Official 2011-2012 NBA Thread

[Tornado]

The question on everybody's mind:

Is there even going to be a season? And if so, when will it start?

Personally, I feel like the lack of a season doesn't impact the players as much as missing a season in the NFL would have. These guys can all go overseas and play (in some cases for more money), the need to come back to the NBA can't be as strong as it was for the NFL.

But, I still think it will end sooner rather than later. I think we'll have a shortened season though, maybe another 50 game season like in '99.

Thoughts?

[Diablo]

I'm trying so hard to not get excited but John Wall is everywhere in the off-season killing every league he has been playing in and it's hard. But it sucks, I'm not sure we will even have a season. I guess our hope is for a shortened one at this point. :-/

[FranklinTard]

the rockets won't matter for a few years anyway... but i think we will have a season just a shorter one. although it took them forever to even meet. wouldn't surprise me if we lost a season.

[Tornado]

My Suns are going to be awful and probably lottery bound, but I still can't wait for the season to start up. You'll never catch me watching a random NFL game if the Bears aren't playing, I'm interested in the sport like that. But the NBA? I'll sit and watch random Kings/Warriors games for no reason, only just out of appreciation for the sport. If the NFL didn't figure out their lockout issue, I would have been irritated but it wouldn't have bothered me as much as I'm sure it would others. But if the NBA doesn't figure out its issues and we lose an entire season? I'll be depressed.

[FranklinTard]

sucks 2k12 doesn't have any rookies thanks to no collective bargaining agreement.

not like a buncha rookies are gonna make a huge difference, but still. hurting the brand.

[Tornado]

I'm still going to buy it. I wonder if, in the even that there is no season at all, what 2K would do for people who buy 2K12. It would feel wrong to not have some compensation thrown at us... maybe they release a new game but also update the rosters of 2K12 as the season progresses as well.

Either way, the legends mode and updates to My Player have me hook, line, and sinker. I'm in.

[Tornado]

Sounds like they're meeting Friday and on through the weekend. This is the first time I've been optimistic about the lockout, get it done guys!

In other news, NBA 2K12 comes out six days from now. I'd be more excited if they get the lockout figured out by then, but it's still a day 1 purchase for me. Had my copy pre-ordered from Amazon for the last month. Wonder which cover they'll ship me... Hoping for Bird.

[FranklinTard]

i would imagine they are region specific. but amazon might throw the monkey wrench in.

i'll wait on a 20 dollar sale before i grab it. still doubt they get much done this weekend.

[Tornado]

Stern is threatening to cancel the season if progress isn't made this weekend. That's a strange move, in my opinion. These guys obviously want to play in the NBA, but a lot of them can go overseas and play ball. This tactic would have been more useful in the NFL in my opinion; those guys wouldn't go play in the CFL or arena ball or something.

It's supposed to be completely random (cover selection, that is). This initial shipment is 1/3 Jordan, 1/3 Magic, 1/3 Bird. All following shipments will be 100% Jordan.

[ViRUs]

I highly doubt anyone big is going to go overseas and play. Thats really just a ploy for the players to play in the NBA sooner.

I'm betting we'll see a shortened season mostly because the regular season is so irrelevant in basketball anyway. I can already practically predict the teams that are going to make it, and the handful of teams that have a serious chance of winning it all.

[Tornado]

I don't know, I could see some high profile guys signing overseas for a year if the NBA indeed does cancel the entire season... which is sadly starting to look more and more likely.

[FranklinTard]

why wouldn't they go over if the season isn't going on? why waste your prime years?

[Tornado]

My copy of NBA 2K12 showed up on my doorstep today (Magic Johnson cover... who was my third choice, oh well, not the end of the world). My Player is insanely deep this year. I also played the late 90's Jazz/Lakers Legends game (decided I wanted to go in reverse order, so I've got Jerry West next).

So far, after about three hours of play, I'm very pleased. Planning to spend the rest of the night with My Player. I was drafted 13th overall by the SUNS! Very happy about that. That never happened with 2K11, so I was glad to see it on my first try with 2K12.

[DarthVader 2004]

They need to put Stern and Rodger Goodell on a raft in shark infested waters. I don't watch much basketball anymore. I liked it best in the 80 and 90s with greats like Jordan, Barkley, Malone and Magic Johnson, and so on

[Tornado]

Why David Stern? He's the best commissioner in any professional league. It's not Stern's fault that NBA players (professional athletes in general really) are greedy.

