2013-2014 NBA Season

[Inqui]

Because he can't have one... No one can nowadays... All of them get crucified for one wrong step

I think this is a fair statement too. LeBron gets more hype than he would have 10-20 years ago, but he also gets more intense scrutiny - and it doesn't hurt existing legacies that people get naturally more fond of stuff in the past.

 

Wait until his career's done before stacking him against the greats, but I think he's the most talented and complete player of the current era, and I think we should appreciate his talent while we can see it in action. Love him or hate him.

[codizzle]

The "decision" was a joke. The statements were jokes. I just don't like the guy. Not a big deal, just don't like him. The attempts to compare his career to Jordan's bother me as well. I was the 13 year old with 8 Jordan posters as wallpaper in his room, rocked #23 for 12 years myself and will forever love his gameplay.

Where I guess I find myself defending even though I really shouldn't care is this

Put Jordan's career in today's time with technology we have and his personality and I'd assume you'd hate him too?

It seems nostalgia overlooks character flaws when it involves distant memories but not somewhat similar character flaws involving someone in the present

[1/28/01]

And for the record, James has talent beyond belief. His speed with that size is amazing. His jumper has improved immensely and he's a hell of a defender. They all complain/ed and look/ed for calls, but his is over the top. Constantly looking for a call and then delaying getting back on defense. Mix that with the few missteps I feel he's taken PR wise (and being a Heat member), I just don't like him. See, I have my reasons. Not just blind hate like most.

And no, Jordan was/is FAR from perfect. Very far!

[1/28/01]

Where I guess I find myself defending even though I really shouldn't care is this

Put Jordan's career in today's time with technology we have and his personality and I'd assume you'd hate him too?

It seems nostalgia overlooks character flaws when it involves distant memories but not somewhat similar character flaws involving someone in the present

Sorta explained above, but no. Jordans flaws were more off-court and didnt bother me from a basketball perspective. He backed himself up on the court.

[Ed_Reed20]

What does it matter when he won his rings? Players entered the NBA later then AND there were those pesky Pistons as well.

It matters because it proves that he wasn't a God and that he couldn't win a thing until he had a fully realized Pippen alongside him.

You have reasons for not liking him. To me, they're rather fickle but that's your right. I'm done.

[1/28/01]

It matters because it proves that he wasn't a God and that he couldn't win a thing until he had a fully realized Pippen alongside him.

You have reasons for not liking him. To me, they're rather fickle but that's your right. I'm done.

Yeah, that's cool. Doesn't make any sense bringing up someone needing a player or 2 or 3 to win a ring

Done as well.

[Gordo52]

It matters because it proves that he wasn't a God and that he couldn't win a thing until he had a fully realized Pippen alongside him.

You have reasons for not liking him. To me, they're rather fickle but that's your right. I'm done.

Since you're a Heat fan, what do you want to happen with Wade this offseason?

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

HOW ABOUT THEM SPURS!!!

[Ed_Reed20]

Since you're a Heat fan, what do you want to happen with Wade this offseason?

Hope he stays but at a drastically reduced rate. Been rooting for him for almost 10 years now but he was brutal the last two games of the series and has been noticeably declining the last 4 years. If the team could manage his minutes the way SA does Ginobli's, it would help but they need the financial room to bring in quality players to do that. He can't continue taking up a huge chunk of cap, rest for over quarter of the season and then fade badly when the team needs him most. 

[Gordo52]

Hope he stays but at a drastically reduced rate. Been rooting for him for almost 10 years now but he was brutal the last two games of the series and has been noticeably declining the last 4 years. If the team could manage his minutes the way SA does Ginobli's, it would help but they need the financial room to bring in quality players to do that. He can't continue taking up a huge chunk of cap, rest for over quarter of the season and then fade badly when the team needs him most.

It is kind of sad watching him. I can't imagine him in another uniform. Not trying to rub salt in the wound but I think he's better off just retiring. I think he has too much pride to accept a Ginobli role. Might just follow what ever LeBron does.

[Ed_Reed20]

It is kind of sad watching him. I can't imagine him in another uniform. Not trying to rub salt in the wound but I think he's better off just retiring. I think he has too much pride to accept a Ginobli role. Might just follow what ever LeBron does.

 

I don't see why he should retire; his game hasn't aged well but he can still be effective. He'd be a fool to let pride get in the way of him preserving his knees and extending his career but we'll see. As for following LeBron, he won't be able to if James goes to a team that already has some hefty contracts and he's not willing to accept a relatively deal. If he's willing to do that, there's no point in leaving Miami and just trusting the FO to rebuild and surround them with younger talent. We'll see what happens. 

[arnie_uk]

yous do realise he raised over 2mil dollars for charity from the whole "the decision" thing? Or do you just over look that?

[codizzle]

yous do realise he raised over 2mil dollars for charity from the whole "the decision" thing? Or do you just over look that?

Yea that gets completely overlooked

[1/28/01]

yous do realise he raised over 2mil dollars for charity from the whole "the decision" thing? Or do you just over look that?

