2012-13 NBA Preview ESPN make their NBA champions picks

[rhythmic †hesis]

Again, 26-8 disparity is atrocious.
You still don't think ESPN is extremely biased towards any team LeBron is on?
You don't remember how high they were on Cleveland all those years?

[All Net]

Originally Posted by rhythmic †hesis

Again, 26-8 disparity is atrocious.
You still don't think ESPN is extremely biased towards any team LeBron is on?
You don't remember how high they were on Cleveland all those years?

I do agree it is too one sided...surprised L.A didn't get more votes.

[funnystuff]

Originally Posted by rhythmic †hesis

12 votes for Miami and 12 votes for LA, 1 vote for Boston.
LA won back-to-back titles and made three straight final appearances, and yet ESPN showed Miami as much love as they did LA (a potential dynasty).

Now the Lakers are the most talented squad in the league and they get 8 ****ing votes, and Miami gets 26?

That entire website should be called WeSuckOffLBJ247.com

Hey moron, how many games have you watched that Laker squad play?

If less than 1 game, please kill yourself.

[rhythmic †hesis]

Originally Posted by funnystuff

Hey moron, how many games have you watched that Laker squad play?

If less than 1 game, please kill yourself.

What's your point?
Heat didn't play a single game and ESPN still gave them 12 votes, and 12 votes for back to back champions.

[Legends66NBA7]

Originally Posted by funnystuff

please kill yourself.

This ain't funnystuff.

[Derka]

ESPN in love with the Heat? This is shocking and amazing.

The Lakers should have gotten more love there, despite their lack of depth. The Celtics, Spurs and Thunder are vastly underrated here, too.

[funnystuff]

Originally Posted by rhythmic †hesis

What's your point?
Heat didn't play a single game and ESPN still gave them 12 votes, and 12 votes for back to back champions.

My point is, this Laker squad has a good chance of blowing up in your face but you just don't realize it.

[Legends66NBA7]

I also think Boston is getting slept on here.

I don't know how much San Antonio will improve this year, but they should have gotten some consideration.

Anyways, big sports company's like ESPN are always going to run with the champs.

[rhythmic †hesis]

Originally Posted by funnystuff

My point is, this Laker squad has a good chance of blowing up in your face but you just don't realize it.

You've lost too many brain cells.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Miami has the best player in the league, another top 5 guy when healthy and then a big that could have a 25/10 season if he wasn't surrounded by greatness. They've got solid depth and they're now proven, the defending Champs. With nothing on the line I say go Celtics but if I had to put up money? It's the Heat.

[rhythmic †hesis]

Originally Posted by Real Men Wear Green

Miami has the best player in the league, another top 5 guy when healthy and then a big that could have a 25/10 season if he wasn't surrounded by greatness. They've got solid depth and they're now proven, the defending Champs. With nothing on the line I say go Celtics but if I had to put up money? It's the Heat.

LA has two top five players in this league, one of which has five rings and Howard who is the best defensive player in the league. Gasol and Kobe together led the Lakers to three straight NBA finals. Then LA has arguably the best facilitator in the league in Steve Nash. Gasol? Probably a more well-rounded PF then Bosh is.

I have no problem with ESPN picking Miami as the favorites, but the discrepancy is really disrespectful, especially considering LA have more talent on their roster. It's a pity complaint, but it does bug me a little how little respect LA, OKC and even Boston is getting.

I have already predicted Boston coming out of the east, it seems like no one is even paying attention to them either.

[Noof]

Nice, looks like the Lakers got this then.

[guy]

Very surprised the difference is that great. Really doesn't make sense. Seems like they really hang their hat on Lebron being the best player out of the 2 teams, while ignoring that the Lakers have the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and arguably 6th if not 7th best players out of the two, and that while the Heat have the 4th best player, he's injury prone and not that durable and the Heat really have no match up front against the Lakers. They seem to be taking the whole "respect the champs" approach way too seriously. Lakers should be the clear favorites IMO. The only thing that could get in their way is injuries to Kobe or Nash, but its the Heat that seem to have important players that are more prone to that.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Originally Posted by rhythmic †hesis

LA has two top five players in this league, one of which has five rings and Howard who is the best defensive player in the league. Gasol and Kobe together led the Lakers to three straight NBA finals. Then LA has arguably the best facilitator in the league in Steve Nash. Gasol? Probably a more well-rounded PF then Bosh is.

I have no problem with ESPN picking Miami as the favorites, but the discrepancy is really disrespectful, especially considering LA have more talent on their roster. It's a pity complaint, but it does bug me a little how little respect LA, OKC and even Boston is getting.

I have already predicted Boston coming out of the east, it seems like no one is even paying attention to them either.

LA has the same problem the Celtics have: Age. I hope I'm wrong, as I don't want to see any Lakers hurt and certainly want the Cs to be healthy at the end of the season but players that are 34+ are officially old and it's a never a surprise to me to see a player in that age range miss games. Nash, Bryant, Pierce and KG are all guys who should have their minutes managed (something I'm not sure Bryant would even stand for) while the key guys for OKC and Miami are all in their primes with the possible exception of Wade and even he is still 30 and still capable of being All-NBA first team. The Cs and Lakers will either need to rest guys in the regular season and thus cede home court in later rounds or run vet stars to the ground and need Rondo to average 25 in the playoffs/Howard to become the centerpiece of the offense to have a deep run.

Meanwhile you can run James, Bosh, Durant and Westbrook as much as you want. James and Durant are the two guys in the league that can take anyone to 60 wins and then still average 30 all the way to the Finals. That's why their teams are the favorites. LA and Boston wouldn't be unbelievable upsets but the smart money is on experienced superstars that still have some youth over experienced stars in their mid-thirties.

[KingBeasley08]

not surprised, id put my money on miami as well