^Jordan? GOAT? To you younger cats yeah, but not to me.

uPtoWnNY said:

^Jordan? GOAT? To you younger cats yeah, but not to me.

Don't u dare say Russell.

Graycap23 said:

uPtoWnNY said:

^Jordan? GOAT? To you younger cats yeah, but not to me.

Don't u dare say Russell.

No, but Bill Russell is the greatest WINNER in the history of American team sports. No one can touch him.

1) Wilt

2) Jordan

3) Oscar

4) Russell

5) Kareem

[Edited 5/27/15 15:21pm]

uPtoWnNY said:

Graycap23 said:

Don't u dare say Russell.

No, but Bill Russell is the greatest WINNER in the history of American team sports. No one can touch him.

Yes and no.

Considering the times in which he played, and the number of teams involved, it really doesn't move me that much 2 be honest.

uPtoWnNY said:

Graycap23 said:

Don't u dare say Russell.

No, but Bill Russell is the greatest WINNER in the history of American team sports. No one can touch him.

Numbers don't lie. That being said . . .

Who is your GOAT? Just curious. Mine used to be Magic, but it's hard to deny Jordan's status. I'd love to hear your choice and your case.

728huey said:

kpowers said:

Pittsburgh needs a team

[Edited 5/24/15 12:54pm]

What about the Pittsburgh Pisces?

Western Conference Finals

Game 5

Houston Rockets 90 Golden State Warriors 104

The Golden State Warriors had a chance to close out this series in Game 4, but an impressive offensive explosion from James Harden and an injury to Stephen Curry allowed the Houston Rockets to take control of that game and stay alive for at least another night.

The Rockets would come out scrappy and take an early lead thanks to Dwight Howard, who would finish with 18 points and 16 rebounds, and James Harden. But Harden would struggle in this game, scoring only 14 points while turning the ball over 13 times, an NBA single game record. Stephen Curry would rally the Warriors in the second quarter and would finish with 26 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and five steals.

But the Rockets refused to go away, getting some help from their supporting cast. Jason Terry and Corey Brewer each scored 16 points while Trevor Ariza added 15 points and Josh Smith added 11 points. But in the final nine minutes of the game, it was the unlikely heroes who carried the day for Golden State. Harrison Barnes would score 24 points in this game while grabbing seven rebounds, and Festus Ezeli scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Klay Thomspon added 20 points before taking a knee to the head after faking out Trevor Ariza on a 3-point shot.

Golden State now moves on to the NBA Finals for the first time in 40 years and will host the Cleveland Cavaliers in game 1 next Thursday night.

Golden State wins series 4-1.

namepeace said:

uPtoWnNY said:

To me, he's a combo of Magic & Oscar. There are times when he can take over a game and impose his will like Jordan, but Lebron prefers to be the facillitator.

Getting this Cavs team, with its youth, inexperience and injuries to the Finals, is Lebron's best accomplishment IMO.

I wish there was more footage on young Oscar with the Royals, averaging a triple double for a season is crazy!

Abdul said:

uPtoWnNY said:

To me, he's a combo of Magic & Oscar. There are times when he can take over a game and impose his will like Jordan, but Lebron prefers to be the facillitator.

Getting this Cavs team, with its youth, inexperience and injuries to the Finals, is Lebron's best accomplishment IMO.

I wish there was more footage on young Oscar with the Royals, averaging a triple double for a season is crazy!

True..............but look atthe level of competition back then.

If anyone sees James Harden, please let the Houston Rockets know. He forgot to show up for the game last night.

Graycap23 said:

namepeace said:

Numbers don't lie. That being said . . .

Who is your GOAT? Just curious. Mine used to be Magic, but it's hard to deny Jordan's status. I'd love to hear your choice and your case.

My money is on Jordan. I don't even need 2 make a case. What ever that team needed, he figured out a way 2 get it done.

