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| Hey guys, I re-vamped my site... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| http://www.denverpost.com/ci_9935574?source=rss an interesting article on the Aussie influence in US college basketball... |
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| done don | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trev' - make that exact comment on the piece! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| don, i was checking out your blog and saw that there was a Miami All Star team posted on there. I realise it was sent to you by Darren Heitner, but ill add my 50c anyway: Alonzo Mourning should have been in the team over Shaq. When i think of the Heat I think of Alonzo. He was such a great player in his prime, such an influential part of the Miami team and gave so much to the city of Miami. He received his own accolades, and also won an Olympic gold while he was still a member of the Heat. All up he played 11 seasons with the Heat. Shaq played 3.5. My votes with Alonzo. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "they should add Stephon Marbury and Ron Artest to cap it all off..." lol, touche... |
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| Err... wrong Randolph. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Agreed... but Randolph won't get major minutes for a few years. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clippers are one of those bad luck franchises who have gone past being a joke to just being plain sad... Sure the Camby signing sounds great but what are the odds he'll return to his injury plagued ways? and the Zach Randolph trade sounds imminent BUT Camby, Randolph AND Davis on the same team?? got character issues all over this.... they should add Stephon Marbury and Ron Artest to cap it all off... |
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| "well lets see, the celtics took out al jefferson and inserted garnett and ray allen and they improved by about something around 42 or 43 games" Brand and Davis arent Garnett and Allen slops for starters. I agree that it would have been a big improvement but probaly not 29 to 32 games. We wont know now anyway because Brand is in Philly and Camby is a Clipper instead. 15 game improvement, tops. |
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| and just on a side note, did you see the clippers offered NYK a second round draft pick for zac randolph. lol. i nearly wet myself when i read that - zac randolph is now only worth a second round draft pick. hahahaha. __________________ I'm surprised the Knicks said no... LOL |
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| I still find it hilarious that you look at it as 'stabbing the Clippers in the back'. I look at it as just another in the long line of examples of ineptitude from LAC. ____________________ I agree. The Clippers sucked for so long without doing anything about it. They should have done more to improve the team BEFORE Elton Brand was a free agent. The Clippers obviously are badly run and it is their own fault that Elton Brand is going to play for the 76ers. |
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| so did you even listen to what dunleavy had to say??? <<2. You're kidding... you don't see a difference between saying "Yeah, I'll come back", and verbally agreeing to an actual contract?>> according to dunleavy, the contracts where written up and ready to go for after the moratorium was over. i think it was a little more then a 'yeah, i'll come back'. <<So you're asserting that taking Maggette out of LAC, inserting Brand and Davis equates to a 29 to 32 win increase? That's unrealistic.>> well lets see, the celtics took out al jefferson and inserted garnett and ray allen and they improved by about something around 42 or 43 games. so yeah, i dont think thats unrealistic. i may have actually understated it a bit , just to be on the safe side. but we are never gonna find out how this clipper team would have gone, so you'll have your opinion and i'll have mine. <<You think Miller will want out of the team now? I think Philly have shown a commitment to winning, and will lock up both Iguodala, and Miller.>> we will have to wait and see on miller, but if he does bolt, the they are screwed. and just on a side note, did you see the clippers offered NYK a second round draft pick for zac randolph. lol. i nearly wet myself when i read that - zac randolph is now only worth a second round draft pick. hahahaha. |
