you're even more full of contradictions than I even realized

kudos

7/27/2017 9:57:34 PM

TGL is doing that thing where one uses as few words as possible to produce lots of words from his target, and it's working out well for him! Nice work!

7/27/2017 11:30:39 PM

you're doing that thing where you comment on something without really reading what you're commenting on, and then using exclamation points, so good job?

and I don't have a target. never have. just funny to me when people who don't really know what they're talking about go nuts about something while not being able to back up what they've attempted to argue, get called on it, and then aren't able to own up to it.

feel free to look through my posts during this back-and-forth and tell me where I'm wrong. until then, congrats on hitching your wagon to that dude.

7/28/2017 12:01:06 AM

Except I complimented you.

[Edited on July 28, 2017 at 12:50 AM. Reason : but don't let that fact get in the way of your constant bitchiness ]

7/28/2017 12:47:58 AM

Quote :

"TGL is doing that thing where one uses as few words as possible to produce lots of words from his target, and it's working out well for him! Nice work!"

Now that you mention it, his deceptively simplistic, basic, and insubstantial one-liners (that don't really argue anything meaningful about anything) have been kinda clutch...

Actually, these sophisticated 'clapbacks' are even more brilliant when considering the urgency and pressing nature of the issues at hand. Such esoteric, thought-provoking, and high-brow concerns have ignited a feverish debate. Alas, my wits are ill-equipped to contend with such intellectual prowess.

I don't know about everyone else, but it's been hard for me to sleep at night knowing that several people on TWW have called me a Warriors bandwagon fan instead of labeling me as a 'fair-weather' fan. I don't think I want to live on a planet where people on the internet can call me names for merely suggesting that the King/GOAT can act like a prima donna and might be hard to get along with at times.

TGL has obviously been studying from the very best, and he's far more of a formidable foe than I ever imagined. #winning #yuge #GOAT #kudos




[Edited on July 28, 2017 at 12:56 AM. Reason : aw shit, now he's attacking you too Don't sweat it, he can't read anyway. ]

7/28/2017 12:52:29 AM

whole lotta words to not back up why you felt the need to use quotes in support of your argument even though they didn't support your argument

again with the overcompensation. what gives?

[Edited on July 28, 2017 at 1:02 AM. Reason : the insubstantial fella who can't read sure made you proud to type out that last post]

7/28/2017 12:56:36 AM

K.

7/28/2017 1:06:04 AM

Damn...spend all day in court and miss Ujust pissing all over himself again.

I skimmed through and saw where Lebron upset garbage role players like Hickson and Dunleavy and now he's a horrible teammate. Michael Jordan punches teammates and Draymond Green screams at KD after he misses a shot playing hero-ball, yet the former always made his teammates better and the latter is the "glue" to the best team ever. Got it.

Keep on keepin' on.

7/28/2017 8:49:10 AM

I'm glad that unlike a certain special someone who can't really read that good, you actually read the words in the supplied quotation. Unfortunately, I never made any of the claims you're suggesting. I merely posted it to show that yes, some players (even if they ain't that good), didn't thrive when playing alongside Lebron. I know any perceived slight against him sends y'all into an absolute tizzy, but you can't keep twisting my words and creating straw man arguments if you want to be taken seriously. I never said he's a "horrible teammate" bruh. Also, avoid using absolute words such as "always" and "never" since they make you sound like you're exaggerating.

[Edited on July 28, 2017 at 9:18 AM. Reason : .]

7/28/2017 9:17:11 AM

yeah the original lebron leaving narrative may have been a too elaborate fabricated defense for Kyrie (why not wait for him to leave and be the main guy but maybe he did just hate the cavs management...) but having said that I'd still put more in to the Kyrie just being a selfish dumbass then lebron being a tough teammate but I suppose there is some combination with the latter I'd be more willing to admit now

[Edited on July 28, 2017 at 3:31 PM. Reason : k]

7/28/2017 3:30:15 PM

he mad

7/28/2017 4:29:37 PM

he also unable to have his arguments called out without responding with unfounded personal attacks

7/28/2017 4:44:43 PM

it's definitely his sore spot. He's getting very JayBee-ish without the actual sports knowledge to back it up.

7/28/2017 5:17:45 PM

Quote :

"but I suppose there is some combination with the latter I'd be more willing to admit now"

Wow. Are you sure ???