Was unaware of that. Thats great. Still doesnt make me like him much on or off the court. Not a big deal, just an opinion and Im not a fan of his.

[H8R]

yous do realise he raised over 2mil dollars for charity from the whole "the decision" thing? Or do you just over look that?

Who gives a flying Waste products? 2 million dollars ? That's chump change for LJ.. Still a lot of money, but let's be real... That's a weak excuse... He ruined his image, he came off like a giant DB.. He effectively allowed his image to get pooped on for an amount of cash, to a charity that is pretty insignificant to him. His PR people should have perished for that stunt.

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

Who gives a flying Waste products? 2 million dollars ? That's chump change for LJ.. Still a lot of money, but let's be real... That's a weak excuse... He ruined his image, he came off like a giant DB.. He effectively allowed his image to get pooped on for an amount of cash, to a charity that is pretty insignificant to him. His PR people should have perished for that stunt.

Couldn't agree more with this. 

 

That year was an especially bad year for Lebron. He quit in the playoffs vs. Boston, he pulled the "decision", then the "not 4, not 5, not 6", then mocking Dirk in the NBA finals, then his post-finals "I'm king James my life is great and yours is awful" rant in the press conference.

 

Given all this was a few years ago, and I acknowledge he does good things off of the court, but there's reason I and a solid percentage of America think he's a jack#@%. 

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

Also for any NBA fans on these boards, we will be doing a fantasy NBA draft in the "Fantasy" section of the forums

[rayray200123]

I live in San Antonio and I've been a Spurs fan almost all my life for more than 20 years. Last years finals in game 6 was the most disappointing loss I've ever experience. Worse than the AFC championship game against NE and that's because the spurs were up 5 points with 28 seconds to go.

This championship was probably the best one as far as basketball goes. The Ravens 2013 superbowl win still holds that crown as best overall lol.

I went downtown and it was crazy. But the city of San Antonio does not riot like other cities do. People were stepping on each others shoes, jumping on cars and no one cared. Just high fives all around.

[rayray200123]

On some inside info for those who are wondering.

Tim Duncan will not retire and said if he feels like he can still contribute, he'll keep on playing. He was very efficient during the playoffs, so he'll opt in the last year of his contract and probably retire next year. He has a better chance of catching Jordans 6 titles can Kobe does.

 

Kawhi Leonard winning the finals MVP was probably bitter sweet for him due to him winning it on Fathers Days. His father taught him to work hard and work on always being better. His father ran a car wash and in January of 2008 was shot 10 times and was pronounced dead at the scene. Leonard was the first to know when he had told his mother that has dad was dead.

CBS did a report on him when he was in his 2nd year in college. Sad story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAJh9CNbzx0

[Gordo52]

Pretty cool stat:

@KGTrashTalk: In the last 4 seasons, the Heat have played 87 playoff games, which is 5 more games than an entire NBA regular season.

[1/28/01]

So, now that this is over and I cant stand baseball, what do I do now?

[codizzle]

So, now that this is over and I cant stand baseball, what do I do now?

Buy another car

[1/28/01]

Buy another car

Nope. Trying to sell 2, actually.

[gabefergy]

I think LeBron is a great player. The best in the NBA right now and he has been for 5 years.

That said the comparisons to MJ just need to stop. First off they are ddifferent players. LeBron is more like a physically superior Magic than anything else. He isn't the devastating offensive player that MJ was on a consistent basis.

More importantly he just doesn't have that killer instinct. It's obvious at this point. MJ would keep Coming and coming and will his team to victory. LeBron has moments or even quarters where he takes over, but the number of complete games that he has just dominated are few and far between.

My last thought on LeBron comes back to how he left Cleveland. I don't blame him for taking more money, I blame him for making into a spectacle where he stomach punched his home town and millions of adoring fans on national TV. He left to play with better players and win championship after championship. Well, he won 2, but it doesn't look likely to win any more.

As the best player in the world isn't he supposed to make players around him better? I find it strange that his two superstar teammates have decidedly become much worse players the longer they have played together.

[BloodRaven]

The "decision" was a joke. The statements were jokes. I just don't like the guy. Not a big deal, just don't like him. The attempts to compare his career to Jordan's bother me as well. I was the 13 year old with 8 Jordan posters as wallpaper in his room, rocked #23 for 12 years myself and will forever love his gameplay.

 

I gotta agree with you and Inqui here, LeBron is a transcendent basketball player and (unlike Jordan and Kobe) actually seems like a legitimately nice guy.... but I just can't stand him. Watching the Heat implode was beautiful.

[Inqui]

I think LeBron is a great player. The best in the NBA right now and he has been for 5 years.

That said the comparisons to MJ just need to stop.

Agreed. Again, I think he'll go down as one of the game's legends once he retires (and I'll stand by that one), but where he could stack up is really just speculation. Way too early to compare his career, which is in its peak, to those that have finished or are about to (Duncan, Kobe).

