Dukies in the NBA 2014-15 Edition

[AIRFORCEDUKIE]

I think it is important to note that the Heat don't actually have to carry 15 players. They have to carry at least 13, and most teams carry 14 or 15. But not every team carries 15 players (usually for financial/cap reasons). So it is possible (though definitely not a given) that both Birch and Dawkins get cut. But regardless, the bolded part above is almost certainly true. Best of luck to Dawkins. Could he be the next Anthony Morrow (guy who wasn't consistently an impact player in college but made it in the NBA)?

I will see if I can find the article later, but I read that the Heat were planning on keeping 15 due to injury concerns and the need to manage minutes for some aging players cough (Dwade) ahem. Also McBob, and Deng have been a little slow to get going due to injuries as well. But you have a good point they could both be cut. Heres hoping that Andre sticks, I think he can manage a Ray Allen type role, obviously not as pronounced but you never know.

[CDu]

I will see if I can find the article later, but I read that the Heat were planning on keeping 15 due to injury concerns and the need to manage minutes for some aging players cough (Dwade) ahem. Also McBob, and Deng have been a little slow to get going due to injuries as well. But you have a good point they could both be cut. Heres hoping that Andre sticks, I think he can manage a Ray Allen type role, obviously not as pronounced but you never know.

Yeah, I'm by no means saying that the Heat are likely to cut two (or 3) more players. Just that it is possible. Given that the Heat have plenty of space below the luxury tax line (due to a certain player bailing on them), they may be more inclined to keep 15. For Dawkins' sake, let's hope so.

[AIRFORCEDUKIE]

Yeah, I'm by no means saying that the Heat are likely to cut two (or 3) more players. Just that it is possible. Given that the Heat have plenty of space below the luxury tax line (due to a certain player bailing on them), they may be more inclined to keep 15. For Dawkins' sake, let's hope so.

Player? what Player? I am not familiar with this incident...

On a serious note, have you guys seen that awful Lebron Coming home Nike Commercial with his mother? She welcomes him home to Akron like she wasn't here in Miami getting arrested and acting a fool the whole time he was in Miami. The anger inside us Miami fans is building ever so slowly. To quote the commercials background music "Amen"

[CDu]

Player? what Player? I am not familiar with this incident...

On a serious note, have you guys seen that awful Lebron Coming home Nike Commercial with his mother? She welcomes him home to Akron like she wasn't here in Miami getting arrested and acting a fool the whole time he was in Miami. The anger inside us Miami fans is building ever so slowly. To quote the commercials background music "Amen"

I think the funniest part of the "coming home" angle is that James later said in an interview that "if Miami had won the title last year, he'd probably still be there." So while the whole "coming home" presentation made for a nice story, it seems that the sincerity of that message was overstated. It seems pretty clear to me that "moving to a group with a better chance to win more titles" was the bigger driver of his decision, and "coming home" was just an added bonus.

That said, I have trouble feeling much sympathy for Miami fans in this case. Y'all lucked into the Big Three to begin with; seems only fair that the team most traumatized by The Decision 1.0 would be the team to benefit most from The Decision 2.0. Hard to feel sorry for you and your four straight Finals appearances.*

* Note: this is coming from a Bulls fan who got no sympathy for our plight post-Jordan. Them's the breaks.

[theAlaskanBear]

https://twitter.com/IraHeatBeat/stat...25857087569920

seems like Andre might make the team as a 3-pt specialist.

[Des Esseintes]

I think the funniest part of the "coming home" angle is that James later said in an interview that "if Miami had won the title last year, he'd probably still be there." So while the whole "coming home" presentation made for a nice story, it seems that the sincerity of that message was overstated. It seems pretty clear to me that "moving to a group with a better chance to win more titles" was the bigger driver of his decision, and "coming home" was just an added bonus.

That said, I have trouble feeling much sympathy for Miami fans in this case. Y'all lucked into the Big Three to begin with; seems only fair that the team most traumatized by The Decision 1.0 would be the team to benefit most from The Decision 2.0. Hard to feel sorry for you and your four straight Finals appearances.*

* Note: this is coming from a Bulls fan who got no sympathy for our plight post-Jordan. Them's the breaks.

Complete agreement. The argument that LeBron did more for Miami is waaay stronger than the argument Miami did more for LeBron. They had a great four years, brought about by free agency, and it has come to a close, again by free agency. LBJ observed the good camper rule of leaving the site better than he found it. Hard to see what the fanbase would have to feel resentful about.

