The 2017 NBA Playoffs: This Is A Recording

[rams80]

1 minute ago, masterchaoss said:

Really because there aren't many superstars that signed for the Lakers while they were contending team like Durant did, come to think of it I don't think anyone has, every star I can think was drafted or traded for and the only free agent they signed was Shaq but that was they were mediocre. I think we have just as much of a right to bitch about KD as a fan of any other team.

 

Just because Karl Malone, Gary Payton, and Steve Nash (among others) didn't win a championship with the Lakers didn't mean they didn't explicitly come over to try to win with a loaded team.

[Red Wolf]

Basketball is always a top-heavy sport. It's the nature of the game. Hopefully we get back to there being more than one potential title contender soon. 

 

For you Golden State diehards (not like the goober I know that became a GS fan after KD moved over), enjoy it. It's not often that a team in any major league outside of European soccer gets to be so good that it seems unfair. I hope one day that I can root for a team so good that it just royally pisses everybody off. 

[dfwabel]

On 06/12/2017 at 9:45 PM, masterchaoss said:

Really because there aren't many superstars that signed for the Lakers while they were contending team like Durant did, come to think of it I don't think anyone has, every star I can think was drafted or traded for and the only free agent they signed was Shaq but that was they were mediocre. I think we have just as much of a right to bitch about KD as a fan of any other team.

Kind of a hollow argument as there was not unrestricted free agency in the NBA until 1988. In '81 Bob McAdoo refused the qualifying offer from the Nets and sat out until he could be traded to LAL for a 2nd rounder and $$$. 

[FiddySicks]

1) I didn't know he was with the organization 

 

2) That's awesome! 

 

[GFB]

Man, I hope those of you whining about Durant have never taken a new job at a better company for more money with a great boss, more talented and friendly coworkers, a closer commute, and in a city that you happen to really like. No, you stay at the same job with the company you helped get off the ground but may have hit their ceiling, with that one coworker who is always going rogue and is a pain in the ass to work with (despite his talent), in a city that doesn't really have anything to offer you like the man of principle you are.

 

 

[Rockstar Matt]

50 minutes ago, rams80 said:

 

There is some tremendous comedic irony to the Laker fans of all people casting shade on Durant for doing what he did.

 

Just because my team has done so in the past doesn't mean it was the "ethically" right thing to do nor does it absolve my point. There has never been, in the modern era, a top 3 player in the league, join a current championship winning team in order to chase a title, especially a team that his couldn't beat. Regardless of whom I support, that is the definition of a bitchy move. 

 

I'm sorry, but if you're a Warriors fan (not you specifically rams), why does it bother you if people are rightfully complaining about Durant's exodus to the league's best team? You're champions, regardless of anyone's bitching. Just enjoy that. The rest of us have a right to pointlessly complain. 

 

FTR, I was against the Malone and Payton signing in 2004 (hated both of those players. Malone is a douche-canoe of the highest order) and the Nash (admittedly only because I knew he was a shell of his former self). 

 

 

[Red Wolf]

3 minutes ago, GFB said:

Man, I hope those of you whining about Durant have never taken a new job at a better company for more money with a great boss, more talented and friendly coworkers, a closer commute, and in a city that you happen to really like. No, you stay at the same job with the company you helped get off the ground but may have hit their ceiling, with that one coworker who is always going rogue and is a pain in the ass to work with (despite his talent), in a city that doesn't really have anything to offer you like the man of principle you are.

 

 

I'm a man of principle and I love it.

 

Spoiler

Please save me.

 

[The Six]

I took Durant's advice weeks ago and didn't watch. I don't feel like I've missed anything at all. Hopefully next season's NBA has compelling games to watch.

[Rockstar Matt]

13 minutes ago, The Six said:

I took Durant's advice weeks ago and didn't watch. I don't feel like I've missed anything at all. Hopefully next season's NBA has compelling games to watch.

 

If Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are healthy, they'll be a blast to watch.

[FiddySicks]

23 minutes ago, Rockstar Matt said:

 

Just because my team has done so in the past doesn't mean it was the "ethically" right thing to do nor does it absolve my point. There has never been, in the modern era, a top 3 player in the league, join a current championship winning team in order to chase a title, especially a team that his couldn't beat. Regardless of whom I support, that is the definition of a bitchy move. 

 

I'm sorry, but if you're a Warriors fan (not you specifically rams), why does it bother you if people are rightfully complaining about Durant's exodus to the league's best team? You're champions, regardless of anyone's bitching. Just enjoy that. The rest of us have a right to pointlessly complain. 

 

FTR, I was against the Malone and Payton signing in 2004 (hated both of those players. Malone is a douche-canoe of the highest order) and the Nash (admittedly only because I knew he was a shell of his former self). 

 

 

 

Here's a fun and interesting fact that most people are probably unaware of:

 

It doesn't. Not one little bit. 

