How many ringless Vets sign on for the minimum a la David West to ride the Warriors back the next few years?

I cannot imagine how Spurs fans felt watching Zaza Pacheapshot standing there for the trophy presentation with his flag

cobizzle said:

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azulAg said:

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Lebron should hold his head high, he played phenomenal. Not much you can do against a team with 4 all stars, 2 mvps. How durant is happy about this I have no idea. Would feel guilty for winning it this way

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No you wouldn't. You like to say you would because it makes you feel superior. But you wouldn't feel guilty at all if you were in his position. He followed the example that people who were successful set out before him. Do what's best for you.

He was drafted by Seattle, and the billionaire owner wouldn't spend a few million on a new stadium, so the team left. Then that team traded James Harden, because another wealthy person wanted to avoid the luxury tax. He was tired of playing the style they played in OKC with Westbrook. He was given an opportunity to join a group that plays pretty phenomenal team basketball.

His decision made so much sense, was a complete no-brainer, and people that say he's a ***** have absolutely no idea what it's like to be in the position he's in.

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doesn't make him any less of a *****

Not sure if this makes much off a difference in the way Durant is perceived.

Since about 2011 or 12 he was considered either the 2nd or 3rd best player in the league. Has that changed?

He's less valuable to his team but now has a ring.

And next year will probably be the same.

Saint Pablo said:

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What do you mean they didn't need him? This would've been much more competitive if they didn't have KD...Cleveland probably would've won imo

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I mean that they won 73 games without him last year, managed to go up 3-1 despite Curry playing on a bum wheel, and then choked away the series when Green lost his cool and nut shot LeBron.

Without Durant, they would have had the money to sign a couple other capable vets and the same thing would have happened. And really. for all the scoring, Cleveland lost because of its defense. Both teams can score, but Cleveland plays **** defense (LeBron and...?) whereas Green + Thompson provide a really great defensive foundation.

PascalsWager said:

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With or without the salary increase, the floodgates are open now. The media is going to shower Durant with praise forever. He's cemented his legacy as an all time great in the public/expert view. For anyone who's already gotten paid and has endorsements, why wouldn't they take less money or mid level exceptions for a championship? Again everyone is going to give these guys individual credit for winning theses titles. So the Warriors roster should have Chris Paul and Blake coming off the bench and have Jimmy Butler as their 12th man. They all will get individual credit and praise for winning championships. So why not take less money and win?

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I think you're taking this a little hard. Some players are willing to give up some money to play on great teams, but they're not going to play for peanuts (other than David West who wanted a ring more than just about anything haha).

I watched parts of game 4 and 4 minutes of game 5.

Like I said, a good finals for the casual and band wagon fans. People who don't tune in until school is out. People who have a drawer full of Kobe, LeBron (both Miami and Cleveland), and Curry jerseys.

Speaking of which, I wonder if Simplebay now rocks a GSW KD jersey.

I didn't root for the Persians in 300, either.

Guitarsoup said:

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I didn't root for the Persians in 300, either.

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Hahahaha. I can't decide what's funnier. The statement or that it's made by Not Bill Walton.

What was up with those hats? Did they switch sponsors to LL Bean or Cabelas? Terrible. The Finals gear this year has been awful. Surprising that Adidas blew it so bad.

This is their last year with the NBA anyway

Rusty GCS said:

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KD proved he could join a 73 win team and lead them to a championship.

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"Lead"

QBCade said:

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azulAg said:

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CrottyKid said:

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I hate to break it to you, but your "fact of the matter" is just your opinion.

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maybe, but that opinion is held by a large majority, only a small minority of KD dick riders and GSW "fans" will feel this is a legit chip

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Oh boy... You clearly listen to Stephen A waaaay too much. Only butthurt OKC fans feel this way. See, I can make sweeping generalities too...

Dude got to make tons of money, had best odds to win a chip, and had a much easier job. Who wouldn't do that?

Seriously, if you had the opportunity to make the same money you do now but your job was much easier and you worked with a team that was very selfless... You're telling me that you wouldn't do that. Riiiggghhhhttt......

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I don't watch ESPN unless a game is on, also I'm a spurs fan so I couldn't give a ****

I don't fault Durant for joining the warriors. It's the best personnel move he could ever had made and we see that. Crazy stats, championship, finals MVP. No reason he shouldn't have done it.

