Duke vs Butler Thoughts

Off Topic
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Whiteflash by your generation I assume you mean the start of the new century to so far. If thats the case then I agree although you’d have to float LeBrons name around there. However if your generation stretches to the 90s then you’re out of your mind. I don’t think Kobe can match what Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson did to basketball. I look at it like Kobe is a product of what MJ, MG and the whole 90s dream team already cemented.

I know its fair to pay homage to the players that show the greatest work ethic at the start of the day but results are ultimately what it comes down to. Give respect to the guy that does that but party for the guy that gets it done at the end of the day. In addition basketball is a team sport. Your incredible work ethic isn’t always going to pay off if your team isn’t functioning properly. I’m saying this because I don’t think the Lakers will win the championship this year. I don’t even think they’ll get out of the West because I have Durant/Ginobli upsetting them in the first round =/. Feel free to call me out on that when the time comes.

42

[quote]Gettnitdone wrote:
Whiteflash by your generation I assume you mean the start of the new century to so far. If thats the case then I agree although you’d have to float LeBrons name around there. However if your generation stretches to the 90s then you’re out of your mind. I don’t think Kobe can match what Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson did to basketball. I look at it like Kobe is a product of what MJ, MG and the whole 90s dream team already cemented.

I know its fair to pay homage to the players that show the greatest work ethic at the start of the day but results are ultimately what it comes down to. Give respect to the guy that does that but party for the guy that gets it done at the end of the day. In addition basketball is a team sport. Your incredible work ethic isn’t always going to pay off if your team isn’t functioning properly. I’m saying this because I don’t think the Lakers will win the championship this year. I don’t even think they’ll get out of the West because I have Durant/Ginobli upsetting them in the first round =/. Feel free to call me out on that when the time comes.[/quote]

I’m 28. LeBron James is NOWHERE NEAR Kobe’s level. He’s definitely a basketball freak of nature, but the amount of shit he [and D. Wade] gets away with borders on the absurd. Guess it’s good to have D. Stern as your biggest fan…

Anyway, I’m not talking about impact on the game. No one will ever have the impact that Jordan had. He came along at the perfect time, with the perfect game and style. That’ll prove to be impossible to duplicate, or even closely mimic. I’m talking about basketball ability. I think [scratch that, I know] that Jordan’s the best player of all-time, but Bryant’s not that far off, and he’s a much better offensive player. If you don’t believe me-

Honestly, I don’t think they’ll win either. Bryant is dealing with a lot of injuries, they don’t have some of the big pieces they had last year, Artest was a bad move [called that from the jump], etc… But, they sure as shit aren’t gonna lose to the Spurs or Thunder. That’s ridiculous.

43

I’m 28. LeBron James is NOWHERE NEAR Kobe’s level. He’s definitely a basketball freak of nature, but the amount of shit he [and D. Wade] gets away with borders on the absurd. Guess it’s good to have D. Stern as your biggest fan…
Sigh you’re one of those people.

44

[quote]drewh wrote:
I’m 28. LeBron James is NOWHERE NEAR Kobe’s level. He’s definitely a basketball freak of nature, but the amount of shit he [and D. Wade] gets away with borders on the absurd. Guess it’s good to have D. Stern as your biggest fan…
Sigh you’re one of those people.[/quote]

One of what, those who played and understand the game? Look man, we’ve talked about this on here before. When you have one guy who routinely out shoots ENTIRE TEAMS at the foul line, or is allowed to take 4 plus steps every time he goes to the rack, there’s a problem. There’s a lot more to what goes on in the game than what happens on the floor. Guy’s who are good for the “image” [read:MAKE MONEY] of the league get away with shit that average players don’t, and the better they are for the league, the more shit they get away with. Kobe Bryant is the best player in the league, and I believe the best selling jersey as well, but he gets as few calls as any superstar in league history. James or Wade, on the other hand get calls that would make Jordan blush. Dallas won the Finals a few years ago. They were the better team and they played better basketball. But, it was pretty obvious “someone” wanted the Heat to win, so all of a sudden Wade is setting records for foul shots in a finals game and series and Dallas can’t get a call. There are a ton more examples of this shit going on. Don’t believe everything you see man.

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Jordan got calls too what’s your point. I remember ESPN did a study and even college players get sway with stuff. But I will agree with you on the Wade thing that was beyond excessive, who know maybe you’re right.

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Yeah I agree they do get away with calls. However putting the individual thing aside, the Cavaliers are better than the Lakers. I predict a Cavaliers Denver Final. 'Bron winning it.

47

Im picking Orlando against LA or Dallas.

