Re: Random thoughts from around the league (An Onging Thread)

[steve3344]

My point is it would not be out of the realm of possibility for the Lakers to find a convenient reason to shut Gasol down after this incident.  Even the Celtics have done it in past seasons like this one.

That's all.  Don't make such a huge deal out of this suggestion.  It happens all the time with teams heading for a high lottery pick.

Again, do you think Pau Gasol is just going to let the Lakers make up an injury for him so they can tank?
That's absurd. He would never agree to that.
As any fyi, Pau has vertigo, he is questionable for their next game.
The Lakers have easily lost the most player games due to injuries this season.
They don't make up any injuries.

teams have never held out players before, ever right?

With the Lakers one game behind the Kings, playing them tonight, and desperately NOT wanting to catch them in the standings so they can retain their current #6 draft position, guess what?  They sat both Gasol (who was fine playing against Portland last night) and Kaman who had a monster game against Phoenix on Sunday and also played against Portland last night.  And no surprise, they lose.  Gotta love it.  The NBA - where protecting (or improving) your draft position in a lost season is everything.  They all do it, including the Celtics.  No way we're 26 points worse than the Washington Mediocres, but tonight we were.  

You might want to do a little research before you post about the Lakers.
Pau had a severe set back with vertigo and probably was not even going to be able to fly home from Sacramento with his teammates. Do you really think he and the Lakers are lying?




Pau Gasol has been dealing with a recurring case of vertigo lately, causing him to miss four games. He returned to play 28 minutes against the Blazers on Tuesday, but will sit Wednesday's game against the Kings because of it. Bill Oram: Bad news for Pau Gasol. Lakers center has had severe recurrence of vertigo and is incapacitated in Sac. hotel room. Out tonight obviously CBSSports.com

Rumors tagsLos Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Pau Gasol  
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Gasol will fly back to Los Angeles when able to be evaluated. Gasol said last night he may have returned too quickly. Vertigo is described as a "subtype of dizziness in which a patient inappropriately experiences the perception of motion (usually a spinning motion)." CBSSports.com
- See more at: http://hoopshype.com/rumors.htm#sthash.MezXrjIe.dpuf

Kaman conveniently had a boo boo last night.  he was fine against Portland but the Lakers said his calf was bothering him.  So they rested him.  And they locked in the #6 lottery position.  Celtics did it too in '07.  Join the party.

Steve,

So, before it was tanking by the Lakers for sitting Pau, now it's Kaman? Is Nash next on your list?
Do you really believe your own posts?
As an fyi, when Kaman is healthy, he is a sub par NBA player which is why he has barely gotten off the bench this year even though the Lakers lead the NBA is games missed due to injuries.
Kaman is ranked as the worst defensive center in the NBA when he is on the court.
Um, sitting Kaman usually makes the Lakers better...

I bet the Lakers would have loved to again have the 28 and 17 on (13 for 19 shooting) plus 6 assists the "sub par" Kaman laid on Phoenix on Saturday. How many other bigs on LA do you think could produce a game like that? And yeah, I believe my posts. They're meant to be little digs at the Lakers - a team most of us on here dislike - as a fun way to keep the rivalry going in a year when neither of us could punch our way out of a wet paper bag.

By the way, when I get around to transferring it from cassette to CD I'll send you my 1982 interview with your beloved Pat Riley that I did as part of my research for that statistical rating system. He was a terrific interview and raised some very interesting points.

[cowens/oldschool]

TJ you are a pathetic loser!!!!

[steve3344]

Atlanta 107, Pacers 88.  In Indiana.

Anyone still predicting Indiana will win it all this year?  Or have any hope at all they can knock out Miami?  Or even get out of the first round???

Indy had 23 points (and one assist) at halftime.  Was down 33-11 after the first quarter, 55-23 at halftime. At home!  Just the latest debacle from a team that was DOMINATING everyone for the first three months of the season and looked unbeatable.  Started the season 16-1.  Was 33-7 at one point.  And 46-13.  7-12 since March 2.  And 2-7 their last nine.

