Lebron to Cleveland

[thebigabd]

Unabashed supporter of D'Antoni here. Love what he's done in moving the NBA out of the hand check stone ages. And I have no problem saying he was a bad fit with the egos of Los Angeles.

But you can't say he was the reason the Knicks were run into the ground. That's Carmelo. And that's ONLY Carmelo. Take a peak back at how they were playing before the signed that ball stopper.


If we're talking bad hires here, how about TNT festooning Shaq upon the "Inside the NBA" talent. Who are the ad wizards.......

Melo will run your franchise into the ground.

Denver got the better end of that deal. Now, they had all their key players hurt last year but you can't control that. They still won more games than the Knicks.

 

[Smash Williams]

Unabashed supporter of D'Antoni here. Love what he's done in moving the NBA out of the hand check stone ages. And I have no problem saying he was a bad fit with the egos of Los Angeles.

But you can't say he was the reason the Knicks were run into the ground. That's Carmelo. And that's ONLY Carmelo. Take a peak back at how they were playing before the signed that ball stopper.


If we're talking bad hires here, how about TNT festooning Shaq upon the "Inside the NBA" talent. Who are the ad wizards.......

You can't assign 100% of the blame to Melo. That's just too extreme, especially if you're willing to acknowledge that D'Antoni doesn't manage egos well.

The season he was fired, the Knicks were 18-24 with D'Antoni; they finished 18-6 with Woodson. To be fair, part of D'Antoni's record can be attributed to injuries (including Melo missing around 10 games around the time of Linsanity), but that entire team started playing their tails off the moment D'Antoni was fired. It wasn't just Melo; D'Antoni didn't connect with the team as a whole.

Coincidentally, I sat several rows from the baseline in MSG two nights after D'Antoni was fired. I was bummed to hear the news the day I arrived in NYC (after already having bought tickets to the game), because I wanted to experience Linsanity, not Woodson's notorious iso ball, and I wasn't a fan of Melo's game. The pregame crowd mojo was bad that night in MSG. Melo got plenty of boos in pregame intros, and seemingly every other Melo jersey in the stands had a "1" taped next to the "7" in spite of no shortage of Lin paraphernalia available for purchse.

I was stunned by the Knicks' energy that night. That was one of the most dominant defensive performances I'd ever seen in person. I legitimately felt sorry for the Pacers. I wasn't the least bit surprised by the way they finished that regular season (or by the way they got demolished by Miami in the first round). They played like a team who was glad to finally being playing for a different coach.

As for the Knicks' record before and after trading for Melo in 2010-11, part of it was related to the Knicks giving up a lot of talent, but there was far more to the drop than that. When you trade four rotation players (including three starters in Gallinari, Chandler, and Wilson) in the middle of the season, there's going to be an adjustment period. D'Antoni also ran Amare into the ground that season despite being as cognizant as anyone of his fragility. Amare peaked in December while playing almost 40 minutes a night.

I've never been a big Melo fan. I thought he was overrated for the bulk of his career. I definitely remembering arguing as much with Boca on here a couple years ago (I think it was when people were comparing the 1992 Dream Team to the 2012 team). But he's a really talented player, and D'Antoni clearly didn't know how to connect with him or how to use him, much the same way that Kobe--another post-heavy wing who plays a somewhat similar game--grew disenchanted with the way D'Antoni used him.

 

[playmakr]

I may be too harsh on D'antoni, but remember this hiring decision is within the context of hiring possibly the greatest coach in sports history, and then having him run your front office after that.

 

[Smash Williams]

I may be too harsh on D'antoni, but remember this hiring decision is within the context of hiring possibly the greatest coach in sports history, and then having him run your front office after that.

I wouldn't say you're being too harsh. D'Antoni can win games with a certain type of roster, but the Lakers were a horrible fit from the start, both in terms of playing style and personalities.

 

[bocabull]

Phil Jackson, Jeanie Buss, Jim Buss, Mitch Kupchak & even Dr Buss all say he made the decision.

