Durant signs with Warriors!

[viman96]

Huh? They play in Oakland for now. The new arena will be in San Francisco.

My bad. Not sure what I was thinking! I will blame it on not having my morning coffee!

 

[Manwiththeplan]

No, he won't.
He isn't a hometown kid and he isn't the best player in the world at the time.

A lot, most if I remember correctly, of the criticism revolved around Lebron joining Dwayne Wade and to a lesser extent, Chris Bosh. Hence Meme's like this

The idea that previous great players would take a back seat to each other, as opposed to competing against each other, was something many just couldn't fathom. Fault the Patrick Ewing's, Charles Barkley's and Karl Malone's of the world all you want for not winning championships, but in their prime, they did not decide, hey, let's team up to beat Jordan. And I can only speak for myself, but that was the most disappointing part of Lebron joining the Heat, was his refusal to compete. This year, more than any other year, he had to compete to win and while winning for Cleveland made this sweet, over coming a better team, is what should make this season one to remember.

But at least with the Heat, prior to landing Lebron in 2010, Miami was not in the playoffs. Yes Wade won a championship in 2006, but Wade and Haslem were the only hold overs. The 2011 team that went to finals looked nothing like the 2006 team, and the 2012+2013 teams were even more different.

Durant took what Lebron did, and completely ran with it to an extent that we'll likely never see again, for the simple fact that we likely will never see a 73 win team again (maybe this year they repeat that total, not sure). This exact same Golden State team won 67 games and a championship in 2015, then as an encore they win 73 games and come within 4 points of going back to back. Not sure how he does not get the same criticism. Yes, he may not be the best player in the world, but what, he's the 3rd? If he wasn't 3rd, he's 4th, depending on how you rank his former team mate, Russell Westbrook.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

He is the most west coast guy in the entire league.
LA kid who stayed for college and carries a full on hardcore West Coast persona.

He may be traded to the Lakers/Clips this year.
OKC is unlikely to hold him and lose him for nothing.
Griffin was an OU star...?
Griffin plus a couple picks plus a quality guard just might do it.

If I'm Westbrook, I make it very clear that I will not resign with the Clippers if Griffin is part of any deal. I don't see a Lakers trade happening. He may sign there in the offseason, especially if they land another high pick and can build up their front court. Maybe even deal De'Angelo Russell for something as well, but I just don't see it this year.

As of now they can't deal their pick because they only keep it if it lands in the top 3 (2017) and then in 2018, there's no protection on the pick. So they can't deal a first until 2020. If they agree to convey the pick no matter what, then they could deal a 2019 pick.

 

[YosemiteSam]

It will be interesting to see how they play together. They are all volume shooters. There is going to be a ball problem I suspect.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/240719/woj-knicks-have-real-chance-on-russell-westbrook-in-2017

Adrian Warjnarowski who is normally spot on (even when knicks fans disagree) is saying we have "a real chance"

A lot will depend on Porzingis, if he can play near an all star level and the team does well enough, I think we'll be in the conversation.

edit: nevermind, super old article, that they bumped up today given the news, although it's funny reading the old comments, and how many people thought Durant to GS was BS.

 

[vlad]

Define "parts". Oakland is widely regarded as a cesspool.

Just the Bay area - its beautiful out there, great nature, great city, great weather...and not too far from beaches, Napa Valley. Arts, food, culture, music, tech, outdoor life (mountain biking, climbing, sailing, anything water related). The biggest things working against that area are cost of living and over gentrification in the city.

 

[Tabascocat]

Just the Bay area - its beautiful out there, great nature, great city, great weather...and not too far from beaches, Napa Valley. Arts, food, culture, music, tech, outdoor life (mountain biking, climbing, sailing, anything water related). The biggest things working against that area are cost of living and over gentrification in the city.

I live just South of SF, it is a nice area

 

[Manwiththeplan]

He is the most west coast guy in the entire league.
LA kid who stayed for college and carries a full on hardcore West Coast persona.

He may be traded to the Lakers/Clips this year.
OKC is unlikely to hold him and lose him for nothing.
Griffin was an OU star...?
Griffin plus a couple picks plus a quality guard just might do it.

If he's dealt, the only team with the assets is really Boston. They can trade the right to swap with Brooklyn in 2017 and their pick outright in 2018 as well as a few building block pieces like Isaiah Thomas, and Jaylen Brown.

 

[jterrell]

A lot, most if I remember correctly, of the criticism revolved around Lebron joining Dwayne Wade and to a lesser extent, Chris Bosh. Hence Meme's like this

The idea that previous great players would take a back seat to each other, as opposed to competing against each other, was something many just couldn't fathom. Fault the Patrick Ewing's, Charles Barkley's and Karl Malone's of the world all you want for not winning championships, but in their prime, they did not decide, hey, let's team up to beat Jordan. And I can only speak for myself, but that was the most disappointing part of Lebron joining the Heat, was his refusal to compete. This year, more than any other year, he had to compete to win and while winning for Cleveland made this sweet, over coming a better team, is what should make this season one to remember.

