Real Deal

Thunderstorm?

Sean, you can enter as well...just send me your mock (so people won't accuse you of editing it if you win). I'll play, but I won't be eligible for the gift card (if Paul decides to do that).

I don't know, but I fully expect Bosh to cry. Here's Wade: http://riccardosuselessmarathonblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/poker_face_meme1.jpg

He was put on the bench, and it hurt his confidence. He probably feels uncomfortable coming off the bench, probably a bit cold once he gets out there (explains the poor shooting), and some players just can't do that, mentally or physically. In addition, he has to play the two, but defend the PG's coming back down the court (he defends that position far better than any other, usually has trouble with the bigger two-guards). Mayo needs relocated, that's all. If given the opportunity and used correctly, he can be a productive player. The same way I feel about Tyreke Evans, really.

Haha, yeah...I guess I'm in the minority. I don't like how he seems to try and be a replica of Edge, the way he acts and talks, the way he wrestles, and I realize they were a tag team for so long, but still...once you become a singles wrestler, you have to have your own identity. I hate him using Edge's spear because, well, it's one of the worst spears I've ever seen (nothing like Goldberg's, or even Rhyno's gore...Big Show makes his spear look worse than Christian's and Edge's). I also don't like his finisher. Don't like his face. I don't know. Plus, Christian gets hurt every 2-3 months, it seems. I just think the WWE needs to go back to what made wrestling successful. Take one of the biggest faces and turn him heel, creating a monster stable with him. Drop this PG bullshit (Vince said "butt" and "rear" on TV the other night...really?). Throw in more dominant big men, guys that actually seem scary (meaning, no A-Train) and the genetic freaks like Ryback that can actually get the crowd worked up and impressed. Then, bring back the Cruiserweight division, unify the two championship belts (the WWE and WHC), get rid of the brand split, bring back the Hardcore belt, and toss out the horrible gimmicks and ideas that are just downright embarrassing to the industry (ex. Hornswoggle, this obsession with bashing Jim Ross, etc). To me, it feels like everything is flipped 180, going in all the wrong directions. I don't get half of what is going on in wrestling anymore.

He used to be a moderator, and once before, I enabled it to just test it out...had it enabled for the entire staff for a few hours. That's the only explanation.

For one, you guys need to stop talking like I just talked shit on your brother. How does it not seem like it? I've seen LeBron make about 400 layups...and then miss about 400 jumpers with it. Kobe was never leaving LA. We've been over that hundreds of times, but given the fact that you've jumped Kobe's ass every chance you get, I see why it's still being brought up. Not only did Kobe say he never intended on leaving, but Mitch even acknowledged it at one point, knowing what Kobe's true intentions were...as did Phil Jackson. Kobe could have left for the Clippers for a big paycheck once before, after Shaq's departure (we all knew he was gone before it was official), but he decided not to. At one point, the Lakers weren't even trying to build a team around him...just saving money and signing guys like Smush Parker, Tierre Brown, Shammond Williams, Von Wafer, Tony Bobbitt, Laron Profit, an old Aaron McKie, an old Jim Jackson, Devin Green...I could go on forever. At least the Cavaliers made an attempt to surround LeBron with dead-eye shooters that would give him the lane, knock down shots, and make him look like he was the greatest basketball player that ever lived in flashes. But no, I guess James got to the Finals all by himself, the only player to ever do it. The team was in the Finals in 2007. As it stands right now, his 66 wins in Cleveland have been rivaled by...what, his 58 wins in Miami last season? The team was on pace to winning 57-58 this season, based on percentages. He's in the Finals? That's nice, and possibly headed to his third-consecutive Finals loss. Getting there means nothing. Maybe to some fans it does, though. ---------------------- Now that people have decided to take the small joke personal (about me choosing Durant because he wouldn't leave), here are the real reasons: Durant is younger, he can score from ANYWHERE on the court, and he's the best 4th quarter player in the NBA, while LeBron FINALLY gave us a good clutch performance in Game 2 (one time doesn't change anything). I want the assassin to lead my team. I want the guy that is most similar to the five-time champion that is Kobe Bryant. I want the player that won't stand 30 feet from the rim, waiting for a pass so he can run directly to the basket and draw a foul, depending on his athleticism more than anyone else in the NBA (because once that goes, he's done). Durant's career will last longer than LeBron's. His prime will last longer. He has more ways to score, he is an improving defender, he's far improved getting his teammates involved, and he's four years younger. If it's going to dry anyone's tears, LeBron would be my second choice, out of everyone else in the NBA...but I'm sure that won't satisfy the majority, either.

So you're actually saying that the Thunder should trade Durant for LeBron this summer (assuming that offer was made)?

Beal would be the only guy I'd consider if I had to replace Harden, but to be honest, I wouldn't trade Harden for any rookie in this draft, aside from Davis. Maybe down the road, of course, but not as rooks.

What security, though? Even if he signs long-term, he can still be traded before the February deadline...and if it's in a package for Dwight, I doubt his contract will be THAT big of an issue for the many teams that will want Howard to begin with. In that case, if he's sure he's gone, he might as well just opt out and make his own decision as to what team he wants to try and play for.

