** Official NBA 2002 Thread **

Looks like some sloppy basketball played in LA last night by the Lakers and Spurs. Not much of a shock that Sacramento blew out the Cavs. Of course, they were without Dajuan Wagner and with him they only would have lost by 15.

Big night of games tonight. Most of the high profile rookies will be making their debuts. Will Yao play well in his first game or suck it up? He'll probably have Brad Miller and Jermaine O'Neal to contend with most of the night.

 

*Sigh* Basketball season and too much homework. Couldn't watch the Spurs last night because of it. But by what you guy's and others have told me, I didn't miss much.
Oh well...

 

Grant Hill looked like the Grant Hill of old last night. I watched every game I could when he was here in Detroit, and last night, he had that old bounce in his step, which he didn't have since he hurt his ankle in the 2000 playoffs. However, I still think he's soft and cowers when the heat gets turned up in the high-pressure games.

The Cavs scored 67 points last night? My God they are awful. If they average 80 a game this year, I'll be surprised.


My Pistons debut against the sorry-ass NY Knicks tonight. Ben Wallace will own them!!

 

New Orleans Hornets tip off against the New Or...I mean Utah Jazz tonight. The Hornets are retiring "Pistol" Pete Maravich's #7 jersey. I think this is a great way to get basketball started again in the Big Easy.

However, the game is not sold out yet.

 

That's cool that New Orleans is retiring the Pistol's jersey. I forgot that he played for the Jazz when they were back in New Orleans. Good move on their part, though I'm shocked that hasn't caused the game to sell out. Maybe the fans in New Orleans will care as much about the Hornets as Charlotte did.

 

I missed the ring ceremony, which I heard went over nicely.

IMO, the Lakers were playing nonchalantly on the part of the vets, and a bit overly eager on the part of the rookies/newer players, leading to a fouling frenzy. It was pretty ugly.

I wish the Clippers opener was being televised.....and I worry about their looming free agency issues.

Happy noon!

 

The Ring ceremony was great, and Randy Newman payed "I Love LA" w/ his band. Marge welcomed everyone to the new season, and thatnked everyne for their thoughts and prayers w/ Chicks passing. It brought a tear to my eye, realizing the Chick's voice will no longer be heard as the voice of the Lakers.

That's a bunch of crap, Ive lived in Sac my whole life and the local news is never saying stuff like that. At the most they make it clear that were not intimidated anymore which were not. Lakers dont scare us anymore even with Shaq playing because we know we can take them. And Laker fans out their breathed a sigh of relief after Western Conference Finals because they knew we had there number. We lost because we made some mistakes and other "unfortunate" circumstances which I wont go into.

Hehehe, posted like a true Kings fan. Trust me, when you are a LAKERS fan living behind enemy lines, you might see things differently. Why don't the Kings PROVE they are better and finally beating the Lakers, and I'm not talking regular season, I mean playoffs, when it counts. I make no bones about it, I believe it could happen, but like I said, until it does, quit coming at me with all this talk of how much better the Kings are, and "de-throning the Lakers" bs. Do it. Then talk. That's how it works. That's why it's called "bragging rights". Go ahead and keep ringing those cowbells while the Lakers keep collecting their trophies.

 

Wow, another really sloppy game tonight. Raptors beat the Wizards 74-68. Jordan only scores 8. From what I saw of the game, I would be surprised if the Wizards had 10 assists as a team. Kwame Brown put up some good numbers (12 pts, 18 boards) for the Wizards but not much from anyone else.

Are the Wizards going to be a top team in the East, a bubble team or a cellar dweller? From their performance tonight, it looks like bubble team but it is only the first game.

Bulls win! Bulls win! 99-96 over the Celtics.

