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NBA Discussion / I'm still puzzled over the MVP thing

« on: June 16, 2004, 06:47:38 PM »

Still think Big Ben should have gotten the nod over Chauncey Billups. Although, with a team that plays like the Pistons, in which the star of the game often changed from night-to-night, it wasn't an easy decision.

Guess Minnesota wishes they'd held onto Billups, though I suppose he was demanding too much money as a free agent.  

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NBA Discussion / OT: anyone use ghost surfing software

« on: May 12, 2004, 07:51:56 PM »

I'm trying to figure out if this is something I should invest in so that unscrupulous sites can't track my web surfing habits and tap into private information. Is it worthwhile? If so, what programs do the best job without interfering with system performance?

 

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NBA Discussion / new 76ers coach

« on: April 22, 2004, 08:20:11 AM »

Just curious how you all feel about the coaching choice made by the 76ers, bringing on Jim O'Brien. (See article below for more details.) I must admit I was a bit surprised...I was so sure they were going to go after Mo Cheeks after they practically serenaded him the last time he was in town. One thing was sure, Chris Ford was not up for the job. I'm glad to see that O'Brien is willing to keep an open mind with Iverson. It was clear from the get-go that Ford neither liked nor respected Iverson...a bad way to start out with a team's franchise player. And any rumors of Iverson being traded have been put to rest. With the team and new coach's vote of confidence behind him, I hope Iverson does everything he possibly can to expedited his rehabilitation over the summer. I know he would hate to miss the Olympic games, but I really wonder if he should go.

Under the banners of the 76ers past championship teams, 76ers President and General Manger Billy King formally introduced Jim O'Brien as the new head coach at a press conference held Wednesday afternoon at the Wachovia Center.

O'Brien, a Philadelphia native, is excited about this new opportunity and his new team. "I am thrilled to be back in Philadelphia and it's a great honor to join a franchise that I've been following since I was a little boy." O'Brien said.

The former Celtics coach knows all about the pressures of coaching in this city and is looking forward to the challenge.
"I've been a fan of Philadelphia for many, many years," said O'Brien. "Obviously I wasn't a fan the last seven years, but I know what the tradition is here, I know what the expectations of the people in Philadelphia are. I know it's a tough town from a fan standpoint because I've been a fan rooting for every franchise here, and we all expect winners."

One of the many reason King feels O'Brien is right for the job is his defensive oriented style of play and the hope that O'Brien can get the Sixers back to playing successful defense.

"There are a lot of intangibles that I can talk about or can't talk about because it's just from observing him over the years when we played his teams," King said. "I admired how hard they played, how prepared they were, and I just think that he did a great job there and I felt it was the perfect fit for us."

"I think that's the way you build chemistry (by playing defense)," O'Brien said. "Because in order to play defense you have to go through pain, you have to have guys with guts and you have to have guys that will cover each other's backs. I'm not a guy that predicts things but we will play defense and we will play it at a level that is going to take a lot of hard work, and it will build a chemistry that is a strong one."

O'Brien is familiar with the Sixers having coached against them for years, including in the playoffs, and likes the look of his "new" players.

"I always liked the look in Eric Snow, Aaron McKie and Allen Iverson's eyes when we competed against them," he said. "I love competition. You know the guys in the league you want on your side and you know you the guys in the league you don't want on your side. There are three guys that I just had a feeling, they would fun to compete and be on there side."

O'Brien also said that he wanted to have an opportunity to coach Allen Iverson and is glad he has a player of that caliber on his team next season. King also put to rest persistent rumors of Iverson's departure stating, "Allen will be here next year."

The expectations O'Brien has for next season are hard work, organization and strong leadership from the veteran players.

"What I believe is every person I coach has tremendous responsibility to lead within the organization itself. I don't believe in the great man theory of leadership," said O'Brien. "I believe that the people that put on our uniform all have responsibility to share and the leadership."

"I have never had a difficulty leading people, and having people understand the expectations that I have," O'Brien said. "I'm a fairly easy person to play for. I think guys are comfortable because there a plan, there's organization and there's discipline. Players will be able to execute and it's organization that they'll appreciate."

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Fantasy NBA League / Looks like Genghis pulled it out

« on: April 18, 2004, 09:34:02 PM »

Congrats on your FNBA win!

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Fantasy NBA League / didn't realize their was a loser's playoff

« on: March 29, 2004, 09:11:21 PM »

but I've had my fill of FNBA for the season. Anyone matched against my team should have a cake walk because I'm done playing.

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NBA Discussion / LAker coaching change a'comin?

« on: February 12, 2004, 03:38:56 PM »

Looks like the Lakers might be eyeing a possible coaching change at the close of the season. Wondering if they are planning to make a run for Byron Scott.

The Los Angeles Lakers suspended negotiations to extend coach Phil Jackson's contract until after the season.

