Let's talk NBA

[dougp]

You said you didn't watch LBJ because he's a shitty person. If you'd have just said, 'I don't watch LBJ often because I only have time to really follow my team," no one would be giving you shit. You're just a homer who hates LBJ for whatever dumb reason you've come up with.

LBJ left a pathetic team. That's it. He didn't rape anyone or sleep with a team mate's wife. By professional sports standards, LBJ is a saint.

He's still a piece of shit in my book. When will you fucking retards all learn that I really don't give a fuck what y'all say or try to convince me to think otherwise?

JFC, just let it go.

 

[preslove]

He's still a piece of shit in my book. When will you fucking retards all learn that I really don't give a fuck what y'all say or try to convince me to think otherwise?

JFC, just let it go.

I know I'm not going to convince an idiot like yourself of anything. It's just fun to ridicule dumb assholes.

 

[dougp]

I know I'm not going to convince an idiot like yourself of anything. It's just fun to ridicule dumb assholes.

Oh look, your definition for masturbation.

 

[QueBert]

You said you didn't watch LBJ because he's a shitty person. If you'd have just said, 'I don't watch LBJ often because I only have time to really follow my team," no one would be giving you shit. You're just a homer who hates LBJ for whatever dumb reason you've come up with.

LBJ left a pathetic team. That's it. He didn't rape anyone or sleep with a team mate's wife. By professional sports standards, LBJ is a saint.

But leaving his team means he doesn't have any heart! He should have stuck with the Cav's where he could have went on to retire without winning a ring. It worked beautifully for Ewing, I'm sure as he looks back at his HOF level career he's thinking "no rings, but I stayed loyal to the Nicks!"

 

[HendrixFan]

But leaving his team means he doesn't have any heart! He should have stuck with the Cav's where he could have went on to retire without winning a ring. It worked beautifully for Ewing, I'm sure as he looks back at his HOF level career he's thinking "no rings, but I stayed loyal to the Nicks!"

HAHAHA!

I can actually picture Ewing thinking it was the "Nicks".

KG said sticking around wasting his prime in Minnesota was a huge mistake that he wishes he could take back. He tells all the young guys not to make the same mistake he did.

Lebron and Wade said they needed their "Big 3" in response to the Celtics Big 3. They both kept being eliminated at the hands of the Celtics in the playoffs. The Celtics D forced the ball out of their hands and made the second or third best guy on the roster beat them, which the Heat and Cavs both lacked.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX7xdo_NzKw

Watch the emotional release by Lebron and Wade as they finally got past the Big 3.

 

[preslove]

HAHAHA!

I can actually picture Ewing thinking it was the "Nicks".

KG said sticking around wasting his prime in Minnesota was a huge mistake that he wishes he could take back. He tells all the young guys not to make the same mistake he did.

Lebron and Wade said they needed their "Big 3" in response to the Celtics Big 3. They both kept being eliminated at the hands of the Celtics in the playoffs. The Celtics D forced the ball out of their hands and made the second or third best guy on the roster beat them, which the Heat and Cavs both lacked.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX7xdo_NzKw

Watch the emotional release by Lebron and Wade as they finally got past the Big 3.

It's weird how morans like dougp go on and on about LBJ being a terrible piece of shit, while they don't say the same thing about KG. LBJ hasn't done anything KG did already.

Funny how all the LBJ haters seem to forget Shaq, too. He left a pretty good Magic team for the Lakers. Does that tarnish all his Lakers championships? :rolleyes"

Lebron's mistake was not going free agent the moment he could. It was obvious that Cleveland would never produce a supporting cast that could help him win a ring. Of course, Cleveland could pay him more money than a new team, so I can't really blame him for staying.

 

[HendrixFan]

Lebron took a paycut to leave. He is currently the 13th highest paid player in the league despite being clearly a step above everyone else. To him winning is more important than money, or the ego boost of being the highest paid player in the league.

There is plenty to appreciate about the guy if you give him the smallest of chances.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

How did Dirk get to the finals twice and win one of them against the Miami big 3?
I thought everyone needed all NBA teammates or they are up shit creek?

 

[HendrixFan]

How did Dirk get to the finals twice and win one of them against the Miami big 3?
I thought everyone needed all NBA teammates or they are up shit creek?

6 quarters instead of a dollar.

