2013-2014 NBA Thread - IND @ WAS and OKC @ LAC on ESPN

[imlive365]

The media used to criticism him now they defend his every move and lobby for him. I guess someone behind the scenes put n that work. Even when they lost to the thunder espn spent the entire day saying bron no help.


If he doesn't get MVP he will prob get DPOY to ease him over.

Na he'll just win another title and make dudes like you shhh for 3 months

 

[proshares]

Latest trade-deadline rumors.

Spoiler

New York Knicks
The New York Knicks continue to work the phones in a desperate attempt to put the team back into playoff contention. Losing has zero benefit for the Knicks this year. The Nuggets get their draft pick no matter where it falls.

I'm told there's almost no chance Carmelo Anthony gets traded. (I would write zero, but you should never say zero when your team is run by James Dolan.)

So the Knicks are out there seeing what sort of interest a combination of Raymond Felton, Iman Shumpert and Beno Udrih can muster.


The Knicks have focused in on upgrading at the point guard spot. Toronto's Kyle Lowry and Atlanta's Jeff Teague have been targets, according to Marc Stein.

Another name to keep in mind -- a long shot mind you -- is Houston's Jeremy Lin. The Knicks provided the backdrop for Lin's coming-out party before deciding not to match Houston's offer sheet for Lin two years ago.

The Rockets have been pretty steadfast that they don't want to trade Lin, despite the fact that he's lost his starting job to Patrick Beverley. They believe his scoring off the bench is important to their success.

If the Knicks are going to get any of those players -- especially Lowry or Lin -- Tim Hardaway Jr. is going to have to be part of the deal.

Trading Hardaway will be hard to swallow for Knicks fans. He and Shumpert are the only two young players on the roster with a really bright future. Trading for Lin or Teague also kills any cap space the Knicks will have in 2015, but given the pressure to win now, they might just make a deal like this anyway.


Golden State Warriors
Will the Warriors trade Harrison Barnes? Publicly they've been telling teams that they don't want to move him. But like the Knicks, the Warriors are another team that badly wants a playoff run and are trying to find ways to upgrade their roster. Stephen Curry isn't going anywhere. Neither is Andre Iguodala nor Andrew Bogut. Klay Thompson isn't untouchable, but the Warriors really love him. David Lee is available, but the market is pretty soft for him. So while the Warriors are telling everyone that Barnes is not available, they have been listening and even countering offers that have come from other teams, leading several GMs to believe he's available for the right price.

What's the price? A young player who can help contribute to the team right now -- especially someone who can give them some much-needed depth on their front line. They'd love to get their hands on Kevin Love. But the Wolves would want much more than Barnes. The Pistons' Greg Monroe, the Sixers' Thaddeus Young, the Cavs' Tristan Thompson, the Nuggets Kenneth Faried, the Bucks' John Henson and the Raptors' Amir Johnson all intrigue the Warriors. Whether any of those teams are willing to give up that much to acquire Barnes remains to be seen.


Phoenix Suns
The Suns have some of the most coveted assets of any team: draft picks -- and lots of them. They have their own pick, the Pacers' selection, the Wolves' pick (if it falls between No. 14 and No. 30) and the Wizards' slot (if it falls between No. 13 and No. 30).

With a number of lottery teams looking to add another asset (the Bucks and Sixers in particular are in the hunt for more picks), it is possible the Suns can snag a veteran for their playoff push. Plus, they have a huge expiring contract (Emeka Okafor) to facilitate a deal. The Suns won't give these away; but if they believe they can acquire a player who could put them in a better playoff position this year, they'll do it.

The player to watch is the Cavs' Luol Deng. As I wrote on Tuesday, new interim GM David Griffin believes the Cavs might be better off dumping Deng now while they still can get something in return for him. If the Suns give up a couple of picks, will that be enough to encourage the Cavs to make a deal? Deng would be a great fit in Phoenix.


Houston Rockets
The Rockets continue to shop, yes shop, Omer Asik. They can say all they want about how much they value him, but they tried to move in December and are working to get him off their books for the next season. Asik is coveted by many teams, but his huge salary next year is scaring teams off.


New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans spent a lot of money this summer to put themselves into the playoff hunt. But with virtually no shot at making the playoffs this year (0.3 percent, according to the Hollinger Playoff Odds) and it looking like they won't be bad enough to be in the top five picks in the draft (the Pelicans must send their pick to the 76ers if it falls between No. 6 and No. 30), the Pelicans have explored shedding contracts.

Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans are both available, though I'm not sure if there's a huge market available for either player. Gordon has two more years at $30 million left on his deal. Evans has three years, $32 million left. The thinking is that the Pelicans can reduce payroll and perhaps get back in the running for that top-five pick if both players were off the roster.

That's obviously at odds with the Pelicans' decision this summer to go all in on the playoffs. But now that reality has set in, it's not too late to try to reverse course.

 

[tomdiginson]

Rondo isn't better than Westbrook in any fashion, chill.

Don't let his inflated assist #'s fool you, there are so many times he forces passes like Russ used to force shots. He's not a better defender, definitely not a better scorer and has no continuity with the team.

I don't even know why I responded to that, there is no GM who's not taking Westbrook over any other PG going into the future.

Healthy Rose>>>>Healthy westbrook

 

[imlive365]

How much and how long is feltons contract? They need to figure out a way to get rid of all this dead weight they got on there team and forget bout the playoffs

 

[herbshuttles15]

Possibly lt but how do we know for sure ? Rondo has already gotten over the hump and is a champion. Has already logged legendary performances on the biggst stages. Now hes coming back look GOOD. His jumper has been falling. If he can shoot consistently? He is far and away the best PG in the NBA.

I am sorry but this isnt true. Steph Curry, Chris Paul, and Tony Parker are all better than him.

