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Re: [Playoffs] ✖ Legacy Arise ✖ G6: Another Triple Double!

Postby Valor on Sat Mar 08, 2014 9:02 am

Martti. wrote:Hopefully Noah can go 100% in game #7, it will be really tough to beat the Knicks with Jermaine O'Neal up front. Noah's been beastin', though looking at how he's playing in real life, no surprises really. DPOY in my book.

Yeah Noah's been the Bulls MVP and league DPOY in my book as well, both here and IRL. Hell, I'm looking at him as being the best center in the league right now by a mile :P
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Postby Valor on Sun Mar 09, 2014 6:44 pm

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Knicks outlast Bulls, advance to Conference Finals
Game Story | Box Score | Team Stats | Player of the Game

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The Garden crowd erupted as Robinson’s potential game winner rolled off the rim


    New York, NY -- As Nate Robinson rose up for the potential game winning three point jumper with just 1.4 seconds to go on the clock, the entire sold-out crowd of 19,812 at Madison Square Garden held their breath collectively and watched the ball sail through the air for what seemed like an eternity.

    When the ball finally reached the basket, it bounced on the rim a few times before finally rolling off. The silence lasted just a little bit longer before turning into deafening roar as the New York crowd began to celebrate.

    The Knicks were going to the Eastern Conference Finals.

    In a series that was back and forth with no teams winning consecutive games, it was only appropriate that it came down to a final shot; and while Knicks star Carmelo Anthony was relatively quiet for most of the night (23 points on 10-26 FG), he made the biggest play of the game, finding an open Tyson Chandler under the basket with 4.7 seconds to go in the game to put the Knicks ahead by two.

    “That kind of defined our season, to be honest” Chandler said, “We did it collectively all year long. When one guy struggles, the rest of us pick it up and get the job done together”

    The Knicks were led by JR Smith, who shot a blazing 12 for 19 from the field, including 6 three-pointers, to finish with a game-high 30 points in the 97-95 game 7 victory.

    It was a tough ending for Chicago, whose heartbreaking loss epitomized their season, when they grinded to 54 games despite the absence of their former league MVP Derrick Rose. Joakim Noah, who was brilliant in game 6 but suffered a twisted ankle, pulled a Willis Reed and came out for tipoff.

    Unfortunately for the Noah and the Bulls, it was just too tough to overcome, as Noah was largely ineffective, often had to be substituted and get treated by the trainers and uncharacteristically turned the ball over 7 times. He was 0-4 at the half with no rebounds and just 2 assists.

    After receiving several injections at halftime, Noah played much better, going 3 for 3 from the field and grabbed 4 rebounds in the first 6 minutes of the third, but Tom Thibodeau had seen enough of his star player limping around and pulled him for the night.

    “He’s probably going to hate me for it, but that’s what you have to do as a coach” Thibodeau said, “Jo was risking it all for us out there, you’ve got to respect his heart and desire for winning. It was just unfortunate how things went for us.”

    Chicago was led by a hot-shooting outburst from reserve Nate Robinson, who hit 5 three pointers en-route to a team-high 21 points.

    “I didn’t hit the one that counted” Robinson said, “Doesn’t matter how much I had, I didn’t get it done when it mattered”

    Nonetheless, the Bulls can proudly say they went down fighting, as Butler, Deng, and Boozer put in their most efficient night offensively, combining for 51 points on 47% shooting. Taj Gibson added a further 12 points and 10 rebounds (5 offensive) off the bench in another strong performance.

    In the end though, the combination of the Knicks offense, the turnovers, and the lack of a healthy Joakim Noah was just too much for Chicago to overcome, as they now head into yet another offseason of uncertainties. Will Derrick Rose come back and play the way he was before he tore his ACL? Will management (and ownership) pay to keep the core intact? All questions that they’ll have to address and confront before the beginning of next season.

    For the Knicks, this will be their first trip back to the Eastern Conference Finals since they lost against the Indiana Pacers in 6 games in the year 2000. It’ll be another tough matchup for Carmelo Anthony and his Knicks, as the defending champion Miami Heat are ready and waiting for them, having won their own game 7 against the Atlanta Hawks to reach the Conference Finals for the third straight year.

