NBA Thread

[Titansfan777]

The NBA All-Star game is usually boring as is (basically a dunkfest) but this year is even worse. Playing the game in that monstrosity has completely taken the fans out of the game. It doesn't even seem like they care about what is going on on the court.

thinking the exact same thing...its like a library

[Titansfan777]

They need to really get the NBA's best dunkers in the contest next year...I would love to see:

-Rudy Gay
-LeBron James
-Kobe Bryant
-Josh Smith

all go at it. I think Rudy, and Josh would take it to the next level. Rudy Gay messed up in his first contest and after he messed up his first dunk, he did an easy dunk and got beat. In his 2nd dunk contest, he was injured so he didnt play. Lebron is a beastly power dunker, Kobe still has some in the tank, and Smith would just be sick nasty

[MDK Titan]

The Cavs got the last piece of the championship puzzle by getting Antawn Jamison. Expect Big Z to come back after a buyout and this team will be virtually impossible to match up against...

[Titansfan777]

Jamison is a better fit than Stoudamire with the team. Jamison really can spread out the floor and is good out to the 3 point line. which will unclog the paint and let James get inside more.

They might lose a few games over the next few weeks while getting used to each other, but come playoff time they will be good IMO. You really cant top that lineup in the east:

C-O'Neal/Ilgauskas
PF-Jamison/Varejao
SF-James
SG-West
PG-Williams

Lakers vs. Cavs is gonna be crazy this june.

[MDK Titan]

Jamison is a better fit than Stoudamire with the team. Jamison really can spread out the floor and is good out to the 3 point line. which will unclog the paint and let James get inside more.

They might lose a few games over the next few weeks while getting used to each other, but come playoff time they will be good IMO. You really cant top that lineup in the east:

C-O'Neal/Ilgauskas
PF-Jamison/Varejao
SF-James
SG-West
PG-Williams

Lakers vs. Cavs is gonna be crazy this june.

Parker is actually starting over West, they have two starters from last year that are now on the bench. And remember they were able to keep Hickson who is probably going to be LeBron's backup now. No excuses for LeBron now, the team is stacked as its ever been.

[Titansfan777]

And the grizzlies have officially traded for Ronnie Brewer...he is a legit starter and will probably mean Conley or Mayo will come off the bench simply because Brewer is a big guard with great defense and 3 point shooting - 2 things the grizzlies aren't good at.

The team just got a major shot in the arm when they looked like they were starting to fall apart due to overplaying...but Brewer is a damn good pick up who can start and have OJ become the 6th man (instantly the best 6th man in the NBA), or he can come off of the bench and combine with Sam Young and Tinsley to spell our backcourt. This was a great trade IMO, and all it cost was a lottery protected pick next year. Add in the fact that Arthur came back from injury 3 games ago and the defense just got much better. It wasnt looking good bc the starters were finally starting to crack due to the insane amount of minutes they all were getting, but the last week of being off and getting key players should really help out. They should be able to sneak back into the playoff picture now after their abysmal 1-6 record over the last 2 weeks that dropped them from the 5 seed to a lottery team.

C-Gasol/Thabeet/Haddadi
PF-Randolph/Arthur/Hunter
SF-Gay/Carroll
SG-Brewer/Young/Hudson
PG-Conley/Mayo/Williams

[Titansfan777]

...and 10 minutes into his first game as a Grizzly, Ronnie Brewer goes down with an injury...expected to miss a month.

[MillaKilla8]

*hoping my blazers made the right choice by trading away two for marcus camby*

still injury plagued; b roy nursing a hammy plus oden and pryzbilla both out for year.
go blazers

[Titansfan777]

AI is imploding...read the espn article from today...he is about to be broke, and now people say he has a huge gambling/acohol issue.

[TitansJonne]

Ive been rooting against my 76ers, for my 76ers. If we lose games we get better draft picks. We need picks. Our coach also sucks. So yea Football season can't come quick enough.

[Titansfan777]

Grizzlies destroyed the Celtics last night...at one point they were up by almost 30 before putting the scrubs in midway through the 4th. Final Score was 111-91

[Titansfan777]

Ive been rooting against my 76ers, for my 76ers. If we lose games we get better draft picks. We need picks. Our coach also sucks. So yea Football season can't come quick enough.

Not really, they only improve their chances marginally of picking with a high pick.

[Titan723]

Looks like Nets management has problems with fans wearing bags at games. Here's an idea, win some damn games and people won't wear bags!!

http://http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5020813

[TitansFan23]

Lakers/Celtics title game.

I got the Lakers winning it.

[Rolltide14TOMB]

Lakers/Magic title series.

I got the Magic winning it.....and BTW the Cavs will beat Boston....it may take 7 games but they will get it done

[Titanico]

Two words:

GO LAKERS!!!

:p - get that ya'll haters!! lol

[Rolltide14TOMB]

im not hating on the lake show....my mavericks really put up a fight:huh

the lakers should win it but i just dont get it.....there is something about the Magic this year. Yes i know they are sweeping easy playoff opponents but they remind me of the '04 pistons except WAY better.

If i am a gambling man though, i would bet on LA. So i guess my true pick may be undercover! lol

[Titanico]

Magic and Boston are looking awesome. They should play the Division Finals.


Any of those teams are solid contenders to take it all.

[Rolltide14TOMB]

yeah they should play in the conference finals....

i hate the magic though even though they are an awesome team.

the most entertaining conference finals would be Celts/Cavs but we are getting that too early

[TitansFan23]

I got the Magic winning it.....and BTW the Cavs will beat Boston....it may take 7 games but they will get it done

I just don't believe the Cavs are going to beat the Celtics.

Boston took them to task in game one and won game two in Cleveland.

I see a 3-1 lead heading back to Cleveland and them closing it out in game 6.

I can see Orlando beating the Celtics, but I still think Boston has enough left in the tank to get back to the finals.

Whatever the case, I see the Lakers winning it all. They played a really tough and talented Thunder team and now are just to much for the Jazz.

Lakers win it all...

[Rolltide14TOMB]

anybody got the spurs tonight in game 2? this series has 7 written all over it

[Rolltide14TOMB]

I see a 3-1 lead heading back to Cleveland and them closing it out in game 6.

is that a post from the cavs magic series last year??? lol...if it wasnt for lebrons miracle shot they would have been swept

[TitansFan23]

anybody got the spurs tonight in game 2? this series has 7 written all over it

I hope the Spurs win so the Lakers can smash them.

[JimOkc]

For as long as I have liked basketball, I have been a Laker fan. I must say though that I did enjoy the playoff series with the Thunder and was impressed with the turnaround experienced.

On a side note, I picked up an 81 year old gentleman for a doctor's appointment the other day. Once in my van and driving to the next passenger's residence, he stated that he really liked my co-worker "Derek" / "Mr. Fisher" who took him to his appointment the previous day. I stated that I guess I hadn't met Derek yet. The man asked me if I knew that he played for the Lakers. I don't know if this was an old man's delusion or if it really happened.

[gnarl]

I could only wish san antonio takes the series, but looks like phx may be too much.

