NBA Discussion Thread

[soybean]

nick young to enter the draft.

[DorianSmith]

Aaron brooks is the best player in the draft!Next year it will be Bryce Taylor and Malik Hariston then after that TaJuan Porter

[princefielder28]

Originally Posted by DorianSmith

Aaron brooks is the best player in the draft!Next year it will be Bryce Taylor and Malik Hariston then after that TaJuan Porter

if you think so

[DHVF]

Originally Posted by Brodeur

I don't get all the people saying Crawford is one of the best refs in the NBA. Are they confusing him with Dan Crawford, one of the only good refs there is? Joey Crawford blows.

I agree completely. In a field such as refereeing, people seem to be oblivious to the fact that experience doesn't necessarily guarantee quality and thus say bs about refs like Crawford due only to his long resume.

[sweetness34]

Ok so it comes down to this. We have to beat New Jersey to get that #2 seed, because Cleveland is going to beat whoever the hell they're playing.

I think this will be the first time all year that I'm actually nervous about a Bulls regular season game.

[freebirdsrams02]

Lets Go WARRRIORS!! Lets Go WARRIORS!!

[SeanTaylorRIP]

Originally Posted by freebirdsrams02

Lets Go WARRRIORS!! Lets Go WARRIORS!!

If they lose to Portland tonight I hope LA wins, cause if you can't beat Portland to make the playoffs then you might as well go home.

[M.O.T.H.]

Magic have a shot at that 7th seed. No offense Bulls fans but, i'd rather play you guys than the Pistons. If Dwight and Hedo stay hot... maybe we could pull off an upset.

[sweetness34]

Originally Posted by M.O.T.H.

Magic have a shot at that 7th seed. No offense Bulls fans but, i'd rather play you guys than the Pistons. If Dwight and Hedo stay hot... maybe we could pull off an upset.

Oh you could pull off the upset, but you guys are horribly inconsistent and I don't think you could beat us in a 7 game series. You'd probably win 1 or 2, but I just think you guys are too inconsistent to do any damage at all in the playoffs.

[M.O.T.H.]

Originally Posted by sweetness34

Oh you could pull off the upset, but you guys are horribly inconsistent and I don't think you could beat us in a 7 game series. You'd probably win 1 or 2, but I just think you guys are too inconsistent to do any damage at all in the playoffs.

honestly, i'm just happy to be in... Really more of a learning experience here than anything else. Could we pick up a surprise win or two perhaps but, i'm not expecting anything spectacular. We are the 7th/8th seed for a reason.

[derza222]

Finally an upside to being a Bulls fan in NJ, I get to go to tonight's game where we have a chance to lock up 50 wins and the #2 seed. After all of the games that I haven't even been able to get on TV, I'm really excited to be able to see this...

[SeanTaylorRIP]

Atleast Jamison's 48 points last night proved that he can still score when he wants and can still be that guy who can put up 50 multiple nights, probably won't happen again but I will keep my hopes up.

[M.O.T.H.]

Two notes on everyone's favorite player...Darko.

While Magic GM Otis Smith doesn’t foresee a problem re-signing power forward Darko Milicic, Milicic’s agent said Tuesday that the biggest issue might not necessarily be financial. Marc Cornstein, Milicic’s agent, says Milicic’s decision also depends on which teams will allow him to display more of his his shooting and passing skills. He has been used more as a post-up player with the Magic. "I know Darko," agent Marc Cornstein said by phone from Philadelphia. "Wherever he winds up for his second contract, it has to be somewhere where he’s going to be allowed to do what he can do. That’s extremely important to him. "I think that has to be part of the recruiting pitch. That, to me, is the key to this summer, to find somewhere where he is a central figure or can maximize his talents."

Magic power forward Darko Milicic severely sprained his right ankle in the second quarter and did not return. He will get an MRI today in Orlando. "The doctor said it’s a bad sprain," Milicic said. "I can’t tell you now if I can play." It's a blow for the Magic, who could use another big man to go with Dwight Howard, Tony Battie and Milicic. And it would be a shame for Milicic to miss matching up against his old team, the Pistons, who drafted him, soured on him and finally traded him last season to the Magic. But the injury could also be bad timing for Darko, who is trying to land a whopper contract as a restricted free agent this summer. He might not be able to showcase himself on the big playoff stage.

[M.O.T.H.]

Magic win... wizards lose tonight... The magic get the 7th seed.

[remix 6]

Nets all the way. Carter wants the RAPTORS..give him the RAPTORS!

[Namy]

Crawford suspended at least thru the finals??!! DAMMIT i was hoping that he would officiate ours ;P

But wow... that is seriously too severe. Not trying to really pick an argument, but here's another perspective. While what Crawford did was wrong, Stern is such a confusing commissioner it's sad... at the beginning of the season, he declares that refs should not take ANY crap or disrespect from the players (remember when Melo tossed his headband into his own sideline and got ejected... or the countless times Sheed was "sometimes" unfairly given a technical?). Well those refs never got any punishment back then.