[FranklinTard]

yes i'm sure the owners are not greedy at all...

i think it is a lotta complaining for what, in the end will be very similar to the previous cba.

[ViRUs]

Isnt it mostly about not losing money? How can it be the mostly the same if some 20 teams were not making any money?

[FranklinTard]

the owners say that, but the players union says show us the books, and the owners say no.

so you tell me.

if the union successfully decertifies, they can sue the owners in court to unleash the actual numbers. which would probably end with a more fair deal for all involved in my opinion... but the owners say it won't. but it will make the players look like the bad guys (remember the last couple weeks of the nfl strike? how public opinion shifted quickly... and brees has to issue actual statements justifying their actions, absurd), which are obviously already being painted as 'greedy'.

[DarthVader 2004]

To be honest someone like me cannot understand the Lockout process. I mean Basketball and Football players make more money then I'll ever see. Playing a game we played in the back yard or at a gym. Sorry if I don't feel sorry for athletes. And be it Stern or Goodell are to blame for these lock outs. Waiting till the time runs out is poor league management.
They should redo these deals a year in advance so fans don't get cheated. While yes I may be wrong about the value of athletes for suppose there money is worth bodily risk.
I Just don't get how a single person can go through Millions and wine about non compensation.

[FranklinTard]

a rising tide lifts all boats.

i'm not the one who should decide what you think your job is worth. i think everyone should go for the best deal, not "be happy with what you have" i think thats bull****.

[DarthVader 2004]

Do you really think a person who has 80-100 million dollar contract should be complaining about what they get. On the other hand owners are often bully type people and usually bosses mostly give there employees the cheapest payment possible. I think players should do deals that benefit after playing careers. Why not argue for money to be put into retirement of medical. Then what there piece of the now pie.
I don't want to see anyone shafted of course but also one has to wonder with Sterns threats that the players will loose more if the leagues main guy is bullying things.
I just think the NBA players are gonna be shafted if owners have stern bullying the whole process.

[ViRUs]

Originally Posted by FranklinTard

the owners say that, but the players union says show us the books, and the owners say no.

so you tell me.

if the union successfully decertifies, they can sue the owners in court to unleash the actual numbers. which would probably end with a more fair deal for all involved in my opinion... but the owners say it won't. but it will make the players look like the bad guys (remember the last couple weeks of the nfl strike? how public opinion shifted quickly... and brees has to issue actual statements justifying their actions, absurd), which are obviously already being painted as 'greedy'.

Yeah, thats a good point. I just think it will be different than in football because there isnt such a high demand fo basketball.

Originally Posted by RedVader 2004

Do you really think a person who has 80-100 million dollar contract should be complaining about what they get. On the other hand owners are often bully type people and usually bosses mostly give there employees the cheapest payment possible. I think players should do deals that benefit after playing careers. Why not argue for money to be put into retirement of medical. Then what there piece of the now pie.
I don't want to see anyone shafted of course but also one has to wonder with Sterns threats that the players will loose more if the leagues main guy is bullying things.
I just think the NBA players are gonna be shafted if owners have stern bullying the whole process.

I mean, that sounds good on paper. But no player is going to do that. The amount of money you make is a way to show how much talent you have. They're making millions of dollars a year, they will be fine once they retire, unless you're Tiki Barber of course.

I dont see why you are blaming Stern so much. He doesnt seem to be doing as bad of a job as say Goodell was during the lockout. Actually, his threats are the only thing that seems to get these two sides moving.

[DarthVader 2004]

I say that because Stern works for the owners like most Commissioners in sports do. I have heard no one call these players selfish. While the nfl players were bashed pretty bad.
For me as long as there is Baseball, Football and Nascar I'll live. NBA players use to make the sport great to watch. Players like Kobi and James kinda turn me off basketball.
The only player that I like these days is D Wade and Carmillo. My team i guess is Still the Bulls and Pistons

[ViRUs]

I could see Lebron, but Kobe really does have a love and respect for the game. I've always felt that Lebron spent too much time on himself off the court than any other player.

[Tornado]

Through six of those 2K12 Legends challenges. I'm not as into them as I was the Jordan challenges last year, they're just not as exciting to me. The only reason I'm playing through them as quickly as I am right now is because when Arkham City comes out, I'm dropping 2K until I beat Batman and I want to finish them before that happens. I have nine to go and I'm playing about one a day... I should be able to do it.