SFHoya99
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LeBron
May 18, 2006 11:41:22 GMT -5
Post by SFHoya99 on May 18, 2006 11:41:22 GMT -5
So, wasn't just a few months ago that 'Bridge was posting threads commenting that he was "shying" from the big shot?
I admit I thought the Cavs would go quietly, even against the Wiz. Not because LeBron wasn't talented, but because young players usually don't win that first playoff series.
Now three straight versus the Pistons, including a Rasheed-Wallace-guarantee game?
I'm impressed.
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the_way
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The Illest
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LeBron
May 18, 2006 12:01:46 GMT -5
Post by the_way on May 18, 2006 12:01:46 GMT -5
So, wasn't just a few months ago that 'Bridge was posting threads commenting that he was "shying" from the big shot? I admit I thought the Cavs would go quietly, even against the Wiz. Not because LeBron wasn't talented, but because young players usually don't win that first playoff series. Now three straight versus the Pistons, including a Rasheed-Wallace-guarantee game? I'm impressed. Well its not just Lebron. His teammates are stepping up, and Flip Saunders is choking big time. It seems as though the Pistons have forgotten how to play all of sudden and are tight under pressure. Whereas Cleveland is just real lose and have the "nothing to lose attitude". Its a combination of things. Lebron has raised his level of play though. 'Bridge's criticism of Lebron was warranted. Lebron was being a little passive in late in the 4th quarter. But see, Lebron has answered the critics and has raised his level of game down the stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs. That is what great players do. That is DEFINITELY what franchise players do. You answer the call from your team, from the critics, and/or from within yourself and play at a championship level. Lebron is doing that now. KG has never done that and will never do it.
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miamihoya
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LeBron
May 18, 2006 12:38:06 GMT -5
Post by miamihoya on May 18, 2006 12:38:06 GMT -5
flip saunders chocking in the playoffs? never seen that before
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VelvetElvis
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
pka MrPathetic
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LeBron
May 18, 2006 14:03:41 GMT -5
Post by VelvetElvis on May 18, 2006 14:03:41 GMT -5
David Stern = Vince McMahon
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the_way
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
The Illest
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LeBron
May 18, 2006 14:24:56 GMT -5
Post by the_way on May 18, 2006 14:24:56 GMT -5
David Stern = Vince McMahon ;D
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RDF
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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LeBron
May 18, 2006 14:26:17 GMT -5
Post by RDF on May 18, 2006 14:26:17 GMT -5
David Stern = Vince McMahon I really hope you are kidding here, because if you are serious, it's pathetic. Flip Saunders is doing what he does best--get outcoached when the games mean something. There is no way in hell this series shouldn't already be over and instead he's got it so Detroit will have to play a 7 game series to beat an average Cleveland team. Why? No conspiracy at all--just terrible coaching. Saunders has Rasheed Wallace on the bench in the 4th Quarter/ down the stretch and has people like Maurice Evans in the game? WTF?? Evans is a guy Saunders loved in Minnesota and he's determined to prove this guy can play instead of going with people who have won and will win. Retarded coaching by a moron. This guy just does his "Rodney Dangerfield" neck gestures on his stomp to the foul line and no coaching is going on. They have poor possessions, no clue what to do in late game situations and as Reggie Miller said last night--"they are getting away from being a defensive team and think they can outscore you"--which is not a strength. As for the Cavs--I really expected this series to be over in 4, 5 games the most. Lebron James is proving why he should've been and is the MVP--carrying this team to this point is proof enough. Cavs are not a good team and he's one amazing player--especially for his age. As for the league--they should want the best player to be showcased if it's done through play on the court and not aided by officials. Anyone who saw the shot James took from Ben Wallace off Wallace's two missed bricks can attest the last thing this game was decided by was conspriacy. No call and there should've been. It's been amazing seeing how Saunders led Detroit team is not playing with the urgency/hustle the past Pistons teams did. He put too much emphasis on the regular season as he always does and he never realizes the game changes in Playoffs. Rasheed Wallace is the lone Piston player that took this team from contender to Champion. The trade that brought him to Detroit changed their team and he's on the bench down the stretch of Games 4 and 5?? Flip-a-riffic
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SFHoya99
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LeBron
May 18, 2006 15:46:39 GMT -5
Post by SFHoya99 on May 18, 2006 15:46:39 GMT -5
I wasn't calling out 'Bridge. I just think it is amazing how good LeBron is at this age.
