LeBron going to Miami

[Andrew]

I'd say he'll register a few. As far as averaging a triple double as some of the ESPN guys were suggesting, I do highly doubt that as that implies that Wade and Bosh won't be rebounding or passing the ball.

[Jeffx]

Here's how the whole LeBron/Wade/Bosh thing went down, according to Sports Illustrated.....

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/ ... /index.htm

[shadowgrin]

Riley has seven NBA championship rings, and he has three copies of each—one gold, one silver, one platinum—to go with whatever he may be wearing on a particular day.

Daaamn, Riley.

Winning the championship is more about the journey than it is about getting three or four guys and [saying] let's win because we're so much better than everybody else. It's like if Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain had gotten together...

[benji]

I ran a LeBron-less Cavaliers team, using their worst seasons of the last three for each player (in most cases was 2007-08 or 2008-09, with only Varejao and Gibson's years coming with the Cavs) and I used Hickson's rookie year even though he should be improving:

Code: Select all

Player   MPG   PPG   RPG   APG
williams,maurice   36.2   19.3   3.5   6.6
parker,anthony   36.2   13.3   4.3   3.8
varejao,anderson   36.2   9.9   10.9   1.3
hickson,j.j.   36.2   14.2   8.5   0.4
jamison,antawn   36.2   21.1   8.4   1.8
gibson,daniel   24.1   8.9   2.1   1.8
moon,jamario   24.1   7.8   4.4   1.2
powe,leon   12.1   4.6   3.1   0.0

PPG: 99.0
OPPG: 96.7

Record: 48-34.

LeBron worth 12-15 wins? Seems about right.

There's probably no way they'll be that good defensively though Scott has always gotten defensive improvements out of teams, and they'll have something to prove. This could easily still be a playoff team however since they still have $9 million in cap space, plus the LeBron exception to use at some point.

It's not going to be a pretty playoff team, but it still could be one. Using 2008-09 Baron Davis instead of 2007-08 Mo Williams makes it: 39-43. Knicks probably have the best shot at knocking them out. (Until Amir starts averaging 20/15 with 7 blocks after the All-Star break.)

[Sauru]

russell didnt need wilt, he won a shit load anyway lol

[benji]

But he did need Cousy, Havlicek, Sam Jones, Heinsohn, Sanders, etc.

[Andrew]

Here's how the whole LeBron/Wade/Bosh thing went down, according to Sports Illustrated.....

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/ ... /index.htm

Good read, it seems to confirm much of what Wojnarowski wrote as well. Dan Gilbert even has a couple of semi-intelligent quotes in there, certainly better than the tirade in his open letter at any rate.

[Sauru]

But he did need Cousy, Havlicek, Sam Jones, Heinsohn, Sanders, etc.

hey red was the man what can i say

[Jeffx]

hey red was the man what can i say

Red was a slickster...

"Heading into the 1980 NBA Draft the Celtics held the number one overall pick. But in a shrewd pre-draft trade, considered by some to be among the most lopsided in NBA history, Boston Celtics President Red Auerbach dealt the top pick and an additional first-round pick to the Golden State Warriors for center Robert Parish and the Warriors' first-round pick, the third overall. With that pick the Celtics chose Kevin McHale."

[koberulz]

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evo ... t-part-2-2

[Sauru]

hey red was the man what can i say

Red was a slickster...

"Heading into the 1980 NBA Draft the Celtics held the number one overall pick. But in a shrewd pre-draft trade, considered by some to be among the most lopsided in NBA history, Boston Celtics President Red Auerbach dealt the top pick and an additional first-round pick to the Golden State Warriors for center Robert Parish and the Warriors' first-round pick, the third overall. With that pick the Celtics chose Kevin McHale."

that was a pretty good deal, wish more like that would happen for us

[NovU]

Perhaps not, sauru, but the better thing happened for the Sucktics. You guys picked up Jermaine O'neal who was really really awesome against your team in this year's playoffs.

