[mark-2007]

QUOTE (DOOM! @ Saturday, May 18 2013, 18:33)

Seattle fans annoy me. They didn't show up for the Supersonics and they wouldn't approve a new stadium, which is why the moved to OKC, and now people act salty towards OKC and whine in general about not having a team. Maybe when ya'll had one, you should've showed up. Now people are acting like they are the most deserving of a expansion team...

Expect that, looking at attendance figures, Seattle did show up for the Sonics. In the 2006-07 season, they averaged 15,955 at their home games which is 25th in the league (ahead of the Hawks, Bobcats, Pacers, 76ers and Grizzlies). However, when you look at it as a percentage of their maximum attendance, they jump up to 12th in the league with 93.5% attendance, ahead of teams such as the Warriors and the Celtics, who have notoriously loud and loyal fans. (Only 7 teams averaged 100% attendance.) Attendance did drop in the final season in Seattle, as you would expect when the future of your team is in doubt - why bother putting your money, attention and time into a team who may not be there come next season? - not to mention a 20-62 record, which would cause a drop in attendance in most cities - the Kings have been floating around the low 80s/70s in attendance %, as have the Bobcats and the post-LeBron Cavs and the Pistons only managed 67% this year. Even still, they placed 20th in attendance % with 13,355.

Now you could, of course, go on to say that they should have approved a new arena since KeyArena was the smallest in the league. However, "they" - if we're talking about the fans - aren't in a position to make that decision. Granted, they help elect the people who are, and so are accountable indirectly. As for the politicians who were behind rejecting the arena plans, you could argue that, as the city supported the Sonics, it could be seen as in the public interest to approve a new arena. However, why should the city and the people have to fork out for a bunch of billionaires to build an arena in order to then watch a bunch of millionaires?

I haven't seen all that much ill will outside of the "Beat OKC" signs that show up when the Thunder make a Playoff run, and I think even that hate is directed at Clay Bennett and the owners. And who can blame the fans on that part? He bought the team under false pretenses (leaked emails suggested he and fellow members of the ownership group planned to move the team even before they purchased it see here, co-owner Aubrey McClendon publicly said so and was promptly fined by the NBA for his slip of the tongue, and the half-arsed Seattle arena proposal that Bennett and co did make was out in the suburbs, iirc).

I don't think anyone questions that OKC is a great place to have an NBA team - from the games I've seen, there's a good atmosphere in their arena. I think that, out of the current cities looking for expansion teams, Seattle is right up there, certainly better than Las Vegas and Virginia Beach, who came up when the Kings tried to move a season or two ago.

As for the recent NBA rejection of Seattle, there are a few fishy things about it. Firstly, Hansen and Ballmer, the two Seattle owners, intended to fund the stadiums themselves, rather than have the city of Seattle fund it. This is something I imagine many NBA owners would want to discourage because, as it stands, they can use their ownership of the team as a huge bargaining chip in getting the city to pay for their shiny new stadiums and save themselves hundreds of millions of $$$. Furthermore, the owners also benefit from rejecting Seattle as it allows them to have Seattle as a threat looming over any future cities who refuse to pay for their stadiums, a sort of "well if you won't pay for it, we'll go elsewhere" scenario as seen with the relationship between the NFL and Los Angeles. On top of that, Bennett himself heads the NBA's relocation committee and, I could well be wrong no this one, promised to pay the city of Seattle $30m if they didn't receive an NBA team within five years of the settlement - meaning, I think, June this year.

Sorry for the length, but hope that clears some things up.

This post has been edited by mark-2007 on Monday, May 20 2013, 04:06

[Funktipus]

QUOTE (DOOM! @ Sunday, May 19 2013, 19:50)

Well, that's what happens when you rely so heavily on the jumpshot and you have inconsistent players on your squad.

Yep, you're in trouble if you have to rely on J.R. Smith for consistency. Knicks have to find someone who can light it up every night. Carmelo did all he could do.

I love Amar'e's comments about wanting to meet with Woodson to have his role 'defined'. Please. How about you staying healthy for more than a week?

[DOOM!]

