It was a good game, both teams played hard

Damn I get sick of this shiat. To start with, the headline.... well, the headline is probably about as good as I could expect given the crap that gets posted these days.

High school players are not "ruining" the NBA, how the hell could they? as people have been saying "if they suck, you wont hear from them again" Kwame Brown anyone?

Infact, I'd really like to know WHICH highschool players are ruining the NBA? Kobe? T-mac? KG? Amare? and HOW? cos Kobe can get a little selfish? (yeah it was worse in the past). None of these players are brainless thugs, but they're all damn good players.

I think a lot of you just see LeBron James and think "what a cocky little fark" as if he's some how representative of all the other hundreds of NBA players he's going to join.

ScottMpls

Your post certainly sums up the majority of rubbish that gets written here everytime a basketball article is posted. This is not some kind of personal attack or anything :).

I'm not big bouncyball fan

Well we're off to a good start here aren't we. If you're not a fan, how would you have any idea what you're talking about?

most of the current players don't really seem that interested in playing to win, so much as playing for $$$ and their 15 seconds of fame.

For someone who's not a fan you sure do know a lot about the 300+ players in the NBA. Obviously the "most" you're talking about doesnt include the likes of Tim Duncan, Peja Stojakovic (sp?), Mike Bibby, Jason Kidd, Ben Wallace, 'Zo, Ray Allen, Earl Boykins, Baron Davis, Kobe, KG, Amare Stoudemire, Stevie Francis, Yao Ming, Jermaine O'Neal, Elton Brand, Antawn Jamison, A.I. (yeah he can act like a biatch, but he's got heart and surely doesnt need to worry about $$$ or fame), any of the Mavericks, the highschoolers I mentioned before, the list goes on....

Most are spoiled, underachieving prima donnas, and part-time thugs.

Well, if they NBA solely consisted of the Portland Trailblazers, then maybe :) luckily, it doesn't. Hell even they managed something admirable these playoffs.

Oh yeah, fark the NBA. :)

That pretty much sums up the objectivity of FARKers doesn't it.

Things you forgot to mention:
"Shaq sucks he's always fouling people, and what about those free throws!"
" talks a lot of shiat what a cocky SOB. He's ruining the NBA, everyone knows trash talking has no place in sports"
"Look at Iverson's tats, what a bad ass he thinks he is"
"College basketball is the best" (you got the nba sucks part)
"Michael Jordan is an old fart that ruined his reputation/record by coming back to play the sport he loves"
"Those Lakers sure are wankers"
"Duke sucks"

/rant

WATCH
ME
NOT
CARE

Tried to read the article, but it was all sports mumbo-jumbo to me.

Anatole

i saw him play in dallas cup semi final, amazing, the kid was farking amazing, fast as hell, ball control like i have never seen before and vision of the field like a pro, this kid will be a superstar unless injury takes him down, i sat near his dad, the kid already has top pro teams offering him a great deal of cash, he may be graduating high school next year at 14 through the US nation team school in florida

*yawn*......*phart*.........WHO FARKING CARES?

It's the NBA for crying out loud. Look at all of the half empty coliseums these clowns are playing in...the NBA is dying a slow miserable death. Who cares if you can shoot a round ball into a round hoop. Of course, depending on your popularity, you can get away with fouling, travelling, and punching that little old lady in the front row.

I never have liked the NBA, and wouldn't miss it a bit if it dried up, and blew away.....

oh yeah... there are the ones that care enough to tell us just how much they don't care.

while his uncommon skills remained unveiled to the Western world.

What the hell?

both teams played hard

Not to be an asshole, but one .45 ACP round right behind Shaq's right kneecap would even the hell out of the NBA.

05-05-03 12:05:33 AM
SpaceMooseBiggest problem with the NBA? People like Tracey McGrady.*snip*

More John Stockton's. Less McGrady's.

That's like saying more sunlight, less darkness.

Stockton's very uniqueness lends to his credibility. His record stands for itself.

