Everytime I read what an NBA player thinks about the lockout...

[MarlinsFan2212]

Why would you count on oden for anything?

I understand hes chronically injured, but Greg Oden is really the difference between a perennial playoff team, and a team contending for a title every year. If he could even play 1 season, it may be enough to bring a title to Portland.

Outside of Dwight Howard, there arent many great centers. Maybe Bynum is better, and maybe Bogut. Other than that Oden can play with and outplay an other center.

Coupled with LaMarcus Aldridge, you can argue that they will be the best 4/5 combination in the NBA.

[pavyracer]

I understand hes chronically injured, but Greg Oden is really the difference between a perennial playoff team, and a team contending for a title every year. If he could even play 1 season, it may be enough to bring a title to Portland.

Outside of Dwight Howard, there arent many great centers. Maybe Bynum is better, and maybe Bogut. Other than that Oden can play with and outplay an other center.

Coupled with LaMarcus Aldridge, you can argue that they will be the best 4/5 combination in the NBA.

The center is not a difference maker. Bulls, Lakers, Celtics won multiple championships without a legitimate center.

[keyboarding]

The players are claiming the owners "cooked the books" in order for it to look like they had loses.

My guess is most NBA players didn't get their college degrees in economics.

[Mad Thunder]

The center is not a difference maker. Bulls, Lakers, Celtics won multiple championships without a legitimate center.

you're kidding, right?

The Bulls had legitimate, albeit mostly role-player type, centers who were mostly there to just do some dirty work (cartwright and longley.. and i'm pretty sure horace grant could play center from time to time)

The Celtics had Russell, Parish, and Perkins (ok, he's not as good as the first 2, but he's still a legit center)

The Lakers? Do the names Mikan, Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar, O'Neal and Andrew Bynum (granted he's still a work in progress) ring a bell?

The Rockets had Olajuwon, The Spurs had Robinson and, to some extent, Tim Duncan. The Knicks had Willis Reed. The Blazers had a healthy Bill Walton. The Pistons had Bill Laimbeer, John Salley, and James Edwards (again, not as prominent as the other 2, but pretty decent).

The center makes more of a difference that you may think.

[Inkwell77]

I understand hes chronically injured, but Greg Oden is really the difference between a perennial playoff team, and a team contending for a title every year. If he could even play 1 season, it may be enough to bring a title to Portland.

Outside of Dwight Howard, there arent many great centers. Maybe Bynum is better, and maybe Bogut. Other than that Oden can play with and outplay an other center.

Coupled with LaMarcus Aldridge, you can argue that they will be the best 4/5 combination in the NBA.

Rise with us!!! This lockout is great for the Blazers. If Roy comes back decent and Oden is healthy this team has a legit shot to win the whole thing. Not many lineups look as strong as:

Raymond Felton (??, probably a bit of a downgrade from Andre)
Gerald Wallace (so raw!)
Brandon Roy (hopefully this dude can stay healthy)
Lamarcus Aldridge
Greg Oden
Nic Batum
Camby
Matthews

3 legit all stars (Lamarcus, Wallace, Roy) with the potential for a 4th in Oden. Team should not do any worse than 4th in the West.

[stevenash]

I do not think the league will allow a small market team like Blazers to reach the finals, no matter how talented.
Let us facts, if a small market team does not have a ratings drawer like a Kobe, or LeBron, the league will not let them reach the finals.

[hornsrgrt]

Where are they going to get new players? Go to the YMCA and pick up Joe the plumber and Bobby the part time clerk to play for the Los Angeles Lakers? Can you imagine Jack Nicholson watching that game? He will pull out his own eyes out of disgust. Without the current NBA players the NBA is dead. END OF THE STORY.

wrong....how many college kids would jump to play for 1-3 million per year? The talent may drop a little but not that much.

[mikemca]

Hoping the NBA starts anew with players that appreciate how blessed they are to make any amount of money that they can live comfortably on by playing a game.I'm sure there is another Lebron that is just entering High School and there are plenty of Derrick Fisher's probably in community college.It amazes me that these players don't realize how stupid they look in a public's eye that is struggling just to keep up.

