KD to GS - Pt III

[xBulletproof]

This is Reggie Miller's take on it. I'll tell you I got a bit emotional even reading it. He's right Reggie is revered as a God in Indiana. I know within my group of friends he's a very clear cut above Peyton Manning even if Manning brought a title home.

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2650244-reggie-miller-kevin-durant-traded-a-sacred-legacy-for-cheap-jewelry

My favorite part of the article

People ask, "What made you stay in Indiana for all those years?"

This is the best way I can answer that question: Your checkout teller at the grocery store, the attendant at the gas station, the ushers, the waiters, the waitresses—all these fans laughed and cheered with me, and they cried with me after the losses to Shaq, MJ and the Knicks.

We were in it together.

I could not look at those fans had I gone somewhere else. I could not win a championship in Miami like LeBron, popping bubbly and all that, knowing there's a group in Indiana that stayed with me when I wasn't able to win a title. I couldn't turn my back on that fanbase and say, "Yay, I got a ring!"

This is who Bondom thought they were a fan of in Durant. I will also say I would have been okay if Reggie came out of retirement with the Lakers or Boston and got a title. Just like he felt bad doing it without us, many of us felt bad that those feelings kept him from doing it. If he had went to Boston, or the Lakers ...... I would have been the biggest ****ing Celts or Lakers fan you ever saw for that year or two. He deserved it. I would have been so happy for him.

[GreenBloodedC]

This is Reggie Miller's take on it. I'll tell you I got a bit emotional even reading it. He's right Reggie is revered as a God in Indiana. I know within my group of friends he's a very clear cut above Peyton Manning even if Manning brought a title home.

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2650244-reggie-miller-kevin-durant-traded-a-sacred-legacy-for-cheap-jewelry

My favorite part of the article

People ask, "What made you stay in Indiana for all those years?"

This is the best way I can answer that question: Your checkout teller at the grocery store, the attendant at the gas station, the ushers, the waiters, the waitresses—all these fans laughed and cheered with me, and they cried with me after the losses to Shaq, MJ and the Knicks.

We were in it together.

I could not look at those fans had I gone somewhere else. I could not win a championship in Miami like LeBron, popping bubbly and all that, knowing there's a group in Indiana that stayed with me when I wasn't able to win a title. I couldn't turn my back on that fanbase and say, "Yay, I got a ring!"

This is who Bondom thought they were a fan of in Durant. I will also say I would have been okay if Reggie came out of retirement with the Lakers or Boston and got a title. Just like he felt bad doing it without us, many of us felt bad that those feelings kept him from doing it. If he had went to Boston, or the Lakers ...... I would have been the biggest ****ing Celts or Lakers fan you ever saw for that year or two. He deserved it. I would have been so happy for him.

Damn ninjas cutting onions while I was reading Reggie's article.

[xBulletproof]

To tag onto my own post about Reggie Miller in Indiana, when he's here and is a commentator for the game, during timeouts and breaks in the game, the fans still break out in full "Reg-gie Reg-gie Reg-gie" chants until he stands up and acknowledges us.

I've never seen anything like it.

[Little Digger]

1. Westbrook was leaving no matter what..

2. How the teenagers here could blame Durant for wanting to play with 4 unselfish all-star level teammates (Iguodala-Klay-DG-Curry) + Livingston is beyond me..

[dc]

2. How the teenagers here could blame Durant for wanting to play with 4 unselfish all-star level teammates (Iguodala-Klay-DG-Curry) + Livingston is beyond me..

Fans simply want more out of superstars. They don't want guys who merely look out for their own career interests. They want superstars to be folk heroes with undying/unwavering, 100% loyalty to their team/city. That's basically what it comes down to.

Of course they don't hold owners/GMs to the same standards when they cut/trade loyal players away when they're looking out for the best interests of the team, but that's another story.

[Shot Clock]

This is Reggie Miller's take on it. I'll tell you I got a bit emotional even reading it. He's right Reggie is revered as a God in Indiana. I know within my group of friends he's a very clear cut above Peyton Manning even if Manning brought a title home.

