Official NBA 2012-2013 Season Thread

[ill steelo]

Harden is what cost the Thunder the Finals last year. He is the one that had the dropoff from the previous 90+ games they had played, not Durant, and not Russ either. Harden had one usable Finals game the whole series. He'd been terrific all year up to that point. If he plays to his averages, those 4 point losses turn into wins. Or at the very worst, a shot at a longer series and having a chance at home to get the title.

Westbrook only showed up for 1 game in that series. Both he and harden were bad.

In the prior 2 rounds, if 1 of them didnt have it, the other picked up the slack. harden was bad against LA, Russ was great. Vice versa against the Spurs.

But both of them were basura against Miami

 

[victor page]

To be fair, lebron choked on the biggest stage ever and people just glance over it. So I think harden will be just fine.

The craziest thing about that is people forgot about that fairly quick. Like...even before they won it all last year, you rarely heard anyone talk about how Lebron had the biggest dropoff in production from season + playoffs to Finals...EVER.

If people forgot about that....they should let Harden live.

 

[srvballer]

Harden hit a cold blooded 3 in game 5 @San Antonio. theres a good chance they're not even in the finals if he doesn't hit that shot...

 

[bhzmafia14]

I find it more funny that the media continually tries to make it seem like Perkins is useful on that team.

"He gives OKC the ability to matchup with bigs in the West 1 on 1" shut that **** up

 

[big j 33]

I'm pretty sure we heard about it plenty before they won last year. After? Yeah, people aren't mentioning it as often... but before they won? Plenty were referencing Lebron's struggle the year before.

 

[sooperhooper]

Looks like it's going to be a finals rematch. If brooks doesn't put a leash on westbrook then it's a wrap. He takes entirely too many shots, especially when the best shooter is on the court with him. Durant needs no less than 25 fga per night. Russ needs no more than 15-20. Miami scores far too consistently for okc to deal with westbrooks streaky scoring.

 

[senorroboto2k5]

The craziest thing about that is people forgot about that fairly quick. Like...even before they won it all last year, you rarely heard anyone talk about how Lebron had the biggest dropoff in production from season + playoffs to Finals...EVER.

If people forgot about that....they should let Harden live.

I don't think people forgot about Lebron in '11 until the Heat were holding the trophy in '12. There were Lebron isn't clutch memes everywhere and the only thing that shut them up was winning a title. Those existed before, but the '11 Finals became the biggest validation for them... then they disappeared once they won.

 

[bhzmafia14]

 

[big j 33]

Too old for Steph

 

[moneylicious]

 

[JD617]

Hmm I wonder how long people will continue to believe Westbrook is better than Harden? Cause I don'...

Neither do I.

 

[CHAOSE57]

That spoiler

 

[jordan23dotcom]

Real quick, the only reason KD didn't win the scoring title this year is because he sat out so many 4th quarters due to blow out wins. Could of easily dropped 50 during those times

 

[executive76]

Real quick, the only reason KD didn't win the scoring title this year is because he sat out so many 4th quarters due to blow out wins. Could of easily dropped 50 during those times

Like when Kobe sat out against the Kings final game of last season to give KD the scoring title?

 

[IATT]

Westbrook only showed up for 1 game in that series. Both he and harden were bad.
 

westbrook averaged 27 pts, 6 asts and 6 rebs

 

[djexpanium]

Is that his fiancee'?

I wonder who made winning the scoring title such a big deal, especially when there's no trophy awarded just like any other individual season stat leader.

 

[jordan23dotcom]

Like when Kobe sat out against the Kings final game of last season to give KD the scoring title?

Yeah, except we're talking about 15 sum games of kd sat out the 4th

 

[antidope]

 

Phil Jackson ready for NBA return

---

By Ramona Shelburne and Marc Stein
ESPN.com

After nearly two seasons in retirement, Phil Jackson has become increasingly interested in working in the NBA next season, according to sources familiar with his thinking.

That doesn't necessarily mean a return to coaching, as Jackson is known to be intrigued by the concept of moving into management for the first time in his career.

But sources told ESPN.com this week that Jackson is "itching" to go back to work after a long spell to recharge since leaving the Los Angeles Lakers' bench following the 2010-11 season.

Sources stressed that there is no specific opportunity in play yet for Jackson, who resisted coaching overtures from the Brooklyn Nets earlier this season and told longtime confidant Charley Rosen in January in a SheridanHoops.com story that he "has no intention of ever coaching again."

But NBA coaching sources say that stance will not dissuade teams with openings from approaching Jackson this offseason to gauge his interest, with the Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers -- who interviewed Jackson in 2005 and are known to be contemplating a coaching change -- potentially at the top of the list.

What has Jackson really intrigued, sources say, is the opportunity to oversee an organization in the patriarchal style of Pat Riley with the Miami Heat or in a role similar to that previously held by Larry Bird with the Indiana Pacers.

But it remains to be seen if a team will give him that sort of chance, given that the 67-year-old Jackson is the most successful coach in league history with 11 championship rings and has never held a prominent NBA personnel job.

There's always the chance, sources said, that Jackson will simply stay retired if none of the opportunities that arise proves to be the right fit.

But the presumption in league coaching circles is that teams with openings this offseason will naturally reach out to the most decorated coach available to see if there's any hope of persuading him to coach again, especially since it appears that the Lakers don't have a suitable role to offer Jackson at this time.

Although Jackson did speak with Lakers management about replacing Mike Brown in November before the club hired Mike D'Antoni instead, sources maintain that a return to Los Angeles is highly unlikely.

