With the NFL winding down, and March Madness more than six weeks away, it's time to turn our attention to the NBA.

It was a great week of basketball. I went to the Knicks/Heat game on Thursday - they gave me a nice birthday gift with a tough win. Excellent double-header today. If the Thunder want to go deep in the playoffs, they better get some wide bodies down low and pick up the defense. And Boston gave LA a lesson in Basketball 101. They ran a clinic on the Lakers. Gasol and Bynum were out-worked by Garnett and Big Baby.

uPtoWnNY said:

With the NFL winding down, and March Madness more than six weeks away, it's time to turn our attention to the NBA.

It was a great week of basketball. I went to the Knicks/Heat game on Thursday - they gave me a nice birthday gift with a tough win. Excellent double-header today. If the Thunder want to go deep in the playoffs, they better get some wide bodies down low and pick up the defense. And Boston gave LA a lesson in Basketball 101. They ran a clinic on the Lakers. Gasol and Bynum were out-worked by Garnett and Big Baby.

I saw the Celtics-Lakers game today, and the Lakers weren't hustling like they should be. But I expect them to begin ramping up their play once the All Star Game is over and especially once mid-March rolls around.

[Edited 1/30/11 19:05pm]

The Lakers looked horrible. It's seems like once Kobe, gets the ball, people just decide to lay back and let him do it all. If they do not get theselves together, Miami and Boston, are going to have a field day, leading up to and during the playoffs.

shorttrini said:

The Lakers looked horrible. It's seems like once Kobe, gets the ball, people just decide to lay back and let him do it all. If they do not get theselves together, Miami and Boston, are going to have a field day, leading up to and during the playoffs.

The Spurs are a bigger concern, since they're in the Lakers' conference. If they hold on for the best record, things will get interesting. OKC's not ready, because they're soft on defense.

uPtoWnNY said:

shorttrini said:

The Lakers looked horrible. It's seems like once Kobe, gets the ball, people just decide to lay back and let him do it all. If they do not get theselves together, Miami and Boston, are going to have a field day, leading up to and during the playoffs.

The Spurs are a bigger concern, since they're in the Lakers' conference. If they hold on for the best record, things will get interesting. OKC's not ready, because they're soft on defense.

OKC, may not be ready, but they are fun to watch. I give them another year or two and they are going to be a force to be reckoned with. I worry more about the teams who are out of their conference, why, because, L.A. seems to underestimate them. They seem to think, "Oh we got this", and then things seem to fall apart like they did, yesterday and on Christmas day, against Miami. It is going to be an interesting, rest of the season.

Kobe not 'clutch'... what do you guys think about this debate?

http://sports.yahoo.com/n...nba-313919

Doesn't seem like much of a debate really. That he shoots poorly in the last moments of games is fact, about as similarly badly as the NBA average, but still significantly worse than some other players.

As for my team, I'm a bit disappointment with how my Hawks are doing. Just expected a little bit more.

.

[Edited 1/31/11 6:06am]

shorttrini said: OKC, may not be ready, but they are fun to watch. I give them another year or two and they are going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Actually, I'm a bit disappointed in OKC. After that wonderful playoff series against the Lakers, I thought they'd take that step this year. Giving up 60+ points in the first half won't get you very far come April & May. They need players like Big Baby and Kendrick Perkins doing work in the paint.

uPtoWnNY said:

shorttrini said: OKC, may not be ready, but they are fun to watch. I give them another year or two and they are going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Actually, I'm a bit disappointed in OKC. After that wonderful playoff series against the Lakers, I thought they'd take that step this year. Giving up 60+ points in the first half won't get you very far come April & May. They need players like Big Baby and Kendrick Perkins doing work in the paint.

Give them time...They will. KD, is coming into his own and will soon realize what it takes to be a leader. I feel the same about the Knicks, who for the first time, in a decade look good and can be mentioned in a conversation about Basketball. No, I don't expect them to really do anything this year, but things look like they are finally going in the right direction. You mentioned disappointment, I feel that way about the Nets. I really had high hopes for them this year, with the new owner and coach. It seems to me, that they placed all of the hopes in getting Lebron that when they did not get him, they folded as a team. That's too bad.

OKC are a team to watch for in the near future IMO. Right now they could do with a few experienced players alongside KD & Westbrook. As for the Lakers, they are second in the Western conference so I don't think there's a big issue there, maybe a lack of motivation and a over reliance on Kobe if anything. Their GM is talking about they are thinking about a trade now but I don't think that's necessary, they just need to find a way to fire on all cylinders again.

Glad to finally see a Knick starting in the All-Star game.

uPtoWnNY said:

Glad to finally see a Knick starting in the All-Star game.

I'm actually psyched for my Bulls. But it's good that the Knicks look like playoff contenders again, and if they end up landing Carmello Anthony next season, they could be a force to reckon with for some years to come.

