2010 NBA Offseason Thread

[churchyreal]

Since the NFL got one, the NBA getting one.....LOL!

Once again I wanna say congratulations to the Los Angeles Lakers for another title, 2nd title in a row and give props to Celtics for fighting hard!!

So now it's the offseason and several issues are at play including the following:
-Was this the final run of the "Big 3" in Boston?
-Is Doc Rivers coming back next year?
-What will Phil Jackson do? Go for a 3 peat, retire or coach another team?
-Will Lakers resign Derek Fisher? Will Lakers do any improvement with the team?
-Who will coach Cleveland Cavaliers?
-Will Oklahoma City Thunder become possible title contender in next 2-3 years?


And last but not least......










Where will Lebron James play?



Let's weigh in on the offseason. There are more stories also than the ones I listed (Phoenix Suns, Dwayne Wade, Amare, Bosh, Nets, etc.)

[lordluvr]

Amare is not re-signing with the Suns.  I read that the other day.

[mbamoody]

Since the NFL got one, the NBA getting one.....LOL!

Once again I wanna say congratulations to the Los Angeles Lakers for another title, 2nd title in a row and give props to Celtics for fighting hard!!

So now it's the offseason and several issues are at play including the following:
-Was this the final run of the "Big 3" in Boston?
-Is Doc Rivers coming back next year?
-What will Phil Jackson do? Go for a 3 peat, retire or coach another team?
-Will Lakers resign Derek Fisher? Will Lakers do any improvement with the team?
-Who will coach Cleveland Cavaliers?
-Will Oklahoma City Thunder become possible title contender in next 2-3 years?


And last but not least......
Where will Lebron James play?


Let's weigh in on the offseason. There are more stories also than the ones I listed (Phoenix Suns, Dwayne Wade, Amare, Bosh, Nets, etc.)

Don't think Doc Rivers will be back.
The Big 3 will give it one more shot.
Phil will go for the 3 peat
Fisher will probably come off the bench for the Lakers next year, if not, he'll retire
Byron Scott will coach the Cavs
And the Thunder have a good shot to contend, if none of this years free agents go to the west. (I think LBJ will need to go to the west to win a title)


Does this championship make Kobe the greatest Laker ever?

[Arkhams Finest]

Does this championship make Kobe the greatest Laker ever?

In my mind, and in the minds of MANY Lakers fans, Magic Johnson will always be the greatest Laker of All-Time.

I think Magic, as celebrated as he is, is still underrated.  He'd be an All-Star at all 5 positions.

[4hisglory]

In my mind, and in the minds of MANY Lakers fans, Magic Johnson will always be the greatest Laker of All-Time.

I think Magic, as celebrated as he is, is still underrated.  He'd be an All-Star at all 5 positions.

What about Jerry West?

But yeah Magic is "The Laker"

[mbamoody]

In my mind, and in the minds of MANY Lakers fans, Magic Johnson will always be the greatest Laker of All-Time.

I think Magic, as celebrated as he is, is still underrated.  He'd be an All-Star at all 5 positions.

I do agree with the last statement; but there is something about a guy who can beat you 5-6 different ways on the court. I'm still on the fence about it. I just think Kobe's skill set far exceeds Magic's. (IMO)

Shooting - Kobe
Court Vision - Magic
Passing - Magic
Athletisism - Kobe
Post Game - Tie
Defense - Kobe
Rebounding - Tie
Clutch - Kobe (slightly)

[lordluvr]

In my mind, and in the minds of MANY Lakers fans, Magic Johnson will always be the greatest Laker of All-Time.

I think Magic, as celebrated as he is, is still underrated.  He'd be an All-Star at all 5 positions.

If I had a vote, it would be for Magic.  Kobe is the best scorer in Laker history (or will be at some point).  But, Magic made "Showtime" what it was.  His versatility was unmatched.  He made his entire team better and was so unselfish.  Yet, he knew when to take over a game when he neeed to.  I've always been a Laker-hater, but I know greatness when I see it.

[Arkhams Finest]

I just think Kobe's skill set far exceeds Magic's. (IMO)

NOBODY's skill set "far exceeds" Magic Johnson's.  Nobody.  Not Michael Jordan.  Not Oscar Robertson.  And definitely not Kobe Bryant.

Not sure how you could say that, unless you didn't really watch Magic.  There's no other way you could say that.

[lordluvr]

NOBODY's skill set "far exceeds" Magic Johnson's.  Nobody.  Not Michael Jordan.  Not Oscar Robertson.  And definitely not Kobe Bryant.

Not sure how you could say that, unless you didn't really watch Magic.  There's no other way you could say that.

6'9"(or so), and could play EVERY position on the floor WELL.  Skill set?

[joshuag]

Amare is not re-signing with the Suns.  I read that the other day.

I co-sign, I just dont think he is that great and if he goes to a slow paced team his numbers will go down.. Also because Nash wont be his point guard..

Don't think Doc Rivers will be back.
The Big 3 will give it one more shot.
Phil will go for the 3 peat
Fisher will probably come off the bench for the Lakers next year, if not, he'll retire
Byron Scott will coach the Cavs
And the Thunder have a good shot to contend, if none of this years free agents go to the west. (I think LBJ will need to go to the west to win a title)

Does this championship make Kobe the greatest Laker ever?

I co-sign this as well James will need to go west to get ring or team up with Wade or bosh to get it.

The big 3 will NOT be together, allen is going somewhere he doesnt have to play a lot of minute but make the money and get a ring. Umm, Lakers or thunder interesting ..

What about Jerry West?

