Official NBA 2012-2013 Season Thread

[mjshoefanatic]

WE LURKING!

 

[acbboyz84]

Haahahaa! Man if you don't stop it! Explain his empty 30pt nights then? He still score but they were all empty buckets by a selfish player.

I can't believe you blamed it on his injuries. Bro it was 1 on 8 practically the whole series. Smh and Marion, Kidd, n Terry all guarded him along with Stevenson.

You didn't watch enough news regard Kobe injuries then. Kobe had his knee drained like 2 times in the first round leading to that 2nd round sweep by Dallas.

His left ankle was also not 100%. He sprained it pretty bad in game 4 against NOLA. He wasn't even 80% in term of health.

Marion couldn't hold Kobe in reg season when he was healthier, jason terry didn't, stevenson didn't, kidd obviously didn't.

They only were able to slow him down in the playoff because Kobe bad knee and ankle hindered his lateral and explosiveness.

Kobe had to go to Germany to get his knee and ankle fixed immediately in the off season that year.

 

[mr jordan04]

The basketball iq in this picture

 

[iamjusayn]

You didn't watch enough news regard Kobe injuries then. Kobe had his knee drained like 2 times in the first round leading to that 2nd round sweep by Dallas.

His left ankle was also not 100%. He sprained it pretty bad in game 4 against NOLA. He wasn't even 80% in term of health.

Marion couldn't hold Kobe in reg season when he was healthier, jason terry didn't, stevenson didn't, kidd obviously didn't.

They only were able to slow him down in the playoff because Kobe bad knee and ankle hindered his lateral and explosiveness.

Kobe had to go to Germany to get his knee and ankle fixed immediately in the off season that year.

This is my final response to this because you clearly are sporting the latest homer shades to come out!

Lakers got killed in the pick n pop. Bryant tried to beat them by himself. Bryant hot dogged something vicious! He was hurt but not too hurt to still manage to score n bring them back I believe one gm of the series, right? It's a wash bro. If I'm so hurt but I'm still giving buckets then why bring it up? You act like he couldn't produce. The main reason the lakers lost was because bryant chose not to play team ball, period! Plus gasol was shook from all the physical play.

Physical play, getting all up in Bryant's mug and annoying him plus him hot dogging with a dash of the mavs ultra confidence n made shots is what killed the lakers bro. Not because bryant suffered injuries.

I'm curious to hear your bryant excuse for last year's beat down given by okc (same thing. bryant tried to beat the whole team by himself) but I can see already where you are going with this so lets stamp that rhetorical, lol!

Both bryant n curry played with injured ankles tonight. That convenient excuse is futile n tonight proved it. If you are that hurt then dont play but if you play hurt then its fair game. Bryant lives by this rule so why don't you?

 

[Bert.]

never seen Wall shoot so many jumpers

 

[drewsone]

Wow. John Wall showin' out.

 

[x Buddha Bless x]

No offense to Nugget fans but I can't wait to see these other ppl drinking the Denver kool-aid get that moment of clarity in the playoffs. It's like ppl just forget the past.

 

[Ja's 2¢]

No offense to Nugget fans but I can't wait to see these other ppl drinking the Denver kool-aid get that moment of clarity in the playoffs. It's like ppl just forget the past.

but but melo and AI are gone.

 

[japanair21]

You didn't watch enough news regard Kobe injuries then. Kobe had his knee drained like 2 times in the first round leading to that 2nd round sweep by Dallas.

His left ankle was also not 100%. He sprained it pretty bad in game 4 against NOLA. He wasn't even 80% in term of health.

Marion couldn't hold Kobe in reg season when he was healthier, jason terry didn't, stevenson didn't, kidd obviously didn't.

They only were able to slow him down in the playoff because Kobe bad knee and ankle hindered his lateral and explosiveness.

Kobe had to go to Germany to get his knee and ankle fixed immediately in the off season that year.

Oh really? Kobe averaged 21 PPG in the regular season that year against the Mavs, on 41% shooting.

