Ted Nelson: You are looking at this in hindsight.

no, I thought it that day and I still think it now. I’m not killing Isiah for taking Balkman over Rondo or Frye over Bynum, because those were not obvious to me on draft day. this one was, and time has proven me right thus far. by your logic here, no draft-day decision can ever be criticized. you may think that; I don’t and it’s phrases like “beyond ridiculous” that are unnecessary and inflammatory.

That’s irrelevant. You don’t discuss things in general. You grump about this or that, and when someone challenges what you’ve said you don’t bother discussing it. Nothing to do with me. You stubbornly decide you’re right before you consider why you might be wrong.

there’s a lot of truth to that, but the alternative is endless back and forths about niggling points and usually the specific topic rarely interests me that much. I state my opinion/position and unless there’s a good reason to answer, I go back to reading/lurking. I’m still not totally over NY not getting LeBron (last night helped a little, what the hell was that?), and I may never be. the bottom line is that if I spend too much time thinking/stressing about the Knicks, it always comes back to James Dolan owns them, and that is depressing and something I try to think about as little as possible.

jon abbey: Westbrook was second-team All-NBA as a 22 year old, Gallo will be lucky to ever sniff that in his whole career.

You are looking at this in hindsight. There was no known fact at the time that Westbrook would develop into what he did and Gallo would develop into what he did. You are being beyond ridiculous to suggest any person should know exactly what a player is going to develop into when they are 19 years old.

jon abbey: and it’s not “discussing” when you just keep posting and posting until the other person gets sick of the back and forth.

That’s irrelevant. You don’t discuss things in general. You grump about this or that, and when someone challenges what you’ve said you don’t bother discussing it. Nothing to do with me. You stubbornly decide you’re right before you consider why you might be wrong.

and I don’t think there’s any such thing as pessimism when James Dolan owns your team. expect the worst to happen and it usually will.

Following the Knicks’ made me realize that good franchises start from the very top. This can be covered when owners stumble upon a good hire, the Detroit Lions look like they have. Can David Stern suggest ol’ Dog Dolan another GM?

and it’s not “discussing” when you just keep posting and posting until the other person gets sick of the back and forth. I’m glad you’re back, but you’re like an attack dog and you can’t/you won’t/you don’t stop (with apologies to the Beastie Boys).

and I don’t think there’s any such thing as pessimism when James Dolan owns your team. expect the worst to happen and it usually will.

jon abbey: wow, sure did miss your condescending, know-it-all, post 50 times a day presence here. I stand by my earlier post.

“Walsh might have had zero interest in ever drafting Westbrook and been putting up a smoke screen fully intending to take Gallo if he were still there.”

a scenario in which he looks even dumber.

Just like I missed your always pessimistic, bitch about everything, hard-headed to the point of never discussing anything because you already “know” you are right comments….

So you stand my Sam Presti being a crappy GM who relies on Donnie Walsh’s opinion because he can’t form his own? And Donnie Walsh is the one who looks dumb?

No one can be 100% on drafting. As good as Westbrook has been, he had some serious red flags which have been weaknesses in the NBA. He can’t shoot worth a damn and he’s led the league in TOs 2 of his 3 seasons. Danilo and Westbrook both had strengths and limitations, that Westbrook has developed better to date doesn’t make someone dumb for taking one over the other before they had played an NBA minute.

d-mar:

But where was LeBron???

Maybe he showed up to his mom’s house and James Jones opened the door in just a towel. =)

Seriously though – this is the difference between Miami overwhelming a good but young/inexperienced Chicago team and playing the Mavs, who have so many guys who have been to the playoffs year after year. Most teams would pack it up after a few LBJ/DWade dunks in the 4th and blame collusion between the big 3, the refs, etc. etc.

Regardless of my dislike of Miami, this has been one of the best finals in a long time. Even last year’s 7 game series didn’t seem this exciting. Or maybe it’s just because it’s faded in my mind – but still, I’m having trouble even going to sleep after these games!

d-mar: But where was LeBron???

Maybe he’s decided to tank the series, figuring such an outcome would be preferable to a Heat win with Wade as the Finals MVP.

But where was LeBron???