It's a Tough League

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Tim, There is no question that Kevin Martin is a major upgrade offensively and will be key to our success this season. His defense has never been a strength and that has to be factored into the equation of evaluating the total player.

And this is where the Budinger injury and Shved struggles get really troubling. Once Kevin Martin starts missing some games to to various ailments - and it will happen no doubt, especially if Adelman has to lean on him for a lot of minutes - we are on really shaky ground in terms of what's behind him. The same with Love, but that goes without saying.

[Monster]

Great post Lip and I'll add that while the Magic are lottery bound that was a pretty decent team out there. Nelson looked more like his old self than I have seen in years and yeah good thing Big Baby didn't play. Lol

Tim the problem with The Kevin Martin Bandwagon is that it has the reliability of an early to mid 90's Hyundai. It wasn't if it was when it would break down. Ok Martin even with his injury history isn't that bad (those cars were trash at 60,000 miles at times) but yeah. Of course you can say the same thing about AK but I'd compare him to a Yuog just because its fun to throw that car maker name into conversations. Lol If Martin can play at least 70 games and be healthy for the playoffs...

[AbeVigodaLive]

By the way, Kirilenko has already missed a game...

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

By the way, Kirilenko has already missed a game...

Yep, and he missed much of preseason with back spasms. He expects to play tonight, but I'm predicting he tops out at 40 games this year.

BTW, the Nets are my team to cheer against this year. It's offensive to me to see four veterans converge on a city chasing a ring, especially when one of them is a punk like Garnett who is ring-chasing for a second time. I don't often cheer for the Heat, but I'm hoping they put Brooklyn and their commie owner in an 0-2 hole tonight.

[AbeVigodaLive]

May be part of his "deal" with the team. I think a clear indicator would be if he even travels with the team or goes to the games during some of his absences.

[shahidi124 [enjin:6591729]]

Tim, There is no question that Kevin Martin is a major upgrade offensively and will be key to our success this season. His defense has never been a strength and that has to be factored into the equation of evaluating the total player.

And this is where the Budinger injury and Shved struggles get really troubling. Once Kevin Martin starts missing some games to to various ailments - and it will happen no doubt, especially if Adelman has to lean on him for a lot of minutes - we are on really shaky ground in terms of what's behind him. The same with Love, but that goes without saying.

I really hope Shabazz gets some minutes in those instances. If Shved plays like he did in the 2nd half of the Orlando game, Bazz can't be much worse. Give him a shot. If he plays within himself and gets rebounds and doesn't try and play hero ball he can be a great asset. Especially with the second unit and JJ who will typically dominate ball control.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

By the way, Kirilenko has already missed a game...

Yep, and he missed much of preseason with back spasms. He expects to play tonight, but I'm predicting he tops out at 40 games this year.

BTW, the Nets are my team to cheer against this year. It's offensive to me to see four veterans converge on a city chasing a ring, especially when one of them is a punk like Garnett who is ring-chasing for a second time. I don't often cheer for the Heat, but I'm hoping they put Brooklyn and their commie owner in an 0-2 hole tonight.

Agreed on AK. Think he barely plays half the season. I also don't like the Nets, but for me it's because of Brook Lopez. He's soft. Individually I'm a big fan of D-Will, KG, JJ and Jet. I don't really get why you called KG a punk, though. He's been ring-chasing his whole career and we were lucky to have him for a decade or so. Both times he's left an organization was via trade. This past time, he didn't want to leave Boston. He wanted to play out his contract and retire as a Celtic. Paul Pierce confirmed this by saying he was on the verge of retiring before going anywhere else, but since he'd be going somewhere with Pierce, he decided not to. KG's always been about rings. I respect the hell outta him and hope they beat the Heat tonight. Put the Heat at 1-2.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

By the way, Kirilenko has already missed a game...

Yep, and he missed much of preseason with back spasms. He expects to play tonight, but I'm predicting he tops out at 40 games this year.

BTW, the Nets are my team to cheer against this year. It's offensive to me to see four veterans converge on a city chasing a ring, especially when one of them is a punk like Garnett who is ring-chasing for a second time. I don't often cheer for the Heat, but I'm hoping they put Brooklyn and their commie owner in an 0-2 hole tonight.

Agreed on AK. Think he barely plays half the season. I also don't like the Nets, but for me it's because of Brook Lopez. He's soft. Individually I'm a big fan of D-Will, KG, JJ and Jet. I don't really get why you called KG a punk, though. He's been ring-chasing his whole career and we were lucky to have him for a decade or so. Both times he's left an organization was via trade. This past time, he didn't want to leave Boston. He wanted to play out his contract and retire as a Celtic. Paul Pierce confirmed this by saying he was on the verge of retiring before going anywhere else, but since he'd be going somewhere with Pierce, he decided not to. KG's always been about rings. I respect the hell outta him and hope they beat the Heat tonight. Put the Heat at 1-2.

I get the respect for KG. cam...I respect the fact that he never mails it in on the court. But still, I have never liked him. I live in LA now, but was a season ticket holder in Mpls for the entire KG era. Being the Wolves fan that I am, their playoff run that eventually resulted in a loss to the Lakers was thrilling for me, and Garnett was the straw that stirred the drink on that team. But even before he ditched us for the Celtics (technically it was a trade, but don't think KG didn't force it), I was open about my dislike for him as a person. I hated the way he picked favorites and enemies in the locker room, and actually thought there was a racial element to his hate (his endorsement of Steamer two years ago turned me around a little on that). I recognize that NBA players cheat on their wives, but KG was a legendary philanderer and the stories about him were particularly disturbing. And I always saw him as a fake thug on the court...willing to take the cheap shot, but the first to run when a fight ensued. Great basketball player, I admit, but just not my kind of guy. Hence, my hate for the Nets.

[60WinTim]

I did not think Orlando looked "lottery bound" against Indiana or against us. Their up 53-35 on New Orleans at the half...

[thedoper]

I was just going to write the same thing Tim. They have some nice bigs (Nicholson, Vuevic) on that team and Oladipo and Affalo are going active players.