2011-2012 NBA Season

[KenFSU]

HUGE NBA fan.

My favorite pro sport by a mile.

Any other fans around these parts?

What do you guys make of the EPIC Stan Van Gundy press conference this morning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NocsnNyNdCY

I feel bad for the guy.

Great coach, got the shaft in Miami, and now he's going to probably end up getting the shaft again in Orlando too, despite how well the team has played in the face of Dwight Howard's absolutely ridiculous antics this season.

Absolutely love his attitude in this press conference though.

"What time is it? 12:02? Fire me now, and by 12:05, I'll be happy at home looking for something else to do."

Also, how incredible were the OKC/Miami and Lakers/Clippers games last night?

[stephenc]

Huge Mavs fan here. WORLD CHAMPS!! Van Gundy is spot on. Only thing he can control is getting prepared for games. He can't worry about all the other BS. Howard is one of the top athletes in the league and players should be flocking to Orlando, but they aren't. They question is why. Is it Howard, Van Gundy, the management, or the city of Orlando?

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I can't stand BB.  It's the one sport I couldn't figure out as a kid.  Sure, I could shoot - average, but that was about it. 

No height + no dribbling skills + no offensive / defensive concept + average shooting skill = I sucked.

I digress.  Over the years of listening to Rome, SVG has had some memorable sound bites. 

[WmNussbaum]

I hear a rumor that the NBA is going to relax its rules about the number of white guys that can be on the court at the same time. Any truth to it?

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I hear a rumor that the NBA is going to relax its rules about the number of white guys that can be on the court at the same time. Any truth to it?

Sure.  When more white guys are better athletes.   

[KenFSU]

I hear a rumor that the NBA is going to relax its rules about the number of white guys that can be on the court at the same time. Any truth to it?

They're all at the Masters

[thelakelander]

Lol at the Stan Van Jeremy/Howard stuff.  Orlando is a joke.  They should have traded Howard and ended this circus months ago.  The games last night were great, although just about every put back Griffin does would be considered fouls for most players.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Becoming a Heat fan, great game last night vs Thunder.

[KenFSU]

I hate to say it Lake, but I'd have a hard time putting Miami higher than the 3rd best team in the east right now.

Boston is just on FIRE lately.

[thelakelander]

That's cool.  People thought Dallas was going to get put out in the first round heading into the playoffs last year.  No worry from me.  I'm ready for the playoffs to start.

[BridgeTroll]

I can't stand BB.  It's the one sport I couldn't figure out as a kid.  Sure, I could shoot - average, but that was about it. 

No height + no dribbling skills + no offensive / defensive concept + average shooting skill = I sucked.

I digress.  Over the years of listening to Rome, SVG has had some memorable sound bites. 

I love BB... just cant stand whatever it is they play in the NBA...   Pro NBA basketball... to me at least... is akin to pro wrestling.  They call it wrestling... it just isnt.

[civil42806]

The NBA is still playing?

[Keith-N-Jax]

Dont think the Heat will make it out of the first round.

[KenFSU]

With the Heat closing out the season 13-10 since the All Star break, and losing 8 of their last 9 on the road against winning teams, I sincerely do not see the argument for Lebron James over Kevin Durant as MVP. Durant's line might not be quite as strong, but OKC has become the best team in the league on Durant's back, and Durant is raising the level of play of those around him in ways we haven't seen Steve Nash's first MVP season. The Westbrook situation was on the verge of exploding last season, and Durant has almost signal handedly brought that team together by swallowing his ego and regularly stepping back and letting Westbrook get going. And when James Harden starts playing like a legit All Star, you know you're doing something right. The stats don't tell the whole story, and at the end of the day, who do you want with the ball in their hands with 2 minutes left to play, Durant or Lebron?

Question for you Ennis:

As a Heat fan, are you concerned with Lebron's well documented problems at the end of games?

Or do you think he'll be able to recapture some of that late game magic that he seems to have left behind in his next to last year in Cleveland?

[thelakelander]

Dont think the Heat will make it out of the first round.

I'm willing to use your funds as an economic stimulus for my bank account.  Care to put up some cash on this prediction?

Question for you Ennis:

As a Heat fan, are you concerned with Lebron's well documented problems at the end of games?

Or do you think he'll be able to recapture some of that late game magic that he seems to have left behind in his next to last year in Cleveland?

No, Lebron and Wade are the least of my concerns as a Heat fan.  I've watched all of the games this year and Lebron has performed pretty well closing out games this year.  I have no idea what happened in Dallas during the Finals. 

I'm more concerned about the coaching staff's refusal to play James Jones.  The Heat's problem since the all-star break, the bench can't hit the side of a barn on all the open shots they get.  Jones is the only guy who has always been money with his shot but he gets no PT.

As for the playoffs, I'm not concerned.  Typically, your rotations go down to 8 or 9 players so the bench play will become less a concern.  In addition, if match ups stay the same, Chicago will have have to go through the Knicks and Celtics to get to the ECF.  That leaves Philly and Indiana for the Heat.  I like that scenario. 

If I'm the Heat, I'd use these next two weeks to rest the big 3 and get the bench into some type of groove.