lebron, WOW

[mredskins]

I would root for the Magic if their coach was not the biggest (literally) piece of crap I have ever seen or heard.

[an23dy]

Originally Posted by dmek25

you bringing up Sczerbiak tells me alot. i done debating with you

I don't follow you there, but Wally was good before he got to Cleveland. And the same holds for a lot of other guys as I mentioned. I think it's because either there's better players at Cleveland so they don't get as much time or LeBron's style of play does not allow other players to be as successful. Or there may be other reasons, but I think there's something there. LeBron is a guard and most people do not respect his shot. Allows a guard to sag and clog the middle along with the big men and help against post players and also close penetrating lanes. A player like Kobe needs less room to operate and people respect his J so it makes the floor more spread and allows others to make plays.

Originally Posted by GMScud

Dwight just had the cleanest block I've ever seen on LeBron with 36 seconds left, and of course LeBron gets the foul call and goes to the line to shoot 3 free throws. It's criminal.

24 free throws for LeBron. He couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat tonight from the field, yet he's got 40+ points.

End Rant.

Amen, it's like the game always takes steps to take away the effectiveness of the big man, and now they are doing the opposite with traveling and fouls for guys like LeBron, Kobe, and D-Wade. For big men they made the 3-second lane bigger, outlawed dunking, and now they call the inside game so inconsistently. Ticky tack fouls sometimes and other times they let em play real physical especially in regards to contact when shooting. It's always ticky tack on the outside or whenever a superstar goes to the rim. If a big man jumps straight up and the guy comes into him it's not a foul (verticality), but when LeBron, Kobe, or D-Wade go OC into the lane and run into the guy jumping straight up and then they fall to the ground, the crowd goes bezerk or they cry about the call, and they get the call the majority of the time. It makes me sick when I see most of the replays they call fouls on big men for.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by an23dy

I know a lot about basketball, maybe more than LeBron. If he really thinks he didn't travel and he made up a new move that allows 3 steps and doesn't see what's wrong with those 2 things, when nobody agrees with him on either topic, then I will say I am smarter than him just based on that. He may know how to jump high and bowl people over and travel and score points, but that doesn't mean he knows the game. Just because you're good at something doesn't mean you have to understand it. I think LeBron has better players around him than people give him credit. Mo Williams is an all-star, he's just coming into his own in the NBA. Daniel Gibson won the 3-point contest and he doesn't even play now. Ben Wallace is a former all star and he doesn't play that much. Joe Smith is a former #1 pick. Wally Sczerbiak was an all-star and he averaged double digits every year until he got to Cleveland. It seems like everybody gets worse whenever they come to the Cavs. Maybe LeBron's style of play isn't beneficial to other members of the team.

I happen to know that you must know a lot about basketball, but we'll just keep that between us.

That said though don't you think you're giving too much credit to a couple of the guys here. Wallace hasn't done anything for several years now and Joe Smith has hardly ever been worthy of #1 pick status. I don't think those guys got worse once they got to the Cavs. They've been on the decline for a while.

I think that LeBron is a dominating player by himself, but I agree that I don't see his play elevating those around him. Not yet, at least. There are few players that really have that ability. You'd agree with that right? Off the top of my head, Chris Paul, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, and even Kobe come to mind. What about you?

[GMScud]

Wow is right. It's almost not watchable the way LeBron is officiated. He falls over trying to dribble penetrate and they call a foul. What a joke. Awful call. Just downright awful. Then Varejao fouls Howard on the inbounds and no call there. Paaaa-thetic.

The NBA annoys the hell out of me. Smug David Stern and his crooked refs. I hope Denver and Orlando are taking personally the fact that Nike is already advertising Kobe vs. LeBron.

It's completely out of spite right now that I want to see Denver vs. Orlando. I'm appalled. Truly appalled.

[Zerohero]

Who is watching the game? Absolutely no contact on Lebron and they call a foul so cleveland can tie up it. Horrible call.

[SmootSmack]

Huge win for the Magic. I'm rooting big time for the Magic, since I've got them playing the Lakers in the Finals.

I think the Magic would and could get more calls if they weren't taking so many three-pointers. The Cavs, namely LeBron, are constantly attacking the basket. That'll help you get calls all the time.

[an23dy]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I happen to know that you must know a lot about basketball, but we'll just keep that between us.

That said though don't you think you're giving too much credit to a couple of the guys here. Wallace hasn't done anything for several years now and Joe Smith has hardly ever been worthy of #1 pick status. I don't think those guys got worse once they got to the Cavs. They've been on the decline for a while.

I think that LeBron is a dominating player by himself, but I agree that I don't see his play elevating those around him. Not yet, at least. There are few players that really have that ability. You'd agree with that right? Off the top of my head, Chris Paul, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, and even Kobe come to mind. What about you?

First of all, yeah Magic, getting it done. All right, so this is a lil bit of a rant and LeBron is very talented, but it's frustrating because he is overhyped in terms of making his team better and he lives a lot off of the refs treating him favorably.

