TD3 said:

In game six did you not see James walking around like a tourist on his own home court rather than play defense? Game six at home in the best of 7 series. Trash talking goes both ways and if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. Better yet, just win.....

I saw a superstar player who was reluctant to 'seize the moment'. While Kobe will never be as great as Jordan, he has the same assassin mentality as Michael. Kobe wants to break his opponent, to stick the knife in and nothing will stop him from doing it. Isiah Thomas and Larry Bird had that same iron will. LeBron has shown flashes of this, in '07 against Detroit and this year against Boston and Chicago. But in these Finals, he wilted. Credit Dallas for their solid defense, but you have to figure out a way to beat it. Dude passed up way too many shots - it was like watching a game of hot potato. He's three feet from the basket, yet passes to Juwan fucking Howard??? I couldn't believe that shit. Riley and D-Wade were probably saying to themselves, WTF is going on in this dude's head?

The young man has a lot to learn. If I were him, I'd seek out Magic, Michael or Larry. Pick their brains, ask how they dealt with playoff setbacks.

uPtoWnNY said:

TD3 said:

I saw a superstar player who was reluctant to 'seize the moment'. While Kobe will never be as great as Jordan, he has the same assassin mentality as Michael. Kobe wants to break his opponent, to stick the knife in and nothing will stop him from doing it. Isiah Thomas and Larry Bird had that same iron will. LeBron has shown flashes of this, in '07 against Detroit and this year against Boston and Chicago. But in these Finals, he wilted. Credit Dallas for their solid defense, but you have to figure out a way to beat it. Dude passed up way too many shots - it was like watching a game of hot potato. He's three feet from the basket, yet passes to Juwan fucking Howard??? I couldn't believe that shit. Riley and D-Wade were probably saying to themselves, WTF is going on in this dude's head?

The young man has a lot to learn. If I were him, I'd seek out Magic, Michael or Larry. Pick their brains, ask how they dealt with playoff setbacks.

The King, (yes as he likes to be called) is too arrogant to learn anything from them (and Mike won't tell him nothin' anyway and Bird has turned into a recluse of sorts besides coming to Pacer games.)

LittleBLUECorvette said:

uPtoWnNY said:

I saw a superstar player who was reluctant to 'seize the moment'. While Kobe will never be as great as Jordan, he has the same assassin mentality as Michael. Kobe wants to break his opponent, to stick the knife in and nothing will stop him from doing it. Isiah Thomas and Larry Bird had that same iron will. LeBron has shown flashes of this, in '07 against Detroit and this year against Boston and Chicago. But in these Finals, he wilted. Credit Dallas for their solid defense, but you have to figure out a way to beat it. Dude passed up way too many shots - it was like watching a game of hot potato. He's three feet from the basket, yet passes to Juwan fucking Howard??? I couldn't believe that shit. Riley and D-Wade were probably saying to themselves, WTF is going on in this dude's head?

The young man has a lot to learn. If I were him, I'd seek out Magic, Michael or Larry. Pick their brains, ask how they dealt with playoff setbacks.

The King, (yes as he likes to be called) is too arrogant to learn anything from them (and Mike won't tell him nothin' anyway and Bird has turned into a recluse of sorts besides coming to Pacer games.)

Since Pat Riley will be coaching him next season, he'll be giving him an earful whether he likes or not.

Cerebus said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

The King, (yes as he likes to be called) is too arrogant to learn anything from them (and Mike won't tell him nothin' anyway and Bird has turned into a recluse of sorts besides coming to Pacer games.)

Since Pat Riley will be coaching him next season, he'll be giving him an earful whether he likes or not.

I'll bet you the money my dog ate Pat Riley is not coming back. This team wouldn't make it through training camp with Riles.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Cerebus said:

Since Pat Riley will be coaching him next season, he'll be giving him an earful whether he likes or not.

I'll bet you the money my dog ate Pat Riley is not coming back. This team wouldn't make it through training camp with Riles.

