Year Round Basketball Thread + NBA Fantasy League

[SirSamuel016]

Seems this post is pinned so here are the 2025/26 award predictions that I've received so far! If you haven't sent already then feel free to shoot me your list!

 

[Tenacious Weezy]

Re: The NBA Thread

Agreed. Typically after the Olympics players have career years. Only him and Igoudala have been subpar this year. However they both had to adjust to new teams so its understandable. How about kobe? He's really defying the odds, if he keeps this up for 2 more years the points scored record is his easy and honestly at that point I'd consider him the best SG ever simply on longevity. Remember jordan retired twice and he wasn't in the league until he was 21.

 

[Hakuteiken]

Re: The NBA Thread

Well, he has been bugged by injuries for quite a while, to be fair. He has just recently went under new technology treatment in the all-star break and apparently the pain has gone.
It's true that Michael retired twice and played less years than Kobe in the league, but regardless, his competition was fierce. Before he took over the best of his generation, he had to battle through the tail ends of the careers of greats like Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Larry Bird and Clyde Drexler. Not to mention the all-time great centers in Hakeem, David Robinson, Pat Ewing. Kobe didn't have it, so, his career will never quite live up to it no matter what he does.

 

[TheMoa]

Re: The NBA Thread

not sure if I'm happy with the Lakers'grit wins or sad that it were against Toronto and New Orleans

 

[Tenacious Weezy]

Re: The NBA Thread

Lol I know it sounds weird but I really meant kobe would be the best shooting guard whereas Michael is still the best player ever. Michael best test were against Detroit which took a while and maybe Utah for a few years. kobe has won over a longer period of time in a league with a lot more turnover so that's why I like the longevity. Plus if we go by SG vs SG match ups he's been tested a lot more. Michael only really had Drexler as comp throughout his career and reggie miller at times everyone else he rolled over but I agree there were great big men in his era. kobe has seen iverson, carter, mcgrady, Allen, Ginobli, wade, harden, etc. It's a much higher level of competition he deals with and to do it for so long is crazy. MJ is the most dominant guard ever though and he never lost in the finals but I'd like to see him in the league now. Defense isn't as physical nowadays but the schemes are much better. Personally I always thought MJ was more of an "ahead of his time" type of player like wilt chamberlain than a "once in a generation type" like magic. Kobe honestly is just his reincarnation in the modern era. The only difference is kobe was never THE MAN until after shaq left and he can't palm the ball.


On the lakers....well they gotta win the games they should. Even the heat during their winning streak has barely won over bottom feeders.

 

[Hakuteiken]

Re: The NBA Thread

Yeah, the schemes are nice today, but there is one thing you are overlooking: Hand check. That rule really allowed more and more guys to emerge as pure scorers in the league. MJ did not have such a comfort.
I'd probably guess Magic was more unique. At least, the stories would say so, like they tell about Oscar Robertson.

Kobe's longevity is unquestionable, though. He outlasted all the guys you listed up there. Manu is an exception, but well, Manu has never been a scorer primarily, so, yeah, I'd agree with that much.

 

[Tenacious Weezy]

Re: The NBA Thread

I didn't forget hand checking, I mentioned it was more physical back then. Still if I compare the two the defense today is better team wise and overall. That's why it's getting to a point now in the league where players are more versatile and you typically only see two types of shots; a three pointer or a shot going towards the basket (dunk, layup, floaters). I'd also say the talent level overall is better. I read an analysis that said while players don't score as much nowadays at the top 10, the players on the bottom score a lot more (like 3 more points than 15 years ago). So basically overall more players score more points which is making up the difference in not having as many HIGH scoring players. Really the stats and analysis are changing basketball completely along with position less players. I never saw big O play but they said he was like Lebron basically so he kinda fits the ahead of his time and once in a generation mold at the same time lol.

Miami vs Indiana today

Amare is out 6 weeks....geese I think New York is cursed.

 

[TheMoa]

Re: The NBA Thread

what's the meaning of "palm the ball"?
It's a serious question... it's not the first time that I read the term. I always thought that it was like holding the ball with one hand, but it seems like I was wrong

 

[xi0]

Re: The NBA Thread

Depends on what context it's in. Palming the ball can mean a person has huge hands and can handle it easily. But it can also means the player carries the ball, meaning the ball isn't being dribbled and is therefore travelling.