Knicks got smoked tonight which is no surprise. They don't have the pieces to beat the NBA's best on a consistent basis. Big two-game series with Philly coming up. Sixers are on a roll. If the Knicks aren't careful, Philly can pass them.

Bad news for Knicks fans;

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Alnrf3HRuEwmDqZvqyknSw68vLYF?slug=aw-knickswalsh020211

The Lakers will go on a long winning streak and finish the season in first place.

The Warriors will make the playoffs in the 8th spot.

Chicago has really surprised me so far this year. They're much closer to being a great team than I thought.

Orlando's moves improved their team, but when you watch Boston play at their best it seems unlikely that anybody is getting past them in a best of seven. I'm not even sure Orlando could get past Miami (tonights game should shed a bit of light on that).

Coach Popovich, even though I've never liked the guys personality, may end up being one of the greatest NBA coaches of all time. I would have NEVER expected him to change his style or coaching or the way his team plays to fit his players. He always seemed like the type who would force his round players into his square holes. I'm very impressed with what they've done with that team this year.

All this talk of whats wrong with the Lakers and nobody talks about Phil Jackson. I think dude might be phoning it in this year. In all likelihood he would have retired at the end of last season if he didn't have the opportunity for a fourth three-peat.

I don't feel bad for Cleveland, because I think it's their own damn fault. There is no excuse for losing 20 plus games in a row. Lebron James was NOT winning that many game single-handedly - they've just given up already and it's barely halfway through the season.

The Knicks are going to make the playoffs - that's cool.

Sleepers: OKC and New Orleans. Both of them would have a handful more wins (at least) if they played in the East, which would put them right near top of the standings in that conference.

uPtoWnNY said:

Knicks got smoked tonight which is no surprise. They don't have the pieces to beat the NBA's best on a consistent basis. Big two-game series with Philly coming up. Sixers are on a roll. If the Knicks aren't careful, Philly can pass them.

You're a homer, and I appreciate that, I really do. But from the view of a fan who just loves basketball in general, who will sit and watch two last place teams play a slow, sloppy game, the Knicks are doing great. They have obvious deficiencies, but they are CLEARLY a much better team this season. And like I just posted above, they're going to make the playoffs. Patience grasshopper. If they keep improving at the same pace for the next couple years they could be back to being an elite team again.

thetimefan said:

OKC are a team to watch for in the near future IMO. Right now they could do with a few experienced players alongside KD & Westbrook. As for the Lakers, they are second in the Western conference so I don't think there's a big issue there, maybe a lack of motivation and a over reliance on Kobe if anything. Their GM is talking about they are thinking about a trade now but I don't think that's necessary, they just need to find a way to fire on all cylinders again.

I do think it might be necessary, and I think the player that might be moved is Ron Artest. I watch nearly every Laker game and most of the time this season I completely forget that he's there. Get something for Ron, maybe a couple players who both get rotation minutes, and play Matt Barnes (when he's back) and Steve Blake more.

When they talk about "moves" that's really who they're talking about, anyway.

Fish could be traded (probably shouldn't have been re-signed), but he's there SPECIFICALLY for Kobe, so he's not going anywhere.

Luke Walton could be traded, but from what every writer and person with inside knowledge has said over the last few seasons, he knows the Triangle Offense as well as anyone on their team, he doesn't complain about limited minutes and not getting a lot of shots, he's is a huge part of their lockeroom chemistry and an important practice player. Seems doubtful they'd get rid of him, and they wouldn't get much in return anyway.

Bynum? Please. If they've kept that knee injury waiting to happen this long they're not going to let him go now.

Gasol? They've gone to the finals three years in a row since he arrived. I seriously doubt he's leaving this season.

Odom? Dude is having a great season and does ANYTHING the coaches (and Kobe) ask of him when he could be a major minutes starter on ANY other team. He's not going anywhere, either.

They need Blake and Barnes, and Joe Smith has no real value. There really isn't anybody else to move OTHER than Ron Artest.

[Edited 2/3/11 14:31pm]

Cerebus said:

uPtoWnNY said:

Knicks got smoked tonight which is no surprise. They don't have the pieces to beat the NBA's best on a consistent basis. Big two-game series with Philly coming up. Sixers are on a roll. If the Knicks aren't careful, Philly can pass them.

You're a homer, and I appreciate that, I really do. But from the view of a fan who just loves basketball in general, who will sit and watch two last place teams play a slow, sloppy game, the Knicks are doing great. They have obvious deficiencies, but they are CLEARLY a much better team this season. And like I just posted above, they're going to make the playoffs. Patience grasshopper. If they keep improving at the same pace for the next couple years they could be back to being an elite team again.

I'll feel better about the Knicks when Brain-Dead Dolan gives Walsh an extension, and when they get a real coach who can teach team defense. D'Amphony is a joke.

uPtoWnNY said:

Cerebus said:

You're a homer, and I appreciate that, I really do. But from the view of a fan who just loves basketball in general, who will sit and watch two last place teams play a slow, sloppy game, the Knicks are doing great. They have obvious deficiencies, but they are CLEARLY a much better team this season. And like I just posted above, they're going to make the playoffs. Patience grasshopper. If they keep improving at the same pace for the next couple years they could be back to being an elite team again.

