However, I have never seen any athlete (except perhaps for Secretariat in the Belmont and on occasion Lawrence Taylor) carry a game/race by the sheer force of their will like MJ. He is the GOAT

Exactly. Jordan's Bulls never dropped more than 2 games in a Finals series. In his final 6 full seasons with the Bulls, they won every Finals. The guy would not allow his team to lose. And this is against Magic, Drexler, Barkley, Payton, Stockton/Malone. He denied all-time greats their rings, and had he not retired, he'd have denied Olajuwon his rings as well.

Shouldn't this read Jordan took the oppurtunitty to domminate the NBA once the 80's Celtics and Bad Boy Pistons got to old to stop him 😉 :P. I remember watching some of the finals as a kid and rooting against the Bulls.

In this series I guess all I want is 7 entertaining games. I guess with the Warriors winning as more of there stars came from the draft.

Shouldn't this read Jordan took the oppurtunitty to domminate the NBA once the 80's Celtics and Bad Boy Pistons got to old to stop him 😉

Nah, the Lakers were definitely old in that 1991 series, but the Pistons were the same age as the Bulls.

doesn't matter. his years with the bulls he is better than any of those 3 guys ever were.

David West, one of the Warriors' three centers, even at age 36 has offensive skills including scoring and passing that Luc Longley never dreamed of. West is also a great defensive center even though he's only 6'9".

Therefore your statement above is complete B.S. And by the way, watch Javale McGee in his 15 minutes or so per game in the upcoming series and then try and tell me that Luc Longley possessed McGee's athleticism.

Now go ahead and explode Matt. Maybe a little cannabis tea this morning to calm you down?

Now go ahead and explode Matt. Maybe a little cannabis tea this morning to calm you down?

Anyone championing Luc Longley has to have an axe to grind. Now Bill Wennington on the other hand... 😉

In this series I guess all I want is 7 entertaining games.

Same here -- that's what we couldn't provide against Cleveland
will be interesting to see if there are any blowouts -- 'it behooves all to go 7 games'
good to see the response to Rob's thread! carry on indeed

doesn't matter. his years with the bulls he is better than any of those 3 guys ever were.

David West, one of the Warriors' three centers, even at age 36 has offensive skills including scoring and passing that Luc Longley never dreamed of. West is also a great defensive center even though he's only 6'9".

Therefore your statement above is complete B.S. And by the way, watch Javale McGee in his 15 minutes or so per game in the upcoming series and then try and tell me that Luc Longley possessed McGee's athleticism.

Now go ahead and explode Matt. Maybe a little cannabis tea this morning to calm you down?

sorry, I'm not going to count west as a center. He's not. Never was and never will be. The warriors play him down low thats fine but he has never been listed as a center or did he play center the other 15 years or so he was in the nba.

I'm not talking about athletic prowess. There are some great athletes in the nba who aren't good. mcgee is a fine backup but has been known as somewhat of a goof in the nba without a lot of high basketball iq

Looking at this morning's paper I see that Klay Thompson was 3-16 from the floor last night, Draymond Green 3-12. And we still beat the World Champs by 22 points?

I think this means The Warriors have a pretty good team.............

Looking at this morning's paper I see that Klay Thompson was 3-16 from the floor last night, Draymond Green 3-12. And we still beat the World Champs by 22 points?

I think this means The Warriors have a pretty good team.............

cavs bench was ice cold and they didn't have a good plan to defend durant. i don't think that will be an issue the entire series

Slight pride thread steal - (sorry Rob)

Basketball Related though. My son (14) finished a very strong season playing above age (16) at the highest level. He just got call up by the team even higher in age (16-18) to finish off their season with them. Extremely proud of him - he plays hard and trains even harder. (I was drinking, smoking dope and playing guitar at his age LOL) He is a rare breed that is a combination of offence and defence. Dishes the ball on a different level than others his age ( and older). Surprised that he was called up because of the height factor with the age difference. Coached laughed at me after a 20 point game packed with assists too.

Scouts have been around their games and tournaments so who knows - maybe someone will pay for education and my wife and I can recoup some of the cash. Fingers crossed. Maybe years from now Rob and I will be agreeing that he is the greatest of all time.

Sorry for the hijack but pretty pumped. Back to the regularly scheduled programming.

Thanks for sharing that,very cool.. If your son has not seen this, it's a great highlight mix of Mark Jackson. One of the great passers ,ball handlers, and assist players of ball time. I am a little bias because he played with the Pacers for a bit. Just turn down the audio,kinda annoying.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=g2ikqKQ3XSA

Trying to compare players and/or teams throughout history is a pointless exercise, in my opinion, but you boys have at it.

