We are now tied with Brooklyn.

[csfansince60s]

  You know you're just perpetuating those tanker stereotypes when you start threads like this, right?

I anticipated this response; you'll note that I did not jump for joy or say anything along the lines of I TOLD YOU SO!

I just noticed it when I checked the standings and figured I'd post it.

  You were jumping for joy on the inside, we could tell.

  Tanker.


  Seriously, though, rooting for teams like the Nets or Knicks to do well would be almost as soul-sucking as rooting for the Celts to lose.

I have to admit that it was a little distasteful to me rooting for the Knicks the other night against Dallas, but root for them I did.

A bunch of EC teams were playing teams from the West and I think the Knicks were the only EC team to win that night.

They've gotta somehow adjust the lottery so that teams with better records don't get better draft choices.

[PhoSita]

I hate the NBA right now.

tons of talent in one conference, the other conference all the talent split between 2 teams.

sure there's injuries to account for but still.

I agree, I find myself much less interested in the NBA this season.  The East lacks any sort of suspense.  Nothing interesting will happen until the ECF.

[GreenWarrior]

I hate the NBA right now.

tons of talent in one conference, the other conference all the talent split between 2 teams.

sure there's injuries to account for but still.

I agree, I find myself much less interested in the NBA this season.  The East lacks any sort of suspense.  Nothing interesting will happen until the ECF.

what Miami did should never be allowed.

...and before anyone says "the Celtics did it 1st". there's a difference paul, ray & KG were coming to the end of their careers. not 3 players in their prime in the top 10 - 20 in overall players in the league.

it's watered the league down. way to go out Stern.

 

[Snakehead]

I hate the NBA right now.

tons of talent in one conference, the other conference all the talent split between 2 teams.

sure there's injuries to account for but still.

I agree, I find myself much less interested in the NBA this season.  The East lacks any sort of suspense.  Nothing interesting will happen until the ECF.

what Miami did should never be allowed.

...and before anyone says "the Celtics did it 1st". there's a difference paul, ray & KG were coming to the end of their careers. not 3 players in their prime in the top 10 - 20 in overall players in the league.

it's watered the league down. way to go out Stern.

Because Miami didn't lose to Dallas and wasn't seconds away from losing to the Spurs last season.

Nothing has been watered down.  What Miami did is how free agency works.  Give it up, just whining at this point.

[kozlodoev]

it's watered the league down. way to go out Stern.

Wait, putting talent together on superteams has "watered the league down"? I thought the typical definition of watered-down league was one where most teams had one or two good players, leading to many mediocre rather than several great teams.

[GreenWarrior]

I hate the NBA right now.

tons of talent in one conference, the other conference all the talent split between 2 teams.

sure there's injuries to account for but still.

I agree, I find myself much less interested in the NBA this season.  The East lacks any sort of suspense.  Nothing interesting will happen until the ECF.

what Miami did should never be allowed.

...and before anyone says "the Celtics did it 1st". there's a difference paul, ray & KG were coming to the end of their careers. not 3 players in their prime in the top 10 - 20 in overall players in the league.

it's watered the league down. way to go out Stern.

Because Miami didn't lose to Dallas and wasn't seconds away from losing to the Spurs last season.

Nothing has been watered down.  What Miami did is how free agency works.  Give it up, just whining at this point.

who's whining? if you think this(the NBA) is a good product right now, and that the heats' concept is good for the league then enjoy. but I'd like to see some interesting games during the season not just the last couple playoff series.

[SHAQATTACK]

We are Lottery bound

Danny wants a good pick

[PhoSita]

it's watered the league down. way to go out Stern.

Wait, putting talent together on superteams has "watered the league down"? I thought the typical definition of watered-down league was one where most teams had one or two good players, leading to many mediocre rather than several great teams.

It depends on your perspective.

If you're the type of fan who just wants to watch the best 4 or 5 teams, particularly when they play against one another, then you want as much of the talent in the league to be concentrated in the top tier.

If you actually want there to be drama in the standings and competitive games happening all the time, then you'd probably prefer a league where the best 10-20 players are on different teams.

In any case, even with the league as it is right now (top-heavy), if you took a handful of the better teams in the West and swapped them with some of the weaker teams in the East, things would seem a lot more balanced.

How many games would Denver or Minnesota win if they were in the Eastern Conference?

[fairweatherfan]

what Miami did should never be allowed.

...and before anyone says "the Celtics did it 1st". there's a difference paul, ray & KG were coming to the end of their careers. not 3 players in their prime in the top 10 - 20 in overall players in the league.

it's watered the league down. way to go out Stern.

Because Miami didn't lose to Dallas and wasn't seconds away from losing to the Spurs last season.

Nothing has been watered down.  What Miami did is how free agency works.  Give it up, just whining at this point.

I've always had a hard time wrapping my head around the logic that when management creates a stacked roster it's A-OK but when players exercise their free agency rights to create a stacked roster it's an abomination against the game somehow. 

It's like players are supposed to be mindless automatons that quietly go where they're told and exercising control over their own careers is a travesty and must be banned.  Bring back the reserve clause!

[GreenWarrior]

it's watered the league down. way to go out Stern.

Wait, putting talent together on superteams has "watered the league down"? I thought the typical definition of watered-down league was one where most teams had one or two good players, leading to many mediocre rather than several great teams.

maybe 'bron, bosh & wade can just go on a world tour. go from city to city winning championships in every town.

bobcats in 2015!!!

