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November NBA Season Thread - It's finally time
- Thread starter DMczaf
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Fifty said:Yeah. It's pretty funny that the RAPTORS are the second most represented team, but that's ok.I don't mind Lakers talk, but Kobe talk that moves the thread along at such a pace that many interesting posts get overlooked is gets on my nerves a bit. I'll deal with it.
Just pray it doesn't degenerate into more Kobe/MJ talks.
*Bionic looks in Loki's direction*
and here come the lawsuits.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1930065
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Two fans sued the Indiana Pacers and players Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal on Tuesday, contending they were injured in the brawl at the end of the Pistons-Pacers game.
Lawyers for John Ackerman and William Paulson filed suits in Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, seeking damages in excess of $25,000 each.
Ackerman, a 67-year-old retired auto worker, says he was hit by O'Neal and then by a chair that a fan hurled into the crowd. His suit also names Palace Sports & Entertainment Inc., which operates the Pistons' arena.
"He was knocked unconscious by the chair," said Todd Weglarz, who along with lawyer Geoffrey Fieger, represents the men. "The next thing he recalls is being helped into a wheelchair."
Police released a copy of a videotape Tuesday showing a man who investigators believe threw the chair, and they asked the public to help identify him.
Fieger, a former Democratic gubernatorial candidate, is known for representing high-profile clients such as assisted-suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian.
Paulson, 26, said he was punched by Jackson and assaulted by Artest. Weglarz said Paulson's family has had Pistons season tickets for about 25 years.
Paulson, who works in real estate, and Ackerman have been diagnosed with concussions from the brawl, Weglarz said.
The NBA suspended Artest for the season, Jackson for 30 games and O'Neal for 25.
Pistons spokesman Matt Dobek said the team and The Palace were aware of the lawsuits but declined comment. The Pacers did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
Oakland County prosecutor David Gorcyca has said the only possible felony charge in the brawl could be against the chair-thrower. He said other charges most likely would be for misdemeanor assault and battery.
Auburn Hills police Lt. James Manning said the investigation could take two to three weeks. Investigators are reviewing videotapes and interviewing witnesses. Artest and other Pacers had not been interviewed, Manning said.
Another fan, John Green, has been identified as the one who threw a cup that hit Artest before the Indiana forward charged into the stands. Gorcyca recognized Green -- a former neighbor -- after repeatedly watching footage of the brawl.
Once Artest was in the stands, Green grabbed him from behind and sucker-punched him, the prosecutor said.
Green, a 39-year-old contractor, told reporters Monday that it may have looked like he threw the cup, but he didn't.
"I wish the whole thing didn't happen," he said. "It was awful, it was ugly."
Green's attorney, Shawn Smith, said his client became involved in the brawl only when he saw Artest hitting a smaller man. Green also said Artest kicked him in the shin "a couple of times."
"We have no comment on who threw the cup, it's irrelevant," Smith said. He said fans shouldn't throw things, "but is it a criminal offense? I don't think so."
During an appearance Tuesday on ABC's "Good Morning America,'' Green described himself as a respected businessman with a wife and two children. He said he was not drinking Friday night and that Artest was "being a thug.''
"I don't go around breaking the law," Green said. "If they have found that I broke the law, I'll pay the price."
Green also appeared on CNN's "Larry King Live" with his attorney, Shawn Patrick Smith, on Tuesday night. Both avoided answering King's question about whether Green threw the cup while replays were being shown during the interview.
Gorcyca said Green was on probation for his third offense of driving under the influence. Green's record also includes convictions for carrying a concealed weapon and check fraud, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections' database.
Pistons chief executive Tom Wilson said Green is a season-ticket holder and will be banned from The Palace.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1930065
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Two fans sued the Indiana Pacers and players Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal on Tuesday, contending they were injured in the brawl at the end of the Pistons-Pacers game.
Lawyers for John Ackerman and William Paulson filed suits in Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, seeking damages in excess of $25,000 each.
Ackerman, a 67-year-old retired auto worker, says he was hit by O'Neal and then by a chair that a fan hurled into the crowd. His suit also names Palace Sports & Entertainment Inc., which operates the Pistons' arena.
"He was knocked unconscious by the chair," said Todd Weglarz, who along with lawyer Geoffrey Fieger, represents the men. "The next thing he recalls is being helped into a wheelchair."
Police released a copy of a videotape Tuesday showing a man who investigators believe threw the chair, and they asked the public to help identify him.