You're probably right, but I'm 50/50 on it. I think Coach Spo deserves at least one more season to figure some stuff out. I mean, they DID make the finals AND win two games this season. But his adjustments in throughout the entire playoffs were AWFUL. And he doesn't force them to run enough set plays, or even run his offense (whatever that is). So the other part of me thinks that Riley can see all that, too, and he may just decide that waiting another year isn't the best way to go.

I doubt Riley comes back. He's older now, and I don't think he wants to go through that grind again. It takes its toll on coaches too(see Phil Jackson).

The Heat made the Finals despite a subpar supporting cast for the Big 3. Once they get better bench players, they'll be scary for the next several years.

LeBron saying no to Mark Cuban led Mavericks to NBA title

Before "The Decision," before the infamous line about talents and South Beach and before LeBron James became the most polarizing figure in basketball, Mark Cuban tried recruiting him to the Dallas Mavericks.

Maybe James should've listened.

Cuban envisioned his own dream pairing of James and Dirk Nowitzki, but the Mavericks didn't have the cap space to sign both last summer. The only way it would've worked was through a sign-and-trade with the Cavs. James never bothered giving the Mavericks a meeting during his three-day spectacle in downtown Cleveland last summer and the idea quickly fizzled.

Both Cuban and James were chasing their first title, but James thought Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh provided the best path. That makes the Mavericks' championship over the Miami Heat Sunday night all the more compelling.

Turns out, James needed Cuban more than Cuban needed James.

James went to Miami because he feared staying in Cleveland would lump him in with guys like Nowitzki, a 13-year veteran with a nice career and bloated numbers, but no championships and no real reputation as a big-game player.

Nowitzki changed all of that in two months and James, still only 26, certainly has time to do the same. But losing to the Mavericks, of all teams, was disastrous to his theory that he needed multiple stars to win a title.

The Mavericks are built around one star, Nowitzki, and surround him with the right complementary pieces. It took them more than a decade to get it right, but they finally did this season — in small part because James said no to Cuban.

After the Mavericks missed out on James last summer, they used some of those same trade assets to deal for center Tyson Chandler. It was hardly a sexy move, but Chandler's grit and hustle and toughness in the paint played a huge role in the Mavericks' success all season and particularly against the Heat.

As for James, he'll be back. He has too much talent and the Heat are too good for his Finals appearances to have expired already. But before he gets back here, he should learn when to go quiet and when to just go away.

Taunting the fans who rooted against him this season with remarks like "they have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life they had before" is silly and juvenile. James is the one who demanded we all watch. He's also the one who forgot his lines on opening night.

http://www.dallasnews.com...-title.ece

[Edited 6/14/11 6:41am]

He may be $150 million in the hole since buying Mavs, but it's money well spent for Mark Cuban

MIAMI — No one should be surprised that another Mark Cuban investment has paid off in full.

The Mavericks owner, a self-made billionaire, has a way of closing deals and strutting away with an I-just-stole-your-lunch-money smile. That was just the look he had Sunday night after watching his team fulfill his dream of winning the NBA championship.

Five years after blowing a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, the Mavericks finished their business this time. They closed out the team everyone outside of South Beach grew to despise with a 105-95 Game 6 victory over the Heat at American Airlines Arena.

The outspoken Cuban somehow kept himself from speaking publicly about his team for two months. He couldn’t maintain his silence any longer. Like an overinflated balloon about to pop, Cuban spewed and spewed.

“Did anybody inform you guys? We’re the world champions!” Cuban said, laughing and reeking of champagne and beer in his postgame news conference. “Everything I imagined it could be, it’s surpassed that. It’s special on so many levels.”

Cuban was up most of the night celebrating. Around 5 a.m., he tweeted, “This will sound weird. I’m laying in bed. With the trophy next me. #dreamcometrue”

After boarding the team plane just before 9 a.m. Monday, Cuban tweeted a photo of himself with a cigar in his mouth while sitting next to the trophy.

The championship journey took Cuban 11 years, three head coaches and one determined German named Dirk Nowitzki to finally, in the franchise’s 31st season, make it happen.

