With possibly no NHL this year, I may have to watch a basketball game or sixty.

BBTF fantasy basketball league. 16 teams max (we're at 10 now); scoring based on Hollinger's Game Score:

(Points x 1.0) + (FGM x 0.4) + (FGA x -0.7) + ((FTA-FTM) x -0.4) + (OREB x 0.7) + (DREB x 0.3) + (STL x 1.0) + (AST x 0.7) + (BLK x 0.7) + (PF x -0.4) + (TO x -1.0)

League is #17814; PW is albright

From July to October in a single thread. the NBA thread needs to kick it up, which we should now that the games are looming. here's hoping Ricky! and his knee function better than ever.

From Hollinger's 2012-13 projections - name these two guys.

Player A: 17.7 PTS, 6.6 REB, 2.5 AST, 54.9 TS%, 15.10 PER
Player B: 15.4 PTS, 6.4 REB, 2.4 AST, 54.8 TS%, 15.15 PER

A: "his two main weapons are 3s and dunks ... (but) shot (only) 33.8 percent on 2s outside the basket area, and between that and a low foul rate, he finished with a merely good true shooting percentage rather than an exceptional one. (His) ballhandling numbers also were decent, and his rebound rate put him in the top third of small forwards in that category. Athletic ... mediocre motor... play(s) passable defense"

B: "(shot) 36.0 percent on 3s and a stellar 68.4 percent at the rim, (but) missed nearly everything in between (31.6 percent between rim and 3-point line) and rarely draws fouls ... is a lousy ballhandler with a high, erratic dribble, but he knows it and rarely bounces it in traffic -- he had the fifth-lowest turnover ratio at his position as a result. He also ranked in the top third of small forwards in rebound rate. Length an asset on defense but effort inconsistent."

Was up all night playing NBA2K13. It. Is. Awesome. The attention to detail is stunning, they even have signature player yells after contact.

The attention to detail is stunning, they even have signature player yells after contact.

For Boozer, variations on "And one!", I hope.

For Boozer

Can you hear Thibodeau yelling at Boozer on every defensive possession?

Questions for Moses and other Chicago fans: are you down on Reinsdorf in a big way? Or is this just a bump in the road? Doolittle, as I said, was pretty negative.

He is who he is, and it's not going to change. He's going to manage the team like they're in a small market, while pocketing more profits than any other team. Everyone's making a big deal about them finally paying the luxury tax this year - but they're barely going to pay anything and they might try to get under it (depending on Rose's rehab). It's almost a forgone conclusion they're going to amnesty Boozer after this year - which might be the right basketball move, but it'll be for the wrong reason - and not spend real money to try and replace his production (Gibson is likely to get an extension, rumors are it might be done by the 10/31 deadline).

Chicago has had a lot of bad owners - the Wirtzes*, the McCaskeys, the Tribunes, etc - that he is seen as one of the good owners, plus the 6 titles help buy him a lot of goodwill. He does have his good qualities - I've talked about loyalty before when it comes to former players. But bottom line, he runs the Bulls like a business and the Sox like his passion. Blogabull is also pretty down on him, and the part that makes it worse is that he says one thing and does another. I'm sure if he didn't constantly mislead and get people's hopes up it wouldn't seem as bad.

*Rocky is great. Dollar Bill was the worst owner of any sport team in my lifetime.

Can you hear Thibodeau yelling at Boozer on every defensive possession?

Not sure, but I played against OKC and there was an inbounds play where Westbrook was supposed to cut to the basket and I pushed him off his spot and the coach could be heard yelling at him to get free. Seriously.

From Hollinger's 2012-13 projections - name these two guys.

Dorell Wright and Michael Beasley?

Total guess.

Man, I was so wrong on Gibson - I thought he'd be like an 11th man type.

Everyone's making a big deal about them finally paying the luxury tax this year
How much attention is their hard capping themselves getting in the local press? I'd think that'd mitigate the tax willingness stuff quite a bit.

Half right, tshipman - nice job! Dorell Wright is player B. You'll get to know player A soon enough.

(Wasn't meant to be an easy question, but I was blown away at the similarities between these two dudes.)

You'll get to know player A soon enough.

Jamison?

(sorry - overly leading - not a laker. there's another team he and i have discussed on many occasions.)

Man, I was so wrong on Gibson - I thought he'd be like an 11th man type.

