You're Moving Us To Toronto?!!

[Tim Moungey]

There was an interesting article a month or so back in Las Vegas Weekly about how the use of neon in the city is dying out.

[zike_42]

Is that because they want to use less power?

[Tim Moungey]

I'll have to go back and find the article again, but I think one of the main issues was that neon bending is a very specialized and very dangerous occupation, so it became cheaper not to do neon.

[TheAsper_698]

I'm with Tim go for San Diego! Great Dynasty

[AussieVilla]

Maybe the expansion team will need to be named the Nevada Neonless *shrug*

[Tim Moungey]

Maybe the expansion team will need to be named the Nevada Neonless *shrug*

Nuh I love the name Nevada Neon. It's very fitting for a Las Vegas-based team. And I say that as a guy who hates state names used for professional sports teams.

[zike_42]

Kevin King from the Toronto Raptors has won the first Player of the Month title for the new season, averaging 27.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.5 steals as he led the league leading Raptors to a 14-1 record.

Milwaukee Buck Dexter Floyd has won the Rookie of the Month award for November, averaging 9.3 points, 10.9 rebounds and 3.4 blocks while playing with a broken wrist for the last few games as the Bucks have been struggling at 4-13.

There were two trades last month which was different; usually the trades don’t come until nearer the deadline.

Charlotte trades:
PF Tyrus Thomas

Los Angeles Lakers trades:
SG Kobe Bryant

Why for Charlotte:
It’s fate that Kobe Bryant would be playing for Michael Jordan’s team. He may be 35 years old but he is still a fantastic player. So far, he is averaging 23.8 points and 3.9 rebounds a game and his experience will be a godsend for the young Cats.

Why for the Lakers:
Kobe wasn’t happy that the Lakers were not championship material and wanted out. Tyrus Thomas has not lived up to his hype but at least he is an expiring contract. They now have a very rounded starting five at Stuckey/Richardson/Iguodala/Jamison/Bynum.

Winner – Charlotte
When you pick up someone like Kobe Bryant for pretty much an expiring you have to do it. The Bobcats look like a playoff team.


Houston trades:
2015 1st round pick (HOU)

Los Angeles Clippers trades:
C Justin Cabrera

Why for Houston:
Cabrera has all the tools to be an all star C but his attitude is holding him back. It spells trouble that he is now paired with another no-brainer in Jordan Cole who on paper could be the best big man duo in the league. On paper.

Why for the Clippers:
Cabrera wasn’t starting and he was whinging about it 24/7 so they needed to trade him. Although the pick won’t be high (Houston are 8-7) they now have a more rounded front court with rookie Channing and Andrew Bogut starting with second round wonder Sam Wynn coming off the bench.

Winner – Los Angeles Clippers
I’m very interested in seeing how many teams Cabrera goes through during his career as he should wear out his welcome at all of them. Travis Randolph also.

Our first game for December is against the very good 76ers in Philadelphia and we go down 108-101 as Chris Paul shows his talent with 27 points, 11 assists and 6 steals and fouling out Rajon Rondo. Dwight Howard is the best for us with 24 points, 17 rebounds and 6 blocks. Kevin King is a .761 free throw shooting for the season but goes 9/17 from the line tonight.

Toronto Raptors 14-2

We bounce back and beat the Cavs 100-83 behind Tim Mozgov who had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks, helped out by the two new guys – Dwight Howard (15 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks) and Reggie Williams (14 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds). #1 draft pick Reggie Young had a rough night, going 1/6 for 3 points and 9 rebounds.

Toronto Raptors 15-2

A home and home battle with the Cavs as we going into Cleveland and win 109-86 as Tim Mozgov continues his beat down of Reggie Young with 33 points and 12 rebounds as Young only had 2 points and 4 rebounds. Kevin King scores 21 points but only makes 3 field goals. He shoots 18 free throws make 14. Luol Deng had 21 points while Carmelo Anthony shot terribly (7/18) for 24 points and 8 turnovers.

