Where is the thread about Durant failing in the 4th quarter?

[TheDangerousKitchen]

MJ wasn't a free agent when he signed his extension. He signed September of '88 and still had 1 more year on his rookie deal, plus 2 option years.

On September 12, 1984, Michael Jordan signed his first NBA contract with the Chicago Bulls. It was a 5 year guaranteed contract with two option years. The whopping total was for a little over $6 million and that included a $1 million signing bonus.

The 1984 NBA Draft: Drafting Jordan ? Not a Done Deal « The History Rat

The previous season (87-88 before signing the extension) Bulls were a #3 seed with a record of 50-32 and got beat in the 2nd round.

1987-88 NBA Season Summary | Basketball-Reference.com

Jordan signed the extension before the start of the 88-89 season... he would have been a FA following that season (his 5th year in the league) but he chose instead to stay in Chicago.

That really doesn't change anything we've been discussing, the fact that the Cavs were much closer to a Championship (when James bolted) than were the Bulls (when MJ re-signed with them).

 

[TheDangerousKitchen]

Bulls traded Oakley for Cartwright, the summer MJ re-signed.....due to what they saw out of young Horace Grant

There's 4 of your 5 starters right there.
MJ
Scottie
Horace
Bill

besides Cartwright, MJ played with those 2 from the onset of their rookie seasons. Lebron's starters were a carousel throughout his years there.

No need for MJ to leave when the core was falling into place.

lol... yeah sure... real easy to say in retrospect. In reality, however, that "50 win team" featured a starting lineup that included NBA legends Brad Sellers, Sam Vincent and Dave Corzine... with "rookies" Pippen and Grant coming off the bench to play just 21 and 22 minutes, respectively.

In other words those 50 wins came because of Jordan's unstoppable play... not because of any "core" that was developing. In fact, the 88-89 team was the 3rd complete roster overhaul Jordan experienced in just 5 seasons... plus let's not forget that (at the time) Jordan absolutely hated the Oak/Cartwright trade, and was very upset with (then Bulls GM) Jerry Krause for making it.

Fact is Jordan had all the reasons in the world to leave... but he chose to stay, rather than take the easy way out and join the Lakers or Celtics at a discounted rate.

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

Jordan signed the extension before the start of the 88-89 season... he would have been a FA following that season (his 5th year in the league) but he chose instead to stay in Chicago.

That really doesn't change anything we've been discussing, the fact that the Cavs were much closer to a Championship (when James bolted) than were the Bulls (when MJ re-signed with them).

Well said my friend.

 

[LAKERSUSCBAM]

The Kitchen is dead on....LBJ wanted an easier route to title and colluded to do it instead of seeing it through in his hometown. Loyalty? Ha

 

[TheDangerousKitchen]

The Kitchen is dead on....LBJ wanted an easier route to title and colluded to do it instead of seeing it through in his hometown. Loyalty? Ha

Well of course... and quite frankly I'm not sure how anyone can even question that fact. Hell, LeEasyWayOut himself admitted that he didn't want to have to be the-man every night (in Cleveland), which is why he tuck-tail and ran to join two -2- other franchise stars in their absolute primes.

THAT alone (taking a short-cut to the top) disqualifies him from ever being mentioned in the same sentence as MJ.

 

[Lone Granger]

Well of course... and quite frankly I'm not sure how anyone can even question that fact. Hell, LeEasyWayOut himself admitted that he didn't want to have to be the-man every night (in Cleveland), which is why he tuck-tail and ran to join two -2- other franchise stars in their absolute primes.

THAT alone (taking a short-cut to the top) disqualifies him from ever being mentioned in the same sentence as MJ.

That's a goddamn fact!

 

[shitsho]

Well of course... and quite frankly I'm not sure how anyone can even question that fact. Hell, LeEasyWayOut himself admitted that he didn't want to have to be the-man every night (in Cleveland), which is why he tuck-tail and ran to join two -2- other franchise stars in their absolute primes.

THAT alone (taking a short-cut to the top) disqualifies him from ever being mentioned in the same sentence as MJ.

He gets another ring and continues to shoot at historic levels and he is automatically qualified. He is already going to the HOF and there is nothing you clowns can do stop it but bury your heads in the sand and not watch it.

 

[shitsho]

LeClown is human after all...Montsho/Zags, is all twisted up and is railing at all comers cause he doesn't like it when his boy is not compared favorably, and justly, to players like MJ and Kobe.

EVERY move LeClown is under the microscope cause that's what happens when the self-professed King is deemed the best in the league. Live with it. Lakers fans had to endure it during Kobe years.