I don't mind teenagers coming into the NBA, provided they know how to hit an open 17-foot jumper and know how to move without the basketball in their hands, for fark's sake.

Watching most teams in the NBA is like watching a football team with a quarterback that doesn't know how to throw, wide recieveres that don't know how to catch, and offensive linemen that don't know how to block. (Insert obligatory Cincinnati Bengals joke here).

So how many championships did John Stockton win exactly?

Karl Malone is what's really wrong with the sport of Basketall. Since when is it ok to just walk up to the net, push the ball in, and get a foul called on the other team? It's just sad...

I think LaBron should get the Hummer taking away and never be allowed to play no way in hell his mom could afford a Hummer(and not from a man whore)

If you didn't play college ball, the NFL pretty much doesn't want to know you. They prefer you to graduate.

Football is getting more popular all the time.

Basketball is quickly becoming populated with ignorant, arrogant idiots who know nothing but basketball and carry themselves like street gangsters instead of pro athletes.

Basketball is dying.

Coincidence? No, not really.

What's next? What else? Bring on LeBron!

I disagree. Carmello Anthony > LeBron James, although I'm still mad as hell that the Jayhawks lost. damn n00bs.

The playoffs are fixed and that is what is ruining the league.

I don't watch pro ball (base or basket) till the playoffs. The rest is just chicken choking.

I enjoy the NBA, but I have been getting progressively more disenchanted, basically because it is getting more and more obvious that the good teams just don't give a flying rat's arse about the regular season. The Lakers don't even deny this. Too many teams are willing to play at 1/2 to 3/4 speed and occasionally turn it on at the end of the fourth quarter. It's pretty crappy to expect people to pay good money to watch them jog up and down the court. (Listen kid, tell your old man to drag Walton up and down the court for 48 minutes...)

I know it happens in every sport except maybe football because of the importance of every game, but it just seems more blatant in the NBA.

Plus, if you don't like the Lakers, it gets tiring when a commentator can't compliment a non-Laker without Bill Walton saying "ah, but he's no Kobe!"

Vindibudd
That's one of the things that makes the NHL playoffs so great. all 4 teams that were in the confrence finals last year are eliminated, a totally new champion. Normally a championship basketball team is carried by 1 or 2 player (Look at LA at the beginning of the season when they were down to 1 star).

I also like hockey better because I can relate to these players better, aside from the goalie it doesn't seem like there is a lot of talent needed to play the game (yes there is, and I know i don't fully possess it) Basketball it's all tall, pretty ripped fancy looking people. Hockey players are definatly not pretty (Danny Heatley's smile anyone?) But a hockey player did get to marry Anna. Basketball players roll up in fancy cars, enough jewelry between a couple of them to make Mr T look twice. They whine about how rough the league is and how they're out there getting beat up. Look at the hits hockey players take, and football players. In terms of physical contact of the 4 major sports, basketball, along with baseball is one of the pussiest sports (baseball defiantly wins by a landslide though).

Basketball has kind of giving itself it's own black eye. It's all about the ME ME ME. As someone posted earlier, all they do is do a pick and roll with the dish for someone to get a dunk. That's what makes sports center, that's what makes people famous. They allow criminals into the league, these people should be punished by the league since society will let them off the hook because they're famous. But we all know that won't happen.

Hopefully some team will realize that they can't keep paying these players outragous amounts of money while still having half empty stadiums to play in. And the half empty stadiums, just like with baseball help reflect how society, especially those in their area, feel about basketball.

Basketball's fouls ruin the game. Players getting paid 1 million a year to play this and the best they do is insight another to foul by being an idiot. When I was a kid, we used to play on asphault with broken glass, and we did full contact basketball for free. It keeps people in line, just look at hockey. The minute someone starts acting out of line, you rail him... And to a lesser extent that if you can't compete with them, its a sign of respect to put more physical intensity on the person. What can an NBA basketball player do if people are pissin him off? He can take a hissy fit and leave the game. BasketBall, more like LawyerBall.

