Let's hear it for Stern!

[moofs]

It only took him a few off-kilter trades, several rounds of spectacular officiating (preceded by several years of inuring us to lesserly bad calls), and thousands upon thousands of brainwashing features aimed at convincing us that their back and forth 80's battles were the best thing to ever cross the realm of pro sports, but he's finally got his repeat of Lakers-Celtics!



(now can we go back to having semi-legitimate basketball again next year?)

[RaoulDuke79]

Tough part is I don't know who to root for since I don't care for either team or their fans(excluding TMU of course!).

Hmm. I guess at the end of the day I'll go with the team who has players on it that haven't thrown their franchise/teammates under the bus(aka Boston).

Why does it have to be on ABC though? The only good thing they have going for them is Gundy(assuming it will be that crew calling the games).

[TMU]

Go Celtics!!!

But I must admit that I hate Boston fans. They are so obnoxious, especially the Red Sox and Patriots only fans (who now claim themselves to be long-time Celtics fans).

[Shabi__5]

I want the Celtics to win , I'd rather have their fans cocky then Lakers fans who we meet a lot more during the year.

[Alex_De_Large]

I also have the feeling that this is some kind of artificial stuff, in less than one year both become 2 average teams to 2 contenders teams, while other teams want to be contenders since 2 or 3 years ago and can't make the second round! sad for me! i know it's "the other teams" fault but as a fan i can only be pissed.

But, i should stop to hate every final, mavs-heat, cavs-spurs (i hated these finals), i just will try to enjoy this year finals, and i want KG to win, he reminds me of Tracy McGrady.

[Shabi__5]

LOL all the consipracy talk makes me laugh.
Come on now.
But still maybe there was a conspiracy in the Gasol trade , how can one person be SO STUPID is beyond me.
And now that same stupid person wants Scola for Miller or goes offering Miller to Portland for Outlaw and the 13th pick.
That guy must be high.

[Amel]

I think this could be the first time me rooting for the LA Lakers

you gotta love the young team, and Kobe has been terrific this year, if he plays like this next year he might get to Jordan very close

[Shabi__5]

I think this could be the first time me rooting for the LA Lakers

you gotta love the young team, and Kobe has been terrific this year, if he plays like this next year he might get to Jordan very close

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_uguiZz1TQ

[Iggyemu]

League got what they wanted. Lets see if they drop the ball on this one or use it revive the NBA.

And this is probably David Sterns doing as he hinted at this earlier in the season by saying "He would be worried about the rating if they weren't good for this year's Finals". Coupled with the Lakers laughing at the rest of the WC by having Jerry West present them their WCF champions trophy.

But you know what. The Lakers deserved to be there. They were the best team in the West. They have the leagues best player (its not even close). They have the greatest coach of all time. They deserve to be there b/c they were the best team in the playoffs. Boston for what its worth was the best team in the East.

This is a legit Finals and I think it will be great.

[moofs]

LOL all the consipracy talk makes me laugh.
Come on now.

I don't know how definitively I take it myself, but there's more than enough fish flying around for it to be a definite possibility, and it's fun to trash el commish. It's not like it hasn't happened before, but I'm always at least partly joking when I state it as fact.

I just found out yesterday that presidential candidates have been promising some form of national health care since TR in 1900, if that says anything to you. What platform was Hilary running on again?

But still maybe there was a conspiracy in the Gasol trade , how can one person be SO STUPID is beyond me.

Incompetence, incompetence, incompetence, incompetence, incompetence, brilliance! Unless they were just playing parts as part of a long-running ruse, it seems odd. Like Alex said, for the teams to go from cellar-dweller and mediocre to contenders to favorites with a fishy trade and several decent roleplayers filling out both rosters like moths to a flame all within one season reeks at least as much as the ultra-weak Heat winning the Championship, and that series made me feel bad for the Mavs.

And now that same stupid person wants Scola for Miller or goes offering Miller to Portland for Outlaw and the 13th pick.
That guy must be high.

Who wants to trade Scola for Miller? Who!? Scola trade scenarios are not permitted! (for at least 3 years) Much as I'd hate to see him go, I'm more open to Landry thus far (may be injury prone, can't yet create his own shot, defensive lapses), though he'd have to be involved in getting a very nice return.

[BaYBaller]

It sounds good on paper but as people have said it feels very artificial. Both teams got there basically because they pulled off some very lop-sided trades. It doesn't have the "feel-good" story of something like the Blazers or Hornets, young up-and-comers turning their franchises around.

[Shabi__5]

But if it's a consipracy what Minnesotta and Menphis gained from this?
None got a top 2 pick to get thier next franchise player , and now some players don't even work out for Memphis.

Seattle will move to another city soon.

[Amel]

-= original quote snipped =-



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_uguiZz1TQ

I am not saying he is Jordan, but if he continues he will be close

[Shabi__5]

-= original quote snipped =-



I am not saying he is Jordan, but if he continues he will be close

Yeah I know bro I just posted that video for some comparison between them.

