West Coast Connection Forum
Lifestyle => Sports & Entertainment => Topic started by: M Dogg™ on July 08, 2010, 10:13:55 PM
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GREENWICH, Conn., July 8, 1990 -- Michael Jordan announced on national television leaving Chicago to join the Detroit Pistons. Jordan said it was tough to bolt Chicago, where he was the most popular athlete in many years, because he thinks he has a better chance to win a championship if he plays with Pistons star Isiah Thomas. Jordan said by playing together, he and Thomas "won't have the pressure of going out and scoring 30 every night."
That would have sounded absurd, right? Well, it is no more absurd than what LeBron James is doing. Jordan was 27 years old in 1990, slightly older than James is now. He had never been to the NBA Finals. He had been beaten up by the Celtics and Pistons for years. He doubted his supporting cast was good enough.
But he never doubted himself.
And it became very clear Thursday night that LeBron James does doubt himself. James will be a champion in Miami -- if not next year, then sometime after that. If you put James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh together and give Pat Riley five years to find the complementary pieces, that team will win a championship.
But James does not have the heart of a champion. He does not have the competitive fire of Jordan, the bull-headed determination of Kobe Bryant, the quiet self-confidence of Tim Duncan, the willful defiance of Isiah or the winning-is-everything hunger of Magic Johnson.
He is an extremely gifted player who wants the easy way out.
And how do we know this?
James said so himself.
Oh, not in so many words. But once ESPN was done ESPN-izing its LeBron coverage -- filling it with babbling experts, needless hype and Jim Gray submitting his top six entries in the Stupidest Question Ever contest -- the self-proclaimed King said everything you need to know about him.
1. "You have to do what's best for you, and what's going to make you happy."
This is what's going to make him happy? Sharing a stage with two other stars? Really?
I guess that's all LeBron is: A complementary player with superstar talent. We should have figured this out before: He got that giant CHOSEN 1 tattoo on his back and calls himself King James because he is desperate for reassurance.
There is no greater challenge in sports getting drafted by a godawful team, planting your flag in a city and working like crazy until you have turned that team into a champion.
LeBron James didn't want the challenge. He wanted to play with his buddies.
2. "We don't have the pressure of going out and scoring 30 every night or shooting a high percentage."
Whoa. Hold on there. Scoring 30 a night is too much pressure for one of the five most talented players ever?
Find me another all-time NBA great who would utter those words. Jordan would rather do an adidas commercial than say that. Bryant must have laughed as he heard the so-called "King" say that. Larry Bird? The next time he complains about pressure will be the first. Magic was the greatest team player of the last 40 years, but he was also so competitive that he wanted to play Jordan one-on-one in a promotional event -- and this was when Magic had won titles and Jordan had not, so Magic had more to lose.
3. "I know how loyal I am."
The man just dumped his hometown(s) on national television. Cleveland (and, by extension, Akron) happens to be the most tortured sports city in America. To do that, then say "I know how loyal I am" ... wow, wow, wow.
I wish I could sit in on one of LeBron's meetings with his advisers. Does he make them all wear mirrored sunglasses, so that when he looks at them he sees himself?
We really don't ask that much of our sports stars. Try not to get arrested for anything big. Don't curse at the fans. You know, small stuff. We even understand that 95 percent of the time, they will make career decisions based on money -- we might not love it, but we understand it.
But see, the biggest thing that we ask of our sports stars is this: Take the competition as seriously as we do.
When LeBron James loses to Boston in the playoffs, we want him to take the heat, not take the Heat's offer. We want him to spend the summer adding to his game, calling and texting his teammates, plotting to do better next season.
Instead, well ...
4. "It's about joining forces with the other two guys."
He sounds like a nine-year-old playing Star Wars games with his buddies at a sleepover. And again: I do believe this Miami team will win a title. But it won't be as easy as he wants it to be. Miami will have the weakest bench of any contender next season After that, the NBA will have a lockout, and the league could eliminate the mid-level exception, which would be Miami's best tool for adding talent.
So this is a cop-out, but it's not as easy of a cop-out as it appears. And that brings us to ...
5. "This is the greatest challenge for me."
LeBron James just jumped into an elevator and wants us to think he can fly. Sorry, but we know better. We know that he did something Michael, Magic, Bird and BillRussell never would have done. We know he ditched Cleveland for an All-Star team.
But you know what? In Miami, anything short of a title will be a failure. Nobody outside of Miami will root for this team, and nobody in Miami roots for anybody. They're too busy enjoying the weather.
I thought he would stay in Cleveland, because I thought all he cared about was adoration. I was wrong about Cleveland, but he is wrong about adoration. He thinks he'll get it by winning a title. He has insulated himself from the world, surrounded himself with yes men. He has no idea how much backlash he is about to get.
That's one of the great ironies of this -- James is trying to flee pressure, but he will just face more of it. He is trying to maximize his "brand," but he just damaged it.
The first time I watched LeBron James live, I thought he could be the greatest player ever. The sad truth for us, for him, and for the NBA is that he never really believed it himself.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/michael_rosenberg/07/08/lebron.event/index.html
Michael Rosenberg>INSIDE THE NBA
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You mad?
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been saying hes not gonna ever be comparable to MJ or KB
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Shaq left for the Lakers and got his rings
Wade Boggs left for the Yankees and got his ring
Roger Clemens left for the Yankees and got his rings (right after they had won 114 games without him)
let's not act like Lebron is the first guy ever to break a cities heart by leaving.
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You mad?
Why? I'm sad for the actual city of Cleveland. I think that once LeBron would have won a title in Cleveland, that the city would have so much more pride. But me, I'm a western conference guy, and looking at the team, I'd take Fisher, Kobe, Artest, Gasol, Bynum and Odom over those three any day.
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Hack, don't bother.
Every anti-LeBron, "He ain't shit to Kobe", blah blah blah post/thread has been by NOBODY but Laker fans.
You guys need to relax with it, you're only making this so much sweeter lollll.
You mad?
