**2014 Official NBA Playoffs Thread**

[-King-]

Round 1:

EAST:

#8 Hawks @ #1 Pacers
#7 Bobcats @ #2 Heat
#6 Nets @ #3 Raptors
#5 Wizards @ #4 Bulls

WEST:
#8 Mavericks @ #1 Spurs
#7 Grizzlies @ #2 Thunder
#6 Warriors @ #3 Clippers
#5 Blazers @ #4 Rockets

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

The thing with Jordan was it felt like he was always fighting wars on the basketball court. The Pistons, Knicks, Jazz. There was an emotional element to his game that seems to be lacking for whatever reason with guys like Lebron. I can't really put my finger on it.

I can. Different eras and all these guys are friends. Ever listened to a Lebron PC? This quote prior to the series sums it up.

Whatever happens, happens," he said. "If we play our game, we give ourselves a great chance to win. Win, lose or draw, we'll be alright with it."

[BeeHo]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

I remember Steve Kerr hitting a shot to win the series over the Jazz not Jordan.

You're right. That was game 6 in 1997 where Jordan passes to Steve Kerr. The flu game was game 5.

watch?v=S2BlOTeoZVE

As the video shows Jordan expected Stockton to come off and double him so Jordan told Steve Kerr to be ready for the pass. And the rest was history.

Edit: But in game 6 Jordan did have 39 pts, 11 rbs, 4 asts, 1 stl and 1 blk. You just didn't remember that.

Using KC Connection logic: And if Michael doesn't play an incredible level of basketball and shoot 39 pts, the Steve Kerr shot doesn't mean anything.

My logic: Well, I don't remember Michael shooting for 39 pts. I remember Steve Kerr making the game winner.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

And LeBron has likely been the best defender in the league since he entered it.


It may be "true" but it also doesn't mean anything. So if MJ was good enough to get his team to the finals at some point in his first 6 years instead of losing earlier in the playoffs, such a thing would be held against him if he lost once he got there? That makes no sense.

Yes as far as being the GOAT is concerned. If Lebron loses on Sunday I think much like Manning's embarrassing loss in the SB this should end all talk of Lebron being considered the GOAT.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Yes as far as being the GOAT is concerned. If Lebron loses on Sunday I think much like Manning's embarrassing loss in the SB this should end all talk of Lebron being considered the GOAT.

LeBron is basically Peyton Manning at this point.

He'll never be Joe Montana. Hahaha.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Yes as far as being the GOAT is concerned.

You didn't answer the question. How does rewarding Jordan for not bringing his Bulls team to the finals for the first 6 years make any sense? Are you saying that if he had brought one of those teams there and lost that his legacy would be worse off for it?

If Lebron loses on Sunday I think much like Manning's embarrassing loss in the SB this should end all talk of Lebron being considered the GOAT.

Are you just trolling at this point? LeBron is 29 years old and still in the prime of his career. He could likely play for at least a decade more if he wants to. And as Hamas wrote earlier in this thread, only an idiot would make this series out to be a referendum on LeBron's career and legacy. It's far more about just how good the Spurs are (and just how far Wade has fallen).

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Count Zarth

LeBron is basically Peyton Manning at this point.

He'll never be Joe Montana. Hahaha.

Whitlock just wrote an article making the analogy of LeBron to Manning:

LeBron James is the system in Miami, no different from his time in Cleveland. He has had improved support in South Beach, but he is the system. Like Peyton Manning, James is going to end his career with fewer championships than his skill, intellect and commitment deserve because he has carried far too great of an individual burden.

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2014...ock-disease-lo

As usual, you're in good company with him.

[Hammock Parties]

Deserved's got nothing to do with it. LeBron sucked ass in his first two finals appearances.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by BeeHo

Using KC Connection logic: And if Michael doesn't play an incredible level of basketball and shoot 39 pts, the Steve Kerr shot doesn't mean anything.

My logic: Well, I don't remember Michael shooting for 39 pts. I remember Steve Kerr making the game winner.

Yes, that's right. There would never have been a Steve Kerr shot if Michael Jordan wasn't his incredible self in all the minutes and games leading up to that moment. That isn't taking anything away from it, it's just giving credit to a great player.

[Hammock Parties]

Remember when LeBron got his ass shut down by a geriatric Shawn Marion in the finals?

lulz

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Count Zarth

Deserved's got nothing to do with it. LeBron sucked ass in his first two finals appearances.

You're an even bigger troll than JWhit. Be proud.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

You're an even bigger troll than JWhit. Be proud.

The truth is the truth.

LeBron did not "deserve" to win either of those Finals.

And he didn't.

Great player but should never be mentioned along with Jordan.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Count Zarth

The truth is the truth.

LeBron did not "deserve" to win either of those Finals.

And he didn't.

Great player but should never be mentioned along with Jordan.

You mean the truth that the Cavs and Heat were worse than both the Spurs and Mavericks in those years? That's for sure. And it certainly looks like the Heat are worse than the Spurs this year.


And I'll just put this here because it seems applicable:

Originally Posted by Hamas Jenkins

The Heat are almost the 2007 Cavs at this point. It would be hard to call either Wade or Bosh one of the 50 best players in the league at this point. Ultimately, this will end up being a referendum on LeBron by ignorant basketball fans, but most fans are stupid.

[KC_Connection]

There were no anomalies to point toward. No cramps that sidelined the King at the end of a quarter. No broken air conditioners. No historically incredible shooting percentages that touched on the realm of the impossible. Not this time.

There was just the San Antonio Spurs delivering an utter and absolute 107-86 beatdown to a Miami Heat team that looked overmatched all night in Game 4 if the NBA Finals Thursday — and in doing so reminded us of a basketball truth marinated in so much irony: Even the best player on earth can’t win an NBA championship without some help.

That, too, was front and center as the Spurs employed a balanced attack that included Tim Duncan’s record-setting 158th playoff double-double (10 points and 11 rebounds), Kawhi Leonard’s second straight game of excellence (20 points and great defense), Tony Parker’s steady hand (showcased by19 points), Boris Diaw’s continued renaissance (eight points, nine rebounds and nine assists) . . . on and on it went, a slew of depth on one side and LeBron James with utterly no help on the other.

LeBron James came to Miami to get help and win a championship. It worked. He got it. He won two. He displayed his greatness and gilded it with two rings.

But now, almost four years later, he’s alone again, fighting for something he desperately wants, and looking at teammates who so far simply cannot deliver the support he needs.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/w...himself-061314

[staylor26]

When his team gets blown out by 20+ at home two games in a row and he doesn't get 30 pts in either game he's going to get some blame also. He hasn't made a single memorable play on defense either these past two games.

[ChiefsCountry]

Heat didn't play that bad in Game 3. Just the Spurs played at a historical pace that was just amazing. Game 4 they just got their ass kicked.