NBA 2015/16 thread
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Perception is helped by the fact that GSW lost this season. Durant can be the missing piece to get them back on the winner's podium. The smart money says he goes back. OKC gives him a better chance to win than last season with the moves they've already made. If he tags them along long enough to let Harrison Barnes escape to Dallas that would be an extremely cunning move
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="593928" data-time="1467621383">
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<p>Perception is helped by the fact that GSW lost this season. Durant can be the missing piece to get them back on the winner's podium. </p>
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<p>That argument wont convince anyone. Does it convince you?</p> -
Karl Malone, a two time MVP at the Jazz, got close but no ring and then "sold his soul" (according to some Jazz fans) and went to WC rivals the Lakers to try and get a ring. Got to the finals when the Lakers went all out to get him and Payton to join Shaq and Kobe. <br><br>
For Durant it's 9 seasons at the one franchise and no ring and an outside chance to get close again given no big moves in the offseason look likely. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Baron Silas Greenback" data-cid="593945" data-time="1467625068">
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<p>That argument wont convince anyone. Does it convince you?</p>
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<p>No one can convince you of anything!! If he wins the narrative is only positive. Just like LBJ in Miami</p> -
<p>Durant signs with Warriors.<br><br>
Booooooooo.<br><br><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/04/sport/kevin-durant-nba-free-agency/'>http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/04/sport/kevin-durant-nba-free-agency/</a></p> -
Wow. I guess the whole starting 5 (minus the now outgoing Harrison Barnes) made an impression. Like LBJ before him KD clearly wants to win now. While nothing is guaranteed if they stay fit you can almost start engraving the trophy now. Who does OKC get now? Offer Dwayne Wade a deal? There's no one of Durant's calibre and if they want to keep the window barely ajar they need some fire-power
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<p>His legacy will take a massive hit from this, he will be known as that guy for awhile. Rings wont really change that much. A rig is expected now, it wont be seen as much of an accomplishment. </p>
<p>He wont be loathed, but his brand has taken a massive knock that will be hard to recover from. What exactly does brand KD stand for now? Giving up? Coat tailing? Being a massive talent that never really backed himself?</p>
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<p>I like these quotes about it</p>
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<p><span style="color:rgb(41,47,51);font-family:Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(245,248,250);">“He’s the ultimate competitor, in that his ultimate objective is to have no competition.â€</span></p>
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<p><span style="color:rgb(41,47,51);font-family:Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(245,248,250);">“You’re not beating us, so you might as well join us.†And KD fell for it.</span></p>
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<p><span style="color:rgb(41,47,51);font-family:Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(245,248,250);">"</span><span style="color:rgb(41,47,51);font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">LeBron saw something that could be special with him in Miami, and took it. KD saw something that was already special in GS, and jumped on"</span></p> -
<p>Also KD's decision has likely ensured there will be a lock out next negotiations.. next year. Owners are going to go for a hard cap this time and not take no for an answer.</p>
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<p>That of course isn't directly KD's fault.</p>
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<p>Anyone seen the tweet that he posted in 2010 ripping into stars forming super teams? Way to make yourself look a hypocrite. That tweet is just going to get repeated and repeated and repeated...</p> -
<p>Weak.........</p>
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<p>Kevin Durant concedes that he just isn't good enough to lead a team to the title. That's how myself and most will read him signing with GSW.</p>
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<p>Be interesting to see how Westbrook takes this. Is OKC his team now? Oladipo and Waiters are not bad scoring replacements (they're not Durant-type scorers but still not bad replacements).</p>
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<p>No idea who plays the small forward role.</p> -
<p>lol...</p>
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<p><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(240,238,229);">That's a Robin move. Durant is forever a Robin now. He can win 10 rings. Still a Robin.</span></p> -
I wonder if the league will be compelled to make changes. The current rules, which allowed for a player's team to pay them considerably more than anyone else did not work in the Miami situation and now here as players who make shitloads more from endorsements don't see the size of the contract as the most important factor when weighing up where to play. The NBA has often had super teams and been very profitable at the same time. But if enough owners get jealous just like last time they might choose to alter the rules again