The Mavs did have the best defensive center in the NBA, an over the hill Hall of Famer and a laundry list of past their prime former all stars. Dirk had teammates, they just represented the long tail.

The Mavs got hot at just the right time for a big playoff push, shooting lights out. The Heat on the other hand were still jimmying with their roster and figuring out how to play with each other.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

6 quarters instead of a dollar.

The Mavs did have the best defensive center in the NBA, an over the hill Hall of Famer and a laundry list of past their prime former all stars. Dirk had teammates, they just represented the long tail.

The Mavs got hot at just the right time for a big playoff push, shooting lights out. The Heat on the other hand were still jimmying with their roster and figuring out how to play with each other.

So you'll take a 37 year old Kidd, a 33 year old Terry, Chandler over having Bosh and Wade as teammates?
Lebron couldn't do it himself. Face it. Not saying he couldn't have done it eventually but he ducked out like a little Bitch on his hometown and deserves no props for that.

 

[preslove]

Lebron took a paycut to leave. He is currently the 13th highest paid player in the league despite being clearly a step above everyone else. To him winning is more important than money, or the ego boost of being the highest paid player in the league.

There is plenty to appreciate about the guy if you give him the smallest of chances.

I think he probably realized that going to a bigger market and actually winning a championship would get him enough endorsements to cover whatever he lost out on with a lower salary.

How did Dirk get to the finals twice and win one of them against the Miami big 3?
I thought everyone needed all NBA teammates or they are up shit creek?

Uh... those teams were stocked to gills with talent, especially on the bench. Are you honestly saying that Dirk was responsible for that success without the help of a well constructed team? Mark Cuban >>>>>>>>> Dan Gilbert.

What the fuck is it about James that turns all you people into blithering idiots?

 

[preslove]

Lebron couldn't do it himself.

Nobody wins a championship in a team sport by themselves, you fucking retard.

 

[chitwood]

Lebron couldn't do it himself. Face it.

name a championship team where one player "did it himself." Seriously.

I'm not saying its never happened, but it is incredibly rare. And.. I'm actually not saying this to defend Lebron James, I'm actually asking because it's interesting to think about.

Doc J didn't win a title until he teamed up with Moses Malone. Magic was with Jabbar and Worthy. Bird had Mchale and Parish. Jordan had Pippen. D Robinson had Duncan. Kobe and Shaq.

The only ones I can think of was Olajuwon in 94, and Dirk in 2011? I think Bill Walton won in '77 with a bunch of roleplayers, I'd have to look that up.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

But I thought we were all "witnesses" to the truth that is King James? Surely if a man can drag a team to the championship it should be your highness?

 

[badb0y]

When all is said and done Lebron will go down as the GOAT. He won the genetic lottery the only thing that can stop him is a career ending injury.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

When all is said and done Lebron will go down as the GOAT. He won the genetic lottery the only thing that can stop him is a career ending injury.

He is top 5. Doesn't have that killer instinct that Kobe and MJ had though. Physically though he's right there with Jordan.

 

[preslove]

He is top 5. Doesn't have the centers that Kobe had though.

FTFY

 

[IAteYourMother]

But I thought we were all "witnesses" to the truth that is King James? Surely if a man can drag a team to the championship it should be your highness?

Actually, Lebron took a Cleveland team to the finals all by himself. Are you retarded?

 

[darkewaffle]

Holy crap, Jerry Buss died. That sucks. I figured that hospitalization he had not long ago was just routine stuff.

 

[dougp]

I think it's amazing how much I can work you all up. I don't really give a fuck that LBJ changed teams, despite the fact that he's as much to blame for the team that was put around him as the management is. I have a HUGE problem with how he did it - it was childish and immature, and disrespectful to the city that gave him quite a bit. If you don't agree with that, or you don't like my opinion, I don't give a shit - but quit putting words in my mouth.

It's weird how morans like dougp go on and on about LBJ being a terrible piece of shit, while they don't say the same thing about KG. LBJ hasn't done anything KG did already.

Funny how all the LBJ haters seem to forget Shaq, too. He left a pretty good Magic team for the Lakers. Does that tarnish all his Lakers championships? :rolleyes"

Lebron's mistake was not going free agent the moment he could. It was obvious that Cleveland would never produce a supporting cast that could help him win a ring. Of course, Cleveland could pay him more money than a new team, so I can't really blame him for staying.

