Bill Simmons still hating on the Heat

[thinktellectual]

When Simmons published his predictions for this season, I had a discussion (here or on reddit, can't remember), and I said that Simmons is still hating on the Heat and picking the Bulls not just as the best RS team, but to win it all, was just further evidence.

The big counter argument was that he keeps writing about how good Lebron is. But he does that because that's obvious, and stating otherwise would just make him another Skip Bayless - the lord of moron trolls, or merely another Ric Bucher - the official Rose nutsack polisher and vice-admiral of denying the reality.

Well, here's his latest article:
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nba-b ... erfection/

And, as usual, here's the customary swipe at Lebron/Wade/Heat:

And that’s why this tanking bull matters. When 36 percent of your league is willfully throwing away the last five weeks of an 82-game season, you’re doing something wrong. Stern stuck his head in the sand. He pretended self-sabotage wasn’t a recurring danger, just like he pretended the broken officiating system was fine … and the always-disappointing All-Star Saturday was fine … and the annoying 2-3-2 Finals format was fine … and the stunning lack of minority league executives at every CBA bargaining table was fine … and the embarrassing Chris Paul trade veto was fine … and The Decision was fine … and the Maloofs destroying basketball in Sacramento to the point that the fans had to revolt was fine … and Clay Bennett extorting Seattle for a new arena and ultimately hijacking the team was fine … and the league owning the New Orleans franchise as it landed the no. 1 overall pick was fine … and starting off Silver’s commissioner transition by hovering over him for an extra eight months was fine.

This is about David Stern. So wait, was Stern supposed to do something about the Decision ? And if so, WHAT ? Unilaterally cancel free agency to preserve the Celtics chances of winning another title ?

This is why Simmons' popularity exploded after the Decision. Because he pretends to give Lebron his dues while continuously offering backhanded compliments and taking poorly veiled shots at him and/or the Heat. He's using that dog whistle so well, and all the haters love him for it. Most of them don't want to seem idiots, so they don't take the Skip Bayless approach, but Simmons kinda gives them excuses for still hating Lebron despite his excellence.

I gotta say, Bill Simmons is at the same time masterful and despicable and pathetic.

[RexBoyWonder]

I couldn't care less about Bill Simmons or what he sais. Most people Don't. You shouldn't either.

[thinktellectual]

I couldn't care less about Bill Simmons or what he sais. Most people Don't. You shouldn't either.

I don't really care what he says (although he can be entertaining when not discussing the Heat - where he obviously loses his mind and any trace of objectivity).

I am mostly amazed at how he still can't get over it and how well he manages to use that dog whistle.

And don't tell me people don't care what he says. He got his own website, he got a show or 2 on ESPN, now he's rubbing elbows with Magic and the big boys at ESPN. He's no longer small potatoes. And, again, I attribute most of his success to how well he's been using that dog whistle.

Funny enough, he's got some real nice writers on his website, like Zach Lowe.
That dude can do some good analysis and be objective, unlike Simmons who's 110% subjective.

[AlexCRO]

bill simmons being bill simmons thats all you have to know

[RexBoyWonder]

I couldn't care less about Bill Simmons or what he sais. Most people Don't. You shouldn't either.

I don't really care what he says (although he can be entertaining when not discussing the Heat - where he obviously loses his mind and any trace of objectivity).

I am mostly amazed at how he still can't get over it and how well he manages to use that dog whistle.

And don't tell me people don't care what he says. He got his own website, he got a show or 2 on ESPN, now he's rubbing elbows with Magic and the big boys at ESPN. He's no longer small potatoes. And, again, I attribute most of his success to how well he's been using that dog whistle.

Funny enough, he's got some real nice writers on his website, like Zach Lowe.
That dude can do some good analysis and be objective, unlike Simmons who's 110% subjective.

Simmons is making money by generating traffic, getting people like you to talk about him like he matters.
That's his job. He's a tool to attract some attention from certain demographics (If I had to guess - his biggest fans are middle aged white men who jerk off to Larry Bird posters and hate those "flashy" Heat players).

Don't mistake being a tool with having actual influence - he has none. Nobody in the NBA cares about a Celtic homer with limited basketball knowledge.
GM's aren't making plans according to his rants. Coaches don't change schemes because of his analysis (he can't really analyze anything). The league office isn't changing rules because he thinks we should have a 4 point line. Rondo isn't getting more cash because he wants to swallow his load. NBA Players wouldn't piss on him if he caught fire. Nobody cares. You shouldn't either.

The fact that somebody is allowed to be talking on TV doesn't make what he sais important.

[SWadeUP]

just by reading his $hit, youre feeding the troll.

[G.cracker]

Bill Simmons got Magic Johnson fired from ABC. Do you think he has any credibility?

