Weez

what is the address for this 'myestery' site?

how in the hell do you see a truer-pg for the Lakers and the semi-triangle combined with Kobe serving as the defacto halfcourt ballhandler winning ROY? of note, Roy didn't start off playing that much last year (injury) and I'm not sure that he was 'thrown' right in once he returned; could be mistaken, but I think he worked his way up their lineup (though rather quickly)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDrqNQwIdRc (sadly, I don't know how to paste the video into my post as others have done...advice/ teaching advocated).

definitely...all nude...(does that count as a Basketball/NBA commercial)?

Papadopulous is still raising Webster... isn't Scalabrine filling their 'overpaid token white guy' roster spot?

man amongst boys syndrome...

where have you seen that he did? all published reports say that the League looked into it and could find no evidence attesting to his presence at such places...

True...but if they're coming from 'wing/guard/penetration' players, you have to ask who are those points awarded against? Zaza or the player that was supposed to be guarding the scorer on the perimeter? Again, that's where team defense comes into play. Zaza's number look bad on the layup line, but if it's not his player scoring on him, then the real issue lies on how the offensive player got into position for the layup...and possibly reveals (only) that Zaza is not particularly mobile or a good help/weakside defender...which we already knew...

true...but he also gets the toughest assignments. I think that the biggest fundamental flaw is that there seems to be (at least at first glance) any adjustment for the 'rating' of player that one typically guards. if they somehow incorporated the avg PER of the plyaer being guarded into the equation, it might reveal a little more. I mean...there are relatively few 'offensive' 5's in the league, thus ZaZa's numbers are better because he's guarding less capable scorers... The reverse works for Bowen...or (similar to Zaza), Manu being rated so highly on the Spurs...why? becuase he gets the easier of the wing/guard assignments (and probably plays good team D/ plays the passing lanes well). Someone taht is more of a one-on-one defender (ala Bell or Bowen), will rank lower on these stats because they do indeed get fewer blocks and steals...they're trying to lock their offensive counterpart down and thus rarely have the luxury to poach passing lanes and pick up other 'defensive' stats...

I'm getting in on this conversation late in teh game, but in regards to 'difficulty' in calling NBA games vs. college games, I don't see where teh debate is? Yes, the guys in the NBA are bigger and stronger than their counterparts in college. This is 'perhaps' equaled out (in terms of space) by the three point line being further out in the pros, thus increasing the playing space inside (where many plays are made/ more fouls are called). I could say mroe about these comparisons, but the argument is evident. The one overriding and decisive factor in the difficulty between the two levels lies in one quantitative thing: the shot clock. Plays are run much more quickly in the NBA; due to the shot clock, plays that break down are sometimes 'forced' due to lack of time to reset and start a new play. This makes officiating the game MUCH harder...not only is it more up and down (whcih leaves refs out of position to make calls more/ requires more stamina from them), but the sheer number of possessions is much higher in the NBA, thus there's a statistical opening for more gaffe's.... how is this even an argument?

yeah, but at this point I'm not sure they want him to...I mean, they literally signed the older version, who WAS better in all facets player, in Grant Hill for the vet miniumum...ouch Diaw's new (Suns) Delta House name is Albatross (see Coleridge), as in, man, Diaw is the Albatross around the Sun's cap space...they're literally giving away first round picks in order to compensate for it's weight...

As I made the poll (sort of), I'll start... I'd go with Lue. He's reliable, doesn't turn the ball over, and knows how to lead the team (and his role on the team). In the past, he seems to have accepted a 'change in role'/ demotion to off the bench spark well, thus planning for possible future roster/ lineup changes to transition as smoothly as possible. Yes, he pounds the ball too much; yes, the defense that he first gained prominence for (as a Laker against Iverson in the finals) has rarely been seen since...but as best I can tell, he's the most 'Hawk's roster knowledgable' pg that we have... thoughts? (PS ~ I was AMAZED at the AJC results which currently have Law winning this poll at a clip of something like 78%!).

Ok, you're the coach, who would you have (right now, assuming health) as the starting pg for the Hawks on opening night?

