Automatik;1625437 wrote:All of the great dynasties were full of star players.

What about the LA's trade rape to get Gasol? Different method of acquiring a "star player" but the outcome was the same. Rings.

lhslep134;1625454 wrote:Wasn't a trade rape. Marc Gasol might be the best center in the league. It was only thought of one at the time because Marc wasn't developed.

robj55;1625458 wrote:Marc was a completely unknown at that time.

robj55;1625453 wrote:People keep saying how the east is a joke and most of the east playoffs were pointless. Honestly there were only 2 teams out west who had legitimate chances to win a title which is what matters at the end of the day, OKC and SA. The rest of the teams were fun to watch but had no hope of competing for a title. GS, POR, HOU, MEM, LAC, DAL, none of them had a chance in hell to win a title.

friendfromlowry;1625465 wrote:The west isn't head and shoulders the better conference because all eight teams were title contenders. Why does winning a title have to be the only thing that matters? Why can't it be playing competitive and showing hope of making the conference finals and challenging the top teams. I think you'd agree the west had that. As the first round was progressing, San Antonio and OKC were getting all they could handle from the 7/8 seeds. Miami, meanwhile, lost three games in the first three rounds.

SportsAndLady;1625463 wrote:How is that relevant?

The only way you can qualify it as a trade rape is if you judge it on an immediate impact on the respective teams. And who the hell would do that?

robj55;1625471 wrote:He didn't have immediate impact did he? Honest question. The trade was being billed as Pau Gasol for Kwame Brown and throw ins.

SportsAndLady;1625625 wrote:Again, why are you judging a trade on immediate impact?

robj55;1625628 wrote:Because it made LA an instant title team and did nothing for Memphis.

SportsAndLady;1625629 wrote:Memphis wasn't trying to be an instant title contenders, how are you not getting this?

They made the move to build for the future. And it worked. LA was trying to build for immediate success, and it worked. I don't see a trade rape in there.

robj55;1625325 wrote:36 years old with basically one or two years left to try and win a title and you take 30 million, makes sense.

robj55;1625453 wrote:People keep saying how the east is a joke and most of the east playoffs were pointless. Honestly there were only 2 teams out west who had legitimate chances to win a title which is what matters at the end of the day, OKC and SA. The rest of the teams were fun to watch but had no hope of competing for a title. GS, POR, HOU, MEM, LAC, DAL, none of them had a chance in hell to win a title.

DeyDurkie5;1625638 wrote:That's because those teams played In the west you moron. You put those teams in thethe east with the heat and the heat aren't making it out of the 2nd round.

DeyDurkie5;1625637 wrote:You are mad at a player for taking the money? You know how I know your a first class ******? You get mad at someone for the money aspect of life.

robj55;1625648 wrote:Lol

DeyDurkie5;1625650 wrote:Dallas took San Antonio to 7 games...In the first round. I rest my case.

robj55;1625662 wrote:match ups, if you knew basketball you would know the playoffs are about match ups. Miami would beat any of those teams in 6 games or less.

DeyDurkie5;1625663 wrote:Ahhh yes its matchups. If I knew basketball I would know it's about matchups