The lunatics have indeed taken over the asylum
by Tophatal
With the NBA season now in full swing , and having reached its midway point , teams are now jockeying themselves into position divisionally , as well as within their respective conferences , to make that second half push for a playoff berth , for the NBA postseason. And already the league has seen its sheer of controversy, with the summary dismissals of Mike Brown from the Los Angeles Lakers , five games into their season , and that of Alvin Gentry from the underachieving Phoenix Suns . And while I do not believe that this will be the last of the managerial firings that will take place over the course of this NBA season , it is my belief that a number of coaches have now been put on notice , that the general managers and team owners are not prepared to put up with incompetence on the part of their head coaches .
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In the Eastern Conference , it does now look as if the Miami Heat , will not be as dominant a team as they were said to be last season , on their way to marching through the NBA Playoffs and their second NBA title . Defensively , we have seen something of a drop off from this current roster, in comparison to last season , albeit , that there have been certain changes , as to the makeup of the team. Team President and de-facto general manager , Pat Riley , has seen fit to bring in Ray Allen , Rashard Lewis, and Chris Anderson , to add what is an already formidable squad of players , with a payroll to match , which is now amongst the highest in the NBA .
When one bears in mind, that the league hierarchy , this past season , were simply asking for two-fold concessions across the board, from the NBPA (union) , while there has been “ little “ real resolve shown by the teams, to scale back on their exorbitant spending in terms of team and players’ salaries , and simply making it, somewhat asinine of a notion, that there is a “soft salary cap” of $58.044 million and a luxury tax for teams whose payrolls are above the aforementioned figure . It is at times like this , I have to question the alleged business acumen of David Stern , albeit , that he has led the NBA , for the past quarter of a century, to unprecedented success from an economic standpoint, but upon a downturn in the economy , he and his subordinates , as well as the owners ,and front office executives have not seen fit to rein in their expenses , while simply gouging the fans in terms of ticket prices , for what has essentially now become, something of a watered down and thoroughly diluted on-court product.
Heat , head coach , Erik Spoelstra , certainly has his team playing with a great deal of resolve and after their crushing and lopsided victory over the Brooklyn Nets , it is clear to see why they are at present are in a class by themselves within the Eastern Conference . Fans of the New York Knicks , however , might feel to the contrary , and would be very much willing to dispute that fact, as Mike Woodson , has his team playing some great basketball at present . . And one has to admit , that whenever these two noted franchises have met , they simply have not let the fans down , be it , in the regular season or in the postseason , as their much-anticipated and heated rivalry continues unabated . . The next scheduled meeting between these two teams , will not be until 3rd March , in a match-up at Madison Square Garden , home to the famed , New York Knicks . And with Woodson’s team currently leading the season series 2-0 , with the Knicks’ most recent victory over their arch rivals , coming by way of a 20 point shellacking of the LeBron James’ led Heat 104-84 in early December . Prior to that , in their initial meeting of the season series , the New York Knicks would have their way , with what appeared to be an undisciplined Miami Heat team. .
I am not about to suggest that David Stern , ought to consider contraction , given the poor play of a number of teams around the league . Yet, I have to ask , why should the fans be paying good money to witness the mediocrity of teams such as the Charlotte Bobcats (11-34), Washington Wizards (11-33) , Cleveland Cavaliers (13-33) , Orlando Magic (14-31) , New Orleans Hornets (15-31) and the Sacramento Kings (17-30) . About the only thing that has been continuously this incompetent , has been both legislative chambers of the US Congress , along with the present Presidential administration .
The next scheduled game for the Miami Heat, will be an away encounter against the Indiana Pacers , at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse , in Indiana , Indianapolis . The Pacers are one of the more surprising teams within the Eastern Conference this season , as head coach, Frank Vogel has the likes of Roy Hibbert , albeit , deferentially, David West , Paul George , Gerald Green and Danny Granger , playing with a great deal of confidence . Much of that , I believe has come from the presence of Brian Shaw , as an assistant head coach , providing more resolute defense from his team . This game , should provide both teams with a stern test , as each seeks to impose their will upon the other .