[Iggyemu]

-= original quote snipped =-



I am not saying he is Jordan, but if he continues he will be close

I personally think he is there standing next to Jordan. I don't think he is better. He may be better by the time he retires but right now today. Kobe is on Jordan's level and that is saying a whole lot. "Great" doesn't even begin to describe him. I have never seen him play this well ever. Even in losses he plays great and they have only lost 3 times this post season.

[hackle]

david stern pisses me off.

[BaYBaller]

I dunno about that Jordan never had a scoring big man. He played in a much more physical game back when he played as well.

[TMU]

Close? What's close?

6 time champion without a solid big man vs. 3 time champion (potentially 4)?
5 MVP vs. 1 MVP?
6 Finals MVP vs. 0 Finals MVP (potentially 1)?
1 DPOY vs. 0 DPOY?
9 1st All-NBA Team selections vs. 6 1st All-NBA Team selections?
9 1st All-Defensive Team selections vs. 6 1st All-Defensive Team selections?

Plus, consider MJ's era vs. Kobe's era.

Everything favors MJ over Kobe: team accomplishments, individual accomplishments, and stats, etc. Name one thing Kobe does better than MJ. Perhaps other than Kobe's 3 point range, I really can't think of any.

Kobe maybe the closest thing to MJ, but MJ is in an echelon of his own. Right now, I think Kobe is on the same level as Jerry West.

[Iggyemu]

Close? What's close?

6 time champion without a solid big man vs. 3 time champion (potentially 4)?
5 MVP vs. 1 MVP?
6 Finals MVP vs. 0 Finals MVP (potentially 1)?
1 DPOY vs. 0 DPOY?
9 1st All-NBA Team selections vs. 6 1st All-NBA Team selections?
9 1st All-Defensive Team selections vs. 6 1st All-Defensive Team selections?

Plus, consider MJ's era vs. Kobe's era.

Everything favors MJ over Kobe: team accomplishments, individual accomplishments, and stats, etc. Name one thing Kobe does better than MJ. Perhaps other than Kobe's 3 point range, I really can't think of any.

Kobe maybe the closest thing to MJ, but MJ is in an echelon of his own. Right now, I think Kobe is on the same level as Jerry West.

Who is to say he won't accomplish those things by the time he is retired? Kobe is already on track. Kobe is a more skilled player while Jordan is a smarter player. But I think people over hype how good Jordan was b/c he was Jordan. What Kobe is doing in these playoffs is on par with anything Jordan has done in any of his championship runs. The way he is able to involve his teammates. Then take over when they need it. The way he can do involve his teammates and still make the first jump shot he takes when its time to take over. His defense has been great. The way he finishes game. The way he is able to take his killer instinct and channel to the rest of his inexperienced teammates.

He is not better than Jordan but the what he is doing in these playoffs IMO puts him on Jordan's level even if its for this seasons playoffs and no more. This is just in play. Not in accomplishments. Jordan never played better than Kobe is playing right now and visa versa.

[PocketRockets]

-= original quote snipped =-



Who is to say he won't accomplish those things by the time he is retired? Kobe is already on track. Kobe is a more skilled player while Jordan is a smarter player. But I think people over hype how good Jordan was b/c he was Jordan. What Kobe is doing in these playoffs is on par with anything Jordan has done in any of his championship runs. The way he is able to involve his teammates. Then take over when they need it. The way he can do involve his teammates and still make the first jump shot he takes when its time to take over. His defense has been great. The way he finishes game. The way he is able to take his killer instinct and channel to the rest of his inexperienced teammates.

He is not better than Jordan but the what he is doing in these playoffs IMO puts him on Jordan's level even if its for this seasons playoffs and no more. This is just in play. Not in accomplishments. Jordan never played better than Kobe is playing right now and visa versa.

I rarely disagree with you, but comparing Kobe to Jordan is a joke. Unless Kobe ever wins a DPOY, he will never be close to Mike. Do you know how hard it is for a guard to win DPOY? Kobe has the talent to be a defensive stopper, but he doesn't have the will to play defense all the time and that's why he will never be DPOY. Playing defense most of the game is very hard (look at Battier), people give Shane crap for not being able to stop some of the Jazz players, but as skilled as NBA players are, you can't shut them down all the time. Jordan also had the energy to play offense too (multiple 50, 60 pt games).

I guess what I'm trying to convey is that playing defense all game is way harder than playing offense.

I will give you that Kobe is a better offensive player than Mike. Kobe has crazy range and a vast array of offensive moves. I would also probably say that Kobe has the closest work ethic and "Killer Instinct" to MJ. This Kobe vs. MJ topic is also what's wrong with this league.

In an ESPN mag article, Jordan told Stern that the problem with the league is that Stern is trying to create another MJ and that will probably never happen. Stern should just try to work with what he has.

OT- the league is trying to bring back the "good ol days" of the league and trying to recreate classic series, but why? No matter how good the series will be, it will never be better than something that's already occured. Why doesn't the league just create novel storylines and not repeat an old, (for lack of a better word) played-out "Boston vs LA" story.
I have a feeling this series will do better than SA finals series, but still be a failure in terms of all-time NBA ratings.




"Jordan never played better than Kobe is playing right now and visa versa" hehe this doesn't make sense.