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<span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I wonder if the league will be compelled to make changes.</span></blockquote>
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<p>Don't forget pressure coming from the NFL and NHL owners - they won't be impressed to see these major contracts. After the first day of free agency, a bunch of NBA bench-warmers now make more money than 11 of the NFL's starting QBs. Tbf, the NBA players are just better at negotiating their terms around the various TV deals.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="594039" data-time="1467674380">
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<p>This new generation of players doesn't really care. In my youth no way magic teams up with Larry or Barkley with MJ. I'm sure KD will take his money and a ring if they win, and Nike will kill it in shoe sales again</p>
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<p>Nah I reckon nothing has changed. This is a bitch move regardless of era.</p>
<p>He is a super star player, apparently he is a very nice guy, has done and given a lot to others. he doesnt become a villian because he changed teams. But the perception of him as a Beta and weak will now stick with him. He just has no real fighting spirit it would appear.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="594039" data-time="1467674380"><p>This new generation of players doesn't really care. In my youth no way magic teams up with Larry or Barkley with MJ. I'm sure KD will take his money and a ring if they win, and Nike will kill it in shoe sales again</p></blockquote>
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Magic didn't need to he had rings. Neither did Larry. <br><br>
But Barkley left Philly for a Suns team that had 2 all stars and then to a Rockets team that had two superstars in Dream and Drexler. He was chasing a ring. -
<p>Ultimately, Baron, KD is only accountable to himself and who knows where his priorities lie? Who knows if he really cares about his legacy, or being seen as an 'alpha'? Maybe he just fucking loves winning, and wants to do it as much as possible, and he doesn't care who gets the credit?</p>
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<p>The ridiculously high cap does contribute to all of this. Players can take a 'cut' and still get paid a ridiculous amount, $25m+ a year. </p>
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<p>I think we may end up seeing the Cavs beef up their roster next year, with one or more of Lebron's mates heading over to help out - Chris Paul, Carmelo, Wade etc. So we just end up with a central GSW/CLE rivalry, with a regular season that is largely irrelevant.</p> -
On the KD acquisition I don't really care. It's no different to many other acquisitions over the history of the NBA. <br><br>
What is an outrage is Barnes getting $90+ million....
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<p>BTW these changes (inc. Bogut to the Mavs) have left my NBA fandom in a weird spot.</p>
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<p>Do I stick with the Warriors and be accused of being a bandwagon jumper, someone who just cheers for the winning side?</p>
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<p>Do I continue to follow Bogut, who is well past his prime and now with a team that will at best finish 7th in the West?</p>
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<p>Do I hitch my wagon to another Aussie - Delly in Milwaulkee or Simmons in Philly?</p>
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<p>Or do I pick another team completely and go for a plucky, skillful underdog, like Portland or Minnesota or Boston?</p>
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<p>All advice welcome here.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="594055" data-time="1467676129">
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<p>BTW these changes (inc. Bogut to the Mavs) have left my NBA fandom in a weird spot.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Do I stick with the Warriors and be accused of being a bandwagon jumper, someone who just cheers for the winning side?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Do I continue to follow Bogut, who is well past his prime and now with a team that will at best finish 7th in the West?</p>
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<p>Do I hitch my wagon to another Aussie - Delly in Milwaulkee or Simmons in Philly?</p>
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<p>Or do I pick another team completely and go for a plucky, skillful underdog, like Portland or Minnesota or Boston?</p>
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<p>All advice welcome here.</p>
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<p>as a west-islander surely you should be on the Adams bandwagon.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="594050" data-time="1467675699"><p>
Magic didn't need to he had rings. Neither did Larry. <br><br>
But Barkley left Philly for a Suns team that had 2 all stars and then to a Rockets team that had two superstars in Dream and Drexler. He was chasing a ring.</p></blockquote>True dat. Magic's and bird's teams were stacked back then too