So at this point of the Boston Celtics’ season , is now on the cusp of imploding , as they have arguably lost their best player , point guard, Rajon Rondo , for the entire regular and postseason, should the team be in with a chance of gaining a playoff berth. Yet , GM Danny Ainge , is said to be unsure as to whether not he should delve into the free agency market and pursue a trade for a point guard . His own cupboard, within his roster, is threadbare , and looking at the options via free agency for a suitable fit . without having to break the bank , the situation overall doesn’t appear to be all that bright. It is likely that Ainge will consult with head coach , Doc Rivers , and team owner, Wyc Grousbeck , before a final decision is made .
Without a field court general and a productive point guard such as Rondo , the Celtics would quickly become a demonstratively average team , struggling to score and play in transition with any ease . >. And the team , does not seem to be helping themselves at present , with their undoubted inconsistency , due to the loss of the valuable point guard. A test of the team’s resolve will take place when they host the struggling Orlando Magic (14-31) in a game to be played at the TD Banknorth Center , in Boston , Massachusetts , on Friday night. This match-up should give both teams a chance, to gauge themselves at this point of the season and see what , if any positives they can take away from their respective situations . For first time head coach , Jacque Vauhgn of the Orlando Magic , to say that he has been made a “ sacrificial lamb” would be a great understatement , as the team is lacking in confidence . There seems to be no apparent leadership forthcoming , either on the field of play from anyone amongst Vaughn’s coaching staff , or from the coach , himself . For GM Rob Hennigan and CEO Alex Martins , the choice of Vaughn , might have been a prudent one , given the coach’s overall lack of head coaching experience .
I don’t think that at this point of the season , I can remember so many teams within the NBA playing sub . 500 basketball and wherein , the fans feel as if they are being short-changed by the on-field product . >. Yet , this is what the league hierarchy feel that they can bestow upon the consumer , fans and their corporate sponsors , while the league’s revenues increase exponentially primarily through the renegotiation of the NBA’s television contracts with their broadcast partners , such as ABC/ESPN , TNT Tv , WGN , none affiliated broadcast outlets nationally, and global network broadcast partners. The NBA has now become an annual $4.5 billion industry , and with teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks seeing their value , rise above the rate of inflation , with a number of the franchises also eking out fairly substantial profits in a down economy . It should be noted also, a number of teams are the recipients of an outmoded and archaic formula , wherein they are the benefactors of a luxury tax sharing scheme . Teams with payrolls in excess of the league’s “ soft salary cap” of $58.044 million are penalized as much as $1-00 for every dollar they are over that soft salary cap figure . The monies, derived from that scheme, are then disbursed amongst the so-called small market teams within the NBA. It does appear that even with the luxury tax in place , the teams do not appear to be showing the financial restraint one would have come to expect , albeit , that this latest CBA (collective bargaining agreement) , agreed to , between the league hierarchy , led by David Stern and the NPBA (union) remains littered with potholes and numerous dangers , that they clearly do not wish to address publicly .
The core of the Spurs’ roster , revolves around the team’s “ Big Three” , players, Tim Duncan , Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker , each of whom , has won an NBA title ring with the franchise . With four titles to the Spurs’ trophy cabinet , there would be nothing better for the organization , than for this team to add a fifth NBA championship to their treasure trove . As Duncan , Ginobli and Parker go , then so does the rest of this team , with the role players and certain youngsters coming off the bench to add to the team’s productivity . Hopefully , we can see that same sort of being shown by the players during the course of the postseason . Hopefully , we can see that same sort of being shown by the players during the course of the postseason . With the team playing host to the Washington Wizards on Saturday , at the AT&T Center in San Antonio , Texas , it will be interesting to see how the Spurs fare against a team , that as of late , has become less inspiring and more of an embarrassment to themselves as well as to the NBA . The Wizards’ organization, just seems to be crumbling under the continued weight of mediocrity .