Why? I'm sad for the actual city of Cleveland. I think that once LeBron would have won a title in Cleveland, that the city would have so much more pride. But me, I'm a western conference guy, and looking at the team, I'd take Fisher, Kobe, Artest, Gasol, Bynum and Odom over those three any day.
Boo-hoo, it's been a business. Cleveland wasn't winning a ring with Mo Williams running the point lol.
Nobody was going to say "I feel bad for LA that Kobe left for the Bulls"; LeBron basically did exactly what Kobe did, except the Cavs didn't steal arguably the most talented big man in the league lol. The Cavs are a small team, that's the only reason it's relatively "sad".
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Hack, don't bother.
Every anti-LeBron, "He ain't shit to Kobe", blah blah blah post/thread has been by NOBODY but Laker fans.
You guys need to relax with it, you're only making this so much sweeter lollll.
You mad?
Why? I'm sad for the actual city of Cleveland. I think that once LeBron would have won a title in Cleveland, that the city would have so much more pride. But me, I'm a western conference guy, and looking at the team, I'd take Fisher, Kobe, Artest, Gasol, Bynum and Odom over those three any day.
Boo-hoo, it's been a business. Cleveland wasn't winning a ring with Mo Williams running the point lol.
Nobody was going to say "I feel bad for LA that Kobe left for the Bulls"; LeBron basically did exactly what Kobe did, except the Cavs didn't steal arguably the most talented big man in the league lol. The Cavs are a small team, that's the only reason it's relatively "sad".
mo williams dont even run the point, its james that runs the offense, mo williams is lebrons fish, hes basically a 2 guard. lebron really isnt shit, hes been proved that, he cant carry the team, his jumpshit isnt effeiceint enough for him to take the last shot for the win, this guys a overhyped period. who da hell was in chicago back in the day. certainly not 2 superstars to join with.
i dont know how the hell anyone would think hes better than kobe. lebron gave up, he cant do it with a team built around him, same as KG, ray, and pp.
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KOBE HAD TO HAVE THE LAKERS STEAL GASOL FROM MEMPHIS FOR A PILE OF DOGSHIT
what do you mean a team built around Kobe??? how was he before Gasol was around? that's right he was Allen Iverson for 4 years
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Hack, don't bother.
Every anti-LeBron, "He ain't shit to Kobe", blah blah blah post/thread has been by NOBODY but Laker fans.
You guys need to relax with it, you're only making this so much sweeter lollll.
You mad?
Why? I'm sad for the actual city of Cleveland. I think that once LeBron would have won a title in Cleveland, that the city would have so much more pride. But me, I'm a western conference guy, and looking at the team, I'd take Fisher, Kobe, Artest, Gasol, Bynum and Odom over those three any day.
Boo-hoo, it's been a business. Cleveland wasn't winning a ring with Mo Williams running the point lol.
Nobody was going to say "I feel bad for LA that Kobe left for the Bulls"; LeBron basically did exactly what Kobe did, except the Cavs didn't steal arguably the most talented big man in the league lol. The Cavs are a small team, that's the only reason it's relatively "sad".
See here's the difference. Business is business, but when you tattoo chosen one, and loyalty to your body, you have to stand for it. I ain't comparing LeBron to Kobe, as far as I'm concern, you can call LeBron the best in the game, it does nothing because it's a fictional title and the actual title belongs to Kobe.
Second, if Kobe left LA for the Bulls, people here would be mad, but Kobe wasn't from LA. Ask Philly fans why they hate Kobe, because he never claimed Philly, and if Kobe had the great career his had in Philly, you can beat your bottom dollar Philly would love Kobe. If Kobe as a 76er, he'd be cut so much slack, and Philly fans aren't like that. LeBron in Cleveland, Cleveland did everything, including trying to do a sign and trade with Bosh. They were going all out, and LeBron shock it off and said I want my ring now. To me, after having the best record in the NBA two years in a row, to throw away progress is truly a slap in the fans face there. I've never seen fans that dedicated to a player. Not even NIK's dick sucking compare to what Cleveland did. This shows a true lack of character in LeBron's part. See, if Kobe ever left LA for Philly, I'd understand, when Barry Bonds left the Pirates for the Giants, people understood, but now that Lebron is leaving Cleveland for Miami, people are confused.
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^LOL, WHAAAAAAAAAT? :laugh:
It's almost silly for me to bring up points when you BLINDLY ignore them.
Let me bold it for you..
Kobe was ready to leave LA, until the front office came through with the robbery of Pau Gasol. He was packing his bags to go to Chicago because LA didn't supply him with enough. It doesn't matter who was in Chicago, because Kobe was leaving for something else, because LA wasn't cutting it for him. Not saying he would of won in Chicago, but he saw a better chance to win there. LeBron is doing that now, he sees a way to win in Miami. & most importantly, Kobe can't do it without help either, it's been proven.
Did the size enlargement help?
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KOBE HAD TO HAVE THE LAKERS STEAL GASOL FROM MEMPHIS FOR A PILE OF DOGSHIT
what do you mean a team built around Kobe??? how was he before Gasol was around? that's right he was Allen Iverson for 4 years
LOL... and when they got Gasol the Lakers had the best record in the West. It was a long process, but the team was coming together. So to say they were nothing before Gasol is crazy. But honestly, I did not want a Kobe/LeBron thread. I wanted to put up what a guy wrote on how most everyone feels.
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they wouldn't have won shit in the playoffs because Bynum went down
you guys should be soooo thankful Kendrick Perkins got injured
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he got gasol, gasol wasnt considered the best PF in the league when he got him. bosh is, they said lebrons gonna win for past 2 years and the next 3 wit the cavs and kobes on the decline.
lebron will never be considered the "greatest PLAYER" in basketball. lol i know if kobe did this you would be talking all this shit. and kobe wasnt leaving chicago for 2 other SUPERSTARS
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i wouldn't get mad until the season starts. superstar teams like this usually crumble
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^LOL, WHAAAAAAAAAT? :laugh:
It's almost silly for me to bring up points when you BLINDLY ignore them.
Let me bold it for you..
