Don't fall for it!

[cole]

lebron is a little y. you really have to have that kind of swagger to deal with the pressure he's under.

i still don't see what he did wrong.

[td4mvp3]

lebron is a little y. you really have to have that kind of swagger to deal with the pressure he's under.

i still don't see what he did wrong.

it wasn't what he did wrong but what the media is turning it into. this is from espn's truehoop:

Cavaliers: Still No Excuses

June 13, 2007 1:16 AM


You have seen the replay in slow motion. Unless my eyes are lying to me, Bruce Bowen not only fouled LeBron James on the final play of the game. He intentionally fouled him, which makes sense, with the Spurs up three and eager to give up two free throws to a poor free throw shooting team. (The trick was to foul him before he was shooting -- which is debatable, in this case. Not worth going there right now. Especially as, among journalists, the story is that even if he got three free throws, James likely would have missed at least one of them.)

But when it's a three-point game, with the clock running out, and there's a big foul on the big star, that's supposed to be called. Right?

And if history is any guide, this series is essentially over. So, surely, this is the time when the Cleveland Cavaliers will ring up some fines from the league and let loose on the referees, right?

Wrong.

LeBron James met the media after the game, and this is what happened:

How did you feel about what happened on the final play?
On the three pointer? We had to go for a three, we were down three points. You know, it went in and it came out.

To follow up, what about the push in the back from Bruce?
No, incidental contact.

Excuse me?
Incidental contact. It didn't affect my shot. I had a good look at it and I missed.

Is he lying? I suspect he is, in an honorable way.

there is no honorable way to lie and there is an honest way to answer the question without whining about it. the media allows the lie and perpetuates the myth of the cavs giving "no excuses." excuses carries a negative connotation, as though offering some weak defense for boneheaded action. but having "no excuses" shouldn't be twisted into being classy or heroic when it omits the truth. the omission points to the continued perception being formed of lebron as a non-whiner, a guy the refs shouldn't be too quick to dismiss. maybe next time the calls go more his way because everyone knows lebron doesn't whine about any old thing. we have proof in this postgame interview ... don't we?

[ambchang]

It is a fact that Danny Ferry put the skids on any whining.

1. MY OPINION is that the way LeBron(MadDog) spoke those words in the PC was sarcastic.
2. It is MY OPINION that having a tatoo of chosen1 is immature and y
3. It is MY OPINION that he blew up at Delaney
4. It is MY OPINION that it was a spectacle - as well as it appears the media feels the same way because they continue to show it over and over.
5. It is MY OPINION that mature, classy players do not need tatoos stating that they are the chosen1 if they really are the chosen1

So it being your opinion leads to what? That there is no way to argue your points?

1. MY OPINION is that the way LeBron(MadDog) spoke those words in the PC was NOT sarcastic.
2. It is MY OPINION that having a tatoo of chosen1 is NOT immature and y
3. It is MY OPINION that he DID NOT blew up at Delaney
4. It is MY OPINION that it was NOT a spectacle.
5. It is MY OPINION that you CANNOT judge a person's maturity and class based on tattoos

Lastly, you jumping on me about netiquette, while totally ignoring TD4MVP jumping into the conversation because his point of view helps bail you out is the very definition of hypocrisy, Mr. can't-spell-to-save-his-life-grammar-picking-hypocritical-college-boy.

[ambchang]

It is REPORTED (not fact) that Ferry put the skids on the whining, the 2 can be different. It also shows maturity to listen to your coaches. Even if Ferry and Brown told the team "no excuses", LeBron still chose to listen to them, still chose to call it "incidental contact" (I doubt anyone told Lebron to say that), and he has chosen to give a lot of credit to the Spurs (in a way that Phoenix never did.)

For making those CHOICES I find Lebron to be a class act, showing maturity.

How in God's name you're finding his discussion with Delaney a "spectacle" is completely beyond me. He had an OBVIOUS grief - he was fouled. He was very composed, said his piece - watch it again, I don't think his discussion lasted longer than 30 seconds. And this is the NBA Finals for crying out loud. Not some regular season game (compared to Charles Barkley when Phoenix lost to New York, Charles lept over the table and kept on screaming at the refs as they were trying to leave - he got suspended for that of course). How he handled himself so well is beyond me. I guarantee if the roles were reversed Ginobli, Pop, or Duncan would not be nearly so composed.

