₦airaland Forum

millco88:
chalmers + wade + marion + beasley + mle center = dynasty

chalmers + wade + marion + beasley + mle center = dynasty  = dreaming 

  A starting line-up with 2 rookies up front, neither named Michael Jordan, and you hope for a dynasty? that's a very big word. At best 2nd tier playoffs standing between 6-8 next 1-2 years. Wade will soon relocate as soon as that contract expires in '10 depending on who shows him the money.

[quote author=A-40 link=topic=128608.msg2430714#msg2430714 date=1214592872]@Jesoul
Lol.What would attract any American to Yao's style? Its definitely the Chinese and you know David Stern does not play with them International fans especially China which is a humongous market[/quote]That is the NBA and Stern and Bill walton's fascination with Yao - the market that he draws! and no doubt its a big one that is very good for the NBA as a wholenow if only he can elevate his game. Remember how he was supposed to be the great rival to Shaq and win a championship in max 2yrs?
 

@doyin13
You must be kidding me!!
Where do you put Camby? Dwight Howard don't even get me started man

Don't mind Doyin, he loves to play devil's advocate right Doyin? don't you love it?

 

doyin13:
Dwight Howard will be better than Yao Ming eventually, but his offensive skills need a lot
of polishing. His hook shot is just ugly and for someone whose upper body is built like a
Minotaur, his lower body is weak, as Jason Maxiell of the Pistons called out.

but if anyone had a choice between picking Howard or Yao for their team right now, who do you think will win? 

NB, . . .If Yao Ming had been in the playoffs, the Rockets would be champions.

I know you love to joke around Doyin so I'll assume you were just joking with the above statement. 

Yao has steadily improved his numbers, and he may have even been even better apart from injuries BUT he has no aggressiveness- you cannot teach that, you either have it or not. He's not as fast as some other centers in the west ie Amare and Chandler. And na so so petty fouls he commits all the time, Stoudemire and Chandler will eat him for breakfast 

If I'm not mistaken Nigeria does already have dual-citizenship. I have 2 passports and it is extremely valuable to hold dual citizenship -anyone who says otherwise does not know what they're talking about. Everything from jobs to school to homes to 100x easier and I am very happy with it.

  Now some people frown upon duals saying one should pick a country and be wholly devoted to it, but I don't see how holding only 1 citizenship makes you more patriotic. A person is either patriotic or not, patriotic to both countries or patriotic to neither. If I'm actively supporting and contributing to the economy or society of either country why shouldn't the person be allowed to vote and take part in other events of importance?

We have millions of nigerians not doing jack for the country, why shouldn't a person who may hold another passport who wants to be active in the society be allowed to do so?

  But I'm not a fan of we all going "citizens of the world" . . . Countries still need to have defined borders, and regulate who's in and doing what, mostly for the sake of satefy. You know how many suicide bombers will travel here 2moro if they had a visa?

davidylan:
Ivanovic is not so good and deserved to lose to Dechy but for a lucky net chord.

it's only a matter of time for her

Sharapova is very overrated.

hmm I dunno if overrated is the right word. I still have the image of her trashing Serena couple yrs ago in the finals. She's still young, and will still pack some more grandslams under her small belt.

James Blake is a spent force.

Accurate description. I hate the way they always hype him up before any open only for him to fall woefully short. I wonder if he's not tired of trying? gotta admire the persistence I guess

Roddick is going home to Tipsy.

Remember the swagger he had after winning the us open n was #1 . . . I wonder what happened to all that. . .oh wait I know. . .Roger Federer happened! lol

viee:
Ivanovic almost lost yrst,
Sharapova was beaten
James Blake too, anytn can happen in a grand lam anyway

That's the key word, anything can happen

KunleOshob:
@jesoul
I agree with every point you have made. Thank God the poor child is now safe.
But i am sure a hefty ransome was paid

no doubt brotha .
Hey you never finished answering my questions back on the "Church history" thread

Lucabrasi,
  thanks for explaining in details I understand where you're coming from better. . .

lucabrasi:
in as much as i agree with you that,some so called pastors nowadays have made a lot of christians re think what being a pastor is by their actions,i disagree on a blanket generalisation that they r not all annointed,like i said in the other reply,i will not stand here and say all pastors are annointed and i have correct myself from my first reply,but there are a lot that are annointed.
its true that we are all precious in the eyes of GOD,but the bible also teaches that TRUE MEN OF GOD are are GODS annointed right?