[Rolltide14TOMB]

phx will be a home team winner in this series...the spurs are better...i highly doubt channing frye is gonna be canning every three and jared dudley is gonna have the game he did. the spurs know about them now, pop is pissed, and they are going back to texas. i fully expect this series to return to phoenix tied at 2 and all the pressure on phoenix

i'm takin the spurs in 7....book it Dan-o

[Rolltide14TOMB]

cavs are all business in the first quarter. we will see if this holds. i think the winner of this game wins the series

[Rolltide14TOMB]

i'm takin the spurs in 7....book it Dan-o

http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss221/vtitany10/okdumbbitch.gif

http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss221/vtitany10/popshaqthumbs.gif

[RallyRedBmore]

im just trolling.....nba is boring.... :(

[Titanico]

Yesterday's game between Boston and Cleveland was brutal...as it was the Lakers' game.

I didn't get the Lakers' game, but saw the highlights...and I'm glad I didn't saw that 111-110 victory...because I don't think I could last watching a game like that! :lol:

I saw the Celtics-Cavaliers game, though. The Cavs looked like they had done a great come back, and then Boston just got a good point advantage like 3 or 4 times, before they sealed the victory. I am glad I stood up til 3 am to watch that whole game.

[Rolltide14TOMB]

im just trolling.....nba is boring....

:fail

I guess the NBA is for acquired tastes
1. NFL
1B. College Football
2. NBA

[Rolltide14TOMB]

however 3-4 game sweeps was a bit on the "Lets hurry up and get to the Conference Finals" side
Maybe Cleveland and Boston will save face for Round 2

[Titanico]

Orlando and Lakers advance to the Conference Finals, sweeping Atlanta and Utah respectivly.

[Rolltide14TOMB]

boston cleveland tonight in cleveland....i hope boston wins....i want to see lebron and company go to boston for game 6 DOWN 3 games to 2....an absolute must win
thats when i will know if they are tough enough to contend with the lakers

[TitansFan23]

Celtics DOMINATE the Cavs.

[titansikou]

I'm not much of a basketball fan, but I do like watch Lebron. I hope the Cavs can pull this off.

[Rolltide14TOMB]

embarrassing loss by Cleveland. If they lose this series, i vote LJ goes to NYC

[Aaron3322]

Took the money line on the Celtics. Not sure why lol but i felt a Celtics win. Time to cash out and stop betting for a little bit.

[Rolltide14TOMB]

well if you would have heard how KG said "They were NOT returning to Cleveland......NOT possible" with those evil eyes....you may take the C's one more time

remember Game 6 of the NBA Finals? like a 30 pt beatdown of Kobe

James looks disinterested.....he must be having Tiger problems

[ZachLV27]

Lebron gave up on the Cavs in this series and the rest of the team gave up with a couple minutes left tonight. Down by 9 with 2 minutes left how do you just stand there and let the Celtics run the clock down? They didn't try to foul. They didn't try to apply any pressure. They didn't even try to score when they got the ball. How do the players just quit like that? How does the coach just quit like that?

As a Lakers fan I was raised to hate the Celtics and I still do. I loved seeing Lebron get beat though.

[TitansFan23]

People who want to crown James as the best ever need to stop.

MJ would NEVER have given up like that.

Kobe wouldn't either.

Kobe > James.

Lakers/Celtics final.

Lakers take it in 5.

[titansikou]

I've got to agree with TF23. I like watching James play, but tonight - and the other night as well by the sounds of it - he was nowhere. Pathetic. Really pathetic.

[Titan723]

Well Cleveland is known for "the drive" and "the fumble" now they can add "the choke" to the list.

[titansikou]

Well Cleveland is known for "the drive" and "the fumble" now they can add "the choke" to the list.

You mean Lechoke.

[Toronto]

Sorry but my Houston Oilers have copyright rights to "the choke."

I'm so sick of the "where are the 2003 UFAs gonna play" storyline to the point where I could give a flying crap where Bosh ends up. He's not worth 126M, and we saw that as talented as he is, LBJ is no Kobe and desperately needs a Pippen or he will never get his ring.(s)

[TitansFan23]

LBJ is no Kobe and desperately needs a Pippen or he will never get his ring.(s)

Could his Pippen be a Rose?

[ZachLV27]

I think Chicago would give him the best chance at a title but I don't see him wanting to play in Jordan's city.

[TitansFan23]

I would actually like to see LBJ go to the Knicks. It would be fun seeing them become relevant again, but the media and fans there would eat him alive if he didn't bring them multiple titles.

I agree about the Chicago/Jordan factor, but Kobe has been playing in the shadow of a few legends in LA for years now.

I just don't see James and Wade on the same team, and I don't know that Cleveland will ever propel him to where he wants to be.

One intriguing possibility is Jackson going back to Chicago or NY and LBJ joining him there. A few good drafts, and James mastering the triangle and I could see Phil picking up a few more rings.

That's if Buss isn't willing to show Phil the $$$.

[ZachLV27]

Phil wont be going back to the Bulls because they have never been a team that is willing to pay a coach a lot of money and I don't see that changing. If he doesn't get the money he wants from the Lakers then I see him retiring. I just think he's too old to want to start over again.

You're right about Kobe playing in the shadow of a few legends but I think that actually makes it easier for him. The Lakers have had so many great players in their history and have won so much with all of those players that fans don't have one player or one team to compare him and his teams to. Kobe also had the luxury of being Shaq's supporting star while earning 3 rings.

With Chicago things are much different. When you think of the Bulls you think of Jordan and pretty much only Jordan. He is the one and only superstar for their fan base to compare LeBron to. On top of that the Bulls have been horrible since Jordan left so the fans really want another Jordan to get them back to winning championships.

Besides Chicago and Cleveland I can't figure out where LeBron fits in. The Knicks don't make sense to me because they still need a lot of work. The Clippers, which have been mentioned way too much lately, have no shot in hell. LeBron will go play in Europe before he goes to play for the red-headed stepchild of a team in Kobe's town. The Nets could be a real good fit if they can lure in someone like Amar'e Stoudemire to go along with him. A starting rotation of James, Stoudemire, Harris, and whoever they draft in the top 3 picks this year could make for a formidable team. I also believe they have the cap room to sign a 3rd free agent (not a superstar) who could also be a starter. Outside of those teams I don't think there is anyone else that can either afford to pay him or have the pieces to win with him. Not without the Cavs and another team agreeing to a sign and trade for him at least and I can't see the Cavs wanting to deal with the PR nightmare of trading James away.

[Rolltide14TOMB]

wish the mavs could get him...never happen
kidd
james
butler
dirk
chris bosh

come on cuban

or
kidd
wade
butler
dirk
bosh

[TitansFan23]

Celtics take game one against the Magic.

[Titansfan777]

Get ready for the LeBron sweepstakes...ESPN already has a section on the bottom line devoted to him. Charles Oakley who's friends with him said hes gonna be a bull or a heat...

[Titansfan777]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/news/story?page=lebron_week_teammate_rankings_hollinger&action=login&appRedirect=http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/news/story%3fpage%3dlebron_week_teammate_rankings_holli nger

ANYONE HAVE INSIDER? I would love to read this.

