NBA 2008-2009 Season

StanFan · #1 10-31-2008, 08:07 PM

The season is well under way, so show your support for your favorite team here or discuss the season in general.

The Raptors are off to a 2-0 start with a thrilling OT victory over the Warriors. Andrea Bargnani has put on more muscle over the offseason and he used every one of them in this game. He will remain the biggest question mark for this team until he shows more consistency. I don't expect Jermaine Oneal to be a 20+ point producer for us but hope that as he gets comfortable with the team he can help us out in the rebound department (our biggest weakness).

It will be interesting to see how some of the big offseason moves (Brand in Philly, Baron with the Clippers, Jefferson on the Bucks, ...) will pay off for their teams. I'd love to see the New Orleans Hornets in the NBA Finals. Good pickup with James Posey.

#2 10-31-2008, 09:34 PM

Chicago lucked out in the first draft pick, and Derrick Rose lucked out in being able to play for his home city. I'm guessing he'll content for ROY, but I'm hoping he's the future team leader we've been looking for.

Vinny's more relaxed system is also a breath of fresh air, though he's not a country club coach either.

Where did Tyrus Thomas learn to shoot a free throw? He shot over 90% from the stripe in preseason, and if he keeps it up, defenders might learn to fear blocking him on the drive.

Joakim Noah will be Tyson Chicken... err, Chandler 2.0 eventually with Derrick Rose around. I'm hoping he'll work out better than that prima donna we used to have.

Aaron Gray looks pretty good since losing weight over the summer. It remains to be seen how he fits in Vinny's system.

Deng should be a steady force for us, if he stays free of injury.

Gordon is just a slower Allen Iverson and wants too much money. He should fire his agents for brainwashing him.

I'd like to see Hinrich stay around as a backup point guard, given his contract is frontloaded and should be affordable. He was a reluctant leader before, and I'm guessing he's happy having Rose around. Rose isn't a leader yet, but that's why the Bulls drafted him.

All in all, I'm hoping the Bulls make a solid run at the playoffs, and I think they have the talent to do so. As long as Reinsdorf is still around though, he's the biggest enemy the franchise has.

Xorese · #3 10-31-2008, 10:55 PM

Raptors are playing good, but not great. I can't wait to see them when they get up to speed and are playing their very best!

MJ5150 · #4 11-01-2008, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StanFan

The season is well under way,....

Huh? They've played what, two games so far? Some teams still only one. The poll question on ESPN.com today was asking to vote on the biggest story in the NBA so far this season. How ridiculous after one flippin' game.

We got a new Comcast sports channel for the Northwest this past month. They are showing replays of a couple Blazers and Sonics games from the late 70's, the 80's, and the early 90's each night. I really forgot how much I loved the NBA back then. I won't watch a minute of David Sterns NBA now. I'm not even a Sonic fan anymore, but I am super pissed at everyone involved in that debacle.

-Mike

Visirale · #5 11-01-2008, 12:53 AM

Gotta rep my magic. They might not be doing well so far, but they should get their act together. My friends and I love going to magic games. They're usually cheap and almost always somewhat close games.

Papersen · #6 11-01-2008, 06:00 AM

I guess this year Houston will have a good season.
It mainly depends on the team chemistry (we gotta see how Artest fits in this group) and if Yao and Mcgrady stay healthy.

StanFan · #7 11-01-2008, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Visirale

Gotta rep my magic. They might not be doing well so far, but they should get their act together. My friends and I love going to magic games. They're usually cheap and almost always somewhat close games.

Basketball is definitely the more affordable sporting event in Toronto (compared to hockey). In fact, I'm going to spend New Year's Eve this year with my family at the Raptors vs Nuggets game.

Oh, and to MJ5150, the well under way comment was just due to the fact a thread hadn't been started on the subject. Usually sports threads show up on even before the season has started (with football and sometimes baseball at least). It is weird seeing the league without a team in Seattle. Not sure for how long people in OK will support their team as I know little about the area.

**Eric Perry** · #8 11-01-2008, 11:37 AM

jongor · #9 11-01-2008, 12:23 PM

Watched bits of the first 2 games, they look good

We'll miss Posey though...

jrthebassguy · #10 11-01-2008, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papersen

I guess this year Houston will have a good season.
It mainly depends on the team chemistry (we gotta see how Artest fits in this group) and if Yao and Mcgrady stay healthy.

I agree

Because of the new faces (Artest and Barry, namely), I think we won't be able to gauge how good this team will be until the new year rolls around. 2-0 is a good way to start things off though

Yao has looked great these first two games. I feared he'd still be recovering from his injuries from the olympics.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #11 11-01-2008, 02:46 PM

The Rockets should be better now if Yao and T-Mac stay healthy and the clueless wonder doesn't disrupt the chemistry too much. They still need a real point guard, though.

The Celts still look as good as ever. Kendrick Perkins is a great role player, and Rondo is developing. We'll see how they replace Posey.

It'll also be interesting to see how good the Lakers are with everyone healthy. The talk has been high - let's watch the walk. The Hornets also look promising.

I'm not going to get super excited about it, but I'll watch the occasional game with interest when the matchup's good.

4Mal · #12 11-01-2008, 03:06 PM

I gotta pull for the Blazers. Not sure how far they'll go but Nate and his crew seem to be really a fine bunch - welcome change after the JailBlazer era.

I also have to wish the best for Mo. Even if I can't be a 76er's fan. As people go, he's a stand up guy.

Atoz · #13 11-01-2008, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric618

No arguments here. Just curious to see if Boozer gets traded.

BassManPatsFan · #14 11-01-2008, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jongor

Watched bits of the first 2 games, they look good

We'll miss Posey though...

Hell yes!

This is going to be a good season.

**Eric Perry** · #15 11-01-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atoz

No arguments here. Just curious to see if Boozer gets traded.

Lots of talk regarding that in your parts?

Atoz · #16 11-01-2008, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric618

Lots of talk regarding that in your parts?

Yep. Since Boozer will be a UFA at season's end, a lot of folks are worried that he'll bail on us for Miami, and we'll get nothing in return. Maybe management will try to re-sign him, but that might be tough; since Williams and Kirilenko already make bank, and Okur and Millsap are up for re-signing as well. The Jazz could dangle Kirilenko out there I suppose, but I think that the prevailing wisdom is that Booz would be easier to move than Andrei due to his expiring contract.

Xorese · #17 11-02-2008, 11:10 AM

Raptors are 3-0!!

StanFan · #18 11-02-2008, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xorese

Raptors are 3-0!!

My early concerns with the Raptors are the minutes Bosh and Calderon have been getting. While I admit that we are thin at both power forward and point guard on our bench, I don't know how Sam Mitchell expects these two to play 40+ minutes a game and not get injured.

rezin · #19 11-02-2008, 02:45 PM

i was at the raptors bucks game last night

gkbass13 · #20 11-02-2008, 07:39 PM

im hoping tmac and yao stay healthy. mcgrady and garnett have always been my 2 favorite players..but im curiosu to see how artest does in houston. i think mcgrady will take on a more pointguard-esque role liek he has tried to the last coupel years, but with shooters and scorers to get the ball too, it might actually work this time with health being the biggest factor.