Love him or hate him, Cuban did it his way. The 52-year-old kid at heart made the Mavericks relevant again with his big bankroll and even bigger zest for winning after purchasing the team from Ross Perot Jr. on Jan. 4, 2000, for $285 million.

The Mavericks won only 40 percent of their regular-season games in the 20 seasons before Cuban purchased the franchise. The first 10 seasons of the Cuban era saw the Mavericks win 69 percent of their regular-season games. They’ve won at least 50 games in the regular season and reached the playoffs all 11 seasons of Cuban’s tenure.

The success energized the fan base. The Mavericks have sold out 399 consecutive regular-season home games, the longest streak in the NBA, and 58 straight playoff games.

After the final buzzer, Cuban didn’t forget about what the lifelong Mavericks fans have been through, paying respects to original Mavericks owner Donald Carter by having him accept the championship trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern. Carter said he was honored by the gesture.

“This is like getting married all over again,” Carter said from the locker room. “Mark has been that kind of class person from the beginning, from the time I met him and I called my wife and said, ‘I found someone who loves the game more than you do.’”

Unlike some of Cuban’s deals, his vested interest in the Mavericks has never been about making money. All told, he’s reportedly at least $150 million in the hole since purchasing the team.

And that’s just fine with Cuban now that the Mavericks have cashed in with their first NBA championship.

It's official: I love me some Mark Cuban.

Report: Cuban spent $110K celebrating

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban spent $110,000 in four hours celebrating at club LIV at Miami's Fontainebleau after his Mavs beat the Heat to take the NBA championship, the New York Post reported Tuesday.

Cuban spent most of it on a huge, gold-colored $90,000 bottle of Ace of Spades Champagne — which was carried in by two men — for team members Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Brian Cardinal and Shawn Marion.

After partying with the trophy until 5 a.m. local time Monday and taking in a performance by Lil Wayne, Cuban left a $20,000 tip for the wait staff.

"Worth every penny," he told the Post via e-mail.

Bottles of Ace of Spades — or Armand de Brignac — have appeared in several music videos, and it is reportedly a particular favorite of rap star Jay-Z.

Mavericks Making, And Sav...t Of Money

Now, that this season has a bow on it and it's a wrap, it's time to speculate on who can go all the way next year. Do you think the Dallas Mavericks has what it takes to repeat? If not, who are the contenders in your opinion?

I think the Mavs could actually repeat, and I'm not just saying that cuz I'm a homer. They showed a lot of resilience all season long, especially after Caron AND Dirk were hurt earlier this year and they lost 6 in a row. Plus their performance throughout the playoffs was extraordinary IMO considering they were constantly playing from behind against younger teams who supposedly had more offensive weapons and better D.

I think the Mavs can do it again primarily because they will get back Caron Butler their 2nd highest scorer. That will be a HUGE help to Dirk and take the pressure off. As well as they did in the playoffs imagine if they had Caron's offensive contribution too. Also IF they re-sign Tyson Chandler, pay JJ Barea more than the $1.8 mil he got this year, get Kidd back, I don't see why they can't do it again.

The biggest threat in the West is the Lakers and I think there's too much uncertainty with the new coach and Kobe to say that's gonna be a lock. The Thunder could get it together but I think the Mavs would beat them again. As for the East, I'll say the Heat, provided they iron out their issues, could get back to the Finals again. So, I'm calling another Dallas vs. Miami finals in 2012.

Of course, everything is contigent on there not being a lockout next season.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

uPtoWnNY said:

I saw a superstar player who was reluctant to 'seize the moment'. While Kobe will never be as great as Jordan, he has the same assassin mentality as Michael. Kobe wants to break his opponent, to stick the knife in and nothing will stop him from doing it. Isiah Thomas and Larry Bird had that same iron will. LeBron has shown flashes of this, in '07 against Detroit and this year against Boston and Chicago. But in these Finals, he wilted. Credit Dallas for their solid defense, but you have to figure out a way to beat it. Dude passed up way too many shots - it was like watching a game of hot potato. He's three feet from the basket, yet passes to Juwan fucking Howard??? I couldn't believe that shit. Riley and D-Wade were probably saying to themselves, WTF is going on in this dude's head?

