Durant to Warriors
- Thread starter Ed Hillel
- Start date
Good find in that. I meant it more as I don't want to be an obnoxious "Boston" fan in a new city.
I have no reason to talk trash on GSW to coworkers or rub it in if they lose. That is why I chose the word "quiet".
You point out a great point that in the post it makes me the same type of "coward" I called Durant's choice. It was not intended that way.
It is awful for OKC fans but that organization screwed him by failing to put the right talent around, arguably, the best core in basketball.
Insofar as the Warriors and Durant are concerned, they are going to be the most disliked organization in professional sports. This is an inescapable fact. Its also something that they and Durant have, no doubt, considered and essentially disregarded.
The reality is that he has played nine years in the league and never been able to win a championship. Winning championships is an extremely hard thing and without a doubt, Golden State gives him the best shot of all of the teams he met with this weekend. People will be critical of him but the reality is that he left money on the table to try and win a ring. Think about that for a minute.
As a side note, the 2016-17 season isn't over. A few injuries here or there or some chemistry issues or even some coaching adjustments can render the Warriors a much less formidable team. If I am Boston, I keep doing what I am doing to get better. If anyone can take advantage of mismatches or unconventional line-ups, its Brad Stevens.
I think the Lakers assets are mediocre, not a believer in Russell or Randle, and their future picks' worth are contingent on continued suck. That said, I don't think Westbrook gets traded right now.
I agree to an extent, but Boston is a lot closer to competing than the Lakers, obviously. The free agency aspect is what worries me most with Westbrook.
As a soccer fan, this decision sort of feels like Real Madrid signing Bale or Barcelona picking up Luis Suarez -- incredible teams get better and widen the talent gap. It's fun to watch Barcelona play with Messi-Neymar-Suarez. They do things that no one else does.
But it's boring. Sure, they have off days, and it's fun in a sadistic way to watch them squirm under the pressure of expectations, but you skip nine matches of ten--just watch the YouTube highlights--because they are going to steamroll the competition.
So, good for Durant for getting paid. Good for Durant playing where he wants to play. Good for Durant chasing rings.
But this move is boring. Yes, it'll be fun to watch Golden State highlights. Yes, it'll be interesting to see how they handle the pressure of sky-high expectations. It's boring because they'll roll through the league without breaking a sweat, just like Barcelona in 90% of its games.
But it's boring. Sure, they have off days, and it's fun in a sadistic way to watch them squirm under the pressure of expectations, but you skip nine matches of ten--just watch the YouTube highlights--because they are going to steamroll the competition.
So, good for Durant for getting paid. Good for Durant playing where he wants to play. Good for Durant chasing rings.
But this move is boring. Yes, it'll be fun to watch Golden State highlights. Yes, it'll be interesting to see how they handle the pressure of sky-high expectations. It's boring because they'll roll through the league without breaking a sweat, just like Barcelona in 90% of its games.
Especially as the sixers just showed you the league won't allow obvious and intensional tanking.
OKC fans will continue to wash the red dirt off the north side of their cars, houses, themselves if they're not moving fast enough. No change. As for going over to root for Lebron, I'd just soon he developed Greg Oden disease.
Bogut is actually still a useful piece so I doubt teams will "rake GS over the coals for him". NBA GMs are, by and large, smart people so I am sure whomever trades for him will know that he is being offered to make room for Durant and adjust the price accordingly. Or at least I am hoping that NBA GMs aren't as emotional about their roster moves as casual NBA fans on a baseball message board.
I'm a Dubs fan, so naturally elated.
I think he chose GS because he wants to enjoy playing basketball - GS is a fun team to play with. It's a grind of a season.
I think he chose GS because he wants to enjoy playing basketball - GS is a fun team to play with. It's a grind of a season.
All they need is 1 team to decide they want Bogut, and there's many teams with the salary space. In a world where Timofey Mozgov is more expensive than him, Bogut will not be hard to deal.