[Double Bogey]

This has the potential to be an epic fail by the players. They are balking at 50%? Depending how long this goes, they may end up getting under 40%. Advisors to these players are really doing a poor job.

[youngsir620]

My guess is most NBA players didn't get their college degrees in economics.

this guy gets it

[Lo-CalDallasBuKe]

I hear a lot of talk saying the players maybe better off going offshore... I seriously doubt that they will get the same love they do in the states. Not only that, working for another country, not only will they not get nearly as much as they would here, they would have to pay two income taxes (US & Where they are Playing).

NBA - they can wipe the plate clean and start over with hometown players and I guarantee you it won't be long before the league start being the league we know of. I believe super stars out of college will be joining the NBA not playing overseas... and before long the old players will come back.

Anyhow.. Screw both and Lets get ready for some College Basketball because that is where the real money is at!!!

[Goat Milk]

Hoping the NBA starts anew with players that appreciate how blessed they are to make any amount of money that they can live comfortably on by playing a game.I'm sure there is another Lebron that is just entering High School and there are plenty of Derrick Fisher's probably in community college.It amazes me that these players don't realize how stupid they look in a public's eye that is struggling just to keep up.

There hasn't been a Lebron in 70 years of basketball. There's no Lebron today, and there never will be another player of Lebron's size and speed. If a bunch of Derrick Fisher's were running the NBA, I wouldn't even watch

[Goat Milk]

wrong....how many college kids would jump to play for 1-3 million per year? The talent may drop a little but not that much.

I'm sorry bro but what the hell are you talking about man? Kemba Walker couldn't be stopped in college. When he goes into his rookie year in the NBA, he's going to be nothing. You think college players compare to the NBA? Get real man, there is no comparison. The NBA chews up and spits out even the best college players

[Goat Milk]

Do you guys not understand how small of a league and elite the NBA is? Bro think about how many college players are drafted each year (2 rounds only), then think about how many of those are signed, then think about how many of those even make the squad. Each year, probably only 30 players from college basketball make the NBA each year, and 90% of those guys aren't higher than an 8th man on a team.

This is not SHITTY ASS college basketball! We're talking about the NBA here, not fukin KANSAS OR UCONN!

[Goat Milk]

There's probably only 6 rookies per year that come into the league and make a big difference. And these are the very elite college players in the country.

[d2bets]

There's probably only 6 rookies per year that come into the league and make a big difference. And these are the very elite college players in the country.

Yeah look at last year's draft. Very little impact.

[Goat Milk]

Yeah look at last year's draft. Very little impact.

Yes, extremely limited impact. There's only 6 guys in last years draft that made a true impact. Only one of those players was outside the top 10, in Jordan Crawford. College superstars like Evan Turner and Favors were exposed in their rookie seasons in the NBA- and I'm even considering these 2 part of the top 6 that had an impact....

Evan Turner- supposedly an unstoppable player at the college level. Guy was a mediocre player in the NBA, not even a starter

[Goat Milk]

I do not think the league will allow a small market team like Blazers to reach the finals, no matter how talented. Let us facts, if a small market team does not have a ratings drawer like a Kobe, or LeBron, the league will not let them reach the finals.

Portland has already made the NBA finals before and lost to Jordan. The NBA playoffs are not rigged, if you think so, we would have saw a Kobe vs. Lebron finals a long time ago....and it still hasn't happened

[katstale]

NBA players can probably not spell "scab", but if the owners started over with this years draft, bring back Magic and the Mailman etc maybe even the Dr. lolol you would see so many scabs in the NBA it would look like Bubba with the chiggers. This is a union doomed to fail.

[Lo-CalDallasBuKe]

End of the day.... It is hard to see the owners saying they need the players more than the players need them.

NCAAB... like it or not.. that is what you will be watching.