Just like last night when Lebron surpassed MJ on the all-time playoff scoring charts, when I explained to the missus that MJ did it in far less games played, her reaction was immediately - 'well then it shouldn't be a record for Lebron then.'

I watched MJ absolutely tear up my Cavs during all those years in the playoffs, he is still the greatest in my opinion.

Always remember the one story, probably have told it here before, when a reporter told MJ that Cleveland intended to have Craig Ehlo guard him in the next playoff game, MJ said "shoot, I'll score 70 on him"

When that reporter went back to Ehlo and told him what MJ said, Ehlo says "I take exception to that, I can hold Jordan to under 70 on any given night ! "

LOL - That is a goal to shoot for.

Agree it is hard to debate different eras and is a pointless exercise but that describes pretty much every sports debate/conversation. It is all opinion. Sports and money have changed. Put Magic, Bird and other stars on the same team and they would still be winning.

These are amazing players playing this year and both teams are great. GSW couldn't beat them last year so they spent more money. So then Cleveland spends more. What we are watching is who spent their extra millions better. But everyone in the world knew who would be in the finals. Guess who will be in the Finals next year? LOL

Best of All Time? Both of them? The Odds of the two greatest teams ever playing at the same time?

I will take MJ, the Waterboy, Guy who sells the beer, Chick who dries the court and a Cheerleader over them.

😉

You are correct. It comes down to who has the cash and spends it wisely. Also being a destination location helps a little to. Not sure The Pacers and Paul George wil be able to land top talent to compete with GSW. and The Cavs over the next few years. As long as LeBron stays in form and the Warriors can pay out the cash,that's were it's at.

Yes its the be team that money can buy; but the GSW are playing at a ridiculous level. 14 straight playoff wins and I don't think they have broken a sweat.

Lebron has been playing at an ultra-elite level and at times appears to be only the third best player on the court

Yes its the be team that money can buy; but the GSW are playing at a ridiculous level. 14 straight playoff wins and I don't think they have broken a sweat.

Lebron has been playing at an ultra-elite level and at times appears to be only the third best player on the court

Have to agree. Durant and Curry have been nothing but lethal so far.

Which is why I do not see a Warriors collapse like last year, although I do predict that Cleveland will take one in Cleveland.

Differences from last year:
1. We have Durant.
2. We have a healthy Curry. The Warriors including Curry were very classy in the way that they handled it last year and never made any excuses. That said, any Warriors fan could see that Curry was not himself and injuries were bothering him. That's not the case this year.

[Edited on 6/6/2017 by robslob]

Is this event still going on? 😉

My mistake about the Warriors getting their special revenge in a game 7. Instead, Iguodala returns the favor from the conclusion of last year's final at the end of a decisive game 3, making a key shot-block of Labron, right after Kevin Durant's go-ahead and game-winning shot, al-lah Kyrie last year.

My mistake about the Warriors getting their special revenge in a game 7. Instead, Iguodala returns the favor from the conclusion of last year's final at the end of a decisive game 3, making a key shot-block of Labron, right after Kevin Durant's go-ahead and game-winning shot, al-lah Kyrie last year.

You are SPOT on, Don. Iguodala's block on LeBron was the play of the game because there were 9 seconds left, it was a three point attempt and it would have tied the game.

Also: Curry's spectacular play on LeBron earlier in the game.............LeBron was driving hard to the hoop, Curry criss-crossed in front of him and swiped the ball cleanly without ever touching ANY part of LeBron's body...........just an incredible play that only the great ones can make.

They say defense wins championships, and it certainly was on display with those two plays, not that they were the only ones.

why is robslob so excited? last years warriors team can't beat the cavs. if that was the same team facing the cavs again they would not win. golden state knew that and brought in one of the 3-5 best players in the nba in Durant. I'm not a person who takes short cuts in life and if any of my teams ever did something so obvious it wouldn't excite me that much other than I got to see them hang a banner.

why is robslob so excited?

Actually there are other things I get much more excited about Matt.

But then again, I know you must express your hate because the Warriors are beating up on the Cavs and look like they are a cinch to win this series. How did you feel when Miami brought in LeBron James? Or when Cleveland brought him back? Every team tries to upgrade to get better. The Warriors just one-upped everyone else, that's all.

There's plenty of beer to cry in Matt if that's what you need to do.

why is robslob so excited?

Actually there are other things I get much more excited about Matt.

