NBA and College Basketball Thread

[frivolity]

It's been an interesting series so far, what with malfunctioning air-conditioning and yet another record set.

I only hope the Rockets are watching this series and learning one important lesson:

Spoiler for Lesson for the Rockets:

[itisjustme]

You guys hear about that Melo to Miami noise?

[frivolity]

Read about it on some boards, but it's hard to see how they will fit all the salaries together. The Heat are already far above the salary cap and even the luxury threshold. One of the current big 3 will have to leave in order to make it possible.

The other alternative is if all three of them choose not to exercise their player options and then all four agree to take even less money so they can play together. This would mean somewhere in the region of around $12-15m each per year, which is far less than the amount that they would get elsewhere.

Overall, I don't think it's likely to happen. The three most likely destinations I've seen for Melo if he moves are Dallas, Chicago, and Houston. All 3 of them can offer Melo ~$20m, with Houston being slightly more attractive due to having no state taxes. Chicago and Houston will have to move a lot of players in order to offer Melo a max contract. The Bulls will have to amnesty Boozer, let Taj Gibson go, and trade a few more players. The Rockets will have to find takers for Lin and Asik, as well as exercise the 4th-year team option on Parsons' rookie contract. Dallas is in a good spot overall since they have a lot of cap space and their only worry other than Melo is Dirk's next contract.

Of course, there's always the last possibility of Melo exercising his player option and staying with the Knicks for one last season, but Phil will really have his work cut out for him to convince Melo to stay. The Knicks' salary structure for next year is neck-and-neck with Brooklyn's for the worst situation out of all 30 teams. If Melo stays, he's going to have to go through one more year of not contending for a championship - under a first-time coach as well. The only wildcard is whether DFish actually has any bearing on Melo's decision. I don't know what kind of relationship the two of them have.

[itisjustme]

I think the idea is Wade retires or gets a salary cut, Bosh exits or takes a cut too, they already said they were ready to get a wage cut, and Melo comes with a lower than max salary to basically ride to free championships. And then fill the roster with role players ready to come for min salary just for the free rings too like Allen.

Kinda tells you something about the NBA nowadays.

[frivolity]

26-17 first quarter lead for the Spurs in the important game 4. Not sure if the players are tired after only having one full day of rest, but the intensity seems a little subdued for both teams so far compared to the previous games.

[kuroishinigami]

Miami has been playing bad in 1st quarter in this series. The deciding quarter will be quarter 3 where they usually make a run.

[Suzuku]

We can come back from this

[frivolity]

19 point lead at the half now. Heat will have to come out roaring after halftime as they did last game, but they'll have to maintain focus for both quarters this time.

[itisjustme]

I am shocked at the apathetic Heat in the first half. Apart from that last 3 James was nowhere to be seen. Don't they realize if they lose this the series is over.

At least I haven't heard Mark Jackson go "you know the rules, hands down, man down" or "mama there goes that man" yet although I missed the first quarter.

[Xagzan]

Or, my favorite "a grown man move!"

[frivolity]

Lead is at 20 midway through the 3rd. The Heat have to make a push now or else the game is over.

[kuroishinigami]

Is Dwayne Wade suffers from injury or something? He's been non-exsistent in this game.

[itisjustme]

James tried to take over, made his jumpers, but still -24... at the end of the 3rd, Wade has been horrible I don't know what's happening.

Leonard or Diaw for FMVP? :P

[Suzuku]

i'm wearing my Wade jersey tomorrow and Heat beanie. Idgaf.

[kuroishinigami]

James is outscoring the rest of his teammates while shooting 70% FG. What else do you want him to do?

Edit : sloppy start to the 4th by the Spurs. 3 straight TO. Timeout by coach pop to right the ship.

[itisjustme]

One thing that annoys me is that foul where you pump fake get your guy in the air and then jump into him to shoot. NBA needs to do something about it.

[frivolity]

^The counter to that is verticality, but not a lot of players are skilled/disciplined enough to make use of that rule. The ones who do are elite defenders.

[kuroishinigami]

Well, it's over. 4 minutes left and 20+ point difference. I'm happy Tim Duncan makes history and surpass Magic's record of double-double in playoff with this win. Time to close out Miami in SA on Sunday.

[sky black swordman]

And another blow out by the Spurs.

Come on Spurs just one more!

[frivolity]

Credit to the Spurs for their scintillating offense and stifling defense today. It was as though they were the ones playing at home while 2-1 down, hustling for loose balls and rebounds all over the court. Aside from LeBron, who played hard throughout, the rest of the Heat showed a flagrant absence of effort at various parts of the game. Another first half like today's and everyone can go for an early off-season fishing trip.