First Round Playoff Thread

[trwi7]

I would rather have the pitcher who won me a World Series whatever the numbers may be. You either win a title or you don't in sports.

So in game 7 of the World Series one pitcher goes 5 innings, gives up 8 runs but his team scores 9 in 5 innings and the bullpens don't allow any runs. The next year the same team is in game 7 of the World Series, this time a different pitcher goes 9 innings and allows 1 run but the offense scores 0 runs. You'd take the performance of pitcher 1 because he won the game.

Do you realize how stupid you sound?

[InsideOut]

I'd rather have pitchers who win the World Series and whatever their numbers are, so be it.

So you'd rate the 5.5 ERA pitcher over the 2.5 ERA pitcher if the 5.5 ERA pitcher's team had just won the world series?

I would rather have the pitcher who won me a World Series whatever the numbers may be. You either win a title or you don't in sports.

You didn't answer the question. It's a new season and you can either sign the 5.5 ERA guy that came from a team that won the world series or the 2.5 ERA guy that came from a team that didn't win the world series. Which guy do you sign?

[Nebula1]

Nebs is the kind of guy who would rather have a pitcher that's 15-10 with a 5.5 ERA than pitcher that's 12-14 with a 2.5 ERA.

I'd rather have pitchers who win the World Series and whatever their numbers are, so be it.

Which is why you would fit best in the 1960s.

I fit fine now. I don't go to games with a computer and obsess over the stats. I go with a female. I think fantasy sports is no different than Dungeons and Dragons for adults and I don't get caught up in it. I root for a team or player and they either win or they don't. It's not complicated and frankly I don't understand how some of you have the time to obsess over the numbers like you do. What a serious waste of time.

It's this obsession with statistical production that supports Lebron and creates the excuses we've heard for him over and over.

However, I do think Lebron has turned the corner and is realizing it's on him to get a ring. He showed last night the player he can be and what a shock, his assist numbers weren't high.

[trwi7]

Despite what you think, Nebs. Numbers do tell the story 99.9% of the time.

[Kerb Hohl]

This isn't fantasy sports. This is common sense.

You'd rather have Kyle Lohse than Justin Verlander. Got it.

[Nebula1]

You didn't answer the question. It's a new season and you can either sign the 5.5 ERA guy that came from a team that won the world series or the 2.5 ERA guy that came from a team that didn't win the world series. Which guy do you sign?

You can't possibly be serious. You want me to make a decision about signing a player based on ERA vs previous championships? Sorry, but that's an over-simplification and obviously there is much more to it.

In any sport playoff, you either win a title or you don't. Production doesn't matter if you get it done. I'd rather win with bad numbers than lose with good numbers.

[Kerb Hohl]

Mark Madsen > Lebron

[Nebula1]

This isn't fantasy sports. This is common sense.

You'd rather have Kyle Lohse than Justin Verlander. Got it.

This is the NBA Playoffs. 16 Ws. That's all that matters. I have no idea why you guys brought up baseball which is nothing like basketball at all.

Despite what you think, Nebs. Numbers do tell the story 99.9% of the time.

You have alot to learn in life.

[InsideOut]

I'd rather have pitchers who win the World Series and whatever their numbers are, so be it.

Which is why you would fit best in the 1960s.

I fit fine now. I don't go to games with a computer and obsess over the stats. I go with a female. I think fantasy sports is no different than Dungeons and Dragons for adults and I don't get caught up in it. I root for a team or player and they either win or they don't. It's not complicated and frankly I don't understand how some of you have the time to obsess over the numbers like you do. What a serious waste of time.

It's this obsession with statistical production that supports Lebron and creates the excuses we've heard for him over and over.

However, I do think Lebron has turned the corner and is realizing it's on him to get a ring. He showed last night the player he can be and what a shock, his assist numbers weren't high.

So you feel that looking at a players wins and losses stats are fine but if you look at his ERA that means you go to games with a computer and obsess over stats?

Let me guess you pick your stocks by looking at how pretty the company’s logo is because if you pick it based on its "stats" that would mean you play Dungeons and Dragons and are some kind of stats nerd?

[Wooderson]

How many titles would Kobe have if you subbed him for LeBron the last 8 years? Maybe one last year? Maybe.

How many playoff series does Cleveland win during that time?

Kobe has won ZERO playoff series without having one of the best frontcourts in the league (aka prime Shaq or Bynum/Gasol). And he also missed the playoffs one of those years.

Kobe was put in a perfect situation, playing with one of the most dominant players EVER. Then he wanted to be the alpha dog so he pushed for the Kobe/Shaq duo to be split up. Fastforward a year or two and Kobe is upset that he doesn't have enough support and wants to be traded(well duh you just traded one of the best players ever who happened to win a title at the very time of those complaints).

Yet LeBron is maligned for leaving as a free agent even though he suffered though more years with the same lack of help that Kobe complained about (and it wasn't LeBron fault that he didn't have help, the same really cannot be said for Kobe).

[InsideOut]

You didn't answer the question. It's a new season and you can either sign the 5.5 ERA guy that came from a team that won the world series or the 2.5 ERA guy that came from a team that didn't win the world series. Which guy do you sign?

You can't possibly be serious. You want me to make a decision about signing a player based on ERA vs previous championships? Sorry, but that's an over-simplification and obviously there is much more to it.

