NBA Chatter Thread

[Simpleton]

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.

Yea that's true and for me it doesn't change anything. He's a top 3 player in the league and there's no real argument but for me at least this move will forever taint him.

I mean, the guy joined a 73 win team, a team that was a few bounces from going back to back, and the team that he personally choked against just the year prior just so he could guarantee himself a title.

As for what you're saying about the game being easier without all the pressure, yea, but there's also the pure basketball standpoint that this guy has all sorts of freedom and room to operate because of the shooters he's surrounded by. How many wide open transition dunks did he get last night because Cavs players were running out to the shooters and leaving the lane literally wide open?

In short, fuck him.

 

[1bigfan13]

Is anyone actually watching the NBA Finals? I watched about 2 1/2 quarters of Game 1 and that's about it.

We decided to skip the game and hit the casinos last night.....came back and so that we didn't miss much of anything. Looks like it was another anticlimactic contest.

My guess is only Golden St. fans and die hard Lebron haters are enjoying this.

I hear and see so many people say that no one complained about the Celtics & Lakers in the 80s when they were in the Finals every year. Which is a completely idiotic statement when you think about it. It's nothing but revisionists history and people fabricating events in order to support their argument.

First of all the Boston & LA didn't play each other every damn year. Bird and Magic only met up in the Finals 3 times in the 80s. So it wasn't a forgone conclusion that we were going to get the same match up year after year.

Secondly, as great as those Celtic & Lakers teams were, there were at least other teams in the league who pushed them to 6 or 7 games. So again, it wasn't a foregone conclusion that the Lakers and Celtics were making the Finals.

So ya, this is nothing like the Celtics vs. Lakers 80s.

 

[1bigfan13]

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.

C'mon, Deuce. Don't try to pass the buck.

Lebron didn't start this crap. This crap was started by your Celtics. Have you already forgot about the summer of 2007?

Lebron just one-upped them with his Big 3 in Miami.

The only difference is Lebron talked to his buddies to form his group whereas the Celtics built theirs via some one-sided trades.

 

[Deuce]

C'mon, Deuce. Don't try to pass the buck.

Lebron didn't start this crap. This crap was started by your Celtics. Have you already forgot about the summer of 2007?

Lebron just one-upped them with his Big 3 in Miami.

The only difference is Lebron talked to his buddies to form his group whereas the Celtics built theirs via some one-sided trades.

Puh-lease.

First off, talking your buddies into creating a team with you is much worse than your team making trades to create a team. At least the Celtics had to give up resources to make it happen whereas all it took was Lebron taking a little less money.

And sorry, but your "one-sided trades" line is just foolish. We gave up practically our whole team and future resources to make it happen. If not for Danny's genius, we should be stuck in a 10 year rebuilding project after those guys left.

We acquired Ray Allen for Delonte West (solid SG at the time), Wall Szczerbiak (All Star) and the 5th overall pick.

We acquired KG for Al Jefferson (our best player and All Star), 4 other players and 2 future 1st round picks.

But ya, I guess you could say those teams just gave them away.

 

[Texas Ace]

Yea, I'd have to agree with Deuce.

Plus, not a single one of those Big 3 were in their primes.

By that point, Allen was now a catch and shoot guy. He was an elite catch and shoot guy, but he no longer got to the basket nor was he taking defenders off the dribble.

KG was still a really good player, but gone were the double double days. He never averaged 20 points or double digit boards in any season in Boston after spending the previous 10 years doing so.

Paul Pierce was the guy with most in the tank, and he was still a very very good player, but even he didn't average 20 points for the season that year.

None of those 3 guys were NBA superstars at the time that they teamed up, and then of course there's the whole colluding to join forces in the offseason thing that never happened.

Lebron and the Heat started this trend, so he's the last guy who should be complaining about it.

 

[Simpleton]

I don't think the Celtics deal as really that comparable to the Heat or Durant's decision either.

The Celtics simply made a bunch of deals and I don't think there was any type of advanced collusion as there was between the Heat, I think KG actually had to be talked into going to Boston at the time if I'm remembering correctly. And then the Warriors were built organically but Durant's decision was obviously a bitch made move where he tucked his tail between his legs and ran off from OKC just to ensure himself a title.

 

[Deuce]

I don't think the Celtics deal as really that comparable to the Heat or Durant's decision either.

The Celtics simply made a bunch of deals and I don't think there was any type of advanced collusion as there was between the Heat, I think KG actually had to be talked into going to Boston at the time if I'm remembering correctly. And then the Warriors were built organically but Durant's decision was obviously a bitch made move where he tucked his tail between his legs and ran off from OKC just to ensure himself a title.

KG actually blocked the initial trade, thinking that Boston giving up all those pieces to get him wouldn't be much better than they already were. It wasn't until they dealt for Ray Allen that KG gave the go ahead.

 

[midswat]

Didn't the lakers try it when they added Payton and Malone back in the early 2000s? Idk I'm not really a basketball.

These finals suck. I tried watching some last night but there was a point where GS had like 11 turnovers and some players were in foul trouble, and they still had a 5 point lead.

There is no competing with them this year. And that isn't Lebrons fault.

