Ballin’: Boston-Orlando Should Be a Fun Playoff Series
NBA March 26th. 2009, 10:30am
Boston 82, Orlando 84: Paul Pierce drove in the final seconds, only to have his shot blocked by Dwight Howard as the Celtics basically lost any hope of catching the Cavs in the East and now find themselves in a down-to-the-wire situation with the Magic for the 2nd seed. Orlando’s ahead by percentage points, but has played two fewer games. The city of Orlando is thankful.
San Antonio 102, Atlanta 92: So much for that brief 2-game skid – Tony Parker went for 42 and the Duncan-less Spurs ended the Hawks’ eight-game home winning streak. Yup, still surprised everyone scoffed at us putting Parker in the Top 5 in the MVP race.
New Jersey 87, Cleveland 98: Ten straight wins for the Cavs. The last time they lost a game they should have won? Feb. 10 at Indiana, the game where LeBron and Granger exchanged late-game fouls resulting in a one-point loss. Prior to that? Jan. 15 in Chicago, in overtime. If Bynum isn’t back for the Finals, the Cavs are taking the title.
Miami 88, Indiana 90: Just not D. Wade’s night. A 5-for-24 clunker ended when he missed the game-tying jumper. In the battle of last year’s Kansas stars, Chalmers went 0-for-3 and had seven pints and seven assists in 37 minutes; Brandon Rush 11 points and eight rebounds in 41 minutes for the lottery-bound Pacers.
Utah 114, Phoenix 118: That’s six in a row for the Suns, who have crept within three games of the Mavs for the eighth seed in the West. Phoenix can pick up a game with a win tonight in Portland. Good news: Two games against Sacramento in the next eight days. Bad news: Also have to travel to Utah and Houston comes to town.
191 Responses to “Ballin’: Boston-Orlando Should Be a Fun Playoff Series”
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March 26th, 2009 at 10:39 AM
no mention of Dwights 20/20 performance? weak
March 26th, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Cavs are so bad without LeBron in the game. Will take an unreal performance for him to win a title because he has to play 48 minutes from the 2nd round on.
March 26th, 2009 at 10:44 AM
irish,
Haven’t been able to watch the magic much. How has the Rafer Alston trade worked out in your opinion?
March 26th, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Bynum’s not that good. They can still win without him.
March 26th, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Great game, loved the block on that bitch PP at the end.
Celts and Magic basically play identical schedules the rest of the way except Bos has to come to Cle, Orl gets the Cavs at home.
March 26th, 2009 at 10:46 AM
lebron simply taking over in the 4th was a sight to see. he’s just absurd when he feels like dominating a game, it’s like a switch. NJ climbed back to take the lead and LBJ just starts taking it to the hole with authority and finding guys with perfect passes to finsih out the game all while putting an instant halt to any late-game momentum vinsanity was trying to gain.
i know wade has been remarkable, d-ho is a beast and kobe is still kobe, but lebron is THE man.
March 26th, 2009 at 10:47 AM
The Cavs performance without Lebron is a little misleading. Generally when Lebron is out of the game, the Cavs will go with Mo and Z together on the court. (Start of the 2nd Q, Start of 4th Q) Those two guys work well together and give a good 1-2. But lately, they’ve been cutting Z’s minutes a ton to keep him fresh. I’m sure they’ll go back to normal when the playoffs start.
March 26th, 2009 at 10:48 AM
so? that’s why the cavs have always been better in the playoffs…your best player plays 42-46 minutes per night, every night.
March 26th, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Interesting stat I saw this morning: over the last 4 games, Lebron has 40 assists versus 4 turnovers. Wow.
March 26th, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Point is that it would be nice for the Cavs to hold a lead at the start of the 4th so LeBron doesnt always have to come in and save the game. Think hes had to do that almost every game this month.
March 26th, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Lets not get ahead of ourselves just yet, the Celtics nearly lost in the first round last year and if the season ended today would face an athletic 76ers team that could give them problems while Orlando’s nemesis Detroit is currently the 7 seed.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:01 AM
Am I drunk or is the Cleveland score listed wrong?
March 26th, 2009 at 11:02 AM
anyone here still maintain that lebron will end up being better than jordan? i dont know about the six titles, but if he gets one this year, he’d be ahead of jordan at the same age.
and to show you how little faith vegas had in his ability – 47 was the over/under (as pointed out by someone on another thread this AM)
March 26th, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Well they can pick up a half a game on the Mavs. Also can drag Portland to within 3 games as well. Only way the Suns make the playoffs is if they go 9-2 from here on out with one of those wins coming against Dallas on april 5th.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Celts and Magic basically play identical schedules
??