 

The thing with LeBron that wasn't the case for Russell, Bird, Jordan, etc is the current 24-hour media market. I remember Adam Schefter talking about how even 10 years ago if an NFL guy skipped practice on Tuesday, the papers would be delivered on Wednesday. Now, if he skips practice at 10am, word gets out at 10.01am, people want to know why by 10.05am and then it's old news by 10.10am. Take one of the most popular athletes in the world today and that market's suddenly more roided-up than a baseball player (yeah I went there. Self-five!).

 

That builds his brand like none of these guys ever had with the constant hype (and I think that's a huge part of the Jordan comparisons), but it's crazy double-edged with the amount of scrutiny he comes under. To be fair, with Jordan I was a kid who loved the guy and worshipped the Bulls along with any other self-respecting kid my age so I could well be wrong about this (correct me if I am), but I will say I don't think his game got criticised in the same way it would today.

 

And it'll be just as bad for whoever the next transcendental talent is.

 

TL;DR: LeBron's bearing the fruits of his own hype, but he's also the victim of it and I don't think either are his fault.

[H8R]

could you EVER imagine MJ being taken out of a Finals game, conceding? LOL. NO WAY.

There's being a competitor, and then there's guys like MJ, Tiger, Peyton, Ray Lewis... Etc. L.James is NOT that guy.

And I'm not sure L.JAMES is better than KD .. At least not by much.

[Gordo52]

could you EVER imagine MJ being taken out of a Finals game, conceding? LOL. NO WAY.

There's being a competitor, and then there's guys like MJ, Tiger, Peyton, Ray Lewis... Etc. L.James is NOT that guy.

And I'm not sure L.JAMES is better than KD .. At least not by much.

Agreed entirely.

[Purple_ICE 81]

My thoughts on the Heat this offseason: First of all they need to bench Dwyane Wade. Yes he is still one of the more talented 2 guards (when healthy) did play well last year as a starter, but although he averaged  a career low in minutes per game, as well as missing a whopping 28 games from injuries or just rest games down the stretch....he looked flat out sleepy throughout the playoffs. Wade got gassed in a way I have never seen him get gassed before, no energy, minimal effort, and an overall terrible performance. If Im Miami I am extremely monitoring his minutes and bringing him off the bench in order to get the most out of his time on the court. That means looking into a solid SG signing like a Nick Young or an Avery Bradley in order to fill the void in the starting lineup. Wade will still be coming off the bench and contributing with likely his same level of  efficiency, but of course will allow him to conserve a lot of minutes and stay fresh for the long haul.

 

Secondly and probably even more importantly...they need to get bigger in the post. Chris Bosh as a center for them is a damn joke and Im surprised they have lasted as long as they have with him there. He does move to the 4 spot occasionally which is where he best fits, but he is the only effective big man on the team and he really lacks low post skill in my opinion. They tried to bring in Greg Oden this past year but of course he is about as solid as a gummy bear and never really did anything for the team. All of there attention should be on finding a capable big man this offseason...Greg Monroe in my mind would be perfect if they could afford him, maybe even replace Chris Bosh with a Zach Randolph or Pau Gasol. Chris Bosh is definitely the weakest of the big three and is the most likely to leave if anyone, he could be improved upon by adding in a better big. To me Bosh shoots way too many jumpers and doesnt offer much more than scoring which always seems to come and go anyways.

 

The Heat could easily win the East or finish top 3 next year with their current roster...but with a few tweaks they could be even better. They definitely need to do something after getting flat out dominated by the Spurs in 5.

[Purple_ICE 81]

could you EVER imagine MJ being taken out of a Finals game, conceding? LOL. NO WAY.

There's being a competitor, and then there's guys like MJ, Tiger, Peyton, Ray Lewis... Etc. L.James is NOT that guy.

And I'm not sure L.JAMES is better than KD .. At least not by much.

Well I thought about that yesterday when Lebron was seen sitting on the sidelines with the Spurs up 20. On one side: it doesn't really matter, the Spurs are dominating and even with Lebrons high level of energy and scoring out there they are still losing by a wide margin. And on the other side: You think what the hell is Spolstra doing? Does game 6 of last year not come to mind? And yea when I saw Lebron on the sideline the FIRST thing that came to mind to me was "Hahaha NO WAY Michael Jordan would be sitting right now!" If that was MJ out there against the Spurs he would have pushed for 50 points and cut the margin down to at least 10 points even with a crummy effort from his teammates.

 

But you honestly can't blame Lebron for this one...I mean he was ineffective in a lot of ways yesterday but he got 0 help from Wade and Bosh or anyone else. Lebron is not MJ he needs help and no one gave it to him, he looked really good out of the gate...but of course a 20 some point deficit will make any superstar dumbfounded out there. Lebron could have played better but it was over early yesterday, Lebron wasn't changing anything.

 

And as to your comments on Lebron Vs KD, (and this is coming from a non Heat non Lebron fan)...Lebron is better than KD. Lebron is not a pure scorer like KD is but offers way more than KD does. Lebron passes better, rebounds better and defends better and can score just as much as KD on any given night. KD is a better scorer, but Lebron is the better player.