Michael Jordan Ethers Lebron!! DAMN!!
- Thread starter Johnny Truelove
- Start date
the problem with being the greatest individual player in basketball: it's a team game.
the media likes to hype up the individual, but the reality is that the greatest championship teams were all TEAMS.
bill russell, arguably one of the greatest basketball (team) players with eleven titles, averaged lower points per game but more championship titles. personified the celtic dynasty. the lakers could not beat them and the stage was set for a rivalry.
even after russell's celtics dynasty, there was a re-grouping and the TEAM won a couple of more championships.
was this a different era of sports that i am referring to? yes. but stay with me.
the media likes to hype up the individual, but the reality is that the greatest championship teams were all TEAMS.
bill russell, arguably one of the greatest basketball (team) players with eleven titles, averaged lower points per game but more championship titles. personified the celtic dynasty. the lakers could not beat them and the stage was set for a rivalry.
even after russell's celtics dynasty, there was a re-grouping and the TEAM won a couple of more championships.
was this a different era of sports that i am referring to? yes. but stay with me.
exactly!
in the NBA there's so much focus on individuals... and it's become so much about specific players, and less about the team
in football nobody is gonna discredit a QB for wanting to have great receivers or a great O-line, or RB, or defense... it's all about getting the W and winning a championship
why should it be different in basketball?
both are team sports
in the NBA there's so much focus on individuals... and it's become so much about specific players, and less about the team
in football nobody is gonna discredit a QB for wanting to have great receivers or a great O-line, or RB, or defense... it's all about getting the W and winning a championship
why should it be different in basketball?
both are team sports
It's interesting how differently people view this situation.
TO ME...each of them signing 100+ million dollar contracts and teaming up to win multiple championships is not sacrificing...that doesn't scream TEAM to me.
Sacrificing for the greater good of the team would have been re-signing with Cleveland (3 years ago would have helped)...recruiting players (like he's doing in Maimi)...and doing it for less money.
Not saying that's what he should have done...but that would be sacrificing.
TO ME...each of them signing 100+ million dollar contracts and teaming up to win multiple championships is not sacrificing...that doesn't scream TEAM to me.
Sacrificing for the greater good of the team would have been re-signing with Cleveland (3 years ago would have helped)...recruiting players (like he's doing in Maimi)...and doing it for less money.
Not saying that's what he should have done...but that would be sacrificing.
the media likes to portray the eighties as being dominated by the lakers and celtics. by all means, they did. the lakers had five championships between the 1979 and 1990 season. the lakers have three. real basketball aficionados will remember that detroit got them some, and 1990's saw the rise of the chicago bulls and jordan.
the lakers and celtics teams of the eighties were not comprised of bird and magic. bird had a team chock full of future hall of famers. the lakers had their own big three: magic, kareem, and worthy. despite the high profiles of magic and bird presently, please understand that these championship teams of the eighties, (and seventies and the sixties) were built on team work. the whole team. the 'business model' was the team concept, team work, and unselfish play.
then came michael jordan. who singlehandedly turned this business model on its face.
the lakers and celtics teams of the eighties were not comprised of bird and magic. bird had a team chock full of future hall of famers. the lakers had their own big three: magic, kareem, and worthy. despite the high profiles of magic and bird presently, please understand that these championship teams of the eighties, (and seventies and the sixties) were built on team work. the whole team. the 'business model' was the team concept, team work, and unselfish play.
then came michael jordan. who singlehandedly turned this business model on its face.
enter the era of teams built around 'the man'. this model was solidified in the minds of fans and future nba players for a generation.
michael solidified his spot in the hall of fame and imprinted his style of game on the league with a vengeance. in doing so, he garnered six titles. it is easy to conceive that, if michael did not leave the league for two years, he would have eight titles strait.
michael solidified his spot in the hall of fame and imprinted his style of game on the league with a vengeance. in doing so, he garnered six titles. it is easy to conceive that, if michael did not leave the league for two years, he would have eight titles strait.
despite the obvious fact that NO ONE will replicate what michael jordan did, the media had its mind set on crowning the new king.
this was coupled along with kids making the jump from high school strait to the league. now we had players without the proper fundamentals, strength, and intelligence entering professional basketball. and unfortunately, a lot of them came in with the mentality of trying to be the next jordan. now comes the decline of the game overall.
i'm talking about the kobe bryant (it can be argued that he has recently just come into his own these last five to six seasons), allen iversons, tracy mcgradys, vince carters, etc. all these players that came in with a 'shoot first at all costs' mentality. team management went with this model, eagerly hoping to cash in early on the next jordan. and the game suffered.
this was coupled along with kids making the jump from high school strait to the league. now we had players without the proper fundamentals, strength, and intelligence entering professional basketball. and unfortunately, a lot of them came in with the mentality of trying to be the next jordan. now comes the decline of the game overall.
i'm talking about the kobe bryant (it can be argued that he has recently just come into his own these last five to six seasons), allen iversons, tracy mcgradys, vince carters, etc. all these players that came in with a 'shoot first at all costs' mentality. team management went with this model, eagerly hoping to cash in early on the next jordan. and the game suffered.
while the media was so hell bent on finding the next jordan, and players so determined to be that guy, the team concept was lost. good passing, unselfish play, fundamentals at its finest....these things could only be found in the college game. or the euro league.