I could well be wrong in my assumption , but I have always maintained , if a business entity cannot hold its own executives accountable for their actions , then whatever befalls them as a concern , no sympathy can be shown for that entity. In the case of the NBPA (union), and the ongoing saga , and revelations of the misappropriation of monies ($80,000) from within the organization , by family members employed by the union’s Executive Director Billy Hunter . It leads me to believe that either Hunter was simply naïve and completely unaware of these actions , or somehow he chose to turn a blind eye to the fraudulent acts committed by Alexis Hunter , daughter of the union executive , when there is a clear case of a conflict of interest , when his daughter also just happens to be an employee in a struggling bank , where the executive sought to use the union’s funds for investment purposes , but in reality those funds were being used as a precursor , to shore up that bank’s capital base . What might be even more exacerbating in this whole saga , is the very fact that Billy Hunter , may well have countenanced this maneuver without first seeking the approval of the union’s executive committee .
Courtesy of Yahoo Sports & AP (Associated Press)
NBPA executive director Billy Hunter sought union investment for bank with ties to son
On the weekend of the 2009 All-Star game in Phoenix, Pat Garrity, the treasurer of the National Basketball Players Association, walked into a conference room inside the Sheraton Phoenix determined to make one final stand in his decade of service to the union. Garrity had warned peers and NBPA executive director Billy Hunter prior to the ’09 executive committee meeting that he planned to challenge Hunter on business practices, and several players purposely steered clear of the confrontational scene.
In the aftermath of the U.S. banking crisis in 2008, Garrity had grown increasingly suspicious of an investment bank project that Hunter had been pitching to the executive committee and player representatives. For Garrity and some peers in the NBPA, the investment made no sense.
Hunter had sought a $7 million to $9 million investment from the union into Interstate Net Bank of Cherry Hill, N.J., a financial institution that federal and state banking regulators had slapped with debilitating “cease-and-desist” orders, sources said.
Garrity discovered information online that left him feeling obligated to confront Billy Hunter: Hunter’s son, Todd, had a seat on the board of directors of Interstate Net Bank.
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Click on link to read in full .
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Billy Hunter , has now sought a leave of absence , as he now seeks to defend himself from what could very well turn out to be serious legal action , if it is proven that he knowingly sought to countenance and misappropriate funds from the union which he presides over . For union President , Derek Fisher , this has to be a complete embarrassment , as he has always maintained what appeared to be close personal relationship with the union’s executive director. There is no evidence to suggest that Fisher , himself , may well have known what might have been going on , but clearly with a number of the union’s player representatives voicing their concerns, as to how , and why , $7 million of union funds , were being used as an investment vehicle , when no communication or a vote took place between Hunter and the executive committee, to approve such a move , has to be seen , as a real cause for concern.
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Picture gallery .
With the NBA All Star Break , a little under two weeks away (15th – 17th February) , what do you hope to see , when the second half of the season half of the season gets underway ? And what thoughts , if any , do you have , concerning what now appears to be some serious allegations that are being leveled at Billy Hunter of the NBPA ? Chime in , on this , and anything else you believe to be pertinent to the subject matter .
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NBA related news’ stories : Leader of Players Union Is Put on Indefinite Leave , but volunteered to also take a leave of absence
Prince, Daye, Davis make debuts for Grizzlies
Celtics’ Sullinger out for the season with back injury
NBA articles within this site . Click here to view titles
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Picture and slideshow gallery details below .
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(1)MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FEBRUARY 1: Kobe Bryant (24) of the Los Angeles Lakers pushes the ball up the floor against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game on February 1, 2013 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images ….
(2) Minnesota Timberwolves’ Ricky Rubio , left, of Spain, goes high to defend but Los Angeles Lakers’ Steve Nash gets off a pass in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, in Minneapolis. AP Photo/Jim Mone ….
(3) Miami Heat’s LeBron James (6) reacts to a call alongside Indiana Pacers’ Paul George (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. The Heat would go on to lose the game 102-89 against the Indian Pacers . AP Photo/Doug McSchooler …
(4) BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 1: Paul Pierce (34) of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against the Orlando Magic on February 1, 2013 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated the Magic 97-84 . Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images …
(5) Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives to the basket as Kevin Garnett blocks out New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, right, during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013. AP Photo/Charles Krupa …
(6) SAN ANTONIO, TX – JANUARY 30: Tony Parker (9) of the San Antonio Spurs looks to pass the ball in game — played against Kemba Walker (15) of the Charlotte Bobcats on January 30, 2013 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas . Getty Images /Greg Carmody ….