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2650244-reggie-miller-kevin-durant-traded-a-sacred-legacy-for-cheap-jewelry

My favorite part of the article

People ask, "What made you stay in Indiana for all those years?"

This is the best way I can answer that question: Your checkout teller at the grocery store, the attendant at the gas station, the ushers, the waiters, the waitresses—all these fans laughed and cheered with me, and they cried with me after the losses to Shaq, MJ and the Knicks.

We were in it together.

I could not look at those fans had I gone somewhere else. I could not win a championship in Miami like LeBron, popping bubbly and all that, knowing there's a group in Indiana that stayed with me when I wasn't able to win a title. I couldn't turn my back on that fanbase and say, "Yay, I got a ring!"

This is who Bondom thought they were a fan of in Durant. I will also say I would have been okay if Reggie came out of retirement with the Lakers or Boston and got a title. Just like he felt bad doing it without us, many of us felt bad that those feelings kept him from doing it. If he had went to Boston, or the Lakers ...... I would have been the biggest ****ing Celts or Lakers fan you ever saw for that year or two. He deserved it. I would have been so happy for him.

Different generations, different mindsets. Excuse me I feel the need to yell at that cloud approaching my front porch.

[Birth of the Cool]

Reggie Miller spot on. I'm actually surprised that there is that many supporters of KD's move. I'm guessing these people in favour of KD's move are front runners or haven't played competitive sports (sports fans but don't actually play sports).

Even in bball pickup games the good runs I play at we switch up teams if it's too stacked for one team or another. The bad runs I've gone to & stopped attending were with the organizers usually stacking the teams in their favour and just as a curious side note those latter runs were organized by younger kids who were all more focused on showing their mad skillz and latest kicks (not sure if that's connected or not).

I get no great thrill when I'm on a stacked team and we crush the other team. I'm actually have way more fun playing a good back & forth game with two good teams going at it. When I beat a good team (esp. as underdog) that's a great feeling honestly esp. when some of your own teammates don't believe you can before the game starts. There's extra pride in that. Sometimes even the favoured team gives us props for beating them. There's no glory in being in your prime and jumping on a top team like KD did.

I understand if you are in your prime and the Organization you are with has bad management, bad coaching, bad teammates - there's no reason to be loyal to that type of organization but KD had decent management & coaching, great teammates and great fan support. Lots of great players (HOF types) who have played in the NBA would have loved the opportunity in OKC that Durant had but instead had the bad luck of wasting their career with bad teams, bad teammates...Durant had it pretty good and was up 3-1 on the team he just went to...a team that had an MVP, had best regular season record of all time, a team that just won a Championship and were one game away from repeating, a team with multiple all-stars, a great all time team, a team that rallied back from 1-3 to beat your team..and that's the team you go to...It just goes against the competitive spirit of sports to me. It's not what I was taught sports is about, it's not in my nature to even think that way so maybe that's why I feel so disgusted by this move. I guess I'll never get the mentality KD & his supporters have that all that matters is winning (Lombardi mentality I guess) because to me Sports is about winning of course, but it's more than that, it's about challenging yourself, it's about team, it's about competition.

Reggie Miller & Kevin Durant are both string beans physically, but mentally Reggie Miller shows the heart of a true Champion and his shadow looms large in the NBA landscape for this. Durant showed his true mettle and it was lacking.

[dc]

Different generations, different mindsets. Excuse me I feel the need to yell at that cloud approaching my front porch.

Exactly. There was a CNNsi article a few years ago I'll always remember (can't find it right now) talking about that. Players are buddies now from early ages of AAU teams. There are cell phones and social media. Back then, people didn't even have e-mail accounts.

But the article put it plainly: back in the days, guys like Jordan viewed themselves as employees of the team. They were good soliders and company men. Nowadays, players like Lebron and the like view themselves as entrepreneurs.

