DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Cavaliers / NBA Discussion

Kind of off topic, but I saw Ray Allen hit another clutch shot to win their game yesterday. That man is clutch.

I always get into it with these Kobe-homers around here, who think he's on the same level of Jordan, because he's won 5-championships, and he's a reasonably clutch shooter. Apparently, those are the only two stats that matter in the grand-scheme. Doesn't matter if he was second banana for the first 3, or had All-NBA Team Centers on the roster for all of them ... then you get into a statistical argument with them, just on a player-by-player basis, and the only stat or basketball ability that matters is "Who do you want taking the last second shot?" ... I always tell them, "Ray Allen".

the trade to Boston was the best thing that ever happened to Ray Allen.

Always liked him but because those Sonics teams at the end of his time there weren't good enough in the West, he didn't get the opportunity to show that he's this generations Reggie Miller.

And heck, that might be an insult to Ray at this point (as he keeps his career going when Reggie faded because he never did accept being a secondary star like Ray has)

in a catch and shoot situation, ray allen all day. in a dribbing with seconds left situation, i'll take kobe.

kobe is not jordan, but i think he's up there in the conversation, especially if he gets it this year.

6 rings is 6 rings. and while he wouldn't be the centerpiece on mt. rushmore, he'd be deserving of being up there.

i don't like or hate the guy. i'm pretty neutral on him. i just hate seeing that guy constantly beat up, it seems like he always has some kind of nagging injury.

Where I live you can be put to death for saying that kind of stuff.

here's a question.

3 seconds left, ball in Kobe's hands, down 2.

He makes a move to create a little space and the post defender steps up to him to double leaving Pau Gasol wide open for a 8fter.

do you trust Kobe to make that pass or force the shot anyway?

BSPN is ready to come down hard too.

they love to build up, build up, build up....then smash down.

they will build back up once next season starts, but the Bosh rumors are already out there and they'll be talking about how LeBron should have joined Rose, et cetera like crazy.

that said, one of the 'elite' teams actually needs to look like it in these playoffs.

how are we not talking about the Grizz and Hornets. along with the close calls for basically EVERYONE else.

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to keep on Cavs topic: anyone that wants to see why I want Irving, go watch game1 of Lakers v. Hornets. Irving is said to be a Chris Paul PG. If he even has a shot of getting to 85% of Chris Paul, we better draft him (if he's still there when we pick)

I can tell you, here in L.A. all people are talking about is the Hornets. Lakers fans are in full fledged panic mode.

they'll be fine.

although it may derail them down the line, because they could exhaust themselves playing a deeper series with new awlins than originally thought.

i think when you expect to dominate and then get caught up in a real battle, it takes more out of you. like the mental preparation wasn't enough or something.

a lot of people were calling the memphis upset before it even started. memphis has a nice little team down there.

Really good article on the Heat and why they can be so efficient at scoring (until crunchtime when LeBron becomes PG again)

glad to see I'm not the only one who recognizes what a weapon LeBron can be for a team when he's setting picks and rolling w/o the ball (the defense still keys on him making the ball-handler more dangerous)

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/6251/lebron-james-screening-machine

unfortunately, I am more a root-against guy this year than a root-for. too much dislike for teams from being a contender these past few years + disdain for the Heat.

anyways,

root against:

1. Heat – duh.
2. Lakers – double duh.
3. Celtics – winner of Heat v. Celtics hopefully will lose in ECF.
4. Bulls – of ‘real’ contenders in East, they are most palatable, but it makes me sick ‘rooting’ for them.
5. Knicks – more laughing at than rooting against though.

indifferent, just like to watch playoff basketball (from most likely to root for):
1. Mavs – too many choke jobs in the past, too much Dallas-love in Austin.
2. Magic – tough to say, but I like alot of what they have. I just hate SVG’s antics and that is almost enough to put them in the root against category.
3. Hawks – alot to like really, but they just don’t seem like they are put together really well.
4. Hornets – I want to root for them, but I really don’t like that Paul is positioning himself to be “next” to make a cowardly move.
5. Grizzlies – they gifted the Lakers Pau and setup their run. but, they rebounded to build a pretty nifty team themselves. fun when Conley Jr. is on his game. dysfunctional offense when he’s not (I know he’s not their best player, but he’s definitely their catalyst on offense).

root for:
1. Blazers – 1-team town + no superstar team + a few of my favorite under-the-radar guys (Batum, Gerald Wallace, etc)
2. Spurs – built the team the right way, didn’t get gifted superstars through ex-player bogus trades. great coach.
3. Nuggets – exciting basketball, no superstars, plenty of characters (including Karl). fun times.
4. Thunder – hate that they were ripped from Seattle. but, Durant is a great and humble player and Westbrook is exciting and they play team ball.
5. 76ers – I love how they play basketball. Really do. And Iggy is an under-rated player (and he’ll be over-rated soon again and then under-rated again…he’s one of those guys that goes in cycles)

team that doesn’t deserve to be there:
1. Pacers – let’s just be glad that the Cavs weren’t “good enough” to be in this select company.

