namkcuR
ONE love, blood, life
Holy shit, Sacramento and Washington both out of the top three.
It's down to the Clippers, the Thunder, and the Grizzlies.
It's down to the Clippers, the Thunder, and the Grizzlies.
NBA Basketball 2008-09: The Thread
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namkcuR
ONE love, blood, life
Clippers get #1.
Oh man, I feel so bad for Blake Griffin.
Oh man, I feel so bad for Blake Griffin.
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
Which team got Nate Griffin?
Got Philk?
Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS
Why are the Clippers so bad? Is it all management? Mr. Sterling's fault?
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
Move over, Aaron Brooks. Your honor of being my most-hated NBA player has been taken over by that poseur punk rock clown on the Nuggets. I don't watch a lot of basketball, so I haven't seen him before, but someone needs to scalp this motherfucker.
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
Wow, that was pretty fucking intense. Props to Billups for making that late 3, though he was clearly out of bounds.
Nice to see someone other than Kobe be the hero; good for Ariza's confidence. A money play.
Best moment of the night for me though was Fisher's 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer. Wow. He's back?
Nice to see someone other than Kobe be the hero; good for Ariza's confidence. A money play.
Best moment of the night for me though was Fisher's 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer. Wow. He's back?
GirlsAloudFan
Blue Crack Addict
Ariza's play was huuuuuge and a great, great play but you still have to say that the hero of the game was Kobe. 18 in the 4th? Typical Kobe shit. The guy is insane. Anyway, awesome game. Big win. Go get 'em again on Thursday.
jay canseco
War Child
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That was a great 6 free-throws in the final 30 seconds by Kobe! So intense! 
Lila64
Blue Crack Distributor
dan_smee
ONE love, blood, life
Does anyone know anything of Patrick mills. He's the only aussie in the draft, played college ball for St Mary's. I don't follow colelge ball at all, and just wondered what perceptions of him were.
He may not be known to anyone, but if you watched any of our games at the Olympics, he was the only one who really showed any promise (apart from bogut). He definately held his own against the US team, and had a pretty good game.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Mills
Notably the West Coast Conference Newcomer of the Year 2008, and All-WCC First Team 2008
He may not be known to anyone, but if you watched any of our games at the Olympics, he was the only one who really showed any promise (apart from bogut). He definately held his own against the US team, and had a pretty good game.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Mills
Notably the West Coast Conference Newcomer of the Year 2008, and All-WCC First Team 2008
GirlsAloudFan
Blue Crack Addict
I've never seen him play, but you can go here to watch a little video analysis thing about him. On that site he's projected to go 18th overall to the T-Wolves. So, yeah, he's good I guess.
Patrick Mills | NBADraft.net
Patrick Mills | NBADraft.net
dan_smee
ONE love, blood, life
Patrick Mills - Saint Mary's College
Here's his bio from ST Mary's website:
Declared for the 2009 NBA Draft on April 16, but did not hire an agent.
2008-09: Was a First Team-All-West Coast Conferencec selection...as a First Team High-Major All-American by CollegeHoops.net...started the first 20 games before breaking his hand against Gonzaga on Jan. 29...missed the last nine games of the regular season with a broken right hand, and returned to action for the WCC Tournament...averaged a team-high 18.4 points per contest and was second on the team 101 assists and 57 steals...was a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, which honors the nations top point guard...was selected to the Naismith Trophy Award Mid-Season Top-30 list, which honors the nation’s top player...twice named as WCC Player of the Week this season (11/24/08 and 12/8/08), giving him five such honors for his career...scored in double figures in 25-of-26 game as a sophomore...had a season-high 31 points against WCC rival Santa Clara (1/09/09), when he hit the game-winning three with 2.4 seconds on the clock...scored 20 or more 10 times, bringing his career total up to 19...dished out five or more assists in nine contests, including a career-high 10 assists against Davidson in the second round of the NIT...notched his first career double-double with 23 points and 10 assists against Davidson...knocked down a team-best 67 three pointers on 33.8 percent shooting from distance...made at least three 3-pointers in 14 games and averaged 2.6 made threes per game...had a career-high six threes in the first half versus Gonzaga before his injury...ranked 21st in the country with 2.4 steals per game before his injury...had multiple steals in 14 games, including a career-high six against Fresno State (11/17/08)...after returning from his injury, he averaged 17.3 points, 4.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals, while shooting 37.6 (35-93) from the floor and 28.1 percent (16-57) from 3-point land...was named to the 76 Classic All-Tourney Team, averaging 20.3 points and 3.3 assists per contest at the Classic...garnered Shamrock Office Solutions Classic All-Tournament Honors...was a Third Team Preseason All-American selection by ESPN.com.