Yes my brotha you're right, but the point I was trying to make is that pastors are no more anointed than the other christians! we're all "God's anointed". We all have different offices and gifts but the "level of anointing" is not greater for pastors than others. The bible does not teach that anywhere. Infact it teaches us in Rom that we're all diff parts of the body and "that each parts should have equal concern for each other". Also in
2Cor 1:21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ[b]. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit[/b], guaranteeing what is to come.

  I was trying to highlight that to say that while we should respect and love our pastors we should not "esteem" them to be in a higher position of favor before God or in a greater classification of anointing than the rest of us peasants .

well again i will say living an humble and simple life is relative,for instance a man of GOD might dress simple but drive good cars,can i ask you what if the funds for these cars were from the pastor's own pocket and not the church coffers will that make any diffrence?

It really wouldn't make a difference because the bible warns us about "avoiding the appearance of sin". Just because I'm rich doesn't mean I should splash it for all to see, but live modestly and use my wealth to glorify God not satisfy my flesh. So even if he has the money, it is not hard to drive a nice car and be happy and still come off as humble, but when they start rocking customized hummers and jeeps it is just too excessive.

  This verse in 1Tim really sums up what I've been trying to say very well
"Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life."

  This my dear is God's will for any rich christian, not just pastors, any christian whom God has blessed with material wealth.

and even though i agree with you again that some pastors live extravagant lifes which they can do without,i don't think living a good life i.e super cars,a good house e.t.c is akin to extravagance,remember the days of the bible is a lot diffrent to now, we travell wider and to far flung corners of the world as opposed to these days,you wont go to work on a canoe or donkey or trek like these days,

lol, certainly not    I hear your point though in that extravangance can be relative but I think there's a fine line between where a person is simply enjoying his wealth, and when one is indulging in excess - a customized hummer? now that's excess! 

   

onli used that pastor adeboye example in passing to illustrate some of my points,of course blessing of GOD does not translate to material gain all im saying is that,it ll get to a stage when u can't stop the deluge of blessings coming your way,lets be honest is it every single pastor that even gets an offer of a luxury car?no because GOD uses some more than others and for the ones that GOD works through them ,they have a relationship with him and will not dare go against his words,hence my example that he consulted with GOD before receiving consequent car gifts,i understand if you're not responding to that because spiritual stuffs are something we cannot understand untill we get to that level,f course a good xtian will realise that but that isnt saying that they wont use a nice car or live in a nice house will it?

I know what you mean in that some of the congregation might want to bless their pastor because they love and appreciate him - the intent and heart is noble. But still think about it, there's so much good that could be done with the money that's in the fleet of cars sitting in a pastors garage. In that case the pastor should (if God allows) take what he needs and instruct his congregation to put their money to better use! that's how a selfless man of God will react to showers of gifts.
And if the congregation doesn't stop, then let the pastor in turn take those gifts and convert them like 1Timothy teaches to use to help the poor and be generous - especially if he has members of his flock struggling to survive.

 

however moderation is the key as a pastor going on convoy of luxury cars or living in 40 rooms mansion is over doing it,especially if its at the churchs expense

AMEN!!! 