I'll feel better about the Knicks when Brain-Dead Dolan gives Walsh an extension, and when they get a real coach who can teach team defense. D'Amphony is a joke.

D'Antoni (sp? ) went far with the Suns. Catch the right teams at the right time and you never know what might happen. But you know I agree with you in principle. I mean come on, I just suffered through several years of Nelly ball with the Warriors. Defense wins championships, or so they say, so it is likely there will need to be a shift in the Knicks overall style if they hope to go all the way. But that doesn't mean the people who are in place now couldn't make those changes. They probably won't, but they could.

Ha! And now theres talk of Artest being traded AND that he might be wanting it to happen.

Cerebus said:

Ha! And now theres talk of Artest being traded AND that he might be wanting it to happen.

That's his psychiatrist talking....

shorttrini said:

Cerebus said:

Ha! And now theres talk of Artest being traded AND that he might be wanting it to happen.

That's his psychiatrist talking....

My Spurs just pulled it off against the Lakers 89-88. It wasn't pretty but a win's a win. Spurs lead series 2-0.

Smittyrock70 said:

My Spurs just pulled it off against the Lakers 89-88. It wasn't pretty but a win's a win. Spurs lead series 2-0.

I will NEVER take anything away from a win - they all count no matter how you get them. But really, Antonio McDyess just pulled that off. The rest of the team had like, three chances to take it before McDyess tipped in in with no time left. Which means the Lakers had like, FOUR chances to get a rebound or stop them.

Cerebus said:

Smittyrock70 said:

My Spurs just pulled it off against the Lakers 89-88. It wasn't pretty but a win's a win. Spurs lead series 2-0.

I will NEVER take anything away from a win - they all count no matter how you get them. But really, Antonio McDyess just pulled that off. The rest of the team had like, three chances to take it before McDyess tipped in in with no time left. Which means the Lakers had like, FOUR chances to get a rebound or stop them.

Yeah. U make a good point. My Spurs played horrible by the end of the 1st half and the beginning of the 2nd half. I thought the Lakers had this 1.

Smittyrock70 said:

Cerebus said:

I will NEVER take anything away from a win - they all count no matter how you get them. But really, Antonio McDyess just pulled that off. The rest of the team had like, three chances to take it before McDyess tipped in in with no time left. Which means the Lakers had like, FOUR chances to get a rebound or stop them.

Yeah. U make a good point. My Spurs played horrible by the end of the 1st half and the beginning of the 2nd half. I thought the Lakers had this 1.

Hey, they're still 41-8. You can't get a record like that without luck falling on your side a couple nights. But I'm definitely looking forward to the next game against the Lakers.

Did anybody catch that Gary Neal shot as he was flying out of bounce at the closing moments of the 1st half? Wow!! POTD!!

Cerebus said:

uPtoWnNY said:

I'll feel better about the Knicks when Brain-Dead Dolan gives Walsh an extension, and when they get a real coach who can teach team defense. D'Amphony is a joke.

D'Antoni (sp? ) went far with the Suns. Catch the right teams at the right time and you never know what might happen. But you know I agree with you in principle. I mean come on, I just suffered through several years of Nelly ball with the Warriors. Defense wins championships, or so they say, so it is likely there will need to be a shift in the Knicks overall style if they hope to go all the way. But that doesn't mean the people who are in place now couldn't make those changes. They probably won't, but they could.

It's hard to get excited about the Knicks because of the stupid-ass owner. Check out that link. If Dolan's refusing to give Walsh an extension because he wants Isiah to take over, I'm done with this franchise.

uPtoWnNY said:

Cerebus said:

D'Antoni (sp? ) went far with the Suns. Catch the right teams at the right time and you never know what might happen. But you know I agree with you in principle. I mean come on, I just suffered through several years of Nelly ball with the Warriors. Defense wins championships, or so they say, so it is likely there will need to be a shift in the Knicks overall style if they hope to go all the way. But that doesn't mean the people who are in place now couldn't make those changes. They probably won't, but they could.

It's hard to get excited about the Knicks because of the stupid-ass owner. Check out that link. If Dolan's refusing to give Walsh an extension because he wants Isiah to take over, I'm done with this franchise.

......until next week.

Graycap23 said:

uPtoWnNY said:

It's hard to get excited about the Knicks because of the stupid-ass owner. Check out that link. If Dolan's refusing to give Walsh an extension because he wants Isiah to take over, I'm done with this franchise.

......until next week.

If Isiah's given the keys to the Knicks, he'll make the team a joke again.

uPtoWnNY said:

Graycap23 said:

......until next week.

If Isiah's given the keys to the Knicks, he'll make the team a joke again.

Sounds like the owner might have personality conflicts with Walsh.