2008 Olympics: Played for the Australian basketball team in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China...was the only collegiate basketball player competing in the 2008 Olympic Games....was the youngest player in the history of Australia to compete in the Olympic Games in basketball...in six games he averaged a team-best 14.2 points per game while coming off the bench in each game...scored 20 points in the quarterfinals against the United States while recording three assists, two steals, and no turnovers in 28 minutes...scored an individual tournament-high 22 points against an Argentina squad that included five NBA players...averaged 2.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.7 steals, and 23 minutes per game, all coming off the bench...tied for the team lead with 10 steals, and was second on the squad with 12 assists...he shot 47 percent (31-66) from the floor, 36 percent (8-22) from 3-point land, and 83 percent (15-18) from the free throw line.
2007-08: Was named First Team All-West Coast Conference and the WCC Newcomer of the Year...was named Player of the Month for November...was a three-time WCC Player of the Week Selection for the weeks of (11/16), (12/24), and (2/19)...started all 32 games for the Gaels in his true freshman season...set a Saint Mary’s freshman record for points in a season with 472...scored a team-high 24 points in the NCAA Touranment against Miami...also set the freshman mark for points in a game with a 37-point performance against then #11 ranked Oregon...his 37-point game ranks sixth all-time on the SMC single game scoring list...led the team in scoring (14.8 ppg) and has scored in double-figures 24 times...was the first SMC player to start as a freshman since fellow Australian Daniel Kickert started in 2002...was 13-of-14 from the free throw line against Oregon...best career game from behind the arc came against San Diego State and LMU on 4-7 shooting from deep...posted at least four assists in 17 games...had a season-high eight assists against East Tennessee State...led the team in steals, averaging 1.8 steals per game...was named the tournament MVP at the Rainbow Classic and the Shamrock Office Solutions Classic.
High School: Considered one of Australia’s top basketball prospects...became the youngest player to be invited to Australia’s National Team “The Boomers” training camp...was named the Southeast Australian Basketball League U-21 Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007...was a member of Australia’s U-19 national team that posted an 8-1 record and a fifth place finish at the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championships in Serbia....averaged 14.8 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.6 rebounds per game in the tournament...played for the Boomers squad in the summer of 2007, which helped Australia qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China..earned a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport and was a member of the institutes team that toured the United States in 2005...in 2005, he averaged 11 points and three rebounds, and then at the U-18 Championships, he averaged 25 points, six rebounds and 3.5 assists per game...in 2006 he averaged 18.1 points and 3.9 rebounds and helped the AIS to a 16-10 regular season record, finishing third in the league...the 2006 SEABL East Men Australian Youth Player of the Year finished the season third in assists in the SEABL, averaging 4.37 per game and finished fourth in the Golden Hands Award...was named the “most promising new sports talent” at the 2006 Deadlys Awards..the Deadlys Awards honor Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders achievements in sports, music, entertainment and community...the last Aboriginal born athlete to win the Deadlys Award was 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Cathy Freeman...in addition to the Deadlys Award, he was named the 2006 Australia Basketball Player of the Year and named the National Sportsperson of the Year by the NAIDOC...was a member of the international 2006 World Junior Select Team that competed against the United State in the 2006 Nike Hoop Summit Game...In that game, Mills scored eight points and dished out six assists...as a member of the 2006 Junior National Men’s Team, Mills helped Australia defeat New Zealand and qualify for the 2007 Junior Men’s World Championships...was awarded the RE Staunton Medal, which is given to the most outstanding player at the National U-20 Championships.
Personal: Born on August 11, 1988...parents are Benny and Yvonne Mills...is an only child...uncle Danny Morseay is an NBL Hall of Fame member and played for the Australian National Team in the 1980 and 1984 Olympics...has not declared a major.
Here's his bio from ST Mary's website:
Declared for the 2009 NBA Draft on April 16, but did not hire an agent.
