2018 NBA Finals: Warriors - Cavs (Part 4)

[brokenshoelace]

Kevin Durant is really good at basketball. Seriously though, he single handedly won them that game (well him and the Cavs' atrocious interior defense). Lebron is just so clearly gassed.

 

[DarthFed]

When that guy gets hot it's just incredible. They actually played decent defense on him and it's like they weren't even there. Curry is the overall better shooter for sure but no one has ever made contested jumpers look as easy as KD.

The other Cavs certainly are not good on offense but their main deficiency is on defense. They are just putrid.

 

[the AntiPusher]

When that guy gets hot it's just incredible. They actually played decent defense on him and it's like they weren't even there. Curry is the overall better shooter for sure but no one has ever made contested jumpers look as easy as KD.

The other Cavs certainly are not good on offense but their main deficiency is on defense. They are just putrid.

That’s why i didn’t comment about who is the better player between Step or KD.. Some nights Step is gonna be hot and vice versa with KD as well..if they’re both are off..Klay to the rescue..Lebron and team scored well but Ty Lue defense will get his ass fired. Friday is gonna be Lebron’s game as a Cav due to his and Dan Gilbert combined mishandling of the Kryie Irving status.

 

[Federberg]

When that guy gets hot it's just incredible. They actually played decent defense on him and it's like they weren't even there. Curry is the overall better shooter for sure but no one has ever made contested jumpers look as easy as KD.

The other Cavs certainly are not good on offense but their main deficiency is on defense. They are just putrid.

My goodness KD was special tonight. And Steph and Klay.. wow... putrid. Apparently Rachel Nichols interviewed him in the changing rooms afterwards and he was covered with scratches and bruises. Cavs went to town on him as they should have. Apparently he felt better after Rachel told him that the game after Ray Allen broke the 3pt finals record he shot 0 for 8

 

[DarthFed]

That’s why i didn’t comment about who is the better player between Step or KD.. Some nights Step is gonna be hot and vice versa with KD as well..if they’re both are off..Klay to the rescue..Lebron and team scored well but Ty Lue defense will get his ass fired. Friday is gonna be Lebron’s game as a Cav due to his and Dan Gilbert combined mishandling of the Kryie Irving status.

I'm still amazed that people are blaming the Kyrie situation on LeBron or anyone else. Did you read what Kyrie was saying during the playoffs last year and in the offseason? This was a textbook case of a great player wanting his own team and doing whatever it took to get out of there (like threatening to have knee surgery and not play). Kyrie was amazingly traded to a great team otherwise he'd be just another volume shooter leading a crappy team. He may end up that way soon anyways. Any doubt he'd stomp his feet and be pissed if Tatum becomes the best player on the team? That'd be even worse for his ego than being in LeBron's shadow.

 

[Federberg]

I'm still amazed that people are blaming the Kyrie situation on LeBron or anyone else. Did you read what Kyrie was saying during the playoffs last year and in the offseason? This was a textbook case of a great player wanting his own team and doing whatever it took to get out of there (like threatening to have knee surgery and not play). Kyrie was amazingly traded to a great team otherwise he'd be just another volume shooter leading a crappy team. He may end up that way soon anyways. Any doubt he'd stomp his feet and be pissed if Tatum becomes the best player on the team? That'd be even worse for his ego than being in LeBron's shadow.

no mate, it's more than that. In the past Lebron tried to get him swapped for Paul George or CP3, I forget which one. And this was after Kyrie closed out the series. Quite apart from that Kyrie is plenty superstar enough not to want to be sonned all the time by Lebron. So yes Lebron has to shoulder a huge amount of responsibility

 

[DarthFed]

no mate, it's more than that. In the past Lebron tried to get him swapped for Paul George or CP3, I forget which one. And this was after Kyrie closed out the series. Quite apart from that Kyrie is plenty superstar enough not to want to be sonned all the time by Lebron. So yes Lebron has to shoulder a huge amount of responsibility

What do you mean about being sonned? Kyrie is about half the player LeBron is so yes he was always going to be Robin and that pissed him off. Kyrie was also alienating others on the team. During the playoffs last year Lue told him to get his teammates involved and Kyrie responded saying "that's #23's job. There isn't even definite proof that LeBron was trying to get him traded. Obviously LeBron played GM quite a bit but not on every move. It was clear Kyrie was unhappy before any trade rumors ever got brought up.

