lolawilliams:

I'll always respect any decision made by the cavs, but I think bringin in old players isnt worth it, esp when we face the warriors in finals. Even if we dont get a superstar, we shld go for young role players.

Warriors startin 5 is my problem

Mizzzbeee:
he shud go to the heat. Also don't know why KD ddn't consider the clips. Cuz av bin calling it from day 1 hw the clips wud b perfect for him

nairamaniac:
worriors starting 5 is the biggest problem the NBA has ever had.

lolawilliams:


I'm telling you. Its just like the 72win chicago bulls getting david robinson or the magic johnson 80's lakers getting larry bird, you know that a deadly squad. Never before as a team good as the warriors added a nice prolific shooter like K.D.

One of the best players this previous season and also one of the greatest scorer in history. He never joined just any team too, he joined a team that avg 115pts per game. Seeing all this makes me think.

Compare K.D shot chart to Barnes own this past season too. The diff is way toooo clear. Wow the warriors startin 5 is really the biggest problem the NBA has ever had

SIRcumalot:


Making the WCf is an over achievement?
Like it is something they haven't done before.

nairamaniac:


U are wrong in some parts of your response and misunderstanding me a bit at some other parts.

Jordan was good, athletic, prolific scorer like the league had never seen. But no one envisaged he would be a player to attract rings to his club.

They placed Jordan in the level of bird and magic. This two brought rings within the first 4years of their careers.

Besides, Jordan was 6-6 and also skinny. Before Jordan, players of his size, stature and position(hardly) led their teams to championships.

Upon how good he was no one ever saw him as someone to take the bulls to where bird&magic had taken their respective teams to.

The u expectations stayed that way till they cracked the code against Detroit 1991.

What was so special about the better team mates Jordan got prior to 91?

He didn't Get better or great teammates. Those teammates got better under Jordan's influence. These are two different things. You really need to read the testimonies of all those players prior to 91.
Did you ever read books that contained testimonies of Jordan's teammates prior to 91?

I'm not playing age-card on you. Cos I believe u also know stuffs I don't even know.

Who the hell were horace grant and pippen prior to 1990. They were just average players in their 3 year. They both got drafted the same year, sometime around 87.

You are so wrong about bulls recruiting rodman because they needed him to replace Grant.
Grant and Rodman were two extremely different kinds of players. Grant was just an average power-forward. Rodman was a rebounding-specialist that had led the league in that regard several times before his time in Chicago. He was also a defensive guru that had won defensive player of the year on two occasions.

The bulls drafted rodman not as a replica of Grant. But because Jordan had modified his game when he came out of retirement 1995. Jordan was shooting better and driving less to the basket. He worked more on his shots and post-moves more than he did on his drives and leaps. I know all these because I watched documentries and tapes of his training while they were shooting Space-jam, 1996.
Jordan gave warner bros a condition, that if he was to act the movie, they had to build a dome for him to practice. The production company built the arena from scratch because of Jordan. I was opportuned to watch his focus of improvements.
The bulls got rodman cause they realised and knew Jordan was a completely different player from the one that retired 1993. He was shooting more. Had developed the best post moves, fade away shots I'm the league. They need rodman to pick up the pieces.

The Grant that you say "was sooo big'. Please how big was he? Hr didn't even make one all-star all through the years of the bull's first years of championships. He made his 1st allstar I'm Orlando sometime 94 or 95.


Now let me take it down to your period of 96 and thereafter.

Accordingbaseyou " Jordan NEEDED great team mates. Tony Kukoc (best Croatian player),Longley (best Australian player)". And so bloody what if they were the best players from their countries.

Amino kanu is the best nigerian player. Just like olumide oladeji was the best player in nigeria at a time. Does that make them "great players" in anyway?

I'm the best player in my village, does DAT make me a great player in Nigeria.

Please stop validating the helping hands Durant reached out for in order to win rings by exaggerating the greatness of Jordan's teammates. Its an insult to greatness itself. If u wanna validate Durant's impending ring due to his move, please leave Jordan out of it.

When I talk, I don't use stats or Google. I talk from all I saw and witnessed. Dont get me wrong. I'm not that old. Im in my 30's. But I started playing basketball at at of 8.