 

[Hakuteiken]

Re: The NBA Thread

Palming is generally carrying the ball in European terminology. While dribbling, the ball will come to rest in your dribbling hand and you move forward, so, it's kind of like traveling.

 

[TheMoa]

Re: The NBA Thread

well... I was referring to tenacious post about Kobe not being able to palm the ball, that got me confused.
Then I remembered a discussion a while back, some guys talking about a player not being able to palm the ball and I saying that I could palm the ball(and I'm dwarf with small hands in basketball standards)

 

[Hakuteiken]

Re: The NBA Thread

Could be a reference to get a good grip of the ball instead. Kwame Brown had a horrendous career thanks to his abnormally small hands compared to his size, you know.

 

[Tenacious Weezy]

Re: The NBA Thread

Jordan was able to pull off alot of pump fakes and dribble moves because he could palm the ball off the bounce. Kobe would probably benefit heavily if he could do the same. Dr. J probably had the biggest hands (As a good player) if I recall correctly.

 

[TheMoa]

Re: The NBA Thread

I get it... sometimes it's hard to palm the ball of the bounce(my hand is like 22cm wide).
Rondo has huge hands... but I think Kawhi Leonard has the biggest of them all

 

[Tenacious Weezy]

Re: The NBA Thread

I like the heat and appreciate the entertainment value they bring every game but it sucks that the east has been depleted of the best players. They would still win it but honestly if they lose more than 3 games up until the finals I'll be shocked. No Derek rose, rajon rondo, amare stoudemire, and carmello Anthony is probably going to be less than 100% for the rest of the year. There's even more players that were great role players that are out (most on torn acls). I'd think whoever manages to survive the west will get slaughtered by Miami who will have a lot of rest inbetween rounds.

 

[scav]

Re: The NBA Thread

Rose can't do anything against the Heat, stoudemire? lololol,Boston immediately went on a winning streak after Rondo was injured, melo is just a ball hogger


---------- Post added at 04:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:56 PM ----------

Now only the Spurs will be the next challenge for the Heat if they want to beat lakers 33 wins record.

GO Heat

 

[Hakuteiken]

Re: The NBA Thread

Rose, I'm not sure. He has an advantage against one of the Heat's weakspot, but Wade and Lebron are great weakside defenders to cover, so, it's not a big issue. Then again, overall, Chicago is a great team, and with a healthy Rose-Deng-Noah trio, you don't want to mess with them.
Stoudemire..Yeah, since the injuries, he is no longer a force.
I disagree about Rondo. He played particularly well against the Heat in the recent years, so, even if Boston is winning without him, he'll be missed. Last night, the Heat won a pretty close encounter. It was a pity KG wasn't there to help the team hold on to the leads they built at times.
Anyway, back on Melo, he's indeed a ball hog, so, I'm not even sure if I'd consider him elite. When he gets hot with his shot, he looks like he's one of the best, but on an off night, he hurts the team.

I'm happy for Deron Williams, by the way, who has finally found his aggressiveness after the therapy he received in the All-Star Weekend.

 

[TheMoa]

Re: The NBA Thread

March madness just started... a lot of upsets on this first 2 days

 

[Tenacious Weezy]

Re: The NBA Thread

I'm glad your mentioning college basketball, this thread technically should be "The Basketball Thread". Out of the 8.1 million brackets submitted on ESPN.com none were good after day 2. My team is Kansas (as i'm writing this they are down to UNC) but Louisville is playing great! I also think Ole Miss has a decent shot at the Final four.

 

[TheMoa]

Re: The NBA Thread

I love the march madness... way more than the NBA regular season
if ths thread became the basketball thread, I'll start to talk about the euroleague too hahah

 

[Tenacious Weezy]

Re: The NBA Thread

I love the march madness... way more than the NBA regular season
if ths thread became the basketball thread, I'll start to talk about the euroleague too hahah

Yeah I wouldnt mind talking about foreign and HS players. I enjoy basketball at all levels