Nba 2012/13

Sport
1

Gets underway tonight. :slight_smile:

Big games are Celtics in Miami and Lakers in Dallas.
Lakers have bought in Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, each acquisition a statement in itself that they mean business this year and if they gel with Kobe/Gasol they will constitute the main threat to Miami this year. My hunch is though that they won’t(Howard over-rated imo) and OKC are still the team to beat out West. I would expect LA to win well tonight however over a Dirkless Dallas(injured).

Another reason for that is that Mavs will be without Jason Terry who has left Dallas and is now in Boston, where he must attempt to make up for the absence of the great Ray Allen who finds himself taking on his old team with his new one in the very first game of the season. Miami will be in party mood tonight as finally Lebron picks up his first ring tonight before tipoff. The monkey is off his back but don’t forget Lebron himself said he’d win at least 7. He indeed still might but I think this game is set up for the C’s if Rondo can get it going. He’s always been a bit of an enigma but if he brings his latter season form to the court tonight Boston have the experience and guile to spoil the Heats party.

As for the greater season it’s difficult to see beyond OKC/Lakers and Heat for the Chamionship. Lakers look great on paper but I think OKCs fresher legs will get the better of them once again. James Harden will be a loss but he disappeared when the going got tough and after losing the Finals last year no one will have more motivation than Durant, Westbrook and co this season. Oklahoma Thunder your time is now!

2

How did that Lin lad turn out in the end?

3

Shipped out to the Rockets. Not bad, but just not as good as the hype he was thrust into. Good ol America, they’ll chew you up and spit you out. He actually went to the All Star Game last year. Ridiculous.

Celtics lost last night. Gonna be a long season.

4

KG be a cold motherfucker :clap:

http://ballsdot.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/KGallen.gif

5

Miami were in the zone last night mbb and I thought Boston could take a lot from the game.Their defense looked like it was borrowed from the bobcats alright but the likes of Lebron, Wade, Bosh can tear any defense apart. Fought back from 18 to make it a 4 point game with 2 minutes to play but just ran out of steam then and Heat pulled away again. Keep an eye on Lee and Barbosa in particular, he was lethal when unleashed in the 4th quarter. Terry was disappointing and had the look of someone trying too hard but he should improve and don’t forget they still have the excellent Avery Bradley to return from injury.

Have to say going on last nights performance Miami look almost unbeatable, they’d remind you of the fucking Kilkenny hurlers, so many options and each new player as good as if not better than the last. The core of the team is in it’s 3rd year together and their flow and movement is seamless now. Recruiting Ray Allen was a masterstroke. Stand in the corner, watch as Lebron/Wade get double teamed then just wait for the ball and rain down 3s all night long. It’s very early but 5/2 for the championship might actually represent serious value.

What about the Lakers last night, taken apart by Dallas who were missing Dirk and Chris Kaman. Didn’t see the game but Dwight Howard who is a grade A idiot anyway went 3 for 14 at the line and got fouled out on his debut while Steve Nash was made well and truly look his age by all accounts. We know it’s gonna take time for the team to gel together but that’s all 8 pre-season games and their home opener they’ve lost now. Their best priced 7/2 for the Championship which is a bit of a joke at this stage.

6

11 days into the season and we have our 1st managerial casualty. Adios Mike Brown of the Lakers. They are 1-4 for the season(this on top of being 0-8 in pre-season,their worst start in about 20 years) with their only win coming against the 0-5 pistons. On paper LA look great having spent big on Steve Nash and espicially Dwight Howard but their problems look deeper than the manager imho. Howard is drugged up to the 9s and is vastly overrated anyway, Nash is 39 ffs, Kobe’s getting on himself now and Pau Gasol is nowhere near the player he was 3 or 4 years ago.

The writing was on the wall for Brown after Kobe stared him down during their latest defeat in Utah 2 nights ago. Everyone knows who really calls the shots in Lakerland.

7

Nash is some boy, got a mate who used to run strip clubs in Vancouver, could tell you a few stories about him :wink:

How are the Brooklyn Nets doing?

There is some guy in Seattle now trying to get an arena built with a view to getting the Sonics back, hopefully this happens. Can’t enjoy the NBA while this sporting travesty is still continuing.

8

Brooklyn won the 1st battle of New York last night beating the Knicks 96-89 in OT. This was the game that was suppose to open the season but was postponed because of hurricane Sandy. Both teams are going quite well(both 9-4) and look a cut above the likes of Boston and a Chicago side who are struggling in the absence of Derrick Rose. Neither would get within an asses roar of Miami however in a 7 game series.

Out East Jeremy Lin is finding the going tough at Houston. His stats are all down on last year and he won’t remain their starting point guard for much longer unless he arrests his decline fairly rapid. Then again he may well be operating now at his true level, Linsanity must seem like lifetimes ago. Houston did have a blowout win over the Knicks last week but that had a lot more to do with J Harden than J Lin. He’s on fire since moving from OKCs bench to being top dog with the Rockets. People said Thunder were mad to let him go but their doing just fine themselves without him, they beat Micheal Jordans improved Charlotte Bobcats with the comical scoreline of 114 to 69 last night. Early days still but looking more and more like a repeat of last years Finals between Heat and Thunder every week.

9

Miami have broken a franchise record with a 15 game winning streak having not lost since the 2nd of January. They will extend their record tomorrow night against the lowly magic and look simply unbeatable right now. That said the Spurs have an even better record so far and Duncan, Parker and Popovitch have been excelling themselves again as is their want in the regular season.

It’s all very different for the LA Lakers who stand 2 games outside a playoff spot and are losing in Oklahoma at this very minute.There’s still a quarter of the regular season to go and Kobe had guaranteed that they will make it but their a mismatched outfit and Dwight Howard is a liability. Playoff hoops wouldn’t be the same without them though and they owe it to the memory of Jerry Buss who died last month to get there. He created the franchise as it’s known today, one of the most famous and successful of any sport in the world.

