Nobody in the league is capable of being the next Jordan. Kobe's got 5 rings, Duncan's got 4. Their era is just about done and it's the beginning of a new one. Rose, Durant, Paul, LeBron, Dwight, etc are all trying to get their first ring still. Any of them gonna get to 3+ rings? Maybe it's me being a homer but I think Rose and then Durant have the best shot.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Jeremy Lin & Rubio

_________________

I would like to think that Derrick Rose will get a ring or two before he retires from the NBA. As much as the American public couldn't stand him a year ago thanks to the ridiculous made for ESPN "Decision", this might be the year that LeBron James wins his first ring, much to the dismay of his former Cleveland Cavaliers' franchise and a fan base he clearly turned his back.

Wade is likely to get his 2nd ring this year so I'll go with him.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Norris Cole/Kevin Love

_________________

You might be right on the money...

No.

_________________

I'd like to think not, guys, but it might actually happen this time.

Why do you think it's likely? They don't look better than last season and the Bulls and Thunder do.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Carmelo/Stoudamire

_________________

No.

Bibby/Baron

_________________

Deron Williams/Brook Lopez

_________________

Go say hello to Kevin Matthews for me, Phil. You're out of your mind!

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Walker/Biyombo

_________________

What exactly is that proof of? The Heat were significantly closer to winning a title than either of those teams.

I don't see much of a reason to think the Bulls have overcome the issues that caused them to lose pretty badly to the Heat last year. The Thunder are a real threat to them if they meet up but I'll still take the Heat.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Generous use of the word significantly. Okc lost to Dallas in five, Miami in six. The ECF was closer than the 4-1 margin and it's a longshot to assume Miami will be completely healthy again combined with Rose having a bum ankle.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

But Rose won't grow taller than Lebron suddenly

The Heat had a 9 point lead in the fourth quarter in a game that would have given them a 3-1 lead. The Thunder and Bulls were never that close to winning the series against the Mavericks and obviously neither of those teams made the Finals.
No doubt. There is no reason to believe that Rose won't be 100% healthy as injuries have not been an issue for him this year.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Did the Heat win that game? No. Being up 2-1 and losing three in a row doesn't respresent being close to winning a series, especially since it reinforces LeBron's choker reputation.

As for your second point, the Heat have had injuries this season also, most notably to Wade - who has struggled his whole career with injuries. I guess you missed that part.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Bulls have to solve their Miami problem. Until then I would switch the order of KD and Rose.

_________________

No matter how you characterize how close or far the Heat were to winning that series it's always going to be significantly better than whatever the Thunder or Bulls did because they won more games and they were actually in the Finals and not watching at home.
To me, the injury concerns are pretty much the same for the Heat and the Bulls. I don't want to argue it any more.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

that's pretty much my point. The Bulls best player was playing with a hurt ankle and the Heat were healthy. Since the injury concerns are the same it's unlikely that scenario happens again.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Rik Smits

_________________

_________________

Well weren't the Sonics like 3-28 at one point in Durant's rookie season? Just sayin'....

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

kinda of a long shot but...i am a huge fan of cousins and if sacramento can get ausitn rivers in the draft and have cousins/evans/rivers they could pull it off.

_________________

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

durant yeah..westbrook? ..i am not sold this guy is a good fit with durant

_________________