NBA 2012-2013 Discussion, keep it classy

[volleygirl]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

Seriously, off the bench, playing the guard position, and ends up with double digits rebounds. The dude knows where and when to be on the basketball court.

However, I still prefer him over Russell Westbrook. (I know it's not much of a choice)

You would take JR Smith over Westbrook? I would take Westbrook over him anyday amd it isnt even close.

[jamesblakefan#1]

The level of discussion has fallen off significantly. Seriously, let's get this back on track.

-Westbrook >>>>>>>>>>>> JR Smith, and this may be the worst question ever asked.

-I don't care how many trick shots Ellis can hit, he's still an inefficient shoot-first chucker and I'd take Curry over him 10/10 times. (and we see where GS went with Ellis as main guy vs Curry as main guy)

-Ibaka will probably get a game for that nut shot and should've been ejected.

[Fifth Set]

Originally Posted by volleygirl

You would take JR Smith over Westbrook? I would take Westbrook over him anyday amd it isnt even close.

+1. They do play a different position but Westbrook can play either the point or shooting guard better than JR. JR is impressive when he's hot, but is a horrible decision maker.

A new fan of JR's in NY would be well advised to watch the Denver-Lakers Western finals series from a few years back. JR basically cost us a pivotal game in the series by blowing his top for no good reason, getting a technical and killing the team's momentum at a key point in the second half. It was a train wreck.

Strange that some New Yorkers are getting so excited about what is basically an East Coast version of the Nuggets - fun in the regular season but not capable of winning a title. Sad that the NBA is so black and white, but it is.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by volleygirl

You would take JR Smith over Westbrook? I would take Westbrook over him anyday amd it isnt even close.

I would take JR Smith only because he's slightly better at being a teammate, and is probably less disruptive of the two in my opinion.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

By the way, is Kobe really 34 years old? He's still dunking on fools left and right.

[jamesblakefan#1]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

I would take JR Smith only because he's slightly better at being a teammate, and is probably less disruptive of the two in my opinion.

Better at being a teammate? In what way? Certainly not with passing since Westbrook avg 8 APG (and 7 for his career) vs JR 2.7 (and 2.1 for his career.)

Anyone that knows my history knows I'm not a RW fan at all, but to say you'd take JR "chucker" Smith over him is just plain ********. Didn't JR just go 3-14 3pt yesterday? STOP SHOOTING! It's easy to get rebs when you're missing ALL OF THE TIME! Seriously, this may be the dumbest opinion I've seen this whole thread.

Only thing JR may be better at is 3pt shooting, but even there Westbrook is more efficient a shooter than JR ever has been. He is what he is, a streaky inconsistent shooter who works well as a 6th man but is nowhere close to what Westbrook is as a player.

BTW Smith avg 3 RPG career so using these 2 outlier performances as basis for him being some elite SG is just ******** as well.

[Power Player]

Westbrook is a proven elite top 5 PG. His first step is possibly manufactured by Zeus. It's not even close, I go with R West.

Was thinking about top PGs and how it can be a little liquid. For example, D williams was a no brainer top 3 PG just 2 years ago. Now he is barely top 10.

I already have Erving as a top 5 guy. Just nasty. And then you can't forget about Tony Parker who is arguably playing the best right now.

PG is just so key..unless you are the Heat and then LBJ is basically your PG. LBJ is one of the best passers I have ever seen. I have always compared him to Magic Johnson. His game seems closer to that than the Jordan comparisons.imo.

[hollywood9826]

My worst probalem with Westbrook is how he still makes dumb decsions sometimes. He cant be counted on as a #1 guy. As a number 2 guy he is great. If Durant ever gets more agresive in being the dominant scorer maybe the Westbrook will shine and OKC will roll poeple.

But Smith cant be a #1 or a #2 guy. If smith is the best or 2d best player on your tem you are assured of getting a 6-8 seed and getting bounced in the 1st rd. Westbrook is better than that.

I think westbrook is good enough to carry

[tennismonkey]

JR took 14 (!!!) 3-pointers yesterday. made 3 of em. if he makes just 2 more or better yet doesn't take them and the knicks take better shots - knicks probably win the game. his 4 turnovers including the nail in the coffin in the final minute doesn't help either.

westbrook still makes dumb mistakes but it's clear that he's learning. he takes less dumb shots and is doing a better job dishing the ball.

westbrook is JR smith with a half a brain.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/3/5...kers-teammates

Another reason why Dwight Howard needs a PR lesson...

I'm sure a lot of the stuff was taken out of context. But still, I can't think of a good way to ever use "a bunch of guys nobody wanted."

[Power Player]

LOL..dwight just thrashed ORL with that. He needs more than PR skills, he needs life lessons really. Granted the Orlando team was not amazing, but to say that "nobody wanted" any of them is pretty foolish. Pretty sure JJ Redick will have a nice laugh if he reads that one.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by Power Player

LOL..dwight just thrashed ORL with that. He needs more than PR skills, he needs life lessons really. Granted the Orlando team was not amazing, but to say that "nobody wanted" any of them is pretty foolish. Pretty sure JJ Redick will have a nice laugh if he reads that one.

