LyleLanley
Banned
Comparing LeBron, who won 3 rings and has brought his teams to 7 consecutive finals, to the Bills is just stupid. Also, who gives a fuck what the talking heads on ESPN say? They're paid to say stupid shit.
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NBA 2017 Playoffs |OT| WE DID IT
- Thread starter Jarate
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Comparing LeBron, who won 3 rings and has brought his teams to 7 consecutive finals, to the Bills is just stupid. Also, who gives a fuck what the talking heads on ESPN say? They're paid to say stupid shit.
Bam Bam Baklava
Member
Nobody gives a damn how many times you got there if you lose. That's the entire point.
LyleLanley
Banned
I get your shtick but this is stupid, even for you.
LockOfTheWeek
Member
So many spicy takes about Lebron and there's still a week until game 1 starts.
Bam Bam Baklava
Member
Are you just going to name call all night?
Here's a great example, how much more renowned would Jerry West be if he could have won all the finals he reached? Or at least won better than half? Undoubtedly higher than where he is now.
LyleLanley
Banned
I can't believe I get sucked in to this every damn time. I give up, LeBron sucks.
SyenceLabb
Member
You make my head hurt.
Bam Bam Baklava
Member
Other than bringing up that Lebron has 3 rings and the number of times he has gone to the finals, you did literally nothing (other than call me stupid) to back up why you think that getting to the finals a bunch of times and losing isn't something athletes are given great accolades for. There are plenty of historical examples of this including the most infamous case being Jerry West. Part of the entire mystique of Jordan is his perfect finals record.
LyleLanley
Banned
I think it's stupid that athletes are given credit for losing earlier in the playoffs. Would LeBron have been better off if he lost in the ECF instead of the finals? Jerry West is an all time great despite just getting decimated by arguably the best team of all time repeatedly in the finals. Is Kareem a chump for losing in the finals 4 times?
Bam Bam Baklava
Member
Would it be better to lose in the ECF? Probably not. But if you get to the ultimate stage and lose a bunch of times, how is that supposed to be viewed? Just ignore it or look at it positively? That's just not how people see it and I agree with them.
They don't give players nicknames like Mr. Game 7 for getting to a bunch of game 7s and losing. You don't get the nickname Mr. October just for showing up to the playoffs every year. Your performance and record in the postseason and finals matters immensely, that's just a fact.
Cracklox
Member
Even though I don't like to see it that way I kinda agree with the bolded. Those early 90s Bills teams are generally a laughed at for losing four superbowls straight. They were so damn close too in that 1st one but no one remembers that
BlackNMild2k1
Member
I'm certainly no Lebron apologist... and I hate that I'm even defending the guy because I really don't like him (resident Warriors fan), but I respect his game, so I have to jump in and say that regardless of how many rings dude won, and I believe he's what... 50/50 right now.... having 7 straight Eastern Conference Championship Titles is still very impressive.
But he ain't getting his 4th ring this year.
and probably not next year either.
But he ain't getting his 4th ring this year.
and probably not next year either.
True Savior
Member
Celtics should be punished by such an awful series. Maybe the pick should go to the real contenders of the east. Rondo Bulls. It only seems fair.
Is it finally over, is there going to be a new thread? God, this had to have been the worst playoffs leading up to the finals I've ever seen. Maybe back in the day there was something even more deflating, but I didn't have access to all the games and comprehensive coverage back then. You just watched the local team, which for me was the Lakers and they almost always made it interesting.
If Blake Griffin(so offense Utah) and Kawhi remained healthy, this wouldn't be a conversation in the West, but what can you do? Yea, the Warriors would still be here with like 3 losses instead of 0, but it would have been fun to watch.
The East continues to be a wasteland. That's why I don't want to hear about Lebron's 7 straight finals, his toughest competition remain the Lance Stevenson/Roy Hibbert/Paul George Pacers. If Wade didn't need to have his knee drained it doesn't even go that far.
Bring on the finals. Lebron versus KD for long stretches every game on the biggest stage, what's the last time we've seen a match up like that? Kawhi won finals MVP, but he didn't have the offense back then. And then we get to see it next year, and the year after that...