2008-09: Was a First Team-All-West Coast Conferencec selection...as a First Team High-Major All-American by CollegeHoops.net...started the first 20 games before breaking his hand against Gonzaga on Jan. 29...missed the last nine games of the regular season with a broken right hand, and returned to action for the WCC Tournament...averaged a team-high 18.4 points per contest and was second on the team 101 assists and 57 steals...was a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, which honors the nations top point guard...was selected to the Naismith Trophy Award Mid-Season Top-30 list, which honors the nation’s top player...twice named as WCC Player of the Week this season (11/24/08 and 12/8/08), giving him five such honors for his career...scored in double figures in 25-of-26 game as a sophomore...had a season-high 31 points against WCC rival Santa Clara (1/09/09), when he hit the game-winning three with 2.4 seconds on the clock...scored 20 or more 10 times, bringing his career total up to 19...dished out five or more assists in nine contests, including a career-high 10 assists against Davidson in the second round of the NIT...notched his first career double-double with 23 points and 10 assists against Davidson...knocked down a team-best 67 three pointers on 33.8 percent shooting from distance...made at least three 3-pointers in 14 games and averaged 2.6 made threes per game...had a career-high six threes in the first half versus Gonzaga before his injury...ranked 21st in the country with 2.4 steals per game before his injury...had multiple steals in 14 games, including a career-high six against Fresno State (11/17/08)...after returning from his injury, he averaged 17.3 points, 4.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals, while shooting 37.6 (35-93) from the floor and 28.1 percent (16-57) from 3-point land...was named to the 76 Classic All-Tourney Team, averaging 20.3 points and 3.3 assists per contest at the Classic...garnered Shamrock Office Solutions Classic All-Tournament Honors...was a Third Team Preseason All-American selection by ESPN.com.
2008 Olympics: Played for the Australian basketball team in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China...was the only collegiate basketball player competing in the 2008 Olympic Games....was the youngest player in the history of Australia to compete in the Olympic Games in basketball...in six games he averaged a team-best 14.2 points per game while coming off the bench in each game...scored 20 points in the quarterfinals against the United States while recording three assists, two steals, and no turnovers in 28 minutes...scored an individual tournament-high 22 points against an Argentina squad that included five NBA players...averaged 2.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.7 steals, and 23 minutes per game, all coming off the bench...tied for the team lead with 10 steals, and was second on the squad with 12 assists...he shot 47 percent (31-66) from the floor, 36 percent (8-22) from 3-point land, and 83 percent (15-18) from the free throw line.
2007-08: Was named First Team All-West Coast Conference and the WCC Newcomer of the Year...was named Player of the Month for November...was a three-time WCC Player of the Week Selection for the weeks of (11/16), (12/24), and (2/19)...started all 32 games for the Gaels in his true freshman season...set a Saint Mary’s freshman record for points in a season with 472...scored a team-high 24 points in the NCAA Touranment against Miami...also set the freshman mark for points in a game with a 37-point performance against then #11 ranked Oregon...his 37-point game ranks sixth all-time on the SMC single game scoring list...led the team in scoring (14.8 ppg) and has scored in double-figures 24 times...was the first SMC player to start as a freshman since fellow Australian Daniel Kickert started in 2002...was 13-of-14 from the free throw line against Oregon...best career game from behind the arc came against San Diego State and LMU on 4-7 shooting from deep...posted at least four assists in 17 games...had a season-high eight assists against East Tennessee State...led the team in steals, averaging 1.8 steals per game...was named the tournament MVP at the Rainbow Classic and the Shamrock Office Solutions Classic.
High School: Considered one of Australia’s top basketball prospects...became the youngest player to be invited to Australia’s National Team “The Boomers” training camp...was named the Southeast Australian Basketball League U-21 Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007...was a member of Australia’s U-19 national team that posted an 8-1 record and a fifth place finish at the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championships in Serbia....averaged 14.8 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.6 rebounds per game in the tournament...played for the Boomers squad in the summer of 2007, which helped Australia qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China..earned a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport and was a member of the institutes team that toured the United States in 2005...in 2005, he averaged 11 points and three rebounds, and then at the U-18 Championships, he averaged 25 points, six rebounds and 3.5 assists per game...in 2006 he averaged 18.1 points and 3.9 rebounds and helped the AIS to a 16-10 regular season record, finishing third in the league...the 2006 SEABL East Men Australian Youth Player of the Year finished the season third in assists in the SEABL, averaging 4.37 per game and finished fourth in the Golden Hands Award...was named the “most promising new sports talent” at the 2006 Deadlys Awards..the Deadlys Awards honor Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders achievements in sports, music, entertainment and community...the last Aboriginal born athlete to win the Deadlys Award was 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Cathy Freeman...in addition to the Deadlys Award, he was named the 2006 Australia Basketball Player of the Year and named the National Sportsperson of the Year by the NAIDOC...was a member of the international 2006 World Junior Select Team that competed against the United State in the 2006 Nike Hoop Summit Game...In that game, Mills scored eight points and dished out six assists...as a member of the 2006 Junior National Men’s Team, Mills helped Australia defeat New Zealand and qualify for the 2007 Junior Men’s World Championships...was awarded the RE Staunton Medal, which is given to the most outstanding player at the National U-20 Championships.
