SB Nation User Blog: olf

POLL: Which team will make the playoffs?

olf — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:13:49 -0000

It is a little over 1/4 of the way through the season already and while it is still very early, some things are starting to take shape.

So based on what you've seen so far, which of the following teams is most likely to make the playoffs at the end of this season?

(In the spirit of the holiday season I decided to focus on the positive. Perhaps after the new year there will be another poll asking which of the top 8 teams in the West is most likely to miss the playoffs.)

Playoff Race Fun Fact: Miami is currently the 5th seed in the East with a record of 13-11 (.542). That record would only earn them the 9th in the West and a lottery pick.

So tell us which of these teams will move up enough to make the playoffs this season?

Poll

POLL: Which team will make the playoffs?

Yahoo! Sports>Ariza suspended for swinging at Raptors player

olf — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:17:05 -0000

Yahoo! Sports>Ariza suspended for swinging at Raptors player

I knew that Ariza guy was trouble - Just a matter of time before he blew up.

This should be a YouTube of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr3KEbQ_Kag

4 Spurs make Sporting News-NBA’s Top 50 players

olf — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:43:45 -0000

4 Spurs make Sporting News-NBA’s Top 50 players

Sporting News’ list of the 50 greatest players in the NBA today, as selected by a panel of 107 Hall of Famers, major award winners, executives, current players and coaches and other basketball experts.

"West Playoff Forecast: Thunder In, Spurs Out"-Tim Legler, ESPN

olf — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:12:18 -0000

"West Playoff Forecast: Thunder In, Spurs Out"-Tim Legler, ESPN

Nice to see he has us in the number 1 seed. But it seems kind of early to count the Spurs out of the playoffs don't you think?

SBN: NBA Power Rankings, Week 3

olf — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:40:52 -0000

SBN: NBA Power Rankings, Week 3

Hey, in case you missed it, the all important SBN: NBA Power Rankings for Week 3 are out. Lakers No. 1. . .

Not bad for a team on a two-game losing streak. Hell I'm going to have a parade before tonight's game just in case.

I won't spoil the surprise for you. But let's just say you fans of other teams, be ready to use your mouse scroll wheel.

POLL: Is Phil Jackson more Laker or Bull?

olf — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:22:48 -0000

During Sunday night's Lakers vs. Hawk's game FSWest broadcast short interviews with Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and Pat Riley describing Elgin's retirement, the 33-game win streek and the first Laker championship in L A. They followed that up by showing a Classic 1972 NBA Finals game - Lakers vs. Knicks.

I only watched a bit of it but it was fun seeing West & Chamberlain out on the court. They look so different than even the 80's Lakers. I was surprised to see a young Phil Jackson out on the floor playing for the Knicks. (I keep forgetting that he has also won two rings as a player.)

To me Jerry West, Pat Riley and even Elgin Baylor will ALWAYS be Lakers even though Riley is in Miami, West was in Memphis and Elgin ran the Clips for many long years. But I realized that because Phil accomplished so much with the Bulls and Jordan that I still think of him as a Bull first. However when you look at it, he has taken the Lakers to 6 NBA Finals and won 4 Championships. So his Laker record is getting close to matching his Bull record.

(Disclaimer: I don't mean this post as a burn against Phil. While noone is perfect, he is obviously a great coach and the Lakers are lucky to have him.)

So now on to the question. . .

Poll

POLL: Do you see Phil as more Laker or more Bull?

He will always be a Bull first.

20 votes

I think of him as a combination of the two but still more Bull than Laker.

56 votes

I think of him as a combination of the two but mostly as a Laker first.

36 votes

He's already primarily a Laker

19 votes

Another ring (or two) and he'll primarily be a Laker.

39 votes

170 votes | Poll has closed

Most Popular NBA Jerseys in Europe

olf — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:15:25 -0000

Most Popular NBA Jerseys in Europe

OK, Kobe's #1 and Pau's up there. But look who is the highest-ranking European who is not a Laker.

Here's the list:
1. Kobe Bryant, Lakers
2. Kevin Garnett, Celtics
3. Pau Gasol, Lakers
4. LeBron James, Cavaliers
5. Dwyane Wade, Heat
6. Tony Parker, Spurs
7. Dwight Howard, Magic
8. Andrea Bargnani, Raptors
9. Jose Calderon, Raptors
10. Paul Pierce, Celtics
11. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
12. Rudy Fernandez, Trailblazers
13. Marco Belinelli, Warriors
14. Joakim Noah, Bulls
15. Gilbert Arenas, Wizards

nba.com-->broadcasting live streams from training camps

olf — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:47:51 -0000

nba.com-->broadcasting live streams from training camps

I know it is not specifically Spurs related but. . . live streams from training camp from Denver (today), then Lakers, Celtics, Wizzards & Hawks. Also scheduled to be rebroadcast on NBA-TV.

If you can get past the hate, it might be interesting.

NBA.com - International Play and NBA Players

olf — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:26:12 -0000

NBA.com - International Play and NBA Players

Here is an article that discusses how most NBA teams address players who want to play internationally, in "charity" games or to keep in shape over the summer.

Poll: Greatest obstacle to Lakers repeating as champions?

olf — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:11:11 -0000

OK, real simple question. As the preseason starts, what is the greatest obsticale to Lakers repeating as champions in 2010?

Is it a challenger in the West?

Spurs: They've been making moves all off-season and now have 21 people listed on their roster. Always annoying, seems like health concerns will remain a big factor in their success this season.

Blazers: I don't know what the right phrase is for fans who hold a parade before their first playoff game but I am pretty sure it starts with "premature".

Nuggets: Really?

Mavericks: Really, really??

Is it a challenger in the East?
(Obviously the Lakers would only face one of these teams and only in The Finals.)

Celtics: Celtics fans seem to think they deserved to win it all last year and that KG's knees are the biggest issue facing the entire NBA. They also believe they don't get enough love from the national press for how awesome their team is (and is going to be.) But whatever you do, don't call them arrogant.

Cavaliers: My biggest question is can Shaq stay out of the way?

Magic: Dwight is a big man but the Lakers did pretty well against him in June.

Or Is it something else?

Ed: Apologies to the first 3 voters. They voted before I added the last poll option.

Poll

Poll: Greatest obstacle to Lakers repeating as champions?

Blazers

13 votes

Cavaliers

19 votes

Celtics

52 votes

Magic

0 votes

Mavericks

0 votes

Nuggets

4 votes

Spurs

17 votes

Lakers' own boredom or lack of focus

94 votes

Something else (please comment)

21 votes

Lakers incorporating new players

14 votes

234 votes | Poll has closed