NBA 2018-2019

[Alsacs]

Yeah. Rafer Alston had a long, solid career as a 2nd rounder. Cuttino Mobley was a good player and a 2nd rounder. Even someone like Ricky Davis was productive for a late first rounder.

What’s crazy is of all the guys who either barely made it or didn’t make it at all from that draft...I remember almost every one of them. The days when I could name the starting 5 from a random school like Fresno State. Now I can’t even do that for anyone we play accept Duke, UNC, and Virginia most years.

What stuck out for me was outside of Larry Hughes there was only other 1 and done drafted in the first round.
Ricky Davis and Larry Hughes were the only Freshman drafted.
Now it’s all freshman or sophomores in the lottery.
Guys like Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz were all Juniors.
Lots of Seniors drafted as well.

It’s insane how just 20 years later the draft has become a crap shoot as none of these guys are developed or ready. Even Zion who is a stud could use more time in college but because of the insane money in the game and the fact the players get nothing in college the sport is dying outside of March.

 

[moqui]

It’s because Magic did this to Lakers ability to get FAs without LeBron doing the work for them now.

no, the claim that magic didn't really show up and do the work is resonating in los angeles; people believe it. and further, people are pissed that he chose today to speak out, knowing full well that he was going to shjt all over the presser introducing vogel

 

[OrangeDW]

What stuck out for me was outside of Larry Hughes there was only other 1 and done drafted in the first round.
Ricky Davis and Larry Hughes were the only Freshman drafted.
Now it’s all freshman or sophomores in the lottery.
Guys like Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz were all Juniors.
Lots of Seniors drafted as well.

It’s insane how just 20 years later the draft has become a crap shoot as none of these guys are developed or ready. Even Zion who is a stud could use more time in college but because of the insane money in the game and the fact the players get nothing in college the sport is dying outside of March.

Yeah, Vince averaged like 7 ppg off the bench as a freshman. Now, that would be it for him. He’d get drafted off sheer athleticism and potential.

What’s crazy is Jamison was one of those super ready freshman who came right in and played great. While there were concerns that he might be a tweener, youd never get 3 years out of a guy like that who played good enough to leave after 1.

 

[Knicks411]

Yeah. Rafer Alston had a long, solid career as a 2nd rounder. Cuttino Mobley was a good player and a 2nd rounder. Even someone like Ricky Davis was productive for a late first rounder.

What’s crazy is of all the guys who either barely made it or didn’t make it at all from that draft...I remember almost every one of them. The days when I could name the starting 5 from a random school like Fresno State. Now I can’t even do that for anyone we play except Duke, UNC, and Virginia most years.

Brad Miller was undrafted and he made an all star game!

 

[OrangeDW]

no, the claim that magic didn't really show up and do the work is resonating in los angeles; people believe it. and further, people are pissed that he chose today to speak out, knowing full well that he was going to shjt all over the presser introducing vogel

Make. It. Stop.

Knicks fans...I kinda felt your pain when I rooted for Melo during his NY years. But WOW. I have a whole new appreciation for you all for hanging in there. I pretty much want the whole organization fired at this point.

 

[Knicks411]

Yeah, Vince averaged like 7 ppg off the bench as a freshman. Now, that would be it for him. He’d get drafted off sheer athleticism and potential.

What’s crazy is Jamison was one of those super ready freshman who came right in and played great. While there were concerns that he might be a tweener, youd never get 3 years out of a guy like that who played good enough to leave after 1.