 

Tobey: Can you explain to me why so many people are picking Washington to make it to the East or NBA Finals?? Are these "experts" truly on dope?? What do they have? The worst #1 draft pick in recent memory at PF (Brown), a guy who couldn't even start for Golden State at PG (Hughes) and a career underachiever at C (Laettner). Is it because they got Stackhouse? Well it's really funny how people were trashing his playoff performance (deservedly so) in Detroit. Then all of a sudden, he goes to Washington and becomes a top 5 player?? Come on!! The Pistons clearly got the better of the deal, getting younger, quicker and a better shooting team. Jordan has nothing left, and his team is soft. Wizards will be damn lucky to make the playoffs.

Pistons were flat for 3 quarters, but the 3-point shooting of Chucky Atkins bailed them out at the end. Would have been horrible to lose to that awful team from New York.

Portland is killing the Fakers right now. HAHAHAHAHA

 

Put besides heavy rhetoric and name calling (happens everytime in the JC), just a few thoughts,

So far I am not impressed with ESPN's broadcasting. Their broadcasters are quite pedestrian, and often the choice of camera is just atrocious. A lot has been said about NBC's broadcasting in the past, but when that network lost the World Series to Fox, it was painfully obvious who was better. The same is true here.

Yao Ming's single season development will be one of the most interesting things to watch, especially since the NBA regular season really has so little importance.

Similarly, time to see those young high school kids play. Brown looked nice in the Washington-Toronto game; Chandler and Curry could form a monster middle for Chicago, and of course Miles is already one of the most explosive players in the league. And if Harrington and Bender both continue to improve, then Indiana is the best team in the east.

And last but not least, if I ever see a Utah game on tv, I'm sticking with it. Just the idea of watching Stockton for the last time is unbearable.

 

Washington does have some talent and veteran leadership, but at this point I can't see them being anything more than a first-round of the playoffs loser. They brought in Charles Oakley to add some rebounding and got Stackhouse to add some scoring. If Brown can put up numbers consistently like he did last night, the Wizards shouldn't have any trouble making the playoffs. One of the top teams? Not a chance, not yet. Let's wait a couple of weeks and see if their true colors show.

Lakers drop to 0-2, Clippers lose to *gasp* the Cavs! Clippers-Lakers game on Friday is going to be meaningful to both teams.

Mavericks scored 100 last night, in three quarters! Can't wait to watch them play this year now that LaFrentz and Van Exel are more involved with the team. Should be a very exciting season for Dallas.

Oh, and did I mention that the Bulls are undefeated! Woohoo! 82-0, here we come!

 

Well perhaps we were a little quick to dismiss the Wizards. From what I saw of last night's game, they look like contenders in the Eastern Conference. Maybe they just need to play with some consistency.

 

Yeah, The Wiz looked pretty darned good last night. Beating Boston by 45 frickin' point?!? If somebody told me this before the game, I probably would have laughed at them. Unbelievable.

Also, Kings waxed the Blazers, that doesn't surprise me. Kings looked really good last night, I can't wait for the 1st game between the Lakers and Kings on X-mas day.

Speaking of the Lakers, they are off to a great start. Not. I still think they won't win a game until Shaq returns. Tonight, they're gonna get ran be the much inproved Clippers. Stil gotta watch the Lakers tho, even if they are craptacular w/ out Shaq.

 

Don't be too quick to dismiss the Lakers chances versus the Clippers. They did lose to the Cavs of all teams.

What got into Kwame Brown this year? He's playing like an All-Star these first two games.

 

Bulls are 2-0! Defeated the Hornets tonight. Wow, maybe the Bulls won't be as bad as everyone thought they would this year.

 

Celtics 0-2, with a loss to the Bulls and a severe butt-blasting at the hands of the Wizards?!? Going to be a loooooong year for us Boston fans.

 

The Lakers are doing pretty damn good against the Clippers right now w/ a 60-41 lead @ the half. in response to all the the posts about Fox & Christie, i say this: Fox rightly deserves his 6 gamne suspension, he shouldn't have continued the fight off court. i agree w/ DJM that the Kings did start the trash talking last year & i find it funny that Kings fans getting pissed when L.A. fans call Sacramento cow town because of the cowbells. what did you guys expect anyway? did you think we weren't going to make jokes? anyway, GO LAKERS!!!


