The NBA season's here!!!

[blyempowered]

How about Lebron's defense on Rose?

My goodness.

How about Mike Miller playing like the guy they signed?

If the Heat had Haslem and Miller for the whole season they might have had the best record in the NBA.

YES! Ummm do you think they could have broke the 72-10 record THIS YEAR?

[lordluvr]

So much to respond to.  I'll just summarize:

1.  RJ, I agree with everything you said.  And yeah, I thought the same thing when seeing bly's quip about the Miami Heat predictions.  lol

2. Mike Brown is an excellent coach, period.  I'm glad he's getting a shot with a quality squad.  It'll be interesting to see what group of players he ends up with, but with the current squad, I can see a Miami-like defense developing, but with more shot-blocking from the bigs instead of the perimeter players.

3.  It's too early to declare LeBron one of the greatest of all time.  One or two more years of performance like his past 7, and I think it's a folly not to include him in the discussion.

4. The Heat defense is currently the best in the league.  RJ already ran down ALL of the key defensive components.  These are individuallly good components that play well as a team.  Scary.  Just scary.  Were it not for the need to have rotations for different purposes, the Heat has the potential to shut teams down for the entire 48 minutes.  Like it or not, though, there's a need to have guys like Bibby on the court at points.  He can shoot the 3, but can't stay with his man on D.  If Chalmers were a better ball-handler and floor general, he'd get more minutes because the boy can defend.  If Joel Anthony had any kind of offense...Whew!

Ok, I'll stop now because I did say I was only going to summarize.  LOL.

[Arkhams Finest]

YES! Ummm do you think they could have broke the 72-10 record THIS YEAR?

I don't think so.  73-9 is pretty tough.  That record may stand for a while.

The Heat won 58 games without Haslem for the entire year and with an injured Mike Miller for part of the year. 

I think they easily could've been in the mid-60's at full strength.

[blyempowered]

I don't think so.  73-9 is pretty tough.  That record may stand for a while.

The Heat won 58 games without Haslem for the entire year and with an injured Mike Miller for part of the year. 

I think they easily could've been in the mid-60's at full strength.

I agree, but I believe that if any team is capable of breaking the Bulls' record it can be this Miami Heat dynasty (I'm saying "dynasty" because I believe they are capable of winning 2-3 titles in a row and maybe 5-7 when it's all said and done and yes I exaggerated the 5-7.....LOL!).

[blyempowered]

And let me correct something Rev. Arkshams.....LOL!

Yes, after the Lakers loss I declared Miami (if they beat Boston, which they did) the team to beat. My quote from last night is in thinking about at the beginning of the year....GOT IT???.....LOL!!!

[Arkhams Finest]

And let me correct something Rev. Arkshams.....LOL!

Yes, after the Lakers loss I declared Miami (if they beat Boston, which they did) the team to beat. My quote from last night is in thinking about at the beginning of the year....GOT IT???.....LOL!!!

Ooooooh, ok.  I got you.   

[chevonee]

So much to respond to.  I'll just summarize:

1.  RJ, I agree with everything you said.  And yeah, I thought the same thing when seeing bly's quip about the Miami Heat predictions.  lol

2. Mike Brown is an excellent coach, period.  I'm glad he's getting a shot with a quality squad.  It'll be interesting to see what group of players he ends up with, but with the current squad, I can see a Miami-like defense developing, but with more shot-blocking from the bigs instead of the perimeter players.

3.  It's too early to declare LeBron one of the greatest of all time.  One or two more years of performance like his past 7, and I think it's a folly not to include him in the discussion.

4. The Heat defense is currently the best in the league.  RJ already ran down ALL of the key defensive components.  These are individuallly good components that play well as a team.  Scary.  Just scary.  Were it not for the need to have rotations for different purposes, the Heat has the potential to shut teams down for the entire 48 minutes.  Like it or not, though, there's a need to have guys like Bibby on the court at points.  He can shoot the 3, but can't stay with his man on D.  If Chalmers were a better ball-handler and floor general, he'd get more minutes because the boy can defend.  If Joel Anthony had any kind of offense...Whew!

