We were also favored to beat you in the finals last season, and look what happened there http://spurstalk.com/forums/images/smilies/smilol.gifQuote:
Originally Posted by FreshPrince22
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We were also favored to beat you in the finals last season, and look what happened there http://spurstalk.com/forums/images/smilies/smilol.gifQuote:
Originally Posted by FreshPrince22
I don't mind the Pistons posters. Why? First their team has talent, second they do it with a system like the Spurs and they have won a championship with it, and third, they talk smack but in generally a tone reserved for posters that understand that fans of champion teams (and I am including them in that category) deserve respect - especially if they are long-term fans.
Now what I hate is a Suns, Pacers, or Mavs or worse as was done lately, a friggin Wolves fan attempting to somehow talk smack - when and if your team hangs a real banner in the rafters, come back and bring it. Pistons can bring some, no worries, as they surely respect the Spurs and their fans back.
Finely most are respectful and bring good takes consistently, as I said before "no worries".
And by the way, I was one of those who stupidly predicted the Pacers to come out of the East, now that looks like my personnal worst prediction, but it is a long season.
I was recently reading ESPN the mag's NBA '06 preview edition, where their so-called NBA experts (Greg Anthony, Stephen "asshole" Smith, Tim Legler and some other unknown guy) all gave their NBA predictions. Three out of four predicted the Pacers would emerge as champions of the Eastern conference. The last guy predicted Miami. Of course, all four had the Spurs back in the Finals.
There was no mention of Detroit, which I think is a discredit to a team that will now surely reign as Eastern conference champs for the third year in a row. This latest salvo from Artest has sealed the fate of the Pacers, who were having a "shitty" season anyway.
A Pistons/Spurs rematch in the NBA finals will be sweet.
As for Artest, he is a very troubled young man. We're now seeing what a selfish bastard he really is. You would think that after last season's escapade, he would have more humility, more contrition. It will be interesting to see where he ends up.
Final note. If Detroit lands him, he could possibly damage their championship chemistry too. They should stay away from this guy.
I feel really bad for the Pacers orginization, it's fans and the players. As a whole they all stood behind their guy last year. Defended him at every opportunity. Unquestionably supported Artest through the entire fiasco last year.
And now, he's giving them the big FUCK YOU!
Artest is the biggest piece of shit this league currently has. I hope that the Pacers dump him immediatly. Anyone they bring in would be better from a chemistry stand point.
wow.. just wow..
maybe rose can be traded to pacers so he and jackson can party together...
artest is>>>>rose though
I do not want him
but I keep rasho and bowen
they can have nazr and barry and scola
Artest to Lakers for Odom???
Sac for Peja???
New York for Q Rich???
Phoenix for Diaw,Jim Jackson & draft pick??
who would they trade him to?
I think lakers will call
phil jackson kepted rodman in check
I see him going to la
The day the Pacers get rid of Artest is the day they surpass the Pistons as the top contender in the East.
if you are houston
hoston is stuggling
I see houston calling
da for artest?
ming for artest?
all wolves so feed up with kg they settle for artest and scabs to make it work?
what is artest making
is it not like 6- 8 million?
I think 6.5 this year, and 8 nextQuote:
Originally Posted by ducks
Ailene Voisin: Peja's future is looking murky
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, December 9, 2005
Except for those occasions when his dark eyes lighten with humor, when he plays off a dynamic sequence on the court or a humorous scene in the locker room, Peja Stojakovic is a closed shop. He refuses to bleed in public. He would never cry in a crowd.
He monitors the vibes all the way from Serbia to Sacramento - lately, the mood has been more brooding than benevolent - and selectively, quietly, exhales a response.
Unfortunately for Peja, this league is a very public place that offers very little protection, and right now, his fragile nature is overpowering his once-prolific sense of professional style. He is carrying his protective shield onto the court, playing too carefully, at times playing fearfully. Wincing when driving for layups. Staring at potential rebounds. Ignoring loose balls. Resisting the urge - assuming that it still exists somewhere deep within his psyche - to demand the ball and dictate the outcome, either by creating for others or for himself, especially in the fourth quarter.
Remember the other Stojakovic? The determined small forward who ran sprints along the baseline, converted threes in bunches, knocked in jumpers from the elbows behind Divac's screens? Who amassed enough assists and rebounds to suggest a balanced career on the upswing? Who overcame the tentativeness that hampered his early seasons?
Where did he go?
Where is he hiding?