 

like i said before,its a matter of belief and perception,even though u don't believe in some of these pastors,its evident that you r a xtian so you must know that in most denominations irrespective of the ones you attend,there are men of GOD who see visions and can talk to GOD in prayers,you know that the with loyalty pastor adeboye inspires and has with his congregation and generally and what we can see,he doesnt even need to justify his accepting car gifts because a lot of people know that GOD is and continues t use him,but he only explained that cause of the kind of person he is and probably because of ocassions like this because the incident was like 10 years ago or more in nigeria.

hmm I still think pastors should not be accepting these lavish gifts because they can become a hindrance and put off a wrong image about him and the God he's serving (and in this case, attract kidnappers). if you say he's a true man of God, I hope he is. I've not been on the naija scene for a mighty long time so you would know better than I do. 

so it all boils down to either you belief him or not, same as faith in GOD who we cannot see, perception and faithi agree with this and that is why i will not stand up n say all pastors are doing the right thing,though i will neither cast aspersions or blame as well, but like i said not all of them and we should be careful about condemning a true man of GOD because some of them are and to reiterate my point again some of them actually spend their own personal money i can give u a few examples that i know
pastor fola alade s dad was a former minister,he was born with a silver spoon and same as his wife so he was already loaded before being called to the work of GOD and he s a medical doctor.
pastor adeboye s a professor of mathematics and a first class brain,if you read his account of how he got his professorship,he solved a mathematical equation that has not being solved before in this world,so if he was in a secular world im sure he would be a lecturer in a university abroad and making good money,i can tell you a few more that i know have their own money and make money writing books,appearances e.t.c

I actually know a minister here who gave up a lucrative engineering career to become a college minister. I admire him more than anyone else. Cos he lives such a simple yet inspiring life. He doesn't run a church, but is supported by the campus ministry and donations from students present and past. And yet when you ask him, he doesn't feel like he gave up anything, but rather gained so much more by now serving the Lord.
  We should look at it that way. . . anyone who gives up things for God, is not losing, but actually gaining treasure in heaven!

 

so its actually the fruit of their labour, if a member of the congregation like u and i are not spending maybe half or almost all we r worth on the less priviledged,why shpuld we expect a man of GOD to do so?its not that easy

That is a GREAT pointit is not easy, true, but if we understood that that is not really what matters it should be easy for all os us to give freely. that's why I said any christian who's been materially blessed should be using their wealth to glorify God, not satisfy their flesh.
Also another difference between us and the pastor (which puts more of the onus on him) is that he has been blessed through the church, his riches have come through the preaching of the word, he cannot in good conscience live a wealthy lifestlye while the very people he's preaching to are coming and leaving hungry and homeless. . . something about that is just not right.

   wow, sorry about the length of this 

doyin13:
@Jesoul

I see, the KG and Allen trade is now the template for all struggling franchises eh?

Well, na who win dey get mouth abi. Lets just see how long that trio's geriartric legs can keep up.


Don't underestimate the D'antoni though. We are talking about the East after all.

Yeye Boston did it abi.

and why can't Boston be the template? it worked didn't it? 
But not every struggling franchise needs a blockbuster, they just need some help, need some new blood, couple players here n there, BUT NY needs a major and complete blood transfusion - a big trade. You can't just change a few players here n there and expect them to become well.
  I hold Lebron will succumb to pleadings from Jay-z and move to NY in a few seasons - then things will get really intresting.

  You're right though in saying that it is the east, it's easier to succeed here than out west. But don't forget the other teams on the rise such as Orl, Atl, and Tor is promising to come back better. It will not even be a cakewalk for Boston to repeat.

donnie:
I believe we should plead the blood because i believe in its power to save, heal and deliver but i do not believe in the way and manner many Christians these days go about this pleading or sprinkling ( which i totally disagree with).

The scripture that says we overcame by the blood is not recommending that we chant of the blood the blood because apart from the inspiration you may get by chanting (ie if you were led of the Spirit to do so), it does not mean you actually pleaded the blood.

Word! I'm still waiting on those who pray this way to help me understand biblically why they do it. Although I've come to see most people do it cos they've been taught to, they grew up hearing their mother or pastor praying that way. I have for some reason never been comfortable with it and never did it.

The most appropriate way to plead the blood as Jesus taught us is to break bread and drink wine. He said you bring to remembrance his death by braking bread. . . oh halleluyah! Therefore all of heaven will see to it that you get te benefits of tha death and glorious ressurection Glory to God!

For those who srinkle the bood on the express way. . . you are on your own o!

The high priest has already done that once and for all!