JJ Redick is probably mad at Dwight Howard, his trade value would have gone up if Dwight Howard could kick the ball back out more, instead of traveling and getting offense charges left and right in the paint.

[Power Player]

I'm just glad it is over and we are loading up on good young players. This Tobias Harris guy is awesome. LA fans now get their dwightmare this summer. He is already doing the "im here now" nonsense.

[tennismonkey]

is dwight the least liked player in the league now or does lebron still hold that title?

[Disgruntled Worker]

Originally Posted by tennismonkey

is dwight the least liked player in the league now or does lebron still hold that title?

LeBron is disliked because his team's are always title contenders and it rubs the envious the wrong way. ESPN's constant exposure doesn't help either. Dwight Howard is disliked for the same reason Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony are disliked (by some). They wanted a trade - after doing NOTHING for their original franchises - and they haven't delivered. Howard's case is especially egregious because he did it DURING the Magic's season as opposed to LBJ, CP3 and Melo who at least had the decency to wait for the off-season.

[tennismonkey]

i'm not so sure lebron, melo, CP3, d-will ever threw their teammates and/or coach under the bus though. so there's that too.

[jamesblakefan#1]

Originally Posted by Disgruntled Worker

LeBron is disliked because his team's are always title contenders and it rubs the envious the wrong way. ESPN's constant exposure doesn't help either. Dwight Howard is disliked for the same reason Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony are disliked (by some). They wanted a trade - after doing NOTHING for their original franchises - and they haven't delivered. Howard's case is especially egregious because he did it DURING the Magic's season as opposed to LBJ, CP3 and Melo who at least had the decency to wait for the off-season.

Melo was traded during the season too. And saying Melo/CP3 did nothing for Denver/NO is a bit much.

Lest we forget, NONE of these guys is the first to ask for a trade, nor is asking for a trade in and of itself enough to be hated IMO.

Dwight's jumped the shark the past year, I don't have anything positive to say about him. Totally crybaby drama queen, and has surpassed LBJ as most hated on IMO.

[LeeD]

JR Smith almost equals Monta Ellis, but Ellis is more physical, quicker, faster, but can't shoot quite as well.....

[Disgruntled Worker]

Originally Posted by jamesblakefan#1

Melo was traded during the season too. And saying Melo/CP3 did nothing for Denver/NO is a bit much.

Lest we forget, NONE of these guys is the first to ask for a trade, nor is asking for a trade in and of itself enough to be hated IMO.

Dwight's jumped the shark the past year, I don't have anything positive to say about him. Totally crybaby drama queen, and has surpassed LBJ as most hated on IMO.

Of course there's nothing wrong with asking for a trade. Kevin Garnett played for 13 season in Minesotta before getting the call from Danny Ainge. Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Clyde Drexler and Chuck ALL tried winning with other teams. But these were established players that tried winning for their own franchises before giving up and going to South Beach. I think what LeBron did was a total d!ck move. And I'm glad Cleveland got Kyrie Irving. But LBJ got his team to the Finals and made them the best regular season team in the NBA two years in a row!

And of course Melo and CP3 did stuff for the Nuggets and Hornets. But neither ever made their teams legitimate title contenders like LeBron did. And as a matter of fact, it wasn't until the Nuggets traded for Chauncey Billups in 2007 that the Nuggets even made it out of the first round! Melo averaged significantly less during the 07-08 than in previous years by the way.

[jamesblakefan#1]

Originally Posted by Disgruntled Worker

Of course there's nothing wrong with asking for a trade. Kevin Garnett played for 13 season in Minesotta before getting the call from Danny Ainge. Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Clyde Drexler and Chuck ALL tried winning with other teams. But these were established players that tried winning for their own franchises before giving up and going to South Beach. I think what LeBron did was a total d!ck move. And I'm glad Cleveland got Kyrie Irving. But LBJ got his team to the Finals and made them the best regular season team in the NBA two years in a row!

And of course Melo and CP3 did stuff for the Nuggets and Hornets. But neither ever made their teams legitimate title contenders like LeBron did. And as a matter of fact, it wasn't until the Nuggets traded for Chauncey Billups in 2007 that the Nuggets even made it out of the first round! Melo averaged significantly less during the 07-08 than in previous years by the way.

NO didn't surround Paul with a legit #2 his entire time there. He did all that was asked of him really before getting traded. Plus NO had to trade him since he was going to be a FA after this season anyways and would likely leave. So instead of leaving and getting nothing in return, they got solid picks and young talent, though Gordon has proven to be injury prone and a flake.

LeBron was a Free Agent, he had free reign to go where he wanted and owed Cleveland nothing. The more time goes on the less harsh I feel about him leaving Cleveland. He never asked to be traded. He played out his contract and left on his own.

Melo was also approaching FA I think, and it's not like Denver got nothing in return for him. They probably pulled the biggest return of all of these teams with solid pieces (Gallo, Chandler, Mozgov) that could yield them better results than the Melo-led teams did.

tl;dr. It's hard for me to feel any sort of ill will towards a guy that asks for a trade respectfully or plays out his contract before leaving. Have no respect for guys that pout, are drama queens, etc (Dwight).