That's the difference in generations, and the article said that even Jordan (now as an owner) has pretty much accepted the new reality.

[NothingButLuck]

Reggie Miller also didn't play for an organization that sabotage itself from being a legitimate dynasty by being cheap.

[sfhand]

Here's the deal for me, a 60-ish lifetime bay area sports fan. As a bay area fan I have seen many players leave our fan base for greener pastures. I have felt the anguish and betrayal. None of those feelings came close to how I felt when Al Davis took the Raiders to LA. To this day I couldn't care less about the Raiders. The Seattle Supersonic fans know what I am talking about... For me, being a fan has become about enjoying the moment and nothing more. I hear some fans refer to their teams as "we" and I realize they don't understand the first thing about professional sports.

As a dubs fan I am used to hearing from disgruntled retired players about the dubs. I couldn't care less about what they think. And then there is Stephen A Smith... The guy is an idiot who is incapable of rational thought, I obviously couldn't care less about anything he has to say.

The thing is. KD was an Unrestricted Free Agent. He was free to follow his heart and do what he felt was right for him. I hope he couldn't care less about the people ripping him for living his life the way he wants to (considering all the good things he's done outside of basketball).

I never cared about Lebron leaving Cleveland, but I was really offended by the narcissistic way he did it primarily due to the heartless way "the decision" added to the pain and anguish his leaving caused Cleveland fans. I believe KD when he says he is troubled by the people his decision will hurt.

I heard someone on the radio mention Ricky Nelson's Garden Party in relation to the KD/dubs situation. The relevant lyrics go like this: "But it's all right now, I learned my lesson well. You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself" Show me one person who thinks KD should have stayed in OKC and I will show you a selfish person who couldn't care less about KD from the very beginning.

[bondom34]

Reggie Miller also didn't play for an organization that sabotage itself from being a legitimate dynasty by being cheap.

And this isn't what OKC did either. Reggie just wasn't a coward.

[te887848]

Reggie Miller also didn't play for an organization that sabotage itself from being a legitimate dynasty by being cheap.

And this isn't what OKC did either. Reggie just wasn't a coward.

Um, yes it is what they did. Trading Harden for a vastly inferior player is sabotaging a future dynasty for the purpose of cutting costs. That's not an opinion at all... it's what they did.

And no disrespect to Reggie, who was a great player in his time and absolutely a HOFer, but he isn't in the same class as Durant as a player, and honestly isn't that much better than a Klay Thompson, a secondary player on a true title team. Nobody really cares that Reggie never won a ring. The pressure to win is significantly greater for first-tier dominant greats like LeBron, Durant, Curry, Jordan, Kobe etc.

[bondom34]

Reggie Miller also didn't play for an organization that sabotage itself from being a legitimate dynasty by being cheap.

And this isn't what OKC did either. Reggie just wasn't a coward.

Um, yes it is what they did. Trading Harden for a vastly inferior player is sabotaging a future dynasty for the purpose of cutting costs. That's not an opinion at all... it's what they did.

And no disrespect to Reggie, who was a great player in his time and absolutely a HOFer, but he isn't in the same class as Durant as a player, and honestly isn't that much better than a Klay Thompson, a secondary player on a true title team. Nobody really cares that Reggie never won a ring. The pressure to win is significantly greater for first-tier dominant greats like LeBron, Durant, Curry, Jordan, Kobe etc.

Adams is fine and a better fit. And it wasn't about money when Harden didn't want to be there, I've gone through that many times and don't care to again, but the idea you're selling is false by all local accounts. After seeing the kind of teammate Durant is maybe that's why.

And honestly, I'd consider Reggie in a similar tier as Durant considering neither will ever win as best player on their own team. Reggie is better than Klay.

[Frosty]

Different generations, different mindsets. Excuse me I feel the need to yell at that cloud approaching my front porch.

Exactly. There was a CNNsi article a few years ago I'll always remember (can't find it right now) talking about that. Players are buddies now from early ages of AAU teams. There are cell phones and social media. Back then, people didn't even have e-mail accounts.

