NBA 07/08 Season

[kenyan_cheena]

WARRIORS!!!

[Jonzard]

Originally Posted by Bryan Swartz

Technically it is of course a contradiction -- obviously everything that happens in a game has an impact on the outcome. The point he was making is however not contradictory -- that a player can give you all the numbers in the world, but if his effectiveness disappears down the strech of close games, he's not nearly as valuable as his numbers might otherwhise indicate.

I think that stuff on KG is soooo overblown. He never had a team around him... and in the biggest game of his career (Game 7 of Wolves-Kings) he scored 14 in the 4th (for a total of 32 points, of MN's 83 points) and had 21 boards. He just took that game over. Really, he hasn't had that stage since.

[Jonzard]

Dola...... KGs points don't count? Much like ARod's homeruns? Give me Scott Brosius and Robert Horry any day!

[Bryan Swartz]

Argh, posted in the wrong thread.

[Bryan Swartz]

KGs points don't count? Much like ARod's homeruns? Give me Scott Brosius and Robert Horry any day!

Just to clarify, this is NOT how I see it. The ARod stuff is ridiculous. And if I have the choice between a team of Robert Horry's and one Kevin Garnett, I take Garnett every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

As for KG's rep being overblown -- I see the whole never had a team around him argument. And yes, the Game 7 vs. Sacramento was a tremendous performance. Simply awesome. But the fact is that year he DID have a team around him(he would hardly have gotten to the WCF after a bunch of first-round exits in previoius years otherwhise) and he did have some fabulous games. Put up some incredible numbers(24.3 ppg, 14.6, 5.1 apg), while playing 43.5 mpg.

But again, nobody's arguing here KG isn't an All-Star caliber player or anything. The question is, is he in the class of Kobe, LeBron, Duncan, etc. -- is he MVP material. Those kinds of players up their game in the playoffs, KG hasn't(his FG% in the 04 playoffs(45.2%), was lower than in ANY of his regular-season campaigns, and his numbers were the same as those he'd made in the regular season in all other categories despite play 4 mpg more.

The point is, despite his energy etc., he was not a player who commanded the opposing team's attention the way the truly elite players do. He wasn't a guy who had to be doubled, to take the ball out of hands, a guy who changed the way defenses played the team in that profound a way late in games. In the elimination games against the Lakers in the next round(bigger games than the Game 7 vs. SAC inasmuch as they were played with the Finals on the line) -- Garnett put up big numbers(26.0 ppg, 18 rpg, 3.5 apg) -- but shot only 44.2% from the floor and spent less time at the free throw line than Sprewell, Kobe, or Shaq.

[marc]

Originally Posted by Big Hugg

Nice to see Memphis is starting to free Mike Conley.

In his first 2 games getting double digit minutes:
17 min 8 pts 4 ast 1 to
23 min 10 pts 9 ast 2 to

He should be starting.

He's officially free, since coming back from his injury, he's started the last 2 games and played well.

[kenyan_cheena]

How 'bout them Warriors?

Beat the Spurs 131-120 in OT.

[CMH]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

How 'bout them Warriors?

Beat the Spurs 131-120 in OT.

Something about that game made me happy to see them doing it.

I used to like Tim Duncan but man he's becoming a huge cry baby. It's getting to the point that it's annoying.

[Big Willis 16]

Blazers drop the Warriors by 18 and have won 17 of their last 18 games.

[kenyan_cheena]

Originally Posted by Big Willis 16

Blazers drop the Warriors by 18 and have won 17 of their last 18 games.

Clearly a case of post-upset letdown.

[kenyan_cheena]

Knicks leading Pistons 85-59 with two minutes to play...

[CMH]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Knicks leading Pistons 85-59 with two minutes to play...

Yea, when I tuned in I had to check my glasses.

