Vince is a bitch. Should’ve returned to the Raptors and be a mentor. What does he hope to gain by being on yet another West team that won’t do shit…
Happy my ass. Anyone and everyone puts up with a media circus if it means you’re reaching the finals every year.
Sure, must be nice to have it gone…and all guarantee of reaching the finals again along with it.
…
San Antonio never has a media circus around all year long. A “Spurs Index” on ESPN.com, tracking everything they do. Porn stars at their games taking Instagram selfies while kissing.
So whatever you’re trying to say, you missed the point entirely. There’s a media circus, and then there’s the LeBron James media circus. They aren’t the same thing.
Also, call me when “teams can’t reach the Finals without LeBron James on their roster” becomes a thing.
Otherwise, remember what team you’re talking about here.
We’re not the fucking Cavaliers. When we have a great player, we usually capitalize.
I don’t understand this at all.
Well damn…quite surprised.
Shaq is goat for that post
Does Chicago have the cap space for Melo?
Well I’ll be damned. I never noticed Shaq wore the whole fucking rainbow. Who knew he was a champion for gay rights?
Shaq’s age is showing if he couldn’t tell he put the Suns twice.
lmao I knew something was up with that pic
Wooo Hawks get … Bazemore?
And no one is the Spurs. The Spurs are the last in a generation of teams doing it the right way. Good coaching, great, non-selfish players, great fundamentals. No flash (well, actually I think they’ve gotten MORE flashy as the years have worn on but still), they just know how to get the job done when necessary and they know how to stay relatively healthy outside of random Parker injuries.
Teams in the NBA don’t do that anymore. Everyone else is following what the Celtics started, and to a lesser extent what the Heat themselves started years ago. Free up space, bring in superstar players and the media that comes with them, go win championships.
You think the Heat are reaching the finals without some media circus? Sorry, as much as I love Pat Riley, that ain’t happening. For your sake at least, Riley was good enough to make sure that your future wasn’t utterly mortgaged by the Big 3 and they can actually turn around and remain relevant if they so desire.
And I’m not saying the Cavs are now instantly going to the finals because of Lebron. The only way they’re the favorites to do anything in the East is if they can get Kevin Love without having to pay the farm. THEN they’re a threat. Until then they’re worse off than they were before Lebron left. But again, as of now the Heat aren’t going anywhere without Lebron and you know that for a fact. But you do have Pat Riley and the Heat now have that legacy. You’ll lure another superstar or two in due time. But it’s going to bring another circus. Just the way the NBA is now. Not everyone can be San Antonio, and when the SA legacy finally ends the entire Association will be poorer for it.
They do, but they wouldn’t be able to get Gasol unless he goes for a super discount.
The Spurs example was to highlight that a team can get to the Finals without any hoopla whatsoever throughout the regular season. You’re suggesting a media circus is a requirement for a contender, which is flat out wrong. And clearly we are still on different wavelengths about the subject, so you matter as well just let that go.
Everything else you said… well, you can have your opinions. Unless you’re really stupid to think Miami is starting the season with only 4-6 players on their roster. The team wasn’t built around LeBron… maybe you didn’t notice that. Yeah, we are going somewhere without him.
And I also said that they’re the last of a dying breed. I wish it could always be like the Spurs. Low key, humble teams reaching the finals. But that’s not how the NBA works. That’s not how superstars work anymore. Melo, Durant, George, Kobe and of course all the youngins reaching the league. They’ll all carry the same hype. They won’t be the LEBRON Circus agreed, but when you’re the best player in the league that just tends to be how it goes.
The point is, the Spurs are the absolute exception to the rule. And when they’re regrettably done…I weep for future playoffs.
And apparently you missed the point where I said that Riley was good enough to make sure that the Heat can remain relevant in Lebron’s absence. They just won’t be making the finals for a bit. Not exactly the worst thing ever.
No, you said the Heat “aren’t going anywhere” without LeBron. You didn’t specifically say make the Finals. Make no mistake, Miami is making the playoffs.
Riley is looking to remain a contender. Now, not next year. He’s looking for a third guy (Trevor Ariza, Luol Deng or someone else) and an improved bench, with a refocus on their defensive philosophies.
There is no “won’t make the Finals for a bit.” Nobody has the pedigree and experience that Miami does in the East. Bulls NEED Melo, who still isn’t sure. Knicks are the Knicks, Nets are the Nets. Indiana is about to breakup Hibbert and Lance. Everybody else is young bucks on the rise. And even LeBron said Cleveland is nowhere near championship caliber yet.
Awe naw. Big two is strong enough for a 3-4 seed…im hype Vince is ending his career here. One of my favorite players of all time. .
When you just made the Finals for Four Straight Years, “aren’t going anywhere” would imply not touching the Finals.
And OF COURSE Miami’s making the Playoffs. The entire team would have to leave for that not to happen. The bottom half of the East still sucks. They could sleepwalk into the 5th seed even without a third man. Making the playoffs in the East means absolutely nothing unless you’ve never seen the playoffs before like the former Bobcats.
And don’t get me wrong, the East is wide open. Everyone knows that. But the Heat won’t be good enough to slip into the finals again, ironically due to that very experience. There’s a reason teams don’t make 5 straight finals even in weak conferences and you’re very aware of that reason.
Teams don’t make the Finals 5 years in a row because they keep trying with the same cast. The decreased motivation and drive wears them down. That won’t be Miami next year. They’ll be retooled with the new necessary components to carry them along. New players… youth… hunger… rededication the team’s core principles.
But it’s too early for this discussion anyway, when the roster isn’t even half complete.