And the guy didn't show up to game 7 recently. He's a selfish bitch and it will be Stevens' greatest achievement long-term if he can convince him to keep playing team basketball.

 

[kskate2]

Funny though, Curry and Thompson can be bad to epic proportions and they still win going away on the road against a team fighting for its life. Yea that's Golden State.

And as we know any bad game from LeBron and they don't really have a chance, I'm surprised it was this close.

The role players actually found the basket last night.

 

[Federberg]

What do you mean about being sonned? Kyrie is about half the player LeBron is so yes he was always going to be Robin and that pissed him off. Kyrie was also alienating others on the team. During the playoffs last year Lue told him to get his teammates involved and Kyrie responded saying "that's #23's job. There isn't even definite proof that LeBron was trying to get him traded. Obviously LeBron played GM quite a bit but not on every move. It was clear Kyrie was unhappy before any trade rumors ever got brought up.

And the guy didn't show up to game 7 recently. He's a selfish bitch and it will be Stevens' greatest achievement long-term if he can convince him to keep playing team basketball.

"Sonning" someone refers to how you can be put down by a colleague. They might refer to you in a conversation as "my boy", "my staff", it's patronising.

It's one thing to be half the player someone else is matey, it's quite another as a full grown adult male, with a ring (and a sizeable contribution towards that achievement) to be able to stomach that kind of disrespect. And trust me mate, if you're the one on the receiving end of it, not a fan worshiping Lebron you would feel exactly the same way.

There might not be proof for you regarding Lebron's behind the scenes moves, but the story is that Kyrie is pretty sure that it happened. You have to respect that.

As for his well documented comment in response to Ty Lue. Obviously the relationship was breaking down. For you to hold it against him you have to disregard the entire context, which isn't fair

 

[DarthFed]

"Sonning" someone refers to how you can be put down by a colleague. They might refer to you in a conversation as "my boy", "my staff", it's patronising.

It's one thing to be half the player someone else is matey, it's quite another as a full grown adult male, with a ring (and a sizeable contribution towards that achievement) to be able to stomach that kind of disrespect. And trust me mate, if you're the one on the receiving end of it, not a fan worshiping Lebron you would feel exactly the same way.

There might not be proof for you regarding Lebron's behind the scenes moves, but the story is that Kyrie is pretty sure that it happened. You have to respect that.

As for his well documented comment in response to Ty Lue. Obviously the relationship was breaking down. For you to hold it against him you have to disregard the entire context, which isn't fair

I didn't see that much of the comments you're talking about as far as LeBron talking down to him. I just feel it's a clear cut Kobe-Shaq situation where Kyrie wanted out of LeBron's shadow. There are articles pointing to a lot of different things but LeBron seemed blindsided by Kyrie wanting a trade to get away from him and if he had been trying to get Kyrie traded that wouldn't make sense.

I also feel it's really telling that Kyrie didn't show up to his team's game 7. He's already pissed that the spotlight isn't on him.

 

[Federberg]

I didn't see that much of the comments you're talking about as far as LeBron talking down to him. I just feel it's a clear cut Kobe-Shaq situation where Kyrie wanted out of LeBron's shadow. There are articles pointing to a lot of different things but LeBron seemed blindsided by Kyrie wanting a trade to get away from him and if he had been trying to get Kyrie traded that wouldn't make sense.

I also feel it's really telling that Kyrie didn't show up to his team's game 7. He's already pissed that the spotlight isn't on him.

Ha! Why wouldn't Lebron feel blindsided? He expects all the guys he plays with to be happy being his bitches. And the media and fans indulge that expectation. I don't know about you mate, but it's one thing acknowledging that someone is better than you at something. It's quite another for that person to publicly rub it in your face all the time. I would never be able to tolerate that. All Lebron had to do was at least show the respect and appreciation that a player of Kyrie's calibre deserved and that relationship might have sustained. But please lets not suggest that a highly successful man should just suck it up, that's not living in the real world. Trust me, even if technically you're just an employee, if you're earning millions you don't feel that way. You really don't. You need to factor that

As for Kyrie not showing up for game 7, I think you need to try to put yourself in his shoes. As I said at the time that was an extremely difficult position to be in. I can well understand his decision. What makes you think he didn't quietly tell some of his team mates that he was going to do that?

