The NBA season's here!!!

[chevonee]

Is it just me, or does Miami seem to be having a pretty easy time of this?  It doesn't look like Boston has an answer for the big 2 1/2.  Actually, I'll call it the big 3: Wade, James, 1/2 Bosh and 1/2 bench.

Like I said earlier....the good times of the Boston 3 is OVER!!! It all ended once Danny Ainge decided to tear that team apart. Not only did he trade away one of their best defensive players (Kendrick Perkins)...he also traded away 2 more of their bigs. It's awful

[lordluvr]

Of the 8 remaining teams I think the Heat will be the toughest to out.

Lebron is able to carry a team in the playoffs.

Wad is able to carry a team in the playoffs.

Put these to big-game players on the same team and you're in trouble.

Also, Bosh is the best 3rd option in the league.

You know, I'm not quite sold on Bosh like I was at the beginning of the season.  I think being relegated to being a 3rd option has hurt his confidence a bit.  He's a lot more passive than I figured he would be.  He relies heavily on jumpers and does not establish himself in the post nearly enough.  He has (or at least had) an amazing post game.  If Miami adds isolating him in the post in addition to the in-game heroics of the dynamic duo, fuhgettaboudit!

[chevonee]

You know, I'm not quite sold on Bosh like I was at the beginning of the season.  I think being relegated to being a 3rd option has hurt his confidence a bit.  He's a lot more passive than I figured he would be.  He relies heavily on jumpers and does not establish himself in the post nearly enough.  He has (or at least had) an amazing post game.  If Miami adds isolating him in the post in addition to the in-game heroics of the dynamic duo, fuhgettaboudit!

Please pardon me but didn't he decide to go to Miami. He knew he would be the 3rd option when he signed on the dotted line. Even if Lebron didn't go to Miami, he had to know that he would at least be the 2nd option.

[blyempowered]

So it looks like Miami is the team to beat? If focused I still think Lakers can win it all but a Heat/Lakers finals still scares me. And Chevonee is right, dumbest trade in NBA modern history.

[chevonee]

I can not believe that we're going to have to wait until Saturday to see another game between these four teams...What in the ham sammich made them do that!?!?!?!

[lordluvr]

Please pardon me but didn't he decide to go to Miami. He knew he would be the 3rd option when he signed on the dotted line. Even if Lebron didn't go to Miami, he had to know that he would at least be the 2nd option.

Sure, he made the choice.  I just think he foolishly thought it would be a team of 3 #1 options.  I think it took him a while to get accustomed to becoming a role player.  I love what Spolstra is now doing with him, making him the #1 while Wade and LeBron rest on the bench.  He's taking a page out of Phil Jackson's book.  Jackson used to sit Mike and the startes and let Scottie do his thing with the 2nd unit.  It got Scottie his points and kept him happy, and it kept the team in games while Mike was on the bench. After Bosh finally complained about not getting the ball, I did see that they made that change. 

As a team, they're still evolving.  That change was a great step in the evolutionary process.  If I am the rest of the NBA, I'm scared right about now...

[blyempowered]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6476219&campaign=rss&source=twitter&ex_cid=Twitter_espn_6476219

And it looks more and more like we're heading to an NBA lockout folks. Owners' proposed a CBA (collective bargaining agreement) that players are not happy with. Basically, owners want to cut money that players are getting and also want to focus on making it possible for all 30 teams to have a chance to contend and again, I think the Lebron James mess for this happening.

[chevonee]

Sure, he made the choice.  I just think he foolishly thought it would be a team of 3 #1 options.  I think it took him a while to get accustomed to becoming a role player.  I love what Spolstra is now doing with him, making him the #1 while Wade and LeBron rest on the bench.  He's taking a page out of Phil Jackson's book.  Jackson used to sit Mike and the startes and let Scottie do his thing with the 2nd unit.  It got Scottie his points and kept him happy, and it kept the team in games while Mike was on the bench. After Bosh finally complained about not getting the ball, I did see that they made that change. 

As a team, they're still evolving.  That change was a great step in the evolutionary process.  If I am the rest of the NBA, I'm scared right about now...

I agree!

[blyempowered]

Me and my friend (whom I consider a sister) have been debating about Miami Heat. She thinks I"m overhyping them.....LOL! Yeah I know they still lack size and their PG situation is not all settled but when you have 2 of the top 10 (maybe top 5) players in the league in their prime, that's scary to me. Miami, right now, is showing themselves to be the team to beat in these playoffs. Lakers still are in that category but play inconsistent. If Miami can get their size issues together and LGJ and D-Wade stay focused they have the potential of winning 3-4 titles in a row! The biggest competitors I see in the next few years would be Lakers (depending on if they get their future stuff straight as we see the decline of Kobe), OKC, Knicks, and wherever Chris Paul and D Howard go.

