Official 2012-2013 NBA Season Thread (NBA Playoffs: Conference Semifinals)

[Darth Anakin]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Well Dallas only made the playoffs by 2 games this past season. And it's obvious they won't be as good next season. I'm not sure they go .500 in 2012-13 much less make the playoffs.

If Minnesota stays healthy I could certainly see them making the playoffs. It was only injuries that killed their chances late in the year this past season.

Another wildcard is New Orleans. They only won 32% of their games in 2012-13. But that was with Gordon missing nearly the entire season. And now they have some terrific draft picks in Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers. If they stay healthy and the young guys step up right away they could be an above .500 team.

I only see us getting in if we can improve defensively and we get Love more help, although that's probably why they signed Batum and Roy. Would be nice to see someone other than Love and Rubio consistently do well in Minnesota.

[Lacit170]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Well Dallas only made the playoffs by 2 games this past season. And it's obvious they won't be as good next season. I'm not sure they go .500 in 2012-13 much less make the playoffs.

If Minnesota stays healthy I could certainly see them making the playoffs. It was only injuries that killed their chances late in the year this past season.

Another wildcard is New Orleans. They only won 32% of their games in 2012-13. But that was with Gordon missing nearly the entire season. And now they have some terrific draft picks in Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers. If they stay healthy and the young guys step up right away they could be an above .500 team.

I think Minnesota and Portland battle for that spot...Portland fell off HARD last year.....

and i think New Orleans is still a year away at least frrom makin the playoffs...call me crazy...but i foresee that team as being dysfunctional no matter how good they look on paper...looks like Gordons got an attitude problem and we'll see if he can stay healthy...

[Lacit170]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

I only see us getting in if we can improve defensively and we get Love more help, although that's probably why they signed Batum and Roy. Would be nice to see someone other than Love and Rubio consistently do well in Minnesota.

I really doubt you guys get Batum....and Roy might as well change his name...cuz its not Brandon Roy....

I think Williams steps it up big time this year...you have every reason to set your expectations to making the playoffs

[Darth Anakin]

Originally Posted by Lacit170

I really doubt you guys get Batum....and Roy might as well change his name...cuz its not Brandon Roy....

I think Williams steps it up big time this year...you have every reason to set your expectations to making the playoffs

If Rubio can stay healthy and Williams got better at free throws, I can see Williams becoming a 15-18 ppg kind of guy, which would help a lot since Love hasn't really had consistent help while he's been here, Pekovic last year aside. I still don't like how they seemed to quit when Rubio went down, we'll see how they respond when the season starts and he's back, I guess.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Lacit170

I really doubt you guys get Batum....and Roy might as well change his name...cuz its not Brandon Roy....

I think Williams steps it up big time this year...you have every reason to set your expectations to making the playoffs

I really can't see how Batum is worth the $11 mill plus offers he's getting. He's a good player and showing improvement but that kind of money is ridiculous.

[Navster]

Laker fans, photo of Nash in his new Lakers jersey...

[Show spoiler]

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Well Dallas only made the playoffs by 2 games this past season. And it's obvious they won't be as good next season. I'm not sure they go .500 in 2012-13 much less make the playoffs.

I dunno, the Mavs have always been made up of Dirk and Terry + Cast-offs/has-beens/never wases. How good the team was was often based on just how good these others players are/still were. I remember people laughing about the Tyson Chandler deal because Chandler was known for being injured too much to be good.

Losing Terry is a loss, but not as big a loss as a 4-years ago Terry would have been. Terry's stats are clearly on the decline and have been for about 4 years(each year has been worse than the prior one).

Jason Kidd is all but spent. Lamar Odom was awful. In spite of my joking about them having no one the rest of the team hasn't really changed. If the Mavs can find a Terry replacement (basically a second shooter) they could make the playoffs.

They certainly won't make a championship run though.

[West E]

at this point Dallas should look at OJ Mayo or Lou Williams. They need someone besides Dirk who can score. They're a 7th seed at best and that's with Dirk being healthy and playing well.

The Sixers have gotten worse so far in my eyes. Nick Young is basically a slightly taller Lou Williams so that's an even trade off. Losing Elton Brand hurts. They need decent big men. He was decent (but grossly overpaid). They might actually finish 4th in their division.

