NBA Thread

[Some Irish Bloke]

Kevin Durant is considered the best player in the NBA right now by anyone who matters, and will go down as a top 10 player of all time IMO.

If he stayed in OKC and was titleless, he'd be lumped in as a slightly better James Harden IMO.

He absolutely helped his legacy by going to the GSW and history will show that, even if people in the moment think that hurt his legacy.

I don't hate KD. And I agree that he is one of the best of all time. That's based on ability. Anyone who says that he is the best of all time because he won two rings is a fool though, IMO. It helps, sure. But Golden State was already established without him. It took LBJ 7 games to beat them in Cleveland BEFORE he joined them.

He had GS beat with Russ, they blew it, and he laid down and joined the dynasty. If he is the best in the league, he could have beaten them like LBJ did. Just needed a couple more tools. What he did was legally fix himself two rings.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

You can't compare that idiot owner to the fans applauding an injury, but he was dealt with swiftly and probably won't be a minority owner come this time next year.

Listening to Clay Travis he invited callers to weigh in and try to defend Toronto fans actions. One guy from Canada calls in and says everyone in Canada hates Toronto. They are all snobbish rich people who like to think they are superior. The arena was built right by their version of Wall Street and most regular fans can't afford a ticket. Travis asks the caller if he thinks Trudeau should apologize for the fans. The caller says, "Sure, he apologizes for everything else!" lol

They aren't the same entirely, that was more or less just a comment for those using the Toronto fans as an excuse to jump on the GS bandwagon. But both situations were shitty. To me, personally, it makes no difference. I'm rooting against GS because I'm sick of them, not because I think it would be neat for Toronto, or because they have great fans.

I can see Toronto being a different world from the rest of Canada. Majority of Canadians I meet are truly delightful people. Toronto Maple Leafs fans don't fall under that majority, so I'm starting to sense a pattern.

 

[ulukinatme]

Kevin Durant is considered the best player in the NBA right now by anyone who matters, and will go down as a top 10 player of all time IMO.

If he stayed in OKC and was titleless, he'd be lumped in as a slightly better James Harden IMO.

He absolutely helped his legacy by going to the GSW and history will show that, even if people in the moment think that hurt his legacy.

Nobody is saying that he had to stay in OKC, but going to Golden State is the absolute worst place he could have gone. The Warriors didn't need him, they were already a championship winning team. He could have gone elsewhere to form a Big 3 and it would have been respectable and stand a very good chance of knocking off Golden State.

I don't hate KD. And I agree that he is one of the best of all time. That's based on ability. Anyone who says that he is the best of all time because he won two rings is a fool though, IMO. It helps, sure. But Golden State was already established without him. It took LBJ 7 games to beat them in Cleveland BEFORE he joined them.

He had GS beat with Russ, they blew it, and he laid down and joined the dynasty. If he is the best in the league, he could have beaten them like LBJ did. Just needed a couple more tools. What he did was legally fix himself two rings.

This. What Lebron did in Cleveland was impressive. No one else has managed a comeback from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals. Many critics have said the Cavs would have beaten GS for a second title had Kyrie been healthy for the first Finals. Lebron nearly willed that team to victory with backups like Dellavedova. Durant will have a great legacy when all is said and done, but his resume won't nearly be as impressive because he took the easiest path possible.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Sometimes, you just have to last longer than your opponent. I think it was obvious a healthy Warriors team would've added another ring but sports aren't played in a vacuum.

And Leonard is very easy to like. He just doesn't get overly emotional.

 

[calvegas04]

lol wacky canadians

 

[BobbyMac]

Laying wads on The Brewers and Rays tomorrow to win it all.

It's the year of the Never Have's.

Bad news for @NDFootball.

 

[T-Boone]

I would place Leonard above Durant on an all time list.

 

[ulukinatme]

Curry comes up short on the 3 attempt, just like the title they lost to the Cavs. If Durant leaves, I wonder if this is the beginning of the decline for the Warriors? They'd still be ridiculously stacked, but the playing field is much more level without him there. Glad the Raptors were able to pull off the upset.

 

[Greenore]

You can't compare that idiot owner to the fans applauding an injury, but he was dealt with swiftly and probably won't be a minority owner come this time next year.

Listening to Clay Travis he invited callers to weigh in and try to defend Toronto fans actions. One guy from Canada calls in and says everyone in Canada hates Toronto. They are all snobbish rich people who like to think they are superior. The arena was built right by their version of Wall Street and most regular fans can't afford a ticket. Travis asks the caller if he thinks Trudeau should apologize for the fans. The caller says, "Sure, he apologizes for everything else!" lol

There is SO much truth to this that it is scary! I've spent time in TO and in small groups the people are just like you and me. Get them into larger groups and it really turns into a pack mentality. It's a beautiful city but the earth does not revolve around Toronto. As of late, they are really experiencing some serious social and violent crime issues. It's not the Utopia it was 25 years ago.