But yeah Magic is "The Laker"

Kobe is great, you cant compare magic vs kobe due to the fact the they are two different players in two different leagues... players now are mush more quickier than back then and centers now a days can shoot 3's back then they stayed around the rim.. so of course when he player center back then he couldn't be stopped... lol


Phil will go for the 3 peat


Yes he will

Byron Scott will coach the Cavs

James needs to leave quickly with the coach coming like scott... lol



How about Shaq going back to Cali. being a back up to bynum will ensure a greater chance at another ring with two very good centers.. They still need to fix the bench a little but not by much.

[churchyreal]

What I think hurts Kobe in any conversation (compared with Mike or Magic) is his image. For the most part everybody loves Mike and Magic but with Kobe either people really love him or people really hate him. For some he comes off as arrogant. I was talking to one of my friends last night/this morning and she feels like Kobe tried to run everyone away after the first 3 peat. Some think that Lakers could have had a 4 or even 5 peat, especially when they had Malone and Payton.

At the end of the day, no one will ever surpass MJ. Different era of basketball and it's much harder to win a title in this era than it was in the previous eras. At the end of the day, Kobe's image hurts him more than anything.

But honestly, this championship, it didn't seem like it had as much excitement as the one last year. Maybe because this one was the hardest to get.

[Arkhams Finest]

Different era of basketball and it's much harder to win a title in this era than it was in the previous eras.

O rly?

[mbamoody]

NOBODY's skill set "far exceeds" Magic Johnson's.  Nobody.  Not Michael Jordan.  Not Oscar Robertson.  And definitely not Kobe Bryant.

Not sure how you could say that, unless you didn't really watch Magic.  There's no other way you could say that.

I watched plenty of Magic. And maybe I used the wrong word by saying (far) as in out of his league. I'm saying that Kobe has advanced his game to a level, where he is almost unstoppable. I know some or most won't agree with me; but that's the good thing about the debate.

[Hasmonean1]

For the most part everybody loves Mike and Magic but with Kobe either people really love him or people really hate him.

This is for the most part true.  Lemme just throw in a nice little euphamism for those us who trying to stay heaven-bound correct  .  I'll just say that I'm not fond of the one Kobe Bean Bryant. 

[Arkhams Finest]

I watched plenty of Magic. And maybe I used the wrong word by saying (far) as in out of his league. I'm saying that Kobe has advanced his game to a level, where he is almost unstoppable. I know some or most won't agree with me; but that's the good thing about the debate.

I guess it's a matter of personal preference.  With a scorer, if he's not careful the offense will turn into 1 guy taking fadeaways and circus shots, and the other 4 guys standing around hoping he makes them. 

I got the sense that, at times, that's what happened to the Lakers offense.  Fortunately for the Lakers Kobe is so incredibly good that his near-impossible (for anybody else) shots were enough to win a championship.  There was a stretch in game 5 where Kobe played like an NBA Jam character who caught fire.   

With Magic Johnson you have a guy who can't score like Kobe (few can), but because he's probably the best passer the league has seen, he keeps the entire offense running like a well-oiled machine.  He made IMPOSSIBLE passes and gave guys layups and easy jumpers.  The Showtime Lakers are known for being a great offense primarily because they had Magic Johnson.

...at the same time if you had to pick one guy to make a shot to win it all, it's Kobe.  Personally I'd take Magic for the whole game, but if I need the game-winning shot, I'm taking Kobe 9 times out of 10.

I can definitely see someone picking Kobe over Magic.

[mbamoody]

I guess it's a matter of personal preference.  With a scorer, if he's not careful the offense will turn into 1 guy taking fadeaways and circus shots, and the other 4 guys standing around hoping he makes them. 

I got the sense that, at times, that's what happened to the Lakers offense.  Fortunately for the Lakers Kobe is so incredibly good that his near-impossible (for anybody else) shots were enough to win a championship.  There was a stretch in game 5 where Kobe played like an NBA Jam character who caught fire.   

With Magic Johnson you have a guy who can't score like Kobe (few can), but because he's probably the best passer the league has seen, he keeps the entire offense running like a well-oiled machine.  He made IMPOSSIBLE passes and gave guys layups and easy jumpers.  The Showtime Lakers are known for being a great offense primarily because they had Magic Johnson.

...at the same time if you had to pick one guy to make a shot to win it all, it's Kobe.  Personally I'd take Magic for the whole game, but if I need the game-winning shot, I'm taking Kobe 9 times out of 10.

I can definitely see someone picking Kobe over Magic.

This is true.

[jonesl78]

The best player argument is a hard one when judging a team sport. If this was track, golf or swimming it would be easier. In a team sport, the best player usually has to sacrifice individual statistics, usually shot attempts, to win. Consequently, I place more weight on championships won than statistics. Its very difficult to compare eras. For example, in Magic's era, the rules were, IMO, tougher and free agency was not as wild as it is now. If I had to choose, I would give Magic the slight edge over Kobe. However, in Kobe's defence, Magic played with two other hall of famers that were able to compliment his passing game. Kobe maybe the only hall of famer on his team.

[lordluvr]

Izzo turns down the Cavs job.  Can the Cavs land a big name coach with all of the uncertainty surrounding LeBron?  Will the Cavs be better off waiting until the free-agent picture is more clear?

[mbamoody]

Izzo turns down the Cavs job.  Can the Cavs land a big name coach with all of the uncertainty surrounding LeBron?  Will the Cavs be better off waiting until the free-agent picture is more clear?

Answer to both questions are NO. No big name coach wants to go there not knowing Lebron's status. And the Cavs need to hire a coach now (before the draft) so he can have the opportunity to put a team together that fits his style.

[churchyreal]

I'm hearing Byron Scott is favorite to coach Cavs. Personally I'd rather see him or Magic Johnson take over Lakers once Jackson hangs it up for good.