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

[West E]

smart choice, Ray. Will he even take a contested shot next year?

[gvortex7]

Welcome to the fold Ray Ray!!!!!!!!!!!

[Indyjones]

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.

Part of the reason for that was the bone spurs issue, which was late in the season. But earlier in the season, there was a decent stretch where half of the roster was injured, with Pierce having his issues - both health and game-wise, so Ray became THE focal point of opposing defenses. Let's not forget - Ray Ray was scorching hot early in the season - from anywhere and everywhere on the court - including 2pt range. It wasn't until Boston's nightly lineup changes due to injuries, along with opposing teams D's being solely focused on him, that he started to struggle. As soon as the C's righted the ship and got everyone healthy, Ray's bone spurs popped up.

When it comes to Ray, we can throw age out the window. He's a freak of nature. Even at age 37, he's in better shape than most 20+ year olds in the NBA, or anyone in the NBA for that matter. He works his ass off year round and it shows.

[Indyjones]

Originally Posted by gvortex7

Welcome to the fold Ray Ray!!!!!!!!!!!

That just brought a tear to my eye - and not one of joy. I am a C's fan, but Ray Ray is my favorite current player. So it REALLY hurts to see him go to South Beach - THE archrival and one of the teams I truly hate. I don't know if I can stomach wearing a #20 or #34 in Heatles colors... Lol

[ChadFL]

I was looking at some basketball videos on Youtube and came across this. Apparently Minnesota won the WNBA (ya, it still exists) title in 2011. Amazingly enough they do have a parade for the WNBA championship team. Looking at this video there are about 50 people that showed up for the parade and the players are riding in the back of pickup trucks.

Minnesota Lynx Championship Parade- YouTube

[gvortex7]

Originally Posted by Indyjones

That just brought a tear to my eye - and not one of joy. I am a C's fan, but Ray Ray is my favorite current player. So it REALLY hurts to see him go to South Beach - THE archrival and one of the teams I truly hate. I don't know if I can stomach wearing a #20 or #34 in Heatles colors... Lol

I can imagine. This is obviously a common sentiment among all Celtics fans, especially since out of their "big 3" he was the most likable guy. Sorry about that bud. Think of it this way, you'll always have the lasting memories of the past 5 years with him, including that great championship run.

[West E]

Ray Allen is one guy i've never associated with one team. Probably because he stays about 5 seasons with everyone. So this doesn't seem strange to me.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by West E

Ray Allen is one guy i've never associated with one team. Probably because he stays about 5 seasons with everyone. So this doesn't seem strange to me.

Same, this is his career.

Milwaukee - 7 years
Seattle - 5 years
Boston - 5 years

In spite of his playoff success with Boston when I think of Ray Allen I still think of him playing for Milwaukee and Seattle more than Boston.

[West E]

Your stupid fact of the day

-the 76ers roster now includes every NBA player with the last name of YOUNG.

Thaddeus Young
Nick Young
Sam Young

[ChadFL]

This is good to see. Jeff Green had a very promising career right up until a potentially fatal heart condition was detected last year.

http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/...ng-green-agent

Jeff Green returning to Celtics

The agent for unrestricted free agent Jeff Green said Saturday that the framework for a deal is in place for his client to return to the Boston Celtics next season.

Green's agent, David Falk, would not reveal the specific length or value of the contract, but confirmed that the details have been ironed out and a deal will likely be consummated after the moratorium lifts on July 11.

"This is where Jeff always wanted to be," said Falk, who continued to heap praise on the Celtics organization for the way they handled Green's heart ailment last season. Falk stressed that Boston's goodwill played a major factor in his decision to return and said he's not surprised a deal got hammered out with the two sides on the same page from the start of the process.

Both Falk and Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge expressed optimism that a contract would get done earlier this week and, after watching Ray Allen elect to sign with the Miami Heat on Friday night, the Celtics appear to have moved quickly to finalize with Green.

Green, traded to Boston in February of 2011, sat out the entire 2011-12 season after undergoing surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm that was detected in training camp as the two sides prepared to sign a one-year, $9 million deal.

The relationship between Green and the Celtics was strengthened through his heart woes as Ainge accompanied him to doctor visits throughout the detection and repair, which will allow Green to resume his basketball career next season without limitations.