Exactly! I see no need for the constant, redundant applying of the precious blood over material things like our houses and cars etc.

Raimond:
Some great news:The little girl was dropped off the parents church very early yesterday morning.Word going around is that no ransom was paid.(That nobody knows)

All the same we thank God.!!!

Yes oh thank God for the life of the child. Now let us make sure we pray with equal fervency for the return of every other missing or kidnapped child.

lucabrasi:
i think the poster is right to use the word sacriledge about kidnapping a pastor's daughter because that is the height of desperation,its in the bible where its said not to touch GODs annointed and not to do his prophets no harm,if kidnapping his daughter isnt harming him then i don't know what is.

My brotha God's annointed are NOT pastors of today. Every christian is equally precious to God and the bible says "God is no respecter of persons". A child of a slave, an orphan, that of a muslim is just as precious to God as that of a pastor. No life is more precious than another - and this is as taught by the bible.

as for people condemning the pastor for living a good life,show me where its in the bible that a pastor must live a wretched life,for pastors who want to be simple,good luck to them and theres nothing wrong with that,but for the ones who want to be comfortable please don't vilify them,

It's not about condemning him. Pastors are called to good stewards and to follow the example of Christ who lived in humility- driving around in super luxury cars is not living in humility. No one is saying pastors should be poor and starving and wretched BUT they should NOT be living extravagant lifestyles. That is what Jesus taught.

 

all denominations have their own faults which is in the public spheres,so lets not even go there as for rejecting a car,from my limited knowledge of the annointing and GOD s blessings,when its upon you theres nothing you or anyone can do about it,

I'm not even sure how to respond to that statement. Why do we think that the blessings of God translate to getting material gain? on the contrary when a true christian realizes this world is going to pass away, they become less and less intrested in the things of this world. To the point a luxury car will lose its appeal and become a hindrance, a big house will be storing up treasure for urself here on earth, and not in heaven.

God's definition of blessing is NOT the same as ours. God's ultimate blessing to us is Jesus and an intimate relationship with Him - that is TRUE blessing. We might see the cars and house and think God is blessing him but did you also know the devil can bless with these gifts as well? don't assume all these things are from God.

when pastor adeboye got the first gift of a luxury car,he rejected it outright,after that he started getting bombarded with all sorts of luxury cars by people he s touched their lives and he prayed about it and GOD told him to accept it,besides where does it say a man or woman of GOD must use the old cars,and not luxury cars

He said God told him to accept it and so therefore we should take his word for it?

 Truth be told it is shameful that our pastors live in luxury, drive custom made hummers, own mansions, while the very members of their congregations are homeless, hungry, and struggling to survive - this is not the Jesus we see in the new testament. These men are NOT true followers of Jesus Christ if they don't follow His example of care and compassion for the poor. Again no one is saying pastors should be poor, but they should not be living extravagant lives - That is NOT what they've been called to do.

doyin13:
i actually agree with gabe logan. The Knicks roster isn't half bad. There are some good players onif
that team, and in spurts, they showed all they needed was good coaching which Isiah wasn't able to provide.

Of course there are some "good players" on the team why else will they be in the NBA? Even if you want to say their roster is decent, compare the strength of their line-up with the rest of the east alone and they come in last place.

Zach Thomas is indeed a double double player, but for his impatience, the Blazers would have been better for it
if he had stayed.   

Jamal Crawford is a bit hit and miss, but so is 90 per cent of the NBA.

Nate Robinson is not a true point guard but he is mad athletic and willing to run. A gem in D'antoni's system.

Mr Brandy has also played with D'antoni so the run and gun style should come naturally to him.

David Lee has hustle, especially on the glass, and he is good trade bait if the Knicks ever decide to go down that route.

Obviously there are some duds on this team, not least Marbury, the former And 1king or Malik Rose, guys with oversized contracts.
Or bone headed decisions like taking Renaldo Belkman seventh in the draft.