I played as a kid in same court olumide oyedeji, islander and ebun comet players. We met every Sunday at air force base, Ikeja, and all the best players in the country came from far and wide to play there.

Who are the so called worthy hands you are refering to in the three peat period. Besides pippen, none of those players could do anything without Jordan in their mist.

please continue in my next post.

nairamaniac:



You are talking of Kobe staying in Charlotte. When Kobe was drafted by Lakers in 96, they were not a great team. They just got a shaq from Orlando that was just swept by the bulls. They were not a great team,but a rebuilding-team. Can you compare what Lakers were in the league when Kobe went there to what the GSW are as at today that Durant is going there?

You are talking of Kobe winning rings in his early years. Guy, there's a big/huge difference between leading your team to win rings and being led to win rings.

During the first few years of championships in Lakers between 2000 and 2002, Kobe was too small in the mist of Shaq, Duncan and Iverson. These 3 were leading their teams. Kobe was being led.

When Lakers met 76's in the 2000 finals, it was called David vs Goliath. No one and I repeat "no one" places Kobe in that conversation. Kobe later gained his respect and solidified his greatness when he finally led Lakers without shaq.

If shaq had stayed and continued leading them in NBA finals, Kobe would have just been a pippen to shaq.

Weather Kobe asked to be traded or not because he needed help, bottom line is that he stayed and won rings in the same team. How many all stars came to help him out? Besides pau Gasol who had made it once. Wd you really see Lamar or artest as great players that were enough to encourage him to stay to compliment him as much as himself, Robert Hurry and shaq did for themselves during their 3peat?
This shows that once again you failed in your attempt to validate Durant's need for help by equating it to Kobe's need for help that kept him in Lakers.

Get it right, I never said "every team he plays in gets to the finals".

I sed "Truth is there was/is no top10 team in the league Lebron would go to that wouldn't get to the finals or win the cham. We can't say the same of Steph or Durant".

Steph has been the better player for past one of two years. But you can't put a finger on how much influence he would be in Chicago bulls if he was traded for rose. But ohhh yes, out Lebron next to butler and Gasol and see if they wdnt become contenders?

Just so you know, I was never carried away to feel OKC was a better team than GSW when they tied the series. To me: it was good enough that OKC had found ways of playing against GSW better than previous team GSW faced. I watch movements in matches. Not final-scores and stats. I played basketball as a youth under some great big Nigerian coaches. Like coach Noic of islanders coach Mark of police bombers. These were coaches that taught us modern strategies at the time. Believe me, if you ever played basketball to a level u would see the game much better and clearer that what those stats and points say. I played in all major-courts in lagos. Rowpark yaba, cantonment Ikeja, airforce base, and my school Atlantic hall won secondery school tournaments. Only american international school (AIS) was better than us. We played the game like foreign high schools.
So believe me, when I say these things, I'm not speaking as a fan or observer of stats and scores. I see the game as a player and one taught by good coaches.

I'm not a fan of mourinho, but let's give him his due respect for curbing Barca's dominance in like 3 different teams. You always want to refer to scores and victories. That's the mistake you make. Do you realise that it was mourinho that gave other coaches/teams the template on how to play barca and to an extent Spanish national team?

Good teams started marking barce defenders and midfielders quicker so they are forced to make "fast" rather than "slowly"

Barca like spain are more dangerous when they pass and build up from their defence/midfield at a slow rhythm. When u force them to play and move fast, u have neutralised them. This was what made xavi redundant in his last 2 seasons in barca and last world cup.
Take it or leave it, mourinho started this.

And yes, lastly I reiterate, "never been the type to measure greatness with rings. I would always put strength of character, aura of positive influence and unequalled charisma over Rings, anytime, any day."

please continue in my next post below

Eruditor:


If Aston Villa gets to a UCL final, it is not an overachievement because they have won it before?

lolawilliams:

I'll always respect any decision made by the cavs, but I think bringin in old players isnt worth it, esp when we face the warriors in finals. Even if we dont get a superstar, we shld go for young role players.

Warriors startin 5 is my problem

nairamaniac:

I tire for the guy (eruditor). abeg help me ask am who else would have stopped them?
when last have both Westbrook and Durant been fit in same season/playoffs?

