NBA: Magical or staged?

[-Young Buck-]

Dont get me wrong, i dont think the league is staged....but think about this.

Stern was big on Wade, Lebron, and Mello winning a championship for next generation players. He even went to say that he wanted Wade to win the championship last year. They made it to the finals and Wade started getting superman treatment. Players would hardly touch Wade and get a foul called on them. Wade wins the championship and looks like a great player.

This year its the story of the villian Spurs vs the Superhero LeBron James. Im excited to see if the refs give lebron the wade treatment of last years finals, where he can get to the line as much as he wants. Personally i would like to see LeBron overcome the odds and win it all.

Next year i can only wonder if Mello will be next in line, if Lebron does win it all. This would look suspicious if it did happen.

Again this isnt saying its staged, alot of good stories come out of real events, but i just cant help seeing what is going on, and what stern has said in the past.

[dizzle]

wade may have gotten some favorable calls last year but he still is a great player

lebron can get to the line a lot already due to his strength and size

the melo situation is going to depend on how well iverson and melo are going to continue to work together..they have the whole summer to work on it so maybe next year we'll be able to see how good of a duo they can be

and stern says a lot of stuff but iono..just coincidence i guess

[maes]

Link to where Stern said he wanted to Wade to win? I'm curious to see the whole context of the statement.

[Sauru]

if anything is staged its the damn draft lotto. when the 3 worst teams get 4,5, and 6 it kinda makes ya wonder lol.

[Laxation]

Stern was big on Wade, Lebron, and Mello winning a championship for next generation players. He even went to say that he wanted Wade to win the championship last year. They made it to the finals and Wade started getting superman treatment. Players would hardly touch Wade and get a foul called on them. Wade wins the championship and looks like a great player.

This year its the story of the villian Spurs vs the Superhero LeBron James. Im excited to see if the refs give lebron the wade treatment of last years finals, where he can get to the line as much as he wants. Personally i would like to see LeBron overcome the odds and win it all.

This finals series will be fucking ugly.

Lebron will travel about 23 times a game, and get countless ticky-tack fouls called against the Spurs.

Varejao and Ginobili will do their best to flop into the 2nd row.

There isnt any money in Duncan, he is too boring. To average. He never goes off for 50points, just a solid 25+10+3 in the playoffs.
Its almost worth betting on Cleveland in this series. They shouldnt win, but the refs shouldnt treat them like they do either.

[BiGrEd819]

OK first of all, the whole league has changed to some pussy ass, touch foul calling sport. There's no doubt that guys like lebron and dwade gets favorable calls and get the superstar treatment. however the same goes for a lot of other superstar wing players that drives in and gets the foul. in fact, almost most players who are quick enough to drive to the paint and get some contact has always gotten the favorable call in the last 2-3 years ( remember devin harris in last years playoffs or how about tony parker being one of top players to score in the paint) My point is, the rules have changed and players who score by throwing their bodies around will most likely get the calls... and then you add the fact that a guy like lebron is a 22 year old 250lb beast and has the quickness of a pg... iono you tell me if he shouldnt get the call.

[-Young Buck-]

Link to where Stern said he wanted to Wade to win? I'm curious to see the whole context of the statement.

I seen him say it on tv, cant remember where.

Stern was big on Wade, Lebron, and Mello winning a championship for next generation players. He even went to say that he wanted Wade to win the championship last year. They made it to the finals and Wade started getting superman treatment. Players would hardly touch Wade and get a foul called on them. Wade wins the championship and looks like a great player.

This year its the story of the villian Spurs vs the Superhero LeBron James. Im excited to see if the refs give lebron the wade treatment of last years finals, where he can get to the line as much as he wants. Personally i would like to see LeBron overcome the odds and win it all.

This finals series will be fucking ugly.

Lebron will travel about 23 times a game, and get countless ticky-tack fouls called against the Spurs.

Varejao and Ginobili will do their best to flop into the 2nd row.

There isnt any money in Duncan, he is too boring. To average. He never goes off for 50points, just a solid 25+10+3 in the playoffs.
Its almost worth betting on Cleveland in this series. They shouldnt win, but the refs shouldnt treat them like they do either.

You make a couple of good points, eventhough i cant wait for game one. I hope the Cavs win, and lebron does a jordan type performance. If the spurs win it wouldnt be as great i dont think.

[Nel]

if the refs give lebron the wade treatment of last years finals, where he can get to the line as much as he wants.

Lebron will get to the line, the problem is can he make them?

[Axel]

Stern was big on Wade, Lebron, and Mello winning a championship for next generation players. He even went to say that he wanted Wade to win the championship last year. They made it to the finals and Wade started getting superman treatment. Players would hardly touch Wade and get a foul called on them. Wade wins the championship and looks like a great player.

This year its the story of the villian Spurs vs the Superhero LeBron James. Im excited to see if the refs give lebron the wade treatment of last years finals, where he can get to the line as much as he wants. Personally i would like to see LeBron overcome the odds and win it all.

