2011-12 NBA Season

[patsox]

I love this picture, because the combination of the Pacers player's ponytail, obscured face, and jersey piping make it look like Lebron is in the WNBA

No, it doesn't.

The stands are full...

OK, that cracked me up.

Anyway, on topic: I may be one of the few (outside San Antonio), but I want to see the Spurs win it all. Nothing against the Thunder, they're a lot of fun to watch, but the boring old Spurs winning another one would piss off a lot of people and that's always fun.

I'm with you actually. If the Celtics don't win, I want it to be the Spurs. Might as well root for the basketball equivalent of the Patriots if the Celtics aren't in it. I've always kind of liked the Spurs as a 2nd team actually.

[pmoehrin]

The more I think about the Spurs/Thunder series, the more I think San Antonio is just going to pick this Thunder team apart.

OKC has a tremendous offense. Maybe the only team in the NBA that can really compare to San Antonio right now. Kevin Durant is a beast and I would say Russell Westbrook is the best scoring point guard in the game. But they play alot of iso ball. Alot of their offense relies on just overpowering the defense in one on one situations. But your going to make alot of mistakes playing that way and the Spurs are a team that feeds off of mistakes.

For the Thunder to have any shot in this series I think they either need to change what they do offensively which is extremely difficult in the playoffs or play near perfect every game.

People are expecting this to be a close series I really don't think it will be. Barring some type of injury I think San Antonio is going to take this pretty easily. I think a Miami Heat team with a healthy Chris Bosh or the Celtics will actually give the Spurs more problems then the Thunder will just because of Miami's athleticism at the swings and how smart Boston plays. Even Philly I actually think would surprise people if they matched up against the Spurs. I just don't like the Thunder's chances in this series given the way they play and given how well San Antonio has looked.

[FiddySicks]

Well, so much for the Heat not being able to hang with the Pacers size...

[Lights Out]

I wish people weren't so blinded by their bias against LeBron, because what he's been doing this series is worthy of appreciation.

[pmoehrin]

Its just the normal state of things.

Heat lose its party time. Heat win its like your dog just died.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Was "the Decision" really that egregious? It seems like ESPN is as much to blame for that -- if not more -- than LeBron. I don't really get the dislike. At least with Kobe you can point to Denver. What really is LeBron's great sin?

[ADW77]

Was "the Decision" really that egregious? It seems like ESPN is as much to blame for that -- if not more -- than LeBron. I don't really get the dislike. At least with Kobe you can point to Denver. What really is LeBron's great sin?

It's him being shoved down our throats since he first declared for the NBA draft. Now, I don't blame him, I mean when the media pumps up an 18 year old kid like that, of course he's going to end up with a big ego.

[NJTank]

Was "the Decision" really that egregious? It seems like ESPN is as much to blame for that -- if not more -- than LeBron. I don't really get the dislike. At least with Kobe you can point to Denver. What really is LeBron's great sin?

I agree, but its still fun when he loses.

[IceCap]

Was "the Decision" really that egregious? It seems like ESPN is as much to blame for that -- if not more -- than LeBron. I don't really get the dislike. At least with Kobe you can point to Denver. What really is LeBron's great sin?

The Decision was a bit over the top, but you're right, that could have been ESPN's doing.

I like James actually. He's a great talent to watch. From what I gather most of the hate directed at him comes from the Cleveland contingent.

That and Tank has a point. There's always going to be a portion of the audience that cheers against the superstar.

[pmoehrin]

My theory has always been it had as much to do with him going to Miami as anything.

I think alot of sports fans right or wrong feel like Miami doesn't deserve a basketball like this. No player would ever say I'm going to Miami because of the tradition that's there and their loyal fans. You go to Miami because it has great weather, a great party scene and no state income tax, and none of those reasons have anything to do with basketball. On some level it says that in the end all the support Cleveland and the state of Ohio didn't matter.

Also the fact that the team was built through free agency and developed is another strike against this team. They weren't developed, Pat Riley just went out and purchased this team. Even with the salary cap alot of the same mentality people have towards hating the Yankees would apply towards the Heat.

The other part of it I think is that we got to know LeBron James too well. We as a society do not react well when presented an honest portrait of what our stars are really like. We rather look at them as objects then human beings with flaws that we can't understand because we don't live in their world. And in that I think also lies much deeper questions that we rather put off answering until tomorrow but because of things like Twitter its becoming more and more of something that needs to be addressed today.

[tBBP]

My theory has always been it had as much to do with him going to Miami as anything.

I think alot of sports fans right or wrong feel like Miami doesn't deserve a basketball like this. No player would ever say I'm going to Miami because of the tradition that's there and their loyal fans. You go to Miami because it has great weather, a great party scene and no state income tax, and none of those reasons have anything to do with basketball. On some level it says that in the end all the support Cleveland and the state of Ohio didn't matter.

Also the fact that the team was built through free agency and developed is another strike against this team. They weren't developed, Pat Riley just went out and purchased this team. Even with the salary cap alot of the same mentality people have towards hating the Yankees would apply towards the Heat.

The other part of it I think is that we got to know LeBron James too well. We as a society do not react well when presented an honest portrait of what our stars are really like. We rather look at them as objects then human beings with flaws that we can't understand because we don't live in their world. And in that I think also lies much deeper questions that we rather put off answering until tomorrow but because of things like Twitter its becoming more and more of something that needs to be addressed today.

Or, cliff notes version:

"Hatin' is the national pasttime."