Toronto Raptors 16-2

The Clippers are good but we are better as we beat them 110-85 behind Kevin King’s 31 points and 9 rebounds. Ed Davis picks up the slack from Tim Mozgov’s foul trouble as he scores 19 points and grabs 14 rebounds. New team, same Andrew Bogut as he always has good games against us with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 6 blocks. DeMar DeRozan sprained his ankle and will be out for 2 weeks.

Toronto Raptors 17-2

Davis could start for many teams and I’m worried about how long he is content to just be a bench player. He may start to get antsy about spreading his wings and I don’t blame him.

Derrick Rose is still out and the woeful Bulls didn’t stand a chance against us, with us winning 101-87. We have 6 players in double figures and shoot 39 free throws. Willie Warren is the best for Chicago scoring 19 rebounds and 8 assists but having 7 turnovers.

Toronto Raptors 18-2

It’s a track race as we beat the excellent Knicks 123-116. We have 3 players over 20 points in Dwight Howard (22 points, 11 rebounds and 8 blocks), Kevin King (26 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists) and Rajon Rondo (24 points, 9 assists) while Danilo Gallinari hits 8 three pointers on his way to 34 points. Varlam Bebutov has been playing well now he is starting with Raymond Felton averaging 16.6 points, 6.9 assists and 4.3 rebounds for the season as he tries to get out of Kevin King’s shadow.

Toronto Raptors 19-2

Six games on the trot now with a 110-84 squashing of Indiana. Dwight Howard shows Roy Hibbert his fury with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 6 blocks and Kevin King shows that he is more than just a scorer with 16 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals. Eric Gordon has 11 points on 20 shots, going 1/14 from three point land.

Toronto Raptors 20-2

We turn around and go to Indiana and win 111-94 with Dwight Howard continuing his dominance with 27 points and 20 rebounds. Rajon Rondo runs rings around Eric Gordon with 22 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds. Eric Gordon shoots a bit better (8/17) for 19 points while Michael Sims had 13 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists off the bench.

Toronto Raptors 21-2

The battle I have been dreading – against the 17-3 Miami Heat. Luckily it’s in Toronto and the crowd is as packed as any playoff game. Lebron James has 35 points but has not help as Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are held to 7 and 10 points respectively as we embarrass them 115-86. Kevin King has 29 points, Tim Mozgov 25 points and 12 rebounds while Dwight Howard pours in 20. It was utter dominance and it has boosted our chances of winning it all.

Toronto Raptors 22-2

We take that confidence and blast Milwaukee 127-107 as we shoot 61% from the field.
Kevin King – 30 points
Tim Mozgov – 29 points, 11 rebounds
Rajon Rondo – 15 points, 19 assists
Ed Davis – 10 points, 12 minutes
Pretty good I may say.
Brandon Jennings was the best for the Bucks with23 points while Bogut traded for Quinn Trent had 20 points as Dexter Floyd is still out with a broken wrist.

Toronto Raptors 23-2

Another tough game against Miami, this time in Miami and it is a much closer game but we still win 127-119. Kevin King has 33 points and Rajon Rondo again silences Dwyane Wade as Rondo scores 21 points to Wade’s 9 points. But the biggest stat line was Lebron James’ –
42 minutes, 18/25fg, 3/5 3pt, 12/17fts, 4rbs, 2asts, 3stls, 51 points. That’s right, he topped the half century, and still lost.

Toronto Raptors 24-2

The next night we beat Detroit 110-82 behind Dwight Howard’s double double of 25 points, 4 rebounds and 10 blocks. Rajon Rondo also has a strange statline with 4 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists. Three of our bench players score in double figures with Trent Bailey (12), DeMar DeRozan (12) and Ed Davis (14 points, 7 rebounds and 6 blocks) as the team has a total of 20 blocks. Luis Scola top scores for the Pistons with 16 points.

Toronto Raptors 25-2

Our first loss in games is to Philadelphia 108-98 as Jrue Holiday takes Chris Paul’s mantle with 28 points and Brandon Wight helps with 16 points. Dwight Howard is our best with 23 points and 13 rebounds but we lost it with our fouls as they shot 42 free throws, hitting 30.