And in the Playoffs against the Mavs? 46% scoring 23 PPG. We did a fine job against Kobe all year because we COULD throw different defenders at him. Your front court kicked our *** in the regular season wins, not because poor little Kobe Bryant was killing the Mavs.

This bull is getting tired. Everyone is injured to an extent during the Playoffs.

That year, we outplayed every single team we played. We stopped guys when we needed to.

Kobe being injured doesn't excuse them losing by 12, or by 36. You didn't hear him making excuses.

So you should just stop.

 

[acbboyz84]

This is my final response to this because you clearly are sporting the latest homer shades to come out!

Lakers got killed in the pick n pop. Bryant tried to beat them by himself. Bryant hot dogged something vicious! He was hurt but not too hurt to still manage to score n bring them back I believe one gm of the series, right? It's a wash bro. If I'm so hurt but I'm still giving buckets then why bring it up? You act like he couldn't produce. The main reason the lakers lost was because bryant chose not to play team ball, period! Plus gasol was shook from all the physical play.

Physical play, getting all up in Bryant's mug and annoying him plus him hot dogging with a dash of the mavs ultra confidence n made shots is what killed the lakers bro. Not because bryant suffered injuries.

I'm curious to hear your bryant excuse for last year's beat down given by okc (same thing. bryant tried to beat the whole team by himself) but I can see already where you are going with this so lets stamp that rhetorical, lol!

Both bryant n curry played with injured ankles tonight. That convenient excuse is futile n tonight proved it. If you are that hurt then dont play but if you play hurt then its fair game. Bryant lives by this rule so why don't you?

What are you slow? I wasn't talking about the Lakers inability to defense the pick n pop. That was just one of many reasons why they got swept.

I was strictly responding to your point about how you say the Mavs scrubs were able to slow down Kobe. I said the only reasons they were able to do that because Kobe was hurt. Period.

Kobe were able to walk but that doesn't mean ***. His knee and ankle didn't allow him to play at full strength and speed. The fact was that he wasn't 100% and thus the scrubs of the Mavs were able to guard an injured Kobe Bryant. Go do some homework on Kobe injuries in 2011.

Someone obviously some only watch the box score and don't know what the *** he's saying.

Bet you didn't even know Kobe was hurt. Yea you really think 36 years old Jason Kidd in 2011, scrub J Terry, Marion or Deshawn could guard a healthy Kobe. Lol at you saying physical plays or defender getting up on Kobe grill is going to intimidate a guy like Kobe.


There were many factors that add up to why they got swept. You said main reason they lost because solely of Kobe lol.

Must be a Mavs fan lol.

 

[dipsetgeneral]

LOL this lakers team is the most up and down team ever. One week looks like contenders...next week looks like pure trash.

It's that transition defense. It's the worst.

 

[frink85]

Wow. John Wall showin' out.

Well damn

Dude is getting better by the minute. Good to see.

Also is it me or does he get the most separation on his step back in the NBA? it looks like he damn near hops half court

 

[nycknicks105]

Spurs lose once in the first round and everybody counts them out.

Don't count them out just yet.

If they do play the Lakers in the first round, the Spurs will when the series. Book it.

 

[japanair21]

What are you slow? I wasn't talking about the Lakers inability to defense the pick n pop. That was just one of many reasons why they got swept.

I was strictly responding to your point about how you say the Mavs scrubs were able to slow down Kobe. I said the only reasons they were able to do that because Kobe was hurt. Period.

Kobe were able to walk but that doesn't mean ***. His knee and ankle didn't allow him to play at full strength and speed. The fact was that he wasn't 100% and thus the scrubs of the Mavs were able to guard an injured Kobe Bryant. Go do some homework on Kobe injuries in 2011.

Someone obviously some only watch the box score and don't know what the *** he's saying.

Bet you didn't even know Kobe was hurt. Yea you really think 36 years old Jason Kidd in 2011, scrub J Terry, Marion or Deshawn could guard a healthy Kobe. Lol at you saying physical plays or defender getting up on Kobe grill is going to intimidate a guy like Kobe.


