Nets Are Scorching

Nice post Mike R.
The funny thing was that LeBron was trying to get Bosh to join him in Cleveland but Bosh didn't want to play there. So LeBron actually followed Bosh to Miami. I can see following Wade but Bosh? All you need to know about all this is how the Cav's owner exploded with rage after LeBron made his decision. LeBron screwed more people that day then a major porn star would or could... ask his great friend and mentor Jay-Z...

Magic also reacted against it.

Magic would never have done this, because he was already playing with Kareem and Worthy.

Bird wouldn't have, because he was already playing with McHale and Parish. All of whom are HOF players in the NBA's top 50.

LeBron and Wade might be in the conversation with the six above; Bosh sure isn't. Kobe, of course, wanted to do this, before Gasol was gift-wrapped for him. Before that, he won with a HOF center beside him.

Forget the fact that LBJ and Bosh joined DWADES TEAM in Miami. DWADE is the LEADER of that team and he will be the one taking the big shots and making the important decisions at crunch time. I can live with that bc as a free agent thats your choice. However, I think its a total cop out and I have no respect for what they did.

What I have a problem with, and I think what most have a problem with is that "the 3 amigos" made a mockery out of the NBA, free agenecy, the fans, and the owners. They acted like they think they are bigger than the game. Basketball was around before them and basketball will be around after them.

I believe 100% that this had been their plan all along, and that it was nothing more than a game to them and a way to get people to stroke their egos. I think it's pathetic and a disgrace. I would like nothing more than for Miami to not win a championship over the next 3 years. I have never been a Kobe fan bc of his arrogance. That said, atleast he has a backbone and wants to (and is) be the man. Rest assured I will be pulling for the Lakers if they meet Miami in the finals. I cant wait for the Heat to play a game in Cleveland. How much extra security are they going to need for that one? Heck they they a guy out of the Yankees/Indians game in cleveland yesterday bc he was wear an LBJ Miami heat jersey. Fans were verbally abusing him and followed him as he was escorted by security out of the stadium. Imagine what they will do to teh real thing. Also what is he going to do with his 35k sq ft house outside Cleveland? Not a lot of buyers of that size house in Ohio nor is he gonna be welcomed back with open arms to the area.

@SMON- James Wade and Bosh does not equal Jordan, Pippen and Grant. The point you are missing is Michael Jordan was a #1 option guy. He was the main man for the team. He could carry a team on his back. Pippen and Grant couldnt do that. They were very good complimentary players for a go to guy. The same with Magic. By the time he got to the Lakers, it became his team because Kareem was entering the final years of his career. He could no longer carry a team. Worthy was never that type of player. Bird never played with #1 options either.
Lebron is a #1 option guy. So is Wade. They are not supposed to play together. They are suppossed to play against each other. That's what makes what miami did very corny. But the truth is, the Lakers are better. Heck, Orlando and Chicago has good chances of beating them because they will have better team chemistry,

I have to agree with @JDoc LBJ took the easy route. Two time MVP back to back mind you! It's a shame. I rather have Melo and another star on the Nets... In due time hopefully.

Amen..

That is why all this talk about acquiring Chris Paul and that will lead to Carmelo which then will lead to whoever upsets me. I wouldn't of minded getting Wade or LeBron or Bosh. But all three? I can honestly say if the Nets got all three the way Miami did I would had a very hard time rooting for the Nets, even if they went 82-0. Like shooting goldfish in a barrel with an AK-47.
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@JDoc... I loved your last rant. You sounded like a young Mad Dog. You should be a trial lawyer. I was ready to convict LeBron and send him to the "chair" after reading your post. LMAO

Pippen is overrated. Magic also reacted against it.

The bottom line is the reigning MVP of the league left his team to go join two other all-stars.

That's tucking tail and running. We view athletes as warriors. Not circus acts. Warriors don't run. Jordan/Kobe. Yes, they're insufferable. But they are warriors. They have the competitive fire, to bring out hustle you, out work you, and beat you. They want the ball. They want the last shot. They want to prove to the world that they cannot be defeated.

Read Vince Lombardi's what it takes to be number 1. It talks about earning Victory. Vince Lombardi would not have approved of this. Michael Jordan didn't. Magic didn't.

There are no apologists needed. Lebron said screw you to the fans. He said I'm taking the easy road.

Nobody is threatening his life. But to call him a coward is dead on. He made the choice. He took the easy way out. There is no fault in that, but it is a reflection of his character.

Going to play with his two best friends and take home more pay as you put it. Those were the pro's of his decision. The cons are, he stabbed his home town in the back, and tainted his legacy by showing that he's a coward that in your own words "didn't want to be the man".

If he didn't want it. Fine. He can go be happy in Miami, carrying Wade's luggage, and drinking Bosh's Kool-Aid. But nobody should be crying for him. He deserves the backlash he's getting. It's part of the negative. You can't have it both ways.