If Blake Griffin(so offense Utah) and Kawhi remained healthy, this wouldn't be a conversation in the West, but what can you do? Yea, the Warriors would still be here with like 3 losses instead of 0, but it would have been fun to watch.
The East continues to be a wasteland. That's why I don't want to hear about Lebron's 7 straight finals, his toughest competition remain the Lance Stevenson/Roy Hibbert/Paul George Pacers. If Wade didn't need to have his knee drained it doesn't even go that far.
Bring on the finals. Lebron versus KD for long stretches every game on the biggest stage, what's the last time we've seen a match up like that? Kawhi won finals MVP, but he didn't have the offense back then. And then we get to see it next year, and the year after that...
Andrew Korenchkin
Member
You pretty much make these NBA threads unreadable year after year. It's getting so old.
Playing nobody as overwhelming favorites is not really amazing
ErasureAcer
Banned
I'm happy Harrison Barnes will not decide the championship this season. The real LeBrick.
I heard that LeBron James himself personally orchestrated the East to not be as good so he'd have an easier route to the finals.
I mean why didn't he go to the West so he could protect himself from hot takes on message boards and from sports "journalists"?
"Postseason record matters" they say, except when you're LeBron playing in the east then it doesn't because the east is weak.
No one gives a fuck about the strength of conferences except for the sole purpose to somehow discredit LeBron, let's be honest. No one looks back at who MJ or Kobe or whoever defeated before the finals because it doesn't matter.
When he loses it destroys his legacy. When he wins he has an easy road, super team, and yeah so what he isn't Jordan.
LeBron had an all time finals last year and led his team back from down 1-3 against what was the clear cut favorite. Yet that counts far less than if losing this year will.
friskykillface
Banned
Celtics are the only team this post season to beat either of the Warriors or Cavs
Ainge
Did
It
Ainge
Did
It
LeBron is undeniably great. But I always just ask: if this exact iteration of the spurs from the last 5-7 years were switched with all of lebrons teams from the east, does anyone think Pop would not have gone to the finals for 7 straight years? Maybe more?
Every team that Pop, Kawhi, and at the time Duncan lost to was superior to pretty much any non LeBron team in the east that year. I honestly think that Pop would be in the finals every year if he were in the east and LeBron was in the west. The spurs without kawhi destroyed the Rockets, and a lot of people agree that the rockets are better than most of the teams in the east (excluding the cavs obviously) this year.
When I think about it that way, it really is wholly lopsided how much better the teams in the west are come playoff time than the teams in the east. Which is why I can't give too much credit for the *appearances* given the competition.
Every team that Pop, Kawhi, and at the time Duncan lost to was superior to pretty much any non LeBron team in the east that year. I honestly think that Pop would be in the finals every year if he were in the east and LeBron was in the west. The spurs without kawhi destroyed the Rockets, and a lot of people agree that the rockets are better than most of the teams in the east (excluding the cavs obviously) this year.
When I think about it that way, it really is wholly lopsided how much better the teams in the west are come playoff time than the teams in the east. Which is why I can't give too much credit for the *appearances* given the competition.
I agree with this so this brings the problem of is IT that guy? ABs two way game is overrated he took 20 shots a game this series and barely averaged a point per shot.
AB hasn't hit his ceiling so to speak on offense but it won't get much better... His defense has though and it's been proven overrated. Smart needs a dramatic redesign of his approach to the game but it won't happen.
thehypocrite
Member
The Clippers.
Cornbread78
Member
Is the finals thread up yet, so I can complain that the two teams we knew were going to play in it before the season started are playing in it?
The Clippers are a loaded team on paper but they never actually meet expectations, stop.
LyleLanley
Banned
Stephen A. Smith has gotten every Finals prediction since 2011 wrong.
https://twitter.com/BieIik/status/827704604393619457/video/1
https://twitter.com/BieIik/status/827704604393619457/video/1
The Clippers are trash
MugiwaraCole
Member
Still hilarious people think this.
Cavs in 5 in 2015 if Love and Kyrie weren't injured tbh.
Bam Bam ain't people
MugiwaraCole
Member
I'd say 6, but yeah.