There were many factors that add up to why they got swept. You said main reason they lost because solely of Kobe lol.

Must be a Mavs fan lol.

Yeah, Marion and DeShawn are scrub defenders. Right.

Did you hear Dirk complaining about injuries all post-season that year? Neither did Kobe.

 

[acbboyz84]

Oh really? Kobe averaged 21 PPG in the regular season that year against the Mavs, on 41% shooting.

And in the Playoffs against the Mavs? 46% scoring 23 PPG. We did a fine job against Kobe all year because we COULD throw different defenders at him. Your front court kicked our *** in the regular season wins, not because poor little Kobe Bryant was killing the Mavs.

This bull is getting tired. Everyone is injured to an extent during the Playoffs.

That year, we outplayed every single team we played. We stopped guys when we needed to.

Kobe being injured doesn't excuse them losing by 12, or by 36. You didn't hear him making excuses.

So you should just stop.

I wasn't giving excuse on why Lakers lost. Kobe could have score 40 per game and they still lost. Lakers weren't able to guard the pick and roll plus many other factors.

Your avg stat don't speak for the game. Watch the games. One of the 2011 reg season game Kobe didn't play because sprain ankle so that take the ppg avg down

In one of the reg season game i remember he had like 30 points. 11 of them were from the freethrow. How come Jason Terry, Kidd or Marion didn't stop him then?

Yes they made some good defensive stops but Kobe being hurt made it easier for dudes like Jason Terry, Jkidd, Marion.

You really think any of them scrub can stop a healthy Kobe?

 

[iamjusayn]

Yeah, Marion and DeShawn are scrub defenders. Right.

Did you hear Dirk complaining about injuries all post-season that year? Neither did Kobe.

Why waste time responding to that nonsense? Lol because I saw the series objectively for what it was now I'm a mavs fan, smh! Bryant looked like a complete fool that series n I loved every bit just like last year against okc. Overly cocky whiny brat that he is...

 

[acbboyz84]

Yeah, Marion and DeShawn are scrub defenders. Right.

Did you hear Dirk complaining about injuries all post-season that year? Neither did Kobe.

Are Marion and Deshawn known as Kobe stopper? LOL

What kind of injuries Dirk had that post season year?

Did he had an ankle injury one week leading to the second round? Did he got his knee drained like Kobe?

Probably not.

 

[nycknicks105]

You guys are crazy if you think Stevenson and Marion are "scrub" defenders. They bring a "grit" style of play when they step on the court and they have that kind of respect around the league.

AC, don't be that homer making whacko statements. Makes you look bad

 

[iamjusayn]

You guys are crazy if you think Stevenson and Marion are "scrub" defenders. They bring a "grit" style of play when they step on the court and they have that kind of respect around the league.

AC, don't be that homer making whacko statements. Makes you look bad

"You guys"? He is the only one saying this stuff that I'm aware of. I think he honestly knows jet, matrix, n d Steve D'd dude up and is just too salty to admit it or he did not watch that series. For the sake of this forum, I'm hoping its the former.

 

[nycknicks105]

You guys are crazy if you think Stevenson and Marion are "scrub" defenders. They bring a "grit" style of play when they step on the court and they have that kind of respect around the league.

AC, don't be that homer making whacko statements. Makes you look bad

"You guys"? He is the only one saying this that I'm aware of. I think he honestly knows jet, matrix, n d Steve D'd dude up and is just too salty to admit it or he did not watch that series. For the sake of this forum, I'm hoping its the former.

Kobe and Lakers looked foolish that series. Dallas was highly motivated and Dirk wasn't playing for anything else but his legacy at the point. It was a make or break playoffs for him and he wasn't going to be denied.

Lakers weren't the better team in that series and Dallas had an answer for everything the Lakers tried to do. Defense won them the series and evidently, the Finals.