March 26th, 2009 at 11:06 AM
So LeBron has locked up the MVP right?
March 26th, 2009 at 11:06 AM
too soon to tell one way or another. he’s damn good though.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Honestly he is already doing things Jordan never could. He will never have Jordans jumper, so obviously that is tough to overcome. Give LeBron Pippen and Grant, or Pippen and Harper/Rodman, mixed with those knock down shooters. He would already have a couple titles.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:07 AM
How has the Rafer Alston trade worked out in your opinion?
not bad. A healthy Jameer Nelson would be nice right now
March 26th, 2009 at 11:08 AM
I maintain he’s capable of joining the discussion as GOAT, although he’s currently nowhere near that. If he gets a title 3 or 4 years younger than Jordans first that would certainly be a good start.
Irish, I looked at the skeds, they both play the same teams the rest of the way, Cavs, Nets, Atl…
March 26th, 2009 at 11:09 AM
if Cavs win the title, I dont think Lebron is going anywhere
March 26th, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Irish, I looked at the skeds, they both play the same teams the rest of the way, Cavs, Nets, Atl
good thing you added basically to your previous statement. Boston has 3 road games and 6 home games left. Orlando has 5 road games and 6 home games left
March 26th, 2009 at 11:12 AM
I’m not a basketball-phile from any stretch of the imagination but in order to surpass Jordan isn’t he going to need to win 6+ rings, 5+ MVPs, and 6+ Finals MVPs? He is well on his way to being one of the best ever but to eclipse Jordan hes going to need some bling, like a lot of bling.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:12 AM
he is on his way. don’t think he needs to win 6 titles as a prerequisite to be the GOAT, but definitely needs multiple titles. Imagine if LeBron develops a fade away…
March 26th, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Jordan didn’t have Jordan’s jumper until he was ~28.
That said, no one ever touches Jordan, IMO.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:13 AM
agreed. he might want to do to Cleveland what MJ did for Chicago
March 26th, 2009 at 11:13 AM
LeBron needs a few things:
1. Develop a post game.
2. Become a more selective shooter. Stop jacking 3’s.
3. Become a better defender.
But, yeah, he’s not far behind.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:14 AM
uh, LeBron already went to the Finals once. what he did that year would have basically been like Jordan taking the 87 bulls to the finals.
i know it’s easy to hate on lebron – the guy is in the neighborhood of 6-9, 265lbs. that’s just not fair. he might be the most freakish nba player in the sport’s history. the size/speed/talent combo is off the charts.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:16 AM
You know who already compares to MJ? Kobe
March 26th, 2009 at 11:17 AM
No
March 26th, 2009 at 11:18 AM
id still put shaq in his prime as the most phsyically dominant player in nba history.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:18 AM
March 26th, 2009 at 11:19 AM
/fixed
yeah can we let hghbron get one ring before we say he is better than mike?…at least kobe has 3 rings
March 26th, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Jordan at age 25:
32.5ppg, 8rpg, 8apg, 3spg, 1bpg. He shot 54% from the field as well.
The Bulls lost in the Eastern Conference Finals that year to the Champion Pistons.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:21 AM
the big dipper. end of story.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:21 AM
don’t be a dumbass with that HGH nonsense.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:22 AM
@NSR: It’s a lot closer than it looks if you pace adjust that.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:23 AM
And making it through the Easter Conference playoffs two years ago isn’t even close to what the Eastern Conference was like 20 years ago.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:23 AM
during a period of time where there were 20 more possessions per game on average. context duder, it’s important.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Kobe has been ahead of the curve of the “better than Jordan at this stage of his career” comparison for years now. Maybe with your heads up LeBron’s ass you guys couldn’t see it.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:26 AM
spence it isnt nonsense when it true..but im talking to a cavs fan so i guess he will be like barry bonds was to giants fan..
March 26th, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Agree with NickP – no one touches Jordan. I am a Cavs fan, but Jordan was other-worldly… especially in comparison to his peers at the time. Right now, there is some argument as to who has the better overall game between Kobe, Lebron, and Wade. When Jordan was in his prime, there was no one even close – any comparison was laughable. Magic Johnson was great, but not comparable to Jordan.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:29 AM
spence you do realize that mj averaged 20 a game as a forty yr old right? if he would have been in his today he would probably walk away with 50 every night. and if you want context back then you were allowed to play defense.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Except that he hasn’t, you’re right.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Jordan V Bron is a silly comparison at this point, way too early. Kobe needs a Shaq-less ring to get back into that discussion, fair or not.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Kobe’s curve began to dip when he let the Suns put a playoff beating on his ass in a game 7. Jordan simply never quit like that with stakes so high.