[sagegrouse]

Complete agreement. The argument that LeBron did more for Miami is waaay stronger than the argument Miami did more for LeBron. They had a great four years, brought about by free agency, and it has come to a close, again by free agency. LBJ observed the good camper rule of leaving the site better than he found it. Hard to see what the fanbase would have to feel resentful about.

I am still flabbergasted that LeBron returned to Cleveland after all the garbage they dumped on him four years ago and, also, because it's Cleveland, not NY, LA, or Miami. When you are the most famous player in the world's second most popular sport, I suppose you can have a pretty good life living anywhere. It's a different time from when, first, Wilt and then Kareem went to LA for the lifestyle as much as for the basketball.

[AIRFORCEDUKIE]

Were not resentful and we are very happy about the four years we got. Also losing James and picking up Deng was really amazing and shows what a quality organization The Heat are. I think the part that we as Heat fans are resentful about is that when he came to Miami we were the bad guys and all Heat fans are all the sudden band wagoners. However now he goes back to The Cavs and the reaction was yay for Lebron and yay for Cleveland. Also Bron didnt talk to anyone with the Heat when he clearly knew he was going. Pat Riley could have made more moves had he had more time in my opinion. But Bron lead him on when he knew exactly what he was going to do. But we love the guy for the four years and cant complain. Some Heat fans may say different but tjats my opinion.

[Billy Dat]

I think the part that we as Heat fans are resentful about is that when he came to Miami we were the bad guys and all Heat fans are all the sudden band wagoners. However now he goes back to The Cavs and the reaction was yay for Lebron and yay for Cleveland.

The move to Miami never would have resulted in the outpouring of bile if they hadn't had "The Decision" TV show and then that ridiculous pep rally. But, as an opposing fan, I never felt any ill will toward the Miami fans. I also heard Bill Simmons lauding the Miami fans for creating a great atmosphere during the Lebron era - every good team has tons of bandwagon fans.. I think the return was treated so warmly because people were happy for the maligned Cleveland fanbase. Miami is a great organization, as evidenced by their not making the same mistake with DWade that the Lakers made in overpaying Kobe.

Aside:
Although, on that score, Henry Abbott's scathing recent ESPN the Mag article about Kobe pointed out that the Lakers billions+ local TV deal moves proportionally to ratings, and Kobe delivers ratings even in his decline. Also, the big shot front row season ticket guys apparently coordinated an effort to call the front office and say "pay Kobe or we aren't going to renew!" Young Jimmy Buss, according to Abbott, is trying to give Kobe the rope to hang himself so, if they suck and can't get any free agents (two likely scenarios) the path will be blazed to lt him walk when this contract is done (or maybe he retires). It just goes to show that some moves that don't make sense from the outside often make a lot of sense from a different perspective and set of priorities and pressures.

Anyway - good luck tonight, Dre!

[Mike Corey]

I am still flabbergasted that LeBron returned to Cleveland after all the garbage they dumped on him four years ago and, also, because it's Cleveland

His marketability and likability have absolutely and utterly soared. Everyone loves a prodigal son story (except Miamians. And ADIDAS.) And I think the financial windfall from the move will reap benefits for years or decades to come.

[AIRFORCEDUKIE]

Ill admit to being a band wagon fan, I did't become a huge Heat fan until Shane Battier came along then it was hook line and sinker. Now we have Deng, McRoberts and hopefully Andre Dawkins. I am actually looking forward to this season of Heat Hoops more so than last year, if only Battier was still here. Now we are a little under the radar and the expectations are different. Its no longer championship or bust. Its make the playoffs and see if we can meet Lebron in the Eastern Conf Finals for a really fun matchup with the Cavs.

[theAlaskanBear]

Ill admit to being a band wagon fan, I did't become a huge Heat fan until Shane Battier came along then it was hook line and sinker. Now we have Deng, McRoberts and hopefully Andre Dawkins. I am actually looking forward to this season of Heat Hoops more so than last year, if only Battier was still here. Now we are a little under the radar and the expectations are different. Its no longer championship or bust. Its make the playoffs and see if we can meet Lebron in the Eastern Conf Finals for a really fun matchup with the Cavs.

hmm, #8 seed miami vs #1 seed cleveland? i would rather stave in my own skull with a shoe than be subject to the mediagasm of a MIA-CLE playoff series.

