basketball IQ isn't a must. But it's so much better to be a smart basketball player vs. a athletic basketball player. Witness Shaq. Guy should'a won 10 championships, but he's not a basketball player. He's a huge guy who has one post move.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Yeah He ONLY won 4. That argument is terrible, if you take away his athleticism and give him BB IQ he wins 0 titles

if he'd had one ounce of basketball smarts (passing department especially, but also defensive smarts) the Rockets don't win in '94 and Shaq wins the next four, not Jordan. I'm not saying take ALL of his athletic ability away.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Im not so sure about that. In 94 he was going up against one of the best defensive centers of all time, and Shaq was still very young. The Rockets dismantled that young magic team in nearly every matchup.

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I think you are underestimating Shaq.

There are other players who had similar size that were never nearly as good. I'd say he has more basketball smarts than someone like Yao.

He should get credit for not fouling out of every game he ever played or you should hate the referees who didn't call those fouls.

He wasn't just a big strong guy.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

careful. Had it not been for the free throw misses by a certain former fighting Illini, that series could have been completely different. The complexion of it changed dramatically. As a Rockets fan, I have every game of that series on tape and granted, Hakeem was unreal, but the Magic just assumed they were going to roll. The games were relatively close. The Rockets just got most of the breaks. Oh, and Otis Thorpe was extremely underrated.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

The Best. He was the best player in the NBA those years. Loved the Dream.

Agree with Rick. Shaq was a pretty smart basketball player. He's selfish, and sometimes lets that effect his play and smarts, but he is smart. LaMarcus Aldridge? Keep him. Especially for $15 million a year. A big guy who hates to play inside, cant rebound, and cant play defense. Very overrated player. Not sure if Oden will be good, certainly had a pretty bad rookie season. Portland does draft well but Prtichard got Paxson-syndrome and fell in love with his picks, overpays some that dont deserve it, and refuses to move 3 assets to get a superstar to compliment Roy, their only legit star. Rudy Fernandez would be a better example of their shrewd drafting than Outlaw, although he is a good player too.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Rudy's overrated.

Where's my pre-season NBA team analysis, FF?

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

My bad. PM'ed you. Rudy is NOT overrated. He's gonna be a damn good starter for a long time in this league.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

good to have you back, FF...we need to have that yearly Tyson Chandler argument again sometime soon...

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Yeah.. well.. rough year last year. Now he doesnt even have Paul to get 2-3 easy buckets a game. I dont think Charlotte is a good fit at all. Im kinda mad OKC didnt land him.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

They'll make the playoffs. But I'm glad to see you're siding towards my view now...or was that Nas?

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Nas, we haven't had a good NBA argument since Rose/Beasley. Start something.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Loved him since draft night. You really think Hawes is better Nas?

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

So you're saying it wasn't Shaq's fault that the Magic lost, then?

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If you're trying to pin me down to it not all being Shaq's fault, I give. Nick should have made at least one of those free throws. And somebody should have guarded Maxwell/Kenny Smith and not let 'em set mini records for three pointers made...

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Get the ball to Hakeem in the low post....Hakeem schools Shaq

Repeat.

So when does the write-in All Star ballot campaign start?

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

Anytime I am tempted to think Cof is basketball smart, I reread this thread.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

noah has suprised even me this year. Him and deng have consistently been our best players

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I wouldnt even have a problem voting for him for the all star team. unfortunately there is a log jam of good big men ahead of him so he doesnt have a chance. he is all star caliber...so far this year

^^ He also, for whatever reason, failed to be nominated by the Bulls for All-Star consideration.

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

Noah's numbers this season:

12.1 pts 12.4 rebs 2.2 ast 2 blk


Noah's numbers the last 5 games:

14.8 pts 14.8 rebs 2.2 ast 2 blk


Those are some pretty impressive numbers, no matter how you cut it.

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You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

Agreed. He has nearly doubled his averages for points and rebounds this season. If he keeps up these averages he is a lock for Most Improved Player.

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I don't want to get carried away, but Joakim Noah should be on the All-Star ballot. The fact he's not is a shame in my opinion. If he keeps this up, he deserves consideration for Dallas, ballot or no ballot.

I think if he's still leading the league in rebounding by the break, then he gets in. I can't believe it, I was so against the pick, but damn if Noah isn't one of my favorite Bulls to watch.

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Raoh: At this moment, I'm more powerful than you ever were. I am fist of the north star.
Ryûken: I don't agree and I never shall. Go and do what you must Raoh, but never set foot in this dojo again!

Guys, if memory serves, the Bulls got Joakim Noah with the #9 overall pick, and part of the Eddy Curry trade with the Knicks I believe in 2006...

joakim noah's ceiling is the hyper-belt.

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

he was a pick that came from the curry deal. i remember because i was pissed that they wasted it on that clown. ive changed my mind. not about him being a clown though hes still a goofy ass looking dude