 

[acbboyz84]

You guys are crazy if you think Stevenson and Marion are "scrub" defenders. They bring a "grit" style of play when they step on the court and they have that kind of respect around the league.

AC, don't be that homer making whacko statements. Makes you look bad

Uh, Marion and Deshawn couldn't stop a healthy Kobe. Period.


Read Jason Kidd comment after that series. He said no one on his team could stop Kobe. He mentioned "We" as in different defender going at Kobe, weak side help, double team etc. With an injured Kobe. It only made their jobs easier.

You really think Marion and Stevenson can stop Kobe if they didn't have help? lol

 

[nycknicks105]

You guys are crazy if you think Stevenson and Marion are "scrub" defenders. They bring a "grit" style of play when they step on the court and they have that kind of respect around the league.

AC, don't be that homer making whacko statements. Makes you look bad

Uh, Marion and Deshawn couldn't stop a healthy Kobe. Period.


Read Jason Kidd comment after that series. He said no one on his team could stop Kobe. He mentioned "We" as in different defender going at Kobe, weak side help, double team etc. With an injured Kobe. It only made their jobs easier.

You really think Marion and Stevenson can stop Kobe if they didn't have help? lol

Stop it. It's not about him being healthy or not. He was certainly healthy enough to play the series out. Plain and simple, Dallas defensively did a great job on Kobe. You cannot deny this. Bringing up health isn't an excuse, considering Kobe played the series.

Anyway, it's all history now. If I was a Laker fan, I'd be more worried about the future on the organization more than anything else. You guys are seriously in BIG trouble in the next 2-3 years. Nash is 39 and the wheels will fall off within the next year or so. Pau is losing his confidence and his game as the year goes by. Kobe isn't going to be around forever and Father Time catches up to EVERYONE sooner or later. Kobe is just lucky to be playing in an era where medical advances are so far ahead, he's able to play at the level he is now.

Earl Clark, Jodie Meeks and Robert Sacre aren't going to save the Lakers. Mitch Kuchack needs to take a real hard look with the roster and figure out what to do. If I was LA, I'd go after OJ since he's going to opt out and then try to get a younger point guard like Jennings.

Waiting for 2014 might be a possibility too, considering the Heat will lose out on Bosh, Wade or LeBron due to cap restrictions and luxury tax. It's the real deal and owners aren't going to spend that kind of money. Remember, the luxury tax is $3 for every $1 the team is over. Owners are now currently hedging this for the future as well. We're seeing it with our very own eyes. The days of a "super team" are over and it'll only happen if teams get lucky and draft stars playing under their rookie contracts.

Now, as for the Dwight Howard situation. Dwight isn't a "franchise" player nor does he have the attitude or desire to be one. He will never be the second coming of Shaq, and will suffer when he gets older due to injuries and age. He has no post moves and heavily relies on his athleticism and get him points. He should give a call to Amare. Dude will let him know what's up

At least Amare developed some sort of midrange game and put the time into developing a post game as well. It's just unfortunate that he can't stay healthy. Dwight Howard seems to be headed down the same path.

 

[Ja's 2¢]

Some interesting little nuggets from a 2008 article on "How to (Sort of) Stop Kobe":

How to (Sort Of) Stop Kobe

By Sean Gregory Thursday, June 05, 2008
Follow @TIME

Hear those footsteps tapping? That's NBA commissioner David Stern, dancing in his New York City office. After years of lethargic finals match-ups (Spurs-Nets! Spurs-Pistons! Anything with the Spurs!), Stern, and basketball fans, get a gift starting Thursday night: the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, a rekindling of the sport's most thrilling rivalry. The much anticipated matchup has already been touted with endless clips of Bill Russell, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and, of course, Bird vs. Magic. This year the battle of the NBA's two most storied franchises feature the sport's most breathtaking player, Kobe Bryant, against Boston's vaunted Big Three, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

There's just one problem. Kobe Bryant might hijack the show. He's just too damn good right now, averaging almost 32 points per game in the playoffs, hitting every ridiculous shot you can imagine, looking every bit as good as Michael Jordan in his heyday. He scored 17 fourth-quarter points in L.A.'s decisive Western Conference finals win over the Spurs, lifting his growing legend.