Go Lakers!!! we've got 3 championships, let's go for one more!


DarthTunick!

 

I'm weird because I like the Lakers and the Kings. The Western Conference Finals last year was great! The Championships were just sad.

It's too early for me to predict who will win the title, but I think both the Lakers and the Kings will at least make the playoffs.

 

they most certainly will.


DarthTunick!

 

Spurs beat the Raptors 91-72. Most of the time it was really close, but finally the Spurs started to lead in the fourth. I've got a feeling that the Spurs aren't going to do very well this year.

 

i agree w/ DJM that the Kings did start the trash talking last year & i find it funny that Kings fans getting pissed when L.A. fans call Sacramento cow town because of the cowbells. what did you guys expect anyway? did you think we weren't going to make jokes? anyway, GO LAKERS!!!

Actually I think the cowbells came around on the account of Phil Jackson. Back in our first postseason matchup with the Lakers they took 2 at home but we came back and took 2 in arco, Phil was pretty pissed and the courtside fans were giving him a hard time. After that he like called "all" sacramento fans semi-civilized and redneck, I can't remember all of it but it's safe to say no one cares much for him down here. So after that the courtside fans always had the cowbells in Phils face alittle sarcasm I guess, after that I guess it just stuck. I don't think anyone down here gets pissed when L.A or anyone else calls us cowtown or whatever, I know I don't.

Sucks right now, Webber's injured, Bibby's gone for the month, and Pollard is out, Bah!

 

Sorry I hadn't seen this thread. Been a bit busy of late. Anyway, it's good to see the Lakers bandwagon bashing back in fashion. Where were those guys ten years ago? They only seem to show when the Lakers are on top and their teams are... struggling to compete.

Tracey McGrady had a great night against Milwaukee. 47 points and a handful of assists and rebounds. The Bucks will most likely have another disappointing year.

Looks like Carter is out again. Looks like the knee again too.

Anyway, as for predictions, the Lakers will have to get O'Neal out there to be healthy. But this foot injury is going to be another nagging thing for him. I can't see my Lakers doing it again at this point. The Suns to have a good year as well.

Dallas in the West over the Kings. A bit of an upset, but the Mavs youngens are capable. But if O'Neal stays healthy, I'll ammend the tip.

East... more cannon fodder for whoever wins the West. Nets might do it again. The Celtics look good on paper, but they haven't impressed me. Wizards... they'll make the playoffs, but they won't make it too far. I actually think Atlanta have a good shot at actually winning a seven game series for once. Philly.. will fail! Too much work for Iverson.

I'm going to go for another upset, Orlando to beat the Nets. Just so long as Hill stays on the field. Mutombo could be a handful for them though.

 

Finally, somebody agrees w/ me.

No matter who's on top in the NBA, there always gonna be those bashers out there, because their team sucks.

Lakers own you all.

 

Well, Hill went off last night with... soreness in his ankle. Hope this doesn't bode too badly for the his season.

[rant]
I think the worst thing about the NBA today is Shaquille. If the refs called the game as they should he wouldn't be the player that he is. Who else in the league can put their shoulder into the chest of the defender, knock them down and then dunk with either no foul call or a foul on the defender? No one.

Actually, I would love it if they called travelling, double-dribble and all of the other crap that people get away with anymore. Maybe that would help bring back some of the fans who've become disenchanted with the game. Just frustrating to see NBA players get away with things that high school kids try and get called for.
[/rant]

And the dream is over, Bulls lost their first game of the season 98-92 to the Hawks.

 

And if they did call them, O'Neal, being the champion player he is, would just find another way to gain an advantage like he does now. It's kind of like the whinging Formula 1 fans wanting rules to be applied to stop Ferrari.

Anyway, another win to the Lakers and another to night from Bryant. And Karl Malone held to nothing by Seattle. The excuse being "illness"... and a gruelling opening schedule... but Malone to his credit took nothing away from the Sonics performance.