(7) San Antonio Spurs’ owner , Peter Holt , right , is seen here with the team’s head coach Gregg Popovich . The two individuals have a close and trusted relationship , which has been to the mutual benefit of the Spurs’ franchise . AP Photo / Ian Turner ….
(8) In the foreground , seen are , NBPA President , Derek Fisher , left , alongside him also, is the union’s Executive Director , Billy Hunter . The besieged union executive has voluntarily taken a leave of absence pending an investigation as to the improprieties that have taken place , with the misappropriation of union funds by a family member of Billy Hunter . The union leader has denied any wrongdoing on his part , but there does appear to be mounting evidence to suggest that Hunter did not make the executive committee or the players’ representatives or for that matter union president aware of what had taken place . With the possibility of legal action being taken against him (Hunter), as well as his daughter , Alexis Hunter , who was also in the employment of the NBPA. It seems highly debatable that can and will be allowed to retain his position as the executive director of the NBPA (Players’ Union) . Getty Images North America / Elise Amendola ……
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NBA results 31st January : 1st February , 2nd February
NBA standings (division)
NBA standings (conference)
NBA year-long schedule & key dates …… 2013 NBA All Star Break
NBA team owners & general managers
Highest paid players in the NBA & salary cap hit
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San Antonio Spurs’ roster & …. team stats
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Tophatal's Blog 
Is the NBA , a glass that is half-empty or half-full ? Because , at present there is a great deal, that is wrong with the league , that neither its hierarchy , owners , executives and the union would care to admit .
Off the court , David Stern presides over the NBA as it if were his own personal fiefdom , while its business template is not sound as the commissioner and their own CFO would like to have us believe . Albeit , that we have yet to see a franchise declare bankruptcy . But, in no way, are the teams within the NBA as financially solvent as the perpetrated ongoing deception by the owners and Stern . Simply look at the plight of Sacramento Kings and how that franchise has been mismanaged by the Maloofs and the front office , while barely eking out a profit ? Yet their anally retentive fans, have the desire for the franchise to remain within he state capitol , while draining the city of much-needed resources .
The play in the league at present , is goddamn dreadful , and not even mighty Miami Heat , have been looking all that good as of late , albeit , that they remain the best team within the Eastern Conference .
So let me get this straight , NBPA President Billy Hunter , may or may not have allowed his daughter free range to come and do as she pleases as a paid up employee of the union , while also holding down a job with a bank in New Jersey , where she had a familial tie to ? At the same time , $80,000 somehow disappeared , under the pretense, that it was to be part of a study that would lead to $7 million overall , in union funds that would be used to shore up the very same bank , where two of Hunter’s kids were employed . Now Billy Hunter’s own lawyers are trying to paint their client as a victim and scapegoat of the union’s executive committee . It should be the other way around , as Hunter if anything , himself , an attorney was looking to fraudulently misappropriate funds while clearly not following any of the union’s bye-laws .
With both Sullinger and Rondo out for the for the remainder of the regular season schedule , the Celtics are now pretty much , done for the season !
The Miami Heat have been terrible this season and their defense is not it’s cracked to be . Now losing to the Knicks and to the Pacers in recent weeks , with such apparent complacency doesn’t bode well for the team , and with Pat Riley no doubt looking to shake things up .
I’m hoping that the Spurs have learned from their complacency in the playoffs , from last season .
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Rihanna & Kate Moss
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Rihanna
Tophatal …………..
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“When it’s family , you’ll do whatever it takes , beg , borrow, lie , cheat or steal ” !
The thoughts of Billy Hunter , Exec Dir of the NBPA . An every-man’s dumb ass …. dishonest to his core and a licensed lawyer , to boot . Who’d have thought that ? LOL,LOL
Tophatal
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hanspostcard
Thanks for chiming in with a vote !
Tophatal ………..
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Oh well, dishonesty exists in every walk of life…..But eventually it gets righted……and Hell is goona freeze too……..
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al clements
This is the sort of crap we would come to expect from the Teamsters Union , AFL-CIO , or the UAW , not supposedly from a sports’ union and where that body is led by a noted attorney (Billy Hunter) . But as the saying goes ……….. ” always expect , the unexpected ” .
Nepotism and dishonesty of this kind , never really works , as someone always ends up getting burned !
Tophatal ……………..
