2014-2015 NBA Season

[ProjectMaximus]

Well the Rockets decided to finally play this first quarter...

[thelakelander]

Unfortunately, they didn't play through the end of the second quarter.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Warriors vs Cavs, Warriors in 6.

[RattlerGator]

I would argue that it is King James, the greatest basketball player I've ever seen, who is making guys like J.R. Smith look like all-stars now.

But add that to our list of disagreements. We'll see what Golden State (I presume) can do to J.R. Smith.

[pierre]

Haha. Atlanta is talented but they come of as soft to me. A team built for the regular season that will struggle when the game slows and the stakes rise in the playoffs. Sort of like Indy the last few years. They almost folded against a wounded Wizards team and they're making guys like JR Smith look like all stars now. Perhaps they lack deep playoff experience and this sweep will help them in the future?

They definitely miss Thabo Sefolosha, who had his leg broke by the NYPD.

[thelakelander]

Yes, they miss him, although I'm not sure it would have mattered if the Cavs were healthy too. At this point, everyone is walking wounded. The Cavs are playing with two starters out for the year and another resting because he's literally not needed to get past this series.

[thelakelander]

I would argue that it is King James, the greatest basketball player I've ever seen, who is making guys like J.R. Smith look like all-stars now.

But add that to our list of disagreements. We'll see what Golden State (I presume) can do to J.R. Smith.

What about Jordan? For 5 of his 6 championships, I went into the season knowing no other team stood a chance at beating the Bulls. A lot of great players like Malone, Ewing, Barkley, etc. never got a ring because that guy was on the court. Being a Heat fan, I couldn't stand him, but I'll admit he was as cut throat of a player as I've ever seen.

[RattlerGator]

Hey, I love Jordan but it is absurd what people have done in mythologizing him. In my final analysis, LeBron is not only the most diverse basketball player ever but also the most gifted passer for a big man with the highest basketball IQ in the game today. He can play every position on the court *and* he can defend every position on the court.

That's an unbeatable package.

Jordan clearly didn't possess that kind of package, and LeBron has done this all while standing in the shadow of the Jordan myth. Michael Jordan never had to deal with any of this kind of foolishness -- and LeBron has successfully handled this since coming into the NBA as an 18-year-old.

Again, as an 18-year old.

Hell, LeBron even outpaces Jordan as a 3-pt. shooter !!!

I won't even get into the whole situation of taking that awful Cleveland team to the NBA finals in his first stint as a Cavalier. Jordan absolutely couldn't have done that.

People who genuflect to Michael Jordan and harp on Jordan's six titles, I just ignore. He had serious All-Stars with him. SERIOUS all-stars. And he never took a hodge-podge team to the NBA finals. Never.

King James is the greatest basketball player of all time, in my opinion. Jordan is the more accomplished between the two, clearly. Those are two separate things to me.

[thelakelander]

Being a die-hard Heat fan, I watched probably 98% of the games LeBron played in over the past 4 years. You're right. He can play the 1 through the 4 and while he won't make talents like Wade, Bosh, Love or Irving better, he'll make average guys like JR Smith, Shumpert, Chalmers, Damon Jones, etc. look like superstars.....sort of like Shaq during his prime. However, with a game on the line, Jordan was a monster. 

With that said, this year's wounded Cavs team looks more like that 2007 team that got swept in the Finals. Only Iverson's team may have been a tad worse in recent decades. Barring injury, I'm not sure they have the fire power necessary to keep up with Golden State over the course of a seven game series, even with LeBron running through the East.

What will be interesting is the off-season.  Will Love stay? Will they resign Smith, Shumpert, Thompson, etc.? If so, they'll dominate the East again. If not, their window may close faster than OKC's.

[I-10east]

I agree with RattlerGator, I'm sick of Jordan's mythologization; I never liked him TBH. I never will wear Jordans (sweat shop shoes that blacks all over the country are dying for) if it was the last sneaker on Earth. Jordan was a great player, as is a quite a few out there including LeBron. Jordan had very underrated teams (top flight specialists; shooters, rebounders etc) that he won championships with. Scottie Pippen was one of the most underrated players that I can think of.

[thelakelander]

Don't be a hater just because you never liked him.   I hated his guts during his era. My team (like the rest in the league) never stood a chance in the 1990s. LeBron is great. But Cleveland isn't striking fear in anyone's hearts....even with LeBron and a healthy Irving and Love. It's pretty wide open now for any team to make a move or two during the summer and compete in 2016.

[I-10east]

^^^Despite me not being a fan a Jordan, I gave him his props, and said he was a great player. I think that the super-commercialization, and number of championships (Robert Horry has 7 by that standard ) further added to the status of the Omnipotent one.

[I-10east]

With the Cavs having time to heal up, since HOU won the last game, I think that they are gonna give eventual GS a helluva run in the Finals. I think that people are underestimating CLE's defense. Cavs in 7.

[thelakelander]

Irving is just as broken as Wade. He needs the entire summer off. Cavs D is actually better without Irving and Love. They just aren't as good offensively. With that said, it won't be a sweep. Golden State in 6.

[I-10east]

This is the most excited that I've been concerning the NBA for a while. I can't wait for the finals to start!