NBA 2003/04

[Morgbug]

The Celtics are indeed still in the league (farging bastage).  They are, um, rebuilding (farging bastage).  Beginning with the management staff (farging bastage).  Of course, they've been rebuilding since the Len Bias incident (farging bastage).

Go pups.

[Scott]

BIG GAME TONIGHT!!!  The Lake Show are going to make everything right with the league once again, by handing the T-Wolves their asses on a giant platter tonight!  Kobe and Shaq are both back finally, and even though they're both far from being 100% healthy, the top team in the league will still lay waste to the team with the top record...  Chew on that Snow Boy!  

Nostradamus?

Your team is weak...Wolves are playing without 2 starters too and they killed the Puddlers...Spree is an all-star he showed it tonight and Garnett continue to prove he is the greatest player in the NBA right now (Duncan is a close 2nd and nobody touched either of them)

[JediMAC]

Well that game sucked!    Had the game well in hand the whole way, until mid way through the 4th when the entire team just quit, and the big 3 for the Wolves just went nuts.  Oh well, you'll get your cummupins in a few months...  

Wolves are playing without 2 starters too and they killed the Puddlers...

I'd hardly say that the loss of Wally Sczerbiak and Michael Olowokandi is equivalent to the loss of two Hall of Famers in Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone...  

On a related note, the Lakers just barely squeeked out a 1 point win in Toronto, and after the game Shaq was being interviewed on live TV.  He was extremely pissed about the refereeing, and during the interview he dropped a major f-bomb, and when the embarrassed interviewer pointed out that they were on live TV, Shaq said "I don't give a $h!t".  I expect some hefty fines coming Shaqs way...  

[Morgbug]

Y'know, it's funny.  I know the East is not what it used to be, not even remotely.  But at the same time I thought to myself be brave, take a look at the standings.  So I did.

And what did I find out?  Celtics are in second in their division, four games out.  What the heck, check the puddlers (nod to Scott).  Lookee here, second in their division, four games out.

[JediMAC]

As if things couldn't get any worse...  The NBA just suspended Shaq for tonights game against the Pacers, for his profanity laced tirade at the refs following yesterday's win at Toronto...  

This season is absolutely unbelievable.  We finally get back to having 3 of our 4 HOF'ers in the lineup last week, and here we are again - back down to just having Gary Payton.  If we win the Championship this year, I think I'm going to be shocked.  We are supremely cursed with bad luck (and some of our own stupidity) this year!  

But at least we're still light years ahead of the pathetic Celtics!  

[Morgbug]

Ego.  Say it with me.  E  G  O.  Too many, too big.  

And light years, sweater boy?  I'm guessing four games out differs from division to division, right?  OH sure, the puddlers are well above .500, but how long is that going to last at this rate

[Brian]

All-Star Reserves announced today, the list isn't too bad, but the usual list of snubs as well.  I was really hoping that LeBron James would get voted on as a reserve, I thought he deserved it (20/6/6), but there's a lot of other great players out there too.  Anyways, here's the link:

All Star Reserves

Basically it runs down like this:

East Reserves:
Paul Pierce
Michael Redd
Jason Kidd
Baron Davis
Jamaal Magloire
Ron Artest
Kenyon Martin

West Reserves:

Shaquille O'Neal
Sam Cassell
Dirk Nowitzki
Peja Stojakovic
Brad Miller
Andrei Kirilenko
Ray Allen

[Scott]

Can't fault any of those choices, would have been nice for Spree, he might get in as an injury reserve

[Brian]

Yeah, I agree Scott, I really can't fault any of those choices...all are great players.  There are always going to be some that could have been on, but not enough spots.  I was especially happy to see both Redd and Cassell make their respective teams.  Very deserving players.  Some are surprised at the inclusion of Ray Allen, since he has been hurt much of the year.....but he is definitely one of the best players in the league, and has played well when he has played.

[JediMAC]

So what the hell was up with this craziness, Scott?!  

'Dems the same losers we spanked last month by almost 50 points, without Shaq and Malone no less!  Patty and I were actually at that game, and the Hawks looked like a girl's high school team - they were that bad.  Weird how much things can change from game to game on any given night in the NBA...

As for the All-Star starters and reserves, pretty good selections most of them, with the possible exceptions of Magloire (just because the East needed a second center), Ray Allen (who's missed about 2/3rds of the season so far), Steve Francis (who can't hit the broad side of a barn), and maybe Kenyon Martin (who hasn't played consistent or inspired ball much of the year).

I'd have found a way to get LeBron in there.  Aside from all the hype, he's pretty deserving on stats alone, especially since he became "the man" when the Cavs finally dumped Ricky Davis' dumb ass last month.  Marbury would've probably made it, had he not league hopped mid way through the first half of the season.  He's definitely put the Knicks back on the map.

I think Elton Brand from the Clips should've been in there too - 20+ pts, 12+ boards a game, behind only Duncan and Garnett in the double double category.  Screw Sprewell though.  He's written his ticket OUT of any all-star games with all his stupidity over the years, despite his stats and the Pups' record...  The other West spot could've gone to another Maverick, or possibly Zach Randolph.

Fan voting is always going to be about popularity.  I really wish they'd figure out another way to select all-stars (in Baseball too).  Just never works out like it should, plus it's just the same ol', same ol' every year - deserving or not.  Hell, if Grant Hill was on this year's ballot, he would've probably garnered the MOST votes of anyone again, even if he didn't play a single minute this season.  That's pretty much how bad it often is...  

I'm sure it'll still be a great game though!  Wish I could somehow sneak in...  

[JediKnight87]

Anyone think the LAkers are gonna go anywhere this yeaR? I think they're gonna get to the playoffs at least. From there... who knows?

[Scott]

Not sure what happened in that Hotlanta game , its was the second night of a double header and they had to travel there as well.

Yesterday though was worse, especially when Mad Dog had a chance to win it, wide open in the lane and he blew the lay up.  They have been down the last few games, not too concerned though, this team is NBA Finals material, especially with Wally and Kandi coming back.

[JediMAC]

Not sure what happened in that Hotlanta game...

 

Yesterday though was worse...

 

...especially with ... Kandi coming back.

       

[Scott]

Wow, Portland gets Abdur-Rahim for Rasheed Wallace and Wes Person, WTF is Atlanta thinking?  I also read an article in ESPN the Mag about the reason the East is sooooo bad right now...basically it boils down to the way Eastern teams are built, there is no grand scheme, things are always changing while the West (except Dallas) has been pretty constant in keeping big names and building franchises...lots of truth there

[Morgbug]

Celtics have never recovered from the Len Bias issue.  Not sure why, but I think it's pretty easy to trace all the way back to that.  Previously the deals had been pretty shrewd but not so anymore.  Now with Ainge in there ripping it to shreds who knows how long it's going to take.  

It's been pretty sad to watch.  Not at all knocking the Western teams, but what happened?  It certainly doesn't allow for much entertainment coming into the league finals.