Ok, I'll stop now because I did say I was only going to summarize.  LOL.

I agree with all of the above. Somebody give Bly some Prozac befoe (int) he hurt somebody...LOL!!! I hope the Heat don't win it all this year but if they do....they just do! I know one thing though, DIrk is SHONUFF BALLIN!!!!!!!!!

[blyempowered]

Who yall got winning tonight? OKC extending to Game 6 or Dallas closing it up? I got Dallas closing it up tonight to head to finals!

[chevonee]

Who yall got winning tonight? OKC extending to Game 6 or Dallas closing it up? I got Dallas closing it up tonight to head to finals!

GO DALLAS!!!!! WoooHooooo!!!!

[chevonee]

*is screaming* GO MAVS..GOooooo!!! DAWG GONE IT!!!!!!

[blyempowered]

Looks like another OKC collapse in the making.....SMH!

[blyempowered]

Wow!!! 13.3 seconds 100-96 Dallas! Can OKC do anything???......SMH!!!

[blyempowered]

It's over! 102-96 and Dallas is heading back to the NBA Finals!!!.......WOW!!!! Dallas wins in 5!

[SirTJ]

Poor OKC. They have to do something about the Westbrook effect. On the other note, Dallas has proven to be a very lethal team this year. I think they're going to beat Miami.

[chevonee]

Poor OKC. They have to do something about the Westbrook effect. On the other note, Dallas has proven to be a very lethal team this year. I think they're going to beat Miami.

I sure hope so!!!



On another note, Ray and I have been talking about us getting back together so let us know when you guys are available!!

[blyempowered]

So (assuming Miami finishes the job) we have a Miami/Dallas Finals rematch from 2006 in which Dallas had 2-0 lead and then lost 4 straight. We have Dallas, the veteran team featuring Dirk and Terry who were a part of that 06 team. Dirks is going for his first title and many believe he needs this title in order to be in the conversation for top 25 players of all time.

Miami has the superteam of LBJ, DWade and Bosh. Many did not have them making it to the Finals under the idea that they needed time to get it together. With the aging of the Celtics (plus a controversial trade), Bulls' lack of scoring, Knicks non-readiness and a dumb trade by Orlando it setup everything for Miami to make it to the Finals. If you're objective you would have to agree that this Miami Heat is one of the most scrutinized teams EVER! Why? Due to the superteam concept and LBJ deciding to leave Cleveland to fight for titles.

This Finals is very important to LBJ because he has the possibility of being in the conversation for top 10 players of all time. However, in order to be in that conversation he must win rings. And I agree with those who believe that this Miami team must win multiple titles for this entire "decision" and all of that to be vindicated. However if LBJ wins the ring this year it will justify his departure from Cleveland.

Dallas has Dirk, a good bench, good shooters and a lot of good veterans. The biggest concern I have about them is their defense and sometimes looking like the Orlando Magic, living and dying on the 3. Miami has a big 3, a fair bench (even though Dallas may have better bench...idk), and pretty good defense. Lack of size may be an issue but I believe the dominance of the Big 3 neutralizes.

So who wins? My belief is that with homecourt advantage and 3 superstars (depending solely on the bench play and defense aiding), Lebron James will get his first ring in a VERY TOUGH 7 game series! Miami Heat in 7!

Any questions? Good! Have a great day!.....LOL!

[lordluvr]

Poor OKC. They have to do something about the Westbrook effect. On the other note, Dallas has proven to be a very lethal team this year. I think they're going to beat Miami.

I don't know whether or not they're going to, but I can say that they definitely have the potential to.  They do one thing consistently that Chicago isn't currently doing- make the extra pass.  Dirk may be their star, but even he makes the extra pass to the open guy.  The way Miami's defense swarms, the ONLY way to beat that type of defense is to make the extra pass.  So, assuming Miami is able to pull out the series, the Miami/Dallas series looks like it may be great.

Something else just came to mind.  I just talked about the Dallas offense.  A glaring weakness for them is their defense.  J Kidd isn't going to get strips like he did against Durant.  He will be forced to defend perimeter players which ends up being an advantage for Miami.  Dribble peneatration is gonna kill them, either through a lot of points in the paint, or foul trouble for the bigs.  In either case, it won't be pretty.