Now that it's TIm Duncan, a "class" player, even tho he INCESSANTLY disputes w/refs for no calls, stares down refs, and was mockingly laughing on the sideline like a child, Crawford gets suspended the whole playoffs? Stern is so TWO FACED.

[Bearsfan123]

Duncan was sitting on the bench and laughing with his teammates, what does that have to do with the ref?

[SeanTaylorRIP]

Originally Posted by Namy

Crawford suspended at least thru the finals??!! DAMMIT i was hoping that he would officiate ours ;P

But wow... that is seriously too severe. Not trying to really pick an argument, but here's another perspective. While what Crawford did was wrong, Stern is such a confusing commissioner it's sad... at the beginning of the season, he declares that refs should not take ANY crap or disrespect from the players (remember when Melo tossed his headband into his own sideline and got ejected... or the countless times Sheed was "sometimes" unfairly given a technical?). Well those refs never got any punishment back then.

Now that it's TIm Duncan, a "class" player, even tho he INCESSANTLY disputes w/refs for no calls, stares down refs, and was mockingly laughing on the sideline like a child, Crawford gets suspended the whole playoffs? Stern is so TWO FACED.

Hoops Hype says likely done for his career.

[Bearsfan123]

The Bulls have 4 options in the early part of the lottery (so if they get lucky)

1. Brandan Wright-a project and a ton of potential untapped but a guy who doesnt force things. He plays D and can play in the post. Not a great scorer but a guy who could become great.

2. Al Horford- Right now this is the guy most people are leaning towards for his ability to play D, his low post scoring and probably the most likely reason- hes not a top 3 pick. He still has potential as well, but not nearly as much as Wright. Also can play Center which is a huge boost.

3. Yi Jianlian- The Chinese prospect. Ive never seen him play, but according to NBADraft.net he has a good turn around jumper in the post and a solid face up game. My problem with him is hes not an intense defender (supposedly). But since scoring is what we need, *shrug* better than most we can get.

4. Roy Hibbert- A guy who played fairly evenly with Oden, and has consistently gotten better over his collegiate career. Just a solid player, but not very athletic or great upside.

If not lucky, pretty much 2 options:
1. Spencer Hawes- A scoring post man whos not very athletic and not a defender. Also not overly tall. (A personal note, when I watched his games he seemed to blend into the game, never stood out)

2. Hasheem Thabeet- Pretty much Tyson Chandler v2. Supposedly a better work ethic than Chandler. A huge defender with athleticism.

[BigDawg819]

Originally Posted by Namy

Crawford suspended at least thru the finals??!! DAMMIT i was hoping that he would officiate ours ;P

But wow... that is seriously too severe. Not trying to really pick an argument, but here's another perspective. While what Crawford did was wrong, Stern is such a confusing commissioner it's sad... at the beginning of the season, he declares that refs should not take ANY crap or disrespect from the players (remember when Melo tossed his headband into his own sideline and got ejected... or the countless times Sheed was "sometimes" unfairly given a technical?). Well those refs never got any punishment back then.

Now that it's TIm Duncan, a "class" player, even tho he INCESSANTLY disputes w/refs for no calls, stares down refs, and was mockingly laughing on the sideline like a child, Crawford gets suspended the whole playoffs? Stern is so TWO FACED.

The thesis of that post is Tim Duncan > Rasheed Wallace.

Its obvious that the incident was an ugly one and may have cost the Spurs the opportunity at the number 2 seed but the bottomline here is that Crawford was wrong and out of line. A referee should not inject himself like that nor should he T up a guy who's on the bench conversing with a teammate. This reeks of a personnel vendetta and Crawford's comments to reporters supports that and shows that Stern made the right call.

[D-Unit]

The Magic won't do anything in the playoffs. I'll be surprised if they win a game. Seriously. I'm looking forward to FA already. That's where we'll really make or break our future.

[M.O.T.H.]

Originally Posted by D-Unit

The Magic won't do anything in the playoffs. I'll be surprised if they win a game. Seriously. I'm looking forward to FA already. That's where we'll really make or break our future.

yes sir. I really want Lewis now... he wants 14 million a year so... yeah.

Darko getting hurt could be a blessing in disguise... Say, he broke out in the playoffs we could have had a really tough time re-sgning him to a reasonable deal.

[TH3]

Hasheem Thabeet and Spencer Hawes just scream bust to me

[Big Mike]

Originally Posted by TH3

Hasheem Thabeet and Spencer Hawes just scream bust to me

Spencer Hawes does, but not Thabeet. I can see Thabeet becoming a Dikembe Matumbo player in like 3 years easliy,

[M.O.T.H.]

Well, the Magic beat a Shaqless and a Wadeless Heat team, not fighting for much. The Magic have not played elite competition this month but, you have to figure their confidence has to be riding pretty high after going 6-1 in their last 7. I couldnt be happier with this team entering the playoffs... the only question that remains, is who we will be playing. If the Wizards lose, we get the 7th seed, as of right now the score is...

Wizards 76 Pacers 73 in the 4th quarter.

Lets GO PACERS!!! :)