The NBA thread

[MrRain422]

I may be back on the Knicks bandwagon.

 

They just signed Kelvin Cato.

 

He looked awesome in the 3 junk minutes he played for the Pistons last year.

[MrRain422]

Authorities: 'Deputy Shaq' participated in botched Virginia raid

 

By TRAVIS REED, Associated Press Writer

October 25, 2006

 

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Shaquille O'Neal was present during a botched child pornography raid last month while working in Virginia as a reserve sheriff's deputy.

 

The Miami Heat center, who pursues his interest in law enforcement during the offseason, denied Tuesday taking part in serving the search warrant at the wrong house Sept. 23. However, Bedford County Sheriff's Lt. Michael Harmony confirmed to The Associated Press that O'Neal was there.

 

O'Neal, in Orlando to play a preseason game Tuesday, was asked about the raid and several times somewhat playfully responded, "It wasn't me."

 

The 13-time All-Star has expressed an interest in becoming a Bedford deputy or sheriff somewhere else after his NBA career ends. He also works as a firearms-certified reserve police officer in Miami Beach.

 

"Of course, being sheriff is a seasoned political position, so we're not going to be out there knocking down the wrong doors," he said. "We just have to do the right thing."

 

A.J. Nuckols, who said his family has filed formal complaints, wrote in a letter published in the Chatham Star-Tribune that the raid at his Gretna, Va., home "scared beyond description" him and his family.

 

He described being "held at gunpoint, taunted and led into the house," and said the home was ransacked by a "paramilitary search-and-seizure team" that took computers, cameras, DVDs and VHS tapes.

 

"Men ran at me, dropped into shooting position, double-handed semiautomatic pistols pointed at me, and made me put my hands against my truck," Nuckols wrote.

 

Nuckols also said in a telephone interview that he heard O'Neal was at his home, but didn't specifically see the 7-foot-1, 325-pound All-Star in all the commotion.

 

It wasn't until later authorities realized they had been given the wrong IP address, which Internet service providers can use to identify users, leading them to the wrong physical address, Harmony said. It was the Internet company's mistake, he said.

 

Harmony said the sheriff's office apologized, but Nuckols mischaracterized the incident. Harmony said officers were wearing bulletproof vests and may have been in dark or camouflaged clothing, but were not carrying assault rifles or wearing helmets.

 

"The sheriff's department does regret that Mr. Nuckols and his family had to go through this, however we were operating under the scope of what we were supposed to do," he said.

 

He said officers had to secure the house to ensure their own safety. Harmony also said the sheriff's office conducted a successful search on the correct home Friday, finding child pornography and securing a statement from a man admitting he knowingly distributed it.

 

Nuckols said he has filed formal complaints with the Bedford and Pittsylvania sheriff's offices, who conducted the raid with members of child sex-crime unit Operation Blue Ridge Thunder.

 

The Bedford Sheriff's Office enlisted O'Neal to be the spokesman and public face of its anti-child pornography and child predator campaign, making him a deputy last year.

 

Harmony said O'Neal had been on search warrant executions before.

[Oil Can Boyd]

 

 

RIP Red ...

[wheelco]

here's to another season of watching only college ball and boycotting the NBA

 

[Duck-Billed Catechist]

I'm sure the Heat are off because of ring night, but they look really slow.

[bobbob1313]

We've started off slow the past three years, and the regular season doesn't really matter for us anyways.

[Duck-Billed Catechist]

We'll see. Have they looked slow as in bad in the past or slow as in they're playing in sand?

 

 

The Bulls have started badly the last couple seasons. Not sure that has any bearing ony anything.

[mountain bed]

Half of Indiana's roster is new from last year.I mentioned my unfamiliarity with the team to a co-worker & he informed me that I could check out roster info at the post office.Ha-fucking-ha.

[bobbob1313]

We'll see. Have they looked slow as in bad in the past or slow as in they're playing in sand?

The Bulls have started badly the last couple seasons. Not sure that has any bearing ony anything.

 

I'll say this:

 

I never expected a Pat Riley coached team to look that bad. Ever.

[cryptique]

I don't think too much can be read into last night's Bulls-Heat game.

 

That said, I think the Bulls are going to do pretty well this year. That's one hell of a deep bench they've got there. With luck, they'll be able to take some confidence from that game and get through their hellacious November schedule with a decent record.

[Guest Jules]

I don't think too much can be read into last night's Bulls-Heat game.

 

That said, I think the Bulls are going to do pretty well this year. That's one hell of a deep bench they've got there. With luck, they'll be able to take some confidence from that game and get through their hellacious November schedule with a decent record.

 

The Bulls were/are one of the favorites to win the whole thing this year (along with Miami, San Antonio, Dallas and Phoenix; all are 5-1 to win). The final score aside, what you can read into last night is that the Heat are old, slow and rusty. They're even talking about signing Jalen Rose! The Bulls are young, hungry, conditioned, and fun to watch. They have me interested in the NBA again. And it looks like they will ne able to keep this group together for a while.

 

I am trying to temper my enthusiasm, but it's hard when you look at their defense and overall depth. They still have no true scorer/star player, however.

[bobbob1313]

Old, slow, and rusty managed to win the NBA Finals last year.

 

I'll take it.

[Guest Jules]

Old, slow, and rusty managed to win the NBA Finals last year.

