Chris Paul stays put.

[Andrew]

thus attempting to turn readers to be the hater.

It wasn't meant to turn anyone into a hater. It was essentially an open letter to Chris Paul, urging him to handle his business better than LeBron did, a suggestion that William Wesley and Maverick Carter might not be the best people to accept counsel from.

[Oznogrd]

Zan i feel like i have to clarify. Im not a hater. At all. Lebron is good for basketball. How do I know this? I haven't been this excited about the NBA since Jordan wasnt on the Wizards. Theres a flair that these current stars are bringing to the table that while the TD's of the world may be the greatest fundamental players of all time: is much more interesting to watch for a casual fan and honestly for me. Just like in baseball: I don't care about roids. Why? because it made baseball entertaining.

In basketball, i don't care about these superteams. Why? because watching them go after each other is better than any episode of Springer/Real World/whatever shit passes for television these days. As Maximus said in Gladiator "ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?" Fuck yes I am and I want blood, sweat, tears, and mvps that shoot 6-24.

I'm just saying you werent a huge Lebron fan before he came to the Heat while suddenly you seem to be jumping to his defense every few posts. Thats the very definition of homerism. Was the decision ill advised? On all accounts yes. Was Lebron kind of a dick about it? Yeah I think so. Durant, Paul, and various others are showing that you don't have to make a big stink for decisions about your brand/business just because you're a superstar. Does that mean i'm going to boycott him or hate him? Hell no. The guy is the best player in the league and much more entertaining than anyone except maybe Pirate Steve Nash.

Now back to the Paul topic: I like chris paul and am very surprised he's not demanding a trade after the meeting. Theres either a big move in the works that we're not privy to or they told him to stick it out for a bitand theyll get him to a contender as soon as they can. It would be stupid of the Hornets sure, but they must have said what Paul wanted to hear for him to not be demanding out.

[shadowgrin]

Zanshadow you homer, just reading your posts...

Last but not least, I thought the remarks by Lebron, was blown out of proportion. Didn’t KG say something similar but more direct to the point before? That he’d leave the Wolves earlier if he can go back the time. He's regretting it now.

As for Tim Duncan stuff, obviously it wasn’t like I didn’t understand him, but I’d say it’s a bad example, a very bad one. TD has won rings and been the serious contender all career long.

You're no different from your self-perceived hating of Woj if that's the case (except yours is homerism).
Paul in a sucky team, Duncan successful team.
KG in sucky team (Wolves), LeBron successful team (Cavs).

You using KG, it's a bad example, a very bad one. KG's Wolves doesn't even compare to LeBron's Cavs.
KG's Wolves only made out of the first round, once during his stay there. Management also blows, Wolves got punished by Stern when management got caught contract cheating for once in a decade player Joe Smith! Naturally KG is going to express a little bit of regret when he remembers that time in his career.
LeBron's Cavs? 2 60-win seasons, 1 ECF trip, 1 Finals trip. Even if the Cavs management were bad, they were LeBron's lapdogs that try to follow his every whim.

I also highly doubt that if KG left the Wolves via free agency, he would do it the way LeBron did by stabbing them and kicking them while they're down with a spectacle of his decision to leave. KG even thanked the Minnesota fans when he won the championship.

Significant difference between the situation of the Wolves and Cavs and even the personality of both players. You damn homer.

[Jackal]

Let me respond for Zanshadow.

"I think this is one instance where we should agree to disagree."

[Andrew]

Now back to the Paul topic: I like chris paul and am very surprised he's not demanding a trade after the meeting. Theres either a big move in the works that we're not privy to or they told him to stick it out for a bitand theyll get him to a contender as soon as they can. It would be stupid of the Hornets sure, but they must have said what Paul wanted to hear for him to not be demanding out.

Supposedly he's staying put for the moment, so guess they were able to smooth things over before it got too ugly.

[Oznogrd]

Supposedly he's staying put for the moment, so guess they were able to smooth things over before it got too ugly.

I just can't see this new staff having enough clout to convince him they're going to be a contender in the next 2-3 years. If it was Phil/jerry Buss or a proven tandem like that i'd understand but Monty Williams and Demps (is that the guys name?) Maybe they did somehow impress him but I'm thinking some things were said and unofficially worked out. Whether that means they're bringing Paul in some help or sending him elsewhere im not sure. From the looks of things it'd be bringing in help, I'm just not sure what they have to offer anyone that people want. The corpse of Peja and the steadily falling potential of Okafor (who i actually like, i just don't think he's a valuable chip like he might've been a few years ago).

[shadowgrin]

Maybe those guys have 'residual' reputation.
Monty Williams was an assistant for Nate McMillan before he got the Hornets job. He also served as assistant under Gregg Popovich and pretty much spent most of his playing career under defensive coaches like Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy.
Dell Demps I think came from San Antonio. We all know how good the management is in SA that some of their guys are even 'pirated' by the other teams.

[Andrew]

It's not like he has much leverage to make the Hornets trade him for cents on the dollar either. If he were in the last year of his contract or could opt out at the end of the season it might be different but the Hornets have a little time to work with here.

[benji]

And the league is "reminding" teams they can't talk to him either: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5414701

[NovU]

Ok, Maybe a little, I was being a homer, but that's only natural due to too much negative views on the Heat trio right now.

Anyways, what NOH said to Paul I think is easier said than done obviously. The team spent much money but failed to get nowhere, being stuck with Okafor and all. Personally, I see him going to some other team sooner or later. Perhaps, Maverick Carter again will be on the hot topic then.

[NovU]

Well... Just read this article. I think this explains my views rather more clearly and liking this one over woj's obviously. But again, I will give it to you that I maybe being a homer since I never really defended Lebron this hard before in exception of Kobe vs Bron discussion.

[Jackal]

I get the vibe, all this criticism will continue to grow as the Heat remains the goalith. Of course, gets tired.

Missed this one but found it again due to my prickness.

I know your panties are wet thinking of your new team and all, but the team to beat still is LA. They have the title. Not the Heat.

The Lakers.

[shadowgrin]

I maybe being a homer since I never really defended Lebron this hard before

The mere mention of LeBron's name now probaby gives you wood.

[NovU]

I get the vibe, all this criticism will continue to grow as the Heat remains the goalith. Of course, gets tired.

Missed this one but found it again due to my prickness.

I know your panties are wet thinking of your new team and all, but the team to beat still is LA. They have the title. Not the Heat.

The Lakers.

The Lakers are still the team to beat. The Lakers did their part this offseason, adding Barnes and Blake. Props to the Champs.

My thoughts... Match up wise the Lakers will present many problems for the Heat, especially with Gasol and Bynum. Hoping to see you guys in the Finals anyways. Should be a great series if it happens.

[Oznogrd]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5415294

From that article it sounds like my assumption some decision we're not privy to calmed Paul down sounds about right.

[NovU]

Good for him and also for the city, at least for now that is. I am guessing Paul knows the team won't get fair value in return for him if they trade him now. However, I don't see them going anywhere even with Paul in the line up. Perhaps, first or second rounder at best(for a few years at least), but becoming the true contender is doubtful. Asking Paul to stay with NOH for the rest of good years of his career, I think will mean much sacrifice to Paul unless something dramatic happens to the team roster.

Anyways, here's more interesting but a day or two older than Oznogrd's linked article.
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/featur ... leid=35799
The guy obviously is a hater, but I am getting used to it now. His assumption(yet he believes it strongly) of Paul wanting to become the Heat, arouses me.