This finals series will be fucking ugly.

Lebron will travel about 23 times a game, and get countless ticky-tack fouls called against the Spurs.

Varejao and Ginobili will do their best to flop into the 2nd row.

There isnt any money in Duncan, he is too boring. To average. He never goes off for 50points, just a solid 25+10+3 in the playoffs.
Its almost worth betting on Cleveland in this series. They shouldnt win, but the refs shouldnt treat them like they do either.

True, but the Spurs seem to be immune from getting shit on unlike the Suns, Mavs, Pistons, etc.

This years finals will be the eiptome of boring. At least it won't be drawn out. Bowen will guard Lebron and force him baseline. Manu will occasionally aid Bowen with his flopping presence. The combination of the two (though Bowen will primarily guard him solo) will force Lebron baseline where Duncan will move in to block his shot. Lebron will struggle, the Cavs will miss wide open shots because they lack outside shooters, Z will be an utterly useless oaf similar to Mehmet Okur in the last series, and Larry Hughes will be left on the perimeter to launch bricks. The Cavs will struggle to score above 90 in any of the games.

Spurs in 4, although the Cavs will make it interesting by finishing within 10 in one of the home games. Then we can all pray that next year's playoffs will be more eventful.

[Craig]

Mavs lost to Heat last year because of Dirk struggle. And he struggled again this year so they lost to Warriors.

Cavs got into Finals because Billups struggle. Even though they did a good job guarding James, his teammates did shot the ball well.

If NBA is staged, so that Kobe, T-Mac or Iverson should’ve won several titles. Spurs and Pistons should never be in the Finals.

Referee’s whistle may decide the process of the game, but the result only depends on player’s confidence and how anxious they want to gain victory.

And why is so many people think the Finals is boring?
Cavs has the second best record in East, Spurs is the top 3 in West. They are both good teams and are both among the top candidates to meet in the Finals. We all know playoffs is about defense, they are both good defensive team.

Otherwise, what were you expected?

[JT_55]

Well, I would expected at least two teams with a lot of really good players (unlike the Cavs who only have James). Its no shot at the Cavs, but I think that a Pistons-Spurs battle would be more interesting.

[magius]

True, but the Spurs seem to be immune from getting shit on unlike the Suns, Mavs, Pistons, etc.

are you kidding me?

anyway, yeah, i do think it is staged. when my favorite team lost, i distinctly watched david stern mind control them. i'm telling you, it's like he was bulimic. asshole. why doesn't anyone else see this? he is magical! and cheating! fucking magical cheater cheater pants on fire. I mean didn't ya'all see that video replay? the one zoomed in 100x, zoomed in frame by frame -56%? at exactly 00:03;05;10 - there was a distinictive white mark for exactly one and a half frames on the upper right hand corner of the screen. That is so like paranormal. i totally agree man, preach on, preach on. nihilistic mind controlling conspiratical bullshit.

[The X]

I'll be fine with the Finals provided the referees let Bowen ride Lebron like he rode Nash the whole Spurs-Suns series....Nash was getting hounded by Bowen but I thought it was good defence....the referees need to let Bowen do the same to Lebron, however I doubt they will

[BIG GREEN]

Stern was big on Wade, Lebron, and Mello winning a championship for next generation players. He even went to say that he wanted Wade to win the championship last year. They made it to the finals and Wade started getting superman treatment. Players would hardly touch Wade and get a foul called on them. Wade wins the championship and looks like a great player.

This year its the story of the villian Spurs vs the Superhero LeBron James. Im excited to see if the refs give lebron the wade treatment of last years finals, where he can get to the line as much as he wants. Personally i would like to see LeBron overcome the odds and win it all.

This finals series will be fucking ugly.

Lebron will travel about 23 times a game, and get countless ticky-tack fouls called against the Spurs.

Varejao and Ginobili will do their best to flop into the 2nd row.

There isnt any money in Duncan, he is too boring. To average. He never goes off for 50points, just a solid 25+10+3 in the playoffs.
Its almost worth betting on Cleveland in this series. They shouldnt win, but the refs shouldnt treat them like they do either.

True, but the Spurs seem to be immune from getting shit on unlike the Suns, Mavs, Pistons, etc.

This years finals will be the eiptome of boring. At least it won't be drawn out. Bowen will guard Lebron and force him baseline. Manu will occasionally aid Bowen with his flopping presence. The combination of the two (though Bowen will primarily guard him solo) will force Lebron baseline where Duncan will move in to block his shot. Lebron will struggle, the Cavs will miss wide open shots because they lack outside shooters, Z will be an utterly useless oaf similar to Mehmet Okur in the last series, and Larry Hughes will be left on the perimeter to launch bricks. The Cavs will struggle to score above 90 in any of the games.

Spurs in 4, although the Cavs will make it interesting by finishing within 10 in one of the home games. Then we can all pray that next year's playoffs will be more eventful.

....wow...nostradamus and king kong aint got nothing on you. Tell me...what's wednesday's lotto pick?

