NBA Finals Gamethread or how the NBA has more downtime than Game Of Thrones
- Thread starter DeJesus Built My Hotrod
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KD is just such an amazing player. Watching him these first two games, I almost have myself convinced that the Celtics would have beat the Cavs if he had signed with them.
Note: I know the second sentence above is most likely not true, but watching how good he has played has taken some reason out of the equation.
I think the C's absolutely could have beaten the Cavs, and may have been the favorite. He's so, so good on both ends of the floor, and the upgrade to him from guys like Crowder...Man..
Your second sentence isn't that far off. If the Celtics had gotten KD, they would have made a secondary move for a Butler or George using the Brooklyn picks and then it would have been game on.
KD is so amazing. But, I just can't get past him joining the best team, or even just "someone else's team."
I liken it to Barkley going to Houston, Pippen to Portland, Malone to LA.
I understand why he did it. And understand the decision, business and personal. But as a fan, I don't give him the credit I would had he done it in OKC.
I liken it to Barkley going to Houston, Pippen to Portland, Malone to LA.
I understand why he did it. And understand the decision, business and personal. But as a fan, I don't give him the credit I would had he done it in OKC.
This reminds of me the criticism LeBron got for his move to Miami. 'He wouldn't get respect for doing it in Wade's team, couldn't do it alone' etc.
If KD wins a few titles, no one will care IMO. He's the favourite for Finals MVP this year. Win it this year, win it next year and he'll get the respect he deserves.
I see where you are coming from. For me, it is only extra difficult because of what was written about the Celtics coming in second (or third) in Durant's decision.
It is tough watching him win with a team that isn't OKC or Boston (but that is only because I am a Celts' fan).
Why is everyone acting like KD is Leon Powe chasing a ring in a bench role. He's been the best player in this series and will be the difference on a team that lost last season.
Honestly, a title here doesn't do anything for me with respect to Durant. He already made the Finals, nearly got there again last year, and is now simply part of a top 5 team in NBA history. He seems like a quality guy so happy for him to finally get one but there will always be the detractors who use the bandwagon jumping angle. Doubt he really cares that much.
It's a very legitimate discussion. We may be watching the best NBA team of all time.
Difference is that Miami was not a contender before LeBron got there. The NBA lost Cleveland as a contender but gained Miami. Durant OTOH cost the NBA one contender and then made the best team in the NBA even better.
It would only be similar if LeBron had gone to the Celtics instead of Miami.
It is definitely a legitimate discussion, but I would have to qualify the second sentence with best NBA team of "this era".
I know we really can't compare to a past era because the way the game has changed, but there have been some Lakers, Celtics, and Bulls teams that could hang with the Warriors.
I just rewound it and watched in slow motion what we could see, and it seemed to have started before the camera came into view. The guy in the light blue shirt seemed like he was trying to get to something/someone on or near the stairs, and the big dude and his friend were pushing him back. Although, just as the camera cut away, you could see security starting to pour in, so it probably ended pretty quickly.
I feel like the lady walking up the stairs is a key player in the fight. Was the dude who knocks down two dudes protecting her? I'm looking forward to more on this as it unfolds.
So LeBron skipped the post game presser after the game tonight; which the league probably won't like. Fat Jonah Hill (who is one of the most unlikeable people in sports media) said that he was upset he had to wait previously to talk so he skipped it tonight. Something tells me if CLE won tonight he wouldn't have minded waiting...
But that's the thing - we can't give Barkley / Ewing / Malone crap for not winning a championship, and then expect top-tier players to not jump ship to championship-quality teams if their teams can't get over the final hurdle.
Lebron put to rest the idea it was Wade's team quickly.
I mean can anybody complain Lebron is getting beat by a a group of 3 all stars that agreed to play together?
I mean can anybody complain Lebron is getting beat by a a group of 3 all stars that agreed to play together?
This is of course somewhat easier said than done, it's worth noting that both Barkley and Malone tried to latch on late in their careers with teams that had already won titles without them to try to get one of their own and both failed, HOU and LAL respectively.
I completely agree - but the lesson I'd learn from that is that it's better to jump ship earlier (when you're actually a positive to the team you're jumping to) as opposed to waiting until the downslope of your career.
LeBron validated that if you do this, you can always go back and try to win in your original town and wipe the slate clean anyway, but at least it increases the odds you win the first one
Just a minor point. Eddie House is a better example of your point. He was a journeyman vet chasing a title. Leon Powe was a rookie on the 2008 Celtics. Agree with your point about KD though.
Agree with this but when GSW wins two or three or four titles in a row, his reputation is going to elevate.
In the first two games, this is the KD I've seen and that's damn tough to beat when you add him to an already great Warriors team.
That's news to everyone that played 63 games with him the year before.
Your larger point holds though.
KD can do whatever he wants. He's one broken foot bone away from not being elite. Go win your titles. The part that sucks for fans is that it's rendered the season irrelevant. Regular season doesn't matter. Your favorite team can't win. No need for star players to play more than 20 mins a night. Etc. 20 teams tanking every year
It's going to get worse before it's better
It's going to get worse before it's better
Would love to see the regular season shortened to 66 or 68 games. We don't need 82 games to determine the tournament seeding and a shorter regular season would make those games more meaningful. Won't happen but it should.
And JR Smith tried to make his greatest play of the series to make this a reality. Nobody is talking about this because Durant didn't get knocked out of the playoffs like Kawhi (people are too result oriented) but to me JR's is worse as he's a perimeter defender who relies on and understands his footwork.
I think this GS team may be the best I've seen.
They are, stylistically and size-wise, a better and deeper version of the best Jordan Bulls teams. I'm not sure what Bulls would do to win---they are much better defensively than Cleveland and perhaps they could constrain GS for a while, but the depth and number of options just feels like something Chicago couldn't have stuck with for more than about six games. Obviously Jordan is Jordan and perhaps he'd just get 50 a game, but GS has some bodies to throw at him and so many more weapons overall.
GS is a radically different roster than the 86 Celtics, and while the size would be an issue (and interesting to observe) in that matchup I just suspect this year's Warriors are too deep and too fast for that Celtics team. I thought last year's GS team might not have had enough to beat that Celtics team, but with Durant I just think it's too much .
They are, stylistically and size-wise, a better and deeper version of the best Jordan Bulls teams. I'm not sure what Bulls would do to win---they are much better defensively than Cleveland and perhaps they could constrain GS for a while, but the depth and number of options just feels like something Chicago couldn't have stuck with for more than about six games. Obviously Jordan is Jordan and perhaps he'd just get 50 a game, but GS has some bodies to throw at him and so many more weapons overall.
GS is a radically different roster than the 86 Celtics, and while the size would be an issue (and interesting to observe) in that matchup I just suspect this year's Warriors are too deep and too fast for that Celtics team. I thought last year's GS team might not have had enough to beat that Celtics team, but with Durant I just think it's too much .
Oof, that's bad.
And I agree, PKB, I can't imagine any team running with these guys for seven. Just too much, on both sides of the ball.