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Postby Valor on Mon Mar 10, 2014 2:12 pm

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2013 NBA Playoffs Second Round Summary
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1. San Antonio Spurs (55-27) v 5. Denver Nuggets (43-39)
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Top Performers
San Antonio: Tim Duncan – 22.5 ppg, 13.8 rpg, 4.0 apg; Tony Parker – 20.8 ppag, 9.0 apg
Denver: Danilo Gallinari – 22.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg; Andre Igoudala – 10.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.3 apg

Spurs Win Series 4-0
Series MVP: Tim Duncan



2. Los Angeles Lakers (53-29) v 6. Golden State Warriors (42-40)
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Top Performers
LA Lakers: Kobe Bryant – 35.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.0 apg; Dwight Howard – 13.1 ppg, 12.9 rpg, 2.3 bpg
Golden State: Stephen Curry – 28.0 ppg, 5.7 apg; Andrew Bogut – 13.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg

Warriors Win Series 4-3
Series MVP: Kobe Bryant




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1. Miami Heat (65-17) v 5. Atlanta Hawks (48-34)
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Top Performers
Miami: LeBron James – 24.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 8.0 apg; Dwyane Wade 21.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg
Atlanta: Josh Smith – 17.9 ppg, 10.0 rpg; Louis Williams – 18.8 ppg

Miami Win Series 4-3
Series MVP: LeBron James



2. New York Knicks (55-27) v 3. Chicago Bulls (54-28)
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Top Performers
New York: Carmelo Anthony – 24.1 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.9 spg; JR Smith – 20.4 ppg, 2.1 spg
Chicago: Joakim Noah – 14.0 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 5.9 apg; Carlos Boozer – 19.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg

New York Win Series 4-3
Series MVP: Carmelo Anthony



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Re: [Playoffs] ✖ Legacy Arise ✖ Second Round Summary

Postby Martti. on Mon Mar 10, 2014 5:53 pm

The series couldn't have finished any other way then a shot at the buzzer, sucks that it missed... But a good season nonetheless, the real life Bulls will probably reach the second round as well, though they'll see either the Pacers or the Heat in the Semis, so it'll be tough to make it past that.
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Re: [Playoffs] ✖ Legacy Arise ✖ Second Round Summary

Postby Valor on Mon Mar 10, 2014 11:18 pm

Martti. wrote:The series couldn't have finished any other way then a shot at the buzzer, sucks that it missed... But a good season nonetheless, the real life Bulls will probably reach the second round as well, though they'll see either the Pacers or the Heat in the Semis, so it'll be tough to make it past that.

I think if we get the Pacers we can advance to the conference finals, hard to beat Miami in a 7 game series without D-Rose though...just don't have enough offense
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Re: [Playoffs] ✖ Legacy Arise ✖ Second Round Summary

Postby Martti. on Tue Mar 11, 2014 1:06 am

Yeah, Indy will be a defensive battle, Jimmy B can guard George, Noah can handle Hibbert's overrated ass and Taj can fight with David West.
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Re: [Playoffs] ✖ Legacy Arise ✖ Second Round Summary

Postby Valor on Tue Mar 11, 2014 1:23 am

Martti. wrote:Yeah, Indy will be a defensive battle, Jimmy B can guard George, Noah can handle Hibbert's overrated ass and Taj can fight with David West.

Been saying that since day 1 :lol: Indiana is vastly overrated, if Rose is healthy they wouldn't even be in the contender conversation....
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Postby Valor on Tue Mar 11, 2014 2:28 am

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2013 NBA Playoffs Preview: Conference Finals
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1. San Antonio Spurs (55-27) v 6. Golden State Warriors (42-40)

Key Rotation
San Antonio Spurs: Tony Parker | Manu Ginobili | Kawhi Leonard | Tim Duncan | Tiago Splitter | Stephen Jackson
Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry | Klay Thompson | Harrison Barnes | David Lee | Andrew Bogut | Jarrett Jack

Comment: Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors have simply been amazing this postseason, despite coming in as the sixth seed with a record barely over .500, the Warriors have somehow managed to advance to the Conference Finals following two series that went down, literally, to the last shot in game 7; most recently outlasting Kobe Bryant and the Lakers despite Bryant averaging just under 36 points in the series, including back to back 50 point games that had the Lakers up 3-2 going into game 6. However, they now find themselves against the savvy veteran Spurs, who coasted along the way through the first two rounds, losing only one game to the Mavericks and sweeping the Denver Nuggets. Will the magical touch end here for Steph Curry and the Warriors?
Prediction: Spurs in 5



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1. Miami Heat (65-17) v 2. New York Knicks (55-27)
Key Rotation
Miami Heat: Mario Chalmers | Dwyane Wade | LeBron James | Chris Bosh | Udonis Haslem | Ray Allen
New York Knicks: Jason Kidd | J.R. Smith | Ronnie Brewer | Carmelo Anthony | Amare Stoudemire | Raymond Felton

