2021 NBA Playoffs

[EDGECRUSHER]

^^^ All it took was for us to face LeBron to paint the country in purple and orange?

OK, I'll take it.

Hopefully on their way to another 30 point win, they legit injure the crybaby.

[masterfins]

Now tell me about the frozen envelope and Patrick Ewing!

The problem with the gambling angle is that Jordan was still a famously compulsive gambler even after he returned.  So what changed?  Did David Stern "force" him to retire again (for three years) in '98?

I think the answer is much more simple: Jordan was obsessed with being considered the best (as opposed to being the best), and retiring right after he did something that Magic and Bird couldn't do - win three in a row - was a lot easier than trying to win 6 (to pass Magic).  I do also think the (coincidental and non-gambling-related) death of his father also weighed on his desire to keep playing.

Not to discount any of your reasons, but I thought I saw on some ESPN 30/30 that a big part of Jordan leaving was because of the GM and Phil being forced out as Coach.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Not to discount any of your reasons, but I thought I saw on some ESPN 30/30 that a big part of Jordan leaving was because of the GM and Phil being forced out as Coach.

To be somewhat fair to the Chicago GM, Jackson has never won without all-time great teams. Look at what he did with the Knicks for a few years recently and that shows you he can't do anything without some of the greatest players ever on his roster.

That being said, you don't mess with 6 titles in 8 years. I don't care if the Coach literally shits himself on the sidelines, don't mess with the results.

[ArtieChokePhin]

Not to discount any of your reasons, but I thought I saw on some ESPN 30/30 that a big part of Jordan leaving was because of the GM and Phil being forced out as Coach.

That was why he left the second time around (after the 97-98 season).  He did not get along with the GM at all and would talk so much shit about him on the team bus after games.  Granted, he would drink an entire six pack of beer and fire up a cigar after games.  When you get a buzz going, your tongue tends to loosen.

[ArtieChokePhin]

Suns up by 16 with 9 minutes left in the 4th.  Ain't no party like a Laker Hater party cuz a Laker Hater party don't stop.

[stinkfish]

^^^^^ Pistols at Dawn.

[Sunstroke]

About a minute into the game, I saw Anthony Davis hobbling around and thought "We're winning this thing..."

No playoff victory short of an NBA Finals victory could possibly feel as good as knocking out the hated Lakers.

[stinkfish]

So I'm a Boston based Lakers fan. So I understand the hate here, but I  didn't know that there were so many jealous fans,  I mean, haters out there. Are the Lakers pretty much despised everywhere because of their greatness and mystique?

[EDGECRUSHER]

About a minute into the game, I saw Anthony Davis hobbling around and thought "We're winning this thing..."

No playoff victory short of an NBA Finals victory could possibly feel as good as knocking out the hated Lakers.

It's just knocking out Lebron to me. I stopped hating the Lakers whenthe referees stopped giving them all the calls and going to prison for it.

[Sunstroke]

I hate the Lakers for one reason...I'm a Suns fan. 

That means that the two teams I cheer for the most are the Suns...and whoever is playing against the Lakers.

[Fau Teixeira]

Laker are bubble frauds

[ArtieChokePhin]

It's just knocking out Lebron to me. I stopped hating the Lakers whenthe referees stopped giving them all the calls and going to prison for it.

Same here.  Ever since he left the Heat, I've wanted him to get what's coming to him.  He got lucky his last two rings. 

[Dave Gray]

I've always hated the Lakers.

I actually hate them less now that they have Lebron and everyone hates him, so it makes me like them a little more.  And the fact that Kobe died in a crash made it hard to be a hater for a while.

Still, fuck the Lakers, though.

[Phishfan]

Been a Laker fan since they drafted James Worthy. The jealousy I read between the lines of these posts makes me smile.

[ArtieChokePhin]

Been a Laker fan since they drafted James Worthy. The jealousy I read between the lines of these posts makes me smile.

This is what us Laker Haters feel like right now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDqgJye7hyc