So I give Lebron his props.

This is seriously one of the lamest threads I've ever seen. I can't believe it has so many pages, and I can't believe I'm adding to it. But life is irony I suppose.

Don't do this, he will accuse you of breaking netiquette.

[ambchang]

I dont know that I agree. I listen to my boss because I don't want to lose my job. I see that as a sign of intelligence not maturity.

Is that what kind of job a college education gets you these days?
My boss listens to my concerns and suggestions even when I challenge his thoughts, because that is how you get good work done, but what do I know? I don't even have a college diploma.

[UV Ray]

Many of you lambs are buying into this "LeBron showed his maturity after the game" crap. That he really grew up by referring to the final play as "incidental contact." Give me a break! He was blowing up at Delaney at the end of the game and making a spectacle of himself. You are on crack if you don't think Danny Ferry and Mike Brown got a hold of him after the game and told him to stop crying and to not make excuses in the press conference. He didn't look sincere for a moment during that press conference. Sure you want a player with fire and emotion, but please stop making Le out to be humble.

Those of you who think he is humble and mature...You are speaking of a guy who has "Chosen 1" tatooed all over his back. Real classy,real mature, and real humble!

The manlove fest with LBJ's post game conference is nothing more that an indirect attack on Suns fans whom they perceive as having no right to complain about the league's interpretation of a rule that made San Antonio's path to the NBA Championship the easiest in NBA history and in effect creating the asterisk that, no matter what a Spurs fan will tell you, cheapens their accomplishment and ultimately lessens their enjoyment of a fourth* championship.

[ChumpDumper]

@ sunfan thinking it's all about him.

I'll make a direct attack on you if it will make you feel better.

You're a whiny . No matter what you say.

[UV Ray]

@ sunfan thinking it's all about him.

I'll make a direct attack on you if it will make you feel better.

You're a whiny . No matter what you say.

The truth hurts!

[ChumpDumper]

What hurts? I feel great. The truth is the Spurs are going to win the championship. That must hurt you.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

The manlove fest with LBJ's post game conference is nothing more that an indirect attack on Suns fans whom they perceive as having no right to complain about the league's interpretation of a rule that made San Anotonio's path to the NBA Championsip the easiest in NBA history and in effect creating the asterisk that, no matter what a Spurs fan will tell you, cheapens their accomplishment and ultimately lessens their enjoyment of a fourth* championship.

How cute, the * talk.

Spurs win 2007 NBA Championship *

* I found something stupid to about after they handed my team its ass.

[UV Ray]

The truth is the Spurs are going to win the championship.

The truth is the Spurs are going to win the championship*.

[ChumpDumper]

They say tears are salty, but sunfan's taste so sweet.

[UV Ray]

They say tears are salty, but sunfan's taste so sweet.

Tears?

I can't wait for the Spurs fourth win and the 2007 championship*.

[ChumpDumper]

So sweet. I have to brush my teeth after reading sunfan posts.

[T Park]

hilarious how suns fan can't move on.

So who does Suns fan blame game 1 on?

Stern Also?

[Johnny RIngo]

The manlove fest with LBJ's post game conference is nothing more that an indirect attack on Suns fans whom they perceive as having no right to complain about the league's interpretation of a rule that made San Anotonio's path to the NBA Championsip the easiest in NBA history and in effect creating the asterisk that, no matter what a Spurs fan will tell you, cheapens their accomplishment and ultimately lessens their enjoyment of a fourth* championship.

There's nothing that's shown the Suns can play championship level basketball. They've received the easiest first round opponent in back to back years with the Lakers...a team that's surprisingly worse defensively than the Suns. Had they received Denver, Houston, Utah, etc in the first round the Suns would be eliminated in 6 or 7 games and all the homers on Arizona fans.com would be busy ing about those teams instead of the Spurs.

The Cavs players seem to have class which is why they don't bother making excuses like Steve Trash and Amare Stoudewhiner. If Ewing and the Knicks got burned by the same rule in 1997 there's no reason why Dumb(Diaw) and Dumber(Amare) shouldn't be penalized as well.