MJ's title run didn't begin until after the 80's powerhouses faded. Unlike so many other greats, he didn't win big early. But you're right, he did it all. He won 6 titles as a guard without a dominant big. And he would have won 9 or 10 had he not retired early (twice).

namepeace said:

Graycap23 said:

namepeace said: My money is on Jordan. I don't even need 2 make a case. What ever that team needed, he figured out a way 2 get it done.

MJ's title run didn't begin until after the 80's powerhouses faded. Unlike so many other greats, he didn't win big early. But you're right, he did it all. He won 6 titles as a guard without a dominant big. And he would have won 9 or 10 had he not retired early (twice).

The Bulls got good when the hired a good coach and got Mj some help.

It had nothing 2 do with the power houses fading. Once Pippen understood what it took in the playoffs, along with the addition of Grant, Cartwright and the coaching of Jackson, it was on.

Graycap23 said:

namepeace said:

MJ's title run didn't begin until after the 80's powerhouses faded. Unlike so many other greats, he didn't win big early. But you're right, he did it all. He won 6 titles as a guard without a dominant big. And he would have won 9 or 10 had he not retired early (twice).

The Bulls got good when the hired a good coach and got Mj some help.

It had nothing 2 do with the power houses fading. Once Pippen understood what it took in the playoffs, along with the addition of Grant, Cartwright and the coaching of Jackson, it was on.

The first title the Bulls won was against a Lakers team with an aging nucleus. That was the weakest Laker team to make the Finals in the Magic Era; many of their key pieces, including Kareem and Michael Cooper, had retired.

Grant and Pip were drafted in the same year. It took the Bulls' nucleus about 4 seasons to gel, but they started when the Lakers, Celtics and Pistons were at their peak, and they weren't beating those teams in the 80s.

Coach Thibs has been FIRED!!!

Ding Dong the coach is gone the coach is gone, the coa...

No, the Bulls don't need to hire some college coach to coach pro players either. Good grief... Less hope they don't go there...

====================================

[Edited 5/28/15 17:34pm]

It's official. After months of speculation, particularly in Chicago, Tom Thibodeau was fired as coach of the Chicago Bulls today. Though Thibodeau was one of the most successful coaches in the franchise's history next to Phil Jackson, won the NBA Coach the Year award in his first season coaching the club, and was known for having his team sport one of the top defenses in the NBA, his inability to advance in the playoffs and defeat Lebron James-led teams in Cleveland and Miami plus their offensive woes in their postseason appearances led to much friction between him and his bosses Gar Forman and John Paxson, and it came to a head this season. The last straw came when a relatively healthy Bulls squad was unable to defeat the injury-plagued Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference semifinals of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

http://espn.go.com/chicag...ve-seasons

namepeace said:

namepeace said:

Graycap23 said:

The Bulls got good when the hired a good coach and got Mj some help.

It had nothing 2 do with the power houses fading. Once Pippen understood what it took in the playoffs, along with the addition of Grant, Cartwright and the coaching of Jackson, it was on.

The first title the Bulls won was against a Lakers team with an aging nucleus. That was the weakest Laker team to make the Finals in the Magic Era; many of their key pieces, including Kareem and Michael Cooper, had retired.

Grant and Pip were drafted in the same year. It took the Bulls' nucleus about 4 seasons to gel, but they started when the Lakers, Celtics and Pistons were at their peak, and they weren't beating those teams in the 80s.

The Pistons conquered the Celtics as Larry Bird's back troubles surfaced. That doesn't belittle their accomplishments. It's all circumstantial. It's nobody's fault that James Worthy and Byron Scott got hurt during the '91 finals. LA still beat a strong Portland team that won the West the previous year and would win it again the following year. Chicago was just ready. All these teams were aging, yes, naturally, but they were still forces that could compete at the highest level. Detroit feigned fatigue and injuries after the fact, but they really did believe they would bitch-slap the Bulls in the conference finals again. They got their asses handed to them in 4 straight and ducked out the gym with their tails between their legs. Anybody thinking a Bulls team in the mid-80's with an aging George Gervin, Granville Waiters and a coked-up Orlando Woolridge could keep up with any contender in the East, not even touching the West, was on some fantastic drugs lol.