[mikemca]

There hasn't been a Lebron in 70 years of basketball. There's no Lebron today, and there never will be another player of Lebron's size and speed. If a bunch of Derrick Fisher's were running the NBA, I wouldn't even watch

I'm not being literal, the reason I watch the NBA is the competition.If you just care about the showtime players you can grab tickets the next time the Harlem Globetrotters are in town.Maybe Lebron will fit in well with them ,after all he can jump really really high ,do 360 dunks ,and make half court shots.
If the league were to start over there would be new guys that stand out from the crowd (Lebron-esque) and the supporting cast players (Fisher-esque).They will be the new standard as too who is very good and who is good.The league will be competitive and fans can still root for their teams.

[Lo-CalDallasBuKe]

I'm not being literal, the reason I watch the NBA is the competition.If you just care about the showtime players you can grab tickets the next time the Harlem Globetrotters are in town.Maybe Lebron will fit in well with them ,after all he can jump really really high ,do 360 dunks ,and make half court shots. If the league were to start over there would be new guys that stand out from the crowd (Lebron-esque) and the supporting cast players (Fisher-esque).They will be the new standard as too who is very good and who is good.The league will be competitive and fans can still root for their teams.

Agreed!

[k13]

I'm sorry bro but what the hell are you talking about man? Kemba Walker couldn't be stopped in college. When he goes into his rookie year in the NBA, he's going to be nothing. You think college players compare to the NBA? Get real man, there is no comparison. The NBA chews up and spits out even the best college players

But HS players seem to do ok in the NBA....

We don't need the NBA if high school kids are the best.

I guess no college player can ever compare to the NBA....everyone who came from college is nothing in the NBA

[k13]

Do you guys not understand how small of a league and elite the NBA is? Bro think about how many college players are drafted each year (2 rounds only), then think about how many of those are signed, then think about how many of those even make the squad. Each year, probably only 30 players from college basketball make the NBA each year, and 90% of those guys aren't higher than an 8th man on a team.

This is not SHITTY ASS college basketball! We're talking about the NBA here, not fukin KANSAS OR UCONN!

They could just throw the whole league in the garbage.

Start over from square one by drafting the next available players and in 20 years it be the same thing the NBA would be.

[taejunx]

Does anyone think that the current negotiation is fair? 50/50 split of the revenue? what would the difference be for the players that want at least 53%? is that a big marginal difference?

[iifold]

You guys act like these basketball players are 1 in a billion miracles...

There is 50 future 6-9 "basketball stars" born every fukkin day on this planet...

Players have no leverage...

[Goat Milk]

You guys act like these basketball players are 1 in a billion miracles... There is 50 future 6-9 "basketball stars" born every fukkin day on this planet... Players have no leverage...

Basketball as a sport is the epitome of athleticism. NBA players are that rare. Do you realize how many players there are in international soccer leagues? the mlb? even the nfl? Compared to the NBA?

The NBA is by far the toughest and most select sports league in the world. You would not know until you play against D1 college players, realize how much better they are than you, then realize how most of those guys are shitons compared to even the shiton nba players...

[Lo-CalDallasBuKe]

Basketball as a sport is the epitome of athleticism. NBA players are that rare. Do you realize how many players there are in international soccer leagues? the mlb? even the nfl? Compared to the NBA? The NBA is by far the toughest and most select sports league in the world. You would not know until you play against D1 college players, realize how much better they are than you, then realize how most of those guys are shitons compared to even the shiton nba players...

I can't really agree with your first paragraph because saying NBA Players are the "EPITOME OF ATHLETICISM" would be a joke. American Pro Football Players fit the description of pure athleticism just as much as NBA players would. The whole "EPITOME OF ATHLETICISM" is subjective.

Check out the below site for more details:

http://www.topendsports.com/testing/fittest-sport-espn.htm

Your second paragraph.. again I think this is purely base on your opinion. Anyone who been to the minors league baseball system can tell you the differential in talent from AAA and MLB ball.

College kids would get smack by AA and AA get smack up by AAA and MLB would Smack up AAA. So..I'm not sure what your getting at here.

I agree with everyone here that state that -Yes, Lebron is good, great and hoot but eventually he to can be replace and forgotten.


Cheers!

[Goat Milk]

A few things.

