NBA 2008-2009 Season

[Akiyama]

Boston is a shell of itself without Garnett. That's a poor correlation.

Sooo.. you're saying that Boston's supporting cast is no where near as good as Cleveland's or something? I'm not trying to put words in your mouth, but you're making it seem like Orlando will have a shit ton more problems with Cleveland (even though Orlando has owned them all year) over Boston, who had two superstars? Granted Ray Allen didn't perform that great, he's still a star that deserves attenion.

[Kajii]

you just answered your own question.

a wannabe Dimmauk, cute

other than saying i'd prefer the Lakers play Cavs in the finals, I have yet to look passed the Nuggets. It's clear they have the potential to beat the Lakers and it's clear that they are a threat. That being said, I still think the Lakers will win the series. Gasol is the key, he just has to take control and realize he is one of the better players in that series. Also rebounds... Lakers need to fucking get them.

I expect to see a much different Lakers team tonight. Lakers in 6.

[Tyche]

No, I'm saying that missing Kevin Garnett made Boston a shell of itself. It's really that simple. Do you honestly think that Orlando would have rolled through Boston with KG on the floor? I don't know what you're asking, but no, I don't think that Boston, minus Garnett, is as good as Cleveland. That doesn't mean that the supporting cast in Boston isn't miles ahead of Cleveland though. I don't know how you inferred what you inferred, but it's pretty reasonable to say that Boston isn't as good as Cleveland without Garnett, but top to bottom, the starting 5 is still better. I guess that really says a lot about what KG means and does for Boston and what Lebron means and does for the Cavs. They are two first ballot HoFers after all.

[Akiyama]

LeBron's not a first ballot HoFer yet. Not to say he won't be, because I'm sure he will be.. but he isn't yet. Let's not go that far.

My point was arguing between Boston's team Top to Bottom and Cleveland's Top to Bottom. I suppose Cleveland is extremely top heavy while the middle of the pack players on that team are way lower in comparison to the middle players for Boston. That's all I was saying. I suppose KG makes Boston's cast (like Perkins/Big Baby) better sort of like LBJ making his supporting cast look better than it is. It does say a lot about both players and what they mean to their teams though.

[Stee]

If the Lakers face the Magic in the finals I think it would be a 7 game series with the winner up for grabs. Obviously adjustments will be made from the season matchups but I'm still not sure the Lakers will close out on Orlando's 3 point shooters especially with their bench coming alive.

The one reason the Lakers lost to the Magic during the season though was because of Jameer Nelson, he put Fisher over his knee and spanked the shit out of him......we'll see about Alston.

And unless Bynum plays defensively like he did pre-injury, Dwight is going to tear apart our interior defense. Lakers winning will be based on their offense.

But for now Lakers need to get past the Nuggets and Magic still need to finish off the Cavs.

8 teams have come back from 3-1? It's possible for the Cavs if Orlando starts relaxing on defense.

And it's possible for the Nuggets to win if our bench doesn't wake the fuck up (I'm looking at you Odom and Vujacic).

[Tyche]

LeBron's not a first ballot HoFer yet. Not to say he won't be, because I'm sure he will be.. but he isn't yet. Let's not go that far.

Yeah, how dare I go that far. That's such a reach...C'mon now

[Diamicles]

a wannabe Dimmauk, cute

not really sure what you mean by that comment, but whatever.

I was just trying to point out how the Lakers fans that I know personally are all talking about the Finals matchup, not acknowledging the fact that they are in a dogfight with Denver right now.

[Kajii]

Dimmauk = official Laker hater/troll/whatever for this thread

it's fun to speculate and it's bound to happen when the Lakers are this "close"(use that loosely) to the finals, but yeah we need to take care of denver first

[Diamicles]

I'm not a lakers hater, I rarely watch the NBA I haven't regularly watched it since I was in high school, so I don't really have a fav team at all.