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Deleted
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LeBron
May 19, 2006 19:32:24 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on May 19, 2006 19:32:24 GMT -5
I wasn't calling out 'Bridge. I just think it is amazing how good LeBron is at this age. You should have. That coward will let you walk all over him, only to pop up and tell him how much he loves you Stockholm Syndrome-style.
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RDF
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LeBron
May 21, 2006 16:34:31 GMT -5
Post by RDF on May 21, 2006 16:34:31 GMT -5
Now I'm not going to pretend I expected Cleveland to win this series because I expected them to get swept as I feel they are a 1 man team--but with the play they'd shown and riding Lebron's talents, they were in the series. With that said........................
WTF is Mike Brown doing in the 3rd Quarter? Focusing on the rest of that roster which is basic GARBAGE and losing the game with a giveaway quarter? He doesn't have Marshall in the game? He's running plays for Eric Snow, Drew Gooden, and Larry Hughes?? His team sucks, just give the ball to James and get out of his friggin way!! He'll create easy shots for that trash they call a team or he'll get a good shot.
And final pet peeve--the most entertaining part of this Game 7 has been James greatness--not the "Team play" of Detroit in a damn 58-48 after 3 quarters. Quit talking about "Team Play" and "great example for kids......" with Detroit--Phoenix plays as a team as do other teams who SCORE--it's about making plays and not just sharing the ball--show some game and talent--not just sharing the ball, missing a ton of shots and crying to officials.
I'm all for great defense and team play--but make some shots too!
Lebron is the MVP and it's not even close--that roster around him is about as GARBAGE as you can get this side of a Billy King designed roster.
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Deleted
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LeBron
May 21, 2006 16:43:54 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on May 21, 2006 16:43:54 GMT -5
I agree for the most part, RDF (esp. about James = MVP), but LeBron has vanished the second half here. We're talking Kobe-esque. If I'm reading the stats off ESPN.com right, 1-6 in the second half? A few sloppy turnovers? Yikes...
As for the Pistons, I'm 100% behind you. I get it, ABC/ESPN/TNT... the Pistons are "a real team." I got it two seasons ago. Can it. Unless, as you imply, by "team play" they mean complaining about every whistle as a team...
... THAT said, I'm no NBA Conspiracy Theorist, but the refs are horribly inconsistent. Worst in pro sports.
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hoyarooter
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LeBron
May 22, 2006 12:59:11 GMT -5
Post by hoyarooter on May 22, 2006 12:59:11 GMT -5
While I wouldn't say that LeBron's support is good (I'm not blind), and while Odom is certainly better than any teammate of LeBron's, I would still say that overall, LeBron's support is better than Kobe's. I think that Hughes, Ilgauskas, Gooden and Donyell Marshall are all better than the third best player on the Lakers. Anybody disagree?
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RDF
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LeBron
May 22, 2006 14:47:27 GMT -5
Post by RDF on May 22, 2006 14:47:27 GMT -5
I would agree that James has more then Bryant now--but at least some of the Lakers have potential--Vucajic, Bynum, Walton is a nice role player, but in terms of frontcourt, Cavs have the Brazilian kid (Hubie Brown voice used here), Ilguaskas, and Marshall. Their backcourts both suck. Smush Parker should've been allowed to play for both teams to just ruin any chance for anyone to win. BTW--why is Damon Jones in the NBA? To make people laugh at his wardrobe? He is so bad he makes Poopy Snow look good and what I laugh at is how people are astonished at Eric Snow's reluctance to shoot or draw rim on layup attempts. Now imagine a 5'11 guard carrying that load to an NBA Finals?? I just hope we get to see an NBA Finals matchup between Kobe and Lebron sometime--think it would be fun to watch--if the right talent is surrounding them--but of course this has to happen after AI gets traded and carries a team--preferrably TWolves to Finals/Title. --however Billy King will never fulfill my AI-trade dream so I am resigned to fact we'll have to see Iverson try to carry the likes of Shavlik Randolph, The Professor from And1 Mix Tape Tour, Chubbs from Teen Wolf, and entire roster of Angel Beach HS from Porky's to compete and will be blamed for not "doing enough". FREE IVERSON takes on a new meaning at this stage in his life--this time it's a professional thing. Just wish Billy King would either get canned, eaten by Andy Reid, or arrested for impersonating Isaiah Thomas. As for Lebron and Kobe--they both are great players and in my opinion the best two players in the World right now. It's just up to their Front Offices to get better people around them and if they think the nucleus is in place now--they are mistaken.
