X's T'wolves (NBA 2K11)

[The X]

2011 NBA PLAYOFFS – NBA FINALS


NBA FINALS

RESULT

(1)Miami 4
(1)LA Lakers 3

Pivotal Moment: An instant classic, Heat winning at home in overtime in game seven, 99-96, as Dwayne Wade once again inspired his team to another title with 33 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks in the win.

FINALS MVP

SF- Lebron James, Miami
Playoff Stats: 31.5ppg, 8.1rpg, 6.1apg, 2.7spg, 1.7bpg

Teammate Dwayne Wade made a case for this award after his strong game 7, but Lebron's total piece of work throughout the Finals (and playoffs) were a thing of beauty. After jilting Cavs' fans last summer, Lebron can feel completely justified with his decision. Meanwhile Lakers' fans will rue the mid-season loss of Pau Gasol to injury and will surely put an asterisk next to Lebron's first title.

[Justine.]

Booo

[Martti.]

Love the result, game #7, Wade dominating. Sucks he didn't get MVP, but LeBron always posts huge numbers in 2K11.

[Fresh8]

At least we made it all the way.

[Valor]

Boooooooooo at the finals results

[Axel The Great]

So this Heat's championship will be looked at the same way as the Rockets' 94-95 championships, because of Gasol's absence?

Anyways, just glad the Lakers didn't win.

[kibaxx7]

Happy with the Heat win. But not LeBron winning MVP, he's huge in the game.

[puttincomputers]

It looks like I just missed the entire first season! Will definitely be following the rest of this dynasty! Awesome work!

[Grandmama Johnson]

Nice work, X!

Crazy that we both had Heat-Lakers Game 7's. Good luck to the T-wolves next season, will be following

[Lamrock]

Sucks that the Cheat won it all. Something for the Wolves to aspire to I guess...

[The X]

Yes, I was also disappointed to see the result.

So this Heat's championship will be looked at the same way as the Rockets' 94-95 championships, because of Gasol's absence?

I don't look at Rockets '94 & '95 championships that way as no guarantee with MJ that they could've matched up to the Dream in his prime in 1994. I do however put an asterisk next to the Heat's first title over Mavs

[Murat]

Where happens.

Miami, can you trade LeBron to Cleveland? Please?

[The X]

You're a very odd fellow Badger

[The X]

2011 OFF-SEASON RECAP - RETIREES


MOST DOMINANT EVER?

C- Shaquille O'Neal, Boston
Career Stats: 19 seasons, 23.9ppg, 11.0rpg, 2.3bpg



"Lucky shot."

For once, one of the league's most colourful character, Boston Celtics' centre Shaquille O'Neal was a man of few words. This was in response to Lebron James' series saving/winning shot over Paul Pierce's outstretched arms over Shaq's Boston Celtics in the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals.

O'Neal finished his press conference with these words, "I'm done. Most Dominant Ever is leaving the building". And with that, he was done.

After playing 19 seasons with Orlando (0 titles in 1 Finals appearance), the Los Angeles Lakers (3 titles in 4 Finals appearances), Miami (1 title in 1 Finals appearance), Phoenix, Cleveland and finally Boston, and having won one MVP and being a 15 time All-Star, once he decides to lodges the necessary paperwork, Shaquille O'Neal is expected to be the only member of the 2011 class to be honoured with entry as a member to the newly founded NBA Hall of Fame.


OTHER RETIREES

Also of note to retire was SF Grant Hill (Phoenix), which was announced early in the season prior to his season/career ending torn MCL (Story). Not all is lost for Suns' fans though, as point guard Steve Nash has vowed to make a successful recovery from a season ending broken patella that he suffered in early April. Nash wants to go out on his own terms.

Here is a list of the other players who will be hanging up their high tops effective immediately:

PF- Juwan Howard, Miami (one-time All-Star finally goes out a champion after picking up his first title with Miami)
C- Theo Ratliff, LA Lakers (one time All-Star was a very good shot blocker)
PG- Derek Fisher, Denver (doesn't feel right he finished his career in Denver after giving so much to the Lakers)
PF- Joe Smith, Denver (former Number 1 pick who will always be remembered for the wrong reasons)
PF- Kurt Thomas, Chicago (had some good years in New York)
PG- Chucky Atkins, Detroit (journeyman guard who never found a shot that didn't agree with him)
PF- Sean Marks, Washington (best known for being the first New Zealander to be drafted and play in the NBA)

Here is a list of the long serving coaches who recently retired:

Jerry Sloan, Utah (his team appeared in back-to-back 1997 & 1998 Finals against MJ's Bulls but never got over the hump)
George Karl, Denver (his Payton-Kemp Sonics team got beaten by the 72 win Bulls team in 1996)
Rick Adelman, Houston (his Drexler-led Blazers got beaten in the 1990 Finals by Isiah & Bad Boys and in the 1992 Finals by MJ in his prime)

[hova-]

Always the three same coaches retiring.

