|
|
Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 4, 2016 13:02:23 GMT -5
Would Michael have left the Bulls to join the Pistons so that he could win a ring?
Would Bird have joined the Lakers so that he could "develop as a player and a person" (nice way of mincing words to make it sound like you aren't chasing a ring, Durant).
How do you go to war against a foe, and join them a month later?
Durant, you sold out, young man. Too bad cause I expected more from you.
|
|
|
|
Post by jrmzt on Jul 4, 2016 13:37:53 GMT -5
Yeah I could understand if he went to OKC or even to the Spurs..but to join a team that has just beaten you after you came so close, after how dirty they played against you..its almost embarassing for him if they do win a ring because he'll be nothing but a footnote in the Curry show. This isn't the Durant show..the GSW are Curry's team and after Curry they are Klay and Greens.
|
|
|
|
Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 4, 2016 13:55:24 GMT -5
Right! How can you look Steve Adams in the eye and say you are on Draymond Green's side now? After all the punishment Adams endured, being your Thunder brother, who fought tooth and nail, blood and sweat, with you? Bye, brother. I'm joining them now.
Man, this is tough to swallow. Anywhere but GSW and I would have thought it was fine.
|
|
|
|
Post by mev17 on Jul 4, 2016 23:27:21 GMT -5
In my mind he will never be in the same league as LeBron or Tim Duncan or even Steph Curry - whatever championships he wins in Golden State, he will have done so as a Robin to Steph's Batman. LeBron and Tim Duncan had championship teams built around them, they never had to waive the white flag and basically say "if you can't beat them, join them."
If Golden State wins championships, he will only deserve whatever credit Denis Rodman deserves for Chicago's last three titles. Yes, he contributed and made Chicago better, but they were MJ's championships, with Scottie Pippen being the clear [HASH]2. KD will never be more than a James Worthy or a Manu Ginobili -- key role player but not the leader of a championship team.
|
|
|
|
Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 5, 2016 1:28:24 GMT -5
In my mind he will never be in the same league as LeBron or Tim Duncan or even Steph Curry - whatever championships he wins in Golden State, he will have done so as a Robin to Steph's Batman. LeBron and Tim Duncan had championship teams built around them, they never had to waive the white flag and basically say "if you can't beat them, join them." If Golden State wins championships, he will only deserve whatever credit Denis Rodman deserves for Chicago's last three titles. Yes, he contributed and made Chicago better, but they were MJ's championships, with Scottie Pippen being the clear [HASH]2. KD will never be more than a James Worthy or a Manu Ginobili -- key role player but not the leader of a championship team. Well said |
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Jul 5, 2016 11:03:44 GMT -5
I agree with all that has been said. Larry, MJ,Kobe, Magic, None would go to their chief rival just to win a ring. They made their own teams better rather than jumping ship and chasing a ring with a team that just beat them and like you said, jrmzt, they did it by playing dirty. As a player with any kind of loyalty, you don't go to the enemy.
I will never forgive Ray Allen for going to the Heat in the same type situation. He could have gone anywhere else and it wouldn't have been a slap in the face like going to the chief rival who had just beaten us. Like you said Mev, he'll always just be a footnote.
It's not a sure thing that they will be better than they were. There are chemistry factors and they had to gut the team that they had to bring in KD. They will find enough vets willing to take the minimum to chase a ring with them but they won't be the same team they were last season. Their bench will be weaker and it's always a gamble to shake up a team that much.
I remember when that Lakers team with Shaq and Kobe in their prime and Malone and Payton coming in. They were supposed to be dominant and a sure thing for the title but yet they fizzled. I think Houston formed a similar super team that fizzled as well. I would love nothing more than to see the Thunder somehow eliminate GSW in the playoffs.
I really liked that Golden State team the season they won their championship. They were pretty likable but that success went to their heads and last year they were cocky and played dirty and just became very unlikable. It was very evident in the way they carried themselves on the court. I'm sure KD noticed that - he couldn't help it. In spite of that he wanted to join that type of atmosphere. I'm just very disappointed in him as a player and person.