Kobe looks the part, talks the part, and fist pumps the part, but he’ll never come close.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:34 AM
spence it isnt nonsense when it true..but im talking to a cavs fan so i guess he will be like barry bonds was to giants fan
cmon now man. garbage comment
March 26th, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Darrell – Kobe was in the discussion … when he had Shaq.
Since the Shaq-Kobe split, Lebron’s done much more with far less.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:39 AM
I agree. Which is also why I hold LeBron’s performance against the Spurs in the Finals against him.
Game 1: 4-16
Game 2: 9-21
Game 3: 9-23
Game 4: 10-30
Duly noted.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:39 AM
The Suns won that series because they were better than the Lakers with or without Kobe, which is what is normally the case when a 2 seed is up against a 7 seed. The series went 7 games, which isn’t normally the case, because of the greatness of Kobe.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Since the Shaq-Kobe split, Lebron’s done much more with far less
facts to back this statement up?
March 26th, 2009 at 11:42 AM
proof please?
do you even know what HGH does? do you have ANY evidence whatsoever? bonds had numerous investigations, a partnership with a known, and federally busted, steroid pharmacist, a court testimony leaked and credible eyewitness accounts. does lebron have any of that?
don’t be a douchebag and spout that unsubstantiated bullshit because you have an anti-lebron agenda.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Severe overstatement, thy name is TBL
March 26th, 2009 at 11:44 AM
I don’t think any rational observer thought either Cleveland or LAL was going to win either of those respective series. I don’t hold the loss against either one.
But Kobe quitting in the second half should have left a sour taste in a lot of people’s mouths.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:45 AM
i can’t knock kobe or his resume, but when he up and quit against the suns and then last year against the celtics, that’s pretty damning. i enjoy watching him play, but he flat out quit.
and lebron having some shitty shooting nights against the best defensive team in the league when he was the only threat doesn’t mean he up and quit in the same vein kobe did.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:46 AM
there isnt any “proof” that bonds is guilty either or would be locked up by now. but you’re right i wont say anything about ghgbron being on hgh or steroids again until he is busted and he will be.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:47 AM
BAllin has been pretty weak this year. Last year, we had days with over 400+ comments
March 26th, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Other than this proof, there is no proof.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Not the loss, the performance. Getting swept while putting up a combined 32 for 90 is pretty awful. And apart from two good games (1 great) he had an awful conference finals last year as well.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:53 AM
so that whole perjury trial for lying about taking steroids and that whole positive test thing that the federal govt has doesn’t count as proof?
i can’t believe im actually getting in this argument when you clearly have no fucking idea what you’re talking about.
i agree…it’s a shame too. ballin was the best shit ever last year.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:54 AM
What did Jordan ever do without Pippen?
/pulls pin, walks away
March 26th, 2009 at 11:55 AM
“some” shitty shooting nights? He had 3 shitty nights and one mediocre one in that series against the Spurs. LeBron did quit in that series. Once he saw he wasn’t going to be able to drive with the same success or resulting calls as he had earlier in the postseason, he settled for jacking up jumpshots
March 26th, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Thats the 3rd time Ive seen spencer respond to someone elses comment calling them Duder. Is my name showing up in front of comments I never made, or do you just call everyone Duder?
March 26th, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Kobe rolled over against the Pistons too. Weak. The greats never go down the way he has.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Get hustled and played by Abe Pollin?
March 26th, 2009 at 12:00 PM
and I remember about 1/3 of them turning into Lebron vs Kobe, plus the in-seasons trades added some much needed juice to the fire, because face it, 82 games is a long time
/couldn’t get a password at the time so had to be content reading those Ballin post from the sidelines
March 26th, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Kobe has been the closest in terms of MJ comparisons, especially when he was younger. As we’re seeing his ceiling, he’s obviously going to fall short. He’s still relatively young at 30 though, so his book isn’t closed yet.
Everyone’s jumping on LeBron because he’s got more potential with his natural gifts and age. Don’t confuse potential with achievements though. I do think this is the year that he establishes/established himself as the clear cut dominant player in the league.
