Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
Lmaaaaoooooo
Lmaaaaoooooo
~*~2013 NBA Season Thread - Playoff Are Here ~*~
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Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
All I see is you poppin off shit like Rico I. Paid I. Full
You're a funny guy
Ima step right now
But ima see u later faggit
6>0
U niggas won 4 division titles
Win the division first and maybe I might write a paragraph towards you
And u stupid nets fan faggit we have our amnesty still
We can drop nights like flies like its nothing
See u Christmas faggit
U don't even go to the games
Smh I been to more BK games than you
At least Beatdownrecs stay in Brooklyn
U Texas faggit
Yes keep em coming faggitLook here lil Nigga (when I say lil nigga I am referring to you being a young nigga not knowing shit and you being the same height as 13 year old)
Rose and Noah locked in your right. Jimmy Bird rights don't mean shit you stupid ass chief keef listening midget ass muthafucka. Bird rights just mean you can go over to sign a player who bird rights you have.
You won't have Durant bird rights you bird chest, fake ass javale mcgee looking, working at foot locker muthafucka. Rockets have to renounce the rights to how many players just to be in play for Dwight??????
You were right about one thing there will be a new CBA. You think it will be better???Look here you faggot ass nigga that take pictures of other niggaz while they sleeping, you instagram faggit, who needs to sit on phone books so he can see a hockey game bitch. The new CBA will be worst.
Oh Proky will be voted out?? Maybe you didn't see what the new Commish said about Proky.
There you go trick. Instead of tweeting about Beyonce new hairstyle like a gossiping bitch learn about what your team can do and can't do. You bird chest muthafucka.
Only time you are require to say something when someone ask you "Yo man you have these in a size 12?"
All I see is you poppin off shit like Rico I. Paid I. Full
You're a funny guy
Ima step right now
But ima see u later faggit
6>0
U niggas won 4 division titles
Win the division first and maybe I might write a paragraph towards you
And u stupid nets fan faggit we have our amnesty still
We can drop nights like flies like its nothing
See u Christmas faggit
U don't even go to the games
Smh I been to more BK games than you
At least Beatdownrecs stay in Brooklyn
U Texas faggit
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
Straight spankin
DAYUMM KILLA!!!!...
Straight spankin
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
Yo Shaddy "you want"
Anthony Tolliver Receives Interest From Bobcats, Bulls, Jazz
Aug 09, 2013 11:00 AM EDT
Anthony Tolliver has been offered a one-year deal by the Charlotte Bobcats at the veteran's minimum.
Tolliver has also received interest from the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz.
Tolliver spent last season with the Atlanta Hawks.
Via Rick Bonnell/Charlotte Observer
Yo Shaddy "you want"
Anthony Tolliver Receives Interest From Bobcats, Bulls, Jazz
Aug 09, 2013 11:00 AM EDT
Anthony Tolliver has been offered a one-year deal by the Charlotte Bobcats at the veteran's minimum.
Tolliver has also received interest from the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz.
Tolliver spent last season with the Atlanta Hawks.
Via Rick Bonnell/Charlotte Observer
Look here lil Nigga (when I say lil nigga I am referring to you being a young nigga not knowing shit and you being the same height as 13 year old)
Rose and Noah locked in your right. Jimmy Bird rights don't mean shit you stupid ass chief keef listening midget ass muthafucka. Bird rights just mean you can go over to sign a player who bird rights you have.
You won't have Durant bird rights you bird chest, fake ass javale mcgee looking, working at foot locker muthafucka. Rockets have to renounce the rights to how many players just to be in play for Dwight??????
You were right about one thing there will be a new CBA. You think it will be better???
Oh Proky will be voted out?? Maybe you didn't see what the new Commish said about Proky.
There you go trick. Instead of tweeting about Beyonce new hairstyle like a gossiping bitch learn about what your team can do and can't do. You bird chest muthafucka.
Only time you are require to say something when someone ask you "Yo man you have these in a size 12?"[/QUOTE.
Thank u -I just don't have the energy to go back n forth with the lil nigga - you would think ppl would stick to facts - kd - roc nation kd ? To Chicago lol rose will be the only superstar to play for that time for the next 5-10 yrs trust that
Chicago will get a championship trophy when cam and them get another gold album -
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
Ayo honestly
The nets are a doormat in the Atlantic division
A fucking doormat
4 division titles in they history
No nba titles
Even the fucking mavericks have a title
Ayo honestly
The nets are a doormat in the Atlantic division
A fucking doormat
4 division titles in they history
No nba titles
Even the fucking mavericks have a title
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
lol a doormat-
how many teams havent even been to the finals ?
memphis never went if im correct and cavs went ,
nets went twice,
got blown out but they went
i get it u hate nets - and chicago is the greatest team ever
say something new-- you sounding like a broken record
CHICAGO -- It has taken Derrick Rose more than a year to recover from the physical effects of a torn ACL in his knee, but his mentality appears to be in midseason form.
