2012-13 NBA Season

**AltHawk** · 11-01-2012, 12:37 AM

Originally Posted by isuchicago

Just for your own sake, I wouldn't make any big bets on them winning 73, when they have yet to even finish with the most wins in the eastern conference..save your money.

Harden surprised me..didn't take any time at all to adjust. That was impressive. Even if he can't keep that up..great trade for houston. Not so much for thunder.

OKC mortgaged their chances of winning a title this year for an increased chance at a title the next five years. Harden would have walked at the end of the season (if only because OKC could not afford another max/near-max contract), and the Thunder would have gotten nothing for him. Now they get a lottery pick with the potential to be a stud (Lamb) and two more first round picks, one of which will likely be a lottery pick itself. Look at the abundance of youth OKC will have over the next several years: Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Lamb, Maynor, PJIII, and two additional first round draft picks!!!

**CycloneRulzzz** · 11-01-2012, 12:37 AM

Great news as I read that before the game Bulls agreed to a 4 year 38 million deal with Taj Gibson. Great move as he is one my favorite current Bulls.

**CyArob** · 11-01-2012, 12:48 AM

Pacers got lucky to win tonight. They better learn to not turn the ball over 20 times a game.

**isuchicago** · 11-01-2012, 01:10 AM

Originally Posted by AltHawk

OKC mortgaged their chances of winning a title this year for an increased chance at a title the next five years. Harden would have walked at the end of the season (if only because OKC could not afford another max/near-max contract), and the Thunder would have gotten nothing for him. Now they get a lottery pick with the potential to be a stud (Lamb) and two more first round picks, one of which will likely be a lottery pick itself. Look at the abundance of youth OKC will have over the next several years: Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Lamb, Maynor, PJIII, and two additional first round draft picks!!!

I agree they didn't have much of a choice. I just think houston probably got the better end..depends on how those 1st rounders pan out. You never know with draft picks..whereas Harden is a proven beast. I think besides money, he may have wanted to go somewhere where he could be "the guy", instead of coming off the bench..don't know that, just guessing.

**kucyclone** · 11-01-2012, 01:36 AM

Originally Posted by AltHawk

Harden would have walked at the end of the season (if only because OKC could not afford another max/near-max contract), and the Thunder would have gotten nothing for him.

This is incorrect. Harden would have been a restricted free agent after this year. The Thunder could have rode out this season, and then matched any offer for him (which would have been a max 4 for $60 from just about everyone). Then they could have traded him (or traded Ibaka, or traded Westbrook, or suck it up and pay the luxury tax).

**CLONECONES** · 11-01-2012, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by CyclonesRulzzz

Great news as I read that before the game Bulls agreed to a 4 year 38 million deal with Taj Gibson. Great move as he is one my favorite current Bulls.

agree, Taj is bigtime

**jbhtexas** · 11-01-2012, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by jbindm

Three things concern me about LA -
[...]
They might still be favorites to win the West, but there are some potential glaring weaknesses.

There is a fourth glaring weakness with the Lakers: Mike Brown. As a Lakers fan, I certainly hope he proves me wrong, but I'm not sure he's the guy who can develop strategy and gameplans to utilize the talent he has.

**CLONECONES** · 11-01-2012, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by jbhtexas

There is a fourth glaring weakness with the Lakers: Mike Brown. As a Lakers fan, I certainly hope he proves me wrong, but I'm not sure he's the guy who can develop strategy and gameplans to utilize the talent he has.

Think Mike Brown is fine... until Kobe/Steve can figure out who's going to be calling the shots on offense there's going to be disconnect in Steve's game as he usually is the one bringing the ball up. Dwight is used to posting up, geting the ball and throwing up a hook (usually missing) but hitting about 50% of his free throws.

As you saw the other night... he sat there and didn't get the ball and had 3 seconds called on him a couple times

**CyJack13** · 11-01-2012, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by AltHawk

OKC mortgaged their chances of winning a title this year for an increased chance at a title the next five years. Harden would have walked at the end of the season (if only because OKC could not afford another max/near-max contract), and the Thunder would have gotten nothing for him. Now they get a lottery pick with the potential to be a stud (Lamb) and two more first round picks, one of which will likely be a lottery pick itself. Look at the abundance of youth OKC will have over the next several years: Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Lamb, Maynor, PJIII, and two additional first round draft picks!!!

I didn't like the trade at all for the Thunder. Yeah Lamb might turn out to be decent and they have two picks, one which will probably be a late lottery pick and one they might not get for five years, but I don't think any of these players are going to push them over the top. Martin will be gone next year, as will Maynor. Going from a very good team to the best team is a hard jump to make. Jeremy Lamb and Kevin Martin certainly aren't going to be taking over playoff games this year. They should have at least taken one more shot at making a title run with Harden.

**bringmagicback** · 11-01-2012, 08:51 AM

Thunder won that trade no doubt.

**CyJack13** · 11-01-2012, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by bringmagicback

Thunder won that trade no doubt.

They traded a top 20 player and got back a few role players, not the definition of winning a trade.

**Wesley** · 11-01-2012, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by cycloneike001

Yes, Royce was on the bench. Gonna be tough for him to find minutes with him missing some of camp and the Harden trade. Rockets received Cole Aldrich, who will fight for time. With Terrence Jones, Patrick Patterson, and Marcus Morris I don't know how much Royce will see the floor. Hope he proves me wrong though.

As for the Bulls, I think they will be fine as long as Deng, Boozer, and Noah can stay healthy. If they can put themselves in the middle of the playoff picture and D-Rose comes back as good as usual then they should be a tough out in the East.

Does anxiety level go up or down if you are sitting on the bench?

**jbindm** · 11-01-2012, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by jbhtexas

There is a fourth glaring weakness with the Lakers: Mike Brown. As a Lakers fan, I certainly hope he proves me wrong, but I'm not sure he's the guy who can develop strategy and gameplans to utilize the talent he has.

Yeah, you're right. I missed that one. He's a liability as a coach until/unless he can prove he knows how to juggle that many egos in one locker room. It takes a great coach to master that trick (Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, Red Auerbach, Chuck Daly), and I'm not sold that Brown is even a good one.

**isuchicago** · 11-01-2012, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by jbhtexas

There is a fourth glaring weakness with the Lakers: Mike Brown. As a Lakers fan, I certainly hope he proves me wrong, but I'm not sure he's the guy who can develop strategy and gameplans to utilize the talent he has.

I enjoyed barkley telling shaq that if he wanted to return to the nba, the lakers are the only team he could play for..because he could walk up and down the floor. I love the TNT crew.

**Clark** · 11-01-2012, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by isuchicago

I enjoyed barkley telling shaq that if he wanted to return to the nba, the lakers are the only team he could play for..because he could walk up and down the floor. I love the TNT crew.

lol, that's a good dig. I like that crew but I'm excited to see how the new NBA Countdown crew does on ESPN.