But at least with the Heat, prior to landing Lebron in 2010, Miami was not in the playoffs. Yes Wade won a championship in 2006, but Wade and Haslem were the only hold overs. The 2011 team that went to finals looked nothing like the 2006 team, and the 2012+2013 teams were even more different.

Durant took what Lebron did, and completely ran with it to an extent that we'll likely never see again, for the simple fact that we likely will never see a 73 win team again (maybe this year they repeat that total, not sure). This exact same Golden State team won 67 games and a championship in 2015, then as an encore they win 73 games and come within 4 points of going back to back. Not sure how he does not get the same criticism. Yes, he may not be the best player in the world, but what, he's the 3rd? If he wasn't 3rd, he's 4th, depending on how you rank his former team mate, Russell Westbrook.

Not sure what to say other than that take is goofy.
Malone of course did ring chase. So did Gary Payton.
So did Ray a lot of guys like KG/Ray Allen joining Pierce in Boston.

Those 80s guys didn't in part because it wasn't an option for them.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Not enough balls for Thompson. I think his # shots go down.

See the Heat when Bosh and Lebron joined Wade in Miami. Every one of those guys' shots-per-game average decreased in an effort to compete for and win championships, which they did.

Ask those guys if they would give up 2-3 extra shot attempts a game versus winning a championship? It wouldn't even be close.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Define "parts". Oakland is widely regarded as a cesspool.

Lol, you have no clue of what you're talking about. Sure, every large, major metropolitan city has its bad spots; New York is a prime example.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Not sure what to say other than that take is goofy.
Malone of course did ring chase. So did Gary Payton.
So did Ray a lot of guys like KG/Ray Allen joining Pierce in Boston.

Those 80s guys didn't in part because it wasn't an option for them.

Malone did his last season, and Gary Payton was near the end of his career as well, he hung on a few more seasons as a role player and was on that 2006 Miami team that won, but by the time he joined the Lakers he certainly wasn't playing at an MVP level at that point.

KG and Ray Allen did, but Minnesota wasn't a playoff team anymore and Ray Allen, while an all star was never considered an MVP caliber player.

None of the players you named were in their prime and played with another top 5 player. Or were up 3-1 in the conference finals the previous year.

 

[jterrell]

I live just South of SF, it is a nice area

except if you need to go anywhere more than a few blocks way
i live in a bad traffic area but it pales in comparison to trainwreck of SF area traffic.

 

[Tabascocat]

except if you need to go anywhere more than a few blocks way
i live in a bad traffic area but it pales in comparison to trainwreck of SF area traffic.

I BART it whenever I can, only drawback is that it goes nowhere near the coast which is where I go the most....boat is docked there

 

[jterrell]

Malone did his last season, and Gary Payton was near the end of his career as well, he hung on a few more seasons as a role player and was on that 2006 Miami team that won, but by the time he joined the Lakers he certainly wasn't playing at an MVP level at that point.

KG and Ray Allen did, but Minnesota wasn't a playoff team anymore and Ray Allen, while an all star was never considered an MVP caliber player.

None of the players you named were in their prime and played with another top 5 player. Or were up 3-1 in the conference finals the previous year.

you honestly are making zero points.
players have chased rings for a long time now.
at first it was end of career guys because they couldn't make any money once they changed teams.
they didn't even earlier because they weren't able to under the rules.
now that rules allow it, it is here to stay.

obviously CLE now needs to try to add yet another piece.
the race at the top is nasty.

 

[jterrell]

I BART it whenever I can, only drawback is that it goes nowhere near the coast which is where I go the most....boat is docked there

i'd live there if it werent for traffic man.
great weather and love the culture.
just that traffic shuts stuff down totally.

if money weren't a factor i'd live in san diego or san juan PR.

 

[Tabascocat]

i'd live there if it werent for traffic man.
great weather and love the culture.
just that traffic shuts stuff down totally.

if money weren't a factor i'd live in san diego or san juan PR.

Lived in SD as well.....both are great. I prefer SD just because it is less torture in the water. That 2 degrees makes a difference

 

[Manwiththeplan]

you honestly are making zero points.
players have chased rings for a long time now.
at first it was end of career guys because they couldn't make any money once they changed teams.
they didn't even earlier because they weren't able to under the rules.
now that rules allow it, it is here to stay.

obviously CLE now needs to try to add yet another piece.
the race at the top is nasty.

you're absolutely right, I have no idea where I got this idea from that Durant was running away from competition



This was right after Lebron signed with Miami...

 

[Manwiththeplan]

fwiw, I'm really looking forward to what ever "game of zones" comes up with this to mock it. I'm thinking a Red Wedding scene, don't think they've one one yet.

 

[dogunwo]

you're absolutely right, I have no idea where I got this idea from that Durant was running away from competition



This was right after Lebron signed with Miami...

KD will not be as criticized because those that get paid to criticize, like him better than they like LeBron. I don't have anything against what either of them did, but those that think what LeBron did was any more "wrong" than KD did is crazy or doesn't like LeBron James for non basketball things like the "pep rally" or the decision television special.