Can this be the greatest foursome to ever take the court? Shaq and Malone are undisputably the greatest in their positions. Kobe may have to share that honor with MJ and Payton is just a shade under Magic or Stockton, but still Kobe and Payton are future hall of famers.
I think I'm going to cry.
[ July 08, 2003, 09:37 PM: Message edited by: Beren One Hand ]
Posts: 4116 | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
Kobe -- I'm not sure you can assume he'll be on your team next year. He's a free agent, remember? And he has a sexual assualt charge hovering over his head.
Payton -- He's had better years. And his little stint in Milwaukee got him in trouble with the law as well.
Malone -- I've got four words for you...
YOU CAN HAVE HIM.
Seriously, if you like underachieving, whiny, not happy if he doesn't get the ball, past his prime, prefers to shoot 15-footers than drive the hoop, excuse for a basketball player, then, have fun.
Oh, and there's no Stockton there for Malone to get the ball from.
Malone is not all that. I've always hated the Lakers, and now, I'll be rooting till my throat is dry every night for them to lose.
Posts: 1800 | Registered: Apr 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Tim Duncan is a more skillful player than Shaq, but I don't think he is as dominant. It all depends on what kind of shape Shaq is in though. If he pulled one of those "I ain't getting surgery until I damn well please" stunts, then Tim Duncan still has my vote for the MVP. But if Shaq is healthy, he is untouchable.
Malone and Payton are definintely high maintenance personalities. I always questioned how good of a coach Phil Jackson is. If Phil can somehow convince these four to share the ball then he is truly the Zen master.
I think your comments on Malone are a little harsh. "Past his prime"? Yes he is old, but he is one of the best conditioned athletes in the game. I read somewhere the Shaq has missed more games last season than Malone has his entire career. He works harder than anyone in the weight room. I respect that.
quote:underachieving, whiny, not happy if he doesn't get the ball, past his prime, prefers to shoot 15-footers than drive the hoop, excuse for a basketball player.
Except for the "past his prime" comment, that quote can as easily describe Chris Webber. The only power forwards I respect more than Malone at this point are Tim Duncan and Elton Brand.
[ July 08, 2003, 09:32 PM: Message edited by: Beren One Hand ]
Posts: 4116 | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
This is going to be the best NBA year in a long time.
<T>
PS. Plus it'll be fun to watch every single team go way out of their way to kick the crap out of Lebron James.
Posts: 2752 | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I prefer to see a lot of good teams rather than a couple of awesome ones. I mean, who wants to see four good games between SA and LA... And have the rest of the regular season suck?
Posts: 2945 | Registered: Apr 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Did anyone else notice that the two KU player's went 7th and 12th in the draft? And the first look at the 2004 draft has Simian going 11th. KU rocks. Or used to. Don't know what will happen now, but how cool is it for one school to have two picks in the top 20?
Posts: 9871 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
This biggest problem with a team consisting of Shaq, Kobe, Malone and Payton would be they'd probably suffer from Portland Trailblazer itis....
Meaning, they'd have a team with a bunch of egos, and not enough posessions to keep everyone happy.
As a disgruntled Portland fan, I've learned that Chemistry is everything. Will this team be able to overcome the odds?
Posts: 1800 | Registered: Apr 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
I hate Olowakandi the way Pat hates Karl Malone.
Granted Sterling is an ass, but that's no excuse to tank an entire season. Brand didn't.
quote:I prefer to see a lot of good teams rather than a couple of awesome ones. I mean, who wants to see four good games between SA and LA... And have the rest of the regular season suck?
Even before the free agency there were only four teams contending for the championship anyway (Kings, Lakers, Spurs, Mavs). Would you rather that Kidd, Malone, and Payton get stuck in their old teams without a chance to win a championship?
quote:Will this team be able to overcome the odds?
I'd rather watch this dream team implode than to watch Kobe chuck up 30 shots a game with Shaq nursing his big toe on the sideline. Posts: 4116 | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I can't understand why anyone would listen to Pat, who for some unfathomable reason is a Blazers fan.
Malone is past his prime, but he's still one of the five best power forwards in the league. I'd take Duncan over him in a heartbeat, and maybe Brand, but anyone else is debatable. And he's 40. Sure, he shoots his mouth off, but now that Stock's gone, he's the hardest worker in the league.
I respect his desire for a championship, and he deserves one, but I've got the uncomfortable feeling that he'll be cleaning up for Shaq and scoring ten points a night.
Posts: 794 | Registered: Aug 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Wow, the Lakers just dismissed the Mavs like a JV team. Malone barely missed a triple double and Payton slashed and dished at will. Saturday will be the real test though. Can the Lakers integrate Kobe into their offense?
Posts: 4116 | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
quote:This is going to be the best NBA year in a long time.
Heck yeah! I will be watching the Lakers win 85 games, Vince Carter's come back season, Stoudamire's breakout season, Yao Ming's first season with a coach who knows how to use him, and, of course, the reign of King James. And let's not forget, as good as the Lakers are, the high-scoring Mavs added two more players capale of scoring 50 points a game to their already high-powered offense. I expect either the Mavs or the Lakers will score 200 points in one game this season. *wipes away a tear*. God bless cable television. Posts: 4116 | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