One the strangest collapses I've seen in basketball.  Before he was benched tonight after playing 9 minutes with NO points or rebounds, Hibbert had only averaged FOUR rebounds a game his previous seven games. And the mofo is 7'2"!  How does a 7'2" guy average four rebounds a game when he's starting, getting over 30 minutes a game and the games are critical?  He's mailing it in, that's how.  Doesn't give a rat's ass.  And who knows why.

And Paul George's game has fallen off a cliff the past two months.  Shooting under 40% and nowhere near the player he was in the early going or late last year.  

Unbelievably strange.  Larry Bird must be going nuts.

[cowens/oldschool]

Very strange, Big Al ate him up and spit him out last time they played, hes really sucked since.....how did he turn into Mark Blount?

[steve3344]

Very strange, Big Al ate him up and spit him out last time they played, hes really sucked since.....how did he turn into Mark Blount?

Unless Charlotte passes Washington (right now they're one game behind them with five to go) Big Al will get another crack at Blount (and it would be ugly as Jefferson is at the top of his game) since Charlotte and Indy (2 vs 7) would square off in the opening round.

Big Al is carving out a very nice career for himself.  In his 10th season already he is lifetime 17 and 9 with three seasons of 20 and 10.  This one is one of his three best.  And he only turned 29 in January.  Half a dozen more seasons like this and he's a Hall of Famer.

[steve3344]

This Pacers situation continues to fascinate:

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2014/04/06/pacers-embarrassed-home-lose-atlanta/7398239/

[cowens/oldschool]

steve hes got to be the best player playing whos never made an all star team, can't help but think if we had kept Big Al and drafted Noah, as was Sams wish that year, how much better those 2 would make each other all these years now.

On Hibbert, hes never had the athleticism of say a Ewing or Robinson, hes always been more of a plodder who really developed some skills, and with such a dearth of big men, maybe hes looked alot better in this era than he is?

[steve3344]

Lakers score 130 points against Houston tonight.

And get blown out.

Defense? Never heard of it.

[k_j_88]

Anthony Davis is going to miss the last games of the season due to his back.

I sure hope that won't be a long-term issue for him.


KJ

[steve3344]

Heat regurgitate first place in loss to Hawks. Pacers supposedly own all tiebreakers:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/04/13/4056871/dwyane-wade-returns-to-lineup.html

[steve3344]

Paul Pierce became the sixth player in NBA history to score 1,000 points in 15 straight seasons, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19), Karl Malone (18), John Havlicek (16), Elvin Hayes (15) and Robert Parish (15)

[steve3344]

Fascinating what went on with the Nets and Knicks tonight.  Without Carmelo Anthony and nothing to play for, the Knicks beat the Nets easily 109-98 in a game I believe the Nets laid down and lost on purpose to avoid the Bulls in the first round, and also put them in Miami's bracket who they beat 4-0 this year, instead of the Bulls and Pacers' bracket (the Nets were 0-4 against Indy). Toronto will finish in 3rd place because they hold the tie-breaker over the Bulls and, just watch - the Nets will lose at Cleveland and Washington will beat the Celtics tomorrow to lock in the Nets and Toronto for a first round match-up instead of a Nets/Bulls physical nightmare (the Nets lost that same matchup last year and is not looking to repeat that experience).  

Once Chicago inexplicably lost to the Knicks a few days ago and virtually ceded third place to Toronto, the Nets noticed they could still avoid the Bulls in the first round - and get the Heat in the second round who they feel they can beat in a seven game series - by losing their final two games.  

Bet on it.

And by the way, if that happens, the Celtics would pick 17th instead of 18th in the draft with the Nets pick. So root for it.

[steve3344]

Unbelievable stat: Roy Hibbert ended the season shooting 3 for 28 his last four games after a 1 for 7 tonight in a game where he's getting revved up for the playoffs. 3 for his last 28!! I think it should be pointed out he's 7'2".

Yes, he ended the season 3 for 28.

It needed to be said a third time because it's that unfathomable.