O`Neal's still in mine and I like it, he's really one of the coolest characters.

[The X]

Always the three same coaches retiring.

O`Neal's still in mine and I like it, he's really one of the coolest characters.

It's realistic with Sloan & Karl (given health issues).

I did a sim of an Association when I first got the game & Kidd & Nash retired but not Shaq. Glad to see Nash stick around

Sad to see Sean Marks go though as I was contemplating signing him to wave a towel At least he left on his terms rather than the game deleting him

[Valor]

Always the three same coaches retiring.

O`Neal's still in mine and I like it, he's really one of the coolest characters.

Agree with both, sucks about Shaq retiring, even though he's a Celtic now he's awesome

[Lamrock]

Sad to see Shaq go, but it was definitely time.

[kibaxx7]

What are you talking about L-Train? Shaq will never retire

[The X]

2011 OFF-SEASON UPDATE - TEAM PERSONNEL / TEAM OPTIONS / PLAYER RE-SIGNING


TEAM PERSONNEL

Enough was enough for GM David Kahn as he let go out of contract coach Kurt Rambis and his assistant John Blair Bickerstaff. Both did not extract enough from the young talent that Minnesota possesses.

Kahn did not wait long, snapping up ex-Toronto Raptors and ex-Canadian National Team coach Jay Triano to a 2 year, $2.75 million per year deal as the team's new head coach. His assistant will be NBA Hall of Fame player Adrian Dantley as Triano's first assistant with a 2 year, $825,000 per year deal. It is hoped that the signing of Dantley will bring out the offensive potential of young forwards Kevin Love and Michael Beasley.


TEAM OPTIONS

The Minnesota Timberwolves announced it had exercised one year team options on forwards Kevin Love and Michael Beasley, as well as two year team options on forward Jordan Hill and guards Jonny Flynn and Wayne Ellington.

As expected, the Timberwolves declined Stephon Marbury's 1 year, $2.3 million team option.


PLAYER RE-SIGNING

With the road almost paved for Spanish prodigy Ricky Rubio to join the Timberwolves in the 2011/12 season, it is so surprise that backup point guards Sebastian Telfair and Stephon Marbury have both publicly stated their desire not to return to Minnesota.

Minnesota were looking to lock swingman Corey Brewer up before the NBA Draft, however Brewer has made it being known his desire to test his value on the free agency market this summer.

[The X]

2011 OFF-SEASON RECAP - TEAM / PLAYER OPTIONS


NOTABLE PLAYER OPTIONS

The following is a list of notable players who exercised or declined their player options:

SF- C.Anthony (Den): DECLINED 1 year, $18.52m
C- Nene (Den): ACCEPTED 1 year, $11.60m
PF- D.West (NOH): ACCEPTED 1 year, $7.53m
SG- L.Barbosa (Tor): ACCEPTED 1 year, $7.60m
SF- M.Pietrus (Orl): DECLINED 1 year, $5.30m
PG- S.Brown (LAL): DECLINED 1 year, $2.40m
SF- M.Barnes (LAL): DECLINED 1 year, $1.90m

NOTABLE TEAM OPTIONS

The following is a list of notable players whose teams exercised or declined its options:

PG- C.Billups (Den): DECLINED 1 year, $14.20m
PG- A.Miller (Por): DECLINED 1 year, $7.00m
SG- V.Carter (Orl): DECLINED 1 year, $18.00m
SG- C.Delfino (Pho): DECLINED 1 year, $3.50m

I have excluded the team options picked up on rookie contracts as they are usually expected.

[The X]

Yeah, yeah, I know I'm out of order with my off-season updates but not finished Draft Lottery one yet (I know, I know, I could've just "borrowed" Lamrock's but I felt like making my own). I figure even out of order, any updates are better than none.

[hova-]

The usual option being pulled or rather not pulled in here. I hope you can retain Brewer, I find him a quite interesting player in the game, dunno about his potential upside though. His shot is a bit ugly, too.

As you said in my thread before, there's really no one you should try to acquire via free agency, 2012 just has so many decent name up there, everybody else right now would be bad uses money.

[Grandmama Johnson]

The usual option being pulled or rather not pulled in here. I hope you can retain Brewer, I find him a quite interesting player in the game, dunno about his potential upside though. His shot is a bit ugly, too.

As you said in my thread before, there's really no one you should try to acquire via free agency, 2012 just has so many decent name up there, everybody else right now would be bad uses money.

Hova is right, but next year's free agent pool may also be deceiving. Yes, CP3 and Howard have expiring contracts, but Dwight's loyalty might make him resign with the Magic. Same goes with Paul if the Hornets pull it together.

Either way, good luck keeping Brewer this offseason. I think he's class, so definitely wouldn't want to lose him

[kibaxx7]

Steph's out? Why?