NBA Chatter Thread

Simpleton

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Now there's an article on ESPN saying he would workout for Philly. I would also be happy with him going there.
PR move since they probably think it's a done deal that he's a Laker. I could also see the argument that they don't think he's a fit with Thomas, so on and so forth, but that's still quite a presumptuous stance to take.
 
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Deuce

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PR move since they probably think it's a done deal that he's a Laker. I could also see the argument that they don't think he's a fit with Thomas, so on and so forth, but that's still quite a presumptuous stance to take.
That would be a pretty ridiculous assumption on their part since I think they could mesh well. Ball is supposed to be this elite passer and facilitator, Thomas is the scorer. Thomas is undersized and Ball is built like a 2 guard, so they could switch defensively. They should technically compliment each other quite well when on the floor at the same time.
 

Texas Ace

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That would be a pretty ridiculous assumption on their part since I think they could mesh well. Ball is supposed to be this elite passer and facilitator, Thomas is the scorer. Thomas is undersized and Ball is built like a 2 guard, so they could switch defensively. They should technically compliment each other quite well when on the floor at the same time.
The problem with that is Thomas is already a liability on defense and Ball isn't all that great defensively himself.
 

Smitty

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MJ didn't need to form super teams to win a championship.

He also didn't freeze up and choke when his teams needed him most.

And the guy never lost a Finals.

He'll always be the GOAT.
Lebron isn't even the second greatest. There's a guy named Larry Bird... maybe you've heard of him.
 

Simpleton

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If the Cavs beat the Warriors I'd say LeBron is in the conversation, but you have to consider that he's basically consolidated all the power in the East around himself twice, which basically means over the last 4-5 years he's only really had one true test in the playoffs, the Finals.

My thing with LeBron is where are all the great, legendary players that he has defeated and denied a title?

Jordan denied Ewing, Miller, Barkley, Malone, Stockton, Payton, Kemp, and so forth, name me the players LeBron has consistently vanquished like them?

Every year Jordan had to take on Ewing's Knicks or Miller's Pacers in the East, show me a similar team in the East that LeBron has had to go up against on this run of 7 straight Finals?

An aging Celtics team on the brink of falling apart? MVP Rose for one year before the injuries?

Juggernauts like George and the Pacers or Lowry and the Raptors? A Celtics team whose best player is 5-9?

What I'm getting at here is that LeBron has twice consolidated top-tier talent around himself on an Eastern conference team without having any real competition on his way to the Finals. And then once he gets there it's mostly been a 50/50 proposition, beat the Spurs one year, lose to them the next year, lose to the Warriors one year, beat them the next.
 
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Deuce

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The problem with that is Thomas is already a liability on defense and Ball isn't all that great defensively himself.
Ball isn't a great defender, but he isn't a liability I don't think either. I think he would match up better with bigger 2 guards than small, quick point guards. D'arron Fox absolutely destroyed him with his quickness.
 

Texas Ace

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If the Cavs beat the Warriors I'd say LeBron is in the conversation, but you have to consider that he's basically consolidated all the power in the East around himself twice, which basically means over the last 4-5 years he's only really had one true test in the playoffs, the Finals.

My thing with LeBron is where are all the great, legendary players that he has defeated and denied a title?

Jordan denied Ewing, Miller, Barkley, Malone, Stockton, Payton, Kemp, and so forth, name me the players LeBron has consistently vanquished like them?

Every year Jordan had to take on Ewing's Knicks or Miller's Pacers in the East, show me a similar team in the East that LeBron has had to go up against on this run of 7 straight Finals?

An aging Celtics team on the brink of falling apart? MVP Rose for one year before the injuries?

Juggernauts like George and the Pacers or Lowry and the Raptors? A Celtics team whose best player is 5-9?

What I'm getting at here is that LeBron has twice consolidated top-tier talent around himself on an Eastern conference team without having any real competition on his way to the Finals. And then once he gets there it's mostly been a 50/50 proposition, beat the Spurs one year, lose to them the next year, lose to the Warriors one year, beat them the next.
Very good points.

And you can add Magic Johnson and Clyde Drexler to that list.
 

Simpleton

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Very good points.

And you can add Magic Johnson and Clyde Drexler to that list.
Yea I mean those guys had titles while Jordan was in the league, although I guess you could make some sort of argument that if Jordan hadn't retired Drexler may not have got one in Houston.

But my point is that there is a whole generation of HOF guys that Jordan denied, both in the Eastern conference and in the Finals, who has LeBron denied?

Nobody.

If he can deny Durant and thoroughly outplay him over these next 2-3 years that'd be another thing but I don't see it happening.

Basically the guy has created two superteams, which is exacerbated by the fact that the East has been extraordinarily mediocre over the last 5+ years, and then he's been about 50/50 in the Finals.