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Like I said months ago, Al, this is a mediocre year for the NBA. And now Memphis, a former contender, has traded away their best perimeter player.
That Hunter story is ugly. I mean, how much money does a guy need? I’m pretty sure he was paid handsomely for his services, especially considering the guy really didn’t do anything.
I imagine he’ll be looking for a real job some time soon, assuming he’s not doing jail time.
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Chris Humpherys (@SportsChump)
In terms of the play and a number of the results , this could end up being one of the worst seasons in the NBA in recent history , going back four or five years .
This might be the one time that Stern , the team owners and the league hierarchy are entirely happy that they are not at the forefront of a news’ story in the news’ cycle , as it relates to the NBA .
Billy Hunter , a once respected lawyer , and now Executive Director of the NBPA , is handsomely rewarded , earning $3 million a year . Now he embroils himself in a larcenous affair that involves his son and daughter , and a failed bank in Cherry Hill , New Jersey , that he , Hunter was going to take anywhere between $4 million to $ 7 million of union money to invest in the bank , as a stake . Never mind the fact that it is alleged that he sought to do this without a vote being taken or anyone on the union’s executive committee , players’ representatives , or even union President Derek Fisher being advised . And now having voluntarily taken a leave of absence , Hunter’s lawyers are suggesting that their client is being made a scapegoat .
Billy Hunter in allowing a family member to become an immediate subordinate created the exact situation imaginable ….. nepotism and surreptitious behavior , that even he can’t deny was totally outrageous and downright stupid .
Tophatal ……..
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Chris Humpherys
Billy Hunter , and the way things now stand , he is likely to be fired with a loss of salary , as a decision will be made by the executive committee of the union . Should there be a criminal case , then Hunter could be censured and end losing his law license, in whatever state he’s allowed to practice .
Tophatal ………….
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I haven’t really followed the NBA. This is not my cup of tea.
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Bobby Gee
I can’t say that I’d blame you ! This season in the NBA has become all too discouraging , both on and off the field of play .
Tophatal ……………..
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Games scheduled today , Superbowl Sunday .
There will be three games on the NBA schedule , none really worthy of note .
Clippers vs Celtics head-to-head series
Lakers vs Pistons head-to-head series
Heat vs Raptors head-to-head series
Games are regular season series
It’s astounding to think that the union could have been so entirely trusting of Hunter , and at the same one has to ask was there not anyone delving into the finances of the NBPA (union) to make sure that everything was above board ? If there are found to be any financial irregularities , then that must come down to the lack due diligence , oversight on the part of the executive committee and union president and vice president .
This is one turn of events , that the league , in terms of the owners and hierarchy can point at the Players’ Union , and say to them …… ” clean up your own goddamn mess ” !
Tophatal ………….
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Monday’s scheduled games in the NBA and standings of Sunday .
Final standings 2011-12
NBA player scoring 2011-12
Tophatal ………..
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The Heat know they don’t have to go all out right now. All they have to do is make it to the playoffs healthy and David Stern and his referees will make sure they get to the finals.
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Maurice Barksdale
Of late , the Heat have become all too complacent and from a defensive standpoint , this team is not one of the better defensive units within the Eastern Conference , much less the NBA as a whole .
I’ve no doubt that the Heat will make the NBA Finals , but in the conference finals , I’m not so sure who their opponents is likely to be , based on the standings or play as of late !
By the looks of the conference standings , you’d be a fool to overlook the play of the Bulls , and specifically Luol Deng and Joakim Noah . But it looks like the Knicks would certainly like the opportunity to take down LeBron and his boys . Not that the Bulls also wouldn’t like to be in that position .
Stern does have an unassuming bias , and that is another reason why the NBA as a brand , has become so poor and anemic to watch . And now we have the 2013 All Star weekend coming up , do you really believe the fans will want to partake in some of the idiocy that will take place ?
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Parting Tahiry Rose’s butt cheeks , would be akin to the parting of the Red Sea by Moses when he raised his “staff” . LOL,LOL,LOL !!! My staff is definitely raised right now !
Tophatal ……..
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The Heat and the OKC will meet in the NBA Finals. I think the Knicks and the Clippers will complete the final four. I know you like the Spurs, but at this point I think they are built more for the regular season than the playoffs.
