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I think Shaq was much more intelligent on the court than anything I've seen out of Dwight. I just don't think he has it all upstairs.
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I hate being in the mold of defending Dwight with what he is pulling, but I disagree with you.
Take a look at Marcus Camby and Antonio McDyess. Also, rangy/skinny post defenders who were really good at rebounding and blocking shots while getting dunks on the other end (though neither as good as Dwight, obviously). Both of them have aged rather well keeping their rebounding and block numbers rather consistent.
You worry about Dwight losing some of his defense as he's able to quickly defend on the PnR and cover passing lanes, etc. You worry that he won't get quite as many easy dunks (but he is developing a decent hook/scoop shot). But, overall, I think he'll be a productive player for a long time (as long as his back doesn't act up too much)
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Marcus Camby and Antonio McDyess aren't max contract future HoFers either.
I'm not saying he's a bad player. I just think he's over-hyped because of the limitations to his game. Age catches up to everyone, and when it gets him I think he's going to go downhill very quickly. He could be greater than Shaq when its all said and done, but I don't think he will be.
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Quote:
Marcus Camby and Antonio McDyess aren't max contract future HoFers either.
I'm not saying he's a bad player. I just think he's over-hyped because of the limitations to his game. Age catches up to everyone, and when it gets him I think he's going to go downhill very quickly. He could be greater than Shaq when its all said and done, but I don't think he will be.
I agree. People forget how dominant Shaq was, most just see him as this goofy big gentle giant who was pretty much a novelty the last few years he played.
The beauty of the NBA is that they allow everything to be on youtube. People should go back to his Orlando/LA days to see what a force he was. Even his college stuff at LSU was incredible.
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Right. Shaq was a monster. He was Dwight Howard...plus 10 more points per game. His first year with the Lakers Shaq averaged 26 points, 12 boards, 3 blocks, and 3 assists.
He is probably the most dominant player I will see in my lifetime. Too bad he couldn't keep himself in shape, because he was a freak of nature.
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yeah, good to see people aren't forgetting that Shaq was possibly the 3rd best big man passer of his generation in addition to his other gifts (Sabonis was the best, Webber 2nd best). And, that 1995 Magic team was ridiculously athletic. Very fun team to watch.
and Shaq is a top5 player of all time to me, so the fact that Dwight doesn't quite measure up to him doesn't do much to damage his actual play to me.
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Crowded elevators smell different to short people...
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Rut. Roh. Raggy.
we have enough offense, we actually could use more paint defense. while Blake is a better player than Davis at this point, it might actually be better for the team with AD.
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obe thinks this years team is better than the origanal Dream Team. But the bigs back then are better then this years team (Robinson, Ewing, Malone, etc..).
The centers in todays NBA are rebounding PFs.
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If healthy Howard is as good as those guys. Too bad he's not healthy, that really hurts Kobe's case.
Also, how the heck did Laettner make the team over Shaq?
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People forget that Laettner was one of the best college players to ever play the game.
Sure, his NBA career didn't work out, but coming out of college, he was one of the best of all time.
That's how.
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let's not forget that there was an open roster spot because Jordan refused to play if Isiah made the team.
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The Pistons lead by Isiah had walked off the court before the buzzer sounded when they were eliminated by the Bulls earlier that year. Supposedly that left a bad taste in the mouth of the selection team. link Former Bulls executive Rod Thorn, a member of the Olympic selection committee in '92, echoed those sentiments, saying, "When the Pistons walked off the court before the final bell, it left a lot of bad taste in a lot of people's minds."
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That might have been the worst case of sportsmanship I have ever seen. Awful.
If that was the genesis of keeping Thomas off the Olympic team, good.
![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/Punchsmack/punch.gif) “...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
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Hollinger suggested that Miami would be a logical fit for Darko after he passes through the amnesty option.
How strange would it be to have 4 of the top5 picks from that draft class all on the same team? Melo must feel so left out these days.
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With all these Super teams, it's only a matter of time before Melo is on the Heat anyway.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
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I don't care how good Laettner was, Shaq in the 93-94 season averaged 29/13/3/2 in the NBA.
It doesn't matter at this point, but Shaq on that team would have been unreal.
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Quote:
I don't care how good Laettner was, Shaq in the 93-94 season averaged 29/13/3/2 in the NBA.
