The NBA . . . . . gone and forgotten

[Senator Clay Davis]

Well another outstandingly officiated basketball game. Ugh. Its mean literally the same play is called differently depending on the situation. They have got to find a way to actually have a consistent enforcement of the rules. The NBA is the only sport where more often than not I find games have far too much influence from officials. I would prefer they just let them play with physicality and actually call violations like travelling and palming and carrying. But then the stars don't get to shine as bright that way, and the NBA unlike the NFL is about the stars and not the teams.

Beyond that congrats to the Thunder, they should easily dispatch whoever they face in the Finals. Could be a pretty ugly series quite frankly, Boston simply cannot score enough to stay with them and Miami can't stop them and Ibaka makes them more of a jump shooting team.

Also, this should be yours Seattle.

[saskflames69]

It would suck to be a Sonics fan tonight.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Drake

Seriously #### you TSN for cutting away from the NBA WCF presentation. If that was some garbage hockey presentation you would have stayed on air.

If it was some garbage hockey presentation a large portion of their viewing audience would want to watch.

[PeteLFan]

Fisher 6 rings. Kobe 5.

Happy for fish good guy. Lakers missed his leadership, and I know Kobe was pissed when they dealt him. Should have kept him and dumped Blake.

[PeteLFan]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I think at the peak of his abilities LeBron can be a better all-time player than Kobe, but he simply hasn't done it enough when it matters the most. Rings really do matter cause why else play the game if you don't want to win? I think the exception for ringless players are guys from the Jordan era (Stockton and Malone namely) because well Jordan is Jordan.

Kobe is interesting because I think had they lost the second Finals against Boston, his legacy would be viewed differently. He had just a horrible game (I'll always remember, 6-24) but they won that imporant 5th title. I'd also say its insulting to say Gasol and Bynum are decent secondary players. Kobe needed both of them, as obviously he wasn't doing so great on his own. He needed Gasol more than Bynum, but without them both in 08 they lost to the Celtics. I'm guessing LeBron would have a ring with two pretty talented 7 footers. I'd say top 5 is almost impossible for Kobe to get to without another ring (MJ, Bird, Magic, Wilt, The Big O), but top 10 for sure. LeBron will need at least 3 to be in the conversation.

He did go 6-24, but you also forget he grabbed 20 boards and defended like crazy. It was a ugly game 7 a physical battle and he made big contributions.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The only thing I think is overrated (and its extremely overrated) about Kobe is his "clutchness". He's not some all time great "closer" or whatever, when he takes almost every last shot the Lakers have had since 2004, he's gonna make a lot...but he's gonna miss even more. Again Kobe's % at the end of games is in the mid-20's for a reason: He often jacks up totally ill-advised shots because he would rather win as the hero than win with someone else getting the glory.

[PeteLFan]

Being a closer doesn't mean hitting winning shots at the end of a game. It's closing a team out by putting a dagger through them, and he's called the black mamba for a reason.

[flames_1987]

Originally Posted by PeteLFan

Being a closer doesn't mean hitting winning shots at the end of a game. It's closing a team out by putting a dagger through them, and he's called the black mamba for a reason.

It's easy to make arguments when you don't use statistics and continue to use your favorite players nickname at nausea

[Senator Clay Davis]

He's called the black mamba because he's black, and as evidence from him ratting out Shaq when he got caught cheating on his wife, he's also a snake, hence the mamba. Kobe doesn't even do the whole dagger thing very well either. 2011 Finals closed out by Artest, 2010 by Fisher, 2001 Horry etc...If you're gonna trash LeBron every chance you get, thats fine, its just Kobe is also very overrated in certain aspects of his game as well.

[PeteLFan]

I'll take your overrated with 5 rings over being a choker and 0-2 in the finals.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I hate LeBron too....I think my posts have made that clear. Kobe is a great player, but Laker fans would have you believe one more title makes him the GOAT, which is beyond laughable.

[flames_1987]

What I find hilarious is people calling Lebron Lechoke again and again after playoff games this season, even after two nights ago, when he had another 30+ point double double and some of the amazing games he played against the Pacers. I'm the furthest thing in the world from a Lebron James fan, but I'm also not blinded by being a fan boy to believe he's not one of the best players in this league right now and has been the Heat's most consistent player in this series by a mile.

[PeteLFan]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I hate LeBron too....I think my posts have made that clear. Kobe is a great player, but Laker fans would have you believe one more title makes him the GOAT, which is beyond laughable.

To be the GOAT he needs 2 more.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Dwyane Wade definitely deserves a lot more blame for this potential Heat series loss than LeBron does. Wade looks like he's running out of gas most nights, half-hustling his way back on defense, picking up cheap fouls. I still think Wade will be shipped out before the start of next season, with Orlando, Philly and Chicago all possible landing spots.

Kobe could win 15 more rings and he won't be Jordan. Jordan changed the game forever, can't say the same for Kobe. Kobe can't even be the greatest Laker of all time, so I cannot see him being the GOAT.

[V]

James is such a choker.

[OILFAN #81]

Lebron with 30 points.......in the 1st half. 55-42 Heat at halftime.

[flames_1987]

Lebron James is the biggest choke ever to be on the brink of making 3 NBA finals...and having a game like thos on an elimination game. What a choke artist...

[Senator Clay Davis]

Not saying LeBron hasn't been incredibly great, but if he has 50 in the first three quarters and 0 in the fourth and they lose, you know whats coming.

[flames_1987]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Not saying LeBron hasn't been incredibly great, but if he has 50 in the first three quarters and 0 in the fourth and they lose, you know whats coming.

Oh of course and I'm not a Lebron fan by any stretch of the imagination, I just can't handle the PeteL response of pure fanboy. Heat look unstoppable tonight though with their athleticism.

[Senator Clay Davis]

This is what drives people insane about LeBron though. Why doesn't he play with this kind of aggression and confidence all the time?