March 26th, 2009 at 12:03 PM
You’re Mr. Lebowski. I’m the Dude. So that’s what you call me. You know, that or, uh, His Dudeness, or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you’re not into that whole brevity thing.
March 26th, 2009 at 12:03 PM
calm down spence. cleveland rocks?
March 26th, 2009 at 12:07 PM
I’ pretty sure TBL picked Cleveland to win vs. the Spurs. Though I’m not sure he’d be considered rational.
March 26th, 2009 at 12:11 PM
bring something decent to the table and i wouldn’t get pissed. this used to be a forum for semi-intellectual discussion regarding the NBA, it’d be nice to keep it that way, just a little bit.
March 26th, 2009 at 12:37 PM
what about when i said jordan averaged 20 a night at 40 yrs old? and when he was 25 they actually played defense? remember that? that was cool.
March 26th, 2009 at 12:55 PM
that was cool.
but the defense thing is a little overblown…they play better defense in today’s nba. yes, i said it. you can’t just beat up your opponent or hand check the fuck outta them like the old pistons did, you actually have to have some defensive skill. plus, over 110 possessions per game vs. in the mid-90’s today? wouldn’t that indicate that defense is better today? either that or offenses are slower.
March 26th, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Offenses are slower. MUCH slower. Have you ever seen the Spurs, Jazz or the Pistons play? Waiting until 10 seconds left on the clock to run an offense is garbage. I still think basically committing assault on players in the 80’s was more effective than “good defensive skill” in today’s game.
March 26th, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Jordan doing what he did at 40 is an achievement, in that other 40 year olds couldn’t do it.
But let’s get real: he averaged 20, but shot like shit to get there. Taking a bunch of shots isn’t impressive.
March 26th, 2009 at 1:38 PM
jordan in his prime today would average at least 35 to 40 a game. you know why they have players go up against chairs at pre draft workouts? because they are about as effective as a defender today.
jordan>kobe>bron
March 26th, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Plus the whole zone defense thing. LeBron is forced to take outside jumpers because multiple defenders can just hang around the paint now. If LeBron played in the mid 90s he would easily average 40 ppg. Dunk afer dunk after dunk….
March 26th, 2009 at 1:50 PM
because multiple defenders can just hang around the paint now
they didn’t in the past?
March 26th, 2009 at 1:51 PM
I don’t think so. While in Jordan’s day there ewre players who were better at protecting the rim, today there are better on-the-ball defenders. Prince, Bowen, G. Wallace, Artest, Battier, Marion, etc. Jordan’s toughest defender other than maybe Dumars was John Starks. He faced guys like Ehlo and Majerle.
March 26th, 2009 at 1:52 PM
if teams went to a zone on jordan he would kill them by passing to kerr or paxson or bj armstrong or just murder them hisself form down town.
better shooter. mj > lebrick
March 26th, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Because Lebron never passes.
/get fucking real
March 26th, 2009 at 1:56 PM
False.
/only 320 more to go guys’d
March 26th, 2009 at 1:56 PM
when did i say lebron never passes?
March 26th, 2009 at 1:58 PM
if lebron had a paxson or kerr his life would be alot easier
March 26th, 2009 at 2:03 PM
you didn’t…but you ignored the fact that lebron would also murder them with passing.
and who cares that lebron doesn’t have the jumper MJ did? lebron is a small forward, MJ was a shooting guard. do you want your 6′8″ 250lbs guy with freak athleticism settling for jumpers when he can get just as many points by using that athleticism to his best advantage?
really, what do you want lebron to do? copy MJ to the T like kobe did or do his own thing and be his own player?
March 26th, 2009 at 2:05 PM
The best defender in the league when Jordan played was…Pippen. Nice little advantage Jordan had.
irish, zone D wasnt allowed in the 90s.
Jordan shot the same from 3 that LeBron does.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Except for not being able to shoot, pass, defend, or anything else as well as him.
/zing’d
March 26th, 2009 at 2:08 PM
you might wanna quit while you’re (relatively) ahead.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:08 PM
I would like him to either pratice three pointing shooting to no end or never, ever, ever, ever stop and pop again. Other than that, I have no problems with LeBron or his steroid use…
March 26th, 2009 at 2:13 PM
um..or what?
March 26th, 2009 at 2:13 PM
so what about those games where he gets ridiculously hot and hits everything he sees? it’s not like lebron can’t shoot at all like you are all making it out to be, he’s just as effiecient an outside shooter as dwade or carmelo.
dumb comment.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:14 PM
you’ll continue to dig yourself into the hole of looking like you have no idea what you’re talking about.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:15 PM
The Jordan Rules pretty much established that defenders stayed out of the paint when MJ was playing.
