If the Heat win, the championship loses value. Screw you, Miami.

filth: If the Heat win, the championship loses value. Screw you, Miami.

Why? Would it have lost value if Houston had won it when they went and got Barkley to go with Drexler and Olajuwon? It didn't lose value when the Bulls went and bought the best defender and rebounder in the league to go along with the best player in the league, and his sidekick. It didn't lessen it when Kevin McHale gifted KG to Boston and they went and got one of the best 3 point shooters ever to play with them. The only thing these teams didn't do was have a televised announcement and pep rally saying they would win. While I understand that those things were profoundly stupid to do, it doesn't cheapen, or lessen going through the regular season, then 4 rounds of playoffs to win it all. If you do that, you deserve to win it.

WOO GO SONICS WOOOOO!!!1!

mitchcumstein1: filth: If the Heat win, the championship loses value. Screw you, Miami.

Why? Would it have lost value if Houston had won it when they went and got Barkley to go with Drexler and Olajuwon? It didn't lose value when the Bulls went and bought the best defender and rebounder in the league to go along with the best player in the league, and his sidekick. It didn't lessen it when Kevin McHale gifted KG to Boston and they went and got one of the best 3 point shooters ever to play with them. The only thing these teams didn't do was have a televised announcement and pep rally saying they would win. While I understand that those things were profoundly stupid to do, it doesn't cheapen, or lessen going through the regular season, then 4 rounds of playoffs to win it all. If you do that, you deserve to win it.

However, it wasn't a full season. So, if they were to win, it would be a lesser championship, since they didn't play the full schedule. It would be a championship that deserved an asterisk.

FirstNationalBastard: However, it wasn't a full season. So, if they were to win, it would be a lesser championship, since they didn't play the full schedule. It would be a championship that deserved an asterisk.

Everyone knows the regular season doesn't matter.

Before the game tonight, somebody needs to construct a voodoo idol of such power that it causes LeBron to trip over his shoelaces, Bosh to have a sprained ankle, and whatstheotherguysname to have explosive diarrhea. Scratch that, I want LeBron to have explosive diarrhea.

FirstNationalBastard: mitchcumstein1: filth: If the Heat win, the championship loses value. Screw you, Miami.

Why? Would it have lost value if Houston had won it when they went and got Barkley to go with Drexler and Olajuwon? It didn't lose value when the Bulls went and bought the best defender and rebounder in the league to go along with the best player in the league, and his sidekick. It didn't lessen it when Kevin McHale gifted KG to Boston and they went and got one of the best 3 point shooters ever to play with them. The only thing these teams didn't do was have a televised announcement and pep rally saying they would win. While I understand that those things were profoundly stupid to do, it doesn't cheapen, or lessen going through the regular season, then 4 rounds of playoffs to win it all. If you do that, you deserve to win it.

However, it wasn't a full season. So, if they were to win, it would be a lesser championship, since they didn't play the full schedule. It would be a championship that deserved an asterisk.

So then, the Spurs championship in '99 is also lessened, correct? They played even fewer regular season games.

mitchcumstein1: So then, the Spurs championship in '99 is also lessened, correct? They played even fewer regular season games.

The Giants' Super Bowl is lessened because the Hall of Fame game got canceled. Also, every NFL season prior to the current 16-game season doesn't count. Same goes for every NBA championship before they expanded the first round to 7 games. Asterisk 'em all!

filth: If the Heat win, the championship loses value. Screw you, Miami.

FirstNationalBastard: However, it wasn't a full season. So, if they were to win, it would be a lesser championship, since they didn't play the full schedule. It would be a championship that deserved an asterisk.



And not a single fark was given.

bluorangefyre: [www.getreligion.org image 400x600]

Lebron has made some stupid decisions, but if I had to choose between him and Ohio I'd go with him. Hell, I'd go with a revived, nuclear powered Adolf Hitler with laser vision over Ohio.

bluorangefyre: [www.getreligion.org image 400x600]

What a bummer for LeBron that he can't go back to Akron, Ohio. That would keep me up at night.