 

[Texas Ace]

Didn't the lakers try it when they added Payton and Malone back in the early 2000s? Idk I'm not really a basketball.

Yup, but they were both really old and way past their prime.

Hence, why they lost without much a fight in the Finals.

 

[midswat]

So.... is there anything anyone can do next year to compete with Golden State, or is this a mini-dynasty going on here?

 

[1bigfan13]

I stand by my statement.

KG, Ray, and Paul Pierce were still in their prime. Maybe at the tail end of their prime, but they were still good enough to be considered top 3 or 4 at their respective positions.

You're trying to play down Ray Allen & KG skills at that point in their careers......go back and look at their stats. Ray Allen was literally averaging 25 ppg the few years prior to his trade to Boston. And KG was still very much a 23 and 12 guy when he headed to Boston. He wasn't slowing down.

The only reason we saw a dip in their numbers is because they had to defer to the other two superstars in Boston.

 

[1bigfan13]

So.... is there anything anyone can do next year to compete with Golden State, or is this a mini-dynasty going on here?

It's a boring mini-dynasty that we'll have to wait out.

Curry's a FA this summer but it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that he'll be resigned. KD's contract is up in 2018. I'm not sure what he'll do.

I just hope next year some team in the East steps up and at least knocks Cleveland out so that we can get a different match up.

 

[midswat]

The East seems pretty weak though. Cleveland made light work of the #1 seed.

I'm talking out my ass because I don't follow the sport, but I'd be willing to bet Cleveland tries to add someone to compete and they go at it again next year.

 

[1bigfan13]

The East seems pretty weak though. Cleveland made light work of the #1 seed.

I'm talking out my ass because I don't follow the sport, but I'd be willing to bet Cleveland tries to add someone to compete and they go at it again next year.

My guess is that Lebron tries to recruit someone this offseason to counter the KD signing. Problem is there are no KDs/elite talents out there this summer. Paul George is the closest thing but he's more of a 2nd tier star, IMO.

Also, if I'm management I completely ignore any input Lebron provides on personnel moves. Tristan Thompson is the latest reminder of that.

 

[Deuce]

I stand by my statement.

KG, Ray, and Paul Pierce were still in their prime. Maybe at the tail end of their prime, but they were still good enough to be considered top 3 or 4 at their respective positions.

You're trying to play down Ray Allen & KG skills at that point in their careers......go back and look at their stats. Ray Allen was literally averaging 25 ppg the few years prior to his trade to Boston. And KG was still very much a 23 and 12 guy when he headed to Boston. He wasn't slowing down.

The only reason we saw a dip in their numbers is because they had to defer to the other two superstars in Boston.

I agree they were still a little in their prime. KG won multiple Defensive POY awards in Boston, and a son stated their numbers were down because they played so well as a cohesive unit.

But it that doesn't take away from the fact that they were assembled by a mad Basketball GM genius and didn't colllude to play together like that bitch in Cleveland did.

 

[Deuce]

Night night, Bron Bron.

 

[Texas Ace]

[MENTION=6]1bigfan13[/MENTION]

I'm sure I can speak for most OKC fans when I asked where was this KD all those years with the Thunder?

He's an aggressive and confident assassin whereas in OKC he wasn't known for being the best closer and didn't hit many big shots at the end of games, especially in the playoffs.

But this Durant is out for blood. I think he made up his mind as soon as he got the ball that he had full intentions of shooting a 3 and he did so in LeBron's face.

With that, he just locked up the Finals MVP.

 

[midswat]

Vegas said last week that this GS team would be favored over the 72-10 Bulls team.

What we're seeing is unprecedented.

 

[Deuce]

@1bigfan13

I'm sure I can speak for most OKC fans when I asked where was this KD all those years with the Thunder?

He's an aggressive and confident assassin whereas in OKC he wasn't known for being the best closer and didn't hit many big shots at the end of games, especially in the playoffs.

But this Durant is out for blood. I think he made up his mind as soon as he got the ball that he had full intentions of shooting a 3 and he did so in LeBron's face.

With that, he just locked up the Finals MVP.

It helps that he has so many great players on the floor with him to spread the D and prevent double teams. But he has been impressive.

 

[1bigfan13]

[MENTION=6]1bigfan13[/MENTION]

I'm sure I can speak for most OKC fans when I asked where was this KD all those years with the Thunder?

He's an aggressive and confident assassin whereas in OKC he wasn't known for being the best closer and didn't hit many big shots at the end of games, especially in the playoffs.

But this Durant is out for blood. I think he made up his mind as soon as he got the ball that he had full intentions of shooting a 3 and he did so in LeBron's face.

With that, he just locked up the Finals MVP.

As Deuce pointed out, he has better teammates around. That's the key.

In OKC he had to beat his man plus the man who's "guarding" Andre Roberson. Roberson is an embarrassment on offense so teams can completely ignore him. Which is why I put some of the blame on Presti (OKC's GM) for KD picking up and going elsewhere. During the bulk of KD's career in OKC, Presti's refused to find a SG with a decent shot to play alongside KD and Westbrook. The one time we had a good SG (Harden) we traded him away as soon as he started to develop into a top notch scorer.

Now that KD's in Golden State he's seeing far fewer double teams because teams have to respect the other players on the court.