This weeks Sports Illustrated Cover

Pro Sports 113 replies 4,963 views
hoops23's avatar
hoops23
Posts: 15,696
Jul 13, 2010 7:01pm
Cool
rmolin73's avatar
rmolin73
Posts: 4,278
Jul 13, 2010 7:04pm
Story
karen lotz's avatar
karen lotz
Posts: 22,284
Jul 13, 2010 8:00pm
Bro!
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Footwedge
Posts: 9,265
Jul 13, 2010 8:04pm
LeBron is the best player in the game...period. And he's a lot better than DWade. It's just a matter of time before LBJ takes over the head man's role there. DWade will not only suck LeBron's pennis, but he will like it...and probably swallow it down.
hoops23's avatar
hoops23
Posts: 15,696
Jul 13, 2010 11:38pm
jordo212000;422386 wrote:The thing people miss is that somehow they have forgotten the past 50 years of NBA champions. Hardly anybody wins a title by themselves surrounded by guys like Larry Hughes or Antawn Jamison. Most champions have 2+ great players on their team

Kobe, Gasol
Garnett, Pierce, Allen
Kobe, Shaq
Duncan, Ginobli, Parker
Duncan, Robinson
'Sheed, Prince, Billups, Hamilton
Jordan, Pippen
^That's all fairly recent. Look back at the olden days and it's even more clear you need another guy to help you win.

But for some reason people think that one and one man only is required to carry his team to a title, or else that man has no legacy.

Your logic is flawed.

None of the players you listed as the "2nd" option were considered to be 2 of the top 3 players in the game and another one considered as a top 10 guys and best player at his position.

Those other tandems do not compare to this current one in the slightest, sorry..
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enigmaax
Posts: 4,511
Jul 13, 2010 11:51pm
hoops23;423038 wrote:You're logic is flawed.

None of the players you listed as the "2nd" option were considered to be 2 of the top 3 players in the game and another one considered as a top 10 guys and best player at his position.

Those other tandems do not compare to this current one in the slightest, sorry..

1. The fact that these are 2 of the top 3 current players (etc.) doesn't make the logic flawed. It just makes it (perhaps) the best combination in history. So even if no tandem compares, it doesn't make it wrong. It may just make them the best. Doesn't detract from the post that you quoted at all.

2. I know you are talking about 2 of the top 3 current players, but Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar both have cases for being THE best of all time. They played on the same team and won a title. Kareem then went on to win a bunch of titles with Magic Johnson, who also has a case for the greatest of all time. Nobody is trying to say Dwayne Wade is one of the top 2, 3 or 5 players of all time, so this isn't even the best combination in that regard.

3. Maybe, I don't know, just maybe check that Lakers combo of Magic, Jabbar, and Worthy. They may have been top 10 players at the same time.

4. Why do so many people assume LeBron is #2 to Wade. That seems to be the knock. Just because Wade was in Miami first doesn't mean he is all of a sudden better than LeBron. So LeBron got himself a better #2 and #3 than anyone else has....so what?
2quik4u's avatar
2quik4u
Posts: 4,388
Jul 13, 2010 11:57pm
the last three titles the Lakers won, Kareem was older then shit, he wasn't in his prime

wade, lebron, bosh all in there prime
hoops23's avatar
hoops23
Posts: 15,696
Jul 13, 2010 11:59pm
Wade is #1 because it's HIS team.... Point blank.

LeBron left to play second fiddle. I really do not understand why this is hard to fathom.

Again, MJ never left to join up with Isiah or Bird, etc...

Bird never left to join up with Magic..

Barkley never left to join anyone.. Like he said the other day, even if he had it all to do over again, at 25 he's trying to be the man.

I mean, you guys can spin it anyway you want to, but fact remains, this team has 3 of the top 10 players in a league that struggles with parity to begin with.
hoops23's avatar
hoops23
Posts: 15,696
Jul 13, 2010 11:59pm
2quik4u;423082 wrote:the last three titles the Lakers won, Kareem was older then shit, he wasn't in his prime

wade, lebron, bosh all in there prime

No use 2quik, these guys seemingly don't understand this concept.
karen lotz's avatar
karen lotz
Posts: 22,284
Jul 14, 2010 12:44am
hoops23;423086 wrote:Wade is #1 because it's HIS team.... Point blank.


