NBA

[Gozu]

LeBron ain't interested in winning a championship. He's said before that his ultimate goal is to be a global icon and the first Billionaire basketball player. Not much chance of either happening but that's supposedly why he wants to go to New York because in that market (as opposed to Cleveland) he could just about add an extra zero to his endorsement contracts.

[the big bang]

This is common knowledge ...

Teams like the Knicks, Pistons etc are all clearing future money for the free agency 2010.
Wade, James, Bosh etc are all out of contract.

The Knicks are going all out to Lure LeBron.

I hope he stays - I'll burn my Cavs top if he leaves.
He's an Akron boy, so stay local!

You're exactly right.
The superstars rarely leave their teams via free agency and getting big money from the Knicks wouldn't help his chances of getting a title as there'd be bugger all money left for complementary players to contend.

NY knicks have said numerous times they would have enough $$$ for LBJ and DWade.

[ORDoubleBlues]

This is common knowledge ...

Teams like the Knicks, Pistons etc are all clearing future money for the free agency 2010.
Wade, James, Bosh etc are all out of contract.

The Knicks are going all out to Lure LeBron.

I hope he stays - I'll burn my Cavs top if he leaves.
He's an Akron boy, so stay local!

You're exactly right.
The superstars rarely leave their teams via free agency and getting big money from the Knicks wouldn't help his chances of getting a title as there'd be bugger all money left for complementary players to contend.

NY knicks have said numerous times they would have enough $$$ for LBJ and DWade.

They might have said it but at the end of the day they all have a salary cap to work to that admittedly has other considerations that come into it - injuries, Larry Bird exception - but you ain't gonna get the other 10-12 players on the roster play for the league minimum to fit James and/or Wade in if they're asking for megabucks.


Is an interesting finals matchup between the Lakers and Orlando that has a situation that probably will never happen again.
The Lakers two best players are Kobe Bryant and arguably Andrew Bynum while Orlando's are Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis. All four went directly from High School to the NBA.

Blake Griffin is considered the no.1 pick for the 2009 draft but there are some teams that covet Spaniard 18 year old Ricky Rubio - likely no.2 pick - so don't be surprised to see a team or two try to work a deal with the Clippers for the no.1 overall selection.

[Magpiespower]

Lakers in six.

The coronation of King Kobe.

[JK]

Lakers in six.

The coronation of King Kobe.

C'mon Magic!!

[ORDoubleBlues]

Lakers in six.

The coronation of King Kobe.

Credit to the Lakers for making the finals because certainly felt that Denver were a real show but to beat them by such a wide margin away was a great effort.

Think it will be a very good finals series that will go at least 6 games.

[BJ Ernest]

TenHD not showing it?

[saintal]

Tomorrow arvo, around 4pm i think. Better than nothing....

Lakers up 24 at 3/4 time. bryant putting on a clinic it seems

[RoosterMarty]

In the 3rd Quarter....

Kobe 18
Magic 15

Unbelievable performance by Bryant.

[Magpiespower]

[RoosterMarty]

Only missed a triple double by 2 assists and 2 rebounds.

[JK]

Geez the Magic were a bit stiff in game 2, some big in-an-out shots in the final period and OT ... That said Courtney Lee had the chance to win it for them in regulation (and missed a layup prior to that) - The Lakers made the clutch buckets and the Magic whilst brave, didn't make enough of theirs.

[Magpiespower]

Magic shoot 63% to take game three 108-104.

63%.

[brod]

Magic shoot 63% to take game three 108-104.

63%.

75% in the first half

[Swooper16]

Magic blow game 4 and in all likeliness the Championship..!! Dwight Howard with a Finals record 9 Blocks but i bet would swap that for 1 more Free throw. HUGE 3 by Fisher to send it to OT(he must be rivalling Robert horry for most big time shots).

Has been a great effort by the Magic throughout the finals but they must be almost wondering what might have been.

* Missed allep-oop in game 2 to win it
* 2 missed free throws to ice the game in game 4

They should have wrapped this series up by now!!

[saintal]

Yes the magic have had their chances but when it's counted (in OT) the lakers have been too good unfortunately. I couldn't believe the final moments of regulation today

[brod]

Could there be two Aussies selected in the NBA Draft, with Joe Ingles joining Patrick Mills as players to be selected. Both are in Italy at the Reebok European Camp, for Draft Prospects from outside USA.
Quotes from DraftExpress.com
"Australian Patrick Mills was absolutely the star of the evening’s all-star game, posting an impressive 30 point performance on 8/18 shooting from the field and 12/13 from the line. Mills handled the ball on a string all game long, showing terrific quickness keeping his man off balance, and making an absolute living in the mid-range area with his deadly pull-up jumper." about his performance in Day One of the camp in Italy.
"Coming off some strong NBA workouts in the States, and primed for a breakout performance, things didn’t work out all that well for Australian Joe Ingles, who really had a tough week. Ingles’ perimeter shot wasn’t falling for him right from the get-go—partially due to poor shot-selection, but also because of the fact that he seemed to lose his confidence after he had a few open looks rim out."

Mills is projected as late first round/early second round, while Ingles has dropped out of the mock draft of DraftExpress.com afetr his poor showing in Italy.

[ORDoubleBlues]

Could there be two Aussies selected in the NBA Draft, with Joe Ingles joining Patrick Mills as players to be selected. Both are in Italy at the Reebok European Camp, for Draft Prospects from outside USA.
Quotes from DraftExpress.com
"Australian Patrick Mills was absolutely the star of the evening’s all-star game, posting an impressive 30 point performance on 8/18 shooting from the field and 12/13 from the line. Mills handled the ball on a string all game long, showing terrific quickness keeping his man off balance, and making an absolute living in the mid-range area with his deadly pull-up jumper." about his performance in Day One of the camp in Italy.
"Coming off some strong NBA workouts in the States, and primed for a breakout performance, things didn’t work out all that well for Australian Joe Ingles, who really had a tough week. Ingles’ perimeter shot wasn’t falling for him right from the get-go—partially due to poor shot-selection, but also because of the fact that he seemed to lose his confidence after he had a few open looks rim out."

Mills is projected as late first round/early second round, while Ingles has dropped out of the mock draft of DraftExpress.com afetr his poor showing in Italy.

Mills could be as early as 14th pick IMHO

[brod]

Could there be two Aussies selected in the NBA Draft, with Joe Ingles joining Patrick Mills as players to be selected. Both are in Italy at the Reebok European Camp, for Draft Prospects from outside USA.
Quotes from DraftExpress.com
"Australian Patrick Mills was absolutely the star of the evening’s all-star game, posting an impressive 30 point performance on 8/18 shooting from the field and 12/13 from the line. Mills handled the ball on a string all game long, showing terrific quickness keeping his man off balance, and making an absolute living in the mid-range area with his deadly pull-up jumper." about his performance in Day One of the camp in Italy.
"Coming off some strong NBA workouts in the States, and primed for a breakout performance, things didn’t work out all that well for Australian Joe Ingles, who really had a tough week. Ingles’ perimeter shot wasn’t falling for him right from the get-go—partially due to poor shot-selection, but also because of the fact that he seemed to lose his confidence after he had a few open looks rim out."

Mills is projected as late first round/early second round, while Ingles has dropped out of the mock draft of DraftExpress.com afetr his poor showing in Italy.

Mills could be as early as 14th pick IMHO

Not sure about that with his shooting and tendancy to put up contested shots, but hey you never know

[Magpiespower]