At the moment? Sure. If Rondo starts shooting consistently, like I just said, then hes a top 5 player period. Yall like to forget Selective memory.

That's a pretty big IF considering he's never had consistent jump shot, not a good free throw shooter, and turns down good shots for assist.
Top 5 tho

 

[awwsome]

Healthy Rose>>>>Healthy westbrook

It's not 2011 though

 

[herbshuttles15]

I'll take Westbrook all day over Rose

 

[franco23x]

Rondo isn't better than Westbrook in any fashion, chill.

Don't let his inflated assist #'s fool you, there are so many times he forces passes like Russ used to force shots. He's not a better defender, definitely not a better scorer and has no continuity with the team.

I don't even know why I responded to that, there is no GM who's not taking Westbrook over any other PG going into the future.

Healthy Rose>>>>Healthy westbrook

I haven't seen a healthy Rose in years.

 

[IATT]

 

rose's mvp season stats:

25 pts, 7.7 asts, 4.1 rebs, 1 steal per, 44% fg and 33% 3p in 37.4 mins per

westbrook that same season:

21.9 pts, 8.2 asts, 4.6 rebs, 1.9 stls, 44% fg and 33% 3p in 34.7 mins per

i'm going to assume you dont want to factor in defense

 

[tomdiginson]

It's not 2011 though

If Rose comes back healthy and picks up where he left off I'd take him over westbrook.

 

[calibeebee]

Rondo and Russell's playing styles are so different it doesn't make much sense to compare them.
It's like comparing Jason Kidd to Allen Iverson. Rondo doesn't really look to score that often while Russell is constantly attacking.
It's not even that rondo can't score. If he couldn't then that's different but he's proven he can. In great amounts if necessary.
He makes a choice not to, to get more assists. Sometimes his insistence on being a pass first type PG is detrimental to the team.
But then again so is russell's attack attack attack mentality. If I was building a team I would take Rondo over Russell each and every single time.
He can run a team better than Russell can and like NooEra said he's a triple-double threat each and every single night.
Russell is athletic and it's fun to watch him chuck shots and dunk seemingly whenever he wants but his basketball IQ simply isn't as high as Rondo's.
Being a better scorer doesn't equal being a better player. If that was the case then KD > Melo > Lebron which we all know is false and only one of those players has a ring.

Hint: It's the more well rounded one who's a triple double threat every night.

*que the rock clapping gif.

The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
Truth

 

[awwsome]

If Rose comes back healthy and picks up where he left off I'd take him over westbrook.

You're the only one

 

[ravagebx]

 

 

rose's mvp season stats:

25 pts, 7.7 asts, 4.1 rebs, 1 steal per, 44% fg and 33% 3p in 37.4 mins per

westbrook that same season:

21.9 pts, 8.2 asts, 4.6 rebs, 1.9 stls, 44% fg and 33% 3p in 34.7 mins per

i'm going to assume you dont want to factor in defense

I been singing this song for the longest but people refuse to acknowledge the facts. Russell Westbrook is as good or better than Derrick Rose. And before he got assassinated by P Bev you had to also consider that Russy was much more durable. Defense isn't even worth comparing.

 

[herbshuttles15]

It's not 2011 though

If Rose comes back healthy and picks up where he left off I'd take him over westbrook.

Rose came back already and look like half the player he used to be.

Westbrook came back and look improved.

 

[Maximus Meridius]

The servant?? C'mon Durant.

What's wrong with the Slim Reaper?

 

[ill steelo]

Who has assisted another player more often over the last 3 yrs than Westbrook has KD? This narrative is stupid. Who do you want taking those shots, Collison? Perkins? I thouhgt after last yr's playoffs, people were over that whole thing with Westbrook allegedly not passing to KD enough, but I guess Kd's January bought that debate back into the forefront and from now on, every game Russ plays and KD doesn't score 40 people will be ready to pounce.

This is literally the truth.

 

[dt43]

Russell's problem isn't just taking shots, it's how he takes them. He goes mano-a-mano way too often and tries to play heroball. He'll come down and shoot on 3 straight possessions, even if your name is Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan that's not good basketball.

I love him on OKC but he needs to play smarter when he comes back

 

[dman14]

Russell's problem isn't just taking shots, it's how he takes them. He goes mano-a-mano way too often and tries to play heroball. He'll come down and shoot on 3 straight possessions, even if your name is Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan that's not good basketball.

I love him on OKC but he needs to play smarter when he comes back

those mid range shots he takes are money

 

[awwsome]

The servant?? C'mon Durant.

What's wrong with the Slim Reaper?

Dude is a Christian, I can understand why he's opposed to it

 

[ravagebx]

Russell's problem isn't just taking shots, it's how he takes them. He goes mano-a-mano way too often and tries to play heroball. He'll come down and shoot on 3 straight possessions, even if your name is Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan that's not good basketball.

I love him on OKC but he needs to play smarter when he comes back

He goes "mano-a-mano" a lot because he's a nightmare matchup at the 1. Most nights opponents don't have anyone that can keep up with him and he knows it.

 

[lawdog1]

I'm starting to think CP3 came back from his injury too early. Its not just because he couldn't make a shot last night, but because it looks like he's really thinking about his shoulder when's on the court and playing tentatively because of it. If he's that worried about re-injury, he should have waited longer to start playing again.

 

[carltonjunior]

 

[addict4sneakers]

Although the chances are slim, the Knicks need to seriously consider my main man delonte

 

[Master Zik]

I'd take a healthy Russy even with my criticisms of him. Rose's game is lacking too much for me.

 

[JJ Goon]

Although the chances are slim, the Knicks need to seriously consider my main man delonte

Id actually do it, got nothing to lose now