until you realize that, even during the 2000's as a decade, the champions were made of the best teams. not the best individuals. kobe, whose lakers have dominated this decade, (shaq's lakers were the ones to get three in a row though) weren't good until the team played well. and i hate the fucking lakers.
until you realize that, even during the 2000's as a decade, the champions were made of the best teams. not the best individuals. kobe, whose lakers have dominated this decade, (shaq's lakers were the ones to get three in a row though) weren't good until the team played well. and i hate the fucking lakers.
now comes 'the decision', and lebron james the media whore.
the media has reacted differently, as have current and ex nba players.
the media whoring aspect of the whole deals stinks. the teaming up of superstars is absolutely beautiful, and i cannot wait for the season to start. in addition, with the implementation of the 'one year out of high school' rule, incoming players have exposure to a higher level of coaching, greater competition, and overall great experience before entering the league. the 'product' the nba pushes is going to get better than ever.
the media has reacted differently, as have current and ex nba players.
the media whoring aspect of the whole deals stinks. the teaming up of superstars is absolutely beautiful, and i cannot wait for the season to start. in addition, with the implementation of the 'one year out of high school' rule, incoming players have exposure to a higher level of coaching, greater competition, and overall great experience before entering the league. the 'product' the nba pushes is going to get better than ever.
but charles barkeley? are you fucking kidding me?
this is why is he a joke. he is hating on lebron, but did the exact same thing trying to chase a ring in pathetic desperation at the twilight of his career. fuck him.
i, as a life long baller and super ballaholic, know about the team concept. the backlash from the media and fans, i chalk that up to growing pains. we have been conditioned to believe that a team must be built around one superstar. one kobe bryant. one wanna-be michael fucking jordan.
aint no other michael jordan and there never will be.
since we were so conditioned to this business model, we forgot our way. we neglected to remember that basketball is a team sport. that the most beautiful and artful basketball is when, during a play, the ball doesn't hit the floor once. all passes until a great shot opens up, then buckets ensue. if anyone plays ball on a regular basis, they know that getting a rhythm like that with an entire team is rare, and when achieved, is truly art in motion.
with the teaming up of lebron and wade, we are seeing something new. not really. we are taking it back. we're taking that shit back old school. we're playing with a team. there most definitely has to be a level of unselfishness. when you're talking about one hundred million dollar contracts, of course it's easy to say that money shouldn't matter at that point. but money does fucking matter, and lebron turned down THIRTY MILLION EXTRA (would he stayed in cleveland) by going to miami. that is not chump change, even to motherfuckers that got it, regardless of the 'no state income tax' or whatever. you don't get rich by being reckless with money, but this decision was more about money. this decision was about the team.
basketball fans, like me (who bleed fucking warriors blue and gold and play all the time) should be excited. real fans. fans of the team concept. fans of unselfish play. couple this along with the fact that better players are entering the league as rookies, i pray to God that he lets me live long enough to watch the upcoming 2010-2011 NBA season.
feel me.
this is why is he a joke. he is hating on lebron, but did the exact same thing trying to chase a ring in pathetic desperation at the twilight of his career. fuck him.
i, as a life long baller and super ballaholic, know about the team concept. the backlash from the media and fans, i chalk that up to growing pains. we have been conditioned to believe that a team must be built around one superstar. one kobe bryant. one wanna-be michael fucking jordan.
aint no other michael jordan and there never will be.
since we were so conditioned to this business model, we forgot our way. we neglected to remember that basketball is a team sport. that the most beautiful and artful basketball is when, during a play, the ball doesn't hit the floor once. all passes until a great shot opens up, then buckets ensue. if anyone plays ball on a regular basis, they know that getting a rhythm like that with an entire team is rare, and when achieved, is truly art in motion.
with the teaming up of lebron and wade, we are seeing something new. not really. we are taking it back. we're taking that shit back old school. we're playing with a team. there most definitely has to be a level of unselfishness. when you're talking about one hundred million dollar contracts, of course it's easy to say that money shouldn't matter at that point. but money does fucking matter, and lebron turned down THIRTY MILLION EXTRA (would he stayed in cleveland) by going to miami. that is not chump change, even to motherfuckers that got it, regardless of the 'no state income tax' or whatever. you don't get rich by being reckless with money, but this decision was more about money. this decision was about the team.
basketball fans, like me (who bleed fucking warriors blue and gold and play all the time) should be excited. real fans. fans of the team concept. fans of unselfish play. couple this along with the fact that better players are entering the league as rookies, i pray to God that he lets me live long enough to watch the upcoming 2010-2011 NBA season.
feel me.
and he doesn't owe cleveland a thing.
the fuckers simply did not surround him with gamers. mo williams? no. lebron had no one. and this includes mike fucking brown. mike brown had NO sophistication when it comes to his offensive schemes. crunch time in the fourth quarter? iso with lebron. two seconds on the clock? iso with lebron.
and props to miss lisa for riding with the warriors.
the fuckers simply did not surround him with gamers. mo williams? no. lebron had no one. and this includes mike fucking brown. mike brown had NO sophistication when it comes to his offensive schemes. crunch time in the fourth quarter? iso with lebron. two seconds on the clock? iso with lebron.
and props to miss lisa for riding with the warriors.