Same here. I was really disappointed they picked him instead of Dejuan Blair. He was 23! when they drafted him, so a lot of people don't realize that he's as old as he is now. He's a physical player and he's had a lot of off and on nagging injuries, so I hope the extension isn't too long or too untradeable - and I really have no idea what it's going to look like, perhaps like Baby's 4yr/$26mil?

How much attention is their hard capping themselves getting in the local press? I'd think that'd mitigate the tax willingness stuff quite a bit.

I can't say I've seen/heard it talked about at all besides the blogs (maybe a KC Johnson tweet or two). The Bulls keep talking about flexibility, and they sold not matching on Asik as maintaining that flexibility. I assume it'll have to come out when the Bulls break camp with only 13 players (one of which is the injured Rose). A lot of people seem to take Jerry/Pax/Gar's words at face value though. Also, everyone's so distracted because they got Hinrich back.

But bottom line, he runs the Bulls like a business and the Sox like his passion.

He admitted as much when I had a chance to meet him this summer.

I meant to ask you, Moses, what you'd thought they'll give him. I'd take the over on 4/26 - but I don't have a good feel for it either. I share your concerns ... but 6.5/yr is sure a good deal based on his current level of production.

Hinrich. I'm not sure if I should console you or laugh. At least he's likeable, a legitimately good defender, and can complement with some of your less pass oriented lead guard options. Weird cognitive disannonce w/ that guy's career.

***

You met him, NJ?

You met him, NJ?

Not one on one, it was in a group setting. Walked away liking/respecting him more than I thought I would. Of course, if I were a Bulls fan I'd probably feel differently.

He admitted as much when I had a chance to meet him this summer.

And that's his choice, so I don't begrudge him that. Obviously, as a fan of the Bulls and not the Sox (like the majority of Chicagoans), it's annoying. I just don't think he cares if the Bulls win again. He wants to keep the money flowing, and if they win, it'll be in spite of him.

I meant to ask you, Moses, what you'd thought they'll give him. I'd take the over on 4/26 - but I don't have a good feel for it either. I share your concerns ... but 6.5/yr is sure a good deal based on his current level of production.

Could be. Baby has the better offensive numbers, which seem to carry more weight in these types of negotiations; Baby also has the bigger name recognition/perception of value (or did, prior to signing the deal). I'd obviously love that deal, and think that's going to be the comp the Bulls try to look at. Gibson might point more towards what Ryan Anderson got (4yr, $36mil) - but even there, he was a starter and Taj isn't. He probably falls somewhere in the middle of those deals.

Hinrich. I'm not sure if I should console you or laugh. At least he's likeable, a legitimately good defender, and can complement with some of your less pass oriented lead guard options. Weird cognitive disannonce w/ that guy's career.

He's a combo guard that can't shoot or finish. So he's atypical in that regard. I think I'll like him more in the Thibs system than the VDN one (3 guards with him covering the SFs). I'm not going to be happy if he's the starting SG once Rose comes back/next season when Rip is gone. If he played anywhere but Chicago, he'd probably be rated appropriately. But almost from day 1, the Bulls promoted him as a Bulls fan growing up who loved playing in Chicago. Also didn't hurt he followed immediately after Jay Williams' accident.

Also, this.

your new starting sixers frontcourt.

Ummmm...is it just me or does this seem really harsh:

Any player who flops during a regular-season game will be subject to a series of penalties, beginning with a warning for first-time violators. After the warning, players will be fined in increments of $5,000 for each additional flop over the course of the season. The fines increase to $30,000 for a fifth offense.

Ummmm...is it just me or does this seem really harsh:

Any player who flops during a regular-season game will be subject to a series of penalties, beginning with a warning for first-time violators. After the warning, players will be fined in increments of $5,000 for each additional flop over the course of the season. The fines increase to $30,000 for a fifth offense.

That is extremely harsh. I hope Shane Battier has been saving money or he's going to be on 30 for 30: Broke 2 under this policy.

Those penalties might wash JJ Barea out of the league.

That is extremely harsh.

I am biased about it due to my Abbott issues, but yes, I think the whole thing is overdone. ISTM that the league should just give the refs some training on not calling it, as opposed to fining guys for doing it. It's not like, say, elbowing a guy in the head.

It's not like, say, elbowing a guy in the head.

Or stepping on Luis Scola's face, which I still maintain should not be a penalty at all.

Any player who flops during a regular-season game will be subject to a series of penalties, beginning with a warning for first-time violators. After the warning, players will be fined in increments of $5,000 for each additional flop over the course of the season. The fines increase to $30,000 for a fifth offense.

