CHORO44

Quote: Peja is an overrated shot chucker. Richard Jefferson isn't an All-Star player, and Andrei Kirilenko doesn't have Marvin's complete package of ability. There really isn't a small forward in the NBA that possessess the complete package of athleticism and skills that Marvin has. WOW! I would never say that Peja is an overrated shot chucker. That man can freakin play period and is one of the best pure shooters in the league. If anything he ends up taking some bad shots due to the Kings forgetting how to pass the ball.

Quote: Rasheed Wallace was labeled as a trouble maker coming out of Portland. He had a bad rep for being a bad teammate, and he was uncoachable, and he never watched his mouth. He gets to Detroit and the only bad thing he does is curse when they lose. Yeah players may be bad, but don't think their environment had nothing to do with it. The same thing again was said about Stephen Jackson before he came to Atlanta. He got here and there was not one bad incident, but as soon as he leaves he goes back to his crazy ways. Though we may not win, we hardly ever have any problems with players. Sometimes guys just need a change of scenery, and more demanding coaches. Woodson is a tough cookie and would bring out the best in Miles. His only failure is Diaw, who still made SOME improvements this year. The difference is Rasheed and SJack have serious talent. Miles has athleticism but too many holes in his game. He truly is without a position since he can't hold post position and he can't shoot.

Pure fantasy. This will never happen. You think McHale will help the freakin Lakers? He'd rather roll over and die.

- Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks switch rosters for 2005 - 2006

I don't understand why Van Gundy shouldn't be allowed to question officiating. Yes it's a private league that pays well but it markets itself as a product to be consumed and accepted by the masses. I think the league needs to be accountable to its fanbase. I live in King's country although I'm a lifetime Hawk's fan. I can't tell you how many conversations I've heard or participated regarding poor officiating towards the Kings. Do you guys remember game 6 against the Lakers a few years back? You can't tell me the officiating wasn't skewed in favor of the Lakers. The refs basically gave the lakers more than the 51% that Sturt is implying. And if you think this type of "preferential" officiating is all in the past then you haven't been watching any of the current playoff games. I can't tell you how many anticipation fouls were called before contact was even made. Also watch the second half of the deciding game between the Kings and Sonics and you will see the Kings called for touch fouls while obvious Sonics calls go without a whistle. This even happened on back to back possessions. I don't want to get into the popularity of the league debate and/or the merits of marketing teams versus players. The bottom line is there is a majority of true basketball fans who see some obvious trends that are damaging the NBA and its appeal: - Questionable and/or preferential officiating (Sturt's point) - Lack of focus on teamwork from team salary allocation to NBA marketing strategy - Influx of young players who don't know how to play basketball but have so-called "talent" I am in Sturt's camp. I hate the current NBA. I used to pay to watch the Hawks play in Sacramento and Golden State but I got tired of the prices going up every year, the constant stoppages of the game for television advertising, watching guys with talent not understand team basketball(see Jason Terry and Shareef on the same team), and poor officiating. If you don't believe officiating is biased just look back on Shareef's career here in Atlanta. Here is an undersized power forward who mixes it up in the paint with skill yet he never gets calls. Some say he whines about it and I would too if I get hacked all the time. You don't think there is a book on Shareef that the refs go by? It probably says, undersized guy who has no business in the paint and whines for calls - don't give him any. Anyways sorry for rambling but it's a sad day when my two favorite sports from my childhood: baseball and basketball take a backseat to the NFL. I'm so glad to be a Patriots fan, now that's what professional sports should be like - team, players, and management all on the same page working under a commissioner with integrity. Kudos to Van Gundy for keeping it real and bringing to light what many of us know and still what more of us don't want to believe.

We have obvious needs at PG and Center. With that in mind would you offer the Clippers the first pick and Diaw for Livingston? It would be great to pair up Livingston with Smith and Childress. Would the Clippers even consider doing that?

Interesting thought trading Harrington for Odom. The Lakers are capped out and really don't use Odom effectively. Odom played his ass off in Miami and I think Kobe's ball demands keeps touches out of Odom's hands. With Odom's age, length, and passing skills he could really setup Smooth and Chillz with easy shots. Perhaps we could send Boris, Al, and Delk to the Lakers for Odom.

Quote: What does Bogut do that's similar to Brad Miller? Other than being tall and White?? Miller has better latteral quickness. Brad Miller can Jump. Diesel not to get involved with this argument but I wouldn't put the words Brad Miller and Can Jump in the same sentence. I watch Sacramento games every week and although Brad is injured he's never been able to jump. I've never seen a guy his size miss out on so many rebounds because he can't get off the floor. In my opinions Bogut is also better laterally than Brad. The only holes I've seen in Bogut's game is guarding smaller, athletic centers which I don't see him covering in the pros as much.