He's a top 5 player all time, no doubt, but that isn't even close to enough to put him above Jordan for me.
 

NoDak

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As a Sixers fan, I hope the Lakers take Ball. I don't want anything to do with him or his moron of a dad. Give me Fultz or Jackson.
 

Genghis Khan

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As a Sixers fan, I hope the Lakers take Ball. I don't want anything to do with him or his moron of a dad. Give me Fultz or Jackson.
Yep, those are my two targets. If both are gone, I'd try to trade down but regardless I'd want Monk, Smith or Fox.

I'd add that I don't think Ball is a fit for the sixers regardless.
 
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Deuce

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I think Fox is ahead of Tatum as the 3rd best player. He's so dynamic and quick with the ball in his hands, reminds me of Wall when he came out. Only maybe with a better jump shot initially.
 

1bigfan13

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If the Cavs beat the Warriors I'd say LeBron is in the conversation, but you have to consider that he's basically consolidated all the power in the East around himself twice, which basically means over the last 4-5 years he's only really had one true test in the playoffs, the Finals.

My thing with LeBron is where are all the great, legendary players that he has defeated and denied a title?

Jordan denied Ewing, Miller, Barkley, Malone, Stockton, Payton, Kemp, and so forth, name me the players LeBron has consistently vanquished like them?

Every year Jordan had to take on Ewing's Knicks or Miller's Pacers in the East, show me a similar team in the East that LeBron has had to go up against on this run of 7 straight Finals?

An aging Celtics team on the brink of falling apart? MVP Rose for one year before the injuries?

Juggernauts like George and the Pacers or Lowry and the Raptors? A Celtics team whose best player is 5-9?

What I'm getting at here is that LeBron has twice consolidated top-tier talent around himself on an Eastern conference team without having any real competition on his way to the Finals. And then once he gets there it's mostly been a 50/50 proposition, beat the Spurs one year, lose to them the next year, lose to the Warriors one year, beat them the next.
I think even the biggest Lebron homers have to concede that he's benefited greatly from playing in the watered down Eastern Conference. He he were in the West there's no way in hell that he reaches 7 straight Finals.

That's why I was hoping that KD would go to Washington or Boston last summer. Lebron needs some legit competition in the East. But instead KD bitched out and chose Golden St.
 

1bigfan13

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I think Fox is ahead of Tatum as the 3rd best player. He's so dynamic and quick with the ball in his hands, reminds me of Wall when he came out. Only maybe with a better jump shot initially.
That's who I'd compare him with as well.
 
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Deuce

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I hope GS sweeps Cleveland by a 25 ppg margin. The NBA and their super team building model is a flawed product and doesn't make the game fun to watch anymore.

Oh, and F Lebron.
 

Simpleton

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I hope GS sweeps Cleveland by a 25 ppg margin. The NBA and their super team building model is a flawed product and doesn't make the game fun to watch anymore.

Oh, and F Lebron.
Durant going to GS is probably the most egregious "superteam" move ever, so I assume you're just saying this because LeBron is the one who started the trend and/or because they beat the Celtics?

Either way I agree, fuck both of them.
 
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Deuce

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Durant going to GS is probably the most egregious "superteam" move ever, so I assume you're just saying this because LeBron is the one who started the trend and/or because they beat the Celtics?

Either way I agree, fuck both of them.
Mostly fuck him because he started the stupid trend when he really shouldn't have needed to. Fuck Melo too for trying to do it and lol at him for not getting anyone to join him at their dumpster fire.
 

Simpleton

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I'd like to point out that OKC was up 8 going into the 4th quarter of Game 6 of the WCF last year, with a chance to close out the Warriors at home, and Durant scored a grand total of 4 god damn points in the 4th, going 1/7 from the field while Klay Thompson dropped 19 and Curry/Westbrook both put up a respectable 8.

Real iron willed champion we got on our hands here, joining a 73 win team that was about 2 minutes from going back to back.
 

Texas Ace

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I'd like to point out that OKC was up 8 going into the 4th quarter of Game 6 of the WCF last year, with a chance to close out the Warriors at home, and Durant scored a grand total of 4 god damn points in the 4th, going 1/7 from the field while Klay Thompson dropped 19 and Curry/Westbrook both put up a respectable 8.

Real iron willed champion we got on our hands here, joining a 73 win team that was about 2 minutes from going back to back.
I saw Nike put out this add today of Durant and a sarcastic poke at him being soft.

Whatever.

It's always easier to perform when the pressure isn't all on you. When you're not the guy expected to lead the unit to a championship, you're going to feel far less pressure than you do when everybody is expecting you to be the one that leads them to glory as was the case in OKC.

So while Durant was great last night and he's had a very good season overall, I don't think last night's performance or even him having an overall great Finals does anything to change the perception that he doesn't handle crunch time pressure well.

You got to be the guy in order to dispel that myth, not an extra piece.
 
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