[Duvall]

His marketability and likability have absolutely and utterly soared. Everyone loves a prodigal son story (except Miamians. And ADIDAS.)

Prodigal son - could that get any more paternalistic? James was a free agent, not the property of Dan Gilbert or the state of Ohio.

[Nosbleuatu]

Prodigal son - could that get any more paternalistic? James was a free agent, not the property of Dan Gilbert or the state of Ohio.

Property? No. But he is returning home. Should we go with prodigal resident?

[IrishDevil]

Property? No. But he is returning home. Should we go with prodigal resident?

Pet peeve, but prodigal resident make no sense here. The prodigal son is prodigal, not because he left home and returned, but because he was a wasteful spendthrift and blew his inheritance. That is prodigality. While the term prodigal son is often used to describe situations like Lebron's, that is because it carries the cache of the well-known story behind it (and thus the relevant return and unlikely welcome despite disgrace). Prodigal resident just means someone throwing burning through money where they live. Less Lebron, more Trump.

[/wordnerd]

Looking forward to seeing Dre build on his recent good performances - I hope he sees good minutes against the Griz and continues to shoot well!

[MChambers]

Pet peeve, but prodigal resident make no sense here. The prodigal son is prodigal, not because he left home and returned, but because he was a wasteful spendthrift and blew his inheritance. That is prodigality. While the term prodigal son is often used to describe situations like Lebron's, that is because it carries the cache of the well-known story behind it (and thus the relevant return and unlikely welcome despite disgrace). Prodigal resident just means someone throwing burning through money where they live. Less Lebron, more Trump.

[/wordnerd]

Looking forward to seeing Dre build on his recent good performances - I hope he sees good minutes against the Griz and continues to shoot well!

Return of the Grievous Angel?

[_Gary]

The prodigal son is prodigal, not because he left home and returned, but because he was a wasteful spendthrift and blew his inheritance.

As an ordained minister I'm going to step in and disagree with your assessment here. A "prodigal" is generally known equally for both characteristics. Yes, he/she blows through the proverbial inheritance. But they are also generally associated with people that left (looking for what they perceived to be a better life) and eventually "saw the light" and returned home. You can't dismiss that aspect of it.

[IrishDevil]

As an ordained minister I'm going to step in and disagree with your assessment here. A "prodigal" is generally known equally for both characteristics. Yes, he/she blows through the proverbial inheritance. But they are also generally associated with people that left (looking for what they perceived to be a better life) and eventually "saw the light" and returned home. You can't dismiss that aspect of it.

I certainly don't dismiss it - and indeed, I said as much:

While the term prodigal son is often used to describe situations like Lebron's, that is because it carries the cache of the well-known story behind it (and thus the relevant return and unlikely welcome despite disgrace).

I would agree that when someone is called a "prodigal," that probably also applies, but only because in this usage it is a substantive used as shorthand for "a prodigal son." A "prodigal son" could share some or all of the descriptions of the younger son from the parable, e.g., wayward, headstrong, disrepectful, disgraced, humbled, welcomed, or long-lost. The adjective prodigal, however, is narrower and more precise, and does not by itself include any of that in its definition, instead staying true to its roots in a Latin verb meaning to squander. My (admittedly small and nitpicky) point was that prodigal as an adjective does not mean "returned after a departure in disgrace," as often mistakenly thought, and this is especially apparent when used with nouns other than son, like Nosbleuatu's "resident."

[awhom111]

At the risk of dragging this thread dangerously on-topic, there are a few Duke items from today.

Lance Thomas will start the season on Oklahoma City's roster.

New Orleans did not pick up Austin's fourth year option, so he looks set to move elsewhere at the end of this season.

[DukieInBrasil]

At the risk of dragging this thread dangerously on-topic, there are a few Duke items from today.

Lance Thomas will start the season on Oklahoma City's roster.

New Orleans did not pick up Austin's fourth year option, so he looks set to move elsewhere at the end of this season.

Wow, LT sticking around! It would have been rather remarkable to see what woulda happened had injuries not cut Zoubek and Scheyer's training camp experiences. Woulda been freaky if every player on that title team had played in the NBA!
Austin seems rather the enigmatic player, he improved last year in nearly every statistical way, except in fewer minutes. He seemed to play decently in pre-season, but he may just not fit with the rest of the roster that Nawleans has.