NBA Finals 2012

[The Questyen]

I don't know LeBron, and I'm guessing you don't either. So we just have what we know to go off of. And outside of the Decision, there isn't really much I can point to that makes me think -- that LeBron...what a dick.

The biggest reason I think people don't like star athletes is because they play on teams that aren't yours. That I get. But outside of that, or The Decision, or even "Not one, not two, not three" -- I really don't know what the guy has done to receive the ire of so many. Can you point to something that he does that makes him so unlikeable? I'm honestly curious, because maybe there is something I don't know about.

I only used the term "asshole" because other's did and I shouldn't have. I should have stuck with unlikable and for me The Decision, guaranteeing championships, and the overhype he gets compared to other star players who don't have the benefit of having a stacked team to play for are reason enough.

I also don't have a "team". I LOVE the NBA. I love watching good games no matter who plays. My favorite player since I was in high school was Kobe Bryant. I obviously rooted for the Lakers to win in the playoffs over the years because of that but I have no loyalty to the Lakers beyond that. I don't get upset when they lose. Rajon Rondo and Kevin Love over the last few years have became my second and third favorite players and I love to watch them play just as much as Kobe.

[Kenney]

I only used the term "asshole" because other's did and I shouldn't have. I should have stuck with unlikable and for me The Decision, guaranteeing championships, and the overhype he gets compared to other star players who don't have the benefit of having a stacked team to play for are reason enough.

Fair enough. The only counter I would say to one of your points is that while he is on a much better team now, he did get some pretty anemic Cavs teams deep into the playoffs, and once to the finals, which is hella impressive. Especially when you look how awful that team was just one year removed from having James on the team. He's very much like Peyton Manning.

I also don't have a "team". I LOVE the NBA. I love watching good games no matter who plays. My favorite player since I was in high school was Kobe Bryant. I obviously rooted for the Lakers to win in the playoffs over the years because of that but I have no loyalty to the Lakers beyond that. I don't get upset when they lose. Rajon Rondo and Kevin Love over the last few years have became my second and third favorite players and I love to watch them play just as much as Kobe.

Isn't not having a "team" great? I'm the same way, and I get to just enjoy the games, and usually gravitate towards a particular team in the playoffs. Rajon is ridiculous. I like how he was an afterthought when the "big 3" came together in Boston, but ended up being the best player on that team. It will be interesting watching the Celtics rebuild around him. It's always fun watching a true distributor play the game, like Rondo or Chris Paul.

[valance_the_hunter]

I think I dislike D-wade more than Lebron.   

But in terms of the Heat…I just don't like them as a team, cause quite honestly, they're not.  They're not a team.  They're three dudes.  No role players…no bench.  Well, I guess they have Juwan Howard  (little nod to the Jalen Rose talk).

I would, however, love to eat my words on this.  I would love to see Mario Chalmers hitting the game winning shot a la Steve Kerr, but I just don't see it happening.

[S. Earl]

From the Onion.

Why we hate Lebron

Skills second only to Kobe, touch second only to Bird, vision second only to Magic, and strength second only to Russell; therefore, pretty much a worthless second-rater

Was supposed to be the next Jordan, but chose friendship over a monomaniacal obsession with winning bordering on mental illness

Does this really annoying thing where he isn't always playing on Team USA and is instead playing for the Heat so then you have to root against him

Significant percentage of sports fans are jealous of his high school diploma

Abandoned and gave up on Cleveland, albeit decades after the rest of us did

Makes us feel guilty for never doing anything to make Cleveland better ourselves

Dunked over the pope at last year’s St. Peter's Basketbasilica Jamfest, even though the game was already out of hand

Televising The Decision repelled and frightened the American public, most of whom have spent their whole lives trying to avoid making decisions

Basically, it's easier not to really think about it

[valance_the_hunter]

I'd kill to have Lebron on the Warriors.   

Hell, I'll even take Juwan Howard at this point.

[PercussionMasta]

But in terms of the Heat…I just don't like them as a team, cause quite honestly, they're not.  They're not a team.  They're three dudes.  No role players…no bench.  Well, I guess they have Juwan Howard  (little nod to the Jalen Rose talk).

I sure think Shane Battier would take issues with this right now.

[PercussionMasta]

I only used the term "asshole" because other's did and I shouldn't have. I should have stuck with unlikable and for me The Decision, guaranteeing championships, and the overhype he gets compared to other star players who don't have the benefit of having a stacked team to play for are reason enough.

All those years in Cleveland was a "stacked" team?

[PercussionMasta]

The finals is a losing proposition all around for a Blazers fan like myself, especially fresh off such a nightmarish season.  I don't know anybody who isn't a Miami fan who wants Miami to win.  And OKC, with Durant, is too pointed a reminder of the Oden debacle right now.  Is it too late to call another work stoppage?

Ugh.  Let's not even talk about it.  At least we've finally rid ourselves of the Oden travesty.

[The Questyen]

I sure think Shane Battier would take issues with this right now.