But no one wants a Boston Massacre. We want to see this thing go the distance, seven games, a classic finals that lives up to the hype. In the late '80s, the Detroit Pistons devised a defensive scheme called "the Jordan rules" to slow down His Airness. So in the same vein, to give Boston coach Doc Rivers and his team a fighting chance, here is a version of what can be called "the Kobe rules," culled from some of the best minds in the game.

1. Hustle Back

Kobe is unstoppable everywhere, but he's really immortal on the fast break, so if nothing else the Celtics need to get back on defense. "Make him play five-on-five basketball as much as possible," says former NBA point guard and current ESPN analyst Greg Anthony. He'll hit those crazy fade-aways and spinning layups in the half-court game, but even for Kobe, those shots are measurably more difficult, and physically draining, than dunks and open threes on the fast break.

Boston's point guard, Rajon Rondo, is a scrappy player, and loves to fish for loose balls and offensive rebounds under the basket. But against Kobe, that could be a a very costly error for a point guard, who is usually expected to be the first defender back. "You want to be more disciplined than usual," says Anthony. "Pick your spots to be aggressive." When playing an explosive team like the Lakers, you're going to have to make sacrifices. What does Boston need more, a few loose balls for Rajon Rondo, or the brakes on Kobe Bryant? If they want to hoist the championship trophy, it's the latter.

2. Dare Him to Sink a Few

In Boston's Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Celtics double- and triple-teamed LeBron James, holding him to just 36% shooting in that series (including a truly awful 19% in the first two games, both of which Boston won). So Boston should do the same thing against Kobe, right?

Wrong. Cleveland runs a junior high school offense — give it to LeBron and get out of the way. The Lakers, on the other hand, run the "triangle" set, which relies on pinpoint spacing and smart cuts to the basket to create openings for Kobe's supporting cast. So if you needlessly double-team him, Kobe will find the open man. Unlike in years past, Kobe is willing to pass the ball, and he does it quite well, thank you. Part of his newfound generosity is due to the fact that he now has All-Star-quality teammates in Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom who can finish.

So what's the alternative? If you're not going to double, play off him a bit, and force him to hit some long shots at the start of the game (preferably with a hand in his face, of course). "Make him a jump shooter," says Los Angeles Clippers scout Evan Pickman. "And just hope he misses." Of course, Kobe is no shooting slouch. But over his last two series, against the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs, he sank only 27% of his three-pointers, well below his 36% regular season average. If he's shooting from the outside instead of driving to the basket, he's less likely to get fouled. And Kobe kills you from the charity stripe — he shot a sterling 84% in the regular season, and is at 81% in the playoffs.

3. The Baseline Is Your Buddy

Of course, if Kobe gets in rhythm — and he is bound to at some point — Boston can't let him hit outside shots all day. So when the time comes to body up and force him to the basket, they need to send him to the baseline. In the triangle offense, Bryant often receives the ball on the wing. There, he has two choices — drive to the middle of the floor, or towards the corner, where he can turn and dribble to the basket along the baseline.

If he gets to the middle? "You're screwed," says Hubie Brown, the Hall of Fame coach and analyst. Why? "He has so many options," says 6-ft 9-in Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng, who has matched up against Bryant in the past. "He can go back to his left, go right, pull up, take the fade-away." He has lots of room to float — and no one floats further away from his defender, and still makes the shot, better than Kobe. Plus, when he's in the middle, Kobe's superior peripheral vision allows him to see the entire floor, and spot more open shooters if he can't fire away himself.

On the other hand, the baseline cuts off Kobe's passing angles. "If he's driving left on the baseline, and I'm behind him, he can only go left," says Deng. Turn his head one way, he sees the Laker Girls, and the late-arriving L.A. crowd. Turn his head the other way, a long-limbed defender like Deng is right in this face. Kobe can keep going toward the basket. But if Boston rotates the right way, Kevin Garnett, the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year, should be under the hoop, ready to help. Of course, even this often doesn't work, which means Kobe ends up dunking it in his defender's face.