1. Lebron will not be forgotten. I've never been an advocate of Lebron and everyone here knows it, but I've watched this game my whole life, and I know for a fact that he will go down as one of the top 15 greatest ever to play the game when its all said and done. Have the top players in the history of the NBA been forgotten?

2. NFL players are more athletic than NBA? Come on bro. NBA players are taller, quicker, jump much higher (only position that can match is WRs), are way less body fat %. So not sure how NFL players are more athletic, when they need a minute break in between each play.

3. Check out the body fat% of guys like Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant, Shaq (in his prime), or even Jordan (was 2% body fat in his prime). Shaq was less % body fat in his prime than some running backs in the NFL today. Shaq was 7'2, and weighed 350 pounds of PURE MUSCLE. Do you realize what kind of damage a guy like this would do in the NFL if he started playing the sport instead of basketball? He would be the most dominate lineman in the history of the NFL, because Shaq is that nuts mentally too.

4. Have you ever thought of the reason why 6'9 250 pound layers of pure muscle and 4.5 40's don't exist in the NFL? People look at a guy in Calvin Johnson and say he is some athlete, maybe the best in the league at the WR position. Then you look at Lebron for instance. He's 5 inches taller, weighs 50 more pounds, is almost just as fast, explosive, and has a HIGHER vertical leap. Imagine defending calvin Johnson if he were 5 inches taller. That's basically what Lebron is. Of course, Lebron is no where near the football player Johnson is. I'm just talking in terms of athleticism.

5. NFL players mental toughness on another level. They are crazy in the head. That's what sets them apart. Any NFL player will admit to you in terms of overall athleticism (speed, vertical leap, agility, balance)--pretty much all these qualities are dominated by NBA players.

6. MLB players are not athletic, period. You get the occasional guys on each team that can run the bases and make great plays in the outfield. They have great hands, doesn't mean they are athletic. Plus how many guys play on each team? Only 12 guys suit up on each NBA team per game. That's how select it is.

7. Thanks.

[HoulihansTX]

Is GoatMilk acting dumb, or can he not help himself?

[keyboarding]

Basketball as a sport is the epitome of athleticism.

MMA disagrees.

[stevenash]

MMA disagrees.

So does WWE

[keyboarding]

So does WWE

You do know MMA is a sport while WWE is a company, right?

[Lo-CalDallasBuKe]

Alright... maybe it was a little bit of a stretch to say he would be forgotten, but my point is that the league can move on without him just as we have without Jordan.


Ok.. taller? If the league has a majority of tall people, it's only because it is one of the criteria to be successful in that specific league but height does not equate pure athleticism. Last I check, Yao Ming and Dirk have not been on too many "EPITOME OF ATHLETICISM" polls.

I feel kind of stupid to be arguing this but the basketball players are not constantly running full speed either. They jog, take breaks and they have 7 timeouts for each team plus they take breaks during out of bound plays and free throws.

Athletiscm is not defined by the 4 skills sets you listed above in your post but by the below 10 skill sets listed at the bottom.

You can argue that Lebron rates highly on all of the below, except for nerve, but you cannot tell me that everyone in the NBA does... There are definitely a few elite guys in the NFL that would also rate highly on the below.


Endurance — which sports are rated highest in terms of endurance.
Strength — highest ranking strength sports.
Power — highest ranking sports for power.
Speed — highest ranking sports for speed.
Agility — highest ranking sports for agility
Flexibility — highest ranking sports in terms of flexibility
Hand-Eye Coordination — sports requiring good hand-eye coordination.
Nerve — the sports ranked highest for 'the fear factor'
Durability — sports whose athletes need to constantly withstand physical punishment
Analytic Aptitude — top sports needing the ability to evaluate and react to strategic situations

[Mad Thunder]

Does anyone think that the current negotiation is fair? 50/50 split of the revenue? what would the difference be for the players that want at least 53%? is that a big marginal difference?

Too lazy to calculate the exact numbers, but considering the average amount players make, 3% shouldn't really be that big of a problem.. which is why i'm thinking that the players are probably going to regret not going for the 50/50 split when they had the chance.