http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-3...n_antonio.html

Janet Weiss from Sleater-Kinney/Quasi/Wild Flag wrote a bad ass fucking recap of the Blazers playoff run last month.. I think y'all will dig it and how the fuck did I NOT TALK BASKETBALL WITH HER AT THE WILD FLAG SHOW IN 2010 WHEN I WAS TALKING WITH HER AT THE MERCH TABLE!!!

Remember that Heat team got swept by the Nets in season and beat them in playoffs, swept by the Knicks the year before that, beat them too, and swept by the Bulls in 2010/11 season, beat them as well.

Its not just the Finals, Spurs put on one of the most dominant playoff runs in NBA playoffs history, quite literally if they hadn't lost a few games in there they would have set records, but since they went 16-7 it puts them squarely in 6th all time (statistically speaking) Finals run. Of course Heat still had their own record by being only the third team ever to have 4 consecutive Finals appearances and also just the 6th team to ever win back to back (including your The Dream era Rockets :) ) which Spurs still lack. So all in all, while it sucks for Heat to lose, it didn't exactly work out too bad for either team..

For playoff teams like the Spurs the season doesn't necessarily count ;)

Did you check that Janet Weiss post?

"Please take a moment to admire the great LeBron for the special talent he is. It never gets old looking at the King's history. So many accomplishments Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan will never achieve:

1. Bronze 2006
2. Bronze 2004
3. NBA finals sweep 2007
4. Go entire Finals scoring 20 pts only one time
5. Quit on his team the year after he promises a championship
6. Dunked on by a highschool kid and then confiscate tape
7. Bail on the dunk contest 9 times
8. Only able to win a ring with 2 superstars
9. 7th best player in NBA finals series.
10. Average 1.8 pts in the 4th quarter of NBA finals.
11. Lose not 1, not 2, but 3 times in the Finals.
12. Host a national televised TV show to leave his team
13. Play on the same team as his moms boyfriend
14. Go 2 for 18 in an NBA playoff game.
15. Get stuffed by a player under 6 feet (Nate Robinson)
16. Flop every single game in the playoffs
17. Choke 4 out of 5 finals games by dropping FG% by 18
18. Vow revenge for 2007 sweep, then proceed to choke again"

not written by me but laughed at by me wholeheartedly

REMEMBER THIS GAME ROB, HOW WAS THAT ONE?? GREAT WIN WASN'T IT

HOW ABOUT THIS ONE??



Also, even at 29 he already has TWICE the accomplishment and opportunities as your precious Hakeem the Dream so I don't know why you're shit talking so much ;)

Let me refresh that list you posted.

Back-to-Back Championships.
one of only 3 teams to make FOUR consecutive Finals
2 Gold Medals (and yes, a bronze for fun)
4 MVPS in five years
2 Finals MVPS

29 years old...

Literally ONLY Kobe had anything close to that at that age, even the great Jordan hadn't been in more big game than Lebron at 29...

Yeah, keep trolling Lebron, you only fuel him to get even MORE accomplishment. Greatest of all time? Hardly. NOT one of the greatest 20 players to ever play the game? Now you're just lying to yourself to make yourself feel better about how Hakeem the Dream got robbed by the 80s Celtics of rings and then robbed by the back to back by the bullshitting Jazz ;)

You're also probably mad that Lebron's shoes sell for $276 meanwhile at his PEAK Hakeem's shoes were sold at Payless for $36

Oh yeah, there was those THREE YEARS IN A ROW Rockets got swept by Magic's Lakers too ;)

Boy, if we want to just shit talk great players we can make that list go on forever, how many times did Hakeem get disappointed, his team get creamed? Me? I like to CELEBRATE what Hakeem did GOOD, not dwell on the noise and static.

ME personally, when Hakeem won back to back Championships he redeemed himself, he redeemed his previous failures which to be sure were monumental, and he gets the benefit of the doubt, even for losing back to back to that Jazz team. So why doesn't Lebron get this same benefit of the the doubt? Has to be the least respected NBA Champion and Gold medalist in NBA history..

Will anyone read that bad ass Janet Weiss blog post or is this just a shit on Lebron thread now?

For example, I'll be the FIRST to trash talk Spain in the World Cup, but I'd be the LAST one to disrespect, scoff, or otherwise foolishly disregard their miraculous accomplishments the past few years. In fact, I'd look down right stupid or bitter to do such ;)

Dream sold those Etonics at a low cost on purpose.