[PhoSita]

what Miami did should never be allowed.

...and before anyone says "the Celtics did it 1st". there's a difference paul, ray & KG were coming to the end of their careers. not 3 players in their prime in the top 10 - 20 in overall players in the league.

it's watered the league down. way to go out Stern.

Because Miami didn't lose to Dallas and wasn't seconds away from losing to the Spurs last season.

Nothing has been watered down.  What Miami did is how free agency works.  Give it up, just whining at this point.

I've always had a hard time wrapping my head around the logic that when management creates a stacked roster it's A-OK but when players exercise their free agency rights to create a stacked roster it's an abomination against the game somehow. 

It's like players are supposed to be mindless automatons that quietly go where they're told and exercising control over their own careers is a travesty and must be banned.  Bring back the reserve clause!

I think the reason that it's so much more troubling is that NBA GMs are all fundamentally opposed.  At the end of the day, only one team can win a championship.  Also, the league can put rules in place to restrict the ways that teams can maneuver to become more competitive.

If the players want to get together and all decide to join the same team, ultimately there's no way to prevent that other than severely limiting free agency or hoping that salary restrictions and limitations will entice the best players to go where they'll get paid the most.


Also, I'd guess that the fans of teams in the biggest, glitziest markets aren't especially bothered by players colluding.  It's probably depressing for fans of teams in less exciting locations, because it means that no matter how well their team is managed, they will likely still be at a major disadvantage compared to teams that can just sign a bunch of really good players in free agency.

[Snakehead]

I hate the NBA right now.

tons of talent in one conference, the other conference all the talent split between 2 teams.

sure there's injuries to account for but still.

I agree, I find myself much less interested in the NBA this season.  The East lacks any sort of suspense.  Nothing interesting will happen until the ECF.

what Miami did should never be allowed.

...and before anyone says "the Celtics did it 1st". there's a difference paul, ray & KG were coming to the end of their careers. not 3 players in their prime in the top 10 - 20 in overall players in the league.

it's watered the league down. way to go out Stern.

Because Miami didn't lose to Dallas and wasn't seconds away from losing to the Spurs last season.

Nothing has been watered down.  What Miami did is how free agency works.  Give it up, just whining at this point.

who's whining? if you think this(the NBA) is a good product right now, and that the heats' concept is good for the league then enjoy. but I'd like to see some interesting games during the season not just the last couple playoff series.

The league is loaded with talent right now.  Miami is so special because they have one of the best players of all time on their team.  Other teams are loaded with talent too.

I've watched a whole bunch of interesting games this year.

what Miami did should never be allowed.

...and before anyone says "the Celtics did it 1st". there's a difference paul, ray & KG were coming to the end of their careers. not 3 players in their prime in the top 10 - 20 in overall players in the league.

it's watered the league down. way to go out Stern.

Because Miami didn't lose to Dallas and wasn't seconds away from losing to the Spurs last season.

Nothing has been watered down.  What Miami did is how free agency works.  Give it up, just whining at this point.

I've always had a hard time wrapping my head around the logic that when management creates a stacked roster it's A-OK but when players exercise their free agency rights to create a stacked roster it's an abomination against the game somehow. 

It's like players are supposed to be mindless automatons that quietly go where they're told and exercising control over their own careers is a travesty and must be banned.  Bring back the reserve clause!

So well put.

And lets also keep in mind that so often the public sports fan takes this same attitude against the Heat, then tears down players for not having "the winning gene" or not having titles to their name in a team sport.

Win at all costs if you're a player.  Go into your best situation you can and work as hard as you can.  Your whole career can be taken away from you Penny Hardaway style.

TP.

[SHAQATTACK]

If the NBA would grow a set.

Have a cap and make that the limit period .......no going over for any reason period.......you can not sign another player that puts you over the cap ...period...no,luxury tax

Luxury tax ...is not needed ....just make the cap SOLID and stick by it.

If players are willing to gang to together and play for less ..the that's ok ....

Luxury tax only assists teams like the Lakers who can get huge TV contracts to cover the taxes.


Also ...face it ..... It is LBJ 's time in the NBA. He is king ......until somebody like Indy can put together a club to beat James.

Until.  James falls off or rather gets too old ......gonna be like MJ and Doc J ..in their primes ...where ever he goes that team is a contender

[GreenWarrior]

what Miami did should never be allowed.

...and before anyone says "the Celtics did it 1st". there's a difference paul, ray & KG were coming to the end of their careers. not 3 players in their prime in the top 10 - 20 in overall players in the league.

it's watered the league down. way to go out Stern.

Because Miami didn't lose to Dallas and wasn't seconds away from losing to the Spurs last season.

Nothing has been watered down.  What Miami did is how free agency works.  Give it up, just whining at this point.

I've always had a hard time wrapping my head around the logic that when management creates a stacked roster it's A-OK but when players exercise their free agency rights to create a stacked roster it's an abomination against the game somehow. 

It's like players are supposed to be mindless automatons that quietly go where they're told and exercising control over their own careers is a travesty and must be banned.  Bring back the reserve clause!

never let the inmates run the asylum.

[GreenWarrior]

it's watered the league down. way to go out Stern.

Wait, putting talent together on superteams has "watered the league down"? I thought the typical definition of watered-down league was one where most teams had one or two good players, leading to many mediocre rather than several great teams.

I always thought that separated the great from the good.