[chevonee]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6476219&campaign=rss&source=twitter&ex_cid=Twitter_espn_6476219

And it looks more and more like we're heading to an NBA lockout folks. Owners' proposed a CBA (collective bargaining agreement) that players are not happy with. Basically, owners want to cut money that players are getting and also want to focus on making it possible for all 30 teams to have a chance to contend and again, I think the Lebron James mess for this happening.

It's going to be much worse than the NFL lockout. I think that the owners are like you said trying to keep another Lebron and Carmelo situation from happening again. They think the inmates have been running the asylum...lOL!

[blyempowered]

It's going to be much worse than the NFL lockout. I think that the owners are like you said trying to keep another Lebron and Carmelo situation from happening again. They think the inmates have been running the asylum...lOL!

Right! I think it's highly possible we don't see a season at all. There are some serious philosophical differences. Some believe it's a player-run system now and that it should be this way. Others believe that the players are taking over and the system should be ran by the owners. Everybody wants to be in charge....doesn't that sound like another place that we're familiar with?....LOL!

[lordluvr]

Me and my friend (whom I consider a sister) have been debating about Miami Heat. She thinks I"m overhyping them.....LOL! Yeah I know they still lack size and their PG situation is not all settled but when you have 2 of the top 10 (maybe top 5) players in the league in their prime, that's scary to me. Miami, right now, is showing themselves to be the team to beat in these playoffs. Lakers still are in that category but play inconsistent. If Miami can get their size issues together and LGJ and D-Wade stay focused they have the potential of winning 3-4 titles in a row! The biggest competitors I see in the next few years would be Lakers (depending on if they get their future stuff straight as we see the decline of Kobe), OKC, Knicks, and wherever Chris Paul and D Howard go.

Maybe top 5???

To your other points, I don't think Miami has size issues at all. They know how to play with what they have.  They had 8 blocks last night!

I don't even think they have real point guard issues, honestly.  The Heat, as a team, is finally realizing who they are, and everyone is finally starting to understand (and fill) their roles.  There is a very good reason you hear chants of "MVP" whenever Joel Anthony has the ball in his hands.  With him defending the middle, Wade and LeBron have the freedom to jump in passing lanes and double team and do all of the things that great defensive players do. 

[blyempowered]

Maybe top 5???

To your other points, I don't think Miami has size issues at all. They know how to play with what they have.  They had 8 blocks last night!

I don't even think they have real point guard issues, honestly.  The Heat, as a team, is finally realizing who they are, and everyone is finally starting to understand (and fill) their roles.  There is a very good reason you hear chants of "MVP" whenever Joel Anthony has the ball in his hands.  With him defending the middle, Wade and LeBron have the freedom to jump in passing lanes and double team and do all of the things that great defensive players do.

LOL! Ok, top 5...haha!

I agree with your points!

[chevonee]

Maybe top 5???

To your other points, I don't think Miami has size issues at all. They know how to play with what they have.  They had 8 blocks last night!

I don't even think they have real point guard issues, honestly.  The Heat, as a team, is finally realizing who they are, and everyone is finally starting to understand (and fill) their roles.  There is a very good reason you hear chants of "MVP" whenever Joel Anthony has the ball in his hands.  With him defending the middle, Wade and LeBron have the freedom to jump in passing lanes and double team and do all of the things that great defensive players do.

Imagine how much better they're going to be when Udonis Haslem returns.

[lordluvr]

Imagine how much better they're going to be when Udonis Haslem returns.

I'm salivating at the thought!

[Arkhams Finest]

Maybe top 5???

My Top 5:

Lebron
Kobe
Howard
Wade
Durant

[chevonee]

My Top 5:

Lebron
Kobe
Howard
Wade
Durant

My top 5

Lebron
Wade
Kobe
Durant
Howard

[blyempowered]

Why Kobe not #1?.....LOL! #justcurious

[lordluvr]

My top 3:

LeBron, Wade and Kobe.  The order is interchangeable on any given day.  I can't decide who rounds out my top 5.  I think Howard is definitely there.

[Arkhams Finest]

Why Kobe not #1?.....LOL! #justcurious

He was #1 for several years.  When you look at Lebron's rebounding and passing ability, in addition to his scoring and defense, I think you have to make him #1.  He can play positions 1-4 and be an All-Star at every single one of them.

To be honest I really could've ranked Wade over Kobe and Howard.  He's an elite scorer and he grabs rebounds and blocks shots like a power forward.  He also plays great man-to-man D and he get's a lot of steals.  He's a great playmaker too.