[kenyan_cheena]

Geez, Bulls and T-Wolves scored 22 points combined in the 1st quarter. That must have been painful to watch.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280130016

[Go Tribe]

anyone watch cavs blazers tonight?

lebron was unreal - just unreal

they were down big all game and he brought them back with a flurry of threes and a slicing layup with .3 seconds left to win it

also - look for videos of his dunk in the first half - amazing

[Big Willis 16]

Originally Posted by Go Tribe

anyone watch cavs blazers tonight?

lebron was unreal - just unreal

they were down big all game and he brought them back with a flurry of threes and a slicing layup with .3 seconds left to win it

also - look for videos of his dunk in the first half - amazing

What an upsetting night. Just got back from the game. After LeBron got his technical he had the refs on his side. No excuse tho. He simply took over in the last few minutes.

[Go Tribe]

Originally Posted by Big Willis 16

What an upsetting night. Just got back from the game. After LeBron got his technical he had the refs on his side. No excuse tho. He simply took over in the last few minutes.

thank the blazer fan on the sidelines that spurred lebron on to his incredible 4th quarter - job well done! you don't kick a sleeping dog

also - the T was on Mike Brown, not Lebron

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by Bryan Swartz

I'm considering his defense and rebounding, which have had a major effect. If they hadn't, I wouldn't be saying he's just as important as Pierce is to the team.

It isn't just those two games -- those are the continuation of a pattern. Look at all his years in Minnesota, what he did in close games there. Look at his history in close playoff games. There's a pattern there. It's the pattern of a player who is an outstanding complementary player, but who is not a truly elite superstar. That doesn't mean he isn't a damn fine player and a damn fine person and a damn fine competitor. It does mean that he isn't likely to lead the Celtics to a championship. If they win one, it will be because somebody, most likely Pierce, is able to take over and make plays at the end of close games -- because Garnett has demonstrated that isn't his forte and it doesn't matter if Boston sets a record for regular-season point differential, they'll have at least a couple of playoff series where they have to win multiple close games to advance. That's when they prove their mettle ... or possibly fail to prove it.

Umm sorry! Did you say Pierce take over? He basically was so hated on the olympic team he isnt allowed back. Not sure if he is the person I would want my trust in.

This KG debate gets old. If this year for example doesnt prove how valuable he is nothing will apparently.

And to add to another post. Like Scottie Pippen's opinion should matter at all about "clutch" performance. He lived off Jordan and when he had a chance to do it on his own he benched himself. His opinion should mean nothing...

[Bryan Swartz]

Totally disagree, from top to bottom.

1. The two main reasons Pierce isn't on the olympic team are injuries and the fact that the Celtics didn't want him to play(Ainge specifically stated such). Moreover, he is the most versatile scorer on the team and the most logical go-to guy, which is probably why he has the most points and shot attempts on the team.

2. I never said KG isn't very valuable.

3. One doesn't put up the numbers Pippen did in his prime by feeding off anybody. He didn't just score, he also put up 6-7 assists, 7-8 rebounds, shot over 50% a couple times, 2.5 steals and nearly 3 a game in a couple seasons, etc. He benefited from Jordan, but Jordan also benefited considerably from him. Scottie's performance the year after Jordan retired was pretty darn phenomenal if you think he was just a sidekick. Pippen led the Bulls in scoring, rebounding, and assists in 1993(go look and see just how many players have ever done that, it's a short list), putting up 22.0 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 5.6 apg while shooting 49% even though he attempted twice as many three-pointers as he had previously while Jordan was around, and making a higher percentage of them than he had before. Doesn't sound like a guy who can't handle the pressure or doesn't know what it's about to me.

[Big Willis 16]

Originally Posted by Go Tribe

thank the blazer fan on the sidelines that spurred lebron on to his incredible 4th quarter - job well done! you don't kick a sleeping dog

also - the T was on Mike Brown, not Lebron

Didn't notice a fan that spurred him. What'd he do?

LeBron wasn't exactly a "sleeping dog" tonight before the 3 pointers. He had somewhere around 25 and 14 before he erupted for even more.

[Big Willis 16]

Dola,

Guess you can thank the Blazers defense for waking the sleeping dog.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280130022

"James scored 17 points in the fourth quarter -- two more than the entire Portland team. Teammate Zydrunas Ilgauskas said James became frustrated when he was blocked twice by Blazers center Joel Przybilla.

"LeBron came down the court and he was really angry at himself. And then he took over," Ilgauskas said. "I don't think he missed the rest of the game."