Graycap23 said:

True..............but look atthe level of competition back then.

It's greats and scrubs in every era, it's always balanced.

728huey said:

It's official. After months of speculation, particularly in Chicago, Tom Thibodeau was fired as coach of the Chicago Bulls today. Though Thibodeau was one of the most successful coaches in the franchise's history next to Phil Jackson, won the NBA Coach the Year award in his first season coaching the club, and was known for having his team sport one of the top defenses in the NBA, his inability to advance in the playoffs and defeat Lebron James-led teams in Cleveland and Miami plus their offensive woes in their postseason appearances led to much friction between him and his bosses Gar Forman and John Paxson, and it came to a head this season. The last straw came when a relatively healthy Bulls squad was unable to defeat the injury-plagued Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference semifinals of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

http://espn.go.com/chicag...ve-seasons

Bingo. This is what I tried to tell phunkdaddy but nooooooooooooo... he's too much into sipping Kool-aid to grasp what happened in that series. My understanding the Bulls locker room was divided, some players loved Thibs other couldn't stand him. Good riddance to Thibs and please allow the door knob to hit you in the ass as you leave.

TD3 said:

728huey said:

It's official. After months of speculation, particularly in Chicago, Tom Thibodeau was fired as coach of the Chicago Bulls today. Though Thibodeau was one of the most successful coaches in the franchise's history next to Phil Jackson, won the NBA Coach the Year award in his first season coaching the club, and was known for having his team sport one of the top defenses in the NBA, his inability to advance in the playoffs and defeat Lebron James-led teams in Cleveland and Miami plus their offensive woes in their postseason appearances led to much friction between him and his bosses Gar Forman and John Paxson, and it came to a head this season. The last straw came when a relatively healthy Bulls squad was unable to defeat the injury-plagued Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference semifinals of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

http://espn.go.com/chicag...ve-seasons

Bingo. This is what I tried to tell phunkdaddy but nooooooooooooo... he's too much into sipping Kool-aid to grasp what happened in that series. My understanding the Bulls locker room was divided, some players loved Thibs other couldn't stand him. Good riddance to Thibs and please allow the door knob to hit you in the ass as you leave.

I don't drink Kool-Aid. I drink Vitamin Water. Thibs won't be unemployed long. The team

had a bad game against a LeBron James led team. Does the story sound familiar? Obviously there

was a rift between the coach and management brewing before the playoffs even began. Why else would the analyst have been talking about? Hey Doug Collins is available.

[Edited 5/28/15 22:24pm]

phunkdaddy said:

TD3 said:

Bingo. This is what I tried to tell phunkdaddy but nooooooooooooo... he's too much into sipping Kool-aid to grasp what happened in that series. My understanding the Bulls locker room was divided, some players loved Thibs other couldn't stand him. Good riddance to Thibs and please allow the door knob to hit you in the ass as you leave.

I don't drink Kool-Aid. I drink Vitamin Water. Thibs won't be unemployed long. The team

had a bad game against a LeBron James led team. Does the story sound familiar? Obviously there

was a rift between the coach and management brewing before the playoffs even began. Why else would the analyst have been talking about? Hey Doug Collins is available.

Hell, that's worse!!!!

Jerry Reinsdorf really is a hands off, keep a low profile kinda of owner. For him to release the statement he meant; Thibs stepped on the owner toes. Thibs has been accussed of leaking in house disagreements to the press. I'm not sure if Thibs thought this would give him some leverage but Reinsdorf can't stand that type of back biting or disloyalty. As I mention Coach Thibodeau was also a drama queen... you can't be a coach and a queen.