Fieger, a former Democratic gubernatorial candidate, is known for representing high-profile clients such as assisted-suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian.
Paulson, 26, said he was punched by Jackson and assaulted by Artest. Weglarz said Paulson's family has had Pistons season tickets for about 25 years.
Paulson, who works in real estate, and Ackerman have been diagnosed with concussions from the brawl, Weglarz said.
The NBA suspended Artest for the season, Jackson for 30 games and O'Neal for 25.
Pistons spokesman Matt Dobek said the team and The Palace were aware of the lawsuits but declined comment. The Pacers did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
Oakland County prosecutor David Gorcyca has said the only possible felony charge in the brawl could be against the chair-thrower. He said other charges most likely would be for misdemeanor assault and battery.
Auburn Hills police Lt. James Manning said the investigation could take two to three weeks. Investigators are reviewing videotapes and interviewing witnesses. Artest and other Pacers had not been interviewed, Manning said.
Another fan, John Green, has been identified as the one who threw a cup that hit Artest before the Indiana forward charged into the stands. Gorcyca recognized Green -- a former neighbor -- after repeatedly watching footage of the brawl.
Once Artest was in the stands, Green grabbed him from behind and sucker-punched him, the prosecutor said.
Green, a 39-year-old contractor, told reporters Monday that it may have looked like he threw the cup, but he didn't.
"I wish the whole thing didn't happen," he said. "It was awful, it was ugly."
Green's attorney, Shawn Smith, said his client became involved in the brawl only when he saw Artest hitting a smaller man. Green also said Artest kicked him in the shin "a couple of times."
"We have no comment on who threw the cup, it's irrelevant," Smith said. He said fans shouldn't throw things, "but is it a criminal offense? I don't think so."
During an appearance Tuesday on ABC's "Good Morning America,'' Green described himself as a respected businessman with a wife and two children. He said he was not drinking Friday night and that Artest was "being a thug.''
"I don't go around breaking the law," Green said. "If they have found that I broke the law, I'll pay the price."
Green also appeared on CNN's "Larry King Live" with his attorney, Shawn Patrick Smith, on Tuesday night. Both avoided answering King's question about whether Green threw the cup while replays were being shown during the interview.
Gorcyca said Green was on probation for his third offense of driving under the influence. Green's record also includes convictions for carrying a concealed weapon and check fraud, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections' database.
Pistons chief executive Tom Wilson said Green is a season-ticket holder and will be banned from The Palace.
Poody said:
"Hahaha...this Poody fool thinks Kobe's the best player in the league. Haha!"
"Heh, it is pretty funny...and you're kinda tickling my ear."
It's pretty obvious who the two top players in the league are at the moment, and their initials aren't made up by "KB". And right now KG is the clear number one...the numbers he's putting up right now are simply disgusting.
BTW, I forgot to talk about how amazed I was at Duncan's play against the Raptors on Sunday...he might have the best hands in the history of basketball. There was one play where Duncan attempted a layup, got the rebound back with one hand, then with the ball still at rim level he scooped it back in one motion WHILE he was being fouled. Batigol probably knows which play I was referring to...it was just ridiculous.
BatiGOOOOOOL
Member
Bat said:
Marv Albert: YES!
This man speaks the truth. KG may have slightly better numbers in a few categories, but he will never attract as much attention or dominate a game like Duncan can. NEVER!!!!
And I agree Shinobi, Duncan's control around the rim is incedible. He can put the ball in from any position, he just has the smoothest touch.
DM: Thanks for the Pippen videos. So many memories. *sniff* Quality stuff.
Bat said:
There is not a huge difference between the two players, but I would also put Duncan just above Garnett. Garnett can probably do more as a player, but I think Duncan is just the better player at the end of the day.
And Kobe DOES belong in this discussion imho. So does Shaq, but for the moment Duncan is the king of the hill until someone knocks him off.
Bat said:
I'm just going by the numbers...KG's averaging almost two and a half more boards a game then any other player. In today's day and age, that's just ridiculous. And he's doing this while being a shade out of the top ten in scoring, tenth in assists, sixteenth in blocks and twentieth in steals. It's simply stupid. Even as a Duncan fan, I've gotta tip my hat to the Ticket...he's just a wrecking ball. Overall, I think Duncan is the better player. But right now, I think KG's having the better year. Hopefully they'll meet in the western conference final as they were supposed to last year (stupid ass Lakers fucking everything up...).