Kobe was ready to leave LA, until the front office came through with the robbery of Pau Gasol. He was packing his bags to go to Chicago because LA didn't supply him with enough. It doesn't matter who was in Chicago, because Kobe was leaving for something else, because LA wasn't cutting it for him. Not saying he would of won in Chicago, but he saw a better chance to win there. LeBron is doing that now, he sees a way to win in Miami. & most importantly, Kobe can't do it without help either, it's been proven.
Did the size enlargement help?
SMH
oh god. Okay, reality, Mike never won without Scottie, Magic never without Worthy or Kareem, Shaq without D Wade or Kobe, Duncan without Parker or Robinson, Bird without McHale or Parish, Russell without all those Hall of Fame teammates, and Kobe would never win without help. Why is that a bad thing. If management doesn't get Gasol, Kobe bolts to LA. So what? Get this, the Laker franchise has been down and rebuilt before, and they'll do it again. Kobe goes to Chicago, right now Chicago would have 2 more rings, Kobe with Noah and Rose, that would win a title quick. But Kobe is not from LA, Kobe is a hired athlete who's job is it to win titles for the Lakers. LEBRON IS CLEVELAND. HIS AKRON, HE BRINGS IN MONEY INTO A DEPRESSED CITY. There is a difference. As I said, I can careless about LeBron or where he plays, but what he did today to the city of Cleveland is fucked up.
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lebron will never be considered the "greatest PLAYER" in basketball. lol i know if kobe did this you would be talking all this shit. and kobe wasnt leaving chicago for 2 other SUPERSTARS
Obviously not by everybody; there are people today who say Kobe > MJ lol.
Making a GOAT list in Basketball is like making one for Hip Hop; you're never going to have a clear cut answer.
It's sad that that's what the debate is already, "LeBron won't be the greatest, so whatever". Like your soul purpose of watching LeBron is to make sure he's not the greatest. It doesn't matter who wins, just as long as "it's agreed" LeBron isn't number one. Sad.
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lebron will never be considered the "greatest PLAYER" in basketball. lol i know if kobe did this you would be talking all this shit. and kobe wasnt leaving chicago for 2 other SUPERSTARS
Obviously not by everybody; there are people today who say Kobe > MJ lol.
Making a GOAT list in Basketball is like making one for Hip Hop; you're never going to have a clear cut answer.
It's sad that that's what the debate is already, "LeBron won't be the greatest, so whatever". Like your soul purpose of watching LeBron is to make sure he's not the greatest. It doesn't matter who wins, just as long as "it's agreed" LeBron isn't number one. Sad.
like cp3 said having a team like the lakers is basically cheating, but this is REALLY CHEATING might as well have bird and mchale and parish go to the lakers or worthy kareem n magic go to the celtics,
lbj is taking the easy way out, this would of been blasphemy to the greats.
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^LOL, WHAAAAAAAAAT? :laugh:
It's almost silly for me to bring up points when you BLINDLY ignore them.
Let me bold it for you..
Kobe was ready to leave LA, until the front office came through with the robbery of Pau Gasol. He was packing his bags to go to Chicago because LA didn't supply him with enough. It doesn't matter who was in Chicago, because Kobe was leaving for something else, because LA wasn't cutting it for him. Not saying he would of won in Chicago, but he saw a better chance to win there. LeBron is doing that now, he sees a way to win in Miami. & most importantly, Kobe can't do it without help either, it's been proven.
Did the size enlargement help?
SMH
oh god. Okay, reality, Mike never won without Scottie, Magic never without Worthy or Kareem, Shaq without D Wade or Kobe, Duncan without Parker or Robinson, Bird without McHale or Parish, Russell without all those Hall of Fame teammates, and Kobe would never win without help. Why is that a bad thing. If management doesn't get Gasol, Kobe bolts to LA. So what? Get this, the Laker franchise has been down and rebuilt before, and they'll do it again. Kobe goes to Chicago, right now Chicago would have 2 more rings, Kobe with Noah and Rose, that would win a title quick. But Kobe is not from LA, Kobe is a hired athlete who's job is it to win titles for the Lakers. LEBRON IS CLEVELAND. HIS AKRON, HE BRINGS IN MONEY INTO A DEPRESSED CITY. There is a difference. As I said, I can careless about LeBron or where he plays, but what he did today to the city of Cleveland is fucked up.
It's not a bad thing, but it's not a bad thing what LeBron is about to do it to; you Laker fans can't be that blind and hypocritcal to the point where every prior champion gets a pass, but with LeBron it's going to be held against him lol.
If LeBron was from New York, the hard streets of Brooklyn & left the Knicks, you wouldn't care, you'd likely laugh because it's New York lol; it's only minorly "sad" because it's a small city compared to New York, Chicago, LA, Miami, etc.
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lebron will never be considered the "greatest PLAYER" in basketball. lol i know if kobe did this you would be talking all this shit. and kobe wasnt leaving chicago for 2 other SUPERSTARS
Obviously not by everybody; there are people today who say Kobe > MJ lol.
Making a GOAT list in Basketball is like making one for Hip Hop; you're never going to have a clear cut answer.
It's sad that that's what the debate is already, "LeBron won't be the greatest, so whatever". Like your soul purpose of watching LeBron is to make sure he's not the greatest. It doesn't matter who wins, just as long as "it's agreed" LeBron isn't number one. Sad.
like cp3 said having a team like the lakers is basically cheating, but this is REALLY CHEATING might as well have bird and mchale and parish go to the lakers or worthy kareem n magic go to the celtics,
lbj is taking the easy way out, this would of been blasphemy to the greats.
LOL, WHAT THE FUCK, MAN? You JUUUUUST said this team "CANNOT BEAT LA", yet wouldn't that mean LA is even a BIGGER CHEAT? If you think this Heat team just "isn't fair, taking it way too far" & they can't be LA, doesn't that mean LA is cheating times 100?
You can't be all flip-flop & say "The Heat are cheats", "This is a pussy way for LeBron", "LeBron ain't shit" & then say "But they can't beat LA though"; those two statements don't work together lol.
& btw, this is how all the "greats" got the title "great"; maybe no through Free Agency, but they all played together.
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these guys have no sense of self pride and accomplishment, u swear T-Mac, AI, or Kobe would of gotten together in their prime.
