2015-16 NBA Eastern Conference OFFICIAL THREAD

[bksballer89]

this is the most idiotic load of bullshit I have ever heard. I mean- are you guys seriously brain dead? you think COLOR GUYS IN THE NBA GET THE JOB BEAUSE OF THEIR ANNOUNCING SKILLS? holy shit. my head hurts. I have to take a deep breath, realize I am 2 months from having my doctorate. and move on.

Most of them do........especially those who are not former players. As a former player it is pretty easy to get a job as an announcer/analyst but the others get it due to announcing skills. Hard to believe?

 

[DJ Fieri]

ESPN shutting down Grantland

Wiggy just jumped into the Cuyahoga river.

 

[DJ Fieri]

See that? He's getting a doctorate so he's smarter than everybody else.

 

[trojanfan12]

this is the most idiotic load of bullshit I have ever heard. I mean- are you guys seriously brain dead? you think COLOR GUYS IN THE NBA GET THE JOB BEAUSE OF THEIR ANNOUNCING SKILLS? holy shit. my head hurts. I have to take a deep breath, realize I am 2 months from having my doctorate. and move on.

Wow, you really are even stupider than I thought. I didn't say that ex-NBA players got the jobs because of their announcing skills, moron. I said some of them are actually pretty good at it and others, like Austin Carr and Magic Johnson suck. I also said that just because they played, doesn't mean they're any good. You're the one who seems to think that having played makes them good analysts.

You really need to work on your comprehension. It might help you embarrass yourself a little less. Although, from what we've seen so far, it looks like you enjoy embarrassing yourself.

 

[ManuForever]

Wow, you really are even stupider than I thought. I didn't say that ex-NBA players got the jobs because of their announcing skills, moron. I said some of them are actually pretty good at it and others, like Austin Carr and Magic Johnson suck. I also said that just because they played, doesn't mean they're any good. You're the one who seems to think that having played makes them good analysts.

You really need to work on your comprehension. It might help you embarrass yourself a little less. Although, from what we've seen so far, it looks like you enjoy embarrassing yourself.

I hate listening to Clyde Drexler during Rockets games that are on League Pass. So, so bad.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I hate listening to Clyde Drexler during Rockets games that are on League Pass. So, so bad.

thank you for continuing to prove my point. these guys arent hired because they are walter cronkite. they are hired because of what they accomplished, and their popularity with the fan base.

 

[WiggyRuss]

They interviewed Gilbert yesterday about the NBA title favorite Cavaliers and the 175 million dollar payroll - which includes the 65 million in lux tax.

this quote really kinda explains Gilberts philosophy on the spending- not that their is a per se budget- but they wont do things where there ability to maneuver is compromised (which is pretty much the exact thing i was saying about the Thompson negotiations)

"We look at this year by year. There's so many factors, so many things can change," Gilbert said. "We always like to have options. It's not so much the amount of payroll. The question is if you can maneuver. If the team goes a certain way, are all the contracts valuable? Can your general manager still play chess? We never try to say this is [the budget]. It really is how it operates.

and a great quote from LeBron on that where he believes Gilbert will do whatever it takes:

"When you have an ownership group that believes what it's going to take, then money is not an object," James said. "It's a sign that [Gilbert] will do anything to help us go out there and perform."

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

They interviewed Gilbert yesterday about the NBA title favorite Cavaliers and the 175 million dollar payroll - which includes the 65 million in lux tax.

this quote really kinda explains Gilberts philosophy on the spending- not that their is a per se budget- but they wont do things where there ability to maneuver is compromised (which is pretty much the exact thing i was saying about the Thompson negotiations)

"We look at this year by year. There's so many factors, so many things can change," Gilbert said. "We always like to have options. It's not so much the amount of payroll. The question is if you can maneuver. If the team goes a certain way, are all the contracts valuable? Can your general manager still play chess? We never try to say this is [the budget]. It really is how it operates.

and a great quote from LeBron on that where he believes Gilbert will do whatever it takes:

"When you have an ownership group that believes what it's going to take, then money is not an object," James said. "It's a sign that [Gilbert] will do anything to help us go out there and perform."

James quote is about as dumb as your comments.
Are you implying it was a shot at Arison?

That really wouldn't make much sense at all, would it, being that Arison the owner has pay rolled 3 championship rosters while on the other hand Gilbert has proven that he can't even find a way to be a top 8 seed in the weakest of times if James wasn't on his roster?