Please – the first time that Icon was hacked to shreds when driving like His Airness was, he’d be whining at the refs while biting his fingernails.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Irish – Sorry to miss convo. Nice win last night. Playoffs will be fun.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:18 PM
@walfredo- i missed the game last night. 3rd one i missed all year
March 26th, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Lebron shoots 33% from 3. That’s as break-even as it gets. Same as 50% from two.
I’d much rather see him jack 3s than jack 22 footers.
/would rather see him dunk on people.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:21 PM
who on the cavs can shoot the 3 like kerr? spence the cavs are a one man show and wont win a title until he gets his sidekick. i dont care how many time sports illustrated tries to compare mo williams to pippen. williams aint no pip.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Of Wade (28%), Melo (31%), Lebron (33%), and Kobe (34%), Lebron is clearly the one guy out of that group who should stop shooting 3s.
/sincere
March 26th, 2009 at 2:25 PM
WHO FUCKING CARES WHO SHOOTS LIKE KERR ON THE CAVS?!?!?!?!
and while delonte and mo might be a few percentage points off of kerr’s makr, they can actually, you know, DO OTHER THINGS. so kerr is better than mo and delonte because he can shoot 3’s a little better? kerr couldn’t defend, handle the ball or pass…does that matter at all?
March 26th, 2009 at 2:26 PM
It was a joke, spence. Calm down. All these Lebron vs. Jordan debates are dumb comments. Let’s wait a few more years shall we? Maybe Wade surpasses Lebron in the meantime…
March 26th, 2009 at 2:27 PM
Swampthang needs to step it up for your Cavs Nick
March 26th, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Irish – I missed the first 3.5 quarters, got home after a great night with the family, and was all relaxed. I almost didn’t want to even turn it on cuz I knew I would get all worked up, but I couldn’t help it. Oh well. Win some lose some.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:30 PM
That’s good stuff, mak.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:30 PM
no it doesnt matter because lebron needs someone who he can pass to and know that the shot is going in .not someone he knows can lock down a defender or dribble the ball.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:31 PM
I didn’t say stop shooting three’s, I said “stop and pop” a three. This is why no one likes Ohio.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Jordan Shits on everyone. No Comparison. Someone win 6 titles then come holla at me.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Mak…oh, im calm, don’t let the CAPS fool you. and i DO think jordan is superior, and will most assuredly always be superior, to lebron, but at the same time, lebron is my favorite player and ive been following him since he was a frosh at my rival HS…and when people use completely retarded arguments to fufill their anti-bron agenda, it irritates me.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:33 PM
good one.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Ohio has AIDS
/Science
March 26th, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Tampa I see you’re a White Sox fan. How sweet, does your prison give you “computer time” every day?
March 26th, 2009 at 2:45 PM
He’s D’ing up like nobody’s business, just needs to get more comfortable with his shot. He landed on the wrist the other day.
Guess you’ve never seen Mo Williams play.
He’s 44% on 5 threes a game. The most Kerr ever attempted in a season is 2.9.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:49 PM
when you got pip as jordans sidekick you cant really expect for kerr to have alot of shots
March 26th, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Lebron should stop chucking threes. Doesn’t mean he should stop shooting them.
/Deep…
March 26th, 2009 at 2:54 PM
he’s not in jail…but his cousin who he’s fucking gets salty when he’s at the computer for too long.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Spence, where’d you go to high school?
March 26th, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Also, for all the talk about Lebron getting to the hoop back in the 80s, watch Jordan play. His jumper was better, but he got to the hoop every time he wanted to. Lebron could get there as often as Jordan, but he’d never get there more. Lebron’s inability to shoot a jumper would hurt his scoring vs. what Jordan put up.
Of course, Lebron is bigger and so could take the hits a little better than Jordan. Though, Jordan had an uncanny ability to finish shots after getting mugged. Lebron tends to miss those.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:00 PM
walsh jesuit
March 26th, 2009 at 3:01 PM
No shit dude? That’s where I went. What year? Class of 2003 for me.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:02 PM
/school for gays
March 26th, 2009 at 3:03 PM
really? 2002.
that’s pretty crazy.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:04 PM
That’s St. Ignatius Tampa Bo. Walsh has been co-ed since 1992.
