Raptors: Simmons: Heat will NOT three-peat this season, Bulls ranked #1

[AchillesHeel]

I might agree with the three-peat part because of the mileage and potential injuries(they've been lucky with having a fully healthy Lebron for 3 years), but how the are the Bulls the best team?

[Killakobe81]

4 straight finals is a rare feat. MJ never did it. Shaqobe neither.

In the modern era (IIRC):
Bird's Celts 1984 - 1987
Magic's Lakers 1982-1985

As great as Lebron is and to a lessor degree, Wade ...Heat are not THAT good. But league is not as strong either. Dream ended Lakers run Badboys Celts run. Is there a team that can step up like that?!

IF Lebron stays healthy even though odds are against them ... I still pick Heat as the favorites over bulls, clips etc. If you give me "the field" I would take the field. But no team is as good as Heat because Lebron is that much better than Rose, Paul Durant etc.

[Koolaid_Man]

4 straight finals is a rare feat. MJ never did it. Shaqobe neither.

In the modern era (IIRC):
Bird's Celts 1984 - 1987
Magic's Lakers 1982-1985

As great as Lebron is and to a lessor degree, Wade ...Heat are not THAT good. But league is not as strong either. Dream ended Lakers run Badboys Celts run. Is there a team that can step up like that?!

IF Lebron stays healthy even though odds are against them ... I still pick Heat as the favorites over bulls, clips etc. If you give me "the field" I would take the field. But no team is as good as Heat because Lebron is that much better than Rose, Paul Durant etc.

actually he's not...if he was he wouldn't have choked off game 6 with not 1 but two turnovers in the dwindling seconds only for Ray to bail him out...Ray misses and we're talking about 1 le on a locked out season...I think you're just a tad bit too enamored with his girth like a lot of the Shaq people were...

[spurraider21]

lebron was money in game 7 though. hitting 3's all game, and hit the game icing jumpers late. still can't believe shane battier went off. spur killer extraordinare

[Koolaid_Man]

lebron was money in game 7 though. hitting 3's all game, and hit the game icing jumpers late. still can't believe shane battier went off. spur killer extraordinare

of course he was....after he choked....real s don't respect that s legacy...he got his first off a locked out season so it's really an asterisk *...he got his 2nd after he choked late in the game and Ray Ray stepped up and bailed him out...ain't nothing spectacular about any of his les thus far....

[Killakobe81]

actually he's not...if he was he wouldn't have choked off game 6 with not 1 but two turnovers in the dwindling seconds only for Ray to bail him out...Ray misses and we're talking about 1 le on a locked out season...I think you're just a tad bit too enamored with his girth like a lot of the Shaq people were...

but that is who he reminds me of ..a faster, better ball handling and shooting Shaq. Sure, he is a Bosh rebound and Ray 3 from 1 for 4 in the Finals ...

But he won ... bottomline.

[Cry Havoc]

4 straight finals is a rare feat. MJ never did it. Shaqobe neither.

In the modern era (IIRC):
Bird's Celts 1984 - 1987
Magic's Lakers 1982-1985

As great as Lebron is and to a lessor degree, Wade ...Heat are not THAT good. But league is not as strong either. Dream ended Lakers run Badboys Celts run. Is there a team that can step up like that?!

IF Lebron stays healthy even though odds are against them ... I still pick Heat as the favorites over bulls, clips etc. If you give me "the field" I would take the field. But no team is as good as Heat because Lebron is that much better than Rose, Paul Durant etc.

Pretty much this. I wouldn't say the league is weak right now, but the East has been down for a while, and the Heat only have to beat one team from the West to win the le. I don't see anyone out West being as good as the Spurs were last year unless Houston REALLY gets it together, which is probably <5% of happening.

[Killakobe81]

Pretty much this. I wouldn't say the league is weak right now, but the East has been down for a while, and the Heat only have to beat one team from the West to win the le. I don't see anyone out West being as good as the Spurs were last year unless Houston REALLY gets it together, which is probably <5% of happening.

Be shocked if Rox as good as Harden looks right now (and honestly Dwight looks better too not Orlando good but better than with Lakers) doubt McHale is teh coach to coax a first year together Finals run. Clips have a better shot tbqh ...

[The Gemini Method]

Will be interesting to see what the Golden St. Warriors can achieve with Iggy in the fold. That team could be the Western Conference representative and could also be a borderline playoff team if Steph Curry's ankles act up.

[DMC]

Scola in Indy changes things. Mark my word.

[Killakobe81]

Scola in Indy changes things. Mark my word.

but did they fortify that backcourt?
And what is to stop Chalmers from pulling a 2009 Fisher and laying Scola the eff out and making him useless the rest of the series?

[whitemamba]

Scola in Indy changes things. Mark my word.

This. Exactly what i was thinking, pacers are going to the ECF imho. They got a solid post presence, superstar player to close, great defense, and experience. My money is on them to dethrone the heat.