But then again, I know you must express your hate because the Warriors are beating up on the Cavs and look like they are a cinch to win this series. How did you feel when Miami brought in LeBron James? Or when Cleveland brought him back? Every team tries to upgrade to get better. The Warriors just one-upped everyone else, that's all.

There's plenty of beer to cry in Matt if that's what you need to do.

I'm not a fan of LeBron, the cavs or the heat or the thunder or the warriors. I just didn't want Durant to get a ring because he is a joke and shows the world if you don't want to work hard to give up and join the enemy.

I think its funny that these "homegrown" warriors will have 2 championships and both times the finals mvp was a free agent not one of these drafted talents

[Edited on 6/9/2017 by matt05]

I understand both arguments from rob and matt. This is the state of the NBA we live in. I dont necessarily always agree with the changing trend of the sport and other things , but hey, thats the way it goes these days. I still follow, but not as closely.

The playoffs have been 2mons(to long in my opionon) of boring for the most part. Hardly any team could challenege the Cav's in the East and GSW did not lose a game.

I wonder if Draymond Green is kicking himself,no pun intended, for last years issue in the playoffs. If that did not happen, would we be looking at a three peat? I think so.

So if Clevelnad loses this series, which they will, what will they do on this off season to get better for the future. Probably the same thing GS did. Bring another high talent in to try and one up them.

Its a two team league. GSW and Le Bron and the Cav's. It will be that way for awhile as long as people l can stay healthy or another franchise builds/buys a "super
team" to challenge.

why is robslob so excited?

hmmmmmm.........wouldn't YOU be?

[Edited on 6/13/2017 by robslob]

why is robslob so excited?

hmmmmmm.........wouldn't YOU be?

[Edited on 6/13/2017 by robslob]

no I wouldn't be. your team had more money last offseason to spend on a big name. the cavs did not. big deal. now if the cavs had money to go get chris paul and Gordon Hayward they would win next year and I'd laugh at the cavs too just like I laugh that the warriors saw they couldn't beat the cavs this year unless they added a big name

no I wouldn't be. your team had more money last offseason to spend on a big name. the cavs did not. big deal. now if the cavs had money to go get chris paul and Gordon Hayward they would win next year and I'd laugh at the cavs too just like I laugh that the warriors saw they couldn't beat the cavs this year unless they added a big name

Sour grapes of course, but who would expect anything different from YOU?

Everyone knows the Cavs dealt hard in free agency just like the Warriors did and they would not have been competing for the title three straight years without adding LeBron James and Kevin Love. But sometimes despite all your efforts, you lose to a better team.

But I know that if the Cavs' experience in free agency had been successful over the Warriors', everything would be cool with you. You could laugh and say that $$$ didn't work. You criticized the Warriors for signing Durant but you said nothing about LeBron deserting them for Miami, then deserting Miami and bringing Cleveland it's first title in 2016.

As I said before...............I'm sure every grocery and liquor store in town is well-stocked with beer if you need some to cry in................

The Warriors SUCKED for 25 straight years. And now you want to rain on the parade. Us fans deserve this for hanging in there.

no I wouldn't be. your team had more money last offseason to spend on a big name. the cavs did not. big deal. now if the cavs had money to go get chris paul and Gordon Hayward they would win next year and I'd laugh at the cavs too just like I laugh that the warriors saw they couldn't beat the cavs this year unless they added a big name

Sour grapes of course, but who would expect anything different from YOU?

Everyone knows the Cavs dealt hard in free agency just like the Warriors did and they would not have been competing for the title three straight years without adding LeBron James and Kevin Love. But sometimes despite all your efforts, you lose to a better team.

But I know that if the Cavs' experience in free agency had been successful over the Warriors', everything would be cool with you. You could laugh and say that $$$ didn't work. You criticized the Warriors for signing Durant but you said nothing about LeBron deserting them for Miami, then deserting Miami and bringing Cleveland it's first title in 2016.

As I said before...............I'm sure every grocery and liquor store in town is well-stocked with beer if you need some to cry in................

The Warriors SUCKED for 25 straight years. And now you want to rain on the parade. Us fans deserve this for hanging in there.

you must not read any other nba threads here. i slammed lebron and the heat and despise what he helped create. i'm slamming the warriors because durant is a wimp who took the easy way out. the credit i'll give lebron is when he joined the heat and returned to the cavs they weren't teams that were competing in the finals every year before he came. durant should have beaten the warriors last year and his poor fundamentals and decision making helped blow a 3-1 lead okc had. had okc won that series last year durant would still be there. thats why i dislike the warriors, durant gave up, took the easy way out and joined the enemy.

durant gave up, took the easy way out and joined the enemy.