The young man has a lot to learn. If I were him, I'd seek out Magic, Michael or Larry. Pick their brains, ask how they dealt with playoff setbacks.

The King, (yes as he likes to be called) is too arrogant to learn anything from them (and Mike won't tell him nothin' anyway and Bird has turned into a recluse of sorts besides coming to Pacer games.)

If this experience cannot inspire him to reinvent his game and his approach, he'll never get it and the team will implode.

The more I think about it, the more I think the Heat have paid their karmic debt. This humiliation of losing a series they should have won in 5 makes up for the Decision and the Celebration. If LBJ had just watched his words in the postgame presser, the slate would be wiped clean. But he just fed the monster going into the theoretical 2011-12 season.

In any event, he can change couse. Many of the great course changes came after stinging defeats. Magic after '84. Jordan after '90. Kobe after '07. Greats can reinvent their games or their approach and enjoy success. It can happen with LBJ. I was rooting against the Heat this year, but I hope he does realize his potential.

But like you said, if he continues his attitude (fueled by those in his circle) he will go down not only as a failure but a villain. I hope that's not the case. I hope he'll listen to somebody who has been there.

LeBron, work on your mid-range and post-up game.

http://twitter.com/#!/Holdenradio/status/80298567889199104

LBJ holds ESPN and ABC responsible for The Decision.

Layzie said:

The hate this team gets is so ridiculous, it's not even funny. I guess the Heat are the first arrogant athletes in history, huh? How dare they have confidence and think that they would win a championship having three of the best players in the league? For Lebron to get a tattoo of the O'Brien trophy in October? Who does he think he is?

Oh, wait a minute........

Congrats to the Mavs tho. Considering Dirk couldn't throw the ball in the ocean in the first half, the role players were awesome. JJ "tiny terror" Barea was fantastic, as was Jason Terry. It was great seeing the emotions from the vets after the win last night.

You sound like a crazed stan. Just stop.

and JJ Barea is terrible.

trueiopian said:

Layzie said:

The hate this team gets is so ridiculous, it's not even funny. I guess the Heat are the first arrogant athletes in history, huh? How dare they have confidence and think that they would win a championship having three of the best players in the league? For Lebron to get a tattoo of the O'Brien trophy in October? Who does he think he is?

Oh, wait a minute........

Congrats to the Mavs tho. Considering Dirk couldn't throw the ball in the ocean in the first half, the role players were awesome. JJ "tiny terror" Barea was fantastic, as was Jason Terry. It was great seeing the emotions from the vets after the win last night.

You sound like a crazed stan. Just stop.

Naw, just a bit tired of the hypocritical hate that they get.

and JJ Barea is terrible.

Seriously?

It's mostly just the 'Big 3' that's getting flack. Mostly Lebron James.

and yes, JJ Barea IS terrible. Don't let his performance in Game 6 fool you.

trueiopian said:

It's mostly just the 'Big 3' that's getting flack. Mostly Lebron James.

and yes, JJ Barea IS terrible. Don't let his performance in Game 6 fool you.

If JJ is terrible, what ius LeBron James? Since he was inserted into the lineup in Game 4, he's outscored LeBron.

SCNDLS said:

Now, that this season has a bow on it and it's a wrap, it's time to speculate on who can go all the way next year. Do you think the Dallas Mavericks has what it takes to repeat? If not, who are the contenders in your opinion?

I think the Mavs could actually repeat, and I'm not just saying that cuz I'm a homer. They showed a lot of resilience all season long, especially after Caron AND Dirk were hurt earlier this year and they lost 6 in a row. Plus their performance throughout the playoffs was extraordinary IMO considering they were constantly playing from behind against younger teams who supposedly had more offensive weapons and better D.