[RSCD3_]

Hmmm, the guy that is a big celtics homer is picking against the team that eliminated him from the postseason twice.

Wonder what his motivation is?

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[dr3am]

Meh, wake me up when Bill Simmons succeds past the basketball knowledge of Skip Bayless

[Maroko]

Meh, wake me up when Bill Simmons succeds past the basketball knowledge of Skip Bayless

[puppa bear]

Simmons is fine, he's an entertainer. Lowe & Goldsbury are the objective writers there - enjoy them for what they are. N3twork is hilarious in his self-loathing Knicks homerage, but I fear his writing if they ever get their **** together. Grantland has a bunch of very good writers: some entertaining, some insightful & some downright funny.

Simmons does get a little salty, but he always tells you he's a Celtics homer at heart, and if you read enough you know his articles are like having a conversation with a Celts fan - even some of the more level headed fans. That list was just all the things Stern could have had a go at fixing/preventing over the last 5 years of his reign - where Simmons rightly points out, he was more interested in global expansion and domestic consolidation than domestic expansion and serious innovation. In other words: The Decision was only not going to be a train wreck if he resigned with the Cavs, at which point he's wasted our time with self-flattery. Stern could have forced it into a simple press conference if he wanted to.

[DayofMourning]

I guess I'm just laidback, but I don't see the big issue. I find Simmons entertaining. His BOB is a good read.

[Smash3]

Grantland is usually pretty entertaining Simmons is alright enjoy his interviews with players, Lowe is a good writer and the report with Rose and Jacoby is alright too. Obviously him being a Celtics fan, he´ll rarely put Heat in the best of light but it is what it is.

[KingDavid]

Why are you making a topic about a nobody who has nothing to do with basketball?

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[thinktellectual]

Simmons is fine, he's an entertainer. Lowe & Goldsbury are the objective writers there - enjoy them for what they are. N3twork is hilarious in his self-loathing Knicks homerage, but I fear his writing if they ever get their **** together. Grantland has a bunch of very good writers: some entertaining, some insightful & some downright funny.

Simmons does get a little salty, but he always tells you he's a Celtics homer at heart, and if you read enough you know his articles are like having a conversation with a Celts fan - even some of the more level headed fans. That list was just all the things Stern could have had a go at fixing/preventing over the last 5 years of his reign - where Simmons rightly points out, he was more interested in global expansion and domestic consolidation than domestic expansion and serious innovation. In other words: The Decision was only not going to be a train wreck if he resigned with the Cavs, at which point he's wasted our time with self-flattery. Stern could have forced it into a simple press conference if he wanted to.

I know he's an entertainer, that he doesn't hide being a Celtics homer and all the rest.

I was trying to make 2 points:

1. His somewhat subtle way of hating on the Heat earned him a lot of followers and partially explains his success - and don't try to tell me he is not successful. He sucks at analysis, predictions and most basketball related things, but business wise, he's pretty successful. He turned from a nobody writer to a guy who's constantly on ESPN and has tons and tons of readers/watchers.

And that because he became the voice of the fans who hate the Heat but don't want to seem too stupid (like coming out saying Lebron is not top 5 in the league).

2. What could have Stern done to stop the Decision ? Lebron is a free person, not Stern's or the NBA's property. He can announce a career related decision on TV if he so chooses to. He can pay for airplanes to write his decision in the morning sky, he can buy a website for that purpose, send handwritten and personally singed letters to all NBA fans or whatever.

Asking Stern to stop the Decision in the same article you accuse him of bullying people and acting like a dictator is pretty **** hypocritical IMO.

[boateng]

I couldn't care less about Bill Simmons or what he sais. Most people Don't. You shouldn't either.

I don't really care what he says (although he can be entertaining when not discussing the Heat - where he obviously loses his mind and any trace of objectivity).

I am mostly amazed at how he still can't get over it and how well he manages to use that dog whistle.

And don't tell me people don't care what he says. He got his own website, he got a show or 2 on ESPN, now he's rubbing elbows with Magic and the big boys at ESPN. He's no longer small potatoes. And, again, I attribute most of his success to how well he's been using that dog whistle.

Funny enough, he's got some real nice writers on his website, like Zach Lowe.
That dude can do some good analysis and be objective, unlike Simmons who's 110% subjective.

Simmons is making money by generating traffic, getting people like you to talk about him like he matters.
That's his job. He's a tool to attract some attention from certain demographics (If I had to guess - his biggest fans are middle aged white men who jerk off to Larry Bird posters and hate those "flashy" Heat players).

Don't mistake being a tool with having actual influence - he has none. Nobody in the NBA cares about a Celtic homer with limited basketball knowledge.
GM's aren't making plans according to his rants. Coaches don't change schemes because of his analysis (he can't really analyze anything). The league office isn't changing rules because he thinks we should have a 4 point line. Rondo isn't getting more cash because he wants to swallow his load. NBA Players wouldn't piss on him if he caught fire. Nobody cares. You shouldn't either.