 

Like I said earlier, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

 

[Unocal]

Dwight Howard and Steve Nash tried to do for the Lakers a few years ago what we thought KD would be.

 

And lest we not forget Scottie Pippen on the '99 Rockets with Hakeem/Barkley/Clyde? Or the '97 Rockets with Hakeem/Barkley/Clyde?

 

Sometimes it doesn't always work out.

 

Durant bucked history

[GFB]

41 minutes ago, Rockstar Matt said:

rightfully complaining

 

Everyone wants to point to some imaginary line in the sand and say "Here it is! It's gone too far... It's no longer fair." But there's nothing to complain about. There is no line. No rules were broken. The NBA is a business; ethics are irrelevant. This is the natural result of the path that the NBA has been marching toward for the last 3 decades. 

 

Even if a player just wanted to sign with a team for the sole motivation of simply winning, when did that become this horrendous thing that creates such a viscous reaction from people? Wasn't that the common fan's main complaint of most professional athletes over the last 25 years, that they were only interested in the money and they didn't care about winning?

 

If this offseason Boogie Cousins signed with Cleveland for a one year deal worth 10 million, why is that a bad thing? He's slaved away in obscurity in Sacramento for the majority his career, and for his brand (which all NBA players are to themselves) he realizes he'd make 30 million in endorsements if he plays in the finals next year. And some fans want me to have this venom for him because he wants to win? 

 

I mean, my team is the Pistons, and we have no shot at ever signing a free agent like Durant. No star will pass up playing in markets like New York, Chicago, Boston, Miami, Los Angeles, or San Francisco to come to Detroit; not even if the Pistons were good again. It doesn't make sense for their brands and careers. I've accepted this, yet I'm surprised to see that this is where so many people think that the imaginary "fairness" line has been crossed.

[dfwabel]

Warriors open as 1-2 favorites for next season at Wingate Las Vegas.

 

http://www.espn.com/chalk/story/_/id/19590072/nba-odds-all-30-nba-teams-win-2017-18-nba-title

[JerseyJimmy]

Patriots, Penguins, Chelsea, now the Warriors... c'mon, Yankees! Let's make this the worst year in sports history!

[Wings]

I'm sorry some of you have personal issues with the Bay Area. That's your business and I'll leave it at that. Cheers mates. 

 

I know a few Sonics fans that are happy for KD but are even happier that he didn't win it OKC. 

[CLEstones]

Just some thoughts following The Finals:

 

• Golden State just outclasses Cleveland from top to bottom - from the Owner, to GM, to Head Coach, to assistant coaches, to starters, to the bench.

 

• Ty Lue probably should not be a NBA head coach.  I wasn't a fan of him last year and he reinforced a lot of what my feelings were on him.
  • He can't manage minutes.
  • He can't put a rotation together.
  • He is too loyal to old veterans. 
  • He can't make adjustments.

 

• Part of the reason the Cavs are where they are, is because of LeBron - both good and bad.
  • LeBron forced the Cavs to pay Tristian Thompson and JR Smith way above market value.
  • LeBron was a driving force to have an immediate salary cap jump to get guys paid.  Convenient its the same time 2 of his friends and clients got paid.
  • There is no "system" for the Cavs to be successful.
  • LeBron's hunger for stats damages the Cavs bench and long term success.

 

• The narrative of the NBA for the last few years should probably be "Short cuts."
  • LeBron left Cleveland to join Miami in hopes of taking a shortcut to 3 or 4 titles.
  • LeBron came back to Cleveland in hopes to taking a short cut to another 2 or 3 titles (younger, healthier core).  He hid behind the "I'm Coming Home," but LeBron traded in 2 guys in their late 20's/early 30's for 2 guys in their early 20's.
  • Durant left Oklahoma City for a shortcut to a Title.

 

• I hate to say this, but in many way, Cleveland's title last year was a fluke.
  • There were too many circumstances that had to go just perfect for the Cavs to win.  Don't get me wrong, I'll take it 10/10 times.  Between Games 6, 7, and the Parade, I made memories I will take with me forever.
  • Cleveland fandom is plagued by lack of world view.  Our fandom, for the most part, can't look at things objectively.  If a national pundit picks against Cleveland, or says something that isn't complimentary of Cleveland or our team, they crap their pants.  It happened this year with everyone picking GS, it happened last summer with Joe Buck and the Indians.  Guys like @truepg just can't see things objectively.  They have a constant homer bias but then blame other people for having a bias against Cleveland, even if they are just speaking objectively.

 

• Golden State has got to go down as one of the greatest teams of all time, if not the greatest.
  • 73 wins have never happened before.
  • 12-0, 13-0, 14-0, 15-0 never happened before.
  • They show no signs of slowing up, especially if Curry and Durant stay true to their words.
  • They have the best shooter of the next 20 years.
  • The have the best scorer of the next 20 years.
  • They have a Top 5 2-way player in the league.
  • They have a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, who doesn't care about anything except winning.
  • They have a bench that just fills their role and a coach who can put them in their best positions to be successful.

