NBA Thread 2013-2014

goldenstatesplash

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Re-read what I said earlier. Twice. (About SA being the team with the coolest head and the best coach in the NBA. They just don't lose 20+ point leads.).
I prefer to think of it more along the lines of 'that hot streak in the first quarter saved them hard and won them the game'. Because it's more likely that a 25-15 third quarter becomes the 'they pulled away in time for the fourth quarter'. The scores of 41-25 and 30-25 are pretty freakish, I mean it was great and all but that shit isn't just going to happen all the time. It was just one of those nights where everything they put up went in.

Anyway, it will be an interesting next game. Especially with it more on the line for Miami. As much as I don't really 'like' LBJ after watching again the amount of times he goes to the basket and gets pole-axed for no call is just ridiculous. He could have had about 25-30 and1's in this series so far that for some reason just don't get called.
 

gooDevil

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I knew Kawhi Leonard would be a star as soon as the Spurs traded for him, they know their sh!t.

Pacers could have kept Leonard and let that nutjob Stephenson go, and spent the Scola/Bynum money on a free agent point guard. Probably could have gotten Hill in free agency anyway, Spurs weren't going to be able to afford to keep him when his contract was up.

Never trade anyone the Spurs want!
 

Danny1982

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The Heat are reportedly working on a way to make space to add another (fourth) max player to the team.. Of course that will mean the big three and the rest of the team have to co-operate to make it happen, but there are signs that they are indeed ready to do that.

The Heat are targeting Carmelo Anthony as their first target in the coming off-season. (Personally I'm not thrilled at the idea of adding Carmelo to the team).
 

Danny1982

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More hate? I think he is perfect for a hated franchise with the most glory-hunting, unknowledgeable and annoying fan base in all sport. Another anti-clutch big man to add to Le Bron and Bosh. I say do it.
Every successful franchise is hated, and has its own share of glory hunters.
 

Raoul

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More hate? I think he is perfect for a hated franchise with the most glory-hunting, unknowledgeable and annoying fan base in all sport. Another anti-clutch big man to add to Le Bron and Bosh. I say do it.
I grew up in Miami and was there when the Heat franchise started up in the late 80s. We lost something like or first 16 games, so its nice to see them doing well over the past 10-15 years. I don't think any Heat fan should be ashamed of this success.
 

Shinjisan

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Every successful franchise is hated, and has its own share of glory hunters.
Well, the City of Miami and their basketball team attracts special kind of D-bags. The fact that a grand total of 47 gave a rat's ass about Heat basketball four-five years back tells a lot of about their "fans". How many "supported" them or went to their games when Eddie Jones & Brain Grant were lining up for them?

LeBron and his decision has attracted the worse kind of bandwagoners I have seen with any sports team. The franchise has 1000 times more fair-weathered fans than Lakers, which is quite an achievement in itself.

LeBron and his constant demand for respect is pathetic too. Petty from a self proclaimed King.
 

Shinjisan

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I grew up in Miami and was there when the Heat franchise started up in the late 80s. We lost something like or first 16 games, so its nice to see them doing well over the past 10-15 years. I don't think any Heat fan should be ashamed of this success.
There are always some genuine fans. Unfortunately, they get generalized with the way the majority acts and behaves.

Not all scousers are bin-dipping, inbreds, are they?
 

Raoul

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There are always some genuine fans. Unfortunately, they get generalized with the way the majority acts and behaves.

Not all scousers are bin-dipping, inbreds, are they?
Obviously the Heat gained a lot of bandwagon fans with Lebron showed up, just as United probably gained a lot of foreign supporters when Beckham and Ronaldo were at OT, or after the treble year. Par for the course.
 

Eboue

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Obviously the Heat gained a lot of bandwagon fans with Lebron showed up, just as United probably gained a lot of foreign supporters when Beckham and Ronaldo were at OT, or after the treble year. Par for the course.
:lol: yeah, I find it hilarious to have this discussion here of all places. I'm from Michigan fan and despite constant proclamations of this being Hockeytown, there are tons of bandwagon fans who still think Yzerman is the captain. Look at the attendances of the unglamorous teams in the league. There is the story of the cavs before Lebron where some fan from the second deck yelled down to one of the players, Ricky David maybe "hey Ricky!" And be turned and yelled "what?!"


Bad teams with great attendance are few and far between.
 

Shinjisan

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Obviously the Heat gained a lot of bandwagon fans with Lebron showed up, just as United probably gained a lot of foreign supporters when Beckham and Ronaldo were at OT, or after the treble year. Par for the course.
The way they left the arena in the last few seconds of game 6 last season, it doesn't suggest they are going to be be remain once LeBron leaves. A lot of United fans have become fans for life. There is a slight difference.
 

Raoul

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The way they left the arena in the last few seconds of game 6 last season, it doesn't suggest they are going to be be remain once LeBron leaves. A lot of United fans have become fans for life. There is a slight difference.
United fans are actually far more plastic, especially those in the USA and Asia. The common thread is that United and Heat fans who are actually locals, have been loyal throughout the years.
 

Shinjisan

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United fans are actually far more plastic, especially those in the USA and Asia. The common thread is that United and Heat fans who are actually locals, have been loyal throughout the years.
Miami is not a traditional basketball stronghold. Has never been. I have lived in Florida, man. I know that the Heat never enjoyed a strong fan following even among the locals.

People in Asia have been Liverpool or United fans from time immemorial. Not all of them came with Sir Alex.
 

