next »

[T R E N C H]

Unbelievable. They havent even won a single GAME together yet!! Bosh has three playoff victories to his name in 7 years. Wade has 1 title. LeBron has none. Without Kobe, they couldn't win gold in 2006 World Championships.

Jesus Christ, would it kill these guys to have a LITTLE humility?? This hubris of theirs is gonna bite them in the ass, I think. LeBron promised all this stuff to Cleveland and didn't deliver at all. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they don't win a single championship together. Seriously.

Best threesome? Try Jordan/Pippen/Rodman, Magic/Kareem/Worthy, Bird/McHale/Parrish, etc...

[kal-el]

^^^Sounds Like LAKER BLOGGER

took 15 M less to have the best chance of winning a chapionship, He said it and he followed though, where most would and have followed the money

Do I think that the whole TV thing a good idea....not at all.  The Media and ESPN created this spectiacl with ther non-stop where will the"King" go, it didn'e even start during this season, it goes back to the start fo the 2009 season.  They created this monster form the time he set foot on the court @ the MC Donalds HS allstar game his sophmore year.  Did most of the people who pay attension to basketball affairs have a good idea that he was going to end up in South Beach....Yes ESPN was blasting this right after WADE and BOSH made thier anouncement

I think they'll win atleast 3 title for the HEAT,  if they get a decent set of role players and a good point and decent Defensive BIG

Has everyone forgoet when KOBE demanded a trade out of LA, the world hated him for it, LA disowned him for it, but it's amazing how much winning helps people forget

and as far as the CAVs winning one before ther HEAT I would love to see that

and now that WADE and JAMES don't have to carry a brunt on the load themselves...... more mileage and we could maybe add an extra 2 years of Super Star play to the tale end of thier careers.

[T R E N C H]

Kobe's circumstances were different than Lebrons. 

First off, he wasnt winning in LA.  The Cavs have been the #1 team in the NBA regular season for how many years?  Not many players would abandon a 60 win team. lol.... 

Kobe wanted out, because he wasnt getting help and they we're not making the improvements necessary to win. Lebron just simply gave up on trying to be the man in Ohio.  They were a winning organization, made it deep into the playoffs each season, but a title eluded him.  However, the Cavs were just a piece or two away from a title and the organization kept looking for the pieces needed.  Jamison, Shaq, etc.... Lebron could have stuck it out.  I think the Cavs would have eventually found the help they needed.    He also made promises to his fans and didnt live up to it.  I'll try to find those quotes when I can.

Secondly, Kobe said it publicly for a long time that he wasnt happy and wanted out if there was no help. He let it be known and after missing the playoffs and being ousted by the Suns early in the post season for two straight seasons, he was fed up.  Being a Laker fan I was disappointed, but I was ready for the heartbreak if he left the city. 

Lebron on the other hand kept Cleavland in the dark until the public announcement in ESPN.  He led the fans on for soooo damn long.  That shit was wack.  He was not just a basketball player in Cleavland, he was an ICON, a HERO, SAVIOR, KING, and almost "GODLIKE" figure.  They worshiped him for years.  When he left them with no warning, that was a huge blow to the city and its fans.

We'll see how well they mesh as a team.  The Eastern CONFERENCE is now the BEAST IN THE NBA. Seems everyone is heading out east to play.  They are clearly the favorites out east, but I feel that ORLANDO and BOSTON will both match up well with them......

Anyway, your just a Wade fan, not a heat fan so your excused par.  You been a fan since day 1 and we've talked about it.  Iverson and now Wade.  I can live with that.  I think Wade is amazing.   I do agree that its Kobe and the Lakers who caused all of this.  These free agents knew they wouldnt have a shot at beating LA or winning a title without joining forces, so they did what they had to do to up their chances.   

ALL I CAN SAY is that its time for the 3peat!

[kal-el]

When SHAQ went to Miami they haad a Parade for him, and one of the first things he said was he was going to bring a title to the Heat.

