An oldie but entertaining: Simmons' predictions last year.

huevonkiller · Nov 6, 2009

Analyzing some of Bill Simmons' predictions last year.

4. Finally, a Word to Mr. Simmons

I like Bill Simmons. I am genuinely excited when he writes a new column on the nba. I will buy his new book the first day it comes out and probably enjoy it. But sometimes you need to call a spade a spade. Bill’s had a rough playoff run. He’s said things like:

• “I have been saying that for 2 months now. What we’re watching this spring is basically the 2006 Lakers, only with Gasol replacing Chris Mihm, Kobe being 15% worse, Bynum being 20% better and Ariza being a slight improvement over Ariza. It’s a limited team that lacks toughness and can be beaten.”

• “The ‘09 Cavs are the ‘91 Bulls reincarnated… everyone keeps underestimating them and nobody realizes that they are about the blow thru these last 2 rounds.”

• “The Magic just needed 7 games to beat a Celtics team that had 2 scorers with dead legs, Scalabrine/Marbury/House as their bench and actually ran a game-ending play for Glen Davis. Don’t start thinking Orlando is good please.”

• “Dwight Howard couldn’t score 40 points in a game if he was going against Yi Jianlian’s chair.”

These ironclad, can’t be otherwise predictions have proven not just wrong, but embarrassingly wrong. That would be okay given that he’s just a fan like the rest of us – we all are wrong and most of us didn’t see Orlando coming. But he has the hubris to persevere in omniscience. Whenever Simmons is wrong, he always follows the same pattern: (1) blame the failed team’s coach, and (2) use hindsight to tell us what the losing team should have done to win. Just admit you blew it, Bill. Admit that you misread Cleveland, Orlando, and LA. Admit that instead of blaming Cleveland’s loss on bad coaching and the failure of Cleveland’s role players you should have considered these facts before making your predictions – that Brown’s offensive lack of creativity and the playoff inexperience of Cleveland’s role players might be a problem after all. Monday morning quarterbacking doesn’t become front page espn writers.

While we know you have to undermine LA’s title as a Boston fan, do you really want to start comparing how our team was built with Boston’s current roster? Do you really want to talk about non-repeatable good fortune? Do you want me to list your quotes damning Doc and Ainge for openly tanking in 2007? Do you really believe that LA’s roster is some cosmic accident wholly unlike every other title team in history? Because if you do, I have some Paul Pierce 2002 FIBA World Championship cards I need to sell.

And, while you were quick to point out that LA didn’t have to play Boston in this years finals (which is assuming a lot), you failed to note that Boston was lucky not face Ariza or the one-legged Bynum. Do you have any idea how painful it was to watch Radmanovic guard Pierce as opposed to Ariza? I would gladly replay the 2008 and 2009 finals, both against Boston, with LA’s current team. Would you?

But, beyond that, Simmons most recent attack on Kobe is agenda-driven nonsense. We get it, Bill. We know you hate Kobe. We know you hate that he now has more titles than Bird. We know it eats away at you that the Celtics are probably a one and done band of mercenaries while the Lakers are built for the long haul. We know that the Lakers have won 9 titles and been to 15 finals in your lifetime compared to 4 and 6 for the Celtics. We know those 60s Celtic rings came in a different NBA — pre-expansion, salary cap, globalization, etc. We know that, as a Celtics fan, you have sworn a blood oath to discredit and undermine LA and Kobe at all costs – even if it infects the tone and quality of your writing. But, please, give us Laker fans the courtesy of relying on actual facts and evidence to support your arguments. Don’t rewatch the finals celebration a dozen times searching for one missed high five or false smile. Don’t read Phil’s mind. Use your army of researchers to give us something meaningful to actually chew on and think about. Because what I see when I study Kobe is the game’s preeminent player, leader, teammate, and winner.

–Reed
Click to expand...

http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2009/06/16/deconstructing-kobe/

Damn, that was a beauty.

anique_24 · Nov 6, 2009

Bill Simmons is an idiot.

huevonkiller · Nov 6, 2009

Hah.

Lost One · Nov 6, 2009

Wait, how was Kobe going to decline by 15%?

Moo2K4 · Nov 7, 2009

Bill Simmons usually isn't being serious, so I think there was a hint of sarcasm with most of that.

kobe23 · Nov 7, 2009

My favorite part:

The truth is that Lebron’s stats against Orlando (and during the regular season) are far superior to Kobe’s, but they don’t tell the whole story. Lebron and Kobe’s stats vs. Orlando:

What do we make of these numbers? Well, in terms of pure volume Lebron wins out. He also shot a significantly higher percentage from the field. But I want to extrapolate from the team offensive efficiency and three point shooting numbers. Both LA and Cleveland demolished Orlando’s league leading defense with 110 ratings, but LA did it as a team and Lebron did it alone. One way of viewing this is to praise Lebron over Kobe; the other is to recognize that Lebron was less capable of opening up the game for his teammates. I posit that Kobe’s refined offensive game actually is much more conducive to creating and enhancing teammate opportunities, even if Lebron is usually praised as the more willing passer.
Click to expand...

People think that getting more assists actually makes your teammates better, but it doesn't. it only serves up 2 points for them on a silver platter because you did all the work to get them the ball in a position to score. Kobe on the other hand, by being open to passing the ball through the triangle to the other guys, allows them to create and decide for themselves...

huevonkiller · Nov 7, 2009

Moo2K4 said: ↑

Bill Simmons usually isn't being serious, so I think there was a hint of sarcasm with most of that.
Click to expand...

There's some hyperbole but the gist remains accurate. The guy wasn't feeling it last year.

Log in or Sign up

An oldie but entertaining: Simmons' predictions last year.

huevonkiller Change (Deftones)

anique_24 Active Member

huevonkiller Change (Deftones)

Lost One ...

Moo2K4 NBA West Producer

kobe23 JBB JustBBall Member

huevonkiller Change (Deftones)

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

An oldie but entertaining: Simmons' predictions last year.

Moderators

huevonkiller Change (Deftones)

anique_24 Active Member

huevonkiller Change (Deftones)

Lost One ...

Moo2K4 NBA West Producer

kobe23 JBB JustBBall Member

huevonkiller Change (Deftones)

Share This Page

Useful Searches