NBA 2010

[Paelos]

I'm always embarrassed by Atlanta's unwillingness to show up for anything when a team is doing well. The Hawks are 4th in the East, and 2 games behind Miami for the division lead. And yet, they are 5th to last in attendence next to teams that have zero shot at making the playoffs. 

[Malakili]

I'm always embarrassed by Atlanta's unwillingness to show up for anything when a team is doing well. The Hawks are 4th in the East, and 2 games behind Miami for the division lead. And yet, they are 5th to last in attendence next to teams that have zero shot at making the playoffs. 

Not everywhere has the same sports culture.  Hell, the New York Knicks have had high attendence for the last decade and their team has been barely tolerable. 

[Sjofn]

They're a little low for middle of the pack, but it's still fucking amazing.  They're fucking awful. 

People might go because the tickets are cheap and they can see the OTHER team?

[Muffled]

They're a little low for middle of the pack, but it's still fucking amazing.  They're fucking awful. 

People go because what the hell else is there to do in Toronto? 

[ghost]

They're a little low for middle of the pack, but it's still fucking amazing.  They're fucking awful. 

People go because what the hell else is there to do in Toronto? 

I thought Toronto was actually fairly cosmopolitan. 

[Muffled]

I don't know, I just like to give Canada shit.

They're so far away that I'm not skeered.

[Fordel]

They're a little low for middle of the pack, but it's still fucking amazing.  They're fucking awful. 

If being awful stopped Toronto fans from going to games, the Leafs would have folded decades ago. 



Seriously, go look at the earlier years on those seat charts, the Raptors are often in the Top 10, let alone middle of the pack. When ever I see a game on TV, all the seats are full, with red jerseys and people waving those sticks or towels or whatever they give them to try and spoil enemy free throws.

I think folks might be underestimating how large of a city Toronto actually is, or how many people live within easy travel distance of it, OR how stupidly loyal Toronto Sport Fans can actually be, for no logical reason that science can explain. The simple fact they aren't the god damn Leafs is enough for a lot of people to just latch onto them. 

Basketball is slowly gaining more and more traction in the city overall. The sport is significantly cheaper to play and follow then hockey and the city has a enormous immigrant population that doesn't have the 'hockey madness' that more established families seem to develop.




If you want a mystery to solve, figure out how the god damn Blue Jays are still in Toronto. The Raptors are doing fine, in terms of fan presence at least.

[trias_e]

Jerry Sloan just fucking resigned.

As a Jazz fan for ~18 years now...wow.

[ghost]

Two sources close to the situation told ESPN.com's Marc Stein that Sloan reacted angrily during Wednesday night's home loss when guard Deron Williams called his own play on the floor different from the play Sloan called from the sideline.

I suspect that Sloan figures he doesn't have to put up with that shit.  And I agree with him. 

[Fordel]

I'm not very familiar with how basketball plays out, but I take it that players normally damn well better do whatever the coach calls out?

[ghost]

With Jerry Sloan you had better do it that way.  He's a bit old school.  Some coaches will give the players more leeway than others.

[ghost]

Are the Hornets on the chopping block? 

I would think they would be a possibility for relocation far before contraction.  They have a good team.  To that point, I'm really surprised there isn't a team in San Diego.  Las Vegas could probably support a team, too, although the politics of that might be a bit off putting. 

[Paelos]

Are the Hornets on the chopping block? 

I would think they would be a possibility for relocation far before contraction.  They have a good team.  To that point, I'm really surprised there isn't a team in San Diego.  Las Vegas could probably support a team, too, although the politics of that might be a bit off putting. 

California can't possibly support another NBA team. There's already the Kings, Lakers, Clippers, and Warriors. Adding a fifth would just be crazy. Vegas would be interesting, but there's a reason that city can't do pro sports.

Honestly, I think the best call is probably St. Louis. Good facilities, good crowds, solid sports town that actively supports 3 pro teams with decent success.

[ghost]

I could see Sacramento not being in Sacramento for long. 

Saint Louis is a good choice for relocation. 

Here are some others that I thought of that might be decent:

1.  Seattle
2.  Cincinnati
3.  Pittsburgh

That's it though.  I couldn't think of anywhere that could support a team other than those teams and St. Louis.  Any other options you can think of?

[Paelos]

That's it though.  I couldn't think of anywhere that could support a team other than those teams and St. Louis.  Any other options you can think of?

People like to toss out KC and Tampa, but I don't believe in either of those, especially Tampa.

I could see the Jacksonsville market doing ok. I would also say perhaps Birmingham, but there's a chance they might burn crosses at the stadium or just not notice it was there since it's not football.