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Maurice Barksdale
If the two do meet in the Finals for this season , then I for one hope it’s not an exact repeat of last year’s Finals . Once the Thunder got that first victory , from thereon-in , they simply had no idea how to protect that lead , no matter what they tried . The Heat were simply a better all round team , in 2011-12 .
For me the Spurs were a big disappointment last season , especially in the playoffs !
I believe this season , one year wiser , with the experience and the maturity shown by a number of the bench players , this team should be ready for whatever the postseason has to offer . And as long as Popovich is on the sidelines they are always in with a chance .
Tophatal ………….
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I’ve been a big fan of Tim Duncan and yes, with Popovich as coach the Spurs will always be a contender. I just think the Thunder are the better team, but we’ll see.
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Maurice Barksdale
Spurs’ GM RC Buford after last season’s fall from grace for the Spurs had to go athletic by way of the draft while bringing in a scorer and defensive stalwart . The team has improved from a defensive standpoint but they need to possess an assassin’s instinct . But that can happen , but you’re right with regard to the Thunder , but this season , even they are looking shaky , and you can’t tell me that Scott Brooks isn’t worried . The front office of the Thunder erred when they traded … James Harden in exchange for Kevin Martin .
Tophatal …….
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If the Heat and Knicks were to meet in the conference finals , then expect an all out battle that will turn into a war . The two franchises and their fans , simply despise each other .
A Thunder vs Clippers match-up out West would be an offensive feast , with their being very little defense being played up to a point .
Oh mama what big “juicy melons” ! All the more for me to suck on .
Tophatal ……..
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Yes that is a great rivalry. Especially in the Ewing vs. Mourning era, when a hard foul was a just a hard foul instead of a flagrant foul. Those teams used to beat each other down.
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The NBA sorely misses a rivalry that’s on par with a Heat vs Knicks , Bulls vs Pistons , or the greatest of them all , Celtics vs Lakers !
How’d you like Wendy Fiore’s “apples” ?
Tophatal ……………
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Jeff Van Gundy still , to this day , won’t admit that the reason he grabbed Mourning’s ankles, was to stop him from further injuring himself . LOL,LOL,LOL !!!
Tophatal …………..
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It will be interesting to see how the new Luxury Tax penalties will affect the NBA over the coming years. If teams are more reluctant to pay the penalties, then super teams like the Heat won’t be able to stay together for long and parity should increase across the league.
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Maurice Barksdale
The league has a soft salary cap of $58.044 million , but simply look at the teams that are now currently over that figure .
Stern and the owners , simply do not understand the basic fundamentals of economics . If they did comprehend that facet then they would make a greater effort to rein in their costs .
Here’s a breakdown of the revenues and profitability of the NBA franchises .
Highest paid players in the NBA and their cap hit to their respective teams .
Tophatal …………
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If teams aren’t abiding by the rules as it relates to the ” soft salary cap” of $58 million and a number of franchises now having a six figure payroll ( Lakers are a prime example ) , then what does suggest to you concerning the mindset of the general managers and NBA franchise owners ?
The Lakers payroll is 100,087,153 with Kobe Bryant being the highest paid player on the team’s roster
For every dollar a team is over the cap , they have to pay $1-00 in luxury tax directly to the league hierarchy .
Clearly , David Stern has missed the boat here , when he’s asking the union to make concessions when he should be asking the teams to rein in their expenses . It is just common sense that’s all , none of which is actually being shown by team owners and their front office executives . Instead , I read these asinine comments by fans whose business knowledge , ranks up there alongside the intelligence of Paris Hilton and Sarah Palin , perhaps two of the dumbest individuals one could ever hope to come across !
Tophatal ………….
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Maurice Barksdale
No thoughts on the Billy Hunter situation inside the NBPA ?
NBPA headlines : Press release
Statement from Billy Hunter
Courtesy of NBPA … small excerpts
Hunter is so full of crap , that his only way to defer the controversy he’s now embroiled in , is to try placate the public by speaking about what he’s said to have done in improving the strength and finances of the union ! It must’ve escaped his notice that the reasons behind the animus aimed at him , are the allegations now being leveled against Hunter, and the fact his defense now seems to be so innocuous and laughable to say the very least .