/irrelevant facts
/sorry about the Off-topic guys
March 26th, 2009 at 3:05 PM
You guys understand he’s still developing his game right? In five years, his shot could very well be deadly. Or it may not, but we’ll have to see.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Spencer was the Emo guy on the Golf Team. He was raped with a 9 iron.
/True story
March 26th, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Damn, one of the best threads in a while. This mrejr8234 kid is a moron though.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Brave, we’re still 280 away. Don’t blow it.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:09 PM
HAH…i didn’t start playing golf until i was a soph in college.
the second part i don’t want to talk about.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:11 PM
@Ruckmaker: Jordan’s midrange shot coming out of college was much better than what Lebron has now.
@Tampa: Nah, that kid was in my class. And he wasn’t raped, he was tackled and had Coke poured all over him in the middle of the commons.
@Spence: Yeah, it is crazy. If you were in band, we definitely knew each other. If you were more on the sports side of things, it’s much less likely.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Brave…when was the last time you went back to visit walsh?
March 26th, 2009 at 3:12 PM
every blog needs its idiot i am this blogs idiot.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:13 PM
What I don’t understand about LeBron haters is why are they so angry? Did he do something personal to each and every one of them? I actually think Jordan and Kobe are ahead of LeBron, but LeBron is still an absolutely amazing player and I would have ZERO complaints about starting a franchise with him. Anyone who refers to him as LeBrick or throws out unfounded HGH statements is simply retarded
March 26th, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Brave…i was going to music school and did the jazz band thing for a year, were you in that too?
/yes, i know im a huge nerd
March 26th, 2009 at 3:15 PM
I provide stiff competition for that award.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:15 PM
mcdawk – easy to hate lebron because it’s easy to hate the best.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Christmas mass. I still go every year because my devout Catholic parents prefer it to the disease infested mass at their normal parish.
/long since lapsed Catholic
March 26th, 2009 at 3:19 PM
@oumike : i win via the amount of dumb statements i make here everyday.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:19 PM
Thought it was a wedge spence?
March 26th, 2009 at 3:20 PM
@Spence: Holy shit. I was in Jazz Band all four years. Yeah, we definitely know each other.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:21 PM
because it’s easy to hate the best
and that is why Kobe gets hated on this site.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:22 PM
@mrejr8234 : if I wrote 1/10 of the stuff I was thinking I would crush you. CRUSH YOU!
/thinks that every freakishly large athlete is on some form of performance-enhancing (muscle-building or endurance building) drug.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Brave…what’d you play? i was the fat guitarist for my last year there who always lost attention and just started to shred for no reason.
/lost 110 lbs in college
March 26th, 2009 at 3:24 PM
oumike…dude the stuff i say here is about .00000000009 % of what im thinking.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:25 PM
duder…na, they’d have to have a really low-bounce wedge to get it up there and the high lofted revolution is relatively recent.
/why am i making jokes about getting a golf club shoved up my ass?
March 26th, 2009 at 3:25 PM
IMO, LeBron gets “hated on” because he doesn’t maximize his potential. He’s more worried about matching his shoes to his uniform or making partnerships with Cub Cadet.
Can you imagine MJ doing that photo posing nonsense before games? That’s the difference between stats-based superstar and legend.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:26 PM
Billy Packer on OTL just noted something LeBron or Jordan didnt do (couldn’t do) that Magic Johnson did:
As a rookie, fill in at center for an All-Star (Jabbar) in the deciding game of the NBA FINALS and put up 42-15-7 to win the series.
THAT’S probably the most incredible stat-line in NBA history when you take into account that PG Magic played C that night.
a rookie, bitches
March 26th, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Ah yeah, I’m 98% sure on who you are. (7 years is a long time though) I played trombone.
Did you go on the Howieson trip to England?
March 26th, 2009 at 3:30 PM
People don’t hate Lebron, just his fans that refuse to acknowledge the greatness of other players b/c they feel that somehow that is a slight against Lebron.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Magic was on HGH.
/as long as mrejr8234 can throw out baseless accusations, so can I
March 26th, 2009 at 3:31 PM
na, i didn’t do shit with walsh my last two years there in terms of extra-curricular stuff.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:33 PM
clown that is the point exactly. What is wrong with a superstar who doesnt take himself seriously. That is why so many people love him. Like it or not, Jordan was an asshole. So is Kobe. Lebron is not, this is why all his teammates love him.
The Cub Cadet comment is beyond ridiculous, didnt Jordan endorse about 45 different products?