[TitansFan23]

Artest thinks he's Larry Bird. :lol

[TitansFan23]

Celtics up 3-0 on Orlando; turn out the lights, that series is over.

Lakers should go 3-0 tonight.

Lakers/Celtics final.

I said originally Lakers in 5, but now I'm thinking it may be 7.

This series should be fun.

[Titansfan777]

I still think the Lakers win the series in 6. I also see Boston winning tomorrow. Which leaves a Lakers/Boston series, which, is what I would like to see this year. I think the Lakers/Celtics series would be much more even than the 2008 series, with the Lakers also winning in 6. The series would be much better than the last one, as the Lakers are the much better starting 5, and the Celtics have the better bench, and the Lakers have the greatest coach in the history of the sport IMO. Broken down individually:

C-Bynum vs. Perkins=Bynum is the better player by far and would be a bigger force on any other team.
PF-Gasol vs. Garnett=Gasol, right now is arguably a top 5 PF in the league and has the size/athletic advantage against a smart/defensive, but past his prime KG
SF-Artest vs. Pierce=Pierce wins here, but not by much, both players have lost a step or two in the last year, but this will be the best match up
SG-Bryant vs. Allen=Bryant, he's the best player in the NBA and has been great this playoff season, he also has the length and athleticism to neutralize Allen
PG-Fisher vs. Rondo=Rondo, He has the athleticism and defensive prowess to piss fisher off, but fisher has the experience. However Rondo has been great the last 2 years.
Bench=Boston, Davis, Wallace, Finley, and Robinson make for a very good bench that the Lakers Brown, Odom, and Farmar can't match
Coach=Lakers, Jackson has 10 rings and is a master in the finals, only losing twice ever. Rivers, I believe, is overrated as a coach.

[TitansFan23]

I have never liked Bynum. I think he has been over-hyped from the beginning; many were expecting him to be the reincarnation of Shaq. He's never lived up to that and he can't stay healthy. I really don't see him being better than anything the C's would put out there, especially with this latest knee injury he's suffered. Healthy, yes, but not if he is limping up and down the court.

I think Gasol is better than KG right now, but, Gasol has a tendency to disappear at times.

Pierce is far better than Artest IMO. Artest just doesn't have the offensive presence Paul does, and the guy needs to learn where the freaking three point line is.

Fisher: I think he's a solid defensive PG, but he'll have a hard time keeping up with a speedy Rondo. However, neither are consistently great on offense. Rondo's disappearing act against the Magic in game 4 is an example. They were leaving him with wide open shots and he wouldn't take em.

Bryant is a given.

I'm confident about the Celtics being in the finals, but after tonight, I think LA has a fight on it's hands and it's going to take 7 to get it done.

I'm not sure what's going on, but that zone D has them trying to be a 3-point shooting team and that's just not their identity. You know Boston will throw the zone at them and Boston defends the three better than anyone else. Also, the Celtics have the size to match up with a limited Bynum Lakers.

[ZachLV27]

For 47 minutes and 59.4 seconds I hated Ron Artest tonight. Those last .6 seconds make things all better.

[ZachLV27]

Kobe Bryant was great tonight. He made some incredibly hard shots and helped put away the Suns in a game that was closer than it ever should have been (Someone kill Sasha Vujacic for me). Ron Artest was also huge in picking up the slack since Gasol failed to even show up for the game.

[Titanico]

What...the Lakers are in another final????




woohoo!!! :woot


It is great to see a team you decided to cheer for, playing for another title. Just sayin' :)

[TitansFan23]

Bynum better suck it up and Gasol better show up because the Celtic's will be hard to beat.

[Toronto]

Nothing reminds me more why I stopped loving the NBA then another Lakers/Celtics final.

[ZachLV27]

Nothing reminds me more why I stopped loving the NBA then another Lakers/Celtics final.

The officiating so far in this game (someone fire Joey Crawford already) has reminded me why I stopped loving the NBA. It's as if the league wants us to watch a game full of backups and 3rd stringers.

[ZachLV27]

Pathetic officiating all game long. It made it hard for pretty much anyone to get into a rhythm.

I'll feel a little bit better about the Lakers chances when I see us win a game Ray Allen actually gets to play in (as well as Odom and a few others).

[Titanico]

Lakers - 1
Celtics - 0

Next game, this upcoming Sunday.

[Titansfan777]

It isnt the finals without this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AQ3IAriL0k

Best sports theme ever. what I wouldnt give to hear this instead of what they play now

[ZachLV27]

Another game with horrible officiating. The NBA officials seem to want to get themselves on tv for their 15 minutes of fame instead of just doing their jobs. As I said after (or during) last game. I don't want to watch a bunch of backups playing.

Now I'm not saying that's why the Lakers lost. The Lakers lost because they spent the first half of this game watching Ray Allen shoot wide open three after wide open three. That combined with Ron Artest handling the ball way too much.

[TitansJonne]

Beat L.A.!! Beat L.A.!! Beat L.A.!!

[Rolltide14TOMB]

Anything's posssssssssssssible!!!!!! Lets go boston!!!!!

[TTP77]

I actually enjoyed that game last night. I'm really hit or miss on the NBA but that was a good game. I watched the game with a dude who REALLY hates the Lakers so it was kinda funny watching him. :lol

[Titanico]

These series have a high probability on going to 7 games.

[Rolltide14TOMB]

i dont know about 7 games. i remember how unbeatable late in the series in the'08 finals when boston ripped the lakers by 33 behind their crowd...i gotta see game 3. i think if boston wins game 3 there is a good chance this series doesnt make it back to LA. i see boston as the heavy favorite now, but that is contingent on garnett showing up in the series because they arent getting 8 threes out of allen every game

[ZachLV27]

Another game with horrible officiating. The NBA officials seem to want to get themselves on tv for their 15 minutes of fame instead of just doing their jobs. As I said after (or during) last game. I don't want to watch a bunch of backups playing.

Now I'm not saying that's why the Lakers lost. The Lakers lost because they spent the first half of this game watching Ray Allen shoot wide open three after wide open three. That combined with Ron Artest handling the ball way too much.

Just going to quote myself here.

It turns out that guarding Ray Allen and not letting Artest handle the ball really is good game planning. /sarcasm

Not going to comment on the officiating tonight as I was paying more attention to the Dodgers game. I just glanced at this game from time to time.

[Titanico]

Tight and a very good game...Lakers defeat Boston 91-84.
(I hope the Lakers keep with that winning visiting trend on)

Series are:

Lakers - 2
Celtics - 1

[Rolltide14TOMB]

i dont know about 7 games. i remember how unbeatable late in the series in the'08 finals when boston ripped the lakers by 33 behind their crowd...i gotta see game 3. i think if boston wins game 3 there is a good chance this series doesnt make it back to LA. i see boston as the heavy favorite now, but that is contingent on garnett showing up in the series because they arent getting 8 threes out of allen every game

well now i still dont know about 7 games..that will be based on if boston wins the next 2
boston certaintly is not the favorite anymore as they must now win the world title in the staples center
garnett defintely showed up but ray allen and paul pierce did not

[Titanico]

Yep... good consistency is the key to win the Finals in the NBA.