Exactly. Shane Battier is a better role player then pretty much anyone in the league. Him and Bosh getting a ring are the only positives I can muster for the Heat winning a championship.

[The Questyen]

All those years in Cleveland was a "stacked" team?

I thought it was quite obvious I was talking about him since he's been on the Heat.

[valance_the_hunter]

I sure think Shane Battier would take issues with this right now.

Don't get me wrong, I think Battier is a great player, but I don't think he is being utilized nearly as well as he could be.  I remember a couple years ago when he was on the rockets and he was a real killer, currently I just don't see him being used to the degree that he should be.  The same thing can be said about Bosh, and that guy is a stud.

[Kenney]

Man, I am loving these competitive ass games. 2 things go differently, and OKC would have taken last night's game.

Westbrook seems frustrated. He seems like one of those guys that gets on edge when he can't get his shot to fall.

[PercussionMasta]

Man, I am loving these competitive ass games. 2 things go differently, and OKC would have taken last night's game.

Westbrook seems frustrated. He seems like one of those guys that gets on edge when he can't get his shot to fall.

I think this is one of the advantages the Heat have from being in this position before.  You can see it on the faces of the OKC players when things aren't going their way.  At least, I feel like I see the looks of discouragement on their faces a lot more than on the Heat.  I think the Heat are doing a pretty good job of keeping their composure. 

Pretty close game last night.  I can't believe the Heat pulled out a win, with the all the jumpshots they were bricking and the number of turnovers they were committing.

[PercussionMasta]

Also, I think the Heat's biggest stat might be free throw percentage.  Huge, HUGE performance going on there.

[Wood]

Heat still have to close it out. Let's remember what happened in the last NBA Finals.

BUT...if you're rooting for the Heat (as I am), you have to like what you've seen.

Lose a tight Game 1 on the road
Win a hotly contest Game 2 on the road
Fight back from a double digit deficit in Game 3 to win at home

I love seeing the Heat play as physically as they did yesterday. Just lots of cutting and driving to the basket. They should do this all the time.

[PercussionMasta]

I love seeing the Heat play as physically as they did yesterday. Just lots of cutting and driving to the basket. They should do this all the time.

Lol, you mean like scoring a bazillion points in the paint?  Yeah, they should definitely keep that up.

I also kind of liked how the Heat didn't come out blazing in the first quarter.  It seems like a more measure pace throughout the game might serve them better when it comes to crunch time in the fourth.  I think LeBron commented on this during one of his interviews.  They're not aiming for a blowout, but rather just trying to win each quarter in order to secure a win. 

Of course, if they can keep up a monstrous pace the whole game, then that's probably preferred.   

[valance_the_hunter]

Also, I think the Heat's biggest stat might be free throw percentage.  Huge, HUGE performance going on there.

Especially with OKC fouling left and right. 

I thought the game was on later so I only started watching in the 3rd quarter, and when I saw both Durant AND Westbrook on the bench…well, that's not a good sign.   

[Wood]

Especially with OKC fouling left and right. 

I thought the game was on later so I only started watching in the 3rd quarter, and when I saw both Durant AND Westbrook on the bench…well, that's not a good sign.   

I personally thought Brooks erred there. I know Westbrook wasn't playing all that well, but you don't take both of your All Stars off the court at the same time for a prolonged stretch on the road in the NBA finals.

[Kenney]

You know what I can't stand? This talk by sports writers for there to be a difference in how fouls are called for stars versus regular players, or how some fouls get called early as opposed to late in games. I get why that is (human element and all), but am I crazy in thinking maybe there wouldn't be so many issues with the calls that come down, if you know, calls were called the same for every player in every situation. Hell, I would be all for refs dialing back what a foul actually is, because it's almost like you can't even look at a player without the whistle blowing.

Wood, I thought that was weird too. And it put Harden in a tough spot having to try and carry the load for the team (which he failed to do) in that 3rd quarter.

As big of a fan of LeBron's as I've become, it sometimes drives me crazy when he drives into the paint, and has a shot at the rim, but will instead dish the ball to someone else in the paint. That works a lot of the time, but it also results in some clumsy plays when that other player is thinking (rightly) that Bron is going to go for the shot. There were maybe 2 or 3 instances when I was like "SHOOT THE BALL, LeBRON! Damn!" Small nitpick in an otherwise very strong game for LBJ.

[PercussionMasta]

As big of a fan of LeBron's as I've become, it sometimes drives me crazy when he drives into the paint, and has a shot at the rim, but will instead dish the ball to someone else in the paint. That works a lot of the time, but it also results in some clumsy plays when that other player is thinking (rightly) that Bron is going to go for the shot. There were maybe 2 or 3 instances when I was like "SHOOT THE BALL, LeBRON! Damn!" Small nitpick in an otherwise very strong game for LBJ.

This is enormously frustrating.  The guy has the strength and the athleticism to take it strong to the basket.  Sure, driving the lane to collapse the defense and then kicking it to an open guy is a valid strategy, but LeBron seems to do this too much, and it has the tendency to result in turnovers or bricked jump shots.