Against the Houston Rockets on Thursday, the more flattering images reappeared for a few, fleeting stretches in the opening half, when Stojakovic cut sharply off picks, slashed inside for layups, penetrated and persisted and earned his way to the free throw line for seven attempts. He was lively, engaged, his presence again significant. But then in the closing period, when the outcome was there to be secured, the three-time All-Star wilted right along with his teammates, became a co-conspirator in an absolutely indefensible collapse that resulted in a fourth consecutive homecourt loss.
So the heat intensifies, on the head coach, on the best players, on the boss.
Some within the organization believe that Geoff Petrie, frustrated by Stojakovic's inconsistency, coupled with continuing public pressure (and the Maloofs' own visible impatience) to either replace coach Rick Adelman or otherwise alter the club's lackluster dynamic, would finally listen to overtures for Stojakovic, a free agent next summer who will command a huge salary. The latest speculation from outside the building aired prior to last night's Kings-Rockets broadcast on TNT: Charles Barkley reported that the Kings and Indiana Pacers have renewed discussions about a swap involving Stojakovic and Ron Artest.
"Ask Geoff," Kings co-owner Joe Maloof said as he hurried toward his office, knowing that Petrie is as frozen-lipped as a statue.
Pressed about possible personnel moves the other day, Petrie replied tersely, "There are no trades in the works."
Regardless of whether he remains with the Kings, or even re-signs with the Kings, Stojakovic is at an obvious crossroads. The absence of emotion is crippling his career. The obvious lack of confidence is overwhelming his skill. His inability to re-establish himself as a dominant scorer, as a better all-around player than his statistics indicate, undoubtedly is costing him dollars. In a contract year, no less, a time when players often factor points and rebounds into the equation for the next multi-year deal, the eighth-year pro is averaging 17.5 points and 4.3 rebounds, well below his output of 24.2 points and 6.3 rebounds in 2003-2004.
It's as if he never recovered from the change in game plans that occurred when Chris Webber returned in late 2003 and insisted on resuming his role as the primary scoring option - the job capably held at the time by Peja. Instead of ferociously protecting his status and accepting the challenge, Stojakovic, 29, eased into the backup role, too willingly ran and stood in his assigned corner. He lost his swagger, lost his edge, lost what once was ever so close.
"I am not worried about any of that (trades or free agency)," an unusually animated Stojakovic said when asked the other day about his situation. "I am very frustrated with the way I am playing. You know you can do better, and you're not doing it. I go home and watch tapes ... I don't sleep. Laying in the bed, I go through the game, and I know every play. I do my own play by play. I have like a computer in my mind, like it records it. Then I get mad at myself. It's like, 'OK, you missed two shots wide open, you missed a layup wide open.' I have to be more aggressive. I have to go out and do it."
It appears, though, that the door to the shop has opened, that the only King with any job security around here is Petrie. And typically, he moves when least expected.
since artest is only making 6.5 million
more pacers might have to be involved to land a player like odom
peja is making about the same as artest
Artest for Hughes?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ducks
L.A. Lakers Trade Breakdown
Outgoing
Lamar Odom
6-10 SF from Rhode Island
15.9 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 5.7 apg in 40.0 minutes
Incoming
Jonathan Bender
7-0 SF from Picayune Memorial (HS)
5.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.0 apg in 10.5 minutes
Ron Artest
6-7 SF from St. John's
19.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.2 apg in 37.8 minutes
Change in team outlook: +8.5 ppg, -2.7 rpg, and -2.5 apg.
Indiana Trade Breakdown
Outgoing
Jonathan Bender
7-0 SF from Picayune Memorial (HS)
5.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.0 apg in 10.5 minutes
Ron Artest
6-7 SF from St. John's
19.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.2 apg in 37.8 minutes
Incoming
Lamar Odom
6-10 SF from Rhode Island
15.9 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 5.7 apg in 40.0 minutes
Change in team outlook: -8.5 ppg, +2.7 rpg, and +2.5 apg.
Successful Scenario
Due to L.A. Lakers and Indiana being over the cap, the 25% trade rule is invoked. L.A. Lakers and Indiana had to be no more than 125% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
I beleive that Bender is on the verge of retiring due to bad knees or something.
:lmaoQuote:
Originally Posted by ducks
Ducks, you continue to amaze and amuse me...:lol
Hey TFart, Buckets was a mental patient while on the Spurs. It seemed to work out alright.Quote:
Before anyone says it.
NO NO NO NO NO NO.
Don't fall for the basketball player, AVOID THE MENTAL PATIENT AT ALL COSTS!!!
Do you mean is KG so upset with the Wolves...or not?Quote:
Originally Posted by ducks
Bob Kravitz, columnist for the IndyStar blasts Artest and the Pacers!