Note: I'm not using warrior as a simile to true soldiers. Sports are not the same arena as life, and defending our freedom is in no way comparable to trying to win meaningless championships. I'm using warrior as a term to signify guys who will fight with everything in their tank, until they collapse in victory or defeat.

The Heat can do whatever they like. Because if we could have done it, no one here would be complaining. Of course the egomaniacs did it completely classless, but that is for them to live with.

My major problem is Proky. Why is giving up on this season already? It hasn't even started. Good way to get fans excited. I know it may be the truth, that we may not be that good this year, but the season hasn't started and he's already looking to another season. Maybe the Nets shouldn't even suit up this year, and wait.

Jordan, Bird, and Magic does not equal James, Wade, and Bosh. Maybe Wade, James, Bosh = Jordan, Pippen, Grant. However, that remains to be seen. Still think LA is better... Of course Jordan reacted like that! When has Jordan ever complimented another NBA star other than himself. If Jordan never did it then it's wrong in his mind. Nothing ever changes with his selfishness. At least James learned how to share.

Look here...Lebron can NEVER be compared to KB24 or MJ23 ever again. Wade is a franchise player that's his team and LBJ is now his b!tch. Like MJ said you would've never seen me go to Larry or Magic and say hey let's all be on the same team. In my opinion that kills the competitiveness in the NBA. Sure MJ had Pippen but Pip wasn't a franchise player we all seen what happened when Jordan wasn't there. Wade has his own team and carries it well LBJ on the other had has the potential to be the next great it's been proven, but I lost alot of respect for him going to Miami. Like Reggie Miller said 3 rings in Miami equals one ring in Cleveland or any other team for that fact is he would've played for them. I felt my Nets or Chicago would've been a great fit for him but who am I to judge. But at the end if the day you have to respect his choice as a person. He still "less of a man" for his decision though. Lol

@SMON; It may be LeBrons life but no one man should be bigger then the NBA. Even Michael Jordan shook his head and smiled when interviewed about the matter. He said in his days superstars looked to compete against each other, to gain glory by beating the best, not join them and beat the rest... I could just picture Jordan, Bird and Magic,in their prime, meeting secretly to join forces so that they could win a championship. Ridiculous...

@JDoc; You nailed it on the head about dumping rosters and uneven offer sheets due to regional/state taxes etc. I bet NBA officals will be looking into these issues. David Stern looked real pissed off on T.V. a few weeks ago, when discussing the events that unfolded in Miami. Even
if Miami somehow don't make the playoffs these issues and concerns should still be addressed.

@JDOC;
I like the adjusted salary cap idea.

I am a Nets fan and have been for 15+ years. I'm just tired of hearing all the babies cry about what James did. Grow up! It's his life...

Who's to say Miami won't have classic battles. I think the smart money is still on LA. I don't think Orlando is going anywhere either. It will be funny to see Dwight eat Bosh up. Bosh is NOT A SUPERSTAR.

@SMON; You must be a Miami fan or soon to be Miami fan. LOL
P.S. Sports leagues are not run like private free enterprise companies, for good reasons. So your analogy rings false. Good try though...

I don't blame Miami at all. If the Nets would have pulled this off, all Nets fans and a bunch of new NY Nets fans would be thrilled.

I'm mad at the player collusion part of it, and I'm disappointed in Lebron James.

I had a lot of hope and respect for him. Now, I can't look at him the same. He's a coward.

@Mike, it's not about having to sign for the Max. It's about Miami dumping their entire roster, to get enough "Cap Space". It's bogus. That shouldn't be allowed. Maybe make a rule that you can only sign one Max player, and players can't sign for X below market value. And teams in Texas and Houston, shouldn't have advantages because of Income Taxes.

The way to fix that would be to have an adjusted salary cap. Where teams in NY can offer X above the max rules, to account for income taxes. Make the offer sheet look the same, but make the contract offers are made in Net Earnings not Gross Earnings.

That still doesn't account for endorsement money.

Jordan and Pippen of the 90's dominated, but they did have some classic battles too.

@JDoc, Very good points. But even in baseball buying a championship is very hard to do. Baseball is a different animal from most other sports. The best teams win about 100 games but still lose around 60. You can have several "superstars" and still finish out of the playoffs. In basketball one player can make a big difference. Wild card teams win the World Series all the time, while in basketball the best teams with the best players usually win. That is why stocking Miami with three "superstars" overnight is ridiculous bordering on diabolical. LOL

I don't think James ever wanted to be the "man" when playing on those terrible Clevland teams. He will be much happier in south beach and isn't that what life is all about?

Players have taken less money before to help their team. I don't see why it's a problem now. I also don't see why its nonsense.

If the company you work for (NBA)had many offices around the country (teams) and each office was recruiting you to go to them. Wouldn't you chose the office that was in a state with no income tax, where your friends are, and with tons of gorgeous women? If you were a single 25 year old man why not?

Don't blame the kids. They will entertain.