Personal: Born on August 11, 1988...parents are Benny and Yvonne Mills...is an only child...uncle Danny Morseay is an NBL Hall of Fame member and played for the Australian National Team in the 1980 and 1984 Olympics...has not declared a major.
dan_smee
ONE love, blood, life
Cheers GAF.
Aussie basketball is dying. The NBL is about to go down the tubes. It's good to see our locals cracking through. We need Nathan Jawai to start pushing through for Toronto
RedRocksU2
Blue Crack Addict
That was a great game.
The Fish is back.
Ariza showing his skills and Kobe taking charge.
Love it.
...and yes, that "Birdman" needs to go.
One more; Martin has the ugliest tattoos;
The Fish is back.
Ariza showing his skills and Kobe taking charge.
Love it.
...and yes, that "Birdman" needs to go.
One more; Martin has the ugliest tattoos;
Hewson
Blue Crack Supplier
I saw parts of a couple of games this year, definitely has some skills. St mary's went from a top 25 team to crap when he got hurt. Could be a good backup in the NBA methinks.
dan_smee
ONE love, blood, life
Sweet. I've been talking to some peple that know him. He is from Canberra, where I am now living. All reports are that he is really quiet, and really nice. Really goo to see him doing well
david stern and his balls can suck it.
mikal
Blue Crack Addict
i think we learned last night that Denver will win this series. yeah, i know Lakers won, but Denver is obviously playing better right now.
Hewson
Blue Crack Supplier
C'mon, the Knicks got Ewing in a rigged lottery, can't expect them to get every once a decade player that way.
it's been over almost 25 years since then... we're due for some cold balls 
the knicks luck in the lottery has been so piss poor of late i almost thing that stern riggs it against them in order to stop the accusations that he rigged it for them.
the knicks luck in the lottery has been so piss poor of late i almost thing that stern riggs it against them in order to stop the accusations that he rigged it for them.
mikal
Blue Crack Addict
i wish Oliver Miller would make a comeback.
i saw herb williams at an aau tournament the other day... apparently his son was playing. dawned on me that the man is a human cockaroach... seriously. he's been with the knicks since pat riley for christ's sake. he survived donn nelson, jeff van gundy, don chaney, herb williams, lenny wilkens, herb williams, larry brown, isiah and now he's still there with mike d'antoni.
heck, not only has he survived his own head coaching stints twice, he was also traded to the raptors once, played one game, and was back in a knicks uniform the next night.
the man will not go away. when the nuclear holocaust comes, there will be just cockaroaches, cher and herb williams.
heck, not only has he survived his own head coaching stints twice, he was also traded to the raptors once, played one game, and was back in a knicks uniform the next night.
the man will not go away. when the nuclear holocaust comes, there will be just cockaroaches, cher and herb williams.
Hewson
Blue Crack Supplier
And Cher and Herb will have to repopulate the planet.
Their first child:
(Apologies to Zoney for posting his yearbook photo)
looks like zoney's been working out
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
They're playing so much better they made a bunch of stupid mistakes, and lost the game.
Yeah, sounds like a plan for success.
GirlsAloudFan
Blue Crack Addict
There's also the stat about Phil Jackson coached teams being 42-0 when they win game 1 of a series. I usually don't put too much stock in stuff like that but that's a hell of an impressive run.
namkcuR
ONE love, blood, life
And if the Lakers were really so much better than the Nuggets, they wouldn't have had to rely on those mistakes to win the game, they would've blown them out. The reality is that Denver outplayed the Lakers for most of the game, and if it wasn't for George Karl's truly boneheaded decision to have Anthony Carter inbound the ball when Lamar Odom, who has seven inches on him, was guarding the inbounds pass, the Nuggets probably would have won. And anyway, the thing that hurt them more than the stupid mistakes was bad FT shooting. They make half the FTs they missed, they win the game.