[gyso]

Kobe Bryant went to France before the Lakers finale

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/kobe-bryant-went-to-france-before-the-lakers-finale--refers-to-season-as--s----002957838.html

Bryant went to France with family members either Tuesday or Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times has learned. The Lakers conclude their season Wednesday night against the San Antonio Spurs.

A team spokesman said he was unaware of the situation and referred a reporter to Bryant's agent, Rob Pelinka, who did not immediately return a phone call. Bryant has been in a surly mood since the team's fortunes started sagging, muttering under his breath at last month's team photo that he doesn't like associating with a team so many games under .500. [...]

Bryant was supposed to address Lakers fans before the team's home finale Sunday but showed up at Staples Center near halftime because of a migraine headache, a Lakers spokesman said. Instead of Bryant, Nick Young grabbed a microphone before tip-off against Memphis and called Lakers fans "the best in the world."

Is this going to be called, "France-gate"?

gyso

[steve3344]

This conversation between Clippers owner Donald Sterling and his "girlfriend" is a must listen for its racism and stupidity.  It's unfathomable that in 2014 a team owner in a major sport could still have these views and now, thankfully they're documented for everyone to hear firsthand.  There should be some major repercussions from the league over his comments.  Interestingly, Larry Bird even enters the discussion.  I guess Elgin Baylor had more of a case than the courts thought, since Baylor's case was dismissed:

http://www.tmz.com/2014/04/26/donald-sterling-clippers-owner-black-people-racist-audio-magic-johnson/

[k_j_88]

How on earth did Mike Dunleavy score 35 points on the Wizards?



KJ

[steve3344]

First Ray Allen. Now Vinsanity. Another kick to the gut for the Spurs. From the San Antonio beat writer:

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2014/04/26/live-updates-spurs-at-dallas-3/

[steve3344]

Portland should be saying thank you thank you thank you for all eternity that Indiana matched its 4-year $56,000,000 offer to Roy Hibbert in 2012 and decided to keep him.

Robin Lopez is already a much better center at only $5 million per year.

[tjmakz]

Portland should be saying thank you thank you thank you for all eternity that Indiana matched its 4-year $56,000,000 offer to Roy Hibbert in 2012 and decided to keep him.

Robin Lopez is already a much better center at only $5 million per year.

Hibbert had 0 points, 0 rebounds and 5 fouls in 18 minutes last night.
Apparently, his teammates are extremely upset at him over his lack of effort.

[steve3344]

Portland should be saying thank you thank you thank you for all eternity that Indiana matched its 4-year $56,000,000 offer to Roy Hibbert in 2012 and decided to keep him.

Robin Lopez is already a much better center at only $5 million per year.

Hibbert had 0 points, 0 rebounds and 5 fouls in 18 minutes last night.
Apparently, his teammates are extremely upset at him over his lack of effort.

You're being too easy on him. You failed to mention he also had two turnovers. And you can omit the word "apparently." Everyone saw how David West shook his head from side to side in silence for a good ten seconds when a reporter first mentioned Hibbert's name in the post-game locker room.

[steve3344]

Great line from the Portland newspaper after last night's win:

Portland beat San Antonio 103-92 in Game 4. It was like watching the corpse at a funeral sit straight up in the coffin, and look around.

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf/2014/05/canzano_hey_portland_keep_this.html#incart_big-photo

[steve3344]

The Lamar Odom era is over for the Knicks.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/07/11/lamar-odom-unable-to-meet-phil-jacksons-standards-waived-by-knicks/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs

Guess they're not going to retire his number...

[steve3344]

H needs his rest:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/report-bynum-may-sit-next-015033758--nba.html

Watch out 2015-16! Should be rarin' to go!

Or maybe not.

[steve3344]

Ya think?

http://www.lakersnation.com/steve-nash-believes-this-will-be-his-last-season/2014/07/28/

About as likely as Donald Sterling never owning another NBA team.

[steve3344]

Heat sign final piece to their puzzle:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/forward-shawne-williams-signs-miami-181633081--nba.html

That should get them over the top...

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