SportsNation: Derrick Rose says he's best
SportsNation Derrick Rose named himself when asked who is the NBAs best player. Do you agree? How do you feel when players make such statements? Cast your votes!
When asked by CNN's Pedro Pinto in an interview who the best player in the NBA is right now, the former MVP did not hesitate with his answer.
"Derrick Rose," the 24-year-old said confidently.
The fact that Rose responded that way won't surprise those close to him. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau and general manager Gar Forman both said recently that the star point guard is feeling great and is ready to start the season.
"There will be an adjustment period, but I'm not anticipating there being any problems," Thibodeau, in an interview with ESPNChicago.com last week during the Las Vegas Summer League, said of getting Rose back into the swing of things during the preseason. "His overall strength is terrific. He's put a lot of work into his body. I know he's anxious to get out there and play. He's played some pickup but not a lot, but he feels great, and that's the most important thing."
Thibodeau also noted that Rose likely would play the regular starters' minutes during the preseason.
More On The Bulls
Can't get enough NBA news and notes? ESPNChicago.com has all the latest on the Chicago Bulls. Blog
"We'll see once we get to training camp, and we're going to have an opportunity to get some work done in the fall, but we have to keep in mind he's been out an extended amount of time," Thibodeau said. "So the preseason -- and we look at training camp as the entire month, not just a week -- we'll move him along accordingly. We'll see what he can handle. I think there's going to be some rust initially, but I fully expect him to get back to [being] the player we all know that he is."
There's obviously no doubt in Rose's mind that he can return to being that player. Rose did acknowledge in the CNN interview that the toughest person to guard in the league is four-time MVP and two-time NBA champion LeBron James.
"I would have to say LeBron," Rose said. "A 6-foot-8 guy that's 250 [pounds]. What do you think?"
lol a doormat-
how many teams havent even been to the finals ?
memphis never went if im correct and cavs went ,
nets went twice,
got blown out but they went
i get it u hate nets - and chicago is the greatest team ever
say something new-- you sounding like a broken record
CHICAGO -- It has taken Derrick Rose more than a year to recover from the physical effects of a torn ACL in his knee, but his mentality appears to be in midseason form.
SportsNation: Derrick Rose says he's best
SportsNation Derrick Rose named himself when asked who is the NBAs best player. Do you agree? How do you feel when players make such statements? Cast your votes!
When asked by CNN's Pedro Pinto in an interview who the best player in the NBA is right now, the former MVP did not hesitate with his answer.
"Derrick Rose," the 24-year-old said confidently.
The fact that Rose responded that way won't surprise those close to him. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau and general manager Gar Forman both said recently that the star point guard is feeling great and is ready to start the season.
"There will be an adjustment period, but I'm not anticipating there being any problems," Thibodeau, in an interview with ESPNChicago.com last week during the Las Vegas Summer League, said of getting Rose back into the swing of things during the preseason. "His overall strength is terrific. He's put a lot of work into his body. I know he's anxious to get out there and play. He's played some pickup but not a lot, but he feels great, and that's the most important thing."
Thibodeau also noted that Rose likely would play the regular starters' minutes during the preseason.
More On The Bulls
Can't get enough NBA news and notes? ESPNChicago.com has all the latest on the Chicago Bulls. Blog
"We'll see once we get to training camp, and we're going to have an opportunity to get some work done in the fall, but we have to keep in mind he's been out an extended amount of time," Thibodeau said. "So the preseason -- and we look at training camp as the entire month, not just a week -- we'll move him along accordingly. We'll see what he can handle. I think there's going to be some rust initially, but I fully expect him to get back to [being] the player we all know that he is."
There's obviously no doubt in Rose's mind that he can return to being that player. Rose did acknowledge in the CNN interview that the toughest person to guard in the league is four-time MVP and two-time NBA champion LeBron James.
"I would have to say LeBron," Rose said. "A 6-foot-8 guy that's 250 [pounds]. What do you think?"
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
Portland wants to deal LaMarcus to Houston for Asisk and two first round picks
CBS Zach Harper reporting
Houston has the best trading chip. An expendable double double big man
Portland wants to deal LaMarcus to Houston for Asisk and two first round picks
CBS Zach Harper reporting
Houston has the best trading chip. An expendable double double big man
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
Portland wants to deal LaMarcus to Houston for Asisk and two first round picks
CBS Zach Harper reporting
Houston has the best trading chip. An expendable double double big man
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
listening to CBS radio show.
Portland is being patient because LaMarcus isn't being an asshole and going to the media but Portland realize that the Bulls are not giving up Noah, Clippers are not giving up Blake and T-wolves are not giving up Love so now their options are low.