QUOTE (mark-2007 @ Monday, May 20 2013, 04:01)

QUOTE (DOOM! @ Saturday, May 18 2013, 18:33) Seattle fans annoy me. They didn't show up for the Supersonics and they wouldn't approve a new stadium, which is why the moved to OKC, and now people act salty towards OKC and whine in general about not having a team. Maybe when ya'll had one, you should've showed up. Now people are acting like they are the most deserving of a expansion team... Expect that, looking at attendance figures, Seattle did show up for the Sonics. In the 2006-07 season, they averaged 15,955 at their home games which is 25th in the league (ahead of the Hawks, Bobcats, Pacers, 76ers and Grizzlies). However, when you look at it as a percentage of their maximum attendance, they jump up to 12th in the league with 93.5% attendance, ahead of teams such as the Warriors and the Celtics, who have notoriously loud and loyal fans. (Only 7 teams averaged 100% attendance.) Attendance did drop in the final season in Seattle, as you would expect when the future of your team is in doubt - why bother putting your money, attention and time into a team who may not be there come next season? - not to mention a 20-62 record, which would cause a drop in attendance in most cities - the Kings have been floating around the low 80s/70s in attendance %, as have the Bobcats and the post-LeBron Cavs and the Pistons only managed 67% this year. Even still, they placed 20th in attendance % with 13,355. Now you could, of course, go on to say that they should have approved a new arena since KeyArena was the smallest in the league. However, "they" - if we're talking about the fans - aren't in a position to make that decision. Granted, they help elect the people who are, and so are accountable indirectly. As for the politicians who were behind rejecting the arena plans, you could argue that, as the city supported the Sonics, it could be seen as in the public interest to approve a new arena. However, why should the city and the people have to fork out for a bunch of billionaires to build an arena in order to then watch a bunch of millionaires? I haven't seen all that much ill will outside of the "Beat OKC" signs that show up when the Thunder make a Playoff run, and I think even that hate is directed at Clay Bennett and the owners. And who can blame the fans on that part? He bought the team under false pretenses (leaked emails suggested he and fellow members of the ownership group planned to move the team even before they purchased it see here, co-owner Aubrey McClendon publicly said so and was promptly fined by the NBA for his slip of the tongue, and the half-arsed Seattle arena proposal that Bennett and co did make was out in the suburbs, iirc). I don't think anyone questions that OKC is a great place to have an NBA team - from the games I've seen, there's a good atmosphere in their arena. I think that, out of the current cities looking for expansion teams, Seattle is right up there, certainly better than Las Vegas and Virginia Beach, who came up when the Kings tried to move a season or two ago. As for the recent NBA rejection of Seattle, there are a few fishy things about it. Firstly, Hansen and Ballmer, the two Seattle owners, intended to fund the stadiums themselves, rather than have the city of Seattle fund it. This is something I imagine many NBA owners would want to discourage because, as it stands, they can use their ownership of the team as a huge bargaining chip in getting the city to pay for their shiny new stadiums and save themselves hundreds of millions of $$$. Furthermore, the owners also benefit from rejecting Seattle as it allows them to have Seattle as a threat looming over any future cities who refuse to pay for their stadiums, a sort of "well if you won't pay for it, we'll go elsewhere" scenario as seen with the relationship between the NFL and Los Angeles. On top of that, Bennett himself heads the NBA's relocation committee and, I could well be wrong no this one, promised to pay the city of Seattle $30m if they didn't receive an NBA team within five years of the settlement - meaning, I think, June this year. Sorry for the length, but hope that clears some things up.

You did clear things up. I'm just a OKC native, who gets pissy when I hear Seattle natives bitch and moan about the whole situation. Thunder play some crappy artist song at the beginning of each game, and he recently came out and said he didn't want them playing his song... by the way, he is a Seattle native.

I was under the impression that the Sonics had non-loyal fans, and were to cheap to get a new stadium. That's what ESPN made it seem like back when all of it was going down.

Dwight visits Kupchak.

Dwight Howard can deny he is a coach killer all he wants, but with his infamous stint with Van Gundy and now this, I don't think it's a coincidence at all this is happening. Dwight is a 7 foot child.

This post has been edited by DOOM! on Tuesday, May 21 2013, 04:49

[Funktipus]

QUOTE (DOOM! @ Tuesday, May 21 2013, 03:20)

Dwight visits Kupchak. Dwight Howard can deny he is a coach killer all he wants, but with his infamous stint with Van Gundy and now this, I don't think it's a coincidence at all this is happening. Dwight is a 7 foot child.

Yes, Dwight is immature, but D'Antoni is a joke, and the wrong coach for this team. He's too stubborn to adjust his system to fit the talent at his disposal. I had enough of Pringles in NY. I did handstands the day he left.

[UrbanTheEmcee]

damn, Damn, DAMN!

Pacers played with my emotions tonight. This is going to be a good ass series right here.
Where the f*ck was Lance Stephenson tonight?!? Why was Hibbert on the bench in the last minute?!?

