I'm not here stumping for Smith either. But, as a rule, I prefer the people I listen to breaking down the nba to be able to formulate full sentences and make concise arguments. Not stutter and stumble through every damn thing they say. But hey if you're all about that super high brow comedy inside the NBA is feeding you, enjoy. Just dont blame millenials and the Kardashians for anything because you're feeding into the same shenanigans.
Barkley is giving his opinion and he is one of the greatest players in the NBA. Just because you don't like him doesn't take away ANY OF HIS NBA CREDENTIALS What's the other media's credentials? Ask yourself why the NBA players actually give a damn about what Barkley says he was one of them So was Kenny
He then said about a little over a week ago... "Harden is playing great, but Kyrie Irving is the clear front-runner for MVP."
They give a damn because he has the biggest platform on the national stage regarding the NBA, and runs his mouth rather loosely rather frequently. Chuck got his job the same way Smith did. By being controversial, and people never knowing exactly what he was going to say next. Players care about what a lot of journalists say about them. I'm pretty sure you're aware that Stephen A. has ruffled quite a few players feathers too over the years. That doesn't really mean much. Players care because these guys reach a giant audience. Not strictly because Chuck was a good rebounder.
Morey isn’t looking for adulation. Just recognizing reality, like the Rockets are playing good defense this year. I’m cool with skeptics in the media so long as their arguments coincide with reality and they’re not just spouting nonsense like the Rockets don’t defend.
It's a low bar. This is why our fanbase is so whiny. The bare minimum is somehow so hard for the media.
These aren't inversely related, though. Getting a championship doesn't mean the media will hate us for 20 years. Look at the other teams who have won: for the most part the media can't stop their adulation for the Warriors. I don't even think they're independent variables (correlation ~0). I believe that, in today's NBA, media respect and public perception PREDICT championships. The NBA league office, the Book of Stern, and hence the officiating bias will not allow you to win one without their support. It's what we get for turning the NBA more into entertainment than pure random competition.
Winning a championship does not equal media respect. Many idiots in the media still sometimes say that the only reason we won in '94 and '95 is because Jordan retired. If people in the media or otherwise disrespect/hate on the Rockets, it's okay for people to get upset.