The only team that could have stopped them was spurs. And they had lost their 3leaders to old age. Leonard and Aldridge can't lead for now like Duncan, Parker and Ginobli.

please who else could have stopped OKC?

SIRcumalot:

a challenger will arise in the West am almost certain.
when the big 3 in Miami formed we all thought they would roll through the league winning not 1,not 2 not 3.
the Celtics didn't go away easily,Indiana reared it head also the spurs In the West.

this new warriors is way better than that heat team but the Western conference is tougher too. am looking at Memphis,the Spurs and the cavs in the east

tension dey rise,so let's be civil.

nairamaniac:


that's true. but some guys seem to be missing my point. I'm not wishing Durant any sort of failure in golden states.

I'm just feeling sorry for his rep and legacy in the eyes of those(me inclusive) who still see the game from the STREET perspective.

Forget the influence of social media, the glamour and all sorts that have put so much artificial and commercial value to that thing called "ring" or "champion".

There are more beautiful stories in the history of the game that had nothing to do with rings.

Take it or leave it, basketball like rap were formed on the streets.

no matter how many Grammies jay-z or lil Wayne may win.

They would always play second fiddles to the rakims and nas when they are all traced back to their roots, where it all started. let me stop at that be4 I derail the thread.



I don't expect everyone to agree with me though. when u have a passion for something you would find yourself unconsciously being interested in its roots, history and originality. Not all those stats, scores and wikipedia bullshit you see everywhere these days.

it kind of hurts me for KD. I wanted him to win titles even ahead of Lebron, who is my favourite.

By this, he has lost STREET-CREDIBILITY to an extent that cannot be compared to Lebron's move to Miami.

nairamaniac:


clips WD HV been perfect for Durant. but i doubt they have the cap-space to accommodate him. Going there, would have maintained his legacy & reputation.

Manutd19:
Some people here acting like they will rather achieve their success working in a bank than rejecting a chance to work in an oil/gas coy just to maintain legacy. Smh

lolawilliams:

Exactly, nice write up, K.D ring would only be ceremonial, it wld never have as much value as those who won it through tougher adversities.

What's going on with cavs, looks like they trying to fill that team with old veteran players, R.J, mike dunleavy and there are rumours going on that we're trying to get chris anderson. I dont think thats a good idea, though I read that dunleavy has a good defense, a 3pts shooter and a lil dirty, It wld hve been grt to see delly play with him. Old players can never beat that warriors startin 5

But I havent seen a big signing, leBron and JR are yet to sign also. Im not feeling all of this, I swear.

SmooshCHN:
Honestly, that's the truth about life. Criticizing him cos he made his decision meanwhile most of us will pick up $250,000 without a owner. It's just double standard and the selfishness of man. Which NBA player wouldn't go to the Warriors if they had a chance?? It's just nice to see you and others are truthful about his move.. Many would've done the same without thinking twice..

Let Durant worry about his Legacy and you worry about yours Nairamaniac

Manutd19:




Pure bs. If you consider going to the warriors a stain of his legacy, how would going to a team with CP3, Deandre Jordan, Blake Griffin, Crawford any different?
I bet if he chose the Clips, you people would still rants abt it. That's just how the world is.
Lebron has been about making calculated starting from "THE DECISION".
It's bn said that Westbrook will be leaving next year. Durant might not be willing to start all over at his age and among the teams he could go, he prefers the Warrior playing style. Why is this so difficult for some people to grab? Yes the warriors has Curry, klay....pls who among the teams who made pitch for him doesn't aside from celtic?
Clippers: CP, griffin, D.J
Spurs: Aldridge, Kawhi and the 3 wise men
OKC: Foolishly traded Ibaka, a westbrook that's likely a gonner next year and him. I bet he's not interested in going tru rebuilding for now.
Anyone that thinks Lebron is now more saint than durant knows nothing about .....imo.

nairamaniac:


hanx dear.
The ring would outrightly be ceremonial.

The situation would never be as valuable as it would HV, if he had done it with OKC. which I totally believe they were close to doing with one or two added pieces.

If you remember, I stood for Durant winning a ring in His carrier. To be honest, if durant had stayed and come out of the west ahead of GSW, I would have supported Durant to get his ring in OKC.

I wonder y my opinion would cause problems.

I wonder for cavs with those players. I don't see the mike dunleavy as such a special player.

