NBA Playoffs Thread

what a horsespit comparison. manning and others stars or coaches who pulled the 'run-off-the-court' deal right after a title game are jumped on for being 'sore losers,' putulant children.

dirk ran off after WINNING the game, he explained, 'cause he needed alone time to compose himself. sure, it's strange to see someone from the winning team not to stay on the court to luxuriate in all the celebratory hug-and-kisses but certainly nothing for anyone to 'jump on.' what, he's a 'sore winner?'

the onus is always on the losing team to comport itself with style and grace 'cause it's seen as an insight to their true self. like the way lebron stormed off and ripped off his jersey last year before he hit the tunnel after the loss to the celtics.

lebron was pretty much universally revered before 'the decision' and, for the most part, behaved like a young man wiser and more poised than his years. but it was easy, playing for a loser team and being the hometown superstar who came to the rescue. in terms of media scrutiny, lebron didn't start to get a full dose until 'the decision.'

even his greatest fanbois, i have to think, have done an awful lot of cringing since then whenever he opens his mouth in times of trouble. to me, how a player responds to adversity is a much keener insight into a star's true character than how he seems while life is all good.

 

oh, yes, i figured lebron fanbois would defend their man by claiming james was goaded into saying the stupid things he said. that argument fails to give james the respect he deserves. he's very smart, we've always been told. incredibly poised beyond his years...

the man's 26, been in the league for eight seasons, been scrutinized like nobody's business since h.s. he know exactly what he's saying, why he's saying it, all that jazz. blaming the messengers is just crazy...

 

Whoops.

 

It's amazing how little BTE posts when the Heat lose.

 

speaking for myself and a legion of others: we didn't resent or criticize lebron for using free agency as he saw best fit. that is everyone's right, the american way. my resentment/criticism of lebron, the person, is based upon the stupid way he's behaved and the stupid things he's said since 'the decision.'

that, coupled the fact the way he's played (which is most important) hasn't backed up the talk, are the reasons i took some delight in this. i am confident, like wilt and dirk and the many other legit stars who were foolishly labeled as 'losers,' will earn at least one title and likely more before all is said and done. but i never bought that james was 'the next jordan' or destined to be 'better than jordan.' and this should finally put an end to such nonsense.

if for no other reason (though there are a myriad) than their records in the nba finals: jordan's bulls, 6-0; lebron's cavs/heat, 0-2.

any way the arguments by james fanbois go, the discussion ends right there.

no shame in that. lebron should just concentrate of being the best lebron he can be, on and off the court. lotta work to do on both counts, but plenty of time to get it done.

and if not, what does he care? i'll still wake up tomorrow to m same dreary life that can never, ever equal his...

 

What can you expect from the paper that was duped by two fake Russian basketball fans a few months ago?

Actually, I post the same regardless.

Mine just get lost when the Heat loses because there are 500 other posts that are not there when the Heat wins. Discussion barely moved one page throughout the whole Chicago series. It's moved 10 pages the past 3 days. Hmmmm . . . .


And I really wish you guys would make up your minds.


On another thread 12 hours ago, there is this from Dooley:

So I'm either expected to post . . . or I'm expected to be invisible. Whatever I do, I'm following someone's script. Can't win, eh?

His play in the Finals was abysmal and borderline embarrassing. But I do not see at all what you are referring to above. For all the hype that greeted this team this season, I thought things played out . . . pretty boring. There was nothing outrageous that happened. No fights. No ego clashes. No getting coaches fired. No blowups at all. Just a relatively uneven season that ended close to where many expected it would. Although many expected a Finals loss to the Lakers many months ago.

I'm trying to recall "stupid ways he behaved" . . . and really can't come up with much. Exactly what do you mean?

As for "stupid things he's said", perhaps the "not 4, not 5 . . . " could be construed as one. But he was speaking at basically a "pep rally" on that night, the kind of gathering where a Vanderbilt player would tell the fans how "We're gonna kick Alabama's ass!" That's what those kinds of events are staged for. And his "Karma is a bitch" tweet a few months ago about the Cavs could qualify, I guess. But what else is there?

 

Are u really trying to compare any of the Bulls teams Jordan played on to the piece of shit Cavaliers team James got to the Final? I'd be willing to bet Jordan would not have been able to get that junk to the Finals.

 

Heat were -24 with LeBron on the court last night.

Hard to explain.

His turn-around jumper late in the game where he drew nothing but glass was one of the most "scared looking" shots I've ever seen a star player take in the post-season. Dude needs to work on a mid-range game, stat.

Also, all the LeBron talk sure is giving Wade a free pass today for turning in a really, really poor game. If he played better, the Heat might still be playing. But he just sleepwalked through the third quarter.

 

of course not, fanboi. that's not the point. but that's not the point. the numbers are always cold but can't be unfrozen. oh, and obviously we can never know, but to say jordan 'would not have been able to get that junk to the Finals in preposterous.

 

In Cleveland, the supporting cast was too poor for James to lead them to a title.

In Miami, it's too strong for him to feel comfortable playing with any sort of aggression or desire.

Goldilocks still hasn't found his just-right porridge.

 

losers require rationalizations. it helps 'em keep the faith.