[loopydate]

Originally Posted by AlphaBean If you're the #1 option, the former MVP of the league, and you force your team into the playoffs every single season, you should at least get some respect.

He gets tons of respect. He's allowed to touch the ball on every Sixers possession, despite the fact that his shooting percentage is abysmal.

Originally Posted by AlphaBean Like, how unreasonable is it to want to start?

Not entirely, but if you don't get your way, you don't go and bitch about it on national television. You be a man and take it up with your coach.

Originally Posted by AlphaBean How unreasonable is it to want to rest for a practice? Practice is so you get better. AI is always hurt, but plays hurt, and plays well. He doesn't need to practice. Your rookies, your losers, your inconsistent players need to practice.

Incredibly unreasonable. It'd be understandable if practice only improved the individual, but practice also helps the TEAM become crisper. If the team practices without its biggest offensive tool, they're not going to be as effective come game time.

Originally Posted by AlphaBean It's like Terrell Owens... he whines, because what can he do?

He can stop being a punk-ass who makes the league look ridiculous with his idiotic touchdown celebrations (sorry, slipped into TO-Hata mode there).

Originally Posted by AlphaBean They're like good posters on a message board and the Mods, who don't have to post anything, they can just sit in judgment, while the posters make all the posts. And what can you do? You can suck up or you can whine. These players whine.

That's actually a pretty good analogy. Unfortunately, there's a third option: don't do anything stupid enough to raise the ire of the people who control your fate.

Originally Posted by AlphaBean I honestly think that Coaches get too much say.

Yeah... Tell that to Byron Scott and Rick Carlisle.

Originally Posted by AlphaBean I may not like the Mavs, but I like how they're run. All the Mavs are happy. Nelly and Cuban keep them happy. A team with that much talent it's odd, but it's the truth.

I agree. The Mavs are possibly the best-run organization in basketball right now (with the Pistons only slightly behind them). The difference there is, no one in Dallas thinks he's better than the team. You never hear Nowitzki complain about playing time, but without the numbers in front of me, I can guarantee he plays less than Iverson does on any given night.

Originally Posted by AlphaBean If it's such a team sport, how come the coach has all the power?

Once again, why don't you ask Byron Scott and Rick Carlisle.

Originally Posted by AlphaBean How come the refs are above the law?

Yeah... The refs are above the law. That's why they're constantly cracking down on all the players for traveling and double-dribbles and offensive fouls all the time.

Originally Posted by AlphaBean You can't talk back to a coach or a ref, because they are so above the players.

Honestly, you think the game would be better if the players coached themselves and called their own fouls? These guys HAVE to have respect, or else the game disintegrates.

Originally Posted by AlphaBean The players are the ones who trained all their lives to get to this point.

And the coaches and refs got their jobs in a box of Cracker Jacks?

Originally Posted by AlphaBean They're the ones whose careers are on the line every time they go out there.

You're absolutely right about that. Although, a case can be made for coaches putting their careers on the line every time they go out there. Especially in demanding cities like New York, where if you don't succeed right away, you're gone.

Originally Posted by AlphaBean They're the ones (fans) paid to see, they deserve to be listened to more than they are.

Agree with the first part, disagree with the second. They should be letting what they do on the court speak for them and shut their damned mouths unless they have something important to say.