#cantbeatemjoinem

[LogGrad98]

Your probably right. I think it would have been much better entertainment had Durant stuck with OKC. The battle with GSW would have been a fun rivalry. Or even if he went to the spurs. As it sits now GSW's toughest challenge until the finals will be us. I am really not interested in watching GSW vs Houston or Spurs.

Agreed. I actually do not enjoy watching the warriors at all this season, but I did last season. Mainly because last year they were over-achieving with the team they had managed to build and some players that really improved themselves (like Green). This year it is just about stacking and it makes for a boring product. A lot like the reason why I never watch basketball in the Olympics anymore. When we can stack the best players in the world and literally cannot lose it is boring.

it was a weak move. a move that wasn't around 30 years ago. Its part of the generation he belongs too. the players are all mostly friends. 30 years ago people were making phone calls but now you can just send out a quick text.

Weird to agree with the troll, but I think it is proof that players today are less competitive than in years past. They want the easy path to a ring, instead of needing to fight and sacrifice for it. I guess you can't blame them, but it puts an asterisk on every ring won that way imo.

I think in past years players had some pride and took great pride in making their team and themselves better and getting over the hump. Jordan could literally have gone anywhere he wanted. Teams could have just loaded up, but you just didn't see it. I think some level of loyalty, personal pride, and competitiveness had a lot to do with it. That is sorely lacking in today's NBA. At the risk of being melodramatic, the business and the accolades have taken over and the spirit of the game is dying.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Nah this is because Curry makes less monew than Alec Burks, Klay makes 17 and Green 16. The issue is the contracts they get after 4 years not after 8. They need to blow the top off of rookie contract extensions. Perhaps they add an extra year to rookie deals as a compromise.

Ehh, no. I would say 4 year rookie deals are fair for both sides. Rookie deals are already a huge bargain, gaining a 5th year would be criminal. There is no issue with the contract after 4 years. Golden State just got lucky that Green/Thompson's extension came before the cap exploded so they are cheap compared to the 2nd contracts guys are getting now like Rudy.

The issue is the owners didnt vote on cap smoothing like it was proposed before the cap explosion happened.

 

[JimLes]

When I was a kid, my friends and I used to play a lot of NBA Live 1995-1998. I remember how I'd trade Ostertag and Russell for D-Rob and Grant Hill and play the brutally long season mode. Of course, my starting 5 of Stockton, Hornacek, Hill, Malone, Robinson would go 82-0 and 15-0 in the playoffs. I'd win the ring, but most games involved me just running the ball up the court and scoring with 20 second left on the shot clock. It was fun for a while, but hardly fulfilling in the end. That's how this whole Durant thing feels like. Too easy, too obvious.

When you cheat at video games, you're really only cheating yourself out of fun, challenge, and entertainment. Pretty much works that way in real life, too.

 

[LogGrad98]

When I was a kid, my friends and I used to play a lot of NBA Live 1995-1998. I remember how I'd trade Ostertag and Russell for D-Rob and Grant Hill and play the brutally long season mode. Of course, my starting 5 of Stockton, Hornacek, Hill, Malone, Robinson would go 82-0 and 15-0 in the playoffs. I'd win the ring, but most games involved me just running the ball up the court and scoring with 20 second left on the shot clock. It was fun for a while, but hardly fulfilling in the end. That's how this whole Durant thing feels like. Too easy, too obvious.

When you cheat at video games, you're really only cheating yourself out of fun, challenge, and entertainment. Pretty much works that way in real life, too.

Agreed. I guess the big difference is in real life there are tangible results that make it worth it. I think everyone likes short-cuts. The philosophical question would revolve around personal character and integrity I suppose. Would you stay on a sinking ship just to prove you could survive a ship sinking? Tough to say I guess.

 

[JimLes]

Agreed. I guess the big difference is in real life there are tangible results that make it worth it. I think everyone likes short-cuts. The philosophical question would revolve around personal character and integrity I suppose. Would you stay on a sinking ship just to prove you could survive a ship sinking? Tough to say I guess.

We're talking about a basketball player, though. What are the tangible results? He won't make more money being on the Warriors. Hell, he'll make less if my basic knowledge of the cap is correct.

 

[NUMBERICA]

I really don't understand this vitriol. Most people would do the exact same thing.

 

[Stoked]

I really don't understand this vitriol. Most people would do the exact same thing.

Really? It is easy to understand even though I don't subscribe to it. It's an emotional response. His success is a direct threat to the success of the Jazz. His superteam is the final hurdle to climb. In that light the response is pretty common and ordinary. Even if the majority of us, myself included, would have done the exact same thing.

 

[JimLes]

I really don't understand this vitriol. Most people would do the exact same thing.

This league has been around for 70 years. How many times has an MVP joined the guy who dethroned him a year later? While they were all in their primes? How many times has a 5-time All-NBA first player in his prime joined a 70+ win team?

This is David Robinson bolting to the Bulls in 1996. Or even Shaq signing with them instead of the Lakers. Except that they never did, so no, not everyone would. And if you can find me another example from NBA history where this happened, I'd love to see it.

 

[LogGrad98]

We're talking about a basketball player, though. What are the tangible results? He won't make more money being on the Warriors. Hell, he'll make less if my basic knowledge of the cap is correct.

Endorsement deals pay way more than their salaries. This kind of move will push his endorsement deals through the roof (California vs Oklahoma? not to mention the press it generated). Prestige. Perceived "honor". The aforementioned extra press.

Rings.