Sorry, but I dislike KG and Shaq as well - and Shaq comes more from the shit he talks about San Antonio as a city. Put me on ignore, dipshit.

 

[zerocool84]

Actually, Lebron took a Cleveland team to the finals all by himself. Are you retarded?

He seriously did, people seem to forget this. He had one "All Star" teammate that was only an All Star because of LeBron. Nobody wins by themselves.

 

[Blackjack200]

There is plenty to appreciate about the guy if you give him the smallest of chances.

That's what I've found. I was rooting against The Heat in 2011 and thought LBJ was some kind of traitor/asshole or whatever, but after they lost in the championships I didn't care as much. Last season I started to realize that aside from being one of the greatest basketball players of all time, he's actually a pretty decent guy.

Was "The Decision" a mistake? I think so. Was it a mistake when he told reporters that all his haters had to go back to their miserable lives after the 2011 finals? I think so. But who hasn't made mistakes in their 20s? Why does LBJ get so much shit for these relatively minor mistakes, but no one bothers Kobe or Tony Parker for cheating on their wives?

I wouldn't even really call myself a basketball fan, but if LBJ is playing, whether for the Heat or Team USA, I'll watch. That guy is fun to watch.

 

[dougp]

He seriously did, people seem to forget this. He had one "All Star" teammate that was only an All Star because of LeBron. Nobody wins by themselves.

He didn't win by himself, and he got swept by a team that still tends to get ignored.

Don't forget that Gibson had the most points for the Cavs in Game 1 - where was James? His entire team wasn't scrubs as much as people try to play that card - he had good players in Ilgauskas, Varejao, Gooden, and Hughes as well as Gibson and Brown. Are they All-Stars? Nope, but why do you act like All-Stars are what makes a difference in the Finals? It's a popularity contest. LBJ may have carried that team but they weren't all scrubs.

 

[HendrixFan]

That's what I've found. I was rooting against The Heat in 2011 and thought LBJ was some kind of traitor/asshole or whatever, but after they lost in the championships I didn't care as much. Last season I started to realize that aside from being one of the greatest basketball players of all time, he's actually a pretty decent guy.

I had some beef with Lebron when he was a high schooler driving around in a Hummer. I thought it was disrespectful of the idea of amateurism and gaudy. It wasn't until I watched him play that I started to enjoy watching him and put the silly actions of a teenager in the back of my mind.

He really does play basketball the way it was meant to be played. The passing lanes he sees are incredible and probably only achievable by someone his size. His passes are always right in the basket, never off target.

I also found somewhat of a connection, and some sympathy, for the fact that he doesn't know his father. The family mentality and approach of the Heat organization is what really drew Lebron there. Without a real father figure or a real notion of family it was what he was looking for as much as a championship. Stability and trust.

Dan Gilbert has shown us all his true colors, and Lebron was smart to leave that environment for one that would nurture his abilities rather than siphon off of them.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nba/stor...-athlete-michael-jordan-was-isiah-thomas-says

Isiah Thomas briefly touches on the idea of environment, and it agrees with what I've said here and in the other MJ thread. MJ had the perfect environment around him (starting with Phil Jackson) to maximize his immense potential and minimize his glaring weaknesses. Lebron didn't have that in Cleveland. He has that in Miami.

Plus the beach house is nice and the winters aren't as bleak. I'd take a similar job in Miami versus Cleveland 15 times out of 10.

 

[HendrixFan]

He didn't win by himself, and he got swept by a team that still tends to get ignored.

Don't forget that Gibson had the most points for the Cavs in Game 1 - where was James? His entire team wasn't scrubs as much as people try to play that card - he had good players in Ilgauskas, Varejao, Gooden, and Hughes as well as Gibson and Brown. Are they All-Stars? Nope, but why do you act like All-Stars are what makes a difference in the Finals? It's a popularity contest. LBJ may have carried that team but they weren't all scrubs.

He got swept by a much superior team. That Cavs team did NOT deserve to be in the Finals, but Lebron willed them there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPMkaSNtZ0k

As a 22 year old he had nowhere near the skillset to reliably take on a team like those Spurs. The gap between legit role players like Varejao and Gibson and legit Hall of Famers like Rodman and Pippen couldn't be more vast. I'm sorry, it isn't an apt comparison.