I think the Mavs can do it again primarily because they will get back Caron Butler their 2nd highest scorer. That will be a HUGE help to Dirk and take the pressure off. As well as they did in the playoffs imagine if they had Caron's offensive contribution too. Also IF they re-sign Tyson Chandler, pay JJ Barea more than the $1.8 mil he got this year, get Kidd back, I don't see why they can't do it again.

The biggest threat in the West is the Lakers and I think there's too much uncertainty with the new coach and Kobe to say that's gonna be a lock. The Thunder could get it together but I think the Mavs would beat them again. As for the East, I'll say the Heat, provided they iron out their issues, could get back to the Finals again. So, I'm calling another Dallas vs. Miami finals in 2012.

Of course, everything is contigent on there not being a lockout next season.

The y played the entire half of the last season without Caron Butler, a proven all-star in this league. Also, Haywood has been missing since game 2 I believe, and Beadois is a nice player hadn;t played in the playoffs.

JJ reminds me of a younf Nash when he was in Dallas. There only comp will be the Thunder.

If Westbrook grows up and realizes Kevin Durant is the main man, watch out for OKC. I'd hate to see another Marbury/KG situation.

trueiopian said:

It's mostly just the 'Big 3' that's getting flack. Mostly Lebron James.

I know. I just think that it's undeserved.

and yes, JJ Barea IS terrible. Don't let his performance in Game 6 fool you.

lol ok.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

trueiopian said:

It's mostly just the 'Big 3' that's getting flack. Mostly Lebron James.

and yes, JJ Barea IS terrible. Don't let his performance in Game 6 fool you.

If JJ is terrible, what ius LeBron James? Since he was inserted into the lineup in Game 4, he's outscored LeBron.

Are you seriously comparing JJ Barea to Lebron James?! I can't...

trueiopian said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

If JJ is terrible, what ius LeBron James? Since he was inserted into the lineup in Game 4, he's outscored LeBron.

Are you seriously comparing JJ Barea to Lebron James?! I can't...

How about comparing how they both performed under the most pressure they'll ever face; the NBA finals. Legends are made, even bench players, by what they do in the playoffs and finals. The league (now and historically) is filled with players who have lived off a couple of shining moments in the finals for the rest of their careers, and sometimes their post-playing lives. LeBron is clearly a better player than JJ Barea (personally I think LeBron could end up being one of the greatest to ever play if he improves his attitude and the couple weak spots in his game). But his legacy will ALWAYS be how badly he played in the finals (just like Dirk's was) until he does otherwise.

minneapolisFunq said:

You ain't have to go there

Some words of wisdom from Charles Barkley. He's right - LeBron, work on your post-up game!

http://sportsradiointervi...yane-wade/

Cerebus said:

trueiopian said:

Are you seriously comparing JJ Barea to Lebron James?! I can't...

How about comparing how they both performed under the most pressure they'll ever face; the NBA finals. Legends are made, even bench players, by what they do in the playoffs and finals. The league (now and historically) is filled with players who have lived off a couple of shining moments in the finals for the rest of their careers, and sometimes their post-playing lives. LeBron is clearly a better player than JJ Barea (personally I think LeBron could end up being one of the greatest to ever play if he improves his attitude and the couple weak spots in his game). But his legacy will ALWAYS be how badly he played in the finals (just like Dirk's was) until he does otherwise.

Reaching.

trueiopian said:

Cerebus said:

How about comparing how they both performed under the most pressure they'll ever face; the NBA finals. Legends are made, even bench players, by what they do in the playoffs and finals. The league (now and historically) is filled with players who have lived off a couple of shining moments in the finals for the rest of their careers, and sometimes their post-playing lives. LeBron is clearly a better player than JJ Barea (personally I think LeBron could end up being one of the greatest to ever play if he improves his attitude and the couple weak spots in his game). But his legacy will ALWAYS be how badly he played in the finals (just like Dirk's was) until he does otherwise.

Reaching.

Lame.

A. You completely disregarded the point of the entire post.

B. You decided to selectively make half of the sentence/thought bold (his stats thus far show this to be a fact, btw, all he will need to do is win a few titles).

C. It was my opinion, that's whay it starts with "personally". There's no "reaching" involved.