ESPN Off Season grades for West (insider article)

[LakeShow]

People actually pay for this

He is a joke. The Lakers should have got an "A" for their off-season moves. They addressed their weakness by signing 3 proven veterans to come off the bench that will make an immediate impact. It doesn't get any better than that.

I agree with the Spurs grade. The only players that they brought in are basically rookies. Which will probably end up in Pops dog house and relegated to the bench by mid season, but the not on the level of the mentioned team? Thats ludicrous. It's the Lakers and the rest. Period. You can group all of the other teams together, no one else stands out.

[WildcardManu]

New season, same bull from crap writers.

[Rummpd]

He is a joke. The Lakers should have got an "A" for their off-season moves. They addressed their weakness by signing 3 proven veterans to come off the bench that will make an immediate impact. It doesn't get any better than that.

I agree with the Spurs grade. The only players that they brought in are basically rookies. Which will probably end up in Pops dog house and relegated to the bench by mid season, but the not on the level of the mentioned team? Thats ludicrous. It's the Lakers and the rest. Period. You can group all of the other teams together, no one else stands out.

The Lakers got some agreed some solid additions but nothing that changes the fact that they are the class of the West, but if either Gasol or Kobe is hurt - fully beatable by at least 4 teams in the West including the Spurs (and a healthy Spurs team is the only team besides perhaps the Thunder or plausibly completely healthy Rockets/Trailblazers that IMO could really threaten a healthy Lakers team). The Lakers, other than injury, ONLY potential weakness against any team East or West remains their PG position ( that remains Fisher and a lot of wannabees, although some have potential to step up including Blake)

Meanwhile the Spurs got a top 5 addition this year in the NBA for a song in Tiago. Splitter is certainly not as skilled offensively as Gasol, but he will match up with Gasol as well as anyone in the West defensively and gives the Spurs again enough size up front to scare any team, any time. Tiago has enough years internationally that Pop will play him and Anderson, THE potential steal of the draft - is a better draft pick up than anyone could have expected for this year for the Spurs.

In reality both the Lakers and the Spurs, two exceptional organizations, deserve A- or B+ at worst for savy pickups and at the worst, maintaining their core and adding potentially both adding very good additions.

[DAF86]

They are still not in the same league as the Lakers, Thunder, Blazers, Mavs and Jazz right now, so they will need another big move or a big season from Splitter to get back in that elite company.

Based on what? I ing hate when proffesional journalists try to pass BS opinions as facts.

[Mark in Austin]

Chad "coming out of the Darko" Ford?

We should have a Hoopsworld / Chad Ford worthless article forum.

[TD 21]

Could the Mavs be better than the Spurs next season? Possibly. But no one can say the Spurs aren't in their league (that's exactly the league the Spurs are in entering the season and they should probably be placed at the top of it) and no one with an ounce of knowledge, objectivity or credibility would assume they will be, because there's nothing to base that on.

They didn't improve any more than the Spurs did. In fact, they likely improved less.

At least with a team like the Thunder, you could reason that their young talent collectively takes the next step. I don't think they'll be better than the Spurs next season, but it's reasonable to think they will be, because there's sound logic to base that off of.

But the Mavs? There's no reason to think they'll be better.

[spurs_philippines]

least expectation means championship for us

[Lukor]

I think alot of you are misreading the OFF season grades. It's not an actual power ranking. Having said that,i think the guy did a poor job, OKC has hardly done anything in the offseason and yet they get an A. And i don't get his comments about SA,if anything they are exactly where the Thunder,Mavs,Blazers etc. are which is somewhere between #2 and #8 in the west.

[jestersmash]

I think alot of you are misreading the OFF season grades. It's not an actual power ranking. Having said that,i think the guy did a poor job, OKC has hardly done anything in the offseason and yet they get an A. And i don't get his comments about SA,if anything they are exactly where the Thunder,Mavs,Blazers etc. are which is somewhere between #2 and #8 in the west.

Wrong. People aren't complaining about the "C+" offseason grade, really. They are complaining about the specific comment made by Ford where he does rattle off his own relative power rankings and clearly states that the spurs aren't in the same league as the mavs, blazers, thunder, and jazz.

Ford is not talking about "off season move" power rankings with that comment. He's talking about actual power rankings. Problem is his statement is rather outrageous because by all objective measure we are at least in the same league as the Mavs based on our most recent performance against them these past playoffs.

[admiralsnackbar]

Why do people even get inflamed over Chad Ford anymore? Guy's made a career out of being wrong, yet ESPN keeps him on anyway... hmmmm.

Could it be that he shills star-power over team dynamics? Pfff -- that's crazy.

[Man In Black]

They addressed their weakness by signing 3 proven veterans to come off the bench that will make an immediate impact.

Ahh the Lakers. It's amazing how all of a sudden a player is good when he dons Forum Blue & Gold. I'm still trying to get 2Cleva to explain why Steve Blake(r) is all of a sudden a solid defender. Matt Barnes is a good defender but has thug issues all over the place, and Theo Ratliff, the Spurs had him for most of last season and know what he brings. Him wearing Lakers across his chest doesn't make him any younger, jump any higher, or grow any taller. I will say Theo is better than DJ Mbenga, even though Mychal Thompson was calling DJ, the best backup center in the West.

