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

[pmatic]

Harden wasn't consensus #3. Everybody thought that was a reach and were calling him a bust (including Bill Simmons) until a yr and a half in after the Green trade when he started to show talent. People thought they should have gone Tyreke Evans(who won R.O.Y) or Stephen Curry, until it became clear Harden just needed the opportunity and both of the 2 previous had flaws in their own game and in potentially meshing with Westbrook and Durant

I don't know about this.

I'm naturlly biased, but I'm almost sure the Harden pick was deemed fine from what I remember. Far from a reach. And I wouldn't use Simmons as a barometer as he barely watched college basketball.

I think the only guys that were in the running for #3 were Harden, Rubio (to move Westbrook off the ball) and Thabeet (gone at #2 :x).

 

[do work son]

rockets are dogging the grizzlies in memphis

 

[Peep Game]

I've mentioned this already, but I'd like to thank David Stern for keeping Pau Gasol off my team. I salute him

 

[100027]

i only said they lucked into durant. remember he went second because of oden?

i give them props for westbrook and harden. they just drafted well there.

Maybe if Oden goes to Seattle he never falls off the couch? I dunno

 

[awwsome]

Imagine if the Sonics got the #1 pick and took Oden

 

[datznasty]

Presti calculated that move, got bad by trading away RaShard Lewis, Ray Allen, Kurt Thomas and thus their salaries to bottom out. Much better than being like

Anyways, lot of mistakes in that 2009 draft
View media item 630193http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090625

4:51: I have to come clean: If the Zombie Sonics take Rubio or Curry, they will be employing my favorite college player of the decade (Kevin Durant); my favorite international player of the decade (Rubio) OR my favorite college player of the past two years (Curry); two other college guys I loved (Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook); and if that's not enough, they have my favorite young coach (Scottie Brooks) and my favorite GM who didn't go to MIT (Sam Presti). At some point, all these things will override "They have scummy owners who hijacked the team from Seattle." I don't trust myself to handle this well. I am an only child. I'm selfish. I care about me only. And if I'm watching 75 Zombie Sonics games next season, at some point, I'm going to want to go to one.

Just know that, if I switch to the dark side, I won't do it half-assed. It will be like when Hulk Hogan joined the nWo. I'd see my editor (and die-hard Seattle fan) Kevin Jackson at the ESPYS, shake his hand, pretend to be nice, then hit him with a steel chair, do 10 leg drops on him and rip off my Hugo Boss suit to reveal a jersey of the Team That Shall Not Be Named as Erin Andrews screams, "Nooooooo! Nooooooo!" like Tony Schiavone. You'll get your money's worth. So again, I'm giving you a heads-up now. OK? OK.

4:52: The Zombie Sonics take … James Harden. And thank God, I didn't want to turn on Seattle. I really didn't.

A few teams are going to rue the day they passed on Ricky Rubio.

"He's battled asthma since he was a child," Scott tells us. How does Rubio drop to No. 4? How?!? I feel like I'm gonna pass out. I like Harden as a glue-character guy and he definitely has a good porn name. But considering the Zombies have to worry about Durant fleeing in a couple of years, wasn't it in their best interests to find him an unselfish guard who's immensely fun to play with and was put on the earth to get Durant easy baskets? Big mistake.

4:54: An anonymous Seattle reader sends this e-mail: "Thank you, OKC. You almost had the most exciting team of the NBA. -- Signed, Seattle."

Exactly. Although I like the way Harden is handling this Jones interview right now (very smooth); I like his bow tie (sharp); and I really like his retro-James Worthy beard (tremendous). He's definitely one more solid character guy for the Zombies. Logical pick. You know, except for the part where they passed on a guy with Bird-Barry-Magic-Nash-Maravich passing genes.

4:57: In desperate need of a point guard, Sacramento takes … Tyreke Evans. It's as if these GMs are trying to hurt me. I feel physically ill.