I'd have to say that I'm rooting for the Magic though, they play the best team basketball imo.

[Akiyama]

Yeah, how dare I go that far. That's such a reach...C'mon now

Yeah. So if he had a career ending injury in the next game, are you saying he'd be considered a Hall of Famer? Yeah. I don't think so. He's a Future Hall of Famer. Not a lock. If Kobe were to get hurt, he'd probably be in just due to the fact that he's played longer. That's all that I have on LeBron right now is the fact that he hasn't been in the league as long.

[Tyche]

Yeah. So if he had a career ending injury in the next game, are you saying he'd be considered a Hall of Famer? Yeah. I don't think so. He's a Future Hall of Famer. Not a lock. If Kobe were to get hurt, he'd probably be in just due to the fact that he's played longer. That's all that I have on LeBron right now is the fact that he hasn't been in the league as long.

yes, absolutely.

[Akiyama]

I wouldn't. Not a first ballot Hall of Famer. And no, don't bring that crock of shit that Colin Cowherd spews about it being the Hall of FAME, because he's a fucking moron when it comes to that subject. He's a moron when it comes to a lot of subjects, but that one most definitely. The dickhead thinks Jose Canseco should be in the Baseball HoF.

[wyrmtung]

I'm not a lakers hater, I rarely watch the NBA I haven't regularly watched it since I was in high school, so I don't really have a fav team at all.

I'd have to say that I'm rooting for the Magic though, they play the best team basketball imo.

Word of warning: If you say anything negative about the Lakers or even question their ability to make it to the Finals then you will be labeled a Laker hater in this thread. Only exception is if you declare that you are a Laker fan. Only then can you say anything negative without two or three guys jumping on you.

[Tyche]

I wouldn't. Not a first ballot Hall of Famer. And no, don't bring that crock of shit that Colin Cowherd spews about it being the Hall of FAME, because he's a fucking moron when it comes to that subject. He's a moron when it comes to a lot of subjects, but that one most definitely. The dickhead thinks Jose Canseco should be in the Baseball HoF.

The kid is a fucking anamoly. It has nothing to do with being famous, it has to do with how many records he's already set and how dominating he is. If he broke his back today, he'd be in the hall of fame without question. You act like he's a sophomore in the NBA. He's been in the league 5 years (or is it 6?).

[Kyo]

This is his 6th year.

[Stee]

This is what happens when people watch too much ESPN.

If Lebron suffered a career threatening injury today before getting a championship, there is no way in hell he would be a first ballot hall of famer. Hell he might not even get into the hall of fame at all, he would just join the ranks of Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill as what ifs.

The guy hasn't even won a championship yet and people are already putting him on a pedestal.

[wyrmtung]

I'm on the side of no Hall of Fame if his career ended today. And definitely not first ballot. The first ballot guys have all-time career records and stuff. He might make HoF with what he has accomplished so far but his chances would be pretty slim.

I like LBJ but this video made me wanna hurl:
YouTube - Inside the Playoff Mind: LeBron James

[Tyche]

You are comparing Lebron's first 5 years to T-Mac's first? Are you fucking serious? And you called me an idiot. T-mac can't even get out of the first round of the playoffs. Since lebron has joined the cavs, he took a team that's been abysmal to the conference semi's in his 2nd year, and then carried them over Detroit to the finals in his 3rd year. All the "lol, you watch too much espn" people can get the fuck over themselves.

This is what happens when people are too emotionally involved into sports and have that "greater than thou" mentality.

[Stee]

Right because I said Lebron's career exactly mirrors Tmacs. There's no way in hell I meant that Grant Hill and McGrady were cut down in their prime without winning a championship.

Learn to read.

[Tyche]

There've been people inducted to the hall with short great careers. There's been people inducted into the hall with 6 good years. Lebron has had 6 fantastic years. 6 all star appearances in 6 years. He'd get into the hall without question if he were to call it quits after this season.