[lordluvr]

So (assuming Miami finishes the job) we have a Miami/Dallas Finals rematch from 2006 in which Dallas had 2-0 lead and then lost 4 straight. We have Dallas, the veteran team featuring Dirk and Terry who were a part of that 06 team. Dirks is going for his first title and many believe he needs this title in order to be in the conversation for top 25 players of all time.

Miami has the superteam of LBJ, DWade and Bosh. Many did not have them making it to the Finals under the idea that they needed time to get it together. With the aging of the Celtics (plus a controversial trade), Bulls' lack of scoring, Knicks non-readiness and a dumb trade by Orlando it setup everything for Miami to make it to the Finals. If you're objective you would have to agree that this Miami Heat is one of the most scrutinized teams EVER! Why? Due to the superteam concept and LBJ deciding to leave Cleveland to fight for titles.

This Finals is very important to LBJ because he has the possibility of being in the conversation for top 10 players of all time. However, in order to be in that conversation he must win rings. And I agree with those who believe that this Miami team must win multiple titles for this entire "decision" and all of that to be vindicated. However if LBJ wins the ring this year it will justify his departure from Cleveland.

Dallas has Dirk, a good bench, good shooters and a lot of good veterans. The biggest concern I have about them is their defense and sometimes looking like the Orlando Magic, living and dying on the 3. Miami has a big 3, a fair bench (even though Dallas may have better bench...idk), and pretty good defense. Lack of size may be an issue but I believe the dominance of the Big 3 neutralizes.

So who wins? My belief is that with homecourt advantage and 3 superstars (depending solely on the bench play and defense aiding), Lebron James will get his first ring in a VERY TOUGH 7 game series! Miami Heat in 7!

Any questions? Good! Have a great day!.....LOL!

No questions, but I'd like to chime in on this top 10 greatest players talk.

I think it's unfortuntate that there is a prevailing belief that a player has to have a team he plays on win a championship before he can be legitimately considered an "all time great".  I think multiple factors need to be considered.  Of course, stats need to be considered.  One stat that should be looked at more is the percentage of games the player's team won with him.
With that stat alone, LeBron should be considered.  Teams win when he's a part of them.  Look at Cleveland with him.  Now look at them without him.  Look at Miami's record last year.  Look at them now.  I'm just saying. 

In my mind, he'll go down as an all-time great, if he continues to play at his current level for a few more years- regardless of how many rings he does or doesn't have.

[Arkhams Finest]

No questions, but I'd like to chime in on this top 10 greatest players talk.

I think it's unfortuntate that there is a prevailing belief that a player has to have a team he plays on win a championship before he can be legitimately considered an "all time great".  I think multiple factors need to be considered.  Of course, stats need to be considered.  One stat that should be looked at more is the percentage of games the player's team won with him.
With that stat alone, LeBron should be considered.  Teams win when he's a part of them.  Look at Cleveland with him.  Now look at them without him.  Look at Miami's record last year.  Look at them now.  I'm just saying. 

In my mind, he'll go down as an all-time great, if he continues to play at his current level for a few more years- regardless of how many rings he does or doesn't have.

I agree, championships weigh too heavily in considering a players greatness.

Karl Malone won 0 rings.

Charles Barkley won 0 rings

Patrick Ewing won 0 rings

John Stockton won 0 rings

Robert Horry won 7 rings.

Fact is, a lot of GREAT players had the misfortune of playing on teams that were barren of talent, or in the same era as dominant teams.

If Lebron never wins a ring I'm prepared to say he's one of the greatest players I've ever seen.

6'8, 260+ pounds, quick as a guard, strong as a power forward.

Vision and passing ability of an elite point guard, great rebounder, tremendous athleticism, decent outside shot, fantastic finisher around the rim, lockdown defender, and a genius-level basketball IQ.

What more do you want?  He's the Rolls Royce of Basketball players.

[phbrown]

What more do you want? 

championship rings