The Lakers' intent, sources insist, is bringing D'Antoni back next season to give him the chance to coach the team with a full training camp and a healthy roster. Pau Gasol and Steve Nash both missed more than 30 games this season, and Kobe Bryant suffered a season-ending Achilles' tear this past weekend.

There would also appear to be little room for Jackson in the Lakers' front office, with vice president Jim Buss and longtime general manager Mitch Kupchak running the team.

Finances are another factor, since the Lakers would be paying top dollar for three coaches at once if they decided to replace D'Antoni after one season and turned to Jackson.

Jackson's engagement to Lakers executive vice president Jeanie Buss, sources say, is not believed to be a factor in determining Jackson's next stop.

While there is no known opportunity for Jackson to consider at present, that situation could change quickly with the end of the season looming for non-playoff teams, which will re-launch the league's annual coaching carousel.

Sources say that Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, who already made that previous run at Jackson early in his Cavs tenure, is giving strong consideration to firing coach Byron Scott.

As for the Nets, ESPN.com reported in December that Jackson was the undisputed top target for owner Mikhail Prokhorov after the dismissal of Avery Johnson. The prospect of interim coach P.J. Carlesimo retaining the job has not been ruled out depending on how Brooklyn fares in the playoffs, according to sources. But coaching insiders continue to say that Prokhorov's well-known desire to make a splashy hire will keep Jackson and ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy at the forefront of his thinking.

Jackson also has been mentioned as a potential candidate to be involved with the new ownership group in Seattle in a front-office capacity that would include mentoring Brian Shaw to be the team's new head coach, provided that Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer successfully complete the purchase of the Sacramento Kings.

The job security of Los Angeles Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro has likewise been questioned all season, with Del Negro in the final year of his contract.

But ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reported in February that Clippers owner Donald Sterling has no interest in pursuing Jackson -- no matter how much that would theoretically bother the rival Lakers and their fans -- because Sterling has never gotten over verbal jabs Jackson threw at him while with the Lakers.

After a lengthy period out of the spotlight, Jackson has been increasingly visible in recent weeks, appearing at both Shaquille O'Neal's jersey retirement and a ceremony to honor the New York Knicks' 1972-73 championship team earlier this month.

Jackson also recently joined Twitter (@philjackson11) and will soon be releasing a new book, "11 Rings," with author Hugh Delahanty next month.
 

 

http://espn.go.com/espn/print?id=9182468&type=story

ESPN 98.7 basically just implied that the Clippers job is his if he wants it.

The king of frontrunners is back. It wont let me make the font smaller

 

[executive76]

Like when Kobe sat out against the Kings final game of last season to give KD the scoring title?

Yeah, except we're talking about 15 sum games of kd sat out the 4th

Carmelo missed 15 games

 

[ill steelo]

Westbrook only showed up for 1 game in that series. Both he and harden were bad.

 

westbrook averaged 27 pts, 6 asts and 6 rebs

he scored 27 in the first 2 games at home, shot 41% in 1 and 39% in the other.

When the series shifted to Miami in the other 3 games, he only scored above 20 one time. He shot 20% in game 5

So, he shot very poorly in 2 of his three 27 point games in the series.

When your number 2 AND number 3 options can't make a shot, you're not beating Miami

 

[bhzmafia14]

*waits for the response to Executive*

 

[alleniversonfan01]

Like when Kobe sat out against the Kings final game of last season to give KD the scoring title?

Yeah, except we're talking about 15 sum games of kd sat out the 4th

Carmelo missed 15 games

As well as sitting out quite a few 4th quarter blow outs this season. Notably 3 just over the last month while hes been averaging like 36 PPG. As well as playing a number of half games because of being injured in the first half.

But hey, this guys seems pretty hell bent on discrediting Melo winning the scoring title. So im just gonna let him piss and moan in the corner like someone stole his snack pack during lunch

 

[luong1209]

Is that his fiancee'?

I wonder who made winning the scoring title such a big deal, especially when there's no trophy awarded just like any other individual season stat leader.

That's his wife. They've been married for a year or two now.

 

[jordan23dotcom]

As well as sitting out quite a few 4th quarter blow outs this season. Notably 3 just over the last month while hes been averaging like 36 PPG. As well as playing a number of half games because of being injured in the first half.

But hey, this guys seems pretty hell bent on discrediting Melo winning the scoring title. So im just gonna let him piss and moan in the corner like someone stole his snack pack during lunch

LOL ok sure, piss and moan. Knicks fans should know all about pissing and moaning. Melo can have the scoring title meanwhile yet again not making it out the east. Melo is this generations T-Mac

 

[durantula]

As well as sitting out quite a few 4th quarter blow outs this season. Notably 3 just over the last month while hes been averaging like 36 PPG. As well as playing a number of half games because of being injured in the first half.

But hey, this guys seems pretty hell bent on discrediting Melo winning the scoring title. So im just gonna let him piss and moan in the corner like someone stole his snack pack during lunch

Missing 15 games mean nothing, its by PPG, KD sat out plenty of 4th quarters, he was blowing out Bron in the MVP race, then kd sat out like 4 4th quarter in 5 games and lebron went on that ridiculous run of 30 ppg on 60% shooting for like 7 straight games. Also KD has westbrook on his team. No discredit to Melo or Bron tho, both are elite players and with the way it seemed KD stopped caring about the individual awards in the 2nd half, both bron and melo deserve the awards they're going to get.