I expected him to go back to OKC, who had already made some improvements by trading Ibaka, who struggled most of the season for Oladipo and were making upgrades. Any of the greats would have gone back and wanted to beat the Warriors. I guess Paul Pierce, who didn't quit on his team and stuck with it, said it best when he tweeted "If you can't beat them I guess you join them."
|
|
|
|
Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 5, 2016 11:26:43 GMT -5
I agree with all that has been said. Larry, MJ,Kobe, Magic, None would go to their chief rival just to win a ring. They made their own teams better rather than jumping ship and chasing a ring with a team that just beat them and like you said, jrmzt, they did it by playing dirty. As a player with any kind of loyalty, you don't go to the enemy. I will never forgive Ray Allen for going to the Heat in the same type situation. He could have gone anywhere else and it wouldn't have been a slap in the face like going to the chief rival who had just beaten us. Like you said Mev, he'll always just be a footnote. It's not a sure thing that they will be better than they were. There are chemistry factors and they had to gut the team that they had to bring in KD. They will find enough vets willing to take the minimum to chase a ring with them but they won't be the same team they were last season. Their bench will be weaker and it's always a gamble to shake up a team that much. I remember when that Lakers team with Shaq and Kobe in their prime and Malone and Payton coming in. They were supposed to be dominant and a sure thing for the title but yet they fizzled. I think Houston formed a similar super team that fizzled as well. I would love nothing more than to see the Thunder somehow eliminate GSW in the playoffs. I really liked that Golden State team the season they won their championship. They were pretty likable but that success went to their heads and last year they were cocky and played dirty and just became very unlikable. It was very evident in the way they carried themselves on the court. I'm sure KD noticed that - he couldn't help it. In spite of that he wanted to join that type of atmosphere. I'm just very disappointed in him as a player and person. I expected him to go back to OKC, who had already made some improvements by trading Ibaka, who struggled most of the season for Oladipo and were making upgrades. Any of the greats would have gone back and wanted to beat the Warriors. I guess Paul Pierce, who didn't quit on his team and stuck with it, said it best when he tweeted "If you can't beat them I guess you join them." How can we send this quote to KD? |
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Jul 5, 2016 13:03:54 GMT -5
It seems like even Durant wouldn't have done this a few years ago. In 2010 he tweeted this about LeBron/Wade/Bosh forming super team.
I guess we can add hypocrite to all the other adjectives that have been used to describe him with this move
|
|
|
|
Post by afceltic on Jul 5, 2016 13:34:59 GMT -5
It seems like even Durant wouldn't have done this a few years ago. In 2010 he tweeted this about LeBron/Wade/Bosh forming super team. I guess we can add hypocrite to all the other adjectives that have been used to describe him with this move Heat and Fakers? I like him even less now. I think hypocritical POS comes to mind when I want to describe him on this issue. |
|
|
|
Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 5, 2016 21:23:47 GMT -5
many of the talk radio hosts this morning are defending Durant. Most of them saying more power to him! don't hate on a player because he wants to win.
What, are they trying to up their ratings? trying to get more callers to call in and argue with them?
Sure Durant is a grown man and could have chose to go anywhere he wanted to. And who doesn't want to win a championship?
Our whole gripe with Durant is he jumped on a loaded team that was going to win even without him.
Or another way to look at it is Durant could have left his mark in the NBA by choosing a team and taking that team to the championship, and winning a title. That would have been the mark of a truly great player. That's what Lenron did, and I give him credit for bringing a title home to Cleveland.
Durant is not helping GS win. They've been champs already, and won 73 games without him.
Its like sprinkling sugar on a powdered doughnut.
|
|
|
|
Post by jrmzt on Jul 6, 2016 15:14:45 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Jul 6, 2016 22:51:48 GMT -5
I wouldn't fault Durant for leaving the Thunder. Apparently there was friction between him and Westbrook. But I would fault him for joining the team that the Thunder just had down 3-1 and then they rolled over and lost to them. A person that has any kind of competitive nature whatsoever doesn't go to the team that just beat them (and played dirty doing it). I question his competitiveness. Like Derren said, the Warriors would win with or without Durant. I like the analogy of putting sugar on a powdered doughnut.
I want players who have that competitive spirit in them. Players who want to win but want to earn the wins and not have them given to them. I want players who want to fight for their wins. Durant has proved that he isn't that kind of player.
|
|
|
|
Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 7, 2016 3:53:53 GMT -5
Right! The pride of knowing that you carried the team to a championship.
Take Bird away, and McHale and Parish do not win a title.
Take Jordan away, and Pippen and Grant do not win a title.
Take Lebron away, and Kyrie and Love do not win a title.
Take Durant away, and Curry and Klay are in good shape (along with Draymond and a deep supporting cast) to win "more" titles (yeah, they were already a championship caliber team without Kevin).
I guess a cheap ring is worth more than hard earned pride?
|
|
|
|
Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 10, 2016 20:49:17 GMT -5
Not surprised to hear this -- Bird said he can't imagine joining Magic and the Lakers. He'd rather try to beat them, not join them.
|
|
|
|
Post by afceltic on Jul 14, 2016 18:59:25 GMT -5
|
|