If anyone could, seems like UNC could somehow pull it of though. Seems like they always get guys to stay an extra year.
I had to look up the UNC team that Vince only scored 7 points a game for. He was 7th on that team in minutes played! He had decent per minute numbers as well, but I meanm Shammond Williams, Jeff McInnis, and Dante Calabria got more minutes than Vince Carter. I get Dean Smith was somewhat suspicious of freshmen but Jamison played a ton for that same team

 

[OrangeDW]

If anyone could, seems like UNC could somehow pull it of though. Seems like they always get guys to stay an extra year.
I had to look up the UNC team that Vince only scored 7 points a game for. He was 7th on that team in minutes played! He had decent per minute numbers as well, but I meanm Shammond Williams, Jeff McInnis, and Dante Calabria got more minutes than Vince Carter. I get Dean Smith was somewhat suspicious of freshmen but Jamison played a ton for that same team

Yeah. McInnis was the junior PG and Calabria was a senior. But beyond that - Ademola Okulaja - the ultimate hard nosed college role player- started over him. And he was a freshman too!

I remember Dean Smith grumbling that “you can’t play defense in the air” when questioned on why Vince didn’t play more.

I watched them a ton as my family had just moved back to CNY from NC that season, so I still followed them pretty closely. I loved Vince and would watch the games dying for him to play more. I remember McInnis throwing him an alley-oop from close to half court, that Vince reverse dunked. Who reverse dunks half court alley-oops? Lol.

 

[OrangeDW]

Yeah. McInnis was the junior PG and Calabria was a senior. But beyond that - Ademola Okulaja - the ultimate hard nosed college role player- started over him. And he was a freshman too!

I remember Dean Smith grumbling that “you can’t play defense in the air” when questioned on why Vince didn’t play more.

I watched them a ton as my family had just moved back to CNY from NC that season, so I still followed them pretty closely. I loved Vince and would watch the games dying for him to play more. I remember McInnis throwing him an alley-oop from close to half court, that Vince reverse dunked. Who reverse dunks half court alley-oops? Lol.

Ha, found the reverse alley-oop. At the end of these highlights as it happened at the buzzer in a 63-59 game. It was basically like his version of the Fab Melo 360 against Nova at the buzzer, lol. Meaningless but still amazing.

 

[Knicks411]

Yeah. McInnis was the junior PG and Calabria was a senior. But beyond that - Ademola Okulaja - the ultimate hard nosed college role player- started over him. And he was a freshman too!

I saw that! He's the kind of player who I can only envision as a senior. Like he was scrappy senior role player for 4 years in a row.

Imagine playing him over Vince Carter. Dean Smith won a million games and he obviously knew more about basketball than I ever will, but man.

 

[chugg21]

Yeah. Rafer Alston had a long, solid career as a 2nd rounder. Cuttino Mobley was a good player and a 2nd rounder. Even someone like Ricky Davis was productive for a late first rounder.

What’s crazy is of all the guys who either barely made it or didn’t make it at all from that draft...I remember almost every one of them. The days when I could name the starting 5 from a random school like Fresno State. Now I can’t even do that for anyone we play except Duke, UNC, and Virginia most years.

Same thing for me. I'm not sure if its because we have to many options now so I'm not just watching whatever random games espn and espn2 put on or if you just stop really caring about other teams as much as you get older.

 

[Alsacs]

The Lakers' public drama is a crisis of ownership

Magic Johnson aired Los Angeles' issues on Monday -- and Lakers ownership continues to be silent.

www.espn.com

I feel bad for Lakers fans. Ramona Shelburne is doing a total puff piece for Jeanie Buss trying to pin all this blame on Magic being an absentee president.
When Magic didn’t have the power to fire Luke Walton or Rob Pelinka.
She totally cut his power and they act confused why he didn’t put in the work.
Shelburne is totally covering for Jeanie Buss because they are friends and she wants access. It’s so obvious.
I can understand Lakers fans being frustrated a little with Magic because he did this today but the guy didn’t have the power to do anything Jeanie didn’t even want to fire Luke Walton.

 

[Ghost]

This sequence of the GSW/POR game is pretty insane. Chaotic is a good word.

 

[Cowtown]

Hair on fire basketball.

 

[Cowtown]

Portland took a time out and all they could come up with was that?