Cheers and Go Irish!!

And Truedope will never waste an apology... good or bad.

 

[Irish#1]

Raptors certainly got help with KD out and Thompson missing a game and the 4th quarter last night when he was hot. Healthy I think the Warriors would have won again, but Toronto showed the disparity between the east and west isn't what it used to be.

Curry could up his game a level if he became a better ball handler. He dribbles too high to break double teams.

Toronto GM got into an altercation with police after the game. He was trying to get on the court, but didn't have any credentials, so the police stopped him. He pushed the policeman and supposedly hit him in the face. Why wouldn't this guy be wearing his credentials? Turned over to DA's office, but I suspect this won't go very far.

 

[Irishnuke]

I would place Leonard above Durant on an all time list.

LOL

 

[NorthDakota]

Looks like the bad juju finally caught up to the warriors. Dynasty is over now.

 

[Irish Joe]

Laying wads on The Brewers and Rays tomorrow to win it all.

It's the year of the Never Have's.

Bad news for @NDFootball.

Its a new century...I think those rules get reset, right?

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Looks like the bad juju finally caught up to the warriors. Dynasty is over now.

There is no such thing and they didn't deserve bad juju. Did the Warriors cheat? Am I unaware of them doing something outside of the rules? Or did they stack talent, the same thing every other team wants to do.

I get that people hate winners. Like Robert California, on The Office said "there's something about an underdog that really inspires the unexceptional". But the Warriors haven't done anything wrong.

D. Green can rub people the wrong way. Some people think Curry is too showy.

They were a great team for the past 5+ years and somehow that makes the universe conspire against them?

Such a strange mental world some people inhabit.

 

[NorthDakota]

There is no such thing and they didn't deserve bad juju. Did the Warriors cheat? Am I unaware of them doing something outside of the rules? Or did they stack talent, the same thing every other team wants to do.

I get that people hate winners. Like Robert California, on The Office said "there's something about an underdog that really inspires the unexceptional". But the Warriors haven't done anything wrong.

D. Green can rub people the wrong way. Some people think Curry is too showy.

They were a great team for the past 5+ years and somehow that makes the universe conspire against them?

Such a strange mental world some people inhabit.

The only warrior I'm chill with is thompson. He got caught in the crossfire unfortunately.

Curry is a douche on every level. Durant is a clown who joined a 72 win(or whatever it was) win team. Green...well he's Green. Kerr is political so naturally he sucks too.

They are done, and I couldnt be more pleased. The only downside is they lost to a team from Canada which is embarrassing as an american

 

[SoDakDomer]

The only warrior I'm chill with is thompson. He got caught in the crossfire unfortunately.

Curry is a douche on every level. Durant is a clown who joined a 72 win(or whatever it was) win team. Green...well he's Green. Kerr is political so naturally he sucks too.

They are done, and I couldnt be more pleased. The only downside is they lost to a team from Canada which is embarrassing as an american

I spy a Lebron fanboy.

 

[lcaps20]

It's amazing how much hate a team is given for doing things the right way. They drafted well, put together a team that made sense, and handled their cap space very smartly to put them in a position to be able to sign Durant. Now everyone wants to celebrate when injuries rob them of another title? Get out of here

 

[anarin]

It's amazing how much hate a team is given for doing things the right way. They drafted well, put together a team that made sense, and handled their cap space very smartly to put them in a position to be able to sign Durant. Now everyone wants to celebrate when injuries rob them of another title? Get out of here

Get off the injury train. Happens in all sports, and the warriors benefited from it years ago.

It's simple, they were the likeable team when they were the new kids on the block that built their team the right way, but as soon as Durant signed on they lost that appeal. Toss that in with alot of fans don't find Curry and Green likeable and the fact the Cousins (top center in the league) signed there for an easy ring; it's not hard to see why they're the hated team right now.

 

[Irish#1]

The only warrior I'm chill with is thompson. He got caught in the crossfire unfortunately.

Curry is a douche on every level. Durant is a clown who joined a 72 win(or whatever it was) win team. Green...well he's Green. Kerr is political so naturally he sucks too.

They are done, and I couldnt be more pleased. The only downside is they lost to a team from Canada which is embarrassing as an american

I must be watching a different Curry and Durant then you.

I don't know how people can think the Warriors are done. Durant and Thompson may not play this coming season, but once they are back they will be tough to beat.