It's been reported 1,000 times.

Dr. Jerry Buss on Mike D'Antoni Hiring: ‘This is who I want. D’Antoni’s the man.’
http://www.lakersnation.com/dr-jerry-buss-on-mike-dantoni-hiring-this-is-who-i-want/2013/09/11/

Dr. Jerry Buss told Jeanie that hiring Mike D’Antoni was his decision
http://lakerholicz.com/dr-jerry-bus...ring-mike-dantoni-was-his-decision/2013/07/07

Phil Jackson says the late Jerry Buss made decision to hire D'Antoni
http://articles.latimes.com/2014/ma...jackson-coaching-decision-jerry-buss-20140304

 

[bocabull]

I wouldn't say you're being too harsh. D'Antoni can win games with a certain type of roster, but the Lakers were a horrible fit from the start, both in terms of playing style and personalities.

Come on Smash. The Lakers finished the season 28-12 which was a .700 winning clip putting them right with the Heat, Thunder and Spurs. That's after no training camp, Nash breaking his leg and a host of other players sustaining injuries, Howard not 100% from his back surgery and not buying into the system. They were becoming dangerous when Kobe tore his achilles.

As for this past season Red Auerbach, Phil Jackson & Pat Riley could have been co coaches and the Lakers would have had the same record. lol

 

[playmakr]

Boca you have your articles and quotes, and the rest of us have ours. Notice when you say even Dr. Buss said so, the source on that is Jim Buss, a lying egotistical dweeb.

I'm sure everyone else, like me, admires your loyalty to your beloved Lakers, uncle Mike, and your man crush Steve Nash. We understand it clouds your judgement when you discuss the Lakers. You want to believe your Lakers are going to get back to prominence, and want to believe Jim Buss knows what he's doing so you are more likely to buy lines from him and his cohorts. No big deal. I'm biased about the Bulls, so I would naturally lean toward Phil.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Boca you have your articles and quotes, and the rest of us have ours. Notice when you say even Dr. Buss said so, the source on that is Jim Buss, a lying egotistical dweeb.

I'm sure everyone else, like me, admires your loyalty to your beloved Lakers, uncle Mike, and your man crush Steve Nash. We understand it clouds your judgement when you discuss the Lakers. You want to believe your Lakers are going to get back to prominence, and want to believe Jim Buss knows what he's doing so you are more likely to buy lines from him and his cohorts. No big deal. I'm biased about the Bulls, so I would naturally lean toward Phil.

Wait Play, I'm the Laker homer around here. Boca is a Suns fan. Dontcha know????

 

[bocabull]

Boca you have your articles and quotes, and the rest of us have ours. Notice when you say even Dr. Buss said so, the source on that is Jim Buss, a lying egotistical dweeb.

I'm sure everyone else, like me, admires your loyalty to your beloved Lakers, uncle Mike, and your man crush Steve Nash. We understand it clouds your judgement when you discuss the Lakers. You want to believe your Lakers are going to get back to prominence, and want to believe Jim Buss knows what he's doing so you are more likely to buy lines from him and his cohorts. No big deal. I'm biased about the Bulls, so I would naturally lean toward Phil.

I have quotes directly from every person involved in the process. You have opinion pieces and gossip.

Steve Nash being on the team likely influenced Dr. Buss' decision as did Phil needing to "think it over" instead of saying YES immediately. Phil was angling for more money which he finally got from the Knicks.

Every single person involved has been willing to go on the record that is was Jerry Buss who made the call. He called it the hammer. And he used his hammer.

As for the Lakers of course they are going back to prominence. It's just a matter of time and will happen sooner rather than later. lol @ the Bulls being exceed about landing Gasol. They only did because the Lakers would not give him a no trade clause in their contract offer. He has been nothing but trade bait for 3 years.

 

[playmakr]

I have quotes directly from every person involved in the process. You have opinion pieces and gossip.