 

[PoppyHart]

Not sure how you call traveling on that Steph shot but allow the Lillard shot that won the OKC series.

 

[Ghost]

Portland took a time out and all they could come up with was that?

I have no idea what they're even doing.

I feel like GSW should be up like 80...yet they're not.

 

[Ghost]

Has any NBA star ever looked less like a basketball player than McCollum. I think if I randomly ran into him on a court I would definitely challenge him to a game...and assume I would win.

 

[moqui]

When Magic didn’t have the power to fire Luke Walton or Rob Pelinka.
She totally cut his power and they act confused why he didn’t put in the work.

i don't think this is accurate. by most accounts, you have the causation backward. even parsing magic's own words: he said "i told jeanie when she offered me the job that i had to be me, to keep doing my own thing and taking care of my own businesses" (paraphrased). he essentially admitted that he wasn't around much and never intended to. power abhors a vacuum, and magic created one.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Magic just proved he had no power and was in essence a figurehead.
Now because he was only working part time how could he think he had any decision making power.

This interview though will not help Pelinka or the Lakers in FA.
The minority owners of the Lakers will do a coup on Jeanie just like she did to her brother.

How do u think the media would have treated Jeanie if she were a man?

 

[Alsacs]

How do u think the media would have treated Jeanie if she were a man?

Like Jim Buss and I don’t think Jeanie is protected by everyone in the media just her buddy Ramona who wants access.
Bill Plawaskie will keep it real.

 

[Alsacs]

i don't think this is accurate. by most accounts, you have the causation backward. even parsing magic's own words: he said "i told jeanie when she offered me the job that i had to be me, to keep doing my own thing and taking care of my own businesses" (paraphrased). he essentially admitted that he wasn't around much and never intended to. power abhors a vacuum, and magic created one.

Magic Johnson went scorched earth on the Lakers' power structure and GM Rob Pelinka one month after abruptly retiring as team president

Magic Johnson on "First Take" said Pelinka tried to backstab him and Jeanie Buss needed to better control how many people had input into decisions.

www.businessinsider.com

The Magic wasn’t around 24/7 excuse is done by media who are loyal to Jeanie.
Magic didn’t need to burn the midnight oil for this job. He just needed to be updated on fhe day to day stuff with the coaching staff and players, keep updated on the scouting department and updated on what Pelinka was doing.

He wasn’t the GM he was the team president.
Magic did not have the power to fire Luke Walton. He said they had 3 meetings about it. The second one Jeanie said go ahead then in the third she changed her mind and said work it out with Luke.
Clearly Magic didn’t have the power on final say.
On FA last year he said they didn’t sign anyone to a multi year deal except LeBron to keep financial flexibility for upcoming free agents.
Magic wasn’t why the organization struggled. It’s the owner is wishy washy and listens to too many people and tries to make everyone happy.

 

[Melancer46]

Not sure how you call traveling on that Steph shot but allow the Lillard shot that won the OKC series.

What do you mean? Lillard took 2 steps on the game winner. Steph took 5 there lol. That was about as obvious a travel that I've seen since the one where Westbrook just walked up the floor without dribbling.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

What do you mean? Lillard took 2 steps on the game winner. Steph took 5 there lol. That was about as obvious a travel that I've seen since the one where Westbrook just walked up the floor without dribbling.

That was the Harden double step back, but it was a travel

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

How do u think the media would have treated Jeanie if she were a man?

Her problem is following one of the greatest owners in sports history, and sharing his name, and thus having unrealistic expectations that she should be as good an owner.

 

[Newhouser]

Her problem is following one of the greatest owners in sports history, and sharing his name, and thus having unrealistic expectations that she should be as good an owner.

They need to bring some Non-Laker people in. Not every former player is Jerry West. Kurt Rambis and Kobe's agent need to step aside and she needs to find an experienced competent basketball person to run her team and has the authority to tell Kobe, LeBron, Magic and everyone else that he/she is in charge.