@SMON; Come on... You know what went down this year with Wade,James,Bosh and Miami. Weeks before the free agent period officially started, Bosh came out and said that the big three where going to meet in Miami to discuss their futures. People raised their eyebrows then Bosh retracted the statement. Funny how everybody seems to forget this now.

It's more about the best player in the game, copping out.

Lebron, could have been the next great star in the NBA. From MJ to boring Spurs to Kobe to LeBron.

Now, that Lebron cried and went to go get help....It just takes down the expectations of him. It shows he's never going to be the man. I get it with Kobe having Shaq and Gasol. I get it with Jordan having Pippen. But, this is different. This has a guy that's supposed to be a leader, tucking tail and running.

America will never respect that.

But, back to reality. Oh and in regards to the Yankee commentary. The 90's weren't "bought" championships. The 2000's is when they started spending madly to stay on top.

The Yankees of the 1990's traded for Tino, drafted Jeter, Williams, Rivera, Posada, Pettitte. Signed guys like Brosius, Paul O'Neil, etc.

These weren't high priced guys. They were valuable assets, and good players. But hardly the Giambi, Mussina, Sheffield, A-Rod, Conteras, Damon, Matsui, Vazquez Yankees of the 2000's.

The Yankees went 18 years between 1996 and 1978 without a championship. The core of those teams was built from within, and role players were added. Clemens wasn't added until the middle of 1999, and he was really the first BIG name the Yankees went after. It was in 2001 after 4 W.S.'s that they started adding over priced all-stars. Before that...Charlie Hayes and Scott Brosius were good enough.

One way to help stop this nonsense would be to have a franchise player named for each team at the start of each season. This franchise player, if a free agent, could sign with any team he wanted but would have to be paid max dollars. This would help prevent superstars from taking less money so other players can join him on his new team.

Was the NBA "fair" when Jordan and Pippen dominated the league for almost a decade? I think that's when the league was the most popular.

I also don't see why everyone is giving the trophy to Miami already. They have no interior defense and no point guard unless James plays point.

Also, why can't James play with another great player? Jordan had Pippen, Kobe had Shaq now he has Gasol and Artest, Magic had Kareem and Worthy, Stockton had Malone (and they never won). The list goes on and on. I supose James should have stuck with Mo Williams. LOL...

There is a salary cap in the NBA and as far as I can see it works. If the Heat win 6 straight championships (They won't) then I'll admit there's a problem with the cap as it is.

@SMON; Owners and players first priority should be maintaining a sound league where teams have a fair chance at competing. Without a "fair" league the NBA will lose many fans cause they will feel that the game is "rigged". Having players and owners conspire on playing for a certain team will leave the league with 1 or 2 super teams and the rest of the league trailing badly. Why don't we just have a real free enterprise system with no salary cap and let every player be a free agent every year. We don't do that because it would be unfair for most owners, players and fans. Taking advantage of loop
holes in the system is a legal way of cheating. Miami ownership is also to blame. They already had one "superstar" but they used the system that was put in place for their own selfish reasons. Other teams including the Nets tried to
do the same thing. That does not make it the right thing to do. Lets see how it works out but the league might have too install new rules in dealing with salary caps
and how much money a team can clear out at any given time. But then again maybe this is just a once in a life time episode not to be repeated again.

I just feel it is the player's right to go anywhere they want as a free agent. Miami had the money to pay and no state income tax. Would you feel better if Cleveland was able to hold James hostage for his career and continue to surround him with a bunch of losers? I'm pretty sure anyone would want out of Clevland.

I understand how Mark feels but we can't worry about that now. What's done is done. Baseball had it's steriod cheaters and now basketball got it's own way of playing unfairly. Let Miami be Goliath. We have to worry about our own team. I rememebr all the posts in the last few months when Nets fans were dreaming of lineups with Wade, LeBron, Amare etc. It always left me feeling cold and empty thinking that we were "buying" our way to a championship. I prefer building and watching a team like the Nets, instead of watching a team composed of spoiled superstars who need to conspire and band together cause they can't win it any other way.
I hated Kobe but now he looks like a true "superstar". Even Boston looks like a real team compared to that "Axis of Evil" down in Miami. Prokhorov is a smart and patient man and he knows nothing lasts forever. In a few years LeBron might come knocking on his door. Think how much fun were going to have when we beat Miami or some other team does. Might not happen often but it's going to happen.
Keep the faith Mark... Lets Go Nets...

I hope this isn't the news for the day...something good coming?

@SMON It's not that it was done, but rather how it was done. Owners are fined big time for collusion, however we have an apparent case of player collusion. In other words the "inmates are running the asylum". Not a bright future for the NBA and fans if this is what's coming. Hopefully it will all backfire (as I expect). Beat the Heat! Go Nets!

Why do so many peple have a problem with what the Heat and these three free agents have done? First of all, Bosh is no superstar. He has no defensive game and will become a liability. Gasol will eat him alive. So what we have left is two superstars playing with a ton of role players. We've seen this situation a thousand times in the NBA. Most of the time its a big and a small and not two wings, but this is nothing new and the haters need to get over it.