Steve Nash being on the team likely influenced Dr. Buss' decision as did Phil needing to "think it over" instead of saying YES immediately. Phil was angling for more money which he finally got from the Knicks.

Every single person involved has been willing to go on the record that is was Jerry Buss who made the call. He called it the hammer. And he used his hammer.

As for the Lakers of course they are going back to prominence. It's just a matter of time and will happen sooner rather than later. lol @ the Bulls being exceed about landing Gasol. They only did because the Lakers would not give him a no trade clause in their contract offer. He has been nothing but trade bait for 3 years.

I can offer any quotes you would like from Jeanie Buss, Magic, etc. Your quotes are from Jim Buss (a known liar) and a bitter Phil Jackson.

Wait Play, I'm the Laker homer around here. Boca is a Suns fan. Dontcha know????

Boca is 100% a Lakers fan. He was only temporarily a Suns fan because he saw Steve Nash at Piggly Wiggly one time and Steve gave a vague nod in his direction.

lol @ the Bulls being exceed about landing Gasol.

The main reason we are exceed {sic} is Gasol can mentor the best player in Europe who is coming over.

Rose/Hinrich
Dunleavy/Doug McDermott, Tony Snell
Butler/Mirotic
Gasol/Gibson
Noah

That roster works for me.

 

[bocabull]

Jeanie Buss is on the record that Dr Jerry Buss told her it was his decision. Your link even said she was told her dad was in on the decision and her feelings were hurt she wasn't consulted.

Mirotic is a good addition. Gasol will be a disappointment. Funny the Lakers refused to sign & trade for Boozer, then picked him up for $3.2 million. Bulls paying $13.6 for Boozer and all of Gasol. Boozer is 2 years younger & is a better rebounder which is what the Lakers are assembling in the front court.

Lakers are dependent on Kobe's health. But if he's as good as people are saying he looks the show is going to be better than people expect. They are 1 small forward away from a solid 2 deep that Kobe might be able to put on his back and make a run at league MVP.

Lin/Nash
Kobe/Xavier Henry
????/Nick Young
Boozer/Julius Randle
Jordan Hill/Ed Davis

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Boca is 100% a Lakers fan. He was only temporarily a Suns fan because he saw Steve Nash at Piggy Wiggly one time and Steve gave a vague nod in his direction.


Can't agree with you on that one Play. You must have forgotten Boca's rant about Kobe being an average swingman a few years ago. LOL..... I think Boca came to respect Kobe and LA, after Kobe proved to the world he could win it all minus Shaq. Maybe Boca could chime in, but during the Laker run he was not one of the Laker fans on this board. I remember One More Rebound, Ada, Myself, Romulus, and a couple others fighting with Soopa and the other C's fans.

Boca actually was pretty critical of Kobe and predicted LA would never win with him as their leader.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Jeanie Buss is on the record that Dr Jerry Buss told her it was his decision. Your link even said she was told her dad was in on the decision and her feelings were hurt she wasn't consulted.

Mirotic is a good addition. Gasol will be a disappointment. Funny the Lakers refused to sign & trade for Boozer, then picked him up for $3.2 million. Bulls paying $13.6 for Boozer and all of Gasol. Boozer is 2 years younger & is a better rebounder which is what the Lakers are assembling in the front court.

Lakers are dependent on Kobe's health. But if he's as good as people are saying he looks the show is going to be better than people expect. They are 1 small forward away from a solid 2 deep that Kobe might be able to put on his back and make a run at league MVP.

Lin/Nash
Kobe/Xavier Henry
????/Nick Young
Boozer/Julius Randle
Jordan Hill/Ed Davis

I agree everyone is counting LA out too soon. The young guard Clarkson might get some back court run as well. I saw Nick Young on an interview earlier today, and he told a story about Kobe calling him as soon as he signed his new contract. He said Kobe told him to get in the gym now because every is counting them out, and that really bothers KB. They won't be the most talented group, but if things hold together they could make a run at a playoff spot, IMO.......