48

You really think Orlando is going to come out of the East? You’d pick Vince/Dwight over LeBron who probably hasn’t forgot what happened last year? I dunno…

49

[quote]Gettnitdone wrote:
You really think Orlando is going to come out of the East? You’d pick Vince/Dwight over LeBron who probably hasn’t forgot what happened last year? I dunno…[/quote]
I just think Orlando is deeper, especially with a healthy Nelson and Reddick (who is shooting very well as of late)

50

[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:

[quote]drewh wrote:
I’m 28. LeBron James is NOWHERE NEAR Kobe’s level. He’s definitely a basketball freak of nature, but the amount of shit he [and D. Wade] gets away with borders on the absurd. Guess it’s good to have D. Stern as your biggest fan…
Sigh you’re one of those people.[/quote]

One of what, those who played and understand the game? Look man, we’ve talked about this on here before. When you have one guy who routinely out shoots ENTIRE TEAMS at the foul line, or is allowed to take 4 plus steps every time he goes to the rack, there’s a problem.

There’s a lot more to what goes on in the game than what happens on the floor. Guy’s who are good for the “image” [read:MAKE MONEY] of the league get away with shit that average players don’t, and the better they are for the league, the more shit they get away with. Kobe Bryant is the best player in the league, and I believe the best selling jersey as well, but he gets as few calls as any superstar in league history.

James or Wade, on the other hand get calls that would make Jordan blush. Dallas won the Finals a few years ago. They were the better team and they played better basketball.

But, it was pretty obvious “someone” wanted the Heat to win, so all of a sudden Wade is setting records for foul shots in a finals game and series and Dallas can’t get a call. There are a ton more examples of this shit going on. Don’t believe everything you see man.[/quote]

The Spurs-Kings series (I believe in 2002) comes to mind. The Kings got that one stolen from them by the refs. In regards to Lebron, I’ve never seen anyone get such ridiculous star-treatment.

His best move is to barrel towards the basket with his shoulder ducked into the defender and, surprise surprise, he almost always gets a cheap foul called in his favor. NBA refs throw “legal guarding position” out the window when a player guards Lebron.

Add to that the NBA mysteriously changed the rule on travelling to accomodate an extra step after the “crab-dribble” incident that cost Lerbon a game-winner last year and I think it’s pretty obvious that the NBA borders on sports-entertainment a la the WWE.

51

[quote]HeavyTriple wrote:

[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:

[quote]drewh wrote:
I’m 28. LeBron James is NOWHERE NEAR Kobe’s level. He’s definitely a basketball freak of nature, but the amount of shit he [and D. Wade] gets away with borders on the absurd. Guess it’s good to have D. Stern as your biggest fan…
Sigh you’re one of those people.[/quote]

One of what, those who played and understand the game? Look man, we’ve talked about this on here before. When you have one guy who routinely out shoots ENTIRE TEAMS at the foul line, or is allowed to take 4 plus steps every time he goes to the rack, there’s a problem.

There’s a lot more to what goes on in the game than what happens on the floor. Guy’s who are good for the “image” [read:MAKE MONEY] of the league get away with shit that average players don’t, and the better they are for the league, the more shit they get away with.

Kobe Bryant is the best player in the league, and I believe the best selling jersey as well, but he gets as few calls as any superstar in league history.

James or Wade, on the other hand get calls that would make Jordan blush. Dallas won the Finals a few years ago. They were the better team and they played better basketball.

But, it was pretty obvious “someone” wanted the Heat to win, so all of a sudden Wade is setting records for foul shots in a finals game and series and Dallas can’t get a call. There are a ton more examples of this shit going on. Don’t believe everything you see man.[/quote]

The Spurs-Kings series (I believe in 2002) comes to mind. The Kings got that one stolen from them by the refs. In regards to Lebron, I’ve never seen anyone get such ridiculous star-treatment.
[/quote]

I think you mean Lakers-Kings. I was a huge Kings fan, it was the first team I really rooted for. That whole incident was a disaster for the NBA, it nearly made me boycott watching entirely.

However you move on to realize it happened to only one team and it wasn’t nearly powerful enough to make you quit reveling in the highest league of the game you love. I try to forget that series. It was so unfair, the Kings played the best basketball I have seen one team play.

They were one of the most exciting teams ever and they got robbed one series away from destroying the NJ Nets. That really highlighted the extent to which David Stern and his cronies had influence. It explains why I have this little grudge that comes out every once and awhile the Lakers play in the playoffs.

Ah well whats done is done, just a little bit of memory lane for me…

52

[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
Ya’ll do realize that the refs fucked Baylor out of their game against Duke, and then they fucked Butler out of theirs right? The obvious Duke favoritism is getting old. I will say that the best pro out of either squad will be Mason Plumlee. Give him 2 years and watch.[/quote]

No, the refs did not “fuck” Baylor out of their game against Duke.

Nor did Butler get fucked by the refs.

The refs essentially allowed Butler and Duke to murder each other. Butler could have just as easily won that game as Duke. Officiating had zero to do with.