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i wouldn't get mad until the season starts. superstar teams like this usually crumble
lmao
yes...teams with 27, 25 and 28 year old superstars in the prime of their career who are 3 of the best 10 players in their sports usually play .500 ball huh?
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these guys have no sense of self pride and accomplishment, u swear T-Mac, AI, or Kobe would of gotten together in their prime.
You swear if you swapped Kobe & LeBron last season, he wouldn't of lead that stacked ass squad to a ring too.
I wouldn't be surprised if LeBron beat the Celtics in five lol.
Part of me hopes that the Lakers play the Cavs, who will be like 0-32 when you guys play them & Phil Jackson looks at Kobe and gives him the night off; so basically you got the match-up Cavs vs. Lakers; no Kobe, no LeBron. The Lakers would win by over 20 points, on an off night, no questions asked lol.
It's mind-blowing how some think the Cavs & Lakers are so close in terms of talent; maybe it was just LeBron's sheer awesome that made the Cavs look so comparable lol.
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^LOL, WHAAAAAAAAAT? :laugh:
It's almost silly for me to bring up points when you BLINDLY ignore them.
Let me bold it for you..
Kobe was ready to leave LA, until the front office came through with the robbery of Pau Gasol. He was packing his bags to go to Chicago because LA didn't supply him with enough. It doesn't matter who was in Chicago, because Kobe was leaving for something else, because LA wasn't cutting it for him. Not saying he would of won in Chicago, but he saw a better chance to win there. LeBron is doing that now, he sees a way to win in Miami. & most importantly, Kobe can't do it without help either, it's been proven.
Did the size enlargement help?
SMH
oh god. Okay, reality, Mike never won without Scottie, Magic never without Worthy or Kareem, Shaq without D Wade or Kobe, Duncan without Parker or Robinson, Bird without McHale or Parish, Russell without all those Hall of Fame teammates, and Kobe would never win without help. Why is that a bad thing. If management doesn't get Gasol, Kobe bolts to LA. So what? Get this, the Laker franchise has been down and rebuilt before, and they'll do it again. Kobe goes to Chicago, right now Chicago would have 2 more rings, Kobe with Noah and Rose, that would win a title quick. But Kobe is not from LA, Kobe is a hired athlete who's job is it to win titles for the Lakers. LEBRON IS CLEVELAND. HIS AKRON, HE BRINGS IN MONEY INTO A DEPRESSED CITY. There is a difference. As I said, I can careless about LeBron or where he plays, but what he did today to the city of Cleveland is fucked up.
It's not a bad thing, but it's not a bad thing what LeBron is about to do it to; you Laker fans can't be that blind and hypocritcal to the point where every prior champion gets a pass, but with LeBron it's going to be held against him lol.
If LeBron was from New York, the hard streets of Brooklyn & left the Knicks, you wouldn't care, you'd likely laugh because it's New York lol; it's only minorly "sad" because it's a small city compared to New York, Chicago, LA, Miami, etc.
See, but what I'm saying is what Lebron is doing is going to hurt his legacy. Greats win on teams built for them, complete with the Pippen sidekicks. Greats don't move to win titles until the end of their careers, see Gary Payton and anything past 2004, or Shaq and Cleveland, or Boston's Big 3 outside of Pierce. Greats win on their franchise, even Kareem won with the Bucks before moving back to LA. Shaq was an exception, but even he joined a young up and coming team as oppose to an all-star team ready to win now. What LeBron has done is say, I can't do this the way it's always been. Management was willing to make any move possible to appease him. Most of Kobe's trade demands were plays on management, not that he was really going to leave. He knew Jerry Buss would never accept the Lakers without the best basketball player, so he played the game and got Gasol. Lebron had that kind of power, and more in Cleveland. But instead of doing what was neeeded in Cleveland, he joins Wade's team. this looks great on Wade, since he attracted the star.
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these guys have no sense of self pride and accomplishment, u swear T-Mac, AI, or Kobe would of gotten together in their prime.
You swear if you swapped Kobe & LeBron last season, he wouldn't of lead that stacked ass squad to a ring too.
I wouldn't be surprised if LeBron beat the Celtics in five lol.
Part of me hopes that the Lakers play the Cavs, who will be like 0-32 when you guys play them & Phil Jackson looks at Kobe and gives him the night off; so basically you got the match-up Cavs vs. Lakers; no Kobe, no LeBron. The Lakers would win by over 20 points, on an off night, no questions asked lol.
It's mind-blowing how some think the Cavs & Lakers are so close in terms of talent; maybe it was just LeBron's sheer awesome that made the Cavs look so comparable lol.
i doubt it, if it came down to the last shot, no. hell no. he isnt clutch, and he isnt a jump shooter.
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these guys have no sense of self pride and accomplishment, u swear T-Mac, AI, or Kobe would of gotten together in their prime.
You swear if you swapped Kobe & LeBron last season, he wouldn't of lead that stacked ass squad to a ring too.
I wouldn't be surprised if LeBron beat the Celtics in five lol.
Part of me hopes that the Lakers play the Cavs, who will be like 0-32 when you guys play them & Phil Jackson looks at Kobe and gives him the night off; so basically you got the match-up Cavs vs. Lakers; no Kobe, no LeBron. The Lakers would win by over 20 points, on an off night, no questions asked lol.
It's mind-blowing how some think the Cavs & Lakers are so close in terms of talent; maybe it was just LeBron's sheer awesome that made the Cavs look so comparable lol.
i doubt it, if it came down to the last shot, no. hell no. he isnt clutch, and he isnt a jump shooter.
LOL, it wouldn't come down to a last shot, it would be a blowout.
& like my man Javier once said, "There is no such thing as clutch". He first said it & I was skeptical to the thought, but I realized he's right, it's not "stepping up", it's just doing what you've been doing all game.
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Hack, don't bother.
Every anti-LeBron, "He ain't shit to Kobe", blah blah blah post/thread has been by NOBODY but Laker fans.
Uh... because 99% of this forum is Laker fans. And for the record, most Laker fans were saying he wasn't shit to Kobe before this signing.