LeBron the athlete is amazing. LeBron the pre-packaged corporate advert tool, the careful-speaking lest it molest his handlers/money sponsors, that LeBron can go snort a turd!

his athletic skills are amazing, but his HUMAN skills are lacking. He is a preening prima donna who has no team loyalty, a mercenary basically, who obvioulsy does not understand how fans truly were broken-hearted by his ego-satisfying departure from the Cavs.

He just finished an amazing run with the Heat and already he is talking shit about leaving, or at the very least, not making statements as to his intention to stay in Miami.

Dwight Howard is the exact same way, which is why you do not see me extolling the virtues of his soft-ass self.

You know that Lebron has spoken out about social issues and indeed internal NBA players' association politics advocating more than probably any player in NBA history, unlike Jordan who refused to ever take a public stance on social issues lest he ruin his shoe brand??

Again, you're just a hater, how about respecting greatness rather than shitting on it? We can spend days shit talking all-time great players, we can spend days documenting the failures of Magic, Bird, Kobe, Shaq, Hakeem, Wilt, Oscar Robertson, Elgin and Jerry, but we don't do we. Nobody EVER brings up Kobe's losses anymore do they, nobody even mentions Jordan losing to the Bad Boys all those years.. They won enough to settle that. If folks think Lebron hasn't won enough to settle his downfalls in the past, then fuck it, folks are literally blind hating. Its the definition of poor sportsmanship.

I LOVE Hakeem the Dream, in fact, he is crucial to Lebron developing a lethal post-up game up on the block, but I don't dwell on Hakeem's failures the way folks like you seem to dwell on Lebron's failures. I DESPISE the Celtics, but I've never disrespected their accomplishments, and I've always been careful not to shit on their losses lest I appear foolish in the future..

He's not talking shit about leaving, he is just not giving an inch abou the negotiations financially. Its NBA business in the post-2011 CBA..

Players use other teams' offers to boost their own contract negotiations. Lebron would literally be FOOLISH NOT to have a wait and see public approach, even if he personally has 100% intentions to stay in Miami, because by leaving the window open it allows for OTHER teams to field offers which will boost his own position in the negotiations, or what, should players NOT have the power to help decide their own finances?


Lebron is making less money than TWENTY other players in the NBA, yet he is the #1 selling shoe/jersey/tickets at the gate draw in the NBA.. Kobe just got $50 MILLION and he doesn't even play. Why should Lebron rob himself just to appease your ego?

From 1982-1985 the Lakers had 4 consecutive Finals appearances. They went 2-2.

From 1984-1987 the Celtics had 4 consecutive Finals appearances. They went 2-2.

These two eras of these two teams are considered some of the best teams in NBA history, even compared to the 1990s Bulls or the 1960s Celtics...

From 2010-2014 the Miami Heat had 4 consecutive Finals appearances. They went 2-2.

Of the previous EIGHT NBA Finals rematches the team that lost the first series went on to win the second series six of those times, including the above Lakers and Celtics teams.

While the 1960s Celtics teams won nine consecutive Finals appearances, I think we all agree that it was an entirely different league competition wise. This doesn't discredit or disregard what that Celtics team did, but it means we can't really use it as a frame of reference of comparison.

Oh yeah, please remind me what Heat's Finals record is overall?

3-2.

What is the Houston Rockets again?

2-2

;)

what I do not want is Carmelo Anthony on the Rockets. We don;t need another chucker!

with my luck, LeBron will become a Houston Rocket next year....

So, y'all still want to focus on shit talking great players and nitpicking?

What about those two years in a row that Hakeem followed up his 86 Finals Appearance by getting swept by the Lakers, maybe he should have just left the Rockets in shame, how dare he lose some big games like that, what a fucking loser ;)

(1) Loses rookie of the year vote
(2) Loses in NBA Finals in 1986
(3) Loses to Mavs (of all teams!!) even when having led the NBA in rebounds
(4) Gets swept by the Lakers back-to-back years in playoffs
(5) MISSES playoffs
(6) Rockets management accuses Hakeem of faking hamstring injury
(7) Chokes in big Game 7 chance to go to Western Finals by losing to Sonics
(8) Loses MVP race to Charles Barkley's fat ass
(9) Follows up Championship seasons with big playoff loss again to Sonics
(10) Loses to Jazz in Western Finals, big time choker..
(11) Signs Pippen and long time rival Charles Barkley, still lose to Jazz


See, we can shit on greatness whenever we want to focus on that. I love Hakeem, and rightfully put him on the list of 20 ALL-TIME greatest players, yet if we want to focus on his failures rather than his all-time great stat records and back to back championships well, we can do that and distort reality to suit our hater ass agenda.