[Rolltide14TOMB]

one game it will be rajon rondo+Big Baby+Rasheed Wallace....the next game it might be Rajon Rondo+Ray Allen+Big Baby....then Rondo+Garnett....or Rondo+Pierce (not so much lately)
but this celtic team can never play a complete game with all their players. you never ever know who is gonna play well and who is gonna play poorly. With LA you know Kobe & Gasol will play well...you know what you are getting with fisher, Artest gives you the same defense everygame with the rare hot hand from 3pt land in which case the lakers cant be beat.
basically Lamar Odom and Bynum are the only enigmas on the team. The bottom line is the Lakers' star players show up evergame and Boston's do not. I would start Rondo, Allen, Tony Allen, Garnett, and Big Baby if i was Doc......I would sit down with pierce and say no disrespect but i need you in the fourth quarter not the first. Him playing in the first quarter and getting 3 fouls isnt worth the 6 points he may score. Bring him in late in the first quarter and as long as the game is close save him and his fouls for the second half. As far as Perkins, I would like to save his fouls for the second half as well and put the target on Garnett to get me 14 rebounds and big baby will score and play harder than perkins.

If i am LA....I would just one time like to see what the lineup of PG Kobe Bryant SG Lamar Odom SF Ron Artest PF Pao Gasol C Andrew Bynum could do. not a lot of parameter shooting but i think that lineup could own boston, but i wont argue with a 10 time champ about to be 11

[Titanico]

One of the keys for the second win was that the Lakers' players were away from commiting so many fauls, and Fisher's play.

[Rolltide14TOMB]

Bynum's injury could be a crushing blow if he cant play long minutes...if they have to put odom in the starting lineup...how will the laker bench be then? if kobe EVER wants to be in the same breath as MJ he better not let this title slip away...i realize MJ had pippen and some other serviceable players....but he never had anything as good as pau gasol

[Titansfan777]

Bynum's injury could be a crushing blow if he cant play long minutes...if they have to put odom in the starting lineup...how will the laker bench be then? if kobe EVER wants to be in the same breath as MJ he better not let this title slip away...i realize MJ had pippen and some other serviceable players....but he never had anything as good as pau gasol

Pippen was better than Gasol ever was...granted Gasol is pretty damn good, but Pippen was another level up. Gasol is and always should be a #2 option...he was the #1 option on the grizz but everybody knew he was a #2 on any other team. Pippen was a legit #1/best player on any team not named chicago, utah or houston. Pippen and Jordan is the best combo ever, yes even better than shaq and kobe

[Titansfan777]

6 fouls in less than 90 seconds...

[Titansfan777]

god i hate jeff van gundy is the most irritating announcer ever...I cant wait till he hits puberty and he gets a mans voice

[Titanico]

Boston won yesterday's game to leave the Series 3-2 in their favor.

Things are going to be quite interesting for game 6 at Staples Center. There's no tomorrow in that game for the Lakers.

[TTP77]

last night woulda been sooo much better for me if the Celtics had just been competitive :lol

sigh

[TitansFan23]

I'm glad I worked last night and missed that game.

I'm off on Thursday, I hope it's more entertaining.

[JimOkc]

Enjoyed watching Farmar and Brown throw down a few excellent dunks. :)

[ZachLV27]

Joey Crawford is officiating this game. I swear the NBA hates its fans.

[ZachLV27]

I've decided to turn on the replay of the Argentina / South Korea World Cup match. Watching this I'll see better officiating, less flopping, and more points scored...

[ZachLV27]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le5aIqn_MfE

Ron Artest just thanked everyone he knows including his psychiatrist. Absolutely hilarious.

Lakers are champions!

[TTP77]

That game sucked

[Titansfan777]

hahaha the psychiatrist FTW!!!

[TitansFan23]

The foul disparity in the fourth quarter was just down right disgusting.

This game leaves a really bad taste.

[Toronto]

Always will remind me a of a classic Bill Simmons email that I will doctor.

"Rooting for the Lakers is like rooting for the house in blackjack."

I couldn't change the channel quicker tonight.

[ZachLV27]

The foul disparity in the fourth quarter was just down right disgusting.

This game leaves a really bad taste.

Come on now. I didn't see a single foul in the 4th that wasn't a legit call. The officiating in this entire series (including this game) was horrible. I've been saying that. In the 4th quarter the Lakers kept taking the ball at the Celtics though.

And the Celtics didn't get as many foul calls in their direction in the 4th quarter because they did the exact opposite of what Doc Rivers was preaching. They were playing isolation basketball where one guy would dribble too long and then take the shot (usually a bad shot).

[ZachLV27]

Lakers rebounds - 53 (23 offensive rebounds) Celtics rebounds - 40

Ray Allen 3 - 14 shooting

Paul Pierce 5 - 15 shooting

Those 3 things combined with Perkins being out (I think the Lakers lose if Perkins is healthy but if we're going off of "if's" then if Bynum was healthy this wouldn't have even been a series) is why the Celtics lost.

Kobe Bryant's shooting is why the Lakers should have lost.

[Titansfan777]

1 more ring...For some reason I think the Lakers retool their bench and are better next season.

[TTP77]

I must admit that Ron Artest interview was AWESOME! hahahaha

[ZachLV27]

I must admit that Ron Artest interview was AWESOME! hahahaha

I couldn't stop laughing.

When David Stern was out there I was hoping Artest would get close to him and try to get him to say Queensbridge.

[Titansfan777]

I was just hoping for ronron to go palace brawl on sterns ass

[Titan723]

Lebron may be a king, but Kobe is a basketball God.

[ZachLV27]

Greatest press conference ever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oda0WkFcus0

You have to watch this if you haven't already seen this. It is 9+ minutes of Ron Artest at his best.

[Rolltide14TOMB]

god i hate jeff van gundy is the most irritating announcer ever...I cant wait till he hits puberty and he gets a mans voice

i beieve you will be waiting a very long time. i wish two nba teams would hurry up and hire van gundy and the 2nd worst broadcaster Mark Jackson. That stupid voice he makes that he thinks is professional sounding is just as irritating. He acts like he is interviewing for a job during every broadcast and he certaintly isnt impressing me, and more importantly apparently no ACTUAL nba teams.

"The Truth? You cant handle the Truth" - Mark Jackson before every commercial in which Paul Pierce is having a good game

[TitansFan23]

i beieve you will be waiting a very long time. i wish two nba teams would hurry up and hire van gundy and the 2nd worst broadcaster Mark Jackson. That stupid voice he makes that he thinks is professional sounding is just as irritating. He acts like he is interviewing for a job during every broadcast and he certaintly isnt impressing me, and more importantly apparently no ACTUAL nba teams.

"The Truth? You cant handle the Truth" - Mark Jackson before every commercial in which Paul Pierce is having a good game

Yeah... Jackson gets on my nerves as well. I swear if I hear "Mama, there goes that man" one more time...

[Titansfan777]

Why wasnt Hubie Brown doing the games...I like him. Even Magic Johnson is pretty good.