Best move trade LaMarcus for a defensive mind center like Asisk. Problem is Houston can deal him any time. The Hornets are interested in Asisk and Monty Williams wants him.
He also says Portland realizes if they do this trade they are creating a super team in their own conference but this could be the best offer they can get
listening to CBS radio show.
Portland is being patient because LaMarcus isn't being an asshole and going to the media but Portland realize that the Bulls are not giving up Noah, Clippers are not giving up Blake and T-wolves are not giving up Love so now their options are low.
Best move trade LaMarcus for a defensive mind center like Asisk. Problem is Houston can deal him any time. The Hornets are interested in Asisk and Monty Williams wants him.
He also says Portland realizes if they do this trade they are creating a super team in their own conference but this could be the best offer they can get
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
People aren't going to want to buy into it but if you put Aldridge on the Rockets they can make a run to the finals
He is the type of 4 you need playing next to Dwight, he isn't a 3 point shooter but he can operate on that high post while Dwight is on the low post
Combine that with Harden and you have a young team that you have to respect
People aren't going to want to buy into it but if you put Aldridge on the Rockets they can make a run to the finals
He is the type of 4 you need playing next to Dwight, he isn't a 3 point shooter but he can operate on that high post while Dwight is on the low post
Combine that with Harden and you have a young team that you have to respect
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
If Houston gets L.A.... They will have a LEGIT... Big 3...
If Houston gets L.A.... They will have a LEGIT... Big 3...
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
Legit as fuck
If Houston gets L.A.... They will have a LEGIT... Big 3...
Legit as fuck
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
Ayo guess what team let asik walk for nothing
If he gets traded for LA I'm done with the bulls
Portland wants to deal LaMarcus to Houston for Asisk and two first round picks
CBS Zach Harper reporting
Houston has the best trading chip. An expendable double double big man
Ayo guess what team let asik walk for nothing
If he gets traded for LA I'm done with the bulls
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
If that happens I will personally shank Gar and Jerry
If that happens I will personally shank Gar and Jerry
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
What's crazy is Houston feels come deadline they will be able to package Lin with Asisk.
Portland wants to package Matthews contract with L.A. the thunder are interested in Wes. They lack scoring off the bench now.
Question is will Dwight want Aldridge
What's crazy is Houston feels come deadline they will be able to package Lin with Asisk.
Portland wants to package Matthews contract with L.A. the thunder are interested in Wes. They lack scoring off the bench now.
Question is will Dwight want Aldridge
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
Sources: Ronnie Brewer to Rockets
The Houston Rockets have agreed to terms with free-agent guard Ronnie Brewer, according to sources with knowledge of the deal.
Sources told ESPN.com that the Rockets struck an agreement Monday on a two-year partially guaranteed deal with the defensive specialist, who played for the New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder last season.
Houston has been filling out its bench with a variety of bargain signings since winning last month's Dwight Howard sweepstakes. Oklahoma City acquired Brewer from the Knicks at the trade deadline but played him sparingly, using him in only one playoff game.
Sources: Ronnie Brewer to Rockets
The Houston Rockets have agreed to terms with free-agent guard Ronnie Brewer, according to sources with knowledge of the deal.
Sources told ESPN.com that the Rockets struck an agreement Monday on a two-year partially guaranteed deal with the defensive specialist, who played for the New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder last season.
Houston has been filling out its bench with a variety of bargain signings since winning last month's Dwight Howard sweepstakes. Oklahoma City acquired Brewer from the Knicks at the trade deadline but played him sparingly, using him in only one playoff game.
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
Solid pickup
They needed some perimeter defense
Solid pickup
They needed some perimeter defense
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
Dam, how did I not hear about this. This needs to happen! I still don't know why people think the Rockets are gonna keep Asik when so many teams could use him as a starting center. He should already have his shit packed because I predict by the end of October, he'll be traded
Portland wants to deal LaMarcus to Houston for Asisk and two first round picks
CBS Zach Harper reporting
Houston has the best trading chip. An expendable double double big man
Dam, how did I not hear about this. This needs to happen! I still don't know why people think the Rockets are gonna keep Asik when so many teams could use him as a starting center. He should already have his shit packed because I predict by the end of October, he'll be traded
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
How come we couldn't trade Ronnie for shit?
How come we couldn't trade Ronnie for shit?
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
Man dude shit was packed soon as they went after Dwight. Dude aint trying to stay in H-Town and play the backup role(even tho they're trying to sell DW12 and him playing together).
Man dude shit was packed soon as they went after Dwight. Dude aint trying to stay in H-Town and play the backup role(even tho they're trying to sell DW12 and him playing together).