"Jeff, when he got traded to the Celtics, he loved his experience, he wanted to prove that he's a better player than he played when he got here (at the end of the 2010-11 season)," said Ainge, who dealt Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson to Oklahoma City in exchange for Green, Nenad Krstic, and a first-round pick (used to select Fab Melo in this year's draft) at the 2011 trade deadline.

[Tony208]

that's crazy... Ray Allen to the Heat

that's not even fair

big four in Miami now (in terms of star recognition)

[Blu Titan]

Miami Heat rookie center Justin Hamilton. Not sure if he can play in the NBA, but seems to have a great 3 pt shot:

Miami Heat's Rookie Center Justin Hamilton - YouTube

[Hatter]

Originally Posted by Tony208

that's crazy... Ray Allen to the Heat

that's not even fair

big four in Miami now (in terms of star recognition)

Potential Big four vs big four final next year

(Kobe, Nash, Bynum, Gasol (maybe?)) vs (Lebron, Wade, Bosh, Allen)

Sounds good to me.

[Azyiu]

Originally Posted by Hatter

Potential Big four vs big four final next year

(Kobe, Nash, Bynum, Gasol (maybe?)) vs (Lebron, Wade, Bosh, Allen)

Sounds good to me.

If Nash is successful in convincing Grant Hill to join the Lakers for the vet minimum, it would be the Big 5 in terms of star recognition.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Azyiu

If Nash is successful in convincing Grant Hill to join the Lakers for the vet minimum, it would be the Big 5 in terms of star recognition.

Last time Grant Hill was a star it was the 20th century and he played for Detroit.

[Azyiu]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Last time Grant Hill was a star it was the 20th century and he played for Detroit.

Fair enough, but in terms of name recognition, Hill is at the very least as famous as Bosh.

[Darth Anakin]

Originally Posted by Azyiu

Fair enough, but in terms of name recognition, Hill is at the very least as famous as Bosh.

Who's Bosh?

According to his agent, Nicolas Batum personally asked Blazers management on Thursday not to match his four-year, $45 million offer sheet from the Timberwolves.
Batum's much-maligned agent, Bouna Ndiaye, said that Batum's "heart isn't [in Portland]," and that he felt his role last season was too limited -- "He wasn't able to get up and down ... being a Bruce Bowen in-the-corner player frustrated him." Remember that the Wolves have only made a verbal commitment (nothing can be signed until July 11) and many NBA observers feel that Minnesota and Batum are simply trying to create some leverage where none truly exists. It has been previously reported that during Thursday's meeting, the Blazers told Batum they would match the offer regardless of his preference.

Source - http://www.csnnw.com/pages/landingbl...50&feedID=5212

[West E]

another day, another Eric Gordon complaining interview. How exactly do i root for this guy next season. We can trade him after a month or two right? What an idiot.

on turning down New Orleans 4 year, $50 million offer while he was recovering from surgery:

I didn't accept the offer because I didn't think that was the type of caliber player I was," Gordon said. "We''ve just got to wait until July 11, because I don't know what they're going to do. "They say I'm their best player, right? What would you think of that offer? … It feels like I'm being taken advantage of over there just because I'm restricted. If they wanted to, it's built for me to stay with your remaining team.""

Gordon even seemed to take a dig at the Hornets' draft strategy including 6-10 Kentucky forward Anthony Davis with the No. 1 pick and guard Austin Rivers at No. 10 in last month's draft.
"If you look at it, we have no center. We have hardly no bigs," Gordon said.

Gordon insisted his current unhappiness with the Hornets is not about money.
"It's all about what type of caliber player I am," Gordon said. "It's all about interest. What kind of caliber player I am. That's what it's all about. No 1 thing is I'm here to win, I'm here to try to lead a team. All this new deal is built for me to stay in New Orleans, but the interest wasn't there. I've just got to move on.

[ChadFL]

I have no clue what the Hornets are doing. They're close to a sign and trade for Ryan Anderson. Anderson is a PF, same as Anthony Davis.

[UK_fan_05]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

I have no clue what the Hornets are doing. They're close to a sign and trade for Ryan Anderson. Anderson is a PF, same as Anthony Davis.

Davis will probably play center.