[Jeffx]

hey red was the man what can i say

Red was a slickster...

"Heading into the 1980 NBA Draft the Celtics held the number one overall pick. But in a shrewd pre-draft trade, considered by some to be among the most lopsided in NBA history, Boston Celtics President Red Auerbach dealt the top pick and an additional first-round pick to the Golden State Warriors for center Robert Parish and the Warriors' first-round pick, the third overall. With that pick the Celtics chose Kevin McHale."

that was a pretty good deal, wish more like that would happen for us

Good deal? It was highway robbery. Warriors took Joe Barry Carroll(nicknamed 'Joe Barely Cares'), and the Jazz drafted Darrell Griffith.

Red benefited from the "junior eligible" rule at the time. He retained Bird's rights even though Larry went back to Indiana State for his senior year.

After the 1982-83 season McHale's contract with the Celtics expired. Knicks signed him to an offer sheet. Red got pissed off and signed three of New York's top free agent players to offer sheets. The Knicks elected to re-sign their players and give up their pursuit of McHale. McHale eventually re-signed with Boston. Red was too much.

[shadowgrin]

After the 1982-83 season McHale's contract with the Celtics expired. Knicks signed him to an offer sheet. Red got pissed off and signed three of New York's top free agent players to offer sheets. The Knicks elected to re-sign their players and give up their pursuit of McHale. McHale eventually re-signed with Boston.

Hilarious. Nothing wrong with that me thinks.

[Andrew]

After the 1982-83 season McHale's contract with the Celtics expired. Knicks signed him to an offer sheet. Red got pissed off and signed three of New York's top free agent players to offer sheets. The Knicks elected to re-sign their players and give up their pursuit of McHale. McHale eventually re-signed with Boston. Red was too much.

That's a pretty interesting what-if right there.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolution-the-self/201007/lebron-james-the-making-narcissist-part-2-2

Good read, thanks for the link.

[formx]

Speaking of Lebron here is a funny video

phpBB [video]

[Sauru]

like i said jeff, red was the man. when wilt became the highest paid player in the game he gave russell 1 dollar more just to keep him as the top dog. the guy was great

[Andrew]

Speaking of Lebron here is a funny video

phpBB [video]

Already posted, but thanks all the same.

[formx]

Lol I didn't see it

[Weiland]

Lerbon James is the worst superstar ever.

[Axel The Great]

In terms of personality, you're probably right.

[Weiland]

In terms of personality, you're probably right.

Yeah. I was a very big fan and I don't deny that he deserve his superstar status but I guess I cannot (and why would I?) compromise at least sports ethics (I really mean ethics) for the sake of this guy.

I remember adults telling to aspiring young athletes that "It's not whether you win or lose, giving the best you can is what matters". So King James apparently changed this culture. Clearly, he doesn't need to give his best or push himself to his potential because of Bosh and Wade, but some guys take it outta context and still try to give Lebron by saying he's unselfish etc. or he is applaudable for being more of a "Pippen" or "Magic" to Wade and Bosh, bu then it is contradictory to say that and at the same time have a special ESPN presentation for his decision, I mean he knows he's a high profile guy.

This is major suckage for basketball.

First, we all want players to play to their potential and it benefits the fans not just the league.
Second, we will never see Lebron living up to his potential (though he is already very great) since there would be no sense for him to score 50 points to win a game. We will never see from him a Michael Jordan than will score 50 points and still lose to the Boston Celtics.
Third, it will also decrease Wade and Bosh' talent production (not just point production). It is not the same case with the Boston Celtics trio of KG Pierce, And allen. They all are past their primes that's why they it's ok. But I still hate em.
Fourth, Kobe is now on top of the world. I admit I am a Kobe hater, but remember after Shaq left them, they didn't make the playoffs for 2 consecutive years, Kobe was rumored to be demanding a trade but nevertheless stuck it out now what do we have. A more classy Kobe Bryant. And I'm starting to like him.

[benji]

Ethics? Really?