"We're putting this off to the summer," said Mitch Kupchak, General Manager of the Lakers. "Clearly there's a lot of uncertainty that surrounds the team at this time -- and clearly in the summer, there'll be perhaps even a lot more. So there is a lot to consider from Phil's point of view and from an organizational point of view."

The five-year, $30 million contract Jackson signed in June 1999 expires at the end of the season. Negotiations to extend the deal began last summer after the 58-year-old Jackson decided he was well enough to continue coaching, but ended last week.

"I have no hard feelings at all," Jackson said before Wednesday night's game in Houston. "I actually think it's the right move for them to make with all the free agents they have this summer."

Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone and Gary Payton are three of eight Lakers eligible for free agency after the season. Shaquille O'Neal is under contract through 2006, although he's been in negotiations for several months to extend his deal.

Jackson acknowledged surprise at the Lakers' announcement of talks being put on hold and said he'd speak with general manager Mitch Kupchak this weekend. The coach considered retirement last season based on a lack of energy before undergoing an angioplasty during the playoffs.

"Everyone concerned in this important transaction understands the business side of basketball," Jackson's agent, Todd Musburger, said Friday. "We know that the Lakers have great appreciation for Phil's contributions and we also know that Phil has enjoyed the challenge and has obviously delivered great success to the club.

When asked if Jackson will coach somewhere else next season if no agreement is reached with the Lakers, Musburger replied: "Phil's professional pursuits cover a wide spectrum. He's a man who has some wonderful choices in life. My sense is he's got a whole lot of games left to coach."

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NBA Discussion / should parents be able to predetermine gender?

« on: February 06, 2004, 11:43:55 AM »

Newsweek did an excellent article on this issue the other week. Apparently there is a new technology available called microsorting that gives parents a higher probability (as compared to previous methods) of successfully predetermining the gender of their baby. The microsorting procedure identifies and separates male and female sperm by the presence or absence of X and Y chromosomes. The sex-sorted sperm are then used for artificial insemination. (For more information on how this technique is done, see =http://www.inciid.org/newsletter/june/pg3.html)

I was surprised (pleasantly) the number of objections people had to the use of this technology in this week's issue of Newsweek, letters to the editor. I know that in this country we are not predisposed to the belief that females are less desirable offspring, compared to a country like India where female infanticide is common.
However, I'm curious how many of you would have chosen to preselect the gender of your child (or children) if you could have afforded to take advantage of this latest technology? And do you feel that your family would be less balanced if you did not have at least one boy>
 

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NBA Discussion / Jayson William's trial

« on: February 06, 2004, 11:28:57 AM »

This guy (Jayson Williams) really was a loose cannon for a long time (see article excerpt below). Even if he shot the chaueffer accidentally, and I believe he did, his failure to get medical attention for the victim and efforts to cover up the crime by trying to portray it as a suicide is reprehensible. He should, at the very least, have to serve 5-10 years for this offense and never be allowed to own another weapon during his lifetime. He seems to want everyone to feel sorry for all the trauma he has had to go through due to his actions, but it's clear who really suffered the most here: the victim's family and friends.

SOMERVILLE, N.J. (AP) -- The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Thursday it was shocked that a state judge barred evidence that Jayson Williams killed his pet Rottweiler from being presented at his upcoming manslaughter trial.

Dr. Stephanie LaFarge, director of the ASPCA's Counseling Services department, said research clearly shows that people who intentionally kill or injure animals are inclined to be violent toward people. She argued that the evidence about Williams' previous actions with guns was relevant to the upcoming trial.
 
Williams, the retired New Jersey Nets center whose trial is to begin next week, shot the dog, Zeus, at his estate in Alexandria Township after losing a bet, according to a sworn statement given by a witness, Hunterdon County Assistant Prosecutor Katharine L. Errickson disclosed in court Wednesday.

Superior Court Judge Edward M. Coleman ruled with the defense that the potential of the evidence to inflame the jury outweighed its value regarding the shotgun shooting of Costas "Gus" Christofi on Feb. 14, 2002. Williams has called that shooting was a tragic accident.

Williams, 35, faces seven charges, including aggravated manslaughter and witness tampering, that could carry up to 55 years in prison.

Errickson said the shooting of Zeus happened between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on either Aug. 8 or 9, 2001, according to a sworn statement from Dwayne Schintzius, a former NBA player who was living at Williams' mansion at the time.

Schintzius said he bet Williams $100 that he could drag Zeus out of the house. After Williams accepted, Schintzius pulled the dog outside by his hind legs, the prosecutor said.

Williams went upstairs and returned with a shotgun, then shot the dog once in the side and then in the head. He loaded two more rounds into the shotgun, pointed it at Schintzius and ordered him to remove the dog "or you're next," the prosecutor said. Schintzius complied and buried the dog, she said.

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NBA Discussion / dabods, can you move over

« on: February 05, 2004, 03:58:30 PM »

all the threads from the beginning of the year at least, further back if possible.

Thanks. Am I right that we actually will be able to send and receive PMs on this board.  B)