Perhaps decent players BUT too many (to steal a word from Stern) rogue players on the team, and very undisciplined, and I have not seen any exhibit that they have a handle on basketball fundamentals. Losing is already a tradition there and it won't change overnight unless they get a KG and Allen. We can't expect they'll have a damascus road experience and change for D'antoni. I'll believe it when I see it.

On D'antoni's appointment, I think Donnie Walsh is trying to buy time. D'antoni at least offers prospects of a fun and gun style to keep
the faithfuls entertained while he overhauls the roster.
Anything above qualifying for the playoffs would be a bonus.

you're right in that the knicks are at rock bottom, the very scrapes of the barrel, they can only go up (hopefully) - and that's the plus. BUT it'll take a couple of years and so I expect "stankness" from them next season - unless they somehow pull off a blockbuster trade. Those poor faithfuls, they've been outside MSG picketing for ages 

davidylan:
I must have orgasmed just watching Safin thrash this loud mouth.

*clears throat*   

How Federer must be beside himself with joy by now.

now Roger himself must make sure he goes deep into the draw and prove the doubters wrong. I don't even think I want to see those skinny capris in the finals . . . I'm getting tired of the Federer/Nadal thing sef. We need fresh drama. . .

well obviously not all but certainly most

We're not saying Yao is not a solid player, just that he does not deserve all those all-star nods ahead of some other good centers in the west.

[quote author=A-40 link=topic=128608.msg2420552#msg2420552 date=1214422466]@Sean t21
He is ok simply overhyped thats what i am saying there are way better centers how he makes the All-star starters year in year out for the West beggars belief[/quote]blame it on the 1.3 billion people on the other end of the globe

[quote author=A-40 link=topic=143923.msg2420259#msg2420259 date=1214417775]@gabe_logan
You do know your basketball lol you didnt add Dirk Nowitzki? somewhere between Duncan and Howard
You guys simply don't have any chips to trade with and thats the truth who wants Zach Randolph and Marbury on their team hmm maybe the Grizzlies and maybe they could give you Rudy Gay.Besides Barbosa will easily walk into your squads starting lineup[/quote]EXACTLY! that's the problem the knicks have and that's why they won't be seeing any real success anytime soon. And they don't even have the money to go after quality free agents after giving lucrative contracts to useless players - very bad business planning. They can only hope to make the most of their #6 draft pick.

@Jesoul
I agree with you on Orlando all they need is some more playoff experience they are getting close they could also use a good PG too Reddick and Nelson have been let downs

Yeah Orlando I think will be a force to reckon with next season. The rate at which Howards guns are growing is scary, lol. . .

davidylan:
My prediction was spot on!
Major upset of the tournament so far . . . Safin upsets Djokovic 6-4, 7-6, 6-2
If i had placed a bet i'd have won a tidy sum. Kudos Marat.

best news I've heard all day!  I'm happy for him. If only Safin had the mental stamina and grit, and be consistent the chaos he could cause. I like Djokovic, but I wonder how he feels now after calling out FedEx?

SeanT21:
No More MJ comparison after that horrible game he played.

yup true. But I suspect it has only put those talks to rest for now. . . once he's back in the playoffs, they begin again.

Echeozo:
Did anyone hear Shaq's freestyle dissing Kobe:
"Last week,Kobe couldn't do it without me", "Kobe how did my ass taste".

Meanwhile,Kobe can never ever compare with MJ. He hasn't got what it takes on and off the court.

That rap was funny!   lol. . . to me it did not seem meanspirited, the art of freestyle requires you to diss your competitor though at the same time, I believe there's some lingering dislike between the 2 of them.
   "you know how I be, last week Kobe couldn't do without me" - funny

hit the wrong key, my bad on that one

Sean until Yao and Mac do some damage in the playoffs, they will not be considered as "Big time" players like the others. Like we've all seen, it doesn't matter what you do in the reg. season, the playoffs is where legends are made!

  And Yao def does NOT deserve all those votes. . . all those chinese people need to lay off their keyboards come playoff voting time!    There are other centers in the west that deserve just as much recognition.