Comment: Both teams surprisingly had their hands full in the semifinals, with both series going to a full 7 games. It will be the ultimate star-studded showdown between the Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony and Miami’s LeBron James as the league’s best small forwards go head to head in this matchup that also includes Amare Stoudemire, JR Smith, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Record wise, these are the two best teams in the regular season in the Eastern Conference and it’s only appropriate that they face off here in the Conference Finals. It’ll be a tough task for Melo and the Knicks against the defending champs, but if they could dominate inside like what Atlanta’s Josh Smith and Al Horford did in the semifinals, then they should have a legitimate shot of advancing to the Finals.
Prediction: Heat in 7

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Postby Valor on Tue Mar 11, 2014 11:30 pm

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2013 NBA Playoffs: Conference Finals Summary
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1. San Antonio Spurs (55-27) v 6. Golden State Warriors (42-40)

Top Performers
San Antonio: Tim Duncan – 24.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 3.0 bpg; Tony Parker – 28.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 8.3 apg
Golden State: Stephen Curry – 26.8 ppg, 6.0 apg, 1.8 spg; David Lee – 17.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg

Spurs Win Series 4-0
Series MVP: Tim Duncan




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1. Miami Heat (65-17) v 2. New York Knicks (55-27)

Top Performers
Miami: LeBron James – 33.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 6.3 apg, 3.0 spg; Dwyane Wade – 20.3 ppg, 6.2 apg
New York: Carmelo Anthony – 36.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg; Amare Stoudemire – 19.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg

Miami Win Series 4-3
Series MVP: LeBron James



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Postby Valor on Tue Mar 11, 2014 11:32 pm

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2013 NBA Finals Preview
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Just as how the 2011 NBA Finals was a perfect setup for vengeance for Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks against Dwyane Wade and the Heat, the 2013 NBA Finals is another destined setting for another bid for revenge.

This time, it is LeBron James looking for redemption.

The San Antonio Spurs swept James' Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2007 NBA Finals, exploited his then-weaknesses and rendered him completely harmless in that series. James shot 36 percent in the series, including a ghastly 10 for 30 in Game 4, and committed 23 turnovers.

Much has changed since then, as James left the Cavaliers to join the Heat in 2010, experienced more finals failure a year later, then was finals MVP last year when Miami beat Oklahoma City in five games. Another title now would put him halfway to the four that Duncan and Popovich have won together.

Now, he gets another shot at Duncan and the Spurs, who has defied Father Time year after year and quietly, as they always do, stayed in contention for a fifth title.

How the Spurs got here
The Spurs breezed through the playoffs after another solid regular season in which they finished as the first seed in the West. Literally destroying every one of their three opponents along the way, San Antonio has only lost one game so far this postseason – game 2 of their first round series against the Dallas Mavericks. Tim Duncan has yet again turned back the clock and seemingly puts up 30-10 with ease the last two series while Tony Parker continues to be the driving force of these Spurs, most recently dominating Steph Curry and his Golden State Warriors in their 4 game sweep.

How the Heat got here
Unlike the ease in which the Spurs advanced, the defending champions had to fight hard through the previous three series before managing to claw their way back to the NBA Finals for a third straight time. After finishing with a league-best 65-17 record, they dispatched the 8th seeded Toronto Raptors in the first round and were then faced with two grueling series with the Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks that both went the distance. Against all odds, the Heat was able to overcome four elimination games in the two series and finally return to the Finals.

Miami was pushed to the brink of elimination by New York in game 5, when Knicks star Carmelo Anthony went off for 47 points and nailed a game winner to put the Knicks ahead in the series 3-2. The Heat’s worst fears came to fruition when in game 6 Dwayne Wade tore his meniscus and had to be carried off the court, but LeBron was able to force a game 7 with a career playoff-high 57 point performance. It was there that, with some timely performances from Ray Allen and the rest of the Miami Heat supporting cast, they survived another dominating, 42 point outing from Carmelo Anthony and eliminated the New York Knicks.

X-Factors
Dwyane Wade is out for the rest of the season following his meniscus injury in game 6 that required surgery, which puts additional responsibilities to the already enormous workload of the 4 time regular season MVP LeBron James. Ray Allen will continue to fill in as the starting shooting guard, with Shane Battier coming off the bench in that sixth man role that Allen has had all season long.