Turn on the tv and watch what analysts are saying. Or hell, you can just go to another sports forum. They're all saying the same shit. Newsflash, the whole world has been making fun of LeBron for the past couple years now, not just this board. No real need to feel defensive about it.
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Hack, don't bother.
Every anti-LeBron, "He ain't shit to Kobe", blah blah blah post/thread has been by NOBODY but Laker fans.
Uh... because 99% of this forum is Laker fans. And for the record, most Laker fans were saying he wasn't shit to Kobe before this signing.
Turn on the tv and watch what analysts are saying. Or hell, you can just go to another sports forum. They're all saying the same shit. Newsflash, the whole world has been making fun of LeBron for the past couple years now, not just this board. No real need to feel defensive about it.
Incorrect, people loved LeBron; especially when it was a thought that he might come & be their savior. I mean, shiiiiit. There were entire stadiums chanting MVP for him when he was the visiting player lol.
There is a VERY, VERY small group of people who don't like Kobe & hate LeBron. You don't even have to be a Lakers fan, just a Kobe fan. It's basically like being a Biggie fan & being told that Tupac is better; you're naturally going to dislike Tupac (LeBron) more & more to the point you can't stand him.
TODAY however, LeBron let so many people down, killed so many dreams that he is on that New York Yankee status; if you're not a Heat fan, you hate LeBron.
Analysts don't like it because it's bad for the sport; a month after the Finals, a week into Summer Camps & you already KNOW for a fact what next year Finals are going to look like lol.
I can admit it's bad for the NBA, from a fan standpoint. I'm a 76ers fan & basically closing up shop because it's not even a fair contest.
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Hack, don't bother.
Every anti-LeBron, "He ain't shit to Kobe", blah blah blah post/thread has been by NOBODY but Laker fans.
Uh... because 99% of this forum is Laker fans. And for the record, most Laker fans were saying he wasn't shit to Kobe before this signing.
Turn on the tv and watch what analysts are saying. Or hell, you can just go to another sports forum. They're all saying the same shit. Newsflash, the whole world has been making fun of LeBron for the past couple years now, not just this board. No real need to feel defensive about it.
Incorrect, people loved LeBron; especially when it was a thought that he might come & be their savior. I mean, shiiiiit. There were entire stadiums chanting MVP for him when he was the visiting player lol.
There is a VERY, VERY small group of people who don't like Kobe & hate LeBron. You don't even have to be a Lakers fan, just a Kobe fan. It's basically like being a Biggie fan & being told that Tupac is better; you're naturally going to dislike Tupac (LeBron) more & more to the point you can't stand him.
TODAY however, LeBron let so many people down, killed so many dreams that he is on that New York Yankee status; if you're not a Heat fan, you hate LeBron.
Analysts don't like it because it's bad for the sport; a month after the Finals, a week into Summer Camps & you already KNOW for a fact what next year Finals are going to look like lol.
I can admit it's bad for the NBA, from a fan standpoint. I'm a 76ers fan & basically closing up shop because it's not even a fair contest.
Well, I'm a Kobe fan and I like LeBron. On the court, that is. Off the court, he's become a goddamn drama queen diva, and I'm not just talking about this offseason. He's been like that for quite some time now, and you would have to be blind not to see that. But I personally never judged what a player does off the court in terms of deciding who good they are. Kobe had a reputation for being a dick too, although ESPN seems to be trying to turn him into the good guy in light of what just happened with LeBron. Also, MJ was probably 500 times the asshole that Kobe and LeBron were combined.
But for the record, people turned against LeBron far before this offseason. They turned on him when he didn't shake hands, they turned on him with that Nike video confiscation, they turned on him with the dancing during games, and they turned on him during "the forfeit" of Game 5 against Boston. People hate him for many reasons other than just this signing.
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^Agreed, but I'm willing to bet a very high majority of them are Kobe Bryant fans.
It's basically picking a side, you are almost forced to like one, at least. I personally like LeBron, so I don't care whose hand he shakes, what tape he doesn't want people seeing or what song he's bustin' out moves to; it's all about what he does on the court for me, that's what made me a fan.
& along the way, I've naturally gained dislike for Kobe.
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Lol, nah trust me, there are a LOT of fans who absolutely hate both of them.
What you said is pretty true, if you're a fan of one, you'll probably come to dislike the other. But that doesn't mean you HAVE to like either. All these ESPN analysts that have been shitting on LeBron right now or in the past, they'd be doing the same thing to Kobe (or anyone else for that matter) if they all did the same shit. I don't think there's any allegiances in that case.
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You cant blame ppl for upgrading
Lebrons tired of playing with a bunch of community college players trying to compete for a championship... he's even leaving 30 million on the table in order to go compete for a championship.
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LOL @ people acting as if Kobe was any different than LeBron.
When he was drafted he demanded a trade to the Lakers.
He had Shaq in his prime there.
When the Lakers sucked he demanded to be traded.
He got Gasol for Kwame and Crittenton.
James stuck with a shit coach and shit GM in a boring city for 7 years, and now you torch him for joining a talented team? hahaha get over yourself, I know you're depressed by always getting owned by James for the next 4 Finals, but still, you need to accept that it was a logical move from him
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LOL @ people acting as if Kobe was any different than LeBron.
When he was drafted he demanded a trade to the Lakers.
He had Shaq in his prime there.
The hell? No he didnt. First of all, I don't even care for these Kobe arguments, but Shaq didn't even get signed until AFTER the draft, lol. Secondly, it was Jerry West who conned the dumbass Hornets into sending Kobe to LA, you think Kobe WANTED to play on a team, filled with a bunch of veteran All-Stars (thus limiting his playing time), where he would have to be a back-up to Eddie Jones? Taking away the glamor of LA, does that honestly sound like something that somebody with a personality of Kobe's would remotely be interested in doing?
When the Lakers sucked he demanded to be traded.
He got Gasol for Kwame and Crittenton.