I am excited the Patriots will not be the most hated (or second most hated, after Yankees) team in pro sports next year.
Tell me your wife was in agonizing labor screaming "Ed!! ED!!!!" as you found and posted this.Warriors it is
I disagree.. He wants to win a title and this pretty much guarantees it, but he has to know fans are going to hate him now. He doesnt seem to want to be a Lebron type villian and thats how a lot of people are viewing him. Even Lebron didn't like it.
I mean, great for GS. And I'm sure Durant will have fun, and they'll be a ton of fun to watch. BUT...
Almost any outcome for them next year will be a disappointment, or at best holding par (even that is what? 70+ wins and the title?). On top of that, he's essentially choosing to be Pippen to Curry's Jordan. I don't begrudge him the choice, and winning as the second fiddle is better than not winning, but it's a bit odd for a player of his caliber.
Almost any outcome for them next year will be a disappointment, or at best holding par (even that is what? 70+ wins and the title?). On top of that, he's essentially choosing to be Pippen to Curry's Jordan. I don't begrudge him the choice, and winning as the second fiddle is better than not winning, but it's a bit odd for a player of his caliber.
This is a lot different than Lebron in Miami in my opinion. Lebrons Cavs teams weren't very good. Second round team. Lebron formed a team. Durant came thisclose to beating the Warriors. He said nah i can't do it and joined a team that went 73-9 and were a minute away from back to back titles. Never seen a weaker move from an all time player.
Be like ovechkin joining the Penguins. Best comp I can come up with
I think that many of you are giving GS way too much credit by saying that a championship next season is practically guaranteed. GS will have almost no depth left, little inside presence, and they added another scorer where scoring was not their challenge. They should have won the championship this year, but they folded under the physical pressure from the Cavs. Durant might change that equation, but I doubt it and if they don't win, Durant will be labeled as a failure.
These guys get booed at every road game where get harassed shooting free throws as well as bringing the ball up the court. They get millions of mouth-breathers sending them words of wisdom on social media and they have a plethora of hot takes coming at them on all the sports channels. If they are worried about being a villain, they really aren't cut out for professional sports.
The reality is that Durant would have been a villain unless he decided to stay in OKC and it would have been a career suicide mission given that its clear Westbrook is leaving. Furthermore, that organization screwed him by not adding the right talent around him and Westbrook. He is choosing the spot that gives him the best shot at a championship in lieu of the most money and people are going to kill him for that. So be it. I suspect he would make that trade every single day given what he has been through in his career.
People here should at least acknowledge that if Durant went to Boston, we would all love him but the rest of the NBA fandom would be pissed because its Boston (as a side note, until you live out of market, you really don't understand how hated Boston is, especially since they started winning championships. Boston fans may be more hated than NY fans at present). However the reality is that not only would Durant get heat for leaving OKC but he would also be no closer to a ring as a member of the Celtics.
KD being hated, I don't see it, or at least not anything like Lebron. I think the manner in which Lebron announced his decision, in front of local Ohio kids, et al, building up all the drama over the week, and finally the line "I'm taking my talents to south beach"...he couldn't have possibly done it worse. Call KD's choice a business decision by comparison.
Your last paragraph really makes a great point. As I have moved to different areas, I am constantly surprised at how much people hate Boston teams (mostly the Pats and Red Sox).
OKC should just be happy that they have a team, honestly.
All true; another consideration is that the Warriors might get the Heat (10/11) treatment from opposing fans. It's true that Durant kept his profile much lower than James did during this process, but the end result is similar. Members of that Heat squad might deny it up and down, but there's no chance that the national antipathy towards them didn't affect their play out the gate (9-8 start) or in the finals.
Let's just wait until they surpass 8 titles in a row like another team we know did before that title is given to them.
Its usually the Patriots though. Ive lived in a few other states never been much hate outside of the Pats.
This. My only comfort right now is that this torpedoes OKC. No titles for Bennett.
Yep, it's really just the Patriots. People are only semi-bugged by the Red Sox, and the Celtics and Bruins barely register in the national consciousness.