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
The rockets need a a 4 that can extend the D out to the 3pt line. Don't know how much Dwight post game will improve this season but it's good to have some help if Dwight gets doubled. LA is a good face up shooter with a nice post game & solid rebounder but I'll just perfer a shooter. If by some chance Houston gets LA they may look like what the Lakers would have with two dominant bigs and a star wing player.
Solid perimeter pickup for Houston. I don't know what the fuck OKC is doing. They have no depth on their roster. They really need to make some pickups. Jamison would be a good pickup to stretch the D, Daniel Gibson, Rip hamilton, Barbosa, Dahntay Jones are guys that can help them. Ibaka needs to develop a post game & Lamb needs to have a break out season.
The rockets need a a 4 that can extend the D out to the 3pt line. Don't know how much Dwight post game will improve this season but it's good to have some help if Dwight gets doubled. LA is a good face up shooter with a nice post game & solid rebounder but I'll just perfer a shooter. If by some chance Houston gets LA they may look like what the Lakers would have with two dominant bigs and a star wing player.
Solid perimeter pickup for Houston. I don't know what the fuck OKC is doing. They have no depth on their roster. They really need to make some pickups. Jamison would be a good pickup to stretch the D, Daniel Gibson, Rip hamilton, Barbosa, Dahntay Jones are guys that can help them. Ibaka needs to develop a post game & Lamb needs to have a break out season.
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
Clippers agree to sign Antawn Jamison to one-year deal
The Clippers have agreed to sign free-agent forward Antawn Jamison to a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract, according to ESPNLA.com and the Los Angeles Times.
Jamison, 37, joins the Clippers after spending one year with the crosstown Lakers, where he averaged 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in 21.5 minutes off the bench. The versatile forward, who was selected fourth in the 1998 draft, shot 46.4 percent and posted a Player Efficiency Rating of 15.3.
One of the NBA’s oldest players, Jamison will join a Clippers big-man rotation that includes All-Star forward Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Byron Mullens and Ryan Hollins. Still a capable scorer who can play either forward position, Jamison’s defensive limitations are well-established, to say the least. Jamison underwent surgery on his right wrist in April, but ESPNLA.com reports that he will be good to go for training camp in the fall.
The move amounts to a do-over for Jamison, who thought he was hopping aboard a Lakers team with championship aspirations last year. Instead, the Lakers’ campaign ended with a first-round sweep, and now he gets a second chance with an upgraded Clippers roster aiming to defend its Pacific Division title under new coach Doc Rivers. With Lamar Odom on the outs amid reports of off-court issues, adding Jamison makes sense, especially at the minimum price tag.
Jamison holds averages of 18.8 points and 4.8 rebounds during a 15-year career that includes stops with the Warriors, Wizards, Cavaliers and Lakers,
Clippers agree to sign Antawn Jamison to one-year deal
The Clippers have agreed to sign free-agent forward Antawn Jamison to a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract, according to ESPNLA.com and the Los Angeles Times.
Jamison, 37, joins the Clippers after spending one year with the crosstown Lakers, where he averaged 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in 21.5 minutes off the bench. The versatile forward, who was selected fourth in the 1998 draft, shot 46.4 percent and posted a Player Efficiency Rating of 15.3.
One of the NBA’s oldest players, Jamison will join a Clippers big-man rotation that includes All-Star forward Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Byron Mullens and Ryan Hollins. Still a capable scorer who can play either forward position, Jamison’s defensive limitations are well-established, to say the least. Jamison underwent surgery on his right wrist in April, but ESPNLA.com reports that he will be good to go for training camp in the fall.
The move amounts to a do-over for Jamison, who thought he was hopping aboard a Lakers team with championship aspirations last year. Instead, the Lakers’ campaign ended with a first-round sweep, and now he gets a second chance with an upgraded Clippers roster aiming to defend its Pacific Division title under new coach Doc Rivers. With Lamar Odom on the outs amid reports of off-court issues, adding Jamison makes sense, especially at the minimum price tag.
Jamison holds averages of 18.8 points and 4.8 rebounds during a 15-year career that includes stops with the Warriors, Wizards, Cavaliers and Lakers,
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
Michael Beasley, former No. 2 overall pick, waived by Suns
The Phoenix Suns have released former No. 2 overall draft pick Michael Beasley, the team announced Tuesday.
The news comes less than one month after Beasley was arrested on suspicion of marijuana possession.
"The Suns were devoted to Michael Beasley's success in Phoenix," Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said in a statement. "However, it is essential that we demand the highest standards of personal and professional conduct as we develop a championship culture. Today's action reflects our commitment to those standards. The timing and nature of this, and all of our transactions, are based on the judgment of our Basketball leadership as to how best to achieve our singular goal of rebuilding an elite team."
Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough also alluded to the arrest last month.
"We have high standards for all of our players. We expect them to represent the team and the community in a positive manner both on and off the court."
Beasley, who has underwhelmed since entering the league in the 2008 NBA Draft, is coming off a career-low season with the Suns -- 10.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He's signed to a three-year, $18 million contract that still has two years remaining. The team must pay a portion of the $12 million still owed but can do it over the course of multiple seasons and without a salary cap impact.
Michael Beasley, former No. 2 overall pick, waived by Suns
The Phoenix Suns have released former No. 2 overall draft pick Michael Beasley, the team announced Tuesday.
The news comes less than one month after Beasley was arrested on suspicion of marijuana possession.
"The Suns were devoted to Michael Beasley's success in Phoenix," Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said in a statement. "However, it is essential that we demand the highest standards of personal and professional conduct as we develop a championship culture. Today's action reflects our commitment to those standards. The timing and nature of this, and all of our transactions, are based on the judgment of our Basketball leadership as to how best to achieve our singular goal of rebuilding an elite team."
Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough also alluded to the arrest last month.
"We have high standards for all of our players. We expect them to represent the team and the community in a positive manner both on and off the court."
Beasley, who has underwhelmed since entering the league in the 2008 NBA Draft, is coming off a career-low season with the Suns -- 10.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He's signed to a three-year, $18 million contract that still has two years remaining. The team must pay a portion of the $12 million still owed but can do it over the course of multiple seasons and without a salary cap impact.
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
Send him back to Miami ad let Lebron start at the 4
Rio
3
Beas
Lebron
Bosh
Send him back to Miami ad let Lebron start at the 4
Rio
3
Beas
Lebron
Bosh
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
Damn Shaddy you channeled your inner Nostradamus...
Damn Shaddy you channeled your inner Nostradamus...
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - Amnesty period & contact signings 7/10~*~
LeBron James, Heat are NBA's training camp targets...
LeBron James is on top of the NBA. Can anyone knock him off?
In this time of underrated parity in the NBA, it was already no secret that the Miami Heat hunt was about to start with the opening of training camp this week.
In this time of underrated parity in the NBA, it was already no secret that the Miami Heat hunt was about to start with the opening of training camp this week.
THE HEAT CHECK BEGINS
As if the historical context alone isn't daunting enough for the Heat — no team has won three consecutive titles since the Los Angeles Lakers more than 11 years ago and no team has been in four consecutive Finals since the Boston Celtics in the mid-1980s — nearly every contender beneath them spent the offseason upping the ante.
But on the long list of challengers, the Indiana Pacers might top the list. After putting a seven-game scare in the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, the re-signing of dangerous power forward David West, health of high-scoring swingman Danny Granger and addition of savvy post scorer Luis Scola means they're coming even harder this time. Scoring was one of the Pacers' few weaknesses last season, when they ranked 19th in offensive efficiency during the regular season (101.6 points per 100 possessions) and were 10th among the 16 teams in the postseason (101.3).
Yet even with the fortification of the frontcourt, the Pacers' push will come down to Paul George and his ability to rise to the next level — again. The small forward who went from midmajor Fresno State to a five-year, maximum-level deal in three years is fully capable of becoming an even bigger pain in James' side, what with his two-way talents that are among the best in the game.
The Pacers aren't alone in the East, though. The New York Knicks, with J.R. Smith back in the fold and Carmelo Anthony still on the prowl, remain a threat. The Chicago Bulls will finally have Derrick Rose again after he missed all of last season with after knee surgery. The all-or-nothing Brooklyn Nets are looking to win more than just the battle for New York, with all the credibility owner Mikhail Prokhorov could hope for (35 All-Star appearances and three championship rings combined between new coach Jason Kidd and new players Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett) and a window of opportunity that they know is already closing.
THREATS COME FROM WEST
The already-dangerous Houston Rockets won the offseason by luring free agent big man Dwight Howard away from the Lakers, but they may only be the fifth or sixth best team in the Western Conference. And if any team's offseason splashes had all the signs of a precursor to June prominence, it was the Clippers'.
With Chris Paul re-signing for a five-year max deal and the swapping of Vinny Del Negro for Doc Rivers as head coach, the two most uncertain components of the Clippers' equation are no more. Paul is in Los Angeles for the long haul, and now he, Blake Griffin and company have an elite coach. That was a quiet issue all along for the Clippers after they landed Paul back in December 2011, this sense that — even as they won a franchise-record 56 games last season before falling to Memphis in the first round — the ongoing upgrades in on-court talent meant they would eventually need to do the same with the coach. The additions of Jared Dudley, J.J. Redick and Darren Collison, along with the re-signing of Matt Barnes, mean they will remain one of the league's deepest and most dangerous teams.