Just like the 2007 finals, it’ll be all about containing LeBron James for the San Antonio Spurs. Unlike ’07, James now no longer has a glaring weakness in which they could exploit. San Antonio will throw a plethora of young and athletic wings, such as Kawai Leonard and Danny Green, at James, and dominate the inside with the duo of Duncan-Splitter, but they’ll now have to watch out for the three point shooters that exist at literally every position on the Heat roster.

Why Miami will win: The Spurs don't have a rim protector of Tyson Chandler’s caliber. The Knicks were able to give the Heat problems by preventing them from scoring in transition and in the paint. They still have LeBron James, which counts for something considering that he’s been averaging 27 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and a block on 50% shooting in this year’s playoffs.

Why San Antonio will win: The Spurs are deeper than the Heat and have had more consistent outside shooting throughout the playoffs. Miami is without the services of Dwyane Wade, who is, when healthy, the second best player in the series. They will also find it extremely difficult to slow down Tony Parker, who is averaging 23 points and 7 assists on 55% shooting in this postseason.

Did you know? Duncan, Parker and Manu Ginobili are the only three teammates to make the NBA Finals four times who did not play for the Los Angeles Lakers or Boston Celtics.

Prediction: Spurs in 7
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Re: ✖ Legacy Arise ✖ Finals Preview!

Postby Martti. on Wed Mar 12, 2014 1:51 am

I fear the Heat won't have enough to beat the Spurs without Wade..
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Re: ✖ Legacy Arise ✖ Finals Preview!

Postby Valor on Wed Mar 12, 2014 8:51 pm

Martti. wrote:I fear the Heat won't have enough to beat the Spurs without Wade..

Oh they'll struggle for sure, without question. Bad luck for your Heat, I'm hoping what should''ve happened IRL happens here (Spurs winning it) :P :lol:
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Postby Valor on Sat Mar 15, 2014 9:06 pm

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Duncan Cements Legacy as Spurs win Fifth Title
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The Spurs celebrate with the Larry O'Brien trophy after beating the Heat in 6 games


Miami, FL -- Prior to these 2013 NBA Finals, everybody knew that legacies would have been defined at the conclusion of the best-of-seven series, and defined they have.

It just wasn’t how most people expected it to be.

Just as they did in 2007, when it was supposed to be the coronation of King James as he marched his Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in search of his first NBA Championship, Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs denied his throne, again.

Greatest of all time? Not so fast, LeBron James.

Behind a specular 36 point, 6 rebound, 6 assist, 6 steals performance by the 2007 Finals MVP Tony Parker, as well as yet another solid 23 point, 6 rebound outing from the ageless Tim Duncan, the San Antonio Spurs held off a late run by the Heat to take game 6 – and the title – with a 117-114 victory over Miami.

The Spurs have now won five titles in 15 years, with four of them coming in their own version of the “Big Three” era of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili. Now THAT is a dynasty right there.

Curiously, it was Duncan, and not Parker, who in these finals has averages of 30.7 points, 4 rebounds, and 5.7 assists, which included a 44 point outburst in game 5 that set up the title-clinching game 6, who received Finals MVP honors. Duncan finished the finals averaging just 16.8 points and 11.3 rebounds, which are of course respectable numbers but pales in comparison to his point guard.

Parker though, has no complaints.

“He deserves it, he really does,” Parker said, “We wouldn’t even be in this position to win year after year if not for Timmy and he is definitely our most valuable player.”

He certainly has a point there.

Duncan might not have been the most exciting power forward to watch. He did not score like Karl Malone, revolutionize the position like Kevin Garnett, nor did he exude Charles Barkley’s personality; but there was no denying his place in history.

Five NBA titles, four Finals MVPs, two NBA MVPs doesn’t even begin to describe his greatness, but they are just a fraction of Duncan’s achievements throughout his 16 seasons in the NBA. He is, simply, the best power forward the game has ever seen.

On the other hand, despite a solid series from a statistical standpoint for LeBron James, it was a bitter disappointment that has the four time regular season MVP dropping to 1-3 in the NBA Finals. You could explain away LeBron’s first loss in the NBA Finals — he single-handedly carried an inferior Cavaliers team to the big stage, only to fall to a much better Spurs team. You can say that the 2011 Heat still needed time to figure themselves out and to create chemistry. You could say that after last year’s 5 game win over Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder has already proved that they have gotten it done. You could also point to the fact that they did not have Dwyane Wade, who is recovering from meniscus surgery after suffering a tear in game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Yes, he did 29 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Yes, he didn’t have Dwyane Wade. Yes, he did put up 39 points in a failed attempt to seize the series in game 5 when Chris Bosh completely disappeared. These are all facts, and nobody is disputing it.

