MSU Red Cedar Message Board

Great ones find a way, except for when they don't, right? Apparently it's OK to choke or lay an egg if you already have at least one title under your belt.

Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant won their first titles in the same season that one of their teammates was named league MVP. It doesn't diminish their accomplishments, but it's a fact that can't be ignored. They didn't "find a way," they played like the great players they are/were, and got a huge amount of help from an incredibly talented cast around them (and in Kobe's case, the benefit of playing during one of the most talent-poor stretches in league history. Go back and look at the '00, '01, and '02 Lakers' Finals opponents).

"Kobe had 3 titles by age 24, and won 2 more after Shaq."

OK, so what about the three post-Shaq, pre-Gasol seasons?
2004-05: 34-48, missed playoffs
2005-06: First round exit, Kobe refuses to shoot in Game 7 against the Suns as the Lakers lose by 31
2006-07: First round exit

Again, this doesn't diminish Kobe Bryant's legacy, because even the greatest NBA players went through struggles at some point in their careers. For some (Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan to some extent) there was early success and a some struggles in the middle. For some (Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon) it took years of disappointment and the aging/retirement of the greats that came before them.

In the end, LeBron's career will be a lot like Shaq's: Incredible physical specimen, statistically impressive from the start, an embarrassing first Finals (Magic vs. Rockets, Cavs vs. Spurs), going to another team, and then finally going on a title run.

True, but this is only the second year in which LeBron has been with a team with the coaching staff and role players to legitimately have a chance to win a title (his Clevland teams it was him and a bunch of role players). He should have won it last year, but this year I believe he has grown (made all of his free throws in the fourth after missing the first two of that quarter), and because of the growth I believe he will be able to lead his team better this time around. Finally, if LeBron took Rondo off the dribble tht would not be the correct move because Rondo has a lower center of gravity then LeBron, and since Rondo has one of the best set of hands in the NBA (always top five in steals), he would have a great chance to steal the ball en route to an uncontested lay up. The better basketball move would have been for LeBron to post Rondo up for two-three dribbles and then shoot the jumpshot (there were two defenders in the paint in anticipation if LeBron went past Rondo on that play).

First of all, I don't need a history lesson. I guess Kareem's absence in Game 6 against Philly negates the preceding 100 games that were required to actually get to Game 6. Kareem averaged 33 points, 16 boards, and 4.6 rebounds in Games 1-6, but ahh fuck it, it was all Magic, right?

The argument is that it's pretty unfair to say a player "isn't clutch" or "doesn't have it" or "will never be a winner" when the player in question is still as young as LeBron James. History suggests it's pretty foolish. His failure to win a championship at this point in his career is no greater than Michael Jordan's in 1990, or Hakeem Olajuwon's in 1993, or Shaquille O'Neal's in 1999. In fact, he did far more in Cleveland -- considering the talent and coaching around him -- than any of those three did prior to winning their first titles.

The fact that he's unlikeable doesn't negate the fact that he's the best player in the world and has a lot of MVP-quality years ahead of him. There's no guarantee that he'll win a single title, but it's extremely likely, and IF that happens, no one is going to remember "The Decision," or the 2007 Finals, or the 2011 Finals. It won't be remembered for the very same reason every other all-time great player's struggles are forgotten: If you're a superstar talent, winning a championship makes you immortal.

Look at Dirk Nowitzki. He was labeled a choker and a failure until about 12 months ago, when suddenly he wasn't. In 10 years, when people talk about Nowitzki, is anyone going to care that the Mavs lost to the Heat after being up in 2-0 in 2006, or got knocked out by the eighth-seeded Warriors in 2007 (before Nowitzki had even accepted his MVP trophy)? Not a chance.

You're such an NBA homer. That draft was so rigged. Then years later, LeBron and Rose both end up in their hometowns.

4:49: The hired accountant from Ernst & Whinney bangs one of the envelopes around around on the rim of the drum, presumably creasing one of the corners. Every other envelope goes in cleanly.

5:28: Stern reaches in and grabs a handful of envelopes, turns them over to look at them, and then drops all but one of them. The one he picks up is the one with the crease in the corner (pause it at 5:31 to see it). That envelope is placed at the #1-spot.

8:22: Stern announces that the Pacers get the 2nd pick, and thus, the Knicks have the first. Everyone in the building seems surprised but David Stern, who just looks guilty.

"Big Game" Joey Crawford just sent the King to the pine in OT.

First time he has fouled out as a Heat player. That is hilarious. That's like over 160 games.

Strange for a guy who plays like a linebacker, isn't it?

Man the rcmb really does hate the nba its sad that this lebron thread is pretty much the eastern conference finals series thread.

This is not good basketball, by NBA standards or otherwise.

tOfficial brandon bass looks like draymond green comment.

Ive thought that when i saw him in nba2k12 before he played for the celtics.

Tremendous look at the basket for Wade.