And the post season thing is just nonsense sometimes, not to mention moot. When KG finally had some high caliber players to roll with, he had playoff success, and would've gone to the finals had Cassell not gone down. WTF has Kobe proved by himself so far? Besides putting up triple doubles in defeat? :lol At least Shaq has been to the finals with two completely different squads.
(And I don't mean to knock Kobe either, something that's become so common it's frankly boring. Give Kobe a decent squad to work with while he's the focal point, and I've got little doubt he'll make noise. I think his decision making is a little questionable at times though...he tends to make things too personal at certain points of the game, which can detract from the team's success.)
Still, it's nice to see Duncan getting respect. I just wish people would quit saying he's a boring player. I personally think he's a treat to watch because he's so deceptively dominant and has just incredible touch around the rim that a guy his size has no business possessing.
Shinobi said:
Duncan IS boring. Don't get me wrong he's got great touch for a guy his or any size, he can do the soft shots with ease and the hard stuff with ease... personally I think he hung around the Admiral too long and became soft like him. I don't want Ducan to be gully or anything I just want him to express more fire.
Well, the stats also say that KG has only attempted 76 free throws (Duncan 121), which is 17th in the league. While that doesn't mean a whole lot in and of itself, it is an indicator of who is the more 'dominant' (in terms of needing double teams and the how the opponent treats them) player.
Also, Duncan is much better defensively, which doesn't really show in the stat sheet (though he does lead KG in BPG).
EDIT- while Duncan's *personality* is boring, I love watching him playing.
Also, Duncan is much better defensively, which doesn't really show in the stat sheet (though he does lead KG in BPG).
EDIT- while Duncan's *personality* is boring, I love watching him playing.
Shinobi said:
That Orlando team Shaq was on was ridiculously stacked in terms of talent. They also had ZERO heart, which became very apparent when they just gave up (including Shaq) in the NBA Finals. I wonder how far Kobe would go with a healthy Penny, young Ho Grant, and a Nick Anderson before he lost his manhood. Probably pretty far.
That is one reason I elevate Duncan above everyone, including KG. You could put the 7 worst scrubs around Duncan and just by him being on the court they have a decent chance of winning the championship. KG and Kobe are great, they do some things better then Duncan, but for now he is clearly the King of the Hill until shown otherwise.
Lebron is ridiculously good. One of the biggest reasons is his hands...if you get a good look at those (I can't believe i'm gushing about another man's hands :lol ) they are HUGE. That's why he's so incredible with his variety of shots that he uses to finish around the rim. I've never seen such big hands on any perimeter player, not even Jordan (who also had really big hands). Compare him to Kobe, who has really small hands and it that is what holds his game back (hell, you can blame half his turnovers on them).
Also,
I think that last part is BS. While they took the Lakers to 6 last year, the Lakers were never giving it their all (like they did against SA). Even with a healthy Cassel, they lose that series (I don't even think they bring it to 7). Keep in mind that TWolves took 7 games to beat a terribly flawed Kings team and struggled against the Nuggets as well. Phil Jackson agrees with me, btw, as he inssits that SA was the best team (Detroit included) that the Lakers faced in the playoffs.
Also,
I think that last part is BS. While they took the Lakers to 6 last year, the Lakers were never giving it their all (like they did against SA). Even with a healthy Cassel, they lose that series (I don't even think they bring it to 7). Keep in mind that TWolves took 7 games to beat a terribly flawed Kings team and struggled against the Nuggets as well. Phil Jackson agrees with me, btw, as he inssits that SA was the best team (Detroit included) that the Lakers faced in the playoffs.
BigJonsson
Member
MONSTER DUNK BY VINCE CARTER
OLD SCHOOL VC
OLD SCHOOL VC
All Hail C-Webb
Hailing from the Chill-Web
Lebron is playing as close to Jordan like as I have ever seen.
He's quicker than everyone on the court, and he is stronger than most too. Is he even 20 yet? He's already better than Kobe was at his peak.
He's quicker than everyone on the court, and he is stronger than most too. Is he even 20 yet? He's already better than Kobe was at his peak.
After seeing the Sonics kick the wolves' asses last night, LIVE, i'm humbled. With Seattle, Utah, and the wolves (Denver, Portland, sorry guys) in the NW division, this should be VERY interesting to watch and see who comes out on top.
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