[quote author=A-40 link=topic=143280.msg2415091#msg2415091 date=1214336511]Kobe aint superman and i agree he didnt have a fantastic series but who else stepped up besides Vujacic in Game 3 truth is his team mates let him down and they did miss a Big man and Radmanovic my goodness he was probably the worst starter in the entire series[/quote]LOL. . . no one on the lakers team stepped up, there's plenty of blame to go round. However people are downing kobe becos everyone expected him to take over, and he played average at best, plus especially with all the MJ comparisons.

[quote author=A-40 link=topic=128608.msg2415063#msg2415063 date=1214336111]@Jesoul
The Rockets need to go past the first round lol.T-Mac is good no doubt i think he just doesnt bring it when its playoff time as for Yao that guy is overhyped i can name 4 centers better than him in the West i guess all of China votes for him as i can't think of any other way he makes the Western all-star team.Dont even think about a repeat we MAVS are coming next season [/quote]yeah that 1st rd playoff monkey has been sitting on McGrady's back for a loooonng time. To me he's not a big time player, like the NBA commercials say "make history or be history". and I know oh! all those 3billion people in china lol . . . I think if they keep voting him in and leaving out the true all-star centers, the NBA should change the voting rules. . . but its probably unlikely becos the NBA is making sweet cheddar off the asian audience.

P:S How did the Parade go? you guys must still be stuck on that Championship win

I couldn't make the parade but after seeing how many people showed up it may have been a good thing cos it was waaaayyy too crowded, I wouldn't have been able to see anything.

ubonboy,
  don't get me wrong, I totally condemn the act too. Children are precious in the sight of God and heaven help those who harm them.

ubonboy:
Please JeSoul don't condemn the poor Pastor now. He needs our prayers.

yes he needs our prayers along with every other missing or kidnapped child in the area and in the country.

Is there anything wrong in reaping the fruits of one's labour? Have you heard of Pastor Damina's story of how he started the ministry, nurtured it to success? let it be on record that Pastor Abel did not buy those cars OK? THEY WERE GIFTS. come to Uyo and find that out for yourself.

It is not a pastors calling to "enjoy the fruits of his labor"- his calling is to preach the gospel of Christ. I'm not saying pastors should live in poverty or not be wealthy BUT you have to understand that it was probably his flamboyant, lavish, flashy lifestyle that attracted those kidnappers to his family. Na you just talk say we reap what we sow. Whether or not they were gifts is irrelevant, he was still living it up. Besides to accept gift no be by force. He shoulda been more careful about it - in my humble opinion.

1. could we have the link to the story?

2. Sacrilege? NO. A pastor's daughter is NO MORE important than that of a street hawker or any one else. 

3. It seems to me the pastor has been living a publicly lavish lifestyle. While I don't condone the actions of the kidnappers, I think this pastor may have brought it on himself. They have seen his customized hummer, etc - Why wouldn't the perpertrators think he has millions to pay as ransom?

4. I pray the poor little innocent girl returns home safely.

I'm not sold on Yao just yet.    I mean I know he's really developed since he entered the league but it just seems to me he lacks that killer instinct and rugged grit/toughness that champions possess. Granted he's had several injuries that've slowed him down.  Houston could make some real noise IF the supporting cast around TMac n Yao was already playoff-tested and proven. It's just so much harder to make and succeed in the playoffs out west - too many good teams to compete with.

Houston win? hmm the jury is still out and T-Mac is still unproven as a leader who can carry a team on his shoulders and will them into victory. The 22game win streak was great and a good line on his resume but he has not won when it matters the most - in the playoffs.

onyinye2:
The Lakers deserved to win. but i will give some respect to the Celtics. at least they give me hope that the Houston Rockets have a chance to win the playoffs if the Celtics can.

how so? Everyone knows defense wins championships and the lakers played none, they deserved exactly what they got - a loss.

SeanT21:
The Lakers got murdered by the Celtics. Period.

After the game it was funny to see Kobe pushing through the crowd to run away to the locker room.


where is MYTEMPID when you need him.

LOL. . . me sef I wonder where he is.

SeanT21:
how is it in Boston? i saw the parade on CNN this morning. Yall were going crazy.

