2012-2013 NBA Season - Lounge - Forums : Best Ever Albums

junodog4
Future Grumpy Old Man

Gender: Male
Location: Calgary

Since there's no NHL Brick wall

I figure NBA is the next best thing for a winter sport (in North America - I'm still all about the EPL - go West Ham). So... Who do you like for the NBA this year?

I for one predict the following:

West:

1. LA Lakers
2. Oklahoma
3. San Antonio
4. Denver
5. LA Clippers
6. Memphis
7. Utah
8. Minnesota (maybe Golden State)

East:

1. Miami
2. Indiana
3. Boston
4. Brooklyn
5. New York
6. Chicago
7. Philadelphia
8. Toronto (maybe Atlanta or Milwaukee)

Playoffs - Lakers over Heat in 6.

Don't laugh at Toronto. Lowry is a machine, and they've massively retooled.
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Finnegan was super bad-ass.

Guest

Lakers may appear good on paper. The interesting thing about them is that Nash is 38 yrs old and Kobe is 34 with a lot of miles, neither are likely to play 82 games. Dwight Howard has a bad back and I hear will be sat on successive games. Plus Ron Artest is trash (never liked Ron as a player, but Ron has played especially poor since '10, and isn't showing enough talent to be in the league anymore IMO), making Pau Gasol possibly the only reliable player in the starting unit for the full-length season.

Just wanted to point those things out, to show the opposing view against their hype. I still think they are a good team, but I'd say they have a less predictable near-future than some think.

junodog4
Future Grumpy Old Man

Gender: Male
Location: Calgary

The Poe wrote:

Lakers may appear good on paper. The interesting thing about them is that Nash is 38 yrs old and Kobe is 34 with a lot of miles, neither are likely to play 82 games. Dwight Howard has a bad back and I hear will be sat on successive games. Plus Ron Artest is trash (never liked Ron as a player, but Ron has played especially poor since '10, and isn't showing enough talent to be in the league anymore IMO), making Pau Gasol possibly the only reliable player in the starting unit for the full-length season.

Just wanted to point those things out, to show the opposing view against their hype. I still think they are a good team, but I'd say they have a less predictable near-future than some think.

I agree - the Lakers are far from a sure thing, and I'm inclined to root against them. I didn't like how Howard handled his Orlando exit, I respect but dislike Kobe, and Ron Artest/Metta Whack Job is a tool. But how can you not root for Nash? He's one of the nicest guys and best players not to win a championship. I just don't see how anyone short of Miami or maybe Oklahoma could beat them in a 7 game series - it'll be at the end of the season, once they've figured out chemistry. Their depth is a little thin, and they've got to figure out who controls their offense, but I figure they'd be the best in the west (especially now that Harden is in Houston), and I can't pick Miami.
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Finnegan was super bad-ass.

Romanelli
Bone Swah

Gender: Male
Location: Broomfield, Colorado

Moderator

I have only a passing interest in the NBA anymore. I'll keep an eye on the Denver Nuggets, and that's about it. The reasons?

The NBA has less parity than the rest of the major American sports combined. With the exception of the 1970's, the NBA has been almost completely dominated by two franchises (the Lakers have been to the finals 31 times and won 16 titles, and the Celtics have been 21 times with 17 titles)...no other team has even been to the finals more than 9 times, with only 7 teams (including LA & Boston) having been there more than 5 times. Only 4 teams (including LA & Boston) have won the title more than 4 times. Every year, it's the same story: Lakers, Celtics, blah blah blah. I just don't care any more.

I'm tired of seeing the same teams win year after year. I'm tired of a league where there are maybe 3-4 really good teams and everyone else makes the playoffs by default. The talent in the NBA has been watered by expansion so much that where you used to have to have a great team, now you can win titles with one superstar and maybe 2 very good players.

Plus, the two biggest stars in the league are unlikeable jerks. Kobe Bryant is just an asshole. And LeBron James should never be forgiven for turning his free agency into a TV variety show...then showing up only when it works for him.

Rant over. That's all I have to say about the NBA.
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May we all get to heaven
'Fore the devil knows we're dead...

junodog4
Future Grumpy Old Man

Gender: Male
Location: Calgary

Something that should make Romanelli happy - The Lakers have already fired their coach after going 1-4 to start the season (and 0-8 in preseason). The Celtics are old, and losing chemistry. At this point, Miami, Denver, New York, San Antonio, Indiana and Oklahoma all look better, and none of those teams are the 'dominating' franchises of NBA history.

Now if only the Raptors could find a guy to play SF.
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Finnegan was super bad-ass.

FuturoDispari

The Poe wrote:

Lakers may appear good on paper. The interesting thing about them is that Nash is 38 yrs old and Kobe is 34 with a lot of miles, neither are likely to play 82 games. Dwight Howard has a bad back and I hear will be sat on successive games. Plus Ron Artest is trash (never liked Ron as a player, but Ron has played especially poor since '10, and isn't showing enough talent to be in the league anymore IMO), making Pau Gasol possibly the only reliable player in the starting unit for the full-length season.

Just wanted to point those things out, to show the opposing view against their hype. I still think they are a good team, but I'd say they have a less predictable near-future than some think.

Once Nash comes back, you'll see a much different Kobe. One that doesn't have to have the ball in his hands on every possession. He'll be better rested than he has been in years.

Metta is not trash, he's a defensive specialist and still extremely effective in that role. He's not out there to score, and he doesn't need to with Nash, Kobe, Pau and Dwight on the floor.

FuturoDispari

The main thing to be wary of is Dwight's back. If the Lakers are completely healthy, I think they're the team to beat. If Dwight's not on the floor, they have no chance at a championship run. He has such a huge impact defensively.

Error Finn

Gender: Male
Age: 54
Location: Finland

Minnesota will be the rank outsider.
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GeevyDallas
WATTBA

You need to have the same dedication to follow the NBA as you do to play in the NBA.There's games on practically everyday,too much effort if you ask me.I do however like Kobe,man has bags of #SWAG.

purple

I would like to see the Spurs grab another title while they've still got the old men on the team. However, I think this is unlikely. It's the year of the Thunder y'all. Westbrook + Durant is new age Robinson + Duncan.