[The Gemini Method]

This. Exactly what i was thinking, pacers are going to the ECF imho. They got a solid post presence, superstar player to close, great defense, and experience. My money is on them to dethrone the heat.

Either knock 'em out or beat them up even more so than they did this past postseason to the point where a younger or revenge-minded Spurs team will dethrone them in the Finals. I think they complete the 3-peat but I am not going to be surprised if they end up losing it.

[Killakobe81]

This. Exactly what i was thinking, pacers are going to the ECF imho. They got a solid post presence, superstar player to close, great defense, and experience. My money is on them to dethrone the heat.

All star? Yes.
Budding Superstar? Perhaps. Maybe even definitely. I like George.
Superstar to close? PG is not a SUPERSTAR ... yet.

[Koolaid_Man]

but did they fortify that backcourt?
And what is to stop Chalmers from pulling a 2009 Fisher and laying Scola the eff out and making him useless the rest of the series?

Much to my dismay I'm hearing reports of a Rondo For Granger swap

[whitemamba]

Either knock 'em out or beat them up even more so than they did this past postseason to the point where a younger or revenge-minded Spurs team will dethrone them in the Finals. I think they complete the 3-peat but I am not going to be surprised if they end up losing it.

agreed.

All star? Yes.
Budding Superstar? Perhaps. Maybe even definitely. I like George.
Superstar to close? PG is not a SUPERSTAR ... yet.

Killa, he's big time and you know it, in terms of talent, and productivity, he's a superstar.

[Killakobe81]

Much to my dismay I'm hearing reports of a Rondo For Granger swap

Silly trade tbh. Would love Celts to trade for damaged goods. Celts only a Jeff Green mishap from being complete trash.

[Clipper Nation]

Yeah, I agree that the Pacers are most likely ECF bound.... not sold on the Nets, and the Pacers can beat Chicago, tbh.... not sure they can get past Miami though....

I like Paul George, I'm still salty that the Clippers (George's favorite team growing up, btw) picked Aminu over him, but calling him a superstar right now is premature, tbh....

[The Gemini Method]

Don't know if Paul George is top-tier star yet, but if he can reverse the shrinking he did as the so-called leader of the Pacers in game 7 vs. the Heat, he might make that final step to being a star on the upper-tier. That is the question for both him and Roy Hibbert--was last year the ceiling of their abilities or do they have that final push to put them into championship level team. I think the return of Larry Legend will give them some strength but it all depends on the two cornerstones of the Pacers to determine who will be the biggest threat to Miami. I would put them slightly behind Chitown as the biggest threat. I'm certain D-Rose is going to be on some kind of mission this year and they still could trade Luol Deng and others for the Likes of K-Love or whomever.

[Killakobe81]

agreed.



Killa, he's big time and you know it, in terms of talent, and productivity, he's a superstar.

You much too quick to give superstar label.

Certified Superstars:
Lebron, Kobe*, Duncan, Wade, Durant, Paul, Melo, KG, Pierce, Rose, Parker and Dwight (maybe missing a few)

Budding Superstars:
Kyrie, PG, Rondo*, Love, Westbrook, Harden, Steph

I also maybe missing a few but point is I dont throw superstar around lightly

[The Gemini Method]

I would say Steph might already be there...maybe he needs one more year to prove that he is at that level.

[whitemamba]

You much too quick to give superstar label.

Certified Superstars:
Lebron, Kobe*, Duncan, Wade, Durant, Paul, Melo, KG, Pierce, Rose, Parker and Dwight (maybe missing a few)

Budding Superstars:
Kyrie, PG, Rondo*, Love, Westbrook, Harden, Steph

I also maybe missing a few but point is I dont throw superstar around lightly

Its either him or harden as best SG in the league, and more likely they will be the most productive SG', thats why he's up there.

[whitemamba]

I would say Steph might already be there...maybe he needs one more year to prove that he is at that level.

maybe it was a miracle season, because he was shooting the lights out, if he has a similar playoff run, he's a superstar imho.

[The Gemini Method]

maybe it was a miracle season, because he was shooting the lights out, if he has a similar playoff run, he's a superstar imho.

His issue is health...he will play lights out but now he has a team around him that if healthy and they move Bogut for a decent piece that will take less of him stressing out his ankles. I think he does that and he is battling around the top scorers and giving the Warriors' fans something to continue to cheer for when they move to their new digs.

[Killakobe81]

Yeah, I agree that the Pacers are most likely ECF bound.... not sold on the Nets, and the Pacers can beat Chicago, tbh.... not sure they can get past Miami though....

I like Paul George, I'm still salty that the Clippers (George's favorite team growing up, btw) picked Aminu over him, but calling him a superstar right now is premature, tbh....

This. I think he gets there but even Harden/Westbrook would be next in line. Harden also shrank in finals facing Lebron. We will see who gets to superstar first. I think PG would be better off at SG. Position is weak. SF Lebron/Durant has on lock he ha sa chance to battle Harden 1st team ALL NBA SG.