Chalmers replacing Bosh had me cracking up, but you know Luol Deng is in that Chicago big three.

I think he would have if it was his hometown (or state). If Durant was on the Wizards, who are FAR worse than the Cavaliers ever were during the LeBron era...I could still see him staying there because it's DC.

One of the titles will change hands...probably the WWE title. As bad as I want it to happen, I can't see Ziggler beating Sheamus yet. I hope Cody wins his IC title back, because I think Christian sucks...but I doubt it. Maybe he'll get bumped up to the main event...but, again, I doubt it. It would be nice to see Ryback come out and beat the shit out of both John Cena and Big Show, just going off for no reason.

I enabled it for admins so I could give ECN a negative for a comment, just for kicks. Had to make him the only recipient of a negative rep in OTR history...but, then, someone else found a neg rep on another post way back in 2008 (not even sure how that got there).

I don't see why he would opt out. He will get $7.9 million next season. If he opts out now, he's a free agent. If he opts in and takes the $7.9 million from Orlando, he's a free agent next summer. He's stupid if he thinks Orlando is going to work a long-term deal with him, for $10+ million a year (if that's what he really wants), before they lock up Dwight. It's time for Orlando to move on, even if they end up trading Dwight (and I believe they will). Jameer's production is slowly going down, he's chucking too many contested threes (and not making them as much as he used to), and his defense is nothing to brag about.

TIME: 8:00 PM ET TV: ABC

His entire foot slid quite a bit, and his body moved significantly, watching it on DVR right now...but oh well, it really doesn't mean shit to me at this point. On to Game 3.

He wasn't. His right foot, and then his upper body, was sliding after one of Durant's left the ground. Once the offensive player gathers, the defender has to be set.

Kevin Durant, because I wouldn't want LeBron leaving us if I didn't give him another superstar and an all-star to team with. Plus, Durant is also much younger, and already the best scorer in the NBA, hands down.

I actually don't see anyone blaming the loss on the referees. Game would have been tied if Durant goes to the line and hits two frees. The fact is, that call has to be made. It's not some mistaken charge/block that should have went the other way in the first quarter, or an illegal screen after the halftime show...it was on the game-winning attempt, and LeBron hooked one of Durant's arms, then came down and hit the other. AND THEN, he fouled Westbrook by grabbing his arm on the offensive rebound, which was even worse than the 5th foul on Durant, when he hit Haslem's hand on a board. I'm not sitting here bringing up LeBron's four blatant travels and saying the Thunder lost the game because the referees are scared David Stern is going to fire them for calling one of them. I'm saying that the final shot of the game, three fouls within 2-3 seconds (two hits, one on each arm, and Westbrook being fouled by LeBron as well)...ONE has to be called. That doesn't mean the Thunder win the game...if anything, it means the Thunder tie it (at the most) with a few seconds left on the clock...and if the Thunder lose at that point (or if they miss one free throw), then I look back and say they lost because they went down 18-2 to start the game.

There are about 50 people at this house who are ready to kill a referee for not calling that obvious foul on LeBron at the end. Sad to see that happen.

104-98 Thunder.

#18 #58 With Beasley likely gone, Minnesota loses a bit of scoring...so where do they go with the 18th pick? I guess the bigger question is, will the Wolves give up on Wesley Johnson? He has been the starting two-guard for them all year and for two seasons now, but his numbers just aren't where they should be, even getting worse as a sophomore. At #18, you're looking at a few two-guards: Doron Lamb, Terrence Ross, Tony Wroten, maybe even Austin Rivers. Otherwise, it will be intriguing to see what the Wolves plan on doing with Derrick Williams and Martell Webster, and maybe if they would want to use the 18th pick to add a small forward. Webster has a team option, and Williams was playing much more PF than any other position last season, and if they go into next season without Beas, it could be smart to fill that gap with a young player.

What is Spo being blamed for, exactly? Assuming everything goes the same way it did in Game 1 (aside from CB not starting, because I'm pretty sure he'll start tonight), I'm not understanding why he would get that much blame. Chalmers and Battier didn't show up in the second half...and that had nothing to do with Spo. Bosh probably thinks he's Dirk Nowitzki now, and he's relying far too much on LeBron and Wade's drives to the rim to get off his shots...and I don't see why that's on Spo, either. The rest of the bench is so irrelevant, it doesn't matter. Mike Miller is walking around like he's 55 years old, grabbing his back after every shot attempt, rebound, and pass. James Jones does nothing but shoot threes, and recently, all of his threes are coming late in the shot clock, and he just launches them up there without even looking at the rim. Norris Cole has been inconsistent since the All-Star break. Haslem's favorite shot is bricking more than it ever has in the playoffs. I'm not seeing anything any other coach could do about the Heat's play. Wade isn't mentally right...and I don't buy the injury excuse, because he murdered the Pacers in 6-7 consecutive halves as if he was 2006 Wade, and for some reason, his second half performances are far, far better than his first half duds...and Spoelstra, again, can do nothing about the missed shots.

This is great. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jgo8KcoKuVs