 

[NDRock]

I like the Warriors, always liked the way they played. Didn't blame Durant for signing there as I don't think they win the last two titles without him (probably neither). That being said, one of the joys of sports is rooting against teams/players/coaches for just simple, petty reasons. I've found a ton of enjoyment from rooting against guys like Peyton Manning, Lebron, Tebow, etc... So for those hating on Durant and the Warriors, enjoy. Don't blame you at all.

 

[NorthDakota]

I must be watching a different Curry and Durant then you.

I don't know how people can think the Warriors are done. Durant and Thompson may not play this coming season, but once they are back they will be tough to beat.

I started hating Curry when he started bringing his daughter to press conferences. Never had a problem with him before that. She was at the age when I start to hate kids, that 3-5 range or whatever.

Durant seems like a chill dude, but joining the warriors was such a clown thing and completely soft. People hated LeBron for creating a superteam....Durant JOINED a super team. A honest to goodness cant think of a more gutless thing any athlete has ever done.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I started hating Curry when he started bringing his daughter to press conferences. Never had a problem with him before that. She was at the age when I start to hate kids, that 3-5 range or whatever.

Durant seems like a chill dude, but joining the warriors was such a clown thing and completely soft. People hated LeBron for creating a superteam....Durant JOINED a super team. A honest to goodness cant think of a more gutless thing any athlete has ever done.

Oh, I get it now. You hate children, it makes sense.

The Warriors built that team from the ground up and signed one superstar in his prime (KD). And now KD has added rings and popularity he hadn't achieved beforehand.

Gutless? Gutless like going back out with a tweaked achilles to try and help the team win one more? Gutless like hitting the biggest shots in the biggest moments and putting the Warriors team on his back?

 

[greyhammer90]

Oh, I get it now. You hate children, it makes sense.

The Warriors built that team from the ground up and signed one superstar in his prime (KD). And now KD has added rings and popularity he hadn't achieved beforehand.

Gutless? Gutless like going back out with a tweaked achilles to try and help the team win one more? Gutless like hitting the biggest shots in the biggest moments and putting the Warriors team on his back?

As the "2nd best player in the world" he joined a team that just had the greatest regular season of all time and needed an all time performance from an all-time great to be beat in 7. A team that had been to two straight finals and were heavily favored to win both. He did this after blowing a 3-1 lead against that same team in the WCF. He then had the audacity to call it the hardest road to a championship and has been discovered as using multiple Twitter accounts to argue with fans about his legacy and talk trash about other NBA players. People clown on Lebron for joining the Heat but the Heat were the 3rd best team in the East without him. What Durant did was like Lebron joining the big 3 in Boston after losing to them in the playoffs in Cleveland. It's absolutely one of the most Charmin soft moves made in the history of the NBA, and he's rightfully criticized for it. He's a great player, but he's only ever had championship level success as the second most important player on an already all-time great team.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

As the "2nd best player in the world" he joined a team that just had the greatest regular season of all time and needed an all time performance from an all-time great to be beat in 7. A team that had been to two straight finals and were heavily favored to win both. He did this after blowing a 3-1 lead against that same team in the WCF. He then had the audacity to call it the hardest road to a championship and has been discovered as using multiple Twitter accounts to argue with fans about his legacy and talk trash about other NBA players. People clown on Lebron for joining the Heat but the Heat were the 3rd best team in the East without him. What Durant did was like Lebron joining the big 3 in Boston after losing to them in the playoffs in Cleveland. It's absolutely one of the most Charmin soft moves made in the history of the NBA, and he's rightfully criticized for it. He's a great player, but he's only ever had championship level success as the second most important player on an already all-time great team.

Who was the most important player in the championship last year? Or the year before that? Who was the most important this year?

I'm fine with people thinking it's soft for Durant to go to the Warriors. But to act like the Warriors deserve some sort of cosmic justice for it, is odd. Everyone loves to pop off about some weird karmic principle as if the Warriors cheated to assemble the team. They drafted incredibly well and built a winner from the ground up. Then to further that end, they lured one of, if not the greatest player, to join them to continue their run.

People hate winners. Durant became a winner by joining a winning team and elevating them. I'm happy the Warriors had their run and I'm happy next year will be wide open. It'll be refreshing to see a new name at the top of the hill next June.

Free agency should be wild this year now that at least one big name won't contribute and another will be severely limited. I hope Boston can get their ish together. I'm not a Boston fan but I like their coach and personnel.

 

[BobbyMac]

Who was the most important player in the championship last year? Or the year before that? Who was the most important this year?

I'm fine with people thinking it's soft for Durant to go to the Warriors. But to act like the Warriors deserve some sort of cosmic justice for it, is odd. Everyone loves to pop off about some weird karmic principle as if the Warriors cheated to assemble the team. They drafted incredibly well and built a winner from the ground up. Then to further that end, they lured one of, if not the greatest player, to join them to continue their run.

