Off-Season West Conf Discussion

[ProjectRipCity]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

That dude look like he need to be in a 12 step program.

wait a minute....

That is one ugly mother. I never liked his personality either. I remember seeing a game where he got like 6 blocks and he held up 6 fingers. Hes all about showmanship...And who the heck points out the fact they remember they're stats?

[Stumbleweed]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

Guys who put up 6 blocks in 20 minutes, that's who.

[AlexBrady]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

Birdman has somehow become an overrated defensive player. His man and area coverage isn't great and he is easily suckered into blocking everything in sight. Andris Biedrins is a better player.

[GSW]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

Comparing Andris to Chris Anderson is liek a slap to Andris' Face AB... cmon man youre better than that.

[ProjectRipCity]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

Guys who put up 6 blocks in 20 minutes, that's who.

Is there no modesty? I was actually impressed until he did that. That just proves he was just getting lucky. If guys like Tim Ducan, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, got 6 blocks you can be sure they would just be grinning instead of taunting the other team.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

Haha, come on man, there's showmanship in the NBA... dudes are cocky. I don't mind when that comes out at all -- so what if stoic-*** Timmy doesn't do it? If you come in and single-handedly change a game just by flying all over the place blocking shots, I have no problems with some preening after the fact. Nobody comes into a game and affects it defensively the way Birdman does... he's a giant ball of energy that feed directly to the crowd and his teammates.. all that stuff does is get everyone else even more fired up. I love it.

And really, do you think a guy who has multiple nicknames, has a mohawk, and is covered in tattoos is generally a modest guy? Ha, Timmy and his one nerdy wizard tattoo seems like exactly the opposite of Birdman in nearly every way.

And yeah AB, he's not a good man defender (partially because he's so skinny), which is why he's in the perfect role in Denver. Previously the Nugs were depending on Camby (also not a good man defender, but slightly better due to his steals/hands) for 35 minutes per game and he does the same thing... fly around looking for blocks and leaving his man/giving up offensive boards. Luckily Bird only does that for 20-25 MPG, so it's not comprosmising our defense so much. Even with all the gambling though, he still "puts the fear in 'em" and affects shots just by being nearby. We have one of the better defensive frontcourts in the league with K-Mart and Nene, so Bird's gambling style is a great compliment off the bench.

Bird reigned himself in a bit towards the end of the year and wasn't biting on so many fakes... I think he'll improve some more this year, including a servicable 12-foot jumper should he end up open. He'll get some more minutes this year, so he's gotta cut down on the fouls and missed block attempts.

[AlexBrady]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

Comparing Andris to Chris Anderson is liek a slap to Andris' Face AB... cmon man youre better than that.

You're right, apologies GSW.

[tehova]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

Ya'll have gone 7+ pages mentioning all these wack scuttlebutt teams. Yet no mention of The Nation?


"Your minds aint ready, and your hearts not open" - Black Jesus

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

If you're referring to the United Nations, they're a great organization.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

LAC to the playoffs 09, though they'll probably be swept out

Full article:

http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_13107224

He came home to the city he grew up in expecting to make an impact.

It was more like a failure to launch.

Injuries, a fragile team chemistry and some growing pains in his relationship with Clippers coach and general manager Mike Dunleavy left him feeling lost.

By midseason, the team considered trading him and wondered whether it had bet on the wrong hometown hero.

For Davis, an All-Star point guard - but above all a proud man - it was one of the low moments in his career.

It's one thing to fail. It's quite another to fail in your hometown.

But instead of lashing out publicly, he embarked on an off-season training regimen unlike anything he's ever done.

He started early in the summer and barely took time off when the season came to an end. He worked out in the middle of the night even as he traveled around India with the NBA and to China to promote his shoe and apparel line with the Chinese company Li Ning.

He met regularly with Dunleavy in hopes of rebuilding their relationship.

"We watched a lot of tape. You know, just kind of getting in his brain. Things that he went through as a player, players that he played with," Davis explained. "Just getting a better construction of who he is. I don't think that we gave ourselves an opportunity last year to really know each other. We were trying to make it up on the fly, which is tough.