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| 1. Not necessarily the way RFA contracts go. The team can lock the player up beforehand, or give a better contract once the offer sheet is signed. 2. You're kidding... you don't see a difference between saying "Yeah, I'll come back", and verbally agreeing to an actual contract? 3. You're the only person that's written an opinion anywhere (that I've read) that says Brand doesn't fill a need. My own opinion is that the Sixers were lackign in two categories: a post up presence and an outside shooter. This is something that's been based on what I saw, and what I've read. Slashers and post-up players are not the same man... 4. The GSW team last year worked on a special formula (gogo Nellie ball, huh?) that gave some teams match-up nightmares... it doesn't work to stick Davis in the Clips line-up and assume that because the Dubs won 48, the LAC will do better. Doesn't work that way. More realistic to look at LAC's win total last year, and work from there. And that would be... 23. So you're asserting that taking Maggette out of LAC, inserting Brand and Davis equates to a 29 to 32 win increase? That's unrealistic. 5. You think Miller will want out of the team now? I think Philly have shown a commitment to winning, and will lock up both Iguodala, and Miller. I still find it hilarious that you look at it as 'stabbing the Clippers in the back'. I look at it as just another in the long line of examples of ineptitude from LAC. |
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| slashers and back-to-the-basket players all share one thing in common – they predominantly score most of their points in the paint. Just because brand scores his points differently from iggy and miller, its still from the same area. Brand makes them even stronger in this area, but come playoff time, it will be easy to defend. <<Basic point: the West isn't going to be any easier. I have it pencilled down as being just as tough as the last season. >> thats for next season.....perhaps, but brand and davis's contracts run 5 years. Its not like it is just a one year window of opportunity they would have had. <<LAC would be at best looking at a 8-6 finish... and thatâ��s assuming Davis can stay healthy, Kaman stay focused (post his Olympic excursion), and Thornton improve. >> davis played 82 games last year and led that GSW team (which wasnt that great) to 48 wins in the west. Playing with an all star PF plus an above average C as a nucleus, I could easily see baron leading this team to 52 – 55 wins. Dalambert may want to stay focused post olympic excursion too (canada) and thad young needs to improve just as much as thornton would have. Add to this millers contract situation (he wants out of philly), do you really think philly is a better situation??? for what it is worth, I am glad brand went to philly. One less team the blazers have to worry about. Will philly be a better team next year – yes, but not as good as everyone is making out. But after what brand said to the media from before he opted out, and then what he said after he signed in philly – there has got to be some questions marks over how he got there. Listen to the latest interview with dunleavy on espn (I dont have a link sorry), he is pretty specific about a lot of details and times lines around what went down. As dunleavy says, all brand has to do is admit he changed his mind (stabbed the clippers in the back). Dont make it what it isnt. |
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| <<You're telling me that the Clips don't have any part to play in this? Sheesh Slops...>> the clips definately have a role in this - no doubt. they should have given brand their best offer straight off the bat. they didnt, it just goes to show sterling is still one of the worst (and cheapest) owners about. but.....brand did say he would sign for less....so whats too much and whats not enough. probably why they call it contract 'negotiations'. <<Even back in 2003 when Brand was last an RFA, the Clippers didn't come right out and offer him good money - they waited until he signed an offer sheet from the Heat and then matched it. >> thats part of the way contracts negotiations go for RFA. players and agents go and get their best offer and bring it back and see if the team wants to match it. what interests me here is that brand and faulk jumped up and down like little girls trying to threaten the clips not to match it by saying brand wouldnt report to training camp. pathetic really. <<Brand never verbally agreed to a contract Slops - you're misrepresenting the situation there. Brand verbally agreed *to come back*.>> whats the difference?? and by what dunleavy is saying there most certainly was a contract verbally agreed too and brand renegged on it. <<On the Sixers, fist you're telling me that the East's getting better, stronger, then you're telling me that the Sixers aren't any better with Brand in there? Isn't that a lil' inconsistent?>> did i say the sixers arent better??? no. i said brand doesnt fill a need, and he only makes them better at what they were already good at. they still need some shooters before they are going to be competitive in the playoffs. <<They were already good at what Brand does??? Who do you have having played at the 4 that does what Brand does? Iggy's a slasher, as is Young... I can't see Andre Miller backing anyone down... and Dalembert lacks the skillset>> |