7/28/2017 5:27:02 PM

Quote :

"Back on July 11, 2014, when LeBron James penned that “I’m Coming Home” letter through Sports Illustrated, he was not invited by Kyrie Irving. The Cleveland Cavaliers’ miniature scoring sensation didn’t know James was coming back — 10 days after he agreed to a five-year, $90 million max extension. Irving didn’t particularly care for James to return to Cleveland. And now, three years later — after three straight trips to the NBA Finals, including a title — it’s official: Kyrie Irving does not want to play with LeBron James. The question is why. When you’re universally recognized as the best in the world, why would any player want to leave you? What has James done? And what is it about James that pushed Irving to say, essentially, “I simply can’t take it anymore”? If nothing else, be clear that you’re not about to get answers to those questions from James himself. The man who used to be King — having lost his crown and, arguably, his stature as the best in the world now that Kevin Durant has burst onto the championship scene — isn’t about to lose his crown as the king of PR, too. Courtesy of tweets and Instagram posts rife with innuendo yet always short on details, perhaps the one thing that interests James more than winning titles is controlling narratives. Think about it: When the Cavs win, it’s because James is leading. When they’re struggling, it’s James who says he needs help. Team unity issues? Let’s take a picture. But not you, Kevin Love. Mistakes in a game? It’s Tristan Thompson … not me, says James, with his public histrionics. Until Thompson steps right back to him publicly, that is. Lose in the Finals? Walk off the court draped with a look of resignation, only to post a video of you working hard in the gym just days later on social media — on the very day the Golden State Warriors have scheduled their championship parade. EDITOR'S PICKS New Cavaliers GM Koby Altman has his work cut out for him Billups says turning down Cavs was about timing, not LeBron Can LeBron James lead the Cavaliers back to the promised land? One would think when you’ve lost an NBA Finals for the fifth time, you’d go hide someplace, lick your proverbial wounds and get set to battle another day. Yet, in the case of James, the growing sentiment appears to be: “Look at the triple-double (33.6 points per game, 12 rebounds per game, 10 assists per game) I averaged in the Finals. Clearly, I did my job. I’m good.” Still wondering why Irving has a problem deferring to the King? If or when Irving is ultimately traded to one of his preferred destinations (Minnesota, New York, Miami or San Antonio) or someplace else the Cavs decide to ship him, here is the one thing he most assuredly will capture: not having to defer to the aura of all things LeBron James. From his words to his body language and even to his silence, the microscope on Irving will significantly dim. Perhaps it won’t work out for him at all. He might end up looking like an absolute fool for departing from James, still widely considered the game’s greatest. But it’s clear that’s a risk Irving is willing to take. So how can we blame him? Just because someone is greater (James) doesn’t mean that Irving isn’t great. He did just finish averaging 29 PPG in the Finals. Last season, he averaged 27 PPG in the Finals, dropping 41 points in Game 5 and hitting the title-clincher in Game 7. “Kyrie isn’t saying he’s better than LeBron and should be seen that way,” a close confidant of Irving’s told me. “He’s saying he’s not about to let LeBron ‘SON’ him … treating him like he’s the child and LeBron’s the father or big brother he’s supposed to look up to. “Kyrie knows he’s a franchise-caliber talent. He wants to be treated like it. And he’s tired of hearing about what LeBron needs, and he’s damn sure tired of hearing LeBron sound like he always needs more. As if the crew they have isn’t enough.” Simple enough. What is not so simple is the nuance connected to James that drives more than a few folks batty. On one hand, nothing ever seems enough for James. He’s a superstar of the highest order. Incredibly philanthropic. Just as much as we know about the titles — and title losses — we also know he’s donated his time and millions of dollars toward putting kids through school and uplifting his community in Akron, Ohio. He’s an extraordinary businessman and icon. He’s socially conscious and appropriately outspoken, almost always. Stay undefeated with our culture newsletter SUBSCRIBE Success! Your inbox thanks you ?????? Consider that he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated at age 17, having now spent 14 years in the NBA, and that he has never been in any kind of trouble whatsoever. There aren’t enough laudables to fully appreciate his unquestionably pure greatness. As a player. A role model. A father. A husband. A son. A businessman. An ambassador. A warrior, even, in the most authentic sense. The flip side, however, is that maybe it’s not all about things being enough for James. Maybe, instead, it’s all about James going for it all … all the time. Translation: Winning just on the basketball court isn’t enough for James. Clearly, he wants it to be about how he projects as a leader. About setting that shining example. And being loved, adored, idolized, even deified, for it. Maybe that’s what James was saying when he proclaimed he’s chasing ghosts. Why he believes he can eclipse Michael Jordan. Jordan may be an unblemished 6-0 in the NBA Finals and have three more rings than James. But for all the charitable things Jordan has done, it’s never publicized much. It’s James, not Jordan, who has been synonymous with impoverished communities he’s personally committed to uplifting. And James isn’t the one saddled with the infamous quote: “Republicans buy shoes, too!” For the moment, however, who cares? James is an incredible human being. It doesn’t appear that will change, and we should all hope it won’t. But it doesn’t change the fact that he’s lost another NBA Finals. That he’s on the verge of losing a star teammate. That stars such as Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony appear to have had chances to end up in Cleveland, yet had — and have — preferred to play elsewhere. And now the world is wondering what James, or the mystique that accompanies him, has to do with all of that, exactly. No one was thinking in such ways a month ago. We were all too busy marveling at the greatness being put on display by James, who was outmanned and outnumbered and still shined. But that was before the Cavs lost, dysfunction kicked in with the organization yet again, trade rumors swirled and Irving said, “Enough.” Irving could’ve pointed in a variety of directions (owner Dan Gilbert, specifically) as the cause of his irritation. Privately, he pointed right at James and didn’t want to play second fiddle to him next season. Tired of flagrant preferential treatment, James’ indecisiveness about his future and James’ ability to manipulate storylines in his favor, Irving has had it. If there was ever a time to investigate exactly why that is, that time is now. Before James has time to conjure up reasons that may make all the sense in the world — but still may fall shy of the actual truth. Remember, folks, it’s about controlling the narrative. As always."

