NBA 2003-2004

Squaredancecalling Steve · October-8th-2003, 03:45 AM

Oh, man do I love these exhibition games from Honolulu! They don't even start until I'm back from the dance -- how considerate. Halftime, with the Lakers 6 points ahead of

THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS, STILL THE TEAM OF DESTINY OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM

Mullin, the de facto GM, has brought Mitch Richmond back into the fold, as we see the reassembling of RUN-TMC on the management level. Mitch is very high on the backcourt of Pietrus & J-Rich.

Lebron James looked good in his first exhibition game, they say, with 8 points, 7 assists, 3 boards and 2 blocks.

Uli · October-8th-2003, 07:25 AM

Go Bulls!

Gordon B · October-8th-2003, 07:51 AM

The Knicks are expected to sign Mutombo. Rumors are that they will follow Deke's signing by trading Kurt Thomas and Charlie Ward to the Warriors for Nick Van Exel.

Could the following team make the playoffs in the weak East?

Deke
McDyess
Van Horn
Houston
Van Exel

Bench- Harrington, Spoon, Sweetney, Lampe, Eisley, Anderson, Doleac

Yes, but only if McDyess stays off injured reserve after his return next month and if Deke has something left to his game.

Enforcer · October-8th-2003, 09:37 AM

LeBron did look pretty good. The game was televised in Detroit. He was a little shaky with the jump shot, but the potential for a sky high limit is there. He can play defense, too.

Darko got his first minutes too, and looked pretty good as well. He's got a lot to learn, but some of the stuff he did was scary already.

Ben Wallace led the Pistons in *shot attempts* and scoring. He's been working with a guy on shooting all summer and it showed. He made free throws and even a couple of pretty jumpers, not to mention a hard to believe assist or two. Strange to see.

But it was an ugly, sloppy game. Missed free throws, lots of mistakes. Typical preseason stuff.

Larry

Squaredancecalling Steve · October-9th-2003, 03:04 AM

The fat, slow, old Lakers were no match for the crisp passing of the Team of Destiny tonight. Warriors led by 20+ most of the game, finishing 99-83, despite playing without Murphy and Foyle against the Lakers' big beef. JRich has elevated his game -- defensively (he's been on Payton the past two nights), going to the hoop, and ball handling. Speedy Claxton and Calbert Cheany led a huge surge by the 2nd unit. Van Exel's playing well, but I'd start Claxton over him. Warriors are deep this year, and seem to have some chemistry already, with a pass-oriented offense that never would have worked with last year's team. Dunleavy at point forward initiates some of their sets. Clifford Robinson is still a kick; I'm glad I'll finally get a chance to follow him for a season.

And -- to join Richmond -- Mullin brings back another of my favorite ex-Warriors, Rod Higgins, who will scout opponents.

walto · October-9th-2003, 08:24 AM

Detroit slapped the Cs around last night. I have to admit that Baker looked very trim. Toine also looked like he layed off the donuts over the summer. Seems like James rather than Banks will be their starting PG.

Prince is gonna be real good this year.

Enforcer · October-9th-2003, 09:52 AM

walto,

I think Prince does have a bright future. What's funny is seeing highlights of Ben scoring points. He's not going to ever be a really good offensive player, but I kind of like that Larry Brown is going to try and make him one anyway. He's too strong and physical not to have *some* kind of scoring potential.

Larry

Squaredancecalling Steve · October-12th-2003, 02:31 AM

Two happy truths are emerging in this preseason: this edition of the Warriors is as much fun as last year's, and all those supposedly stupid off-season moves aren't nearly as stupid as they are commonly supposed to be.

Warriors by 17 over the Kings tonight. Van Exel & Dunleavy are learning to work nicely together -- they can both pass, cut and shoot. Speedy's playing so well he's going to have to get his minutes. I didn't realize how few games he's played in his three years in the league (less than 75), because of injuries. Pietrus is somewhat out of control, but he is a major physical talent. This is a much better shooting team than last year's club, and a muchmuchmuch better passing team. Without Murph in the lineup, it's hard to tell about the rebounds. Murph (he has Plantar fasciitis, the bane of runners and dancers everywhere) better get back soon -- Cliff Robinson can't play these kind of minutes for too long! (Clifford was sporting gold and blue headbands tonight -- Warrior colors.)

Similar plot to the last game against the Lakers -- the first units played about even for the first quarter (38-37 Warriors), but the Warriors second unit demolished the Kings' bench (35-19) in the second.

gonzo · October-12th-2003, 03:43 AM

as a laker fan i'm excited about malone and payton but.... isn't it only a temporary patch, i mean c'mon both payton and malone are pushing 40. two years from now the lakers will be back in the same place they were last year. i would rather have seen the lakers get arenas who'll be a great player for years to come. temporary patch now, but what about the future mitch?!!