It doesn't matter at this point, but Shaq on that team would have been unreal.
Yes, Shaq was unreal.
Shaq did average those number.
All this happened AFTER the Dream Team.
As they say, hindsight is 20/20.
Look at me, a Kentucky fan sticking up for Laettner.
Nevermind, you're right. Screw Laettner! 
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Whoops, for some reason I thought the Dream Team was in 1994.
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I think we had a Dream Team 2 that year, that played in the World Basketball Championships, and looked like anything but a Dream Team.
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Nothing will match 92 ever. Mark Price and Kemp was on the World Championship team in 94.
This years squad never saw a defense like they did in the 90s. Lebron and Kobe would be throwing hissy fits with the refs.
Wade at the 2 guard against Jordan? Yeah right. Plus Love, Howard, and Griffen -vs- Ewing, Robinson, and Malone would be owned by 92.
Stocton saw better defenses during his All-Star apearances then he would against this years Olympic team. MAYBE?
92 was also before the Bulls had the best record ever and won 3 more championships so most of that talent was in their primes. I think the Bulls team with Kukuch, Rodman, Pippen, Harper, Kerr, and Jordan could beat all of the Olympic teams this year besides the US.
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The only advantage this years team would have over the dream team would be at PG and SF
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Quote:
Quote:
I don't care how good Laettner was, Shaq in the 93-94 season averaged 29/13/3/2 in the NBA.
It doesn't matter at this point, but Shaq on that team would have been unreal.
Yes, Shaq was unreal.
Shaq did average those number.
All this happened AFTER the Dream Team.
As they say, hindsight is 20/20.
Look at me, a Kentucky fan sticking up for Laettner.
Nevermind, you're right. Screw Laettner!
Laettner 91-92 per game stats
21.5 points 7.9 rebounds 2 assists 2.1 steals 0.9 blocks
Shaq 91-92 per game stats
24.1 points 14 rebounds 1.5 assists 1 steal 5.2 blocks
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Quote:
The only advantage this years team would have over the dream team would be at PG and SF
Sf maybe... I thnk the combo of Mullins, Bird, drexler, and Pippen is pretty much tough to beat... W/or w/out lebron. Granted, Bird was no where near top playing shape.
But At pg??? No way, no how, never, ever ever ever... Pass me what ever u are smoking.
U are talking magic and Stockton vs. Paul, Williams, n Westbrook. I hope u not serious. The two best pg's ever vs and over emotional player, a very talented but can't win a playoff series, and one that has proven he has problems running the team.
I thnk ppl nowadays look too much into athletic talent. Especially when it is respect to the NBA. The NBA is watered down w a bunch of mega .athletes and not very many skilled players that know the game. Hence the reason the NBA isn't as good as it use to be. Therenhas to be something said against the NBA in that they are not as skill based as they use to be. It is all 1 on 1 matchup oriented. Very few players know how to create and breakdown there opponents nowadays. It's all sheer athletic ability w how they attack the basket
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Eff you, Kobe. 
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Magic wasn't in top playing shape either, sadly. he didn't play 90/91 was his last year in the NBA (well, short 95/96 stint), so he was out for a full year and playing bball wasn't his top priority at the time.
Bird's back had been giving him issues and wasn't in top playing shape either.
Defenses in the 90s were "better" because the rules were setup to allow a ton more to their advantage. The rules now stripped away those "rights."
------------------
That's really the only way to try to argue for this year's team, but without Dwight/Griffin/Bosh/etc. this year's team doesn't stack up. Especially when people forget just how dominating Charles Barkley was for those Olympics.
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U are talking magic and Stockton vs. Paul, Williams, n Westbrook. I hope u not serious. The two best pg's ever vs and over emotional player, a very talented but can't win a playoff series, and one that has proven he has problems running the team.
Magic was past his prime as well. So I look at it as a prime Stockton versus those guys in their primes
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Quote:
Quote:
U are talking magic and Stockton vs. Paul, Williams, n Westbrook. I hope u not serious. The two best pg's ever vs and over emotional player, a very talented but can't win a playoff series, and one that has proven he has problems running the team.
Stockton only played in 4 of the 8 games and had like 12 points and 10 assists, TOTAL. The two leading assist guys on the team, by a fairly wide margin, were Pippen then Jordan.