Bob Kravitz
Tick-tock: Time's up for Artest
Ron Artest can't come back now, not after this, not after saying he wants to get away from coach Rick Carlisle and go someplace where he can get bigger numbers and a fresh start.
He must be traded.
Now.
Artest, an incorrigible bum who should have been set free long ago, should not be allowed to spend another night soiling the uniform of the Indiana Pacers.
If he wants out -- and he made that abundantly clear when he spoke with The Star's Mike Wells -- then the Pacers must accommodate him, and accommodate him immediately.
Before he destroys a second straight season.
Before he further poisons what has often been a toxic locker room.
If Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh don't do something dramatic and immediate, they are completely asleep at the wheel -- something they've long been guilty of when it involves Teflon Ron.
If Artest is allowed back in that locker room, what would management be telling Carlisle? That it backs Artest? That Artest can say or do just about anything and be forgiven? If Artest is still here one week from now, Carlisle needs to give management an ultimatum:
It's him or me.
And it needs to be Carlisle. <staying I assume>
The Pacers head coach rubs some people the wrong way -- former and current players have chafed under his micromanaging, run-the-play style -- but he wins every place he coaches and he wins under all kinds of circumstances. When Artest was gone last season, running a daddy day care and promoting his CD, Carlisle was doing one of the most remarkable coaching jobs in recent memory, taking the shell of a team to the second round of the playoffs.
If Artest is allowed to return, what would that say to the other players in the locker room? The ones who presumably care more about winning a title than getting their statistics? The ones who spent all last season fighting through suspensions and injuries and playing some of the most inspiring, unselfish basketball this team has played in years?
If it wasn't obvious to Pacers' management long ago, it should be now: The guy is a hopeless case. He's a wonderful basketball player who possesses great passion for the game, but, ultimately, he is a team-killer, a selfish lout who says one thing and does another.
Anybody remember how, during the whole contrived Ron Across America Tour, he made a point of committing himself to the team, insisting he would happily sacrifice his numbers for the greater good?
That lasted, what, three months?
Now, he's saying he wants to play the role of Kobe, or LeBron, or maybe Gilbert Arenas, "to maximize my opportunity of my potential."
The "Real Ron,'' indeed.
Anybody remember how, during that same tour, he made a point of thanking the Pacers for all their patience and understanding, and how, in return, he owed them nothing less than a championship?
Now he's saying (and please don't snicker as you read this one), "I don't think everybody is treated the same way around here,'' and "I think they will be a better team without me."
After all this organization has done for him -- supported (enabled) him, counseled him, even lied for him -- this was his way of showing gratitude.
Thanks, Ron.
And good riddance.
If ever there was a time to pull the trigger on an Artest-for-Peja Stojakovic deal, this is it. The question, though, is whether the Sacramento Kings are now willing to make it happen. In the past, they've been reticent to part with the popular Stojakovic, but the Kings are struggling and look like a team in desperate need of a change.
Somehow, some way, Bird and Walsh have to make a deal, or do whatever it takes to get Artest out of here. Even if they can't get equal value for him -- and if it's not a deal for Stojakovic, it's unlikely they'll get good value -- it doesn't matter. Get a bent rim. And a slug to be named later. Anything. Cut the franchise's losses.
In the end, Artest didn't make this mess, even if he's the one with dirt on his hands. It's like the Chris Rock routine when the comic says the tiger who attacked Roy Horn of Siegfried and Roy didn't go crazy.
"That tiger went tiger," Rock said.
In this case, Artest went Artest.
The Pacers knew what they were getting when they dealt for him. And they've been front-row spectators to the running psychodrama ever since. So how could they have failed to see that it would eventually come to this? They knew -- knew -- he was a ticking time bomb and would eventually take the entire franchise with him. But still, three of the best basketball men in the league -- Bird, Walsh and Carlisle -- sat by idly and let it happen. They believed their own fiction because they wanted to believe it, because when Artest is right, he's a great player and an even greater bargain.
Now they are going to pay again for placing their faith in him, forced to deal him at a time when it will be next-to-impossible to get any kind of value for him.
The Pacers cannot complain, though. They lost that right a long time ago. This is their mess, and now, it's time to clean it up.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...16/1004/SPORTS
Anyways, to all the Spurs fans talkin junk about Detroit: The Pistons are the real deal. They could have beaten us (we could have beaten them too though) in 04. You just never know til you play the game. They could have very well beaten us last year. They are VERY VERY GOOD! They still have the BEST starting 5 in the league. Their bench is also very good. So be careful. Out of all the teams in the NBA, Detroit has the best chance to dethrone SA.
Stop hatin on a very good team.
Artest = TO