4. Share the Load

Against the Spurs, Kobe faced Bruce Bowen, the best on-the-ball defender in the NBA. The Celtics don't have a perimeter stopper quite as good as Bowen, so it's best that they throw different guys at him. Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and James Posey will likely share the burden of stopping Kobe. "All players thrive off rhythm," says Anthony. "If Kobe spots one guy's weakness, he'll run with that all day. If you mix up your defenders a lot, it might make him think. And if he's not just relying on his instincts, he won't be as aggressive or explosive."

Over the years the New Jersey Nets, for example, have put Vince Carter on Kobe in the first quarter, and Jason Kidd on him in the fourth. It's probably not a coincidence that, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, no team has held Kobe to a lower scoring average during his career (21.9 points per game). Deng's Chicago Bulls match up different players on Bryant as well, and they held him to just 18 points per game this season.

5. Defensive Offense

Kobe could be defending your worst player, the guy who makes his team's fans cringe when he has the ball. It doesn't matter — against Kobe, you have to treat that guy like he's Larry Bird. Pass him the ball. Make Kobe chase him all over the court, and run Kobe into a million screens. "He has to feel the contact," says Deng. If Kobe can have the luxury of relaxing on the defensive end, he'll have more energy on offense. And is more likely to score 50 points.

Luckily for Boston, its arsenal is so varied that Bryant is likely to end up guarding Allen or Pierce. The Celtics set lots of picks for Allen, so they can bruise Kobe a bit in that match-up. Pierce is a lethal scorer off the dribble, and will make Kobe work too.

There you have it, the Kobe rules — ignore them at your own risk. Then again, it may not matter what you do against a player Kobe's caliber. "You have all the right defensive principles, rotations, all that ******–t going for you," says Brown, one of the best defensive tacticians of all time. "And Kobe just negates it all. That's what this guy does."



Read more: http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1811990,00.html#ixzz2OdFmg0AZ

 

[Ja's 2¢]

And:

 

[japanair21]

Are Marion and Deshawn known as Kobe stopper? LOL

What kind of injuries Dirk had that post season year?

Did he had an ankle injury one week leading to the second round? Did he got his knee drained like Kobe?

Probably not.

I mean, if you want me to keep throwing numbers at you, I will.

2009-2010: @ DAL Feb 24: 9/23, 39%, 20 points, Loss. @ DAL. Jan 13: 5/11, 45%, 10 points, Win. Jan 3: 6/12, 50%, 15 points, Win. Oct 30: 6/19, 32%, 20 points, Loss.
2009-2010 Averages: 26/65, 40%, 18.75 PPG, 2 wins, 2 losses.

2010-2011: VS DAL Mar 31: 8/21, 38%, 28 points, Win. @ DAL Mar 12: 6/20, 30%, 16 points, Win. @ DAL Jan 19: 10/18, 55% 21 points, Loss.
2010-2011 Averages: 24/59, 41%, 14.6 PPG, 2 wins, 1 loss.

2011-2012: @ DAL Mar 21: 11/18, 61%, 30 points, win***. @ DAL Feb 22: 4/15, 26%, 15 points, win. VS DAL Jan 16: 7/22, 31%, 14 points, win.
2011-2012 Averages: 22/55, 40%, 19.6 PPG, 3 wins.
***Marion didn't play in that game, easily his best shooting performance over that three year span,

2012-2013: Oct 30 VS DAL: 11/14, 78%, 22 points, loss. Nov 24 @ DAL: 6/11, 54%, 19 points, win. Feb 24 @ DAL: 13/21, 62%, 38 points, win.
2012-2013 Averages: 30/46, 65%, 26.3 PPG, 2 wins, 1 loss.

I'll give you this, Kobe has had our number this year. Kudos. But saying that Shwan Marion hasn't been doing a great job on Kobe....