However, you could also see that they had enough to win, with the likes of Ray Allen and Bosh and Rashard Lewis and Shane Battier. This wasn’t the Cleveland Cavaliers, even without Dwyane Wade, LeBron James simply did not get it done.

In game 1, LeBron shot a miserable 7 for 27 from the field in a 40 point Spurs blowout victory. In game 3, he only took 15 shots and did not attempt a field goal in the fourth quarter of the Heat’s 83-89 loss, when the Spurs came from behind and outscored Miami 27-14 in the final period to steal the win. Last but not least, you can see the three missed opportunities to tie the game late in the fourth quarter of game 6 that halted the Miami comeback bid.

For much of the NBA Finals, the four time MVP has looked like the physically best player on the floor but one that couldn’t impose his will on the game for any extended period of time. It’s true of LeBron and the Heat as a team. He has faltered once again against a older, less talented, but much wiser veteran team.

Just like ‘07, just like ’11.

No more excuses. Own it, King James. You are just not there yet.

The old man on the other end with the little bank shot and a hand full of jewelry though? He definitely is.

Without question.


Series at a Glance: 2013 NBA Finals

Game 1: Heat 73-113 Spurs
Top Performers
Miami: LeBron James – 23 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists; Ray Allen - 14 points
San Antonio: Tony Parker – 23 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists; Tim Duncan – 18 points, 12 rebounds

Game 2: Heat 110-75 Spurs
Top Performers
Miami: LeBron James – 31 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists; Chris Bosh – 17 points, 7 rebounds
San Antonio: Tony Parker – 23 points; Tim Duncan – 12 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks

Game 3: Spurs 89-83 Heat
Top Performers
San Antonio: Tony Parker – 21 points, 6 assists; Tim Duncan – 18 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists
Miami: LeBron James – 25 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists; Ray Allen – 18 points, 6 assists

Game 4: Spurs 99-100 Heat
Top Performers
San Antonio: Tony Parker – 37 points, 8 assists; Tim Duncan – 22 points, 9 rebounds; Tiago Splitter – 14 points, 18 rebounds
Miami: LeBron James – 27 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals; Chris Bosh – 21 points, 7 rebounds

Game 5: Spurs 98-93 Heat
Top Performers
San Antonio: Tony Parker – 44 points (career playoff high); Tim Duncan – 8 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists
Miami: LeBron James – 39 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals; Mike Miller – 11 points, 6 rebounds

Game 6: Heat 113-117 Spurs
Top Performers
Miami: LeBron James – 30 points, 7 rebounds, 12 assists; Ray Allen – 20 points
San Antonio: Tony Parker – 36 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 steals; Tim Duncan – 23 points, 6 rebounds



Spurs Win Series 4-2
Finals MVP: Tim Duncan

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Re: ✖ Legacy Arise ✖ 2013 NBA Finals!!

Postby Phil89 on Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:34 pm

Strange to see two blow-out results in the first two games, followed by four relatively tight contests.

Nice to see Duncan and the Spurs get some revenge against the Heat. Even if it is just on a video game :P
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Re: ✖ Legacy Arise ✖ 2013 NBA Finals!!

Postby Martti. on Sun Mar 16, 2014 12:27 am

I bet you loved the result, seeing LeBron fail so hard. :lol:
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Re: ✖ Legacy Arise ✖ 2013 NBA Finals!!

Postby Oskar on Sun Mar 16, 2014 12:50 am

Surprising to see Duncan winning the Finals MVP, despite the ridiculously good stats Parker put up. Definitely glad to see the Spurs win, though, I hope they can do it this year, as well, seeing as the Bulls really aren't legit contenders without a scoring option.

Good luck, nice to see you still going strong after the years!
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Re: ✖ Legacy Arise ✖ 2013 NBA Finals!!

Postby Valor on Sun Mar 16, 2014 11:19 am

Phil89 wrote:Strange to see two blow-out results in the first two games, followed by four relatively tight contests.

Nice to see Duncan and the Spurs get some revenge against the Heat. Even if it is just on a video game :P

Yeah it was some weird sims for sure. Hey, the way I see it...it's the result that should've happened if not for Ray Ray being clutch as hell :P

Martti. wrote:I bet you loved the result, seeing LeBron fail so hard. :lol:

Got to admit I enjoyed it :lol:

Oskar wrote:Surprising to see Duncan winning the Finals MVP, despite the ridiculously good stats Parker put up. Definitely glad to see the Spurs win, though, I hope they can do it this year, as well, seeing as the Bulls really aren't legit contenders without a scoring option.