Was LA a playoff caliber team when KOBE demanded his trade........Yes

Lebron left them with out warning......LeBron said that he hadn't made up his mind, he was a unresticted free agent, The LA Clippers, The Nets, The Bulls, New York Nicks, the Nets, Miami and hell Even the CAVS were trying to woo him.  Free Agency started on July 2nd, he made his choice by July 8th........6 days  Again I think the spectical of the TV thing was unwarrented.

HE did he carried that city on his back for 7 years, every night the areana was sold out, The CAVS owner made lots of money off of him, the City feed off of him for so long, Just think of all the CAVS fans we have here on Guam, seriously we have CAVS Fans on Guam, He made that team a whole lot of money, Break up suck no matter which way you cut it.  The AI Philly break up was aiight because he was on the end side fo his career, look what happen to AI never really had that #2 guy and he never won a title.

Either way he went, CAVs Fan would have been heart broken if he didn't end up in Cleveland

[T R E N C H]

The Lakers were a .500 team.  Barely a playoff team.  The Cavs were a TOP SEED team.  LA missed the playoffs the year after shaq left and the years before Gasol they were a bottom seed.  Mediocre at best.  yes, it was a bad breakup, just a bit worse because of the simple fact it was Lebron's hometown.

[kal-el]

KOBE get's no Love in Philly

[T R E N C H]

Matt Barnes closing a one year deal with LA.... I like this pickup....  We are going to have a deeper bench this year...  Barnes and Steve Blake....  Bye Bye Farmar.. Bye Bye Powell.

[rawb]

CP3 wants to gtfo out N'Orleans and join Amare in New York.  Can I say... Knicks gonna win 59 games??

[T R E N C H]

CP3 wants to gtfo out N'Orleans and join Amare in New York.  Can I say... Knicks gonna win 59 games??

Bad timing with the trio in MIAMI... LOL.... NYC aint beating them even with CP3. They lack the size......  Orlando and Boston are still the best bet to give MIAMI a run for their money... SIDE NOTE...


Matt Barnes has agreed in principle on a two-year, $3.6 million deal with the Lakers, league sources tell Y! He's expected to sign tonight. about 2 hours ago via web

El Segundo, CA (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Lakers added depth to their frontcourt on Thursday by signing veteran center Theo Ratliff.

Theo is a shot blocker and plays good D. Much better backup for Bynum than Mbenga.  Geez our front court is gonna be huge this coming season.

We actually got a bench now! Barnes, Blake, and Ratliff.  All good pickups...

[T R E N C H]

Q: Right after watching the LeBacle, I couldn't help but imagine Jordan's reaction to the announcement. I picture MJ chilling in a Vegas lounge, and right after Bron Bron uttered the words "I'm taking my talents to South Beach", him taking a puff on a giant cigar, turning to Oak, grinning ear to ear, and smugly saying "What a [derogatory name also used for cats]." And he'd be right.
-- Joe, Charlestown, SC

SG: Jordan intimated as much last weekend. As for me, I figured out why the LeBron/Wade alliance bothers everyone beyond the irrefutable "Jordan would have wanted to beat Wade, not play with him" argument. In pickup basketball, there's an unwritten rule to keep teams relatively equal to maximize the competitiveness of the games. That's the law. If two players are noticeably better than everyone else, they don't play together, nor would they want to play together. If the two guys have any pride at all -- especially if they play similar positions -- then getting the better of each other trumps any other scenario. They want that test. Joining forces and destroying everyone else would ruin the whole point of having the game. It's like a dad kicking his young son's ass in a driveway one-on-one game. What's the point? When LeBron and Wade effectively said, "Instead of trying to whup each other, let's just crush everyone else" and "If these teams end up being uneven, we're not switching up," everyone who ever played basketball had the same reaction: "I hate guys like that."

