NBA 2016-2017 Thread

[shel311]

I just prefer superstars stay where they are unless they leave due to complete incompetence

Like, say, 7 years with 1 team where the best player you got to play alongside you was Mo Williams?

If that isn't the definition of incompetence, I don't know what is.

He just decided to take the easiest road possible to a title.

I just don't know why that should be frowned upon, to be honest. You can view as the "easiest road to a title" with that negative connotation, but don't we usually applaud guys for going to the team or situation that gives them the best chance to win? I feel like all through history that guy has always been applauded until LeBron did it.

[DRiccio21]

we live in a society now where we can create narratives, put it out into the universe with some belief our opinions matter, create biases from those narratives we created, have them confirmed by other like minded (often irrational/miserable) people, cherry pick data points that compound our narrative, then forget about our narrative when it's proven wrong.

aka Peyton can't win, Lebron is a loser who will never win the big one, etc etc

to conclude... people, in general, are miserable and use their own misery to put down other people for decisions/situations they'd never want to be judged upon themselves (even tho they'd likely do the same thing they 'hate on')

[shel311]

That escalated quickly!!!

[wdoupis]

Yeah, Riccio trying to throw some haymakers here. For the record, I am one of the happiest dudes you'd ever meet. Since that nonsense is out of the way.


The Cavs never got him a superstar to play with but some of the reasons (Varejeo's contract) were things Lebron pushed for. At the end of the day there is a 95% chance Lebron was winning a title in Cleveland whether he ever left or not. Like I said, I just did not like the precedent it would set with the super teams.

As for KD, I did not say it was the wrong thing to do or that it even should be frowned upon. Just I prefer guys stay and finish the fight and try to win where they are. When something like the Heat super team happens again or a star does what KD I will root against that team as well. I mean I guess I could not have said "little bitch" but then nobody responds and we do not hear Riccio's inspirational speech today.

[shel311]

2nd CLE go round GM LeBron has been much, much better than 1st go round CLE GM LeBron.


The one thing I agree with with Riccio is that if I told there was a job out there you could have ,same basic role you have now, in a much better city, that almost guaranteed your company will be more successful, and you will reach your highest potential of your abilities...are you turning it down because it's too easy?

[wdoupis]

In Lebron's case I 100% do not think he did anything wrong by going to Miami and of course I would rather live there than Cleveland. I am not saying at all that he did anything wrong, I just did not like the precedent that was set of everyone trying to scramble to create these super teams and by the new CBA the league and owners agree.

As for KD, I do not think he did anything wrong either. I do not like him any more or less, it just makes it very hard for me to root for him to win a title when he went to one of the greatest teams ever to do it. Just what I prefer.

By the way, Anthony Davis totally qualifies as an "enough dumb moves to leave" to fit my criteria so brace yourself for that one.

[Cnasty]

we live in a society now where we can create narratives, put it out into the universe with some belief our opinions matter, create biases from those narratives we created, have them confirmed by other like minded (often irrational/miserable) people, cherry pick data points that compound our narrative, then forget about our narrative when it's proven wrong.

aka Peyton can't win, Lebron is a loser who will never win the big one, etc etc

to conclude... people, in general, are miserable and use their own misery to put down other people for decisions/situations they'd never want to be judged upon themselves (even tho they'd likely do the same thing they 'hate on')

Are you just copying and pasting this from now on?

[shel311]

By the way, Anthony Davis totally qualifies as an "enough dumb moves to leave" to fit my criteria so brace yourself for that one.

You crossed the line!!!

[wdoupis]

Haha, maybe he will copy and paste the same letter as Lebron but change the city from Akron to Chicago just to make it easy.

[DRiccio21]

Yeah, Riccio trying to throw some haymakers here. For the record, I am one of the happiest dudes you'd ever meet. Since that nonsense is out of the way.


The Cavs never got him a superstar to play with but some of the reasons (Varejeo's contract) were things Lebron pushed for. At the end of the day there is a 95% chance Lebron was winning a title in Cleveland whether he ever left or not. Like I said, I just did not like the precedent it would set with the super teams.

As for KD, I did not say it was the wrong thing to do or that it even should be frowned upon. Just I prefer guys stay and finish the fight and try to win where they are. When something like the Heat super team happens again or a star does what KD I will root against that team as well. I mean I guess I could not have said "little bitch" but then nobody responds and we do not hear Riccio's inspirational speech today.

I actually wasn't speaking about you specifically.

I think all of us are guilty of it. we all hear these narratives constantly. they effect all of us even If some of us try really hard to stick to data as the backbone of our beliefs.

it is really really hard to remain unbiased when you hear subjective blabber 24/7. and for 99.9% of sports fans, they don't want to have to be 'disciplined' when watching sports to discuss it, so they are effected by the Nike marketing campaigns and Stephen A Smith type hype that makes an entire generation believe things like Kobe was the next coming of MJ or Lebron wasn't cut out to win the big one. it happens on some level to everybody about everything and unless you are really knowledgeable on a subject you are going to fall prey to the loudest voices and most persuasive speakers.

[DRiccio21]

In Lebron's case I 100% do not think he did anything wrong by going to Miami and of course I would rather live there than Cleveland. I am not saying at all that he did anything wrong, I just did not like the precedent that was set of everyone trying to scramble to create these super teams and by the new CBA the league and owners agree.

As for KD, I do not think he did anything wrong either. I do not like him any more or less, it just makes it very hard for me to root for him to win a title when he went to one of the greatest teams ever to do it. Just what I prefer.

these thoughts are much better worded than calling him a 'little bitch'

but that is how it works. you put out the thought into the world, it starts off small and innocent, you talk about it enough that you have to defend that bias, then you're calling a dude a bitch. then you start to believe he's a bitch. then you're telling your grandkids that Durant was a little bitch instead of an unbelievable player.

when in reality, if you and Durant sat down in a room and he went over each decision he made and the rationale behind each of those decisions with depth we probably will never get, you might actually agree with all his decisions.

but instead, just wasted your life calling a dude a bitch who you might or might not actually think is a bitch and you ruined your grandkids perception of him!

love everyone! namaste

[wdoupis]

Haha, yeah I get what you are saying but "little bitch" is just for theatrics. I knew I could get a response from Shel.

[shel311]

Draymond also said he wishes the Cavs had faced better competition in the playoffs.

Nevermind that the 2 teams that GS has faced are virtually identical to the 2 Cleveland has faced by just about every metric so far.

Draymond is Nick, he says lots of things!!!

[Cnasty]

God I can't wait for that series.

[shel311]

I worry that GS will make it look easy, but man, if CLE can just win 1 of the 1st 2, it's going to be epic either way.

[Cnasty]

I hope they go 7 and GS takes it

[shel311]

If it goes 7, and especially if it's like last season tied up with 1 minute to go in game 7, I don't care much who wins, that alone will be satisfying.

If forced to pick a team, i'll go with the fighting Lebrons. I think LeBron winning also make the better storyline nowadays, as opposed to the Miami days where the storyline was better with every year he would have lost.

[Cnasty]

I want KD to get one is my primary reasoning.

[shel311]

I want KD to get one is my primary reasoning.

Baiting Billy!!!

[wdoupis]

I want KD to get one is my primary reasoning.

Whyyyyyyyyyyy???????