Stephen A calls this the "weakest move he's ever seen from a superstar". I hope Durant is ready for the Hot Take Express. Ultimately, I feel like this move was too soon in his career but hard to blame him for joining a top team with guys in their prime and a very good ownership group.
The Cavs are the biggest beneficiaries here outside of the Warriors. Teams will be going after the champion runner up harder than the actual champions.
The Cavs are the biggest beneficiaries here outside of the Warriors. Teams will be going after the champion runner up harder than the actual champions.
Very valid point.
They become Memphis without Randolph or Conley . Sell out 3-5 games year and a barren tumbleweed landscape rest of the year
Move back to Seattle?
The hand-wringing and snap character judgement is hilarious. These guys don't care about legacy or any of that crap. Is there any doubt he won't go into the Hall of Fame, which is pretty confirming of legacy? He wanted to win and was tired of waiting. Was OKC good enough to win next year? Maybe, but Golden State was already the favorite before he agreed to join them, so it seems like a no-brainer. Go win a title and then become the face of a new franchise. This is the new NBA and loyalty is no longer important to anyone who values winning overall. Look at LeBron: when he went to South Beach, everyone said he'd tarnished his legacy in Cleveland...and now he's the hero of the day there after the NBA helped him deliver a title. I'm sure Durant will get the same full court press the next time he's a free agent, be it next year or after his next deal.
I don't blame Durant personally at all. We are in a culture that values victory over everything else and he wanted to win. What team would give him the best chance to win? Clearly the team that just won 73 games, won in 2015 and were a few bounces away from repeating in 2016. It's funny in retrospect to think everyone was talking about what team X (Celtics, Clippers, Heat) could offer him, when in reality if he REALLY wanted to get the ring his decision was probably made before he took any of those meetings.
I don't think he will get nearly the hate that LeBron got. The thing about LeBron's decision was not that he left, but the manner in which he did it. The ESPN special, the "not five, not six, not seven" speech, the "What Should I Do" ads, those are what really turned him into a villain to most people. Durant leaving is going to sting OKC, but the reality is that he wanted to leave to win basketball games, he had to do it in some manner. Plus, LeBron already took this route first, he is a trailblazer for this sort of departure so the media circus won't be nearly as dramatic as it was for James.
The move bums me out though. This is the era of the super-team (really ushered in by the Celtics and the New Big 3) where the top stars team up with each other making the league outrageously top heavy. Durant is just the latest player in that fad. I don't think it's good for basketball. Sure, every GS game is now must-see (even though it pretty much was last year anyway) but it murders basketball in a smaller market.
Did you guys watch the WCF this year? It was fucking awesome! We love watching the best players play each other. Watching all-stars team up is fun for the novelty of it, but when the games get really competitive we like to watch the best players go head-to-head. The reason sports are awesome is because of the drama, competitiveness and unpredictability of the games; KD's move to GS weakens that in the NBA, and it sucks.
Little talked about footnote: Assuming he stays more than one year, Durant to GS almost assuredly ruins any chance of him retiring with the all-time scoring record. Say what you want about the move, but I don't think it was selfish.
I don't think he will get nearly the hate that LeBron got. The thing about LeBron's decision was not that he left, but the manner in which he did it. The ESPN special, the "not five, not six, not seven" speech, the "What Should I Do" ads, those are what really turned him into a villain to most people. Durant leaving is going to sting OKC, but the reality is that he wanted to leave to win basketball games, he had to do it in some manner. Plus, LeBron already took this route first, he is a trailblazer for this sort of departure so the media circus won't be nearly as dramatic as it was for James.
The move bums me out though. This is the era of the super-team (really ushered in by the Celtics and the New Big 3) where the top stars team up with each other making the league outrageously top heavy. Durant is just the latest player in that fad. I don't think it's good for basketball. Sure, every GS game is now must-see (even though it pretty much was last year anyway) but it murders basketball in a smaller market.