I wish delly had stayed though. he marks
U can't write out the cavs future-plans yet. Maybe they are looking forward to trades rather than free agents.

There may be trades.

birdman:


kai. why do warriors fans have to personalize everything. no i am not pissed. seriously. I really am not. just dissapointed. Even with his addition, the west is not a sure win for warriors next year (the spurs have another year to gel after all the new additions last year). In terms of what is best for his career, you and I can only speculate. But think about it this way - let me put what I thought his top 4 should have been

Celtics - He becomes the go-to guy on a young but dangerous team, and the face of top 2 storied franchises in the nation. Instantly, the news will be about an LBJ-Durant ECF battle, for years to come. This was the team I thought would be best by far for his career.

Mavericks - This team was one scorer away from contending last year. Imagine Durant comes in and they get to WCF - MVP on a big market team. I'd say his rep is made.

Wizard - Backcourt of Wall and Beal. Again, he becomes the face of the Wiz. Athough he will share the limelight with Wall, Wall can be more a true PG and wont eat into Duran't points. Another instant ECF contender

OKC - He remains with westbrook and the twin towers. Coach Donovan will only get better and they will likely get to WCF again.


He left all these much better career options to become number 3 or 4 option on a 73 win team? Maaaan, this was a bad move. I am rooting for Durant, but this is going to hurt when it finally sets in for him. Worst thing is, if the warriors win next year, he is just another dude on a winning team. If they lose, oh boy....

Bobbieydeey:


He should have gone to another team tbh you & I know that, a team beat you so bad you hop on their train real quick....zero competitiveness from Durant. Nonetheless dude wants a ring so bad, age is on his side also so let's just enjoy the NBA and get ready for scores like 89-160

nairamaniac:


that's true. but some guys seem to be missing my point. I'm not wishing Durant any sort of failure in golden states.

I'm just feeling sorry for his rep and legacy in the eyes of those(me inclusive) who still see the game from the STREET perspective.

Forget the influence of social media, the glamour and all sorts that have put so much artificial and commercial value to that thing called "ring" or "champion".

There are more beautiful stories in the history of the game that had nothing to do with rings.

Take it or leave it, basketball like rap were formed on the streets.

no matter how many Grammies jay-z or lil Wayne may win.

They would always play second fiddles to the rakims and nas when they are all traced back to their roots, where it all started. let me stop at that be4 I derail the thread.



I don't expect everyone to agree with me though. when u have a passion for something you would find yourself unconsciously being interested in its roots, history and originality. Not all those stats, scores and wikipedia bullshit you see everywhere these days.

it kind of hurts me for KD. I wanted him to win titles even ahead of Lebron, who is my favourite.

By this, he has lost STREET-CREDIBILITY to an extent that cannot be compared to Lebron's move to Miami.

SIRcumalot:

Warriors fans won't see your point it isn't in their interest too.
Bron and KD move is the same thing different circumstances but ultimately the same reason and goal.
Durant will be fine same as bron was.
A lot of why fans are in uproar(aside form OKC people) about this move is the lack of competition perceived. Which won't be so.
A few final MVPs another regular season MVP and we'll all be on his nuts again.

Not that I don't get what you're saying a,ship is a ship
but ask any true basketball fan what their favourite champion title run is as a neutral in the last 10yrs and they will point to the mavs 2011.

The rings Is the cause always the rings
I fear for Chris Paul.

SmooshCHN:
I feel for CP3.. What would you do if you were him? Or what do you think he should do?

SmooshCHN:
Honestly, that's the truth about life. Criticizing him cos he made his decision meanwhile most of us will pick up $250,000 without a owner. It's just double standard and the selfishness of man. Which NBA player wouldn't go to the Warriors if they had a chance?? It's Justice nice to see you and others are truthful about his move.. Many would've done the same without thinking twice..

Let Durant worry about his Legacy and you worry about yours Nairamaniac

SmooshCHN:
But Cavs would've bought Wade if they had the money to do it and it would be OK right?? The dude wants rings just like when LeBron wanted rings and took a Pay cut to team up with Wade and Bosh. Double standard and Nigerians are 1 and 1.

nairamaniac:
. spurs and clips did not just whoop his a.s.s the very previous season he may have moved there.