Don't you hate it when your team is on the losing end of a classic. Next game baby. Go Pacers!

This post has been edited by UrbanTheEmcee on Thursday, May 23 2013, 21:15

[Capricornus]

I don't have a favorite team, but I love and enjoy some great Basketball and I witnessed it with this Pacers v Heat game tonight. I am rooting for the Pacers to win the series only because they are the underdog. What a thrilling game and finish. I agree, Hibbert should have been on the floor in the last seconds. Lebron probably would not have made that shot.

[DOOM!]

I think you're kidding yourself if you honestly think LeBron wouldn't have made that shot with Hibbert on the court. LeBron James is someone who will not be stopped, and considering it is the Eastern Conference Finals, it doesn't help the freight train they call LeBron from making any shot... and that has been evident this year.

Regardless, I would've had Hibbert in the game if it was my team. Two seconds left? I would've told him to just stand in the paint and put his hands up.

LBJ Layup<LBJ Free Throws

This post has been edited by DOOM! on Thursday, May 23 2013, 12:56

[gta_player5]

I would have left Hibbert in the game. If Vogel was worried about Chris Bosh stretching out to the three-point line, let him. I would let Chris Bosh take an 18+ foot jumper than let LeBron get to the rim. I'd take my chances with making LeBron dribble once and hit a pull-up jumper than letting him get to the basket. He is the best finisher at the rim in the NBA. While he has greatly improved his jump shot in the last couple of years, I would be much more comfortable making him shoot the ball than letting him do what he does best. LeBron was stopped twice and turned the ball over the last three possessions Hibbert was in the game. The first two possessions without Hibbert, LeBron scores four points, including the game-winner.

[UrbanTheEmcee]

Game 2 tonight. If the Pacers cut down these turnovers, and dominate the rim it's a wrap.

@DOOM!: I know why you feel that way, but this ain't last year. The Pacers have top 5 defense unlike the Thunder. If Thunder had our Defense they might be champs. If we had a healthy Danny Granger it would be a much different series too.

[DOOM!]

QUOTE (UrbanTheEmcee @ Friday, May 24 2013, 14:16)

Game 2 tonight. If the Pacers cut down these turnovers, and dominate the rim it's a wrap. @DOOM!: I know why you feel that way, but this ain't last year. The Pacers have top 5 defense unlike the Thunder. If Thunder had our Defense they might be champs. If we had a healthy Danny Granger it would be a much different series too.

I understand your a Pacers fan, but don't undermine LeBron James. He has proven he can get to the bucket regardless of who is in the game.

And I wouldn't say it'd be a different series with Danny Granger. If you had a healthy Granger this year, you'd probably not see the development of Paul George happen so rapidly this year. Danny Granger wouldn't be the problem, and it isn't even Paul George, it's the big men the Pacers have that can dominate the paint and rebound over Miami. Although, Chris Anderson is stepping up big for the Heat.

[UrbanTheEmcee]

QUOTE (DOOM! @ Friday, May 24 2013, 14:30)

QUOTE (UrbanTheEmcee @ Friday, May 24 2013, 14:16) Game 2 tonight. If the Pacers cut down these turnovers, and dominate the rim it's a wrap. @DOOM!: I know why you feel that way, but this ain't last year. The Pacers have top 5 defense unlike the Thunder. If Thunder had our Defense they might be champs. If we had a healthy Danny Granger it would be a much different series too. I understand your a Pacers fan, but don't undermine LeBron James. He has proven he can get to the bucket regardless of who is in the game. And I wouldn't say it'd be a different series with Danny Granger. If you had a healthy Granger this year, you'd probably not see the development of Paul George happen so rapidly this year. Danny Granger wouldn't be the problem, and it isn't even Paul George, it's the big men the Pacers have that can dominate the paint and rebound over Miami. Although, Chris Anderson is stepping up big for the Heat.

Game 2 goes to the Pacers, and home court is now in Indy baby. Hibbert and his beautiful mini sky hook was a real factor tonight.

@DOOM!: LeBron is a force, it just hurts to know that. Your right about Paul George needing that space to grow, I still wish Granger was able to return for the playoffs. Hope to see him back next year.

[DOOM!]

Just in case you missed it.




That was real nasty.

[Capricornus]

Damn, what an excellent game. As I said, I don't have a favorite team but I love me a great Basketball game. I really hope this series will continue to be a great one.

[DOOM!]

That it was. It's funny, how most people were praising for LeBron's clutch play as of late, but tonight was the polar opposite of clutch play. 2 Turnovers in last 3 minutes of 4th quarter and it doesn't matter what his stat line is.