Good luck, nice to see you still going strong after the years!

Cheers mate, I love writing and sports and since it's unlikely that I can get a career in sports journalism in American sports this will have to do :P (Y)

I thought it was going to be Parker as well, bit of a shock when I saw Duncan receive the trophy, but you can't argue against the Big Fundamental (Y) RL Bulls really need Rose back if they want to contend, Noah's risen to what I call the "Scottie Pippen superstar" level in terms of being a great sidekick, but we are gonna need that #1 guy (Rose) if we need to contend :)
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Postby Valor on Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:24 am

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    Chicago Bulls 2012-13 Season in review

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    Record: 54-28
    Seed: 3rd in East
    Playoff Result: Eliminated by New York Knicks in Conference Semifinals Game 7

    No matter where you begin, the 2012-13 Chicago Bulls season will always be remembered as the one in which Derrick Rose didn't play at all as he recovered from a torn ACL in his left knee. Fans continuously talked about Rose’s status, and watching his pregame warm-ups game after game did not exactly help in silencing the talks.

    Despite Rose's situation hovering over them, Tom Thibodeau's team managed to grind out an impressive 54 win season, and was literally one shot away from another trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. Given the fact that the Bulls missed Rose all year, it will be remembered as one of Thibodeau's best coaching jobs.

    Although it was another heartbreaking end to the season, with Nate Robinson missing the potential series-winning three point attempt at the buzzer in game 7, the Bulls (and the fans) have to look at themselves and see signs of a bright future.

    Noah and Deng were All-Stars, with Noah in particular putting forth a breakout campaign as he solidified himself as one of the best big man in the league, leading the NBA in rebounding at 13.4 per game and racking up three triple doubles – two in the postseason – and practically stepped in as the playmaker on offense in the point center role with the absence of Derrick Rose.

    Jimmy Butler flourished after stepping into the starting lineup following the Richard Hamilton trade, and provided one of the best defensive wing presences alongside Luol Deng for what was again the league’s best defensive team.

    Of course, it really doesn’t help your chances of winning when your owner commands the front office to dump salary so he can avoid paying the luxury tax (hence, the Rip Hamilton trade), but ultimately the Bulls weren’t going to win a title without the services of the 2011 league MVP Derrick Rose, and they knew it. This season was about grooming the young talent that was on the roster and growing the unit as a whole in preparation for The Return. In fact, it really was a miracle that they were able to win another 50+ games and make the second round of the postseason, let alone be one play removed from going to the Conference Finals.

    What the Bulls did is a testament to the hard-working players on this team and the coaching wizard that is Tom Thibodeau. We all know Thibs has his flaws, but his ability to glean the most out of his players is truly admirable.

    The prospects look bright for these Bulls, considering coach Tom Thibodeau signed a contract extension and Rose should return fully healthy next fall. The Bulls will have to make a decision on Deng, as he will be entering into the final year of his contract next season, as well as the always suggested (by fans) notion of utilizing the amnesty clause on Carlos Boozer. They also have, thanks to the Hamilton trade, two first round picks - one just outside the lottery - to use in the upcoming draft; and although it isn’t nearly as star-studded as the summer of ’10, there are a lot of quality free agents out there this offseason, headlined by Chris Paul and Josh Smith. Overall, it looks to be a busy and interesting offseason for the front office staff at the Berto Center as the Bulls will look to retool to be in position to compete for the championship next season.


    Grades and Review

    Backcourt
    Without Derrick Rose running the show, Chicago relied on the services of veteran Kirk Hinrich as well as second year guard Jimmy Butler. The duo did a fine job defensively, with Butler putting a case in as one of the premier young defenders in the league after being inserted into the starting lineup following the Richard Hamilton trade. However, the two also struggled on the offensive end of the floor. Although he had a few big games in the regular season, Hinrich's jump shot is no longer as reliable as it was in his first run with Chicago; while Butler still has to prove he can make perimeter shots on a more consistent basis.
    Final Grade: B-