Wade's team? You think guys (other than Haslem) would be lining up to sign minimum deals to play with just Wade and Bosh?




Edit: Point Blank
hoops23's avatar
hoops23
Posts: 15,696
Jul 14, 2010 12:45am
karen lotz;423152 wrote:Wade's team? You think guys (other than Haslem) would be lining up to sign minimum deals to play with just Wade and Bosh?




Edit: Point Blank

LOL. Yes.

But you also just proved my point. 3 of the top 10 players on the same team, in their primes?

It truly hurts the integrity of the game.
karen lotz's avatar
karen lotz
Posts: 22,284
Jul 14, 2010 12:51am
hoops23;423155 wrote:LOL. Yes.

But you also just proved my point. 3 of the top 10 players on the same team, in their primes?

It truly hurts the integrity of the game.


I didn't read past that first line in the original post I quoted. I think the integrity of the game is hurt more by guys like Joey Crawford. How is having good friends, who just happen to be great basketball players, playing on the same team hurting integrity? I don't understand other than its pure jealousy.
hoops23's avatar
hoops23
Posts: 15,696
Jul 14, 2010 12:58am
karen lotz;423165 wrote:I didn't read past that first line in the original post I quoted. I think the integrity of the game is hurt more by guys like Joey Crawford. How is having good friends, who just happen to be great basketball players, playing on the same team hurting integrity? I don't understand other than its pure jealousy.

Jealousy of what? Dude, do you honestly think people here let sports interfere with their life in the least? Guess what I did when LeBron left? Nothing.

I woke up the next day, played 9 holes... Went on to work. Just another week for me.

Obviously it sucks for the sports fan in me, but other than that, it has no bearing on anything I do.

Now, had LeBron went to Chicago or NY, I wouldn't have cared about it from a bball perspective. But trying to rationale this by saying "their friends, blah,blah,blah..." is simply idiotic. The NBA has been plagued by a lack of parity to begin with. When you have 3 players in their primes who are in the top 10 join up, it just doesn't add up. LeBron and Wade should have a rivalry going at this age, not a partnership.

This is simply ring-chasing.

Now, if Bosh had just joined Wade, that's fine. Bosh is a PF and not on the level of Kobe, LeBron, Wade, Durant, or Melo...

I mean it's cool, you're obviously hell bent on defending LeBron. You have your opinion and I have mine. However, check the national media outlets who are ripping LeBron on this move. It's not just "jealous" Cleveland fans as you put it..
Automatik's avatar
Automatik
Posts: 14,632
Jul 14, 2010 1:02am
So just to clarify....are the Boston "Big 3" ring chasers as well?
karen lotz's avatar
karen lotz
Posts: 22,284
Jul 14, 2010 1:05am
I'm not hell bent on defending him. I just find it hard to believe how so many people who were fans a month ago and were begging him to stay are now burning jerseys and threatening his life. I'd say those people are letting sports interfere with their life.
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enigmaax
Posts: 4,511
Jul 14, 2010 8:16am
hoops23;423173 wrote: Jealousy of what? Dude, do you honestly think people here let sports interfere with their life in the least?
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
hoops23;423173 wrote: But trying to rationale this by saying "their friends, blah,blah,blah..." is simply idiotic. The NBA has been plagued by a lack of parity to begin with. When you have 3 players in their primes who are in the top 10 join up, it just doesn't add up. LeBron and Wade should have a rivalry going at this age, not a partnership.
What is idiotic is trying to rationalize a perfectly explainable move. As someone mentioned on this or another thread, NBA guys get blasted for going where the money is all the time. Now guys sacrifice salaries to put together a dream team and win and that is bullshit. Can't win with the fans either way. But sorry, the fact that they are in their primes doesn't mean shit. Everyone is trying to put together the best team. Miami may have just put together a better team than anyone else and that is pissing people off.
hoops23;423173 wrote: This is simply ring-chasing.
Here's the newest overused internet message board term. Ring chasing. Yeah, no shit. Who plays that doesn't want to win a ring?
lhslep134's avatar
lhslep134
Posts: 9,774
Jul 14, 2010 8:23am
Automatik;422316 wrote:Since when did Wade become the next Jordan?? And why the negative connotation towards Scottie? He was named one of the top 50 players in history. Do you people even know basketball?

