Are you still watching the NBA?

[Sean]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

PS: What about the one and done NCAA minor league of professional hoops? Are those players required to take freshman English, attend any classes at all, or take any exams? I sincerely doubt it.

I'm guessing that they take classes their firsr semester to remain eligible. I'm also guessing that those classes require little actual studying and work, because the school wants them to be eligible.

[Sean]

With all this (justified) criticism of the NBA, the one thing that I don't see is any reference to Tim Donaghy, that ref who threw games about ten years ago. He even "lost" a playoff game for Phoenix against San Antonio! This should be a scandal the size of the Black Sox in baseball. Yet somehow the NBA managed to sweep this under the rug. We all heard about it, as did fans everywhere, yet somehow it never rose above the level of a footnote to that season. Amazing.

[clydepepper]

I've never been a big fan of dunks...they only count two points and are pretty easy for any athlete over 6-4 to accomplish. Then there's the taunting (i.e. celebrating) that follows...not a fan of that either.

Dunks should count as one point - since they are so much easier than free throws for the same millionaires. I'm amazed at home many 'great' players cannot make free throws.

What I do like is a lot of passing - involving all five teammates - in efforts to find the best possible shot.

And that's what the Warriors do...I always check the box scores to see how many assists they have...it's almost always much more than their opponents.

Other teams just run 'clear-out' one-on-one basketball where most of the other players are just bystanders.

I find that very, very boring.



.

[samosa4u]

It's all over. I watched about 20 minutes last night and here is what happened: foul, free-throw, foul, free-throw, foul, free-throw, foul, free-throw, foul, free-throw - and the players who weren't sent to the line went crying to the ref! Wow! How do people watch this sh*t?

Anyways, LeBron showed some class last night and was the first person to hug Durant. Here is a shot below and the quick conversation that went on between them:

LeBron: Congrats, Kev. I'm really happy for you.

Durant: Thanks, man. I appreciate the love.

LeBron: Listen, before I let you go, um, can you sign with the Cavs this summer? I want to beat Jordan's record, I -

Durant: Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Come on, man. What are you doing? I just won my first damn title! Let me enjoy this moment, please.

LeBron: Yes, yes, you are right. I'm sorry. Um, I will text you next week, okay? I want -

Durant: Bye, LeBron.

LeBron: Alright, later. Text you soon, buddy.

Durant: Could you please let me go?

[PowderedH2O]

I watched the NBA Finals. I watched a lot of basketball this season, and much of the playoffs. I live near Charlotte, so I pull for the Hornets and the Warriors (since Curry is from here, and is the son of Hornets star Dell Curry). Yes, I know that every year my Hornets have a slightly above zero chance of winning it all. But, this "Superteam" concept is nothing new. There are only five guys on the floor, so if you have three all-stars, you have a really good shot at winning.

The Boston Celtics of the 60's had several teams with EIGHT Hall of Famers. They had a starting five of all Hall of Famers, then had three more coming off of the bench. If you look at most of the NBA Champions of the past, there are multiple HOFers on the team. And as far as not every team having a chance, well, the 80's (the glory days according to many) had only five teams that made it to the Finals for the entire decade (Lakers, Celtics, 76ers, Rockets, and Pistons). In the 90's, two teams won eight of the ten titles (Bulls and Rockets). Having great teams dominate the league is nothing new.

But, if you have the attitude that certain teams can never win, just remember the Warriors. For most of about a 30 year stretch before Curry, they were one of the most awful teams in the league. They had a six year stretch where their #1 draft picks were Mickael Pietrus, Andrus Biedrins, Ike Diogu, Patrick O'Bryant, Marco Belinelli, and Anthony Randolph. So, they stunk. When they stopped drafting stiffs and managed to grab Curry, Thompson, Green, and Barnes (all guys that were not picked early in the draft), they suddenly became great. If my Hornets stop picking the Adam Morrisons, Malachi Richardsons, and Noah Vonlehs and start finding the gems, it can be done. But it isn't easy. Ask the 76ers.

[egri]

Originally Posted by Sean

I'm guessing that they take classes their firsr semester to remain eligible. I'm also guessing that those classes require little actual studying and work, because the school wants them to be eligible.

So a little while back, my alma mater got in to trouble for creating 'Rocks for Jocks' classes for members of the basketball team. One of the classes was Basketball 101. The local paper published several of the questions from the midterm in that class. The only one I can recall off the top of my head was:

How many points is a three-point shot worth?

A) Three

B) Two

C) Four

D) One

[RTK]

Originally Posted by egri

So a little while back, my alma mater got in to trouble for creating 'Rocks for Jocks' classes for members of the basketball team. One of the classes was Basketball 101. The local paper published several of the questions from the midterm in that class. The only one I can recall off the top of my head was:

How many points is a three-point shot worth?

A) Three

B) Two

C) Four

D) One

I imagine someone got it wrong.

[egri]

Originally Posted by RTK

I imagine someone got it wrong.

Hopefully on purpose, though I guess if they thought it was a trick question then anything is possible.

[frankbmd]

Partial credit was given for those answering B & D.

This group also received an honorary degree in Mathematics.