10

As I type Lebron and the Miami Heat are going for 20 wins in a row (@ Philly). That is fucking phenomenal any which way you look at it. They should win tonight and they should also beat Milwaukee and Toronto in their next 2 games( also road games). If that happens they will be tied for 2nd on an all time winning streak with the Houston Rockets freak run of 07/08(The 71/72 Lakers are clear on 33). They would then face the Celtics on Monday in Boston night to go a clear 2nd, no doubt it would make the Cs season to deny them this accolade, would be an absolute belter of a game, lets hope it happens. Heat currently lead sixers by 8 in the 3rd,
http://www.firstrow1.eu/watch/174602/1/watch-philadelphia-76ers-vs-miami-heat.html

11

Heat made hard work of it but beat Philly 98-94 to bring their streak to 20:clap:

12

An absolute monster of a game last night in the Garden, Heat extended their run to 23 but they were made fight for it by the pride of Ireland on Paddys weekend. Celtics were down KG but credit to Jeff Green, he exploded all over this contest with a Celtics season high of 43. Green has threatened to become something in the past, would be great to see him kick on from this.

But fuck it, if Miami aren’t an awesome outfit, 17 down in the first half, 13 down with 8 to go and they snatched it with 10 left on the clock, who else but Lebron with a 21 footer jump shot to win 105-103. Clutch.

This Celtics Heat rivalry is a joy to behold, moreso for the way the Celtics greats are fighting against the dying of the light, and the way Lebron is starting to hold the entire league in the palm of his hand.

Roll on the playoffs.

13

On Monday nights form Green is the heir apparent to your boy ‘The Truth’ mbb. C’s did really well being down Rondo and KG(I think they’d have won it with KG) but greatness is hard to deny and Lebron and co are simply on fire right now. People have often questioned Lebrons clutch gene but he showed it on Monday night. Even though Rayt Allen took the soup, the Celtics still put it up to the Heat every single time although almost always come up just short. Last years playoff off series was as epic as it gets, hopefully we’ll get more of the same this year.

Heats streak now stands a clear 2nd in the all time lists at 23, exactly 10 behind the record set by the 71/72 Lakers(Wilt Chamberlin, David West, Pat Riley) . That incidentally, remains a record for all US pro sports. Looking ahead at their schedule and a genuine shot at this really is on for the Heat. 7 of their next 10 games are against teams with sub .500 averages. The toughest games(on paper) will be against the Bulls, the Knicks and biggest of all at no 30 should they make it that far, the San Antonio Spurs who as things stand are only one game behind Miami on the season. Here’s how I think it will pan out.
Miami Heats next 10 games

24, @ Cleveland, tonight. Handy WIN
25,Detroit, Fri, Soft WIN
26, Charlotte, Sun, Easy WIN
27 @ Orlando, Mon 25/3 Blowout WIN (although the lowly Magic did give them a right scare earlier during this streak)
28 @ Chicago,Wed 27/3 Hard fought WIN. ( Bulls are the definition of a tough team to beat esp on their home turf and like everyone else would dearly love to be the ones to put a halt to Miami but they are still Rose-less and Heats superior quality should see them pull through)

29 @ New Orleans, Fri 29/3 Uneventful WIN(Hornets are muck although danger lurks here nonetheless as this looks a potential trap game sanwiched between Bulls and Spurs)
30 @ Spurs, Sun, 31/3 Too close to call(Probably about the only team who look like they actually could beat the Heat and they have a genius coach in Popovitch)
31,Knicks, Tue 2/4 Authorative WIN(If they do beat the Spurs then believe me it won’t be the flakey Knicks who stop them, Melo or not)
32@ Charlotte, Fri 5/4 Carefree WIN(Bobcats have and will have the leagues worst record. Would be the biggest ever shock in Sports if they were the ones who denied Miami)
33, Philly Sat, 6/4 Focused win (Only back to back game on this stretch but that won’t be enough to stop them against the useless 76ers)

So it all comes down to the milestone 30th game in San Antonio imho. Win it and this Heat team truly join the sporting immortals, the true greats, the Greek Gods.
That could happen or of course they could always get stuffed tonight in Cleveland, they do owe Lebron one after all…

14

Oh and by the way this is what happens when you run you’re mouth off against Lebron James and the Miami Heat a la Jason Terry before Mondays game

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6vNqRY5xOo

15

:rolleyes:^^Heat down by 21 at HT to a Cavs team missing their 3 best players, ah well

16

Heat cut it to 9 heading into the 4tho_O

17

Tie game. Jesus fucking Christ:eek:

18

Amazing Scenes:popcorn:

19

Makes the Celtics result less impressive…

20

Nonsense. The Heat were on the 24th game of a 24 game winning streak of an 82 game regular season, not to mention most likely another 20plus post season games. It’s beyond impossible to bring your A game every time and clearly they didn’t bring it to Cleveland last night whereas they had to bring it to Boston.

Cavs were short-handed but because of that you had relatively unknown names(some recently acquired from the D league) playing the games of their lives to try and secure proper nba contracts They knew the shop window was open last night and the Heat were visibly taken aback by the intensity they brought for most of the 1st 3 Qs, fair play to them.

Heat will have to bring their A game to Chicago and San Antonio so another scare like last night against one of the lesser lights where they probably, consciously or otherwise, will be leaving something in the tank is not out of the question, Pistons, Bobcats, Magic, Hornets, take your pick. What’s more each opposition team is raising their game against the Heat on two counts 1 because Miami are the champions, the ‘glamour’ sellout game and 2 now more-so perhaps, because they want to be the ones who end this streak.