JT was the absolute 'best' at driving the lane, head down, until he realized he didn't have a shot (and was already airborn/ off his feet), thus being forced to 'kick' it out...to anyone! good times!

anyone notice that no one hit a three (for the Hawks) in the whole game?! Curious to see how LawIV's assists occured...most likely was not the drive and kick!

funny to hear that any team with Artest (at this point) is considered a 'more stable franchise' than, well, anyone else. it's the truth though ~ while I understand and mostly agree with those who say we should cut loose coaches who WANT to be elsewhere, fact of the matter is - the team needs to win this year (in regards to coaches, GM's, etc.). - it's late in the year to be finding two new asst coaches - the new coaches would have to agree to one year deals (as, and I didn't know this but it makes sense, that the asst. coaches' contracts cannot exceed the head coach)...thus we'd be looking for 'good' asst. coaches who would be willing to work for one year (no longer at this point) for a franchise with ownership issues. Think about how hard it'd be to get a tentative list together...before you realize how many would laugh in your face or simply say 'no' due to the lack of job security (possibly moving their whole family for a year...). hard luck life dictates that we had to retain these coaches...

It's a funny thing that you mention the JJ trade... the Hawks actually made the national media conversation last year...in talking about how they botched the development of Diaw, gave him away. Now? I didn't really mention anyone taking back those comments this year (what with Diaw drawing his new, BIG deal, yet conversely seeing much less production and playing time as he showed up to camp overweight AND had the foce that is Amare Stoudemire to fight with)... No one says, well, Atlanta actually looks, at worst, even in this trade (granted the pick is to come next year), as JJ was an all-star and Diaw saw a significant decline in pt and production...

that's exactly what I was refering too...till now, he has patterned his game in the stlye of a SF, from shot selection, to willingness to bang, to posting up. Until he changes his goals and style of play, he 'wants' to be a SF. He's better suited for the 4 due to the reasons listed (especially his handles and shot creation ability), but he has yet to show that his truly willing to play there... but hey, he's a basketball player, that's why we drafted him!

btw, and yes, a double reply...nice job on creating a new thread with the link to the old one. Classy tactic that I wish more would employ. Kudos...

I too agree that he 'should' be, or is more suited to being, a pf. Oddly, it's more because of what skills he does NOT have than those that he does... Dead On: dribbling and moves...his handles bare no resemblance to most sf's in the league. He has few, if any, 'moves' that he can employ to get his own shot on the perimeter... I won't go on, point by point, because in most every point, I'm in full agreement with you. He's more suited for the PF...but he has to accept that and go forward in that mold (honestly tell me, what does he NOT ahve in his game that Kenyon Martin, the NJ version, did HAVE? very little...should tell him something)...

how can you make that claim? Because there are fewer offensively minded fours in the East, and indeed the League, (in comparison to offensive minded 3's), thus making the position 'easier' to defend? or because being on the wing, and thereby having more room to 'run', increases his weakside blocks (I have no idea if this is true, maybe there's a stat that would elaborate on it, if so, feel free)... but bottom line, he's not really a 'good' defender at either position...

If you don't like JSmoove at the SF...then this team has some soul searching to do. Granted, I've been out for awhile and some of this may have been discussed at other various points (I'm sure far past the point of overkill...)...but... Smoove likes shooting 3's, he appears most comfortable on the wing (offensively anyhow). While I know he's worked with Hakeem this off season (anyone have a link to that btw), but...he plays like a sf, plain and simple... unless we move towards a PHX style offense (in which case Woody must be jetisoned), smoove is a SF...

is that a 'head to head' ranking, i.e. how the teams would be if playing each other...or 'league-wide' (what their overall records will be at the end of the year? Portland looks great on paper...until you start to think about all of the teams in the West, what they'll have to do to make the playoffs... might change the rankings a bit!

actually scrolled on down to see if any else replied to this...um...BusBoy...Darko got about 7 mil a year from Memphis, not ten (which is what some thought he would be asking for). He's in a perfect situation 'here' in Memphis (and please people, becuase I live here and have some insight into the team, do NOT confuse me with a troll...as that's the furthest from the truth) Honestly, Darko did the best thing for him. he's a near 'perfect' fit in Memphis ~ and he signed a three year deal. While I like the signing quite a bit, my honest thoughts...jsut wait to see Darko overvalued (much more than his current contract) in three years (assuming Pau stays here...and I think he will).

It's annoying (that LV gets live runs on NBAtv and other leagues don't), but it's obvious that the top two draft picks were the major reason behind the LV push. If anyone wants to get archival on me, see if this was the same in years past? which league was 'promoted' the most by the NBA/ with the most 'live' games on NBA tv. The current system is'nt that bad...hell, it's summer league! It'd be difficult to have a two conference style league (too many teams to have in one place ~ how would you scheudle all of the games?, among other reasons) I admit that the current system is frustrating at times...but it's really not that bad. Teams use SL in so many ways as well (further confounding things) ~ some teams play in multiple SL's...it's not worht complaining about (other than not getting more live feeds/ feeds within a day of the actual game on NBA tv...which is inexcusable).