Yeah, and Kobe got GRILLED for that. But that said... Kobe, aka the man who already had a ring, wanted to be traded to a young team that had no clear-cut leader (Bulls) where he would clearly still be captain. Now I personally always thought that was a punk-ass move, and if we did trade him, I probably would've never cared about him again. But at least I would have respected the killer instinct and obsession to define his own legacy as a leader. Now if Kobe ever asked to be traded to Dwyane Wade's Miami Heat after they had already signed another All-Star? I would have fucking laughed at Kobe, regardless of how many rings he won out there, just for reverting into someone else's bitch. Like I said, it doesn't matter who's the best player on that team, we all know its Wade's team and the ball will be going in his hands when the game is on the line.
James stuck with a shit coach and shit GM in a boring city for 7 years, and now you torch him for joining a talented team? hahaha get over yourself, I know you're depressed by always getting owned by James for the next 4 Finals, but still, you need to accept that it was a logical move from him
I'll agree with you here, though. I could care less that he's leaving Cleveland, I'm actually cracking the fuck up. This shit is amusing to me, LeBron just made the league that much more interesting for yall. People wanted a reason to hate LeBron, now they're getting that reason on a silver platter. But just for your information, until LeBron actually wins a ring, they're not going to be hating on him for making a team dominant, they're hating on him for the fact that he was supposed to be "The Chosen One" and now "chose" to become someone else's sidekick.
Watch any of those videos on NBA.com or ESPN.com. You think those analysts are "afraid" of Miami? Why would they be? None of them are affiliated with any teams, they just get paid to report. So why are they saying the exact same disappointment that people at this board are saying? Just some food for thought.
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I wish I wrote this too...
LeBron is now the king of what, exactly?
By JIM LITKE, AP Sports Columnist
Fri Jul 9, 12:07 am ET
The King?
Of what, exactly?
Hype? Wasting time? Stacking the deck?
Check, check and double-check.
So LeBron James is going to Miami. Man, did he ever pick the right place to win. Just don't forget why people say to be careful what you wish for.
Because when James finally does win it all, chances are good he will be as much a follower as a leader, a bigger, better, badder version of Scottie Pippen, another prince who collected a fistful of rings yet was never really cut out to be king.
He could do worse, of course. The shame is James could have done better.
A real king would have dug in his heels in Cleveland and redoubled his effort to patch the cracks in the foundation of a franchise that's already spent more than seven seasons and hundreds of millions trying to build him a throne. That's what Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant did. Maybe even give the Cavs a hometown discount, taking less money than he was worth to free up cap space down the road, the way Tim Duncan did.
Not LeBron.
He's lighting out for South Beach to hang with superfriends Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, while the rest of us recover from an hour-long infomercial that was conceived and choreographed by his advisers, then aided and abetted by ESPN. The announcement was expected to draw in audiences rivaling Tiger Woods' apology and the O.J. verdict — the two biggest non-sports sports stories ever. And just like those two, James is probably the only guy coming out of it who actually believed what he was saying.
Even the kids from the local Boys & Girls Club stuck in the background as props — who would have guessed that wealthy Greenwich, Conn., even had a chapter? — knew that just because James has a tattoo that says "Loyalty" doesn't make it so.
The most telling moment came when he was asked whether it would have been "sweeter" winning a championship in Cleveland, just down the interstate from Akron, the town James grew up in.
"I think championships are championships, and you can't look at it as saying, 'Well, if I would have did it somewhere else, it would have been sweeter,'" he replied. "Because, I mean, it's a championship. A lot of people don't get there.
"When you get to that point and you win a championship, you can't say, 'Wow, I wish I would have did it somewhere else.' That makes no sense to me, because you put a lot of hard work into it to get to that point and I have not got there yet.
"But I'm going to do everything in my power," he added, "to lead that Miami franchise to a second one."
If nothing about the announcement surprised Wade, that last part should qualify as news. He'd never admit viewing Bosh and even James as sidekicks — officially they're equals, for the moment anyway — but it's telling that they wound up coming to him. Plus, Wade was the man in Miami when the Heat won their first title, although he had plenty of help from Shaquille O'Neal.
Yet that arrangement worked precisely because Shaq had already won three championships in Los Angeles. Deferring to Wade at crunch time was not only smart — the kid was just hitting his stride — it made Shaq look like an even bigger man. Contrast that with James, who brings the same outsized ego but zero championships to the table. There will never be enough credit to go around.
Russian billionaire and new Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov may not be an NBA insider yet, but he already knows how the game is played off the court. Getting in what is among the first of a thousand expected digs at the move, he predicted even before the announcement that joining the bona fide All-Stars awaiting James in Miami would "diminish his brand."
Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy was even more pointed.
"Come on, an hour long? OK, it takes 15 seconds to say, 'I've decided to stay in Cleveland.' But we've got another 59 minutes and 45 seconds to, what, promote LeBron James? As if," Van Gundy told the local newspaper, "we don't do that enough"
Frankly, that's about all anybody remotely connected to the NBA did for the last two years. Attention hound that he's become, James milked every last drop. He wore a New York Yankees hat to a playoff game against the Indians in Cleveland and a Dallas Cowboys cap to a Browns' season opener.
James said that he'll always consider Akron home, which is convenient, since he also has it's area code, 330, tattooed on another part of his hide. But outside his house, he's likely to be viewed with the same kind of disdain that northeast Ohioans reserved for Art Modell, the NFL owner who ripped the Browns franchise out of Cleveland and ran all the way to Baltimore with it.
"You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal," Cavs owner Dan Gilbert said in an open letter to fans on the team's website. He went on to guarantee the Cavaliers would win a championship before James did: "You can take it to the bank."
Maybe it hurts more because James is one of their own, maybe the best athlete most of them will ever see, and now even he doesn't want to be there.
Some king he turned out to be.
___
Jim Litke is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jlitke@ap.org
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LMAO @ alll the Cavs fans crying over this shit, and all the sympathy they're being given by the media. Man up you fucking pussies. Yeah it sucks that LeBron left his home town,but they sure as hell didn't get their franchise STOLEN by a market that's worse than theirs. The NBA and the media fuckin disgust me.
