Hard to watch NBA ball....

[hogsanity]

I really wouldn't have any problem with the warriors (other than the occasional cheap-shot play of green and zaza) except for the fact of Durant joining them. No, I don't expect them to turn him down, but it just reinforces the stereotype of today's athlete.

Alabam in football, Kentucky in basketball, Lebron started this whole thing for this generation and Durant couldn't jump ship fast enough to try and get his ring. I just don't respect it.

Why would you lump two college teams into that? Players are not leaving programs to go there, at least not like they do in pro sports. Sure, they may get a transfer every now and then, but they can't just go out and recruit top players away from other teams after players have signed at those places.

I agree on the pro end to a point. Lebron left Cleveland because he did not think the ownership was capable of building a championship team. He came back when the atmosphere had changed. Durant pretty muched faced the situation. 

[EastexHawg]

I understand the feelings about Durant.  The Warriors already won a championship and lost the Finals in seven gamest the next year without him.  It certainly makes it look like he is simply jumping on the bandwagon to get a ring.  I think it took the Warriors half a season to adapt to having him in the lineup and how that changed the existing players' responsibilities and opportunities. 

Everyone is apparently happy as we get to the end of year one and the drive for a championship continues.  It will be interesting to see how the dynamic works out going forward.

[hvsupastar]

LeBron is as much a talent chaser as anyone in NBA history.  He did it twice, nobody else has done that. 

[EastexHawg]

I know he is doing extra duty because of the injury to Isaiah Thomas, but​ Marcus Smart is simply awful as a ball handler.  It's like watching a high school kid with it in his hands against the Cavaliers.

[PonderinHog]

Irving taking over.

[J-Five]

I really wouldn't have any problem with the warriors (other than the occasional cheap-shot play of green and zaza) except for the fact of Durant joining them. No, I don't expect them to turn him down, but it just reinforces the stereotype of today's athlete.

Alabam in football, Kentucky in basketball, Lebron started this whole thing for this generation and Durant couldn't jump ship fast enough to try and get his ring. I just don't respect it.

For the 100th time, Lebron didn't start anything...the Celtics formed a Big 3 with Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett, before Lebron even thought about it.  Get your facts straight please...

[ErieHog]

For the 100th time, Lebron didn't start anything...the Celtics formed a Big 3 with Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett, before Lebron even thought about it.  Get your facts straight please...

The Celtics *traded* for Garnett and Allen, without sign-and-trade requirements.  That's a big qualitative difference.

[J-Five]

LeBron is as much a talent chaser as anyone in NBA history.  He did it twice, nobody else has done that.

Shaq?  Pretty sure EVERY team is looking for talent...silly argument.  So, you wanted him to stay in Cleveland and never have a chance at a title?  Just to say he stayed there?  DUMB.  Lebron played out his contract in Cleveland (7 years) and they didn't get him ANY help (unless you count an AGING Shaq, or Boobie Gibson, or how bout Zydrunas Ilgauskas, give me a break).  We all go where the best opportunity is, no matter what our occupation is.  What Lebron did is no different than Joe the IT guy opting for a better job with better pay and more of an opportunity for advancement...don't knock Lebron for something that we'd all do.

[J-Five]

The Celtics *traded* for Garnett and Allen, without sign-and-trade requirements.  That's a big qualitative difference.

But it's the same outcome...3 All-Stars on the same team.  Doesn't matter how it happened, honestly.  That's being petty.

[ErieHog]

But it's the same outcome...3 All-Stars on the same team.  Doesn't matter how it happened, honestly.  That's being petty.

The how is extremely important.     Its defining-the-issue important.

[GoshenHog]

Did the Lakers trade for Karl Malone or Gary Payton?

[ErieHog]

Did the Lakers trade for Karl Malone or Gary Payton?

Both were extreme free agent discount signings.    They're much more guilty of the behavior involved with LeBron, which was just as reprehensible.

[1highhog]

Hm.  I feel like this has been a great playoff so far.  The east is much more competitive than it used to be. 

I'm fine with the pushing and shoving, I wish they'd let more of that slide in college.  Sometimes refs miss travel calls, but that's doesn't make watching NBA unbearable.  Just my 2 cents though.

I'm the same way on the traveling calls.  Some of these guys should be getting frequent flyer miles for all the traveling they do going to the hole.  When watching the Cleveland vs. Boston game the other night, Kyrie was slicing as dicing his way through the Boston players scoring at will, problem was, he was taking three steps without ever dribbling the ball.  And I seen in the 4th quarter alone Lebron double dribble, palm the ball, step out of bounds, all right in front of a ref, but I think the ref was just excited watching Lebron like the other players were just standing around and watching him.  I wish they would call the games the right way and see how good these players really are, no wonder they struggle now when playing against the other national teams.

[HiggiePiggy]

I am going to say Cleveland in 6. 

[EastexHawg]

I am going to say Cleveland in 6. 

Boston couldn't or wouldn't play defense.  Golden State will.  Overall the East the last couple of years has been incredibly weak.  I think Cleveland's only chance is for Kevin Love to shoot lights out in the series.

Warriors in five.

[hogbud]

The amount of palming basketball, numerous walks (sometimes 3 steps!) last night was ridiculous....of course these guys don't have to do it  - it's just overlooked by refs.

[311Hog]

The amount of palming basketball, numerous walks (sometimes 3 steps!) last night was ridiculous....of course these guys don't have to do it  - it's just overlooked by refs.

i cannot actually remember the last time i saw a travel call in an NBA game.  At one point it looked like Kyrie just tucked the ball and ran like 6 steps.  It is easy to be a "great" finisher at the rim when you don't have to worry about dribbling lol.

[EastexHawg]

It was bad enough before it was decided the "jump step" is not traveling.  Basically you can take steps with both feet but as long as you take both of them at the same time it's only counted as one.  LOL.  So now you have guys picking up their dribble, taking two steps, and then "jumping" with both feet to get into position.  Well, except for when they take three or four steps after picking up their dribble...

[Pistol Pig Maravich]

i cannot actually remember the last time i saw a travel call in an NBA game.  At one point it looked like Kyrie just tucked the ball and ran like 6 steps.  It is easy to be a "great" finisher at the rim when you don't have to worry about dribbling lol.

By using this rationale there is one current razorback that should end up being an All Pro!!! Travels every time he touches it!!!

[hogsanity]

It was bad enough before it was decided the "jump step" is not traveling.  Basically you can take steps with both feet but as long as you take both of them at the same time it's only counted as one.  LOL.  So now you have guys picking up their dribble, taking two steps, and then "jumping" with both feet to get into position.  Well, except for when they take three or four steps after picking up their dribble...

Try officiating that jump stop crap. It is a freaking nightmare.

[EastexHawg]

Try officiating that jump stop crap. It is a freaking nightmare.

It makes no sense.  If you are out on the floor and pick up your dribble you have to maintain a pivot foot to avoid a traveling call.  If you were standing there with the ball, waiting to make a pass or shoot, and suddenly jumped into the air and landed on both feet that would be traveling.  But...if you do it on the way to the basket after taking another step (or two) it's not traveling.

[hogsanity]

It makes no sense.  If you are out on the floor and pick up your dribble you have to maintain a pivot foot to avoid a traveling call.  If you were standing there with the ball, waiting to make a pass or shoot, and suddenly jumped into the air and landed on both feet that would be traveling.  But...if you do it on the way to the basket after taking another step (or two) it's not traveling.

Yep, that and the euro step have basically made it impossible to call travelling on drives to the basket. I've done whole clinic sessions just on those two moves.