I definitely am giving the Cavs guys too much credit, but they aren't slouches either. A lot of those guys are in the decline of their career, but I still think they can play at a very high level. I think Wallace has still got it on D, but he's never had much offense. Those veteran guys know how to play and they make the team better, especially in the play-offs. I would put Cleveland's bench up against most teams if not just about every team. I think the reason why the Cavs guys don't get a lot of credit is because they are not scorers and LeBron's style doesn't allow them to be anyways. Varejao is a great defender/rebounder, Wallace also, but the average fan doesn't know how important that is. A team with all scorers would not do that well. That's why the US Olympic team wasn't winning, they had to re-focus on defense. LeBron definitely does help his team on the defensive end with his intensity, but I think he needs to learn a lil more about the game to help his team and his teammates on offense. People might think, oh he scores 30 ppg, he can't get any better on offense, but it's how you play. Just like I don't think Iverson has helped any of the teams he has been to even though he scores a ton.

I'll agree with you that those players you listed all help their team (I think Nash is a huge liabilty on D however, but I think he contribuites more to an offense than anybody). Also, all those guys I consider to be smart players. I think a big part of being a smart player is knowing how to play to make your team better. I don't put LeBron in that category, but that may come in time. I think LeBron needs a different coach instead of somebody that just pats him on the back.

As far as tonight, first I'll say ... finally, it took them til 30 seconds left in OT, but finally they didn't give LeBron every call. LeBron wasn't playing that good, under 50% from the field again, had 8 TO's, and was only scoring because he was getting a lot of calls as usual until the very end. They should call it like that all game. Every call at the end of the game was 100% right and LeBron was still complaining.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by mredskins

I would root for the Magic if their coach was not the biggest (literally) piece of crap I have ever seen or heard.

Hate him all you want, Stan Van Gundy has played the matchups very well so far this series. He's really done a phenomenal job.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Hate him all you want, Stan Van Gundy has played the matchups very well so far this series. He's really done a phenomenal job.

He is all yours baby! Enjoy.

Also, an NBA coach is about as useful as tits on a bull. They don't do a damn thing. Even when they are "wired" up listen to what they have to say. "OK guys we need to hustle, really get after the ball, we got these guys." All the while the players are all just goofing off as he is speaking. Would it not be cheaper just to get a tape recorder and hit the play button at everytime out?

[jamf]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Wow is right. It's almost not watchable the way LeBron is officiated. He falls over trying to dribble penetrate and they call a foul. What a joke. Awful call. Just downright awful. Then Varejao fouls Howard on the inbounds and no call there. Paaaa-thetic.

The NBA annoys the hell out of me. Smug David Stern and his crooked refs. I hope Denver and Orlando are taking personally the fact that Nike is already advertising Kobe vs. LeBron.

It's completely out of spite right now that I want to see Denver vs. Orlando. I'm appalled. Truly appalled.

Not only is it painful to watch Lebron get all the calls it's even more painful to watch him cry for a call every stinking possession. I honestly think he expects one every time he goes to the basket.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by mredskins

He is all yours baby! Enjoy.

Also, an NBA coach is about as useful as tits on a bull. They don't do a damn thing. Even when they are "wired" up listen to what they have to say. "OK guys we need to hustle, really get after the ball, we got these guys." All the while the players are all just goofing off as he is speaking. Would it not be cheaper just to get a tape recorder and hit the play button at everytime out?

Right, because he didn't draw up the play that freed up Rashard Lewis for that 3 pointer that pushed it to OT.

[Zerohero]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Right, because he didn't draw up the play that freed up Rashard Lewis for that 3 pointer that pushed it to OT.

He also admitted fault on defensive assignments to lose some games this playoffs. So yeah of course they are not useless but some are quite overated in their value. Phil Jackson...

[dmek25]

Originally Posted by mredskins

He is all yours baby! Enjoy.

Also, an NBA coach is about as useful as tits on a bull. They don't do a damn thing. Even when they are "wired" up listen to what they have to say. "OK guys we need to hustle, really get after the ball, we got these guys." All the while the players are all just goofing off as he is speaking. Would it not be cheaper just to get a tape recorder and hit the play button at everytime out?

i pretty much agree with this. at least come game time. they are all about practice, and execution. most of game time they are crying to the refs. just like every one else. that's part of what makes me laugh about people saying Lebron cries too much. there isn't one single player/ coach that doesn't cry. M.J. cried all the time. so did Bird. what about Duncan? always crying to the refs

[mredskins]

Come game day the Point Guard or Star player does the majority of the play calling. KC Jones has even said Bird did most of the coaching during their time together.

I think there are a lot grudges here towards James becuase he seems to always beat the Wiz (not hard to do).

I agree the majority of players cry, Paul Pierce does it all the time. Part of the crying is justified because calling an NBA game is so "gray" you never know what those damn referees are going to call thus, people get pissed off.

IMO and I love the NBA it is the closets professional sport to the WWE. I love how McDonalds already has comercials about James and Kobe hoping (yeah right) that they will meet in the playoffs. I would not be a damn bit surprised if Ceveland storms back in this series and wins it.

[dmek25]

can you smell what David Stern is cooking?