[ghost]

This whole Carmelo Anthony trade brouhaha is starting to make me laugh.  It's not like the guy is a franchise changer or anything.  Look what he's done for the Nuggets...... not much.  They've made it to the conference finals with him once-  2009.  He even looks like a doughboy, all soft and pudgy.  I hope he goes to the Nets and tanks.

[WayAbvPar]

Tuned in to the ASG just long enough to see exactly how goddamned FUGLY the uniforms were. Jesus- I wore better looking stuff playing public rec center games in 5th grade. We just had T-shirts, but it looked better than that crap.

[ghost]

Carmelo Anthony is now a Knick. 

Look to see CPIII end up there after his contract is up.  He's already said that he's probably not going to exercise his option in his contract.  Knicks also get Chauncey Billups.  Billups, Melo and Stoudemire will be a formidable lineup, but I still think they fall short of the Magic, Celtics, Lakers, Heat and Spurs. 

[ghost]

Now Deron Williams to the Nets.  This is getting very, very interesting.  The Nets will still suck, of course, but they'll be better.

[Paelos]

Hawks just unloaded a ton of people in a large trade. Bibby, Crawford, Evans, and a pick to the Wizards for Kirk Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong.

I know nothing about those two guys we got.

[ghost]

Heinrich is a good little player.  He's a combo guard and what I would call a "glue guy" in that he doesn't make a lot of mistakes and makes people around him better.  He won't replace Bibby, for sure, and is a totally different player. 

[Mosesandstick]

Heinrich is uh, slightly more defensively sound than Bibby. For fun check out how badly Wade plays against him.

[Paelos]

Heinrich is a good little player.  He's a combo guard and what I would call a "glue guy" in that he doesn't make a lot of mistakes and makes people around him better.  He won't replace Bibby, for sure, and is a totally different player. 

Well the point was to replace an aging Bibby.

[ghost]

Yeah, unfortunately he doesn't have the talent to do that.  Bibby is a much, much better passer and a little quicker, even with his age.  Heinrich is probably a better shooter at this point though.  One thing about Bibby that has always concerned me is attitude.  I think Heinrich will provide a much needed boost there.  


Here's an interesting rant from Mark Cuban.  His gist is that the Hornets shouldn't be taking on additional salary (Carl Landry to the tune of $2,000,000) if they are already in trouble financially.  I tend to agree.  And it sounds like the Kings might end up in the same league-owned boat as the Hornets.  I really look for the NBA to downsize 1 or 2 teams, and these may be those teams. 

[Paelos]

[Mosesandstick]

Over two thirds of your payroll locked in to two players who are probably overrated? The Knicks aren't going anywhere 

[ghost]

Probably overrated? 

Stoudemire defends like a stop sign, not because he can't do it, but he won't.  Same with Anthony.  There is no probably in the conversation. 

[ghost]

Went to a Spurs game last night.  Manu Ginobili is a really, really solid basketball player.  He doesn't have the physique of a lot of these guys and yet he still takes it strong to the hole and passes like a point guard. 

[Paelos]

I'm loving the Knicks move already, and it's all because of Chauncey Billups. That has to be the biggest "throw-in" player to a trade ever.

[Ingmar]

Went to a Spurs game last night.  Manu Ginobili is a really, really solid basketball player.  He doesn't have the physique of a lot of these guys and yet he still takes it strong to the hole and passes like a point guard. 

Plus his well-honed flopping technique pays off well.

[ghost]

He flops from time to time, no doubt.  I think that the reputation for flopping is a bit overdone after seeing them play in person though.  He takes it on the chin a fair amount.  I was pretty close to the floor and I could hear the solid thuds from him getting smacked around on several of the plays.

[Mosesandstick]

I've always wondered how we'd view him if he had played 40 minutes a game throughout his career, injuries notwithstanding. He's a brilliant player.

[Muffled]

Dude didn't even start playing in the NBA until he was 25, if he'd come up through a U.S. university or in some other way been noticed earlier (and stayed relatively healthy) he'd have some amazing numbers.

I think getting him with a trash draft pick is probably the biggest reason the Spurs have had such a long run of championship contending teams.

That said, as a dutiful Mavericks fan I hate him with a fiery passion and hope he, and Parker and Duncan, fall off a cliff.

[WayAbvPar]

He flops from time to time, no doubt.

Only when he is playing basketball. I am sure he manages to stay on his feet most other times. At least when he isn't on his knees.

[Paelos]

7 straight for the Mavs. They are quietly putting together a better record than the Lakers, and they are in second place in the division.