The "Have Your Random NBA Question Answered" Thread

[ixcuincle]

My guess is Magic Johnson , Game 7 in the 80's against a team I don't recall. A rookie might have started before that moment though.

[Andrew]

Here's one: Who was the last rookie to start an NBA Finals game? Before Daniel Gibson.



It's probably someone completely obvious and i've just had a brain-fart.

Richard Dumas started for the Suns in the 1993 Finals. Before that, Kurt Rambis started for the Lakers in 1982 and Marc Iavaroni started for the Sixers in 1983.

[Silas]

Did Jacque Vaughn or Troy Hudson ever start for the Jazz in the 1998 Finals? I know Shandon Anderson was drafted in 1996, but did he play over season for 2 years or something? For some reason I seem to have a vivid memory of the announcers talking about how he was playing, impressive overall for a rookie, but missing a couple key shots, like that wide open layup.

[mvpshaq32]

I'm a bit fuzzy about this.
What is a restricted and unrestricted agent?

[[Q]]

unrestricted free agent can sign with whoever they want.

restriceted can get offers but their old team can match it.

[Anthony15]

Here's one: Who was the last rookie to start an NBA Finals game? Before Daniel Gibson.



It's probably someone completely obvious and i've just had a brain-fart.

Richard Jefferson in 02 for the Nets if I remember correctly.

[Dan's Brain]

Richard Jefferson in 02 for the Nets if I remember correctly.

That was my original guess, too. But they started Van Horn, Martin, Kerry Kittles and Todd Mac along with Jason Kidd. Jefferson didnt get a start in that playoff campaign.

As far as i can tell, Andrew is right with Richard Dumas.

[Andrew]

Did Jacque Vaughn or Troy Hudson ever start for the Jazz in the 1998 Finals? I know Shandon Anderson was drafted in 1996, but did he play over season for 2 years or something? For some reason I seem to have a vivid memory of the announcers talking about how he was playing, impressive overall for a rookie, but missing a couple key shots, like that wide open layup.

No, John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek started every game for the Jazz in that series.

Richard Jefferson in 02 for the Nets if I remember correctly.

That was my first guess as well, but I went back and checked the boxscores and that wasn't the case. As Hinrich_12 said, Kenyon Martin and Keith Van Horn started in the frontcourt along with Todd MacCullough. I'd forgotten Van Horn was still a Net in 2002.

[Silas]

So Shandon Anderson never started for the Jazz in the 97 NBA finals either?

[[Q]]

So Shandon Anderson never started for the Jazz in the 97 NBA finals either?

nope. he came off the bench for Hornacek.

Ostertag
Malone
Bryon Russell
Hornacek
Stockton

[ixcuincle]

Question : Will the Phoenix Suns ever win a world championship with that "run and gun" offense? It seems every year they put up wins in the regular season but come playoff time it's either the Spurs who play better defense , or Dallas that knocks them out of the playoffs. Next year , Nash will get a year older , and many of the West teams will continue to get better. I can imagine that Dallas would get better , and of course , the defending champion Spurs looking to repeat. The Phoenix Suns might not even finish in the top 3 in the West anymore like they used to. So , do you see them winning a world championship in the near future , considering many of these Western teams are getting better and better? Or is their time done?

[---]

I do think they can win it. I believe they can beat the Spurs and Mavs during the playoffs, and in the finals they would probably be facing Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, etc, all lesser teams to the Spurs and Mavs. Something just seems to hold them back each year. In my opinon, if they do make it out of the western conference they will win the ring.

Next year , Nash will get a year older

Of all the top teams with older superstars, I think Nash is the one they should les worry about. The only thing in Nash's game that really deteriates over time is quickness and stamina, but they probably won't go for a long time yet. He will still have his court vision, passing skill, stroke, ballhandling, etc. in years to come. He doesn't need to rely on his physical attributes any where near as much as other aging stars.

He's coming off his best season at age 33, I don't think the Suns need to worry about his age for at least another 4 seasons.

[Gundy]

I hate to use a cliche, but defense wins championships. I don't see the Suns winning it all with their style =which is centered around offense. It doesn't help that Amare just isn't the same. Sadly, I don't think he'll ever be as dominant as he was in the 2005 playoffs against the Spurs. I just don't see it, a champ team needs balance and the Suns are just far too offense heavy.

[Andrew]

But as the Cavs demonstrated in Game 3, good defense will only take you so far. You can hold a team to 75 points but unless you can score 76, you'll still end up on the wrong side of the ledger. As it stands they're not equipped to pin an opponent down and outscore them in the Playoffs but I don't think they need to completely abandon their style of play to get to the next level.

They could use more depth as well, I don't think their short rotation does them any favours. The top teams almost always shorten their rotation come playoff time but they're still able to go at least eight or nine players deep if need be. Conversely, the Suns rely heavily on six or seven players to get the job done.

[---]

I was looking forward to seeing Shannon Brown during the playoffs because I barely watched leveland during the regular season. Unfortunately that didn't happen.

Can any Cavs fans fill me in on Shannon's place on this team? I loved watching the dude at MSU and thought he would make a fine NBA player.

[Sauru]

i thought the suns were gonna have a good chance next season until they didnt land atlanta's pick. i thought in such a deep draft they could pick up a player who would be ready to give them key minutes off the bench. still i think they have a shot but things have to be going just right for them. honestly if they make zero changes this offseason i would vote on the side of no, they wont win, i wont say cant as they are certainly talented enough, i just dont think they will

[grusom]

Sorry for bumping such an old thread, but I thought it was better than making a new one.

Here is my random NBA question:

Can any of you tell me which teams has traded away/ traded for draft picks in next years draft? I have tried to look for a complete summary on various draft-themed pages, but all I can find is random bits of information.

[---]

http://www.realgm.com/src_future_draftpicks.php

[grusom]

http://www.realgm.com/src_future_draftpicks.php

Thanks

[shadowgrin]

nbadraft.net
click on the asterisk near the team names to know the trade details.

[hova-]

This is (at least for me) a very important question.
Do you know how the schedule of the NBA is set.
I dont find anything about it and maybe I am just too dumb to count properly, but I cannot find any rules.

The only thing I know is that teams of the same division meet each other 4 times.
But how about the other Conference or the teams of the same conference.

I need this for school, I hope some of you have an idea.

[shadowgrin]

If I remember correctly:
same conference, 4 or 3 times
other conference, 2 times

30 teams.
29 teams if you don't count the team we plan to use as reference.
15 teams in the other conference, 15 x 2 = 30
14 teams in the same conference, 14 x 4 = 56

56 + 30 = 86.

Some teams in the same conference are played 3 times to make the total 82 games.

[hova-]

Hey thanks, do you know which teams are played 4 and which 3 times, I thought about the distance maybe, since its tough to ride throug hda whole country ...

[shadowgrin]

I don't know which gets 3 games against one team. I don't think distance means too much to the league. I think the TV ratings factors greatly in terms of scheduling.
But that's just me.

[deihatein]

Hmm my question is.... do you think dirk can be a free agent,traded away before he retires? Will he stays at dallas and finish is carrer there? (cant think of any questions