I'll say it. Michael Jordan ruined the NBA. And I'm not just trolling, I truly believe this.

Prior to MJ, there was at least some concept of playing as a team. Sure there were superstars, but for every superstar (Magic, Bird) there was a supporting cast you also knew (Kareem/Worthy/Rambis (yeah, Rambis) or McHale/Parish). Okay, MJ had Pippen, but that's like Sinatra having Joey Bishop. Now, everybody's got that wannabe wannabe wannabe like Mike song in their heads 24/7, trying to do everything themselves. Does anybody seriously think there'll ever be a(n American-born) player like Stockton again? I mean, I hate him, I think he's a cheap-shot artist, but at least he passes the ball once in a while.

Prior to MJ, teams played defense. Now, 90% of the league stands around and waits for their guy to score so they can go get on SportsCenter at the other end. There are a couple of guys who can play defense, but they're few and far between.

The only hope left is for the European players to take over the league. Watching their teams in the Olympics or the World Championships reminds me of what basketball could be, and then I see an NBA game and I remember why I stopped watching it. It's a team sport, folks. That's why there's five guys on the floor.

Shallow ploy by the HUGE sports industry that is the NCAA.

Someone is making money off college athletics (at least the big three Football, Basketball, and Hockey) but it sure isn't the student athletes, student body, or the academic program of Universities.

What difference is it if a play is 18, 20, or 50, if they can go up against anyone in their position they deserve to be making the big money, and no matter how much the NCAA whines I don't think there should be an age limit, unless there are viable opportunities at college level (profit sharing for players, etc.)

The referees are what's ruining tha NBA. they let the popular players and teams get away with breaking the rules so they can win more often. and in the playoffs, they do whatever they can to stretch each series on to 7 games to make more cash. the biased playcalling of the referees has turned the NBA into a cash cow and not a real sport anymore.

I think the $65 tickets and not having the games broadcast on regular TV are the main reason that the sport is failing. I would bring my family to a game or two if it didn't cost me over $300 for a family of 4.

Baseball, while not inexpensive, is a more affordable option than basketball.

*** is what is ruining the NBA. Oh, shut the heck up already...

I'll bet most of these opinions come from people who hate b-ball, don't have a team they root for and/or have never been to a game. When we lived in San Antonio, the whole community got behind their team. They talk about it on the radio, show it on TV and write about it in the paper. The Spurs are a special exception, though, as they have stand-up players like Duncan and Robinson to represent their team. They also have a good front office that can recognize young talent like Tony Parker (who will be better than Kidd in 2 years) and Emanuel Ginobili.

Teams complaining about teens ruining their league are the same teams that draft them in the 1st round and have to pay 1st round money. If these kids got drafted in the 4th and 5th rounds, they'd stay in college or play in Europe until they were good/mature enough to be drafted in the top 2 rounds.

I think the best bet would be to make an NBA, Jr. league. Allow guys to be drafted by any NBA team at 18, but ineligible to play in the NBA until 20 (at the start of the season). Let teams get the rights and invest the $$$ in these guys if they see potential. Pay them and develop their game along with their personality in a league filled with 18 and 19 year olds and put them on display during the NBA off-season. Once they turn 20, they can play as soon as the next season starts...

JaxGator: The NBA draft is 2 rounds. there is no 4th or 5th. Tony Parker is good, but not gonna match JKidd, though it's better that they stick with Parker and add talent elsewhere.

There is the NBDL, but there are no farm-system affiliations yet... that would be a step forwards, good point, give the kids good coaching, some money, Amare Stoudamire was really the only one so far qualified to play in the league under the age of 20, KG and Kobe and Tmac may be sweet now, but their 1st 2 years they were nothing special.

Joshg

"while his uncommon skills remained unveiled to the Western world."

What the hell?

I noticed the same thing - asshat sports writer tried to be too damn literary and didn't pay enough attention to the meaning of the words he was writing.