Jon Abbey · October-16th-2003, 10:08 AM

Lakers couldn't have gotten Arenas, they could only get players who would play for the small amount of cap money they had available.

the league decided yesterday that in 2004-2005, when a new Charlotte team enters the league, they will realign into five six team divisions. still eight playoff teams from each conference, the three division winners, and the five others with best records. the divisions themselves haven't been announced yet, but ESPN says this is the most likely:

Eastern Conference

Northeast: Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors
Southeast: Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Washington Wizards
Central: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks

Western Conference

Northwest: Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trailblazers, Seattle Supersonics, Utah Jazz
Southwest: Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Hornets, San Antonio Spurs
Pacific: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings

walto · October-16th-2003, 10:20 AM

Did you mean "six five-team divisions"?

Jon Abbey · October-16th-2003, 10:23 AM

oops, I did indeed, thanks.

walto · October-17th-2003, 09:27 AM

Uh-oh. Eddie "The One True" Griffin has been indefinitely suspended by Houston for missing an exh. game. Look out below!

Chris D · October-17th-2003, 11:25 AM

Bold prediction: The Bulls make the playoffs this season.

It's hard to put into words how much better the attitude around the team is with John Paxson taking over for Crumbs Krause. Heck, he even invited Jordan back to watch the team practice, something Krause would have NEVER allowed.

Tyson Chandler will be one of the best shot blockers in the East, and Eddy Curry is an offensive beast on the block. How Cury passes out of double teams, and how well he rebounds, will determine a lot.

Jamal Crawford will be better at the point without having to look over his shoulder to see Jay Williams at the scorer's table, and bringing John Bach back to coach the defense will make them that much tougher.

43-39, baby.

Squaredancecalling Steve · October-19th-2003, 12:52 PM

Tonight's exhibition schedule features Mike Dunleavy Jr. vs. Mike Dunleavy Sr.

Poll of NBA GMs on which active player would make the best head coach someday:
Avery Johnson 33%
Mark Jackson 29%
Eric Snow 10%
Avery, who is 38 and will likely not find too many minutes behind Van Exel and Speedy, noted he ran five practises for Don Nelson last year, following which the Mavs went 5-0.

Gordon B · October-19th-2003, 11:14 PM

"Antoine Walker vs. equal-opportunity offense. Considering how Danny Ainge criticized the Celtics' offense in his previous role as a TNT analyst, it is hardly surprising the Celtics' new front-office boss is seeking a more uptempo approach.

Of course for Antoine Walker, the 3-point shooting power forward, that would mean having to give up the ball every now and then or actually run. No way, Walker said last week, insisting the offense should cater to the preferences of himself and fellow shoot-at-will Celtics scorer Paul Pierce.

For now, Ainge is saying the adjustments must come from Walker and Pierce, as his new roster of point guards gets settled in."

walto · October-20th-2003, 07:24 AM

The Globe's Peter May ran down the Midwest squads in yesterday's paper. Every single team except the Jazz looks very tough on paper. Seems so unfair.

MRS · October-20th-2003, 12:15 PM

Raef & PP reunited.

Gordon B · October-20th-2003, 12:33 PM

I finally broke down and spent $100 for a TIVO yesterday. Maybe I'll get NBA Season Ticket and record all the T'Wolves and Rockets games.

Go Spree!
Go Jeff Van Gundy!

Uli · October-20th-2003, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gordon B

Go Jeff Van Gundy!

I've missed that. Who does he coach, Gordon?

Jon Abbey · October-20th-2003, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Michael Schaumann
Raef & PP reunited.

hey, now they're a lock to be upset in the NCAAs. maybe if they make the playoffs, their opponent can pick up Miles Simon for the first round...

Chris D · October-20th-2003, 12:50 PM

Van Gundy is coaching the Rockets, and it looks like he's already lost Steve Francis.
Slick!

MRS · October-20th-2003, 12:55 PM

low

Chris D · October-20th-2003, 01:04 PM

What's low?

This is from Sam Smith, the ChiTrib's NBA columnist:

You knew this was coming. It's Jeff Van Gundy against the Houston Rockets. So far Van Gundy is losing.

Of his point guard Steve Francis, Van Gundy says: "Steve, offensively right now [is] trying to hit the home run every time down. Steve is sometimes so great he can hit a home run. We're not playing team offense the right way. Blown play after play, assignment after assignment. I have a lot of things I have to get our team better at, resistance to changing, practice habits, game habits, stuff that every coach says, play hard, play right, pass the ball to the open man. I'm just telling the truth."

As for Francis, he can't see all those Van Gundy championships … because there aren't any. It's one thing to inherit a veteran team as he did in New York. But can Van Gundy's manic and demanding ways work when he's had little overall success coaching?

"I've been playing the same way for five years," Francis said. "The part of me going one-on-one when the shot clock is going down, that's what I've got to do. I'm not going to throw the ball to a 7-foot guy on the three-point line if I can do something at the end of the shot clock. If that's what it is, that's what it is."