Damn, very early green for this.

I will stick with my call of Thunder, but I will admit, I'm a bit worried that the lack of experience has hurt them.

Yanks_RSJ: What a bummer for LeBron that he can't go back to Akron, Ohio. That would keep me up at night.

I was going to say, where other cities give you the key to the city - Akron, Ohio banishes you for life.

Who is officiating tonight's game? I'm excited to see another excellently officiated game. Personally, I'm surprised that NBA officials can still officiate at such a high level in their 70s, 80s, and 90s. It's quite the testimonial to the American health care system that those men can still oversee a game played by the best athletes in the world, requires split second judgement calls, and moves up & down the court so frequently. Amazing.

Koman Coulibaly: Who is officiating tonight's game? I'm excited to see another excellently officiated game. Personally, I'm surprised that NBA officials can still officiate at such a high level in their 70s, 80s, and 90s. It's quite the testimonial to the American health care system that those men can still oversee a game played by the best athletes in the world, requires split second judgement calls, and moves up & down the court so frequently. Amazing.

Double "T"...get the hell out of my thread!

(Does stupid ref dance for attention whoring effect)

mitchcumstein1: So then, the Spurs championship in '99 is also lessened, correct? They played even fewer regular season games.

You can downgrade championships for a lot of reasons.

But if the Heat win, Lebron haters will still find a reason to hate on him. I think it will be "He didn't hit a heavily defended three-pointer at the buzzer to win Game 7, so it doesn't really count"

pnhfitz: mitchcumstein1: So then, the Spurs championship in '99 is also lessened, correct? They played even fewer regular season games.

You can downgrade championships for a lot of reasons.

But if the Heat win, Lebron haters will still find a reason to hate on him. I think it will be "He didn't hit a heavily defended three-pointer at the buzzer to win Game 7, so it doesn't really count"

It's "the refs".

Aren't you keeping up?

The real loser in Kevin Durant, and any kid that might aspire to be him. He's done things right, did his one and done, behaved himself, kept his nose clean, and been one of the best players in the country, only to be overshadowed on his draft day by Odom, and on his first huge run to a championship by the Heat.

OKC is a good Disney style feel good family story, and we're Lifetime movie-ing it up with the Heat.

Koman Coulibaly: Who is officiating tonight's game? I'm excited to see another excellently officiated game. Personally, I'm surprised that NBA officials can still officiate at such a high level in their 70s, 80s, and 90s. It's quite the testimonial to the American health care system that those men can still oversee a game played by the best athletes in the world, requires split second judgement calls, and moves up & down the court so frequently. Amazing.

Considering the handle used for this post, it's worthy of 11/10.

Pass the ball, Russell.

Mr Guy: only to be overshadowed on his draft day by Odom

That damn Lamar, always sticking his nose in where it doesn't belong.

Bought? Bought???

Isn't there a salary cap in the NBA?

Mr Guy: only to be overshadowed on his draft day by Odom,

What?

I'll assume you mean Oden, which is still inaccurate, but at least sort of makes sense.

Also, subby, all teams (and therefore championships) are bought. The only legit way to win a championship is by underpaying your players now?

Dafatone: Isn't there a salary cap in the NBA?

And the Heat were 3rd in payroll of the final four teams.

/OKC had the lowest, thanks to everyone but Durant still being on their rookie contracts

bluorangefyre: [www.getreligion.org image 400x600]

Yes, because everybody knows that simply by virtue of being born there LeBron OWED it to Ohio to continue to play there, but then he got all uppity and acted like his life, and his choices were his OWN, how dare he do that?

Am I the only person in the world that doesn't have a problem with LeBron and wants to see him succeed?

netweavr: Am I the only person in the world that doesn't have a problem with LeBron and wants to see him succeed?

Nope.

netweavr: Am I the only person in the world that doesn't have a problem with LeBron and wants to see him succeed?

He's no Hitler, but I'd much rather see a genuine good guy like Durant win than a self-obsessed attention whore.

netweavr: Am I the only person in the world that doesn't have a problem with LeBron and wants to see him succeed?