[Sauru]

the problem with the majority of nba fans nowadays is they call players like duncan boring. duncan is a great player who plays the game of basketball very well. so what if he aint flashy and he dont try to show off constantly, he is better than just about everyone else is the league, including all those flashy players who get to sit home and watch the finals again. i guess the reason alot of people call duncan boring is they are young and grew up in a different time than i did. they grew up watching nothing but mj highlights or vince carter highlights and never actually watching a basketball game, just the quick 5 min showcase on sportcenter

[Andrew]

The same rules that favour Dwyane Wade and LeBron James also favour players like Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady though, and they were both out in the first round. As marketable as LeBron may be, if the NBA was pulling strings behind the scenes it seems unlikely that San Antonio and Cleveland would be facing off in the Finals. One would expect the NBA to favour the bigger markets if they wanted to secretly manipulate the results of the Playoffs for the most revenue. A Bulls/Lakers matchup would be more likely if that's what the NBA was doing.

[TSquared]

the problem with the majority of nba fans nowadays is they call players like duncan boring. duncan is a great player who plays the game of basketball very well. so what if he aint flashy and he dont try to show off constantly, he is better than just about everyone else is the league, including all those flashy players who get to sit home and watch the finals again. i guess the reason alot of people call duncan boring is they are young and grew up in a different time than i did. they grew up watching nothing but mj highlights or vince carter highlights and never actually watching a basketball game, just the quick 5 min showcase on sportcenter

Still..his style of play is Boring!

[Donatello]

If NBA is staged, so that Kobe, T-Mac or Iverson should’ve won several titles. Spurs and Pistons should never be in the Finals.

Hate to break it to you, Kobe has won several titles.

[bigh0rt]

Even though they did a good job guarding James, his teammates did shot the ball well.

What games were you watching?

[el badman]

Sauru wrote:
the problem with the majority of nba fans nowadays is they call players like duncan boring. duncan is a great player who plays the game of basketball very well. so what if he aint flashy and he dont try to show off constantly, he is better than just about everyone else is the league, including all those flashy players who get to sit home and watch the finals again. i guess the reason alot of people call duncan boring is they are young and grew up in a different time than i did. they grew up watching nothing but mj highlights or vince carter highlights and never actually watching a basketball game, just the quick 5 min showcase on sportcenter


Still..his style of play is Boring!

So what?? If you don't like it, don't watch the Finals. The guy is in the Finals once again, and there's nothing staged about that, just amazingly solid basketball from him and his teammates.

[Sauru]

thats what i am saying. i think duncan is whats good about basketball. as for his teammates, well thats a different matter

[el badman]

Sorry about the confusion, I should have just quoted this part:

Still..his style of play is Boring!

[maes]

Bowen won't force LeBron anywhere Bron doesn't want to go...otherwise Detroit would have done the same thing. The point is, Bron is 240 lbs and builds up a lot of velocity, his total momentum is ridiculous...if LeBron wants to slash inside on Bowen, he will.

Bowen & Manu are very good against typical guards that hate contact. Guys like Artest & Bonzi Wells typically score at will against Bowen because these guys actually want contact to shove Bowen aside and head to the hoop. Bron also works well against contact.

But in any case, Spurs tend to let stars score in buckets and mainly focus on shutting out the rest of the team and i think that strategy will work again on the Cavs unless a clear #2 really steps up.

[cheater1034]

I don't think the NBA is staged (maybe sometimes, but not really)

If they call a fair series (each game is called the same for the entire game), in these playoffs I've seen in the first Q nothing is called, second Q Everything is called even if you breath on the guy, third Q it's called moderately, then fourth Q nothing is called. Each game in the series can be called differently, but for all 4 quarters of that game I hope the NBA calls it fairly.

And whoever said LeBron will travel 23 times and get ticky calls made me laugh. LeBron earns pretty much all of the foul calls he gets by driving, and he gets fouled hard usually because the other team doesn't want him getting easy penetration or and1's.

I think it will be a good hard fought series, the cavs are a better matchup for the spurs than detroit anyway IMO.

The pistons did play great defense on LeBron, just not anybody else (they sent double and triple teams and paid for it). In game 5, LeBron james just dominated the long end of the game and no team could have stopped him that night because he hit everything. In game 6, LeBron was double and triple teamed and his teammates made them pay, particularly gibson with 31. The pistons stopped LeBron scoring wise, but they didn't stop his second dimension which is his court vision. So they stopped 1 aspect of his game, but they couldn't stop the other. (in games 3,4, and 6), also in game 5 the pistons defended him the same way, but nobody could of stopped him that night.

The cavs are the best defense the spurs are to see yet this post season (their offense is the only reason the cavs are such a huge underdog to the spurs and their great defense)

[cyanide]

Still..his style of play is Boring!

From a marketing perspective, sure, he's boring. But I think he's great for the league. This guy is a proven dominant winner. He's a team player, and every year, he's gotta be in the top 3 for MVPs.