I remember adults telling to aspiring young athletes that "It's not whether you win or lose, giving the best you can is what matters".

And they were wrong apparently. Now it's about winning, alone, with no one to help you. Not having fun playing with friends, not winning by working with others, but doing it alone. (Unlike everyone else in all sports ever.)

Second, we will never see Lebron living up to his potential (though he is already very great) since there would be no sense for him to score 50 points to win a game. We will never see from him a Michael Jordan than will score 50 points and still lose to the Boston Celtics.

I have no clue how anyone can say this seriously. There were people saying LeBron will never live up to his potential (which is never defined) before he even left Cleveland because he was 25 years old and hadn't developed his scoring methods to the extent a 30+ year old had.

Third, it will also decrease Wade and Bosh' talent production

How can you decrease someones talent?

Fourth, Kobe is now on top of the world. I admit I am a Kobe hater, but remember after Shaq left them, they didn't make the playoffs for 2 consecutive years, Kobe was rumored to be demanding a trade but nevertheless stuck it out now what do we have. A more classy Kobe Bryant. And I'm starting to like him.

Kobe wasn't just rumored, he publicly demanded a trade. And he "stuck it out" because he didn't have the leverage to decide where he landed and he realized the Clippers were a terrible choice. Same reason KG rejected the trade to Boston initially until Pierce and Allen convinced him to join them.

And Kobe is hardly more classy today, he's still the same arrogant whining narcissist. Now he's just got this phony passive-aggressive "leader" facade going with his team for the cameras.

[Andrew]

And Kobe is hardly more classy today, he's still the same arrogant whining narcissist. Now he's just got this phony passive-aggressive "leader" facade going with his team for the cameras.

And of course, winning helps gloss these things over.

[benji]

If anyone can't realize that the faux-criticism was going to be there no matter what LeBron chose, they don't pay attention to the sports media and the sports fans they fuel.

LeBron stays in Cleveland: Oh, he can't handle the pressure from playing in Chicago or New York, he was too afraid of this, so he fled back home to mommy. Now he will never win a title and never be able to establish his potential and legacy.

LeBron goes to Chicago: LeBron is kidding himself if he thinks he can ever replace or stand up to Jordan. If he wins a title, he needed a superstar in Derrick Rose and a 20/10 big man in Carlos Boozer to do so. Jordan never needed a star PG or big man, LeBron will never be the greatest. And he really plunged the knife into the back of Cleveland by going to their greatest rival.

LeBron goes to New York: This betrayal was planned from the start, LeBron doesn't care about loyalty or winning, he only cares about his brand and that's why he went to the Knicks who are nowhere near good enough to ever win a title. (This one would be most reserved because of the obvious core sports media location.)

LeBron goes to the Clippers or Dallas: Who does he think he is thinking he can defeat Kobe Bryant in his own town/conference, LeBron doesn't have the winners mentality, he will always be in Kobe's shadow.

After LeBron decided he was not returning to Cleveland, I doubt he spent anytime thinking about bullshit "legacy" crap or how the sports media would make up stupid narratives about this choice or that. And for all the over-analysis and grand narratives, there's a huge possibility everyone is overlooking that LeBron may have made a decision that was simply normal. It wasn't a sports-entertainment decision, it was a base one everyone that is "normal" makes when deciding who to play with. After Bosh and Wade were confirmed together, LeBron probably just said "I want to play with my friends."

The Decision, the program, was a mistake. The decision, itself, not at all. Too many people are using their hatred of the former to help fuel their hatred of the latter. (Hatred that he didn't go to their team, go to a team they wanted him on, or just plain hatred of him.)

If the only way you can criticize the decision is to create unfalsifiable counterfactuals and predictions about your personal opinion of his career when it ends, you don't have an criticism at all. (Especially since there is likely zero way for him to disprove the decision you've made probably a decade before his career does end.) The "legacy" and "narrative" complaints are just attempts to rationalize something that is emotional in its entirety.

Hell, it's basically Pavlovian.