NBA 2009-10

FT · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2009 11:59 am

Bill Simmons is a genius...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/part2/091023&sportCat=nba

Quote:

In my basketball book (coming Tuesday!!!), I wrote a chapter about the specific set of dynamics that separate championship teams from memorable championship teams. It's complicated and I won't spoil it here. Just know the 2009-10 Spurs qualify for "memorable" status. They have the talent, they have the "Eff You" edge (a term I explain in the book), and they have something that Gregg Popovich likes to call "appropriate fear." Here's how he explained that phrase in 2005:

It gets more difficult after a win to come back and understand how that subconscious sort of complacency can set in. You can't allow that to happen. You have to keep an appropriate fear of your opponent so that complacency will dissipate as soon as possible.

This particular Spurs team has the right level of appropriate fear: fear of aging and complacency coupled with an appreciation for how fast things can fall apart (thanks to Manu's ankle the past two seasons), and beyond that, the reality that their best player might only have one great season left in him. I am a Spurs junkie. I love reading about them. I love the way they put their rosters together and value chemistry so deeply. I love the way they interact during games (as I've written many times). I just get a kick out of them. And the truth is, this might be their last chance for a dominant season with Tim Duncan leading the way.

I think it happens. If only because great basketball players have a habit of somehow finding that one great team. They are my pick to win in 2010. Convincingly.

PopTodd · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:03 pm

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:04 pm

I thought of you when I read that over the weekend, Bob. Then I threw up.

[img][538:538]http://www.steadyburn.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/hawks_pac-man.gif[/img]

Twilightkid · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:08 pm

Beware of the Knicks!!!

rogneeb · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:07 pm **Posts:** 12618

looking for around a 55-27 from Portland and a first round playoff win. baby steps.

paper · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:15 pm

Another rebuilding year for the Bucks!

FT · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:25 pm

Yail Bloor Wrote:

I thought of you when I read that over the weekend, Bob. Then I threw up.

[img][538:538]http://www.steadyburn.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/hawks_pac-man.gif[/img]

That logo always makes me think of this guy...

harry · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:25 pm

Anybody wanna put up some money against the Lakers? Huh? Huh?

MontyTheMongoose · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:45 pm

dick hallorann Wrote:

Another rebuilding year for the Bucks!

But we have Young Money.

SPREAD THE FLOOR.

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2009 1:08 pm

harry Wrote:

Anybody wanna put up some money against the Lakers? Huh? Huh?

Its not going to end with well with Artest. Sorry dude.

And Rod, I think the Blazers are going to take a step back but I think the Hawks might as well so there's that.

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2009 1:10 pm

FT Wrote:

That logo always makes me think of this guy...

Reminds of THIS guy:

[img][400:500]http://membres.lycos.fr/jujoseph/Dominique_Wilkins_01.01.93.jpg[/img]

[img][400:500]http://edumikation.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/dominique_wilkins_010188.jpg[/img]

Sanchez · **Joined:** Sat Dec 27, 2008 8:14 pm **Posts:** 491

Yail Bloor Wrote:

harry Wrote:

Anybody wanna put up some money against the Lakers? Huh? Huh?

Its not going to end with well with Artest. Sorry dude.

And Rod, I think the Blazers are going to take a step back but I think the Hawks might as well so there's that.

and of course you're basing that on absolutely nothing... Kobe, Pau, Artest, Fisher and Bynum... you'd be a fool to discredit the defending champs based on one trade where we got one of the only people who can actually stop Kobe.

Thee Incident · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2009 1:51 pm

I saw the Spurs play the Thunder here in town last week and while you can only gain so much from a preseason game, I will say that DuJuan Blair is a goddamn freak. He's raw, but with Popp coaching him and guys like Duncan and McDyess to learn from he's got a VERY high ceiling.

Thee Incident · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2009 2:28 pm

Sanchez Wrote:

Yail Bloor Wrote:

harry Wrote:

Anybody wanna put up some money against the Lakers? Huh? Huh?

Its not going to end with well with Artest. Sorry dude.

And Rod, I think the Blazers are going to take a step back but I think the Hawks might as well so there's that.

and of course you're basing that on absolutely nothing... Kobe, Pau, Artest, Fisher and Bynum... you'd be a fool to discredit the defending champs based on one trade where we got one of the only people who can actually stop Kobe.

Artest on the brink of his decline. Bynum still pretty unproven and injury prone. Kobe with a ton of miles/games on him.

They'll still be the odds on fave to win the west along with San Antonio, but their footing is definitely looser than it was last year.

shiv · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2009 2:41 pm

SI picked the Celts over the Fakers.