The tricky thing here, granting that on the surface it seems harsh, is what defines a flop that is worthy of being recognized under this system. I'd have to think it would be only the most egregious ones. Seems like it would be pretty subjective, though. Not that I have any better idea, mind you. I just can't imagine Harden/Ginobili/Barea/fill-in-the-blank actually having to pay $100k plus in fines next year, because those guys (and others) would if they fined literally every flop.

I do like that it's after the fact rather than something called on the floor, because I'd imagine a lot of these calls would be much more difficult to make on the fly (the "let's train the refs better" angle) vs. being able to slow them down and review them carefully.

So that flopping stuff is the league saying "We can't accurately call our own game as it happens", right? Does that...bother anyone?

Are we going to have fines for the "rip move" too?

So that flopping stuff is the league saying "We can't accurately call our own game as it happens", right? Does that...bother anyone?

In this particular case, it doesn't bother me so much. It's not as though this is something they used to call on the floor as a foul. But, no, given the speed, level of athleticism, and amount of contact there is on any given play, no it doesn't bother me - it's impossible to get every call right, much less the ones that are judgment calls (like most flops).

The "rip move" is something that is always obvious when it happens. Flops, IMO, are not. The rip move is also not the target of ire for teams, fans, and media alike in massive numbers. Sure, no one likes it, other than the players who execute it successfully, but it's (rightfully, IMO) not viewed as an "epidemic" like flopping is.

I guess I'm not seeing how this isn't addressed by "Call fewer charges" -- does that give too much advantage to the LeBron/Wade pinball-players in the league?

I guess I'm not seeing how this isn't addressed by "Call fewer charges" -- does that give too much advantage to the LeBron/Wade pinball-players in the league?

i liked the idea of just getting rid of charges altogether. then, there's absolutely no subjectivity. if there's contact on a drive to the basket, it's either a blocking violation or nothing.

and as an added bonus, in addition to eliminating the subjectivity of the call itself, by removing the incentive for defenders to induce contact, you also make the game safer, for both the defensive and the offensive player.

Edit: Batum & Wright for players A & B?

i liked the idea of just getting rid of charges altogether. then, there's absolutely no subjectivity. if there's contact on a drive to the basket, it's either a blocking violation or nothing.

That's pretty much my view too. I've always compared charges to HBP's in baseball - they should only happen due to recklessness on the part of the pitcher/driving player. It should NOT be a legitimate play by the hitter/defender to try and induce a HBP/charge by deliberately getting in the way of the pitch/driver. Baseball solves this problem (in theory) with the rule stating that the HBP won't be recognized if the batter doesn't make an attempt to get out of the way (though it's rarely called). IMO, the NBA should make a similar rule that no charges will be called if the defender doesn't make an attempt on the ball. They'd all either be no-calls or blocking fouls, depending on the severity.

Simply jumping in front of a driving player and falling down isn't a legitimate defensive play IMO and should never be rewarded with a call.

This should go well:

The National Basketball Players Association said Wednesday it will file a grievance and unfair labor practices charge against the NBA over new disciplinary guidelines aimed at curtailing flopping.

"The NBA is not permitted to unilaterally impose new economic discipline against the players without first bargaining with the union," executive director Billy Hunter said in a statement.

Hunter called the new rules "without precedent in our sport or any other sport," and characterized the penalties as "a vague and arbitrary overreaction and overreach by the commissioner's office."

Kobe, from the link above:

Shameless flopping is just a chump move.

Amen, Mamba.

it's impossible to get every call right, much less the ones that are judgment calls (like most flops).

Not just that, but a lot of what makes flops so obvious (and allows the HoopIdea crowd to bang their drums and gnash their teeth) is slow-motion replays. I would much rather the NBA institute an after-the-fact punishment for flops than have video replay after fouls that might be flops or anything stupid like that. Word has it the NBPA will be filing a grievance, though, so this might yet not happen, at least in the current form.

Edit: Turns out I hadn't refreshed in a while. A coke to Moses re: the NBPA.

Hunter called the new rules "without precedent in our sport or any other sport," and characterized the penalties as "a vague and arbitrary overreaction and overreach by the commissioner's office."

While I am totally on the union's side here and hope this particular plans fails, I think what the NFL does with fines for late hits - especially those that aren't flagged during the game - is probably a close-ish precedent. Obviously though, there's at least the charade of player safety to back up the NFL that doesn't exist in this flopping scenario.