NBA was ruined far too long ago

remember when sean kemp was in high school? wow, that all american game....

ahh fresh reporting

I'll say it. Michael Jordan ruined the NBA. And I'm not just trolling, I truly believe this.

Prior to MJ, there was at least some concept of playing as a team.

ummm nope. In his prime Jordan was surrounded by a great supporting cast, and he was an amazing team player. oh, and good coaching helped. Pippen, Kerr, Grant, Paxon...

Does anybody seriously think there'll ever be a(n American-born) player like Stockton again? I mean, I hate him, I think he's a cheap-shot artist, but at least he passes the ball once in a while.


Steve Nash. ... well, north american born.

05-05-03 02:03:45 PM Fiver

ummm nope. In his prime Jordan was surrounded by a great supporting cast, and he was an amazing team player.


Umm, lay off the crack. Thanks. Jordan wasn't a team player, he had average guys who can't be good starters on their own. MJ loved them because they never complained about not getting the ball. (Except Pippen, but we all can see how good he is with the Blazers) LOL

Basketball is lame. Like it has been stated before, a bunch of illiterate thugs who only know how to dunk come into the league and ruin it. If Kobe Bryant is the best player, then you know somethings wrong with your sport.

05-05-03 07:46:06 AM Christopher_Walken

aside from the goalie it doesn't seem like there is a lot of talent needed to play the game

You couldn't be farther from the truth. Hockey players are not only good skaters (a sport on its own), but they posses hand-eye cordination rivaling only that of baseball players.

Oh yeah, and hockey is by far, the most fun to watch live, and to watch on TV. Unfortunately, most people are so use to simple sports like soccer and basketball to bother to pick up on the rules of hockey. So they try watching a game, don't know whats going on, why "icing" or "offsides" is called, and come to fark to post how "hockey sucks!"

blah blah blah
if YOU DONT LIKE BASKETBALL you've got no farking place biatching about the NBA. Regardless of the "state" of it you'd still hate it.

Big Al: The only sports that I can watch on TV are basketball and football. Baseball, basketball and hockey are great to watch live. There's nothing better to me than getting in the 700 level at the Vet on $1 hot dog days when it's 70 degrees. I only see Villanova men's basketball (because tickets are so damn cheap). I've only been to one hockey game because I'm not a big fan of the sport, but I had a lot of fun. Especially because the Spectrum clears out really quick and the lower level seats are left open.

/Philadelphia sports memories

Big Al

I'm aware it takes a lot of talent to play hockey, I said that in my statement, right after what you pulled out I put ()'s around my comment of "(yes there is, and I know i don't fully possess it)" I'm a big hockey fan, I'm a season ticket holder for one of the better college teams with one heck of a history, though we sucked it up big time this year. I'm well aware it takes talent. My point was these look like everyday guys more than any other sports players.

JaxGator75
I'll bet most of these opinions come from people who hate b-ball, don't have a team they root for and/or have never been to a game

I used to be a fan, I no longer am because of where the game is going and how crappy the league is. I went to see 5 or 6 games a year for a couple years straight. Including a 3-4 hour drive down to chicago to watch the bulls in their first 2 championship years. But just like with baseball the greedy, me first, HEY EVERYBODY LOOK AT THE DUNK I JUST MADE!!! LOOK AT ME WAVE MY ARMS, SCREAM IN THE AIR ANS JUMP AROUND AND SCREAM! SHOW ME ON SPORTS CENTER!! and then demanding an absurd amount of money drove me away from the game. This trend is starting to be more and more annoying in football, but that's still more entertaining to watch.

Another thing that's ruining the NBA, just like MLB No salary cap.

Fools. Saying the NBA draft has 5 rounds (it has 2), no salary cap (luxury tax and a soft cap, larry bird exception; each individual contract has possible maxima in duration and value and the contracts are very stict, though quite generous).
What kills the NBA is guaranteed money. Vin Baker, anyone?