In any sport playoff, you either win a title or you don't. Production doesn't matter if you get it done. I'd rather win with bad numbers than lose with good numbers.

Don't you realize that statement in red is the greatest oversimplification here and that is why you are getting grief.

And yes I am serious with my question. You can either sign the 5.5 ERA guy that came from a team that won the world series or the 2.5 ERA guy that came from a team that didn't win the world series. What is more important to you when it comes to you picking which player you want to sign. The fact that one guy had the better ERA or the fact that the other guy's team won the world series. It's a simple question that you keep ducking and we all know why.

[coolhandluke121]

Nebs is the kind of guy who would rather have a pitcher that's 15-10 with a 5.5 ERA than pitcher that's 12-14 with a 2.5 ERA.

I'd rather have pitchers who win the World Series and whatever their numbers are, so be it.

You're honestly worse than MBBOT at this point.

If you're trying to say that you'd rather have your team win the world series than have your team's players be recognized as the best, fine. But you're literally saying that the pitcher should regarded as a superior performer because he had the good fortune of being on the best team. That is almost unfathomably dumb.

[JimmyTheKid]

How many titles would Kobe have if you subbed him for LeBron the last 8 years? Maybe one last year? Maybe.

How many playoff series does Cleveland win during that time?

Kobe has won ZERO playoff series without having one of the best frontcourts in the league (aka prime Shaq or Bynum/Gasol). And he also missed the playoffs one of those years.

Kobe was put in a perfect situation, playing with one of the most dominant players EVER. Then he wanted to be the alpha dog so he pushed for the Kobe/Shaq duo to be split up. Fastforward a year or two and Kobe is upset that he doesn't have enough support and wants to be traded(well duh you just traded one of the best players ever who happened to win a title at the very time of those complaints).

Yet LeBron is maligned for leaving as a free agent even though he suffered though more years with the same lack of help that Kobe complained about (and it wasn't LeBron fault that he didn't have help, the same really cannot be said for Kobe).

Exactly. People just can't get over "The Decision." Why? I have no freaking clue.

[JimmyTheKid]

Nebs is the kind of guy who would rather have a pitcher that's 15-10 with a 5.5 ERA than pitcher that's 12-14 with a 2.5 ERA.

I'd rather have pitchers who win the World Series and whatever their numbers are, so be it.

Still arguing that Jeff Suppan was a good signing. They needed that clubhouse leadership

Suppan > Strasburg

[europa]

and it wasn't LeBron fault that he didn't have help

It kind of was since he heavily endorsed the moves that were made. The Cavs built the team the way LeBron wanted it to be built. In retrospect they should have told him to stay out of the personnel business and just focus on playing but that's a difficult thing to do when you have a transcendent talent and you want to do everything you can to keep him happy.

[Newz]

and it wasn't LeBron fault that he didn't have help

It kind of was since he heavily endorsed the moves that were made. The Cavs built the team the way LeBron wanted it to be built. In retrospect they should have told him to stay out of the personnel business and just focus on playing but that's a difficult thing to do when you have a transcendent talent and you want to do everything you can to keep him happy.

In retrospect? When is it ever a good idea to let anyone other than the GM and the scouts/other front office people make moves? You know what would have made LeBron happy? Getting good players to surround him with.

I love how people act like LeBron is a terrible person for leaving and then praise a guy like Duncan or Durant for staying in small markets. They can't see the most obvious things and it amazes me. You can say Durant would stay if his cast was awful all you want... but how do you know? Same thing with Tim Duncan... how do you know?

It's a lot easier to play in a small market with great talent than it is with a bunch of scrubs that you are carrying to 60 wins.

You know the difference between CLE and OKC? OKC has a great GM who surrounded a great player with great talent. CLE had a bunch of idiots in charge who though that Mo Williams, Jamison and Varaejo would be the solution.

[Nebula1]

And yes I am serious with my question. You can either sign the 5.5 ERA guy that came from a team that won the world series or the 2.5 ERA guy that came from a team that didn't win the world series. What is more important to you when it comes to you picking which player you want to sign. The fact that one guy had the better ERA or the fact that the other guy's team won the world series. It's a simple question that you keep ducking and we all know why.

I'm not ducking anything. A player's production is important, but I'm going to interview the player and examine character. If a player has rings, that's a bonus as well. Signing a player has a broad aspect of criteria. If you have two players with similar production, then what??? Oh no, what to do...

Why we're talking about who we would sign, I don't know. This is about Lebron winning a championship or not.

I would take Kevin Durant over Lebron James because I feel he has a better chance of getting me a title.

[europa]

Like I said, I think it's very difficult to figure out the best way to handle a superstar. Magic forced out a head coach in LA and that ended up working out great. Jordan would berate his teammates and often ridicule them. Kobe tried to get Bynum traded. LeBron was an enormous douchebag in Cleveland. But when you have players like that you often bend over backwards to appease those players because they're superstars. So yes I say in retrospect because if LeBron was still in Cleveland I'm willing to bet they'd still be bending over for him and not bothering to ask for any lube.

[Newz]

http://www.backpicks.com/2011/06/17/late-game-bias-when-some-points-count-more/

Anyone who thinks 4th quarters are worth more, read this.

This article is amazing. Anyone who hasn't read it should do so.

[Newz]

In addition to that, I would say I wouldn't trust LeBron as a GM after he retires. If he made those moves in Cleveland and then chose Miami over Chicago... he has a pretty bad track record.