A was Chase Budinger.
Would not have linked those two together.

I agree that it's almost impossible to correctly call charge/block, but refs should not be letting flops alter their judgment. The call needs to be made based upon first contact or the first contact that the official sees. If you haven't made up your mind until the defensive player falls over, then you clearly didn't see enough to make any call.

A was Chase Budinger.
Would not have linked those two together.

Well, there's one really obvious difference that would prevent anyone from associating them naturally. Wright is left handed.

Actually, they are fairly similar players. I hope Budinger has the season Wright had 2 years ago where he absolutely went nuts from three.

---

The NBPA might have a point that there needs to be a more accurate and predicable way to review for flops. The concern would be that if there aren't clear standards laid out, the commish could target players he doesn't like and claim they are flopping. Even if that doesn't happen, if the system would allow it to happen, it probably needs to be tightened up.

Heck, Budinger hit 40% from that range last year - taking them about as often as Wright did that season (in less minutes per game, mind you). That said, Chase was unhappy with how McHale used him - wants to drive more.

If I had the hops Budinger has, I'd want to drive more, too.

I don't know if anyone posted this for the other day, but

"I got a question earlier about whose team this is," Kobe Bryant said. "It's my team."

So awesome. As Mr. Tony put it on PTI, you gotta love the rampant egomania that goes with that statement.

Just saw a neat adidas Rose commercial (#thereturn) -- love this campaign, really well done, and I really really hope D. Rose gets back to 100%. Such a great, relatable kid and such a joy to watch.

Less than a month till the season starts!

Just saw a neat adidas Rose commercial (#thereturn) -- love this campaign, really well done, and I really really hope D. Rose gets back to 100%. Such a great, relatable kid and such a joy to watch.

*Throws up*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- NFL quarterback Peyton Manning is supporting wife Ashley's move to join the group of minority owners being assembled by prospective owner Robert J. Pera, and a person familiar with the deal says former NBA player Penny Hardaway also will be part of the group.

Manning and Hardaway join a minority group that includes singer and actor Justin Timberlake and a couple of Memphis businessmen, the person told The Associated Press on Thursday on condition of anonymity because Pera's purchase of the Grizzlies is pending approval by the NBA.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/nfl/10/04/peyton-manning-grizzlies.ap/index.html#ixzz28TotjJDH

Zach Lowe wrote his farewell column at SI.com.

By the way, in case anyone asks, this is still my thread.

this was from the previous thread:

Darko was very, very physically large, and rebounded and passed well. He'll be among the better back-up bigs in the league; no more, but a big, big upgrade over injured Stiemsma and Ryan ####### Hollins. Fab Melo had some highlight blocks and some strong rebounds, but was a net negative. Lots of talent and nowhere near ready.

oh, i absolutely cannot wait until game 7 of this year's eastern conference finals comes down to the matchup of darko milicic vs. kwame brown.

and for another installment of "Terrible writing on 76ers blogs", today, we visit libertyballers:

I imagine that professional athletes don't need to apply for positions. Like, I didn't see the Philadelphia Eagles posting a job for a center on CareerBuilder after Jason Kelce went down with an injury. But I suppose that is one of the perks - avoiding résumé updates and cover letters - of being in the top .0000001% of the most athletically-gifted people on the planet.

But what if athletes did have to write cover letters?

Dear Mr. Thorn/Mr. Collins/Mr. DiLeo/Summer Intern:

Webster Dictionary defines ‘Back-up Point Guard' as "a player in basketball, usually smaller in stature, who doesn't start the game." And it is with that clear definition of this role in mind that I express my interest in the Sixers Back-up Point Guard Position as advertised on LinkedIn and Craigslist.com (Posting ID 3325672168).

DK, I'm sorry I missed your response. The thread's been in and out of Hot Topics and I don't get on the site very much during the week.

I'm surprised about Budinger. Wright is a weird guy in how many 3pers he takes. If Jimmer were 6-7, he'd basically be Dorell Wright. I'm quite curious to see what happens to him on the Wolves. Does he play 30+ minutes a night? He might be exposed, he might thrive.

Minnesota is the weirdest team in the Association. I think they have more variance in my personal estimation of them than any other team. I could see anything from 20 wins (Love injury) to 45 wins.

For DK, the SCHOENE projection sheet is now on sale:
http://basketballprospectus.com/products/schoene2012/