Lebron has already tied Kobe in rings as the number 1 option. Kobe has already passed from view in Lebrons rear view mirror as an overall player. He has been better than Kobe really since he entered the league. Kobe is really just a cheap MJ knockoff. Face it. Everyone dislikes him except the Chinese and some Laker fans. Thats the reason you had to endure something. I dont have that issue. My self esteem is not tied to if Lebron is successful or not. I just like watching HOF'ers operate and paint their masterpieces.

 

[LAKERSUSCBAM]

Lebron - 2 rings
Kobe - 5 rings

Check the facts on what his stats were during those playoffs/finals. In addition, the number of key shots during those games and countless plays he made during those games makes the #1, #2, #3 option a moot point -- only haters would use to undermine what he meant during those 5 titles.

The league liked him too to the tune of:

*14 All-Defensive team selection
*4 time All-Star MVP
*Leading USA team to '08 Gold
*7 Finals appearances
*2-time Finals MVP
*2-time league scoring champ
*League MVP
*2nd highest scoring game in history of league

Kobe's legacy will never be tarnished by haters like you, cause his peers and the league count more than trivial digs at him.
LeClown's legacy is yet to be written but we'll all be watching real closely starting with his titles proclamation and go from there. Let's see what his next Decision will be and see if he bolts South Beach just as he jilted his hometown - something Kobe never did.

 

[lakersrule]

Kobe's legacy will never be tarnished by haters like you, cause his peers and the league count more than trivial digs at him.

Let him hate all he likes. It reminds him of his shortcomings.

I always subscribe to the below theory. People cannot stand a winner. It reminds them of their shortcomings.

 

[LAKERSUSCBAM]

Lakersrule: another words that would put him in the hypocrite category, poignant that his quote comes back to bite him in the ass, funny shit.

 

[Jims_Doors]

Jordan signed the extension before the start of the 88-89 season... he would have been a FA following that season (his 5th year in the league) but he chose instead to stay in Chicago.

That really doesn't change anything we've been discussing, the fact that the Cavs were much closer to a Championship (when James bolted) than were the Bulls (when MJ re-signed with them).

I know..... but you were the one saying he re-signed as a FA a year later. I was just informing you / correcting the wrong "facts" you kept posting over and over. He stayed because he was offered a significant raise a year before his contract was up. Play one more year and take the chance of getting injured (which he already missed 3/4 off a season a few years earlier) or get paid more NOW and become one of the highest paid players in NBA history? We both know MJ was about cash. He needed it to fuel his habitual gambling habit.

How were the Cavs closer? Both team lost in the 2nd round, with the Cavs winning 1 more playoff game than Chicago.

 

[Shoveyjoe]

Love how laker fans rail against Kobe haters and then turn around and hate on Lebron. Hypocrites

 

[Jims_Doors]

lol... yeah sure... real easy to say in retrospect. In reality, however, that "50 win team" featured a starting lineup that included NBA legends Brad Sellers, Sam Vincent and Dave Corzine... with "rookies" Pippen and Grant coming off the bench to play just 21 and 22 minutes, respectively.

In other words those 50 wins came because of Jordan's unstoppable play... not because of any "core" that was developing. In fact, the 88-89 team was the 3rd complete roster overhaul Jordan experienced in just 5 seasons... plus let's not forget that (at the time) Jordan absolutely hated the Oak/Cartwright trade, and was very upset with (then Bulls GM) Jerry Krause for making it.

Fact is Jordan had all the reasons in the world to leave... but he chose to stay, rather than take the easy way out and join the Lakers or Celtics at a discounted rate.

I never questioned whether Jordan was the reason for their 50 wins. He was a big part of it, just like LeBron was. In fact, Chicago had the best scoring defense in the league that year (87-88). In the playoffs that year (10 games) both Grant and Pippen avg. a shade under 30mpg. with Pippen starting 6 of the 10. Collins must have saw something, for them 2 to get that many minutes in the playoffs.

Bringing in Cartwright upgraded their C position, which enabled Chicago to play Grant at his more comfortable position at PF. Cartwright started every game possible (when healthy) at the C position when he was with Chicago. Corzine only started 32 of 80 games he played in the year before. So when the trade went down, Chicago had 4 of their starting 5 playing their natural positions. There would be no questions as who was going to start or play where. There were times when Oakley or Grant would play C the year before. No need for that (Grant) with Cartwright in the picture.

It indeed was the core coming together. If MJ was so pissed about Oak-man leaving, then he must have got over it quickly because he didn't have to sign the extension. The trade went down before he re-signed.