The reigning conference champion San Antonio Spurs are, once again, still the same old Spurs after re-signing Manu Ginobili. It's the same story with the grit-and-grind Memphis Grizzlies, who have a new coach (Dave Joerger) but the same principles and potential. The Thunder lost their third scorer, Kevin Martin, to the Minnesota Timberwolves in free agency and may not have point guard Russell Westbrook at the start of the season as he continues to recover from his April meniscus tear. But rest assured Durant is coming back determined, and Oklahoma City will be there near the end.
The surprising Golden State Warriors team that upset the Denver Nuggets in the first round poured salt in that wound by stealing a star, free agent small forward Andre Iguodala, during the summer. The list goes on ...
HEAT BRING CHAMPIONSHIP SWAGGER
For all the Heat's offseason headlines — they re-signed Chris Andersen, added injury-ravaged big man Greg Oden and brought back former No. 2 draft pick Michael Beasley — the only question that matters is if Wade and forward Chris Bosh can convince James they still have what it takes to be a superteam. All three players have the ability to become free agents next summer, and James will surely be intrigued by other destinations if the Heat can't repeat (a reunion with the Cleveland Cavaliers or life with the Lakers top the list of possibilities).
Wade is setting the right tone with his me-against-the-world approach, not only by sending that note to Durant, who was his 2012 Finals foe, that he needed to "Make (Durant) respect your place in history…again," but also by cutting weight and coming in healthier than he was all of last season, when he battled constant knee problems. The competitive pride and an old-school rivalry between stars are good for the game no matter who's on top, but the Heat are well aware: All comers are coming.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
The first set of the league's media days begin today, and they may as well include a spot for coaches and players to mingle on the circuit with all the introductions that are in order. This was a record-setting summer for coaching changes, with 13 in all from last season and another eight changes in the general manager ranks (not to mention the return of Larry Bird to Indiana as team president).
That means the process of creating a productive culture starts now, with the regular season just a month away and no handicap given in the standings for teams that need more time to build rapport. Among the non-contenders, the Boston Celtics' Brad Stevens is the one to watch when it comes to coaching experiments. The former whiz kid from Butler was a shocking hire back in early July, and his ability to click with always-prickly point guard Rajon Rondo when he returns from the knee ligament tear suffered in late January will be key as their rebuild begins.
WHICH STARS WILL TRULY BE BACK?
There's being back, and then there's truly being back.
Will Kobe Bryant return from his April Achilles tendon tear this season? Absolutely. But will he regain the same impressive form that was on display last season as he continued ignoring Father Time? The odds are against it. Will Westbrook play again this season after his devastating injury in the first game of the playoffs all but ended the Thunder's championship hopes? Yes. But will he instantly dominate with his trademark aggressive ways and Sonic the Hedgehog style? It may take a while.
The same, or similar, could be said about the rest of the stars that went missing because of injury in 2012-13: Minnesota's Kevin Love (hand and knee injuries), Indiana's Granger (knee), Rondo, Denver's Danilo Gallinari (knee). The Andrew Bynum experiment in Cleveland is another matter entirely. The Cavs paid $6 million in guaranteed money to roll the dice that he'll play again after more knee trouble sidelined him all season for the Philadelphia 76ers. Of the big names coming off season-ending injuries, only Rose is expected to be back at full strength at the start of the regular season.
Yet no one outside of James sparks a heated debate among fans like Bryant, and his journey back will be the most compelling non-contender plot going this season. The future Hall of Famer who has always been fueled by doubt is facing more of it than ever, with the odds firmly against a 35-year-old who has logged so many minutes returning to form and, in turn, convincing some young star to join him next summer.
Bryant will be a free agent next summer and has no plans of retiring before then, meaning this coming campaign will determine whether he returns to the world of championship contention or spends his final years going manic amid so much mediocrity.
LeBron James, Heat are NBA's training camp targets...
LeBron James is on top of the NBA. Can anyone knock him off?
In this time of underrated parity in the NBA, it was already no secret that the Miami Heat hunt was about to start with the opening of training camp this week.
In this time of underrated parity in the NBA, it was already no secret that the Miami Heat hunt was about to start with the opening of training camp this week.
THE HEAT CHECK BEGINS
As if the historical context alone isn't daunting enough for the Heat — no team has won three consecutive titles since the Los Angeles Lakers more than 11 years ago and no team has been in four consecutive Finals since the Boston Celtics in the mid-1980s — nearly every contender beneath them spent the offseason upping the ante.
But on the long list of challengers, the Indiana Pacers might top the list. After putting a seven-game scare in the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, the re-signing of dangerous power forward David West, health of high-scoring swingman Danny Granger and addition of savvy post scorer Luis Scola means they're coming even harder this time. Scoring was one of the Pacers' few weaknesses last season, when they ranked 19th in offensive efficiency during the regular season (101.6 points per 100 possessions) and were 10th among the 16 teams in the postseason (101.3).