 

[ChrisGar15]

James quote is about as dumb as your comments.
Are you implying it was a shot at Arison?

I think somebody is a little defensive.

 

[WiggyRuss]

James quote is about as dumb as your comments.
Are you implying it was a shot at Arison?

That really wouldn't make much sense at all, would it, being that Arison the owner has pay rolled 3 championship rosters while on the other hand Gilbert has proven that he can't even find a way to be a top 8 seed in the weakest of times if James wasn't on his roster?

well im just saying that while I dont think Arison is cheap- it said in Windhorsts article the last 3 years he spent like 34 million in luxury tax.

It is not a secret James was frustrated with Heat owner Micky Arison's cost cutting his final year in Miami. He used the amnesty clause to waive Mike Miller, didn't use the mid-level exception and used a first-round pick in a trade not to add talent but to offload salary at midseason.

This is a plot point that turns faces red in Miami because Arison did spend when James was there, paying $34 million total in luxury taxes in the last three years James was in Miami, the third most in the league in that span

I mean- 34 million in 3 years was 3rd in the league. But like it said up there- LeBron was not happy about what he perceived as Arison not doing enough that last year. When you compare that to a situation where the guy will spend in luxury tax 65 million- which is nearly double what the other guy spent in 3 seasons- you can see why that would appeal to LeBron. Arison is not cheap- but LeBrons expectations were not met that last season and it had an impact- especially when the alternative is laying out having a redonkulious payroll.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

well im just saying that while I dont think Arison is cheap- it said in Windhorsts article the last 3 years he spent like 34 million in luxury tax.

It is not a secret James was frustrated with Heat owner Micky Arison's cost cutting his final year in Miami. He used the amnesty clause to waive Mike Miller, didn't use the mid-level exception and used a first-round pick in a trade not to add talent but to offload salary at midseason.

This is a plot point that turns faces red in Miami because Arison did spend when James was there, paying $34 million total in luxury taxes in the last three years James was in Miami, the third most in the league in that span

I mean- 34 million in 3 years was 3rd in the league. But like it said up there- LeBron was not happy about what he perceived as Arison not doing enough that last year. When you compare that to a situation where the guy will spend in luxury tax 65 million- which is nearly double what the other guy spent in 3 seasons- you can see why that would appeal to LeBron. Arison is not cheap- but LeBrons expectations were not met that last season and it had an impact- especially when the alternative is laying out having a redonkulious payroll.

Wiggy.

That's just false.

1. All of the Big 3 signed there initial contracts at a discount JUST to be able to make it work and be able to add a couple of average pieces at the time (Miller, UD). There is a thing called salary cap.

2. Anything that Arsison did after that NEVER weakened the roster and was done in the hopes of having some type of flexibility in the future. Again, salary cap dictates all.

The big difference between what the Cavs and Heat FO are/were able to do has/had nothing to do with cash, it was all about moveable assets which the Cavs had and the Heat didn't because we were never bad enough to accumulate them.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

I think somebody is a little defensive.

Nah.
You're just a new member and haven't been privy to Wiggys 10,000 posts about Arison being cheap.

 

[bksballer89]

Knick and Wiz coming down to the end.

Indy looks like shit

 

[trojanfan12]

thank you for continuing to prove my point. these guys arent hired because they are walter cronkite. they are hired because of what they accomplished, and their popularity with the fan base.

Uh, nice try. That wasn't the point you tried to make.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Wiggy.

That's just false.

1. All of the Big 3 signed there initial contracts at a discount JUST to be able to make it work and be able to add a couple of average pieces at the time (Miller, UD). There is a thing called salary cap.

2. Anything that Arsison did after that NEVER weakened the roster and was done in the hopes of having some type of flexibility in the future. Again, salary cap dictates all.

The big difference between what the Cavs and Heat FO are/were able to do has/had nothing to do with cash, it was all about moveable assets which the Cavs had and the Heat didn't because we were never bad enough to accumulate them.

So what are you saying? those 3 instances in LeBrons walk year never happened?

And again- it doesnt matter if I think Arison is cheap, if you did, if the national media did- the only person that mattered was LeBron and no matter which way you slice it- its beyond obvious that he was disapointed in Arison- and that when you compare the level of commitment Gilbert has to fielding the best possible team he can- to Arison fielding the best possible team he can- money talks. The answer is OBVIOUSLY Gilbert.

