[thepostman]

I think purple is just doing it to tick people off...

I, on the other hand, have always said Lebron is one of the most talented player in the league. If he wins a championship with this Heat team I think it secures his greatness. This Heat team, is worse in my opinion, then the Cavs team that made the finals a few years ago.

Its going to be one hell of a Finals though. One of the most intriguing finals in a long time. It is just what the NBA wanted and so I am sure they are happy. I love the OKC team and think they are better top to bottom, but the Heat have 2 of the 3 best players on the court which makes things interesting.

Again I say OKC in 7 but its going to be fun to watch...well, watch highlights since I have that 400 wake up call every morning...

I noticed you "conveniently" ignored my post from earlier:
Do you think Karl Malone was never a great player?

never saw it, but you know the answer so why even ask? Seems kind of silly to ask

One of the best power forwards ever, and honestly its tough to say he isn't great considering he had to compete against the greatest player ever but the great ones win championships.

You don't agree with me, and thats fine. What is the point of the question?

[thepostman]

This Heat team, is worse in my opinion, then the Cavs team that made the finals a few years ago.

this is totally crazy. That cavs team will go down as one of the worst collection of nobodies to ever make the finals. is it really that long ago? Do people really forget how mediocre this supporting cast was? that's were haizes ridiculous "not a team leader" crap just makes him seem like hes not watching basketball just pregame and post game.

this heat team has two hall of famers on it and possibly another. so far and away better than any cave team. that same near cast lost what? 60 games when he left.

the detroit pistons that won in '04 were considered a bunch of nobodies too and they won.

Lebron made that team way better then they were, but the supporting cast from top to bottom is way better then this Heat team is from top to bottom.

[Purple Haize]

I don't think they were waayyyyy better. Wade and Bosh are studs. I compared the Cavs to last years Mavs but was ridiculed.
Good call on the Pistons in 04

[thepostman]

yeah I shouldn't of said way better, but they were without a doubt better from top to bottom...

of course the big 3 are better then anything cleveland had, but after that its not even close

[BJWilliams]

Well my issue is the line keeps changing...first its that he doesnt do well in a game that matters, now its that he doesnt have his teammates' respect, then when he gets that (well if I should say) then itll be something else, and the line for what makes him a great player keeps moving forward like its some unattainable standard constructed in the minds of fans and sportswriters

[Purple Haize]

Well my issue is the line keeps changing...first its that he doesnt do well in a game that matters, now its that he doesnt have his teammates' respect, then when he gets that (well if I should say) then itll be something else, and the line for what makes him a great player keeps moving forward like its some unattainable standard constructed in the minds of fans and sportswriters

The line isn't necessarily moving its more of the lines he or any player needs to cross to be considered great. I'm not sure I would call his performance last night 'great'. I think he did a great job capitalizing on the work Wade did to get the Heat energized and out of the doldrums. And again it's a consistency issue. Can he do it nite in nite out year in year out. Right now the answer is No. He can if he works at it and by working at it he will earn his team mates respects. They are all wonderfully intwined

[thepostman]

Well my issue is the line keeps changing...first its that he doesnt do well in a game that matters, now its that he doesnt have his teammates' respect, then when he gets that (well if I should say) then itll be something else, and the line for what makes him a great player keeps moving forward like its some unattainable standard constructed in the minds of fans and sportswriters

yes, espn's standards keep changing.

Mine, however, have not.

He wins the finals, especially with this team not being full strength, there should be no debate about his greatness. Anybody that tries to still argue after that happens is an idiot.

I still doubt he wins, he's been here before and proved nothing, but you never know...

[RubberMallet]

This Heat team, is worse in my opinion, then the Cavs team that made the finals a few years ago.

this is totally crazy. That cavs team will go down as one of the worst collection of nobodies to ever make the finals. is it really that long ago? Do people really forget how mediocre this supporting cast was? that's were haizes ridiculous "not a team leader" crap just makes him seem like hes not watching basketball just pregame and post game.

this heat team has two hall of famers on it and possibly another. so far and away better than any cave team. that same near cast lost what? 60 games when he left.

the detroit pistons that won in '04 were considered a bunch of nobodies too and they won.

Lebron made that team way better then they were, but the supporting cast from top to bottom is way better then this Heat team is from top to bottom.

chauncey, rip, sheed, i'd hardly call nobodies. plus you had the most dominating paint defender in the league. how they beat the lakers is still baffling to me but they were defensively staunch and offensively could have 7 or 8 different players go off nightly.

have you even looked at the 06-07 cavs roster? remember we are talking about a team that started...eric snow. who can even compare to chris bosh or dwayne wade? gooden and larry hughes? then what? who else is better than any of the guys getting regular minutes on this heat team? nobody is better than chalmers, nobody was a better defender than battier. if bosh/wade weren't on this heat team. no problem. comparison is perfect. but they are there.

when you look at the rosters the statement doesn't make sense. not as totally hilarious as comparing them to the freaking mavericks which is still a great source of humor around the office.

[lynchburgwildcats]

I think purple is just doing it to tick people off...

I, on the other hand, have always said Lebron is one of the most talented player in the league. If he wins a championship with this Heat team I think it secures his greatness. This Heat team, is worse in my opinion, then the Cavs team that made the finals a few years ago.

Its going to be one hell of a Finals though. One of the most intriguing finals in a long time. It is just what the NBA wanted and so I am sure they are happy. I love the OKC team and think they are better top to bottom, but the Heat have 2 of the 3 best players on the court which makes things interesting.

Again I say OKC in 7 but its going to be fun to watch...well, watch highlights since I have that 400 wake up call every morning...