Yet even with the fortification of the frontcourt, the Pacers' push will come down to Paul George and his ability to rise to the next level — again. The small forward who went from midmajor Fresno State to a five-year, maximum-level deal in three years is fully capable of becoming an even bigger pain in James' side, what with his two-way talents that are among the best in the game.
The Pacers aren't alone in the East, though. The New York Knicks, with J.R. Smith back in the fold and Carmelo Anthony still on the prowl, remain a threat. The Chicago Bulls will finally have Derrick Rose again after he missed all of last season with after knee surgery. The all-or-nothing Brooklyn Nets are looking to win more than just the battle for New York, with all the credibility owner Mikhail Prokhorov could hope for (35 All-Star appearances and three championship rings combined between new coach Jason Kidd and new players Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett) and a window of opportunity that they know is already closing.
THREATS COME FROM WEST
The already-dangerous Houston Rockets won the offseason by luring free agent big man Dwight Howard away from the Lakers, but they may only be the fifth or sixth best team in the Western Conference. And if any team's offseason splashes had all the signs of a precursor to June prominence, it was the Clippers'.
With Chris Paul re-signing for a five-year max deal and the swapping of Vinny Del Negro for Doc Rivers as head coach, the two most uncertain components of the Clippers' equation are no more. Paul is in Los Angeles for the long haul, and now he, Blake Griffin and company have an elite coach. That was a quiet issue all along for the Clippers after they landed Paul back in December 2011, this sense that — even as they won a franchise-record 56 games last season before falling to Memphis in the first round — the ongoing upgrades in on-court talent meant they would eventually need to do the same with the coach. The additions of Jared Dudley, J.J. Redick and Darren Collison, along with the re-signing of Matt Barnes, mean they will remain one of the league's deepest and most dangerous teams.
The reigning conference champion San Antonio Spurs are, once again, still the same old Spurs after re-signing Manu Ginobili. It's the same story with the grit-and-grind Memphis Grizzlies, who have a new coach (Dave Joerger) but the same principles and potential. The Thunder lost their third scorer, Kevin Martin, to the Minnesota Timberwolves in free agency and may not have point guard Russell Westbrook at the start of the season as he continues to recover from his April meniscus tear. But rest assured Durant is coming back determined, and Oklahoma City will be there near the end.
The surprising Golden State Warriors team that upset the Denver Nuggets in the first round poured salt in that wound by stealing a star, free agent small forward Andre Iguodala, during the summer. The list goes on ...
HEAT BRING CHAMPIONSHIP SWAGGER
For all the Heat's offseason headlines — they re-signed Chris Andersen, added injury-ravaged big man Greg Oden and brought back former No. 2 draft pick Michael Beasley — the only question that matters is if Wade and forward Chris Bosh can convince James they still have what it takes to be a superteam. All three players have the ability to become free agents next summer, and James will surely be intrigued by other destinations if the Heat can't repeat (a reunion with the Cleveland Cavaliers or life with the Lakers top the list of possibilities).
Wade is setting the right tone with his me-against-the-world approach, not only by sending that note to Durant, who was his 2012 Finals foe, that he needed to "Make (Durant) respect your place in history…again," but also by cutting weight and coming in healthier than he was all of last season, when he battled constant knee problems. The competitive pride and an old-school rivalry between stars are good for the game no matter who's on top, but the Heat are well aware: All comers are coming.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
The first set of the league's media days begin today, and they may as well include a spot for coaches and players to mingle on the circuit with all the introductions that are in order. This was a record-setting summer for coaching changes, with 13 in all from last season and another eight changes in the general manager ranks (not to mention the return of Larry Bird to Indiana as team president).
That means the process of creating a productive culture starts now, with the regular season just a month away and no handicap given in the standings for teams that need more time to build rapport. Among the non-contenders, the Boston Celtics' Brad Stevens is the one to watch when it comes to coaching experiments. The former whiz kid from Butler was a shocking hire back in early July, and his ability to click with always-prickly point guard Rajon Rondo when he returns from the knee ligament tear suffered in late January will be key as their rebuild begins.
WHICH STARS WILL TRULY BE BACK?
There's being back, and then there's truly being back.
Will Kobe Bryant return from his April Achilles tendon tear this season? Absolutely. But will he regain the same impressive form that was on display last season as he continued ignoring Father Time? The odds are against it. Will Westbrook play again this season after his devastating injury in the first game of the playoffs all but ended the Thunder's championship hopes? Yes. But will he instantly dominate with his trademark aggressive ways and Sonic the Hedgehog style? It may take a while.