Toronto Raptors 25-3

It’s the battle of #1 seeds as we go up against Portland and we win 113-104 as Dwight Howard again outshines an elite C as he puts up 24 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks while fouling out Chris Kaman in only 18 minutes. Kevin King puts up 30 points but turns it over 6 times. Brandon Roy scores 25 points on 26 shots but they just weren’t good enough.

Toronto Raptors 26-3

So at the end of 2014 we are still on top of the East, and the league with a 26-3 record with Miami still behind us with 22-6 and New York at 23-7. Orlando is equal 4th with a 19-10 record. Atlanta is last at 7-23.

Oklahoma City has taken the #1 seed in the West with a 21-10 record while Dallas and Portland are only 1 game back. New Orleans is last with the same record as Atlanta.

Toronto Top Scorers – Kevin King (24.9), Dwight Howard (20.2), Tim Mozgov (14.9), Rajon Rondo (13.8), Reggie Williams (13.5)
Toronto Top Rebounders – Dwight Howard (12.9), Tim Mozgov (8.9), Kevin King (4.9), Ed Davis (4.3)
Toronto Top Assisters – Rajon Rondo (9.9), Kevin King (4.4), Reggie Williams (3.6)

League Top Scorers – Kevin Durant OKC (26.5), Lebron James MIA (26.5), Kevin King TOR (24.9), Danny Granger IND (24.2)
League Top Rebounders – Dwight Howard TOR (12.9), Brook Lopez NJN (11.9), Andrew Bynum LAL (11.8), Chris Kaman POR (11.6)
League Top Assisters – Russell Westbrook OKC (10.0), Rajon Rondo TOR (9.9), Chris Paul PHI (9.1), Deron Williams UTA (8.2)

Rookie Top Scorers – Travis Spears BOS (11.5), Scott Channing LAC (11.4), Reggie Young CLE (10.5), Bootsy Nelson DEN (10.3)
Rookie Top Rebounders – Dexter Floyd MIL (10.9), Reggie Young CLE (8.0), Dion Roberts PHO (7.8), Shea Hines WAS (6.8)
Rookie Top Assisters – Bootsy Nelson DEN (2.6), Greg Smith HOU (2.3), Jarret Griffin NOH (2.0)

First round of draft prospects:
1 – C Matt Bailey (BYU) Freshman
Another small but very talented C who bullies other teams as he is averaging nearly 30 points and 13 rebounds a game.

2 – SG Estell Phillips (Houston) Freshman
Another tall but very talented SG that is very raw. He is hoping to be the next Bootsy Nelson or even, *gulp* Mateen Yeaton.

3 – C MAXIME Videnov (Bulgaria) 19 years old
That’s right; his first name is all capitals. Absolutely MASSIVE human being standing 6’10 and weighing an unbelievable 300lbs at 19 years old.

4 – PF Joshua Potter (Connecticut) Sophomore
Is a fantastic passer for a big man as he is very much a ‘stretch 4’ who likes to play outside in.

5 – SG Kyle Craig (Arizona) Sophomore
A touch short at 6’4 but is a very good rebounder and is strong. Averaging 26 points and game and has been compared to Dwayne Wade.

[zike_42]

The first vote tally for the 2016 expansion is in; here is the top 10 –

1 – Seattle 3,157,485
2 – San Diego 2,543,809
3 – Las Vegas 1,859,331
4 – Kansas City 1,547,778
5 – Columbus 1,443,260
6 – Ottawa 1,234,164
7 – Tulsa 1,269,908
8 – Honolulu 984,992
9 – Nashville 890,050
10 – Montreal 800,700

Keep voting for your favourite city and the final four will be announced at the end of the regular season and the winning two cities will be announced at the end of the playoffs.

[AussieVilla]

Is it one vote only? Or do I get 2 votes given that there will be 2 new teams introduced?

[zike_42]

Vote early and often is the motto. Go nuts.

Woo post number 100!