If you are the spurs, how much of a rush are you in to fix this A/C for game 2

[Vlad the Impaler]

Why did they fix it. Just refuse too if it will give them an advantage or pretend to fix it if the that weird looking Adam Silver tries to steal your money (typical of those kind) via fines. There are so many pussies in this world. Those guys are all more athletic than me yet i remember playing in basketball tournaments all day in extreme sun and heat or in cramped gyms. Most of those guys had to have the same experience.

I must not be susceptable to cramps because I know if i get one, the absolute last thing I do is lay on the floor until it goes away. I force myself to walk and it goes away immediately.

 

[Vlad the Impaler]

Hard to get on board with this series. It is basically Mexico vs. Cuba.

 

[bigtendominator]

Most, if not all, analyst admit he is a top 5, probably even top 3 greatest of all time. The majority of these analyst are former players, HOFers and/or coaches. They have been around the game and know a thing or two...more so than you or I. The guy is a phenom. He can dominate the game, not just impact, but DOMINATE the game from anywhere on the court and in any way, from scoring, to distributing, to defense. Those are three different aspects of the game, offense, defense, and dictating how the other team plays defense. On top of all of that, he is clutch and can carry the team himself. Jordan and co. all had the luxury of learning from some great college minds. James was thrown into the fire. He already has multiple rings and MVP's. He has accomplished all of this coming straight out of HS. Pure, natural, innate talent you cannot teach. With the amount of parity in sports due to education, health, and technology it's that much harder for athletes to dominate, but LeBron is the exception. Is it because he is just good? No, there are a lot of players are who are good, but he is great. And if it was just because he was "good" you would see a lot more LeBron's. Instead you see a lot of Scottie Pippen's, Clyde Drexler's, Charles Barkley's, etc. All really good players, but not GREAT.

Everyone hates Lebron for one reason or another. Most of which reasons are unjustified. They justify their "hate" with all kinds of silliness. "Well I don't like how he left Cleveland." Great, are you a Cleveland fan? "No!" Well why do you really care then? Oh, because he is great and you don't like that he is on your team, so you have to justify a reason for your disdain. The only people who truly have a reason to truly dislike him are the Cleveland fans and even then it's a bit far stretched IMO. This guy made a personal decision to benefit himself and his family, but people don't like it because of their selfishness and want him to remain in Cleveland to serve their entertainment purposes. It may not be right and i may not agree with it, BUT I GET IT. The guy isn't dirty or doesn't blow in people's ear like some players. And everyone to some extent talks trash or throws an elbow or two here and there. That is the nature of the game. With his attacking style and how powerful he is, he is usually on the wrong end on a lot of those, so i don't buy the whole "he is a dirty player card" either. Some reactions are warranted IMO and some aren't, just the nature of the game.

I grew up a Piston's fan in the days of Isiah Thomas, Bill Lambier, Vinny the Oven, etc. I hated Jordan, but that was because he was my rival at the time. Plus he was good. I remember everyone else loving him. He made my blood boil at times lol, but I would never say he is not in the top 5, just because I don't like him. LeBron is a game changer just like Jordan was, if not bigger. Im not trying to attack you or anyone else. You are entitled to your own opinion and I don't really care to change it for that matter. But, to say he is not top 5 is pure ignorance IMO.

Just because you were a great player doesn't make you a great talent evaluator. See MJ, Isiah, among others.

Is he better than Michael, Magic, Kobe, Big O, Larry, Wilt, Kareem, Russell?

 

[Dr.Lou]

Just because you were a great player doesn't make you a great talent evaluator. See MJ, Isiah, among others.

Is he better than Michael, Magic, Kobe, Big O, Larry, Wilt, Kareem, Russell?

You're right, but being in the league, knowing a thing or two about basketball goes a long way in terms of how they evaluate and judge a player. Take for instance Siskel (RIP) and Ebert, two of the most renowned movie critics of all time. Just because they say a movie is good or bad doesn't mean it is, does it? Well, one person might say "it's relative to a person's taste." That's true. But that person may be evaluating the film on how it makes THEM feel. (i.e. does it make them laugh, connect with the character/plot, etc.) One person may fall out luaghing in their chair and find the movie a hit while someone else finds the movie a complete bomb. Siskel and Ebert aren't evaluating films on how it makes them feel. They have a trained eye, they know what to look for, and they know what and how it compares. Not all critics have the same eye, but the good ones do. Its the same with analyst. Do you think I am going to weigh what Jim Rome or Skip Bayless says as heavily as what Magic Johnson or someone of note say? No!

Is he better than the players you listed? Very tough to say, because a player is defined by their legacy and his career is far from over. If the Spurs would have beat the Heat last year I would lean towards not better than Jordan. If he goes on to win three more and multiple MVPs, I would say he is. It's neck and neck for now if you ask me...very tough to call. I will leave my opinion at that and reserve judgement for now. Ask a Cavalier fan and he will probably lean the other way. Would be cool if there was some sort of committee that ranked the all time greats.

 

[festeringZit]

I think to say that LeBron is already top 5 of all time is just ridiculous if not asinine.

 

[Seymour]

You're right, but being in the league, knowing a thing or two about basketball goes a long way in terms of how they evaluate and judge a player. Take for instance Siskel (RIP) and Ebert, two of the most renowned movie critics of all time. Just because they say a movie is good or bad doesn't mean it is, does it? Well, one person might say "it's relative to a person's taste." That's true. But that person may be evaluating the film on how it makes THEM feel. (i.e. does it make them laugh, connect with the character/plot, etc.) One person may fall out luaghing in their chair and find the movie a hit while someone else finds the movie a complete bomb. Siskel and Ebert aren't evaluating films on how it makes them feel. They have a trained eye, they know what to look for, and they know what and how it compares. Not all critics have the same eye, but the good ones do. Its the same with analyst. Do you think I am going to weigh what Jim Rome or Skip Bayless says as heavily as what Magic Johnson or someone of note say? No!