A ring on their finger justifies all kinds of bad character moves, if you want to call it that. Same applies to regular people. Some status symbol (*cough*BMW*cough*) justifies all kinds of douche-iness.

 

[LogGrad98]

This league has been around for 70 years. How many times has an MVP joined the guy who dethroned him a year later? While they were all in their primes? How many times has a 5-time All-NBA first player in his prime joined a 70+ win team?

This is David Robinson bolting to the Bulls in 1996. Or even Shaq signing with them instead of the Lakers. Except that they never did, so no, not everyone would. And if you can find me another example from NBA history where this happened, I'd love to see it.

LeBron did it. Built his own super-team. He set the standard.

I guess you could argue that Payton and Malone joining the Lakers was kind of like this, but older players at the end of their careers often end up on other teams, whether ring-chasing or not.

 

[CALJAZZFAN]

I disagree. There is a ton of fight in Green and Barnes. David West would kick the crap out of almost anyone in the NBA.

Good point, although does Barnes even play? We need physicality, that was my primary point.

 

[CALJAZZFAN]

A professional that has worked his *** off wants to coalesce with other bests to win it all and you hate him for it? Petty.

Yes. Our opinions, has nothing to do with petty.

 

[fishonjazz]

LeBron did it. Built his own super-team. He set the standard.

I guess you could argue that Payton and Malone joining the Lakers was kind of like this, but older players at the end of their careers often end up on other teams, whether ring-chasing or not.

What 70 win team did lebron join again? Refresh my memory.
Did Miami de-throne lebron Cleveland team the year before he joined miami? I can't remember.

 

[JimLes]

LeBron did it. Built his own super-team. He set the standard.

Even LeBron joined at 47-win team. And he didn't join Kobe and the Lakers. That's the issue here.

I guess you could argue that Payton and Malone joining the Lakers was kind of like this, but older players at the end of their careers often end up on other teams, whether ring-chasing or not.

Here are the only other cases in the past 30 years(so modern NBA history because I'm sure you agree that the 60s and 70s with their 8-team league don't count) that two previous MVPs played on the same team.

2003-2004 Shaq and the Mailman. Karl was 40 when the season started.
2002-2003 The Admiral and Duncan. Robinson was 37 when the season started.
1996-2000 Barkley and Hakeem. Both 33 when they joined up.
1987-1989 Kareem and Magic. Kareem was 40 when the first of the two seasons started.
1985-1987 Bird and Walton. Walton was 33 and had more screws in him than a cheap hooker.

This is not normal. This is new and players did not do this in the past. You have to at least acknowledge that.

 

[JimLes]

The closest thing to this would be Moses joining the Sixers in 1982. But if you have to go back to a time even Joe Johnson can't remember, then this clearly isn't a normal occurrence.

 

[LogGrad98]

What 70 win team did lebron join again? Refresh my memory.
Did Miami de-throne lebron Cleveland team the year before he joined miami? I can't remember.

Oh I didn't know it meant it had to be exactly the same in every single detail. I guess everything that happens is always completely unique. Makes tons of sense.

 

[Utesnjazz]

This league has been around for 70 years. How many times has an MVP joined the guy who dethroned him a year later?
While they were all in their primes? How many times has a 5-time All-NBA first player in his prime joined a 70+ win team?

This is David Robinson bolting to the Bulls in 1996. Or even Shaq signing with them instead of the Lakers. Except that they never did, so no, not everyone would. And if you can find me another example from NBA history where this happened, I'd love to see it.

Great post! Most people wouldn't do what he did. Most people would have taken the money and stayed in okc

 

[Ron Mexico]

Durant was leaving OKC. OKC and Westbrook were not allowing him to play to his full ability and use all of his talents. He also didnt like playing with Westbrook. It was an easy choice to leave. As far as the team he chose why wouldnt he find the team that he best fit, had cap room and had a chance to win it all. What other teams should he have joined that would have been okay to Jazz fans? He could have gone to a team like Boston but fans would have been equally upset and he would have had the same problem. He is a bad fit for that team and what they do. No other team would other good players had room. You do not win championships right now without 3 really good players that are all-stars and better. What team had 2 really good players for him to join with that would have been okay? Keeping in mind he didnt want to play with a ball hog player like Westbrook. So that eliminates most stars.

 

[homeytennis]

Durant was leaving OKC. OKC and Westbrook were not allowing him to play to his full ability and use all of his talents. He also didnt like playing with Westbrook. It was an easy choice to leave. As far as the team he chose why wouldnt he find the team that he best fit, had cap room and had a chance to win it all. What other teams should he have joined that would have been okay to Jazz fans? He could have gone to a team like Boston but fans would have been equally upset and he would have had the same problem. He is a bad fit for that team and what they do. No other team would other good players had room. You do not win championships right now without 3 really good players that are all-stars and better. What team had 2 really good players for him to join with that would have been okay? Keeping in mind he didnt want to play with a ball hog player like Westbrook. So that eliminates most stars.

Another reason he wanted to leave was the coach. KD really liked Scott Brooks and Billy D not so much.

 

[Utesnjazz]

LeBron did it. Built his own super-team. He set the standard.

I guess you could argue that Payton and Malone joining the Lakers was kind of like this, but older players at the end of their careers often end up on other teams, whether ring-chasing or not.

Lebron joined a 70 win team?
Lebron joined a 2 time MVP?
Did lebron join the team that beat him?

Just because lebron left Cleveland doesn't mean he was the one that set this "standard". It would have been like lebron joining the celtics. But he didn't do that because he wanted to beat them. They are completely different situations. Durants move is the most cowardly move in the history of sports.