So when my wife asked in all sincerity, "What's the big deal if they play together?" I couldn't really explain it to her other than to say, "It's a basketball thing. You just don't do it." Your goal as an alpha dog is to assemble the best team you can and beat the other alpha dogs. There are five alpha dogs right now: LeBron, Wade, Kobe, Howard and Durant. If two ended up on the same team by coincidence -- like Kareem and Magic, Shaq and Kobe, or Michael and Scottie -- that's one thing. That's sports. S--- happens. But willingly deciding that it would be easier to play together than beat one another? Even two weeks later, I can't get over it. LeBron's last two Boston games were a massive disappointment to anyone who truly cares about basketball, but for me, copping out by joining forces with Wade was even worse. And also ...

Q: Game 7, Bulls v. Pistons, 1990. If LeBron gave us "The Decision," then at 10:15 in the clip, Michael Jordan -- the unequivocal greatest basketball player of all time -- shows you "The Difference." In defeat, in 30 seconds with Pat O'Brien.
-- Craig H, Los Angeles

Q: For the upcoming Miami season, what do you think would be the best chant to really get under LeBron's skin? It should be something to call out his second-banana status on the Heat. Maybe something like Sidekick, or my personal favorite, Robin.
-- Rick, Livingston, N.J.

SG: I vote for these three ...

1. "You Sold Out! You Sold Out! You Sold Out!"

2. "De-lon-tay! De-lon-tay! Del-lon-tay!"

3. (Derisive singing) "Siiiiiiiiide-kick. Siiiiiiiiiiiiide-kick. Siiiiiiiiiiiide-kick."

(Note: Of those three, the last one will hurt the most and possibly propel him into "I'll show you who's the sidekick!" mode.)

SOURCE : ESPN

[T R E N C H]

Im loving our rotation in LA!  damn! Better team than last years.. Is the HEAT a lock to win it all? Hell no!

Fisher/Blake
Kobe/Sasha
Artest/Barnes/Ebanks
Gasol/Odom/Caracter
Bynum/Ratliff

[T R E N C H]

Matt Barnes has an incredible tendency to get on his opponents' nerves, and it's easy to understand why. Barnes never stops talking. He's no stranger to the hard foul or the occasional cheap shot. He holds, he pushes, he yaps, and he plays hard. That's not the kind of thing that makes for an ideal opponent, and it's safe to say that during his time with the Magic, Barnes got under the skin of a few notable Lakers.

All water under the bridge, as time -- or really, free agency -- heals all wounds. Barnes, while on Into the Night with Tony Bruno on Fox Sports Radio, had this to say about his current relationship with Bryant (as transcribed by Sports Radio Interviews, link via Marcel Mutoni):

    "Kobe has been the driving force behind this.  I have been talking to Kobe back and forth like we were boyfriend and girlfriend for the last two weeks and sending us texts and talking.  It feels good when you have the best player in the world in your corner and Kobe is definitely in my corner.  He sent me a crazy text message today saying something like, anyone crazy enough to mess with me is crazy enough to play with me.  So I think that was a good tone to set and I think I am ready to be a Laker."

These are good times in Los Angeles. Andrew Bynum is on the mend, the Lakers picked up a few helpful free agents to add to their championship core, and Bryant and Barnes have been texting sweet nothings to one another late into the night. We knew the Lakers were going to be good next season, but throw in Barnes for good measure, and L.A. has a much-improved bench.   

Link

[rawb]

Wait... Matt who?

[kal-el]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=transactions-10-11

[T R E N C H]

LA Lakers Big Winners from NBA Free Agency 2010

Opinion by Alex Groberman
(13 Hours Ago) in Sports / Los Angeles Lakers
Generally when analysts recap the winners and losers of a particular offseason, you see two types of winners: The group that went from nothing to something by bringing in one or more high-profile free agents (Read: Miami Heat) or the group that went from an upper-tier power to contender by bringing in an above-average talent to complement an already strong group (Read: The 2009 San Antonio Spurs before reality hit).

This season, however, the Los Angeles Lakers have carved out their own place amongst the league’s offseason winners without falling into either of the aforementioned categories. Rather than spending big bucks on free agents or making risky trades for household names, they merely dropped underperforming players and signed proven veterans to fill specific areas of need.

And they managed to do it with no ESPN specials.