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| And rosters... The Philadelphia 76ers roster, replete with talent, will include Elton Brand, Sam Dalembert, Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young. Ok… the Clip-equivalent would've been Elton Brand, Chris Kaman, Baron Davis, Al Thornton, and... ummm... Smush Parker (ok, kidding on the Parker bit... but he is on their roster! And that's an indictment of itself). When you factor in that Philadelphia is in the East, compared to the LAC's West, then it’s a no-brainer. Even with Brand, LAC would be at best looking at a 8-6 finish... and that’s assuming Davis can stay healthy, Kaman stay focused (post his Olympic excursion), and Thornton improve. Hell, that LAC roster isn't the best one residing in LA, let alone the West. Nuh-uh... the Sixers roster - as configured - has a much better chance to go further in the playoffs than the LACs would've, had they been a tad more loyal to Brand with their zero allocations. And the East is getting better... but the West is still far more competitive. One of the best teams in the East (tho' they are falling... free falling) is the Cavs. They finished 4th in the East last year. Their win total out West would have them at 10th, completely missing the playoffs. Even 3rd place Orlando's 52 wins would have them at 7th seed in the West. The West is still wild and wooly... and the East might be competitive this year from slots 1-4, or even 1-5... but some pretty ordinary teams are still going to fall into the playoffs. |
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| Brand never verbally agreed to a contract Slops - you're misrepresenting the situation there. Brand verbally agreed *to come back*. On the Sixers, fist you're telling me that the East's getting better, stronger, then you're telling me that the Sixers aren't any better with Brand in there? Isn't that a lil' inconsistent? And "the thing with brand is that he doesnt actually fill a need, he just makes them better at what they were already good at" I'm sorry... huh? The reason Philly was eliminated last year was that they had no post presence per se to score with. They were already good at what Brand does??? Who do you have having played at the 4 that does what Brand does? Iggy's a slasher, as is Young... I can't see Andre Miller backing anyone down... and Dalembert lacks the skillset. You're right on perimeter shooting - and it's ironic that the guy they just traded last season fills that perfectly - but they're in a much better position to get someone now that they have filled their OTHER need: a post player. Everything I've read - pro or otherwise - declares that the Sixers had those *TWO* needs... And some realities: - the Spurs aren't done yet. Anyone who writes them off is not being honest. - whilst I agree with the notion that the Mavs/Suns are on the way out, both have enough talent to be a 6-8 seed over the next 2+ years... - I agree with you that NOLA, LAL, Utah, and (after a year or so) the Blazers will be the new kids on the block (but that's also on the assumption that SA/Dallas/PHX don't make any trades that *make* them better)... Basic point: the West isn't going to be any easier. I have it pencilled down as being just as tough as the last season. |
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| Firstly, I find it amazing that the Clippers - or their fans (or anyone) - can have the temerity to be upset about Brand's departure, given that Davis is now a Clipper. Sure, the circumstances are a lil' different, but try telling that to a Dub-fan. You're telling me that the Clips don't have any part to play in this? Sheesh Slops... It always amazes me when people get upset at athletes for doing things that we - ourselves - wouldn't blink at doing. People can scream then pout all they like over the loyalty owed, but in the end (as Adande said in his article) loyalty goes both ways, and in pro-sports, loyalty is shown by a team to a player by how many 0s are on his paycheck. The Clippers offered Brand $70 million over 5 years. That, is an incredibly low offer. When told that that just wouldn't cut it, they offered him 75 (initially, they had offered him 70, and Davis 60 - both told the Clippers "no way"). He was told 'nuh-uh' on a 6th year, and the LAC refused to include an ETO (early termination option) anywhere in the contract at all. Donald Sterling refused to be involved in the negotiations... wouldn't even see Brand. When Falk (Brand's agent) tried to go hardball with them and told them "If I told you right now we were going to opt out and go to Philadelphia, what would you say?" An executive on the team said, "I would tell you, go to Philadelphia." Even back in 2003 when Brand was last an RFA, the Clippers didn't come right out and offer him good money - they waited until he signed an offer sheet from the Heat and then matched it. That's lame. That's not the way a star player gets treated by it's franchise. Even if you don't make an offer first, when it's time to get him to sign, you make a better offer, give him a better situation than he can get elsewhere. Yup, it's an ugly situation. But never offering a 6th year, and never letting him speak to the owner? Meh... they didn't want him *that* much. |
