NBA in sad state these days

[ChiSoxCity]

Just because LeBron is more or less stuck in the shitty East doesn't make him any less exciting, it just tends to make the games less so.



LOL


Yea, so does pretty much every good offensive player in the NBA. With that said, Durant is an incredible offensive player. It also helps that he probably has the highest release point of any perimeter oriented player.

Dude, you know your shit. Post more often.

 

[Moose27]

The East sucks but the West has been enjoyable. It's good to see teams like GS and Portland rise up.

 

[2323]

I guess I'm not as down on the circumstance as some. What makes most teams bad is that they're not consistent. So the eastern teams may not be good every night but they play well at times. So, I'm not worked up that teams play well 40% of the time instead of 50% of the time. Teams with losing records make you less excited about watching them on random nights but that doesn't mean that they're not entertaining if you happen to be watching.

Another thing, is that I think the NBA made a mistake back in the day by promoting individual players instead of teams. Because now we have Anthony who is a superstar but you can have a lengthy debate over whether he helps or hurts the team he plays for and, if he does help them, to what degree. Maybe people should re-evaluate what it means to truly be a star player.

 

[Flacco4Prez]

Haven't watched a game in months

 

[Cerebral]

I know it's a homer thing to say but Rose's injury soured me on the rest of the NBA. I have the League Pass pass I haven't watched it since Rose's injury. I've probably watched 2 Bulls games since his injury with one being the Christmas game.

 

[houheffna]

The Pacers and the Heat are very enjoyable to watch...I really don't understand the issue there...

 

[ChiSoxCity]

The Pacers and the Heat are very enjoyable to watch...I really don't understand the issue there...

The issue is the lack of parity in the eastern conference. The last time I checked, there were only 3 teams above .500.

Too many bad teams, to much LeBron worship.

The Pacers are NOT fun to watch unless you're a fan of that team.

 

[houheffna]

The issue is the lack of parity in the eastern conference. The last time I checked, there were only 3 teams above .500.

Too many bad teams, to much LeBron worship.

The Pacers are NOT fun to watch unless you're a fan of that team.

What does "Lebron worship" have to do with conference parity? And I buy Durant being more entertaining to watch than Lebron as much as I would have brought Bird being more entertaining than Jordan 25 years ago. At one point in the 1980's, the same could have been said about Magic's Lakers. Matter of fact, the talk was of how Boston, Philly and Milwaukee would beat up on each other while the Lakers would be waiting in the Finals. Didn't make Magic Johnson any less exciting to watch. Indiana is like the Bulls teams from the last few years, so I guess I get that. I really enjoy watching Paul George though.

 

[JosMin]

There are plenty of exciting teams to watch in the NBA right now -- Golden State, Portland, Oklahoma City, Indiana, Miami, etc. It's just a shame the team we root for isn't one of them.

 

[ChiSoxCity]

What does "Lebron worship" have to do with conference parity? And I buy Durant being more entertaining to watch than Lebron as much as I would have brought Bird being more entertaining than Jordan 25 years ago. At one point in the 1980's, the same could have been said about Magic's Lakers. Matter of fact, the talk was of how Boston, Philly and Milwaukee would beat up on each other while the Lakers would be waiting in the Finals. Didn't make Magic Johnson any less exciting to watch. Indiana is like the Bulls teams from the last few years, so I guess I get that. I really enjoy watching Paul George though.

You still don't get it? The Eastern conference has been a disaster the last two years, and consequently, LeBron has had a cake walk to to his "destiny". This year won't be any different, with the only real competition he'll face is in the Finals. Indiana is not serious competition for the Heat because they're offensively challenged (see a trend?). If LeBron was getting it done against teams with winning records and perhaps one less superstar on the roster, I would buy into the hype. He's a great player, but he is not Jordan or Kobe in his prime. They are the two best to ever play the game, IMO. I would have more respect for LeBron had he stayed in Cleveland or gone to another team that wasn't loaded with max contract players.