Like I said- Gilbert is spending 65 million in tax this year. NEARLY DOUBLE what ARison did LeBrons Final 3 years in Miami (since they didnt pay the lux tax the first year if im not mistaken).

 

[WiggyRuss]

"We're committed; we're all-in ... When you invest in something like a sports franchise and you're in for so much ... if you at the margins start pulling back, I think that may be foolish on a lot of fronts," Gilbert said before the Cavs beat theMiami Heat102-92. "We're investing for the future as well as the current."

again- IF YOU AT THE MARGINS START PULLING BACK.

I think that statement was Gilberts EXACT feelings when he sees Arison with a potential dynasty- but the billionaire is worrying about an extra 50 million here or there- and thats what happens. Its just so stupid too considering when you have LeBron you already have built in value of a HUGE number. With max K's you should have ot pay LeBron SOOOO MUCH MORE...Gilbert just kicks that value back into the team. ARison didnt.

 

[bksballer89]

"We're committed; we're all-in ... When you invest in something like a sports franchise and you're in for so much ... if you at the margins start pulling back, I think that may be foolish on a lot of fronts," Gilbert said before the Cavs beat theMiami Heat102-92. "We're investing for the future as well as the current."

again- IF YOU AT THE MARGINS START PULLING BACK.

I think that statement was Gilberts EXACT feelings when he sees Arison with a potential dynasty- but the billionaire is worrying about an extra 50 million here or there- and thats what happens. Its just so stupid too considering when you have LeBron you already have built in value of a HUGE number. With max K's you should have ot pay LeBron SOOOO MUCH MORE...Gilbert just kicks that value back into the team. ARison didnt.

Arison titles 3

Gilbert titles 0

Gilbert can be mentioned in the same sentence as Arison when he gets on his level

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

So what are you saying? those 3 instances in LeBrons walk year never happened?

And again- it doesnt matter if I think Arison is cheap, if you did, if the national media did- the only person that mattered was LeBron and no matter which way you slice it- its beyond obvious that he was disapointed in Arison- and that when you compare the level of commitment Gilbert has to fielding the best possible team he can- to Arison fielding the best possible team he can- money talks. The answer is OBVIOUSLY Gilbert.

Like I said- Gilbert is spending 65 million in tax this year. NEARLY DOUBLE what ARison did LeBrons Final 3 years in Miami (since they didnt pay the lux tax the first year if im not mistaken).

Again, you simply just don't know what the fuck you are talking about.
Cavs are way over this year WITHOUT making and additions to the roster they already had.
Gilbert had no choice but to keep those players.

When it came to possibly upgrading the roster with a NEW player like Joe Johnson, Gilbert balked because of cost.

Arison smartly didn't invest into heavy luxury hits with scrubs like Miller, Anthony and whoever else you have mentioned for the obvious reasons which all helped the future of the team.

James left because he wanted the power plus the youth that he saw in the Cavs roster.
Him worrying about what Arison would or wouldn't do should have never been a concern based on the results that occurred the 4 years he was here, but he knew there wasn't much that at that point could have been done because of something you continue to ignore called the salary cap and rules that go along with it.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

"We're committed; we're all-in ... When you invest in something like a sports franchise and you're in for so much ... if you at the margins start pulling back, I think that may be foolish on a lot of fronts," Gilbert said before the Cavs beat theMiami Heat102-92. "We're investing for the future as well as the current."

again- IF YOU AT THE MARGINS START PULLING BACK.

I think that statement was Gilberts EXACT feelings when he sees Arison with a potential dynasty- but the billionaire is worrying about an extra 50 million here or there- and thats what happens. Its just so stupid too considering when you have LeBron you already have built in value of a HUGE number. With max K's you should have ot pay LeBron SOOOO MUCH MORE...Gilbert just kicks that value back into the team. ARison didnt.

And Gilbert paid how much luxury tax in ANY season when James wasn't on the roster??

All he's doing now is keeping his word because he'd be foolish not too with James annual opt outs.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

On another note, Howard not playing tonight.
On one hand I'm disappointed cause its his only appearance here this year and I wanted to see Whiteside and he go at it, but on the other hand it improves our chances to win which is prob more important.