Have been banned from the other thread by an apparently sensitive snowflake (ironically after dozens of pages of political discussion from others) so I'll stick my thoughts on the NBA Playoffs here from now on. We needed a new thread anyway. [Reply]
Jamal ends it so there will be no sweep this series. LeBron was the only Laker to show up tonight with another triple double. AD didn’t even have a rebound until the 4th Q. [Reply]
Originally Posted by KC_Connection:
Jamal ends it so there will be no sweep this series. LeBron was the only Laker to show up tonight with another triple double. AD didn’t even have a rebound until the 4th Q.
AD bailed Lebron out in game 2 though, so Lebron should just be happy they aren’t down 1-2 :-) [Reply]
He wrote it over a couple of years before Kobe died and it sure sounds like it won't be terribly flattering.
Those of you that are familiar with sportswriters almost certainly know Perlman. He's kinda the Ron Chernow/David Halberstam of sports authors (not newspaper wretches, but guys who write books).
I mean...I'm gonna read this. As a Lakers/Kobe fan, it's gonna be a must see. But I really do kinda feel bad for Pearlman here because he's in a big time no-win spot. [Reply]
He wrote it over a couple of years before Kobe died and it sure sounds like it won't be terribly flattering.
Those of you that are familiar with sportswriters almost certainly know Perlman. He's kinda the Ron Chernow/David Halberstam of sports authors (not newspaper wretches, but guys who write books).
I mean...I'm gonna read this. As a Lakers/Kobe fan, it's gonna be a must see. But I really do kinda feel bad for Pearlman here because he's in a big time no-win spot.
Not going to be pretty....
“ If I’m being blunt (and I am — if nothing else — being blunt), “Three-Ring Circus” is oftentimes the saga of a young, brash, egomaniacal basketball player who seeks no advice and believes he is the second coming of Michael Jordan. It’s a Kobe Bryant who treats rookies and free agents like yesterday’s trash; who sees all comers as enemies created to be destroyed; who wants to be feared far more than loved or even admired.
It’s also the Kobe Bryant who — again, being blunt — likely raped a hotel clerk in Eagle, Colorado.
I watched MJ in his prime and obviously LeBron in his prime. As dominant of a player as LeBron has been, he doesn't reach MJ's level imo. He doesn't have MJ's killer instinct. He doesn't have that flare, that elegance in moving the ball, that consistently accurate jumpshot. Jordan had zero weaknesses as a player. The moment he stepped on the court, you already knew the endresult. He took over games all by himself. He was that special. That dominant. [Reply]
I remember the days when the real GOAT was supposedly only making Finals because the East was weak. Who could have predicted that actually wasn't the case? [Reply]
Originally Posted by KC_Connection:
I remember the days when the real GOAT was supposedly only making Finals because the East was weak. Who could have predicted that actually wasn't the case?
The East WAS weak. Comically so.
The West is pretty weak this year. Portland's no sort of true threat, the Rockets matched up incredibly poorly and I said going into this series that I'd be surprised if the Nuggets took it to 6. They're not a great matchup either, it's just that any team is game when Murray is playing like he is.
Had the Clippers found their chemistry and/or the Warriors stayed healthy, the West would've presented a pretty stout challenge. But w/ the Clippers in neutral all year and no Warriors, the Nuggets and Rockets are the only 2 quality squads that surfaced in the West this year and both are just not terribly difficult matchups for LA. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
The East WAS weak. Comically so.
Depends on the year we're talking about. He's made 9(!) finals and beat several very good to great teams in the East on the way there in several of those years.
Originally Posted by :
The West is pretty weak this year. Portland's no sort of true threat, the Rockets matched up incredibly poorly and I said going into this series that I'd be surprised if the Nuggets took it to 6. They're not a great matchup either, it's just that any team is game when Murray is playing like he is.
Had the Clippers found their chemistry and/or the Warriors stayed healthy, the West would've presented a pretty stout challenge. But w/ the Clippers in neutral all year and no Warriors, the Nuggets and Rockets are the only 2 quality squads that surfaced in the West this year and both are just not terribly difficult matchups for LA.
Mostly agreed, although I think the Rockets are actually a very good team that matched up very poorly with the Lakers. Lakers caught a clear break with the Clippers choking out. [Reply]