I think we need to give Childress and Smith time to develop. I agree with Troubleman's comparison to Tayshaun. You have to give the rooks some time. How many top six picks come into the league and tear it up. Look at Chris Bosh, he's looking better but he's still skinny and learning the pro game. If Childress gets his jumper going I bet we see a different player. I really like J Chill's length and feel he is way more athletic then Deng.

I'm not sure how anyone can still be undecided. The candidates are like night and day. I wish they would ban all political ads and focus solely on the debates. Make the debates longer and have fact checkers comment on whether stated figures are correct or not. Also get rid of the freaking polls. I vote every election and have never been polled. Jesse Jackson was on the Jon Stewart show last night and he stated the the increased number of registrations of young voters aren't included in the polls. Should be interesting to say the least. I don't think it's gonna be close.

Don't we have that David Anderson fellow that is a big man? Is he coming over? Maybe Knight plans to platoon him and DP until we can secure the big man of the future.

Shouldn't we just send the NBA champions to the Olympics? In this case Detroit would have the honor of representing the USA. If the NBA Champion is considered our premier National basketball team then they should represent us.

I've seen alot of "Buckets". He is athletic and can score in spurts but he is nothing special. He's the seventh man off the bench that can give you some minutes but won't take over a game. I'd rather have Bobby Jackson.

Hotlanta doesn't bother me he has a right to his opinions and I've grown used to his negativity. As for larrybirdfandudewhatever I think he is a troll and his post has no value. There was better commentary and debate in the main forum on the Walker trade including Jaywalker's comment on the pick we gave up. Billy is doing something and he's been on the job less than two years. I think we have to see what we have in a few years before we just throw up our hands and say we suck. And for the record I think the Hawks are much better poised than the Celtics. There are plenty of former players that are now GMs that leave you scratching your head: Mullin in Golden State = overpaying for guys no one wants Isiah = building a jigsaw puzzle Ainge = I have no idea what he is thinking. LaFrentz? At least Billy is giving us some size and ball handling.

Quote: getting walker make sit unlikely josh even gets off the bench and drafting childress at 6. 2 dumb moves and giving up a number 1 pick too boot. Can we ban this guy please?

What is JT's contract? I looked on Hoopshype but they just have the inflated first year number of 7 million. Anyone have the specifics broken down by year with player or team options included?

I'll pay for a copy.

Quote: if the spurs (insert other respected team here) had gotten chill/smith with the 6/17, they'd be praised don't worry tho in 3 years, the bandwagon will start to get pretty full here AMEN!. I really liked out draft also and think the two Josh's will be starting for us very soon. I wish Diaw got some run with the summer league team. I'd like to see what he can do at the point against Devin Harris.

He still has those hands of stone. I'd rather sign Vlade than Damp at 9 million over six. Quote: He was great for us at Mississippi State when he lead us to the final four in 1996. I don't know about him in the pros, but at MSU, he was a leader on the team. The guy worked his butt off and was one of the best defenders in basketball. He just had the hardest pair of hands on the planet and couldn't catch a pass unless it was bounced to him.

Hands of steal. No way I would offer 9 Million a year, I say 7 tops. Isn't he getting old?

Man forget Pollard, Tinsley, and Harrington. Give me Bender for JT straight up. I'll play him as a running PF with no post game. He's long and athletic albeit injury prone.

I'm not a huge Harrington fan so I would pass on this trade. If Harrington and Jackson are both small forwards then what are we really getting out of this deal? I also hate Tinsley's game. Oh well.

The last year is voidable, read the freaking contract details.

Signing Foyle for 3 years 18 million is a no brainer to me. Shotblocking centers with size that can run the floor are hard to find and will always warrant more money than other positions. For those of you saying Foyle's contract is horrible you must realize that the final year at 10 million is voidable by Golden State. I don't think you can judge Foyle until this year as this will be the first year he can start without Dampier or injuries in the way. I'm not saying he's the greatest but he fits our need more than Kenyon. We have enough length in the perimeter that we require some size down low to hold the other team's post players. In short I don't want to pay Kenyon the Max.

Starting defensive centers are hard to find. With Dampier out of the picture you should see Foyle have a nice year this year barring injuries. Plus the final year is voidable and tops out at 10 million.