Game 5 was going to the Cavs last year even with Draymond on the floor. I could see if Lebron and Kyrie were getting to the basket at will, but they were just shooting unbelievable jumpers. Then they did so again in games 6 and 7, with Green playing.
The Warriors just lost.
Lol where did he name call? Fake news.
But why does this matter to people? People just use any argument they can to continue to know him down. When in the same "weaker" East he wasn't reaching the Finals, we were told he isn't great cause he can't get to the Finals. When he gets to the Finals it is cause the East is weak. Now that he lives in the Finals, whether he wins the finals or not, we are told he shouldn't get credit for taking teams to finals unless he wins the finals. The goalposts keep moving.
I am convinced people would see him in a better light if he only made the finals the years he won the finals. His Finals losses are held again him in a manner I have never seen for any player in any sport ever.
Lebron didn't make the East weaker. The conferences just happen to be this way this generation. I honestly don't know why more "superstars" don't go to the East to build up a team that is on the rise or a playoff contender to take them to the Finals.
Especially cause it's supposedly super easy.
So now I am predicting Warriors in 4 in a sweep but for the Cavs to have a shot they need to just drive to the rim non-stop.
I know they have deadly 3 point shooters and the offense is based on spacing for LeBron and Kyrie to kick out but against the Warriors, they can't rely on the 3s falling. They need to get the Warriors in foul trouble, get to the FT line non-stop and hope this throws the rhythm of the Warriors off a bit.
I can just see them not adjusting, just relying on 3s which they can hit but can also go on a cold from, and losing all 4 games by 10+
I know they have deadly 3 point shooters and the offense is based on spacing for LeBron and Kyrie to kick out but against the Warriors, they can't rely on the 3s falling. They need to get the Warriors in foul trouble, get to the FT line non-stop and hope this throws the rhythm of the Warriors off a bit.
I can just see them not adjusting, just relying on 3s which they can hit but can also go on a cold from, and losing all 4 games by 10+
Dougieflesh
Member
Lebron always wins a road game in a series. This series is going at least six.
Hydrogen Bluebird
Member
Cavs in 4
Neverthelesser
Member
For them to have a shot, they need to do all of that AND defend much, much more effectively. Even in their blowout wins against the Celtics, for example, they gave up so many open looks but Boston couldn't convert on them. If they do that again versus Golden State, they'll never have a chance.
It doesn't really matter. If we are going to praise someone for their appearances, in addition to their wins, then competition has to be a factor.
The reason why this is of particular note to me is that when we talk about the legends, we always talk about how many they won, not their total appearances. To me, appearances don't matter nearly as much. At the end of the season, #2 is the same as #30 in that they don't have a ring.
"Kobe's got 5," etc. etc. etc. We never talk about the ones they lost, i.e. "Kobe made it to 7". When people talk about Curry's accomplishments, they often cite, in order, 2xMVP (1 unanimous), 1 chip, and his ridiculous season, never that he has 3 straight finals appearances.
It's just interesting is all. I will give LeBron all the props in the world for his wins. In 2012, he defeated 3 budding superstars in 5 games. In 2013, he successfully repeated (incredibly hard to do) by defeating the Spurs and playing fantastically in the closeout game 7. In 2016, he had probably one of the best, if not THE best finals performance of all time as a huge underdog to win it all.
Why the hell would I care about his appearances, even if he played great? The variance season to season has led to all types of reasons for teams going as far as they do. The one constant is that the east is incredibly weak.
Ninja Scooter
Member
it's 2017 and we still arguing about LeBron's legacy.
Kyrie and Kevin put in work
MugiwaraCole
Member
All this just to say you don't understand how fucking crazy 7 straight appearances is. If Steph keeps showing up after this, they'll bring his up too.
It is pretty crazy but it's not like the East has been brimming with talented teams for those seven years... The last real threat to LeBron in the East was probably the Big 3 Celtics, and by the time LeBron started his streak, they were already in the downswing and were close to being broken up. Put LeBron in the West where he would've had to face teams like the Spurs and now that streak is broken up.
javale time!
Lionel Richie
Member
Could be worse, we could be talking about Lavar Ball. Besides Lebron obviously cares a lot about his legacy, it makes discussions about it nearly inevitable.
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