NBA, players reach tentative deal

[Mulli]

Hey Bulls: Amnesty Boozer the Loozer.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

Translation: The Suns will play three in a row three times, and the Lakers will do it only once. Mark it down.

 

[Lorenzo]

Translation: The Suns will play three in a row three times, and the Lakers will do it only once. Mark it down.

Well the lakers need all the help that they can get to make it to the playoffs this year. I think they were exposed last year in the playoffs first by NO then by dallas. kobe looks old, pau looks like he either sucks or just had a nightmare matchup trying to play dirk. odom looks like he is done. no one is talking about phil jackson leaving either. last time that didn't works so well. I think the lakers dynasty is over until they make some type of major move.

 

[elindholm]

Well the lakers need all the help that they can get to make it to the playoffs this year. I think they were exposed last year in the playoffs first by NO then by dallas. kobe looks old, pau looks like he either sucks or just had a nightmare matchup trying to play dirk. odom looks like he is done. no one is talking about phil jackson leaving either. last time that didn't works so well. I think the lakers dynasty is over until they make some type of major move.

I agree that the Lakers are probably no longer on the short list of top contenders, but there's no way they'll miss the playoffs unless they get hit with multiple major injuries.

 

[Lorenzo]

I agree that the Lakers are probably no longer on the short list of top contenders, but there's no way they'll miss the playoffs unless they get hit with multiple major injuries.

you never know. the teams at the bottom look good. I would say the lakers will be somewhere between 6-8. just my opinion..probably closer to 8.

 

[AzStevenCal]

you never know. the teams at the bottom look good. I would say the lakers will be somewhere between 6-8. just my opinion..probably closer to 8.

IMO, not a chance they'll be in the cellar of playoff teams. They'll win the division again although the Clippers do have enough talent to challenge.

Steve

 

[Griffin]

From various sources:

Teams will be permitted to start talking to players' agents starting Wednesday, 9AM, although they won't be able to make any offers yet.

Team facilities will open to players Thursday.

Training camp and free agency still scheduled for December 9th, with a short preseason (2 games) to follow. The Suns will play Denver, home and away.

Five games to be scheduled for Christmas day, instead of the usual three. No word yet on which teams will play.

With the training camp still 9 days away, it probably would be wise for players to get back and do some voluntary team workouts. I know Dudley is training in Vegas, but it would be better if our core players got some workouts together before training camp.

 

[elindholm]

Has the deal been ratified? I thought they were still debating "B-list" issues.

 

[Lorenzo]

IMO, not a chance they'll be in the cellar of playoff teams. They'll win the division again although the Clippers do have enough talent to challenge.

Steve

Maybe I'm wrong, but they look like they imploded last year and with their biggest star (next to kobe) phil jackson leaving I just feel like they are going to slide like they did when shaq and phil walked. it might not happen that drastically because they still have talent...but they looked terrible against dallas and even N.O. considering that the hornets were not supposed to win a game in that series. if the lakers win their division it is only because the division is down unlike recent years when the suns were strong.

I hear a lot of people picking the lakers to make it to the finals and with phil not there anymore (and what we saw in the playoffs) i just can't see that happening...unless they make a major move.

 

[Lorenzo]

mavs tyson chandler says he is not coming back to dallas. big problem for dallas. unless they have a plan B I don't see them making it past the 2nd or 3rd round of the playoffs(at best)

 

[AzStevenCal]

Maybe I'm wrong, but they look like they imploded last year and with their biggest star (next to kobe) phil jackson leaving I just feel like they are going to slide like they did when shaq and phil walked. it might not happen that drastically because they still have talent...but they looked terrible against dallas and even N.O. considering that the hornets were not supposed to win a game in that series. if the lakers win their division it is only because the division is down unlike recent years when the suns were strong.

I hear a lot of people picking the lakers to make it to the finals and with phil not there anymore (and what we saw in the playoffs) i just can't see that happening...unless they make a major move.

Well, I don't see them winning it all but I think they are better than an 8 seed unless Kobe goes down. Honestly, I think we're a better bet for the 8 seed than LA is. Not that I expect us to make the postseason but unless we do the right thing and trade Nash we'll probably finish somewhere between 7th and 10th.

Steve

 

[Lorenzo]

Well, I don't see them winning it all but I think they are better than an 8 seed unless Kobe goes down. Honestly, I think we're a better bet for the 8 seed than LA is. Not that I expect us to make the postseason but unless we do the right thing and trade Nash we'll probably finish somewhere between 7th and 10th.

Steve

Well I guess I have to agree with you. maybe I'm slighting them too much. It should be interesting to see how free agency and trades go down this season. I would expect the lakers/mavs/spurs/suns/ and others to make deals to reposition themselves. a lot of the teams are old or are at crossroads where they have to make changes. OKC is the one team that looks like they are sitting pretty if they can keep wesbrook's head on his shoulders. youth is the only thing holding them back.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Well I guess I have to agree with you. maybe I'm slighting them too much. It should be interesting to see how free agency and trades go down this season. I would expect the lakers/mavs/spurs/suns/ and others to make deals to reposition themselves. a lot of the teams are old or are at crossroads where they have to make changes. OKC is the one team that looks like they are sitting pretty if they can keep wesbrook's head on his shoulders. youth is the only thing holding them back.

I'd say the same thing about the Clippers if they weren't, well, the Clippers. If they had the tradition and the management/ownership of something like the Lakers I'd be picking them to compete at the highest level.

Steve

 

[Griffin]

If they do have to play some of the elite Eastern teams, will it be at home or on the road?

So now it is official: the Suns will play Miami, Orlando, Chicago and Boston once each on the road only (also NY and Indiana).

 

[Mainstreet]

NBA players start voting on CBA today, running through tomorrow. The owners vote Thursday.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7326259/nba-players-prepare-vote-new-cba

 

[Mulli]

Deal was finalized last night. Before Paul deal happened.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Deal was finalized last night. Before Paul deal didn't happen.

FTFY.

Steve

 

[Mulli]

FTFY.

Steve

It happened, then it was sterned.