After 86 season half of the Twin Towers (Ralph Sampson) was injured and gone, several players were gone from Rockets for cocaine use, and the team imploded. Dream stayed with the team and fought and got better and better.

In 86 Finals Dream was in his second year. They beat the Lakers 4-1 to go to Finals.

He was only other person other than Jordan (GOAT) to even get votes in rookie of year ballots.

Dream lost several MVP races because of media bias against Houston teams. He deserved in several times. Dream was never a braggart, never did anything to try and focus attention on him. He never stated that he would win "not one, not two, not three..." championships. He was not a made-for-TV product.

Dream and Tom Duncan share a lot of the same traits.

In 94 and 95 (championship years) he was the only Rocket All-Star.

I posit that the very best players make those around them rise up to greatness themselves. Jordan did that with his team mates, Dream did that. They both led by example and hard work, not by TALK.

LeBron has not shown that he makes his teammates better. That is truly the only knock I have about his game. His public persona? I have a shitton of knocks against that shit!

You're making excuses and entirely missing my point. I was being a needlessly hostile prick about Hakeem simply to point out how foolish you look for laughing at lebron. I respect, indeed ADORE Hakeem, loses, wins and all. I feel the same way about Lebron, and much like Hakeem's "excuses" combined with his back to back rings I FEEL validates his career and greatness, so to did Lebron winning back to back...

Dig?

I can dig it. It was funny! Not as funny as BronBrons perpetually rising headband but funny.

LeBron does not need validation. what he needs is to find an organization that will really build around him and his talents. Miami is not the place.

That is all I ask. I ain't trying to force you to like Lebron James, but good sportsmanship is about respecting talent. I never liked Paul Pierce, FOR SHIT, but I also never dissed his honest accomplishments like they never happened, and while I always want him to lose, I never diss when or what he does win.

Also, you did realize that Michael Jordan also cramped out of a Finals game right, its just he cramped out early enough to come back in ten minutes later, and the Bulls still lost that one ;)

Exhibit A that in 2014 NBA has officially become NBA Jam.

Because they traded for Tyson Chandler, the Mavs now think they have a shot at landing LeBron and Carmelo......delusional!

Where the Mavs are at Chandler with Felton as expensive bench guy is a pretty good deal on its own sans fantasies about Lebron.

^^^agree it's a solid dad for Mavs, just don't see them as serious players for the likes of James.

Meanwhile, Per multiple reports, Rockets will send Omer Asik & cash to New Orleans for 2015 1st round pick. Asik counts $8.37 million against the cap

Not so happy about the possibility of this:

After 1.5 liters of bone marrow successfully transplanted......Team Sager gets discharged at the same:

I missed Chuck during these past playoffs so fucking much, I'm glad the dude survived and is getting better, still praying for his recovery :)

Meh... I don't like Lebron going back to Cleveland BUT this whole "loyalty" nonsense is ridiculous. NBA is a business. Owners and franchises generate millions, sometimes billions of dollars at a players' expense. Lebron isn't even the fifth highest paid player in the NBA right now! Why should marquee players feel enslaved to a team because of bullshit like "loyalty" when the teams are not inherently loyal to the players?? Further, this is the 21st century, it isn't the 1980s.. Its a different NBA because of CBA agreements, teams can't afford to be loyal, so why should players?

Tim Duncan stayed in San Antonio not because he is "loyal" but because that is his personality. He is shy and socially awkward, he doesn't like media, he doesn't like the spotlight, and the Spurs fit that bill perfectly, because nobody in the spotlight likes the spurs.

Again, how does all this help your Rockets now?

I am so hype to get Bosh on the Rockets, send overrated Lin somewhere else, and re-sign Chandler "Bing" Parsons!!!!!!

Bosh helps immensely!!! he can play forward for us and the Rockets will become amazing!

and LeBron likes to drink his own piss!!!!!!!!!! he says it tastes so sweet like the greasy effluent that drips from his momma's colon on full moons!