[Hi-Def Steve]

Originally Posted by Navster

Laker fans, photo of Nash in his new Lakers jersey...

[Show spoiler]

Here's a better one for ya.

[Show spoiler]

[Terjyn]

Deron came out and publicly stated that the trade for Joe Johnson was the deciding factor in him becoming a Net.

So, a trade which almost prevents any chance of the Nets winning a championship, for one of the (if not THE) most overpaid player in the league, is the reason Deron officially decided to stay.

Do NBA players just not think about these things before they do them? Or do they simply not understand the way salary caps work?

[Blu Titan]

Mickey Arison just tweeted

1mMicky Arison‏@MickyArison

Its 2:30am in London and I was just woken up with great news. Welcome to the family #20!!

https://twitter.com/MickyArison

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Mickey Arison just tweeted

Wow, that's a huge signing. Now we're looking at.

PG - Chalmers/Cole
SG - Wade/Allen
SF - James/Battier/Jones
PF - Bosh/Haslem
C - Anthony/Pittman

The rich just got even richer.

[Azyiu]

Maybe it is just me, but I wouldn't get too excited with the Ray Allen signing just yet. With his age, and his performances over the past 2 seasons, he has all the potential to be inconsistant like Rip Hamilton with the Bulls. He could be looking alright in a couple games, and sudden goes disappear for the next 5 or so. Of course, that's just me, so Ray, prove me wrong, will you?

[Terjyn]

Considering in the finals the Heat got big performances from guys who basically showed up 2-3 times all year I think they'll take their chances that Allen has inconsistent days now and then.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Azyiu

Maybe it is just me, but I wouldn't get too excited with the Ray Allen signing just yet. With his age, and his performances over the past 2 seasons, he has all the potential to be inconsistant like Rip Hamilton with the Bulls. He could be looking alright in a couple games, and sudden goes disappear for the next 5 or so. Of course, that's just me, so Ray, prove me wrong, will you?

I'm not sure what you're talking about. Look at Ray Allen's numbers. His last two seasons were his best two 3 point% seasons of his career - 44% and 45%. His last two seasons were terrific.

[Azyiu]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

I'm not sure what you're talking about. Look at Ray Allen's numbers. His last two seasons were his best two 3 point% seasons of his career - 44% and 45%. His last two seasons were terrific.

Right, his 3-pts % in the past 2 seasons have been his best, no doubt, but his overall shooting % took a 4% dive this past season compared to the one before it. Can't ignore that combining with his age, that's all I am saying.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Azyiu

Right, his 3-pts % in the past 2 seasons have been his best, no doubt, but his overall shooting % took a 4% dive this past season compared to the one before it. Can't ignore that combining with his age, that's all I am saying.

That might be true but even there his last two seasons were both above his career averages of 45.2% from the field and 40.0% from 3-pt range. I'm not arguing his game hasn't declined, but it really hasn't declined THAT much. Plus Allen has been playing 34 MPG+ for Boston for quite a few years now. Miami shouldn't need that much out of him, which should help prolong his career a bit.

[Azyiu]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

That might be true but even there his last two seasons were both above his career averages of 45.2% from the field and 40.0% from 3-pt range. I'm not arguing his game hasn't declined, but it really hasn't declined THAT much. Plus Allen has been playing 34 MPG+ for Boston for quite a few years now. Miami shouldn't need that much out of him, which should help prolong his career a bit.

Agreed with you there on his minutes, and that is why I think things could swing either way. His shooting could keep "declining", but with his lessen minutes, that might end up not being as much a factor.

[Blu Titan]

Ray will not have to run through all the illegal screens set by KG to get a shot off anymore . Lebron and Wade will get him open at will . All ray needs to do is wait for the ball and shoot it. Game five of the Finals, Miller could not move but got wide open shots every time.

[UK_fan_05]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Ray will not have to run through all the illegal screens set by KG to get a shot off anymore . Lebron and Wade will get him open at will . All ray needs to do is wait for the ball and shoot it. Game five of the Finals, Miller could not move but got wide open shots every time.

Exactly. The Heat will always have at least two guys who command a double team, James and Wade, and sometimes Bosh. Allen will be open and get plenty of looks. I'd say he could get up to 8 open looks a game, just open looks.