7/31/2017 7:13:26 PM

lots of things in that unlinked to piece to roll ones eyes at, but asserting that Kevin Durant is now the best basketball player in the world because his team won the title is absurd

7/31/2017 7:35:38 PM

It's actually fairly well-written piece when you consider that Stephen A. Smith is the author. He's certainly a much better writer than you are, even if he's an outrageous ESPN troll that people laugh at. But you didn't even bother to read it, so free thread.

[Edited on July 31, 2017 at 7:40 PM. Reason : autocorrect]

7/31/2017 7:39:15 PM

Quote :

"One would think when you’ve lost an NBA Finals for the fifth time, you’d go hide someplace, lick your proverbial wounds and get set to battle another day. Yet, in the case of James, the growing sentiment appears to be: “Look at the triple-double (33.6 points per game, 12 rebounds per game, 10 assists per game) I averaged in the Finals. Clearly, I did my job. I’m good.”"

this is a dumb thing to include in your column if your thesis is, "why does Kyrie want to leave the Cavs?"

it's unnecessary shade that he included because Lebron called him out for his bad reporting

[Edited on July 31, 2017 at 8:02 PM. Reason : .]

7/31/2017 7:56:35 PM

Quote :

"It's actually fairly well-written piece when you consider that Stephen A. Smith is the author."

I know you're not a troll...but that was good.

7/31/2017 8:08:12 PM

wow, Rockets GM is butthurt

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/20212565/houston-rockets-gm-daryl-morey-argue-ending-awards

7/31/2017 9:12:12 PM

Quote :

"If there's not going to be a set criteria and there's going to be issues with how it's structured, for me, it might be better to not have it."

HMMM. clearly, he was just piggy-backing off of Lebron's 2016 comments about the MVP when he said:

Quote :

""I think sometimes the word 'valuable' or best player of the year, you can have different results," said James..."So...when you talk about most 'valuable,' then you can have a different conversation.""

*

































*note: comments have been slightly edited for context (and also to see if TGL even knows how to read)

7/31/2017 9:21:57 PM

you may be shocked to learn this, but the argument over "valuable" and "best" in regards to MVP awards has been going on for decades in nearly every sport/league that names a MVP

the NCAA got it right when they decided to name the best player of the NCAA Tournament the Most Outstanding Player

I'm sure that you weren't aware of this long-running argument since it took your deranged obsession with Lebron to learn about it, but it's a debate that predates all of us

7/31/2017 10:32:14 PM

are you done embarrassing yourself on this page yet, or do you need for someone else to explain to you what's actually been going on?

8/1/2017 12:47:06 AM

you should really give it up.

8/1/2017 7:43:00 AM

I got more sports knowledge than there are chins in a Chinese phonebook or something

8/3/2017 5:01:52 PM

But what about the number of chins you have?

8/3/2017 5:44:23 PM

This whole Lebron/Kobe debate is very amusing. I hate both of them pretty much about the same, but I guess if I had to pick a teammate, I'd go with peak-Kobe vs peak-Lebron.