Tophatal ……….
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It doesn’t surprise me that Billy Hunter is corrupt. Union bosses end up that way from time to time. I doubt he’s the only one though.
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Maurice Barksdale / FOF
Hunter was a once well-respected lawyer , after this fiasco , no matter how this investigation ends , his character and integrity will be in ruins . What the hell was he thinking , in hiring his daughter ? Even if she’s qualified , he should not have been the one with the final decision as to her hiring on any basis , without the input of the executive committee . And , as to the allegations of grand larceny and the possible $7 million removal of funds . My question is , where were the goddamn Feds to begin with ? Were the union a publicly listed company , the SEC , the FBI and Justice Department would have been all over the NBPA’s rear end , perusing every single crevice of their being .
Tophatal ………………….
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Maurice Barksdale
The Heat may well not have to go all out , but some of their most recent losses have been totally inexplicable , wouldn’t you say ? They have become too complacent .
If Spoelstra doesn’t light a fire under their butts , then Pat Riley surely will !
“I’ve come here to win titles , add to my legacy and to make Kevin Garnett my own personal bi#ch ” ! Ray Allen of the Heat
Tophatal …………..
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Their bench isn’t as strong as it looked at the beginning of the season. They are not getting much help from the reserves. I look for the Heat to turn it on after the All-Star game. No need to waste enrgy now. Like I said all they need to do is make it to the playoffs healthy and Stern and his refs will get them to the finals.
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Maurice Barksdale
The problem is , with each loss the margin of error for the Heat becomes less and less , never mind the fact that the Knicks are still snapping at their heels in the conference standings and they also lead their conference rivals in their season series in 2012 . So let’s get one thing clear , LeBron and his teammates cannot afford any major slipups , especially when their defense has been so inconsistent in their performances this season .
The two are due to meet again on 3rd March at Madison Square Garden for game three of their four game season series , and for a final time on 2nd April ,2013 .
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Chelsea Charms simply wanting the world to know that she wants to be taken seriously with her size 44″ LL’s
Tophatal ………..
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Maurice Barksdale
Agreed on Stern and the referees ! Thankfully , we’ve yet to put up with the situation where it has been replacement refs brought in to officiate regular season games during a labor stoppage when her certified officials have gone on strike , as was the case with the referees of the NFL in the first five weeks of the 2012 regular season . And I think we can all remember , the blunders made there , by the refs , as well as the idiocy of the insistence by Roger Goodell , that those guys were up to standard !
In the case of David Stern , because his rule is so autocratic , the owners , simply do as he says , with the rare exception, being , Mark Cuban of the Mavericks who has paid the league over the years in excess of $2,500,000 in fines . When you’re worth approximately $3.2 billion , $1,000,000 will feel like a drop in the ocean .
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Legends in their own minds Mark Cuban and Donald Trump .
And being , who’s a mere simpleton , one day wishing to become a legend … David Stern . With Stern , absolute power has made him a corrupt individual and a goddamn liar !
NBA scheduled games 6th February and referee assignments
Tophatal ……………..
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Mark Jackson , head coach of the Warriors
“I haven’t seen or had this much penetration since my urologist inserted his finger into my rectum to see if I had an enlarged prostate ” ! Warriors’ head coach Mark Jackson
Warriors’ head coach Mark Jackson after his team’s humiliation in a 140-109 loss , had the audacity to state that ” he’s an old school coach , who believes in old school principles “ . It would be even funnier , if he actually knew what the hell he was talking about , when it came to old school principles , like teaching his team to defend , rather than seeing the Rockets shoot an NBA record 57.5% from beyond the arc (23/40 in three pointers) in their Tuesday night victory over the Warriors .
” Guys who can shoot like that make so proud to be a porn star , as I could take on all of their load ” ! Alexis Amore` .
I wonder if a cupcake is the only thing that Amore has been gently been known to blow on ?
The Warriors are one of the worst defensive teams in the West , as well as the entire NBA .
NBA teams and , players love to shoot , so accordingly that would mean, female porn stars would be extremely happy if asked to swallow a load , and the players’ balls ?
😉
🙂
Any guy would love to be “serviced “ by Sasha Grey .
Tophatal …………..
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