Why do New England always produce good teams, Ex, The Celtics, Patriots and the Red Sox.

I think there is something in the water up there.

Its not just the water, it's the food, the air, the sun etc. . . Now we are dreaming about a repeat!

I missed the parade my dear. But after seeing the thousands upon thousands of people on the streets, it was probably a good idea to not have gone anyways. I've never seen so many people crammed around the garden.

doyin13:
No mind me jare. I was just trying to pull Jesoul's legs.

trouble maker             

Honestly, I was pleased KG, Allen and Pierce finally won a ring.

that's more like it boy!

And this series showed why Lebron is a better player than Kobe at this point in time.

Kobe's footwork is legendary and prolly the best around the NBA, but Lebron is unstoppably athletic.
He can pass better out of the double and triple teams, and he is not so prone to so many bad shots.

Dare I say it, if Lebron had Kobe's supporting cast, Cavs would have beat the Celts.

You know I think you might be right. Lebron def played better vs the C's than Kobe did. I guess Kobe is on the decline, and is def not as explosive as in the years past - be like say old age don reach! lol.
  and I think the Cavs pushed the series as far as it went because their D is way better than the lakers. Lakers woulda stood a much better chance if they played D at all.

millco88:
Draft night on the 26th. If Miami drafts Beasley, that could be a dangerous tandem in the future w/ Wade. Not to mention Marion.

Are the Heat instantly contenders next season?

Not necessarily. Unless they trade the pick and get a seasoned veteran to play alongside Wade. Becos as we've seen you need to have a solid supporting cast to have any success and Miami cannot expect injury-prone Wade to carry the team by himself.

If they draft Bease, expect it to take some time before the they see the return on the dividends. Several teams in the east are on the rise ex. Orlando, Atlanta.

[quote author=j-girl link=topic=143923.msg2403492#msg2403492 date=1214092733]With this draft, the Knicks need Jesus in their team to come back from their horrible performance last season.
I don't see how they are going to do this.[/quote]LOL, word to that!

Gabe,
[quote author=gabe_logan link=topic=143923.msg2404947#msg2404947 date=1214159893]nash is better than starbury, yes, and amare is better than big ed. but i don't think barbosa is better than crawford. crawford is a potential all-star and he had a higher ppg than barbosa last season (he averaged over 20ppg)
and c'mon, the knicks have a deep roster.
nate robinson, zach randolph (averaged a double-double last season), renaldo balkman, quentin richardson, wilson chandler.
i don't expect them to win the playoffs, but they might make it to the playoffs. one thing is guaranteed though, they will improve.
at least they had a better record than the heat last season.[/quote]of course they'll be better than last season! last season was horrible that anything will be an improvement. And did you say the knicks have a "deep" roster? could you please name these deep players? Majority of them lack discipline, need to lose weight, don't play with heart etc. . .

I'm with A-40 in that[b] NY needs a major blockbuster trade to rise back from the grave[/b]. And the problem is that the other 29 teams in the NBA are not exactly coveting any of the players on the knicks right now so I'm not holing my breath for such a deal to go down. I do feel bad for the NY fans, becos it was the knick organization that brought this on themselves. And James Dolan didn't exactly fire Isiah, he was "re-assigned" to another position within the knicks - hissess - to me that suggests the management is not ready to move progress.

[quote author=A-40 link=topic=143280.msg2389919#msg2389919 date=1213811428]Dont be myopic no team would have survived the Celtics i saw last night.K.G,Ray Allen and Paul Pierce cmon one man can only do so much why don't you blame his team-mates too for not playing any D[/quote]yeah I agree. All series long as soon as kobe put the ball on the floor to go inside, the defense collapsed on him forcing him to kick it out to a teammate or retreat behind the 3-pt line. The loss is not solely on his plate. . .though I think the LA times headline read "MVP or MIA?" - ouch!
Though all series kobe was less than below what we all know he can do, Boston's defense is the main culprit and the lakers lack of it _{and gasol's softness, odom's inconsistency, raddy's air balls}