Even though he's smaller and not as athletic, and had slightly worse stats (FTs aside), and obviously more injury-prone than Lebron, I'd still rather play with a healthy Kobe than against him. Kobe never really seemed to give much of a shit about anything other than winning or playing basketball. He had very little interest or patience for anyone who seemed to get in his way. I know people talk a lot about his "killer instinct" and while I don't really buy into it as much as Laker fans, he was definitely far more of an intimidating bad ass/jerk than Lebron ever was. I also think Kobe legitimately thought he was better than everyone else, while Lebron has spent his whole career trying to convince himself he's the best, even though plenty of people already make that argument for him.

Lebron is the better person and human being, for sure. I can't say anything bad about the way he's treated his family, and I can't say he hasn't been a good role model for young kids to look up to. Kobe is an arrogant, selfish, piece of shit that got away with sexual assault and he basically bankrupted the Lakers so he could slowly fade away and collect a massive paycheck (not mad him for making the Lakers suck so bad though, so thanks Kobe ) But I think the biggest reason why I've always had such a big problem with Lebron is because he craves attention in such ridiculous ways, and it's always felt so inauthentic and pathetic.

Oh, and 5-2 > 3-5

[Edited on August 3, 2017 at 6:23 PM. Reason : .]

8/3/2017 6:22:27 PM

did you dig that up from 2009 or something

8/3/2017 6:32:42 PM

he's feinding so bad for an argument on the internet that he's bringing up an old, dated argument

nobody who knows basketball would ever attempt to argue that Kobe is better than Lebron

he also brought up their Finals records as if he's never heard of Robert Horry before

8/3/2017 9:32:44 PM

I'm sorry, I'm just new to basketball (hopped on the bandwagon in '16) and trying to learn as much as possible since TWW is a fountain of knowledge from which I wish to drink deeply. Who is this Robert Horrey person you're speaking of? Did he win as many rings as Michael Jordan? Never heard of him, so he must not have been as good a MJ.

[Edited on August 3, 2017 at 9:53 PM. Reason : .]

8/3/2017 9:53:06 PM

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/lebrons-finals-record-isnt-really-a-disappointment/

this is one of many pieces on why it's dumb to hold Lebron's record in the Finals against him

[Edited on August 3, 2017 at 11:36 PM. Reason : .]

8/3/2017 11:36:09 PM

Kobe was 2/3rd the player LeBron was. He wasn't close to as impactful of a player.

If kobe doesn't play on loaded rosters in a major market his whole career hes barely even a star player.

You can put LeBron anywhere and you've got a contender. Kobe alone isn't even a guaranteed playoff team

8/4/2017 6:44:35 PM

He's transitioned to troll because he can't keep up in his normal arguments.

8/5/2017 7:20:58 AM

Quote :

"If kobe doesn't play on loaded rosters in a major market his whole career hes barely even a star player."

i needed a good laugh.

8/5/2017 11:40:52 AM

Statistically, he's right on the cusp. And his marketability comes from Los Angeles and playing with multiple allstars most of his career.

You can easily make the argument he was the 2nd best player on all five title teams and was only the best player during the 2.5 seasons between shaq and Gasol when they went below .500 overall.

And don't even get me started on what a train wreck kobe was late in his career. Lebron might be better at 40 than kobe was at 28...

8/5/2017 6:31:17 PM

http://thebiglead.com/2017/08/16/this-is-a-very-well-done-parody-of-eminems-stan-written-from-kyrie-to-lebron/

8/16/2017 10:45:52 PM

Celtics got a little bit better, and the Cavs set themselves up for life after Lebron

a good trade for both teams

also:

Quote :

"Boston reporter: "Hello, I'm from the Globe." Kyrie: "Excuse me?""

credit to @JustinESports

[Edited on August 22, 2017 at 8:29 PM. Reason : .]

8/22/2017 8:24:58 PM

DSJ getting some love

http://www.nba.com/2017-18-nba-rookie-survey

8/22/2017 8:46:04 PM

^^ The biggest winner of that trade is Kyrie.

8/23/2017 12:52:15 AM

Time will tell, as usual. It could be great for Kyrie. He might be the opposite of the Durants and Lebrons of the world in that he wants the challenge of being the man rather than to join/form a super team. And with the quality role players Boston has gotten rid of to get him and Heyward, he will definitely have that role/burden for the Celts next year.

But if Lebron was going to the Lakers or somewhere else after next year, he could've been "the man" for the Cavs again by just waiting out one more season, and possibly winning a title or at least winning another conference title.

And I still think it's a bit odd that he couldn't play with Lebron. I get that he was the man in Cleveland and then Lebron came and he had to take a back seat. But Lebron is the epitome of a superstar who makes players around him better. He's one of the least selfish superstars, and probably the least selfish non-point guard, when it comes to distributing the ball, and Kyrie definitely wouldn't have his ring without Lebron, and he might not ever win another. Maybe all of his talk about wanting to be traded was a bluff for a contract extension or just a player venting. But the Cavs dealt him so time will tell.