    Frontcourt
    A gigantic leap for Joakim Noah as he took control of the Bulls on both ends of the floor, anchoring the defense and leading the league in rebounding while being the main facilitator for the Bulls in the high post on the other end of the floor. Noah had established himself as a pivotal cog in Chicago's lineup and should form a formidable combination with Derrick Rose once the former MVP returns to the lineup healthy next season. Boozer had his ups and downs as usual, but for the most part was there providing solid offensive production with both his post offense as well as that mid-range jumpshot off the pick and pop. The Bulls will need to decide whether they want to continue keeping Boozer or use the amnesty clause on him, as he is due over $15 million next season. Lastly, the "glue guy" of the team Luol Deng was as solid as ever, playing almost 40 minutes per game and provided tough defense as well as a consistent 15-20 points every night. His offensive efficiency went down as the season went on, but that could be attributed at all the daunting minutes he had been asked to play on a nightly basis. Deng is due to make $14 million next season before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2015 and, like his fellow Duke alumni, will have his status decided upon by the front office staff at the Berto Center. While currently Deng seems to be indispensable, the growth of Jimmy Butler - who is still on his rookie contract - could lower his value on the roster.
    Final Grade: B+

    Bench
    For the most part, the Bulls bench basically consisted of Nate Robinson and Taj Gibson following the Hamilton trade that also sent away Marco Belinelli. Robinson, as he has done throughout his career, provided sparks of explosive, but inconsistent instant offense to the lowest scoring offensive team in the league; while Gibson showcased an improved post game and mid-range shot while continuing his high energy play, especially on the offensive glass and on weak-side help defense. With the return of Rose next season, Robinson will most likely be let go, but the growth of Taj Gibson will really challenge Carlos Boozer's status on the team.
    Final Grade: C+

    Coach
    Tom Thibodeau did an exceptional job and proved again why he is one of the best coaches in the NBA. He took a team led by Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and a bunch of spare parts and turned them into a 54 win team and was just one play away from the Conference Finals. The Bulls knew they were going to take a step back this year without Derrick Rose, but the most relentless coach in the NBA made sure it wasn't much as the Bulls played hard almost every night and set a tone defensively that was respected throughout the league. Thibodeau has one year remaining on his deal and it would be a shock if the front office did not make it their priority to extend his contract and keep the 2011 coach of the year as a Bull for a long time.
    Final Grade: A+




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Re: ✖ Legacy Arise ✖ Season Review

Postby Martti. on Tue Mar 18, 2014 6:26 pm

Can't wait for next season when Rose comes back. (Y)
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Re: ✖ Legacy Arise ✖ Season Review

Postby Valor on Wed Mar 19, 2014 3:09 pm

Martti. wrote:Can't wait for next season when Rose comes back. (Y)

Fingers crossed he won't get injured again like IRL :crazyeyes:
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Postby Valor on Wed Mar 19, 2014 10:15 pm

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    Future HOFer Jason Kidd headlines short list of retirees
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    Co-NBA Rookie of the Year Award winners Grant Hill and Jason Kidd will retire together after 19 illustrious seasons

    June 20th, 2013 -- He affected games without looking at the basket, made pinpoint bounce passes in transition to teammates and often left fans wondering what he was going to do next. Jason Kidd was the ultimate point guard for much of his career in the NBA.

    Now, after the conclusion of his 19th season, the second all-time assist leader is finally going to hang up his sneakers, and will ride off into the sunset with a more-than-solid career resume that’ll no doubt bring him to Springfield as a first ballot Hall of Famer as soon as he is eligible five years later.

    With career averages of 12.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 8.9 assists, and 1.9 steals over 1,397 regular season games, Kidd was the consummate triple double threat and made all his teams better. After back to back Finals losses with the then New Jersey Nets in 2002 and 2003, Kidd finally broke through and won his first and only NBA championship in 2011 with the Dallas Mavericks, which coincidentally was the team that drafted him with the second overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft.

    In this past season, Kidd played all 82 games for the New York Knicks, who fell short of reaching the Finals when they were defeated in game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals by the Miami Heat. Kidd averaged a modest 4.5 points during the season, but did have 8 assists, 4 rebounds, as well as 1.6 steals per game. His veteran leadership on and off the court was instrumental for the Knicks’ run in the postseason.

    “I’ve played the game for a long time,” Kidd said in a radio interview Monday on ESPN. “This was the time to move on.”

    Throughout his 19 NBA seasons, Kidd has accomplished everything possible in the NBA. A 10 time All-Star, he was also the Co-Rookie of the Year in 1994 with fellow retiree Grant Hill. Known for his terrific passing ability, the 40 year old point guard led the league in assists for 5 consecutive seasons, and was named to the All-NBA First Team 5 times. His dominance also extended to the defensive side of the ball, as he was named to the All-Defense First Team 4 times and Second Team 5 times.