March 26th, 2009 at 3:33 PM
oumike…dont just copycat my style dude.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:35 PM
Copying is the purest form of flattery. mrejr is on HGH.
/loves this game
March 26th, 2009 at 3:35 PM
That was a great game, clearly. But other than the context (NBA Finals), was it that much better than Lebron’s 48 in the ECF?
March 26th, 2009 at 3:35 PM
BraveSr, I found Spence in the Walsh yearbook.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:37 PM
That’s what I always admired about Jordan. He didn’t do things just for the money.
/Nike
//Hanes
///McDonald’s
////Gatoraid
March 26th, 2009 at 3:38 PM
well said QuinSnyder
March 26th, 2009 at 3:39 PM
clown…… FTW!!!
March 26th, 2009 at 3:40 PM
magic wasnt on hgh. he was on aids. which he got from using intravenous drugs and/or having ghey sex.
/1980 sterotype’d
//your good young jedi
March 26th, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Ah yeah Spence I know exactly who you are.
/mystery solved time to get back on topic
Lebron > Kobe
/yay on topic
Clown, that about killed me.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Contract HIV
March 26th, 2009 at 3:48 PM
since the mystery’s solved, don’t hold it against me for being an asshole on here.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:50 PM
Post got deleted. I posit that Magic and Tommy Morrison were quite close, and that Magic was playing catcher for old Tommy Gun.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:51 PM
Magic look impressive Irish. C Lee can ball. If they can hit their three’s I think they can get to the Finals. Only problem is they have no one at the 3 that can give LBJ problems.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:51 PM
I’m not talking solely about marketing. When Jordan was James’ age he only had one shoe model, not 5 different models with 3 different colorways like LeBron. He didn’t spread himself out like James does to advertisers. To me, it just seems that LeBron could have a Wilt-esque effect on the game if he had the killer instinct and the willingness to develop his game to go along with his athleticism.
A killer instinct like a snake. Like, I don’t know, a black mamba.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:52 PM
Don’t worry Spence, I’m an asshole in real life. If it helps at all, my name’s Brian and I was the first chair trombone.
Yeah, that’s write TBL commenters. I was the best at blowing the boner in my high school band.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:55 PM
@quin- i like rookie sensation C Lee a lot. great kid with a good work ethic. Good to see you back on here commenting
March 26th, 2009 at 3:57 PM
bravesrrob.
music talent is cool. i would never make fun of that. i wish i knew how to play anything. trombone,gutiar,drums anything.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Kobe without Shaq = not nearly the winner Lebron is.
/Fact’d
March 26th, 2009 at 3:59 PM
if we’re going there, don’t black mamba’s hide in bushes and strike at the ankles of passerby’s? kinda like hiding in a colorado hotel room…
/im sorry, we don’t wanna go there
my memory is a little hazy from back then…hit me up on facebook or something.
i still can’t believe we went to the same HS and were a grade apart…cool shit.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Yea ballin normally a little early for me. Wish he’d do more bball posts in the afternoon.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:03 PM
Kobe w/o Shaq = won 2 Finals games against a team with 3 future HOF’s
LeBron w/o Shaq = diddly poo in the Finals
/Fact’d Revisted Vol. II
March 26th, 2009 at 4:04 PM
Well, I just friended you, going to be awkward if I was wrong about who you are.
@Nick, Lebron’s been in a much easier conference than Kobe has been though.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:05 PM
it’s sad that ray allen and paul pierce are considered HoFer’s. neither are worthy.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:06 PM
@Clown: Kobe w/o Shaq /w Pau /w Odom = 2 Finals wins against a team that Lebron took took to 7 games.
Lebron w/o Shaq /w Z = getting swept by a team that was better than last year’s Celtics.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:10 PM
Lebron’s first four games against the C’s in the ECF:
2-18, 10 TOs
6-24, 7 TOs
5-16, 2 TOs
7-20, 4 TOs
Yea, he really carried them.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:18 PM
Last three games
12-25 11/13 FTs, 5 assists 4 TOs
9-23 13/15 12 Rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 8 TOs
14-29 14/19 5R/6a, 2 TOs
Not to mention he shot 43 FT’s in those first four games. He didn’t exactly light up the court, but he still showed up. Unlike, say, Kobe in game 6 of the Finals.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Yeah, Kobe is lucky he was able to play the Celtics after the Cavs strung them out for 7 games. The Celtics were no doubt tired, let their guards down, and allowed Kobe to take two off them.