Jordan had no reason to leave. He had a good core of young upcoming players, just got further in the playoffs than he ever had, was made one of the highest paid players in history and played in one of the top sports cities in the Country. Big difference than playing in Cleveland with starters Mo Williams, 34yr old Anthony Parker, 37yr old Shaq and 33yr old Jamison.

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

Love how laker fans rail against Kobe haters and then turn around and hate on Lebron. Hypocrites

Why not bash on Lebron when most of the Kobe hater's are Lebron boner's ? & didn't you tell someone yesterday "When you actually WIN something, you can talk as much shit as you do." So this means we Laker fans can talk shit right ? but when we do it's not ok with you.

Sounds to me like you're the Hypocrite.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Lebron - 2 rings
Kobe - 5 rings

Check the facts on what his stats were during those playoffs/finals. In addition, the number of key shots during those games and countless plays he made during those games makes the #1, #2, #3 option a moot point -- only haters would use to undermine what he meant during those 5 titles.

The league liked him too to the tune of:

*14 All-Defensive team selection
*4 time All-Star MVP
*Leading USA team to '08 Gold
*7 Finals appearances
*2-time Finals MVP
*2-time league scoring champ
*League MVP
*2nd highest scoring game in history of league

Kobe's legacy will never be tarnished by haters like you, cause his peers and the league count more than trivial digs at him.
LeClown's legacy is yet to be written but we'll all be watching real closely starting with his titles proclamation and go from there. Let's see what his next Decision will be and see if he bolts South Beach just as he jilted his hometown - something Kobe never did.

First off LBJ will always be a better guy than Kobe off the court--that is a given, secondly when he passes him everyone won't think a second about Kobe. I think they have already forgot about him the way Lebron has been dominating like he has been the last couple years.

Just close your eyes, wake up, and Lebron will still be there for the next 10.

 

[Jims_Doors]

Back to topic at hand.

Thunder had a 15pt lead at the half last night against the Nets and a 11pt lead going into the 4th.

Durant was 3-7 in the second half (2fta) for 8pts...4 of those in the 4th with a crucial late turnover which lead to a D-Will 3pt'er and the eventual upset win by the Nets.

What happen to KD in the 2nd half?

 

[TheDangerousKitchen]

He gets another ring and continues to shoot at historic levels and he is automatically qualified. He is already going to the HOF and there is nothing you clowns can do stop it but bury your heads in the sand and not watch it.

LeShortCut with 3 Rings isn't even on Kobe's level...

 

[trojanfan12]

Love how laker fans rail against Kobe haters and then turn around and hate on Lebron. Hypocrites

Love how Heat "fans" and Lebroniacs rail against Lebron haters and then turn around and hate on Kobe. Hypocrites.

 

[TheDangerousKitchen]

I never questioned whether Jordan was the reason for their 50 wins. He was a big part of it, just like LeBron was. In fact, Chicago had the best scoring defense in the league that year (87-88). In the playoffs that year (10 games) both Grant and Pippen avg. a shade under 30mpg. with Pippen starting 6 of the 10. Collins must have saw something, for them 2 to get that many minutes in the playoffs.

Bringing in Cartwright upgraded their C position, which enabled Chicago to play Grant at his more comfortable position at PF. Cartwright started every game possible (when healthy) at the C position when he was with Chicago. Corzine only started 32 of 80 games he played in the year before. So when the trade went down, Chicago had 4 of their starting 5 playing their natural positions. There would be no questions as who was going to start or play where. There were times when Oakley or Grant would play C the year before. No need for that (Grant) with Cartwright in the picture.

It indeed was the core coming together. If MJ was so pissed about Oak-man leaving, then he must have got over it quickly because he didn't have to sign the extension. The trade went down before he re-signed.

Jordan had no reason to leave. He had a good core of young upcoming players, just got further in the playoffs than he ever had, was made one of the highest paid players in history and played in one of the top sports cities in the Country. Big difference than playing in Cleveland with starters Mo Williams, 34yr old Anthony Parker, 37yr old Shaq and 33yr old Jamison.

Yes... Collins saw that Pippen and Grant were better than Brad "Big Bust" Sellers, Dave "Butterfingers" Corzine, and Granville Waiters.

lol

I know all about the evolution of the Dynasty Bulls, thank you very much... and the rosy picture you paint comes from looking at the situation in retrospect; however at the time that "core" group of starters represented the 3rd roster overhaul Jordan experienced in just 5 years, and the ONLY certainty surrounding that group was that Jordan was the best player on the planet.

Period.

LeBron bailed on back-to-back 60+ win / #1 seed teams that were legit Championship contenders and (in 2010) favored by many to go all the way... and no amount of spinning on your part will change that fact.