 

[brokenshoelace]

"Sonning" someone refers to how you can be put down by a colleague. They might refer to you in a conversation as "my boy", "my staff", it's patronising.

It's one thing to be half the player someone else is matey, it's quite another as a full grown adult male, with a ring (and a sizeable contribution towards that achievement) to be able to stomach that kind of disrespect. And trust me mate, if you're the one on the receiving end of it, not a fan worshiping Lebron you would feel exactly the same way.

There might not be proof for you regarding Lebron's behind the scenes moves, but the story is that Kyrie is pretty sure that it happened. You have to respect that.

As for his well documented comment in response to Ty Lue. Obviously the relationship was breaking down. For you to hold it against him you have to disregard the entire context, which isn't fair

Buddy, you've been watching way too much American hot take sports shows (First Take, Undisputed, and any other garbage on Fox Sports). There is some truth to what you're saying in the sense that I think Lebron tends to get a pass for the fact that he can be a very difficult guy to play with (not on the court in terms of basketball, but mainly off the court), but this is way over the top and really isn't backed up by facts.

There have been many really great in depth features about Kyrie leaving, with a lot of credible inside information, and yeah, the relationship with Lebron wasn't good but both deserve blame for that. Between this and Durant's lack of "alpha" (which I agree with but don't think is too relevant), you've been going Skip Bayless on us lately (Ok just kidding about this part)/

 

[Federberg]

I didn't see that much of the comments you're talking about as far as LeBron talking down to him. I just feel it's a clear cut Kobe-Shaq situation where Kyrie wanted out of LeBron's shadow. There are articles pointing to a lot of different things but LeBron seemed blindsided by Kyrie wanting a trade to get away from him and if he had been trying to get Kyrie traded that wouldn't make sense.

I also feel it's really telling that Kyrie didn't show up to his team's game 7. He's already pissed that the spotlight isn't on him.

You're just not noticing when Lebron speaks. He does it all the time. All the time mate. It's one thing for the likes of JR and Tristan to accept something like that. But there's absolutely no way Kyrie should ever have been treated as one of the role players. That's straight up disrespect

 

[Federberg]

Buddy, you've been watching way too much American hot take sports shows (First Take, Undisputed, and any other garbage on Fox Sports). There is some truth to what you're saying in the sense that I think Lebron tends to get a pass for the fact that he can be a very difficult guy to play with (not on the court in terms of basketball, but mainly off the court), but this is way over the top and really isn't backed up by facts.

There have been many really great in depth features about Kyrie leaving, with a lot of credible inside information, and yeah, the relationship with Lebron wasn't good but both deserve blame for that. Between this and Durant's lack of "alpha" (which I agree with but don't think is too relevant), you've been going Skip Bayless on us lately (Ok just kidding about this part)/

with the greatest of respect I don't spend my days just eating that stuff I have a lot of friends who share NBA stories with me. (You are making huge assumptions about the information I get from a very sketchy sample) Just like I do the same with the sports that are more closely geographically located to me. I'm telling you, this is what Kyrie believed. This idea that you have to ride the Lebron boat and subsume your ego is not realistic at all. Life at the high end doesn't work that way at all. Ego matters, and if Lebron didn't recognise that then that his issue. D Wade surely taught him better

 

[brokenshoelace]

with the greatest of respect I don't spend my days just eating that stuff I have a lot of friends who share NBA stories with me. (You are making huge assumptions about the information I get from a very sketchy sample) Just like I do the same with the sports that are more closely geographically located to me. I'm telling you, this is what Kyrie believed. This idea that you have to ride the Lebron boat and subsume your ego is not realistic at all. Life at the high end doesn't work that way at all. Ego matters, and if Lebron didn't recognise that then that his issue. D Wade surely taught him better

It wasn't an assumption. It was a joke. Even if you watch those shows I know you can't be gullible enough to take the opinions of idiots like Stephen A, Skip and Cowherd for face value. However, I do think your opinion of Lebron and his actions seems to lack objectivity.