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| <<Additionally, the East is far, far easier to win in.>> it may be true for now, but i think the nba power is beginning to shift back east. there is more then a handful of teams that are starting to look quite competitive out east, and i dont think any team, especially philly as it is currently put together, is guaranteed even getting an easy pass through to the second round. as for the west, the powerhouse spurs, mavs and suns are all coming to an end. Soon it will lakers, new orleans and the blazers as the big dogs and a team with a core of baron, brand, thornton, kaman and eric gordon (stud) would be more then competitive against anyone. i would rather take my chances on a gimpy baron davis then anyone on the 76ers roster. <<The Sixers can look forward to being in the top half of the playoff experience should everything go to plan. >> i wouldnt think so, not without some more tweaks. the thing with brand is that he doesnt actually fill a need, he just makes them better at what they were already good at. philly lacks any kind of perimeter shooting at all and if they dont address this, then even with brand, I dont see them improving too much at all. they will be eliminated first round of the playoffs again. also, andre miller is in the final year of his contract and is rumored to be looking at bolting at seasons end. considering they have no other ball handlers or distributors, this wouldnt be a good thing. |
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| a few things on brand. 1 - when baron opted out, brand said he wanted to play with him. the clips went and got davis. 2 - brand said he would play for less money if he was playing on a contender - getting davis made this far more likely for the clips. 3 - most importantly, brand verbally agreed to a contract with the clippers. 4 - he was in the media every other day telling everyone how happy he was to be getting the opportunity to play with baron and play with the clips ect ect. the fact that he turned around and reneged on all of these things he said stinks to high hell. <<Brand originally comes from the East, as does his wife. His wife is going to give birth to their first child soon, and was going to move back East to be with her family, support>> if this is indeed part of brands 'reasons' for signing with philly then he may as well come out and say 'i lied to the clippers and stabbed them in the back'. firstly, he use to play in chicago but demanded to be traded from there. if family was such an issue for him, why did he ever leave the east in the first place? secondly, players come from all over the world to play in this league, leaving family and loved ones behind. it is quite concievable that these players too have started families without their own parents close. do you hear any of them whinging about it and using it as an excuse as to why they fled a franchise?? ummm, no. |
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| hey don gotta disagree with your opinion on your site.. "Brand told Dunleavy that if Davis came, he would stay." that's what its all about... would the Clippers have brought in Baron Davis if they knew Brand wasn't staying? I doubt it.... As the writer said, "Maybe that's just Brand. He has always talked a good game but never quite walked it." |
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| Excuse? How would you feel mandati, if you're boss told you "this is the offer, take it or leave it. I don't care either way". And no, I'm not exaggerating - that's what Sterling said: " don't care either way"... |
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| I don't think either of you are looking at it very deeply... Brand originally comes from the East, as does his wife. His wife is going to give birth to their first child soon, and was going to move back East to be with her family, support. This gives Brand the opportunity to actually witness his child's first years. Additionally, the East is far, far easier to win in. The Philadelphia 76ers roster, replete with talent, will include Elton Brand, Sam Dalembert, Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young. Ok... the Clip-equivalent would've been Elton Brand, Chris Kaman, Baron Davis, Al Thornton, and... ummm... Smush Parker (ok, kidding on the Parker bit... but he is on their roster! And that's an indictment of itself). When you factor in that Philadelphia is in the East, compared to the LAC's West, then it's a no-brainer. Even with Brand, LAC would be at best looking at a 8-6 finish... and that's assuming Davis can stay healthy, Kaman stay focused (post his Olympic excursion), and Thornton improve. Philly? The Sixers can look forward to being in the top half of the playoff experience should everything go to plan. Given the age, and uncertainty at Detroit at the moment, this puts them right up there. |
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