[Rolltide14TOMB]

Yeah... Jackson gets on my nerves as well. I swear if I hear "Mama, there goes that man" one more time...

i had forgotten that one, probably because i have blocked it out


Why wasnt Hubie Brown doing the games...I like him. Even Magic Johnson is pretty good.

Agreed....but the best trio in the NBA is Ernie, the Jet, and Charles...i wish they did games. I think they are the best three in sports.

[Titansfan777]

ew did anyone see the Warriors new jerseys...terrible...they ruined one of my top 5 jerseys

[ZachLV27]

ew did anyone see the Warriors new jerseys...terrible...they ruined one of my top 5 jerseys

It's funny. Most topics I've seen about this are talking about how they hate the old jerseys and they love these new ones.

I wasn't a big fan of the old ones but I also don't like the new ones.

[Titansfan777]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5305868 :(

[TTP77]

That's very said :(

He was truly a great person

[Titansfan777]

Grizzlies got Xavier Henry...who was the top recruit for the Memphis Tigers(with Wall), before Calipari left. Henry was the guy who I wanted so much in this draft at our position and we got him. He is a solid, efficient player...very similar to Mayo. He has perfect size for a SG at 6-6, and 225 pounds, and can hit shots from anywhere on the floor with great D. He has been compared to Brandon Roy and could possible be as good as him if everything works out. He can step in from day one and should be able to get a good 12 ppg. He could even get more depending on who is his PG next season.

I hope he can be our starting 2 guard from night one. Mainly bc Mayo should not be our starting 2. He is a great player, but just doesnt have the size to be a 2 guard at 6-4. Some point out the fact that DWade is a starting 2 guard at 6-4, but what Mayo doesnt have is Wades long arms and crazy athleticism. Mayo has by far the best defense on the team, but he can simply be abused by the taller guards in the NBA; Bryant, Joe Johnson, Roy, Hamilton etc...They are all just so much bigger than him its not fair. But at the same time, he is not athletic enough to be a a PG, when he is PG at stretches during games, guys like Paul, Rose, and Westbrook just make him look silly out there with their speed and athleticism. He is basically a tweener in the worst way in terms of size - too small to be a SG, and too slow to be a PG. Ideally, I would want to see him in a 3 guard rotation in the backcourt coming off the bench as a huge sparkplug. Conley and Henry will make a better backcourt IMO with their skillsets made for each other perfectly. Ideally I see the roster as something like this:

C-Gasol/Thabeet
PF-Randolph/Arthur
SF-Gay/Brewer
SG-Henry/Young
PG-Conley/Mayo

Hopefully a ten man rotation of that can get the team working...as last season, the team was top 5 in the west until February...then slowly, one by one, you could see the team wearing down as the starters were all going at about 40 minutes a game which is ridiculous. This season though, they hopefully return with an improved Sam Young who showed flashes of being a very solid bench player, an improved Thabeet - who should be improved after an entire offseason with Olajuwon AND Mutombo, and finally, a 100% injury free Ronnie Brewer if most likely resigned...it was a shame he got injured in his first minute of being a Grizzly last season and missed most of the season bc of it. Not to mention Arthur returns from his injury that cost him all but the last month of the year, in which he seemed to be vastly improved from his rookie season the year before. That should give the bench a huge lift to the 2nd unit. I am saying it now, the Memphis grizzlies will make the playoffs this season, and will win at least one game...if Gay and Brewer come back.

[ZachLV27]

You expect a lot more out of Henry than I ever see him bringing to the table. He's basically a stand still shooter right now as he isn't very good with handling the ball and his shot on the move isn't that good. He'll need to figure out some way to create shots for himself because he just isn't a very quick player.

[Rolltide14TOMB]

wish they could do better than Randolph....i have never been a fan of his. maybe Dirk? then you have a playoff team

[Titansfan777]

You expect a lot more out of Henry than I ever see him bringing to the table. He's basically a stand still shooter right now as he isn't very good with handling the ball and his shot on the move isn't that good. He'll need to figure out some way to create shots for himself because he just isn't a very quick player.

I see him becoming a good player after a year or so. He was considered a top 7 pick up until the last month or so.

[Titansfan777]

On another note...I lost all remaining respect I had for LeBron last night.

[Titan723]

On another note...I lost all remaining respect I had for LeBron last night.

Ditto, you wanna go play in Miami fine. There was no need for a hour long special to rub it in Cleveland's face. I loved the rant the Cavs owner posted about him and he was right on. I hope this Miami project blows up in his face.

[Titansfan777]

I hope bosh/wade/LeBitch(just thought of that one...i kinda like it) eat up so much cap they cant sign anyone half decent...unfortunately, they are probably gonna get mike miller(one of my all-time favorite players...awesome person) and rumors are swirling that TMAC, Sha, and maybe AI too will come down to south beach. Tmac could still start/come off the bench. And there was talk about Juwan Howard coming too. All of the mentioned would be on like real short 1 or 2 year contracts at the vet minimum.

[TTP77]

I didn't really mind the decision that LeBron made but the way he went about it was classless IMO. the fans didn't deserve to be treated that way.

But Gilbert is bat **** crazy too. :lol that letter was over the top

[Parddy]

Let's see now......Cleveland vs Miami...... Personally, I think it's a no brainer. It's a business, he owes nothing to anybody. He played out his contract and he has the right to go where he pleases. I'm fine with it..... "The Decision" show was a tad over the top I agree but, I blame ESPN as much as I do Labron on that.

[TTP77]

Let's see now......Cleveland vs Miami...... Personally, I think it's a no brainer. It's a business, he owes nothing to anybody. He played out his contract and he has the right to go where he pleases. I'm fine with it..... "The Decision" show was a tad over the top I agree but, I blame ESPN as much as I do Labron on that.

can i just say again that I totally called that one??

:D

[Parddy]

I did too.....Right after I said the Knicks or Bulls.....lol

[Rolltide14TOMB]

bosh/wade/LeBitch.... TMAC, Sha, and maybe AI

hahahahahhahahahah...this team and only one basketball? hows that working?

[Rolltide14TOMB]

LeBron made the correct move. Should he have done the show? maybe not. but this has been built up for years about the summer of '10 so i guess it needed to be culminated. i would not want to play for that stupid owner either. LeBron quit? did he quit when he droppped about 29 straight in the 4th against the Pistons in the palace to help that lolely cavs team reach an NBA Final? very classy for mr. gilbert to point out all of Bron's negative characteristics....he certaintly didnt help cleveland out in anyway :rollseyes:.

[TitansGiantsBears]

True champions don't chase championships.

[TTP77]

Well, I'm not sure what you mean by that but I think champions want championships. You love Barry Sanders as do a lot of peeps and look what he did. As far as spreading the ball around I didn't watch the Lebroncrapfest but I did read some of what he said. He's taking some heat for saying it but he won't get it from me. And he said something like I'm glad not to be the only option to make that last second game winner. I mean really ppl can say what they want but LeBron is not a selfish player and being bashed for wanting to be a part of a new era Dream Team is beyond me. JMO

[Toronto]

I won't say anything other than a simple blanket statement.