================================

[Edited 5/29/15 7:39am]

TD3 said:

phunkdaddy said:

I don't drink Kool-Aid. I drink Vitamin Water. Thibs won't be unemployed long. The team

had a bad game against a LeBron James led team. Does the story sound familiar? Obviously there

was a rift between the coach and management brewing before the playoffs even began. Why else would the analyst have been talking about? Hey Doug Collins is available.

Hell, that's worse!!!!

Jerry Reinsdorf really is a hands off, keep a low profile kinda of owner. For him to release the statement he did meant; Thibs stepped on the owner toes. Thibs has been accussed of leaking in house disagreements to the press. I'm not sure if Thibs thought this would give him some leverage but Reinsdorf can't stand that type of back biting or disloyalty. As I mention Coach Thibodeau was also a drama queen... you can't be a coach and a queen.

Reinsdorf is the WORST kind of owner.

Paxson and Forman have a job 4 life. Why? Because the Bulls sell tickets. They could care less about winning. It isn't a priority.

What kind of franchise, breaks up a 3-time Champion with no signs of letting up on winning? This team will never win with Paxson & Forman in charge. An owner that cared about winning would have never hired Paxson or Forman......yet here we are.

If a GM has fired 3 or 4 coaches who has failed.............what does that say about that GM?

Graycap23 said:

Abdul said:

I wish there was more footage on young Oscar with the Royals, averaging a triple double for a season is crazy!

True..............but look atthe level of competition back then.

I say that Michael Jordan played in an era that was less physical and watered down by expansion. You think the Bad Boy Pistons and Knicks were rough? Please...try dealing with Paul Silas, Dave Cowens, Wes Unseld, Gus Johnson, Nate Thurmond, Maurice Lucas, Jerry Sloan and Norm Van Lier. There was plenty of great competition back then. They may not have been like the athletes of today, but they were better fundamentally - Oscar will tell you that.

Memo to Phil Jackson - fire Fisher, hire Thibs!

uPtoWnNY said:

Graycap23 said:

True..............but look atthe level of competition back then.

I say that Michael Jordan played in an era that was less physical and watered down by expansion. You think the Bad Boy Pistons and Knicks were rough? Please...try dealing with Paul Silas, Dave Cowens, Wes Unseld, Gus Johnson, Nate Thurmond, Maurice Lucas, Jerry Sloan and Norm Van Lier. There was plenty of great competition back then. They may not have been like the athletes of today, but they were better fundamentally - Oscar will tell you that.

Memo to Phil Jackson - fire Fisher, hire Thibs!

Lol.........I guess that is why they created the Jordan Rules.

Graycap23 said:

TD3 said:

Hell, that's worse!!!!

Jerry Reinsdorf really is a hands off, keep a low profile kinda of owner. For him to release the statement he did meant; Thibs stepped on the owner toes. Thibs has been accused of leaking in house disagreements to the press. I'm not sure if Thibs thought this would give him some leverage but Reinsdorf can't stand that type of back biting or disloyalty. As I mention Coach Thibodeau was also a drama queen... you can't be a coach and a queen.

Reinsdorf is the WORST kind of owner.

Paxson and Forman have a job 4 life. Why? Because the Bulls sell tickets. They couldn't care less about winning. It isn't a priority.

What kind of franchise, breaks up a 3-time Champion with no signs of letting up on winning? This team will never win with Paxson & Forman in charge. An owner that cared about winning would have never hired Paxson or Forman......yet here we are.

If a GM has fired 3 or 4 coaches who has failed.............what does that say about that GM?

Reinsdorf the owner, owners don't leave unless the sale or die. I agree with you, Reinsdorf should also look at the men in the front office too. I think Thibs still would have been coach of The Bulls (irrespective of his lack of ability to coach post-season) if he hadn't pissed Reinsdorf off. Is this a classic case of Reinsdorf putting loyalty to him above winning, probably? But Jerry's curt response after Thibs was let go was uprecedented... beside coaching Thibs needs to also grasp office politics.