 

[Federberg]

It wasn't an assumption. It was a joke. Even if you watch those shows I know you can't be gullible enough to take the opinions of idiots like Stephen A, Skip and Cowherd for face value. However, I do think your opinion of Lebron and his actions seems to lack objectivity.

haha! ok

Re: my opinion about Lebron? Maybe, maybe not. I see someone who controls his narrative and seems to have a cult of media punditry lauding him. I do see that there are those in the media who reflexively criticise him too, don't get me wrong. I'm not blind to that. But all I have to do, is listen to how Lebron talks about his team mates and I can instantly understand where Kyrie is coming from. I feel uncomfortable hearing how Lebron talks about his teammates. I have never heard any other sportsman. In any team sport, refer to his colleagues in the same manner. Jeepers how many times have I heard him say "my players"? Give me a fucking break!! Who died and made him the coach/GM/owner. Think about it, if you heard Lionel Messi referring to his Barcelona team mates as "my players" even you would raise your eyebrows. Admit it. You folks have become so desensitised to Lebron's entitlement

 

[the AntiPusher]

What do you mean about being sonned? Kyrie is about half the player LeBron is so yes he was always going to be Robin and that pissed him off. Kyrie was also alienating others on the team. During the playoffs last year Lue told him to get his teammates involved and Kyrie responded saying "that's #23's job. There isn't even definite proof that LeBron was trying to get him traded. Obviously LeBron played GM quite a bit but not on every move. It was clear Kyrie was unhappy before any trade rumors ever got brought up.

And the guy didn't show up to game 7 recently. He's a selfish bitch and it will be Stevens' greatest achievement long-term if he can convince him to keep playing team basketball.

no Darth..you have your facts incorrect..Federerberg wrote the truth

 

[DarthFed]

no Darth..you have your facts incorrect..Federerberg wrote the truth

This is becoming a classic "he said, he said"

You guys are choosing which rumors to believe and ignoring the others. I give more credibility to reports that Kyrie wanted to be the main focus which would not happen with LeBron.

As for LeBron saying "my guys" yes I've heard him say it but I really don't see what is wrong with that in the context he uses it. It's usually about "helping get my guys good shots" or being a leader for "my guys" and things like that. I doubt he's the only guy in history that has referred to his teammates as "my guys". It isn't in the context that he owns the players and they report to him.

Ultimately you guys are defending a player who had the "that's #23's job" quote. The same guy who may have threatened to have knee surgery if he wasn't traded and also didn't show up to his team's game 7. Is that what you guys want to defend? You don't see him being the type of guy who simply wanted his own team no matter what?

 

[DarthFed]

with the greatest of respect I don't spend my days just eating that stuff I have a lot of friends who share NBA stories with me. (You are making huge assumptions about the information I get from a very sketchy sample) Just like I do the same with the sports that are more closely geographically located to me. I'm telling you, this is what Kyrie believed. This idea that you have to ride the Lebron boat and subsume your ego is not realistic at all. Life at the high end doesn't work that way at all. Ego matters, and if Lebron didn't recognise that then that his issue. D Wade surely taught him better

I don't think it's the American shows but I do think from your responses you may be putting a lot of credibility into people you talk to that hate LeBron. The ones blaming the Kyrie mess on him are usually the extreme haters. I actually think it's crazy, the evidence of who Kyrie is has been on display. He's a fragile soul

 

[Federberg]

I don't think it's the American shows but I do think from your responses you may be putting a lot of credibility into people you talk to that hate LeBron. The ones blaming the Kyrie mess on him are usually the extreme haters. I actually think it's crazy, the evidence of who Kyrie is has been on display. He's a fragile soul

No you misunderstand me, I have friends who generally are sceptical about Lebron's goathood. But it actually, in most cases, doesn't translate into hatred. It's more of an eye roll to be honest.

Please let me be very clear. My take on the Lebron-Kyrie dynamic is entirely my own construct. I have observed these guys enough to see how potentially destructive that relationship could be. Take a step back and actually listen to how Lebron talks about his team mates. As a human being, listen to it, I really don't think you are. You seem to just see Lebron as the best player in the world and everyone should just bend over and take what he's giving.

If you have another proud alpha in your team with his own set of accomplishments there is every possibility that you get a similar reaction to Kyrie. The fact that it took (from Kyrie's perspective) behind the scenes machinations to trade him to be the straw that broke the camel's back actually speaks well of him. I would actually counter your comments by saying it's not that I'm hating on Lebron, but you're in fact hating on Kyrie. Or more accurately you're failing to appreciate the human ego (healthy btw) involved in that dynamic.