NBA 2012: Running thread

[old_tony]

Watched Detroit some this preseason. Andre Drummond was impressive. If he can take on some minutes, it will really help Greg Monroe. Pistons went 4-20, then .500 last season. It's a young team, but I think Detroit's a sleeper to slide into the playoffs.

Which brings me to an interesting panel discussion held on CSN-Chicago's "Tribune Live." How would you rank the East after Miami? Those fellows went with Boston, but felt Chicago (even minus Rose) would push the Celtics. In no particular order, Pacers, Knicks, Nets, 76ers after that.

Milwaukee? Other than Jennings and Ellis, don't really recognize the Bucks. Still wondering about trading a pretty good 7-footer (when healthy) for a shooting guard who cannot or will not defend.

Seems like Atlanta is expected to experience a major downturn. Larry Drew first coach fired this season?

Ersan Ilyasova had a breakout season last year and has looked really good thus far.

Last year's first-round pick, Tobias Harris, is starting at 3. Had 4 of the team's 14 blocked shots Saturday night. They're a lot more athletic and some of their younger guys are developing. Larry Sanders (third year, first-rounder in 2010) had five blocks and John Henson (first-rounder this year) had four blocks Saturday. In other words, their last three first-rounders had 13 of the team's 14 blocks. Harris, by the way, is only 20 right now.

 

[Double Down]

I'm fascinated by what it will be like for Kobe Bryant to play with a real point guard for the first time in his career.

 

[Liut]

Watched Detroit some this preseason. Andre Drummond was impressive. If he can take on some minutes, it will really help Greg Monroe. Pistons went 4-20, then .500 last season. It's a young team, but I think Detroit's a sleeper to slide into the playoffs.

Which brings me to an interesting panel discussion held on CSN-Chicago's "Tribune Live." How would you rank the East after Miami? Those fellows went with Boston, but felt Chicago (even minus Rose) would push the Celtics. In no particular order, Pacers, Knicks, Nets, 76ers after that.

Milwaukee? Other than Jennings and Ellis, don't really recognize the Bucks. Still wondering about trading a pretty good 7-footer (when healthy) for a shooting guard who cannot or will not defend.

Seems like Atlanta is expected to experience a major downturn. Larry Drew first coach fired this season?

Ersan Ilyasova had a breakout season last year and has looked really good thus far.

Last year's first-round pick, Tobias Harris, is starting at 3. Had 4 of the team's 14 blocked shots Saturday night. They're a lot more athletic and some of their younger guys are developing. Larry Sanders (third year, first-rounder in 2010) had five blocks and John Henson (first-rounder this year) had four blocks Saturday. In other words, their last three first-rounders had 13 of the team's 14 blocks. Harris, by the way, is only 20 right now.

Thought Milwaukee was young, but not that young. I hope the Bucks do well. Still sentimental due to the Nellie years.

 

[Cubbiebum]

As a Rockets fan I'm going to enjoy watching all the youngsters develop and which of the rookies are going to be good. Also as a Rockets fan, I'm going to be pissed off when they go 42-40 and once again have the dilemma of not being a contender but being too good to get the all star they need.

 

[Liut]

Didn't watch the first half (30 for 30) but the Heat and Celtics are bringing intensity to the second half of their opener.

 

[ucacm]

As a Rockets fan I'm going to enjoy watching all the youngsters develop and which of the rookies are going to be good. Also as a Rockets fan, I'm going to be pissed off when they go 42-40 and once again have the dilemma of not being a contender but being too good to get the all star they need.

Fortunately, the Rockets are going to have enough cap space to add another max level player in the coming offseason.

 

[TigerVols]

Didn't watch the first half (30 for 30) but the Heat and Celtics are bringing intensity to the second half of their opener.

Or not.

 

[MileHigh]

Nice of the outgoing Mafia boss to have us send out good thoughts for the people affected by Hurricane Katrina.

 

[Liut]

Didn't watch the first half (30 for 30) but the Heat and Celtics are bringing intensity to the second half of their opener.

Or not.

At the time, my assessment was accurate. But, yes, this has quickly swirled down the toilet.

 

[Liut]

Nice of the outgoing Mafia boss to have us send out good thoughts for the people affected by Hurricane Katrina.

I take it he actually said that? Was it on the TNT telecast? I missed it.

 

[amraeder]

Wow, Varejao with 23 rebounds. Impressive.

 

[21]

Eddy Curry is trending on twitter.

(Actually someone named Eddie Curry is trending, maybe not the same guy.)

 

[Norrin Radd]

Oh, Plaschke, you knee-jerk know-nothing:

Bill Plaschke ‏@BillPlaschke

Is halftime long enough to scrap the Princeton offense?...Isn't there, like, a Kentucky offense they can use?....

 

[JC]

Why sign Nash and trade for Howard if you are going to slow it down and play this way?

 

[Norrin Radd]

Why sign Nash and trade for Howard if you are going to slow it down and play this way?

This group can't run for 48 minutes. It will take time to learn the offense and mesh defensively.

But Worthless Coach Mike Brown might be gone by January.

 

[JC]

Why sign Nash and trade for Howard if you are going to slow it down and play this way?

This group can't run for 48 minutes. It will take time to learn the offense and mesh defensively.

But Worthless Coach Mike Brown might be gone by January.

No, but they need to run some.

There are some damn good coaches that are unemployed right now.

 

[Double Down]

Carlisle is such a better coach than Brown. Sigh.

 

[Stoney]

OK, I declined to watch any of the Laker/Mav game after seeing that Dirk wasn't playing and how pitiful the Mavs lineup looked. Now I see the final score indicating precisely the opposite of the result I assumed.

What the hell happened?

 

[Norrin Radd]

OK, I declined to watch any of the Laker/Mav game after seeing that Dirk wasn't playing and how pitiful the Mavs lineup looked. Now I see the final score indicating precisely the opposite of the result I assumed.

What the hell happened?

Reminded me of this night:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199311050LAL.html

Season opener, 1993-94, Lakers put out easily the worst Opening Night lineup of my lifetime, and beat the Suns, who were coming off a Finals appearance.

Hack a Dwight is coming. Just like Shaq, I see him at the line and just think he's an asshole who won't work.

 

[JC]

OK, I declined to watch any of the Laker/Mav game after seeing that Dirk wasn't playing and how pitiful the Mavs lineup looked. Now I see the final score indicating precisely the opposite of the result I assumed.

What the hell happened?

I think DD summed it up perfectly