I noticed you "conveniently" ignored my post from earlier:
Do you think Karl Malone was never a great player?

never saw it, but you know the answer so why even ask? Seems kind of silly to ask

One of the best power forwards ever, and honestly its tough to say he isn't great considering he had to compete against the greatest player ever but the great ones win championships.

You don't agree with me, and thats fine. What is the point of the question?

Yuu keep saying LeBron isn't great until he wins a title. He has three MVPs, zero titles. Karl Malone has two MVPs, zero titles. Yet one is great while the other isn't. That's what folks like to call a double standard.

[Purple Haize]

Malone had a better work ethic

[RubberMallet]

pffff you have no idea what his work ethic is.

[thepostman]

Karl Malone has two MVPs, zero titles. Yet one is great while the other isn't. That's what folks like to call a double standard.

I said its hard to not call him great, but the great ones win championships. Therefore I was not calling him great.

Great reading comprehension.

[RubberMallet]

when the front office puts the right pieces together yes they win championships. if malone would of won a championship as a 5th wheel with the lakers THEN he'd of been great? get out of here. he, barkley and garnett will go down as the 3 best pf's in the game. 2 never won rings. garnett was already there before he and 2 other superstars teamed up in boston...(didn't remember hearing crap about that)

OR won 1 championship...because of kareem.

[lynchburgwildcats]

Karl Malone has two MVPs, zero titles. Yet one is great while the other isn't. That's what folks like to call a double standard.

I said its hard to not call him great, but the great ones win championships. Therefore I was not calling him great.

Great reading comprehension.

Guess that means Robert Horry and Derek Fisher are greater players than the likes of Karl Malone, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Steve Nash, Elgin Baylor, Patrick Ewing, Allen Iverson, George Gervin, Dominique Wilkins, Pete Maravich, Alex English, Adrian Dantley, Bernard King, Dave Bing, Nate Thurmond, Sidney Moncrief, and Reggie Miller to name a few...

Karl Malone, two time MVP, 14 time all nba, four time all defensive team. Universally recognized as a top-five all-time player at his position. No chance of being great because no championship. Derek Fisher, 5 championships, has a chance to be considered great.

Charles Barkley, one time MVP, 11 time all nba. Universally recognized as a top-five all-time player at his position. No chance of being great because no championship. Robert Horry, 7 championships, has a chance to be considered great.

And your lunacy over what makes a player great continues. What asinine criteria are you going to come up with next to justify guys like LeBron, Malone, Barkley, etc. aren't great players? Didn't win enough MVPs?

[Purple Haize]

I don't think it is just about saying 'A player can't be great unless they do x". You also can't say just because a player does X they are a great player.
Also, I heard a comparison to LeBron I liked. He is to small Forwards what Shaq was to Centers. He uses his physical attributes to over power players at that position. That's not a bad thing. Basically he is not going to beat you with his skill but with his physique. That's not to say he isn't skilled but that he isn't using skill to beat you.

[RubberMallet]

WHAT? l.o.l.

[Purple Haize]

WHAT? l.o.l.

I dont have enough space to write the whole conversation BUT the essence is that Shaq was a great player because he physically was more dominant than any other Center. He was skilled (other the FT) but the fact that he was so physically over powering and knew how to use it made him a great player. In watching LeBron I think this might fit. He is physically imposing especially compared to other wing players. While skilled, he prefers to bull his way through defenders, especially going to his right. It's difficult to get around him or stop him because he is just so much bigger and stronger then most of those guarding him. Shaq's go to move was the overpowering dunk. So is LeBrons lol. He is a physical freak and know hows to use it. Nothing wrong with that!

[Purple Haize]

Just got back from practice and am DVRing the game. Here are my 'predictions'
Either Battier and/or Fisher will play key roles for their teams
Durant will be huge but have one great game and one horrendous game
You can't quantify Miami having Championship experience
I say Miami in 6
Winning a Championship will not make James 'Great'. Being great will win James a championship
I'm really more interested in watching the Dream Team tomorrow !

[NotAJerry]

The line isn't necessarily moving its more of the lines he or any player needs to cross to be considered great. I'm not sure I would call his performance last night 'great'. I think he did a great job capitalizing on the work Wade did to get the Heat energized and out of the doldrums. And again it's a consistency issue. Can he do it nite in nite out year in year out. Right now the answer is No. He can if he works at it and by working at it he will earn his team mates respects. They are all wonderfully intwined

Nailed it.

2:45 left and he looks timid, firing up bad shots while not attacking the basket/using his athleticism, and he has a whopping 2 points in the 4th quarter.

Maybe he'll do something down the stretch here, but it sure looks like he went right back to being a complete non factor in a big game 4th quarter.

[Purple Haize]

Ok. So maybe I was wrong about the Heat in 6....... . Maybe I meant the Thunder in 5 lol

[RubberMallet]

yeah okc is deeper and is coached better. wade and bosh have to score more than someteen points a night.

I had okc in 6. they could sweep this.

[NotAJerry]

2nd half score, Miami 40 - Durant/Westbrook 41. That alone is astounding.

Durant is in that Duncan mold of megastar that you would most want to play with and has the skillset of a more athletic Larry Bird. I can't wait to see what this kid becomes over the next few years.

[Sly Fox]

It feels like a hero vs. Anti-hero series. It certainly is easy to pull for Kevin.

[Purple Haize]

It feels like a hero vs. Anti-hero series. It certainly is easy to pull for Kevin.

So you two are on a first name basis?
I was shocked/suprised/impressed that OKC weathered the first half/quarter and was able to come back from the 14 pt deficit. They are a lot more mature then I gave them credit for being. Of course I haven't seen them play since I saw them in Dallas in the WCF last year. Yeah, I event name dropped!

[R i]

Its not a series until a team wins one on the road. I still think the heat are a better team.