But the article put it plainly: back in the days, guys like Jordan viewed themselves as employees of the team. They were good soliders and company men. Nowadays, players like Lebron and the like view themselves as entrepreneurs.

That's the difference in generations, and the article said that even Jordan (now as an owner) has pretty much accepted the new reality.

I don't agree with this 'employee' view. I didn't get the impression that any of those guys viewed ownership as a guiding light. They were loyal to the team and the fans. I think this was instilled in University. A pride for your team and loyalty. They had that view that if you beat me I want to work harder and come back and beat you next year. Bird would never have teamed with Magic and vice versa. They were from opposing universities and that meant something, there is a reason Jordan wore his university shorts under his pro's. The players today don't experience that because they are one and done with no desire to commit themselves to a university they aren't returning to.

Those guys would sit in a room, and did, and argue over who was the greatest. That wouldn't happen today. The best you would get would be a chippy conversation over an xbox game.

I can relate. I've thought back over my experience playing various organized sports. I can remember one situation where my team had won the league 2 years in a row but narrowly squeaked by against this young up and coming team. During the off season one of their key guys approached friends of his on my team about joining. We had a meeting and I said I liked the guy and he'd be an asset but asked what that would do to the league. I said I'd rather play them next season and have a good competition with them rather than roll them. The younger guys who were friends of his looked at me like I had two heads. The team agreed to let him join and partway through the next season that team folded due to guys getting pulled into different directions by life events. (not just his acquisition but it still was a factor)

[John Murdoch]

Its crazy how this team was formed with hardly any trades..Draft/FA is the formula now because no longer are GM's being pressured by ownership to make silly one sided moves to "win now" and as a collective GM's have gotten smarter due to available data

[Shot Clock]

Its crazy how this team was formed with hardly any trades..Draft/FA is the formula now because no longer are GM's being pressured by ownership to make silly one sided moves to "win now" and as a collective GM's have gotten smarter due to available data

Durant just left because he couldn't "win now" and you don't think there's pressure? Honestly as a GM you have to see the obvious pattern that today if you aren't "winning now" you are going to see everyone go where they will.

[te887848]

And this isn't what OKC did either. Reggie just wasn't a coward.

Um, yes it is what they did. Trading Harden for a vastly inferior player is sabotaging a future dynasty for the purpose of cutting costs. That's not an opinion at all... it's what they did.

And no disrespect to Reggie, who was a great player in his time and absolutely a HOFer, but he isn't in the same class as Durant as a player, and honestly isn't that much better than a Klay Thompson, a secondary player on a true title team. Nobody really cares that Reggie never won a ring. The pressure to win is significantly greater for first-tier dominant greats like LeBron, Durant, Curry, Jordan, Kobe etc.

Adams is fine and a better fit. And it wasn't about money when Harden didn't want to be there, I've gone through that many times and don't care to again, but the idea you're selling is false by all local accounts. After seeing the kind of teammate Durant is maybe that's why.

And honestly, I'd consider Reggie in a similar tier as Durant considering neither will ever win as best player on their own team. Reggie is better than Klay.

Not at all. Adams is a very replaceable player (can be found anywhere) and Harden is an irreplaceable superstar, at his best a top 5-7 player in the league and MVP candidate. No doubt OKC messed up there and that's not the type of move a winning team makes. You believe Harden didn't want to be there, I and most others believe that OKC simply was unwilling/unable to pay the extraorbitant amount of money required to build a long-term superteam. Whatever, difference of opinion, but undoubtedly it was nothing close to a move that makes a team better.

And no, Reggie isn't in the same galaxy as Durant. Durant is quite easily capable of leading a team to a ring. He wasn't that far off in 2012 or this year either. If the Thunder were healthy in 2013 or 2015, he may very well have too.

Just because Durant chose to play with someone who is equal to/slightly better than him doesn't mean he's incapable of winning it all as top dog. He's clearly good enough to and is far better than Reggie ever was.