Is he better than the players you listed? Very tough to say, because a player is defined by their legacy and his career is far from over. If the Spurs would have beat the Heat last year I would lean towards not better than Jordan. If he goes on to win three more and multiple MVPs, I would say he is. It's neck and neck for now if you ask me...very tough to call. I will leave my opinion at that and reserve judgement for now. Ask a Cavalier fan and he will probably lean the other way. Would be cool if there was some sort of committee that ranked the all time greats.

U seem logical until the part where u compare James to Jordan - I take it that you watched the finals last year? did you happen to notice that Popovich INTENTIONALLY was not guarding James - clogging the middle so James cant drive - what happens if SA does not guard Dirk, Bird or Durant from outside? they shoot wide open at a 75% clip

Now, I would like to know ur age if you dont mind me asking?

 

[Seymour]

I think to say that LeBron is already top 5 of all time is just ridiculous if not asinine.

It's fucken offensive to Shaq, Duncan and Kobe let alone 10 other players not named Jordan

 

[bigtendominator]

It's fucken offensive to Shaq, Duncan and Kobe let alone 10 other players not named Jordan

LMAO. So true.

 

[Dr.Lou]

U seem logical until the part where u compare James to Jordan - I take it that you watched the finals last year? did you happen to notice that Popovich INTENTIONALLY was not guarding James - clogging the middle so James cant drive - what happens if SA does not guard Dirk, Bird or Durant from outside? they shoot wide open at a 75% clip

Now, I would like to know ur age if you dont mind me asking?

Umm, comparing? I was simply responding to the second line of bigtendominators post which says "Is he better than Michael..."

As for your comments about last years game. Yes I did watch the finals. Pops strategy was weird indeed, but you make it sound as if the Spurs paid no attention to him at all and put the extra body on another player every single minute of the game. As weird as the strategy was, do you know why they used that strategy? It was twofold: James was struggling with those long jumpers and they wanted to protect the painted area against 250-260 lbs of pure, brute strength. Popovich is one of the greatest coaches. Do you simply think he said "Ok, guys bring it in...here's what were going to do. Don't guard Lebron James. Ok, you ready...on three...GO SPURS!?" No, it was a calculated risk they took and in fact it paid off initially as they won game 1. Heat took game 2 and Pop made adjustments and won game 3. With all that aside though...when i was "comparing James to Jordan" I was looking at a much larger sample size...his whole career pretty much. Not just the playoffs last year.

I am in my thirties.

 

[Dafinch]

If not for one shot by Allen Lebrons entire career would be one big excuse

Z

If you aunt had balls, she'd be your uncle, and if you had half a brain, you'd be dangerous...

 

[akphidelt]

35-10-3, +11!!! What a joke! Only thing that prevented a sweep was the ghetto San Antonio AC!!!

 

[Dafinch]

35-10-3, +11!!! What a joke! Only thing that prevented a sweep was the ghetto San Antonio AC!!!

I wouldn't go that far, but one could certainly say that Miami outplayed the Spurs tonight and outplayed them for much of game 1. There's a lot of brain dead people in this thread-shocking!-but most of them ain't got shit to say after tonight's game, do they?

 

[Dafinch]

People can't take the Heat, so they're #Lebroning

http://www.hlntv.com/article/2014/06/06/lebroning-people-sharing-lebron-james-injury-pics-social


:nohead:

Hey, where you been champ? After hundreds and hundreds of dumb ass posts in the Sterling affair, when he neither kept, nor fought to keep, the Clipppers, like you said he would, you disappeared like a cockroach when the lights come on-and other posters say you'll eventually deny being wrong at all. Are you REALLY that low?

 

[akphidelt]

I wouldn't go that far, but one could certainly say that Miami outplayed the Spurs tonight and outplayed them for much of game 1. There's a lot of brain dead people in this thread-shocking!-but most of them ain't got shit to say after tonight's game, do they?

Lebron changes the game. There is no doubt they would have been more competitive down the stretch with Lebron in the last 7.5 minutes in game 1. He is dominant. Best player in the game and will be 1a,1b with MJ when his career is done!

 

[MantisToboggan]

U seem logical until the part where u compare James to Jordan - I take it that you watched the finals last year? did you happen to notice that Popovich INTENTIONALLY was not guarding James - clogging the middle so James cant drive - what happens if SA does not guard Dirk, Bird or Durant from outside? they shoot wide open at a 75% clip

Now, I would like to know ur age if you dont mind me asking?

Just because Pop would prefer LeBron shoot jumpers rather than layups doesn't mean LeBron can't shoot. LeBron shot over 40% from 3 in 2013 and 38% in 2014. His jumper has improved each year. He's not Ray Allen but let's not pretend he's Ben Wallace. I mean Michael Jordan was a career 32.7% 3 point shooter himself. Not exactly Ray Allen type stuff either.

 

[Dafinch]

Just because Pop would prefer LeBron shoot jumpers rather than layups doesn't mean LeBron can't shoot. LeBron shot over 40% from 3 in 2013 and 38% in 2014. His jumper has improved each year. He's not Ray Allen but let's not pretend he's Ben Wallace. I mean Michael Jordan was a career 32.7% 3 point shooter himself. Not exactly Ray Allen type stuff either.

Excellent points, and last night was a prime example: on his way to a 14 for 22(63%) shooting night last night, the bulk of them were jumpers, especially that 6 for 6 run in the 3rd quarter.