I thought that "The Decision" was a douche move just because it was beyond attention whoring.....but I'm rooting for him and the Heat for obvious reasons.

netweavr: Am I the only person in the world that doesn't have a problem with LeBron and wants to see him succeed?

Nope. I think people just need someone to hate on.

When your game is overseen by people who can give points to either team whenever they want, and those people are old, arrogant, possibly mobbed up and completely inconsistent, then you have a problem.

And since Stern's in charge, nothing will be done about that problem, because that would mean acknowldging that something is wrong, and we all know David Stern is perfect and everything he does is perfect, so you can either bow down before him and accept all the bulls**t that comes with him, or ignore his league entirely and play Skyrim while waiting for the NFL to come back like I am.

PowerSlacker: netweavr: Am I the only person in the world that doesn't have a problem with LeBron and wants to see him succeed?

He's no Hitler, but I'd much rather see a genuine good guy like Durant win than a self-obsessed attention whore.

So, how much did the Decision need to raise for charity to be okay? Is there a hard number? Is it above the 2 million it raised?

The_Six_Fingered_Man: netweavr: Am I the only person in the world that doesn't have a problem with LeBron and wants to see him succeed?

Nope.

Nope again. I can't wait for him to get his first ring. I hope its this year

PowerSlacker: He's no Hitler, but I'd much rather see a genuine good guy like Durant win than a self-obsessed attention whore.

He's 23, I'm pretty sure he'll win a few. LeBron winning now ends the whinefest and speculation, and then we can start watching basketball to watch basketball again, maybe even actually appreciating people playing at a high level.

Also, Doodle jump > any NBA highlight

Second bought championship dumbmitter.

Dafatone: PowerSlacker: netweavr: Am I the only person in the world that doesn't have a problem with LeBron and wants to see him succeed?

He's no Hitler, but I'd much rather see a genuine good guy like Durant win than a self-obsessed attention whore.

So, how much did the Decision need to raise for charity to be okay? Is there a hard number? Is it above the 2 million it raised?

Using a charity as a thinly veiled excuse for attention whoring makes it worse to me, regardless of the dollar amount.

The Decision is just one of many of his acts in the past that was attention whorey. To be fair, he's toned it down a lot in the past 12 months. I'd still rather see Durant win.

IAmRight: we can start watching basketball to watch basketball again, maybe even actually appreciating people playing at a high level.

In the NBA? Get real.

If the Heat win, all you're going to hear about is how Westbrook stole Durant's thunder (ha!) by not giving him the ball in the 4th quarter or something, or how Durant didn't show up in the clutch, or how the Thunder are a failure of a team that needs to retool.

In the NBA, nobody wins. The other team loses.

The_Sponge: netweavr: Am I the only person in the world that doesn't have a problem with LeBron and wants to see him succeed?


I thought that "The Decision" was a douche move just because it was beyond attention whoring.....but I'm rooting for him and the Heat for obvious reasons.

Wasn't that for charity?

IAmRight: Dafatone: Isn't there a salary cap in the NBA?

And the Heat were 3rd in payroll of the final four teams.

/OKC had the lowest, thanks to everyone but Durant still being on their rookie contracts

You know what I hate right now? How everyone is calling Durant a small market player because he signed a contract extension. The same contract extension EVERY player wants to sign because after this extension is when they get their big pay day. Lebron, D-wade, CP3, Bosh, Amare, Melo, Kobe. EVERYONE does this. Lebron was a "small market player" just like Durant and when Lebron signed his contract extension he was never praised for it. It is the dumbest argument for why Durant is a better person than Lebron.

IAmRight: LeBron winning now ends the whinefest and speculation, and then we can start watching basketball to watch basketball again, maybe even actually appreciating people playing at a high level.

Until the NBA cleans up the officiating and the flopping, we won't see the NBA played at the level it should be.

netweavr: The_Sponge: netweavr: Am I the only person in the world that doesn't have a problem with LeBron and wants to see him succeed?