    Aside from Kidd, Grant Hill of the Los Angeles Clippers and Marcus Camby of the Knicks have also announced their retirement from the NBA.

    Co-Rookie of the year with Jason Kidd in 1994, Hill entered the league with tremendous athleticism and potential. However, ankle issues would plague the career of the once-promising star and robbed the basketball world of the prime of his career. The 6-8 forward from Duke would manage to revive his career in Phoneix, and last for 19 seasons before calling it quits after one season with the Los Angeles Clippers. The 7 time All-Star finishes with a career average of 16.7 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists over his career. The 40 year old has expressed interest in joining NBATV as a studio analysis in the future.

    Known as a force to be reckoned with on the defensive end, the 39 year old Marcus Camby has decided to officially retire after tearing his MCL at the beginning of the season. A one time Defensive Player of the Year and 4 time league leader in blocks, Camby wraps up his 17-year career averaging 9.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game.

    In addition to these three players, Byron Scott has announced his retirement from coaching. Scott last coached the Cleveland Cavaliers this past season before being dismissed in late march. The 2008 NBA Coach of the Year, Scott’s announcement was surprising considering his relatively young age of 52 years.


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Re: [Offseason] ✖ Legacy Arise ✖ Retirements

Postby Oskar on Wed Mar 19, 2014 10:49 pm

Nice stuff man. Also can't wait for the next season, also curious about what kind of moves you'll make in the offseason. Carry on!
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Postby Valor on Fri Mar 21, 2014 4:48 pm

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    Bobcats win Draft lottery for first time in franchise history
    By Official release
    Posted May 21, 2013 9:22 PM

    NEW YORK, NY -- After losing year after year, both on and off the court, the Charlotte Bobcats has finally won.

    Coming into the lottery with the 6th best chance (6.3%) of winning the number 1 overall pick after a 30-52 season, the Bobcats were pleasantly surprised when they beat the odds and take home the prize of the evening for the first time in franchise history.

    It isn’t the championship, but this is a start. That is, if Michael Jordan doesn’t swing and miss at another homerun.

    Jordan, the owner of the Bobcats, had previously used the first overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft on the then high school prospect Kwame Brown while he was the team president of the Washington Wizards.

    Brown is widely regarded as one of the biggest busts of all time.

    The Cleveland Cavaliers, who had the league’s worst record (22-60) and subsequently the best odds (25%) of winning the lottery, dropped to the fourth pick.

    On the other hand, the New Orleans Pelicans, who won last year’s draft lottery and picked Anthony Davis first overall, moved up a spot and will pick second overall this year.

    The team with the worst record hasn't won since Orlando drafted Dwight Howard in 2004. Incidentally, Orlando was also a big winner in the lottery, moving up all the way from the projected 9th spot to the 3rd, while the Pistons fell down to the 5th spot from their projected place at 2nd.

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Re: [Offseason] ✖ Legacy Arise ✖ Retirements

Postby Valor on Fri Mar 21, 2014 4:49 pm

Oskar wrote:Nice stuff man. Also can't wait for the next season, also curious about what kind of moves you'll make in the offseason. Carry on!

Cheers mate, can't wait to get into the offseason too! Should be fun :P
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Postby Valor on Fri Mar 21, 2014 7:58 pm

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    Bulls Exercise Option On Butler

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    The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has exercised its two year team option for guard/forward Jimmy Butler. By exercising Butler’s option, he will remain under contract with the Bulls throughout the 2014-15 season.

    Butler (6-7, 220), who was the Bulls' first-round pick in 2011 out of Marquette, is expected to be a significant contributor this season as a starter. Butler appeared in all 82 games (31 starts) last season and posted averages of 7.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, and 1.8 apg in 26.8 mpg. He also shot .367 from the floor, .176 from beyond the arc and .765 from the line.

    In related news, several notable players have declined or have been declined of their respective player/team options. Below is a short list of players who have now hit the open market as unrestricted free agents.

    Player Options
    Andre Iguodala (Denver) Declined $15.90m
    J.R. Smith (New York) Declined $2.91m
    Ray Allen (Miami) Declined $3.23m
    Andrei Kirilenko (Minnesota) Declined $10.21m
    Patrick Mills (San Antonio) Declined $1.13m
    Metta World Peace (LA Lakers) Declined $7.73m

    Team Options
    Mario Chalmers (Miami) Declined $4.00m
    Vince Carter (Dallas) Declined $3.18m




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