Also, the Nuggets made it a very tough game for the Lakers to win with Chauncey not even playing very well. Chauncey needs to attack Derek Fisher next game. He has such a huge edge in that matchup and he really didn't take advantage of it enough in game 1.
I don't know if the Nuggets are a championship-calibre team or not, but I know that the Lakers shouldn't have let a Yao-less, McGrady-less Rockets team take them to seven games. Like someone else said, they've been exposed as a very beatable team.
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
They "probably would have won" without Ariza's steal?! Where the fuck do you get that from? Some invisible momentum they had at the end of the game when Kobe was in assassin mode? Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Lakers were up by two at that point, with 29 seconds left. Maybe it goes into overtime. Maybe it doesn't. Maybe the Nuggets win. Maybe the Lakers win anyway. Bottom line is, you have no idea what would have happened. It was a close game. But I'd argue that with home court and Kobe in the zone, the odds were with the Lakers. And while Karl is to blame for that inbounds setup, Billups didn't exactly hustle to that ball. Karl isn't the one who fouled Kobe when there was three men on him, either.
Yes, the Nuggets were leading for most of the game. But they didn't play better when it counted. Isn't that the difference between a championship team and an also-ran? The Nuggets physical play is something that the Lakers can adjust to. Can the Nuggets adjust to being smarter players? And if Billups wasn't playing near his peak, neither was Gasol, Odom, Bynum etc. It's not like the Lakers were putting up their A-Game and got manhandled by the Nuggets. Kobe carried them to victory this time; you think if the others start stepping up it's not going to make a difference?
Right, the Lakers shouldn't have had to take seven games to beat the Rockets. We all know they could have done it in less had they been focused. Who gives a shit? That round is over, it's the conference finals now. Until the Nuggets have tied (or taken a lead), you might want to keep your bias in check.
Also, you'll notice that I never said the Lakers are SO much better than the Nuggets, which is what you appear to by arguing against in your opening statement. I was just trying to counter Mikal's notion that the Nuggets were "obviously playing better"--the poor free throw-shooting and unwise decisions are both part of that description, are they not?
Yes, the Nuggets were leading for most of the game. But they didn't play better when it counted. Isn't that the difference between a championship team and an also-ran? The Nuggets physical play is something that the Lakers can adjust to. Can the Nuggets adjust to being smarter players? And if Billups wasn't playing near his peak, neither was Gasol, Odom, Bynum etc. It's not like the Lakers were putting up their A-Game and got manhandled by the Nuggets. Kobe carried them to victory this time; you think if the others start stepping up it's not going to make a difference?
Right, the Lakers shouldn't have had to take seven games to beat the Rockets. We all know they could have done it in less had they been focused. Who gives a shit? That round is over, it's the conference finals now. Until the Nuggets have tied (or taken a lead), you might want to keep your bias in check.
Also, you'll notice that I never said the Lakers are SO much better than the Nuggets, which is what you appear to by arguing against in your opening statement. I was just trying to counter Mikal's notion that the Nuggets were "obviously playing better"--the poor free throw-shooting and unwise decisions are both part of that description, are they not?
RedRocksU2
Blue Crack Addict
Are you serious??????
namkcuR
ONE love, blood, life
I remembered the score before the inbounds play incorrectly, for some reason I remembered the Nuggets being up two at that point; given that the Lakers were in fact up by two at that point, my statement that the Nuggets probably would have won if not for that play makes little sense. But the game could've gone either way up to that point; after that inbounds play, the Nuggets never really recovered. Frazzled over that stupid turnover, the Nuggets played poor, panic-y defense and committed a bad foul or two, the Lakers took advantage and put a few more points on the board, and the Nuggets ran out of time.
And while you didn't say "the Lakers are SO much better" in so many words, you sarcastically commented on how the Nuggets were playing so much better that they lost the game:
so when I responded, the phrase was still in my head and I just used it myself. It doesn't mean anything. If you think the margin between the Lakers and the Nuggets isn't wide, then I apologize for interpreting your post and your tone wrong.
And while you didn't say "the Lakers are SO much better" in so many words, you sarcastically commented on how the Nuggets were playing so much better that they lost the game:
so when I responded, the phrase was still in my head and I just used it myself. It doesn't mean anything. If you think the margin between the Lakers and the Nuggets isn't wide, then I apologize for interpreting your post and your tone wrong.
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