[loogodude90]

I think alot of sports fans right or wrong feel like Miami doesn't deserve a basketball like this. No player would ever say I'm going to Miami because of the tradition that's there and their loyal fans. You go to Miami because it has great weather, a great party scene and no state income tax, and none of those reasons have anything to do with basketball. On some level it says that in the end all the support Cleveland and the state of Ohio didn't matter.

I'm no Heat fan, and I have never even been to Florida. But I gotta disagree with this. Basically what you're saying is the only reason Miami could have a good basketball team and draw players to their city is because of all of those reasons. That's not really fair. What if they just happen to be the city the players chose to go to.

In any event, let's say you're right. Let's say Lebron only went there for the reasons you mentioned. Is that really Miami's fault? The city didn't choose to have great weather, and the other two things (the party scene and no state income tax) should be credited to them. What did they do wrong here? They deserve whomever they can attract.

Also the fact that the team was built through free agency and developed is another strike against this team. They weren't developed, Pat Riley just went out and purchased this team. Even with the salary cap alot of the same mentality people have towards hating the Yankees would apply towards the Heat.

But can you blame him? The NBA is a business. Pat Riley is out to make money. So, he spent money on players who would give him the best chance to win, which in turn has brought in even more money to the franchise. Don't blame Pat Riley for being smart and using his intelligence and resources to build a strong contender.

We as a society do not react well when presented an honest portrait of what our stars are really like. We rather look at them as objects then human beings with flaws that we can't understand because we don't live in their world.

Speak for yourself. I think you are reading too much into things. I see Lebron as a human being with flaws. That's why he doesn't have a ring after 8+ seasons in the league.

And I live in the same world as Lebron James. I have less money and less fame, but we live in the same world. Athletes are only held as high as you want to hold them.

[dbadefense1990]

What really is LeBron's great sin?

Bolting to a stacked Miami team with a bonafide superstar (Wade) already in place. Humiliated Cleveland by declaring his intentions before the whole world on national TV. Then the next night, he declared he won 8 titles without even doing one practice with the team. Have you ever seen Kobe, Jordan, Magic or Bird bolting to a stacked team in his prime? Didn't think so.

[Lights Out]

Was "the Decision" really that egregious? It seems like ESPN is as much to blame for that -- if not more -- than LeBron. I don't really get the dislike. At least with Kobe you can point to Denver. What really is LeBron's great sin?

Most people point to "The Decision" (a typically corny ESPN special that LeBron refused to even consider doing until the charity part was added in) and "Not one, not two, not three..." as their main reasons for hating LeBron. It's unbelievably petty, especially since a lot of LeBron haters tend to worship Kobe Bryant. Apparently a TV special and a pep rally for Miami fans is worse than a rape scandal, public trade demands, throwing a fit on camera when the Lakers wouldn't trade Bynum for Kidd, all the immature Kobe/Shaq blowups that Phil Jackson wrote about in his book, etc. simply because of ring count.

[Lights Out]

Have you ever seen Kobe, Jordan, Magic or Bird bolting to a stacked team in his prime? Didn't think so.

Kobe bolted to a stacked team on draft day. His agent lied to the Nets that he was going back to Italy, forcing them to pick someone else, then demanded he be traded to Shaq's Lakers when the Hornets finally drafted him.

Jordan flirted with the Knicks in 1996, and threatened to leave numerous other times in his career, but was locked down to a long-term contract that (in Reinsdorfian fashion) drastically underpaid him.

[NJTank]

Was "the Decision" really that egregious? It seems like ESPN is as much to blame for that -- if not more -- than LeBron. I don't really get the dislike. At least with Kobe you can point to Denver. What really is LeBron's great sin?

The Decision was a bit over the top, but you're right, that could have been ESPN's doing.

I like James actually. He's a great talent to watch. From what I gather most of the hate directed at him comes from the Cleveland contingent.

That and Tank has a point. There's always going to be a portion of the audience that cheers against the superstar.

And cheers for the underdog

[The_Admiral]

We're gearing up for what should be an all-timer in the West, but as much as I love watching Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook play, I can't fully get behind them for obvious Clay Bennett-related reasons. This is a real shame and disservice to fans.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

We're gearing up for what should be an all-timer in the West, but as much as I love watching Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook play, I can't fully get behind them for obvious Clay Bennett-related reasons. This is a real shame and disservice to fans.

You want to root for the guys on the court because they're so likeable. Everything else about the franchise - the ownership, the logos, the team name, the precious fans - decidely isn't.

[HedleyLamarr]

Was "the Decision" really that egregious? It seems like ESPN is as much to blame for that -- if not more -- than LeBron. I don't really get the dislike. At least with Kobe you can point to Denver. What really is LeBron's great sin?

His entourage traveling party and his list of demands that every arena (home and away) must abide to.

[dbadefense1990]

Have you ever seen Kobe, Jordan, Magic or Bird bolting to a stacked team in his prime? Didn't think so.

Kobe bolted to a stacked team on draft day...

Stop right there. He was a freaking rookie; no one knew who the hell he was in 1996. The idiocy of LeBron/Heat morons and Laker haters to compare Kobe's rookie actions to a prime LeBron destroying Cleveland is unbelievable.

And second point, I laugh at you when you said those Lakers were stacked. OK, let's see here, you have Shaq...and then who? Ceballos, Campbell, a rookie Fisher, Sean freaking Rooks, a super washed-up Byron Scott, Travis damn Knight, and Van Exel who was the "Kobe-ballhog" of his day. You're telling me that this Lakers team was stacked? OK, so they had no problem beating the Olajuwon/Drexler/Barkley Rockets, or the Stockton/Malone Jazz, or the Kemp/Payton Sonics huh? You're pathetic.