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@Halu: If you think LeBron is Wade's sidekick, I literally don't know what to say to you. He's younger and better. I'm not even getting into an argument here. LeBron is clearly the better player with the greater future. You're acting as if Pippen was as good as LeBron and Wade is as good as Jordan. STOP THAT, IT IS JUST WRONG!
@MDogg: Lakerfans like you are just mad cause you have no chance to win titles anymore. I'm not feeling sad for you, cause youre some spoiled asses who got Shaq as a FA, Bryant for Divac and Gasol for Kwame. So fuck you. Get a taste of your own medicine, you spoiled fucks.
@Remedy: 100% agree
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Based on the way the Cavs owner acted after the announcement, I can hardly blame LeBron for leaving. Dan Gilbert is pretty fuckin classless and Im sure this wasnt an isolated incident. He's mad cus LeBron wouldnt take his calls or texts after the season ended. As if LeBron needed to. He bashed his ONLY superstar during the playoffs and you think he is supposed to give a shit about your texts? lol I probably would have left too. Not because its Cleveland (well...yeah...Cleveland sucks and all), but because that shows a complete lack of loyalty, respect, and class on the part of the owner.
Im not a big fan of Lebron going to Miami. Id like to see him win a championship without Wade and Bosh. Or at least without Wade. But so be it.
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@Halu: If you think LeBron is Wade's sidekick, I literally don't know what to say to you. He's younger and better. I'm not even getting into an argument here. LeBron is clearly the better player with the greater future. You're acting as if Pippen was as good as LeBron and Wade is as good as Jordan. STOP THAT, IT IS JUST WRONG!
@MDogg: Lakerfans like you are just mad cause you have no chance to win titles anymore. I'm not feeling sad for you, cause youre some spoiled asses who got Shaq as a FA, Bryant for Divac and Gasol for Kwame. So fuck you. Get a taste of your own medicine, you spoiled fucks.
@Remedy: 100% agree
hahaha
Okay, the Shaq as a FA thing, he was going to re-sign with Orlando but Orlando had a poll and most said Shaq was not worth the money, so he left for LA. Originally Orlando offered Shaq 54million to stay, then Alonzo Mourning got 100million, Shaq wanted that, LA offered him 120million, Orlando offered 115million, and a poll was ran to see if the people thought Shaq was worth 115million, and the majority said no. Shaq himself said he was willing to take less money to stay, after all Orlando had a better supporting cast with Penny over Nick Van Exel or Eddie Jones, and Horace Grant over Elden Campell. But Shaq was angry and hurt, and we all found out later in his career that Shaq wears his feelings very poorly. There were no rallies to keep Shaq, but a lot of, good, he was too expensive anyways.
Kobe Bryant for Vlade Divac. This actually had nothing to do with Kobe at all. It was about dumping money to get Shaq, and Vlade was very expensive. Charlotte was wanting Vlade to fill the whole Alonzo Mourning left when he was traded in 1995. The Hornets were built to win now, and had no time to waste on a high school kid, which at that time high school players were usually benched because it only happened once in a great while. The Hornets had Anthony Mason and Glen Rice up front, and they wanted a dominate center to help up front, not a high school guard to ride the bench for 2 years. In the long run, worst mistake ever, but at the time, it was an even trade because Kobe could have either been Kobe, or Kwame Brown, the big high school bust.
Gasol for Kwame, Kobe said build around me, or trade me. Lakers choice to build around, and the Memphis Grizzlies are in danger of going bankrupted traded their highest paid player for expiring contracts and future cap room. They used all that cap room on Rudy Guy, so obviously the people running that team are not smart.
If LA does win during Wade's career, that's still 5 titles in 11 years, that's a number most any fan will take. Still, the match ups look good against the current Heat roster. Still they need to fill holes, but Kobe on Wade, Artest on LeBron and Bynum and Gasol on Bosh with Odom playing the wild card, I like our chances.
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LOL at thinking Lakers have no chance at winning titles anymore because of the Heat ... next season is going to be great 8)
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LOL at thinking Lakers have no chance at winning titles anymore because of the Heat ... next season is going to be great 8)
The Lakers aren't a GREAT team. Kobe is getting very old and needed to be bailed the fuck out in a Game 7 of the Finals. Even though he is the most competitive motherfucker on earth, he's skipping the World Championships because he realizes how damn old he is getting and how his body REALLY REALLY needs a rest to regenerate and heal itself. Fisher? Lol. Artest? He had some very important lucky 3s in the last game, but he is still a head case. Bynum? Always hurt in the playoffs. Very hit and miss. Odom? Most inconsistent player in the game. The Lakers are not GREAT. The 2001 Lakers were. The 87 Lakers were. The 2011 Lakers? :X
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Kobe was HURT ... and he's still had some great playoffs , how many players would achieve (hell would even play) what he did with a broken index finger on his shooting hand ... your favorite player sat out a couple years with a pinky injury on his NON SHOOTING Hand
May I remind you that Kobe was averaging 30 on 50% FG shooting until he broke his finger in December
I agree that we were not a great team this year but you have to take the injuries factor in consideration ...
And anyways how do you know this HEAT team is going to THAT great considering :
- Wade and Lebron have similar games which is going to bring pbs , especially during the playoffs when the majority of the game is played on halfcourt sets
- Bosh is a TERRIBLE defensive player, he better pray the Heat will sign a good defensive center to do the dirty work in the paint (pb there are very few available )
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LOL at thinking Lakers have no chance at winning titles anymore because of the Heat ... next season is going to be great 8)
The Lakers aren't a GREAT team. Kobe is getting very old and needed to be bailed the fuck out in a Game 7 of the Finals. Even though he is the most competitive motherfucker on earth, he's skipping the World Championships because he realizes how damn old he is getting and how his body REALLY REALLY needs a rest to regenerate and heal itself. Fisher? Lol. Artest? He had some very important lucky 3s in the last game, but he is still a head case. Bynum? Always hurt in the playoffs. Very hit and miss. Odom? Most inconsistent player in the game. The Lakers are not GREAT. The 2001 Lakers were. The 87 Lakers were. The 2011 Lakers? :X
Usually great teams win back to back. They beat the Big 3 of Boston in a 7 game war, they suppressed Kevin Durant's coming out party, they steam rolled Utah, they scored over 100 points in 11 plus games, they lead the NBA is scoring for the season, they won 8 playoff games in a row, and other than game 7 when he was valuably fatigued, Kobe was talked about as Finals MVP, even if the Lakers possibly lost. So well you say they ain't great, the Lakers did something great teams do. Win back to back and beat a great team who's starting 5 never lost a playoff series and will more than likely have their Big 3 members in the Hall of Fame. What more do you want to prove greatness. They win 3 in a row, if you don't think the team is great, then you'd have to admit Kobe is great and deserves the title best in the world. After all, his winning without a great team.
