The enemy of the Lakers is my friend. The NBA finals thread.

Gunfighter 09

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What is this heist you speak of?

SGA, Galinari, 5 first round picks, and 2 pick swaps

vs

Ingram, Ball, Hart, 3 first round picks, 1 pick swap

Absolutely.

First, AD is a much, much more valuable asset than Paul George. George is a 29 year old four time all NBA player (1 first team, 3 third teams). Davis is a 26 year old four time all NBA player (all four 1st team). George is a top 10-12 player. Davis an unquestioned top 3-5 player.

Ranking the players as assets - Ingram, SGA, Galinari, Ball, Hart

Three extra first round picks.
 

BigSoxFan

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May 31, 2007
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As a Duke fan, I can confirm this - I simply don't really care about the 2015 title team (Okafor, Winslow, Tyus Jones). Yawn.
Yeah, I was going to make the 2010 vs 2015 comparison. In 2010, you had a bunch of 4 year guys who weren’t Kyrie Irving talents but it all came together. In 2015, you guys basically Carmelo’d the opposition. The journey is obviously much more fun for the former than the latter.
 

Gunfighter 09

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That's all fair - but I am more asking how you, personally, are emotionally attached to this prospective title?
Nothing will feel as good as 2000 (it had been a while) or 2010 (Kobe beating the Celtics to enter the top level of Lakerdom). This isn't an all time great team like 87 or 01 that you can argue as potentially the greatest team ever. I will probably choose to be proud of them overcoming the challenges of the bubble and grant people the argument that there should be an asterisk on this one. I really appreciate the way LeBron has handled himself in this political climate and I think we are all watching the first steps of AD becoming one of the all time greats. Those two things are what I will remember most about this season, if they win it.

But I'm a moron when it comes to fandom sometimes. For some stupid reason how fondly I will remember this title and my emotional reaction to it is also directly related to whether or not they win wearing the Kobe jerseys tonight, having gone 5-0 in black, especially if they never wear them again after this. I know it's stupid, considering the flawed subject of my nostalgia, grief and fandom, but I have really cared much more about them winning this title since January 26th.
 
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Jimbodandy

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If you dispute the premise that one of the worst run organizations in sports fell in shit and came out smelling like roses because L.A. had multimedia empire appeal to Lebron, I don't know what to say.

Building this team took zero brainpower.

Step 1: be in L.A.
Step 2: make sure that you have cap space at some point in a decade.

They deserve credit for going all-in on GFIN mode and also for doubling down on "2 top 5 players and a bunch of JAGs can do this". But JhC, can you not understand the frustration of fans of teams that have to have more of a plan than "talk Lebron into coming here?"

Location, location, location.
 

Kliq

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The Lakers deserve a lot of credit for maximizing their ceiling, given their talent, in the bubble while a lot of other teams (Clippers, Bucks, Celtics) did not. The Heat and Nuggets have, although the Heat got run down by injuries at the end, and I think the Lakers had a higher ceiling than Denver. The Lakers are rightful champions in the sense that they have proven to be the best team during a very challenging year.
 

tims4wins

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Yeah, I was going to make the 2010 vs 2015 comparison. In 2010, you had a bunch of 4 year guys who weren’t Kyrie Irving talents but it all came together. In 2015, you guys basically Carmelo’d the opposition. The journey is obviously much more fun for the former than the latter.
Yep, 2010 was so much more gratifying, especially when a guy like Brian Zoubek emerges the second half of his senior year and becomes a key contributor. Just so much more fun. I'm sure Villanova and UNC fans really enjoyed their rides the following few years in the same way.

Nothing will feel as good as 2000 (it had been a while) or 2010 (Kobe beating the Celtics to enter the top level of Lakerdom). This isn't an all time great team like 87 or 01 that you can argue as potentially the greatest team ever. I will probably chose to be proud of them overcoming the challenges of the bubble and grant people the argument that there should be an asterisk on this one. I really appreciate the way LeBron has handled himself in this political climate and I think we are all watching the first steps of AD becoming one of the all time greats. Those two things are what I will remember most about this season, if they win it.

But I'm a moron when it comes to fandom sometimes. For some stupid reason how fondly I will remember this title and my emotional reaction to it is also directly related to whether or not they win wearing the Kobe jerseys tonight, having gone 5-0 in black, especially if they never wear them again after this. I know it's stupid, considering the flawed subject of my nostalgia, grief and fandom, but I have really cared much more about them winning this title since January 26th.
That all makes sense, appreciate the reply
 

Ed Hillel

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OUCH.

Butler probably should be done, but no way they'll actually take him out, right?
 

Sam Ray Not

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Dragic would have been helpful down the stretch in this game and the last one. Still think a healthy Heat win this series.