People hate winners. Durant became a winner by joining a winning team and elevating them. I'm happy the Warriors had their run and I'm happy next year will be wide open. It'll be refreshing to see a new name at the top of the hill next June.

Free agency should be wild this year now that at least one big name won't contribute and another will be severely limited. I hope Boston can get their ish together. I'm not a Boston fan but I like their coach and personnel.

Watch Kawhi and AD end up w/ the Lakers and LBJ turns into 80's Cap Kareem. I will vomit.

... and everyone loved the Bulls. Even Pistons & Pacers season ticket holders.

I bet Irish#1 still has MJ PJ's with footies.

 

[anarin]

Who was the most important player in the championship last year? Or the year before that? Who was the most important this year?

I'm fine with people thinking it's soft for Durant to go to the Warriors. But to act like the Warriors deserve some sort of cosmic justice for it, is odd. Everyone loves to pop off about some weird karmic principle as if the Warriors cheated to assemble the team. They drafted incredibly well and built a winner from the ground up. Then to further that end, they lured one of, if not the greatest player, to join them to continue their run.

People hate winners. Durant became a winner by joining a winning team and elevating them. I'm happy the Warriors had their run and I'm happy next year will be wide open. It'll be refreshing to see a new name at the top of the hill next June.

Free agency should be wild this year now that at least one big name won't contribute and another will be severely limited. I hope Boston can get their ish together. I'm not a Boston fan but I like their coach and personnel.

I'm so confused with the cosmic justice and karma comment. Did I miss a post somewhere? Glad to see you agree that Durant was a baby back bitch for joining the team he couldn't beat though. His legacy will always be tarnished because of it.

 

[Rogue219]

I personally like children, just not my own. I also love mankind but the fucking people I can't stand.

People adore judging individual greatness by team accomplishment. So when a guy doesn't have any "rings" his individual legacy is tarnished. Guy goes to a team as a free agent to give himself a chance to win a championship and that's "soft." Guy goes to shitty team just for the most money, he's greedy. In the end, you have have your head up of both sides of your ass.

Double edged sword winning an NBA title. The confetti starts to fall and all you're talking about is who is going where, the draft is in a week, free agency right after that. Zero time to reflect.

I love the product the NBA puts out, present day. I don't long the past or to see someone get clothes lined driving down the lane. In my dad's day (1970s) they were all boozed and coked up, although I don't hear too many sports fans clamoring for that. Just Rick Mahorn trying to do his best Ronnie Lott impression on a shooting guard.

 

[ulukinatme]

There is no such thing and they didn't deserve bad juju. Did the Warriors cheat? Am I unaware of them doing something outside of the rules? Or did they stack talent, the same thing every other team wants to do.

I get that people hate winners. Like Robert California, on The Office said "there's something about an underdog that really inspires the unexceptional". But the Warriors haven't done anything wrong.

D. Green can rub people the wrong way. Some people think Curry is too showy.

They were a great team for the past 5+ years and somehow that makes the universe conspire against them?

Such a strange mental world some people inhabit.

I'm not sure how you're still not getting this. Generally fans root for the underdog, not an overpowered dynasty. There are exceptions of course, but attitude is a big part of it.
Golden State is effectively the Miami of the 80s, they're incredibly cocky and egotistical. It would be one thing if they were a dynasty like the Spurs had several years ago, where the players were humble and just played well as a team. It's different when you're a team filled with All Stars and poach an MVP, and the organization is unlikable from the top on down. I posted links yesterday related to this. You said "Draymond can rub people the wrong way?" He's easily one of the most disrespectful and dirtiest players in the NBA.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IyV9x1mJah0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

That's not even a comprehensive list, there's whole videos of Draymond kicking players in the junk, only two of which are included here. Yeah, he's a great defensive player, but he's not respected the same way as Leonard because of his antics.

 

[Irish#1]

I personally like children, just not my own. I also love mankind but the fucking people I can't stand.

POY quality

 

[NorthDakota]

As the "2nd best player in the world" he joined a team that just had the greatest regular season of all time and needed an all time performance from an all-time great to be beat in 7. A team that had been to two straight finals and were heavily favored to win both. He did this after blowing a 3-1 lead against that same team in the WCF. He then had the audacity to call it the hardest road to a championship and has been discovered as using multiple Twitter accounts to argue with fans about his legacy and talk trash about other NBA players. People clown on Lebron for joining the Heat but the Heat were the 3rd best team in the East without him. What Durant did was like Lebron joining the big 3 in Boston after losing to them in the playoffs in Cleveland. It's absolutely one of the most Charmin soft moves made in the history of the NBA, and he's rightfully criticized for it. He's a great player, but he's only ever had championship level success as the second most important player on an already all-time great team.

This guy gets it. Durant is ten ply bud.