I thought that "The Decision" was a douche move just because it was beyond attention whoring.....but I'm rooting for him and the Heat for obvious reasons.

Wasn't that for charity?

no. it was for attention whoring, brand building destroying.

Those of you hating on LeBron for moving to Miami, please come down here and collect your grandparents. They're killing me on the roads.

IAmRight: Mr Guy: only to be overshadowed on his draft day by Odom,

What?

I'll assume you mean Oden, which is still inaccurate, but at least sort of makes sense.

Also, subby, all teams (and therefore championships) are bought. The only legit way to win a championship is by underpaying your players now?

Bah, you're correct. Oden just seemed like he got more press not playing than Durant did playing well, which was probably due in part to the whole relocation to OKC being such a recent event.

CastorTroy: Those of you hating on LeBron for moving to Miami, please come down here and collect your grandparents. They're killing me on the roads.

omg it's a zombie farker. and this just weeks after that zombie attack in miami. forget your grandparents, it's too late for them, let's just nuke florida from orbit to be safe.

PowerSlacker: Dafatone: PowerSlacker: netweavr: Am I the only person in the world that doesn't have a problem with LeBron and wants to see him succeed?

He's no Hitler, but I'd much rather see a genuine good guy like Durant win than a self-obsessed attention whore.

So, how much did the Decision need to raise for charity to be okay? Is there a hard number? Is it above the 2 million it raised?

Using a charity as a thinly veiled excuse for attention whoring makes it worse to me, regardless of the dollar amount.

The Decision is just one of many of his acts in the past that was attention whorey. To be fair, he's toned it down a lot in the past 12 months. I'd still rather see Durant win.

Seriously? Raising money for charity in an annoying way is a bad thing?

I'm sure whoever wound up on the receiving end of that charity money totally agrees.

Dafatone: If the Heat win, all you're going to hear about is how Westbrook stole Durant's thunder

That's true, I'm already annoyed how every time the Thunder lose, it's all Westbrook's fault.

moistD: You know what I hate right now? How everyone is calling Durant a small market player because he signed a contract extension.

And even if he is, wanting to be in a small market doesn't make you a better person. Just means you're more comfortable in a small town. It's just a different way of wanting to live. Durant seems genuinely pretty nice so I won't say anything negative about him, but yeah, I don't buy the "wanting to be a global icon makes you a bad person" argument.

The reinforcement of Durant's position seems to reinforce the notion of "know your role, black people - you exist to play basketball and you must listen to your coach, or else we're going to cast you in a negative light."

/reading Breaks of the Game and it's pretty supportive of my ideas about subtle racism in sports media

IAmRight: Dafatone: If the Heat win, all you're going to hear about is how Westbrook stole Durant's thunder

That's true, I'm already annoyed how every time the Thunder lose, it's all Westbrook's fault.

It's the curse Seattle placed on them when the team left. Oklahoma will never win a Championship until it's lifted.

That's Scientific Fact according to Oklahoma's scientific-standards.

PowerSlacker: and the flopping

They are supposedly looking at retroactive penalties for flopping in the offseason, which could be interesting.

Mr Guy: Bah, you're correct. Oden just seemed like he got more press not playing than Durant did playing well, which was probably due in part to the whole relocation to OKC being such a recent event.

Durant also got bounced in the second round of the NCAA tourney while Oden made it to the final. And yeah, Durant got to Seattle and played one season there - most of the focus was more on "the team is leaving" than really promoting one player doing sort of well (the team wasn't a whole lot better with him on it, which is why they picked 4th the next year and got Westbrook).

netweavr: IAmRight: Dafatone: If the Heat win, all you're going to hear about is how Westbrook stole Durant's thunder

That's true, I'm already annoyed how every time the Thunder lose, it's all Westbrook's fault.

It's the curse Seattle placed on them when the team left. Oklahoma will never win a Championship until it's lifted.

That's Scientific Fact according to Oklahoma's scientific-standards.

all facts begin as dreams, dreamt by a wizard!



/hooray for the wheelbarrow. the ultimate and final and greatest achievement of mankind.