I just hate that the NBA is predetermined for as long as this group stays together. No matter how Silver tried to spin it, no team in the league can just add a Durant to be a contender against the Warriors. LeBron & CP on the Spurs or Kawhi on the Cavs is about it.

QBCade said:

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azulAg said:

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CrottyKid said:

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I hate to break it to you, but your "fact of the matter" is just your opinion.

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maybe, but that opinion is held by a large majority, only a small minority of KD dick riders and GSW "fans" will feel this is a legit chip

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Oh boy... You clearly listen to Stephen A waaaay too much. Only butthurt OKC fans feel this way. See, I can make sweeping generalities too...

Dude got to make tons of money, had best odds to win a chip, and had a much easier job. Who wouldn't do that?

Seriously, if you had the opportunity to make the same money you do now but your job was much easier and you worked with a team that was very selfless... You're telling me that you wouldn't do that. Riiiggghhhhttt......

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I don't think I would, though I'm a biased Thunder fan.

If I'm KD and I don't want to return to OKC after last season (which I understand the reasons why), I have 29 options and need to start eliminating some. First one crossed off my list would be the team that just beat us in a gut-wrenching seven game series in which one of their players kicked one of our players in the nuts. Twice.

I think there were 10-15 teams that could have debatably made the finals or won a ring with KD added. He chose the Dubs, which rightfully ruffled alot of feathers.

He played great the past couple weeks. Deserved the Finals MVP. My hat's off to him. And obviously a poor kid from Maryland who defied all odds and became one of the top two players in the game doesn't care about what this privileged guy who was raised in the affluent Houston suburbs thinks. As a fan of the game, my disappointment is more that he could have had his rings/finals MVPs/etc without totally selling out and signing with the team that ripped his heart out a couple months earlier.

Oh well. Understood that there's lots of room for interpretation/disagreement on this subject.

CactusThomas said:

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azulAg said:

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fact of the matter is most loyal NBA fans like myself know that KD is a snake

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Ha! You okies are a pathetic bunch. You think kd is the snake? Loyalty talk from fans of the most disloyal franchise in sports is funny.

How quickly you forget the time that the Sonics stole away from Seattle in the middle of night with an outbox full of lies. Now they demand loyalty? OK.

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There's teams in many sports that have relocated. That's not the fan's prerogative. I don't think OKC fans should be chastised for being upset about KD leaving for Golden State after everything that happened a few months earlier. Now if Clay Bennett publicly complained, that might be a different story.

With that said, calling him a "snake" is a little too far. Hat's off to KD. He played great.

Ganondorf said:

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I don't fault Durant for joining the warriors. It's the best personnel move he could ever had made and we see that. Crazy stats, championship, finals MVP. No reason he shouldn't have done it.

I just hate that the NBA is predetermined for as long as this group stays together. No matter how Silver tried to spin it, no team in the league can just add a Durant to be a contender against the Warriors. LeBron & CP on the Spurs or Kawhi on the Cavs is about it.

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Paul George will go to the Cavs, they'll spend half the season not knowing how to play together, then dominate in the playoffs and make a run at the Warriors. If the Warriors slip up just a bit, or sustain an injury, Cavs will get the title.

As you said...it's all predetermined.

They've won 1 in a row. I'm not exactly ready to see them automatically crowned for the next 3-4.

CFTXAG10 said:

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I cannot imagine how Spurs fans felt watching Zaza Pacheapshot standing there for the trophy presentation with his flag

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Uhmmmm I'd be surprised if Spurs fans were watching.

I now dislike them even more! Do not really understand why anyone would give up such an amazing opportunity, one that the majority of us would never be afforded.

AggieBaller98 said:

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Flogi said:

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And here comes the spurs fans talking about nothing.

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Actually it's not "nothing" and a very good point made in not so many words.

If Coach Pop would be coaching Cleveland, the series might 3-2 heading to Cleveland. Coach Pop is a really good coach that can get his team to maximize it's effort with intelligence. The Cavs made numerous bone headed plays that cost them games 3 and 5.

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If Kyrie Irving played as smart as JR Smith does, the Cavs would be a much better team. Think about that.

Nor am I. Does the article say that nobody will go at all? Because that seems like that has never occurred before...do not want to click on that garbage website