When MLB went and shut down in '94, ruining the Astros/Bagwell's season, I vowed I would never sit inside a MLB stadium again. Well, its 2010 and I've yet to buy a ticket.

The policy now extends to the NBA. 27 teams woke up this morning with no chance in hell of competing for a title, maybe even 28 if I take Orlando out of the equation. Why on earth would I want to watch this product? If I want to watch Goliath stomp all over a bunch of jobbers, I'll watch the WWE.

[ZachLV27]

I won't say anything other than a simple blanket statement.

When MLB went and shut down in '94, ruining the Astros/Bagwell's season, I vowed I would never sit inside a MLB stadium again. Well, its 2010 and I've yet to buy a ticket.

The policy now extends to the NBA. 27 teams woke up this morning with no chance in hell of competing for a title, maybe even 28 if I take Orlando out of the equation. Why on earth would I want to watch this product? If I want to watch Goliath stomp all over a bunch of jobbers, I'll watch the WWE.

I don't know how true that is. I'm not sold on the Heat being that great of a team. They need to sign a lot more to convince me. Unless they sign a decent center I see both the Celtics and Magic as teams in the East that can beat them.

The Bulls are also going to be a pretty good team. Boozer doesn't get that much hype, and some of that is his own fault, but he's a pretty damn good player. I'm not sure they can contend for a title but I think they can be good enough to beat any team out there in a 7 game series.

Out in the West the Lakers are there of course. The Spurs are a threat if they can stay healthy. Dallas will most likely choke in the playoffs again but they are full of talent. Both the Thunder and Blazer fans have to be excited going into next season. If they can keep maturing as teams then they can be pretty scary.

Outside of those teams nobody probably has any chance at a title but that's a decent number of teams. That 4 or 5 teams in each conference whose fans can legitimately feel they have a chance at contending for a title. That's just as many, if not more, than what you will find in every other sport.

Look at the NFL. Who really has a shot at winning the title next year? In the AFC I'd say the Patriots and Colts are the only two that really stand out. Ravens, Jets, and Chargers all probably have a shot as well but it's not as obvious. In the NFC I'd say the Cowboys, Vikings, and Saints are the only teams that stand out. The Packers are intriguing but their defense still seems weak.

Baseball, a sport you no longer watch, probably has more teams than any other that have a chance at winning it all, but it is also the one sport where there are a number of teams who have no shot in hell at winning during most seasons.

[ZachLV27]

Well, I'm not sure what you mean by that but I think champions want championships. You love Barry Sanders as do a lot of peeps and look what he did. As far as spreading the ball around I didn't watch the Lebroncrapfest but I did read some of what he said. He's taking some heat for saying it but he won't get it from me. And he said something like I'm glad not to be the only option to make that last second game winner. I mean really ppl can say what they want but LeBron is not a selfish player and being bashed for wanting to be a part of a new era Dream Team is beyond me. JMO

Most are bashing him for the way he handled this entire situation. There was no need to lead on the teams and fans in NY, Chicago, and Cleveland. Everyone with half a brain has concluded that he decided to go to Miami with Bosh and Wade long ago and all this crap was just him wanting attention. That's where the backlash is coming from (for the most part) and I think deservedly so.

I don't have a problem with him wanting to join up with the two of them in Miami because it is a great opportunity and will probably lead to a few championships down the road. I'm more of the old school train of thought though and prefer something like what Jordan did instead (and I hated Jordan). He didn't leave the Bulls because the Pistons kept beating him. He stayed at home and built a championship team around him that could beat them. That mindset is just something I've always agreed with though. I like players staying with their teams.

[TitansFan23]

James is a great player, but he still doesn't deserve to be mentioned alongside Jordan or Bryant.

The Heat are also going to have to add some other players to that team to make them a contender, and pray that Wade stays healthy.

I think the Bulls and Magic both could beat them in a series, and wouldn't be shocked at all to see it happen.

I also think LA is still the real "King", and they're not going to just bow down to the Heat.

[ZachLV27]

I'm glad I didn't watch the high school style pep rally that the Heat had tonight but apparently I missed a few gems.


LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh were introduced in Miami in an event that was carried live on ESPN on Friday, and provided a ton of bulletin board material to the rest of the league.

Introduced as the "Three Kings," they weren't short on confidence as LeBron said he felt they could win more than seven NBA titles, and that winning was "going to be easy." Dwyane Wade went on to call the trio "arguably the best trio that ever played the game of basketball." Somewhere Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, and James Worthy just had a nice laugh.

I know they were just trying to hype up their fans, but come on now. They might want to show they can win one ring together before they start setting goals this high.

[Titansfan777]

And yet the lakers would beat them in a series 9 outta 10 times.

[TTP77]

Zach, you must have missed my first post about LeDrama. I have no prob with the decision just how he went about it.

As far as the Heat being a super team nobody can beat yea I'm not buying that either. but I do think the Heat will be good but so will some other teams. And frankly this whole thing has made me more interested in the NBA than I have in years. ANd I don't think I'm alone.

[Jimmyd24]

Let me first begin by saying, that I have been a heat fan since the day I was born. I was born in West Palm Beach, FL, about a half hour away from miami. Diehard South Florida sports fan, except for football lol. Why is that you might ask? Partially because my parents are not from this area and therefore have no loyalty to SoFla sports, not to mention they were big time Dan Marino haters. So I was never attracted to the Miami Dolphins.

What I would like to say though is that Lebron James was in a NO WIN situation. If he resigns with the Cavaliers and the media will criticize his commitment to winning. Not only this, but his legacy will be questioned forever until he is able to win that championship. So what does he do, he goes to a team that he believes gives him the best chance to win a championship. How does the media respond, by making him out to be this coward that is afraid of competition.

Now that the constellation is together in Miami, we have to go about putting together a team. The media will put into your guys' head that we will never be able to fill out a solid roster. However, James Wade and Bosh all took less money then they could have received. These guys are committed to winning. Miller is turning down a bigger deal from the Knicks to come play to the Heat. Through the sign and trade with Cleveland, we will be able to resign Udonis Haslem who is the heart and soul of our team. A hustle player that is key to a championship ( he was with us when we won in 06).

So now we look at the Roster we have
*PG: Chalmers
SG: Wade
F: Lebron
F: Bosh
*C: Anthony

Bench:
Miller
Haslem
Pittman

Now many people believe that there is not enough money to fill out this team. Contrary to the NFL, the NBA has a soft salary cap, meaning that teams are actually able to go over the salary cap. They are able to do this by signing players to veteran minimum levels.

So technically we can sign as many minimum level players out there that we want. But at some point we have to pay a tax for each dollar we go over another limit. Now you may ask well who can you get for this minimum level. Well our owner has stated today that the phone is ringing off the hook with players interested in coming here in order to play for the veterans minimum. These guys want a ring, and know by taking a paycut they can do this.

Now Pittman, a player that we took in the second round of this year, is very similar to Perkins from Boston. Who will be a good presence in the paint if he is able to develop throughout the year.

I dont understand though how ESPN criticizes Lebron for taking the easy way out but yet they hate on miami and say you cant win with three players, I just dont get it.