Hahaha.. touche!

D. Wade knew......Life Comes At You Fast!

Since lunch, the Heat's twitter account has lost over a half-million followers.



Goodbye Jeremy Lin......lots of t's to cross and i's to dot, but the Rockets starting five this coming season could be: Beverly, Harden, Parsons, Bosh & Howard.

Two years ago after the Rockets drafted Royce White, Jeremy Lamb, and Terrence Jones, I thought they were headed to an awful 15 or 20 win season. Two years later, the Houston Rockets are now a marquee landing spot.

In Morey We Trust!

The Loyalty greater than Royalty billboard started popping up around San Antonio the day after LeBron opted out of his contract with Miami. Real recognizes real and the truth hurts......

But that is the thing yo, that is NOT real, "loyalty" is some kind of either neurotic NBA fantasy at best or worst,a manipulative ploy for owners and franchises to fleece players of their money, period, end of discussion.

The 2011 CBA was entirely designed to gut teams ability to retain their best players, period. IT destroyed loyalty, not Lebron. The 2011 CBA made it harder for teams to afford to keep players, it lessened the length of both rookie and max-offer contracts by as much as THREE years, and it changed the entire structure of things like "Bird rights" and the like, making it essentially impossible for teams to keep the band together unless they take huge pay cuts.

In reality the Spurs are not anymore "loyal" to their players as any other team, and the players aren't "loyal" than any others, they just happened to get the right deal. In the end, only about 25 players out of about 4,000 (!!!!) have played on only one team, and Jordan/Pippen aren't one of them ;)

Yeah, props to Tim Duncan, especially to Kobe Bryant, for being the ultimate outliers... BUT THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE.. EXCEPTIONS to the rule, not the rule itself. "Loyalty" is a myth, and its a dangerous one for fans to get enraptures in. It creates false narratives and muddies up the reality of the harsh business that is the NBA..

Oh yeah, I forgot, how did Lebron leaving Heat benefit your Rockets? My bad, y'all got Bosh ;)

Here is the irony, you're talking shit about loyalty, then celebrating a team that is the product of disloyalty, whether the Thunder betraying James Harden or Dwight Howard betraying Magic/Lakers.. and now Lebron betraying Bosh.

HAHA.. "loyalty"... YEAH FUCKING RIGHT yo ;)

The tHUNDER knew Harden is a chucker, and got rid of him ASAP. he does not play defense.

That is true, and indeed they became an almost defense first team since he left so clearly that was part of their plan all along BUT lets not kid ourselves, even with bad defense James Harden is probably in the NBA top-10 right now, period. My bias, I always liked The Beard since his rookie year so I might just be sipping the kool-aid..

I like what Grantland mentioned, that in part, Lebron demanding max-money was similar to what Kobe did. While it seemingly sabotaged roster flexibility it sent a powerful message to the owners and franchises. It was literally embarrassing that the undisputed best player in the NBA was not even the 5th best paid player.. EVERYBODY and THEIR MAMA thought Lebron should be like Tim/Tony/Manu and take less money to keep the band together. However Lebron is different, Tony and Manu aren't in anyway the best players in the NBA, and Tim is five years past his prime... so those guys taking pay cuts is LOGICAL, its part of business strategy. The Lebrons of the NBA aren't supposed to do that, it hurts the business side of it. It hurts ALL the players, because now the NBA assumes ALL of them will take pay cuts. BULLSHIT.

The 2011 Lockout was about Owners trying to take revenue shares AWAY from players.. They succeeded in this. Raising the luxury tax was STUPID, it was shooting any team in the foot. The Nets lost over $140,000,000 last year. THAT IS FUCKING INSANE!!!

Lebron, Kobe, now Bosh and probably Melo taking the max deals is the best strategy for the future of the PLAYERS, because now it tells franchises in a powerfully visible way, "Fuck y'all and your pay cuts, pay the players."


In that regard, I totally respect that. I can't help it. I work Union, fuck the boss, fuck the company, pay the workers. If the NBA players as Union labor feel like this is their best negotiating tactic, and if they feel it empowers the players over the owners great. I only hope it sets an example to ALL the employees of the NBA, from the ticket stalls to the janitors, security to the training staff. Fuck that, this is a multi-BILLION dollar industry, NOBODY deserves to be broke here ;)