Gone from Lakers are backups DJ Mbenga, Josh Powell and Adam Morrison. All three players received very little playing time en route to the team’s second consecutive championship last season and, as such, all three unrestricted free agents were not extended contracts by the team. Out of the three, Powell is the only one who received any significant playing time at any point within the last two years. However, with the plans that they had for the summer, the Lakers could not afford to re-sign an undersized, under-utilized center/power forward.

The most notable absence from the team in 2010 will be hometown hero Jordan Farmar. The back-up point guard, who many expected would be the ultimate replacement for Derek Fisher at some point in his career, was not offered a tender by the Lakers. He opted to head to the New Jersey Nets for $12 million over 3 years. Farmar’s time in Los Angeles was marred by inconsistency, injury and a general inability to mesh with Phil Jackson’s triangle offense, which generally calls for a larger point guard.

Replacing the old pieces are newcomers: Steve Blake, Matt Barnes and Theo Ratliff.

Point guard Blake had been on the Lakers’ radar since last season after he lit the team up for a triple-double when they played the Los Angeles Clippers. He is a savvy veteran, and will no doubt prove to be a valuable piece to the puzzle as the Lakers make their best effort at a three-peat. Not to mention, he is a dead-eye shooter who will help space the floor for the second unit and allow forward Lamar Odom to get into the seems when the reserves are on the court.

In Barnes, the team essentially gets a player that serves as their Ron Artest off the bench. The best part, however, is that he pretty much fell into their lap by pure luck. Barnes was all packed and ready to go and become a member of the Toronto Raptors, but the deal ultimately broke apart at the last second. The Raptors’ loss proved to be the Lakers’ gain as they were able to sign the athletic wing for a two-year deal valued at less than $2 million per year.

While some were worried that bad blood between him and the team’s leader, Kobe Bryant, would be cause for concern, Barnes and Bryant have both gone on record to state that the two are friends and wanted very much to play with one another. In fact, it was Bryant who ultimately lobbied for Barnes’ signing.

While the Lakers probably aren’t expecting too much from center, Ratliff, in this coming season, he came to the team for the veteran’s minimum and should prove to be a solid fill-in for Mbenga and Powell. Ratliff has proven himself throughout his long NBA career to be a capable shot-blocker and big body, and with as many 7-footers as the Lakers have, they really don’t need much more than the occasional few minutes every few games from him.

During the much-hyped summer of 2010 where superstar free agents were supposed to be falling from the sky and making god-awful franchises contenders again, the Lakers sat back quietly and watched. Then, when the dust settled, they picked up two huge pieces, and one very solid veteran big-man, all the while saving money in the process.

While the rest of the fans, teams and Las Vegas odds makers are off ogling the Heat, the defending NBA champions have quietly put together an offseason worthy of the three-peat that they’re aiming to achieve in 2010-11.

[kal-el]

LMAO at you sig and thit title of this thread

[NDO]

All the hate is because everyone is talking about Miami now and how they're the biggest threat to the crown.  Times are changing.  Free agency has given the players more power.  Why not show the entire league that you can have a bigger influence on your career than years past?  Why not take all some of the power that GM's wield, especially considering that it's the players that are the cash cows?

They may have been assembled by their GMs, but the legends never complained about playing with other stars.  Did Jordan complain when he had Pippen?  Did he tell the Bulls GM to not pull the trigger that sent Will Purdue to SA for Rodman?  Bird was part of what many consider one of the best frontlines in history.  That also included Bill Walton coming off the bench and another HOF-er in Dennis Johnson.  Magic had Worthy and Kareem.  He even said, in 1991, that if the Bulls drafted him instead of LA...he would've stayed in college.  He left school for the chance to play with all those great LA players.  Kobe didn't complain when they traded Kwame "Butterfingers" Brown for Pau Gasol when they already had Odom and an emerging Bynum.  He didn't complain when they signed Artest. 

And most of all, Kobe never complained when he was playing with a prime, dominant Shaq.  Oh wait...

[T R E N C H]

you sound like those CAVS fans that ran to join Lebron in Miami...