We will be able to get a bench and if you compare our starting 5 to anyone in the East, there is no way they can compete. the only competition i could see would be from defending LA's bigs. So that is one area that we need to improve upon before the start of this season.

[Jimmyd24]

also if you did not know, all funds raised from Lebrons decision was donated to the Boys and Girls club.

[ZachLV27]

also if you did not know, all funds raised from Lebrons decision was donated to the Boys and Girls club.

You really should have left this out. Your first post was pretty laughable to begin with but that little addon makes it even better.

Where should I start? Lets start with that little gem.

Good for the Boys and Girls Club. I'm glad they got some money out of this, but to mention it while defending LeBron is just wrong. If I were to go stab a bunch of people in the back it wouldn't make it any better if I went and donated a bunch of money to some charity.

As for being in a "no win situation". Really? Who put himself in this situation? Did he really need to drag this out like he did just to boost his ego? Did he need to string along fans of a number of teams including his hometown team? No, he didn't. He knew all along where he wanted to go and he could have made this transition much better if he had just come out and said it. Instead he listened to some idiots on "his team" that thought it would be great for his image to let it all play out like some big soap opera.

Have you actually been watching ESPN? They have been drooling all over the Heat ever since this all went down. The only "hate" I have seen towards them is when analysts said they'd wait to see who they fill out the roster with before making a decision on how good they can be.

Will the Heat be good? Yes. They've got a lot to prove before they can be crowned the best in the league or even the best in the East. Filling out their roster with the likes of Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Juwan Howard, and others like that isn't going to scare anyone though. Neither is a starting lineup that has Bosh as a starting center. Bosh is a good (not anywhere near as good as he has been hyped up to be this offseason) power forward, but he is a soft and undersized center.

[ZachLV27]

Now for some news that doesn't involve LeBron and is probably the funniest thing I have read in a while:


Knicks president Donnie Walsh said that Isiah Thomas will be a candidate for the team's GM position "if they make a hire," according to ESPN's Chris Broussard.

As preposterous as it seems, Isiah is obviously still viewed favorably by owner James Dolan. He met with LeBron James as an unsuccessful ambassador for the Knicks and it sure seems like he's creeping back into the picture in New York. Rival GMs with bloated contracts on the books are already licking their chops.

If I was a Knicks fan I'd just kill myself now.

[Titansfan777]

haha and yet, he is still a better GM than Kahn up in Minny.

[TitansGiantsBears]

Well, I'm not sure what you mean by that but I think champions want championships. You love Barry Sanders as do a lot of peeps and look what he did. As far as spreading the ball around I didn't watch the Lebroncrapfest but I did read some of what he said. He's taking some heat for saying it but he won't get it from me. And he said something like I'm glad not to be the only option to make that last second game winner. I mean really ppl can say what they want but LeBron is not a selfish player and being bashed for wanting to be a part of a new era Dream Team is beyond me. JMO

What I mean by that is true champions elevate their teams to championships. They don't have to leave one team to go looking for a shot at a championship. The Celtics finished 23 and 25 games out of first place the two years before Bird arrived. The Lakers were a middle of the pack team before Magic arrived. It took Jordan a few years to grow into a champion but he evelvated the BULLS to a championship. To me Lebron is the guy who couldn't get it done so he crawled off elsewhere looking for a ring. That's how I'll see him now. He's talented but moving to Miami to get a championship tarnishes his legacy in my opinion, whether he wins one or not.

[TTP77]

I know a lot of ppl feel that way I'm just not one of them. For years the NBA has taken heat (if you will pardon the pun :)) for being a league of superstars who play for themselves and not the team. Which was a lil overblown to me but still had some truth to it. I played basketball on a perennially bad team and I was the best player which is scary because i'm not very good lol. I would have loved to have played on a team with better players and won more games. Same thing for softball but I was fortunate to play on some really good softball teams and we had the best pitcher in the league and to a player we LOVED it. It's easy for fans to say a player should do it on his or her own but in reality it's hard. I just can't and won't bash the dude for wanting to play with guys he thinks will help him win championships. JMO :)

[TTP77]

you peeps have probably read this but a good look at how this went down...

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2010/07/inside_the_decision_miamis_cou.html

[TitansFan23]

CHICAGO -- Jesse Jackson criticized Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert on Sunday, saying Gilbert sees LeBron James as a "runaway slave" and that the owner's comments after the free-agent forward decided to join the Miami Heat put the player in danger.

"His feelings of betrayal personify a slave master mentality."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5372266

SMH...

[ZachLV27]

Jesse Jackson is such an idiot.

[Titansfan777]

I was about to post it. I really honestly would be happy if someone killed jesse jackson. Its not just this, its everything about him. And a golf clap goes out to whoever takes out sharpton too. The world would be so much better without those ugly ass looking media whores.

[TTP77]

I support LeBron's decision just not how he went about it. the rest is just silly overblown media stuff

Dan Gilbert is an idiot who is getting far too much credit and far too much blame.

If you are in a job where you bring in lots of money try leaving and see how your employer acts. Or let them even get a whiff that you might be leaving. They go ape****. Firings, lawsuits, bad blood, etc. This is not limited to sports.

[TitansGiantsBears]

I know a lot of ppl feel that way I'm just not one of them. For years the NBA has taken heat (if you will pardon the pun :)) for being a league of superstars who play for themselves and not the team. Which was a lil overblown to me but still had some truth to it. I played basketball on a perennially bad team and I was the best player which is scary because i'm not very good lol. I would have loved to have played on a team with better players and won more games. Same thing for softball but I was fortunate to play on some really good softball teams and we had the best pitcher in the league and to a player we LOVED it. It's easy for fans to say a player should do it on his or her own but in reality it's hard. I just can't and won't bash the dude for wanting to play with guys he thinks will help him win championships. JMO :)

I'm not really going to bash him either. I don't feel any ill will towards him one way or the other (except for making himself a media whore in the process). :) You're right. It IS hard but so is winning a championship in any professional sports league. Michael Jordan made a Clippers-like franchise into arguably the greatest team of all-time. Did he do it all by himself? No, but he was the reason guys wanted to go there to be a part of that. He was also the one who made those around him that much better. Jordan didn't sell out and move on to Detroit, Los Angeles, or Boston to win a ring. He put the team on his shoulders and determined to win it. Lebron will be remembered as a great player whether he wins a title or not but he'll never be the guy that delivered the title to his long-suffering hometown.

[TTP77]

IDK that we can say yet whether he did or didn't put his team on his shoulders. Oftentimes guys under-perform or whatever. I think we should all see how this plays out first. :)

[TRUTitan]

I don't understand why everyone is all up in arms about Lebron's decision. He played for Cleveland for 7 years and they failed to win a championship. This offseason begins and Cleveland does nothing to build on last year, but change out coaches. You expect one player to do it all with no other real offensive players around him? As mentioned before Lebron owed nothing to Cleveland and Gilbert's comments and the fans reaction is similar to that of a spurned lover after a bad break up. Lebron's is not about the money like CJ, but instead about getting a ring. We all knew he would go with team that gave him the best chance to win.
As far as the Descision special, that is the Media's fault and the public.