 

[playmakr]

Boca is 100% a Lakers fan. He was only temporarily a Suns fan because he saw Steve Nash at Piggy Wiggly one time and Steve gave a vague nod in his direction.


Can't agree with you on that one Play. You must have forgotten Boca's rant about Kobe being an average swingman a few years ago. LOL..... I think Boca came to respect Kobe and LA, after Kobe proved to the world he could win it all minus Shaq. Maybe Boca could chime in, but during the Laker run he was not one of the Laker fans on this board. I remember One More Rebound, Ada, Myself, Romulus, and a couple others fighting with Soopa and the other C's fans.

Boca actually was pretty critical of Kobe and predicted LA would never win with him as their leader.

Yea but that was before he moved to LA. And I don't forget, I know he used to trash Kobe. That's what happens when you talk out both sides, you lose credibility.

And Boca, Jeanie doesn't buy it. She still barely speaks to little Jimmy.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

If gasol stays healthy and rose is rose, bulls will win the east imo.

 

[sperry]

Cavs win the East, regardless of Rose's health.

 

[thebigabd]

If McDermott is legit the Bulls will be VERY good.

 

[bocabull]

I agree everyone is counting LA out too soon. The young guard Clarkson might get some back court run as well. I saw Nick Young on an interview earlier today, and he told a story about Kobe calling him as soon as he signed his new contract. He said Kobe told him to get in the gym now because every is counting them out, and that really bothers KB. They won't be the most talented group, but if things hold together they could make a run at a playoff spot, IMO.......

Compare Boozer, Xavier Henry, Ed Davis & Jordan Hill to Boris Diaw, Patty Mills & Danny Green when the Spurs picked them up. Virtually identical profiles. Davis, Hill & Boozer all have significantly higher advanced rebounding stats over Gasol.

We need Julius Randle to be our Kawhi Leonard. Nick Young is better than Marco Belinelli.

Jeremy Lin was +31 in the 2 games he started vs Parker last year. This is not Smush Parker.

Gotta find a piece at SF. Wes Johnson doesn't cut it. Not excited about Evan Turner but he's an option. Beasley has the metrics you want in shooting the 3 and rebounding but he falls asleep on the court.

 

[bocabull]

Yea but that was before he moved to LA. And I don't forget, I know he used to trash Kobe. That's what happens when you talk out both sides, you lose credibility.

And Boca, Jeanie doesn't buy it. She still barely speaks to little Jimmy.

Trash Kobe? My position is that you're not an all-time great, you're not elite unless you win NBA Finals MVP. Regular season MVP is a lifetime achievement award. Finals MVP means you're the best. I gave Shaq credit for the 3 early titles. The second Kobe got it done you have never heard me question his elite status again.

For fun here's some quotes from your Jeanie Buss (the jilted daughter) article:

My brother didn't text me that Sunday to ask me what Phil was thinking.

I was stunned. I said to Phil, "They came to you. You were not looking for the job. I cannot believe this."

Two days after Phil got that phone call, I was at the gym when I started crying so hysterically that they sent me home. (Gee I wonder why Dr. Buss didn't involve her in the decision? lol)

My sister, Janie, knew the whole situation was tearing me apart, but I don't think anybody else in my family understood how much it had hurt me. It physically hurt me.

The sequence of events — Phil almost coming back and then being told someone else was better for the job — practically destroyed me. It almost took away my passion for this job and this game. It felt like I had been stabbed in the back. It was a betrayal. I was devastated.

You get the picture. lol She is on the record her dad told her it was his decision.

 

[playmakr]

Trash Kobe?

Yea. I'll let jmizzy and you Laker fans sort out your level of Laker loyalty. That's the problem when your favorite team changes so often, things tend to come back to bite you.

And your quotes are a joke. Nothing there but being upset at little dweeb Jimmy.

"Gee I wonder why Dr. Buss didn't involve her in the decision."

If "they" had, the Lakers would be in a much better position, so this is a strange position for you to take.