Cotton · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 6:12 pm **Posts:** 17155

yeah, sorry Lakers fans, this year is far from yours. You can't honestly still be trying to convince yourselves that you won out in that Bynum/Artest trade.

wait, did you just bring up Fisher?

Thee Chad Wrote:

I saw the Spurs play the Thunder here in town last week and while you can only gain so much from a preseason game, I will say that DuJuan Blair is a goddamn freak. He's raw, but with Popp coaching him and guys like Duncan and McDyess to learn from he's got a VERY high ceiling.

The rawest thing about Blair is the tattered remnants of his ACL. Otherwise, I don't think there's another rookie outside of Griffin that's as NBA ready as him.

I still don't recall any sort of "Eff you" factor from them, though. Unless we're counting Tony Parker's Frenchness.

rogneeb · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:07 pm **Posts:** 12618

Yail Bloor Wrote:

harry Wrote:

Anybody wanna put up some money against the Lakers? Huh? Huh?

Its not going to end with well with Artest. Sorry dude.

And Rod, I think the Blazers are going to take a step back but I think the Hawks might as well so there's that.

i dont see a step back like Simmons, really no reason to predict that. Everyone is better plus upgraded Sergio Rodriguez for Andre Miller. Oden is much better, Martell Webster is back. I don't care too much about the regular season...just need to get home court advantage.

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:34 pm

rparis74 Wrote:

Yail Bloor Wrote:

harry Wrote:

Anybody wanna put up some money against the Lakers? Huh? Huh?

Its not going to end with well with Artest. Sorry dude.

And Rod, I think the Blazers are going to take a step back but I think the Hawks might as well so there's that.

i dont see a step back like Simmons, really no reason to predict that. Everyone is better plus upgraded Sergio Rodriguez for Andre Miller. Oden is much better, Martell Webster is back. I don't care too much about the regular season...just need to get home court advantage.

I was really basing it more on their collapse in the playoffs than anything tangible: I really thought they would be scrappy and win a round or two. Nope.

rogneeb · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:07 pm **Posts:** 12618

most portland fans didnt think they would win that series so didnt really see it as a collapse. they had a hard time with Houston all year. they double and triple teamed Roy away and the rest of the team failed to step up...especially in Game 1 when they came out looking scared. i think that experience will actually help this year. i will be more confident once they start regularly beating the top teams in the west on the road...which they did not do last year.

Cotton · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 6:12 pm **Posts:** 17155

rparis74 Wrote:

i dont see a step back like Simmons, really no reason to predict that. Everyone is better plus upgraded Sergio Rodriguez for Andre Miller. Oden is much better, Martell Webster is back. I don't care too much about the regular season...just need to get home court advantage.

I'd be worried about Miller. He already seems pissy about coming off the bench behind Blake.

FT · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:06 pm

Thee Chad Wrote:

DuJuan Blair is a goddamn freak.

The ROY trophy has probably already been engraved with Blake Griffin's name, but Blair might end the year more deserving of the honor. Chad's right, he is a BEAST.

Best. Lottery Fall. Ever.

FT · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:17 pm

Cropsy Wrote:

The rawest thing about Blair is the tattered remnants of his ACL.

Not really so much tattered as non-existent. He has no ACL in either knee, which should make it quite difficult for him to blow one out.

PREPARE FOR BLAIR!

shiv · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:18 pm

Cropsy Wrote:

rparis74 Wrote:

i dont see a step back like Simmons, really no reason to predict that. Everyone is better plus upgraded Sergio Rodriguez for Andre Miller. Oden is much better, Martell Webster is back. I don't care too much about the regular season...just need to get home court advantage.

I'd be worried about andre miller because well, he's andre miller.

FT · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:19 pm

Yail Bloor Wrote:

FT Wrote:

That logo always makes me think of this guy...

Reminds of THIS guy:

[img][400:500]http://membres.lycos.fr/jujoseph/Dominique_Wilkins_01.01.93.jpg[/img]

[img][400:500]http://edumikation.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/dominique_wilkins_010188.jpg[/img]

I was mostly kidding about Jon Contract. THIS is the guy I REALLY associate with the old logo...

[img][428:500]http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/241424/tree-rollins_medium.jpg[/img]

Cotton · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 6:12 pm **Posts:** 17155

dr. carl hill Wrote:

I'd be worried about andre miller because well, he's andre miller.

[/quote]

my only complaints about him have really been since the last 25 minutes of the last game of last season and the ridiculous offseason. Other than that, dude got us through a rough patch and he did fine by me.

NBA 2009-10

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