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LeBron
May 22, 2006 15:36:44 GMT -5
Post by aussiehoya on May 22, 2006 15:36:44 GMT -5
Lots of comments, but first off
RDF - did you just say vujacic has potential?! That's ridiculous. please qualify it.
However, COMPLETELY agreed that Damon Jones is a laughing stock. He is a matchup NIGHTMARE every time on defense, a fact even flip saunders realized. He is the definition of matador defense. Also his propensity to get his shot blocked is maddening. The guy is a good three point shooter and I remember when he signed with the Cavs as a free agent, Shaq said something to the effect of "he's a great guy, but let's see how open his shots are without me". He has been exposed in these playoffs as a COMPLETE AND UTTER liability, on both ends of the floor, just bleedingly more so on defense.
Which brings me to my next point - Flip. Again, agreed that he essentially enters the postseason with both hands wrapped around his neck. I remember thinking "holy crap - cleveland just went up 3-2 on the pistons". And then I reflected for a bit and came to the realization that the reasons were twofold: lebron and flip.
Which is a great segue to my last point. Lebron (who this thread is actually about). My only point on to add on lebron is (and i can't say i disagree with all the MVP talk n stuff), that he can't shoot yet. But he's only 21. If he works on his shooting, by 25/26 he'll be just plain scary good - he's already a top 5 player in the nba right now.
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nychoya3
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LeBron
May 22, 2006 15:53:28 GMT -5
Post by nychoya3 on May 22, 2006 15:53:28 GMT -5
Shaq had a shortlived reality show on ESPN last year and he devoted an entire episode to Damon Jones getting dunked on by Lebron. You may remember the play - fast break, it's just Damon and Lebron. Damon goes up for the block, his hand approaches the bottom of the net and he starts coming back down. Meanwhile, James has the ball cocked behind his head with his head just about at rim level. He hits Damon Jones, who goes flying five feet, and then rocks the rim. Anyway, Shaq begins the show by saying how something terrible happened yestereday, and then shows the clip about 50 times in a row. Then he drives to Damon Jones's house and makes fun of him for 15 minutes. That was the show. Great television.
All of which brings me to agreeing that Damon Jones is the sorriest player in the NBA right now. Good lord - he's like a chubbier Freddie Mitchell. He does, however, provide as good an estimation as I'll ever get of what it would look like if someone signed me to an NBA contract and made me a rotation player. Though, so long as Isiah is a GM, I will continue holding out hope.
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LeBron
May 22, 2006 16:05:57 GMT -5
Post by aussiehoya on May 22, 2006 16:05:57 GMT -5
that is hilarious - how did i not hear about this reality show? that had tivo written ALL OVER IT
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miamihoya
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
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LeBron
May 22, 2006 17:23:03 GMT -5
Post by miamihoya on May 22, 2006 17:23:03 GMT -5
oh man i remember that dunk....i'm sure there isnt a day that Lebron doesnt bring it up to DJ now that they teammates...it was absolutely sick
As for Damon being "the sorriest player in the NBA right now", i'm not sure i agree. I dont follow the cavs, so not sure exactly how much he contributed (although i'm guessing not much), but under the right circumstances he can deliver solid numbers. Then again i'm basing this on just one year in Miami, and i guess you could attribute that to playing with Shaq. Either way tho, he is an entertaining guy when he opens his mouth.
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