LeBron is a perfect example of what's wrong with the NBA, and why they need to contract the league. There isn't enough talent and money to go around to make most of the teams competitive. Players have way too much power in the NBA, and it's created a shit product from a fan's perspective.

 

[houheffna]

You still don't get it? The Eastern conference has been a disaster the last two years, and consequently, LeBron has had a cake walk to to his "destiny". This year won't be any different, with the only real competition he'll face is in the Finals. Indiana is not serious competition for the Heat because they're offensively challenged (see a trend?). If LeBron was getting it done against teams with winning records and perhaps one less superstar on the roster, I would buy into the hype. He's a great player, but he is not Jordan or Kobe in his prime. They are the two best to ever play the game, IMO. I would have more respect for LeBron had he stayed in Cleveland or gone to another team that wasn't loaded with max contract players.

LeBron is a perfect example of what's wrong with the NBA, and why they need to contract the league. There isn't enough talent and money to go around to make most of the teams competitive. Players have way too much power in the NBA, and it's created a shit product from a fan's perspective.

You have to be kidding me with that...lol. I think you are a Bulls fan, not an NBA fan...

Lebron is playing with one superstar...and he is injury prone. LOL...Lebron leads the team in points, assists and rebounds per game over the last 3 seasons. This while shooting damn near 60% from the field at the small forward position. The hype is real. Lebron played at one point with no superstars and won a couple of MVPs. The only difference this year is more teams see a lottery pick as more beneficial to their long-term futures than a playoff spot...can you blame them? The Pacers took the Heat to seven games last year, and the Celtics took them to 7 games the year prior with the Pacers taking them six that same year. What cake walk?

 

[RoseMVP1]

You still don't get it? The Eastern conference has been a disaster the last two years, and consequently, LeBron has had a cake walk to to his "destiny". This year won't be any different, with the only real competition he'll face is in the Finals. Indiana is not serious competition for the Heat because they're offensively challenged (see a trend?). If LeBron was getting it done against teams with winning records and perhaps one less superstar on the roster, I would buy into the hype. He's a great player, but he is not Jordan or Kobe in his prime. They are the two best to ever play the game, IMO. I would have more respect for LeBron had he stayed in Cleveland or gone to another team that wasn't loaded with max contract players.

LeBron is a perfect example of what's wrong with the NBA, and why they need to contract the league. There isn't enough talent and money to go around to make most of the teams competitive. Players have way too much power in the NBA, and it's created a shit product from a fan's perspective.

I agree with part of what you're saying. I think LeBron has had an easier path to make the finals than previous superstar players have had but I would not sleep on Indiana. They took them to 7 games last season and now Paul George is even better and they added Scola and Granger to their bench. The Pacers may very well win the whole thing this year.

 

[houheffna]

I agree with part of what you're saying. I think LeBron has had an easier path to make the finals than previous superstar players have had but I would not sleep on Indiana. They took them to 7 games last season and now Paul George is even better and they added Scola and Granger to their bench. The Pacers may very well win the whole thing this year.

Again, the last 2 years, the ECF has gone 7 games...what is so easy about that?

 

[scottiepippen1994]

I laugh at people who Think the Miami Heat had the easiest road to the finals..

They must of forotten about the 2001 Lakers.

Lakers Lost only 1 game in the playoffs and the finals. That Lakers team were just THAT much better then any other team in the league. They bulldozed their way into a championship.

First round: Swept Portland

Conference Semifinals: Swept Sacramento

Conference Finals: Swept San Antonio

Finals: Beat Philly 4-1

OR WHAT ABOUT THE 1996 BULLS WHO DAMNED NEAR SWEPT THE EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS????

The Heat had to face 7 game series's in each of there championships....It was no cake walk like people claim.
I expect the Pacers to make no cakewalk for the heat this year either....