[bondom34]

Not at all. Adams is a very replaceable player (can be found anywhere) and Harden is an irreplaceable superstar, at his best a top 5-7 player in the league and MVP candidate. No doubt OKC messed up there and that's not the type of move a winning team makes. You believe Harden didn't want to be there, I and most others believe that OKC simply was unwilling/unable to pay the extraorbitant amount of money required to build a long-term superteam. Whatever, difference of opinion, but undoubtedly it was nothing close to a move that makes a team better.

And no, Reggie isn't in the same galaxy as Durant. Durant is quite easily capable of leading a team to a ring. He wasn't that far off in 2012 or this year either. If the Thunder were healthy in 2013 or 2015, he may very well have too.

Just because Durant chose to play with someone who is equal to/slightly better than him doesn't mean he's incapable of winning it all as top dog. He's clearly good enough to and is far better than Reggie ever was.

Adams isn't replaceable anywhere, at all. OKC didn't mess up there, Harden didn't want to be there. Fine for him. You may believe otherwise but its incorrect to be blunt.

And yeah, Reggie is to me legacy wise now. Durant isn't capable of leading a team to a title, or he would have. He didn't and decided he's unable to so he's gonna be 2nd/3rd fiddle.

[IllMagic04]

Reggie Miller spot on. I'm actually surprised that there is that many supporters of KD's move. I'm guessing these people in favour of KD's move are front runners or haven't played competitive sports (sports fans but don't actually play sports).

Even in bball pickup games the good runs I play at we switch up teams if it's too stacked for one team or another. The bad runs I've gone to & stopped attending were with the organizers usually stacking the teams in their favour and just as a curious side note those latter runs were organized by younger kids who were all more focused on showing their mad skillz and latest kicks (not sure if that's connected or not).

I get no great thrill when I'm on a stacked team and we crush the other team. I'm actually have way more fun playing a good back & forth game with two good teams going at it. When I beat a good team (esp. as underdog) that's a great feeling honestly esp. when some of your own teammates don't believe you can before the game starts. There's extra pride in that. Sometimes even the favoured team gives us props for beating them. There's no glory in being in your prime and jumping on a top team like KD did.

I understand if you are in your prime and the Organization you are with has bad management, bad coaching, bad teammates - there's no reason to be loyal to that type of organization but KD had decent management & coaching, great teammates and great fan support. Lots of great players (HOF types) who have played in the NBA would have loved the opportunity in OKC that Durant had but instead had the bad luck of wasting their career with bad teams, bad teammates...Durant had it pretty good and was up 3-1 on the team he just went to...a team that had an MVP, had best regular season record of all time, a team that just won a Championship and were one game away from repeating, a team with multiple all-stars, a great all time team, a team that rallied back from 1-3 to beat your team..and that's the team you go to...It just goes against the competitive spirit of sports to me. It's not what I was taught sports is about, it's not in my nature to even think that way so maybe that's why I feel so disgusted by this move. I guess I'll never get the mentality KD & his supporters have that all that matters is winning (Lombardi mentality I guess) because to me Sports is about winning of course, but it's more than that, it's about challenging yourself, it's about team, it's about competition.

Reggie Miller & Kevin Durant are both string beans physically, but mentally Reggie Miller shows the heart of a true Champion and his shadow looms large in the NBA landscape for this. Durant showed his true mettle and it was lacking.

Absolute truth. Just doing an "and 1" on this post ain’t enough. People with no competitive spirit just don't get it.

[gino_giode]

As Colin Cowherd said, this is the problem with millennials. There's a severe lack of competitive fire in the current generation. Instead, there's an overriding mentality of doing things efficiently, easily, with the best possible risk-reward payout.

The problem is KD picked the choice that maxed out all of those criteria. In terms of risk-reward it was 0 vs 100%. The Warriors beat you already, so the risk to joining them is 0 because you've now bypassed the biggest barrier to making the finals.