And by Kobe, I mean Pau.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Hells yeah Kobe was worn out after going through the beastmodeiest Bestern Conference playoff slate in the history of ever. Every team had over 50 wins.
Sometimes I wonder if he was pacing himself just so he could give LeBronze his first Gold. What a teammate.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:20 PM
QSCoke Binge … great name, obviously
if lebron was so awful, how’d they win two games and eventually get the series to 7?
are you insinuating that person someone else carried them – at any point – in that series?
March 26th, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Because the bottom 6 teams all had 60 losses.
/science’d
March 26th, 2009 at 4:30 PM
No, I’m not. I understand that LBJ is one of the best players in the league. That game 7 he was absolutely sick. But what bugs me is when Cavs fans will just say Lebron is amazing and then site the Detroit game and Game 7. They leave out the fact that he was responsible for losing Game 1 to C’s (the worst playoff performance I have ever seen) or leave out the fact that he played terribly in the Finals.
LBJ is great and I have no doubt he will win multiple championships. But why is everyone rushing to declare him the best ever? Most of my hate extends toward Hollinger, who seems to be just creating new stats daily that prove his point that Lebron is some basketball God that we have never seen before. Let him get a championship first.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:33 PM
False. Actually, two of the those bottom 6 would’ve made the playoffs in the Least.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:35 PM
That’s weird, I didn’t see any of their playoff games.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Quin…i think it’s because people all said he was going to be great and they’re afraid of being proven wrong. charley rosen wrote a piece for ESPN saying lebron is gonna suck and one of lebron’s biggest haters today in the national media is, you guessed it, charley rosen.
same thing happened with tiger woods…there are still crotchety old writers (mostly in england) who think that tiger is unfit to carry jack, tom watson, arnold palmer and lee trevino’s bag. people just don’t like to look wrong.
just a theory tho.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:36 PM
QS -
Agreed that Game 1 against the Celtics was abhorrent. It’s also funny that despite that horrific game, the Cavs STILL almost won the game. Really, the Cavs played terrible ball for the first 2 games (both winnable) and stretched it to 7 with a chance to win with 90 seconds left.
There was only 1 game in Cleveland that Boston truly had a shot at winning within the last 3 minutes. And, this is the team that won the whole thing. Really, the Cavs, who were not NEARLY the team that they are now (thanks Mo and a full year of Andy and a host of others).
LBJ does things nightly that you just don’t see anywhere. He has made some marginal guys really good. At the beginning of the year, no one expected this kind of season (Vegas +/- was 47).
Dude is 24 and basically owns the league. He gets calls, he draws crowds, everyone talks about him. I don’t annoint him best ever, because he’s a lonnnnng way from MJ. But, MJ at 24 was getting Doug Collins fired and trying to figure out how to beat Detroit and Boston with a pack of stiffs on his roster. LBJ has solid role players and Mo and will be a favorite (if not THE favorite) to win it all this year.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:43 PM
@TBL, there were moments early in that series where Swamp Thing was the best player on the court for the Cavs.
The Cavs lost that series because Boobie got hurt. It feels weird to make that claim now that Boobie’s been sucking the whole year.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:44 PM
I love watching him play, I hate him because he’s a dickhead rapist.
I can’t believe you people are still here.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Spence, he was one of the biggest haters. I think he’s really come around. The last couple times he’s written about Lebron have been pretty glowing, especially writing about Lebron’s defense. I think that was his biggest gripe (and it was deserved) was that Lebron played shitty defense.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:51 PM
whow … boobie got hurt? They lost that series when PJ Brown made a fucking shot with the shot clocking winding down and lebron came down and missed.
cleveland totally had a shot in game 7 in the garden, it went down to the final minute
March 26th, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Technically yes TBL, but last year they were extremely limited on offense and (sadly) Boobie was one of their best weapons at the time. When he went down they had almost nothing outside of Bron. He’s much better in his role this year as bench shooter.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Good points Spencer and Wally, and I pretty much agree. I believe Lebron even had a shot at tying up that game with like under 40 seconds left. I don’t think Lebron’s supporting cast gets enough credit. The way that the Cavs are constructed right now really plays to his strengths. Great three point shooters, big men who can shot and don’t need to clog the land, and a nice compliment to LBJ in Mo. The make-up reminds me of the old Bulls teams.
March 26th, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Unfortunetly, I work at a place where I’m not using the internet, and can’t do so until arrive home. That being said, the Kobe “quitting” on his team arguement (against the Suns) is perhaps the weakest arguement I’ve ever seen. Did you guys even watch the game????