Posted by Killa4luv:
Its unfortunate that there is a George Bush mindset with many of you. either you are with us, or you are with the enemy. This is not a case of Steph vs. LB. There are many people involved in this and it doesn't boil down to Steph or LB. I just don't see what you guys see. I have no idea how you can say Steph didn't try to adapt his game to LB's liking. I have no idea how you can say the constant carousel that was our lineup, didn't play a huge part in our poor play. I do hold the players accountable for their play, and I do hold Steph accountable, for not being a leader. He is not a leader, I have long ago figured that out. But I also hold LB accountable for complaining about getting what he knew he was getting and for being an exteremely negative and divisive force through the media all season long. With this same cast of players and LB, things STILL could have been different.
I think if LB just kept his mouth shut, scolded them in practice but supported them publicly, things would have been waaaaay different for everybody, and we would have won more and learned what it means to be a team. He did not lead by example. You do not create a team atmosphere by initiating a public feud with players on your team. That is not my idea of a team player, but I guess no one here agrees with that, and because LB has won, he is above blame or criticism.
we have no idea what goes on behind closed doors so none of us really know what the truth is.
but i believe in a heirarchy of power. isiah is #1, then lb, then the players. lb shouldn't criticize isiah and the players shouldn't criticize lb. lb talks alot...but he was candid with all his answers. there's a reason he says stuff about certain players. guys that have had awful years, like quentin and malik were never mentioned by lb in a negative light whatsoever. there's a reason for that. i don't know what it is, but there is. channing frye was never criticized. nate, only after he showboated. lb saying he's not a point guard is the truth, he's not. and i don't think lb says anything to the press that he hasn't said to the players.
there is NO reason for steph to say "i want to play sg." or "we should run more." he should not be saying those things. and he's been saying stuff from the beginning of the season, like "those were the hardest 10 assists of my life" and of course, the first thing he said "i don't care about my #'s if we win, but if we don't, i won't be happy." how can that not be construed as selfish? just b/c steph tried making the extra pass on the court still doesn't mean he bought in as evidenced by his comments. he took lb's coaching personal. he said it was personal. when i don't think it was. every player that has had trouble with lb before, especially similar guys like iverson and billups all kept saying the same thing - be quiet, listen to coach, he'll make you better. but marbury never remained quiet...and that's his personality. unfortunately, that may also be the reason he's going to get traded.
