I've been too busy the last couple of days so I'm just getting caught up on b-ball related stuff... I actually found out about the trade from the "Should we be on the phone to Denver thread" I guess that's what I get for reading the newer threads first instead of going over the older ones i've missed!
My initial reaction? WTF!!! I guess there was lots of talk of Howard going to the Lakers, but still, WTF!?!?!?!?
I'm glad for Nash, because who doesn't want him to hoist a trophy? Also, if you keep in mind that last season was a compressed schedule him sitting out games shouldn't really be a red flag. Even though his is getting up in age, and is where most nba players are in or starting to show decline, I don't think it is fair to say he is in decline. From what I've seen and read, my understanding is that there isn't any evidence to suggest he is in decline. However, I would say that he is very probably going to start showing signs of decline in the next few years, possibly even this year, I just don't think you can say he is already in decline.
EDIT I am also NOT a fan of the Lakers organization, kind of why I also don't like the Yankees, but I don't dislike Kobe as a player so much anymore, and actually like Nash, Blake, Metta World Peace (that's right, I went there!) and Gasol. I used to like Howard, so I feel like I should be able to cheer for the Lakers, but since I can't quite managing to type it must mean that deep down inside it's just not going to happen.
I'm also glad that there is more competition from the Heat, although I don't think we should underestimate the Thunder at all. Both in the Western Conference Finals, and in the NBA Finals, I watched every game of the finals, and my opinion is that there were three reasons why Miami won, and only one of them has anything to do with talent.
1) Heat played harder, Bosh (whether you like him or not, and I'm in the middle) hit the deck THE MOST out of either team to scramble for loose balls.
2) I do think that OKC got some bad calls, but more importantly, they didn't have the mental toughness to play through bad calls, or key turnovers.
3) Durant couldn't guard Lebron w/out fouling whereas Lebron could guard Durant w/out fouling. If your best player is SF and you can't make up against the other teams best player who plays your position you are going to be trouble.
I don't think either guy is capable of stopping the other guy (they are both to good on offense), I also don't think Durant needs to stop Lebron on offense, since he's going to more than make up for the points. But he does need to be able to guard him w/out fouling, because once you switch Durant off, Lebron chances are you are going to have to double, and once you do that Lebron is going to get other shooters involved and it's very difficult to make Miami take bad shots.
This is a huge tangent and I don't think the third point will apply to Lakers vs. Heat match ups (although it should be interesting to see a Kobe vs. Wade match up). But I don't think Talent is the most important factor in winning an NBA title. I think that being mentally toughness, and the ability to stay in that zone where you are making good decisions and playing your heart out is what wins championships.
For me I think that all three of OKC, Lakers, and Miami, have the talent to win an NBA title. If I was going to lay odds on what team is going to be the most focused, and play their best basketball in the finals, I'm going with the Heat, followed by the Lakers, followed by OKC. However, if OKC grows up just a little bit more and if (which is a moderately sized if) Durant can figure out how to guard Lebron without fouling him (again not stop him from scoring, just guard), then the rest of the Thunder can guard the rest of the Heat in single coverage, and I think OKC out scores Miami, anyway in order to do that they have to get past the lakers.
Anyway, this is all just a huge post that amounts to this. I have no idea who to bet on in a seven game series. In the Western Conference Finals or the NBA Finals, thankfully, it's too close to call! Next few years in the NBA post season is going to be crazy awesome. Although the Heat are the defending Champs, have the best basketball player in the world, and they have a better roster this year than they did last year. So I'm not cheering for the Heat, but if I was forced to set the odds, I would say the Heat have a higher probability of winning than anyone else.
So did I finally just answer the topic of the post? Then I should quit while i'm ahead!
EDIT: Although this post kinda talks about Lakers vs. Heat, all the stuff I said about OKC doesn't belong, and as much as i'd like to hear other people's opinions about my thoughts on the finals this is not the thread for it. Which is why I started a new one!
HERE
My initial reaction? WTF!!! I guess there was lots of talk of Howard going to the Lakers, but still, WTF!?!?!?!?
I'm glad for Nash, because who doesn't want him to hoist a trophy? Also, if you keep in mind that last season was a compressed schedule him sitting out games shouldn't really be a red flag. Even though his is getting up in age, and is where most nba players are in or starting to show decline, I don't think it is fair to say he is in decline. From what I've seen and read, my understanding is that there isn't any evidence to suggest he is in decline. However, I would say that he is very probably going to start showing signs of decline in the next few years, possibly even this year, I just don't think you can say he is already in decline.
EDIT I am also NOT a fan of the Lakers organization, kind of why I also don't like the Yankees, but I don't dislike Kobe as a player so much anymore, and actually like Nash, Blake, Metta World Peace (that's right, I went there!) and Gasol. I used to like Howard, so I feel like I should be able to cheer for the Lakers, but since I can't quite managing to type it must mean that deep down inside it's just not going to happen.
I'm also glad that there is more competition from the Heat, although I don't think we should underestimate the Thunder at all. Both in the Western Conference Finals, and in the NBA Finals, I watched every game of the finals, and my opinion is that there were three reasons why Miami won, and only one of them has anything to do with talent.
1) Heat played harder, Bosh (whether you like him or not, and I'm in the middle) hit the deck THE MOST out of either team to scramble for loose balls.
2) I do think that OKC got some bad calls, but more importantly, they didn't have the mental toughness to play through bad calls, or key turnovers.
3) Durant couldn't guard Lebron w/out fouling whereas Lebron could guard Durant w/out fouling. If your best player is SF and you can't make up against the other teams best player who plays your position you are going to be trouble.
I don't think either guy is capable of stopping the other guy (they are both to good on offense), I also don't think Durant needs to stop Lebron on offense, since he's going to more than make up for the points. But he does need to be able to guard him w/out fouling, because once you switch Durant off, Lebron chances are you are going to have to double, and once you do that Lebron is going to get other shooters involved and it's very difficult to make Miami take bad shots.
This is a huge tangent and I don't think the third point will apply to Lakers vs. Heat match ups (although it should be interesting to see a Kobe vs. Wade match up). But I don't think Talent is the most important factor in winning an NBA title. I think that being mentally toughness, and the ability to stay in that zone where you are making good decisions and playing your heart out is what wins championships.
For me I think that all three of OKC, Lakers, and Miami, have the talent to win an NBA title. If I was going to lay odds on what team is going to be the most focused, and play their best basketball in the finals, I'm going with the Heat, followed by the Lakers, followed by OKC. However, if OKC grows up just a little bit more and if (which is a moderately sized if) Durant can figure out how to guard Lebron without fouling him (again not stop him from scoring, just guard), then the rest of the Thunder can guard the rest of the Heat in single coverage, and I think OKC out scores Miami, anyway in order to do that they have to get past the lakers.
Anyway, this is all just a huge post that amounts to this. I have no idea who to bet on in a seven game series. In the Western Conference Finals or the NBA Finals, thankfully, it's too close to call! Next few years in the NBA post season is going to be crazy awesome. Although the Heat are the defending Champs, have the best basketball player in the world, and they have a better roster this year than they did last year. So I'm not cheering for the Heat, but if I was forced to set the odds, I would say the Heat have a higher probability of winning than anyone else.
So did I finally just answer the topic of the post? Then I should quit while i'm ahead!
EDIT: Although this post kinda talks about Lakers vs. Heat, all the stuff I said about OKC doesn't belong, and as much as i'd like to hear other people's opinions about my thoughts on the finals this is not the thread for it. Which is why I started a new one!
HERE
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