In the preseason, the Rockets are next to last in the league in scoring, last in assists and among the worst in shooting, turnovers and rebounding. And Eddie Griffin, for whom they traded three-first round picks in 2001, skipped a game and some practices last week and was suspended.

Jon Abbey · October-20th-2003, 01:05 PM

Michael meant my Kansas crack, not you, Chris.

Jon Abbey · October-20th-2003, 01:06 PM

he looks like he's lost Eddie Griffin, too, and that team is crazy for not resigning James Posey.

Gordon B · October-20th-2003, 01:18 PM

Houston will never win anything, barring a shift to the Eestern Conference, unless Francis becomes less selfish. JVG has to win Francis over and that's not going to happen if he lets Griffin skip out on practices. JVG will not be successful if he lets Francis run the team. The time to put his foot down is now. I'm rooting for him to succeed. Yao Ming has to get the ball more than he did last year.

Is Mark Cuban nuts? Antoine Walker is a terrible fit in Dallas, IMO. Danny Ainge made a good trade.

Mavs get Walker from Celtics in five-player deal
By JAIME ARON, AP Sports Writer
October 20, 2003

AP - Oct 20, 10:26 am EDT
More Photos
DALLAS (AP) -- The Dallas Mavericks bulked up an already strong offense Monday, acquiring All-Star forward Antoine Walker from the Boston Celtics in a five-player trade.

The Celtics agreed to take center Raef LaFrentz and the four years remaining on a $69 million, five-year contract signed before last season.

The Celtics also get Jiri Welsch and Chris Mills, players the Mavericks got in an offseason trade that also brought Antawn Jamison from Golden State, and Dallas' first-round pick in 2004. The Mavericks will get guard Tony Delk from Boston.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban confirmed the deal to The Associated Press, saying it was pending league approval.

``It's not every day that a 27-year-old All-Star becomes available,'' said Donnie Nelson, Dallas' president of basketball operations. ``We feel we've got one of the most versatile coaches in the league. To add a player of Antoine's ability just gives (coach Don Nelson) more options to work with.''

Nelson struck the deal with Danny Ainge, who became Boston's head of basketball operations in May. The two are close friends, with Nelson having been an assistant to Ainge in Phoenix.

Between his jobs with the Suns and Celtics, Ainge was a TV analyst and he said on the air he did not like Walker's game. Since joining Boston, he's said he had no intention of trading Walker.

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Now Walker, a three-time All-Star who averaged 17.3 points and 8.7 rebounds last season, goes from playing alongside one high scorer in Paul Pierce to being joined by four: Dallas' nucleus of Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash and Michael Finley, plus Jamison, who was added in August.

The Mavericks, the NBA's highest-scoring team the last two years, have now upgraded a roster that won 60 games and reached the Western Conference finals last season. It also counters the changes made by fellow Western Conference opponents San Antonio, Sacramento and the Lakers.

Walker has size (6-foot-9, 245 pounds) but can run the offense. His dribbling and passing skills make him the prototype ``point forward'' coveted by Mavs coach Don Nelson.

Walker led the Celtics in assists the last three seasons, and he and Pierce combined to average nearly half of Boston's points during that span.

``We see Antoine as a triple-double guy,'' said Donnie Nelson, the coach's son and an assistant coach. ``I know in some form or fashion at the end of the game you're going to see the Big Three and Antoine Squared.''

Donnie Nelson said Nowitzki will get more minutes at center. Shawn Bradley and Danny Fortson, also acquired in the Golden State trade, will help man the position. Eduardo Najera could play there, too.

Delk will be a backup swingman, with Travis Best still the primary relief for Nash. Nelson said Delk may be able to provide some of the intangibles lost when Nick Van Exel was sent to Golden State.

``He's not afraid, he's tough and experienced,'' Nelson said, referring to Delk. ``He's got a knack for making big shots and big plays.''

LaFrentz was acquired from Denver at the trade deadline two seasons ago, then re-signed last summer. He was mostly a disappointment last season, averaging just 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds.

The Mavericks had coveted Welsch in their trade with the Warriors but were willing to give up on the project to upgrade their roster now. The 6-foot-7 swingman from the Czech Republic was a first-round pick last season but saw limited time as a rookie with Golden State.

The oft-injured Mills was seen as a trading chip from the time Dallas acquired him. The forward played only 112 games the last four seasons but has a big contract that expires after this year, which will help the Celtics clear room under the salary cap. He hasn't played this preseason.

walto · October-20th-2003, 02:38 PM

As I see it, Boston has only Paul Pierce to score points right now and Dallas won't have nearly enough balls to go around. I'm not yet sure what either team was up to here.

Jon Abbey · October-20th-2003, 03:15 PM

yeah, my thoughts were almost exactly the same as Walt's, I just wanted to see Boston's current roster before posting that. I think that Ainge just couldn't put up with Walker, but still a strange deal.

walto · October-20th-2003, 04:08 PM

Now, if the C's could have gotten Jamison instead of La Frentz....