NBA Discussion

[Long]

Well regardless, Kobe Bryant is the ONLY player in the NBA that has the following splits in the previous two seasons:

1. A scoring average of around 28 ppg for an LA loss.

2. A scoring average of around 22 ppg on an LA win.

That's like a 6pt gap, which is huge over an 82 game season. MJ never had this kind of record, nor should he.

It basically means that if you play good defense and shut Kobe Bryant down, that LA actually wins.... It also means that when Kobe Bryant is on fire the team actually loses. So what do you do as a coach? Encourage Kobe to shoot and try and prove that he's MJ, because LA are then guarenteed a loss...

Who else but Kobe has such an odd ball stat???

I've been right so far in the first 4 games. That is Kobe gets less than 25, LA wins, Kobe gets more than 25 LA loses.

[spooks]

Comes down to role players.

When they lose, Mihm shoots 40% with 7 rpg, Butler shoots 25% 8 ppg.

When they win, Mihm shoots 58% with 11 rpg, Butler shoots 71% 17 ppg.

Kobe is the superstar of the team, but you can't blame every loss to him just like you can't attribute every win to him.

[Vicious]

Well regardless, Kobe Bryant is the ONLY player in the NBA that has the following splits in the previous two seasons:

1. A scoring average of around 28 ppg for an LA loss.

2. A scoring average of around 22 ppg on an LA win.

That's like a 6pt gap, which is huge over an 82 game season. MJ never had this kind of record, nor should he.

It basically means that if you play good defense and shut Kobe Bryant down, that LA actually wins.... It also means that when Kobe Bryant is on fire the team actually loses. So what do you do as a coach? Encourage Kobe to shoot and try and prove that he's MJ, because LA are then guarenteed a loss...

Who else but Kobe has such an odd ball stat???

I've been right so far in the first 4 games. That is Kobe gets less than 25, LA wins, Kobe gets more than 25 LA loses.

Last year LA was also 29-9 when Kobe was highscorer at 20+ points though, 4 of those games Shaq didn't even play. So when he's on fire, LA won way more than it lost. His average in wins are just lower because he doesn't need to score as much in those games.

I've also been right so far in the first 4 games. That is Kobe gets more than 5 assists and LA wins.

[spooks]

No more undefeated teams in the NBA. Heat dropped their first game to the Mavs.

After watching that game I'd just like to say that. Dirk is unstoppable when he's on and Wade has the sickest crossover in the league.

[James Ko]

Wade remind me of the young Timmy Hardaway...

I am glad Shaq understand his role by saying that Heat is Wade's team rather then his team. Which kind of tell you that he is winning to put aside leadership to win a championship. I admire him for that. but on the other hand why didn't he let Kobe be the leader... and win in LA is another store.

and Jazz is the suprise team for me. I knew they were decent but to start off like that is pretty cool. Kings dropping games the way they are really sadden me. I really thought they are the team that should win a championship before they break up (just like the 90's Jazz) but o well they got to learn how to play defense.

[spooks]

Shaq's hamstring isn't at 100% yet, probably the main reason for Wade's MVP like numbers 5-6 games into the year.

I agree that the Kings need to shake things up. Clearly the team they have isn't good enough to win a championship. They need to ship either Webber or Peja.

[Vicious]

Wade remind me of the young Timmy Hardaway...

I am glad Shaq understand his role by saying that Heat is Wade's team rather then his team. Which kind of tell you that he is winning to put aside leadership to win a championship. I admire him for that. but on the other hand why didn't he let Kobe be the leader... and win in LA is another store.

and Jazz is the suprise team for me. I knew they were decent but to start off like that is pretty cool. Kings dropping games the way they are really sadden me. I really thought they are the team that should win a championship before they break up (just like the 90's Jazz) but o well they got to learn how to play defense.

REally? i never thought hardaway was that atheletic, heck i dont even remember him dunking. i've been impressed though, i never thought wade would be this commanding either. He did have some crazy games in college though, i remember him taking out Kentucky with a triple double in the NCAA.

[Long]

REally? i never thought hardaway was that atheletic, heck i dont even remember him dunking. i've been impressed though, i never thought wade would be this commanding either. He did have some crazy games in college though, i remember him taking out Kentucky with a triple double in the NCAA.

Old Tim Hardaway was grounded by injuries....

Young Tim Hardaway was able to dunk, though not as often, as someone like KJ or Spud Webb... Be main thing was he was able to and did do so...

[douggilmour]

Old Tim Hardaway was grounded by injuries....

Young Tim Hardaway was able to dunk, though not as often, as someone like KJ or Spud Webb... Be main thing was he was able to and did do so...

Sorry Long, but i don't recall ever seeing Kevin Johnson dunk......

I was flipping around and I noticed Grant Hill scored 27 in the weekend, man that was a shocker! I thought he was done for.

[spooks]

KJ had crazy hops for a little man. Him posterizing Hakeem was one of the nicest dunks ever.

6'1 over 7'0

Dream getting posterized

[Vicious]

i also remember KJ dunking over david robinson, the 'facial' as marv albert likes to call them.