I could understand Steve Trash's frustration though. He knows deep down that he didn't deserve those two MVPs and he wants some validation for 'em by reaching the Finals. Shaq already called him out on it and most NBA fans are already labeling Nash the worst MVP winner in the last few decades. Stevie Boy also knows that the Suns window is closing fast with the Western Conference getting better and better every year with team's focusing more on defense:

-The Mavs can't choke every year.
-The Jazz are a young core with a PG and PF that can burn Trash and Stoudewhiner with ease. Not to mention a great coach in Sloan.
-The Nuggets are one or two pieces away from being a contender. AI is too fast and skilled for Nash's weakass defense and Carmelo will burn Raja everytime. Amare gets abused by the Nene/Camby/KMart frontcourt. I see the Nuggets eliminating the Suns in 5 games if they meet in the playoffs next year.
-Lakers: Kobe+JO=nightmare for the Suns. Raja Bell's clotheslines and dirty tactics won't save em from this combo. PJ coaches circles around that used car salesman D'Antoni.
-Not to mention the arrival of Oden/Durant in the West plus the salary cap that will force the eventual implosion of the Suns.

[UV Ray]

There's nothing that's shown the Suns can play championship level basketball. They've received the easiest first round opponent in back to back years with the Lakers...a team that's surprisingly worse defensively than the Suns. Had they received Denver, Houston, Utah, etc in the first round the Suns would be eliminated in 6 or 7 games and all the homers on Arizona fans.com would be busy ing about those teams instead of the Spurs.

The Cavs players seem to have class which is why they don't bother making excuses like Steve Trash and Amare Stoudewhiner. If Ewing and the Knicks got burned by the same rule in 1997 there's no reason why Dumb(Diaw) and Dumber(Amare) shouldn't be penalized as well.

I could understand Steve Trash's frustration though. He knows deep down that he didn't deserve those two MVPs and he wants some validation for 'em by reaching the Finals. Shaq already called him out on it and most NBA fans are already labeling Nash the worst MVP winner in the last few decades. Stevie Boy also knows that the Suns window is closing fast with the Western Conference getting better and better every year with team's focusing more on defense:

-The Mavs can't choke every year.
-The Jazz are a young core with a PG and PF that can burn Trash and Stoudewhiner with ease. Not to mention a great coach in Sloan.
-The Nuggets are one or two pieces away from being a contender. AI is too fast and skilled for Nash's weakass defense and Carmelo will burn Raja everytime. Amare gets abused by the Nene/Camby/KMart frontcourt. I see the Nuggets eliminating the Suns in 5 games if they meet in the playoffs next year.
-Lakers: Kobe+JO=nightmare for the Suns. Raja Bell's clotheslines and dirty tactics won't save em from this combo. PJ coaches circles around that used car salesman D'Antoni.
-Not to mention the arrival of Oden/Durant in the West plus the salary cap that will force the eventual implosion of the Suns.

I appreciate the time and effort you put into your post, but you neither agreed with or refuted anything that was stated.

[Extra Stout]

The truth is the Spurs are going to win the championship*.

Is Phoenix going to have a pretend parade for the Suns?

[ChumpDumper]

sunfan has no right to about the proper interpretation of the bench rule.

Consider yourself refuted.

[Johnny RIngo]

I appreciate the time and effort you put into your post, but you neither agreed with or refuted anything that was stated.

I already stated that Ewing and the Knicks were burned by the same rule in '97. It would be biased and unfair to the Knicks if the Suns were given a free pass on the rules just because they're the flavor of the month. If you up you have to face the consequences. That seems to be something Steve Trash, Amare Stoudewhiner, and the Suns fanbase have trouble comprehending.

[UV Ray]

sunfan has no right to about the proper interpretation of the bench rule.

Consider yourself refuted.

I have the right (moderator willing) to protest in a public format the proper interpretation of the bench rule.

[ChumpDumper]

Except you haven't done anything to supprt your "case."

Your entire argument is that the rule should not apply to your team.

That's not a protest. That's a whine.

And you have no rights in someone else's forum.

[Johnny RIngo]

Is Phoenix going to have a pretend parade for the Suns?

Might as well. It's not like their team's ever going to win it for them.

[UV Ray]

Except you haven't done anything to supprt your "case."

Your entire argument is that the rule should not apply to your team.

That's not a protest. That's a whine.

And you have no rights in someone else's forum.

Whine, protest? Semantics determined by which side of the issue you're on.

Also, it was qualified with "moderator willing".

[ChumpDumper]

sunfan finds the perfect seat to witness the 2007 "Real NBA Championship" victory parade.