Durant did exactly what LeBron did: He went where he thought he could finally win a title. If OKC had wanted to spend the cash to keep James Harden along with Durant and Westbrook, likely they would have been crowned champs several times now. They didn't, so Durant jumped somewhere with an ownership that DID want to spend the cash. Obviously it paid off.

Sorry it makes you so angry and sad when the savvy ownership with cash to spend wins out.........that's the way of professional sports and has been for MANY years. I suggest you change to following college ball.

I know exactly what it's like to root for a team that does not want to spend the cash to sign and keep their superstars: How about the Oakland Athletics, who have been the major leagues' farm team for 30 years now. Nice to have the other option to root for here in the Bay area.

No one complained when Clyde Drexler went to the champion Houston in 1995. Or Garnett and Ray Allen to Boston. Hell, every MLB team that is peaking in July goes money crazy at the trade deadline so they can make a run. The Cleveland Cavs had the highest payroll this past season (OKC's payroll was even higher than GS's). Should Durant have gone to Sacramento or Brooklyn to make it fair?

So, matt, we get it, at this point you are just grinding your axe. It wasn't the most riveting season, but the Warriors won. I'm happy for GSW fans, that crowd at Oracle is crazy.

Good for GSW and their fans. Incredible season and playoffs.

I do agree that Durant gave up on OKC and had they beat GS last year then he wouldn't have left. But that was his choice. He got his ring. Would have been a more interesting season and playoff if he had stayed with OKC in my opinion. Now Curry and others have to live with the shadow that they couldn't do it without Durant. Maybe they care or maybe they don't - either way - they won't say.

Luckily the Cavs can't/won't pay the luxury tax to just buy more players. It would become a two team league.

But I bet they both meet in the Finals next year.

At 1st I thought KD would upset the balance of that record-smashing 70+ win 2015-16 squad -- but he fit in, Warriyz had another great season & Dusted the playoff field -- 3rd great year in a row, & last year's team I thought was the best of them even tho they didn't win game 7

Nice going Rob & mayb w/our 1st round pick & IT ready to rock, our East Conf champion (reg. season) C's will give you guys a game next year......I hope 😮 😛

btw I love that graphic!!! made me laugh

[Edited on 6/13/2017 by Stephen]

HOW THE WARRIORS DOMINANCE CAN HELP FORGE A BETTER NBA:

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-finals-how-the-warriors-dominance-can-help-forge-a-better-nba/

a great article giving then reader a different, and well worth reading perspective on the impact of this great team on current and future NBA play.

It was a fantastic series, particularly the last 3 games-great fun & vey talented & SMART players.

durant gave up, took the easy way out and joined the enemy.

Durant did exactly what LeBron did: He went where he thought he could finally win a title. If OKC had wanted to spend the cash to keep James Harden along with Durant and Westbrook, likely they would have been crowned champs several times now. They didn't, so Durant jumped somewhere with an ownership that DID want to spend the cash. Obviously it paid off.

Sorry it makes you so angry and sad when the savvy ownership with cash to spend wins out.........that's the way of professional sports and has been for MANY years. I suggest you change to following college ball.

I know exactly what it's like to root for a team that does not want to spend the cash to sign and keep their superstars: How about the Oakland Athletics, who have been the major leagues' farm team for 30 years now. Nice to have the other option to root for here in the Bay area.

and i complained about lebron too but he didn't join a team that was in the finals 2 years in a row and just finished going 73-9. lebron created the super teams durant simply joined a team that was already the top team in the league.

btw the salary cap vastly different now than it was 4 years ago when harden left. okc was unable to afford all 3 players based on the contracts they wanted. the same thing will happen to the warriors soon if 3 of the 4 stars want the huge contracts. right now curry and draymond get less than 13 million a season while durant gets over 20 million

No one complained when Clyde Drexler went to the champion Houston in 1995. Or Garnett and Ray Allen to Boston. Hell, every MLB team that is peaking in July goes money crazy at the trade deadline so they can make a run. The Cleveland Cavs had the highest payroll this past season (OKC's payroll was even higher than GS's). Should Durant have gone to Sacramento or Brooklyn to make it fair?

So, matt, we get it, at this point you are just grinding your axe. It wasn't the most riveting season, but the Warriors won. I'm happy for GSW fans, that crowd at Oracle is crazy.

garnett and allen went to a team that only won 24 games the year before they got there. that example is not the same as joining a 73-9 team.