my current draft list (tried to remove the guys staying, but I might not have gotten them all):

1. Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke
2. Derrick Williams, PF, Arizona (if we think he can play SF, he might be our #1 spot. tough call so I’ll go with the more important position)
3. Enes Kanter, C, Turkey
4. Jan Vesely, PF, Czech Republic (I prefer athleticism and he should be a SF with height for us)
5. Jonas Valanciunas, PF, Lithuania
6. Brandon Knight, PG, Kentucky (proved alot in the tourney obviously)
7. Kawhi Leonard, SF, San Diego State (tourney hurt, still see a possible Gerald Wallace in him)
8. Kemba Walker, PG, Connecticut (Jason Terry isn’t a bad comp)
9. Alec Burks, PG/SG, Colorado (I love how this kid plays)
10. Terrence Jones, F, Kentucky
11. Chris Singleton, F, FSU (as long as he checks out medically)
12. Bismack Boyimba, C, Congo (tough between him and Faried as Kenneth is more proven, I’ll go with height/length for now)
13. Kenneth Faried, PF Morehead (effort and rebounding will never be a question with this guy. him and AV could never play together)
14. Marcus or Markieff Morris, F, Kansas
16. Donatas Motiejunas, FC, Lithuania
17. Tyler Honeycutt, SG/SF, UCLA (one I really want to drop to #32)
18. Lucas Nogueira C, Brazil (if he’s in the draft)

***dang, the non-declares really hurt this draft class. barnes,sullinger,henson,zeller, and perry jones were all in my initial list.

I would take all 5 feet of Kemba Walker, way before I take Kawhi Leonard. Having seen him in a few SDSU games, he always seemed to disappear in the big games, and "looked" nothing like a guy that would do much at the next level.

If we don't get Irving, I would not mind Brandon Knight. I think he's a player.

Irving really stands out in that list though.

He stands out on that list because it's an awful list and he is one of only a couple of above-average guys.

On a side note. Knight and Jones (Terrence) haven't officially declared.

This year... I'm taking a Johnson. Chad Johnson, Rudi Johnson, or Andre Johnson.

A good article on a Congo C shooting up draft boards: BISMACK

His stock is rising so much so quickly that he may be considered for our 2nd pick. Last month's mocks had him going late in the first; more recent ones in the back end of the lottery. I'm not a proponent of using a lottery pick on a prospect that will stay overseas for a year, but he's nobody to overlook in our situation.

He's 6'9'' with an insane 7'7" wingspan. He's very raw but he's only 18. Elite post defender. Can pretty much only dunk on offense.

How much longer can these guys continue to play on 10' rims?

Random comment but I kind of wonder how many great athletes are out there in the world that could dominate in football. I know OSU is recruiting some 6'4 DE that runs a 4.4 forty that has only played football for 2 years but is dominating high school players

People can question Amares defense and effort at times.

However the guy is money come playoff time. He always steps up.

everybody is shooting up the boards because so many high prospects went back to school

I seriously don't see much difference between Bismack (Congo) and Lucas Nogueira (Brazil) except that Bismack is a little more aggressive according to reports and Lucas is a little better on offense. Either is a project and will be a very good post defender (Lucas needs to add bulk which is why he would go later)

So, why not either trade up from #32 (teams will be looking to shed 1st round guaranteed $$$ picks in this weak draft), and grab Lucas in the 20s rather than spend a top10 pick on a guy with a similar skillset?

Just saw on Sportscenter that Knight, Jones & Liggins all declared for the draft.

haven't been paying attention..who are the top 3 prospects in this draft??

I have a list of the top20 a few posts up.

Irving is by far the best prospect.
Derrick Williams, Kanter, Vesely, Voluc. are all vying for spots behind him.

You know it is not a good draft when the 1st overall pick would have arguably been the third best PG in last year's draft (Wall, Bledsoe).

There is literally no debate over who would go #1 between Wall and Irving.

Bledsoe had a very successful and promising rookie season and is now the Clippers future point guard. Irving probably is better, but there should at least be a discussion.

I think Wall has the chance to be the distributor type of player you are talking about also. I know this doesn't tell everything, but he did average 8 assists as a rookie. And that was playing with crappy Andray Blatche, Yi Jianlian, Nick Young, etc.

He should rip his teammates. He is obviously the future of that organization and should step and be the leader. There are multiple guys on that team that just collect pay checks and they should be put on blast.

Obviously Wall doesn't have the same résumé as Kobe Bryant, but this is something Kobe does all the time to motivate his team.

Just to add -

Your "distributor" point guard Chris Paul averages 14 shots per game for his career.

John Wall? - 14.1 shots per game in his Rookie season.