Magic was past his prime as well. So I look at it as a prime Stockton versus those guys in their primes
yebat' Putin
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Dallas gets Elton Brand.
Ok, so they're not a title contender. Still, considering they are throwing away 12/13 season to keep their cap room open for next year's FA class, it's sort of impressive that they are putting together what will likely be a playoff team (all their additions are 1 year deals).
PG: Collison, Roddy-B
SG: Carter
SF: Marion
PF: Nowitzki, Brand
C: Kaman, Haywood
Also, they could throw out a monster (as in big) lineup with RoddyB, Marion, Nowitzki, Brand and Kaman all at the same time. Slow as heck, but it'd be fun to watch as an outsider with no rooting interest.
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oh, and the Mavs got Brand for a 1yr/$2mil contract. Pretty savvy on them.
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I wonder if the Cavaliers make a run at Luis Scola, who was amnesty waived by the Rockets?
He's older, but still very effective. He's a big with a nice mid range game. He has 3 years and $21 million left on his contract, but only 2 years are guaranteed.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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Kyrie fractured a bone in his hand  link
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Kyrie fractured a bone in his hand
link
luckily it's early in the offseason, but yeah, not positive vibes we were looking for.
maybe if we pickup Scola and Bynum it'll make us feel better
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Geesh.
At least it's early ..... and maybe this will push Waiters' experience along faster.
(Trying to look on the bright side)
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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Quote:
Quote:
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U are talking magic and Stockton vs. Paul, Williams, n Westbrook. I hope u not serious. The two best pg's ever vs and over emotional player, a very talented but can't win a playoff series, and one that has proven he has problems running the team.
Stockton only played in 4 of the 8 games and had like 12 points and 10 assists, TOTAL. The two leading assist guys on the team, by a fairly wide margin, were Pippen then Jordan.
Magic was past his prime as well. So I look at it as a prime Stockton versus those guys in their primes
Now remember Stockton was also a defensive guy but he was still n his prime. Magic was definitely pass his prime.... But with age u get wiser at the point spot (that's why Kidd still n this league... Lack of bb knowledge of upcoming pg's to unseat him) ... And u can't tell me Magic loss anything when it came to leading and running the team. Even past his prime he was a better point then 2012 pg's. 6'9, great vision, Great handles, play every position, greatest on the court leader of all time IMHO.
Paul, good but not yet great or in his prime
Williams, who I really like, has problems running the team but has all the tools
Westbrook, great scoring pg but has issue running the offense and getting everyone involved.
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Cavs fans would crap their pants... Quote:
The Lakers, Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers are discussing a three-team trade that would send Howard to Los Angeles and center Andrew Bynum to Cleveland, Hoopsworld’s Alex Kennedy reported Saturday.
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But the latest rumor could be an attractive option for all teams involved, if they can make it work. The Lakers would get Howard, who they have coveted since last offseason. The Cavaliers would get Bynum, a young big man who they could pair with point guard Kyrie Irving and draft pick Dion Waiters. Bynum would also reportedly be willing to sign an extension with the Cavaliers if traded there.
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That would be a huge deal.
Adding almost 19 PPG and 11 RPG would be a gigantic addition. Further, it would add to the ability of Cleveland to add free agents.
Imagine if Waiters works out, and we had a big 3 of Irving, Waiters, and Bynum ..... plus still a huge amount of cap room. We would still have the ability to add one more name player and have a dynasty level team for 3-4 years, minimum.
I wonder what we'd have to give up? Maybe a 1st round pick ... or maybe even 2 ..... and maybe a guy like Varejao? I like Andy, but Bynum would be a huge upgrade. Of course, if we could keep Andy, then we would have ....
PG: Irving, Sloan
SG: Waiters, Gibson
SF: Gee, Casspi, Azubuike (swing SG/SF)
PF: Varejao, Thompson, Harangody
C: Bynum, Zeller, Samuels
That's a playoff team. I would like to upgrade the backup PG spot, and there have been runblings about us doing just that ..... and I'm not really crazy about Casspi as the backup SF ..... but we'd have a pretty damn strong starting 5, and strong backups at SG, PF, and C. (and maybe even SF id Azbiuke recovers fully)
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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would have been Andy, TT and at least 2 1st round picks.
but, the word in the wind is saying things are dead for now
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