 

• Although what Durant did WAS different than what LeBron did by joining the Warriors, it really is just splitting hairs.
  • If you hate on Durant for going to GSW, you should hate on LeBron for going to MIA AND THEN returning to CLE.
  • I think people try to rationalize, especially in Cleveland, hatred for Durant and love for LeBron.

 

• Fortunately or unfortunately for fans, we will probably see Golden State and Cleveland in the Finals at least 2 more years.
  • I don't see a team in the East or West that can beat Golden State - assuming Curry returns - hell, even if he leaves.
  • The only team that has a chance is Cleveland, and we all saw CLE has to play just about perfect to beat GSW.
  • The Cavs don't have to do anything drastic if they are content with just making the Finals, even if Boston adds Paul George or Gordon Hayward.
  • I think bringing in Carmello could potentially close SOME of the gap, if Melo would sign for cheap.
  • Cavs should have let Jefferson retire last year.
  • Korver, although his shooting was a "fit" for the Cavs, his total lack of defense was not a "fit."
  • Cavs should try and trade Thompson and JR, but will be unlikely unless they include Love or Kyrie in the trade, as their salaries are inflated due to LeBron's pressure last off season.

 

• Comparing sports to common man is a lazy, straw man.  The whole Durant leaving is just like any other common person leaving a company for a promotion and better coworkers at another company.  Sports are different.  They always will be different.

 

• The real sad story of this all is Oklahoma City.
  • The incredible drafting OKC did over the last 10 years is nothing short of spectacular/staggering/other-worldly.  They could have truly been a home grown dynasty for 10+ years.

 

EDIT: Grammar and a few clarifications.

[Lights Out]

9 hours ago, GFB said:

Man, I hope those of you whining about Durant have never taken a new job at a better company for more money with a great boss, more talented and friendly coworkers, a closer commute, and in a city that you happen to really like. No, you stay at the same job with the company you helped get off the ground but may have hit their ceiling, with that one coworker who is always going rogue and is a pain in the ass to work with (despite his talent), in a city that doesn't really have anything to offer you like the man of principle you are.

 

 

No offense, but this is a really poor comparison. Durant was the CEO of his own Fortune 500 company and left in his prime to go be a middle manager at someone else's. Of course people would be scratching their heads at that career move.

 

I'm guessing none of us choked a 3-1 series lead in our old jobs. Nor are our jobs to entertain millions of people around the world. There's just no comparison.

[rams80]

1 hour ago, CLEstones said:

LeBron's hunger for stats damages the Cavs bench and long term success.
 

 

In  what way?  Because I was under the impression that the Cavs +/- with him on the bench was downright catastrophic.

[CLEstones]

11 minutes ago, rams80 said:

 

In  what way?  Because I was under the impression that the Cavs +/- with him on the bench was downright catastrophic.

 

No.  It goes back to the regular season.  LeBron has an obsession with his stats... probably more so than anyone in the history of the league, besides Ricky Davis.

 

There were a ton of regular season games over the last 3 years where the Cavs had healthy leads going into the second half and sometimes 20+ points in the 4th quarter.  LeBron would refuse to come out of the game because he wanted to make sure he was getting his totals up.   That's damaging for a few reasons:

1. He continues to rack up minutes on his body.  We sometimes forget he joined the league when he was 18 and has 3 additional seasons of basketball on his body, just from Playoffs.  He was flat out gassed on defense this year, even in the Boston series.  LBJ was terrible on D.
2. It prevents other guys from getting minutes and potentially developing younger players.
3. Role and bench players rely on LeBron always being there, so they don't learn how to close out games or play with their back against the wall.
4. LeBron's free ranging prevents a true offensive system to every be implemented.  It gets implemented as much as LeBron lets it.  So role players who have talent and skill sets cant take full advantage because the offense is always geared towards LeBron being out there.
5. Fast forward to the Playoffs... and the Cavs can't depend on many of their role players because they always relied on LeBron to just pick up the slack.  We saw in these Finals, despite LeBrons ridiculous numbers, he was out of gas.  He couldn't pick up the slack. 

[Sport]

7 hours ago, GFB said:

Man, I hope those of you whining about Durant have never taken a new job at a better company for more money with a great boss, more talented and friendly coworkers, a closer commute, and in a city that you happen to really like. No, you stay at the same job with the company you helped get off the ground but may have hit their ceiling, with that one coworker who is always going rogue and is a pain in the ass to work with (despite his talent), in a city that doesn't really have anything to offer you like the man of principle you are.

 

 

I don't begrudge Kevin Durant for the move from a lifestyle perspective. I'd rather live in the Bay Area than Oklahoma too, especially if you can afford it like he can. Me, I'd have to live in a flophouse with 7 other 30 year olds. From a competitive perspective, however, joining the already best team I don't see how it's anything other than lame. I guess my position is I get why he did it, but I don't have to like it.