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LOL at thinking Lakers have no chance at winning titles anymore because of the Heat ... next season is going to be great 8)
The Lakers aren't a GREAT team. Kobe is getting very old and needed to be bailed the fuck out in a Game 7 of the Finals. Even though he is the most competitive motherfucker on earth, he's skipping the World Championships because he realizes how damn old he is getting and how his body REALLY REALLY needs a rest to regenerate and heal itself. Fisher? Lol. Artest? He had some very important lucky 3s in the last game, but he is still a head case. Bynum? Always hurt in the playoffs. Very hit and miss. Odom? Most inconsistent player in the game. The Lakers are not GREAT. The 2001 Lakers were. The 87 Lakers were. The 2011 Lakers? :X
Usually great teams win back to back. They beat the Big 3 of Boston in a 7 game war, they suppressed Kevin Durant's coming out party, they steam rolled Utah, they scored over 100 points in 11 plus games, they lead the NBA is scoring for the season, they won 8 playoff games in a row, and other than game 7 when he was valuably fatigued, Kobe was talked about as Finals MVP, even if the Lakers possibly lost. So well you say they ain't great, the Lakers did something great teams do. Win back to back and beat a great team who's starting 5 never lost a playoff series and will more than likely have their Big 3 members in the Hall of Fame. What more do you want to prove greatness. They win 3 in a row, if you don't think the team is great, then you'd have to admit Kobe is great and deserves the title best in the world. After all, his winning without a great team.
lebron moved himself from the discussion "best in the world" when he signed with miami. remember him complaining about the elbow? lmfao
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Saying LeBron can't become the greatest cause he's got great teammates is just being talk of frustrated and scared fans. I'd be the same if the Mavs were still contenders. I'd fucking HATE this. Because I'd fucking knew that my team gon get stomped on by the Heat, and it will not even be fair. Thank God the Mavs will only have to play the Heat 2 times a year.
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You mad?
Why? I'm sad for the actual city of Cleveland. I think that once LeBron would have won a title in Cleveland, that the city would have so much more pride. But me, I'm a western conference guy, and looking at the team, I'd take Fisher, Kobe, Artest, Gasol, Bynum and Odom over those three any day.
Don't worry. Mike Holmgren plans to make Cleveland not give a damn about Lebron. One Superbowl rings will mean more than 10 straight NBA titles.
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Saying LeBron can't become the greatest cause he's got great teammates is just being talk of frustrated and scared fans. I'd be the same if the Mavs were still contenders. I'd fucking HATE this. Because I'd fucking knew that my team gon get stomped on by the Heat, and it will not even be fair. Thank God the Mavs will only have to play the Heat 2 times a year.
Yeah, for real. I'm in the same boat with the 76ers. I'm not going to lie to myself.
Also about LeBron, whose to say that he won't go on to average 28-29 ppg, 7 rebounds & 7 assists. You guys keep saying that there will be no one else on the team besides these three, well somebody has to grab those rebounds..
But you Lakers fans crack me up. One post you look and say, "If they win, LeBron doesn't deserve shit.", but then turn around two posts later and say, "The Heat can't beat the Lakers". MEANING, you're saying the Lakers are better than the best assembled three players the league has ever seen. And don't give me that shit that it's "because of Kobe"; you know damn well that it's because that team is stacked from start to finish; yet LeBron isn't allowed to seek "inferior help"? Because let's be real, if the Heat can't beat the Lakers, then I guess LeBron has less help than Kobe. :D
It's a tell-tale sign of denial. It's like you just don't want to give him credit; you won't admit he can win & at the same time you won't admit that he should be given some credit for winning, if he does.
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Saying LeBron can't become the greatest cause he's got great teammates is just being talk of frustrated and scared fans. I'd be the same if the Mavs were still contenders. I'd fucking HATE this. Because I'd fucking knew that my team gon get stomped on by the Heat, and it will not even be fair. Thank God the Mavs will only have to play the Heat 2 times a year.
Yeah, for real. I'm in the same boat with the 76ers. I'm not going to lie to myself.
Also about LeBron, whose to say that he won't go on to average 28-29 ppg, 7 rebounds & 7 assists. You guys keep saying that there will be no one else on the team besides these three, well somebody has to grab those rebounds..
But you Lakers fans crack me up. One post you look and say, "If they win, LeBron doesn't deserve shit.", but then turn around two posts later and say, "The Heat can't beat the Lakers". MEANING, you're saying the Lakers are better than the best assembled three players the league has ever seen. And don't give me that shit that it's "because of Kobe"; you know damn well that it's because that team is stacked from start to finish; yet LeBron isn't allowed to seek "inferior help"? Because let's be real, if the Heat can't beat the Lakers, then I guess LeBron has less help than Kobe. :D
It's a tell-tale sign of denial. It's like you just don't want to give him credit; you won't admit he can win & at the same time you won't admit that he should be given some credit for winning, if he does.
See, the thing is that the Mavs and the 76ers aren't the two time defending champions. What, you expect fans straight after seeing their team gut out a 7 game victory over a Big 3, plus one more bow down to another Big 3. It's all about the match ups, if 2008 taught us anything, it's about the match ups. In 2008 LA didn't have enough players to match the Celtics Big 3, now they are build to defend any teams Big 3. Kobe on Wade, Artest on LeBron, and Gasol, Odom and Bynum on Bosh. But if Fisher leaves, I will say we are in trouble. But unless that happens, the old saying goes, to be the man you have to beat the man.