The fact that somebody is allowed to be talking on TV doesn't make what he sais important.

Harsh you sound salty. What did Simmons do to you.

Bill Simmons has no basketball knowledge? Your probably just saying that because he never played. if he played pro ball you wouldn't say that.

[puppa bear]

I know he's an entertainer, that he doesn't hide being a Celtics homer and all the rest.

I was trying to make 2 points:

1. His somewhat subtle way of hating on the Heat earned him a lot of followers and partially explains his success - and don't try to tell me he is not successful. He sucks at analysis, predictions and most basketball related things, but business wise, he's pretty successful. He turned from a nobody writer to a guy who's constantly on ESPN and has tons and tons of readers/watchers.

And that because he became the voice of the fans who hate the Heat but don't want to seem too stupid (like coming out saying Lebron is not top 5 in the league).

2. What could have Stern done to stop the Decision ? Lebron is a free person, not Stern's or the NBA's property. He can announce a career related decision on TV if he so chooses to. He can pay for airplanes to write his decision in the morning sky, he can buy a website for that purpose, send handwritten and personally singed letters to all NBA fans or whatever.

Asking Stern to stop the Decision in the same article you accuse him of bullying people and acting like a dictator is pretty **** hypocritical IMO.

I honestly don't feel like he's a voice for the Heat haters. I feel like he comes across as the everyman, and part of that is being salty at the Heat for knocking his team out & taking Ray - there's no Celts fan who will simply say "they were a better team, and deserved to win the series" or "Ray deserved better, and the Heat can help him win a few more ring. Good for him" that's part of being a fan: being a one-eyed homer & regularly not seeing things in a 100% neutral/rational way. Him not faking his homership & owning his Heat envy makes him more accessible. That's why he's popular.

Do you have a quote in the top-5 in the league thing? Was it active or all-time? Some people feel he has a bit more to do to earn top-5 all-time, so I don't hold it against him for that.

As for the Decision I don't think there's anything Stern could have done to stop, but he could have expressed an opinion. He could have said something like: "I don't think it's the right way to go about it, but LeBron is his own man & obviously feels the need to do it." Honestly the Decision was a dumb idea at the time, I only watched cos I thought we had a really good chance of getting him.

[thinktellectual]

The "not top 3/5 in the league" is something haters tend to think/try to convince themselves of.

After the past couple of titles it died down a bit, but you see Lebron losing a big game or missing a big shot at the end, and it will come back up. That and the "not clutch" non-sense.

As for the Decision, it generated a few million for charity. To me that alone makes it worth it. If every player (or at least all star) could generate the same amount of money for charity, I'd hope each of them would get his own Decision.

There's something deeply wrong with people who consider fans getting butthurt over a player choosing another team as more important than generating money for helping kids.

Was it the nicest or classiest way to announce it ? Probably not. But guess what ? He didn't owe any of those fans anything. He was a FREE agent. Key word: FREE.

I think he should have taken a newspaper page to thank the fans like Big Z did, maybe explain that he left because he didn't agree with the direction of the franchise. That might have made it more palatable. Maybe.

On the other hand, had he organized a reality show where he lives in the same house with the GMs from the teams that wanted to sign him and he eliminates one GM each week, people would have watched the **** out of that show.

[MartyCONLONNN]

indifferent on Simmons... he heaps tons of praise at Lebron too, but also can't help that he's a Celtics homer when it comes to certain things. When Lebron had that monster game 6 in Boston, he was there, and went onto write a really glowing article on that greatness so it's not like he's totally inept.

[PaulieWal]

Simmons' hating on 'The Decision' is hardly hating on the Heat. Anyone who follows his work knows that he is quite lavish in his praise of LeBron. After the 2013 Finals said, Simmons said LeBron was already a top 10 all-time player. Just because he criticizes the spectacle of 'The Decision" doesn't make him a hater. He does sometimes hate on the Heat though, don't get me wrong but he is open in his love for the Celtics. After the game 6 epic performance he wrote a huge column saying LeBron had finally arrived and he felt lucky to be at the game. Compared to other troll analysts he is quite level-headed and I don't always agree with him but at least I know he is not saying stuff to simply get a rise out of people (Skip Bayless).

For those saying he knows nothing about basketball, he wrote a 700 page book on basketball and is actually a knowledgeable historian of the game. Gotta give credit where credit is due. His problem is that sometimes he gets obsessed with issues and keeps on bringing them up (mainly PEDs, reffing in the league, and tanking). If anything he expected/wanted the Heat to go fo fo fo fo last year in the playoffs. He was also quite in awe of the 27 game streak. Overall, I find his work reasonable and his podcasts with Zach Lowe are quite informative.