Oh, and do you notice how every year, they always make sure to point out the ages of the Spurs Big 3, but then don't talk about how old, say Kobe is or Ron Artest. Incidentally, Bean is 32 and Artest is 31 but will be 32 in November. Also, did you notice how they didn't talk about off-season surgery for Bean and Mr. Glass, Andrew Bynum? But hey, go ahead and underrate them, it's status quo for the 4-letter.

[LakeShow]

Ahh the Lakers. It's amazing how all of a sudden a player is good when he dons Forum Blue & Gold. I'm still trying to get 2Cleva to explain why Steve Blake(r) is all of a sudden a solid defender. Matt Barnes is a good defender but has thug issues all over the place, and Theo Ratliff, the Spurs had him for most of last season and know what he brings. Him wearing Lakers across his chest doesn't make him any younger, jump any higher, or grow any taller. I will say Theo is better than DJ Mbenga, even though Mychal Thompson was calling DJ, the best backup center in the West.

Oh, and do you notice how every year, they always make sure to point out the ages of the Spurs Big 3, but then don't talk about how old, say Kobe is or Ron Artest. Incidentally, Bean is 32 and Artest is 31 but will be 32 in November. Also, did you notice how they didn't talk about off-season surgery for Bean and Mr. Glass, Andrew Bynum? But hey, go ahead and underrate them, it's status quo for the 4-letter.

You just wont let it go, will you?

Matt Barnes is a good defender but has thug issues all over the place

has nothing to do with playing basketball. You said the same thing about Artest and you see how that turned out.

Ahh the Lakers. It's amazing how all of a sudden a player is good when he dons Forum Blue & Gold and Theo Ratliff, the Spurs had him for most of last season and know what he brings.

Ratliff sure got better when he donned a Bobcat uniform.

I will say Theo is better than DJ Mbenga,

We agree on something

Oh, and do you notice how every year, they always make sure to point out the ages of the Spurs Big 3, but then don't talk about how old, say Kobe is or Ron Artest. Incidentally, Bean is 32 and Artest is 31 but will be 32 in November. Also, did you notice how they didn't talk about off-season surgery for Bean and Mr. Glass, Andrew Bynum? But hey, go ahead and underrate them, it's status quo for the 4-letter

The point is that the Lakers are the world champs and are attempting to go to the finals for the 4th straight year. They did so the last 3 years with a weak bench. Their top 7 players are returning plus additions. The Spurs were eliminated by the suns last season, coming back with the same cast with Tiago(who I think will be a good player in the future) and another rookie. Thats not good enough to topple the world champs. Imo

Ratliff>>Benga
Blake>>Farmar
Barnes>>Walton
Rookies=Powell, Morrison

No matter how you look at it thats an upgrade at those positions.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Ahh the Lakers. It's amazing how all of a sudden a player is good when he dons Forum Blue & Gold. I'm still trying to get 2Cleva to explain why Steve Blake(r) is all of a sudden a solid defender. Matt Barnes is a good defender but has thug issues all over the place, and Theo Ratliff, the Spurs had him for most of last season and know what he brings. Him wearing Lakers across his chest doesn't make him any younger, jump any higher, or grow any taller. I will say Theo is better than DJ Mbenga, even though Mychal Thompson was calling DJ, the best backup center in the West.

Oh, and do you notice how every year, they always make sure to point out the ages of the Spurs Big 3, but then don't talk about how old, say Kobe is or Ron Artest. Incidentally, Bean is 32 and Artest is 31 but will be 32 in November. Also, did you notice how they didn't talk about off-season surgery for Bean and Mr. Glass, Andrew Bynum? But hey, go ahead and underrate them, it's status quo for the 4-letter.

Yeah cause Phil Jackson has no experience coaching malcontents...

when will people learn?

[jestersmash]

You just wont let it go, will you?

Matt Barnes is a good defender but has thug issues all over the place

has nothing to do with playing basketball. You said the same thing about Artest and you see how that turned out.

Ahh the Lakers. It's amazing how all of a sudden a player is good when he dons Forum Blue & Gold and Theo Ratliff, the Spurs had him for most of last season and know what he brings.

Ratliff sure got better when he donned a Bobcat uniform.

I will say Theo is better than DJ Mbenga,

We agree on something

Oh, and do you notice how every year, they always make sure to point out the ages of the Spurs Big 3, but then don't talk about how old, say Kobe is or Ron Artest. Incidentally, Bean is 32 and Artest is 31 but will be 32 in November. Also, did you notice how they didn't talk about off-season surgery for Bean and Mr. Glass, Andrew Bynum? But hey, go ahead and underrate them, it's status quo for the 4-letter

The point is that the Lakers are the world champs and are attempting to go to the finals for the 4th straight year. They did so the last 3 years with a weak bench. Their top 7 players are returning plus additions. The Spurs were eliminated by the suns last season, coming back with the same cast with Tiago(who I think will be a good player in the future) and another rookie. Thats not good enough to topple the world champs. Imo

Ratliff>>Benga
Blake>>Farmar
Barnes>>Walton
Rookies=Powell, Morrison

No matter how you look at it thats an upgrade at those positions.

I agree, but it's sure as good enough to "be in the same league" as the mavs, jazz, blazers, and thunder.