2006 / 2007 NBA Thread

[Cowboy22]

Utah finally lost. Damn you Vince Carter!

[svosen]

Actually, now that you bring it up, I don't know that I even know what Chris Paul looks like. I don't think I've ever seen him play.

Lakers sucked it up last night until about 5 minutes left in the 4th. If they'd have brought that level of intensity to start the game, it might have actually been a game. As it was, they never really stood a chance. Overall, it was a crappy game from them. I really don't think Lamar and Kobe will ever work well together, regardless of how well they get along off the court (word is they've become good friends, especially since the death of Odom's son).

And Odom's little tyraid/ejection wasn't too impressive, either.

The Piston's zone totally befuddled the Lakers. I'm disappointed that Jackson didn't make adjustments to handle it. And I don't see why he played Bynum so little. They really needed to pound the ball inside, and instead they just passed and shot on the perimeter...

Makes me mad when I stay up late to watch them, and that's all the better they play. Grrr....

[Cowboy22]

You really have to see him play to believe it, he's incredible, especially for being so young. Barring some sort of injury, he's on pace to be one of the best point guards of all time. I don't blame you for having never seen him, they hardly ever get any sort of press. Hopefully, now that they're playing pretty well that changes, because more people need a chance to see Chris Paul. This genereation of stars (him, LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Carmelo, Howard) has me so excited for the future of the league, I can't think of a time with more great, young talent.

I didn't see a whole lot of the Lakers game, but I agree that they didn't look too good. They've been great so far this year, so that caught me by surprise.

[svosen]

I didn't watch the Cavs/Celtics game, but it sounds like it was a doozy at the end. Probably not a nice atmosphere in the Celts locker room following that.

[svosen]

Looks like Shaq is going to have to make the proclamation this year: "I am the Big Decline." Yoa handed him his lunch the other night.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow night's Spurs/Rockets game. That should be a good indicator of how the far the Rockets can go this year (assuming, of course, that McGrady holds up).

[Cowboy22]

He's been the Big Decline for awhile now. Since his last year in LA really. Yao's probably the best pure center in the league (Duncan would be, but he likes to pretend that he's a power forward), so him kicking Shaq's ass isn't all that surprising. Even when Yao was new to the league and Shaq was killing everybody Yao always played him surprisingly well.

I didn't see the Cavs/Celtics game you mentioned earlier, what happened?

[svosen]

I didn't see the Cavs/Celts game either - just read about it. Apparently the Cavs were down by 25 with just over 10 minutes left in the game. LeBron led a massive comeback, and the Cavs won by a point. I figured you'd be all over that one...

I know Shaq's been going downhill for awhile now. I'm just saying that this may be the year he is finally forced to admit it (to himself, at least, if not publicly).

[svosen]

Now he's the Big DNP. Knee surgery required, reportedly. Out "4 to 6 weeks." Read: "will be in terrible condition for the end of the season."

Also, the Knicks absolutely put down the Heat tonight: 100 to 76. Ouch.

Cavs won their 5th straight. Looks like the Pistons are gonna squeak one past the Wiz. Lakers yet to play tonight.

[Cowboy22]

Yeah I saw that too. That team is a mess. I'm already regretting picking them to have the best record in the East.

Cavs looked really good tonight, although the Wolves aren't exactly a great team. LeBron was his usual awesome self. It's insane that he puts up 37, 9, and 6 and my response is basically to shrug and say "yep, sounds pretty typical."

Saw a bit of the Piston's game. They've seemed a bit off this year, but they looked okay tonight.

Utah won and is now 8-1. I'm totally shocked by this team, I seriously thought they'd be terrible. Kirilenko has been hurt the last few weeks, and wasn't playing all that well anyway, and they've still looked great. I knew they had some talent and potential, but I thought it was about a year too early for them. The young guys have really stepped things up. Brewer and Millsap both have shown flashes of their ability, and Deron Williams has improved so much this year, it's unreal. He's going to be a great point for them down the road. But the real key is that front line. Boozer and Okur is about as good a center and power forward combo as you'll find, and when AK-47 get's back, it can only get better. I legitimately excited about a Utah team for the first time since Stockton left.

[svosen]

No small coincidence that an ex-champion Laker is playing with them...