Robin Ventura can't manage his ass out of his own jockstrap. Yet, Reinsdorf and Williams fired a man basically because he had a big mouth, Ozzie Guillin'. Ventura is liked hence he recieved an extended contract. Paxson it like hence, I don't see him going anywhere soon.

TD3 said:

Graycap23 said:

Reinsdorf is the WORST kind of owner.

Paxson and Forman have a job 4 life. Why? Because the Bulls sell tickets. They couldn't care less about winning. It isn't a priority.

What kind of franchise, breaks up a 3-time Champion with no signs of letting up on winning? This team will never win with Paxson & Forman in charge. An owner that cared about winning would have never hired Paxson or Forman......yet here we are.

If a GM has fired 3 or 4 coaches who has failed.............what does that say about that GM?

Reinsdorf the owner, owners don't leave unless the sale or die. I agree with you, Reinsdorf should also look at the men in the front office too. I think Thibs still would have been coach of The Bulls (irrespective of his lack of ability to coach post-season) if he hadn't pissed Reinsdorf off. Is this a classic case of Reinsdorf putting loyalty to him above winning, probably? But Jerry's curt response after Thibs was let go was uprecedented... beside coaching Thibs needs to also grasp office politics.

Robin Ventura can't manage his ass out of his own jockstrap. Yet, Reinsdorf and Williams fired a man basically because he had a big mouth, Ozzie Guillin'. Ventura is liked hence he recieved an extended contract. Paxson it like hence, I don't see him going anywhere soon.

Being a Chicago Sports fan is tough. I wish I could just get it out of system and be done with it.

Graycap23 said:

TD3 said:

Reinsdorf the owner, owners don't leave unless the sale or die. I agree with you, Reinsdorf should also look at the men in the front office too. I think Thibs still would have been coach of The Bulls (irrespective of his lack of ability to coach post-season) if he hadn't pissed Reinsdorf off. Is this a classic case of Reinsdorf putting loyalty to him above winning, probably? But Jerry's curt response after Thibs was let go was uprecedented... beside coaching Thibs needs to also grasp office politics.

Robin Ventura can't manage his ass out of his own jockstrap. Yet, Reinsdorf and Williams fired a man basically because he had a big mouth, Ozzie Guillin'. Ventura is liked hence he recieved an extended contract. Paxson is liked hence, I don't see him going anywhere soon.

Being a Chicago Sports fan is tough. I wish I could just get it out of system and be done with it.

Its brutal, I'm thinking about starting a support group.

This sound so wrong and morbid, I look at BlackHawks. That organization could have been winners years ago but Bill Wirtz was a jackass. After his sons took over - the late Peter Wirtz and now Rocky - the Blackhawks a championship contenders every year.

TD3 said:

Graycap23 said:

Being a Chicago Sports fan is tough. I wish I could just get it out of system and be done with it.

Its brutal, I'm thinking about starting a support group.

This sound so wrong and morbid, I look at BlackHawks. That organization could have been winners years ago but Bill Wirtz was a jackass. After his sons took over - the late Peter Wirtz and now Rocky - the Blackhawks a championship contenders every year.

I only watch the Bears & Bulls. I used 2 be a Cubs fan but baseball bores me 2 tears now.

Graycap23 said:

uPtoWnNY said:

I say that Michael Jordan played in an era that was less physical and watered down by expansion. You think the Bad Boy Pistons and Knicks were rough? Please...try dealing with Paul Silas, Dave Cowens, Wes Unseld, Gus Johnson, Nate Thurmond, Maurice Lucas, Jerry Sloan and Norm Van Lier. There was plenty of great competition back then. They may not have been like the athletes of today, but they were better fundamentally - Oscar will tell you that.

Memo to Phil Jackson - fire Fisher, hire Thibs!

Lol.........I guess that is why they created the Jordan Rules.

Walt Frazier said he had bruises on his arms after playing against those Bulls teams with Sloan and Van Lier. No one set a pick like Wes Unseld (not even Mahorn), and Cowens & Silas should be arrested for what they did to opposing ballplayers. Shit was no joke.