 

I'll take it.

 

It sure did. Don't get me wrong, the Heat will likely figure it out enough to get into the playoffs, probably with home court advantage (at least in the first round). And they have the experience. They must be hard to root for in their current state however.

[bobbob1313]

It sure did. Don't get me wrong, the Heat will likely figure it out enough to get into the playoffs, probably with home court advantage (at least in the first round). And they have the experience. They must be hard to root for in their current state however.

 

Yeah having arguably the most exciting player in the league is really hard to root for.

 

It must be real easy to root for Kirk Hinrich's 40% shooting percentage from the field, and Ben Wallace's constant airballs.

 

I'd say the Heat are still the favorite to win the East, and one game in October isn't going to change any of that. They came out flat, sure, but the regular season doesn't matter to this team. Shaq has stated numerous times that he doesn't care about the regular season, because with this team, it would take a catastrophe to miss the playoffs.

 

Also, you have to question why Gary Payton was running the point the entire game. I don't mind him being in the game, since he's our best option at PG with Williams out, but the offense needs to run through Dwayne Wade.

[MrRain422]

One game is meaningless. But I don't think the Heat will repeat regardless. They may still be the best team in the East, but it's a more competitive conference than it was last year, and they were already a pretty old team last season. Last year it was them and the Pistons (and sort of the Nets). This year, it's the Heat, the Bulls, the Cavs, the Pistons, and maybe still the Nets (although that's a big maybe).

 

I don't think there's a clear cut favorite in the East. The Heat do probably get a slight edge by virtue of winning it last year though.

 

I do think, though, that if Duncan and Ginnobli are healthy all year, that whoever comes out of the East won't matter much, because the Spurs should be dominant.

[bobbob1313]

Don't count out Orlando. If Grant Hill is healthy, Reddick shoots well, and they get consistent play from their guards, they'll be a pretty tough team, especially with Dwight Howard looking very much like the second coming of Shaq at the end of last season.

[MrRain422]

Orlando will be much improved, no doubt. And they'll definately be a strong playoff team. But a real contender? No way.

 

That being said, look out for Darko.

[Guest Jules]

Yeah having arguably the most exciting player in the league is really hard to root for.

 

It must be real easy to root for Kirk Hinrich's 40% shooting percentage from the field, and Ben Wallace's constant airballs.

 

I'd say the Heat are still the favorite to win the East, and one game in October isn't going to change any of that. They came out flat, sure, but the regular season doesn't matter to this team. Shaq has stated numerous times that he doesn't care about the regular season, because with this team, it would take a catastrophe to miss the playoffs.

 

You would take Hinrich on your team in a second. (and he shot 42% last year, by the way). I like to watch effort, unselfishness and hard work, especially in today's NBA, this is hard to find. The Bulls leading scorer from last year, Gordon, had 6 points last night and they won by 42 points. They are the deepest team in the NBA, and one of the best defensively.

 

Between Payton and Posey tripping and elbowing people every other time down the court and Shaq not even playing 60 games a year, yes I think it would be hard to root for them. Wade is amazing, I'll give you that, and I wish the Bulls had a stud offensive player like that. He was the only one with any balls last night.

 

And if Orlando is counting on Grant Hill and Redick, they have more problems than I thought. Dwight Howard, on the other hand, is a freak.

[bobbob1313]

You would take Hinrich on your team in a second. (and he shot 42% last year, by the way). I like to watch effort, unselfishness and hard work, especially in today's NBA, this is hard to find. The Bulls leading scorer from last year, Gordon, had 6 points last night and they won by 42 points. They are the deepest team in the NBA, and one of the best defensively.

 

Between Payton and Posey tripping and elbowing people every other time down the court and Shaq not even playing 60 games a year, yes I think it would be hard to root for them. Wade is amazing, I'll give you that, and I wish the Bulls had a stud offensive player like that. He was the only one with any balls last night.

 

And if Orlando is counting on Grant Hill and Redick, they have more problems than I thought. Dwight Howard, on the other hand, is a freak.

 

2%. Really? You're nitpicking, man.

 

Like I said, I'd rather not have Payton on the floor. Posey, I'll take, since he's a great defender. Shaq doesn't need to play in the regular season. They are going to make the playoffs regardless. I should repeat this a couple of more times...

 

It looks like the Magic are gonna be just fine with their team, judging by exactly one game (which was, of course enough for you to completely write the Heat off, so I guess it's good enough for me).

[MrRain422]

Pistons looked awful tonight.

[bobbob1313]

They obviously aren't going to make the playoffs.

[MrRain422]

I'm setting the over-under on 'Sheed ejections this year at 45.

[bobbob1313]

I'm setting the over-under on 'Sheed ejections this year at 45.

 

I'm setting the over-under on amount of games feature Adam Morrison crying like a 4 year old girl with a skinned knee at 28.

[mountain bed]

Hey,I know it's CHARLOTTE,fer chrissakes,but the Pacers looked pretty good (in the 2nd half,anyway).They're going to be deep again,almost overloaded at C/PF & PG.

 

I'm (for the first time in many years) dealing with severely diminished expectations,but a 5 spot in the Playoffs is a possibility.

[MrRain422]

I just found out tonight that the Pacers have Maceo Baston. So...they're finished.