Tyreke's weaknesses, according to our ESPN.com Draft Card: "Can be selfish … over-dribbles … lacks consistent range on his jump shot … not a super explosive leaper … poor shot selection." They left out, "Not a natural point guard," and "drove a getaway car during a drive-by shooting but was not charged by police."

4:58: Shaking my head.

4:58: Still shaking my head.

4:58: Bilas loves the pick but says, "He's a little bit ball-dominant, he needs to have the ball in his hands, and he's not a good shooter." Ball-dominant … isn't that a nice way of calling someone a ball hog? Where is my Jay Bilas Thesaurus?

4:59: Scott on Evans: "His nickname is 'Hugo' because he was born during Hurricane Hugo." That pick was a natural disaster. Literally.

 

[statis22]

Harden was the best pick, he was the guy that paid instant dividends for the team and made them playoff caliber.

 

[rck3sactown]

Imagine if the Sonics got the #1 pick and took Oden

Sonics draft Oden, and the Sonics stay in Seatte?!?


I thought in my heart of hearts, the Kings were gonna get James Harden

 

[black migo]

I will always remember the 09 draft, the same day mj passed, and me smh watching jrue just sitting in the green room

 

[jjs07]

Hold up...even bigger news than the Gortat/Okafor trade. Chris Smith actually made the Knicks? I saw dude only played 20 min total in the preseason. They are really bending over backwards for JR Smith, for whatever the reason.

 

[illmatic34]

I hear this argument all the time and its completely illogical.

You can be critical of the president without ever having been a politician.

Stephen A Smith played in college, and while he never played professionally, I can point out a myriad of coaches, gms, ect in every sport who never played pro ball

Preach

at the thread title...really though, I think LBJ will eclipse Bird pretty soon if he hasn't already.

 

[dt43]

Wade is in mid playoff form

He's injured??

 

[awwsome]

Shawn Livingston looking damn good in the preseason

 

[tyonenine]

He's injured??

I knew it was coming.

 

[pmatic]

Hold up...even bigger news than the Gortat/Okafor trade. Chris Smith actually made the Knicks? I saw dude only played 20 min total in the preseason. They are really bending over backwards for JR Smith, for whatever the reason.

View media item 630225
It really doesn't make sense to keep Chris when J.R. has already signed his new deal, but that's nepotism and the Knicks for you.

 

[reggiekiller]

Hold up...even bigger news than the Gortat/Okafor trade. Chris Smith actually made the Knicks?

I saw dude only played 20 min total in the preseason. They are really bending over backwards for JR Smith, for whatever the reason.

That my sir, is why they are the New York Knicks

 

[urbetterthenme]

Hold up...even bigger news than the Gortat/Okafor trade. Chris Smith actually made the Knicks?

I saw dude only played 20 min total in the preseason. They are really bending over backwards for JR Smith, for whatever the reason.

He plays good defense. And him being around helps JR stay cool which is important

 

[tyonenine]

Brooklyn acting like this game counts

 

[awwsome]

CAA gonna CAA

JR might even start over Shump this year because of them

If dude didn't goof his life away in the playoffs they would have swindled somebody out of 60 million for 4.

 

[reggiekiller]

serious question, and I hope it doesnt turn into ridiculousness....but Jerry West or Kobe Bryant?

It just blows my mind that Jerry West averaged 27 ppg on 47% shooting for his career without a 3 point line.

does anybody else love watchin hardwood classic games?

 

[black migo]

Golden state couldnt look out like the knicks, just let seth sit in the d league like chris gonna do

 

[jjs07]

I was reading that CAA is making a push for JR to start as well.

Melo gotta be sucking his teeth right now...

 

[urbetterthenme]

CAA gonna CAA

JR might even start over Shump this year because of them

If dude didn't goof his life away in the playoffs they would have swindled somebody out of 60 million for 4.

JR is supposed to be the starting SG for Dallas right now making 15 a year.

 

[awwsome]

Wade looking drunk out there

Nets going to make A LOT of 3's this year

 

[urbetterthenme]

Elephant in the room, what has become of Austin Rivers development?