The same, or similar, could be said about the rest of the stars that went missing because of injury in 2012-13: Minnesota's Kevin Love (hand and knee injuries), Indiana's Granger (knee), Rondo, Denver's Danilo Gallinari (knee). The Andrew Bynum experiment in Cleveland is another matter entirely. The Cavs paid $6 million in guaranteed money to roll the dice that he'll play again after more knee trouble sidelined him all season for the Philadelphia 76ers. Of the big names coming off season-ending injuries, only Rose is expected to be back at full strength at the start of the regular season.
Yet no one outside of James sparks a heated debate among fans like Bryant, and his journey back will be the most compelling non-contender plot going this season. The future Hall of Famer who has always been fueled by doubt is facing more of it than ever, with the odds firmly against a 35-year-old who has logged so many minutes returning to form and, in turn, convincing some young star to join him next summer.
Bryant will be a free agent next summer and has no plans of retiring before then, meaning this coming campaign will determine whether he returns to the world of championship contention or spends his final years going manic amid so much mediocrity.
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - trash talking started & training camp opens 10/1~*
Saw Rockets media day..my Celtics media day is on monday!!! that nigga gerald wallace better be there..even danny angie was like i aint heard shit from wallace...u getting paid 10 mill i don't care if we are tanking.
Saw Rockets media day..my Celtics media day is on monday!!! that nigga gerald wallace better be there..
even danny angie was like i aint heard shit from wallace...u getting paid 10 mill i don't care if we are tanking.
Re: ~*~2013 NBA Offseason Thread - trash talking started & training camp opens 10/1~*
Now full strength, Chicago Bulls face high expectations
Sean Highkin, USA TODAY Sports2 days ago
Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) and point guard Derrick Rose (1).
This time a year ago, there was only one burning question surrounding the Chicago Bulls: when will Derrick Rose play? The former MVP's torn ACL hung like a black cloud over the entire 2012-13 season, even as an extremely shorthanded Bulls team upset the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the playoffs and gave the eventual champion Miami Heat all they could handle in the second round.
Now, as the Bulls are set to kick off training camp on Friday with Media Day, much of that uncertainty is gone. Rose, who sat out an entire season recovering from his injury, is ready to go. And with Rose's return come the expectations of a title contender that were there before he went down.
Rose's injury wasn't the only one that impacted last season. All-Star center Joakim Noah played through a case of plantar fasciitis during most of the playoffs. Starting small forward and defensive ace Luol Deng sat out much of the postseason recovering from life-threatening side effects from a spinal tap procedure. It was Nate Robinson and emergent guard Jimmy Butler that carried the team offensively.
That version of the Bulls was one that could play a team like the Heat close, but not one that could ultimately get the best of them.
With Rose back at full strength, they're hoping that will change. He will certainly face his share of scrutiny — not only is he one of the most explosive scorers in the league, but he bucked recent trends by waiting out his injury instead of rushing a return before he was ready. Plenty of people will question whether he can pick up where he left off. Rose and the Bulls feel they're ready to take on those questions.
As the Bulls prepare to meet the press at the start of a new season, the question of how they'll overcome these enormous obstacles is replaced by a new one: just how good can they be?
Now full strength, Chicago Bulls face high expectations
Sean Highkin, USA TODAY Sports2 days ago
Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) and point guard Derrick Rose (1).
This time a year ago, there was only one burning question surrounding the Chicago Bulls: when will Derrick Rose play? The former MVP's torn ACL hung like a black cloud over the entire 2012-13 season, even as an extremely shorthanded Bulls team upset the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the playoffs and gave the eventual champion Miami Heat all they could handle in the second round.
Now, as the Bulls are set to kick off training camp on Friday with Media Day, much of that uncertainty is gone. Rose, who sat out an entire season recovering from his injury, is ready to go. And with Rose's return come the expectations of a title contender that were there before he went down.
Rose's injury wasn't the only one that impacted last season. All-Star center Joakim Noah played through a case of plantar fasciitis during most of the playoffs. Starting small forward and defensive ace Luol Deng sat out much of the postseason recovering from life-threatening side effects from a spinal tap procedure. It was Nate Robinson and emergent guard Jimmy Butler that carried the team offensively.
That version of the Bulls was one that could play a team like the Heat close, but not one that could ultimately get the best of them.
With Rose back at full strength, they're hoping that will change. He will certainly face his share of scrutiny — not only is he one of the most explosive scorers in the league, but he bucked recent trends by waiting out his injury instead of rushing a return before he was ready. Plenty of people will question whether he can pick up where he left off. Rose and the Bulls feel they're ready to take on those questions.
As the Bulls prepare to meet the press at the start of a new season, the question of how they'll overcome these enormous obstacles is replaced by a new one: just how good can they be?
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