NBA 2012-2013

[Surfah]

LBJ's pre-game dunk from last night is getting some buzz:

[YOUTUBE]nfJC9OECTiY[/YOUTUBE]

The guy's in warm-ups.

This one from the game before was better:

[Pelado]

Is it just me, or is Lebron pretty good?

[Blueintheface]

Is it just me, or is Lebron pretty good?

I think he sucks and I said as much in 2004. It's out there, now go find it.

[cougjunkie]

Tony Parker finally getting the love he deserves.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-tr...-forgotten-man

[MarkGrace]

Sports Guy claims James is the best bargain contract in the league.

1. LeBron James (Heat): 2 years, $36.6 million
Here's your MVP. Actually, this is always your MVP, as long as he's playing 39 minutes a night, slapping up 27-8-8s, shooting 55 percent, playing four positions and defending the other team's best guy. Just stop. Stop bringing up anyone else. He's the greatest player in 20 years.

For the purposes of this column: If the NBA operated with an open market like baseball does, and teams could spend whatever they wanted without any real fear of the luxury tax, then LeBron would earn more than four times what he's making right now. You heard me … $75 million per season. That's not a misprint. The Lakers, Knicks and Nets would pay him that without blinking. Think of what you're getting: He drives up your courtside prices, your suite prices, your cable ratings (Miami's jumped 34 percent last season) and your sponsorship packages; he makes you the league's most relevant franchise; he guarantees you 10-12 playoff home games every year; and oh yeah, you might win a few championships, too.

And actually, that $75 million number might be low. Once a year, Forbes magazine breaks down the team value of every NBA franchise. This year's report was especially fascinating — Forbes reported that the average value of the 30 teams had risen to $509 million, a 30 percent increase from last year, saying that "the increase is due to higher revenue from television, new and renovated arenas, and the NBA's new collective-bargaining agreement, which reduced player costs from 57% of revenues to roughly 50%." Translation: The owners didn't just beat the players in that last lockout; they trounced them like it was one of those Cowboys-Bills Super Bowls.

Anyway, in 2009, Forbes valued the Cavaliers at $476 million and the Heat at $364 million. Four years later, they valued the Cavaliers at $434 million … and the Heat at $625 million. Gee, I wonder what changed.

(LeBron James, you deserve a raise. A massive one. Just know that you won't get it.)

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/...t-bargains-nba

What a dick for thinking he's underpaid.

[CardiacCoug]

Sports Guy claims James is the best bargain contract in the league.

Man LBJ was awesome today. Totally locked down Carmelo in crunch time and had what 12 points or so in the 4th quarter.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Remember when people used to say LeBron couldn't get it done in the clutch, and they were basing that on pretty much nothing other than his refusal to play hero ball? LeBron would've been viewed as having "it" if he just would've chucked up fade away jumpers while being guarded by two defenders from 22 feet.

@CoupNBA
Outscoring teams by 32.1 points per 100 'clutch' possessions, the Heat have the 2nd best clutch rating since '96. Only two teams are +30.

@CoupNBA
The '08-09 Cavs had a clutch rating of +39.9. Obscene.

So LeBron was so un-clutch that his team of Mo Williams, Big Z, Wally World, and Sasha Pavlovic threw up far and away the best clutch rating of any team in the last 18 years. Maybe Boobie Gibson and Delonte West went all Magic and Bird in close games that year.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Sports Guy claims James is the best bargain contract in the league.


http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/...t-bargains-nba

What a dick for thinking he's underpaid.

He isn't a dick for thinking he is overpaid, he is a dick for thinking that the starting point for him not being overpaid is 50 million.

Also, it is a damn shame that he never went through on his promise to participate in in the dunk contest, because those 2 warmup dunks were great.

[Blueintheface]

He isn't a dick for thinking he is overpaid, he is a dick for thinking that the starting point for him not being overpaid is 50 million.

Also, it is a damn shame that he never went through on his promise to participate in in the dunk contest, because those 2 warmup dunks were great.

I've never liked the guy but I try to avoid nitpicking a guy who is clearly the best player of this generation, especially given what he is currently doing. When he was in Cleveland I was hypercritical of his "I" and "me" responses, but no more. The guy will soon be given the gift of healing and the keys to the City of Enoch. Just stay out of his way.

[MartyFunkhouser]

I've never liked the guy but I try to avoid nitpicking a guy who is clearly the best player of this generation, especially given what he is currently doing. When he was in Cleveland I was hypercritical of his "I" and "me" responses, but no more. The guy will soon be given the gift of healing and the keys to the City of Enoch. Just stay out of his way.

The guy is an amazing player. He also is getting much better advice these days as he isn't nearly the asshole that he used to be. I was surprised because I thought winning a championship was going to make him even more insufferable.

He has been amazing this year. After this season, there is no longer a conversation about who is the 2nd best player of all time. It is LeBron James without a doubt.

[The_Douger]

He isn't a dick for thinking he is overpaid, he is a dick for thinking that the starting point for him not being overpaid is 50 million.

Also, it is a damn shame that he never went through on his promise to participate in in the dunk contest, because those 2 warmup dunks were great.

I'd pay him 50 million a year if I was an owner like Cuban. I bet Mark would too.

[smokymountainrain]

According to ESPN, during the Heat's 15 game win streak, the Heat have outscored opponents by 6 points when LeBron is off the floor. When he's on the floor, they've outscored opponents by 170. Damn.

[MartyFunkhouser]

According to ESPN, during the Heat's 15 game win streak, the Heat have outscored opponents by 6 points when LeBron is off the floor. When he's on the floor, they've outscored opponents by 170. Damn.

He has been insanely good this year.

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[FN Phat]

[smokymountainrain]

Just saw what Kobe did tonight. yikes. He is playing some inspired basketball right now.