Raoul

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Miami is not a traditional basketball stronghold. Has never been. I have lived in Florida, man. I know that the Heat never enjoyed a strong fan following even among the locals.

People in Asia have been Liverpool or United fans from time immemorial. Not all of them came with Sir Alex.
That's true, the first 10 or so years were dismal. I'd say fans began to take note in the late 90s when Pat Riley showed up and the Heat had Mourning and Hardaway, followed by Shaq and Wade. Its quite natural that more fans and celebrities are involved since they became successful, just as the same holds true for all teams, including United. If you live in Miami, you'd see that there are a core of locals who have always been there.
 

Shinjisan

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That's true, the first 10 or so years were dismal. I'd say fans began to take note in the late 90s when Pat Riley showed up and the Heat had Mourning and Hardaway, followed by Shaq and Wade. Its quite natural that more fans and celebrities are involved since they became successful, just as the same holds true for all teams, including United. If you live in Miami, you'd see that there are a core of locals who have always been there.
I distinctly remember the Mourning, Hardaway and the initial Bowen days. That was the time they did well but never truly attracted a great following. Shaq, Wade and the first title brought more fans, who have exploded since LeBron made "The Decision".

I don't disagree that a lot of bandwagoners jump to a successful team. The droves to Miami is more hated for a lot of different reasons, which I am sure I don't need to list since you are originally from there. The whole package of their new fans and LeBron makes them unbearable for the neutral at the moment. I respected and rooted for them when Shaq first went there and they won the title.
 
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Raoul

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I distinctly remember the Mourning, Hardaway and the initial Bowen days. That was the time they did well but never truly attracted a great following. Shaq, Wade and the first title brought more fans, who have exploded since LeBron made "The Decision".

I don't disagree that a lot of bandwagoners jump to a successful team. The droves to Miami is more hated for a lot of different reasons, which I am sure I don't need to list since you are originally from there. The whole package of their new fans and LeBron makes them unbearable for the neutral at the moment. I respected and rooted for them when Shaq first went there and they won the title.
Its a completely different thing when you're actually from the city rather than someone from out of town (much like with United). The success factor obviously makes them a target for the hate brigade (much like the Abu crowd who didn't like United during the last 15 years of Fergie's reign). With success comes jealousy, which tends to get magnified in the internet era.
 

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The Heat are reportedly working on a way to make space to add another (fourth) max player to the team.. Of course that will mean the big three and the rest of the team have to co-operate to make it happen, but there are signs that they are indeed ready to do that.

The Heat are targeting Carmelo Anthony as their first target in the coming off-season. (Personally I'm not thrilled at the idea of adding Carmelo to the team).
If they restructure their contracts, it would basically add a new dimension their team. They do need to get younger though - as the likes of Allen, Anderson, and Battier are all in the mid to late 30s.
 

gooDevil

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That's true, the first 10 or so years were dismal. I'd say fans began to take note in the late 90s when Pat Riley showed up and the Heat had Mourning and Hardaway, followed by Shaq and Wade. Its quite natural that more fans and celebrities are involved since they became successful, just as the same holds true for all teams, including United. If you live in Miami, you'd see that there are a core of locals who have always been there.
That was a really fun team. I had moved from Florida by that time but I lived there for 7 years in Ft. Myers across the way from Miami, so that was the closest team but the Heat didn't have a much of a following before that when I was in public school down there.

But I certainly lent my support to those Heat teams because I loved Hardaway and his killer crossover. Zo was also a complete badass and seemed like a cool guy too. Though that's about when Reggie Miller came to prominence and I became a Pacers fan living in Indiana.
 

Danny1982

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If they restructure their contracts, it would basically add a new dimension their team. They do need to get younger though - as the likes of Allen, Anderson, and Battier are all in the mid to late 30s.
I think they're planning to push Wade to the bench (playing like the role Allen is playing right now). He'll still get enough minutes, but will be mainly used when the other bigs are getting a rest.

However Anthony is not the one I would go for if I knew they have space for a max contract. However the deal also involves Anthony taking (probably) a big pay-cut, something not everybody is ready to do. Also, they look at the personality and the prospect of him bonding well with the other three, and I can see that happening with Anthony.

Having said that it's still all in the air now and is only rumors at this stage.
 

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I do think Wade will gradually be relegated to the bench in the coming years, and beyond that the Heat are going to hit the market for an outside threat to replace Allen, who looks to be very close to retirement. Allen reminds me a bit of Gary Payton's final two years in the NBA. Can't see him lasting more than another year. But yeah, they do need to get a bit younger and could obviously use Carmelo's 27 PPG.
 

Danny1982

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I distinctly remember the Mourning, Hardaway and the initial Bowen days. That was the time they did well but never truly attracted a great following. Shaq, Wade and the first title brought more fans, who have exploded since LeBron made "The Decision".

I don't disagree that a lot of bandwagoners jump to a successful team. The droves to Miami is more hated for a lot of different reasons, which I am sure I don't need to list since you are originally from there. The whole package of their new fans and LeBron makes them unbearable for the neutral at the moment. I respected and rooted for them when Shaq first went there and they won the title.
I started following the NBA closely in 2004, and became a Miami fan because of Wade. He was (and still is) by far my favorite player. I even hated Lebron at the time because I knew he was better than Wade and at some stage it looked like a three way race between him Kobe and Wade for best player in the league.

I don't hate him that much now though that he's on my team.