Next time people here want to claim that the Heat have it easy, just look back at the 2007 Spurs and 2001 Lakers and knock them before you go underestimating the current Heats struggles to get to the promise land.....
Like Hue said, the Heat had to make it through two 7 game seriess in the eastern conference consecutive seasons...
Whats so easy bout that?

 

[ChiSoxCity]

You have to be kidding me with that...lol. I think you are a Bulls fan, not an NBA fan...

Lebron is playing with one superstar...and he is injury prone. LOL...Lebron leads the team in points, assists and rebounds per game over the last 3 seasons. This while shooting damn near 60% from the field at the small forward position. The hype is real. Lebron played at one point with no superstars and won a couple of MVPs. The only difference this year is more teams see a lottery pick as more beneficial to their long-term futures than a playoff spot...can you blame them? The Pacers took the Heat to seven games last year, and the Celtics took them to 7 games the year prior with the Pacers taking them six that same year. What cake walk?

Bosh is a superstar in this league. If you can't see that, you're blind as shit. In fact, Miami doesn't win ANY championships without Bosh.

Taking somebody to 7 games doesn't mean shit. The Bulls did it to Miami, does that mean they're any closer to a championship? Superior teams ALWAYS win in the playoffs, no matter how many games it takes. What difference does it make if you go 7 games or get swept, the outcome is still the same and history never remembers the losers.

 

[RoseMVP1]

If the Heat(mainly LeBron) played all out in every game they wouldn't have had all of those game 7s. The Lakers nearly swept back then because Kobe and Shaq didn't **** around, they took care of business. You never saw Kobe or Shaq being all passive, they went for the kill. Plus in LeBron's entire career, he's never gone up against a team in the east that you can consider an all-time great or memorable team. MAYBE the Pistons team that his Cavs beat in 6 due to all of their success, but that's the closest thing.

 

[houheffna]

Bosh is a superstar in this league. If you can't see that, you're blind as shit. In fact, Miami doesn't win ANY championships without Bosh.

Taking somebody to 7 games doesn't mean shit. The Bulls did it to Miami, does that mean they're any closer to a championship? Superior teams ALWAYS win in the playoffs, no matter how many games it takes. What difference does it make if you go 7 games or get swept, the outcome is still the same and history never remembers the losers.

When did the Bulls go 7 games with Miami?

I wouldn't consider Bosh a superstar anymore than I would consider Rodman to be a superstar during his time as a member of the Chicago Bulls. Bosh reduced himself to a role player voluntarily. And that is what he is, a glorified role player. Lebron took the worst supporting cast ever to the Finals...so who cares about how many superstars he plays with anyway? And what does that say about Lebron James if he leads a team full of superstars in the three major statistical categories, points, rebounds and assists...oh and throw field goal percentage in there too?

All lame excuses not to give props to the best player in the game today, who would be dominant in ANY era.

 

[houheffna]

If the Heat(mainly LeBron) played all out in every game they wouldn't have had all of those game 7s. The Lakers nearly swept back then because Kobe and Shaq didn't **** around, they took care of business. You never saw Kobe or Shaq being all passive, they went for the kill. Plus in LeBron's entire career, he's never gone up against a team in the east that you can consider an all-time great or memorable team. MAYBE the Pistons team that his Cavs beat in 6 due to all of their success, but that's the closest thing.

Kobe and Shaq did **** around...did you see the 2004 NBA Finals? One of the biggest upsets in NBA Finals history. By the way, I would consider those Garnett/Pierce/Allen Celtics teams to be memorable.

 

[scottiepippen1994]

When did the Bulls go 7 games with Miami?

In one of his dreams.

 

[scottiepippen1994]

Kobe and Shaq did **** around...did you see the 2004 NBA Finals? One of the biggest upsets in NBA Finals history. By the way, I would consider those Garnett/Pierce/Allen Celtics teams to be memorable.

Kobe and shaq had more hall of famers on that team than the Heat did the last 2 seasons. The 2004 Lakers were stacked and still git wooped because they FUCKED AROUND.
:andruw: