Miami Heat Thread

[Andrew]

Russell Crowe wins an Oscar, he's Australia's Russell Crowe.

Russell Crowe chucks a phone at someone, he's New Zealand-born.

And Mel Gibson.... I think we disowned Mel a long time ago.

Exactly.

[Andrew]

Heat’s Jones to become free agent

A person familiar with the situation says Miami Heat guard-forward James Jones(notes) has advised the team he won’t exercise his player option and will become a free agent.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the Heat had not confirmed Jones’ decision.

Jones is an eight-year veteran who spent the past three seasons with the Heat. He averaged 5.9 points in 81 games last season and shot 43-percent from 3-point range for the Eastern Conference champions.

It doesn't mean he can't or won't return of course, but it's an interesting decision since most players seem to be opting in given the looming lockout. That certainly could be taken as a sign that he's looking to move on.

[x-uNdErRaTeD-z]

I wonder if they can try to get a center like DeAndre Jordan this summer? Price might be high but a midlevel exception and lower would be ideal. There's other centers too just in case. There's point guards out there to nab as well. Will be an interseting summer for the HEAT...

[NovU]

KFC offers Wade a chance to make some buckets

KFC U.S. general manager John Cywinski says that the company has always been proud to call Wade a former employee and looks to hire people with his skills like "teamwork and the ability to make buckets in a hurry."

Buckets in a hurry wouldn't be a problem for Wade but make sure you sweep the floor clean cuz he tends to hit the floor hard each time he makes a bucket.

[Andrew]

It's a terrible pun for them to make, but I'll pay it all the same. Probably not a bad PR move on either side if it were to happen, a bit of fun.

[NovU]

Yeah. Wade in charge of KFC drive through window. A PR that could work out for both sides. For some reason I could picture Wade at it. Lolz.

[NovU]

Kobe Bryant to LeBron James' critics: 'Back off'

+1 respect for the GOAT ever period

[_Steve_]

Kobe Bryant to LeBron James' critics: 'Back off'

+1 respect for the GOAT ever period

Always good for a surprise. Nice words from a man who lost a final series himself. I think he knows what he's talking about. Liked that!

[Andrew]

"I think people need to lay off that kid, that's what I think," Bryant said of James. "I've gotten to know him pretty well, playing with the Olympic team, and I think they just need to back off him and just let him play and let him live his life and let him make his decisions and let him mature as a player."

So in other words, no one is allowed to say anything bad about LeBron or any other player, ever? That's kind of like saying a movie, television show or whatever "isn't for critics"; it doesn't exactly work that way. LeBron's a star player, one of the top guys on his team and he shares in both the credit and the blame for how they perform.

It's kind of like when Dwight Howard complained that the Magic don't get enough love at all. As Kurt Helin says in that response, you don't get to have it both ways: glowing praise and attention when you're doing well, silence and lack of criticism when you come up short.

[_Steve_]

"I think people need to lay off that kid, that's what I think," Bryant said of James. "I've gotten to know him pretty well, playing with the Olympic team, and I think they just need to back off him and just let him play and let him live his life and let him make his decisions and let him mature as a player."

So in other words, no one is allowed to say anything bad about LeBron or any other player, ever? That's kind of like saying a movie, television show or whatever "isn't for critics"; it doesn't exactly work that way. LeBron's a star player, one of the top guys on his team and he shares in both the credit and the blame for how they perform.

It's kind of like when Dwight Howard complained that the Magic don't get enough love at all. As Kurt Helin says in that response, you don't get to have it both ways: glowing praise and attention when you're doing well, silence and lack of criticism when you come up short.

I do not think he didn't want no criticism at all. Both Kobe and LBJ are pretty competitive persons. Those kind of persons tend to criticise themselves before all others. If my interpretation is correct, then Kobe just wanted to say that it's enough for now.

[NovU]

Having been in Bron's shoes, I guess Kobe could relate how it is tough to be under microscope as he said. I don't think he's saying anything like all criticism weren't valid but more like bit too harsh as a lot of them comes in more of childish forms. As critics can say whatever they want, I guess it's only normal for some to think it's gone bit too far and react this Kobe way. And you are right that they have to deal with it. And dealing with it gets much easier with some support like this I presume. Anyways I am just glad to see Bron getting unexpected support from the GOAT.

And as for Kevin Love, I'd say very uneccessary statemend he made. Well... The Heat should have gotten more used to something like that already but it's still surprising someone of his caliber said something like that.

[Andrew]

Which basically amounts to the same thing. LeBron's performance in the NBA Finals didn't live up to the standards he's set for himself with the great things we've seen him do. There'll be questions marks and criticism hanging over him until he can avenge that loss, same as any other great player who's had to pick themselves up and dust themselves off after disappointment in their career.

[_Steve_]

Having been in Bron's shoes, I guess Kobe could relate how it is tough to be under microscope as he said. I don't think he's saying anything like all criticism weren't valid but more like bit too harsh as a lot of them comes in more of childish forms. As critics can say whatever they want, I guess it's only normal for some to think it's gone bit too far and react this Kobe way. And you are right that they have to deal with it. And dealing with it gets much easier with some support like this I presume. Anyways I am just glad to see Bron getting unexpected support from the GOAT.

And as for Kevin Love, I'd say very uneccessary statemend he made. Well... The Heat should have gotten more used to something like that already but it's still surprising someone of his caliber said something like that.

Seems to me that Love's statment was put a little out of context. He talks more about how he and part of the league enjoyed that Dallas as a team has won the title. Might be a also little malicious joy in it but nothing more.

[NovU]

Perhaps... but still a statement he could have avoided. It's something that could possibly be provoking to some... and definitely isn't a nice return move to fellow All-Star players who have been only praising about Love's game.

[shadowgrin]

definitely isn't a nice return move to fellow All-Star players who have been only praising about Love's game.

Love's comments about LeBron have nothing to do with his game. What's the connect?

Having been in Bron's shoes, I guess Kobe could relate how it is tough to be under microscope as he said.

Lie. If Kobe was ever in LeBron's shoes, Kobe would still have zero rings by now.
Kobe was under the microscope and he broke that sumabitch microscope because it can't handle Kobe.

[_Steve_]

Perhaps... but still a statement he could have avoided. It's something that could possibly be provoking to some... and definitely isn't a nice return move to fellow All-Star players who have been only praising about Love's game.

It was not clever but who said sportsmen are always clever?

[NovU]

definitely isn't a nice return move to fellow All-Star players who have been only praising about Love's game.

Love's comments about LeBron have nothing to do with his game. What's the connect?

No connection I guess if you say so... Lolz.

Having been in Bron's shoes, I guess Kobe could relate how it is tough to be under microscope as he said.

Lie. If Kobe was ever in LeBron's shoes, Kobe would still have zero rings by now.
Kobe was under the microscope and he broke that sumabitch microscope because it can't handle Kobe.

Kobe obviously dealt with the situation that he cannot win it all without Shaq when he lost to the Celtics in the Finals. That's all I was referring to I guess. But in terms of success in the playoffs, I guess heor Gasol or Bynum or the team broke all the microscopes.

[shadowgrin]

Kobe obviously dealt with the situation that he cannot win it all without Shaq when he lost to the Celtics in the Finals. That's all I was referring to I guess.

Kobe dealt with the situation by winning championship the following year with almost the same team that lost to the Celtics in the previous year.

[_Steve_]

Kobe obviously dealt with the situation that he cannot win it all without Shaq when he lost to the Celtics in the Finals. That's all I was referring to I guess.

Kobe dealt with the situation by winning championship the following year with almost the same team that lost to the Celtics in the previous year.

As a Lakers fan I hope that in the case of LBJ the same thing won't happen next year.

[koberulz]

Which basically amounts to the same thing. LeBron's performance in the NBA Finals didn't live up to the standards he's set for himself with the great things we've seen him do. There'll be questions marks and criticism hanging over him until he can avenge that loss, same as any other great player who's had to pick themselves up and dust themselves off after disappointment in their career.

Not even so much with the great things we've seen him do as what he was constantly bragging he was going to do, which just makes it worse.

I watched games one and two of the 2007 Finals a couple of days ago, and even there everything was running away from the basket and settling for jump shots. Doesn't seem like LeBron is capable of handling himself late in the playoffs, for whatever reason.

[Andrew]

I stand by what I posted here, it strikes me as a fear of failure and refusal to accept responsibility. It just seems to me that his ego is tied up in never appearing as though he's lost or failed and to that end, becomes passive and shies away trying to take over when the pressure is on so no one can say he tried and came up short, distancing himself as far as possible from the loss. Of course, he actually ends up looking worse for it than if he gave it his all but it just wasn't enough, this time.

If I'm a Heat fan, as grating as all the criticism is, it could be for the best if it doesn't go away. I'd want LeBron to stew on it until the NBA gets back to business so that he can then begin a campaign of redemption and use all of that doubt and criticism as motivation. Then again, at this point he might be too wrapped up in the notion of "I'm The King, I'm a winner and I'm awesome" to get motivated the way Kobe does or players like Jordan and Bird did and he'll probably continue to have these moments of passiveness where the Heat really need him to dominate like he's capable of doing at any given time.

[NovU]

At this stage, I don't think anyone could argue that Lebron came bit short in the Finals including the King himself. But I still don't see anything foul with Kobe's little support for Lebron. I don't think it's a bad thing at all.

[Andrew]

Kobe's entitled to his opinion and to stand up for a fellow star player. I see his underlying point too and there's merit in it, but the way he expressed it reminded me of Howard's remarks.

[NovU]

That Howard's remakrs are actually new to me but sounds like he wants more attention(which is love to) for his team. Honestly, the Magic aren't a fun team to watch for me, at least not as much as some other top teams like LAL, CHI, CEL, or SAS. That's just me and I am guessing many share the feeling.

[Oznogrd]

CEL

and by CEL you mean BOS?