For Boston, they definitely got the best player involved in the deal, but as I alluded to above, they have lost a lot of role players, glue guys, defenders, etc in the off-season. It will be interesting to see how their chemistry is next year. I mean, they had the #1 seed in the East last year and added a top-5 PG and, in my opinion, the best ball handler the in the NBA, but I still see the Cavs winning the East in 5 or 6 games.

8/23/2017 2:12:51 AM

i dont get why boston gave so much for kyrie after being picky and holding out over butler and pg. tgey could have done better. tatum and brown better pan out.

8/23/2017 5:58:22 AM

Quote :

"and the Cavs set themselves up for life after Lebron"

They also might try to package some of their shitty players (with big contracts) and that #1 pick and get another piece for a run this year.

The Cavs win this trade for the sole reason that this is way more than anyone else was offering for Kyrie. Crowder is also an extremely solid all-around player (and can hit the open 3s that Lebron will be setting him up for)...and gives them another person to defend Durant/Thompson if they can make it back to the Finals.

Will be interesting to see if they shop the #1 pick.

8/23/2017 7:18:48 AM

Should know at the trade deadline if LeBron is coming back to Cleveland or not.

8/23/2017 12:53:16 PM

Quote :

"and can hit the open 3s that Lebron will be setting him up for)."

Sure, if you think last season was his new normal and not an aberration from his career average.

Don't get me wrong, I think Cleveland got the better part of this deal, but I see where Boston is coming from. They weren't gonna give a 30 year old Thomas a max contract. This gives them a younger, arguably better PG who is under contract for another year. Losing the Brooklyn pick hurts the most, but Boston still has 2 #1's next year and has a roster full of young players who need to see the court.

I don't think Cleveland will resign Thomas as I think their owner is tired of paying the luxury tax and will blow yo the team after this season.

8/23/2017 1:33:17 PM

Quote :

"Sure, if you think last season was his new normal and not an aberration from his career average. "

When you shoot 40% for an entire season shooting almost 6 attempts a game...I don't see that dipping significantly the following year. You don't normally have 82 game aberrations 7 years into your career with shooting. You can become a more consistent shooter...that shit happens all the time when players have been in the league for a while.

8/23/2017 2:29:49 PM

just heard a theory that lebron shipped kyrie so he could join him next year. that would explain why boston did it.

8/24/2017 5:44:53 PM

Boston couldn't afford LeBron. Unless he's gonna sign for the veterans minimum lol

8/24/2017 6:32:24 PM

Melo to OKC

9/23/2017 1:23:51 PM

just like that the rockets have no chance of making the western conference finals.

9/23/2017 1:43:50 PM

Man, that's a great trade.

OKC would get better just by telling Kanter/McDermott to go play in traffic, but Carmelo really rounds out that roster.

Most of you know I'm a somewhat noted Melo hater and probably remember me nailing the "Denver won the Melo trade" narrative back in the day when everyone thought I was crazy.

But allow me to explain:

Melo has been miscast his entire career as a primary scorer. While he's one of the better iso scorers in the league, iso scoring is relatively inefficient for all but a few exceptions (examples: kyrie, Isaiah, kawhi). Iso scoring is also somewhat valuable off the bench (think utilizing Derrick Rose off the bench rather than a pick & pop game between Ramon Sessions/Spencer Hawes).

Melo thrives off the ball because he is ELITE in the Catch & Shoot. He's an excellent cutter. And he's a very good offensive rebounder/garbage man.

OKC can now run the PNR between Westbrook/Adams again that was so effective against GSW two years ago. That wasn't effective this year because teams defended by packing the paint against OKC's miserable 3pt shooting. It took away all the lobs to Adams and really limited Wesbrook's ability to score. The ability to surround that PNR with Melo and Paul George's shooting 3's (most people don't realize how much George has improved as a shooter post-injury).... that's a very good offense.

Defensively Westbrook can pressure the ball well (he's just kind of an idiot and fails to make a lot of rotations). Adams is one of the best defenders in the PNR because he's very mobile and can stop the ball and close out on shooters. Roberson and George are good on the ball defenders who can play passing lanes and defend primary scorers. This makes Melo very easy to hide defensively.

If you start missing shots vs Westbrook you are flat out in trouble. Two years ago Golden State had to slow the pace down against OKC because they were actually getting run off the court by Westbrook in transition. That's a fact very few people actually know.

9/24/2017 7:08:27 AM