Did you guys watch the WCF this year? It was fucking awesome! We love watching the best players play each other. Watching all-stars team up is fun for the novelty of it, but when the games get really competitive we like to watch the best players go head-to-head. The reason sports are awesome is because of the drama, competitiveness and unpredictability of the games; KD's move to GS weakens that in the NBA, and it sucks.
Little talked about footnote: Assuming he stays more than one year, Durant to GS almost assuredly ruins any chance of him retiring with the all-time scoring record. Say what you want about the move, but I don't think it was selfish.
1. I am glad the Lakers reboot is delayed. I hope years from now when stars line the court-side seats at clippers games there will be a 30 for 30 abou how Kobe killed the Lakers. So at least starts are not forcing themselves to Lakers
2. Screw OKC and the owner that screwed Sonics fans.
3.Really weak move by KD. The only, tiny, minimal wiggle room he has is that the GSW lost this year. But Lebron was killed for going to a team with other stars, not the team that won over 70 games. He was so close to taking his team the finals.
2. Screw OKC and the owner that screwed Sonics fans.
3.Really weak move by KD. The only, tiny, minimal wiggle room he has is that the GSW lost this year. But Lebron was killed for going to a team with other stars, not the team that won over 70 games. He was so close to taking his team the finals.
You realize that the Tampa Bay Bucs released Revis, right? He didn't leave a team that was inches away from beating the Patriots.
Disappointed but not surprised. Can't hate on KD for his decision and respect his personal and professional goals.
That said, this weakens the league across the board. Staying in OKC or going to BOS or MIA would have strengthened it IMO.
That said, this weakens the league across the board. Staying in OKC or going to BOS or MIA would have strengthened it IMO.
If Durant goes back to OKC and brings them a title, you may be right. LeBron bringing a title to his hometown agains the best regular season team ever makes him look a lot better in the eyes of many fans.
Anyone making the comparison to Lebron leaving Cleveland clearly doesn't remember how terrible that Cavs supporting cast was. OKC had Westbrook, Ibaka, Adams + quality coaching staff + decent secondary role-players. They were 3-1 up against the NBA champions and choked away a lead with minutes to go in Game 6.
Also, Lebron did not go to a team anywhere near as stacked as this Wariors squad is. In fact, his Miami squad was arguably comparable to Jordan's Bulls (Wade and Bosh vs. Pippen and Rodman). Durant-to-GSW is more like if Lebron had gone to the 2010 Celtics (if KG, Pierce and Allen were in their prime): a team that beat you in the conference finals and was a game away from winning the championship.
Durant just joined the greatest regular season team in NBA history, a team that was a Green nut-attack away from back to back titles. Yikes!
Also, Lebron did not go to a team anywhere near as stacked as this Wariors squad is. In fact, his Miami squad was arguably comparable to Jordan's Bulls (Wade and Bosh vs. Pippen and Rodman). Durant-to-GSW is more like if Lebron had gone to the 2010 Celtics (if KG, Pierce and Allen were in their prime): a team that beat you in the conference finals and was a game away from winning the championship.
Durant just joined the greatest regular season team in NBA history, a team that was a Green nut-attack away from back to back titles. Yikes!
(Insert Kobe 5 rings GIF)Yeah, the bolded is not happening. One, that is not the way the city is wired, two, the Clips might have to get past the second round once in their history to approach that point. They aren't doing that anytime soon, not with losing Crawford and committing long term to Doc's horrible nepotism and "personnel management".
The Lakers do have to feel even sillier these days with the Mozgof signing, seeing how Bogut is now available. Bogut could give them everything they want from Mozgof - veteran leadership, a rim protector, and P&R center who knows and understands the Kerr/Walton system - for half the price and commitment.
I wonder how much Lacob's ability to sell Bay Area business connections to KD helped in the pitch.
I think they'll be a more entertaining heel than the Heat were, as they actually have one player who is wired for it (Green).
Wade definitely acted(s) the part but he never embraced the reputation.