"Neither one of us really got to know each other. But I think all that is behind us now. And it feels good. It feels good."

Whatever he's done seems to be going over well with the Clippers. The team is back to calling him its franchise player and no longer is shopping him around the league.

It seems committed to building a team that better suits Davis' uptempo style.

As one insider put it, "The roster has been designed to capitalize on his abilities. Now it's on him to deliver."

Which brings us, as always, back to the beard.

Friday was a perfect summer day in Santa Monica, a soft sea breeze blowing in from the ocean. The gym at his alma mater, Crossroads High, was pleasant and cool.

The beard seemed out of place.

But sometimes the beard does all the talking.

"All I can do is work," Davis said. "Just work. I have to go back to being 'Boom,' back to being me."

[email protected]

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

The Clippers will not make the Playoffs.

[X*Cell]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

Personally, it seemed like Birdman could do no wrong at the end of last season and into the playoffs. I loved watching him, and although the Nuggets are a threat, it's good to see him in Denver about to do his bizz.

Let's see... Clippers... starting 5 would be Davis / Gordon / Griffin / Kaman / Camby ... right?

If that's the starting 5, I particularly like their chances at cracking into the playoffs, however that would automatically make Blake the surefire rookie of the year... and I don't want that.

DeJuan Blair for Rookie of the Year! Next Charles Oakley/Swen Nater yo!

[GSW]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

Ya'll have gone 7+ pages mentioning all these wack scuttlebutt teams. Yet no mention of The Nation?


"Your minds aint ready, and your hearts not open" - Black Jesus

ROFL Tehova

[GSW]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

LAC to the playoffs 09, though they'll probably be swept out

Full article:

http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_13107224

He came home to the city he grew up in expecting to make an impact.

It was more like a failure to launch.

Injuries, a fragile team chemistry and some growing pains in his relationship with Clippers coach and general manager Mike Dunleavy left him feeling lost.

By midseason, the team considered trading him and wondered whether it had bet on the wrong hometown hero.

For Davis, an All-Star point guard - but above all a proud man - it was one of the low moments in his career.

It's one thing to fail. It's quite another to fail in your hometown.

But instead of lashing out publicly, he embarked on an off-season training regimen unlike anything he's ever done.

He started early in the summer and barely took time off when the season came to an end. He worked out in the middle of the night even as he traveled around India with the NBA and to China to promote his shoe and apparel line with the Chinese company Li Ning.

He met regularly with Dunleavy in hopes of rebuilding their relationship.

"We watched a lot of tape. You know, just kind of getting in his brain. Things that he went through as a player, players that he played with," Davis explained. "Just getting a better construction of who he is. I don't think that we gave ourselves an opportunity last year to really know each other. We were trying to make it up on the fly, which is tough.

"Neither one of us really got to know each other. But I think all that is behind us now. And it feels good. It feels good."

Whatever he's done seems to be going over well with the Clippers. The team is back to calling him its franchise player and no longer is shopping him around the league.

It seems committed to building a team that better suits Davis' uptempo style.

As one insider put it, "The roster has been designed to capitalize on his abilities. Now it's on him to deliver."

Which brings us, as always, back to the beard.

Friday was a perfect summer day in Santa Monica, a soft sea breeze blowing in from the ocean. The gym at his alma mater, Crossroads High, was pleasant and cool.

The beard seemed out of place.

But sometimes the beard does all the talking.

"All I can do is work," Davis said. "Just work. I have to go back to being 'Boom,' back to being me."

[email protected]

I've heard this before...

His whole damn Career!..seriously baron GTFO man and go drink some more Patron shots.

I don't even respect him enough to capitalize his first name.

[DC]

Re: Off-Season West Conf Discussion

Birdman has somehow become an overrated defensive player. His man and area coverage isn't great and he is easily suckered into blocking everything in sight. Andris Biedrins is a better player.

Comparing Andris to Chris Anderson is liek a slap to Andris' Face AB... cmon man youre better than that.

You're right, apologies GSW.