[Long]

I'll always remember the one where KJ dunked over 7'4 Mark Eaton. I mean a 6'1 guy over a 7'4 guy.

Plus the one where he ended up sitting on 6'11, John William's back... John had a stunned look on his face

[spooks]

Seriously Artest is crazy.

Anyone see him go into the stands today and beat down some Pistons fan that threw beer on him? S. Jackson nailed another one that threw beer on Artest. JO clocked some fan that came on to the court and walked towards Artest.

Big fines coming up for the Pacers/Pistons organizations. Fine and suspension for all the players involved.

[Long]

Seriously Artest is crazy.

Artest was probably p*ssed off that he cost the Indiana Pacers a return trip to the NBA Finals last season, when he lost his cool in Game 6, when the game was close and got a flagrant called against him against Rip... That lead to Detriot opening up a 5 pt lead and never looked back... Pacers were pretty much in control prior to that...

So I wasn't surprise.... Good on Artest, Jackson, and JO to come out swinging...

I was punching the air, back here in Australia to assist them... I just wished that a few more of the Pacers would run into the crowd and belt a few more PIstons fans.... They deserve it... I ain't got no love for the Pistons or thier fans...

Also someone should have hooked Ben Wallace and Rasheed when no one was looking... And break their cheek bones... Make the fines worth while...

[Long]

For those interested.... This is my letter to the NBA blog..

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear NBA Blog

I think Ron Artest should be awarded with the NBA Citizenship Award at the end of the 2004/05 for flooring an NBA fan who threw a plastic bottle at him. He stood up for the himself, his teammates, and what's more all of the NBA players around the league. He issued a bold warning to "bad" NBA fans, that rude behaviour at games will not be tolerated. He should be commended for that, and for his revolutionary actions to shape the conduct of NBA fans in the future, ie "behave for you're going to get floored". This is the act of a sensible and intelligent man, who loves the game enough that he took the time to personally educate NBA fans about his love for the game, and about how fans should behave at a game. Rarely would you see such a personal approach and genuine care being shown towards NBA fans from an All-Star calibre player.

On the other hand I think Ben Wallace should be thrown out of the league for his "pussy" antics and over-reacting to try and incite the local fans, which he did. This kind of "weak man" tactics should not be tolerated by the NBA. Stern has to stamp out these "pussy" antics, more suitable to Netball, or at minimum suspend Ben Wallace for 5 games.

Final Word - It's not MJ scoring 44 points to lead his team to an NBA Finals victory, nor is it Shaq tying the NBA record for most blocks to lead his team to an NBA title, that makes the NBA great.

It's guys like Latrell Sprewell, choking his coach. Rudy T getting hit in the face. Dennis Rodman's and Isiah Rider's wild personalities. Cedric Ceballos gone sailing. Kobe being accused of rape. And now the Ron Artest incident that makes the NBA great.

It will be talked about for years to come... But what a better way to promote the league... I salute you Ron Artest... You made me believe again... You made me believe that players are passionate about the game... And that it's not just about money... Well done... You're this season's MVP in my mind.



Long Dang
Canberra
Australia

[TrieuTuLong]

For those interested.... This is my letter to the NBA blog..

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear NBA Blog


It's guys like Latrell Sprewell, choking his coach. Rudy T getting hit in the face. Dennis Rodman's and Isiah Rider's wild personalities. Cedric Ceballos gone sailing. Kobe being accused of rape. And now the Ron Artest incident that makes the NBA great.

It will be talked about for years to come... But what a better way to promote the league... I salute you Ron Artest... You made me believe again... You made me believe that players are passionate about the game... And that it's not just about money... Well done... You're this season's MVP in my mind.



Long Dang
Canberra
Australia

Some how, I sense a sacrasm in this. Any way, I think Artest should be smarter than that, he should never have jumped into the stand and thrown that fan down, and should have let the law deal with whoever threw that bottle plastic at him, and there is a rumor that Artest got the wrong guy. So, I expect a big law sue is waiting for Artest pretty soon.

[Eliar Swiftfire]

Downloaded the fight. Great stuff.

[bobo]

Where you download the fight? I've been looking for it all day.

EDIT: Nevermind i got a good copy of it.

[spooks]

IMO those fans that got beat down deserved it.

You're a paying customer, that gives you the right to sit and watch the game, heckle players, boo them, make fun of their mom it doesn't give you the rights to throw your warm beer on a player from behind, sucker punch a player sitting on the bench, walk onto the court looking for a fight with the players.

[Demitre]

IMO those fans that got beat down deserved it.

You're a paying customer, that gives you the right to sit and watch the game, heckle players, boo them, make fun of their mom it doesn't give you the rights to throw your warm beer on a player from behind, sucker punch a player sitting on the bench, walk onto the court looking for a fight with the players.

They're fair game as soon as they throw things and step out onto the floor a sfar as I am concerned. I expect the players union to be fully behind Artest and the players. They should get suspensions, but not too harsh. There needs to be changes so this doesn't happen again. These fans obviously can't handle being too close to the players.