situations occurred, but NOT every time like you Laker fans seem to make them to be. See the video below and the breakdown: - 0:48: guarded one-on-one by Hornets' George Lynch - 1:37: guarded one on one by Suns' Shawn Marion - 1:50: guarded one-on-one by Mavs' Jason Terry - 2:05: guarded one-on-one by Grizzlies' Shane Battier - 2:24: guarded one-on-one by Nuggets' pitiful defense Jon Barry - 2:45: guarded one-on-one by Rockets' slow footed Yao Ming - 2:53: guarded one-on-one by who is that?? - 3:06: Kobe broke free and found himself alone enough in time to shoot over a late-rotating Blazers' Ratliff - 3:22: double- then triple teamed against Clippers - 3:40: guarded one-on-one by a Charlotte Bobcat - 3:48: double teamed by Nuggets' Andre Miller and Eduardo Najera - 4:06: double teamed by two Suns - 4:14: double teamed by Cavs' LeBron James and Zydrunas Ilgauskas - 4:35: double teamed by Suns' Jason Kidd and Rodney Rogers - 5:12: double-triple teamed by Nets - 5:22: guarded one-on-one by Heat' Dwyane Wade - 5:46: guarded one-on-one by Bucks' Charlie Bell - 6:01: not even defended after Kobe pushed off Kings' Beno Udridh - 6:31: guarded one-on-one by Celtics' Ray Allen - 6:54: guarded one-on-one by a screened Grizzlies' OJ Mayo... and then game winning 3 over a late-rotating Rudy Gay - 7:21: double-teamed by Raptors' ??? and Andrea Bargnani - 7:51: guarded one-on-one by Spurs' Bruce Bowen Only 7 out of the 22 plays above, was Kobe double/ triple teamed. Not in the video: (over Rip in Game 2 2004 NBA Finals) My point is stop acting like ALL of Kobe's winners were double/ triple teamed. Most teams would prefer to play great team defense no matter how great/ clutch an individual player is. I bet not even half of Kobe's game winners were double/ triple teamed.