[Titansfan777]

I don't understand why everyone is all up in arms about Lebron's decision. He played for Cleveland for 7 years and they failed to win a championship. This offseason begins and Cleveland does nothing to build on last year, but change out coaches. You expect one player to do it all with no other real offensive players around him? As mentioned before Lebron owed nothing to Cleveland and Gilbert's comments and the fans reaction is similar to that of a spurned lover after a bad break up. Lebron's is not about the money like CJ, but instead about getting a ring. We all knew he would go with team that gave him the best chance to win.
As far as the Descision special, that is the Media's fault and the public.


Mo Williams and Jamison are legit 20ppg guys...and they couldnt really go after anyone since lebron was holding them ransom since his contract would have eaten up their caproom depending on how much he would have taken.

[Rolltide14TOMB]

And yet the lakers would beat them in a series 9 outta 10 times.


if the series started tommorrow? yes....

Next June? not hardly

The Miami Heat should be the CLEAR favorite to win the NBA Title going into the season. Of course that doesnt guarantee it with injuries, chemistry, etc.....LeBron has almost carried the loliest players in the league to the World Championship just about every season. Hell he was the top seed twice and went to the conference finals, and the NBA Finals.....so why wouldnt one think that adding the 3rd best player in the league and a top 5 big man in the league to his side wouldnt make the Heat the obvious pre-season pick?
The celtics will be no problem because they now can guard Rondo, but the Orlando Magic and Dwight Howard could me the man they cant match up with. I expect an East Final of Miami and Orlando...

[ZachLV27]

if the series started tommorrow? yes....

Next June? not hardly

The Miami Heat should be the CLEAR favorite to win the NBA Title going into the season. Of course that doesnt guarantee it with injuries, chemistry, etc.....LeBron has almost carried the loliest players in the league to the World Championship just about every season. Hell he was the top seed twice and went to the conference finals, and the NBA Finals.....so why wouldnt one think that adding the 3rd best player in the league and a top 5 big man in the league to his side wouldnt make the Heat the obvious pre-season pick?
The celtics will be no problem because they now can guard Rondo, but the Orlando Magic and Dwight Howard could me the man they cant match up with. I expect an East Final of Miami and Orlando...

When exactly did LeBron get to the NBA Finals? LeBron has never won a damn thing and he has had much better teams than you say he has.

In the eyes of the players in the league the Heat wont be the favorite to win anything until they actually do win something.

[Toronto]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7xlzLOZH5c

This is one of the best I've ever seen

[Titansfan777]

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha damn time to strap on my LOLerskates thats a classic

[Titans and Turtles]

When exactly did LeBron get to the NBA Finals?

2007 (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2007/series?series=clesas)



LeBron has never won a damn thing and he has had much better teams than you say he has.

In the eyes of the players in the league the Heat wont be the favorite to win anything until they actually do win something.

I disagree. His teams have been mediocre at best, and if you look at the stats, even the less bad players around him have disappeared in the playoffs. Jordan had Pippen (and Rodman, among others). Bird had PArrish, Ainge, DJ, and McHale. MAgic had freaking Kareem (and Worthy and Byron Scott). And even Kobe, the wonderful hero Kobe - with Shaq in his prime - championships. Shaq leaves, Kobe's teams fizzle just like Lebron's cavs did. Kobe and the Lakers are gifted with Pau Gasol in exchange for a bag of basketballs and a coupon to Sizzler - boom, Championships.

The Cavs saddled Lebron with mediocre teammates and one of the worst coaches in the league. They had 7 years to find a way to get another true, legit star to push the team over the hump, and failed.

And yes, right now, the Heat have won 0 games. But barring injury, this team will destroy the competition. They already are assembling much better supporting talent than I initially thought they'd get. I think this team flirts with a championship with a starting lineup of Bosh, Wade, James, the hot-dog vendor guy, and the fan in row 14, seat AD. Add some actual legit NBA players to the big 3, and I think these guys are going to be something special.

[Titansfan777]

At the same time tho...they had 2 all-star players on the team complimenting him in Mo Williams(15-20ppg) and Antawn Jamison(20ppg). Then had a good stable on the bench in Hickson/West(20ppg combined). In addition to that, they had Varejao/Big Z who were good defensive bigmen. Also you have to give consideration to the fact that Leon Powe was supposed to be a good option off the bench but was injured and missed 2/3 of the season. Gibson was a disappointment this year after averaging 10ppg the last 2 years. Then you factor in Shaq while not the best signing, was supposed to be more of an impact than what he was...many were expecting him to be as good as he was last year in phoenix but was oft injured. Finally to say Brown wasnt a good coach is so far from the truth, as he is probably one of, if not the best defensive coach out there...and is a top 5 coach in general.

[MDK Titan]

Mo Williams is hardly an all-star, he was like the 3rd alternate PG when he played in the ASG. Jamison was an all-star a few years back, but he's ALWAYS been one of the worst defenders in the league and i actually think he ruined the chemistry of the team. It forced Hickson from being a starter for most of the season to backing up Varejao in which he saw very little pt in the playoffs.

[TitansGiantsBears]

Jordan and Magic both seem to get what I'm saying. It seems Lebron is chasing a championship rather than possessing the competitive will to bring to a team himself.

[Titans and Turtles]

Jordan and Magic both seem to get what I'm saying. It seems Lebron is chasing a championship rather than possessing the competitive will to bring to a team himself.

How long was he supposed to wait? And why are these players suddenly GMs? Magic was placed on a team with Hall of Famer Kareem still in the meat of his career, and soon had fellow HoF James Worthy added. Bird had Robert Parrish and Kevin McHale (both HoF) join him by year 2. And Jordan had Pippen (HoF) and Horace Grant join him by year 4.

Also, Magic had Pat Riley, Jordan had Phil Jackson, and Bird had HoF coach KC Jones.

And if you want to heap it on more, Kobe had Phil Jackson as coach, and won all his championships with either in his dominant-prime Shaq, or Pau Gasol by his side.

Lebron gave the Cavs SEVEN YEARS. They utterly failed to find him help (teammate or coaching) the caliber that Bird, Magic, Jordan, or Kobe were all blessed to play with.

So now this is Lebron's fault- he's expected to be the team's GM too?! Or perhaps you credit Magic Johnson with the Lakers acquiring Kareem and hiring Pat Riley. And Jordan's hiring of Phil Jackson sure was a good decision, right? And Bird's trade for Parrish and the draft pick that got McHale - awesome.

The one hour tv announcement was awful - a complete train wreck that deserves derision. But blaming him for Cleveland not winning or assembling the team necessary to win? Ridiculous.

[Titanico]

:evilgrin:random post:

did anyone mentioned that the Lakers are the reigning Champs?
















:rant <------ I know, I know...many have to be like "Don't remind me of that!"

hehehe! :D

[TTP77]

Jordan and Magic both seem to get what I'm saying. It seems Lebron is chasing a championship rather than possessing the competitive will to bring to a team himself.

They played in a different era. Today's sports are different from 20 years ago.