He was named one of the top 50 players about what, 12 years ago?

I would venture to say that nowadays he wouldn't crack the top 50 if you re-did the list.
KR1245's avatar
KR1245
Posts: 4,317
Jul 14, 2010 8:28am
Automatik;423178 wrote:So just to clarify....are the Boston "Big 3" ring chasers as well?

The "big 3" were traded to the Celtics. Do you not see the difference?
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enigmaax
Posts: 4,511
Jul 14, 2010 8:50am
KR1245;423268 wrote:The "big 3" were traded to the Celtics. Do you not see the difference?

Didn't Garnett demand a trade? And actually, LeBron was traded also.
KR1245's avatar
KR1245
Posts: 4,317
Jul 14, 2010 9:42am
enigmaax;423275 wrote:Didn't Garnett demand a trade? And actually, LeBron was traded also.

It depends on who you ask. Some sources claim that KG demanded a trade, some claimed that the Wolves wanted to rebuild so they decided to move on without KG. He also played with the Wolves for 12 years and signed a 5 yr extension with them in that time. Bron was traded AFTER he made his decision, he picked his spot. KG and Allen werent able to do that. Theres really no comparison
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enigmaax
Posts: 4,511
Jul 14, 2010 10:17am
KR1245;423310 wrote:It depends on who you ask. Some sources claim that KG demanded a trade, some claimed that the Wolves wanted to rebuild so they decided to move on without KG. He also played with the Wolves for 12 years and signed a 5 yr extension with them in that time. Bron was traded AFTER he made his decision, he picked his spot. KG and Allen werent able to do that. Theres really no comparison

I know this is getting to be a worn out discussion, we are not all going to agree. I just don't see what difference it makes. You are saying it is okay for a team/front office to put together a bunch of superstars to try and win titles, but it is not okay for an individual to make his own choice to go to a super team in an effort to win titles.

I'm really interested to know what professional goals these critics have for themselves. Personally, I want to work for a company that gives me the best opportunity to succeed and be happy. For some that comes from money or promotions or recognition. Whatever the case, I'm certainly not going to stay with a shitty company just because they've gotten used to riding my talent. LeBron wants rings. Rings weren't going to happen in Cleveland. So he went where he thought he could get them. If you wanted more money or a better chance to move up, wouldn't you take another job that offered that?
Sage's avatar
Sage
Posts: 2,070
Jul 14, 2010 2:49pm
LeBron didn't look comfortable at the introduction, nor does he look comfortable here.

This is without a doubt the first time in his life he wasn't front and center of a photoshoot. I wonder how he felt about it, because he definitely thought of it.

Chrish Bosh looks awful in it too.
2quik4u's avatar
2quik4u
Posts: 4,388
Jul 14, 2010 4:53pm
Automatik;423178 wrote:So just to clarify....are the Boston "Big 3" ring chasers as well?

the big 3 were getting old and they wanted to win a title

there guys are still young as shit
thedynasty1998's avatar
thedynasty1998
Posts: 6,844
Jul 14, 2010 4:56pm
2quik4u;423703 wrote:the big 3 were getting old and they wanted to win a title

there guys are still young as shit

So it's okay to be old and want a ring, but when you are young you shouldn't?

Glad that's cleared up.
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enigmaax
Posts: 4,511
Jul 14, 2010 10:03pm
2quik4u;423703 wrote:the big 3 were getting old and they wanted to win a title

there guys are still young as shit

And want to win 10 titles.